AN : Here is the final chapter. It's mainly from Hank's POV. It doesn't follow the same format as the other chapters, and covers scenes happening all through the next year. It basically wraps up everyone's recovery.

Chapter 10 – EPILOGUE

In the end, they don't release Erin the next day, but two days later. The official reason is that they needed to keep monitoring her wounds. The true reason is that Hank Voight made it clear he wanted her to stay a bit longer at the hospital. At this point, the whole medical staff knows it is no use trying to talk Sergeant Voight out of something, except if you want to end up with a spectacular head-ache, and they're starting to get used to bending the rules a little bit for his unit. The fact that one of their doctors is the brother of one of the detectives also helps.

But Alvin is not just anyone, and he knows what's going on. He doesn't need to press much to get Hank to confess his true intentions.

"Erin just got off the morphine, she needs a few days before she's back to herself. We're short-staffed. Need to be at work, not worrying about her."

"Mhm." Al answers in typical Al fashion. He waits a few beats. "How's Halstead doing?" he asks innocently.

"Don't know," Voight rasps with a shrug, "Not like he's the type of guy who complains much. Easier to know when Ruzek breaks a nail that when Halstead breaks a rib."

Hank takes a sip of his beer, the one that has been sitting on the counter of the bar for too long to be anything but warm now. Alvin lets him gather his thoughts, taking a sip of his own drink. It's nice to have some time to catch up with Hank, after all the craziness of the past week.

"Got half a mind to stop by their place tomorrow," Hank admits, "just to be sure they're handling things."

"They're adults, Hank."

"Yeah, well they act like teenagers half the time."

Alvin chuckles at that, because it's kind of true.

"Erin is as tough as they come, she'll be all right."

Voight sighs, "S'not just Erin I'm worried about," he mumbles in a low voice, like admitting it is somehow shameful. It's obvious to Alvin that Jay has carved himself a special place in his Sergeant heart, but Voight will be damned before he admits it out-loud.

"I just know that Halstead is going to ignore every doctors recommendations, and it wouldn't surprise me if he was playing nursemaid to Erin twenty-four seven… Guy is so smitten with love he'd do anything for her, including hurting himself in the process. The idiot."

Alvin smiles into his drink, because although Hank is trying to sound annoyed, there's also some fondness in the statement. He's aware that when Erin came back to Intelligence after what they prudishly call her 'sabbatical', Hank asked Jay to be there for her, to take care of her. Kind of giving them his blessing at the same time. But it's obvious he hadn't foreseen the length Halstead would go to in order to honor that oath. All in all, Alvin is glad that Hank finally got to see Halstead for who he really is, rather than just view him as a young cocky aspirant trying to get into his daughter's pants by any mean necessary.

"They'll be all right," Al reasserts.

"We'll see," Hank grunts, before finishing his beer.

But it turns out that Olinski is right, as usual. Hank calls Erin a few times during the next week, and everything seems to be going fine. He doesn't call Halstead, because it would just be awkward, though he does drop by unexpectedly one day, ostensibly to see Erin, but he uses his time there to subtly check how Jay is doing.

The way the young man moves tells Hank his ribs are healing nicely. The bruises have faded, at least the ones on his face have. But the most noticeable change is his eyes. They're back to their usual brightness, and he looks rested. In the end, it looks like the cure to the young man's nightmares is having Erin in his bed. Though Hank is glad not to have to drag his detective to the shrink kicking and screaming, he wonders if this is good basis for a healthy relationship. It's a lot of pressure, a lot of expectation to put on Erin's shoulder, a woman who is notoriously known for having commitment issues. But it's too late to do anything about that now, that ship is sailing, and Hank can only hope it doesn't sink during the next storm.

At some point, Erin leaves them alone in the living room. Hank can hear a voice in his head that sounds suspiciously like Al, telling him it's okay to show that he cares. So Hank makes the superhuman effort of getting the words out. "You okay Halstead?" There, he said it.

Jay looks a bit surprised by the question, like he hasn't been expecting his boss to actually talk to him. That makes Hank kind of glad he did ask. Maybe Alvin has a point. Maybe words are important. Though coming from Alvin, this advice is a bit of a hypocritical joke.

"I'm fine, Sarge."

It's the usual bullshit line Halstead serves him on a regular basis, but this time Hank is inclined to believe him.

"Think you'll be okay to come back next week? On desk duty?"

By the relieved look on Halstead's face, Hank is pretty sure the guy is bored out of his mind.

"Yes. Totally," he answers, eagerness dripping out of his every pore.

"Good. Be nice to have you back at the precinct."

It's obvious Jay doesn't really know how to answer to that, but Hank doesn't miss the way the guy stands a little straighter. Shit, Hank is not the type to give out free hugs in the street, but with this kid, it's obvious some positive reinforcement can go a long way.

A few weeks later, it's Erin's turn to be back in the district, on desk duty. She looks as relieved as Jay had been to finally be out of the apartment, back to business. There's a bit of teasing going on between her and Jay, because her first day back is also the first day Jay is not assigned to desk duty anymore.

Hank hopes Jay's trigger finger is completely mended, because they're actually going to need an elite sniper on this case.

But any reserve Hank might have had about Halstead disappears a few hours later, when he shoots the hostage taker down. The bullet goes neatly between the perp's eyes, and Halstead is steady as a rock before, during, and after the shot.

Another few weeks later, and Erin is back in the field, not chained to her desk anymore. Jay and Erin are back to being partners, back to having each other's back, and they're as good at it as they've ever been. A hell of a team, a force to be reckoned with.

Hank takes in a real breath for the first time in what feels likes months. They got through this, they're back to normal. Case closed.

Except everything is not totally back to normal. And it becomes abundantly clear as Halstead is being looked over by a medic in the back of a rig. He's shirtless, arms crossed against the cold air, goose bumps already appearing on his skin, as well as bruises where the bullets hit the vest. And Hank is furious.

"What the fuck were you thinking?!" he bellows in the younger man's face. Halstead flinches slightly, reminding Hank of a night in his house that he'd rather forget. A whole week that he'd rather forget. Still, Hank forces himself to take a step back. He doesn't need to be in fist-range to yell at Halstead. And he needs Halstead to pay attention to his words, which he can't do if he's busy wondering where the punch is going to come from.

As he takes his step back, Halstead meets his eyes.

"The guy was going for Erin. I covered her."

"She had already ducked, you dumb-ass, you cover her by shooting at the guy, not by jumping in front of her! You're not superman!"

Jay's eyes drop down, but he doesn't say anything. There's no "Yes sir" coming out of his mouth. Hank wants to grab his chin to force Jay to look at him, but he knows it's not the right thing to do. Not with Jay. Instead, he just barks, "Look at me when I'm talking to you."

Jay raises his head. "I can't fail her a second time, Sarge."

"You think you dying wouldn't be a failing her? You think Erin would want that?!"

Halstead shrugs, and answers so low that Hank has to strain to hear it. "Better me than her." And something breaks inside Hank at those words. It's true that for Hank, if it came to choosing between Halstead and Linsday, he'd want his daughter to live. But the way Halstead delivers that statement, like it's obvious that in the grand scheme of things his life just holds less value than Erin's, like it doesn't bother him at all, it's just the way things are, well that makes Hank's stomach twist in a very unpleasant way. The unbidden memory of Jay blurting out that his father never hit Will comes to his mind. And Voight wants to punch Halstead senior in the face for damaging the kid's self-worth so badly.

But damn it, Hank doesn't want to have to burry anyone else period. Not his family, not his unit. Especially not Jay. And the fact that the young detective would sacrifice himself so readily doesn't sit well with Hank.

"Listen to me, Halstead, and listen to me well. You are not expendable. Got that?"

Jay nods slowly, eyes once more dropping to the floor.

"And you didn't fail her the first time either. Shit happens, it's not on you. You hear that? So stop it with the misplaced guilt already, because that's not helping anybody. Think Erin will be a hundred percent focused on her job if she has to worry about you stepping in front of a bullet meant for her?"

Jay stays silent, and Hank lets his words sink in a few seconds.

"As of right now, you're back on desk duty."

Jay's head snaps up at that, "It's just bruises, Sarge."

"I don't care," Hank barks, "I'm not getting you out in the field until I'm damn sure you're not going to jump in front of a bullet!"

"So, it's punishment." There's a belligerent look in Jay's eyes and Hank is going to crush that right now.

"Be glad I'm not outright suspending you. It's time for you to reflect on the stupidity of your actions. Time for you to think about the fact that Erin is your partner, an efficient cop, not some damsel in distress. And to get through your sick skull that your death wouldn't be any less devastating than anyone else's in this unit."

Halstead mellows a bit.

"Yes, sir."

"Next time you pull something like that, you're out of the unit."

There's a longer pause before Jay answers, in a smaller voice, "Yes, sir."

Thinking he's made his point, Hank turns his attention to the medic, "Get him to Med, he broke some ribs a few months ago. Need to make sure nothing's broken again."

"On it Sergeant Voight."

As the ambulance rolls away, Erin comes to stand beside him.

"You okay?" he asks.

Erin shrugs, "Pissed off."

Hank grunts in acknowledgement.

"Don't know if I got through to him. Counting on you to make sure he gets the message."

When Hank sees the fierce look in Erin's eyes, he knows what he just said to Halstead is nothing compared to the dressing down his girl is going to give him tonight.

"You bet I'm going to give this idiot a piece of my mind when he gets home," she growls.

And Hank wouldn't want to be in Halstead's shoes right now.

After two weeks of being in the dog house, Hank allows Jay get off desk duty on one condition, and one condition only. Weekly appointments with a shrink. Jay fights and rages and argues, but in the end the young man wants to be back in action, so he complies. Not without complaining so much that Hank actually escorts him to the first session, and stays in the waiting room to be sure he doesn't bolt after five minutes.

When Jay gets out of the psychiatrist office, he throws him a glare and spits, "Happy now?"

"If you want another week on desk duty, just keep this up," Hank warns, and Halstead just chooses not to talk to him anymore this day. Hank is pretty unmoved by Jay's attitude, he's raised two kids through their teenage years, so this is like a walk in the park for him.

The next few weeks, Hank has to insist for Jay to meet his end of their agreement, keeping the threat of desk duty or of getting kicked out of the unit hanging above his head. But slowly, getting Halstead to go to his appointments becomes less of a struggle, and he sees a change in the young man's behavior. It's subtle, but his detective becomes steadily calmer, and at the same time less withdrawn. He sees it in the way Jay operates under fire. He sees it in the way some cases that would have been triggering for Jay a few years ago, are now dealt with the same detached professionalism as any other case. Though Hank knows some scars will always be there, it seems like Halstead is learning to distance himself from some of the shit he went through.

One evening, as Jay is leaving the bullpen, he turns to Erin asking "You coming ?"

"In a minute," she answers. Jay shrugs and goes down the stairs, while Erin slips into Hank's office.

"Hey kid," he rasps.

"Hey," she hesitates a second before blurting, "Thank you. For what you did for Jay."

Hank raises a questioning eyebrow.

"He seems better now," Erin elaborates, "He is better now. And I think talking about his shit helps so…"

"It helped you," Hank grunts, "No reason it shouldn't help him too." He might sound unaffected, but Hank is actually glad to have the confirmation of Jay's progress.

"Anyway," she says as she turns to leave, "thought you should know. 'Night Hank."

"Night kid."

The first time Hank invites Halstead to Sunday lunch, the guy doesn't appear. To be honest, he didn't really invite Halstead. It's more that he grunted to Erin that if she wanted, she could bring someone to their traditional family meal on Sunday. He doesn't even know if she relayed the message to Halstead. So the next week, he tries to be a little more explicit.

"You planning on coming over? On Sunday?" he asks Erin.

"Sure Hank, but I'm doing the cooking this time."

Hank grunts in acknowledgement. Truth is Erin is not very gifted at the whole cooking thing, but sometimes she likes to reverse the roles and pretend she can bake a cake as well as she can shoot a Glock.

"You planning on bringing Halstead?"

Erin shrugs, "if he doesn't have anything else planned."

And that's good enough for Hank.

But on Sunday, Jay is still a no-show. Hank stops trying after that, deciding that the younger man is just not comfortable enough around him to expose himself to his presence on a day when he doesn't have too.

A few days before Thanksgiving, Hank catches the end of a heated phone-call between Jay and his brother. He doesn't mean to eavesdrop, but he hears it anyway.

"I'm not coming Will, you know he doesn't want me there."

There's a pause, as Will is obviously answering something that Hank can't hear.

"If he wanted me there, he would have invited me. Which he didn't."

Another pause.

"Did he actually tell you that ? Did he tell you, 'you should ask Jay to come over for Thanksgiving' ?"

Jay is pacing, unaware that his voice is rising as the conversation continues.

"Yeah, I didn't think so. You go be a good son. I'm done trying. There's a couch and a TV with my name on it, and it sounds a whole hell of a lot better than spending my free Sunday with this old prick."

Hank leaves after that. He didn't mean to hear that much.

But before Erin and Jay leave at the end of the day, Hank corners them on their way out.

"Erin. You coming over for Thanksgiving ?"

Erin sputters a little and glances at Jay, "Yeah, sure."

"Good. Olinski is coming too. Was thinking of inviting Trudy and Mouch as well."

Then he looks at Halstead, "You're coming too."

Hank doesn't wait for an answer and goes back to his office, leaving a stunned Halstead behind. He doesn't care that it sounded more like an order than an invitation. He knows Halstead doesn't have anything planed, and if he does, he can still come forward and say something.

But Jay does show up on Thanksgiving. The young man nervously hands him a pecan pie in greetings, and turns slightly red when Erin explains enthusiastically, if a bit teasingly, that Jay did it himself. They're the first guests to arrive, and awkwardness is pouring out of Jay. Hank leads them to the kitchen and shows Jay where to put the pie. He takes a sip of the glass of cognac that was sitting on the counter and offers some to the young man. There's tension in every fiber of the kid as he declines, and chooses a beer instead.

Once the other guests arrive, the atmosphere becomes more relaxed, and Hank ends up actually having a good day, sharing a nice meal with people he appreciates. Turns out Jay's pecan pie is not half-bad either.

After that, Hank extends regular invitations for Jay to come over with Erin on the weekends. Halstead doesn't always show up, but half the time he actually makes the effort to come. At first, the older man is baffled by the way Jay can sometimes be pretty relaxed around him, and sometimes awfully jumpy, until he notices it has a lot to do with what kind of drink Hank has in his hand.

And if Erin notices that, after a while, Hank never drinks any hard liquor when Jay is around, preferring to stick to beer or wine in moderation, well she doesn't say anything.

Almost a year later, Hank is watching the bullpen through the blinds of his office, and wondering what the hell is wrong with his detective this time. Jay has been jumpy since the beginning of the week, startling when people speak to him, and looking generally like he is hiding something. Hank has dug around in their latest case but can't find any work-related reason for Halstead to act this way.

More than once, the kid has opened his mouth, looking like he was going to ask him something, before fidgeting and turning away. This is starting to grate on Hank's nerves. If Jay doesn't stop being a nervous wreck soon, Hank might consider throwing him in the cage until he spills the bean.

But that's kind of a last case scenario. For now, Hank is planning on grilling Halstead next time he comes over to his house, and get to the bottom of this thing.

Turns out he doesn't have too.

On Sunday, as Hank is plotting how to get Jay away from Erin long enough to interrogate him, the doorbell rings. He opens the door to find a beaming Erin, and a slightly nervous Jay. Erin hands Hank a bottle of champagne, and as Hank wonders what the occasion is, he sees it, on the hand that's holding the bottle. A pretty, shiny ring on Erin's finger.

"Is that what I think it is ?"

Erin nods, and her smile stretches a bit more, all dimples and bright eyes. Suddenly, Jay's nervousness makes a whole lot of sense.

"Congratulation kid." Hank hugs her briefly, and turns to Jay as Erin saunters into the kitchen to put the champagne in the fridge.

"So. Been wondering what had you all fidgety this week. Now I know."

"Yeah." Jay ducks his head a bit and offers a shy smile of his own. "I mean, I wanted to talk to you beforehand, but… well, this one made it clear that she would never date any guy who asked her father for permission first, so…" Jay shrugs.

A real laugh breaks out of Hank at those words. Man, Halstead was going to have his work cut out for him with his firecracker of a daughter. Instead of saying that out-loud, Hank holds his hand out to Halstead.

As the younger man shakes it, Hank is careful to look him in the eyes as the words leave his mouth, making sure Jay knows he means it.

"Welcome to the family, son."

THE END

AN : Thank you for sticking with me through this story ! And sorry if the ending feels a bit cheesy, but since we didn't have our happy ending on the show, I thought it was only fair we had one here.

I know some of you were hoping that I would develop some scenes between Erin and Jay, but I'm not as comfortable writing romance/couple things, as I am writing angst and father-son relationship.

I still have some ideas that I might develop, but it didn't really fit into the story I wanted to tell. So I might post some of these ideas as one-shots happening in the same "universe" as this story.

And finally, thank you to all those who read and special thanks to the wonderful people who took the time to review! I was pretty happy with the response I got with this story, despite English not being my mother tongue. Although I wrote this fic mainly for myself, it's still nice to see that my work is appreciated, even if it's just by a handful of (wonderful) people Thank you for the support, you rock ! Your feedback really makes me want to write more.

I'll be happy to know what you think of this last chapter, and if you have some ideas for some one-shots that fit into this universe, don't hesitate to share them.

A few words to the amazing reviewers :

SoFeelingTheLove : thank you for your detailed reviews of every chapter, you always get what I want to express, it was great reading some of your takes on what was happening in this story. I hope it didn't disappoint!

Lily : In the end it was more than 7 chapters, I hope you liked it ! Your review saying you wished it was longer that 7 chapters had me inserting some scenes that I wouldn't have thought of otherwise. Thank you for sticking with me through this story and for all your lovely reviews !

Alyb137 : Thank you for your on-going support through the whole story, your reviews made my day, I hope you liked it !

Sacramone12, Jaysoffer, CPDfan, Ghostwriter, vari14, jhalstead, Orion9, Ray Hope, The Frisge loves food, The Great Gig, Specks 10, and all the Guests, thank you for your support, your words of encouragement mean the world to me and really motivated me to continue with this story until the end.

Until next time, take care everyone, and have a wonderful end of year.