HERE FOR YOU
AUTHOR'S NOTE/DISCLAIMER
Takes place directly after "All The Proof".Belongs to Dick Wolf and NBC. For this, Erin never left Chicago.
Dead. His father was dead. He couldn't-he couldn't wrap his head around it. How could he be dead? Benny had always been larger than life. There was no way he could be dead. Especially not from a stroke. It-it couldn't be true. Benny couldn't be dead. How could he be dead? It just didn't make any sense.
"Kelly?" Hearing the voice, he turned and his breath caught.
"Erin-what are-I thought you had-what about New York? Weren't you supposed to consult on a case there?" he queried. Why would she be here? She should be working, he thought to himself.
"Canceled it when I heard about your dad," she replied, going to sit next to him. "How are you holding up?" she asked, placing a hand on his shoulder. I hate this. I don't know what to say here, she thought to herself. How was she supposed to help him when she had no idea what to say. But maybe there wasn't anything to say. Maybe all she could do was be there for him.
"It's-unreal. It-can't be true….I mean….it's Benny. How can be dead?" he wondered. I can't do this. I can't deal, he thought to himself.
"I'm here. I'm here," she promised, pulling him close.
"Damn…how…?" he asked, his voice catching.
"Oh, Kell," she said.
"I was-I waited for him…getting pissed off cause I thought he had stood me up and….he was having a damn stroke. And I never got the chance to tell him that-that I love him," he continued, his voice trembling.
"He knows. He knows," she reminded, holding him close. Kelly began to cry and Erin just held him. "I'm here. I'm here," she assured him. Even if there wasn't much she could say or do, she would be here for him, no matter what. Because she cared about him and that's what you did for someone you cared about. You stayed with them for as long as they needed.
THE END