Jay found himself pacing his bedroom. This was stupid and all he wanted to do was ring and cancel but he didn't want to be one of those guys. But then he also wasn't the type of guy to agree on a blind date so why did he? Maybe because he never put effort in to finding the right girl. Since he became a detective, all the romance and trying to have any type of serious relationship went straight out the window.
Yes he had his fair share of one night stands or flings here and there but he never found someone that fit into his lifestyle. He worked late nights, he was on call 99% of the time and he always seemed to put work before anyone. But he always thought maybe he wouldn't put work before the right girl, whenever he found her.
So here he was, about to leave his house to go to a fancy restaurant for a date with a girl he knew nothing about. He didn't even know her name, it was all weird. This was typical Ruzek though, a friend that was still in the police academy, he was dating someone from patrol in district 21 who had a friend that was also seeking some type of love. So they teamed up to set the pair up. Whether it worked was completely up to the strangers but they were hopefully pushing it in the right direction.
He grabbed his phone and wallet off the kitchen bench, slid his shoes on, grabbed his jacket and walked out of his apartment. He was dressed fancy, well fancier then his usual attire. Unless he was undercover which was most of the time lately. He decided to drive, a blind date was risky. So he wanted an excuse to be he was driving and couldn't stay for drinks after dinner if he didn't hit it off with her. He hated having doubt but he also didn't want to get his hopes up.
Erin stood in the mirror in her third outfit. Kim behind her screwing her nose up once again lifting up the dress she'd been trying to get her friend to wear since she had gotten there.
"Kim I can't wear that!"
"Why not?" Erin shrugged, "Your going to a nice restaurant with a nice guy..."
"You don't even know if he is a nice guy."
Kim rolled her eyes, "I believe Adam when he tells me he is. Now just try it on god dammit."
"Fine." She said snatching the dress out of Kim's hands.
She'd been in the bathroom for a couple minutes, staring at herself in the mirror. What the hell was she thinking? She didn't do blind dates. She barely even dated.
She straitened the dress up and looked herself over. She had to admit she did look good, she barely ever dressed up like this unless she had to go undercover, but usually she always passed it up. She didn't like to get her legs out while at work, she hated eyes being on her. Especially when she worked under her pseudo-father, he also didn't like for her to have her legs out or her body on show, it was hard enough telling the guys that worked around her to keep in in their pants.
So she done the finishing touches of her makeup, let her hair out so it flowed nicely over her shoulders and stepped out of her ensuite, Kim was holding up a pair of strapped heels with a big grin on her face, "Damn girl! Look at those legs. I don't know this guy but if he doesn't take you home then I will."
Erin laughed, "Take it I look okay then?"
"More then. Now put these on and get out of here. Your meeting him there right?" Kim questioned.
"Yes. What's his name again?"
"Jay. Jay Halstead I think? That rings a bell."
"And what does he do for a living."
"Detective?"
"Where?"
Kim held up her hand, "Why don't you save the questions for your date?"
"Fine. I best get going."
"Make sure you fill me in with all the details." Kim winked as she was ushered out of Erin's apartment.
Jay waited patiently at the table, he was anxious. Not knowing why, he'd dated girls before, but not blindly. He had no idea what he was in for. This could go one of two ways, he could hit it off with her straight away or he could leave with a couple hours he will never get back in his life. He just had to think positive.
Every time the door of the restaurant opened he peered over, not knowing what she looked like made it even harder. He just had to wait for someone to make their way over to him, how hard was that?
Erin got out of the cab and stepped onto the side walk, adjusting the knee length dress. Kim offered to drop her off but she knew the only reason she wanted to do that was so she could take a quick peak at her date.
She thanked the cab driver and watched him drive off. Taking a deep breath she made her way into the restaurant, at-least he picked a good place. Purple pig was one of her favourites so he was off to a great start.
She waited patiently behind a loved up couple, another thing she wasn't a fan of. PDA. Hated it, yes she never found the right guy to do it with so maybe that's why she cringed every time people in public were all over each other.
Approaching the waiter she smiled, "Booking for Jay?" She asked as she remembered his name, she had to lock that in her mind otherwise that would get awkward.
"Right this way ma'am." He said gesturing her to follow him.
Erin followed the waiter, she saw some guy sitting alone, neat styled brown hair, little facial hair, built and dressed nicely, very nicely. Was this him? No it couldn't be. How could someone that attractive be single.
But when the waiter pointed towards the table she nearly fell over, this was who she was dining with. And man was she not complaining, especially when he looked up. His eyes were something else, she couldn't quite tell what colour they were and she didn't want to stare deep into them but they were beautiful, whether they were green or blue.
Jay looked up from his seat and saw a woman getting pointed in his direction. She was beautiful. He shook himself out of his trance and stood up as she approached him, holding her hand out, "Jay?"
He smiled and shook her hand, "Yeah that's me. I don't want to come off rude but Ruze never told me your name..."
"Or you forgot it." She said as she sat down in front of him. Jay didn't have words, he couldn't think, maybe he was told and forgot. She chuckled at his worried face, "I'm pulling your chain, my names Erin. Erin Lindsay, nice to meet you."
Jay cleared his throat, "Right. Uh, I have had a chance to look at the menu, did you want to have a look or I can order a bottle of wine?"
She smiled, and wow did his heart nearly stop. Those dimples made him weak at the knees, "Wine sounds good."
He nodded and signalled the waiter over, ordering a bottle of red wine. Quite expensive, not from the top shelf but he did seem to know his wine.
"Surprised you know your wine." She gave him a smile.
"What can't a guy know his wine?" He raised an eyebrow.
This eyes she thought, she was getting lost in them. She cleared her throat, "It's just most guys don't, and most guys don't usually spend a c note on wine on the first date."
"Who said I was paying?" Jay and Erin chuckled, "Been on a few then?"
"What?" She said giving him a questionable look.
"First dates? Or blind dates?"
"Let's just say I haven't been on a date in a while and even when I did I definitely was never bought to a nice place and got to drink nice wine. As for blind dates, can't say I have been on any, this is my first." She explained.
Jay nodded and watched as the waiter returned with the bottle, pouring them both a glass. He looked towards Erin as she sipped in her glass, "Me too."
"Hmm?"
"This is my first blind date."
"Oh. Lucky us then." She laughed, "So what do you do for work?" Even though she knew he was a detective she wanted to know if he was going to be honest with her.
"I'm a detective, organised crime but that may change soon." He said casually, "What about your Miss Lindsay?"
"Seems we may have a lot in common Halstead," he raised his eyebrow, curious as to what else she had to say, "Detective, Intelligence Unit, District 21."
Jay was shocked, this girl looked beautiful and somewhat innocent but to be a detective, she definitely must be a badass.
"Don't look so shocked detective." She said as she sipped her wine.
"I'm not, it's just I envy you. Your in with the big dogs, intelligence is the real deal." He said blowing out an impressed breath.
"That it is."
"So you work with Antonio Dawson?"
"Yeah, how do you know Antonio?" She questioned.
"Kinda had a fling with his sister while undercover," she raised an eyebrow, "Before you judge. It was a moment of weakness, usually I don't do that sort of thing when I'm on the job especially on assignment."
"You don't have to explain yourself Jay. So wait a minute, are you the guy Antonio is talking to Voight about? Trying to get you into our unit?"
Jay shrugged but his smirk gave it away, "Maybe we will be seeing more of each other."
"Hmm, not so sure Jay. Voight has a pretty strict rule about no in house romance."
"Good thing I haven't started yet." He said cheekily.
She rolled her eyes, "Should we order?"
"Yeah I'm starving."
The waiter came over just in time, they both ordered their meals then continued small talk until their dinner arrived.
"So what made you want to become a cop?" Erin asked.
"I was a ranger before I joined the academy," Jay watched as Erin's eyes widened, "I just knew after that I wanted to continue helping the country and people but in a different way. Plus I'm good with guns." He shrugged, trying to lighten the mood. He hated talking about his past.
"Okay hot shot." She chuckled, "But a ranger, that must have been tough."
"Yeah I don't really like to talk about it." He shrugged it off.
"Okay sure, sorry I didn't mean to overstep."
He suddenly reached across the table grabbing her hand, "Don't apologise, somehow it feels normal to talk to you about it."
She smiled then looked down at their intertwined hands, he noticed she was looking and awkwardly pulled away, "So Lindsay. What about you?"
"Why I wanted to become a cop?" He nodded, "Well I had a pretty rough life growing up, moved around a lot, my mother," Erin huffed, "If that's what you call her...She wasn't around much, either drinking or taking drugs. Hooking up with any guy she laid her eyes on. It was a mess. Then well I got caught up in some shit, bad crowd. Was staying with a guy, a much older guy. He kept the lights on, food on the table, he kept me alive. Anyway then I got caught with some stuff, met Hank."
"As in Hank Voight?"
"Yeah," she smiled, "He gave me his card. Eventually I became a CI. Then he took me into his home at 14, from then on my life changed. I didn't realise how good it felt to be in a household where I didn't have to be the adult. Of course I acted up but if it wasn't for Voight I wouldn't be who I am today, I became a cop to help people that were just like me. To try and prevent some of that from happening."
He was mixed with emotions, he felt horrible for her but then again he was envious of how strong she was about it all. He could barely speak about his time in country, yet here she was spilling her life's story to him. She was something else, and it only intrigued him more.
She looked at him puzzled as he stayed quiet, "Sorry I don't usually open up to complete strangers, but as you said something about this feels normal."
"Don't apologise, sorry I went blank. It's just, I wish I had the courage you do. I can barely speak about my past because it's something i have blocked out for a long time."
"Maybe one day you will have the courage to tell me more about it Jay Halstead."
Jay smiled, "So does that mean we will be seeing more of each other?"
"We'll see."
Before they could both get caught up in each other's lives their meals arrived, Jay ordered another bottle of wine. Making up his mind that he definitely wouldn't be driving home lately, this girl he liked. This girl he wanted to get to know, a lot more.
"Well I don't think I could possible fit anymore in." Jay said stretching back in his seat.
"Oh man, I was hoping we could share a dessert." Erin chuckled.
"Sharing dessert? Seems your getting quite comfortable with me detective."
"Hmm maybe."
"Well how about this. I was thinking maybe we could go for a walk, I know a little late night diner that does the best waffles."
"I like that idea."
"Then let's get the bill and get out of here." Jay said waving the waiter over. They waited a few moments until the waiter came back with the bill, Jay opened it swatting Erin's hand away when she tried to grab it, "I'm paying Miss Lindsay."
"Jay you bought two bottles of 100 dollar wine, I think the least I can do is pay half..." she was cut off when the waiter came back with another bottle of wine.
"Sir your wine to go, I will be back to collect the bill."
Erin turned to him raising an eyebrow, "Thought maybe a wine and walk would be nice?"
"You trying to get me drunk Jay?"
He smirked, "Of course not." He placed enough cash in the bill to cover their dinner aswell as a nice tip. They thanked the waiter and both stood up from their table. Putting their jackets on they made their way outside.
Erin was hit with the fresh Chicago air, quickly wrapping her arms around her body, "Even though I grew up in Chicago I still hate the cold. I'm not one but use to it."
Jay chuckled, "You are wearing a dress, that probably doesn't make it any better."
She playing hit his arm, "Not like I can wear jeans and combat boots to a fancy restaurant on a date."
"I don't think I would have minded." He shrugged.
"Okay enough sweet talking, where is this diner with the yummy waffles you talk about?"
"It's pretty cold out, how about we get a taxi?" She nodded quickly as he hailed one down.
They sat close together in the diner picking at the shared plate of waffles sitting in front of them. Knees grazing one another's occasionally, sending sparks through both of their bodies.
"So tell me Jay, how is a guy like you single. I mean you seem like quite a nice guy, put together and I guess your easy on the eyes too." Erin smiled looking what felt like into his soul.
"My job always seems to get into the way. Either they can't handle it or I just simply don't want them to have to handle it. I haven't really had a serious relationship since before I left for the rangers," Jay said mentally trying to remember, "That's pretty sad isn't it."
Erin rested her hand on Jays wrist and chuckled quietly, "You seem like a really caring guy Jay. You obviously just haven't found the right girl yet. And trust me I understand, this job is a lot sometimes. Feels like we never stop working."
"Even when I know there is no chance I will get called in and have to work it's like my head never leaves it. I'm constantly thinking about it, then if I'm not I'm out somewhere looking around for crime just incase I have to help or something." He shrugged.
"I feel that. Trust me." Erin agreed with exactly what he was saying, she knew his pain.
"So what about you? Your pretty easy on the eyes aswell I suppose, so how come you haven't been snatched up?"
"Like you. The job. I did date a guy for a while, thought it could be serious but then he was having a tough time, needed space. Also I feel like I always push guys away when things get serious, I don't know why, just a thing I do I guess." She shrugged.
"Safe to say we have both had our fair share of shitty non existent relationships."
Erin chuckled, "Not wrong. So what made you wanna give this date a chance then?"
"Believe me I was going to ring and cancel, but I'm glad I didn't." He smirked.
"I'm glad you didn't cancel either."
"So detective Lindsay I have had a really nice night but I should be taking you home, I have an early morning."
"School night?"
Jay laughed, "Yeah something like that."
"Well detective Halstead, I have had a real nice night too. Thankyou."
"So does this mean I have a chance of getting your number and doing something like this again?"
"Smooth." Erin chuckled as she stood up, holding her hand out for his phone. He smiled and passed it to her watching her as she typed it in.
"Do you want me to put yours in?"
"Well Jay, I'm hoping I won't have to. Talk soon?"
"Yeah soon, let me walk you out." He said standing up.
They walked out of the diner and waited for the taxi, once it arrived Erin turned to him, "Maybe the next time we see each other I could show you how good I am with guns too."
"I'd like to see that. Nice meeting no you Erin."
Erin started walking off, smiling like a teenage girl, she stopped in her tracks and walked back to wards Jay, standing on her tippy toes to sneak a quick kiss, "Goodnight Jay."
Jay blushed and watched her as she walked away. This girl was something else and man was he hooked.
