A/N: I'm so sorry for the delay in getting a new chapter posted! I dislocated my elbow and broke my wrist at the beginning of November, so I've not gotten nearly as much writing done as I wanted. This story is fully written now, though, and the epilogue will be posted soon!
Erin startled at the sound of a knock on her door. She wasn't expecting anyone; none of her coworkers knew where she lived, and she didn't have any friends here in New York. She grabbed her sidearm, slipping it into her waistband, walking to the door, and cautiously looking through the peephole. When she saw who was there, she stumbled backwards a couple of steps before she regained control. She unlocked the door and opened it. "Jay? Is it Hank?" she asked, scared to hear the answer. The only reason she could think of as to why Jay would be here was that something had happened to Hank, and they hadn't wanted to tell her over the phone. But that didn't make sense; she'd just talked to him a couple of days ago and he was fine.
Jay shook his head, remaining in the doorway, unsure of whether or not he should go in. "No, Hank's fine," he assured her, feeling bad when he saw her visible relief. "I'm sorry," he apologized, "I didn't mean to scare you. I wasn't thinking."
Erin motioned for him to come in and shut the door behind him, padded over to the counter, removed her sidearm from her waistband, and set it down before turning back to him. Jay hid a smile. She was definitely Hank's daughter. Last year, when Hank was injured, Jay had been glad for the warning Erin had given him all those years ago about Hank keeping a shotgun by the door. More than once he'd had to use the key to Hank's house when they hadn't heard from the sergeant, and, thanks to her warning, he'd known to announce himself before coming in.
Erin crossed her arms across her chest. "What are you doing here, Jay?"
"I was hoping we could talk," he told her.
Erin was confused. "About what? Is something going on with Hank? Why didn't you just call?
Jay had to stop himself from rolling his eyes. Of course, she'd think it was about Hank. "No, it's not about Hank. And I didn't call because I wasn't sure if you'd answer," he admitted.
Erin flinched at his words but knew that she deserved them. She'd never really thought about it before, but it made sense now why Jay had called from a different number when Hank was shot; he'd been worried that she wouldn't answer. And, as much as Erin hated to admit it, he was probably right. "Fair point," she told him. "But you didn't answer the question; what are you doing here?"
"The day after you left, when you didn't answer, I went to your apartment. I was worried about you, so I wanted to check on you. When I unlocked that door, I was terrified of what I might find. But I didn't expect to find an empty apartment. Everything was gone. It was completely empty. The only thing left was a picture of us that I found under a box on the floor."
"Jay-" Erin began, but Jay held his hand up to stop her. "No; let me finish," he told her. "I was going to propose. I had asked Will for Mom's ring so that I could ask you to marry me. But you left without saying goodbye. I had to find out from Voight that you were gone for good. I loved you, Erin, and you broke my heart. I didn't think I'd ever get over you. But then Hailey stepped in." He saw Erin flinch at Hailey's name, but continued, "She saw how much I was hurting and what I was doing to myself and my career, and she helped me get my life back on track. Then somehow, without meaning to or even realizing it, she and I were dating, and I was falling in love with her. We even got married. But throughout all of it, throughout my entire relationship with her, there was always something holding me back. I didn't realize it, but she did.
"Every time you left again without saying goodbye, it hurt. Not just me, but Hailey, as well, because she saw that, even though it shouldn't have, even though she and I were together, you leaving without saying goodbye hurt me all over again. She tried to let it go, but after the last time, after Voight was shot, she called me out on it. She told me that I was still in love with you. I didn't want to believe her; I tried to convince her that I'd moved on, but I was lying to both of us."
By this point, Erin had taken several steps backwards so that she could lean against the wall, no longer trusting her legs to hold her up. She was fighting to keep the tears in her eyes from falling, and her hand was covering her mouth, as if trying to hold all of her feelings in.
Jay took a couple of hesitant steps towards her. "Hailey and I got divorced, Erin. It was finalized a couple of months ago."
Erin stood there, unsure of what to say, and afraid that if she tried to speak, she would lose control of her emotions.
"I had to beg Voight to tell me your address. He didn't want to give it to me at first. But I finally convinced him," Jay informed her, taking another step towards her. He was within arm's reach now. "Erin, please, say something," he pleaded.
"Why?" whispered Erin.
Jay reached out a hand and touched her arm tentatively, and, without meaning to, she leaned into it. She'd forgotten what his touch felt like. "Why what, Erin?" he asked softly.
"Why are you telling me this now, Jay?" Erin asked, a sob escaping. "Every time I came back, it felt like my heart was being ripped out, seeing you and Hailey happy together and seeing that the rest of the team had moved on. It was like I'd never even existed. That's why I always left without saying goodbye. So, why now?"
Jay took another step towards Erin, and she fell into his arms, unable to stop herself. Tears were now freely running down her face. "I wasn't ready to admit it," he told her, holding her and stroking her hair. "I was hurt when you left without saying goodbye, and I didn't want to admit that I still loved you."
Erin looked up at him and Jay reached up with his thumb to wipe away her tears. "I'm sorry," she told him. "I didn't want to hurt you. I just didn't see any other way."
"I know," Jay murmured, "you told me at Kelly and Gabby's wedding, and I didn't want to listen. But I know that now. I believe you."
"Jay, my life is in New York now," she whispered. "I can't."
Jay shook his head. "Voight told me everything," he told her. "Once I finally got out of him where you were, he told me how much you hate your life in New York and how miserable you are here. Come back to Chicago, Erin. For good this time. Please."
"How?" Erin cried. "If I go back, it will put a target on Hank's back. And on yours."
Jay shook his head. "No, it won't. Didn't Voight tell you?"
"Tell me what?" Erin asked, confused.
Jay smiled. "Ever since he got shot last year, he's been working with IA under the condition that they drop the investigation into you and allow you to come back to Intelligence. He finished his obligation to them this week. You don't have to worry about that anymore, Erin. You're free."
"But there's no slots; the team is full," Erin protested.
Jay shook his head. "Hailey transferred to somewhere in Washington. She has family out there," he shrugged, "so Voight wanted me to tell you that there's a spot open for you, if you want it."
Two months later, Erin walked up the stairs at the district, Hank on one side of her and Jay on the other. She smiled as she walked into the Intelligence unit bullpen; she was finally home.