And before everybody knew it, the days had passed and the case was still far from being closed. Some of the NYPD's detectives came back to New York as they gave every information to the Intelligence. Only Erin stayed in Chicago to help the Intelligence close the case. But Jay was giving the team a hard time. He knew he wasn't as efficient as he should be and everyone realized that. And it frustrated Jay to be that useless and powerless. He and Erin barely talked since she came back. There was just too much going on in his mind. Voight tried to talk to him, proposed him to take some time off but this latter refused. He wasn't gonna screw his post in the Intelligence. He already screwed a lot of things in his life and his job was the only thing left that was preventing him to have a breakdown. So for the sake of his team and for his own well being he decided to clear things up with Erin.

One night he decided to go to her hotel room to have a conversation with her.

He knocked once at her door and waited for her to open it. Jay wasn't on the edge or apprehending to see her. He just wanted to get this done. Once Erin opened the door, she looked surprised. Jay was the last person she would have expected to be knocking at her door. She tried to read him but it felt impossible. She lost this skill for a long time now. So she stepped back, letting him enter deeper in the room.

He stepped in and looked around, waiting for her to join him in the center of her living room. Erin slowly closed her door, preparing herself for what was coming next.

She turned around walked toward him and crossed her arms, waiting for an explanation on his presence here.

Jay was avoiding any eyes contact.

He cleared his voice and began to talk. "Listen, um… I know I haven't been in the game since you came back, and it's making it very hard on everyone. We have a job to do and I'm putting my personal issues above every thing else. Which isn't me at all."

Erin nodded and looked down, knowing that she was the main problem in his issues. "I'm sorry, this is all my fault…"

Jay didn't contradict.

"So for the sake of this team…" he hesitated on the next words he was gonna said, which were very hard for him to say. "I forgive you…" he said slowly.

Erin quickly looked up perplexed and unsure. She examined the emotion on his face and her hopes of any forgiveness were suddenly gone. "You don't mean it…". She could see on his face that Jay wasn't convinced by his announcement and was just forcing himself to do it.

Jay looked at her surprised.

"It's doesn't matter if I mean it or not. We need to focus on this job and once the case is solved you'll leave and everything we'll go back to the way things were." He declared. There was a heavy silence, filling the room.

Erin nodded. "I wish things could be different." She admitted.

Jay looked at her, trying to understand her words. What would she mean.

"We can never be what we were you know?" Jay stated, making her understand that nothing would fix what has been broken.

"I know. I know that! But it doesn't mean we can't be-"

"friends?" he scoffed.

"Why not?"

Jay stopped laughing. He looked at her and after a minutes he looked elsewhere.

"No Erin, I don't wanna be friend with you" he replied coldly before bypassing her to make his way to the door.

"So what do you want?" she followed him. They had to have this conversation or they would never make this work.

"what I wanted was you!" He instantly replied, turning around.

Erin looked at him shocked and then her body loosened. Finally, they were gonna have THE conversation.

But Jay wasn't here to talk about this. He was just here to clear the air concerning work. He shook his head "Forget about that. Now that we are clear, we will work together and that's it. okay?!" he waited for her respond so that he could go.

"Okay" she said in a low voice. Jay nodded and walked away.

When Jay arrived at the district, he directly made his way to the locker room. He had barely opened his locker that Upton entered. She showed up early at work but when she saw Jay arriving in a hurry she wanted to make sure he was okay. The few past days had been very tough for him and she didn't get a moment to ask him how he'd been holding on.

"Morning stranger" she said smiling at him, leaning against the locker next to him. Jay didn't look at her but smiled back. "Hey"

Hailey looked at Jay doing his things, examining his emotions on his face, anything that could tell her whether he was fine or not. Jay caught her peering at him from the corner of his eyes. He frowned and smiled at her weirdness. "What?" he asked.

She shrugged her shoulders in a nonchalant way "just trying to figure out what is happening with you"

"what do you mean?" he was confused.

"Come on Jay you know what I'm talking about…" She waited for him to speak but nothing came out from his mouth. He pretended he didn't understand her and kept doing whatever he was doing in his locker. "Okay I'll speak first." She began. "The girl you once loved and and to who you were ready to propose left without an explanation and came back three years later. And you think you are gonna make me believe that everything is cool with you?!" she looked at him with concerning eyes. "Nah I don't think so. So split it out Halstead."

Jay closed his locker room and turned to face her. He leant on his locker as well and looked at his friend. He shrugged his shoulder "what do you want me to say?" he asked slowly.

"well did you two had a talk?"

Jay waited a little bit before answering this question. "Erin and I have barely spoken since she came back still she's-"

"under you skin?" Hailey finished his sentence. Jay didn't respond but it was silence that was speaking volumes. Hailey looked at Jay with her soulful eyes and sighed. She was about to say something but Jay cut her off "It doesn't matter, I need to move on. Anyway, I have a date tonight and I'm gonna make sure I enjoy my evening" he winked before leaving Upton in the locker room. She was glad that Jay was about to close the 'Erin' book. He suffered a lot these past few years and he deserved to have a happy life.

Today, Erin was partnering up with Kim. Both of them were happy to see each other again. They were working very well together some time ago and were glad to see that their partnership was still as dynamic as it was three years ago.

"So…" Erin said while driving. "How are things between you and Ruzek?"

Kim smiled. "Well, the marriage thing didn't work last time you saw us" Kim replied. "So the first year of your departure I decided to focus on the work and be fully committed to the team…"

"And now?" Erin asked.

Kim was silent for a few seconds before answering her. "Well… we are seeing each other again. But nothing very serious for the moment." She looked at the road.

"Well, I'm glad for you two." Erin nodded.

"What about you?" Kim positioned herself on her seat so she could look at Erin. "Anyone in your life?"

Erin's smile slowly disappeared and Kim could feel her body tense. "Look it's here…" Erin said as she parked the car before getting out of the car.

When the two of them came back to the car, Burgess took her phone and called Voight.

"Serg' we might have found their repair…"

"Okay hold on, we are coming to you, send me the address!"

Burgess immediately obeyed and both of them waited for the back up.

2 van arrived a few meters away from the address and the two female detectives made their way to them. They began to gear up, Burgess was helping Lindsay while Upton was helping Halstead, Ruzek was helping Atwater. They all took their assault guns and began to make their way to the warehouse. Lindsay, burgess, Halstead and Upton took the front door while Voight, Antonio, Olinsky and Ruzek took the back door.

Halstead was the first to enter the building, feeling Upton's hand on his shoulder as a back up.

"CHICAGO PD! PUT YOUR HANDS UP" he began to yell, soon followed by the others detectives, trying to arrest everyone.

When Jay put the handcuffs to one of the guy, he looked around to see if anyone was okay. Then suddenly he saw a man pointing and approaching Erin by behind while she was handcuffing another man.

"ERIN GET DOWN!" Jay yelled as she sorted his gun. But Erin took her gun as well, immediately turned around and shot the man twice.

"Damn it Erin! I said get down!" Jay added angry.

"And I heard ya!" she replied on the same tone. She knew how to handle it, and didn't need anyone. She didn't understand Jay behavior. But Jay still seemed nervous. A wave of terror hit him at this moment even if he tried to hide it. Everyone looked at each other, not knowing exactly how to react to this awkward silence and those glares that Jay and Erin were throwing at each other.

He turned around, took his man handcuffed and like the others detectives, he walked out the warehouse, angry.

When they all got back the district, the interrogation began. Jay let Upton and Atwater do it. He wasn't in a mood to confront these guys right now. He went to the locker room to spread some water on his face. A few minutes later Erin stormed in.

"What was that?"

Jay straightened up from the sink and didn't bother himself to look at her. "What was what?" he moved to the paper distributor and wiped his face.

"You were clearly questioning my judgment earlier? IN FRONT OF EVERYONE"

"Don't you think you are a little melodramatic right now?" he scoffed.

"STOP. Questioning. Me!" she replied angry.

"I was just trying to protect you from being killed!" he threw the paper on the trash violently. He was just waiting for a thank you but it seemed he wouldn't one.

"That's the point! You are still trying to protect me! I don't need your protection! I can take care of myself!"

"FINE!" he responded coldly.

"GREAT!"

"Are you done?!" all he wanted was to get far away from her. He was ready to make some effort so they could perform well at work but at the end it was too damn hard. And not just for him, for her too. He didn't exactly wait for her answer to walk away, leaving her alone in the locker room.

Erin put her hands on each side of her waist and began pacing in the locker room to calm down before going back to work.

The end of the day went extremely slow. The suspects arrested wouldn't talk, even with Voight and the cage. And everyone was trying to find a way to make them talk.

It was getting late when everyone called it a night.

"Okay I'm done!" Ruzek was the first to say as he collapsed on his chair, his hands behind his neck. "Who's up for Molly's"

Everyone stood up and began to shut their computer off and take their belongings.

"I'll meet you guys there!" Erin stated as she was the only one left in the bullpen, with Voight in his office. She made her way to him, knocked at his door and made herself in. It was an old habit for them to meet late in his office and talking about everything.

"how are you holding up kid?" Voight asked sincerely. He looked at her like he always does, with his soulful eyes, like she was the best thing that happened in his life.

"Fine… I guess." She replied laughing nervously.

Voight slowly nodded.

"It's strange huh… After all these years, being back here… it still feels like-"

"Home?" Voight finished his sentence. "You are missed here ya know…"

She had a sad smile on her face. So much memories were brought up during these past days. It hurt a little bit.

When Erin arrived at Molly's everyone was at a table, drinking beers and laughing with each other. This was another thing she missed while she was at New York. She was warmly welcomed as always with a beer.

After a few minutes, she noticed that Jay wasn't present at their table. She began to look around and spotted him at the bar, accompanied by a brunette. For the next hour she was discretely peeking at them, still discussing with her former team. Then Jay and the brunette stood up from their bar chair and began to make their way out. Jay wrapped his arm around her shoulders and waved goodbye to his team. They began to whistle loudly, congratulating him for bringing a girl at his place.

Erin looked at them leave and then looked back at his friends. She drank a long gulp of her beer before she caught Kim's eyes on her. Erin just smiled at her and took another sip. After a few minutes, she decided to go home.

The next day was really hard for Jay as he barely slept over the night. He was awakened by the fingers of the little brunette, running along his forehead, his nose, his mouse, his jawline. Then she began a trail of slow kiss on his neck, his jaw, his cheeks.

A smile appeared on Jay's face.

"Morning detective" she whispered before placing a hand on his cheeks. She slowly moved his head toward her, so she could easily kiss him on the mouth.

Jay's eyes were still closed as he moved his arms around her body to bring her closer to him. "Morning" he replied gently.

"Did you sleep well?" she smiled.

"if we can call it sleep…"

The little brunette laughed.

"What time is it?" he asked. The woman raised a little bit so she could see the clock alarm.

"8 AM" she replied before cashing back in bed.

Jay's eyes suddenly opened widely before he got up from bed. "You need to go!"

"What?!" she frowned. He looked at his phone and noticed 6 missed calls from Upton and Antonio

"I'm late for work!" he began to collect the woman's belongings to bring it to her.

The women got up from bed, quickly got dressed and made her way to his front door.

"I'll call you!" Jay said before giving her a quick kiss and closing the door.

After regaining his breath, he walked toward his bathroom to take a shower.

He arrived very late at work, something that didn't happen to him for a long long time. He was so exhausted he had to hide his dark circle with his sunglasses. He climbed the stairs difficulty, a cup of coffee in one hand, his other hand in front of his mouth to hide his yawn.

But everyone caught him. They were all debating in front of the board and obviously heard Jay arrived.

"Better late than never! right Halstead?" Voight snapped.

"Sorry serg'"

"Do you want to explain why you were late?" Voight crossed his arms. Everyone was looking at him, some of them trying not to laugh in front of Voight, other waiting for a real explanation. Well especially Voight… and Erin.

Jay just shook his head. He had no excuses. Erin turned back to the board, jaw clenched while Jay silently sat on his chair, determined to keep a low profile for the rest of the day.

Voight assigned him on paperwork today to punish him from being late and in bad shape.

By the end of the day, the case was closed. They finally succeed to have a testimony from one of the guy they caught. And this thanks to Erin. She was the one who came up with a plan of approach. Voight was very proud of how his girl evolved, even if he never mentioned it. He thought didn't have to, that she already knew it. And she did.

"You wanted to see me?" Erin asked as she stepped in Voight's office.

"yeah come on in!" he dropped his pen and fully lent his back on the back of the chair.

Erin closed the door behind her and sat in front of him, curious to what he intended to say to her.

"you did good today kid…" he stated.

"Team work…"

Voight chuckled. "Yeah, team work…"

He looked at her for a long time before breaking the silence and telling her the reason of her presence. "I spoke with chief Lugo today."

Erin's posture straightened. Chief Lugo was one of the chief who asked Voight to fire her from the intelligence. And yet, she already knew what Voight was gonna tell her.

"Voight I-" she began to say but was soon stopped by Voight.

"He agreed on your come back as a detective in the Intelligence."

Erin hold her breathe. Everything around her just stopped.

"I- I need to think about it Hank…"

Voight was quite surprised by her answer. He thought she would be pleased by the news but he could see that something was on her mind.

"I have a whole new life in New York…"

"well you have a life here too Erin…"

"no you don't understand. I have a new life…" Erin looked at Voight with insistence. She was trying to tell him something.

Voight stared at her, trying to understand what she meant by a new life. It's only after a few seconds that he understood.

"Oh… you have somebody waiting for you…"

Erin nodded. She avoided Voight's eyes and she couldn't tell why. It wasn't supposed to be a shame but in this context, it was very hard to admit it. She wanted nothing more to come back here in Chicago, but in the same time, it wasn't just her decision.

"Well let me know when you decided" he said as he went back to his paperwork. Erin nodded and walked away from his office.

"god where the hell is Jay now?" Ruzek said as he searched for him in Molly's. There was a lot of people tonight, a lot of noise and a lot of drunk people.

"he's over there…" Upton motioned her head behind Ruzek. She seemed upset. Ruzek looked behind his shoulder and found Jay with different girl than last night. He looked back at Hailey and smiled.

"Are you jealous?" he took a gulp of his beer.

"No! I'm just angry that he is acting like a child these past days. A new girl every night, he is late at work with a hangover, he doesn't talk to me anymore…"

"I didn't realize you guys were fighting"

"we are not fighting. He just…" she exhaled. "he used to talk to me before…"

"before what?" Ruzek frowned. Hailey looked from Jay to Ruzek and gave him a knowing look.

"Before Erin's come back?!" he asked. "oh dear, you don't want to go there. Trust me. I tried some while ago and it didn't go well for me."

Upton sighed and looked at Jay before she suddenly got up.

Ruzek rose his eyebrows and looked at her making her way to Jay.

"come on let's go." She said as she looked at jay. Jay turned around and looked at her amazed.

"Let's go where?!" he asked a little drunk.

"I'm bringing you home Jay!" she insisted.

"good night Hailey" he rolled his eyes and turned back his attention to his girl with a bright smile.

"No good night!" she took his arm and made him get up.

"What the hell is wrong with you" he tried to get rid of her hold but almost fall as he was staggering.

"Stop acting like a child and come with me"

He looked intensely at Hailey and turned around to his date.

"I'll call you…" he said to her before taking his coat.

"No he won't. You were just supposed to be a distraction" Upton announced the girl so she wouldn't be waiting a call that Jay wasn't gonna make.

Jay threw his best friends a glare before Upton walked them out of the Bar.

As she pushed the door, they came face to face with Erin who seemed taken aback by the abrupt opened door.

"Hey…" Jay said drunk as he looked wistfully at Erin. Upton could recognize the tension between the two of them.

Erin didn't respond and looked at Hailey. "Is he okay?"

"I'm taking him home" Upton replied coldly

Once they were on Hailey's car Jay looked through the window. He seemed angry.

"You know…" he began to say but shut his mouth. "I…" he tried again. "Why did you screwed it up?"

"screwed what up?"

"My date! I was gonna take her home. I really liked her this time."

Hailey scoffed. "You think you got everybody fool don't you?" she looked from the road to Jay who seemed confused by what she was trying to say to him.

"No matter how hard you try to deny it, I can tell you care as much about her as she cares about you"

"No, no" he shook his head and looked back on his side of the road, knowing exactly where this conversation is gonna end up. Hailey didn't waste a minute to pursue her goal.

"Did you see the way you looked at her earlier, the way you still look at her." She asked him. "Jay you are still in love with her. You just… are. And there is nothing wrong with that. I mean…" she sighed. Jay didn't respond. His eyes were looking at the emptiness, looking back at their relationship. And it brought him nothing but pain.