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Three days, he had three days until they were back in Manhatten sitting in a courtroom going over every gory detail about how their friend was raped tortured murdered and thrown out like last weeks trash. Three days...

The unit had been immediately thrown back onto a case, thankfully it was fairly easy with the help of some of the teams confidential informants and they solved it in under sixty hours. That however meant that the team got next to no sleep and only had enough time to go home to shower and change clothes...if they got lucky. The majority of the team showered in the locker rooms and crashed in the break room on the small sofa or passed out at their desks. They had something to prove and prove it was exactly what they did.

By the time Erin, Jay and Hank were dropped off at the airport April 13th they were so exhausted they could hardly see straight. Top that off with all of their anxious energy the three were walking time bombs of snappy answers and zero patience. Taking their seats on the plane, Jay once again in the middle, they barely stayed awake long enough to clasp their seat belts.

About forty minutes into their flight they hit turbulence startling Jay from his slumber in a panic waking Hank in the process. He was about ready to grumble when they hit another patch of turbulence and he realized what was happening. Hank gripped Jays shoulder and pulled him back towards him with his arm protectively around his shoulders. With glassy eyes Jay glanced at Hank before collapsing into him, back to sleep almost instantaneously.

Tapping on Hanks shoulder the flight attendant informed him they would be landing soon. Grumbling a thank you he looked to his right and saw the two blissfully sleeping, his arm was still around Jay who had turned in his seat and had his head balancing between Hanks shoulder and the seat back. Erin had moved so she was curled into a ball halfway on top of Jay.

Breaking him from his thoughts the older lady across the isle from them noticed he was awake and touched his arm, "Be thankful for every moment you get with your beautiful family."

"Yeah." Hank grunted.

"How old is your son? I saw his army pack when you boarded. My youngest son was a ranger too." When hank didn't answer she continued, "I wish every day I could have one more minute to hold my son. Died in 2003. Looked to be about his age, reminded me of him."

"Jay is not my son, we are in the same unit...Chicago PD. Headed to Manhattan for a court case for one of our own." Hank said, feeling wrong even as he said it, they were family...

"Miss Decotis? Heard about that. I am sorry for your loss." She said, again reaching across to touch his arm. "Never seen a unit seemingly as close as you three before. NYPD, retired in 2004. Worked their fifty years."

"Long haul." Hank nodded, moving his arm a little as it was starting to fall asleep. When Jays head slipped slightly he woke up, slowly opening his eyes. Hank gave him a quick squeeze before pulling his arm out from around his shoulder. As Jay straightened out he ran his fingers through Erin's hair waking her up gently. "Took Erin in as a teen." Hank told the woman, causing Jay to look over at them, he never spoke to people he didn't know...especially about Erin.

"Have a wife and kids of your own?" She asked him.

"Son yes, few years younger than them. Camille passed a few years back."

"Rough road you've had. Not easy saying goodbye to your love. My husband was killed in the fall of 2001. He was officially retired but...when your city is attacked there is no such thing as retired."

"Way of life." Hank said, his voice cracking slightly.

When Jay saw her put her hand on Hanks arm without him flinching he knew he was wavering on the edge. Jay put his hand over Hanks arm and squeezed it tight. "Thank you for your service Jay." The woman said looking down to his hand on Hanks arm.

Jay nodded, "Made it easier to handle this guy." He smirked, trying to pull Hank from the edge. "He makes some of my drill sargents look like princesses."

Erin sat up as the plane went in for landing. "If you were NYPD for years you know Olivia Benson then?"

Smiling at Erin she answered, "Of course, though I never worked directly with her. Good police in her unit. A little rough around the edges but good police."

"You have a way with people. Bet you have a million stories about old New York."

"Too many too ever tell them all." She answered with a laugh as she saw Jay elbow her in the side.

"She said she was in for fifty years..."

"Erin ease drops even when she is asleep." Hank said rolling his eyes as he unhooked his seat belt.

"Comes from being raised by an alcoholic crack whore." Erin mumbled.

"Well like I said to start, be thankful for the family you have here. I will maybe see you around while you are in town." She said stepping into the isle to disembark from the plane.

The three walked slowly off the plane and through the airport getting their luggage and climbing into a cab and heading for the hotel. Hank sat down on the first bed and laid back draping his arm over his eyes. "I will go get Something to eat and bring it back here." Jay said.

"Take Erin with you." Hank mumbled.

"You sure?" She asked him. They saw him nod and saw a tear drop from his face to the bed. "We will be back soon." She told him. She wished he would just let them in and stop trying to protect her from whatever emotions he is processing.

They were out less than twenty minutes and were able to get a fresh loaded pizza, a load of junk food and a six pack of beer. "Linds...why don't you call the guys and let them know we made it. I will bring the stuff up to the room.

"Text me when it is okay for me to go up Halstead." She said with an eye roll before pulling out her phone and calling Antonio.

When Jay walked into the room he found Hank laying in the same spot on the bed, a small wet spot on the comforter from where his tears had fallen. "Want to talk about it?"

"What do you think?" Hank grumbled as he sat up, wiping his eyes roughly.

"You need to get yourself ready for when she runs...but she will figure it out and come back."

"Where did you leave her?"

"She was calling home." Jay told him as he sent a quick text, "She'll be up in a minute."

Which she was, they quickly ate their dinner and took their places in bed watching reruns of old 90's shows on nick at night. The next day was spent preparing for the court hearing. With Hank constantly telling Jay to take Erin out of the room. To hell with protocols and regulation, he was going to protect her from as much as he could.

The fifteenth of April arrived too early and Erin begrudgingly agreed to sit out with a member of NYPD if Jay was allowed to watch and update her as often as he could. Jay kept his hands in his lap, digging his nails into his wrist to maintain his composure as he watched the lawyers present both sides. He could feel Hank fidgeting next to him.

When they called Erin to the stand they felt like they were under water, struggling to breath and wanting to run up the and hold her. The three of them struggled to compartmentalize the case from their own personal feelings. They were there representing the CPD as well as being victims themselves.

After their lunch, where none of them are a single bite Erin stayed in the courtroom to watch. Jay struggled more than her as they tried to defend Yates and Erin found herself putting her hand on his to attempt to calm him down.

Back at the hotel that night Erin quietly got ready for bed and laid down closing her eyes. When Jay tried to sit down next to her she rolled away from him and pulled her arms and legs into herself effectively shutting herself off. "Going out." He gruffly told Hank before picking up a keycard, phone and throwing on a pair of jogging shoes. Hank only nodded.

When Erin burst into tears as the door closed Hank crossed the room and pulled her into him as he sat down on the edge of the bed. "I wish Camille were here with us." He graveled causing Erin to grip tightly to him. "Erin I know what it is like to lose your best friend."

When Jay came back a couple hours later he took off his shoes and walked towards his bed. He heard Hanks snoring as he got closer and looked up seeing Erin staring back at him while being curled into Hanks side.

"You gonna tell me you aren't a Daddy's girl?" Jay smiled at her as he shut off the rooms main light, leaving them only lit by the TV.

"I'm sorry." She whispered.

"Been a rough few weeks." He said as he picked up the blanket off Hanks bed and draping it over them before walking towards the small round table by the window.

"You're not sleeping in the chair all night."

"Don't think I will be sleeping at all tonight."

"Halstead get your ass over here." Erin told him. Jay laid down and put his head on his pillow and Erin reached over and ran her fingers down his cheek, "How was the view from the roof?"

"Called Dawson." He said, vice cracking slightly. When Erin moved to hold Jay, Hank gripped her tighter in his sleep mumbling about losing his best friend and she snuggled back into him and pulled Jay to her. "Camille?" Jay asked.

"I am going to kill him. Jay promise me you wont let him do anything stupid."

"This is all going to change when we get back home isn't it?"

"I dont want to hurt you."

"I don't want to lose my Partner." Jay said as two tears fell from his eyes and dropped onto her skin.

"You will bring me back"

"How?" Jay asked with a yawn, exhaustion setting in.

Erin softly began to sing, "When you feel all alone and the world has turned its back on you give me a moment please to tame your wild wild heart. I know you feel like the walls are closing in on you, it's hard to find relief and people can be so cold. When darkness is upon your door and you feel like you can't take anymore let me be the one you call. If you jump I'll break your fall... By the time she finished the song she was being lulled into her own blissful sleep by the soft snores and gentle rise and fall of both Jay and Hank.

April sixteenth went by like a blur. When the guilty verdict was handed down the weight on them vanished and was left with only intense sadness. A sadness so profound Erin was unable to focus, to have a conversation, to even pack her bag to go home.

When Hank stormed out of the hotel room Jay wondered if Yates would make it through the hour. Erin didn't even notice his absence. Jay gave her meds to help her sleep and held her until she had passed out before sending Hank a message to meet him on the roof when he was done.

Jay knew that this was it, the last night he would get to fall asleep with her in his arms, to wake up next to her, to have a true partner...at least for a while. Erin had checked out. He knew the first thing she would do when they got home would be to call Severide...to over indulge at the bar...and then when that was no longer enough she would call up Bunny or her contacts from the other side. Al had told him about the leave form he made her sign and wondered how long it would be before they had to use it.

"You should be sleeping Kid." Hank said walking over to where Jay was perched.

"From now until she lets me bring her back are going to be torture."

"Giving up already?"

"Don't think that's possible."

"Then get Your ass back down there. We've got a plane to catch."

"Our flights not til tomorrow night."

"Olivia was able to bump it up. We fly out in an hour."

An hour later they were sitting in their seats on the plane waiting for take off. Erin had her head resting on the window, Jays hoody draped over her for a blanket. At take off Hank reached his arm over and pulled Jay into him, "Go to sleep kid, only a couple hours till we land."

As much as he wished he never had to be where they were he was getting a glimpse into the man that Erin saw as her dad, who he was starting to see as a father figure as well. His own dad would have never held him like Hank was at that moment. As he fought back tears that threatened to fall from sheer exhaustion, he felt the grip around his shoulders tighten and felt Hank lean his head against him.

Hank hated to see Jay struggling, he reminded him so much of Justin...and if he were to be truthful he reminded him of himself. Knowing that in a few short hours they would be back at work he needed to get Jay to fall asleep as well as get a couple winks for himself. "I've got you kid." He whispered as he closed his eyes.