So glad you're still enjoying this one! Thank you for the awesome reviews - so much fun to read. Finally, you get a little intel on Jimmy and who he was in Erin's life.
"Sweet girl," Jimmy repeated, his voice barely audible. He had a way of speaking so softly you sometimes doubted if you'd heard what he said.
Erin got up and strode back into the bedroom with Kelly's eyes following her.
"What the hell do you want?" she hissed closing her door softly.
"Now is that any way to talk to an old friend? I'm just checkin' up on you. See how my favorite sweet girl is doin," Jimmy's tone dripped of sugary concern, but Erin knew better.
She knew Jimmy didn't have any concern for anyone but himself. He needed something, wanted something...that was the way he operated.
"We had a deal. You're not supposed to contact me. You're not supposed to be in the damn city!" Erin was trying not to let her voice get too loud, but all she wanted was to scream. This man had to go away. Now.
"Yeah, well, I might have to renege on that one. I need to see you. Tonight." Jimmy's tone had shifted. Erin had seen that turn many times.
"There is no way in hell that's happenin," whispered Erin.
"I'd hate to have to tell you're fireman that you're not such a sweet girl after all," Jimmy threatened.
"You've been watching me? You need to get your ass out of town now! Tonight!"
"I don't think so. We have a date. Our usual place at eleven. See you then." He was gone.
"Goddammit!" Erin muttered, doing her best not to yell. She paced back and forth at the foot of her bed in an unfamiliar position. She didn't know what to do. Tell Kelly everything. Call Voight for help. Meet Jimmy alone.
She'd take care of it alone, she told herself, taking a deep breath and smoothing her hair.
She stepped back to the kitchen, a regretful look in her eyes.
"I'm sleeping alone at my place tonight?" Kelly asked knowing Voight had probably called. The only other man she couldn't say no to.
"I'm sorry, Kelly. Believe me, going out is the last thing I want." She reached up grabbing his cheek with one hand, running it across the familiar stubble, softly.
"It's okay. Go bust some assholes. Be careful and call me when you get home. No matter how damn late. Okay?"
"Okay. I love you, you know that, right?" Erin continued stroking his cheek.
"I love you," Kelly answered reaching his hand to the back of her neck and easing her in for a light kiss. "Hey, you okay?" He knew something was up, probably something dangerous she didn't want to tell him about.
"Good. Just don't wanna go." Those were the truest words she would tell Kelly that night and for the next few nights to come.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Gabby decided one blow out at 51 had been enough. Giving Severide hell for something he hadn't done taught her one thing...the next scream fest would be in private. Actually, the privacy of her guy's house.
"You've been quiet today," said Casey as they entered through his front door.
"Uh, no. You didn't hear me yellin' at Kelly?" she asked not quite believing he hadn't caught wind of it all.
"Oh Jeez. What happened?"
"It was my fault. Accused him of something he didn't do."
"What was that?" Casey plopped on the couch taking off his shoes.
"I thought he called the commissioner and asked him to go easy on me, to do me some favors."
Matt stopped what he was doing and looked at Gabby, taking in a deep breath.
"Uh, that would be me."
"Why would you do that? Why?"
"I was trying to be supportive. You're always sayin' I'm against this, so I wanted to show you I'm for it."
"You're for it? That is the biggest bunch of bullshit I've ever heard! You have never wanted me to be a firefighter!"
"I'm for anything you're trying to do. I support you, Gabby. In anything." Matt tried to get her to sit by him, but she wasn't moving.
"No, you don't believe in me. That's the truth."
"So, when I voIce my concerns about your safety, I'm being an ass. Now, when I try to make things a little easier for you, I don't believe in you. I can't win!" Casey was frustrated, had been frustrated for quite some time. Things shouldn't be this difficult, he thought. We're just beginning this thing.
"I'm going home. I'll let you know if I pass or not. No shortcuts, no favors."
"Gabby, don't be like that. C'mon, babe." He could only watch as she stormed out, slamming the door behind her. He'd give her a couple of hours. She'd come around, he thought. He hoped.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Erin hadn't set foot in The Flamingo for years. She promised herself she never would. Now, goin' back on that vow.
Apprehensive, she chewed on her bottom lip...a habit she developed as a nervous six-year-old and didn't break until in her late twenties. At the moment, rearing its ugly head as she strode into the seedy bar in a crime ridden area of the city.
She saw him immediately, sitting at the bar like he owned the place. He sensed her enter and swung his chair around smiling. Jimmy's olive skin against those white teeth had an effect on most women he met. They certainly had on her so many years earlier. He hadn't aged one day. Must be a deal with the devil, she thought bitterly. He was fifteen years her senior but didn't look a day over thirty five.
"Erin Lindsay. You look as beautiful as the day I left, sweet girl," he said rising from the stool and out stretching his arms.
She reluctantly entered them more out of habit than anything else, too many years of doing just what he wanted.
"Jimmy." she answered pulling away. "What're you doing here?" Seeing him, softened her tone. She couldn't bring herself to continue the screaming she began on the phone.
"Meeting you. I've missed you. Missed my city."
"You know you're not supposed to be in Chicago. It was what you agreed to," Erin said thinking back on that day she pushed him permanently out of her life. At least she thought it was permanent.
"Uh, about that. We're gonna have to renegotiate that one. I want back in. Back in on it all."
There it was, out in the open. Those years she'd spent in a drug induced fog, Jimmy by her side, all came flooding back in. He'd been her constant companion, her dealer, her bad influence, her drug. She had to admit it, also her love. Or at least she thought her love.
"I'm here to stay Erin," Jimmy finally said. "Now tell me about you being a cop," he laughed. "This oughta be rich."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Kelly heard from Erin in the form of a text. Weird, he thought. They texted only when they were on shift. He always wanted to hear her voice...had a need to hear that husky voice. Just odd.
He tried calling three times before she finally answered.
"You okay?" he asked immediately, knowing she was probably on some hell of a case, not having the time to touch base.
"I'm good," Erin answered hurriedly needing to get off the phone. Every second she remained on the line was another moment that a lie could come out of her mouth.
All she'd thought about was what she was going to do...those same old options staring her in the face.
"Sorry I had to bail today, your day off," she said honestly.
"Probably do me some good, rest up. No rest around you," he laughed.
She forced a small sound resembling what she was tryin' to pass off as a laugh.
"I'll call you after this thing's over, okay? You be careful on shift tomorrow. Text me every hour."
"I will. You do the same. I hope this case pans out and quick. This not seeing you ain't workin' out for me, " Kelly said. "I love you," he added before hanging up.
"I love you so much." Erin answered heading back to Voight's office, answer clear in her mind now.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Hey, you're probably busy with Dawson today, but I thought I'd take a shot," said Kelly, not good at sitting on his ass to rest up. He figured he'd done plenty of that over the last couple of months.
"As a matter of fact, I'm not. Watcha got in mind?" Casey asked glad for the distraction.
The pair met up with Clarke and Manny...a fishing trip on the menu for the day. Benny's little cabin sat empty and lonely, waiting for the four firemen.
"So both of you losers have been dumped for the day," teased Manny, glad for his one day pass of relaxation free from diapers.
"Yep," said Kelly.
"Maybe more than a day," added Casey.
"What the hell are you talkin' about?" Clarke asked.
Casey gave the guys a play by play not wanting to relive it but also knowing he needed some advice. Gabby was leaving no doubt she was still pissed. Things hadn't thawed much.
"Not a smart move, lieutenant," said Clarke shaking his head.
"And how's Lisa?" asked Manny.
Clarke slapped the back of his friend's head with the tail end of a fishing rod.
"You went there?" laughed Kelly.
"How do you deal with it?" asked Casey turning toward Severide. "Erin's got a dangerous job. And you let her go to it. How?"
"First off, I don't 'let' her do anything. Also, that's a huge part of her. Probably wouldn't have fallen so hard if she didn't have that in her." Kelly answered.
"So girls with guns do it for you?" asked Manny.
"Jesus, you're full of it today aren't you? Mama let you out and now you're out of control," Clarke grabbed another beer from the cooler.
"It seems like whatever I do or say is all wrong," added Matt. "But we'll work it out."
"Hell yeah, you will. That girl's been in love with you from day one," said Kelly reaching for another beer.
"Let's quit with the bullshit and fish," Manny said passing a beer to Casey before taking one for himself. "Hey, we're gettin' low. Who's up for a beer run?"
Three hands went up.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
"Hank." Erin said simply, entering the sergeant's office.
One look up from his paperwork told Voight all he needed to know.
"What's wrong?" he asked, getting up from his chair.
"Hank," Erin said again, tears teasing at the corners of her eyes.
Voight pulled the young detective in for a tight hug. He pulled back, placing his hands on her shoulders.
"Talk to me Erin."
"Jimmy's back. What the hell am I gonna do?" Erin's voice broke in a sob, her armor cracked and visible to the older man.
"You're not gonna do anything. I'll take care of it," Voight's gravelly voice rasped out.
Erin buried her head in his shoulder letting the tears flow freely, and letting herself think that maybe, just maybe, he might make good on that promise.
Will Voight make good on his promise? Will Erin come clean to Kelly? Oh, nothing's ever smooth, is it? Haha! Thoughts?