A/N: Yes I know I suck at updating in a timely manner. I have a lot going on between pain/sickness, school, and writing my new fic/one shots. I'm also working on a major video for CF/CPD so it's really time consuming. I hope you all will read my new fic, 'Anchor down', it's very angsty so you'll all probably like it. Weew. Okay so I'm not happy with this writing but it's all I could come up with. I'm losing motivation with this story just because I have no idea how linstead would act as a couple so I have no idea how in/out of character this stuff would be. Sorry for any mistakes or whatever, it's like 5am. Hopefully you guys still enjoy anyways? Favorite/ Review please, it's like crack.
I DON'T own any of these characters or lyrics, ok? Ok.
"Get up," Erin whines, throwing a pillow at Jay's head. It's Monday morning and they need to get into work. No one even knows that Jay is home yet. They had spent the entire weekend in Erin's apartment, tangled up in each other. Instead of giving her an answer, Jay grunts into his pillow.
"We're gonna be lateee," She sing songs as walks into the bathroom and starts the shower. Jay groans and sit's up slowly in the bed. Looking at the clock it reads 7am, which has no bearing on him really since his system is still messed up from the time zone difference. But it does tell him that they have to be at the prescient in less than an hour, or at least Erin needs to be. He's looking forward to surprising everyone and seeing their faces again. He had been away from his family for way too long. He runs a hand over his face and wills himself to make his overly exhausted muscles move. Jay doesn't have the heart to tell Erin he's hardly slept at all in the last 48, or that when he does sleep it's fitful and leaves him with an uneasy feeling every time he's jolted awake. Closing his eyes, he takes a deep breath and throws the bed sheets off of himself.
Erin leans against the doorframe stark naked, "Are you coming?"
That's all the motivation that he needs. His lips curve into a smile as he follows her into the steamy bathroom.
"Are you nervous?" Erin asks Jay from the passenger's seat of her car.
He taps on the steering wheel for a minute. "No not really," He looks at her and smiles, "A little worried about Voight and this." He says, motioning between the two of them.
"I honestly don't know," She says with a sigh, "I think he might be okay with it."
"We'll lay low though; I don't want to get punched in the face on my first day back." He says with a smirk as he turns into the parking lot.
"Deal." Erin says as Jay puts the car in park. "But in that case, " she unbuckles her seatbelt. "I need one last thing before we go in." She climbs over the middle console onto Jay's lap and straddles his hips before pressing her lips to his. Jay deepens the kiss, reveling in the moment, knowing that he won't be able to touch her for another ten hours.
"mmmm," Erin murmurs as Jay's lips travel down her neck. "We're late." She says taking his face in her hands for one last kiss before climbing back into her seat. "Let's go."
They walk up the stairs into the prescient. The good thing about running late is that everyone will already be up in intelligence and it'll be easier to surprise them with Jay's presence.
"Morning Lindsay," Sergeant Platt says to Erin with a smile.
"Hey Halstead," Platt says, surprisingly not surprised by his presence. "Glad you didn't die."
Jay rolls his eyes but smirks a bit before sending her a sarcastic salute.
Erin smiles at him as she enters the code and scans her palm to get into the unit.
"You stay back, I want to surprise them." She says with a wily grin on her face as she ascends the stairs to the unit.
She keeps one arm behind her, in anticipation of signaling Jay when she's ready.
Everyone is at their desks and Voight is standing at the white board clipping information to it. He turns around and see's Erin standing at the top of the stairs.
He frowns and points at her, "You're late. "
"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry. But I have a good reason." She offers, biting her lip and hoping that he won't explode.
"Oh," Voight says, raising his eyebrows and crossing his arms over his chest. "is that right?"
"That's right, yep." Erin says, popping the p for emphasis as a slight smile crosses her lips. She looks around the unit to see everyone giving her confused looks.
"Well?" Voight asks, clearly getting irritated with her.
She signals to Jay and her smirk turns to a full on grin as he bounds up the stairs and stands beside her. There is an audible gasp before the scraping of chairs on linoleum is heard throughout the unit.
"Oh. My. God," Kim exclaims, shocked.
Voight gives Jay a smile and a rough handshake, "Really glad you're back kid."
Ruzek comes barreling in and wraps his arms around Jay. "I'm so glad your okay, man. We were worried." He says, letting Jay lose from his strong hug.
Antonio, Alvin, and Kevin all come over to shake his hand and offer their well wishes.
Kim comes over, her eyes brimming with tears, "I'm glad you're home. We all missed you." She says, giving him a hug.
"I'm really glad to be home too. I missed you all so fucking much. A lot of people didn't make it back but I'm really grateful I get to come back to you all. You guys are my family." He says, sincerely. He locks eyes with Erin, who's trying her best not to let the tears fall from her glassy eyes. "Anyways," Jay says more upbeat, "I think I've used up enough of your time, let's get back to work. Right Voight?
"That's right, kid." Hank says with a laugh, "We'll talk later. You're on desk until then."
Jay groans but walks over to his desk, running a hand over the wood. He sits down in his chair and sighs as he starts up his computer. He kicks his feet up onto the desk and reclines slightly in his chair, "Damn I missed this place." He says to no one in particular. He locks eyes with Erin who sends him a mega watt smile.
Late that day, Voight gets back from chasing down a bum lead in the string of bank robberies they are investigating.
"Halstead, my office." He orders.
Jay follows Voight into his office and closes the door behind him before sitting in the chair in front of his desk.
"I'm glad you're home kid. I've got your paper's here to reinstate you." Voight says, flipping the papers in front of Jay. "You just need the sign the bottom." Jay picks up a pen and scribbles his signature at the bottom and shoots Voight a smile.
Voight opens a drawer to his desk and pulls out Jay's gun and shield. He holds them in his hands for a moment.
"Sir?" Jay asks, confused.
"I know about you and Erin." Voight says, looking straight at Jay.
Jay's heart rate picks up and he tries to recover from the shock of what he just heard. "I don't know wha-" He is cut off by Voight holding his hand up.
"Don't bother trying to lie, kid. Honestly, I have tolerated Burgess and Ruzek's relationship since you've been gone and they haven't let it get in the way of the job. If you and Erin can do the same, we won't have a problem." He says, handing Jay his gun and badge. "But, the moments I see your relationship interfere with your job or your ability to have your partners back, you won't be able to get a job as a mall cop, do you understand me?" Voight commands, voice stern.
"Yes sir, I understand completely." Jay says, reaching out to shake Hank's hand.
"Good, you'll be back on the docket tomorrow. It's been a long day; you guys get out of here. " Voight says, turning back to his computer.
Jay stands and clips his badge to his waist band and slides his gun into his empty holster before heading for the door.
"And Jay?" Voight says catching Jay's attention, "Take care of her, okay?"
"I always have, and I always will," Jay promises.
Voight gives him a nod and Jay walks back to his desk and leans against it.
He looks at Erin, who is absent mindedly fiddling with the locket around her neck. It makes him smile. He stands there smiling until she looks up from her computer.
"What are you smiling about?" She asks, suspicious of his shit eating grin.
"I'll tell you later," he says walking toward her desk. "You ready to go home?"
She turns off her monitor and grabs her leather coat from behind her. "Oh I am more than ready," She says with a smirk.
They drop their things in the locker room before heading towards the stairs.
"Voight knows." Jay says with a small chuckle.
"He WHAT?" Erin exclaims, eyes wide.
"It's okay babe, he's cool with it."
Her mouth hangs open for a moment before she lets out a laugh.
As they make their way out of the unit, Erin slips her hand into Jay's and intertwines their fingers.
"Jay, WAKE UP!" Erin yells, struggling with his thrashing body. "Babe, come on, wake up!"
It takes a slap to the face before Jay returns to consciousness. His heart feels like it's beating out of his chest and his lungs feel constricted like they are in a vice grip. He struggles to catch his breath and to orient himself with where he is.
"Deep breaths," Erin says in a soothing voice, "It's okay, you're okay. Deep breaths, babe."
His brain clicks at the sound of Erin's voice, 'Home' it registers. His breathing becomes a little easier as his brain relaxes.
"Are you okay?" Erin asks after a few moments.
"Yeah, I-" His sticky tongue makes it hard to get words out, "It was just a bad dream."
"No that was a panic attack, in your sleep." She says, running her palm up and down his bare back.
"It's okay, " He reassures her, "I'm fine."
"Okay, well your heart is still beating out of your chest. Let me get you some water," She says getting up and throwing his tshirt over her head. "Oh here, maybe music will help calm you down too," She puts her ipod on the docking station and hits shuffle before making her way out of the room.
Jay walks to the bathroom and splashes water on his face, trying to wash away the images that had been plaguing him in his dream.
Erin appears in the doorway of the bathroom and holds out a glass of water. "Are you sure you're okay?" She asks worried, seeing the bags under his eyes.
He downs the glass of water and nods his head, "Yeah I am fine, I promise." He sends her a smile.
Even at 3 in the morning she manages to look beautiful. Her hair is tousled and what little make up she had on had long since rubbed off. She looked flawless standing there in his tshirt and it made his heart flutter.
'The Girl' by City and Color comes on over the speakers and makes Jay's smile widen as they walk back into the bedroom.
"Dance with me," he says on a whim.
"What?" She asks, perplexed by his suggestion.
'I wish I could do better by you,
'cause that's what you deserve
You sacrifice so much of your life
In order for this to work.'
"Dance with me babe," He says again, holding out his hand.
She puts her hand in his and he pulls her against him and starts to move with the music.
'While I'm off chasing my own dreams
Sailing around the world
Please know that I'm yours to keep
My beautiful girl'
Jay kisses her temple as they sway to the music. She lays her head on his shoulder and enjoys the feel of his hands on her waist.
She sighs and lifts her head to look at him, "I'm glad you came home to me."
He leans in and gives her a long kiss. "There's nowhere in the world I'd rather be than right here."
A/N: Ayyyyy, kinda sappy I know. Setting the stone in motion for Jay to deal with some PTSD type stuff. I didn't want to rush it because I know it's a long process to deal with and get it treated. I don't know when I'll update again, I have to get into the mood so whenever the mood strikes me I guess? I hope you guys liked it. The more encouragement I have the faster I'll update it so please leave me feedback ok? Love you guyyyys.