Chapter 23: House of cards
"Michelangelo once said that the best way to judge the essential elements of a statue is to throw it off a hill and the unimportant parts will break. Sometimes life throws us downhill, but when we reach the end and only the important things remain, that's when our vision clears."
- One Tree Hill
The next day, the first thing he did when he woke up was to look at Voight's message.
Hank Voight:
we'll do it your way
She thought it was a dream, but it was true. They were going to start a new phase and it was a new phase for everyone and nobody knew how it would go. Lindsay stopped thinking a long time ago about why she was still alive, believing that in addition to being born into bad news, she was one. However, she would not take her own life and as much as she believed that she hurt or killed everyone she loved, she had something inside her that wouldn't let her give up, she doesn't know how to answer why, it just is and then, since Charlotte, she stopped asking herself or else she couldn't take care of her daughter.
Seeing that Hank accepted her deal, or rather ultimatum, she knew her day was going to be eventful.
She got Trudy to set up a meeting with the whole team. Lindsay wanted to be the one to break the news of all the changes coming, but first, she would talk to Hank.
- That must be the famous Charlotte... - the doctor says approaching as soon as he sees Erin entering with her daughter.
She didn't want to have to take the girl and she thought about leaving it with Kim before the intelligence meeting, but the meeting was still scheduled for the morning, so she would have to be quick with Hank.
As soon as he spots the doctor giving him attention, the girl backs away. Charlotte was a very shy child, and Erin has just come to realize that her always talking about the intelligence team is what made her daughter more receptive and talkative when she first met them. As soon as the man approaches, she asks her mother for a lap.
- Yes... - Erin says when the doctor comes closer. -She's a little shy...-she explains to him who nods in understanding. - Hey love... wanna say hi to Hank's doctor? - he asks and the girl shakes her head. The woman smiles and then continues. - All right, he's a friend, he'll help Hank get better and leave the hospital. -she says while the girl puts her head on her mother's shoulder looking at the path they just took.
- You know... I think... - Ian begins.
- JAY!
He is interrupted when the girl spots Halstead coming through the door. Erin turns to see him approaching.
- Hey princess... - Jay accepts her in his arms as soon as she stretches them asking for him.
- What are you doing here? - asks Erin passing her daughter to her ex partner.
- Voight texted me, said he wanted to talk. I sent you a message... - he says straightening the girl in his arms.
-I didn't see...-she says, ready to pick up her cell phone when she notices the doctor standing there. - Oh, I'm sorry... Jay, this is Doctor Salvatore, he's Voight's physical therapist. Ian, this is Jay, a friend...
Jay glares at Erin quickly. He liked that he wasn't introduced as a detective working for Hank but as a friend, but... Ian? Ask yourself internally, isn't this too personal? He thinks, but is soon interrupted by the man.
- Nice to meet you, doctor Salvatore... - The man smiles at Jay, not that he wanted to, but the reason for his smile was because Jay was presented as a friend, not as a boyfriend or husband.
Salvatore was not unprofessional, but he was immediately interested in Erin, from the first time he saw her, not only because of her beauty, but her dedication to the hospitalized man and the first impression she gave him. Kind, companion, among other things. If the man shaking his hand was her husband he would no doubt back off, he's not that kind of man but he was only introduced as a friend and he wanted to at least get to know Erin a little more and if he had a chance he would take it.
- My pleasure, detective Halstead...
The biggest lie between two men who'd just met, Jay didn't exactly know how to identify that feeling, or didn't want to admit it to himself, but Ian knew that man could be competition. Erin watched the exchange, she found their behavior odd, but she didn't think too much about it either, her mind was busy on what Voight would want with Jay.
- How is he? - Finally, he asks.
– He is difficult to convince to do the exercises. When we ask him he complains and says he's not an invalid and when we explain he has to take it slow so he tries to take the hard way, she takes the pain just so she doesn't look weak and then when she gives up she yells at everyone not to think he's in pain or that he's giving up.
- He never likes to be wrong. - Jay says and rolls his eyes.
- You know him. - Erin says looking at Jay.
- Is Hank hurt? -Charlotte directs the question to Jay, but as she doesn't know what to answer she looks at Erin and that was an excellent cue for Ian.
- Hey, Charlotte... - The man gets her attention, but she soon lays down on Jay's shoulder, still shy, but at least now she faces him. - Hank is a little hurt, but nothing that some exercises can't help him improve, it's just that he's a little stubborn and doesn't like to do it. -she says gently and without impressing the girl with unnecessary details.
- Mommy says that sometimes even if we don't want to do something, we have to do it for our own good...-she comments shyly.
- And as I said, you will help me a lot, do you think you can repeat those words to a stubborn man who needs to get better? - her friendly smile gets a shy nod and a slight smile, it was something.
- Thanks...
Salvatore hears a whisper from Lindsay. If he were going to get into this, he would have to know how to use the cards, he doesn't know who the girl's father is and he is in doubt whether the man who accompanies him to his patient's room is the father or not. However, he remembers that the child called him Jay and not Dad, but Erin also seems to be Hank's daughter and does not call him that, she also exchanged a look with the detective when he said that they were friends, in addition, Charlotte looks like the man, hair and eyes. Maybe they are divorced and still friends? He doesn't know, but he'll observe a little and try to get something before working up the courage to ask her out on a first date.
-Did he say what he wanted? - asks Erin quietly as they go to the bedroom.
-No, he asked me to come because he wanted to talk. - says Jay.
She shrugs and smiles at her daughter who is fiddling with the collar of Halstead's jacket.
- Excuse me... you have a visitor. - Salvatore says and gives way for the three to enter, but observes that they stopped before entering and sees Jay hand the girl to her mother's arms before they finally enter, he knows there is something there.
-Hi...-Erin smiles as she enters the room, she knows she'll have to talk to him privately, after all, that's what she was there for, but her daughter would be a good distraction initially.
- Sergeant... - Jay says, but stays closer to the door while the doctor is standing at the entrance to the room, he still has to do the exercises with the man, so he would stay there, unless someone asked him to leave.
- Hi... - Charlie says to Hank.
- I brought Charlotte, I thought you would like to see her. - Erin walks over and lets her daughter sit on the edge of the bed next to him.
- Hi... peanut... - I smiled when I saw that she smiled at the nickname.
- Mommy said you were hurt... - She says looking at his body, it wasn't as ugly as before, some bandages and braces were removed, he's still hurt, but nothing that leaves the girl impressed or scared.
- A little, but I'll be out soon... I have to take you to the park sometime... - The girl opens a smile and then thinks.
- But the doctor said you're stubborn... - This makes everyone laugh. - Why don't you want to improve? -she asks her showing that she understood the conversation with the doctor her way, but it's still worth it.
- I'll get better. - Hank faces the doctor and then Erin.
- So you're going to do the exercises? - asks touching his hand.
- I make. - Hank says and watches Erin roll her eyes and the doctor shakes his head.
- Hmm... - Charlotte thinks some more. - Why don't you listen to the doctors? Mommy says we have to do some things we don't like to get better ...-she says innocently, not knowing that Hank was looking at Erin thinking about how he created the mini version of her.
- You're right daughter. So from now on, when Doctor Salvatore and the nurses come to help Hank do the exercises, he'll do them without complaining or trying too hard. - She says and Hank looks furious at the doctor for having told Erin things, but he is not afraid of Voight. - Isn't it, Hank? - asks knowing he won't say no in front of the girl.
- Yeah...
- Excellent. - Erin smiles. - Sunshine... - she talks to her daughter. - Jay said his brother is around here somewhere at the hospital, why don't you go say hi? -she says putting the girl on the floor and turning her to Jay's side.
- The red-haired doctor... - She comments running to Jay.
- William is your brother? - asks the physiotherapist.
Jay just nods while he takes the girl's hand, he saw that she asked for a lap, but Hank was watching the two, that's why he passed her to Erin before they entered, both understood each other just by looking and even though it wasn't a big deal, they knew the sergeant very well.
- Now I managed to assimilate the last name... - Ian says and the two leave the room with Charlotte hand in hand with Jay.
- What are you doing here? - Hank asks as soon as they are left alone, Erin breathes relieved that he doesn't look angry or disappointed.
- I wanted to talk about your message. - informs her.
- I thought you were in a meeting.
- A little later, but I wanted to stop by first to see you.
- Did you bring your daughter to ease the situation? she asks with a slight smile.
- No, I had no one to leave it with, Kim is going to the meeting and today Makayla has a psychologist and an interview with the social worker. -she explains.
- Even if it was, I enjoyed seeing you, I hope that when you're here, you let me participate more in your lives, I promise I won't interfere... - Mind.
- I don't intend to keep you away from her... - Erin says and takes his hand. - I want you to know that I admire you, everything you've done for this city, I don't want you to think I don't appreciate all the effort you've made, it's just that...
"Erin..." he says and gently squeezes her hand until she faces him. - I'm not angry, I was going to ask you to come after the meeting so we could talk, but since you're here.. - he says and gets ready to explain why he made that decision. - I've already lost a lot in my life... Camille, Justin... - Erin holds back her tears. - I even lost you... - she shakes her head, but he doesn't let her speak. - I lost my grandson, I don't follow the growth well and until a few months ago I didn't even know I had a granddaughter... - She stares at him, the words he used. - You're my daughter, you always have been, mine and Camille's... I never wanted you to think you didn't belong and that's when I realized that's how I made you feel sometimes.
- Hank...
- I gave up intelligence... - He interrupts her. - Because I'm not getting any younger... - I laugh awkwardly. - I can't do a damn simple exercise without feeling pain.
- Hank, you were released after an explosion. - Says the brunette.
- Well... it doesn't matter now, but I want you to know that I don't want to lose more Daniel's life, Charlotte's and not even yours, that's not what Camille would want, it wasn't what we planned, but I want to ask you something. - comments.
- What? - question.
- When Jay becomes a sergeant and takes over intelligence, I want him to go back to his life in NY.
- But that's the plan. -she says confused with the request.
- I know you do everything for your family, we are your family, but Chicago is not your place, look how far you grew up from here... Chicago is no place for Charlotte and I may want to have you two around, but I know you have to come back, so promise me that when Jay takes over, you won't stay.
- Hank...
- Promise!
- I can't promise that. -she says without even knowing why she said that, but she found his request strange. - I don't understand what you're getting at, why are you so afraid that I'll stay?
- It is not fear. - she says. - I want your good and Charlotte's good. - explains. - You went through a lot here and created a life there, I just don't want it to be lost...
- I am not going. - she says.
- Then promise. -she says again.
- I promise. - snorts without understanding the reason for so much insistence.
- And this one listens to the beats of your heart... it goes tum tum, tum tum...
Erin finds Charlotte in Jay's arms with Will explaining how some medical instruments work, her smile already says that the two were good at entertaining the girl.
- Doctor... - Approaching smiling.
- Detective... oh, I'm sorry, it's ASAC now... - I smiled at her.
- Mommy... - the girl interrupts the two. - I'm going to be a doctor like Will. - account.
- That's it... - he makes a hi5 with the girl.
Salvatore watched for a few moments. Charlie was extremely shy, but not with Jay and Will, which meant there was a back story, but it was strange that she didn't seem to know the redhead very well if the detective was the father and then he remembers that Lindsay came from NY, maybe Jay was interested in her, but the distance didn't allow for a relationship? Well, Salvatore was just a few years away from turning 40, it wasn't the first hospital he'd worked in, let alone the first state, he went where he needed to be and if Erin let him in, maybe NY could be a place he would live in the future.
He shakes his head, he's sounding crazy thinking that way, but it was just that Erin intrigued him and he was already ready to have a family of his own and somehow, Erin seemed like the right person.
- Hank wants to talk to you. - Erin says pulling her daughter from Jay's arms and putting her on the ground, with Will entertaining her so that the two adults can talk.
- You asked for a car app to come, right? - Jay asks and continues after she says. - Wait for me and we can go to the district together. - says and leaves as soon as she nods once more.
Jay knocks on the bedroom door, but enters without actually getting a response.
- Wanted to see me?
- Yes. - Hank says. - I'm glad you accepted Erin's proposal, she just told me...
- Sergeant...
- Listen. - asks. - I wouldn't be leaving intelligence right now if it weren't for Erin... but in any case, you would be my choice to take over. I'm not angry that she asked me to step aside, I understand where she was going and I already have plans for when I get out of here, I called you here because I want to talk to you, man to man.
- What you want? -Jay doesn't say anything, but he presumes to know what the subject is about, or rather who.
- I want you to stay away from Erin. - not really a request, his tone is more of an order.
- With all respect...
- You will be silent and listen to me. - Voight cuts him off. -You've watched her, you've seen how much better she's been since she left. She has a daughter, a Halstead daughter, and I wouldn't ask that if the girl were hers, but she isn't. - this hurts Jay, but he remains silent. - Erin is risking a lot now so that her intelligence does not fall into the wrong hands, she trusts you as I do, but I know how you two are, but if you really love her, as it seems... - These words surprise Jay, but Voight is not affected. - You will let her go when you assume intelligence, Chicago is not good for her, she has a life in NY, Charlotte has a life there, it would be selfish of you if you approached, if you make that girl become attached to you and you give a happy family for a few months, do you think it's fair?
- I think you're seeing things. says Jay.
- As if I didn't know you and Erin, in what, a few weeks she already entrusts her daughter to you?
- I was at the end of the hall. - Jay explains.
- As if I didn't know you didn't meet to talk about work and her daughter...
- I don't think this conversation concerns you. I'm Erin's friend and you don't have the right to intervene in this, Erin is no longer a child you can order and dismantle whenever you want.
- So I didn't say anything to her and I hope you don't, like you did years ago when I told you to keep it in your pants, you didn't listen to me and look how it turned out for you, don't make Charlotte a victim of your little game...
- You don't know what you're talking about, I would never do something with her, with them!
- I know, but you act like you're teenagers, like life is a magical tale, isn't it, you live different lives, so if you really care about both of them, you'll know that Erin is better off without you, that the place, Charlotte's house is in NY and not here.
Jay clenched his jaw, he wanted to reason with the man, but the problem was his mind was starting to come to terms with it.
- Listen, me, you and Hailey are being investigated, Erin is risking everything to save me, save you and intelligence. You are in a troubled story with Hailey, one that I can only see a solution to so you can both protect yourselves and not have to face trial, I'm going to step out of the wits but I know that before you two are finally an over and done with, they're going to want to see how far you two would go for me and each other...
- What are you talking about? - Jay looks confused.
- I know Erin asked them to drop my case if I left, but I heard internal affairs didn't accept it, they're going to investigate, they're not going to change the deal, but if they find out Hailey shot her, she'll be stripped of her intelligence or even her badge and the only way you can protect her is if you two get married...
"If you get things done the way you want...
For the measure of a successful life...
So some would say I'm a failure.
The most important thing...
It's not to be bitter by life's disappointments.
Learning to leave the past behind."
- One Tree Hill