Chapter One: Getting Caught

Voight proceeded through a group of police officers to investigate the cause of the commotion. 'Hold still,' he heard Mac order as he approached the scene, where he observed two officers restraining a brown-haired girl who appeared to be around 17 years old.

'Let me go, you pricks,' the girl hissed angrily as she struggled to free herself from their grasp. 'No, we're taking you in,' Mac asserted, his grip on the girl's arm tightening, causing her pain.

'You're hurting me, you dumbass,' the girl retorted. Voight approached Mac and his partner, who were restraining the girl firmly. 'Mac, Jean, release her immediately!' he commanded. As the two officers complied and let go of the teenager, Mac questioned, 'You're just going to let her go?'

Voight noticed the girl swiftly kicking between Mac's legs, causing him to groan in pain and clutch his crotch. 'You little troublemaker,' Mac exclaimed, preparing to retaliate, but Voight intervened just in time. 'Back off, Mac,' he admonished, pulling the girl away from the agitated officer.

Voight disregarded the sarcastic remark made by the girl and turned towards Mac, instructing them, 'You two go check out the house.' Despite Mac's attempt to object, Voight intervened, stating firmly, 'Now, I'll deal with the kid,' leaving no room for further discussion. Observing Mac walking away.

The girl taunted him by shouting, 'Yeah, you better go, you dickhead,' which earned her a disapproving glare from the detective who stood before her.

In response, he commanded, 'You shut your mouth and come with me.' In defiance, the girl declined, expressing gratitude for removing the troublemakers and attempting to leave. However, Voight grasped her arm, declaring, 'I said you are coming with me, young lady,' and guided her towards his truck.

As she resisted and tried to walk away, Voight firmly stated, 'Hey, let me go!' while finally managing to push her into the back seat of the truck. Overpowering her attempt to escape, he warned, 'You sit in that seat and behave, or I'll have to restrain you with handcuffs.'

Voight shook his head as he closed the door just in time to prevent the girl from kicking him in the chin; however, her leg collided with the door. 'Are you enjoying yourself with the child?' inquired his partner as he settled into the passenger seat, while Voight took the driver's seat.

'Let me go, you fool,' the girl protested as she kicked the seat, prompting Voight to release an annoyed growl. 'Stop kicking my seat, for heaven's sake!' he ordered sternly, reaching to give the impulsive teenager's leg a light smack before driving towards the district.

Al chuckled as he observed Voight's face turning red. 'In any case, young lady, what is your name?' he inquired in an attempt to dissuade the girl from further assaulting Voight's seat.

'It's none of your business, weirdos,' the girl retorted, ceasing her kicking when her stomach began to growl, resulting in her complexion reddening. 'Well, it seems someone is hungry, regardless of what you say,' Al remarked with a smirk, deciding to engage in her banter for a brief moment.

Voight expressed his annoyance as Al engaged in small talk with the girl. 'I am not hungry,' she stated, looking out the window as her stomach growled. 'Silence, you traitor!' the girl scolded her own stomach.

'Hank, please find a place to stop for food,' Al suggested, hoping that satisfying the girl's hunger might lead to her cooperation. Voight questioned the rationale behind feeding someone who kept kicking his chair, exchanging glares with the girl. Al noticed the girl's demeanor improving and proposed that feeding her might facilitate their collaboration.

Voight reluctantly agreed, with the condition that Al foot the bill, pulling into a Denny's parking lot. As they ate, Voight initiated a conversation with the girl. 'Will you share your name with us now?' he inquired as he observed her devouring her burger. 'It's Erin,' the brunette responded after swallowing.

Erin, having recently completed her meal, inquired, 'Can I depart now?' She directed her gaze first at Voight, then at Al. 'I have addressed all your inquiries.' Taking a sip of her milkshake, she added, 'Of course you are free to go, but I am obliged to bring you in for striking Mac,' Voight stated, his gaze fixed on the petite brunette.

Erin nonchalantly responded, 'Really? That individual provoked it. He should have been capable of defending himself.' Rising from her seat, she remarked, 'However, I appreciate the meal,' before turning to take her leave.

Voight interjected as Erin attempted to leave, presenting his card and advising, 'Before you depart, accept my contact information; feel free to reach out if you require assistance or desire an exit.' Erin accepted his card and examined it briefly before acknowledging, 'Okay.'

With a sigh, Erin exited the diner and headed home to avoid attracting attention from Charlie and Luke, who may have noticed her extended absence during her run. She stole a glance over her shoulder and observed Voight observing her through the window of Denny's.

Upon arriving home, Erin was greeted by Charlie as she entered the house. 'Hey, Erin,' he said as she closed the door. 'What took you so long?' he inquired.

Erin retrieved a pack of cigarettes, a six-pack of beer, and some weed from her bag and handed them to Charlie, explaining that she had encountered some trouble. 'OH yeah? What kind of trouble?' Charlie asked as he set the items down. 'Nothing I can't handle,' Erin reassured him before retreating to her room.

'Where is Luke?' she asked while sitting on the mattress on the floor. 'He's out for a bit,' Charlie responded. 'But you know once he learns how long it took for you to get home and bring our things, you'll be punished,' he warned.

Erin sighed, fully aware of the consequences she would face. However, she also knew that she would be in even greater trouble if Charlie and Luke discovered that she had been caught by the Chicago PD. Retrieving the card given to her by Voight, she glanced at it before slipping it under her bed.

ยท With Voight*

Voight expressed a sigh upon arriving at his residence, walking into the vast, empty house where he resided alone. Placing his keys and wallet carefully in the bowl on the table, he proceeded to the kitchen to retrieve a beer, the silence of the house being a usual occurrence.

A few years prior, his wife and two-year-old son had tragically lost their lives due to a drunk driver in a car accident, leaving him to dwell in solitude. Sitting in his chair with a beer in hand, he tuned Into his preferred TV show, 'Andy Griffin,' sighing as he leaned back and removed his boots.

While engrossed in the show, his thoughts drifted to Erin, the spirited young teenager he had encountered earlier that day, marveling at the determination in her eyes.

Reflecting on his impulsive decision to pass her his card, he pondered on the possibility of aiding her in escaping the challenging circumstances she was entwined in, disapproving of a girl at the tender age of 17 having to endure such hardships.

Voight pondered about the whereabouts of Erin's parents and why they were permitting their daughter to engage in drug use and other inappropriate activities at the young age of 17, particularly evident through the depth of troubles reflected in Erin's eyes.

Voight cast a contemplative gaze at the TV screen, speculating, 'I anticipate she may eventually seek my assistance.' With a premonition that Erin might reach out to him soon for support in distancing herself from the predicament, Voight considered initiating contact with her to establish a connection.

Upon the conclusion of the program, Voight rose from his seat and proceeded towards the bathroom to take a shower before retiring for the night in preparation for the forthcoming workday. He gathered a pair of sweatpants, boxers, and a towel, then entered the bathroom.