Erin felt her heart stop. "What..when?" She said desperately.
"I don't know, about an hour ago." Severide said, just as desperately. "I tried to stop them! We all did.. but they just kept saying she was 15 and a runaway-"
"Because she is." Jay said, standing up from his desk.
Erin and Kelly both turned to look at him. "What..." Erin said, her voice trickling off.
Jay stuffed his hands in his pockets. "Something didn't sit right with me about that kid... and almost our whole case hinged on her statement so... I did some poking around. I went to that tattoo parlor she said she went to and they told me the reason she didn't get a real tattoo was because she wasn't 18 and couldn't. So I called Child Services."
"You did what!" Erin spat, shaking free of bewilderment.
Jay furrowed his brow "My job Erin, I was going to tell you I just never got the chance. And I didn't want this "ticking time bomb" in our hands. The chiefs would have a field day if they knew we were housing a minor for this long, or even the fact that, if I had got'n involved we wouldn't have even known she was a minor."
"I knew!" Erin lashed, jabbing a pointed finger into her own chest before marching across the bullpen, and getting right up in Jay's face.
"You have no idea what you have done." Erin hissed angrily. She stared into Jay's eyes a moment longer before snatching her coat from her desk.
"Do you know where DCFS headquarters are?" She asked, turning to Kelly. He nodded. "Great, your driving."
"Voight, its Erin, call me, its important." Erin said into the phone before hanging up, to compose herself and take a deep breath.
She glance towards Severide as he drove silently. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you Kelly... I couldn't, for your sake and for Riley's." Erin said.
"How long have you known?" Severide asked.
"Not long." Erin said.
"Its her parents isn't it." Kelly said, very matter of factly.
Erin looked at him.
"The ones who've been beating her." Kelly said.
Erin nodded, "Her dad.. Yes."
"And that's who those people are going to send her back too." Severide said.
"Not if I have anything to say about it." Erin said, her voice hard.
"Not if WE have anything to say about it." Kelly said.
Erin looked at him.
"I'm with you.. both of you." Severide finished.
Erin cracked a smile, and they drove on.
They pulled into the parking lot of the DCFS building. Erin jogged into the building as fast as she could. She jogged into the lobby and up to the women at the front desk.
"Can I hel-" The women started, before Erin cut her off. "I'd like to speak to someone in charge." Erin said, and flashed her badge.
The women behind the desk took one look at Erin's badge and nodded silently, before rising up from her chair and disappearing down the hall. Just then Kelly walked in and he and Erin took a seat and waited.
"I'm sorry" Severide mumbled.
Erin gave him a confused look. "Why are you sorry?"
"I should have done more.. to stop them from taking her away." Kelly answered.
"You couldn't have done more.. not without getting yourself in trouble.." Erin said, taking his hand.
"Yeah but she was screaming... and crying out for help. Begging for it really." He turned his head to look at Erin. "She called out for me... and I just stood there."
Just then a women in a blazer came walking down the hallway. Erin and Severide both stood up.
Erin shook her hand. "Detective Erin Lindsay" She said introducing herself. Kelly did likewise.
"Please to meet both of you, now what can I do for you?" The women asked.
"You picked up a girl, Riley Albright.. 15 about two hours ago, right?" Erin said.
"Yes" the women replied.
"You can't send her home, she's being abused." Erin stated, getting right to the point.
The women nodded. "I'm aware. We're keeping her here until her allegations can be investigated."
Erin was taken a bit back. "I want to see her."
"Do you have a relationship with this girl Detective?" The women asked.
"Yes. Well.. sort of.. She's an informant in a case I'm working." Erin managed to get out.
The women nodded and gestured for Erin to follow her. Kelly told her he'd wait in the lobby. The women led Erin back to an open room. It looked to be a standard holding/interviewing room. She opened the door and Erin walked in.
"A few minutes Detective." The women said.
"Yeah, got it." Erin said as she closed the door quickly and somewhat rudely on the women before making eye contact with Riley whom had been pacing on the far side of the room. She had dried tears on her cheeks.
Erin opened her mouth to speak as Riley went flying across the room at her. Erin prepared herself for a hug, but what she got was something else entirely...
"I TRUSTED YOU!" Riley shouted as ramed into to Erin, pushing her, and almost knocking her over.
Erin, bewildered, regained her balanced, just as little 15 year old continued to push her and hit her.
"I trusted you! I told you my secret! What happened to me! I never told anyone! You promised you wouldn't tell! You promised! Lier!" Riley shouted.
Erin finally got her grip on the girl's wrist and restrained Riley. She knelt down in front of the girl. Erin could see tears flowing from her eyes.
"Riley! Riley stop! It wasn't me... I didn't betray you. My partner, Jay.. he.. figerured it out! He went to the tattoo parlor.. they told him you weren't of age.." Erin said.
Riley stopped struggling and looked Erin the eyes. Her eyes ere filled with fear and knowing.
Erin let go of Riley's wrists. "You told the social worker about your abuse?"
Riley nodded. "But it won't make one bit of difference. He's good at covering up. They'll never find anything.. not one shred of proof."
"You don't know that.." Erin said, trying to reassure the small girl.
"Yes I do." Riley said softly.
She looked at Erin for a moment before running towards her again. Erin braced herself for another confrontation, but it didn't come.. Instead Riley though her little arms around Erin's waist and hugged her. Erin hugged her back and this time... it was Erin's turn to sing..
(Singing) Be still and know.. that I'm with you. Be still and know.. I'm here. Be still and know.. that I'm with you. Be still, be still, and know. (Singing)
Hey friends! :) I'm back! Well.. for a little while anyways. I just got back from College and I'm on Christmas/Winter break until the first week of January so I'll try to give you guys a few chapters while I'm home! :) Thanks for waiting! I hope I don't disappoint! Also.. to everyone that guessed Jay, you were right! Congratulations :) Stay tuned! R&R! 3