Unfortunate Timing
Chapter 1
Erin sat at Jay's kitchen table eating her breakfast, as Jay sat back down with his second cup of coffee. As she raised another spoonful to her mouth, she suddenly felt nauseous.
She dropped her spoon on the table and ran to the bathroom, leaving Jay to yell "Erin!" as he ran after her. After she threw up in the toilet, she sighed as Jay put his hands on her shoulders.
"You have an infection or something?" Jay asked sympathetically.
"No," Erin said affirmatively. "I'm fine."
"You just threw up for the fourth time this week, and you're saying that you're fine." Jay stood back and crossed his arms in the doorway as Erin washed her hands.
"Look, the past three times I've laid down for half an hour and then I'm fine, so today will probably be the same." Erin sighed, looking at Jay through the mirror.
"Erin, take a sick day. There's no harm in it." Jay didn't like seeing his girl feeling sick, and wanted her to get better. Erin then dried her hands and wheeled around to face her partner and her boyfriend.
"Look, Jay," she began, crossing her arms back at him. "I haven't taken a sick day since the day I started working intelligence. I don't want to miss any of the action."
"Or you just don't want to shatter your perfect attendance record?" Jay tilted his head.
"Jay, I'm independent and I can make my own choices. Are we clear? I'm taking an Advil and then I'm going to work."
Jay backed off and headed back for the kitchen. Fine," he replied, knowing that he had lost another battle of wills with his partner and girlfriend. He picked up his things from the table, stuck them in the dishwasher, grabbed his coat, badge, and gun, and sat down on the couch to look at Facebook while he waited for Erin to finish getting ready.
"Alright," Erin said as she speed walked into the kitchen area. Jay looked up and saw her putting her hair in a high ponytail. She didn't bother to straighten her hair, so it was still wavy when she put it in a ponytail.
"Jay?"
Jay stopped staring into space. "What?"
"Are you ready to go?"
"Yes," Jay said as he stood up. "Two cars or one?"
Erin gave him one of her Really? looks, giving him his answer. "Okay, see you later!" he called as he walked out the door to his car. She would be able to lock up because he had given her a key.
Erin watched out one of the front windows from the kitchen as Jay left. As soon as he had driven away, she grabbed all her things, put them on the counter, turned off the lights, put her dishes in the dishwasher, and then put both of her hands on the edge of the counter and sighed. She proceeded to take an Advil, even though she was already beginning to feel better.
She picked up phone and dialed her friend Kendra, who was a doctor at Lakeshore. The call went to voicemail, so Erin started talking after the traditional "beep."
"Hey Kendra, it's Erin calling," she began, hesitated, and then continued, "I haven't been feeling well lately. I'm still working, but…" she paused again, and then quickly recollected herself. "I need a consultation. Off the books. Let me know when you're free." And she hung up.
She held her phone, turning it over in her hand, wondering if she had made the right decision to ask somebody about why was constantly feeling sick. But then she decided not to think about it any longer. She put her phone in her back pocket, grabbed her things, and walked out of Jay's apartment, locking the door as she went.
