Riley and Erin were still embracing when the social worker knocked.
"Detective-"
"Just another minute." Erin said, releasing Riley from her grasp. They both turned to face the women.
"I'm sorry Detective, but its past visiting hours and I'm afraid without you being directly involved with this case.."
Erin cut her off with a nod before turning her eyes back to Riley. "I have to go.."
"No!" Riley stated, getting upset again.
"Hey.. Riley," Erin said, trying to sooth the young girl.
"Erin, please.." Riley whispered. Erin brushed a tear from the girls face.
"I'm going to do everything, in my power to get you out of this." Erin said, adding particular emphasis on the word everything. "But you gotta be brave for me and tell them everything..ok? No matter how hard it is... every little detail can help."
Riley nodded and brushed away her tears. Erin hugged the girl one last time before leaving.
Kelly and Erin pulled into parking lot of the police station.
"Hey, thanks for driving Kelly." Erin said, turning to him as she finished sending a text to Voight. He was on his way from the funeral of the fallen cop. He wanted to look the man's wife in the eye and tell her they got justice for her husband.
"No problem." He said. "Anything I can do from my end for the Riley girl?"
Erin shook her head.
"If ya think of anything just let me know ok? And keep me updated." Severide said.
"I will, thanks Kelly." Erin said patting his hand before getting out of the car.
Erin stormed into the bullpen on a mission. Not a single soul had a time to flinch, much less get up as Erin stormed across the floor and decked Jay square in the face, knocking him out of his chair.
"What the hell is going on in here!?"
Everyone present turned around to see Voight standing in the threshold of the room.
No one made a peep.
"Halstead! Lindsey! My office, NOW.
Jay picked himself off the ground, grabbed a rag for his blood nose and followed Erin into Voight's office and closed the door.
"Anybody know what the hell just happened?" Antonio said, in utter bewilderment.
Al, and Ruzeck just shook their heads. They were as confused as he was.
"Jay went behind my back and called Child Services on Riley. They picked her up a couple hours ago." Erin wasted no time in saying.
"I didn't go behind your back Erin its policy." Jay defended himself.
"We're partners! You should have come and talked to me! There were circumstances and facts you weren't aware of!" Erin spat back.
"Well then you should have come talked to me! I-"
"ENOUGH! Both of you!" Voight bellowed.
... (Talking) ...
"I didn't know... I didn't know she was being abused." Jay answered solemnly.
"And we couldn't tell you, but that does not give you the right to go off and just make decisions. This is my unit! Did you forget that." Voight said.
"No." Jay said.
"Good. You ever pull something like this again, I'll have you thrown out of my unit like that." Voight said, snapping his fingers.
Jay nodded, and Voight made a motion for him to leave the room. He turned to Erin. "You wanna punch someone out, you do it with the badge off. And without a whole unit full of cops as witnesses! I raised you better than this." Voight scolded.
Erin bit her lip and hung her had a bit.
"Now... lets talk about Riley." Voight said.
"Hello... earth to Shay?" Gabby Dawson said.
"Huh?" Shay said.
"Um you just passed the gas station for like the second time? Come on, let's get this baby filled up so we can go homeeee" Gabby said, playfully shaking Shay's arm. "What's up with you?"
"DCFS took Riley away yesterday." Shay said.
"What!?" Gabby gasped. She had had most of yesterday off.
"Yeah.." Shay said, and told her what Severide had reported last night.
"Oh my gosh, Shayyyy why didn't you say anything!?" Gabby said.
"There was no time! I mean.. Kelly barely got it all out before a call came in and.." Her voice tapered off.
Dawson leaned back in her seat. "Damn.."
"Yeah, I know." Shay replied.
Riley sat on a bean bag chair in the holding/interview room and blindly stared at the TV in the room. Two young children, whom had been brought in this morning were running around the room playing some imaginary game. Riley looked up from the television when she heard the sound of a door opening and feared for the worse. She prepared herself for her father to walk in the room, or some social worker telling her it was time to go home. But it wasn't...
"Shay!" Riley half gasped, half called out. She jumped out of the chair and flew across the room right into Shay's arms. Shay hugged her tightly.
"Have you come to take me back to the fire house!?" Riley said.
Shay grimaced.. she hated bursting the young girl's bubble... she looked so hopeful.
"I'm afraid not kiddo... I'm sorry." Shay said sincerely.
Riley hung her head and nodded, before picking it back up again. "How is everyone at 51?
"Good, they miss you though.. But more importantly, how are you? They treating you ok? Feeding you?" Shay asked. That is the reason she came.. to see that the kid was alright.
Riley nodded again. "Yeah.. They're doing an investigation." Riley said, finishing with "Hopping for the best, but expecting the worst."
"Riley.. why didn't you tell me? I would have-"
"What? Would have what Shay?" Riley said desperately. "There was nothing you could do.. except be legally responsible to turn me in."
"I'm sorry.." Riley said quietly.
"Its ok girlie.. I know." Shay told her.
"It really is good to see you Shay.." Riley said, giving Shay a small crack of a smile.
"It's good to see you too kiddo." Shay said, pulling the girl into a hug. "I just wish it was under better circumstances.."
Meanwhile a certain sergeant, and a certain detective were calling in favors, pulling strings, and doing all that they can, and praying... that it would be enough.
Thanks for all the reviews and love! Keep it up! Reading your wonderful words really inspires me to write :) R&R and thanks again! Love you guys! :)