The brunette buried her face in her pillows as sunlight streamed through the window. She couldn't recall when she had arrived home.
All she remembered was going straight to bed upon arriving. Now, her alarm and phone were blaring. She longed to ignore them, but she knew she had to go to work.
Erin knew that if she didn't, Voight would be at her doorstep inquiring about her absence. She groaned as she sat up, closing her eyes to recall the previous night's events. When she rose from bed, a shooting pain coursed through her body and head, reminding her of the night's consequences.
Looking down, she noticed she was still in her torn clothing. "I need a shower and a change," she murmured. She grabbed her phone to check the time and grimaced when she saw it was 9:30 AM. She was supposed to have been at work hours ago.
Erin sighed as she noticed 10 missed calls from Voight and 29 missed text messages from both Voight and Jay. She bit her lip and hurriedly texted Voight, explaining that she had slept through her alarm.
"Sorry, Hank. I didn't hear my alarm. I'll be there as soon as I can." Erin sent the text, wincing with every movement. Her entire body ached. How could she possibly hide the extent of her injuries? The team would surely notice, especially the bruises on her face.
Voight replied, "Okay, kiddo. See you when you get here." She anticipated that Voight would inquire about her condition upon her arrival at the district.
The brunette rushed to the bathroom, quickly removed her torn shirt and discarded it in the trash along with her ripped jeans. She glanced down at her abdomen, her stomach and chest covered in bruises. She bit her lip, feeling a surge of pain.
Erin, though not a doctor, knew her ribs were likely cracked or broken. Biting her lip, she entered the shower, each movement causing excruciating pain. She had to endure it, though. Running her hand over her neck, she desperately searched for a way to conceal the handprint she expected to be there.
The man's warning reverberated in her mind, making her wince as she dismissed it. She quickly showered and dressed in clean clothes, brushing her teeth and hair.
To hide her bruised neck, she opted for a turtleneck shirt. Makeup partially concealed her facial bruises, but she knew it wasn't enough.
Checking the gash on the back of her head, Erin was relieved to find it had stopped bleeding and dried. "At least that's manageable," she whispered.
After finishing her preparations, Erin exited the apartment without eating, carrying a coffee in hand.
It took her 10 minutes to reach the district. Parking in her designated spot, she sighed as she exited the vehicle and ascended the stairs. Ignoring the stares from fellow officers who had likely noticed her tardiness, she proceeded upstairs.
Passing Sergeant Platt, Erin concealed her face, but Platt's voice halted her. "Lindsay?" she called. Erin turned to face the desk sergeant. "Can I assist you, Trudy?" she inquired, avoiding eye contact.
"You're late," Platt stated, her gaze scrutinizing Erin's expression. "That's unusual for you," she added, sensing something amiss. Erin's attempt to conceal her countenance had failed to escape the older woman's notice.
Erin inhaled and uttered, "Well, I overslept because I had a comfortable evening last night." Erin improvised, "Oh, okay." Platt replied, clearly unconvinced.
"I have to go upstairs to the bullpen. I'll speak to you later, Trudy," Erin stated, ascending the stairs before Trudy could continue. She disregarded the glances from Kim and Roman.
In the bullpen, Erin overheard Voight addressing the team, "We'll review the case once Erin arrives." The brunette hesitated halfway up the stairs, biting her lip.
Erin was unsure how the others would react upon seeing her. She shook her head and whispered, "Behave as if nothing happened."
"Apologies for my tardiness," Erin said, forcing a smile to conceal her fear of returning downstairs. She tried to steady her trembling legs as the team turned towards her.
Voight averted his gaze from the board upon hearing Erin's voice. Rage flickered in his eyes as he beheld the bruises marring her face. "Erin, what the hell happened?" he demanded, striding towards his foster daughter.
Erin instinctively recoiled as Voight approached. She bit her lip, anticipating the inevitable. Antonio, Jay, Al, Adam, and Atwater stared at her, their expressions mirroring Voight's fury.
"Calm down first!" Erin exclaimed, placing a hand on Voight's chest. "Calm down, Lindsay?" Antonio interjected, incredulous. "Look at you. You're covered in bruises."
Erin struggled to compose herself and quell her tears. "It's nothing... I just..." she stammered, backing away from Voight. "I slipped on ice last night on my way to my car and... hit my face on the ground." She fabricated a hasty lie.
Voight watched Erin retreat. "I don't believe you," he stated, sensing something amiss. Erin had never backed away from him without reason.
As Erin opened her mouth to speak, a sharp pain shot through her head. She rubbed the back of it, dismissing the pain with a curt, "I'm fine." She yearned to escape the watchful stares and go home.
"Lindsay, I've known you for over 15 years," Voight said firmly. "I know you're lying. And you're showing signs that something's wrong." Al joined the conversation. "Tell us what happened."
Erin closed her eyes, fighting back fear. Her thoughts raced back to the previous night. "I don't recall much," she replied, half-truthfully.
Voight nodded, still unconvinced, but he hesitated to press Erin too hard, knowing it would only distance her further.
"I recall being at my car, about to open the door, when someone approached me from behind," Erin recounted, her voice faltering. "That's the last thing I remember. I must have passed out. When I woke up, I was in an alley."
Voight's voice tightened with anger. "Did he touch you?"
"No," Erin lied, her face pale. "He only punched and kicked me. That's it," she added, ignoring the throbbing pain between her legs. She glanced at the room, noting their grim expressions. "That's all that happened."
Erin's lip quivered as she stared at her feet. "Do you need medical attention?" Voight asked, his concern evident. Erin shook her head slightly. "I'll be okay," she replied, inhaling deeply.
"Okay, but if you worsen, go immediately." Voight said and turned to the team, "I'll assign the current case to another district." He spoke, determined to find and punish Erin's attacker.
Erin shook her head, concerned that no one objected to Voight's decision to transfer the case due to her injury. "No, don't alter our routine because of me."
"No arguments, Erin. We're finding this bastard and making him pay." Voight said, resolute. Erin realized she couldn't deter him. "He's right, Erin," Ruzek said, echoing the sergeant's sentiment.
Erin surveyed the team, hoping for dissent. However, everyone seemed aligned with Voight. "Fine, but I won't remain idle." She said, conceding.
"Yes, you are," Voight said. "I want you to take time off and heal." He turned to Ruzek. "Call Burgess and Roman up."
Ruzek nodded and called Platt. He asked her to send Burgess and Roman up.
"Okay, fine. I guess I can catch up on overdue paperwork," Erin said, showing her displeasure. Voight nodded as Kim and Roman entered the room.
"You called for us, Sergeant?" Kim asked, standing by the stairs.
"Yes," Voight said. "Roman will be joining us for a few days up here." He glanced at Erin, who had already walked away.
Roman nodded as Kim opened her mouth to explain her presence. As Erin walked to the break room, Voight addressed Burgess. "You're staying here to keep an eye on Erin. She was attacked last night, and I don't want her alone."
Kim gasped at the news. Roman nodded. "We'll find whoever did this."
"I don't need a babysitter." Erin emerged from the break room with a cup in hand.
"I don't care. I feel safer if you have someone with you," Voight said. "Who knows if this guy will attack you again."
Erin sighed but remained silent. She knew she shouldn't have told them, but she hadn't revealed the identity of the attacker.
"Do you remember what this guy looked like?" Al asked.
"No, I didn't see him. Everything was blurry." Erin said. "But I remember parking a few blocks down from Molly's."
Voight nodded and addressed the team, "We're going to search for any stores with cameras," he said. Turning to Kim, he instructed, "Keep an eye on Erin. If she acts strangely or requires medical attention, take her and inform me."
Kim nodded resolutely. "Don't worry, I'll monitor her, and everything will be fine."
Voight nodded. "Good. Platt is downstairs if you need anything. Once Erin completes her paperwork, you two can head out."
"We will," Kim confirmed.
"Good luck finding that bastard. I hope you apprehend him," she said.
"Don't worry. When we catch him, he'll face the consequences of messing with my family," Voight declared before leaving with the others.
Erin watched them go and turned to Kim. "I guess it's just the two of us now," she said, sitting at her desk.