Chapter 10 ~ Maddie

"I'm gonna order some pizza!" Jay yelled from the lounge room, not surprised when Erin didn't reply.

He grabbed his phone off of the kitchen table but it died before he could dial the number.

"Babe I'm borrowing your phone." he grabbed the black bag off the couch and began to search for her phone. He laughed to himself at how much stuff Erin carried around in her purse but eventually found her phone. His eyes scanned a few pamphlets sitting in her bag and he picked them up, trying to convince himself that he didn't see what he thought he had. And when he saw the title everything fell from his hands as he tried to brace himself for falling, his eyes scanning over the words once more.

'Ovarian Cancer: Telling your Friends and Family.'

Jay quickly grabbed the pamphlets from the floor and walked out of the bedroom, not hesitating before he barged into the bathroom. Erin turned around surprised.

"Jay!" She exclaimed "What the hell are you doing? Did you not hear me say I was going for a shower!?"

It only took one look at the mixed emotions spread on his face for the lightbulb to go off in Erin's mind.

He knew.

Tears brimmed his green eyes and his Jaw clenched tight.

"What the hell are these?" He held the flyers up. The words 'Ovarian cancer' printed all over them.

"Jay, I was going to tell you. I-"

"You should have already told me!" Jay yelled. "I should've known the moment after you did! I'm supposed to be there for you, I'm supposed to help you, and protect you. How the fuck am I supposed to do that when you couldn't even tell me?" His voice began to break as the tears started falling from his eyes.

"I was scared ok!? Look, at first I thought I was pregnant, and it was just after you and I had that fight over the whole Candice kiss thing, and when Nat told me I panicked! I swear I was going to tell you Jay, I just needed some time to process. Please understand, I'm so sorry" Erin was crying by the time she finished, her tears falling hard and fast as Jay watched her.

He could feel his anger simmering down, replaced with heartbreak and sadness that his girl had to suffer through even more upset in her life. He walked towards her and pulled her close, wrapping his left arm around her back and cradling her head in his right as she cried into his chest.

"I'm so sorry." Erin cried over and over again.

"I know. I'm sorry too babe. He whispered softly as he held her tight.

They stayed like that until Erin's cried subsided to a soft whimper. Without a word, Jay stood and pulled Erin up with him guiding them into the bedroom and sitting her down on their bed. He sat behind her and pulled her into his arms so she was laying against his chest resting between his legs.

"Does anyone else know?" He asked softly.

Erin sat up to look at him "Natalie obviously but, I ... uh ... I told Hank this morning. I needed his permission for time off for my treatment."

'Of course, she told Hank first.' he thought.

"Please don't be mad I told him. It wasn't like I wanted to tell him either, honestly I wouldn't have told him yet but I needed him to know for work. I wasn't ready to tell either of you, or anyone really." She sniffled.

"You can't lie to me about these things Erin. I know that you're the one that's sick, but this doesn't affect just you. How could you think that I shouldn't know about this?"

"I was scared!" She exclaimed "We weren't in a good place, with everything that happened with Candice. And I know that we're at a serious point in our relationship but we haven't actually been together that long. I didn't want you to feel obligated to stick around just because I was sick."

"Who said I was going anywhere!?" Jay yells "Dammit Erin! When are you going to get it through your head that I'm not going anywhere!? You can throw whatever you got at me, but I'm not leaving you."

"I know." Erin cried, collapsing into his arms murmuring "I'm so sorry" over again.

Jay could feel his anger resolving, He didn't want to fight with her.

"I know you are. We're going to get through this okay? You and me, we got a long life to live together. I promise I'm going to do whatever it takes to make sure you live it with me." He whispered pressing a kiss into her hair.

Erin fell asleep shortly after, and once Jay could hear her light snoring he reached over to grab his phone from the bedside table where it was charging, drafting up a new text message.

We need to talk. Call me in the morning.

~ LIFES SURPRISES ~

Jay walked into the bullpen early the next morning. He had left a note on Erinms bedside table that he was going to the gym so she wouldn't worry when she awoke. He took a deep breath calming himself before walking into Hank's office.

"Halstead." Voight acknowledged, his voice concerned "What did you want to talk about?"

"I know." He simply stated "About Erin."

"And?" Voight asked.

"I uh ... I know we're not close. But, I just wanted to make sure you were okay."

Voight scoffed "the woman I consider my own daughter just told me she has a disease that could kill her, the same one that took my wife. I'm not okay Halstead. I'm dealing."

"Right. Stupid question. Sorry. But ... if you ever did want to get something off your chest..."

"I know where to find you." Voight answered.

Jay stood awkwardly from the chair and began to walk out of the office before being stopped by Voight calling his name. He turned around expectantly.

"You're good for her. I know I don't tell you that enough, but you are."

Jay looked shocked "thank you Sir."

"Take care of her."

"I promise." Jay said with a smile "Um Sir? I have one more thing to ask..."

"Of course you did." Hank muttered "Sit back down Halstead."

A/N: Apologies for any spelling mistakes. Hope you liked this chapter, please leave us a review and let us know what you think!