A/N: Okay I'm sorry, which I've said too much I know. I'm so slack. I stopped watching... and well got busy and couldn't find motivation.

I've recently started watching Chicago PD repeats again and so here I am trying to find motivation to finish these stories because I have so much mapped out. I just have to put pen to paper so to speak and work out how to link the ideas...

anyway, I'm sorry that I've probably contradicted earlier chapters. I didn't waste time re-reading lol Also not sure I love this one... but it seems about right with the stress and tension they would be under.

Reasonable Doubt – Chapter Sixteen

Erin POV

"Did you sleep?" My fatigued and frazzled nerves have me jumping at his soft voice.

I squint at the time on my laptop.

5am. Huh

"I can sleep when the trial is over." The words come out, around my teeth gnawing my thumbnail.

I re arrange the files quickly as I feel Jay approach the back of my chair, his hands gripping my shoulders.

A groan slips out as he kneads my tight muscles, his warm breath blowing

against my neck before he plants soft kisses. Want pools in my belly, like a coil tightening as he swings me around and plants a kiss on my lips. Our tongues meet, his kisses intense and desperate.

"Jay." I pant against his lips, pulling away, the shame eating me up.

My eyes drop to my closed notebook, knowing every minute I spend on this, is betraying his trust.

"I'm too tired." I mutter, coming up with yet another excuse to pull away.

"Have you thought about it yet?" I ask again, getting up and making my way to the kitchen for a coffee refill.

"About what?"

"Doing press."

"No." I glare at him before filling my coffee cup.

"God damn it Jay, they are trying this case in the press. So we need to step up our game and do the same."

"I don't want to."

"Well I don't really care what you do and don't want, I only care about saving your life." He frowns deeply before taking the coffee out of my hands.

"Enough running on fumes and caffeine, go get some sleep."

"No."

"Erin. You have been going non stop, you need your rest."

"Only if you agree to do press."

"That could go wrong in a million different wants."

"Just like putting your stupid ass on the stand." He raises his eyebrows, shock piercing in his blue eyes.

"Sorry, I'm a little grumpy."

"A little? But you're probably right."

"Of course I am."

"Fine, go get some sleep and I'll do the press."

"Thank you." I take one last look at the coffee before moving around him and off to my bedroom.

I groan as my eyes land on my phone, noting I've been asleep eight hours.

I squint before swinging my legs off the bed and stumbling blinding through the apartment, looking for Jay.

I sigh in relief when I find him in my home office, before my heart rate increases because he's looking through my files.

"What the hell is this?" He practically growls and I'm suddenly wide-awake, not a lick of sleep lingering.

I move over to grab the papers he's reading, sighing in relief when it's not the worst he could have found scribbled furiously in my own penmanship.

"A strategy, a line of questioning… one that they will without a doubt explore. It's best not to be caught off guard."

"That's bullshit."

"Yeah, well. You're not the one with the experience." I move around him to pack up the papers, ensuring he doesn't see what I truly can't afford him too.

"Right, that again."

"Look, if I want to know how to go into combat – I'd come to you. But this is my wheelhouse and you gotta stop butting in."

"What are you even doing in here?" I ask when it's clear his hurt silence won't be broken by him.

"You've been working around the clock, I just wanted to help."

"You want to help? Take these talking points and practice the hell out of them for the press interview. I'll prep you later."

"So that's my motive is it?" He glares at the closed folder in my hand.

"They certainly think it is."

"That I didn't want to be a father."

"…yes." I nod once, briskly and scratch my brow.

"What?"

"Nothing."

"Damn it Erin."

"The baby is a motive… that someone might have knocked her up. You found out, and your killed her in a jealous rage."

"Are you saying they will make her our to be unfaithful?"

"No, they will likely want me to do that. Because they won't want to taint the victim, that doesn't go well when it's a woman. But if I bring it up, propose that the real babies father did it… then well, it's just easier to spin it and frame the boyfriend as the killer."

It's silent for a long time.

"Are you saying she was unfaithful?"

"It's possible."

"No." He hisses out, shaking his head.

"She wouldn't."

"Well she was meeting someone at a motel every Thursday at 5pm."

"What?"

"My investigator tracked her there, every Thursday for three months."

He gets up silently and leaves the room.

I care deeply for the pain he's in, but I can't keep letting my emotions hi-jack the case and my prep for it.

I collapse into my chair, reaching for my phone to check in with the investigator.

"You're gonna want to see this as soon as possible." The first words out of her mouth have me bother nervous and trembling with excitement.

"I'll be right there."

"Great, thank you. If you can prep answers to those questions I sent through, we will get your on the witness stand." I hang up and roll my neck, before looking at myself all done up in the mirror.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

"This is part of my job description." I hit back at Jen.

"Usually the client wants it to happen." She stares me down.

"Jen, I love you, and thank you for finding out everything you have so far. But please, don't lecture me. Right now, all I care about is getting him off."

"Oh I bet." She smirks at me and I laugh for what feels like the first time in weeks.

"Miss Lindsay, they are ready for you." I blow out a breath and jump down from the chair.

"They arrested your client 15 years after the crime. It doesn't seem like something they would do baselessly."

I nod thoughtfully, noting the pleasantries of the interview are over.

"It is when the Attorney general is up for re-election, and this is the one high profile case he could never bring charges for when he was a prosecutor all those years ago."

I enjoy the shocked raise of her eyebrows.

"Are you saying the claims hold no merit?"

"That's for a court of law to decide, a jury of his peers. It's interesting the case was brought against him after the police lost the evidence. It's easier to fit a narrative when there isn't any physical evidence."

"I hear Mr Halstead was happy to give his blood to prove his innocence." My pulse increases, remember his foolish decision all those months before.

"He didn't need to, given the fact he served his country overseas. He's a former Army ranger, a god damn hero is you ask me. To come back from that, and all he wants to do is serve his city."

"How is he holding up?"

"About how you expect, he's doing everything he can to clear his name. But to not allow the flame of the investigation dull. He wants to help with the person responsible for this tragedy that took away the girl he loved. Especially considering…"

"Considering what?"

"We just learnt she was carrying his child when she passed. He's currently grieving this new loss, it's why he couldn't be here today."

"Oh gosh, that's so terrible. Did he know?"

"No, he wishes he did. He wishes they never went to the party that night… he wishes a lot of things."

"Is this new discovery?"

"It's not new knowledge to the police, no."

"This has never been disclosed before, why do you think that is?"

"Because they feel it casts doubt on him as a viable suspect."

"Please elaborate."

"To share the love to create a new life… how could he possibly dream of taking her out of his life."

"How do you think they got onto him as a suspect?"

"I've petitioned the court for this information, it seems an anonymous tip came in. They questioned everyone in his life, an his old room mate for a brief time decided to capture his fifteen minutes of fame." I nod sadly at the camera.

"What can we expect of his defense team?"

"It's just myself."

"What about your firm?"

"I've taken a leave of absence from work, pursuit of justice and truth are the reason I do this job. When I come across a case with so much injustice, and someone being harassed… and suffering life threatening injuries from his time behind bars. Well, I can't stand for it. I'm donating my time to see to it that justice is served and the real killer is put behind bars. Allie deserves that, her family and friends too. My client included." The conviction in my voice is dripping with sincerity, the strength of my words and tone being broadcasted loud and clear.

"I believe he's currently out on bail?"

"Yes, there was a hit put on him inside the jail."

"This just gets more intense."

"Yes, we thought this might happen. Someone who served his country, who was on his way to strapping on a CPD badge. While he hasn't yet put any criminals away, other inmates don't much distinguish the difference."

"Last question – do you have an ace up your sleeve for the trial?"

"Oh, yes. We have quite a few. The prosecution will wish they did their homework… the police too."

"Thank you for your time Erin."

"Thank you." I reach forward to shake her hand.

"What the hell was that?" It's about what I expected his first words to me to be, but still I cringe.

"Well, you didn't want to."

"I said I would."

"You've ignored me everytime I've tried to prep you." He glares at me, anger radiating around us.

"Her family shouldn't have to see that, to hear about her pregnancy like that."

"That's not my problem. The cops should have told them… my only concern is keeping you out of prison. Do you understand that?"

"Well, our concern should be to not hurt her family further, and find the person responsible."

"You are more than welcome to put cop instincts to work, and figure that out. But let's face it – you're too fucking close to it."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Okay, name some alternative suspects." There's silence.

"Right. You can't. Because that would implicate someone in your life. Which you aren't willing to do."

"I'm not willing to believe it."

"They believe it just fine about you." I bite back out walking to my office and slamming the door shut.

I'm biting my nails again, a habit recently formed when I consider going back out to come clean, or at the very least share the latest news from Jen.

Instead I jump when the front door slams shut and I drop my hand into my hands feeling defeated.

A/N: Okay, no more beating around the bush. Trial starting, I've got a lot of notes and dialogue on that ready to go... let me know if you are still reading.

This chapter was building for a reveal in trial.

Please review with motivation to update other stories... lol

:) Lexi