His Forever Flame

42. The Weeks After

The weeks after Justin's death were hard. The team continued to work cases even though Voight had gone off the rails for a few weeks. Erin was an emotional wreck, but had only taken a week off. She was reckless on chases and she even tougher in interrogations. Jay said something but no one would say anything to her or pull her back afraid of her's and Voight's wrath.

Finally a month after Justin's death, Erin couldn't take it anymore. She was spiraling with no one to help her. Voight was in his own world dealing with things his own way. Jay was ignoring her. He had nothing to do with her. He wouldn't even speak at work.

Around lunch, she just up and left. She didn't say anything to anyone, and she never came back. Hank called Jay into his office.

"Sir?"

"You need to find Erin."

"Like hell I do! I have nothing to do with her."

"Which is exactly why she's missing right now!" Voight yelled pointing his finger at Jay's chest.

"You know what, I get you're still grieving and she is like a daughter to you. But I have nothing to do with where she is right now. I said something weeks ago that she needed help again and no one listened, so you're not laying this on me!"

Voight took a step back and a deep breath. The kid was right; he had said something. "Yea... yea you're right. But... she's... she's... she's all I've got left Jay. She's it besides Danny, and Olive... she's thinking of moving back closer to her family."

"Look Sarg I get it. It's a bad place for you both, but I can't help you."

"But you can Jay. See you can get through to her. She listens to you."

Jay sighed. He knew in some way Erin still had feelings for him, but this just confirmed it. "Sarge, I don't know what you want me to do... I refuse to give her false hope. I have a family that I love very much, and she has caused so much stress and tension there. I will not sacrifice my family for her, I just won't."

"I'm not asking you to Jay. I'm just asking that you find Erin and bring her back."

Jay nodded running a hand through his hair. "Yea sure I'll see what I can do."

Voight nodded and Jay went out. He rapped on Mouse's desk and headed downstairs to his old hideaway, knowing Mouse would follow him.

"What's up?" Mouse asked.

"Track Erin's phone," Jay said staring off into space.

"Is Voight making you do this? Because you don't have to Jay. You don't owe her a damn thing."

"Just do it Mouse... please," he added quietly.

Mouse nodded sitting down by his best friend. This was not going to be good, he already knew it, but he did it anyways. In just five minutes he had her location.

"Jay... seriously think about this before you do anything," Mouse said handing him a piece of paper with an address. Jay just nodded as he took it heading out.

He sent Lauren a text letting her know he would be late. He hated keeping anything from her, but he had to do this to keep Hank sane. He knew Jayla would probably give her a fit about the inhaler, but he hoped it went smoothly. He had to push them out of his head and focus on this like a case or it'd backfire quickly.

He pulled up at the address and sighed. It was the cemetery. He could only guess she was at Justin's grave. He slowly drove around looking for her. When he finally saw her, he stopped. He got out, grabbing the blanket out of the trunk and walked to her.