TW: Drugs

The next morning, Erin and Jay walked down the street, their voices carrying a heated discussion.

"I can't believe you were flirting with her, Jay!" Erin exclaimed, her frustration evident.

Jay sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Erin, it wasn't like that. She was just being friendly."

"Friendly? She was practically throwing herself at you!" Erin retorted, crossing her arms.

As they approached the unit, the rest of the team couldn't help but notice the tension.

Adam smirked, nudging Kevin. "Looks like Jay's in trouble."

Kevin chuckled. "What did you do this time, Halstead?"

Jay rolled his eyes. "Nothing, guys. Just a misunderstanding."

Voight, always the voice of reason, stepped in. "Alright, enough. We have work to do. Jay, Erin, sort this out later."

Erin shot Jay one last glare before turning to Voight. "Yes, sir."

As they all headed inside, Adam couldn't resist one last comment. "Jay, you really need to work on your flirting skills."

Jay groaned, but a small smile tugged at his lips.

Erin sat in her truck, tears streaming down her face as she gripped the steering wheel. She was about to start the engine when she saw Jay running towards her.

He stepped in front of the truck, placing his hands on the hood to stop her from driving away.

"Erin, please, just listen to me!" Jay pleaded, his voice filled with desperation.

Erin's eyes were red and puffy from crying. "Move, Jay. I don't want to hear it." Jay shook his head, refusing to budge.

"I can't let you go like this. It was a mistake, Erin. I didn't mean for it to happen."

Erin's grip on the wheel tightened. "A mistake? You leaned in, Jay. You didn't push her away."

Jay took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady. "I know, and I'm sorry. But please, don't let this ruin everything we have."

Erin's eyes flashed with anger and hurt. "You don't get to decide that, Jay. You broke my trust."

Jay stepped closer, his hands now on the driver's side window. "Erin, I love you. Please, give me a chance to make this right."

Erin's resolve wavered for a moment, but then she shook her head. "I need time, Jay. I can't just forget what happened."

Jay nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Take all the time you need. Just know that I'm not giving up on us."

With that, Erin started the engine, and Jay reluctantly stepped back. Jay stood there, wiping away the tears that had escaped despite his best efforts to hold them back.

He turned to see Adam, Kevin, and Voight watching him, their expressions a mix of disappointment and frustration.

Adam scoffed, shaking his head. "You really blew it, Jay."

Kevin crossed his arms, his voice tinged with annoyance. "What were you thinking, man?"

Voight, always the stern leader, gave Jay a hard look. "You need to fix this, Halstead. Erin deserves better."

Jay nodded, his heart heavy with regret. "I know. I will."

The boys exchanged glances before walking away, leaving Jay to his thoughts. As they walked off, Adam muttered under his breath, "Erin deserves better."

Jay arrived home, his mind a whirlwind of emotions. The weight of his actions and the confrontation with Erin bore heavily on him. As he stepped into his apartment, the silence was deafening. He walked through the dimly lit hallway, his footsteps echoing softly.

Entering the bathroom, Jay flicked on the light and stared at his reflection in the mirror. His eyes were red, and the exhaustion was evident on his face. He opened the medicine cabinet, his gaze falling on a bottle of sleeping pills. For a moment, he just stood there, staring at them.

The temptation to escape the pain, even if just for a night, was strong. He reached out, his hand trembling slightly, but then he paused. Jay knew this wasn't the answer. He needed to face his mistakes and find a way to make things right with Erin.

Taking a deep breath, he closed the cabinet and turned away. He needed to clear his head and figure out his next steps. Jay knew he couldn't give up, not on Erin, and not on himself.

He walked back to the living room, sinking into the couch.

Jay sat on the couch, his phone in hand, feeling utterly lost. He knew there was only one person who wouldn't give up on him, no matter what. With a shaky breath, he dialed his brother, Will.

The phone barely rang twice before Will picked up, his voice already filled with anger. "Jay, what the hell were you thinking?"

He knew

Jay's eyes welled up with tears, his voice breaking as he tried to speak. "Will, I… I need your help," he sniffled, the sobs escaping despite his efforts to hold them back.

There was a moment of silence on the other end before Will let out a frustrated swear word. "Damn it, Jay!" he shouted, and then the line went dead.

Jay stared at his phone, the silence in the room now even more suffocating.

Jay walked back to the bathroom, his mind clouded with despair. He opened the medicine cabinet and grabbed the bottle of sleeping pills. His hands trembled as he unscrewed the cap, the weight of his emotions pushing him to a breaking point.

Without thinking, he poured more pills into his hand than he normally would. He swallowed them quickly, not fully grasping the potential consequences. The room started to spin, and Jay stumbled back into the living room, collapsing onto the couch.

As his consciousness began to fade, a part of him realized the gravity of what he'd done. But it was too late. Darkness enveloped him, and he slipped into unconsciousness.