· A Moment In the Past, Erin's P.O.V*
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.
· Back To The Present *
Several days had elapsed since Voight had been sitting by Erin's hospital bed. 'I keep remembering when we first met,' he shared, casting a glance at Eddie, who was seated in a corner. 'Yes?,' inquired the other man curiously.
'Al and I were just arresting her, years ago,' Voight began, intending to recount the story of how he had met Erin. 'She was stubborn and feisty, perhaps even more so than she is now, but she had her moments,' he reflected.
Eddie nodded as he listened. 'I'm sure she kept you on your toes,' Eddie teased, eliciting a light chuckle from Voight. 'Oh, she did,' Voight affirmed. 'But she was a good kid who was associating with the wrong crowd at that time,' he concluded.
· A Moment In the Past*
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 15 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 15, 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.
· Back To The Present *
"Voight disclosed that her mother was a drug addict, currently still struggling with addiction, and the whereabouts of her father remain unknown," Voight reflected on the past. "However, at present, I wouldn't trade the situation for anything." Eddie nodded in agreement, observing the sleeping Erin in the hospital bed.
"Erin is the greatest thing that has ever happened to me, especially after the tragic loss of my wife and son in a car accident two years prior to meeting her," Voight expressed emotionally. "I shudder to think what would have become of me if I hadn't had her."
"You would likely be lost without me, or perhaps even driven to madness," a hoarse voice interjected, capturing the attention of the two men. "Erin?" Voight exclaimed, leaning closer to his partner who gazed back at him with her captivating hazel eyes.
Eddie went to fetch Will, allowing Voight to spend some private time alone with Erin. "How are you feeling?" Voight inquired, planting a tender kiss on Erin's forehead, his heart filled with joy upon seeing the brunette awake.
Erin murmured, her voice noticeably more hoarse than usual from being unconscious for a few days. 'How long was I unconscious?' she inquired while attempting to sit up, wincing at the pain in her stomach. Voight held her hand and quietly responded, 'You were unconscious for approximately four days.'
He fought back tears, saying, 'Four agonizing days for me,' and buried his face in her lap, where Erin soothingly ran her fingers through his hair. 'Please don't cry, my love,' Erin whispered, continuing to comfort Voight. 'I thought I almost lost you,' Voight confessed as he inhaled Erin's scent.
Erin paused before reassuringly stating, 'Everything will be fine,' as Will and Eddie entered the room. 'It's heartening to see you awake, Erin,' Will greeted with a smile. 'Do you recall what happened?' he inquired, eager to gauge Erin's memory of the events.
Erin quietly recalled, 'I remember being shot while Antonio and I were questioning this individual about the incident.' She followed with a frown, 'Other than that, it's all a bit blurry.' Will nodded in response, 'You haven't forgotten much, which is a good sign,' he said while monitoring her vitals.
Erin blinked as Will examined her with a flashlight, reassuring her, 'Everything seems fine. I'd say a few more days at most before you can go home, but remember not to overexert yourself.'
After finishing the assessment, Will turned to Voight, inquiring, 'Can we speak outside?' Voight, after kissing Erin's forehead, nodded and whispered, 'I'll be back soon,' before joining Will to step out of the room, leaving Eddie to watch over Erin until their return.
Concerned, Voight asked, 'Is everything alright?' Will then inquired, 'Should we discuss the baby with her? Or would you like to do it?' stressing the importance of eventually sharing that information with Erin.
Voight furrowed his brow and deliberated, 'I shall inform her, but I prefer to wait until she has fully recovered, as I do not wish for her to exert herself.' Will acknowledged with a nod, 'Do not delay too much, for it may disrupt her if she discovers the truth on her own later.'
'I understand. I will disclose it to her when I believe she is prepared,' Voight affirmed before returning to the room with a heavy heart, resolved to keep the secret for as long as possible in the hope that Erin would not inquire or even become aware of her pregnancy.