There is an almighty banging noise at Eris front door, she assumes for a moment that it is Jay coming to see if she's ok. But the bangs sounds all too familiar from her childhood. She's opens the door to see her father standing there with a bottle of scotch in his hand, stepping to one side to allow him in. Grabbing to glasses from the kitchen before following Hank out to the balcony.
"Do you want to talk about what just happened?" He asks sipping his drink.
"Talk about how a member of your team has undermined a federal agent since the beginning of a major investigation? An investigation that could be the end of the team if it ends badly? A team member caused the death of two innocent victims? All because what? She was upset a boy rejected her? She wasn't the golden child anymore? No I don't" Eris downs her drink in one before pouring another.
"She will be investigated. To the highest extent of Chicago PD" Hank begins to explain.
"No she won't" Eris interrupts "the FBI will investigate her, you guys are too close" she explains not breaking her view from the Chicago skyline.
"Eris. You can't save everyone. You have no idea if he would of shot them two regardless if you had follow plan or not" Hank try's to defend his team.
"Oh stop it. Like you actually believe that. Did you know?" She asks gritting her teeth.
"No" Hank reply's bluntly pouring himself a drink
"I went to see him this morning" Eris explains "I sat for an hour. Trying to think of something to say to him but I couldn't. I haven't been to see him for 4 years"
"He knows you're there. He was so proud of you" Hank looks at his daughter.
"How would I know? The Justin I knew wasn't proud of anything but himself. I held on to my pride so much. That I missed his final moments" she laughs to herself, a constant feeling of regret for being the way she is.
"He did. I promise. Would I lie to you?" Hank grins at her.
"Well" she jokes with him "you know I loved him. No matter what he was my big brother. I had a photo of him on my desk. You know when we went to Disney land?" She starts to laugh.
"The one outside the castle" Hank laughs as they remember one of their last vacations all together "he loved you too. We recovered a box from his house. And it had everyone one of your achievements in it. Had very picture of you two. He was so proud Eris" she makes a noise as she pours her drink. Remembering all the good times with her brother before he went away "he said missed the girl you were, before everything"
"Yeah. Many do" she downs her drink before placing the glass down on the table "she was easier to manipulate" Eris retreats to her bedroom.
Everytime she closes her eyes, the faces of Lydia Woodard and Lily Moore flood her mind. Whispering over and over why didn't you save me? Everytime she stretches out to reach the children they move further back, it's endless cycle. No matter how fast she runs she will never reach the kids, she will never save them. That's the problem with the FBI, everyone looks to you to save the day, they look to you to solve the unsolvable. To get the kids home safe and sound. Once you start believing everyone around you, when there is a loss. It hits harder than normal, you take the loss personally.
"Hank?" Eris stands in the doorway of her dads office. He looks up at her nodding "sorry about last night. The losses never get easier"
"That's what makes you the best agent" Hank nods t his daughter when she gets distracted by something happening in the bullpen.
"Is that the dulcet tones of SSA Mat Simmons I hear?!" Eris smiles turning around to face the bullpen "oh I must have been good in a past life to be blessed with your presence" she bites her lip hugging him.
"I think I'm the one with the good deed" he winks at her. Eris flips off the lid of the box. Flicking through the files.
"So what do I owe the pleasure of you my love?" She smiles still flicking through.
"Firstly vanilla iced coffee?" He hands her a large cup. Her eyes light up "See we are meant to be" he flirts with her
"I'm ready to run away when you are" she winks at him sipping her coffee through a straw. Jay sits at his desk witnessing all of this.
"Tempting mami" he winks back "anyway Garcia said you were investigating this case and well this is what we have back at quantico"
"This is a lot of info. Any of it helpful?" She ask opening a case file on an attempted abduction
"I think it might be. A guy like this doesn't just start abducting a group of people? Does he?" He asks but Eris is already engrossed in the case files.
"These all have the same description?" Eris looks up at him confused.
"Yup" he pulls out another file "so that's when we found this" Eris opens the file, flipping through the pieces of paper.
"Walking Corpse Syndrome?" She looks up at him. He nods.
"It's extremely rare. Only about 3 actually documented cases" Simmons informs her "it narrows down the suspect list but you'll need to speak to doctors about patients that reported the symptoms"
"Thanks Mat" she squeezes his face "you know I love you?" He nods "not that I'm not grateful for your visit but why are you really here?" Eris parks her butt on her desk as she sips.
"Garcia was worried about what happened yesterday. Said it was too similar to the Lily Moore case. She wanted to make sure you're ok mami"
"I'm good Mat. You know me, I bounce back. How long you in Chicago for?" Eris asks bouncing the question.
"Plane is on the tarmac. Sorry darling" Mat rubs her arm.
"You sure? I got a spare place" she signals over to Hailey's desk.
"Don't temp me but I gotta get back" Mat pulls her in for a hug "I'll have a drink waiting at O'Keefes" Eris laugh "don't keep me waiting long" He says walking backwards
"I'll try my hardest hunny" she blows him a kiss before his disappears. Eris writes Walking Corpse on the board. "Ok guys. My colleague Mat has dropped off this fat box of case files. Jay I need you go through it all. See if there is any overlapping details" he sighs, rolling his eyes as he takes the box "second thing. The man described by Mark and Markie. Has also been described by 13 other people in those files. We think by the description and the way the man carries himself he has Walking Corpse Syndrome"
"Walking Corpse?" Kevin asks. Eris throws him a candy.
"It's official name is Cotards Syndrome. It is were the affected believes they are either dead or in the process of dying. In our case I believe this man thinks he is dead. By the way he carries himself and abducts in plain sight. He thinks he's above the law because he thinks you can't arrest a dead guy. Unfortunately there are about 3 confirmed cases in the world which makes finding him harder but he would of been to the hospital reporting symptoms" Eris hands a small brief on the disease. "You guys find anything?"
"Yeah I think Celene was already dead before we arrived. This was played on every new channel and radio show just before we arrived" Kim presses play on her computer. A news interview with Charlie telling the world what a whore Celene was. "He must of scene it gone mental. All the women he abducted have been loyal, no affairs. That must be a specific he can't deviant from" Eris throws her a candy
"Great work Kim. That is really helpful, you and Ruzek go get Charlie. Bring him here. Scare him a bit. Hank and I are taking a trip to Chicago med" Eris smiles at the team as they all prepare to leave.
Heading into the kitchen to throw away her coffee cup, on the way out Jay blocks the doorway with his arm.
"That agent your boyfriend? You sleeping with the both of us?" There's an anger in his eyes.
"You mean Simmons?" She laughs " Firstly Mat is happily married, has been for 14 years. 4 beautiful children. Im godmother to their baby. I maybe a whore but I'm not a home wrecker. Secondly if I was it would be none of your fucking business. This has to stop" she speaks in hush tones "stop acting like my fucking boyfriend. We are not a couple, we will never be a couple. This, this thing between us is over" she ducks under his arm "oh and Halstead?" He turns to look at her "you ever act like that again while we are on duty. I'll kick you so quick off this team your head will spin. Understand?"
"Yes" Jay takes a deep breathe, looking at her scowl "yes agent"
Eris turns around places her sun glasses on as she meets Hank at the top of the stairs.