Hi lovely readers, so apparently it gets a little confusing when I jump between past and present Lindstead. So anytime Erin's in the hospital it's present time and any other location is a flashback. I'll let you know in future chapters where in time we sit! AND A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU FOR FAVOURITING/FOLLOWING/REVIEWING THIS STORY.

Present Day, Hospital.

Jay slept soundly that night, although he still felt like he owed it to Erin to be with her until she was home and in her own bed. He just couldn't shake the feeling that he was letting her down by actually being able to rest. He knows coffee won't make up for it but it's a start, he makes the ten-minute drive just because he knows that Erin's very particular about her coffee. The café is only a couple blocks away from the district and surprisingly they aren't busy, he grabs their usual orders and a bagel for good measure—Erin's extremely grumpy when she's hungry—because with hospital food in the equation there was no doubt in his mind that she would be an unhappy woman.

J: Morning sunshine! Coffee and bagels, you're welcome.
E: You better not be texting and driving!
J: You think so highly of me Linds… Do you really think I'm that dense?
E: Clearly. And no, I just need you to be safe or at least get that bagel to me before you get all stupid!
J: Not even a 'thank you Jay'… you're quite a charmer…
E: Just give me my bagel and you'll get a thank you.

Jay makes his way towards her room passing Sarah on the way over, "Morning Doc, I hope it's all good news?"

The young doctor nods, "we monitored her all night and all her tests results were good…"

"Thanks," he smiles softly, "I know I've said it a lot over the past couple of days but I really do mean it…"

"No sweat," she smiles, "you keep doing your job and I'll keep doing my job…"

Jay leans against her doorframe, "did someone say coffee and bagels?" he smirks, "but I mean I know Voight taught you to use your manners so no food until I hear the words 'please' and 'thank you' come straight out of your mouth…"

"Well don't you just look sprightly and rested," she smiled, "I don't mean to brag but I did tell you that I would be fine and here we are…"

Jay rolled his eyes placing her coffee down on the bedside table, "that's what you're going with?"

Erin smiles softly as Jay hands over her bagel, "thanks for the bagel though…"

"Ah, there's the magic word…" Jay chuckled, "you're welcome…"

Erin takes a bite and her eyes flutter shut in appreciation, "you don't understand how good this is…"

"Oh wow—keep it in your pants Linds," Jay chuckles, "it's just your regular bagel…"

"No," she shakes her head, "this is everything to me…"

"Yeah," he nods, "okay… I'll be right there…"

Jay lets out a chuckle, "yeah, I'll be sure to let her know…"

"I know," he sighs, "I'll see you in ten…"

"New case?" Erin asks giving him a puzzled look, "because for a second there I thought you looked kind of disappointed…"

Jay nods grabbing his jacket off the back of his chair, "I'm not disappointed just annoyed...'"

"Yeah," she rolls her eyes, "well if it's any consolation I'd take the case and leave you in the hospital, if the roles were reversed…"

"I'm sure," he chuckles pressing a soft kiss on her forehead, "I'll see you after shift, and Antonio says the squad says 'hi'—and Linds stop giving the nurses grief…" he jokes.

"Whatever," she purses her lips, "just make sure you're not being stupid because I'm not there to save your ass…"

"I won't," he smiles before walking towards the door, "after shift—I'll bring you home… promise."

"Your words, not mine…" she chuckles.

She spends the rest of the day either flicking through channels and watching informercials or counting the tiles on her ceiling. For once, Erin is actually refusing to be productive or active. Alec and Sarah are still taking blood samples and checking on her bandage every now and again, ensuring that she's medically 'okay'.

Erin's also pretending that she's not counting down the hours until Jay comes back and brings her home. Although she does organize her discharge papers in that time—all for good measure—because she wants majority of the forms to be filled out by the time Jay gets back. She really really just wanted to be in her own bed.

When Jay finally gets back she's relieved that he's okay. Against the doctor's wishes and born of her stubbornness, Erin refuses to be pushed out of the hospital in a wheelchair.

"It's ridiculous," she purses her lips, "I can walk…"

Jay holds his hands up in defeat, too tired to argue with her.

Erin continues grumbling about feeling stupid and it feeling degrading, although it probably was a good idea to have the chair. It did take her five steps to catch up to Jay's every second step.

"You okay," Jay stops turning to face her, "I mean we can still get the chair, you know?"

"I'm fine," Erin shakes her head leaning against the wall, "I just need a moment…"

Jay walks over to her instinctively wrapping an arm around her waist, letting her rest her weight on him. He smiles at her and even though she's all pouty now he knows that she's thankful that he's the one that's by her side.

"I had it under control," she looks up at him, "I could have done it…"

"I have no doubt in my mind that you could've," he chuckles, "I'm just saying that it may or may not have taken us another year to get to my car…"

"You know," she purses her lips and jabbing Jay in the side, "you're a jerk more often than not…"

"Uh huh", He winces slightly opening the door for her, "just get in the car…"

Erin rests her head against the cool glass window, really just paying attention to how beautiful her city really is. She finds herself reveling in her own thoughts, desperately trying to figure out a way to thank Jay for sticking with her. She's not easiest person to get to know (and she knows that) but she's glad that he's the one who's breaking through the tough exterior.

She tucks her hands underneath her butt, warming them up—she's never had good circulation in her fingers—they're always so cold during the winters. Jay turns his head slightly, checking in on her for a moment. Erin looks over and smiles back reassuring him that she was feeling fine. He nods concentrating on the road once more.

She rests her head against the window again, her eyes fluttering shut listening to the hushed sounds of the radio.

In the twenty minutes that Jay was driving Erin had managed to fall asleep but for the first time he doesn't feel the urge to check her pulse. For once he isn't terrified that she isn't going to wake up. He parks out front, grabbing her overnight bag from the back seat and throwing it over his shoulder.

Jay makes his way over to her side of the car, quietly opening the door and scooping Erin up into his arms. She instinctively buries her face in his chest and he can't help but smile.

"Erin," Jay whispered gently setting her down on her bed, "you're home…"

Her eyes open slowly and she smiles at him groggily, "thanks for driving me home…" she whispers back.

"Anytime," he shrugs pressing a soft kiss on her forehead, "you okay?"

"Yeah," she nods slowly, "are you leaving?"

"Depends," he chuckles softly sitting down on her bed, "did you still need me?"

"Always," she jokes, "are you in a rush to get home?"

Jay shakes his head, "what's up?"

Erin chews on her bottom lip shrugging slightly, "stay with me?"

He nods laying down next to her, "dinner's on you though…" he chuckles softly.

She moves in closer to him, snuggling into his side. She lets out a content sigh not even caring that they were three steps over the line of professionalism.

"Whatever," she whispers drifting back to sleep.