chapter fifteen

In the last month, Nina's work has jetted her to California, Maryland, Texas, Wisconsin and even far as Barbados. You could say these loads of cases distracted her about the strain relationship with a certain detective based in Chicago. However, she is brought back to her hometown after hearing the loss the Intelligence Unit endured.

Nadia.

She briefly crossed paths with the young woman and hung around a few times with Erin. She saw how much she meant to her friend considering being brought under her wing. The information of what led to this tragedy was heart wrenching.

Nadia was a young woman, who changed her life around under Erin's great influence. Soon enough saw a new outlook of a promising future. Although, the future can be unpredictable by one swift of an event or a second.

Landing in Chicago, Nina wanted to check in with Erin. They've spoken on the phone for a bit prior to her arrival. Erin insisted to stay back in D.C. instead of wasting a flight to see her. Of course, her friend didn't listen and went ahead like the time the brunette popped in at her place when she dealt with her losses.

Christopher was spotted in front of his car outside of the airport to pick up his older sister.

Both Shi siblings engulfed each other for this little reunion before Christopher took the luggage to place in the trunk.

"How was your flight? Considering you've been on an endless amount over the last couple of months." He snorted, slowly merging into the lane away from the airport pick up site.

A laugh left Nina's mouth, casting her eyes out the window. "Wasn't terrible. I didn't have to be debriefed in about any cases prior the landing. Let alone the flight from D.C. to here isn't that long." She reverted to her younger brother who kept his focus on the road. "Thank you for picking me up though."

"Always. Camille wanted to come but it seems your pick times aren't convenient for a teenage girl in high school." He joked.

"She'll see me when she gets off from school. Unless she has something going on with school after." She shrugged. "I kind of lost track." She admitted, unable to recall the number of clubs the youngest Shi sibling enrolled.

"Well, she takes after someone." He narrowed, sporting a tiny smirk.

Like many people have told their parents, Camille is a carbon copy of Nina. Though it never became bothersome to either sister or overshadow the youngest Shi sibling's identity. Sure, Nina made a notable mark at school as to the teenage girl creating hers in a different way.

In addition, Nina always relieved the pressure of her siblings to not let the outside noise get to them. As well as their parents have done too, loving each of their children individually.

"By the way, thanks for the invite to Barbados." Christopher said in an offended tone after hearing about his sister trip there.

She scoffed at his tone, "It wasn't much of a vacation when we were saving a family from being killed from a serial killer who targeted traveling American families by kidnapping then killing them within 24 hours." She entailed, fortunate enough to sight see for some time before the flight home.

He clamped his mouth shut then gave her a nod, "Noted. So, how long are you sticking around?" 

"Few days per usual. I still have paperwork to finish." She huffed out, running fingers through her hair. "I do wish it could be longer because I want to make sure Erin will be okay. Nadia was practically her little sister."

"I'm sure Erin seeing you will be enough, regardless how brief. She's going to be grateful that you made the trip, you know. Plus, healing over a loss takes a long time." He frowned at the thought of Jin, one of his best friends.

"I only hope she doesn't spiral like I did." 

After dropping off Camille from school that next morning, Nina exchanged into her workout attire to go out for a jog. She couldn't remember the last time she ran around the city. Probably in her early years working at the BAU when she found time to visit besides the holidays. As Chicago will always be her home, D.C. became her new one and as years gone by what was once home became foreign to her.

She took a sharp turn on the corner of a private school. The rapid pace of her feet suddenly halted when her eyes landed on a figure exiting through the gate. Those pair of eyes turned catching her frozen in place.

Jay's mouth parted out of shock, being a few months since the two spoken when Nina ended things back in D.C. He threw himself into his work to distract the thought of the woman or the reeling attempt to call her.

Neither could escape from each other now, more to the fact, crossing paths out of all places. It would be quite childish and more awkward if they bothered. So, Jay went ahead to take long strides up to her, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his jacket.

"Hey." 

She drew in a sharp breath, removing the earbuds. "Hi."

He licked his lips, "I-I didn't know you were here for a visit." The second he said that aloud caused him to internally regret. Of course, he wouldn't have known they haven't talked in months, he thought.

"Well, I heard about Nadia and thought I should see how Erin's holding up. How are you by the way?"

He sighed, hanging his head low. "Trying to move forward. It's been hard on the team but we're going to be okay. Thanks for asking." He murmured out.

She returned with a small smile, leading to a brief silence until he asked. "How long are you staying?"

"A few days. My boss gave me the approval to come down after working cases nonstop these last few months." She trailed off, tucking her arms into her body.

Now silence settled between them, both were uncertain in how to elaborate yet eager to blurt out everything they wanted to say to each other. Eventually, they spoke up at the same time causing bits of laughter to erupt. Jay motioned for the woman to go first.

"I-I'm sorry for the way we left things." She confessed, she wanted to further explain but he cut her off.

"We were only hooking up, Nina. No hard feelings." He dismissed before checking his phone. "I should go, we're working on this case right now-"

She nodded along, "The bombing at the café. I know." She heard from various news broadcasts about the tragedy earlier. 

Jay slowly nodded, walking backwards to retreat to his truck. "It was nice seeing you, Nina." He regretted waving her off so quickly, when he was opened to hear her out or ask for a drink but didn't want to be rejected once more.

"You, too."

A rapid of soft knocks pounded on the door, Erin averted from the liquor sitting on her counter and advanced to answer the door. She let out a sigh after looking through the peep hole and twisted it open. Outside her apartment door stood Nina with a small smile and waving a bag of takeout in front of the brunette.

Erin knew about her friend's arrival despite protesting the need to drop everything to comfort her. She understood her friend meant well as if she didn't do the same few years ago.

Since Nadia's death, it's been difficult for her to process. More so, feeling at fault for leading the young girl to her tragic death. It couldn't be worse where she would come in for work to realize that desk at the top of the staircase will always be vacant along with the sadness brewing in the precinct. The pitiful looks and short conversations about Nadia began to feel suffocating.

She bit the inside of her cheek, widening the door open as a gesture to welcome her raven-haired friend.

The two basked in somewhat a comforting silence eating their food on the brunette's couch. Being in the brunette's position before, Nina is rather fond with the company of silence than conversing about her loss or being embraced by other's sympathy. Knowing how Erin intends to be closed off about her feelings and life, she didn't feel the urgency to force her to go in depth with her feelings.

"So, how was Barbados?" Erin spoke up in her attempt at small talk.

Nina shrugged, sinking into the cushion of the couch with her glass of water. "Surely was beautiful though worked on the case for most of the trip. We managed to save the family. The son was thrown overboard but we found him in the smaller boat not too far." Her eyes steadied on the brunette diverting her gaze. "What about you? Heard there was an explosion at a café."

A sigh released from the brunette's lips, "Please don't go all profiler on me. There's been enough sympathetic stares around work. Some reaching out to spare their condolences and check in on me." She ranted to her. "I do appreciate that you came all the way over here though."

"I wasn't going to, Erin. Just wanted to catch up with you although if you want to talk about it. I can sit here and listen." The raven-haired woman assured. 

The brunette enveloped a small smile before shakily breathing out. "Do you mind if you can give me hug? I think I need that." Since Nadia's death and the trial, all she thought about how it was her fault. Nothing would've happened if she left the young girl alone. There was so much pain that could only be suppressed where she wanted to numb it all. 

Nina quietly nodded and crawled over to wrap her friend in her arms. She felt Erin holding onto her tight while shielding a few tears into her shoulder. "It's not your fault, Erin. I want you to know that." She whispered out, recalling that's how she felt with Brandon and her unborn child's death. 

Overcoming that thought was hard though it still stung here and there. In a matter of time of healing, Nina learned to let it go piece by piece. Seeing how Erin tried to bring up Nadia into a better path to end up murder in a ditch, she garnered that her friend would blame herself rather than the sociopath that killed her. 

Erin only sniffled and clutched onto her friend. 

But it is, she thought.

Christopher opened the door to Molly's bar that evening. Nina entered inside after willing to grab a drink with her brother after his shift.

Her brother guided her further to the bar to meet his colleagues from the hospital. It wasn't long when she took notice of Jay and the rest of the Intelligence Unit in passing- minus her godfather and Erin. She greeted the group before following her brother to the bar.

Tonight, had been packed although this week has been a significant long one for the first responders. The Intelligence Unit were pouring a shot to commemorate Nadia's life after closing the first case since her passing, gathering to see her name engraved on the building of the precinct, and hearing the confirmation of her acceptance letter to the police academy.

After defeating one of Christopher's colleagues in a game of darts, Nina went to buy herself another bottle of beer.

Once exchanging money for the beer with Otis, she peered over her shoulder to where Jay sat alone at a table. She decided to take the opportunity by strolling to the vacant seat across from him. His eyes lifted from his drink the second he noticed a figure nearing.

"Mind if I join you?" She swallowed, gnawing her bottom lip and drumming her fingers against the bottle.

Jay motioned for her to take a seat. "If you're looking for Erin you're out of luck, maybe." Darren mentioned about the team heading to Molly's tonight to the brunette although it seemed unlikely. Both men had tried her phone yet no answer.

"It's probably been a long week for her. She might need some space which is understandable. I'll try to see her again before I leave." Nina said, sliding onto the stool. "Also, I came to see you."

He said nothing yet only stared at her. 

She deeply exhaled, "I want you to just sit there and listen-"

"Nina-"

"Please," Her face softened, begging him to which he nodded in defeat. She spared a small smile of gratitude. Her lips parted to speak though delayed any words to come out by his blue orbs darting at her.

It only made her heart to beat faster.

"I shouldn't have used my profiling skills on you nor put you on blast like that." She sighed out of embarrassment, briefly shutting her eyes. "That was an excuse for me to push you away easily before realizing I want more than what we had. I-I merely thought it was because I haven't been with someone in so long, enjoying a bed not so cold occasionally. But I can't stop thinking about you. Being able to press like a rest button felt exhilarating yet terrifying. It's still terrifying."

She paused, groaning to herself while raking her fingers into her hair. "I wish I could take it all back and press a reset button with you. Maybe not self-sabotage myself." She snorted before waiting for his response.

Instead, he extended his hand in front of her. "Hi, I'm Jay Halstead. What's your name?" He displayed his charming grin.

Nina furrowed, stifling a giggle and accepted his hand. "Nina Shi, nice to meet you."

"Really? You look like someone who's named Rose." He smirked.

"Some say, but no." She winked.

And that entire night, the two were marveled by one another like the first time around.

-Sorry for the long wait and not so great chapter. Somehow, I lack inspiration with this book. It would really help to see anyone reading leave a comment at least. Not only it lets me know someone is reading but motivates me to produce chapters. Tell me what you think! Hope you like it! Stay tuned!-

WRITTEN: 2/10/22

PUBLISHED: 2/10/22