#halstead&lindsay

[linstead-stillus]

Fourteen days. No word. No message. No call. Just silence.

Erin was unraveling. Cass tried to help—distracting her with Broadway, baby plans, pizza, anything to keep her from breaking. But every night, Erin curled up with Detective Chuckles, whispering a prayer she was scared no one could hear:

“Please be okay, Jay.”

And then… 📱 “Hey babe… still remember me?”

A breath. A sob. A trembling video call. He’s alive. He’s tired. And he missed her.

But the light in his eyes? Dimmed. The smile? Fragile. And under the teasing… Erin can feel it—he’s not okay.

So she pushes. She listens. She fights to keep them in the light.

Until the truth comes out: 🧠 A mission that changed him. 🧸 A bear that’s seen too many tears. 💬 A confession: “You weren’t part of the equation… and now I don’t know how to be without you.”

And just when her heart starts to steady, Cass knocks on the door. Erin sends her away. Because tonight? She needs Jay more.

But even with love burning across the distance… Even as they talk about kids, about laces, about someday— The pain is still there. The ghosts. The guilt. The past.

She wants to help. But he’s still holding back.

🔍 Do you think Jay’s ready to open up fully? 🧸 What do you think Chuckles heard during those 14 days? 👀 Did you catch how much Erin's starting to hope for more?

📖 Read Chapter 10 now:

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Some moments feel gentle on the surface—but underneath, they’re unraveling you.

Jay didn’t plan to stay. Erin didn’t plan to ask. But when hearts are breaking quietly, plans don’t really matter.

There’s so much unsaid between them. So much almost. And the weight of their history sits in every gesture, every word, every silence.

Erin is running on empty but still giving Jay everything she has. And Jay? He’s unraveling—haunted by guilt, fear, longing, and all the things he never stopped feeling.

💔 “Goodnight, my angel.” He means it. He always has. But maybe this time… she actually hears it.

Did this chapter break your heart a little too? Do you think she knows what he’s holding back? Is it really too late for them—or just beginning again?

📖 Read Chapter 11 now:

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[linstead-stillus]

Jay’s been in New York five days, but no mission can distract him from the real search—the one that’s haunted him for five years. He walks the streets, hoping for a glimpse of Erin. And just when he’s ready to give up, there she is. In front of the FBI headquarters. In a white silk shirt. Coffee hits the ground. Hearts stop. No plan. No words. Just “Er?” And somehow… that’s enough to start something again.

✨ Would you have spoken up, or stayed hidden? ✨

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[linstead-stillus]

He held her hand like it meant everything— Until she saw the ring. Black titanium. Nine months married. To Hailey. And Erin? She unraveled right in front of him.

The moment shattered. She fled. He waited. Terrified she might not come back.

💬 “Why the hell does this still hurt so much?”

In the bathroom, Erin faces a truth she’s avoided for years: She’s not over him. And she may never be.

—

Would you have gone back to the table?

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[linstead-stillus]

A quiet café. A cappuccino. A hand across the table. Jay finally tells Erin the truth—about Bolivia, about quitting Intelligence, about being lost. What was supposed to be a goodbye becomes something much more raw, tender, and vulnerable. Their hands find each other again. So do their hearts.

💬 “Then let me help you find a way,” she says. And for the first time in years… he thinks maybe he could.

—

Would you have told her the truth? Or walked away? 🥀

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[cpd-jhalstead-intelligence-blog]

It was always you // Jay&Erin

Halstead strolled in through the doors of the 21st district and did the same thing he did everyday he came to work, he said good morning to the desk sergeant, Trudy Platt, checked to see if there was any messages and then proceeded up to Intelligence. He was the first one in for a change, even Voight wasn’t in yet. Normally Jay would just finish writing up reports, today though... today was different. Taking a seat at his desk with his Starbucks coffee he stared at the envelope in his hand. It was just like any other bit of mail Jay got except for one thing, stamped in the top right corner was a post mark he hadn't seen for a long time.. It was that of the military.

He stared at it for a few moments more, contemplating just chucking it in the trash, that life of his was over. He took a few sips of coffee before finally opening it and reading it. He had to read it several times because he couldn't quite believe what it said, they wanted him back but not as a ranger, they wanted him as a trainer. He read it one last time sighing as he did. This was a chance of a lifetime for him. Should he show the others the letter, should he show Voight? More importantly should he tell Erin. From the moment he had met Erin he knew there was more than just friendship and partners but he had never acted on it under orders, well more like threats, from Voight. 

Finishing his coffee he ran his hand through his hair, he didn’t know what he was going to do yet. If he left would he still see Erin, could they finally have something between them if he was no longer in Intelligence? He was interrupted by the gruff tone of Voight strolling through the bull pen to his office. Quickly Jay tossed the letter in his desk drawer and made it look like he was indeed doing the reports he usually did. “Morning boss” he said as Voight strolled past, waiting for him to enter his office. Jay opened the desk drawer and looked at the letter once more before looking over at the desk where Erin sat. He sighed again and slammed the drawer shut and continued to finish his reports, waiting for the others to get in.