A/N: Final chapter you guys! Thank you all so much for going on this short journey with me. I was SO HAPPY to see many of you getting excited about Tiva showing up in the last chapter. Prior to Linstead, Tiva was my OTP, and they'll always hold a special place in my heart.
Now, without further ado - the final chapter!
Chapter 6: Not Your Ordinary Robbery
Erin was released from the hospital two days later with strict instructions to keep her wounds and bandaging clean and to have her doctor check it within the week.
They hit a drive thru on the way back to the hotel. The food is subpar, but she's too tired to care. Jay hasn't slept much in the last two days either. Hospitals never allow for a good night's sleep.
She makes a beeline for the bed as soon as they get back to the hotel. Jay settles onto the bed next to her and she curls into him, humming contentedly at the contact.
Within minutes, they're both asleep.
When they wake up again, it's in the orange light of the early morning.
She's still curled into him, her injured arm resting on his chest, one leg haphazardly thrown across his torso. He's got one arm wrapped around behind her, his hand splayed across her back. As her eyes flutter open, he reaches to push a stray hair out of her face, his thumb brushing her cheek in the process.
Looking into his eyes, she decides four pillows is more than enough from here on out.
An Agent McGee calls her that morning as they're heading back to their room after breakfast, letting her know that NCIS had closed the case and she's free to go wherever, thanking her again for her help.
"Does that mean we have to go home now?" Jay pouts on the elevator ride up to her room.
"Here I thought you'd be excited to get me home," she purrs, looking him over suggestively, thankful they're the only ones in the elevator.
His Adam's apple bobs and he sucks in a breath, his jeans suddenly feeling much too tight. He tries to argue. "Er, the doctor told you to take it easy," but even he doesn't buy it. He hasn't been with her in far too long.
A lascivious smirk dances across her lips and she backs him up against the wall of the elevator car. "So you'll be on top." Her hand floats down, giving him a quick squeeze through his jeans.
This woman is going to be the death of him.
She's peppering kisses along his neck now, her hand teasing at the hem of his shirt. It's all he can do to not take her right then and there.
How long does it take this thing to get to the sixth floor?
The elevator slows to a stop, finally reaching the correct floor. Her hand slides into his and she all but drags him down the hall to her room.
As soon as they're inside, his lips are on hers and he's pressing her up against the door, careful to keep pressure off of her injured shoulder.
"Jay," she breathes between kisses.
"Yeah?" He responds, moving his mouth to her neck.
She drops her head back against the door, a moan escaping her lips as he finds her sweet spot. "Take me to bed," she rasps.
He wastes no time scooping her up into his arms, their lips fused together as he carries her back to the bedroom.
SIX MONTHS LATER
Erin woke up before her alarm to the smell of coffee. She glanced at the time. She'd have to get up soon enough anyway. It wasn't worth going back to sleep, so she rolled out of bed and started getting ready for the day. Maybe the early start meant that they could avoid the beginning of rush hour traffic.
Sure enough, she and Nadia pulled into the station earlier than usual.
Nadia split off to go change into her uniform and Erin started heading upstairs.
"Hey, Erin!" Trudy called. "Nadia's partner called in sick half an hour ago. I want you with her in uniform today."
Erin eyed her suspiciously. "Me?" Not that she didn't want to ride with Nadia, but there were plenty of other uniforms. Why pull her down from Intelligence?
"Yes, you. I already cleared it with your sergeant." Sensing the younger woman's hesitation, Trudy tried her best to play it off casually. "Come on, are you telling me you'd rather sit up there twiddling your thumbs until another case comes in instead of riding with the woman you inspired to become a cop?"
A smile spread across Erin's face. Come to think of it, spending one day partnered with Nadia would be pretty sweet. "Well, when you put it like that," she said, turning toward the lockers. "Just make sure you give us a good squad, yeah?"
"You good to go?" Antonio asked.
Jay took a look around the almost-empty apartment and nodded. "Tell Jenna -"
"Jennifer."
"Whatever. Tell her thanks again for this." If Antonio's new girlfriend were here, he would apologize and thank her personally for allowing him to use the apartment she was moving out of.
"I will. Give me five minutes to get out of here and I'll call dispatch." Antonio patted him on the back and turned to leave. "Good luck, Halstead."
Jay thanked his sergeant and shut the door behind him.
He took a deep breath. Five minutes until Antonio called dispatch.
He toyed with the small box in his pocket. Somewhere between five and fifteen minutes from now, he was going to ask his best friend to marry him.
Sure, six months might seem fast to some, but they had so much more than just the last six months. They had years of being partners and always having the other's back. He'd never been more sure of anything in his life. Erin had always been there for him. He wanted to always be there for her.
Nadia and Erin spent the morning cruising the route Trudy assigned them. They had a handful of routine traffic stops and one call for a public disturbance. About two hours into their patrol, another call came over the radio. It was a report of a robbery in progress at an apartment complex. No weapons reported.
"You know where that is?" Erin teased.
Nadia shot a playful glare at her. "We're en route, two blocks out," she said back to dispatch.
When they got there, Nadia let Erin lead the way to the apartment.
"Chicago PD," Erin announced, rapping on the door.
A moment later, it swung open, revealing -
"Jay?" Erin asked, surprised to see him. "What are you doing here?"
Nadia took this as her cue to leave, backing away soundlessly.
Jay sent her a grateful smile. "Come on in," he said, ignoring the question and stepping back so Erin could follow him in.
She eyed him suspiciously, but followed him into the apartment, and he swung the door closed behind them.
"Wait. Jay," she said. "Where'd Nadia go?"
He tried to play it off casually. "Probably forgot something in the car. I'm sure she'll be up soon."
"Jay," Erin said, the look on her face clearly communicating she didn't believe him. "What's really going on here?"
Jay, only a little disappointed his girlfriend could read him like a book, sighed. "Okay, fine, you've got me. Nobody actually lives here," he said. "but there was still a robbery."
She quirked an eyebrow at him and planted her hands on her hips, waiting for him to explain.
"Thankfully," he continued, trying his best to keep his cool. "the only thing that's stolen is my heart-"
Any confusion she had quickly resolved when he dropped to one knee and pulled a small, red box from his pocket. Her stance immediately softened, one hand floating up to cover her heart, which was now racing in excitement.
"- but I've known that you've had that for a long time," he continued. "You've been the best damn partner anyone could ask for, on and off the job. When we moved in together, I told you I don't want you to come and go. Now, I'm asking to take it one step further. Erin Lindsay, will you marry me?"
She beamed at him. "Of course I will."
He slid the ring on her finger and she pulled him to his feet, wrapping her arms around him and planting a kiss on his lips.
"I love you so much," he said, touching the tip of his nose to hers.
"I love you, too," she replied, kissing him again.
P.S. If the "four pillows is more than enough" reference is foreign to you - look up the deleted scene from Linstead having a serious talk after moving in together. IT'S SO SWEET YOU'LL MELT.
Anyway, thanks so much again for reading and commenting and I can't wait to see you on the next one!
Much love to you all,
Kae