"Detective Chuckles, your brother," came Platt's voice from behind him.
Spinning around, he couldn't help the smile he felt creep across his face. It was damn good to have his brother in the same city, even if he wasn't sure of the real reason why.
"Thanks Platt," grabbing his brother by the arm and ushering him into the breakroom as he spoke.
As Will took a seat, he eyed Jay cautiously. He was waiting for the inevitable interrogation that was coming his way, being a cop was definitely in his blood.
"How's New York?" came the first question, Will's backside had no sooner hit the seat before the words came flying out. The crossed arms told Will that Jay was only just getting started.
"Good," he answered, quickly mulling over what information to let Jay have, "I just needed a breather,"
"From what? From VIP booths and models?" Jay sighed, taking a deep breath before asking the one question that had been burning in his mind the minute he saw Will at Kitty O'Shea's, "What's the real reason?"
"When did you become such a cynic?" Will jested.
The raised eyebrow he got from Jay telling him that he was still waiting for the answer.
Well Will wasn't going to let him have it. Not yet, "What? I can't take a vacation? Come back and hang with my own brother?"
Jay's body language hadn't changed. He was not going to fall for Will's bullshit this time.
Sensing his current tactic wasn't working, he decided to change the topic altogether.
"So, which one is she?" he tilted his head to the two women outside the breakroom and turning the conversation topic onto Jay.
"Don't" Jay warned, unable to help the smirk that accompanied his words. He knew what Will was doing.
"No. Just nod your head. I mean they're both hot," his smirk echoing Jay's, "Or is it that desk sergeant downstairs?"
"Yes," Jay nodded sarcastically, "We're on the backburner right now,"
"Oh," Will gave Jay a mock pout, causing both Halsteads to laugh.
"Where are you staying? Dad's?" Jay knew Will wasn't going to give him the answers he wanted right now. He decided he would try again later.
"Was thinking your place," Will said sheepishly. He hadn't even asked Jay if that would be alright.
"Alright," Jay said without hesitating and Will smiled. He should have known that Jay would have said yes.
Reaching into his pockets to get his house key, Jay continued speaking, "I'm pretty deep in a case right now. So, sit tight at my place, and we'll get some food later or something. Alright?"
"Sure thing. I'll catch a cab over there," Will smiled.
He handed the key over to Will and out of the corner of his eye, he could see Erin making her way over to them, "Shut up. Here she comes,"
"Okay," Will taking the key from him. He noticed the change in Jay's demeanour than saw Erin walk in, "Oh okay,"
"Lindsay, this is my brother Will," he gestured at the man in question.
"The surgeon," Erin extended her hand to shake, and Will took it.
"Most days, yeah," he gave Jay a smug look. So, this was her.
"Nice to meet you," Erin dropped her hand, breaking the handshake.
"Same here," the look Jay was giving Will told him to drop the grin.
"How long you in town for?" Erin asked, oblivious to the looks being exchanged between the brothers.
"Still figuring that out," Will repeating the answer he had given Jay earlier.
"We should all hang out sometime before you go. You, me, Jay and Juliette," Erin smiled.
"Definitely yeah," Will faltered a little at the mention of Juliette's name. Something Jay picked up on.
"How come Juliette's not picking you up?" Will's earlier mention of a catching a cab finally sinking in.
When Will didn't answer, a pit started to form in Jay's stomach.
"She doesn't know you're in town, does she?" Jay shook his head at Will's idiocy.
Will's silence confirming what Jay had already suspected.
"She is going to be pissed," he chuckled slightly.
"I was going to surprise her?" Will shrugged non-committedly.
"You know she hates surprises" Jay's tone becoming slightly more serious now.
Will continued staring at him, unconsciously fiddling with the key in his hand.
"How could you not tell her?" Jay's arms once again crossed.
"I knew she would ask more questions that you, and wouldn't cave so easily," Will sighed, "I just wanted to give myself time to settle,"
"Bullshit," Jay scoffed, "You knew you wouldn't be able to lie to her about the real reason you left New York,"
"Jay, can you just drop it?" Will ran his hand through his hair in resignation when Jay gave him a look that told him he wasn't done, "Later okay?"
Jay continued giving him a hard stare.
"Please?" Will pleaded as he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket. Taking it out, he looked at who was calling him, "I got to go. I'll catch you later okay?"
Jay was slightly taken a back by Will pleading, and by the sudden change in his body language.
"Fine," Jay sighed, "But this isn't over,"
Clapping Jay on the shoulder, Will gave him a small smile of thanks as he headed out, "I know,"
Jay watched Will descend the stairs, waiting until he was no longer in sight before facing Erin. He was unprepared for the smile he was met with. He raised an eyebrow in question.
"I met someone from your family," she said softly.
"You've met Juliette," he reminded her, "Juliette's family,"
The look he got in return said, 'you know what I mean'
"I didn't think that'd be a big deal to you," Jay shrugged.
"Jay," Erin took a small step closer to him as she spoke, "Just because I don't want to lose my job, doesn't mean I don't care about you. That's not going to change,"
Jay looked at her, wanting to believe she was being truthful.
After a moment, he spoke, "Me too,"
Erin smiled before heading out of the breakroom.
Jay followed her, but stopped not long after when he remembered that Juliette still didn't know Will was in town. Disappointed in his brother's choice to not tell her, he took out his phone.
Erin's hand, that had suddenly appeared, gripped his arm, stopping him from dialling her number.
"She needs to know," Jay answering the unasked question.
"It should come from Will," Erin spoke the words Jay didn't want to hear.
"He won't call her," Jay shaking his arm free from her grip.
"Maybe he will now," she said as she walked over to her desk.
"He won't," Jay retorted as he dialled her number, taking a seat at his desk.
It only took a couple of rings before she picked up, "Soldier Boy. What can I do for you?"
Jay sighed into the phone. How was he going to tell her?
"Jay? Everything alright?" the light-heartedness now gone from her voice, and causing Jay to cringe.
"Will's in Chicago," just like ripping off a band-aid.
Now it was her turn to be silent.
"Juliette?" Jay could hear her breathing.
"When?" she asked.
"Today," He ran his hand through his hair, not that she could see him do it, "He wasn't supposed to be here until next week,"
"He was coming up?" he was surprised by her question. Then he was pissed at Will, he hadn't told her at all that he was making the trip up.
"Thought he would have told you," Jay's voice was soft.
"I would have thought so too," just off her tone, Jay knew she was fuming.
"He's on his way to my place," Jay could feel the stare he was getting from Erin.
"Thanks," was all she said before she ended the call.
Putting his phone down, he refused to meet Erin's gaze, "She needed to know,"
Erin didn't say anything, but Jay heard her sigh. She just didn't understand how things worked with Juliette and Will.
Will had been relaxing on the couch with his eyes closed, when he suddenly felt someone staring at him. At first, he thought he was just imagining things, but then when he heard a bag drop to the floor, he opened one eye.
Juliette standing over him shouldn't have surprised him, and yet it did, "Jay called you,"
"Should have been you," she grunted.
"Remind me to punch Jay when I see him," Will attempted to joke as he sat up. When he failed to get the desired response from Juliette, he sighed, "You're pissed at me,"
"Am I that obvious?" her sarcasm could be venomous when she wanted it to.
"Not at all," Will jested, instantly regretting his choice of words when he received a punch.
"Jay's been taking you to the boxing gym I take it?" Will rubbed the spot where her fist had collided with his body. She had thrown a slight bit of force behind it.
"Why didn't you tell me you were in town?" she ignored his question, replacing it with one of her own.
"Jay didn't know either," he offered, still rubbing his arm.
"He knew you were meant to be coming to town later on," she huffed as she sat on the couch next to him.
"I wanted to surprise you," he repeated what he had tried to tell Jay. Maybe if he said enough, even he would start to believe it.
"You know I hate surprises," her arms now crossed in displeasure.
"I know," he sighed as he turned enough so he was facing her, "I'm sorry,"
"You're sorry?" she scoffed, "You really think sorry is going to placate me enough, so I don't ask you why you're suddenly in Chicago?"
"I was hoping…." Will trailed off. He knew he had no hope of avoiding the conversation he so desperately wanted to.
"Well then I guess you're shit out of luck," she turned to look at him.
"Don't," Will sighed, he knew what the next words out of her mouth were going to be.
"Will, why are …" she started to ask, but was cut off when he covered her mouth with his hand.
"Please," Will pleaded with her as he dropped his hand.
"Will," his name being used as a question and a warning.
"It's nothing" he closed his eyes, resting his head on the back of the couch.
"Not even you believe that," she scolded half-heartedly.
They sat there in a silent stand-off with each other; Juliette fuming and disappointed with Will, and Will wondering whether he had made the right choice to come home.
After what seemed like hours but was only minutes, Juliette's phone began buzzing.
"Shit," she mumbled to herself as she got up. Her sudden cursing caused Will to open his eyes.
"I've got to go," she said as she collected her bag and headed for the door.
Stopping in her tracks as she opened the door, she turned to face Will once more, "This isn't over,"
Will chuckled at her words, they echoed Jay's exactly, "I know,"
"It's good to see you," She mumbled as she headed out of Jay's apartment, "I've missed you,"
Will wasn't sure if he was meant to hear that last part or not, but he grinned to himself nonetheless as the door shut behind her, "Missed you too,"