Another wonderful idea from Firstamamawifeafriend. I hope you enjoy this sweet friend :)
Disclaimer: I do not own Chicago PD, Chicago Fire or any of its characters.
Chapter 36:
It took Lauren about two weeks to get the babies on the same schedule. They were a month old by the time they slept and nursed at the same time. It was interesting getting them to nurse together, but she finally got the hang of it and was glad. The babies were going about every two and half to three hours between feedings.
They had talked about when Jay needed to go back to work; they decided that after Lauren and the babies had their six weeks checkup he would. Lauren didn't want to think about him going back because she'd gotten used to him being home with her all the time, but she knew he had too.
Their appointments were on Wednesday morning. Lauren's was first and then they were going to have the babies checked out. They got to Dr. Braden's office and checked in. They sat the babies in their carriers at their feet as they waited. They didn't have to wait long and they were called back.
Luckily the babies slept through the entire appointment. Alex gave Lauren the all-clear. She'd completely healed and everything was looking good.
They had right at an hour until the babies appointments. They ran by the district so Jay could get everything straightened out with Hank about coming back. Lauren stayed in the car with the babies. They'd been there about five minutes when they both woke hungry. She got out and climbed in the back between them, not an easy task, but she did it.
"It's ok babies; mommy's going to get you." She got both of them out and situated to nurse. She was getting better at getting them at the same time and she was thankful since Jay was going back to work.
She was still nursing when he came back. "Guess they woke up?"
"Yea they did. I just switched them a minute ago, so they should be almost done."
Jay leaned back towards her and softly kissed her. She smiled against his lips; "How'd it go?" she asked.
"Good. Got all the paperwork filled out and signed. I start back Monday. He told me to just take the rest of this week off."
"That'll be good. Much better than starting mid-week."
"Yea I know," he smiled as Jayla unlatched. "Here I'll burp her for you," he smiled reaching for her.
"Thanks babe," she smiled as Jayden slowly unlatched too. She laid him up on her shoulder to burp as Jay did the same with Jayla. After that, Lauren strapped them back in. Jayden still hated his car seat, but as long as one of them sat back there with him, he was content.
They headed over to the hospital to see Natalie for the twins check-up. She was waiting on them with a smile. "Hey sweet things," she smiled at the babies. Both were looking around sleepily.
"They just finished eating so they're probably ready to go back to sleep," Lauren laughed.
"Oh goodness," she laughed as she led them into a room. "Let's do little man first," she smiled as she got him out. "They both have to get shots today, but just give them some baby Tylenol and it should help. They'll probably be fussy the rest of the night too."
Lauren nodded as she handed Jayla to Jay. Natalie laid Jayden down and gave him a full exam. She weighed and measured him. "He's looking good guys. He's up to seven and half pounds which is really good. We'll see how Jayla is doing and then get the shots."
Lauren handed Jayden to Jay as she took Jayla. Natalie gave her the same exam; "Well she's growing too. She's up to six and a half pounds so she's almost caught brother," Natalie smiled.
"Oh my goodness baby girl," Lauren cooed kissing her cheeks.
"Let me go get all these shots and I'll be right back."
Natalie came back with the shots; they each had to get four. Both of them screamed and cried with each shot and Lauren's heart broke. She hated seeing her babies upset. "I'm so sorry babies," Nat cooed kissing their cheeks.
Jay took Jayla, and Lauren took Jayden; they settled a little. "We'll schedule them for their next appointment. They may run a slight fever and be fussy, but I promise it's normal. If you think something's off, just call me. Will and I are just staying in after shift."
"Thanks Nat," Lauren smiled as she got Jayden calmed down and almost asleep. Once the babies were back asleep, they strapped them into their carriers and headed home. Jayla ran a slight fever that night, and both were fussy and wanted to be held. Lauren didn't mind; she loved holding and taking care of her babies.
Jay had been back to work for two and half weeks. Lauren had adjusted well, but she loved it when he came home. Shay and Kelly came by on most of their days off; Lauren was grateful because it gave her time to get a little bit done around the apartment while the twins were spoiled by their aunt and uncle. The babies were still doing really well and Lauren and Jay were thankful. So far they hadn't had any more problems, and both seemed to be gaining weight and growing.
It was Friday and Lauren was looking forward to the weekend. They had talked about taking the babies to the cabin for the first time if Jay got off early like he thought he would. Lauren had packed their bags just in case, but she was starting to think it would be a weekend at home.
She really didn't care as long as she could curl up with her husband and babies. She missed him while he was at work, but she loved nights and weekends. She'd just curled up on the couch to start looking for jobs for August when there was a knock at the door.
'That's odd," she thought knowing Jay, Kelly and Shay were all at work. She glanced back towards the nursery and was thankful the twins were sleeping. There was another knock; Lauren slowly got up off the couch.
Her gun was on the counter in the kitchen where she could see it, and her phone was in her hand. She slowly walked to the door; she tried looking out but the peep hole was covered.
She was scared. She started dialing Jay as she walked back to get her gun. He didn't answer; "Who is it?" she called making sure her gun was in her hand.
Still no one answered they just kept knocking. Lauren dialed Jay again as the knocking continued. She was afraid whoever it was would end up waking the babies and she did not want that.
Jay finally answered; "Hey baby. What's wrong?" he asked seeing she'd called three times.
"Someone's at the door. The peep hole is covered and they won't tell me who it is. They're going to wake the babies though," she said trying to control her breathing. She had to protect herself and the twins no matter what.
"I'm on my way," he said jumping up from his desk. He knocked his knuckles on Mouse's desk twice. It was their sign that they needed the other. Mouse jumped up and followed him leaving the rest of the unit confused.
"Go," Hank said to the others knowing it must be important.
Mouse barely got in the car before Jay took off. He'd put his phone on speaker so Mouse could hear too.
Lauren couldn't stand the knocking any longer. Whoever was on the other side had heard her talking so they knew she was there. She laid the phone on the table by the door and put the gun in the back waistband of her pants like she'd see Jay do. She didn't take the chain off the door, but she unlocked it and slowly opened it.
Fear overtook her instantly and she froze. She could hear Jay talking through the phone, but she couldn't comprehend what he was saying. The person in front of her was talking too, but Lauren wasn't comprehending.
Then she remembered her sleeping twins and she went into protective mode.
"Leave! Leave! You shouldn't be here! You're not supposed to be here! What are you doing here?! Get away!" Lauren screamed through the cracked door. Jay's fear kicking in more hearing everything Lauren was saying.
"I just want to talk… please… I just want to apologize and make it right. I'm different now," Erin cried as she tried to push the door open.
Mouse saw the panic in Jay's eyes when they heard Erin's voice. Mouse sent out a message to the rest of the team letting them know what was going on as Jay drove faster to get home to protect his family.
"Get away! You're going to try and kill me! I won't let you, I won't," Lauren screamed. She was shaking, but she was not letting her anywhere near her.
Erin managed to reach in and undo the chain; she pushed the door the rest of the way open sending Lauren into full on panic mode. "Please, just hear me out. I've gotten help; I'm better. I just want to apologize and talk."
Lauren reached behind her and pulled her gun. "Get away from me!" She screamed. Her hands were shaking and she knew she was unsteady, but she had to protect the twins. Erin froze seeing the gun pointed at her.
"Lauren, please, I just want to talk," Erin cried. "I'm harmless. I'm different, just hear me out," she pleaded.
Lauren couldn't; all she could think about was protecting herself and her babies. "You're going to kill me; you said you would. I can't let that happen. I won't," she screamed.
Erin walked closer to try and get the gun out of her hand. Lauren panicked even more. "Don't move…. Just don't," she screamed.
"Just listen to me, please," she cried reaching out to touch her.
Lauren screamed as she backed away. Her finger slipped on the trigger in her efforts to get away from her and the gun went off. Both were completely silent and frozen. Lauren felt like she couldn't breathe. Her gun had just went off; Erin was still standing there; Jay was screaming for her through her phone; the babies started screaming, but she couldn't do anything, she couldn't move.
Jay was panicking. They had heard the gunshot and then nothing. He barely got the car in park before he was jumping out. Mouse wasn't far behind him. Jay ran up the steps faster than Mouse had ever seen him. He was screaming for her when he reached the top running for their apartment.
He slowed down when he saw them both standing there. Lauren was shaking all over, but her gun was still in her hands pointing in Erin's direction. Neither looked to be hurt, but Erin was sobbing.
Jay walked over and put his hands on Lauren's shoulder. "Baby… look at me. It's ok, I'm here. Let me have it," he said reaching for the gun.
Lauren wasn't really seeing him. She was in shock, and she kept a tight grip on the gun.
Mouse came in with the rest of the team. He could hear the twins screaming from their room. He grabbed Adam by the arm and drug him to the nursery so they could take care of the twins. Hank and Al drug Erin out into the hall wrapping her in a hug making sure she wasn't hurt.
Antonio and Kevin saw where the bullet had lodged in the floor and carefully dug it out.
Jay cradled Lauren's face feeling relief that she nor the twins had been hurt. "Lauren, look at me. I'm here. You're safe. I'm here," he said making her focus on just him. He didn't hear the twins anymore so he knew they were ok for now.
She slowly met his eyes and lost it. She started sobbing and reaching for him, dropping the gun in the process. Antonio carefully walked over and grabbed it laying it on the kitchen bar unloaded.
She clung to him as she cried hard. "I got you baby… I'm here," he said picking her up and carrying her to their room. He stuck his head in the nursery on the way and Mouse motioned him to go on that they had them.
He carried her to bed; she clung to him when he tried to lay her down so he sat down holding her. He rubbed her back and held her close. "You're safe baby. You're safe. It's all ok," he whispered over and over.
"I… I… I… couldn't… let her… near them… or me," she sobbed.
Jay cradled her face and made her look at him. "You did good baby. I'm so proud of you. You're safe. It's over," he whispered wiping at her tears.
"Why…. Why…. Why is she here?" Lauren cried.
"I don't know… I don't. No one said she was coming back. But she's not going to hurt you or the babies. Ever."
"The babies…. Oh god my babies," she cried trying to scramble off him to get them.
He barely grabbed her before she tumbled off the bed. "Hey, hey, it's ok. They're fine. Mouse and Adam have them."
"My babies," she cried as he pulled her back to him tight.
"Lauren, they're safe baby. I promise. I wouldn't lie to you. The babies are fine. They have Uncle Mouse and Uncle Adam rocking them in their room. But if you go in there now, it's just going to upset them again. Let's just relax for a minute and we'll get them."
Lauren was crying into his shoulder and neck as he held her tight. He softly rubbed her back getting her to slowly relax into him. "There you go baby. It's ok. Everything is ok," he whispered.
There was a soft knock on the door. "Come in," Jay called quietly.
Antonio stuck his head in; "Ok?" he asked just checking on them.
"Yea… yea we're ok."
He nodded. "She wants to talk to you," he mouthed so Lauren wouldn't hear. Jay nodded. He had quite a few things to say to her too.
"Will you have Mouse bring the babies in here and stay with her?" he asked Antonio.
He nodded and quietly closed the door back. Jay gently pulled Lauren's head up to look at him.
"I want you to stay in here with the babies. Mouse is going to stay ok?"
"Where are you going?" she cried wrapping back around him.
"To find out what the hell is going on. I'm coming back baby. I promise. I'll be right back."
She didn't want him to leave. She was afraid something would happen and somehow Erin would get him. She held on tight as Mouse and Adam walked in.
"I'm not going out there alone. I'll be right back I promise," he whispered kissing her forehead. "Look who's here," he said trying to get her to focus on the twins. Mouse sat down on the side of the bed and Adam handed him Jayden so he was now holding them both.
Lauren glanced over and saw her babies looking around. "My babies," she whispered crawling off Jay to get to them. He smiled a little. She would do anything for them.
He and Adam snuck out leaving Lauren cradling both the babies and Mouse staying with her.
Antonio, Adam and Kevin walked out in the hall with Jay. They were not leaving him alone with Erin or Erin and Hank for this conversation, plus they thought they might need to keep him from exploding and losing his temper.
"Someone want to tell me what the hell is going on?" Jay asked
Antonio laid his hand on Jay's shoulder giving it a gentle squeeze. Erin was still crying and upset.
"I just wanted to talk… and apologize," she cried not looking at him. Hank was rubbing her back trying to calm her down.
"Did you really think she'd want to talk to you after everything you said and did to her?!"
"I got help! I'm different," she cried.
"That doesn't matter. You kidnapped and threatened my pregnant wife! You said you would kill her!"
"I know… I know… but I came to apologize. I'm better, I'm moving back home. You need to know how sorry I am," she cried.
"Great! Glad you got help. But stay the hell away from me, stay the hell away from my wife and don't even think about coming near my kids!"
"Jay…. please, don't be like this," she cried reaching out to touch his arm.
Jay jerked back, but got right in her face. "Let me make myself very clear Erin. I'm glad you supposedly got help, but I don't care. Until it's proven to me that you're different, you're not in my eyes. And I mean it. Stay the hell away from my family." With that he turned and went back into the apartment closing the door.
Mouse was still in the room with Lauren. She was still sitting in bed holding the babies. He saw Jay come back. "Ok?" Mouse asked quietly.
"Yea… yea I'm ok. Are they?"
"Yea I think so. She's sat there and talked to them. I think they're almost back asleep."
"Thanks buddy," Jay said quietly.
"Of course. That's what I'm here for. Need me to do anything?"
"No… no I think we're ok. I…. I need to get her out of here for the weekend or she's never going to sleep," Jay said quietly.
"Take her to the cabin. You'd already planned on it plus yall could use the little break."
"Yea you're right. Can you hang around for a bit and then help me get everything loaded?"
"Yea of course buddy. I'll be out here," he said nodding towards the living room.
"Thanks," Jay smiled walking over to the bed. He sat down by her and softly stroked her back. "Hey… how about we take these two and go on to the cabin for the weekend?"
Lauren looked at him with her red-rimmed eyes and nodded. She wanted to feel safe and get out of the city so the cabin sounded perfect. "I already packed our bags," she said quietly.
"Good. Then let's get these two in their carriers and head out."
Just then Jayden started fussing and rooting. Jay chuckled. "Or let's feed them so they don't starve and then go."
Lauren finally smiled. She passed him Jayla and laid Jayden on her legs making him madder as she moved her shirt and unhooked the bra. "Well hang on buddy. Mommy's getting it," she smiled picking him up.
Jayla woke at his cries and started fussing too. "Oh I know. Come here sweet girl. Mommy's not forgetting you," she cooed as Jay handed her Jayla too. Both babies latched right on and started nursing.
Jay knew it had been a hard day. He climbed behind her on the bed and laid her back against him as the babies nursed. He softly kissed her shoulder and cheek as he held Jayden for her. She could hold both at the same time, but he liked helping her as much as possible. Lauren turned and softly smiled at him.
"I love you," she whispered.
He softly kissed her; "I love you too baby."
Jayden and Jayla were both watching them. They'd just started watching her or them more as they nursed. They'd both come out with their daddy's eyes and Lauren loved it. "Mommy loves you two," she cooed softly to the babies.
Once they were done, Jay got their carriers and they strapped them in. It was still mid-afternoon so they would have plenty of time to get to the cabin. Mouse carried their bags down as Jay carried the babies. Lauren was just glad to be getting out of the apartment for a couple of days.
She needed the relaxation and serenity the cabin brought, and she was glad they were finally able to take the babies. Luckily they both slept on the way up; Lauren kept looking out the back to make sure no one was following them. Jay kept squeezing her hand reassuringly, but until they were at the cabin, she wouldn't feel safe.
They made it after two hours. Jay got her and the babies inside then got their bags. He heard her sigh of relief as she settled on the couch with the babies. He sat down by her taking Jayla as she held Jayden.
"We're safe," he smiled kissing her forehead.
"I know. I was just so scared, and I froze."
"You did fine baby. You did what you were supposed to and I'm proud of you."
"The gun… it… she tried to touch me, and… and… my finger it slipped."
Jay turned her chin to look at him. "You did what you had to to protect you and our babies. That's why you have it baby. It's protection and you did what you had to. I'm so proud of you Lauren."
She looked at him and he softly kissed her. "I couldn't let her hurt me or the babies. I couldn't go through it again and I knew you couldn't either."
"You did good. You're all three right here where you belong," he smiled as Jayla started throwing a fit. She was hungry again. Her cries woke Jayden. "Let's get these two fed and in bed. Then we'll curl up together," Jay said.
Lauren nodded liking the sound of that. She just needed to be in his arms and know she was safe. She had no idea why Erin was back and she didn't care, but she would do whatever it took to protect her family because no one, especially Erin, was going to hurt or take her or her babies, ever. She would protect them until she died.
Another chapter coming soon :) Please let me know what you thought.