Awkward Encounter

Jay was woken up by somebody banging on the door. He rolled over and looked at the time, it was 9:30 which meant he and Erin had only slept for three hours. It was Erin's birthday, and they had a party at Molly's for her the night prior with the whole team. As the last orders bell was rung, everyone was disappointed, they weren't ready to call it a night so Erin decided to invite everyone back to her place. The party carried on until around 5, when Adam and Kim finally left - most likely to go back to his place as they were "sharing a taxi to save money". Jay smiled at the beautiful woman next to him, he was so glad he was able to spend her birthday with her - not just as a friend, but as her boyfriend. She hadn't heard the door - evident by the lack of movement, so he got up and pulled on the pair of jeans he had worn last night and went and answered it. He was still a little drunk from the night of partying, so the loud banging on the door seemed 10x louder in his head. As he opened the door, standing in front of him was Hank Voight, his boss - and his girlfriends father figure.

"Halstead! What are you doing here?" Hank asked, disapprovingly, as he stepped inside Erin's apartment.

"Erm, we all went out last night sir…" He stumbled on his words, "…and we all came back here after Molly's had closed. And… well, I must've passed out on the couch as the next thing I knew, you were banging on the door."

"Hmm…" Hank mumbled, not really knowing what to say.

"I will go and wake Erin up, she will be pleased to see you," Jay stated.

"Halstead?" Hank asked as Jay started walking away.

Jay stopped in his tracks and turned around, "Yes sir?"

"Wheres the shirt?" he queried, looking over at Halstead, in Erin's apartment semi naked.

"Erm… I'm not actually sure," Jay stumbled on his words, feeling flustered and unable to think coherently as the effects from last night's - or this morning's alcohol were taking its toll on him, "I'll go and wake her up."

Hank closed the door behind him, watching as Jay walked into Erin's bedroom. He wanted to believe Halstead slept on the couch, but as he looked over to the living room, the couch was full of empty kebab cartons - most likely from the rest of the unit - and a half eaten large pizza. He knew full well that he hadn't slept on the couch and in all honesty did not know how to feel about it.

Jay's head was spinning as he headed back to Erin's bedroom, he felt uneasy at the fact he had just outright lied to his boss, and even more uneasier at the fact that Hank probably saw straight through his lies. He opened the door to her bedroom and looked at her sleeping peacefully with her back to him. He walked over to her and knelt down by her side of the bed and placed his hand gently on her shoulder, "Er, you need to get up," He said in a low voice.

She groaned and rolled over to face him, "What time is it?" she asked reaching out to hold his face.

"It's 9:30… but Erin," He said but was interrupted by her rolling back over and grumbling about it being too early and that they'd only had about 3 hours sleep, "Erin. Hank is here." He blurted out.

She sat up quickly and shot out of bed, nearly falling over as she was still a little drunk as well, "Well you should have bloody led with that Jay!" She exclaimed stumbling over to her draws to grab a pair of sweats and a hoody to cover Jay's t-shirt which she always slept in.

"I'm sorry, I told him I must've passed out on the couch before everyone left!" He informed her.

Erin laughed, "Wow, inventive! Okay, so you passed out on the couch before everyone left. Okay, I'll go and see him. Wait, what about you?"

"I'll grab a shower in the guest bathroom and get dressed and run out as quick as possible. Text me when he leaves?" He asks, walking up to her as she pulled the hoody over her head and putting his arms around her waist, placing a small peck on her cheek, "I really want to spend your birthday with you."

Erin smiles and leans in to kiss him chastely on the lips, "Okay, sounds like a plan."

Walking out into the hall was daunting, she wasn't sure what Hank was going to say or do. This could turn ugly, running her cover story through her head one last time as she walks into the living room, finding it to be empty, "Hank?" she calls out.

"In the kitchen!" He shouts through. She smiles - he's still here which could mean he believed Jay and wanted to stay to wish her a happy birthday.

"Hey, what are you doing here so early?" She asked, entering the kitchen, eyeing the coffee he had just made her.

"I wanted to wish you a happy birthday, kid. I didn't expect to see Halstead at the door, looking like he had been dragged through a hedge backwards, stinking of booze," He replied, sternly.

Erin looked down and took a sip of her coffee, "Yeah we all came back here last night after last order's at Molly's to carry on the party. Jay must've had one too many - actually I think we all did - but he actually passed out on the couch before everyone left. We couldn't rise him so we just left him there as everyone left, which was about 5:30 ish - I think?" She replied, scratching her head - her recollection of last night was pretty hazy, "He's just jumping in the shower before he goes."

Hank doesn't believe her. He knows Erin so well, she could never lie to him, even as a young girl - especially when it came to boys, "I don't believe you," He simply stated, "I'm not stupid."

Erin sighs, she knew full well that this little cover story most likely wouldn't work, "Look, Hank…"

"No, don't you 'look Hank' me. You know how I feel about in house relationships. It only causes chaos and problems for the department," He says angrily, "How long?"

This wasn't the first time Hank was angry at Erin, she knew this wasn't going to end well, "Hank, please…"

"How long, Erin? How long have you been -" He stops, not knowing the exact words to use, "How long?"

"Six months…" She replies, quietly, and see's Hank's face get redder and redder, he looks as if he's about to explode, but she stops him, blurting out, "Look, we knew we were going behind your back. Jay wanted to come clean months ago, but I was scared and we both loved working in the Intelligence unit, we, or I didn't want you to take it out on him and transfer him. I know you don't want drama or any unprofessionalism coming into the unit, but it hasn't! We have been professional at work - despite the fact that we are in a relationship. Hank, I really do like him," She continued, not letting Hank get a word in edge ways, "We got together when I left the unit, because we weren't working together it was okay. We were going to stop after I got back, but it was too hard not to be with him. Hank, I know you don't approve, but I really do think that I love him…" She exclaimed, looking at him with tears beginning to form in her eyes.

Hank's expression softened, "Erin, look. I get it. I was ready to go and drag him out this apartment and have his transfer papers ready. That is, until you said that. I haven't ever heard you talk about a boy - erm, man like that before. I've noticed you've been really happy these last few months, and I figured you had been seeing someone. Never once did I think it was Halstead, I can't believe you have managed to keep it under wraps for six months! Does anyone else know?" He asked, to which Erin shook her head, he sighed, "Just so you know, I'm not exactly over the moon about this."

"But - Ha…" Erin started but was cut off before she could speak.

"But - I've never seen you this happy before. He obviously makes you happy, and you have done pretty well to actually keep it under wraps. I'm going to say this once, and only once. The minute it becomes an issue at work - one of you will transfer out," Hank says, sternly.

Erin looks at him and smiles, "I promise. It won't," She says, reaching out and giving him a hug, "You know, you might not be that good of a detective after all…" She laughs.

Hank grumbles, "Don't push it, Kid."

"I can't believe you're not kicking off about all of this - well more than you did!" She laughed, picking up her coffee mug and taking a big gulp - she was still feeling rough and thankfully the coffee was somewhat helping.

"I can be reasonable when needed," Hank laughed, picking up a bag and handing it to her, "Happy Birthday, Kid." She takes the bag and pulls out an expensive bottle of Scotch, she gulps, usually this would make her so happy, but seeing the bottle sends her back to last night. Hank Laughs, "Wow, you must've drank a lot last night, I've not seen you this hungover since you were 17!"

"Honestly, I don't even know how much we all drank, I bet there are a few sore heads this morning," She laughs, "Thank you so much for this! I love it."

"No problem, Kid. I know how much you like it," Hank replied, giving her another hug, "I think I hear Halstead coming. I've got something to say to him," he said, giving her a funny look.

"Don't start," Erin said quietly as Jay walked into the kitchen.

Jay looked horrendous, he hadn't even managed a shower, he was feeling as rough as a badger's arse and spent the time trying not to throw up, "Right, I'm going to go… I'll see you both tomorrow."

Hank stepped forward, "Wow, you look awful. No surprise either. Erin has told me everything." he said, angrily.

Jay looked at Erin and back to Hank, "Erm… uhm - Look, sir…" Jay began but was interrupted.

"Don't you 'look sir' me! I can't believe what you did! Throwing up everywhere on the street, passing out on Erin's couch!? Dancing half naked round the place, singing 'I'm too sexy for my shirt'?" Hank exclaimed, "You really need to sort yourself out, Halstead."

Erin bought the cup up to her lips to try and hide her smile, Jay's face was a picture. Hank was messing with him and she found it hilarious. Though, she did wish that Hank wouldn't yell so much, her head was pounding like mad.
"Oh erm… oh right… she told you that?" Jay asked, feeling extremely embarrassed. Erin really knew how to exaggerate a story. He thought she'd just say he passed out - not make up more lies which make him look like a fool.

Hank laughed, "Just kidding with ya," he said walking past him, "See you both tomorrow!"

Jay had a confused look on his face, he had no idea what had just happened.

"Bye Hank!" Erin called out as she heard him shut the front door, she smiled at Jay, his face was the best thing she has ever seen, "You should see your face!" She laughed, walking over to him and wrapping her arms around him.

"What was that all about?" Jay asked, pulling her close to him.

Erin sighed, "He saw through our bullshit about you passing out on the couch. He knew something was going on, so I just told him straight," She told him, looking up at him.

"You what?!" He exclaimed.

"I finally told him the truth, that we have been together 6 months. He started to threaten to transfer you out, and tell me about how he didn't approve of in house relationships," She began, "But I was truthful and told him that basically, you make me really happy, that know one else knows and that we are keeping it professional. He even said he knew I had been seeing someone, as he hasn't seen me this happy - ever. He seemed to calm down a bit and he heard me. He isn't going to do anything. As long as we carry on to be professional, we are fine."

Jay smiled, leaning down to kiss her softly, "So, I make you really happy then?"

She smiled, "Yeah, you really do," She replied, burying her head into his chest, feeling a little embarrassed, "By the way, that 'I'm too sexy for my shirt' thing was all him. I had no idea what he was going to say to your face," she laughed, she felt Jay's chest vibrate as he let out a soft chuckle, "God, I still feel drunk," She groaned.

"Same, I couldn't even face the shower. I felt grim," He laughed, "What do you want today then? It is your birthday, after all," he asked, trailing his fingers down her back.

"I can't even face anything yet, shall we just go back to bed and sleep? I can't survive off of the what? Three hours we had," She mumbled, taking his hand in hers.

"Yes please, I'm exhausted!" He groaned, as he let her lead him to the bedroom, "I'll tidy this place up when we wake back up, and treat you to a Chinese takeaway for dinner if you want? We can sit and watch whatever cheesy chick flick you want." He took his clothes off as he entered the room and got into bed.

"Wow Halstead, you really know how to treat a girl," She teased as she began to get undressed before getting into bed.

"I know," He laughed as she snuggled into him, placing her head on his chest.

"Jay?" she said after a minute.

"Yeah?" he replied, playing with the ends of her hair.

"I love you," She mumbled as she traced patterns across his chest with her finger, slowly falling asleep.

Jay grinned and kissed her head, "I love you too, Erin."

They didn't say another word, just allowing each other to fall asleep peacefully. It was the first time they had both said it out loud, and it couldn't have been more perfect. It had taken them a long time to get to this place in life, and it was truly the happiest they had both ever been.

AN: Okay, so I know they broke up and she left etc, but I have only just finished season four and absolutely fell in love with Linstead! I have a few ideas for stories/one shots etc, so I'm going to try and write a few as they help centre my mind from shit that's going on. So I hope you all enjoy! My stories will be here and AO3 under the same username :) I might carry this on at some point but I will see if people want another chapter before writing - let me know what you think!