Erin drove straight to the district, not even thinking about picking up Daniel. It was almost 8 o'clock and she needed to pick him up.
"Platt where is everyone and why is no one answering?"
"Because they are all at Justin's house. Look Erin you should go home. Hank told me to tell you."
"No. I'm not. Shane has Alex. Safe in bed."
"Erin, you need to go pick up Daniel before he wonders where the hell Hank is." Platt spat loudly for everyone to hear.
The next morning Shane woke up to the sounds of screams and yelling coming from Erin's room. He got up from the room and went to the door then knocked "Erin what's wrong? Should I get Alex up?"
"No. I'm sorry Shane. I I'm fine. I was having a nightmare. It's only five o' clock.."
"Erin, Daniel is sleeping on the couch."
"I know Shane. Just go back to sleep. I need time to think." Shane walked into the living room and saw Daniel sitting there shaking his hands full of bruises and blood.
"Hey Daniel do you need someone to talk to?"
"NO! I'm fine.." Shane slid next to him and sat down.
"You can talk to me. I'm here for you.."
"I punched the mirror at my grandpa's.. That's what happened. I can't sleep, I can't get a hold of Jordan I'm scared. Mom won't answer and Grandpa wouldn't even look at me. He hasn't been that way since Dad died. I could see the fear in his eyes, the fear he had when I asked what happened to my dad. I just want to know what happened. Erin didn't talk when she picked me up. I have a feeling something bad happened."
"Hey look I got an idea. Let's get dressed for school earlier. And before stop at the drug store and fix your hand up so no one asks what happened."
"Alright." Daniel threw on a shirt then walked into the bathroom and put on jeans. He put his sneakers on then looked in the mirror.
"Don't you dare." Said the voice inside his head, knowing in a way what he was going to do. He fell to the ground and burst into tears, he could barely see the floor, or his hands which were shaking.
"Daniel come on." Daniel looked up and wiped the tears from his face then walked out of the bathroom.
"Let's go." Daniel said grabbing his bag then walked out of the door.
"Shane, thanks for doing this.."
"I don't really mind."
"You're my friend." Shane added
They both walked into the drug store and grabbed the gauze and bandages.
When they got back into the car. Shane called Erin.
"I'm okay. Daniel and I left early for school. We are both okay. I'll see you tonight."
"Be safe okay." Erin got out of bed and walked to her daughter's room where she was sound asleep. She wondered how the world was so cruel when she was so innocent and bright. She wondered how Olive could just give up her family like that. Alex meant the world to her, Shane meant the world to her.
She could only imagine how Daniel is gonna react to finding out about his mom. It had been nine hours since she had found out the news that broke her heart.
She walked into her daugther's room and grabbed her an outfit then sat on her bed and tapped her awake.
"Alex we have to go baby girl."
"No no momma. I don't wanna go."
"C'mon we have too. Guess who's gonna facetime with us later? Daddy."
Alex's head shot up and she smiled. "Mommy I love you."
"I love you too baby girl. Now c'mon. We have to go to school.. Uncle Kevin is gonna pick you up today alright."
"Okay Mommy."
"I have to go meet with a lawyer."
Erin dropped Alex off at school and watched as she ran away with her new friend Mallory. Erin drove off and to the district.
"Hank, anything new?"
"No. Nothing. I don't know. How's Daniel?"
"He's fine. He doesn't know. I haven't told him." Hank sighed
"Thanks. Tony I need to find out where she was before she was found dead.. Talk to her friends. We keep this in house."
"Hank. You know we can't. It's not long before one of the boys find out and tell Daniel." Kevin said
"I know I realize that. We can't do anything about it. I mean he's gotta find out." Hank spat walking back into his office and sitting down.
Jay sat in his bunk looking at pictures of Alex and Shane. He had been missing them like crazy. It had only been a couple days. It was gonna be a long six months he thought.
"Jay vest up. We have to go." His friend Brandon said
"I'm coming." He looked back at the pictures then kissed them.
"I love you guys."
Jay vested up then walked out of the barracks, and grabbed his guns and his bags which were in his locker.
"What are we doing?"
"A recon mission. You ready?" Nathan asked
"Of course I am." Jay spat slapping his back.
Jay put his helmet on then got into the humvee, when they got to where they were supposed to be at. Jay got out and saw a young boy with a grenade in his hand.
"C'mon put it down. Before you get us all killed." Jay shouted the boy wasn't any older than Alex Jay thought.
He looked like he hadn't eaten in days and he was beaten.
"Jay c'mon. You shouldn't waste it. GET DOWN." Brandon shouted pushing him to the ground as the grenade went off.
Jay opened his eyes and all he saw was smoke in the distance. He got up and brushed all of the sand and dust off of him. "The boy nearly killed us." Jay said
"No kidding Halstead. Let's get out of here. They know we are here.." Nathan said
Jay grabbed his gun and walked back into the humvee, as he did they started taking heavy fire. He grabbed his walkie talkie and pressed the button his hands shaking badly. "This is Lieutenant Halstead with Ranger Battalion 3. We are acquiring heavy fire. Send backup." He said before jumping out of the humvee.
Jay held his rifle in his shaky hands and ran out into the gunfire, meanwhile his whole family was back in the U.S. Safe and sound.
Erin later on walked into the lawyer's office, and sat down playing on her phone. She looked up at her lawyer as he walked into the room.
"Your ex wants custody?" Erin nodded her head.
"Yeah. He does. I just want to make sure he can't get Alex back. He doesn't deserve her. I mean he was in jail for her whole life, he nearly killed us." James nodded his head.
"I understand, Court is in what a month. We'll just fight with all our might until we make sure he doesn't win. Who do you want to talk in your favor?" James asked
"Hank, Antonio, Kevin. Daniel. Myself. Nadia and Jordan. They are her family. Jordan and Daniel are like her big brothers. Kevin and Antonio are her uncles she's got them wrapped around her finger. I just want to win."
"Yeah Ms. Lindsay I understand."
Erin smiled. "Thanks James. I appreciate this. Hank will call your dad. I guess."
Shane got into his truck with Daniel and Jordan in there with him. "I've got an idea."
"What is it?" Jordan asked
"I have some pills in my bag…"
"Halstead no. I'm not gonna. Kevin would be pissed." Shane laughed
"He doesn't have to know.." Daniel said
"I need something to get my mind off my dad being gone."
"You two can take it. I'm not." Jordan said
"Fine. You don't have too Jordan. Just don't tell anyone." Jordan threw his hands up.
"I don't plan on it. But if you get in trouble I'm spitting. You hear me. I'm not taking the fall for you two dumbasses. Got it." Jordan spat
Shane stopped the car at Erin's house and walked inside. Jordan grabbed his bag then went inside following his two best friends.
Shane grabbed the pills then popped some in his mouth, Daniel grabbed some and put them in his mouth.
Jordan turned on the tv and watched the news. "A woman with the name of Olive Mikayla Richardson Voight has been found dead in her house." Daniel turned his head to the tv, and back at his best friends.
"No No. No. TURN IT OFF!" Daniel shouted
Shane put the pills in his bag as the front door opened. "Hey guys." Kevin said holding his niece's school bag. Shane's eyes popped out of his head.
"Hey Kev." Jordan said
Daniel grabbed his bag then ran out of the door. Kevin looked up at the tv then back at the open door. "Shit. Y'all stay here. I gotta call Hank.."
Kevin dialed his number and waited as the phone rang. "Hank, Daniel found out. He just ran out of the house.. I don't know which way he went.."
"Kevin you could have stopped him. Why didn't you?"
"I just walked into the door with Alex. I didn't know he was gonna run. Look Hank you should have told him and not let the damn news anchor tell the kid. I'm not taking the fall." Kevin shouted.
"I'm gonna find him." Hank said "I know just where the kid is going.."
Hank grabbed his keys then got into his vehicle then drove to the cemetery where his son and wife is buried. Sure enough Daniel was sitting there on the ground looking at both of the graves crying his eyes out.
Daniel couldn't even see what he was looking at because of how much he was crying. "Daniel James, come here son." Hank said
He recognized the voice. That's the only thing he wanted to hear. His grandpa's voice. "Grandpa." Daniel said clinging tight to him Hank wrapped his arms around him and held him tight as his grandson cried.
"You don't need to talk kid. Everything will be alright I promise. It'll be different but it's gonna be okay.." Daniel just cried, he didn't listen to anything else.
Erin went back to the district. "They picked a court date. It's February 10th.. I already told Hank and we all have the day off. Please talk for me. I can't lose her. She's the only thing that keeps me going.."
"We'll be there.." Antonio said
Platt ran up the steps. "Erin, you have a call waiting for you." Erin ran back to her desk and grabbed the phone.
"I figured you were still at work." Jay said. Once Erin heard his voice she smiled big.
"Hey. I've missed your voice." Erin said softly into the phone
"I can't wait to see you Erin. I miss you so much."
"I miss you too Jay. Alex has been asking about you everyday. It's only been four days.."
"Yeah.. It's only six months then I'm finished. I promise babe. Anything new?"
"No. Just the same old. Shane has been acting out though. He hasn't been the same. Alex is just going with the flow I guess." Erin laughed. "But we are managing. The court date is set for next month.. I don't know if you can come back for that or what.."
"Erin, I'll see if I can. If not know that I'm here for you. Whatever happens. I promise."
"Alex misses you like crazy Jay. She thinks you are coming home in the next couple days. She's going great in basketball though. She loves it." Erin smiled
"Erin, I uh gotta go. I'll call you back tomorrow. We have a recon mission. Love you babe." Jay smiled
"Love you too." Erin said as the phone went silent and all she could hear was the static.
"Erin you'll see him." Antonio said
"Yeah. I know. I just want him back.."
Erin put her phone and everything down then walked into Hank's office. "Where did Hank go?" Erin walked back out and asked
"He went to get Daniel… He found out about Olive.." Erin's eyes widened then she sat down at her desk.
"No. Shit.." Erin said
"Kevin, are you staying till Erin comes home?"
"Yeah I am.." Kevin said hugging tight to his niece who was sitting next to him on the couch watching tv.
He looked down and let out a small chuckle. "She's asleep."
Erin walked in the door minutes later and put her bags down and everything. She walked by the couch and gave Kevin a hug.
"Thanks Kev. I'll see you tomorrow. Shane get in the shower!" Shane rolled his eyes then nodded his head.
"You roll those eyes one more time son. That'll be the last thing you'll do." Kevin said
Shane scoffed then walked to the bathroom. "He was okay."
A couple days had passed. Nothing had been found on her murder. Hank was close to giving up, but Daniel had told him to just close it. He'll take the pain that comes with not finding out.. Hank told him that's why makes a brave and strong person.
"Grandpa, do I have to stay here?"
"If you want you can go live with Jordan or Erin. I don't really care kid.. How are you doing? I don't want you falling in that hole. You are all I have left.."
"You have Erin and Jordan.. Also Little Avery."
"Yeah. I do kid."
Shane stood in his room standing in front of his mirror, putting on his suit. He smiled as Alex came running into the room.
"Shane, where are you going?" Shane laughed then bent down.
"Firemen's ball with my friend Quinn."
"That is so cool. Mommy I wanna go to the Firemen's ball one day."
"Maybe you will when you get older.." Shane said
Erin stood in the doorway. "You look nice Shane. I'll see you later. Have fun."
Shane grabbed his phone then walked out of his room and out of the house.
"Thanks Erin."
Alex ran into her playroom and started playing with her toys.
Shane walked into the ballroom holding a dozen flowers he had stopped and got. He looked around but didn't find her at first. He walked over to Kelly Severide who was talking to his wife.
"Aren't you Halstead's kid?" Hermann said
"Yeah. I am. Hey Mr. Hermann." Shane shook his head.
"Have you seen Quinn Clarke? She invited me." Shane said
"No, but I think Jeff had just called. They are running late." Shane smiled
"Jeff let her invited a friend.." Matt joked "Last time that girl brought a boy to the firehouse. He flipped, but then again you are a halstead.. How's Erin? We heard about your Dad and her."
"She's great I guess." Shane said
"Take care of those two girls. They are special to us. Especially since little Alex is best friends with Hermann's kid." Kell laughed
"I don't plan on letting you down." Shane turned around just as Quinn walked into the room with a beautiful dark purple floor length dress. Shane's eyes widened and he couldn't wipe the smile off his face.
"He hey Quinn." Shane said "You look beautiful."
"You don't look too bad yourself Halstead."
"Dad this is Shane Halsted.. He's my friend." Quinn said
"Hey Shane, welcome to the family kid." Jeff shook his hand.
"Dad, I didn't say he was my boyfriend. Although I totally wouldn't mind." Quinn laughed. Shane gave her a hug then grabbed her hand and guided her onto the dance floor where they were playing slow dance songs.
"Thanks for inviting me."
"Thanks for coming. I wanted to invite you because there's something I want to tell you." Shane smiled
"I see us with a future.. Together. You are such a great boy Shane.. You are so nice. I really would love to be your girlfriend.."
"Quinn, I've been wanting to ask you out. I just haven't found the time.. I would love to be your boyfriend.."
"So.."
"You wanna dance?" Shane asked
Quinn nodded her head. Die a Happy Man came on.
"This was the song I listened to on the way here.." Shane said
Erin sat watching her laptop, she heard ringing and automatically knew who was calling. "Jay." She said as she opened the call.
"Hey Babe. Where's Alex and Shane?"
"Alex is sleeping right next to me, and Shane is at the firemen's ball with Quinn Clarke.. He really likes her too." Jay laughed
"That's nice. Erin, I wanted to tell you that I'm coming back sooner than expected. I'll be home late March…"
"Jay you are joking."
"No I'm not. I'm coming home baby. I'm coming home."
For the first time in a week Erin finally had that smile on her face. The smile that made Jay fall in love with her.
Alex lifted her head and smiled once she saw who was on the computer. "Daddy.."
"Alex." Jay said "Did I wake you?"
"No. It's okay. I miss you Daddy. Mommy and Shane miss you too. I miss you the most. Come back home soon."
"I am. I'll be home in 60 days. Can you wait that long?" Alex nodded her head.
"Yeah I can. Mommy Daddy's coming back."
"He is baby girl You should get to bed. It's late kid."
Thank you so much for reading. I said I might get like one more chapter up before the new year. I don't know if I'll get another but I will definitely try!
Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!
Much Love
Madison