Title: Chasing the Future
Chapter 3 – A Wrinkle in Time

A/N: Thanks to everyone who has read and reviewed so far! Means a lot and helps with inspiration and of course showing appreciation for time and hard work is awesome. For you lurkers (please don't make me call you out) but a little bit of appreciation goes a long way. If you like the story…why not say thanks for the work & time that went into it?

Linda – I pulled it. Thanks.


Kelly slowly turned back and watched Erin remain in place a few seconds before she dared to approach, taking each step purposely as Jay held back to talk to Mouse.

"She, knows him?"

"I'll get the goods later," Jay replied with a small frown as he watched his partner but wasn't able to hear what was going on.

"Sorry I just…it was you…last night right? Outside the convenience store?" Erin asked as Kelly walked half way up the staircase to meet her.

"That it was," Kelly replied somewhat sheepishly. "Sorry I had to get my buddy's car back to him," Kelly stammered somewhat nervously. "Are you…working a case here?"

"Yes and the guy you were talking to works on my team," Erin said casually; feeling a bit less nervous than she expected. "I didn't mean to chase you away or…"

"Oh right…yeah sorry no, I had to get going. He helped me prank a buddy but I thought you were the library police or something," Kelly nervously rambled on. "I should get going. Let you get back to work."

"Do you…work around here?"

"No I uh…" Kelly started to reply; as his brain raced for an answer. But he was offered a bit of an intervention when her radio cracked to life and it was time to get back to work – for good this time.

"Sorry, I gotta run," Erin said with a heavy sigh.

As much as Kelly wanted to ask her out for coffee to even get to know her better, he didn't know if would even be in town the following day. If the job at Firehouse 51 fell through, he would simply take George and get on the next bus and head west.

"Yeah…it was good to see you."

"Erin."

"What?"

"My name…it's Erin."

"Kelly. I better let you go."

And just as Jay descended down the stairs at Voight's unseen urging, Kelly turned and bounded down the rest of the stairs and outside the library – his heart racing at top speed. He knew he was taking a chance to email Mac but he had to know about any news on his father's death and since he was now assured by a police officer, he settled his mind a bit that the email origin would be untraceable. Of course he failed to realize in his haste that the people after him would finally trace the IP address and hone in on the city.

The hunt had only begun.

XXXXXXXX

"So that was the guy from last night?"

"Yeah…" Erin replied in a distracted tone as they headed back to the computer that Mouse had been working at. "What did he want help with? I mean…what did you find?"

"So…Johnson, you know our perp. Here is the message he sent. Notice this here…"

Erin leaned in and watched as Mouse showed her another piece of evidence that was drawing them closer to their real suspect but she couldn't get Kelly out of her thoughts. She had hoped that he would have taken a chance to ask her out but cursed herself for also holding back and not being bold enough to take a chance on something she felt stirring inside.

"We're only hours behind," Jay muttered as he pulled his phone and called Voight and then Antonio.

"Mouse, what did he say?"

"He just wanted help with an email. Said he wanted to prank a friend but something was off."

"What?" She desperately prodded.

"He was a bit more nervous than usual. So unless it was something…criminal…" his voice trailed off as he looked up with a concerned expression.

"I want to ask you to get that email but at the same time…" she huffed as her brow furrowed. "Unless…"

"Unless what?"

"Unless he's involved with Johnson?" She pondered as Mouse's eyes widened. "Follow it through…you're here…he's here…we're here and Johnson was here. I'd say…"

"Erin…"

"We have to be sure. If it's just a lame prank email no harm done right? I certainly won't be following up on something personal. But if it's something criminal and he is involved then I need to know for sure."

"Okay hold on…"

Erin looked up to see Jay still talking to Voight as Mouse quickly moved over to the computer Kelly had been using and started to furiously plunk away on the keyboard.

"Okay…got it."

Erin's eyes quickly darted down to the simple, but cryptic and confusing message.

'Mac. Any updates? Safe to come back?'

"That's it?"

"Yeah. Some prank huh."

She quickly pulled her phone and took a picture before she, thanked him and then pulled away to join her partner.

"You okay?"

"Yeah. I'll have to worry about the mystery man later. What did Voight say?"

As Erin listened to the details of their next destination, Kelly plunked himself down on the bus as he headed back to the hostel with a mind to get out of town before things got too hot. Just go…get George, get on the bus and go! As much as he wanted to do that, he also had to hear from Mac, in case his old friend had made a breakthrough and the people who murdered his father had been brought to justice.

He reached the daycare and watched with a smile as his son pulled away from the small activity table and rushed toward him with open arms.

"Hey my boy!" Kelly smiled as he scooped the young child up into his arms and held him close. "Did you have fun today?"

"Yeah," George said as Kelly held him close and neared the front desk.

"Thanks again," Kelly told the daycare hostess as his phone started to buzz. He ignored the call as he collected his son and then headed outside into the late afternoon sun. He checked his wallet and let out a small growl as he realized he had to get some cash and soon, otherwise they would be in real trouble.

As they slowly walked toward the hostel rooming house, Kelly asked his son all about his day, any friends he made and what things they did. He told his son about the job interview, but most details were lost on the smile child. Since the room wasn't guaranteed to be theirs, Kelly was a bit dismayed when he arrived to find his bag behind the counter and his room already rented out.

"Thanks for the help."

"Wish you and the boy all the luck in the world," the older man gave Kelly a concerned glance. "Take care of that boy now."

"I will."

Kelly slung their shared duffle bag over his shoulder, kept a firm grasp on his son's hand and headed back outside. First, to get some dinner and then to find a place for the two of them to spend the night – free of charge. His phone buzzed again and this time he was quick to pull the device and check it.

"Boden…" Kelly muttered as he ushered George over to a small bench and then returned the call of the man he had met with only hours earlier.

It was the news he had wanted but now was almost hesitant to accept. But as he looked down at his precious son and knew that his wallet was almost empty, he had no other choice.

"I'll take it and yes I can start tomorrow. Thank you Sir. See you tomorrow," Kelly said with a firm response as his heart rate skipped a few beats. He had hoped that, if he was to make a new change in his life that it would be under better circumstances. This wasn't ideal but it was a means to an end right now. I'll just work a few months to get enough money to get us on the bus and head west.

"Daddy got a new job George," Kelly playfully ruffled his son's hair as he headed toward the nearest Subway to get them something for dinner. It wouldn't be much and he wondered how he'd manage daycare costs for the next two weeks, until he got his first paycheck but hoped that he could find a free shelter just to tide them over.

The library was almost closed, so he'd have to wait until the next day to get an update from Mac and the sun had started to set. He had to get himself and his son off the street and somewhere safe and dry for the night.

"Alright buddy…I think…" he stated in a low tone as he started to follow the little blip on his phone that led him and his son to the nearest men's shelter. It was a bit more rundown than the other place, but it was free.

But just before he was about to go in, he noticed an older woman struggling with two large boxes and hurried over to help.

"Hey can I give you a hand?" Kelly asked as the woman let go of the box, let it slide back into the trunk and looked at him, down at George and then back up at him with a huff.

"Wouldn't mind. Thank you."

"Course," Kelly smiled as he shifted the bag on his back to a better position, made sure George was still at his side and then grabbed one of the boxes with his other free arm.

"My hero," the older woman praised as she took the other box and led the way into the shelter.

"You work here?"

"Sometimes. But tonight I'm just dropping stuff off. Are you…staying here? With the boy?"

"We uh…no of course not. We were just passing by and wanted to help."

"Well I thank you both for that," she replied with a nod as she placed the box on the counter and then looked down at George. "Your daddy is a strong guy."

"Uh huh…" George agreed as she gently touched his cheek and then looked up at Kelly with a kind smile.

"I'm Trudy."

"Thanks Trudy. We…have to be going."

Not wanting to give his name out to too many people, he quickly ushered George out the door and then around to the side of the building, waiting until she was gone and then headed back inside to see if they had any free beds for the night.

"How much for the night?" Kelly asked in a strained tone as the large man looked down at George's somewhat scared expression.

"First night is free. Can't promise more than a couple of days. I only do the bedding once a week for each room, or unless someone new checks in or out. Showers are clean and so are we. No drugs, no girls, no excuses."

"Just me and the boy and that's it. Really appreciate it."

"Sure thing man. Here's the key. Down the hall on the right."

Kelly took the key and hurried George down the hall and into the room. He hated the fact that they had no real home, like they did in Philly but promised that this was only temporary and they would soon have a normal home and live like a normal family – no one the wiser.

Or so he thought.

XXXXXXXX

~Philadelphia~

Veteran detective Mackenzie 'Mac' Lester looked behind him as he made his way down the narrow path toward the burnt out home. He heard another noise and quickly pulled a small flashlight and shone it around him. "I'm armed. Show yourself!"

"Don't…shoot…I'm not armed. Geez with the light dude."

"You Jeremy?"

"Yeah. You got the message?"

"Yes. Now what do you know about Benny Severide's death?"

"I know who did it. But..."

XXXXXXXX

~Chicago~

"Trudy, you still here?"

"Back for round two," Trudy huffed as Erin approached the back of Precinct 21. "But we collected a lot of good stuff this time."

"You want a hand with that?"

"No way. If you help me, I might not have handsome strangers help me."

"Ohhh should I be telling Mouch?"

"He had a kid," Trudy rolled her eyes. "Real looker though. Shoulda got your number for him."

"Nice try. If he has a kid and is good looking then he's married."

"In that part of town? Maybe. Or maybe not. If I see him again, I'll get his name and number."

"Okay."

"What was that all about? A blind date?" Voight asked as he approached and both watched Trudy disappear through the back door and out of view.

"She's just gathering up her stuff for the men's shelter her and Mouch help sponsor."

"I see. So…we're close to taking down Johnson."

"What a relief," Erin stated as her brow gently furrowed.

"And who's the mystery man, Jay says has you distracted?"

"He's…" she turned back to the man that she called 'father' and shook her head. "He's just…no one really. Kelly. All I got was a first name. No ring but that doesn't mean anything. We had a moment today but…but ah damn I should have just asked if he wanted coffee or something. Probably thinks I'm some kind of crazy cop."

"You are," Voight smiled as he playfully put his arm around her shoulders. "The right one is out there for you."

"Yeah…I know," she replied softly as they headed toward the front door to head to Molly's. But I don't want anyone else, I want Kelly.


A/N: thanks everyone. Please do review before you go.