AUTHOR'S NOTE:
This is a slightly redacted version of the chapter I posted on october 31st 2020, which somehow can't stay online for long. Therefore, I decided to rewrite some of the scenes that might be misunderstood as political bias or adgetation, which I am NOT intending on doing.
March 19th, 2020
8
Thursday started quite hectic in the morning. Jay and Erin both had to get something done for work before leaving, and Sophia demanded their attention as well. She almost fell while climbing up her slide backwards and holding her Mouse at the same time. Jay saw what she was trying to do just in time, jumped to her side, and secured her head, before she could hit it on the side of the slide. Sophia's still screamed in shock, which alerted Erin who came by, and demanded an explanation for what had happened from Jay. With a screaming Sophia in his arms he decided not to answer immediately, which made Erin angrier, and Sophia in consequence more fearful. Erin realized her mistake, and came closer to Jay and Sophia, and began to stroke her little back, while she was still in Jays arms. When she calmed down, Jay whispered: "I thought we agreed on no more fighting in front of her."
Erin tried to swallow down her anger at that remark. "I wasn't fighting, I just wanted to know what happened?" she hissed only for him to hear.
Jay ignore the tone of her voice. "Nothing happened, she almost fell, but I was there in time. She was still shocked."
Sophia pointed at the slide. "Dere", she said.
Erin sighted. "You have to be more careful, Baby! Daddy won't be always there to safe you."
Jay felt a light sting at those words, although he was sure Erin hadn't thought about them too much before she'd said them. After Sophia had nodded, Erin turned to him. "We shouldn't leave her unsupervised in here. Maybe we should take shifts in working from this room, where we can watch her, or she needs to play in the living room again."
Jay looked around. He still liked what he'd done to the room, but he hadn't really planned on an adult outpost in here.
Erin saw his look. "We'll find a solution," she continued more peacefully. "It shouldn't be more than two days we have to do this. If our tests are clear, Sophia should be back in Daycare by Monday, and I'm hopefully back in the office, and you..." she paused, when she saw the expression on Jays face. It was almost heartbreaking.
She changed the topic fast: "Speaking of the test, we should start getting ourselves ready. Sophia needs to get changed, before we leave, and her bag has to be packed, and considering the time, it's probably useful to prepare some lunch."
Jay was glad for her change of topic. "I'll do the changing, you probably know better what to pack."
With a tiny smile in her direction, he made his way to the bathroom with Sophia. She sighted shortly, after he was gone, but then got the bag, and checked, if anything important was missing.
It was strange to see the outside world again. Even if it only was through a car window. As Erin was still not perfectly fine, she let Jay drive her car. "Don't get used to it!" she told him. He just smirked.
New York seemed changed. The city wasn't on total lockdown yet, that was still to come, but with the schools and major theatres closed, the city was already much more quiet than normal. Traffic was unusually good. They arrived at the school early. They put on their mask, Erin unbuckled Sophia, while Jay got the stroller out of the trunk. Jay tried to unfold it properly but failed. He kept trying, while Erin was still busy with Sophia, who'd fallen asleep in the car seat.
"May I help you?" A male voice asked Jay from behind.
Jay didn't turn around immediately. "No, I'll get, just a ... ouch!" He'd jammed his thumb. He turned around and saw a large dark-haired guy with a similar mask to his own.
"Let me help you! There's a trick to it," he said and with just one movement, the stroller was unfolded.
Jay felt a bit stupid.
Omar looked him in the eyes. "You must be Jay! I'm Omar, Erin's friend/colleague."
Before Jay could reply anything, Erin came from the back door with a sleeping Sophia in her arms.
"Omar!" she said delightedly. "So good to see you! Thank you so much for the provisions you got us the last weeks, and the health care."
Omar shook his head. "Nuh! That was all my family, you have to thank them!"
"I did, and will again, but still thank you! Without you, I wouldn't have known them."
Omar took her in. She looked paler and thinner than last he saw her, and there were dark circles around her eyes. "You better?" he asked worried.
Her smile reached her eyes. "Yes, much! No fever, less coughing, a bit tired still. And I got the feeling, I'm not as strong as I used to be. Or this one just put on a lot of weight these last two weeks." She said while she carefully put Sophia in the stroller. Before she could buckle her in, Sophia awoke. She yawned and looked around. When her eyes caught Omar, she happily shrieked his name, and lifted her arms towards him. He turned bent to her. "Hey little Sophie, how are you doing? Are you doing fine?"
Sophia nodded. "Up!" she said, and obviously wanted to hug Omar. Before he could pick her up, a security guard came by.
"Are you all one household?" he asked the three adults.
"Uhm, not really," Jay replied.
"In that case, I have to ask you to step away." He looked directly at Jay.
Erin and Omar looked up.
"Listen, what's your name again?" Omar asked.
"Sullivan!" the guard replied.
"Agent Zidane, this is Agent Lindsay, and Detective?"
Jay nodded.
"Halstead!" Erin continued before he could.
The guard nodded. "I still have to ask whoever doesn't belong in the same household to step away from each other." He looked at Jay who didn't move. Omar took a step away from the stroller instead, which let Sophia to cry. "Omar!"
O.A. looked at the guard. "Look, Sullivan, the girl hasn't seen me in almost two weeks, could I just..."
"You're not the father?" Sullivan asked a bit confused.
"No, he is," he pointed at Jay.
Jay nodded and came closer to the stroller. He now bent down and picked Sophia up to calm her. She immediately pointed in Omar's direction: "Omar!" she demanded.
Omar waved at her from a distance. „We hug another time, Sophie, won't we?"
Sophia looked at him confused, but Jays grip and stroking of her back distracted her enough not to cry. Instead he pointed at Jay's face and said. "Daddy!"
Jay couldn't remember anytime he felt prouder. She'd called him Daddy since she met him first ten days ago, but hearing her now introducing him that way, to the man, who'd come closest to being her father figure and whom Sullivan obviously had believed to be her father, pushed him beyond happiness.
"That's your Daddy? „Omar asked.
Sophia nodded excitedly.
"I would give you my hand, but in this case a nod must do," Omar did as he said in Jays direction who did the same.
"Jay Halstead," Jay said, but then remembered that he already knew that. He felt stupid again.
Omar did the same. "Everybody calls me O.A. Well except for these two!" He smiled at Erin and Sophia.
Although he knew, he should be grateful for Omar being there for the two of them when he hadn't been, Jay still felt angry at how close the three of them seemed to be. He tried to suppress these feelings. "I understand that were your relatives, who provided us with food the last weeks?" he asked instead.
"Yes, Naima couldn't help herself. She loves Sophia, and Erin, of course!" O.A. winked at Erin.
"Those wraps were really delicious," Jay said. "You should thank her again for those."
"Yeah, it was really a pity, I couldn't taste that much!" Erin added.
"I think we should go in, before Sullivan arrests us for not keeping our distance," O.A. said.
They followed the signs pointing towards the school yard. Although they were still early, there was already a line forming at the entrance. This line was especially long, because most people had to keep a six feet distance between themselves. With all of them wearing masks, Erin had difficulties making out her colleagues.
Once they made it beyond the gate of the school yard, they were separated by who had been tested positive before and who hadn't. Thus, Erin and Sophia, back in her stroller again, ended up in a different line than Omar and Jay.
To Erin's surprise, she saw Maggie in her line as well. As it was the shorter line by far, they were able to swap places with others easily so that they could talk. Maggie was behind her though, thus Sophia couldn't see her.
„What are you doing here, I thought your test was negative?" Erin asked Maggie.
„No, it wasn't, but I seem to have gotten the symptom free version."
„But didn't you say...?" Erin began.
„No, I only said I was fine, and you shouldn't worry."
Erin tried to remember. „Did you?" she asked again.
„Yes, I didn't want to worry you or give you an even worse feeling about distributing the virus, so I might have implied..."
„You're unbelievable!" Erin looked at her friend for any signs of the illness, but Maggie really looked no different to when she last seen her. "Thanks!"
„Maggie?" Sophia asked looking out of her stroller. Erin turned the stroller around, and Sophia made a very happy face, lifting her arms towards Maggie.
"Hey, Baby-Sophie. Are you good?"
Sophia nodded excitedly. "Daddy!" she said and pointed in the other direction, where the other line had formed.
"There's your Daddy?" Maggie asked.
Sophia nodded excitedly again. "Daddy come?" she asked.
„Later, Baby, he's in the longer line." Erin answered.
Sophia seemed content with that answer, thus Erin turned back to Maggie.
„So, Daddy it is, is it?" Maggie remarked with a grin that reached her eyes.
Erin sighted. „Yes, it's amazing how fast he became important to her. I don't want to think about, what will happen when he leaves in a few days. It will be hard on her."
"That soon? It's been not even a fortnight, hasn't it?" Maggie asked.
"Yes, Jay's wonderful with her. The two of them, they just hit it off. He built her an indoor playground in her room. She loves it, and she loves him. That goes both ways."
"And how is he with you?" Maggie inquired.
"Better. He was angry at first, but tried not to show it too much, because of Sophia and because I was quite sick, I guess. When I was better, we had arguments, at least one argument, in front of her, last night, which wasn't good. After the first we talked a bit. I think he tried to understand my side, but I'm sure, he hasn't completely forgiven me. Otherwise, yesterday evening wouldn't have happened."
Maggie studied her friend while she was contemplating.
Erin continued: „Who could blame him? I hid his daughter from him for more than two years."
"You had your reasons, and those were good and valid," Maggie reminded her.
"Yes, at the time, even the week before last, I was quite sure of that, but now, after seeing those two together, hitting it off... I'm not that sure anymore."
"What do you mean?" Maggie inquired.
"I dunno," Erin shrugged. "Maybe I'm still too emotionally sensitive after the illness, but, you know, we could have been a family... and it could have been great."
"You said, he wasn't ready for that back then," Maggie reminded her.
"Maybe he wasn't. But, honestly, I wasn't ready for that as well, having a child, I mean. Maybe I was wrong never to give him that chance, give her that chance."
"Erin! Don't start beating yourself up. You gave her a wonderful life this far, without him. You both were fine." Maggie looked her directly in the eyes.
"Yes, you're right, we were. But these last days gave me a glimpse of what could have been, and that does not look that bad, on the contrary." She sighted.
"But didn't you see no future in your relationship, because he wasn't able to open up to you as you did to him?"
"Yes, and that's probably still true. We might be broken up again by now. Probably would be." Erin admitted.
"Do you still have feelings for him?" Maggie asked.
Erin took a while to answer. Meanwhile the line moved forward. More aware of the people around her, she kept quiet. "Let's discuss this another time," she all but whispered towards Maggie.
Maggie looked around and agreed with a nod.
After talking with Omar for a bit, Jay's despises for the other man had changed. He realized they both had a lot in common, besides both working in law enforcement, they also both had been Army Rangers. While Jay had served tours in Afghanistan, Omar had been stationed in Iraq. In addition, both loved to exercise a lot in their spare time. They were just exchanging some of the few more fun war stories when Jay heard Sophia's screams. He was about to run in the direction of the screams when Omar's hand held him back. www„Wait, Erin's with her, she's gonna be fine!"
At that he heard Erin's scream. „How dare you touch my daughter!"
Jay and Omar grinned at each other. „Told you, Erin got that." Omar winked. „She always defends her like a lioness. Last summer, we went to the park. Sophia had just gotten her tiny training bike. She was wearing a helmet and was already quite fast. A few kids played soccer next to where Sophia was running with her bike. The ball went far offside, and Sophia was hit while riding."
Jay got big eyes.
"Nothing bad or lasting happened, at least not to Sophia. She cried in shock, of course. As soon as Erin had made sure, Sophia was not seriously injured, she handed me the crying child to console, while she went after those soccer kids. She screamed at them so loudly, that Sophia stopped crying in shock. Those kids were crying in the end." O.A. laughed. Jay had to as well.
They moved forward again. Jay was now the next in line. An older looking, a bit oversized man came towards them and stopped about 6 feet away from Jay.
"Are you Detective Halstead?" he asked Jay.
"Uh, yes? Can I help you with anything?"
"Actually, yes. I'm Special Agent in Charge Reed, I'm one of Agent Lindsay's superiors. We would like to have a word with you after your test is done. Please come to room 101."
Jay was surprised. "What is this about?" He asked.
"Nothing bad," SAC Reed assured him and turned away.
Jay looked with questions in his eyes at Omar. He just shrugged.
When Maggie was done with her test, she joined Erin at the jungle gym of the school yard, where she was watching her daughter.
"Isn't that a bit dangerous?" Maggie asked.
Erin turned around. "Nuh! She'll be fine. She's been training the whole week at her own monkey bars." She looked pretty proud.
"So, Jay's father of the year now?" Maggie asked.
Erin turned back to watch Sophia. "He has a lot to make up for. Or I think, he thinks that. I don't," she added fast.
"Or maybe he was just bored?" Maggie asked.
"No, he had to work remotely and had to entertain a 2-year-old, and somehow took care of me, he definitely wasn't bored."
"So, father of the year, it is!"
Erin rolled her eyes at Maggie. "This is not funny!"
"How's Jubal?" Erin changed the topic.
"Doesn't feel like father of the year. Misses his kids. Hope his test is negative today, he really longs to see them again. Skype and Zoom just aren't enough."
Erin sighted. "Yes, I can imagine. I just don't want to imagine, what long distance will do to Jay and Soph. This is so ridiculous! They just met each other!"
"Millions of children and parents do long distance in this country, it's doable."
"Yes, but not nice, for no one!"
"You'll make the best of it! I'm sure of that!"
"Have to."
"Before I forget: Your SAC called me yesterday and asked how you and Jay are doing together."
Erin turned around. "You as well? What did you say?"
"That he should ask you yourself. Why, me as well?"
"Su and Mouse where interviewed as well. Did you see them today?"
"No, they should be here somewhere, shouldn't they?"
At that two giggling Agents came from the parking lot rushing towards the testing lines.
"I think, there they are!" Erin grinned. "Would you mind, watching Sophia for a bit. I need to talk to them."
"Sure! Wait! They are a couple?"
Erin shrugged, "Obviously!"
Five minutes later she came back grinning so brightly that Maggie cold make it out behind her mask. "They are so cute!" Erin stated.
"Are they?"
"Yes, like teenagers, always needing to touch! Just cute!" Still smiling on that she continued "Mouse was asked about Jay. A lot of background information, but we already knew that. He told Jay yesterday. I think, Mouse knows more, but couldn't tell... Su was asked, what she knows about our current living situation? She told them to ask you. Not myself. I blame it on the hormones..."
"Do you think they're thinking of recruiting Jay?" Maggie asked.
"Maybe, well first we thought it was about the intel he gave, but I'm not that sure anymore." Erin said thoughtfully. "However, I don't think, he'll go for a job over here. Even if he'd loved to stay close to Sophia. He has his life in Chicago, and most importantly: his girlfriend." Erin paused for a bit. "No, I don't think Jay's profile is needed in our unit. I mean he's a great cop, but he's best at busts and as a sniper, we don't do or need that that much. I'm not even sure, he would support, what we are doing."
"Mouse is!" Maggie argued.
"Yes, you're right, but still. Politics were never Jays thing."
"If I remember correctly, they weren't yours in the beginning as well." Maggie looked at her.
"Yes, but he did not experience our investigations during this presedency and all the frustration that came with it," Erin sighted.
"I'm sure, you could make him understand." Maggie grin reaches her eyes.
Erin ignored the insinuation. "For that, he needs to get clearance first. Even if he'll get it, I won't think, he'd be interested, or someone we need. His expertise is not really needed."
Omar came out of the building. Sophia spotted him and ran towards him. He looked right and left. "No Sullivan?" He asked.
Erin shook her head, and Omar closed his arms around Sophia and picked her up. "Missed you, little princess!"
"Hey Sophia, why didn't your godmother get a greeting like that?" Maggie asked playing to be hurt. Sophia looked at her and signaled Omar to hand her over to Maggie. She took the girl and hugged her. "That's better!"
Erin turned to Omar. "Wasn't Jay with you?" she asked.
"Yes, but he was asked to speak with your SAC."
"Huh!" Erin made the Voight like sound.
"So, maybe, they are offering him a job," Maggie said while letting Sophia down again, who immediately ran back to the jungle gym.
"I really don't know." Erin shrugged.
Half an hour later, Jay still wasn't seen, and it began to rain. The testing lines were moved indoors completely, but those who had already taken the tests like Erin, Sophia, Maggie, Omar, and now also Jubal, were asked to leave the premises. Erin argued with Sullivan, that she just waited for Jay and would like to do that indoors, but he wouldn't budge and sent her to wait in her car, where she made, after a little fuming, the best out of it and had lunch with Sophia. Sophia fell asleep shortly afterwards, and Erin tried to get some work done at her work phone. She had been asked to create a fake online profile of herself, which was supposed to let her infiltrate certain right-wing and conspiracy groups on Facebook, Telegram, Twitter, and other providers alike. The goal was to do undercover work from home without being on the outside world. She was very observed in her task when someone knocked on her window. It was Mouse.
„They ask for you to come inside and speak to SAC," he said after she pulled down the window.
She looked behind her at the sleeping Sophia.
Su appeared from behind Mouse. „We can switch places!" she told her. „If she wakes, I'll bring her inside."
Erin looked at her and nodded. It was still raining, and she didn't want anyone to get too wet. She saved what she was doing on her phone, grabbed her purse, and let Su have her place next to the driver's seat. „You can take off your mask. Her symptoms are gone for days, and she shouldn't be able to catch the virus again. At least I hope," she said.
Su nodded. „I got this, partner!" she said, taking of her mask.
Erin and Mouse ran back into the building where they met their SAC, and Assistant SAC, Agent Spencer, in room 101 together with Jay, who looked a bit confused. SAC had a signed paper in front of him.
„Agent Lindsay and Captain Gerwitz, good that you're here," SAC began. „Detective Halstead over here, who you both know, as I understand quite closely, just signed a non-disclosure agreement, so everything that is said in here will not reach the outside of these walls. The rest of our teams will be on a need to know basis."
"Okay, may I ask what this is about, Sir?" Erin asked a bit confused as well while she sat down next to Jay.
"A new mission," SAC replied.
"With Detective Halstead?" Erin asked.
SAC Reed nodded slightly. "Before you fell ill," SAC began.
"And put two departments into lockdown," Agent Spencer continued with a feisty voice.
"With all due respect, Mam, Agent Lindsay is not responsible for the virus she'd suffered from for the last two weeks," Jay said angrily.
"Detective Halstead!" Erin intersected before Agent Spencer could reply. "I can speak for myself, thank you!" She looked angrily in the direction of Agent Spencer. "I am really sorry for that inconvenience; you should believe me. It wasn't my intention."
"Where have I heard this before?" Agent Spencer asked sarcastically.
"Enough, Jennifer!" SAC intersected. "We actually need Agent Lindsay for this mission. And the thing you are referring to is actually quite helpful for this case."
Jay was confused, Erin also had problems following. "Sir, I don't understand," she began.
"We need you for an undercover mission in Ohio," SAC cut through the chase. He looked from Erin to Jay, "Both of you!" They looked at each other.
"For how long?" Erin asked thinking of Sophia.
"Three weeks, probably, at least " SAC replied.
Jay and Erin exchanged glances.
"Before you say anything," Agent Spencer said in a bit nicer tone than before. "We know you have a daughter."
Erin nodded.
"We want you to take her with you!" SAC continued.
"Wait, what?" Jay and Erin said at the same time, and then looked at each other and back at SAC and Agent Spencer.
"You can't be serious!" Jay said. He turned to Erin again with anger in his eyes. "Did you do that before? Take Sophia with you undercover? Is that how you do things over here?"
"No! Of course not!" Erin defended herself. "Sir, what is this about?" she asked her SAC.
"Wait, you are actually considering this?" Jay asked her in shock.
"Jay, I want to at least know, what this is about, before I decide anything. Normally, working undercover, isn't as dangerous over here as it has been back in Chicago. We usually don't infiltrate drug cartels or sex trafficking rings. I highly doubt they would let us put Sophia through such a mission." She wasn't sure, if Agent Spencer wouldn't, to be honest, but Jay didn't need to know that.
"We want you to infiltrate a right-wing extremist group in Mercer County, Ohio, the Sons of Mercy, to be precise. We got intel, that they are planning an attack of some sort on the democrats campaign. From what we could gather from the intel we got thanks to your team, Detective Halstead, they also might be connected to your "Asian-killer" and inspired by K-Anon." SAC began to explain.
"Sorry, Sir, but for me that sounds as if you want us to infiltrate a terrorist group." Jay said.
"That's exactly, what we are asking.," Agent Spencer replied. " We want you to gather information on their plans and prevent them from fulfilling them!"
"You want us to infiltrate terrorists with a two-year old?" Jay asked completely shocked. Without thinking, how it might affect Erin's further career he added: "Are you crazy?"
SAC ignored the last bit. He continued. " We need you, because of your background, your race and your religion, and because we have no one else who could more convincingly portrait a conservative white family for the mid-west that you two."
Jay an Erin looked at each other. „Thanks?" she asked sarcastically.
SAC pretended not to hear her tone as well and continued again. "With your background in law enforcement and the army, you will be respected easily over there, Detective Halstead. Mercer County is mainly Catholic, you are Catholic, Detective, and you both went to catholic schools. Your Sniper training, Detective, might also come in handy."
"Does that mean, you want us to go undercover as ourselves?" Erin asked confused.
"Not completely, but as the WASC, slightly more conservative version of yourselves."
"That sounds nice!" Erin said with sarcasm in her voice again.
"This mission is not supposed to make you feel good, Agent Lindsay!" Agent Spencer countered.
"If you ask us to bring our daughter into that, we should at least feel safe! And hearing words like terrorists, attacks, and sniper training, doesn't really do that!" Erin argued back.
"The people in Mercer County won't harm children, especially not the ones they get to know. And that's the plan. They should get to know you as a family, so that they feel safe around you, and tell you things, we won't learn otherwise." SAC assured her.
"So, what would be our cover exactly?" Jay asked.
"It will be quite close to your real selves. The closer we are to you as real person, the easier it is to create online profiles of you that are based on facts of yourselves that are traceable in the web." SAC explained.
"We believe," Agent Spencer continued. "Sophia already knows your names. Therefore, it would be a risk to give you new ones."
Erin nodded. "But I guess, being a FBI agent isn't part of the cover, nor being a CPD Detective, for that matter."
"Not exactly," SAC agreed. "You both will have officially left the force: You, Agent Lindsay, where stripped because you handled a child molester badly. That'll definitely give you points with the K-Anon-believers. You, Detective, left just recently, after you got shot in just another gang violence case, that made you fear for your safety and the safety of your family in Chicago. I understand you have the scars to proof that story".
Jay nodded.
"You got shot?" Erin asked shocked.
"Beginning of the year," Jay nodded.
Erin looked at him empathetically. "Sorry, I didn't know."
Jay though, she probably wouldn't have cared, but kept himself from saying that out loud.
"And we should go there as what?" he asked Erin's bosses instead.
"You, Agent Lindsay, are to be a dutiful housewife and mother."
That improved Jay's mood. He couldn't help himself from grinning at that, while SAC continued to explain Erin's cover: "You will, however, still use your new social media accounts to infiltrate the already discussed groups online, as well as new neighborhood groups that exist in the area."
By that Jay's attention was shifted again. "What do you mean by already discussed?" he asked.
Erin looked at her boss for confirmation, when he nodded, she began: "I've been creating several fake profiles on social media this past week with the goal to infiltrate K-Anon or other right-wing-conspiracy-groups."
SAC continued on the mission: "I want you to change all your new profiles to Erin Halstead using your background story from Chicago till you were recruited by the Bureau."
"Erin Halstead," Erin repeated non-believing.
"We'd further ask you to use the Facebook profile joining local mommy groups of Mercer County."
"So, you want me to play the stay-at-home mom. What's Jay's cover to be?"
SAC turned to Jay. "We got the hint about the Sons of Mercy's activities from a Jail guard in Mercer county who recently passed. He confided in his Priest before he killed himself. We want you to fill his place as correctional officer at Mercer County jail starting Monday. That way you will be close with his colleagues, that are supposedly members of that militia. As this occupation is still in law-enforcement, you could be transferred officially, and wouldn't need a job interview. Taking this job will give you a good cover to leave the house even if a lockdown is imposed in Ohio as well." He turned to Erin. "You, Agent Lindsay, should connect with K-Anon's large female 'fan base'. We believe these women to be the key connection between K-Anon and right-wing groups like the Sons of Mercy. If we could proof that connection, it would help us to bring both down."
"So, what's the plan exactly? When should we start? The attack you were speaking of, is supposed to happen in three weeks' time? That is the Eastern holidays, isn't it?" Jay asked.
"We believe it's supposed to be on a political campaign event, but as we are suspecting all rallies toe cancelled due to the Pandemic and lockdown, the question will be what they are planning to do instead," Reed answered. Looking at Erin he continued. "So, we don't really believe they will go through with their attack, because there will be no event to attack, but the question will be: What are they doing instead? How are they organized, and how can we prevent them from any attacks on our democracy in the long run. Hence, there shall be no immediate danger to Sophia."
Erin just wanted to counter that, but SAC signaled her to be quiet. "To be really sure, that nothing happens to her, we asked her grandfather to join the operation over Easter."
"Voight is in on this?" Jay asked shocked again.
"He actually supports this?" Erin asked unbelieving.
"Well, he had to be convinced to play his part, but he would do anything to protect his granddaughter."
"You want my whole family in danger, don't you?" Erin asked angrily looking at Agent Spencer.
„Agent Lindsay, by recruiting you I helped your family. You might remember. Maybe it's time for your family to help us out." Spencer argued.
Erin looked at her angrily, but didn't say anything, because she knew being pregnant at the time, she'd never delivered on what Agent Spencer had hoped to recruit.
„What's that's about?" Jay asked irritated.
„Long story," Erin answered flatly. „Bunny, for short."
Jay remembered the homicide that was never really solved. „You left to get her out of prison?"
Erin looked at her SAC. She wasn't sure, he knew that part of the story, but he just nodded. „Amongst other things, yes"
"What other things?" Jay asked.
"Jay, do we have to do that here?" she asked.
Jay looked at Erin's bosses, and Mouse. "Maybe you could give us some privacy?" he asked.
SAC nodded. "Sure, let's get some coffee!" he said nodding at Agent Spencer, who hesitated, but followed him out of the door in the end. Mouse smiled at him reassuringly, before he also left.
When they were gone, Jay turned to Erin. "I think, if I should go undercover with you, I should be able to trust you again. And for that, maybe I should understand why you left back then?"
"So, you really want to do this mission?" Erin asked.
"It's an intriguing mission and working for the FBI is quite an honour. I just have to be convinced that Sophia will be safe, and a big corner stone for that will be, if I can trust you again!"
Erin looked at him hurt. "Again?", she asked. "You never did trust me. Otherwise, you wouldn't have ran out on us, the moment your life became complicated."
Jay looked into her eyes directly. "That wasn't about not trusting you, but not trusting me. After Abby showed up, I was at a bad place, and I didn't want to draw you there."
"You never trusted me to pull you out of that place, or with why you were at that place exactly. And that were major reasons for why I left, and why I never told you about Sophia!"
Jay didn't respond, just looked at her.
"I was about to be stripped and pregnant without a father for the child by my side, that made the FBI offer appear quite nice!" Erin continued.
Jay slowly nodded. "I was an idiot back then, I'm sorry."
He took her hand. "I think, this is not the place to tell you everything, I was going through back then, but you have to believe me, I did what I did to protect you, and not to hurt you, and I never wanted to end it with you completely. I just wanted..." he stopped, looking at her.
"Your space, I know," she said. "But there's not much space left if you are expecting a child."
"I didn't know that!" Jay raised his voice again.
"But I did, that's why I didn't tell you and left!"
Jay sighted. "We did so much wrong!" he exclaimed. "Maybe we should go on this mission together to see how we would work as a family if we can find trust in each other again. We have to, not only for this mission, but also, or especially for Sophia, because I'm not walking out on her now!"
Erin tried a small smile. "Of course, you aren't. I would neither expect nor want you to." This time she took his hand. "We still need time to mend what we broke. Maybe you are right, and this mission will give us a chance to do so."
Jay nodded. "Shall we ask them back in then?" he tried a small smile on her again.
Erin nodded, and hugged him. "Let's have each other's backs again!" she said.
He hugged her back. "Sure!" he said before letting go.
"But Jay," she said before he could get up and let the others back in. "Let's not tell them just now, that we might be on board with the mission. I'd like to hear more about the conditions, especially for Sophia."
Jay nodded and got up to open the door.
Mouse could sense the changed atmosphere between the two when he came back into the room. He wondered if his bosses could as well.
The SAC continued, as if he didn't with describing the mission further. "Back to the mission at hand: We got the hint on the groups activity through a Pater of St. Peter in in a small town close by Celina. You need to join that parish asap. If your test come back negative today, we'd asked you to fly out to Chicago on Friday, and go by car to your new home by Saturday, so that you can join the service on Sunday."
"That's quiet soon." Erin stated. "Where would we be staying? Guess that gives us nearly no time to pack, and I'm not sure, Sophia would adjust that fast to that sudden change."
"We already got you a furnished house suitable for a family with a toddler. Captain Gerwitz makes sure, the hidden office upstairs will have everything you need."
"Do I?" Mouse asked surprised.
"Yes, that's why you are here. We want you, as a good friend of Detective Halstead, to officially help with the move. Meaning, you should be leaving tomorrow morning for Fort Wayne, Indiana, and drive from there to Ohio, so that everything is ready, once the three Hallstead's arrive."
Erin felt strange hearing "the three Hallstead's".
The SAC continued towards Mouse: "You could also do the grocery shopping for them, and maybe already take some personal items with you, the three of them could use. Our team will provide you with family portraits to hang up the wall. You, Agent Lindsay and Detective Halstead, will only need to bring some clothes and whatever your daughter needs."
"Which would be a lot." Erin intersected.
"Parts of that Captain Gerwitz will be carrying for you," Spencer answered.
Erin looked at Jay. „What do you think?"
Before he could reply, Spencer spoke again. „Just to make clear, this is your job, we are asking you to do, Agent Lindsay."
„Yes, MY job! Not Detective Halstead's nor Sergeant Voight's nor Sophia's. She's only two!" Erin answered angrily.
„We can assure you, there won't be any risks to your daughter," SAC began again.
„With all due to respect, we would like to decide for ourselves, what's a danger to our daughter." Jay said.
Before SAC Reed could answer, Erin continued asking: "And what about the virus? I mean, Sophia and I should be immune by now, but what about Detective Halstead and Sergeant Voight?" she looked at her bosses, but Jay answered.
He thought it was time for them to know, that he would be on board with the mission: "Look, Erin, Voight and I both work in law enforcement. Even if Chicago will go to a lockdown or stay-at-home order as well, we would still be out in the field and possibly exposed to the virus! Maybe we should do that mission. If Voight is there for the more critical phase, I'm sure we can keep Sophia safe. And she's too young, to really understand, what's going on. I also don't believe these people to be a danger to a two-year-old."
Erin looked at him with wide eyes. He shrugged. „Gives me more time with my daughter. And Greg'll make sure, we'll have everything we need to be safe, won't you?"
Mouse nodded. "Sure! I'll come by your place tonight and take what you need me to bring."
Erin looked from Jay to Mouse to her bosses. She raised her hands in defeat. "Fine! If Detective Halstead's ok with that, I'm in. But I want some compensation for Sophia." She looked at her SAC directly, missing Spencer's rolling eyes.
"What, if the Bureau contributes to her college fund?" he asked her.
"Generously, would be very much appreciated!" Erin said more friendly than before.
"Of course! If that is all, this is done!" SAC nodded to Erin and Jay. "You're all getting more detailed instructions by the afternoon. As soon as your test is coming back negative, Captain Greg will be at your doorstep, ready to pick up what you need, and we'll book you the 10 am flight to O'Hare."
With that, they were asked to leave.