Well this took long time, and I apologize. This is the final chapter of the story. As you might have noticed I struggled with writers block with this story for a long time. So I decided to end it with an optimistic feeling and leave it open for interpretation while at the same time following the shows path to write Erin out of the show.

The dysfunctional family, after showering and getting dressed for the day, managed to make it to the police station in order to meet with Voight. Curiously, he hadn't given Erin any details over the phone, not for Erin's lack of trying because after all, she had every right to know why after Hank spent weeks distancing himself from Thea (who was practically like his granddaughter in the grand scheme of things) why would he want her to come to he station now? Unfortunately despite his refusal to hare information, Erin knew hat the reason wasn't going to one she liked, and she had a pretty good idea on what that reason was going to be.

Thea surprisingly seemed very in tuned with Erin's current emotional state, as she was holding on to her mother's hand for comfort and Erin could feel Thea's hand being just as clammy as hers was. She seemed to share that sentiment with Alex who walked beside Thea as they made their way to Voight's office in the Intelligence unit.

In truth, it felt like a small culture shock for Erin, being back, despite the fact she no longer had a job here it still felt like home. To her and she couldn't say that she regretted anything that had happened either. That being said she was too worried to feel any sort of happiness being here either since for the first time in a long time, she felt like she was going to be on the wrong side of the bad news.

As Erin approached her adoptive fathers office, a flicker of motion out of the corner of her eye caught her attention and she turned her head to se her boyfriend sitting at his desk looking like he was trying to avoid her gaze. Erin felt her heart drop. This was going to be the most awkward thing ever. Just a few days ago she called it quits with him but seeing him so broken…

She shook her head. No she had to be strong. She needed to be for Thea. This was not about her. Without even waiting for approval the young woman opened the door to Hanks office ushering Thea inside, followed closely behind by Alex who shut the door behind them. To say hanks expression was unusually grave was an understatement. The moment he saw Erin walk into the room his eyes straight up showed agony and Erin felt her heart sink as their eyes met. Subconsciously she gripped Thea' hand tighter, drawing upon her motherly instincts though to be honest she felt like screaming.

Hank stood up from his desk his frown deepening as he glanced between the three individuals in the room. If he was surprised to see Alex, he didn't show it let alone acknowledge the mans presence, not even bothering to question the fact that he was Thea's father and even if he was able to deduce that it was definitely not the time or place to be discussing anything other than what he brought them In for either way. That being said Erin really wanted to know what that could be because she was getting fed up with Hanks secrecy, which was doing nothing to explain why he wanted EVERYONE here.

Hank went around the desk stopping in front of Erin, barely glancing at her ex lover and only partially giving a glance to Thea no doubt trying to hide his awe at the uncanny resemblance before looking directly at Erin and said "There was an attack last night at…." He stopped, looking like he was about to choke on his words, before finally forcing them out "Dwight Mceisenhowers home address… Brie is in the hospital….Dwight…" he trailed off.

Erin's heart went cold and her eyes widened as she realized what hank was trying to tell her. Her gaze turned to Thea, whose expression mirrored her own almost perfectly and just for the briefest of moments Erin was happy. Despite the horrific implications she was happy. If Thea had been home last night… She involuntarily shuttered, but thankfully no one said anything.

Thea on the other hand went deathly white Hanks words causing her blood to freeze. She hadn't been with her foster family for very long, but she was just a kid. A teenager to be sure, but that dint mean she quite understood the world around her to such a degree that she was able to deduce everything that COULD happen. And quite frankly this was one of those times. Why had someone attacked her foster parents? Perhaps Sergeant Voight would be able to tell her, but even if he did that wasn't going to alleviate any fear she had about the fact that her foster parents were attacked while she was safe at her parents apartment.

Alex, on the other hand, was not so quiet "What? Erin couldn't blame him; they were his friends after all. Alex's voice was like a low growl showing he was clearly trying and failing to contain his rage. Though it was good perhaps that he wasn't losing it completely, for which Erin was grateful, and she voiced her opinion as well "Hank, I KNOW you didn't call us hear to just to tell us that." She said her voice almost void of emotion. Though she wasn't unsympathetic to Theas foster parents she did want to know why Hank dragged them out here otherwise. Then again given everything that happened she had a pretty good idea. Hank reached into his pocket and pulled out a sheet of paper as well as several other items that looked suspiciously like plane tickets handing them to Erin. Taking them Erin glanced at the items and after inspecting them she immediately turned to Alex her hand shaking as she realized what Han was doing for her. Alex gently took the papers from Erin and checked them himself before glancing at Hank, giving the older man a bemused stare. " You really think that there is more to come?" he growled as if daring another attack from those that killed his friend.

Hank nodded "we cant be too sure if the were after Dwight or Thea." He said gravely, nodding in the younger girls direction. "Until then we think it would be best if Thea was moved out of the city and into protective custody. On such short notice I was only able to convince our good friend Mark Jeffries that it would be best if you would serve as Thea's guardians until this investigation is completed."

That seemed to push Thea out of her short stupor and she shouted a loud "WHAT?!" in response, clamping a hand over her mouth when she realized what she did. In a away it was a dream come true for her as she had spent the past few days with them, but at the same time the lingering fear of moving again to find a family was compounded by the fact she had to flee Chicago for her life to…. Wherever she was going.

Hank looked at Erin, giving her a serious look. The plane leaves tonight. I would suggest you pack whatever you can and get on it. Lieutenant Benson of Manhattans Special Victims Unit will be waiting for you." he informed her.

Later that day Erin found herself back in her suddenly small and suffocating apartment, a suitcase filled with some essential outfits and toiletries. Needless to say her mind was made up long before she found herself back here with several officers stationed around the building to ensure her safety, though she insisted otherwise. She herself wasn't the target but rather potentially her own daughter and because of that Erin insisted that more officers should be looking after Thea rather than her, but Hank being his normal paranoid self wasn't taking any chances anyway. Not that she could blame him. Since his daughter in Law left Chicago following Justin's death Erin was essentially all he had left and he was being forced to have to let her go too, in order to protect the only family SHE had left.

Even so, she was happy, in some regards. Despite the fact that her daughter was in danger, Erin couldn't help but marvel at the fact that she was finally being given the chance to be able to be the mother to Thea that she should have been. While it wasn't the most ideal situation, Erin wasn't going to let Thea down. There had been too much of that in her life already. Of course there was the fact that her heart cold fail at any given moment, and this was not going to be doing her any favors in that regard, but hopefully while away Alex would be able to help her figure out how to help Thea so she could live a full and happy life like any normal child her age. At the very least, Hank had given Erin a pamphlet for the nearest hospital in New York from where they would be staying. According to him, one of the doctors was on standby to give Thea the necessary surgery for her heart condition to be cured. That would be great except for the fact Erin and Alex were going to need to get the required funds to do so. It helped that Alex was going to help her get a job in the FBI.

Which left Erin in a bit of a compromised position. Jay. Of all the people that she was leaving behind, the one that hurt the most to leave was him. Though she certainty didn't think what she was doing was a bad thing, she couldn't help but feel regretful. Looking back, there relationship hadn't been the best recently, given al that happened, but she still loved him. What really hurt was if Jimmy hadn't tried to muscle his way into her life (despite the fiasco that resulted when he wasn't her father was revealed) not to mention that Bunny got herself arrested, their relationship could have been better. But all she could think about was the fact that Thea had come back and Erin needed to focus on HER not herself. Jay just hadn't understood that, which was why she pushed him away. But now she was leaving and things would never be the same for them.

As she shut her suitcase she made her choice. She needed to see him one last time before she left and give him a proper goodbye before she walked out of his life forever.

Jay didn't know what was worse. The fact that Erin had declined to marry him (and broke up with him) or the fact she was essentially walking out of his life and going into Witness Protection with a man she also claimed to love. He just didn't understand. What had he done wrong? He was nothing more than a good man and a loving boyfriend, but Erin had pushed him away since the very beginning. All he wanted to do was help but like the stubborn woman she was, she refused and even though he loved her stubborn streak whenever it counted, that fact that she refused any help at all was just so out of character for her.

He had argued with Hank, saying that Erin would be safer in Chicago than New York because the Central Intelligence Unit would be able to protect her in their home turf but Hank disagreed with him, because that gave the criminals who killed Thea's parents better access to them and Jay knew it. He just didn't want to see the woman he loved leave. He needed to talk to her before she left. Maybe he could convince her to stay, despite knowing better.

Sometime later with only an hour and a half to get to the airport before the flight, Erin Alex and Thea stood one again in the Chicago intelligence unit with several guards in front of them, a car just outside waiting for them. The trio had packed what little they cold afford, (especially Thea who wasn't able to return to the house, so several police officers had gone instead to ensure her safety) and were prepared to leave.

While Thea and Alex were apprehensive, Erin was scared out of her mind. She had discussed leaving Chicago before because of everything going on but he never imagined this being the way she left. Even being here was hurting her. She had to say goodbye to everyone she cared for. Her friends Olinsky, Ruzek ,Dawnson, Burgess. Her allies, Severide and the rest of the Firehouse 51. Voight and Jay. She didn't like this but it had to be done. She wasn't going going to leave Thea behind again.

Now here she was, the whole group in front of her and her family. Making her feel small and weak. Her hands feeling clammy and slippery even as she clenched them to keep them from shaking.

She had already said her goodbyes but she still needed to speak to Jay. But as she stared into his eyes she found herself bereft of words. She couldn't tell him that she loved him it was jut to hard and it made her not want to leave.

Jay seemed to notice this and he also found himself unable to speak as she let his actions do the talking he hugged her tightly, pouring out all his feelings in a single action, letting Erin know how much he loved her. Erin found herself returning the hug, making her almost cry, but she held in in. she pulled away and forced herself to speak the words etched in her heart "Goodbye Jay…. I'm sorry…"After a few moments she pulled away, going back to Thea and Alex. She grabbed her bags and left the building with Alex and Thea.

Now in the car, Thea sat between her parts her hands in her lap as she stared at the floor. Like her mother, she seemed like she was trying to hold back her tears. It was over. Everything she knew was going to be taken away from her. While it was for her safety, it still scared her. the only thing that helped was that she was going to be with her parents

To her surprise, both Erin and Alex placed their hands on hers and she looked up at them, both of them going her tender smiles. "It's going to be alright Thea" Erin told her softly.

Thea bit her lip "what's going to happen to me now…" she asked her voice barely above a whisper. Alex gripped his daughter hand tighter, "we are going to face the future together." He told her as the trio looked ahead of them, to the dark highway that led to their future.

I know this isn't the ending Linstead Fans wanted but what do you expect from me? I dont care about Linstead and given Erin was written out of the show and my writers block trying to write a convincing ending was going to be a little hard for me. As stated before I feel Jay was selfishly written and possesive of Erin in the 4th season so I didn't like the "romance" shown between them.

I hope you enjoyed this story regardless.