Jay and the rest of the team walked in to see Erin bent over crying as Hank held her close to his chest. Erin sat up, trying to wipe away her tears. Voight quickly dismissed everyone and they all just assumed looking at the photos had gotten to her but Jay refused to leave. He knew his partner and knew how much it took to make her cry... just looking at the pictures...he knew it was more than that. He walked over so he was behind her chair and looked down at what she had been looking at, "Oh God...is that your brother?"

Erin nodded her head, "Halstead you and Lindsay are partnered on this one.". Voight told him, "the two of you are closer than I thought if you recognize Teddy from that photo." He mumbled as an afterthought. He saw Jay put his hand on her shoulder and saw her instinctively lean against his arm, "I am going to get this sent off to NYPD." He said collecting the photos in the file and carrying them into his office.

"I should have protected him..." Erin mumbled so quietly that Jay hardly heard her. "I need to find him."

"He left when you guys were kids Erin...this is not your fault...you were a kid...you didn't know..." Jay tried to comfort her.

Voight came out of his office ten minutes later, "They are looking into it Kid...we keep doing our thing here until we hear back." He told her.

"No...he is in New York...I am going to go there and find him." Erin argued.

"Do it the right way then. Call NYPD in the morning and arrange it with them. Jay you are going with her and you keep her safe." Voight ordered.

"Always Sarg." Jay answered. "I will go get our bags packed up and meet you back here in a couple hours." Jay told Lindsay as he squeezed her shoulder before walking out.

"He has a key?" Voight looked at her sideways.

"Dont start Hank." Erin scowled.

"Since when?"

"Since Maddie was shot...the whole bounty thing..."

"You told him about Teddy?"

"He saw a picture."

"He better take care of you on this one." Hank told her.

"This one will remind him of Ben..."

"Who?"

"Lonnie..."

"Oh...shit. Antonio should go then."

"Not a chance in hell." Erin answered as she crossed her arms. "I need Jay for this."

Jay got back to twenty-one at ten and found Erin still at her desk staring at the photos. Hank was standing at the top of the stairs watching her. "You need to get her out of here." Hank told him when he walked past dropping their bags by his desk.

"Take her to Molly's get her to sleep anything...just make her stop staring at that picture." Hank said with desperation. "I should have looked out for him too...he went with his dad for a while...and then Camille got sick...I lost track of him...figured he was fine...his dad wasn't perfect but he was stable..."

Jay nodded and went over to Erin. He grabbed the photo from her hand and flipped the folder shut and slid it across the desk. She glared up at him and he knew she was fighting back tears. "Come on." He whispered reaching out his hand to her. Hank expected a fight but she took his hand and allowed him to lead her away from the desk. He grabbed his jacket from his desk and tossed it at her. She shrugged it on and pulled it tight around her with a deep breath, savoring the scent from her partner that was on it from the last time he wore it. Hank shook his head, Jay noticed and smirked. "Be here at eight. I am taking you to the airport myself.

He took her straight to Molly's where Gabby had handed him the bottle of scotch and a beer for himself. They stayed, sitting in silence as the bar emptied out and they closed up shop. He led her out of the bar and took her back to his place. She followed blindly into his bedroom where he tossed her a pair of his gym shorts and a TShirt. He left her alone while he went into the bathroom to get himself ready for bed. He set out an Advil and glass of water. They silently traded places a couple minutes later. A routine they had gotten used to on their nights off. They crawled into bed and he pulled her into him. She grabbed onto his side, fingers digging into his skin. "Sleep Linds. Please. We need fresh eyes tomorrow." he told her. Five minutes later he felt her grip on him loosen and felt her relax into him.

He closed his eyes and slept, waking each time she moved, and eventually at six-thirty. He got up and jumped in the shower. He pulled out Erin's spare clothes from his dresser and left them on the counter. "Your turn." He told her when he walked back into the room finding her awake. She smiled at him, thankful to have such an amazing best friend.

When she walked into the bathroom and saw that he had even set out her clothes tears came to her eyes. She had been there for him with Maddie, but he was always there for her...and as hard as this case was for her because of Teddy she knew it was just as hard for him because of Ben. This one they needed to be there for each other or neither of them would make it.

Three hours later they were sitting next to each other on an overcrowded flight, Jay by the window and Erin in the middle seat, an older lady sat in the isle knitting, completely obvious to everyone else on the plane. There hands brushed several times in the arm rest before Jay took her hand in his, "We will find him." He whispered. She leaned forward and flipped up the armrest before pulling Jay's arm around her resting her head on his shoulder.

"Promise me Jay...he is my little brother...I can't..."

"I will do everything I can Erin...but you need to let them do their jobs...they work different than we do...and you need to try to take a back seat on this..." He felt Erin nod her head. He could feel her tears soaking into his shirt and he pulled her closer to him, he leaned his head onto hers and stared into the seat back in front of him.

He knew that as soon as the plane landed she would put her walls back up and act like everything was fine. That was the one thing he hated about her, and Voight. He did not know how they could hide away their emotions like they did. "When we get there we will drop our bags at the hotel and go right to the station."

Erin snuggled a little closer into Jay as they flew from Chicago to Manhattan. She wasn't ready to face this reality and she was thankful that it would be with him. He never questioned her and always seemed to know what she was thinking, what she needed. "Promise me you wont try to hug me in front of anyone...I don't think I will be able to hold it together if you do." She said as she sat up, both of them immediately missing the warmth. Jay nodded his head and took her hand back in his. "I have to find my brother Jay. No matter what."

"If you want me to promise you that I need you to promise me that you will come to me when it gets to be too much."

She sat in silence staring at his hand holding hers as the plane landed. "I can do that." She told him as they opened the cabin doors to let the passengers off the plane.

They blindly made their way out of the airport, hailed a cab and dropped their things at the hotel before walking the three blocks to the police station. They were ushered up to the SVU where they were immediately read into the updates. Jay kept stealing looks at Erin using all his strength not to hold her in his arms. They were talking about her little brother for God's sake...john does and needing her dna...he did not know where she was drawing her strength from but it scared him to death. Seeing the photos...the videos made him sick to his stomach. Each one reminded him of Ben...each of the creeps on the other end of the computer screen reminded him of Lonnie.

Olivia sent them to the hotel around midnight to get some sleep. They wouldn't talk to the people at the youth shelter until morning anyway. They stopped at a McDonald's and ate in silence before making their way to the hotel. They each got ready for bed in silence, Erin smiling when she saw that Jay had packed her his sweats and Blackhawks tee.

When it came time to get into bed they both completely ignored the fact that the room had two beds, they crawled in next to each other and Erin laid her head on his chest. Jay held her close and fell asleep as soon as his cheek found its spot leaning into her forehead.

They woke up in the same position. Erin's phone was ringing and Jay reached over and picked it up. "Halstead."

"Where is Erin?" He heard Voight growl.

"Right next to me...sleeping." Jay answered with a smirk.

He softened his tone, "So help me Jay..."

"Benson sent us back after midnight. They we're going to check the youth shelter this morning...we are just waiting for the call to go back in."

"Have Erin call me once you hear something. Take care of yourselves." He said hanging up the phone. He knew that Voight was dying not being able to be here for Erin and he was more than likely pissed off thinking that the two of them were in New York playing house. Jay knew that was not the case though, him and Erin may be soul mates but neither was ready for a relationship. Erin was there for him and he was going to be there for her. Always.

To know that Erin's brother was a victim in all of this made his heart ache. Jay knew that Voight had talked to Olivia Benson and warned her to protect Erin and knew that she was not going to let her be the one to find her brother, he was surprised that she had him go later that night. He was nervous to leave her alone but she had assured him she was fine and just wanted her brother.

He wandered the street with Rollins questioning everyone, showing Teddy's photo around, until he heard it, that laugh, it was the same as Erin's. He could tell immediatly they had found him. When they walked up to him and he danced around he couldn't help but chuckle. Teddy was higher than a kite and one hot mess but he reminded Jay of Erin when she was drunk.

At first he tried to fight going to the station, but Jay talked him into it, Teddy instantly trusted Jay. Something in him knew he would be safe with him...and he hadn't felt safe in a very long time.

When they walked into the station together Erin jumped up and ran towards them. They watched as Erin looked at her brother head to toe. Jay heard her say something but it didn't register. He smiled at his partner, knowing the relief she felt just to have him alive. Teddy saw the smile his sister sent back to him and realized why he trusted him.

Erin did not trust easily and she trusted Jay. The siblings had always been on point in that way, regarding closely to instinct. Teddy saw more than trust though, he saw the love they had for each other. He wanted to find love like that too...he thought he was too far gone for that though. Erin had gotten lucky, Teddy immediately shut down, he wanted to fall into his sisters arms but he couldn't. She had her life together, he couldn't ruin that for her.

Teddy watched how Jay interacted with Erin and was thankful she had him. He saw sadness in his eyes though too mad was not sure what the cause was...he knew it had nothing to do with him though.

Jay was finally able to talk Erin into going back to the hotel around two. With strict instructions to call as soon as they had some sort of news. No one had been able to get anything out of Teddy and while their first mission was to get her brother back, now they needed to get the pervs who did this to him.

They were both laying in bed staring at the tv lost in their own thoughts, "Jay...do you think we will get them?" Erin whispered as she rolled to face him.

"Yes." Jay answered without hesitation.

"I have a bad feeling about this case."

"Me too...we will get through it together though." He said closing his eyes. He felt Erin put her hand on his and held it close as he drifted off.

It was torturous for Jay to watch Erin interigate Teddy. When they were finally done Jay welcomed the escape to the youth center. He was not expecting the foot chase or Erin getting plowed down by the damn bicycle though. She told him she was fine...but when he turned back around he saw that she was still on the ground...then as she stood he saw something was obviously wrong...he ran to her just in time to keep her from crashing back to the street.

He rode with her to the hospital where they said she had a concussion...he laughed when she tried to argue with the doctor to let her go and not admit her...even trying to bribe her way out of the hospital. When she kicked Jay out for laughing at her he went out to the hallway to call Voight.

"How the hell did you let her get a concussion? You are with her to protect her dammit." Voight screamed in the phone at the same time Erin started yelling at the doctor.

"As you can hear from the background she very much thinks she is just fine...nothing is broken...she just hit her head when she got knocked over by the bike...she doesn't even have a scratch on her." Jay explained trying not to laugh.

"I am on the next flight Halstead. Do not let her leave...even if you have to cuff her to the damn bed."

"Got it boss." He said hanging up the phone and walking back into Erin's room to try and rescue the doctor.

He sat with her in the room, she was royally pissed when he had told her that Hank was on his way and had been giving him the silent treatment for the last four hours. "How can I help if I am stuck in this bed?" She whispered as she flipped on the news.

"Let everyone else do their jobs Linds...we are a team...we got Teddy...focus on that."

"What about the other kids though Jay...they are still out there."

Erin saw Jay's exterior slink down in the chair, she was reminded of just how hard this case was on him... "Jay..." she started.

"Lonnie was just a perv stalker...Ben was murdered but he wasn't ever recorded..."

"Doesn't matter." Erin told him scooting herself over in the bed. "Will you come sit with me?" She asked him with a flirty smile.

Jay climbed into the bed with her and she rested her head on his shoulder. "This has been a crazy year."

"The year isn't over yet."

"Will you still be here when it is?"

"Jay...I am still thinking about it...I don't think I could do it...this team...you are my family."

"It is a good opportunity."

"I know." She said as she picked up the remote and found a movie-Bad Boys 2-to watch while she was stuck in bed.

Halfway through the movie Erin felt Jay's head getting heavy against hers and she moved her head, waking him up, he looked at her and she smiled and signaled for him to scoot down in the bed and he curled his back into her side and she wrapped her right arm around his shoulders and across his chest. He leaned his head against her shoulder and dropped his left leg over the side of the bed. She hugged him into her and inhaled the scent of his shampoo and hair gel. When she felt his head getting heavy again she gently kissed the back of his head. She couldn't help but smile, Jay was always so rough and tough, except when he was sleeping. She loved the feeling she had holding him in her arms, taking care of each other. They were partners with every sense of the word. She knew in her heart she could never leave him to go work anywhere else...it didn't matter how amazing of an opportunity another job may be.

When Voight walked into the room he saw Erin holding Jay as he slept and couldn't help but chuckle. Erin was the one who was IN the hospital and Jay was the one sleeping, with her protecting him. Everything about her posture, how she was holding him, it was full on protection mode. He cleared his throat as he walked through the door. Erin held her finger up to her lips to shh their boss, her dad.

"Not gonna run on me?" Voight whispered as he kissed Erin on the forehead.

She nodded her head and he saw her hug Jay a little closer to him, allowing his head to slide down her chest, in his sleep he turned his body and wrapped his left arm around her waist. She bent her knee up to help support the weight of him that was now on her as he slept. She had never see him this relaxed, usually the slightest noise woke him up.

She looked back up at Voight, "I am good here." She smiled.

"I can see that Kid." He said smiling at her. "I am going to go check in with Olivia then I will be back here. You are going to go home when they release you."

"I am fine Hank." Erin started to argue, tensing up and interrupting Jay's sleep.

"Not open for discussion...send him into the office when he wakes up." He said before kissing her forehead and walking out.

An hour later Jay woke up when the nurse came in to check on Erin. He smiled sheepishly at her before sitting himself back up, he couldn't ever remember sleeping that well. "Hank said to go to SVU when you wake up." She told him with a smirk, "and that I am getting sent home as soon as I get out of here."

"He was here?" Jay questioned as his cheeks got a tinge of pink.

"Yes Sleeping Beauty. He was going to check in and said to send you down there when you woke up."

"Why didn't you wake me up?" He asked her as he stood up and stretched.

"You are kidding right?"

"I promise I wont run...just go and see what is up and call me. I hate not knowing...and I love that you are my partner." Erin told him, he rolled his eyes and walked out of the room.

He went to the station and got his updates, called Erin, found out she could go home in the morning, he watched as Voight and Olivia arrested Bob Clinton. He sat with Teddy, answered as many questions for him about Erin as he could, and asked several in return but received very vague answers in return. He went to the hotel and packed up her stuff and brought it to the hospital. He stayed there with her and took her to the airport as soon as they released her. "I will be on the next flight. I will make sure Teddy has a ticket in his hand and get our paperwork finished up and then I will be home." He promised her as he watched her walk through the gates.

Authors Note:

Please comment...I am totally in love with this season and could write for days! That is...if I had time! I hope this LONG chapter will hold you over. I have an outline for the next three already in the works! Please comment with what you think-good and bad! Constructive please if it is leaning towards the bad. I love writing but do not feel like I am very good at it.