Jay POV
"Dad. Pingi is behind broken here." She sniffed slightly.
"Um. Yeah. Then he would have to the doctor." I just said and Lilly ran to Will in the kitchen.
"Pingi is broken. You have to treat him," Lilly said, holding the cuddly toy.
"I?" Will asked in horror.
"Why did you become a doctor," I grinned.
"Let's see if we can sew him," Will said, checking Lilly's penguin.
"Ui. Looks as if he had eaten something. ", he said. He took out a USB stick out of this small crack. Curiously I looked at this. Even Lilly wondered.
"Let's see what's on it." I said, picking up the laptop.
"You're going to hurt him if you're so brutal with him," Lilly commented.
"My patients have never complained," he said.
"But they get something against the pain," Lilly said.
"Shall I give your penguin serious painkillers?" Will asked ironically.
"Yes," she said.
"Lil. This is a cuddly toy that does not feel pain otherwise we would have discovered the crack earlier." I said. On the USB stick was stored evidence against the criminal machinations of Paul Corey. Madison Turner had probably hid this in the penguin. Therefore, the backpack was probably thrown into the water.
"So. Now Pingi is like new," he said. Joyfully Lilly took her cuddly toy in her arms.
The next day, I told the Intelligence about the fund. Corey himself was dead, but by this evidence and plans of human trafficking, his 'network' could be made flat.
CPDCPDCPD
After a quiet working day Erin and I picked up Lilly from school and drove to the park. Together we walked through the park.
"I think Erin should move in with us." Lilly said, "Or even better, we move to Erin. Because Uncle Will bothers. And I finally want a private room."
"OK. OK. Any other wishes?" I said.
"Yes. Can I go to the playground?" Lilly asked, pointing to the playground about 100 meters away.
I thought for a while, "Yeah, but Lilly please do..."
"Do not run away and don't go with strangers." Lilly finished my sentence. "Exactly. Be careful. " I said and Lilly ran to the playground. Erin and I sat down on a park bench near the playground.
"You are an amazing Dad. She is so happy." Erin said.
"Wow. Erin Lindsay. You've just made me a compliment."
"Do not get used to it."
"What do you think about Lilly's suggestion?" I asked.
"I don't know."
"Come on. What do you think?"
Before Erin could answer, we were disturbed by a woman. "Erin Lindsay? That's a pleasure to see you again," said the woman in her early 30s and pushed a stroller.
"Oh. Hey Alice." Erin greeted her with a forced smile.
"Do not you want to introduce us to each other?" She asked.
"Uh yes so Jay, this is my old classmate Alice. Alice, this is my partner Jay." Erin said
"Hello." We greeted each other
"I became a mother 3 months ago. A little boy, Jeremy, and next month, I'll marry. He is an entrepren... " She said.
"Daddy." Lilly called inadvertently between them and came running to us. "I'm thirsty," she said breathlessly.
"Here," I said, handing her a bottle. After a few times without a water bottle in the park, I learned to bring something because children can be exhausted pretty much.
"Oh. I didn't know you had a child. She looks very much like you. "Alice said, looking at Erin with big surprising implausible eyes. Lilly probably noticed that as she drank her drink. However, Lilly does not look like Erin at all. Both are completely different.
"Yes um, she is n...", Erin wanted to put right as Lilly interjected between them: "Mom, come you with me to the playground?" With this reaction of Lilly, I never expected. She seriously called Erin as her Mum... Shocked, we both looked at Lilly.
"Of course Lil," Erin said irritated. She was probably thinking the same thing "Where did you stop?" Erin asked her classmate.
"Oh nothing. I have to keep going. Bye," she said almost stunned.
"Mum, so?" I asked.
Lilly grinned, "It will not be a habit. Once and never again."
"You have a free wish." Erin laughed.
"I want a puppy."
"No puppy." I said.
"But I have a free wish."
"Yeah. But no puppy." I said "Maybe when you are older."
"So next year for my birthday?"
"I did not say when. It's best to invite her to a scoop of ice cream," I grinned.
"Alright. Then there will be ice cream afterwards." Erin said.
"And you guys should take a room together." Lilly grinned.
"W-What?" Erin said horrified.
"Don't get cheeky." I said.
"I'm always," Lilly said
"Oh yes? Who did you get that from?" I asked curiously.
"I'm a Halstead," she replied cheekily, we laughed and I grabbed my little girl and tickled her a bit.
CPDCPDCPD
A few days later. Impatiently I waited in the emergency room for news as to whether the man from Bunny's apartment survived the operation. Dr. Choi came and told me that the man does not make it.
"Will. I want you to give me the key to mom's safety deposit box. I'm gonna ask Erin to marry me. She is all I think about and she has been there for me every step of the way." I said.
"Why now? You two aren't even together, are you?" Will asked.
"No were not. But she's in real trouble right now, and I want to be there for her. I blew it once, but I'm ready."
"Jay, this girl doesn't want to be saved. Okay, what you should be doing is putting some distance there." Will simply did not understand me. During the day he brought the ring.
My last chance to ask Erin I missed. In the evening, I waited for her in Mollys. The new colleague detective Upton was also there. Kevin, Adam and Will too. My calls ignored Erin. It was too late. Through Voight, I learned that Erin accepted a job offer in New York. She was gone. She left no message. Not a single message. She has not even said goodbye. Like she just wanted to get away from here as fast as she could. I tried to reach her a few more times. But she never took off. She did not answer a single SMS or email. That was it. My love is up and away.
CPDCPDCPD
Three evenings later I sat with a beer in my hand in front of the TV and watched the Blackhawks game. I could not believe it. I was upset. My life changed quickly and Erin is gone. I'm glad that my daughter is with me. It's amazing how much she cares about me, even though it has to be the other way round. Lilly brings me through playing together on completely different thoughts.
A little later Lilly stood before me. "Can we see this." Lilly pointed to a movie in the TV program guide.
"Now?" I asked.
"I want to see the movie," Lilly said, holding the magazine directly to me.
"Alice in Wonderland." I read aloud. No, please, not a child's film, I thought quietly. Children's movies are times great looking, but in the long run quite annoying. The worst of all are the typical girl movies I had to see with Lilly - Frozen and Princess Lillifee.
"You can see the repetition tomorrow afternoon," I said, glancing at tomorrow's agenda.
"I'm bored now," Lilly countered.
"Play Nintendo." I said.
Lilly shook her head and stood directly in front of the TV.
"But you don't want to stay there the whole evening?" I asked.
"Yes," Lilly said.
"You can read, paint, play ... would you like to play a game on the laptop?" I asked.
"Nope," Lilly said, still blocking the view.
"Come sit down." I said to Lilly to get her away.
"Nope,"
"OK. Then turn around and commenting the game." I said.
"Nope."
"Are you naughty now?" I asked, raising my eyebrow.
"Nope."
"Can you say something else?" I asked, grinning.
"Nope."
"Well wait." I said, stood up and started a tickling attack. We laughed and in a brief moment of carelessness Lilly got the remote. I tried to get it back. Between us stood a coffee table and a couch. We exchanged the seats and I blocked Lilly's view on the screen now. In the meantime Lilly, who was standing behind the couch, has found her film.
"You stand in the way." Lilly complained.
"You did that, too," I grinned. Even if I would have loved to see the Blackhawks game, I had fun to annoying Lilly. Sometimes, I think, she realized that I was not feeling well and she wanted to change my mind with such jokes.
"Sit down again," Lilly suggested.
"When I get the remote," I said.
"If you do not leave, we'll have to see that twice." Lilly threatened.
"Not at all or do you see anything about the movie?" I grinned.
"Ice hockey is boring." Lilly whined.
"Oh yes? You've never seen a game completely," I said.
"And you've never seen Alice in Wonderland," Lilly said.
It was already amusing to see how I took a step to the right and Lilly immediately followed a step in the opposite direction.
"Right. A movie can be also seen the next day, a game not," I said.
"You should not see the results, otherwise it will be even more boring."
"Come Lilly. It was quite funny, but let me see the game and tomorrow you decide the program." I said.
„Nope."
I took another step to get in front of the small living room table. She also took further steps. I made a quick movement, grabbed Lilly by the arm and she dropped to the ground. She protected the remote control as if were keeping her life from it.
"Lilly. It's enough," I said, taking the remote.
"This is unfair," Lilly muttered.
"So life is. You've missed the first half hour of the movie. Tomorrow you can see the whole movie," I said, switching back to the game.
Lilly remained quietly sitting next to me. She also took my mobile phone and played Subway Surf.
"You really liked Erin right?" she asked and I nodded.
"And she likes you too, right?" she asked and I shrugged the shoulders. If Erin loves me, why does not she answer? On the one day in the park we are like a little perfect family.
"If I'm not worried, do not worry. I do not like when you are unhappy. You need more fun." Lilly said.
"I am not unhappy. I have you. I just have to think a bit, that's all."
"Then it's good." Lilly said and began to comment on the Blackhawks game completely pointless.
CPDCPDCPD
Three months have passed since Lilly lived with me. Fortunately, Will moved out of his apartment to contract with Natalie. So Lilly and I were able to spread out in the apartment. I moved to my old room and Lilly got Will's room because it was bigger. Kim and Natalie helped us to design a beautiful girl's room.
I sat at my desk. By the last case, a lot of paperwork accumulated, which I worked now.
"Halstead. You have a visitor," Platt said. I looked up from my work and saw Abby.
"Abby, what are you doing here?" I asked in surprise.
"I'm here to get Lilly home," Abby said
"W-what? You cannot just take her with you now," I said.
"Oh yes Jay. I can and I'll take Lilly with me," Abby said.
"Why so suddenly?" I asked curiously. I'm not ready to let that little girl go. Not now where we understand each other so well.
"Do you really think I will leave my child with you for longer than necessary? She ran away from you and was almost killed by a murderer." She hissed
"Um. I can explain that ... "I stammered.
"Spare me the explanation. I still have Lilly's custody, meaning she will still come with me today." Abby said.
"If I am allowed to interfere. Should not Lilly decide who she wants to live with, or when she goes back to Philadelphia? "Ruzek said.
"I agree with that. You guys cannot kick Lilly back and forth like a ball," Kevin said.
"No one asked for their opinion," Abby said, "I'll pick up Lilly at about 5pm." Then she disappeared down the stairs.
I glanced at her, shocked. Atwater, Ruzek and Kim were excited about the rest of their working hours. But ultimately, Abby belonged custody and Lilly will be glad to see her mum again...
CPDCPDCPD
"Dad. Why are you picking me up?" Lilly asked. Voight gave me the half day free to take leave of Lil.
"Um. Because... Abby is picking you up today." I finally said. I did not want to talk about it. Lilly will find out early enough what it´s going on.
"Mum is back?" Lilly asked. The joy could be clearly recognized in her.
"Yes."
"That's nice."
At home, Lilly waited impatiently for her mum. We played a game together before I started packing her clothes in the travel bag.
"Why do you pack my things together?" Lilly asked.
"Abby wants to take you home," I replied curtly.
"But here is my home now," she said. I smiled sadly. She was right.
"I know, but your mum misses you," I said.
"Then she should move in here, too," Lilly said.
"That won't do. Abby and I... that doesn't work." I said.
Shortly there was a knock on the door. I opened the door. Abby and a man stepped inside.
"Lilly!" She was happy and took her daughter in the arm. Lilly seemed not at all happy to see the man. She was in shock.
"I missed you Princess," she said.
"I do, too," Lilly whispered.
"Everything packed? The taxi is waiting." He said, and I handed him the travel bag.
"But ... but I do not want to leave," Lilly sniffed, "I want to stay with dad."
"Oh Lilly. Your friends are waiting and not to forget Grandma," she said
"Here I have friends and Dad and Uncle Will and Kim and Adam and Natalie..."
"OK. I understand. You've met new friends. Can we go now?" he said annoyed.
"I will not come with you. Not as long as he lives with us." Lilly said, crossing her arms.
"Lilly stops. He never did anything to you. You should finally respect that he belongs to our life. And you will live with him." Abby said.
"No way. I will stay here. Please," Lilly howled, "Daddy do something about it."
"Um. Abby. Think about it again. Lilly can live here. Do you really want to tear her out of her environment?" I said, "She doesn't seem to be thrilled to see your boyfriend."
"Stay out of there Jay. This is not your business." She said.
"I guess so. My daughter is unhappy in his environment. I also know her medical records. She was very frequent in the emergency room. I think he knows what I'm getting at."
"That's totally ridiculous. Lilly come let's go." She said.
"NO!"she screamed.
"Abby. Please think about it." I said.
"Jay. You represent a danger to our daughter. I should never have brought her here." She said.
"But I ran away. Dad did not know about it." Lilly said.
"Lilly is enough. You will come with us." Abby said.
"But I want to stay here!" Lilly said.
"Lilly. I promise you that we visit us during the holidays." I said, and squatted down to her height.
"I want to stay here," Lilly howled.
"I know. Come here sweetie." I said, taking her in my arms.
"You can always come here. Please don't let everything to you. I'll do something about it. I Promise you." I whispered in her ear, pressing a last kiss on her forehead.
"I love you Daddy." Lilly cried, "I'll miss you terribly."
"I love you and I miss you, too," I whispered. We parted from the embrace and Abby reached for Lilly's hand.
"Finally," he moaned.
"Goodbye Jay," she said.
"Bye daddy," Lilly cried.
"Goodbye sweetie," I said.