A/N: Hey all! Thanks for you patience... I actually can't believe I'm updating today... landed back in Aus 10 hours ago. Had a great trip and omg... I MET SOPHIA AND JESSE!

Soz, but omg I can't explain it. Was so amazing. Also met so many lovely people waiting in lines and such :)

Even met the beautiful Katharina, crazy how our love for Sophia/ the show can bring people from around the world together... Anyway she asked for an update in person, so she gets it! hahaha

Reasonable doubt – Chapter Eight

Four months ago

Jay POV

"I didn't do this."

"So you've said." I rub my head in frustration, anger welling up inside me.

"What happened that night?"

"I already told you! I told you guys back then, and I've told you tonight."

"Tell us again." The cop deadpans, sitting opposite me.

"Can you just tell me what this is about? Why now? Why me?" My stress levels are high after having been arrested tonight.

"Because murder doesn't have an expiration date."

"Nor should they. I would love for you to catch Allie's killer, but that's not me! I loved her!"

There's a knock on the door.

"What?" the gruff voice of the cop calls out.

"His lawyers here. And she's pissed." The cop seems rattled by whoever he's speaking of.

"What? I don't have a lawyer?" I say before I can process it.

"Maybe your rich daddy sent her. Don't think you'll get away with this because you come from money." The implication is clear; they are certain I'm guilty and aren't interested in exploring other possibilities.

"I don't need his money or help, I didn't do this." I defend with the stubbornness I've always had.

"You heard him. Not his lawyer."

"You've got to be kidding me?" I cringe when I hear her voice through the door, wishing to get a peak.

"Don't make me report you, move your ass and let me in to see my client now." She growls at him.

My eyes widen at the voice of the lawyer on the other side of the door, something inside me immediately regrets sending her away in a snap decision.

"Keep your mouth shut Jay! I'll see you once you've been moved." I hear her call through the door, ending it with a large bang on the door.

I lick my lips thinking through her words and my options.

"I changed my mind. I'm done talking until I've seen my lawyer."

"You can see her once you've been transferred."

Her words echo in my head, 'once you've been moved.'

"Transferred?" I question, the fear unmistakable.

"To prison pending trial."

"What? But I'm innocent."

"Tell it to the judge."

The door slams behind him, leaving me alone in the dark interrogation room that has transformed from my dream to my nightmare.

From soon to be cop, to murder suspect.

Jay POV

Anxiousness swirls in me as I wait for Erin to get in touch with me; she insisted I not attend the meeting with the prosecutor.

My eyes flick to the time again, trying to keep calm.

I curse before getting up to pace again, my mind full of horrors from my time in prison.

Fingertips trace my lips remembering the silver lining to this nightmare, my dream girl walking into my life.

This may be the one good thing my father has ever done for me.

Four months ago – Erin POV

"Erin Lindsay" The words are out of my mouth before the phone is to my ear.

"Miss Lindsay, Pat Halstead here." I raise an eyebrow, pulling my full attention to the phone call.

"Father of Jay Halstead?' I take a guess having heard all about the cold case arrest over the media.

"You know who I am." There's only shame in his tone.

"I know who your son is. He's been all over the news."

"Yes." His reply is terse and I know it's not the coverage he wants for his family.

"How can I help?" I steer the conversation back to the reason for his call.

"You can defend my son and have these charges dropped." I raise my eyebrows at the rude edge to his tone, wondering if this trait runs in the family.

Arrogance.

His son is certainly attractive, he would have misguided reason to feel arrogance.

My mind is too caught up in imagining what Jay Halstead is like I don't reply.

Pat clears his throat and I shake my head slightly.

"If you've got the money for my expertise. I can defend your son." The line is well rehearsed, falling back to basics to rid my thoughts of his blue eyed son.

"Charges dropped." I can practically hear him clench his teeth, it's an order not a request.

"I'll see what I can do."

"I have the money. You see to that." The line disconnects and I stare at the phone in my hand for a moment.

"Asshole." I glare at the phone, wondering what I've gotten myself into.

It's my job to read people and exploit the situation to ensure I use the law in my favor.

In the clients favor.

I detected no warmth directed towards his son. I can't help but wonder if it's deserved, or misplaced.

Is Jay the cold blooded murder the media is crucifying or an innocent? I groan before turning back to the file on my desk, resigning myself to not caring either way.

It doesn't change my defense.

Present day – Erin POV

I tap my foot impatiently, waiting for the DA to invite me into his office.

My mind drifts back to the first time I spoke to Pat Halstead.

Now knowing his lack of warmth is misguided and wishing I could give him a piece of my mind. I drift off thinking of Jays anxious eyes this morning, imagining him wearing a hole through his floorboards with his pacing while waiting for my phone call.

"Miss Lindsay." I roll my eyes in annoyance.

"About time. What you got?" The words are through my mouth as I saunter through his doors and perch myself on one of his seats.

"Nice to see you too." I roll my eyes at the pleasantries.

"Yeah, yeah. Now the DNA results?"

"Straight to business I see."

"Yes." My reply is terse.

"The results were inconclusive." My heart drops, I try and control myself.

"Inconclusive?" My eyebrows raise,forcing the word out.

"Yes."

"What the hell does that even mean?"

"It means your client can take the deal or take his chances with trial."

"I'll put in a motion to have the blood tested at an independent lab."

"You go ahead." There's a smirk on his face.

"I hope you aren't holding anything back. If you fail to disclose evidence to the defense I'll have this thrown out so fast you're head will be spinning." I rise to my feet, leveling him with a fierce look.

"When I say the results were inconclusive what I mean is, it came back as a close match." My heart drops, belly churning with my breakfast.

"How close?"

"In the 90 percent range." I want to wipe the smirk right off his smug face.

"Excuse me?"

"Yep. You heard me." my mind races.

"The evidence broke chain of custody, the blood could be compromised. It's not admissible." I internally curse this wasn't the first words from my mouth, knowing my relationship with Jay is clouding my judegment.

"No it's not. But makes me think we got the right guy. The new deal is 10 years in prison. No parol."

"You're kidding. It would be 100% match if my client were guilty."

"It was close enough." I scoff, mind still clouded with this information.

"Close enough good enough for the DA these days?" He narrows his eyes at me.

"DNA doesn't lie. But you're right. I can't use it in court. But we won't be dropping the charges. Your client will take the deal or stand trial."

"See you in court then."

"I hope I don't have to remind you to take this to your client. You must disclose all offers of deals."

"You don't. I'm not the one who needs help playing by the book. But I know him, he won't take this."

"How do you know?"

"He's innocent." The ease and conviction in which the words fall from my lips don't surprise me.

His laugh is condescending.

"Oh Erin, how long have you been doing this? There's no such thing."

"I never believe my clients. I make it a point not to think about it. So it says a lot I know my client is innocent."

"Can't have anything to do with how close you two are." He raises an eyebrow, his tone conveying his meaning.

I narrow my eyes.

"Not too professional Lindsay."

"Go fuck yourself." I head to the door angrily before pausing to throw one last insult out.

"'Cuz no one else will." I miss his reaction as I've already slammed his door behind me.

"Jay" My voice is quiet as I enter his apartment, wishing for a way to keep this news to myself.

"Erin! What's going on? What happened?"

"Jay." I sigh, not knowing how to crush him with these words.

"Why couldn't he give you the results over the phone? Tell you they didn't match. They couldn't have. It's impossible. I didn't do this." There is such conviction in his voice.

"I believe you."

"Thank you." His words are quiet but his gratitude is loud.

"Jay, the results were inconclusive."

"What does that mean?"

"They won't drop the charges." I reach for his hand, running my thumb over his knuckles.

"But... I don't understand."

"I'll put in a motion to have them tested at an independent lab but their results show..." I trail off unsure how to finish.

"What?" His eyes are tortured, I lean my forehead against his briefly.

"A match in the 90 percent range."

"What?"

"The blood samples are probably compromised. Or planted. This is Chicago Police Department." I would do anything to take the current look from his eyes.

"So what do we do now?" He asks defeated.

"They won't drop the charges. It's either a deal or trial."

"I won't take a deal. I won't confess to something I didn't do. Especially for two years of my life."

"Ten." I correct gently.

"Does that mean they are confident in their case?" He pinches the bridge of his nose with his thumb and finger, taking his hand from mine in the process.

"Babe. He's always confident he'll win. But I always win. I'm that good." I raise an eyebrow, trying to lighten the mood.

"What should I do?" He whispers out, looking completely lost.

"I can't tell you that."

"Not as my attorney but as my girlfriend."

"Girlfriend?" The shock is evident on both of us.

"Umm I mean... we agreed we wanted this to be something…" He rubs the back of his neck, a red flush appearing.

"No, I like the sound of it." I smirk at him.

"So do I."

"Well as your girlfriend I would say let's take the bastard to court. Besides I've already told him to take the deal and screw himself with it." Jay chuckles at me.

"So we fight."

"Hell yeah." I pull him into my arms, his head resting in my neck.

"How you doing?" I look up from my notes to take in Jay's stoic face.

We've been on the couch for the better part of the morning, my legs over his and his hands resting comfortably on them.

"Fine."

"Somehow I don't beleive that."

"I'm on trial for murder, I opened my big mouth so now they are even more sure they got their guy… my DNA is a damn close match and somehow you still have faith in me."

"Of course." I whisper, tears springing to my eyes.

"How?" His voice breaks, blue eyes unable to meet mine.

"I just know. There's so much I don't know. I don't know who killed Allie, I don't know how the DNA is such a close match, I don't know how we'll win… but the one thing I know? And I really need you to hear me on this." I pause, waiting for his eyes to find mine.

"The one thing I know for certain, is that you didn't do this." His lips quiver before he finally nods, I move on the couch to grasp his head in my hands and place a long kiss on his forehead.

"You don't deserve this. You deserve everything you want in life… I'm going to make sure you get it." He nods into my neck, my own tears drop when I feel warm tears on my neck and his shoulders shaking.

I'm picking at my red nail polish distractedly as I stare down at the paperwork in front of me desperately searching for an easy fix to this mess we're in.

After lunch Jay sent me off to work, knowing I have a job to do and sending me on my way with a promise he wouldn't spend the time apart toruting himself with thoughts.

"Erin." The tone of Hank's voice has me instantly on alert.

"Hank, what's happened?" He sighs loudly before sticking his hands in his pockets.

"The senior partners have decided to drop Jay Halsteads case. I'm sorry." He offers the last two words in a pathetic attempt to sooth the slap in my face.

"Repeat that?" I growl out standing up to stare Hank down.

"We're not doing this for free."

I feel the floor being ripped out from under me, cursing at the blows being delivered to us today.

Our happiness from last night such a distant memory.

A/N: You all know the drill by now... I love my cliffhangers. Please let me know your thoughts with a review :)

Hope you enjoyed, sorry for any typos!