Hi everyone! This is my first fic, and I wanted to try it. This story popped up in my mind one day, and it was too good of an idea to let it slip through my fingers. This fic only focuses on CPD episodes 7x09 and 7x10, so it won't be long. I hope you all enjoy it!

Ch 1 – The Return

It was a casual morning in the bullpen. Nothing interesting had happened recently, and everyone was filling out paperwork.

The coveted silence was soon interrupted when Voight stepped out of his office and asked to see Jay.

Confused, Jay walked into Hank's office. "You wanted to speak to me, Sarge?"

"Yes, I did," said Voight as he sat down. "Have a seat, Jay."

Jay did as he was told and waited for bad news, but it never came. However, it wasn't the news he would have ever suspected hearing.

"I called you in here because I wanted to get a read on you before I made my decisions final," Voight started.

"Okay," said Jay skeptically. "Listen, Sarge, if this is about how I feel about how things with Marcus West went down, I'm good."

"No, Jay it isn't," said Voight, "but I will want to get back to that at some point. I want to talk to you about another delicate matter. Erin is being sent by the FBI to Chicago for a few days to work with CPD. She's been assigned to our unit due to her former ties with us. She would be your partner as well as Hailey's partner. A team of three."

Jay sat silent, stunned, and as still as a rock. His facial expression looked like he had just seen a ghost.

"What I want to ask you," Voight continued, "is, would you be able to keep your emotions in check throughout her stay here in Chicago?"

When he didn't answer, Hank added, "I can make you partners with Burgess for the time being if you don't think that you can handle working with Erin. I would prefer not to, though, since Burgess and Rojas are going to be partners as soon as Hailey is done helping Rojas adapt. I want Rojas and Burgess to get used to each other, but I would make the change if that's what needs to happen this week."

Jay suddenly realized that he hadn't and answered and said, "No, Sarge, I can do it."

"Good, because I already cleared it with Upton. Erin arrives this afternoon," said Voight.

"That soon, Sarge?" Jay was puzzled as he was only informed of this now but didn't want to cause a scene.

"The FBI likes to keep things close to the vest. They didn't notify me of this until yesterday. I only spoke to Hailey last night before she left." Voight was trying to get a read on Jay, but he only saw confusion and surprise on his face. "That's all I wanted to ask you. You can go back to work now."

Jay got up and walked straight to the locker room.

As soon as Jay stepped out of Voight's office, everyone saw the look on his face and immediately started to ask questions. Jay was so caught up in the news he had just received that he didn't hear their words.

Adam looked at Hailey, who, in turn, looked at Kim, each person with a worried look.

Hailey followed Jay while the others convened at Kim and Vanessa's desks.

"That didn't look good," stated Kim.

"I think we should let Hailey deal with this one," said Rojas.

The others agreed but were all secretly itching to know what was happening.

"Jay?" Hailey moved slowly through the locker room towards Jay so she wouldn't startle him. "You alright?"

"Yeah, Hailey, I'm fine."

"Somehow, I don't believe you. Does this have something to do with Erin coming to Chicago?"

"Yeah."

"I'm sorry that I didn't tell you, but Voight told me not to. He said that he needed to be the one to do it, and I didn't disagree." Hailey sounded guilty, and Jay knew that it wasn't her fault. "It's not you. I'm just really…" he paused, "I don't know what I am."

His defeated tone worried Hailey, so she sat beside him and gently but firmly said, "It's just that you don't know how to handle seeing the girl you wanted to marry again."

Jay looked up in surprise, "How do you know about that?"

Hailey smiled sadly and said, "Will told me. It was back when you were dealing with your whole PTSD thing, and I was trying to figure out why you were, well you know."

"Oh." It was all Jay could manage to say. "We didn't end things well, and I buried all of my feelings down, and now they're coming out…" he trailed off.

"It's okay. You don't have to explain."

Jay nodded and asked, "Can we sit here for a bit?"

"Sure. Whatever you need. I'm always going to be here for you Jay. Don't forget that."

"Thanks, Hailey."

The rest of the morning and early afternoon went off without a hitch. After a while, Jay and Hailey returned to the bullpen and continued their work.

Around 3:30, they all heard the sound of the gate opening. Jay looked at Hailey with wide eyes, but a reassuring smile from his partner helped him control his breathing.

"NO WAY!" exclaimed Kim. It was the first sound anyone had heard in hours.

"Woah! This is a joke right!" Adam sounded happier than a kid in a candy store.

"Hey, guys!" There it was, that voice. It was a sound most of them hadn't heard in years. "Good to see all of you!"

It was Erin Lindsay herself.

I know this is a weird place to stop, but it leaves some suspense. I hope you enjoyed it!