Once they heard that Jenna had pulled through the surgery, Erin, Hugo and Jay were ordered by both Will and Hank to go home for the night. Jenna would be in recovery for some time and they all needed their rest after the day they'd had. Hank had managed to speak to Jenna as she woke to get any information about the attack that they could use. Hugo had done his best but the young boy got flustered and anxious any time someone tried to talk to him about it. Unable to verbalise his fears and anxieties, Hugo wasn't able to give them much to go on. Mouse had found security camera footage that captured the license plate and the team from Intelligence were running down any lead they could find. Whoever this was hurt a member of their family and they would do whatever it took to bring them down.

Jay insisted on driving the Lindsay's home. He hadn't let either of them out of his sight and Voight wanted him to continue caring for the pair. He had an inkling that there was chemistry between Erin and Jay but that was far from his mind at the moment. All he cared about was keeping his family safe from the scumbag that tried to hurt them. No-one was going to hurt his family and live to see another day.

Walking Erin and Hugo up to their apartment, Jay was prepared to sit in his car outside the building to keep an eye on them. Voight had organized a uniform car to keep watch but Jay would be the extra set of eyes that could make a difference.

"Would you like to come in?" Erin smiled as she turned to Jay

"I don't want to intrude…"

"It's warmer in here than sitting in your car" she laughed. She knew Jay wouldn't leave. She knew he'd sit outside til the men behind this were caught. Erin caught his hand and squeezed it gently "I'd like you to stay"

Making his way into the apartment, Jay took in his surroundings. In the time he'd known Erin, he'd never seen where she lived. If they were to see each other outside of work it was at Molly's or occasionally at his apartment where they didn't quite get to play 'Scrabble'. The apartment was as he'd imagined; modern, earthy tones, very Erin. A welcome difference to his imagination was the clear presence of a child. School reports and notes stuck to the refrigerator, a chore chart on the wall and artwork and school pictures proudly displayed.

"Alright mister, go get your pj's on and I will come in and tuck you in" Erin chuckled as she kissed her son's curls before sending him off to his room. Walking up beside Jay who was looking at the medley of photos of her and Hugo over the years, she wrapped her arms around his waist. "Thankyou"

"What for?" he asked as his arms fell naturally around her shoulders.

"For today. For everyday" she began. As she took a breath to continue, Jay pressed a soft kiss to her forehead silencing her thoughts. He didn't need to hear an explanation. He would always be there for her, he would do anything for her and now for Hugo. The pair stayed locked in each other's grasp for a few minutes longer before the sound of Hugo brushing his teeth brought them back to reality.

"I should… Make yourself comfortable, help yourself to whatever is in the fridge, I'll be back in a little bit" Erin smiled. Reluctantly letting go of her partner, she made her way into Hugo's room to say goodnight.

Pulling a beer out of the fridge, Jay continued to snoop around Erin's living room. He had already learnt so much about Erin in the space of a day, a little more couldn't hurt. A photo of a young, wiry haired and exhausted looking Erin holding a sweet sleeping baby that could only be Hugo brought a smile to Jay's face. He was just learning about Erin's little boy and the life she'd so skillfully hidden from everyone and seeing photos only made him wish he'd known sooner, that Erin had entrusted him earlier. As he continued around the apartment looking at different photos and ornaments the Lindsay's displayed, he heard humming coming from Hugo's room. Making his way over there, he curiously looked in from the door.

Erin sat beside her son who was on the verge of sleep. Running her hand through his curls, she was doing her best to calm his anxious mind. What that 11 year old had been through today was more than any child should ever have to experience. Erin couldn't even think about where to begin when it came to getting her son through this. She was just taking each moment as it came hoping she could do what was best for her son.

Noticing Jay leaning on the doorframe, Erin moved to stand from her son's bed. Hugo whimpered softly and held on tight to her leg. He didn't want her to go just yet. Most nights, Erin would sit with him til he was almost asleep but tonight Hugo just needed his Mom until he was asleep. His mind reeled with everything that had happened and having the comfort of his mother calmed him.

"Sorry" Erin mouthed to Jay as settled back with her son. Shaking his head, he knew Erin was doing what she needed to do and he was content watching their interaction. Jay was seeing a softer side to his partner where the caring nature she brought to her work stemmed from. He was falling more and more in love with her with every new revelation.

Jay left the mother and son and made himself comfortable on the couch. They needed that time together and he didn't want to invade. Erin had already revealed so much to him in a few short hours, and with the events of the day, it was a lot to take in. They all needed their down time to process the present and think about the future.

Emerging half an hour or so later, Erin was so thankful for the presence of Jay on her couch watching a basketball game on replay. She wouldn't have coped if she was left alone with her thoughts that night. She had almost lost her son and cousin and she couldn't be isolated with thoughts of 'what if' or worse, revenge. Collapsing down on the couch, Erin took Jay's beer and downed the remaining few gulps. She'd love something stronger but she never got to that when she had Hugo.

"Who's winning?"

"It's a college game so LSU… I think" he chuckled. He hadn't been paying too much attention to the game. He too had been thinking a lot about what had happened as well as what it meant for he and Erin. "Everything okay with Hugo?"

"Okay as it can be I guess"

"He's a strong kid, he was pretty heroic today from what Brett and Chilli told me"

Erin smiled weakly "Yeah, it'll take some time"

No doubt Jay had seen that Hugo was a special kid. It was obvious that he wasn't like other boys his age and it was a contributing factor to why Erin and Hank had thought it best to keep him secret. Hugo dealt with so much at school with being different and getting bullied, Erin didn't think the 21st district family would bully her son but they would overwhelm him. She needed to give Jay a bit more of an insight into Hugo.

"When Hank and Camille took me in I was still drinking even though I was pregnant. I'd had barely any checkups and no idea how to take care of myself as a pregnant woman. I was fifteen" Erin started to explain as she relaxed easily into Jay's side. "My mom was a junkie and my Dad was in jail, there wasn't anyone but my friend Annie and even she was only 17. I was stupid, I didn't know what I was doing would hurt Hugo until I met Camille. She cared for me, got me sober and the medical care I needed. Hugo was born with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. There's a lot that stems from that, physical disabilities, learning difficulties, but Hugo is lucky compared to a lot of kids born with it. He has verbal apraxia; he has trouble speaking so he doesn't say too much as you might have noticed, and he has trouble at school; he's in the 5th grade doing 3rd grade work. I have spent every day since Hugo was born trying to give him the best life I could. If I hadn't been so stupid…"

"He would still be the brave, loving and protective kid that he is now" Jay smiled down at Erin. FAS or not, Hugo was still Erin's son and still how she brought him up to be; courageous and protective. Guilt consumed Erin, she blamed herself for every obstacle her son had to face in life. Despite any disadvantage he may face, Hugo was a strong and creative child that had a Mom who loved him more than anything in this world.

Erin was in disbelief at how accepting Jay was of her past. She had feared the worst in the past, thinking Jay would cut her out of his life. She worried that her relationship with Jay would be ruined once he found out she'd kept such an important part of her life from him. His love and acceptance of all this left her speechless.

The pair fell into a comfortable silence as the college basketball game continued to play on TV. There was no need for more explanation or discussion for tonight. Erin was exhausted and she barely saw the next basket before she was asleep on Jay's chest.

Jay flicked through the TV channels once the LSU game was over until he found a replay of the Blackhawks game from the night before. He was tired but he couldn't sleep. Erin's shallow, sleeping breaths kept his thoughts from straying. As the Blackhawks skated onto the ice after half-time, Jay noticed the light in Hugo's room flick on and off. Peering over, making sure not to move Erin he saw Hugo walking over rubbing his eyes.

"Can't sleep bud?" Jay asked as the 11 year old as he came around the coffee table. Hugo shook his head and sat down beside Jay on the couch. "A Blackhawks fan?"

Hugo nodded.

"Me too" Jay smiled. He and Hugo sat back and watched the game together until they both drifted off to sleep sometime before the final buzzer.

xxx

Erin began to stir as the light coming through the window caught her eyes. It took her a second to remember she had been sleeping on the couch and whose strong arms were holding her gently. She pressed a soft kiss to his chest as it slowly rose and fell with each breath. Looking down she was surprised to see her son's Star Wars sock clad feet sprawled over Jay's lap. Both with their heads cocked to one side and mouths slightly open, it was like they had planned to sleep in the same awkward position. Erin couldn't help but smile. After a day that almost tore her heart out, to wake up to this was just what she needed to push through the day.