Erin put the key into the lock and walked into her apartment, Jay trailing behind her with his duffel bag. With his prompting, Erin had agreed to let Jay stay over for the night. "Just to make sure you're safe." He'd insisted on the drive over.
"You want me to call Severide and let him know you're home?" Jay asked, setting his things down and moving to get a glass of water for Erin.
"No, no. Voight called him earlier to let him know that I was safe. I just don't think I can handle being around people right now, you know?" She asked, accepting the glass of water and gulping it down.
"Of course." He responded, shoving his hands in his pockets and observing her, "Do you want me to get you anything else? I could order some Chinese food and we can watch some trash TV?" Jay was struggling to keep things light, troubled by the darkness hanging over Erin's features.
She shook her head and motioned towards her bedroom. "I think I'm just going to take a shower and go to bed. I'm exhausted." Erin set the shock blanket on the couch and made her way to her bedroom door before pausing. "Thank you, Jay. It means a lot having you here." She said, forcing a smile his way.
"You've been there for me when I needed you. We're partners, that's what we're here for." He shrugged, noting how Erin seemed to be fighting back tears. "Let me know if you need anything." Jay said again as Erin nodded and disappeared into her room.
After thirty minutes and no sound from her room, Jay was concerned. He got up from the couch, padding through the apartment to Erin's bathroom. He knocked on the closed door, hearing the sound of running water but nothing else. "Hey, Erin… Everything alright in there?" He listened closely for a response but received none. He knocked again, louder this time, "Erin, hey, you ok?" Jay called impatiently. No answer. He twisted the handle, finding it unlocked, he opened the door and peered in.
"Erin, I'm coming in." He warned, searching the room for any sign of her. The shower was turned on, hot enough to fill the room with steam and Jay walked over to the glass doors. Behind the fogged glass, he could see Erin's small form huddled on the floor, her soft cries now audible. He rested a hand on the frame, letting out a sigh.
"Tell me what's going on, Erin. Let me help you." He murmured. Her cries were getting louder, turning into short sobs the longer that Jay stood there.
"I… I… can't… get the feeling of… his hands off of me…" She choked out, a sharp sob following suit.
Jay's hands tightened to fists and he clenched his jaw. Screw this, he thought, sliding the shower door open. Erin looked up at him, not in surprise but in desperation. He reached for the shower handle, switching off the flow of water and then grabbed for a towel. He crouched, his socks becoming soaked by the wet floor, and wrapped Erin in the soft cotton. He collected her drenched body in his arms and carried her to the bed, setting her down and pausing. She shivered violently, tremors wracking through her body even though the water had been scalding. Jay placed a hand on the side of her face, cupping her cheek and bringing her eyes up to meet his. Tears still flowed from the corners and her brown eyes were wide, fear and grief staring back at him.
"Don't leave me alone, Jay." She pleaded, desperately clutching onto his forearm.
"I'm right here." He whispered, motioning for Erin to lie down on the bed. She settled down onto her side as Jay pulled the covers back and slid in beside her. He pulled the comforter tight around the two of them, wrapping his arms around Erin and bringing her in close. She pressed her body against his, nuzzling her face into his neck and clinging to the front of his t-shirt. "I'm not going anywhere, I promise." He pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, combing his fingers through her wet hair.
Another round of sobs wracked through Erin's body as she cried into Jay's neck, soaking the shoulder of his shirt. He held her tight, rubbing her back until the tears subsided and her breathing had become normal. She shifted in his arms, turning over so that her back was facing him, though she didn't pull away. Jay kept his arms wrapped firmly around Erin's waist, their hands linked and fingers intertwined. Their bodies fit together as if made for each other.
"Thank you, Jay." Erin muttered before her eyes drifted shut and her breathing slowed to the steady rhythm of sleep.
Jay dipped his head down, kissing the curve of her shoulder and resting his head there. He knew that for Erin Lindsay to be this vulnerable with him, something bad had happened inside that warehouse. Really bad. He had to stop himself from squeezing Erin in tighter for fear of waking her. In that moment, Jay Halstead vowed to protect this woman with everything he had in him. No harm would ever come to Erin again, not on his watch.
He settled his head down into the pillow and closed his eyes. Though he knew the sleeping woman in his arms couldn't hear him, he whispered his next words, "I love you, Erin Lindsay."
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