Coming Home

Chapter 2

"How exactly are you planning on telling him?" Erin asked as they got into the chrysler on their way to the precinct. It was 9:30. They were already half an hour late. They enjoyed their breakfast and each other's presence. They knew time was running out and they needed to spend time together. Voight would have to understand when they told him why.

"I don't know." Jay mumbled as he stared attentively outside the window.

Erin brought her hand to his and squeezed it. "I'm here for you. We'll do it together."

Jay nodded and squeezed her hand. "Thank you."

The rest of the car ride was silent. Neither of them knew what to say.

"You two are late." Trudy Platt said as they entered the precinct. At the sight of the distraught faces of the two detectives, Trudy Platt knew something was not right. "Everything okay?"

Erin slightly shook her head as they continued to walk up the stairs to the bullpen in silence.

"The lovebirds have arrived." Ruzek joked at the sight of the detectives. Everyone was already at their desks working on some paperwork before they received information on their next case.

Both Halstead and Lindsay glared at Adam Ruzek without saying a word. Ruzek and the rest of the team could see their expressions and knew that something was up.

"My office." They heard Hank Voight yell from his office.

Before they even walked through the office door, Voight began talking, "Just because I do not care about your relationship status, does not mean I allow both of you to be late. I do not appreciate..."

Erin Lindsay cut him off before he could finish his thought. "Hank, can we talk to you?"

Hank nodded and Halstead closed his door. "What's going on?"

Erin took the envelope out of her jacket pocket and handed it to her pseudo father that practically raised her.

Hank quickly looked at the name on the envelope and opened the letter to read it. He studied it for a while and then spoke, "Well it's a damn shame to lose you on this unit, Halstead. You're a great detective and serving for this country, that takes integrity."

Hank gave out his hand to Halstead. Jay shook it and gave him a faint smile, "Thank you, sarge."

"I guess I need a replacement for you, huh?" Voight said. "Temporarily of course. Your spot is always open for you, Jay."

"Thank you, Voight. I appreciate that. I'm going to miss it very much." Halstead replied.

"You'll be missed, Halstead." Voight smiled at him. Erin was pleased to see Voight this appreciative and sweet to Jay. She already knew that her sabbatical brought them a bit closer, but she was beginning to see it.

"Lindsay, can you go tell Burgess she will be temporarily joining Intelligence in Halstead's absence." Voight said.

Lindsay nodded and left the room. She was thrilled Voight was giving Burgess a chance. Lindsay and Burgess had gone surprisingly close those past few months and Erin respected her.

Erin knew that Voight only sent her to inform Kim because he wanted to talk to Halstead alone, but she knew they had to have a conversation about her eventually so she played along.

"Now that Erin's gone, tell me the truth. What do you feel about this?" Hank asked Halstead.

"Honestly, I'm scared. I don't want to go back there." Halstead wanted to elaborate and express his feelings about leaving Erin to his boss, so he kept it short. He wanted to express how scared he was to lose Erin, to leave her for that long. It had been a while since Nadia died, but not long enough. She needed him and now he was forced to leave. "It was the worst time of my life. I don't want the PTSD when I get back, I don't want to leave Erin. I just feel resentful towards that letter."