Disclaimer: I do not own Chicago PD, Chicago Fire or any of its characters.

Chapter 25: Birthday Week part 2

The next morning, Jay woke up before her. He smiled seeing her still asleep on top of him. He gently rolled her to the bed and tucked her in. He softly kissed her cheek; he got up to go make her breakfast. He knew they'd have to clean up the apartment sometime today, but for now he left the rose petals for her.

Lauren rolled over and felt an empty bed. She wrapped in the sheet and went to find him. She saw him in the kitchen and smiled. "Hey handsome," she said when he turned around.

"Well hey baby. How long have you been up?"

"Long enough to walk in here and see you making breakfast. Is that… is that chocolate chocolate chip pancakes I smell?"

Jay laughed. She'd been having chocolate cravings lately so he was going to indulge her. "Yes it is."

Lauren smiled and wrapped her arms around him. "What did I ever do to deserve you?"

"More like what did I ever do to deserve you?"

"I guess we're just really lucky," she smiled. Jay nodded and sat her at the bar to eat.

After breakfast they showered together and Jay cleaned up all the rose petals, putting them in a box for her to keep. She couldn't quit smiling at him, so glad to be home.

"So what are we doing today?" she asked him once he was done.

Jay wrapped his arm around her waist and walked her over to the balcony doors. "What do you see?" he whispered watching her face light up.

"It's snowing!" she squealed. Jay laughed. He knew where she lived in Tennessee they rarely saw snow; they were lucky to get one a year. He knew she loved it, for now, until all she saw was snow for months during the winter.

"How about we go out for a bit and let you play? Maybe go ice skating?"

Lauren nodded as she took off for the bedroom to get dressed. Jay couldn't help but laugh a little at her excitement. Once he had them good and bundled up, they headed out. They had a mini snowball fight and Lauren made a snow angel.

He took them to the ice rink, and they skated for a bit. He made sure to keep her close and not let her fall while they skated. Lauren had a blast. They went back to the apartment and curled up on the couch drinking hot chocolate. Lauren turned on a Hallmark movie and curled up with him. It wasn't long and she'd fallen asleep.

Jay got up a little while later and started making her supper. Will and Natalie were coming over to eat with them and celebrate her birthday. They were going to celebrate with Kelly and Shay on Friday after Thanksgiving. Jay fixed homemade teriyaki chicken fried rice, knowing she would love it.

He heard her start stirring just as he got it done. He walked into the living room and pulled her into his arms. "Hey beautiful? Have a good nap?"

Lauren rubbed her eyes and laid her head on his chest. "Yea I did. I didn't mean to fall asleep though… sorry."

"It's fine sweetheart. We had an eventful morning."

Lauren smiled and softly kissed his cheek. "Yea but it was perfect."

"Good. I made supper and Will and his girlfriend are coming over to celebrate with us."

Lauren looked confused. "Will actually has a steady girlfriend?"

Jay laughed. "Yea he does. He's settled down quite nicely."

"Do I know her?"

Jay nodded still grinning.

"Well who is it?"

"Natalie. "

Lauren laughed. "Ah. Of course it is."

"Yep. But they seem to really work well. Will is growing up. He's different and I think he really likes her."

Lauren smiled. She knew Jay just really wanted Will to grow up, settle down, and be the big brother he's always needed. "Well good. I guess I better go get ready. Something smells really good."

Jay smiled as he went to the bedroom with her. "I made homemade teriyaki chicken fried rice."

"Jay! You're my hero!" She smiled making him laugh as she hugged him.

She was in the middle of doing her hair when Will knocked. Jay went to let them in and Lauren finished up. She was happy to see them and thanked them for celebrating with them. They enjoyed dinner, sharing easy conversation about everything. They had a little cake and ice cream for her too.

After they left, Lauren and Jay curled up in bed. Tomorrow was her birthday and Thanksgiving and she was extremely excited. She finally fell asleep. The next morning she was awake first. She was practically bouncing on the bed she was so excited.

"Jay?.. Jay? Jay? Wake up! Wake up!" She said excitedly lightly shaking him. Jay moaned and rolled over away from her. He was so awake, but he was going to pretend for a minute. He heard her huff as she tried again to wake him. She rolled him back to face her. "Jay…. come on wake up."

Jay couldn't help but chuckle as he pulled her down on top of him. "Why are you up so early?" he mumbled.

Lauren laughed. "Coming from the guy who is always up early regardless of the day. But you know why."

"Because it's Thanksgiving?" he asked acting confused.

"No. It's my birthday!" Jay laughed as he rolled her under him.

"Oh…. I guess I forgot," he smiled softly kissing her making her giggle. She knew he was just teasing her. "So what are we doing today?" she asked.

"Lunch at the fire hall. Everyone will be there."

Lauren nodded. She was a little excited to see her brother, Shay and all their friends. She was a little nervous how everyone would react since they were married now, but she wasn't too worried since Jay would be there with her.

They had breakfast and worked on a casserole together to take with them to lunch. They had the parade on in the background, and Jay just loved watching her so happy. Once they had everything ready they headed out.

They got to the fire hall and Kelly wrapped her in a hug. "Hello birthday girl! It's so good to see you since you've been in the city for two days," he laughed.

Lauren laughed with him. "Sorry Kel. We've been busy."

"I don't wanna know," he laughed assuming she meant with sex.

"Not just like that," she laughed smacking him lightly.

Kelly laughed. "Well it's still good to see you Sis."

"Yea it's good to be home."

Kelly smiled as Shay walked up. The girls hugged and Shay wished her happy birthday too. They were saving their presents for tomorrow when they celebrated just them. There was tons of food and people milling around enjoying the day; a day to give thanks for all they are blessed with.

Lauren shared easy conversation with everyone from the fire hall and Mouse. Jay's team had all spoken and wished her happy birthday except Erin, but Lauren expected that. She let it just roll off her back, too happy to let it bother her today.

Before they sat down to eat, Lauren snuck off to the bathroom; she didn't see Erin following her. When she came out, Erin was leaning on the sink. Lauren smiled and washed her hands. She would be polite for Jay since she was his partner, but she wasn't going to be overly friendly.

"You don't get it do you?" Erin asked.

"Get what?" Lauren asked confused.

"That Jay doesn't love you."

Lauren shook her head. "Erin, look, I know you like him and whatever. But we're married now so you need to let it go. It's Thanksgiving so let's just have a pleasant day." Lauren went to walk around her, but Erin blocked her path. Lauren sighed and backed up.

"You're only married because he felt pressured by you. You got knocked up and he felt he didn't have a choice. He doesn't want to be a father. He's told me that repeatedly. You trapped him, and now he feels stuck with you."

Lauren tried to walk around her again. "You're wrong Erin."

"Am I? How do you know? I spend day in and day out with him at work. Don't you think we talk, that he tells me things he's not going to tell you? Because he does, and he doesn't want this with you. Everyone agrees too. The team, his friends and family, are really concerned that he just up and married you out of the blue. They all think you're a flight risk and will just break his heart. You're never going to be good enough to fit in here, so why don't you just go back and spare him?"

Lauren's hormones had her all emotional as it was. Was it true everything Erin was saying? Did Jay really feel this way and not tell her? Did his team, his best friends and family, really feel like she wasn't good enough for him?

"Thank you for telling me, but really, let me go!" she said as she pushed around her.

When she got back out to the floor, she saw Jay laughing and carrying on with Mouse and Antonio. He probably hadn't even noticed she was missing. She realized that maybe Erin was right; she really didn't fit in here. No one had noticed how long she'd been in the bathroom so no one would notice if she left.

She grabbed her coat and walked outside. She glanced back and still no one noticed that the door had closed and someone walked out. She felt her heart shattering as her tears fell. She'd thought this was her home; she thought he really loved her and wanted all this with her. They'd talked about it five years ago, and they'd talked about it recently too, but maybe she was wrong about all of this.

Now she had no one. She'd lost the relationship with her mother over this, and if everything Erin said was true, then she had no home and no family because she wouldn't stay with him. All these thoughts were swirling in her mind as she walked trying to clear her head. She couldn't believe he'd actually do this to her. She'd thought he'd always be honest with her, but she guessed not. She wasn't really paying attention as she walked. She was just walking to clear her head and let the tears fall because she was too upset.

Back at the house, Jay started looking for her. There was no way a woman could pee for this long. He'd seen her go to the bathroom and now that she wasn't back he was worried. He went and called for her, but she didn't answer. On his way back to the floor, he passed Erin. "Hey, have you seen Lauren?"

Erin shook her head. "Nope. I'm not your wife's keeper," she said rolling her eyes. Jay knew she was jealous as hell, but he figured she'd eventually get over it.

"Yea… whatever thanks," he said walking off. Erin smiled; if only he knew. He'd be thanking her later when he realized that she saved him from that crazy girl. Erin went on to help finish setting up for them to eat.

Jay went all the way around the house looking for her. No one had seen her and he was starting to panic. He ran up to Kelly; "Hey, have you seen Lauren? Do you know where she is?"

Kelly shook his head no. "She was with you last I saw. Why? What's going on?"

"I can't find her. She went to the bathroom and hasn't come back. No one has seen her."

"Ok, take a deep breath Jay. I'm sure it's nothing. She's around here somewhere."

Jay nodded as he took a deep breath. "Her purse and phone are here so there's no way Mouse can track her."

"We'll find her. Don't worry I'm sure it's nothing."

Jay nodded as they spread out to look for her. No one had seen her and both of them were starting to worry now. Shay had started looking too. The bathroom was empty so she'd definitely gone somewhere when she left the bathroom.

As Shay was coming out of the bathroom, April stopped her. "Shay… I think I know what happened."

"To Lauren?"

April nodded. She'd been in the bathroom at the same time and had heard everything. "Erin cornered her in here. I was using the bathroom and by the time I came out Lauren was gone. Erin told all about how Jay didn't really love her and didn't want this with her. That she trapped him and she really needed to just leave."

"Are you kidding me?!" Shay said feeling her blood boiling.

"I don't know what happened, but Lauren just said thanks for telling me and walked off."

"That stupid bitch," Shay said storming off. She made a beeline for Erin. "How dare you, you bitch?!" she screamed slapping her across the face.

Erin was so caught off guard she didn't have a chance to react before Shay slapped her again. The whole house had gotten quiet hearing Shay. Kelly came running over and grabbed Shay.

"What is going on? What are you doing?" he asked wrapping his arms around her and holding her as she tried to fight him off.

"Let me go Kel! Let me go! She deserves it!" Shay screamed as Jay came running over too.

Jay stood in front of her ignoring Erin for the moment. "Shay… what is going on?"

"It's all her fault! She told Lauren a whole bunch of bull shit! She's just jealous and a bitch!" She was still trying to get away from Kelly but he just held her tighter. He finally carried her off to his office to chill out.

Jay turned on Erin. "That true? Did you say something to her?" He could feel his anger boiling. He knew Erin hadn't gotten over the fact he'd gotten married and was starting a family, but he didn't think she'd actually do anything about it.

Erin shrugged still holding her cheek where Shay had slapped her. "Erin?! What did you do?" He asked and she could see the anger coming through his eyes.

"I told her the truth!" she said finding her strength to fight him back.

"And what truth was that?!" he asked anger dripping from his voice.

"That you didn't really want her or the baby. That she wasn't good enough for you and that everyone thought so." The house went deadly quiet hearing this. Intelligence couldn't believe what they were seeing. They all knew Erin had a thing for Jay, but they thought that had all changed now that he'd gotten married.

"You said what?!" Jay said barely restraining himself from slapping her too.

"It's nothing but the truth Jay. She's not good enough for you and everyone thinks so. Someone needed to tell her how you and everyone else felt. Who better than your partner. That's why you have backup right?" she asked with a small smile.

"Fuck you Erin!" he said and stormed off. He had to find her. She was probably wandering around the city lost and upset. That wasn't good for her or the baby, especially since her purse and all her stuff was here. She had no phone, no protection, and Jay was going into full on panic mode.

He ran to Kelly's office. "I need you to go home, see if she went there since she still has a key. I'm going to run by the apartment and see if she's there. I don't… god I don't know what to do," he said. Kelly and Shay gave him a hug.

"We will find her Jay. We will." He barely nodded. When he turned around his team, minus Erin, was standing there. "We're going to help you find her," Antonio said.

"Thank you," Jay said quietly as they all nodded. He didn't figure what Erin said about the team was true, but he was a little worried. All of them being there just then proved to him that she was wrong.

Antonio turned around to the members of intelligence; "Get your radios and spread out over the city. Talk to CIs, I don't care what you have to do. We will find her." The team nodded as they headed out.

Kelly and Shay went to their apartment, while Mouse went with Jay. They didn't want him alone as they looked for her.

Lauren had no idea how long she'd been walking, but she thought she might need to head to Kelly's apartment. She hadn't been paying attention to where she was walking. It was cold and a few snowflakes were falling. When she looked around, she noticed she wasn't in the best part of town. She tried not to let herself get worked up any more than she already was because she knew it wasn't good for the baby.

She turned to head back, and there were four gang members in front of her. She instinctually put her hands over her belly. She tried to stay calm and remember everything Jay and Kelly had ever taught her. She wished in that moment that she hadn't run off and left her purse and phone.

As they walked closer, she kept backing up. She wasn't going to let her fear show, but the more they walked towards her the more scared she got. She couldn't stand it any longer and she started screaming. She didn't think it would do her any good as she looked around, but she just prayed someone would help her and her baby.

A barber a couple of buildings down heard her screams. He came out with his bat and started yelling at the men. Lauren was really surprised when they actually listened to him and ran off. Lauren slowly caught her breath as he turned to her.

"What's your name sweetheart?" he asked with a heavy accent.

"L… L... Lauren. Yours?"

"Everyone calls me Uncle Papo. I'm a barber and I'm not going to hurt you. Why don't you come back to the shop with me? You look lost."

Lauren nodded as he led her back to his barber shop. It was warm and semi-cozy and she was thankful. He sat her down and noticed how she kept protectively holding her belly. "How far along are you?"

"Fourteen weeks," she said quietly.

"Do you want to tell me how you ended up in this part of town?"

"I…. I… was out for a walk and wasn't paying attention."

"Do you want me to call anyone?"

Lauren shook her head no as a few more tears slipped down her cheeks. She knew they probably weren't looking for her, probably hadn't even noticed she was missing. "Why don't you stay and have a Cuban Thanksgiving meal with my family. We're good people, I know several people that would say that. We're going to have it here, downstairs."

"I couldn't impose sir. I'll just walk back in a minute."

"You're not from here are you?"

Lauren shook her head no.

"This isn't really a part of town to be walking around in. At least let me drive you somewhere if you won't stay and eat."

Lauren thought about it for a minute. She was hungry since she'd missed lunch, and she knew she needed to eat for the baby. "Ok I'll stay," she said quietly.

Uncle Papo nodded. He led her downstairs where his wife had set up dinner. After that run in with Intelligence a few years back, he'd gotten away from his nephew and their gang and really turned things around. They'd made a little dining area downstairs that would hold their family gatherings.

Across town, Jay was slowly losing it. He could honestly kill Erin for saying all that shit to her and sending Lauren off somewhere. They'd followed her tracks for a bit in the snow from the fire house, but then they'd lost them as they mixed with others. The team had spread out all over the city showing her picture and looking for her.

Jay was fixing to head into a rough part of town when a call came over their scanner. Voight had called in half of PD to help with the search for her. A patrol unit had stumbled upon a body matching her description. Jay felt like he was slowly dying.

He'd already almost lost her in the plane. This couldn't be her; if it was, he would never forgive Erin… never. Mouse pulled up to the scene and Jay was out of the car before it ever fully stopped. He threw it in park and took off after his best friend.

Mouse was so afraid it would be her. Jay ran towards the body, pushing cops out of his way. He was bracing himself for seeing her lifeless body, but when he reached it, it wasn't her. Yea, she had dark hair and green eyes, but it wasn't her.

He felt a small amount of relief. He still hadn't found her, but at least this body wasn't hers. He sank down in the snow, laying his head on his knees as some tears of relief fell. He rocked just a little praying she and the baby were ok. Mouse laid his hand on Jay's shoulder. "We're gonna find her, I promise."

Jay looked at him with tear filled eyes. "She believes Erin. She believes I don't want her because of what Erin said. What am I gonna do? I can't lose her Mouse, I can't," he said as his tears broke and slid down his cheeks.

It was her birthday, it was Thanksgiving and she was out there somewhere thinking he didn't love her or want her all because Erin was jealous. It was breaking him, and if he didn't find her soon he didn't know what he would do. Mouse gave his shoulder a gentle squeeze, "Come on buddy. We're going to find her," he said pulling Jay up.

They got back in the car and continued their search, Jay feeling hopeless.

Lauren enjoyed the dinner with the barber and his wife. It was a relaxing meal, where they shared stories about their early days. They shared about their family and life, what it means to survive, and it was slowly making her feel better. All the different stories showed her and reinforced her beliefs of what a real family is, la familia as they called it.

After they had eaten, and watched their guest relax in their presence he asked again if he could call anyone for her. Lauren was quiet for a minute. "Yea… I need to call my brother," she said looking around for a phone.

He took her upstairs to the phone; Lauren dialed Kelly's number. "Hello?" he asked not recognizing the number.

"Kel? It's me. I'm ok… I promise. I know I shouldn't have just left, but I just had to get out. Can you come get me?"

Kelly let out a huge sigh of relief. "God you had us so worried! Where are you and I'll be there?"

She rattled off the address to the barber shop and heard Kelly's sharp intake of breath when he realized what part of town she was in, but he didn't say anything. "Don't tell Jay, please."

"What?"

"Kel…. Please."

"Fine, but I'm telling him I have you. He's running around town worried sick about you."

"Just come get me," she said quietly.

It wasn't fifteen minutes and she saw Kelly and Shay pull up with about three cop cars. It wasn't two seconds and Jay came flying in behind them. Lauren gave Kelly a look once he released his death grip hug. "He's your husband and the father of your baby, and you are going to talk to him," Kelly said firmly.

Lauren sighed and before she could reply Jay was wrapping her in a tight hug rubbing her back. He pulled back just a little as tears were falling down his cheeks as he looked her over. "I'm fine," she said quietly, her heart breaking even more seeing his tears.

The rest of Intelligence wasn't far behind him and Lauren sighed. "Look, just let me go home with Kelly and I'll be out of your hair tomorrow," she whispered looking at the ground.

Antonio greeted Uncle Papo and carried on a conversation with him as Jay watched Lauren.

"Just come home, please, and we'll talk about this."

"Why? So you can lie to me more? No. I want to go to Kelly's."

"You're not coming with me," Kelly said. "Go home."

Lauren looked at him with pleading eyes and he shook his head. "You need to talk to your husband and that is final."

Lauren sighed. "Fine," she whispered as Jay led her back to his car. She was quiet the whole way, and before they were back, she was asleep. Jay sighed. He got her out and carried her upstairs. So much for making her birthday perfect, he sighed as he laid her down.

Tomorrow… tomorrow they would talk and he would straighten this out. Then he would give her the rest of her birthday surprises. He was so glad to have found her; he'd been so afraid he wasn't going to or that he would and it would be too late. He let out a sigh of relief. He laid there in bed watching her sleep. He was still too wired to sleep so he just laid there and watched her.

He knew he had to deal with Erin too, but that was the last thoughts on his mind. Making sure Lauren knew how much he did love her and want this was all that was important because he couldn't live without her. After several hours of just lying there watching her, he eventually drifted off to sleep.

So thank Firstamamawifeafriend for another update so soon! She's so full of good ideas and I just can't help but run with them. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and will let me know what you thought :)

Up Next: Jay and Lauren talk.