Please Remember Me

Chapter Three

Erin's sobs were faint now. She was almost quiet. Still upset, just quiet. Jay's mind was racing.

He couldn't stop thinking about the choice he made. Fix it. Was all he said to Voight after he had told Jay that it was his decision.

Jay was angry.

Angry at Erin for leaving. Angry at himself because he wanted her to stay. Angry at whatever that was out there that made her happier than him.

His heart longed for her but his head only wanted to push her away again. He was at a loss. Confused. Distraught. Not thinking straight. He had been bouncing from partner to partner until Kim got bumped up and they started working together.

Hailey and Kim were close too and soon the three of them became close and went out for drinks every other night and had dinners together.

A cute little trio. Kim was his best friend. But Erin. Goddamn it Erin. Why does she do this?

She just shuts herself off and shuts everyone out then she spirals down a hole that's too deep for her and she gets stuck. Jay wanted to pull her out but his head was telling him otherwise.

He was hurting. He was angry.

He couldn't talk to her. He'd explode. Even if he was angry he couldn't talk to her because he didn't want to hurt her. Or did he.

Jay was so confused with what his heart and head were telling him.

Be there for her. Shut her out. Get her back. Let her go.

Jay's mind was spinning.

He went to the bathroom and splashed cold water on his face before a body appeared at the door. It was Hailey.

"Jay...?" she spoke softly.

Hailey was always the sweetest human. If she was angry she was the most badass person on the planet but Hailey was sweet. Loving. She didn't have the same touch that Erin did but she was a good friend to him. And he'd forever be grateful for her and how many times she'd been there for him.

"Hey Hailey" he said as she went and sat down next to her friend.

She pulled him close and put his head on her shoulder. She was rubbing his arm before speaking.

"You need to sort it out Jay. Whatever she chooses to do. You need to get your head straight" Hailey said.

Her tone was serious but caring at the same time. Jay went silent. He didn't know what to say.

"It's always going to be her isn't it?" She asked after a while. Jay's mind wondered.

"Even when we hooked up and went out together. You never really did have that same look in your eye like you do with her. You need to fight for whatever it is that you want. And we'll back you. 100%" Jay smiled gently to Hailey who just nodded and punched him playfully on the shoulder before helping him up.

"We have work to do. You can think about it later" The blonde said as she exited the bathrooms.

Hailey and Jay were close. The stuff Hailey and Erin had been through was all too similar to one another. Which explains why they were such good friends.

Haileys heart broke a little the day she got the news that Erin turned in her badge and left. She spent most of her nights alone in a bar, the same thing that Erin was doing. Only they were across town from each other.

Both doing the exact same thing for the exact same reason. Trying to make sense of what just happened.

For Erin it was quitting her job. The job that she had been training for her whole life. Leaving everything behind and for what. So she could get high and wind up in some alley.

She missed Hailey. She missed Antonio. She missed Kim. She missed Voight but all she could think about. Was the brown haired, blue eyed detective that meant so much to her all those months ago.

Jay was lost. He didn't know what to do about Erin. Ultimately, if she signed those forms. She'd be free. She wouldn't have to look back. But if she didn't she'd face the next seven years in an orange jumpsuit. For her it was sink or swim. For him it was sink or sink. He couldn't see a good outcome for whatever she chose to do. So he decided to go and see her. Well. Look at her through the interrogation room glass.

When he walked over to the one way glass. He found himself rooted with his eyes fixated on her. His eyes burned with a rage that he didn't know how to control. But in front of it all. He saw a blonde girl. A broken, damaged, blonde girl. Erin. Her head forlornly hung low, and when she lifted it. Her shirt came down just enough for Jay to take a good look at her. She was sick. Withdrawing. Her body shook. She was sweating. Picking at her nails and wanting this all to stop. She didn't know what to do about the forms but singing them was the best out of a lot of bad options.

Jay paced back and forth outside the glass. His hands on his head. He was clueless. Lost. Confused. He had no idea what he was doing trying to help her. She ran away all those years ago for a reason and she's do it again if she was given the chance. Erin felt a presence. His presence. She knew he was there somehow. Watching. She stared straight through the one way glass. Knowing he'd be on the other side. Jay kept pacing back and forth until he saw Erin's head look up and straight through the glass. She knew he was there. He had no choice. What was he supposed to do? Just let her go like that? To go and do what, get wasted and wind up in some alley? He instinctively walked over to the door. Put his hand on the cold metal of the knob. And opened it. No time like the present right? Right.