March 26th, 2020

13

It had been a short night for Jay. He'd finished his report way after midnight. In a way, he was thankful that his daughter awoke him half an hour before his alarm would have done so. That way, at least he would not oversleep. Sophia was overly excited to show him her artwork she'd created the day before. She just couldn't wait to show him.

Erin had to smile at her enthusiasm: "Daddy, come, come!" and the sleep drunken Jay who tried hard to make it out of bed and putting at least a T-Shirt on before he followed his daughter downstairs.

Erin would have loved to stay in bed, but they had guests, and she felt that it wouldn't be fair to Jay to just turn around again, and sleep. Thus, she got up. She went into Sophia's bedroom and saw, that Alex was awake already.

"Good Morning, Alex! Did you have a good sleep? Did you dream something nice?"

Alex shook his head.

"Did you dream something bad?" Erin asked empathetically.

Alex nodded.

Erin came closer and sat down on the side of the bed. "Do you want to tell me about it?" she asked.

Alex shook his head.

"Sometimes it helps to talk about bad dreams," she tried. "Then we see that they are just dreams."

"Do you have bad dreams?" Alex asked. Erin was, as always when he talked, surprised that he did so.

"Of course, I have! I had as a child as well! I dreamed my mother would leave, and not come back," the moment she said that she realized that wasn't appropriate for a three-year-old, whose mother was in hospital, so she added. "Did you dream of someone special?"

Alex nodded. "Mommy!" he said while there were tears forming in his eyes.

"Oh, poor Baby!" Erin had to hug him and stroke his head. "Your Mommy will be back with you in no time. She's getting out of the hospital today, and then you are gonna see her, and hug her, and have lots of fun with her!"

She looked at him and dried away his tears.

„Did your mommy come back?" he asked her.

„Always!" she said smiling reassuringly at the little boy. That Bunny sometimes needed days to come back, and she was left to herself, and later to take care of her baby brother, Alex definitely needn't to know.

„Mommy!" she heard her daughter screaming excitedly. She turned around and Sophia was already on her lap. „Daddy likes picture!" she said proudly.

„Of course, he does!" she hugged her and smiled at her. Then she saw the also smiling but quite exhausted looking Jay in the door frame. „But maybe next time, you wait to show him till his alarm went off? Your Daddy went to sleep really late last night."

„It's okay," he said, when Sophia looked at him. „Daddy would have been up half an hour later anyways. And that is really a great picture!" he proudly held up his daughter's artwork. „Maybe we can find a place for it before I leave? What do you think?"

Sophia nodded excitedly.

„Good morning, Alex!" he said to the boy who sat in the bed behind Erin. „Did you sleep okay?"

Alex looked at Erin for reassurance. „He didn't have the best dream," she answered for him.

Jay nodded. „I also sometimes have really bad dreams. That's not fun, is it?"

Alex shook his head.

Jay looked at Erin again. „I already turned on the coffee maker. I'll have a quick shower. You ok, with those two?"

„Sure!"

It took another half hour till they all were dressed. For Sophia it was her first morning in her training panties. After having slept in her big girl bed for the first night, she wanted to be an even bigger girl and try to not wear a diaper, at least that was what Erin was able to convince her to.

Because Alex heard that conversation, he didn't want to wear a diaper as well. Erin wasn't sure, if it was up to her to decide that for him but didn't want to embarrass him in front of Sophia. Thus, she agreed although she had no training panties in Alex's size. Diaper free, they went downstairs. Alex stopped, when he saw his father sitting at the kitchen table. Johnny appeared to be sober again, and in a better mood than the night before.

„Hey, big boy! Give your old man a hug!"

Carefully, Alex walked towards his father, who put an arm around his boy's shoulders. „I am going into work later today. Do you want to join me, picking up Mommy?" he asked.

Alex smiled shyly and nodded.

While they were having breakfast, Jay proudly showed Johnny his daughter's artwork. Sophia was very delighted when Johnny also complimented her on it.

"Alex heart!" Sophia said.

"You crafted a heart?" Johnny asked his son.

He nodded slowly.

"Do you want to show it to your Daddy?" Johnny asked him.

Alex looked with uncertainty to Erin. She tried to nod at him reassuringly. "It's already in your bag upstairs. Do you want to get it?"

Alex shook his head.

"Shall I get it for you?" Erin asked.

Alex shook his head again.

"He's actually quite talented," Erin said to Johnny. Turning to Alex she said. "I'm sure your Daddy will be proud!"

Alex shook his head again.

"Sorry," Johnny apologized. "This kid is really weird sometimes!"

Alex stopped moving, and just stared.

Erin and Jay exchanged glances.

"Come-on, weirdo!" Johnny addressed his son. "Get your backpack, and we are driving to pick up your mommy!"

Alex nodded and went upstairs.

When he came down again, he had his backpack on.

Johnny got up, and thanked Jay and Erin, then he opened Alex's backpack and got the heart out. He got as wide eyes in anger as his son did in fear. Forcefully, he turned his son around.

"You made a Purple Heart with glitter? Are you a girl? Are you a fag?" he asked angry crumpling up the heart.

Alex looked really fearful and began to shake. He emptied his bladder to the ground.

Erin jumped to his side.

"Why isn't that baby-girl wearing diapers as she normally does?" Johnny asked her angry.

"Your SON wanted to be a big boy today and impress you, but obviously you don't care!" Erin shot back as angry she was now directly in front of Alex shielding him.

"You don't talk to me like that, woman!" he said trying to slap Erin in the face, but she stopped his hand mid-air and had him on the ground in no time.

Jay was by her side, and overtook her grip on Johnny, looking her in the eyes, and nodding towards the boy. Erin understood, and immediately picked the boy up, got Sophia from the kitchen, and got both kids upstairs, while she heard Jay talking to Johnny.

"Told you last night, you should be afraid of my wife. Now you know why!"

"She's a damn bitch!" Johnny grunted from the ground.

"If you ever call my wife that again, or if you ever try to slap her again, be sure that not only she knows how to defend herself, but I am more than ready to kick your ass hard!"

"I knew, we couldn't trust you!"

"Because I'm ready to defend my family?" Jay asked him. "Didn't you tell me last night, how important your family is to you, and that you want to defend our way of life for your family? And then you're surprised, I defend mine?"

Jay let go of Johnny, who carefully got up.

"I think, a woman should know her place, and not tackle her husband's guest to the ground!"

"You were about to slap her!" Jay accused him. "I'm glad she knows how to self-defend."

"It should be her husband's job to defend her! But you obviously are a liberal city couple, where she wears the pants."

Jay laughed. "We're so not liberal, Johnny! And yes, I love her for being able to protect herself, and others. That's the reason I fell for her all those years ago, but that doesn't mean, that she's my boss or anything. I earn the money, and she takes care of Sophia and the household chores, and we are both happy with that more traditional development of our relationship."

"Are you?" Johnny asked sarcastically.

Erin came back down.

"Yes, we are," she said much calmer than she felt walking to Jay's side and putting one arm around his hip. "I'm sorry, I tackled you, Johnny, my CPD-training kicks in when I feel threatened."

Jay had put his arm around her shoulder and couldn't hide a proud look.

"I certainly, didn't want to put any stress on your new friendship with Jay," Erin said looking up with played uncertainty to Jay.

"I'm sure, you haven't. We'll get over it, won't we?" He stretched out his free hand towards Johnny. "No bad feelings, man, right?"

Johnny looked from Jay's hand to Erin and back to Jay. "You guys are just crazy!" he said angrily and left through the door.

"I think, I just tanked our mission," Erin said unhappy.

They heard and saw Johnny driving away through the window.

"I see if I can mend anything with the guys from work. Mitch should be picking me up shortly. My car is still at work."

„Yes, of course. Thanks. I'll go upstairs and see if Alex has calmed down, and then I need to change him probably," she said and went to the stairs.

"I'm coming with you. I want to see if Sophia is okay", he said following her.

Upstairs they found Alex on the bed silently crying. He had his teddy bear and Sophia's mouse in his arms. She must have given the mouse to him. She was by his side, stroking his back with her tiny hand. It was heart-breaking to watch.

Erin went inside, and sat down where Sophia had, while she put her on her lap.

„You gave Alex your mouse?" she asked her daughter.

Sophia nodded. „Alex sad!" she said.

„Yes, that was very sweet of you, Baby! Can you go with Daddy, that I can talk with Alex?" Erin asked her daughter.

Sophia looked at Jay who was standing in the doorframe between the two bedrooms. She turned to her Mom again: „Bad man?"

Erin sighted she turned to Jay, not sure what to say.

„Johnny's gone," he told his daughter coming closer. „But he's not really a bad man. He's just a scared man," he said, while he crouched down to her.

„Scary man!" Sophia said.

Erin smiled sadly. „I'm sorry that he scared you, Baby, but you have to know, you don't have to be afraid of him, or anyone, as long as mommy and daddy are around. Do you understand? We would never let anyone harm you, understood?"

Sophia nodded. „Mommy hurt bad man!" she said.

Jay had to suppress a small laugh. „Yes, mommy hurt Johnny, but only because he was trying to hurt her, and because he was about to hurt Alex. And Mommy doesn't like kids getting hurt."

„Bad man!" Sophia said looking angry.

"What he did, and tried to do was bad, but he isn't a bad man, he's just a scared man, like your father said." Erin tried to explain something that was probably way above the head of a two-year old.

Sophia looked up at her. "Bad man!" she said.

Erin looked up at Jay. "And now? I don't want her pointing at him next Sunday at church calling him 'bad man'!"

Alex turned around. "He's not a bad man!" he said with eyes still wet. "He gets angry, but he loves me and mommy!"

Erin looked at Jay, and back to Alex. "I'm sure he does!" she said against everything inside her. "He just has a funny way of showing that," she couldn't stop herself from saying.

Alex looked at her not understanding.

"Alex, he shouldn't have yelled at you nor destroy your heart nor called you names! That's not okay. Do you understand?"

Alex shrugged, then his tears came back. Erin signaled Jay to take Sophia, that she could take Alex into her arms.

"Come on, Sophia, you still have to finish your breakfast." he said taking her from Erin and scooping her up.

When they left, Erin took Alex and hugged him till he stopped crying.

"Alex, I'm really sorry, your father treated you badly this morning. That wasn't okay."

"I was bad!" Alex said.

"No, you weren't. He was!"

"Daddy's not bad! Daddy's not bad! Daddy's not bad!" he repeated angrily.

"Okay, okay!" Erin said calmingly. "But he behaved badly. Do you understand? It wasn't okay to treat you as he did. Thus, he behaved badly, but you're right, he's not a bad man like Sophia said." She stroke his back a few times, then she continued. "People who behave badly are not necessarily bad people. Sophia is still little. She doesn't understand that, but you do, don't you?"

Alex nodded.

„Nevertheless, it's not okay to behave badly towards you."

Alex looked up at her. „I peed my pants!" he said sadly.

„Yes, you did, but that was on me. I didn't give you a diaper." She stroked a strain of wet hair out of his face. „I'm sorry! I guess, we should change your trousers, and give you a shower maybe? What do you think?"

Alex nodded.

Jay knocked on the bathroom door when Erin was just drying Alex. She gave him the pants of his pj to wear, before she asked Jay in. He had Sophia with him.

"Mitch is downstairs. I need to go to work. You got this?" he asked.

Erin looked from one child to the other, and then nodded. "Sure! Say hello to Mitch from me!"

Jay put Sophia down. She immediately clung to his leg.

"Daddy!" she said with an incredibly sad undertone.

Jay crouched down to her. "I gotta go to work, Baby!"

"No!" She exclaimed.

Erin tried to get to her.

"Hey, Babygirl. Daddy's just going to work. He'll be back in the evening. We'll have a fun day till then, won't we?"

"No!" Sophia protested again claiming Jay's neck with her tiny arms.

There was a honk outside. Jay watched his watch.

"I gotta go, Babygirl!" He said freeing himself from her grip and getting up.

Sophia immediately began to cry.

Erin scooped her up. "Go!" she said to Jay. "We're gonna be ok!"

With one last look on his crying daughter he said goodbye and left.

He all but ran downstairs. In the car Mitch looked at him with questions. "I almost left!" he said.

"I'm sorry, Sophia wouldn't let me go. We got some problems with Johnny this morning," he said while he put on his seatbelt and Mitch started the car.

"Was he hung over?" Mitch asked.

"Maybe. He provoked my wife to tackle him in front of the children."

Mitch got big eyes. "That bad, huh?"

"Sophia was quite agitated when I left."

"And the boy?"

"I think, Erin got him to calm down." He looked out of the window. "He left without his son!" he said shaking his head.

"Where was he off to?" Mitch asked.

"The hospital to get his wife."

"Sure, hope he's more successful than last night."

Jay nodded.

"Listen Jay," Mitch began. "You have to know, Johnny's going through a rough patch at the moment. His brother just passed, that boy of his is clearly retarded, still wearing diapers, and not talking 'though he's almost four, and now they are expecting again, but something is wrong. You met him at a bad time. He's a great guy, normally. Got Brianna out of all the mess she was in back in the day, takes care of his mother, and is a good father to that boy."

Jay highly doubted that last part, but nodded, nevertheless. "You think, my wife and I should apologize to him?" he asked.

"Knowing Johnny, I'd say not directly for the tackling. It surely weighs hard on him, to be tackled by a girl. He'll probably won't acknowledge it ever happened. He's just far too proud. And maybe Erin should keep her distance from him for a while, just to be safe, but other than that, he should soon be fine again. Maybe he'll even apologize to you. Not your wife, but you," Mitch looked at him reassuringly. „My wife gave him some arguments once before, and he behaved as if nothing had happened afterwards, towards me at least."

„Thanks, man! I didn't want to lose you guys as my new friend and brothers," Jay said. „Or loose the chance of supporting the Sons' goals."

„Don't worry about that," Mitch reassured him. „You are a far too skilled asset to let you go again, and Johnny knows that."

Brianna finally called Erin back after lunchtime. Both kids were down for a nap.

„Brianna!" Erin greeted her worried, „I tried to reach you like a thousand times today! I texted you but you wouldn't answer! I was worried! How are you doing?"

„Better, thanks!" she answered. „I had to wait till Johnny was back at work. He just left. How's my little boy doing?"

„Better! The kids played in our yard all morning, having fun."

„That's good to hear!" Erin could hear the relief in in Brianna's voice.

„How was Johnny?" Erin carefully asked.

„Agitated. Thanks for the warning!"

Erin had sent Brianna a voicemail telling her her side of the story as soon as Jay had left in the morning. Brianna continued talking: „But he calmed down a bit before he left. Nevertheless, he's not fond of me seeing you again soon."

„Yeah, I figured." Erin said. „What about Alex? You want me to bring him over as long as Johnny's at work? He's sleeping at the moment, but I could wake him."

„Don't wake him! You could do me a favour, and help Marge get my car from the hospital. She should be off from work at 3pm. Maybe you could get her from there, and then the two of you can drive up to the hospital with the kids, and she can drive my car back to me with Alex in the back? The doctors said, I should take it slow, and if you help and even get on Marg's good side, that might improve things with Johnny as well."

„Sure, no problems. I would have offered if you hadn't asked." Erin said.

„Thank you so much, Erin!" Brianna thanked her. „And Erin, I know you might think Johnny is no good now, but believe me he is, always has been to me, to us."

„Sure!" Erin tried to get the sarcasm out of her voice.

"Without him, I might not be here, Alex would have never existed. He has a good heart. Got me out of a real bad spot a few years, back!"

"Brianna, I don't judge you! I'm sure, there's more good to him, than he let on this morning. But I really don't like the way he behaves towards his son!"

Brianna sighted. Erin wasn't sure if she might be crying. "He loves Alex!" she said after some silence. "He just has difficulties that Alex is a bit different than other boys his age. He mostly blames me, but sometimes, when he had too much to drink, he takes it out on Alex as well."

"What does he do with him?" Erin inquired sternly.

"He doesn't hurt him, physically, but he screams, the more silent Alex gets, the louder he gets."

Erin again had the feeling Brianna was crying. This would have probably been a better discussion to have in person. Still Erin had to ask. "Does he hurt you?" she asked.

Brianna stayed silent, then she slowly answered. "Listen Erin. You have to believe me, Johnny's a good guy, he never hurts anyone without a reason. He's going through a rough patch, at the moment. So, he's a little more on edge, but we're fine! You have to believe me!"

Erin hardly could believe her and felt real bad to bring that boy back into that house later, but she couldn't just keep him from his mom. Plus, she wasn't in Ohio to save a boy. Although it went against everything that cried out inside of her, she answered Brianna with less sarcasm than before. "Sure! You know best! I'm sorry if my questions crossed any boundaries with you. It's your life and your family. I believe you, that you know best. Maybe I have been a cop for too long, sorry!"

"No worries!" Brianna answered. "If you could just help me get my car and my boy back, that would be great!"

"Sure, I will! I'm texting Marge as soon as we hang up!"

With that they said their goodbyes.

Erin went grocery shopping with the kids before they picked up Marge. Marge was friendly as always. Johnny obviously hadn't informed her what had happened.

"It's so nice of you to have taken Alex in for the night. My son is a good father, but he's not really good with Alex on his own," she said on the way to Erin's car.

"Sure, no problem! Alex was the best house guest we had so far!" She smiled at Alex who was at his grandma's hand. "And Sophia really loves playing with him. Don't you, Baby?" she asked Sophia who was attached to her hip.

Sophia nodded smiling. "Alex fiend!" she said.

"I think, it's important for the children to meet even if there is a stay-at-home order in place. Don't you agree?" she asked Marge.

Marge waved it off. "Stay-at-home!" She repeated annoyed. "What for? To not get sick from a hoax? The poor children! Even the schools are closed! I think, it's great that you ignore that order for the better of the children."

"Yeah!" Erin agreed. "They really want to keep us home for what again?"

"I don't believe this virus even exists!" Marge said. "I read, that some rich people just want us chipped, so they invent a virus, and when we get the vaccine, they get a chip inside our bodies which allows them to check all our movements and if we don't behave, that chip will make us sick!"

Erin god big eyes. "Really?" she asked as she buckled Sophia in.

When they were both inside the car, Marge continued. "Have you heard of that new network they are building? 5G?"

Erin nodded. "Yes, to improve our mobile communication."

"No!" Marge said. "They are gonna use that net to activate and read those chips!"

Erin was glad, Jay wasn't in the car with her. He'd probably had a big laugh. She tried to concentrate at the road ahead.

"Is that so?" she forced herself to ask.

"Yes, I got proof for that from the net. I'll sent you the link!"

"Oh, yes, that would be great! I would love to read that." she said trying to make out the road signs where she was going.

"There are also clips on YouTube proving that."

"Now that you say that, I believe, Loreen posted some clip mentioning that," Erin said, while she tried to get her navigator online.

"No, don't use that one! The cabal will know where you are!" Marge warned her.

Erin couldn't hide her irritation. "The, what again?" she asked still struggling with the Tom Tom's settings.

"The liberal cabal that are building the 5G towers, they're already using navigation systems to track us!" Marge explained.

"Are they? Well, in that case, could you tell me when to go left or right? I somehow have difficulties reading the signs today." Erin admitted, and put away the Tom Tom.

"No problems, I've come this road before. You just follow Main Street, and later on you have to turn sharp right, but I'll let you know in time."

'Sharp right, that's what I thought!' Erin thought, out loud, she said. "That would be wonderful, thanks Marge!"

It smelled good when Jay came home that night. Sophia came running towards him.

"Pizza!" she said when he picked her up. She had flour in her hair.

"You made Pizza?" he asked her.

She nodded excitedly. He carried her into the kitchen, where Erin was busy cleaning up the mess. There was flour everywhere.

"Hey there!" he said. "This looks quite..."

"A mess, I know, but we did have fun, didn't we, Sophia?" Sophia nodded again. "Sophia help!" she proudly said.

"Did you?" Jay asked her.

Sophia nodded while Erin answered. "Hence, the mess!"

"I'll help you to clean up!" Jay said. "I just wash my hands, and then I'm with you." He put Sophia down.

"You can take her with you. She needs to wash her hands as well and..." Erin turned to Sophia. "Do you need to go potty?"

Sophia looked at her contemplating. Then she nodded.

"Then you can go with Daddy! He'll be really proud!"

Jay took her up again. "You go potty?" he asked Sophia impressed.

Sophia nodded proudly. "Toilet!" she said.

Jay turned to Erin. "That was fast!" he said.

"Well, we tried during the day, and she basically got it. But to be sure, you should give her a diaper for the night."

"Potty!" Sophia exclaimed, before Jay could answer anything.

"You should run!" Erin said smiling at the panicked look on Jay's face when he jumped to the bathroom.

"She didn't want a diaper!" Jay said, when they reentered the kitchen 10 minutes later.

"You want to be a real big girl tonight, Sophia?" Erin asked looking at her daughter.

Sophia nodded.

"Fine," Erin said while putting the plates on the table. "We eat our Pizza now, and then you get a diaper for the night."

Sophia shook her head. "Sophia big girl now!"

Erin smiled at that. "What about: You wear a diaper just to be safe for the night, but because you are such a big girl, you sleep in your own big girl bed in your own room?"

Sophia looked like she was thinking hard, then she nodded. "Deal!" she said.

"Great! Then let's have dinner!"

Jay looked confused from Erin to Sophia. „Deal? What did happen here? I was only gone a few hours and, all of a sudden, Sophia is all grown up?" He asked Erin.

She smiled at him. „That's my secret!" she winked at him. "We should say grace."

Not to confuse Sophia in case they had guests over for dinner like the night before, they started saying graces before the meals as soon as they arrived in Ohio.

They held hands and Jay began the prayer: "Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest. May this food by you be blessed. Amen."

„Amen!" Erin and Sophia responded.

„So, how and why did you do it?" Jay asked Erin.

"That's our secret, isn't it, Sophia?"

Sophia nodded.

"You have secrets from me?" Jay said with playful indignation looking at Sophia.

"Mommy's hands?" she asked.

Erin put her hands down fast. Jay looked at her. "What's she talking about?" he asked.

"Nothing," Erin just said.

"Mommy's hands!" Sophia said pointing at Erin's hands and shaking her own.

Jay looked at Erin who looked embarrassed. She tried to distract Jay by answering his original question.

"I was a bit afraid today, that Sophia might turn four one day, still in diapers and not able to sleep in her own bed, so I first tried, if the training panties would work, and they did for the most part. She was only wearing diapers during naptime, and there were no accidents!" She looked at Sophia proudly.

Sophia nodded, and repeated: "Sophia big girl!"

"Obviously!" Jay said smiling at her. "I'm immensely proud of you! And you want to sleep in your own bed?"

Sophia repeated her nod and said again: "Sophia big girl!"

Jay turned to Erin. "So, this morning didn't leave her disturbed, that's good!"

"She was fine during the day. So was Alex. They had fun. I'm not sure, if it is not only me, but also her seeing that a much older boy was still in diapers and how he's treated by his dad because of it, that resulted in her wanting to be a big girl." Erin shrugged. "But if she wants to, we should let her, or what do you think?"

"Sure!" Jay said. "I mean, we can let the door open like last night, then she can come over whenever she wants." He helped Sophia to get an especially big piece of Pizza on her fork.

"And what's wrong with your hands?" he asked looking at Erin.

She cringed. "So, you didn't forget, did you?" she asked.

„No, my memory is quite good, actually."

„By the end of our crafting session yesterday, I had some tremors in my hands. I told the kids not to tell you. I didn't have any problems today, though," the last part was a lie which Jay immediately realized as soon as she let go of her cutlery and tried to show him how steady her hands were, which they obviously weren't.

„Erin, they are not fine, they are shaking!" He took both of her hands carefully in his. „Maybe you should see a doctor?" he asked looking into her eyes.

She looked down to their conjoined hands and up again. „I don't think, that's really possible, at the moment. I mean it's not really something life threatening."

„It could be, if you need to fire your gun, for example."

She looked up at him. „Yeah, that might become a problem. But maybe it goes away till I need to? Maybe it's just still part of the regeneration process after the virus, and it'll get better. I mean, my ribs are better?"

„Maybe, but I wouldn't really take a chance on something like this," Jay said looking at her.

„Maybe you're right? But what doctor shall I see? It's probably not useful if anyone round here knows I've gotten the virus, which Marge just told me today is a hoax made up by the liberal cabal to control all of us by little chips they will insert in us with the vaccine to come."

Even Jay had to smile at that one, but he soon got serious again. „I'm sure the FBI can provide you with a suitable and competent doctor if you asked."

Erin's eyes widened. „No, we are not doing that! If they know, that might cost me my license, and with that my job. No, no, no!"

Jay pressed her hands carefully, while Sophia happily repeated. „No, no, no!"

They both had to look at her and smile. Erin turned back to Jay. „I would ask Neyla, but she's surely busy in New York."

„I could ask Will," Jay offered. „Chicago isn't that overwhelmed with cases as New York is, for the moment at least."

„I don't know. Does he even know that you're here with me, us?" Erin asked unconvinced.

„Yes, he does. I don't think, he'll be able to come by, but he might give advice, or know if it's to be taken seriously. Or maybe knows if it's a known side effect of going through COVID."

„Is he ok with you being here with us?" Erin asked.

„It's not that I had asked his permission," Jay countered.

„So, he's not ok?"

„He supports me getting to know Sophia, and he doesn't choose which missions I take or do not take."

„But he's not really okay with me being here with you?" Erin cut through the chase.

„Maybe not entirely. I mean, you know Will, he's always very opinionated, but I don't necessarily listen to him." Jay gave her a reassuring look.

"Yeah, but that means, he's not necessarily happy to help me out."

"He doesn't have to be happy. If necessary, I remind him on the oath he took," he winked at her.

"Fine!" Erin said. "Try to reach him. I'll talk to him."

"Great, I'm doing so after dinner!" Jay smiled at her.

"Can I have my hands back now? My pizza is getting cold!"

Jay let go of her hands and went back to eating himself. "The pizza is good. Did I mention that?"

"No, you didn't, but we take the compliment, don't we, Sophia?"

Sophia nodded. "More pizza!" she demanded.

Jay wasn't able to reach his brother after dinner. He left him a message instead. He was writing his report of the day in their little secret office, when Will called him back sooner than expected. He could see and listen to Erin putting Sophia down to sleep reading her The Little Caterpillar when he took the video call.

"Hey, bro! Thought you weren't allowed to communicate with your beloved brother where you are at the moment." Will greeted him.

"I never said that!" Jay replied. "I just wasn't sure, if I would be able to, but I need your help now."

"Uh, what can I do for you? Need more toilet paper? That might be harder these days." Jay saw his brother smirk.

"No, thanks man, there's actually a paper plant near where we live now, and they directly deliver to the local grocery store. But, now that you mention it, we might indeed need more now. Sophia had her first day of potty training today." He looked immensely proud.

Will had to laugh. "That's why you called? To impress me with your over-achieving daughter?"

"No, but you should be impressed, because she's just the best." Jay turned the phone around so that Will could see Erin and Sophia at their evening ritual. "She even wants to sleep in her own bed tonight." Jay continued proudly.

"Wow, that looks so domestic!" Will said with some irony in his voice.

"Yeah, it's a bit weird seeing Erin do all the household chores and taking care of the kids," Jay admitted.

"Kids, as in plural? How fast are you two? Or was there another one she didn't tell you about?"

Jay put the phone back facing himself, so that Will could see his stern look. "Not funny, Will! We had another kid staying over last night, but he's back at his parents place again. That's why I used the plural."

Will nodded. "Just wanted to make sure, there are not more nieces and nephews, who haven't had the honor to meet their uncle Will yet!"

„There are not, and if you want, I can bring you over to her room, and you can say hello."

„Nuh! I want to meet her in person and hug her. She seems cute."

„She is!" Jay smiled at the scene he was watching.

„So, if not to tell me about more nieces and nephews, why did you want to call?" Will asked as serious as he could.

„Erin," Jay said. „She's showing some strange symptoms, and we're not sure, if it could still be COVID-related. But maybe she should tell you yourself?"

„Sounds reasonable. Do I have to be nice to her?" Will asked.

„I'd really appreciate that. We're better. I would like it to stay that way."

„May I ask: Better how? Closer? How close?"

„Will, you sound like Aunt Patty! Can I pass you on to Erin without you making any insinuations or accusations?"

„Yes, sure, I'll do my very best!"

Jay had entered Sophia's bedroom.

„Daddy!" Sophia greeted him.

Jay smiled then he turned to Erin. „It's Will, can you take it now?"

Erin nodded, and got up. „Mommy needs to take that call, Baby. Daddy is reading the rest of the story to you, okay?"

Jay nodded and came closer. Erin gave Sophia a kiss on the crown and left the room.

"Mommy?" Sophia asked Jay.

"She has to talk to your uncle Will. He's a doctor, he'll know what to do about her hands."

"Uncle?" Sophia asked. "Teddy?"

"Oh, you met Teddy, did you?"

Sophia nodded.

"No, Will is my brother, not your Mommy's. He has red hair and lives in Chicago. Next time we visit your grandpa, I make sure you meet him. He's very funny. You are gonna like him!"

"No bad man?" Sophia asked.

"No, Baby, he's a funny, and nice man. Are you still afraid of the bad man from this morning?"

Sophia shook her head. "No! Sophia big girl!"

Suddenly Jay got, why Sophia wanted to be a big girl all of a sudden. Somehow, she must think that big girls don't have to be afraid. If Erin had told her that? Or if she got to that conclusion on her own. She was a lot like her Mommy after all. He wasn't sure, if that was really a good thing for his little girl, but maybe in the situation they were at the moment, not being too afraid, and becoming less dependent on her parents would be good for Sophia. There was just so much about raising a child, he still didn't know. For now, he let it be. He finished reading the story to Sophia and said his good night.

Erin was done talking to Will when he entered the office. She looked up from her laptop.

"She wants to be a big girl to not be afraid?" Jay asked her while entering.

"She told you that?" Erin asked.

"Yes, reminded me a bit of her mom. Did you tell her that?"

"I might have," Erin admitted. "Didn't think though, she'd understand. But if she does, at least she won't fear Johnny now."

"Do you think that's good in the long run? Her growing up faster to not be afraid?"

Erin looked at him defeated. "I don't know, honestly, I think for our current situation it might be quite helpful for her to be less afraid and more independent, but in the long run? I don't know. I think, taking my child on a mission like this, doesn't really make me mother of the year at it is."

Jay came closer, sitting down next to her. "Hey! We made this decision together. And maybe it's good, also in the long run, for her to be less afraid and more resilient? Like her mom?" he smiled at her.

"I don't feel that resilient right now," Erin admitted.

"What did Will say?" Jay asked.

"That I should be doing a lot of tests, which I can't over here. So, for now, I should try a high dosage of Magnesium and see an ophthalmologist, or optometrist, which might be the better choice, as that one doesn't require insurance."

"You need to see an eye doctor for a tremor in your hands?" Jay asked irritated.

"Well maybe, I have more than a tremor in my hands."

Jay's eyes widened.

"Today I couldn't read the road signs," Erin admitted further.

"Great! And you didn't want to tell me that?" Jay asked louder than he had planned. "Anything else?"

"No, I think, that's about it," Erin said flatly.

Jay calmed down again. "Does Will think it's a side effect from the virus?"

"Yes, at least loss of vision was reported in other countries as a side effect according to Will. He wasn't so sure about the tremors, that's why he would want me to do some tests, which aren't possible here at the moment."

"That doesn't really reassure me!" Jay said.

"No, me neither," Erin agreed. "Jay, what if I can't shoot at the moment? The wives here wanted me to show them how to shoot! And how should I defend myself, protect Sophia or have your back?" Erin asked with real desperation in her voice.

Jay rolled her chair closer to his and put his hands on her thighs. The he looked her in the eyes. "First of all, you showed us all more than anything today, that you are able to defend yourself and a child that isn't even yours. I am more than certain, that when it comes to Sophia, you're gonna react even faster and stronger. If you don't believe me, ask Johnny."

She had to smile on that.

"Well, or maybe you shouldn't. Mitch told me, Johnny might ignore what happened, as he'd have problems he was tackled by a girl."

Erin raised one eyebrow.

"Fine! Woman!" Jay corrected himself. "But you get my point, don't you?"

"Yes, but that were mainly reflexes, nothing were I had to have a steady hand or see something far away."

"I'm not done yet! Secondly, we don't know yet, that the tremors or the loss of eyesight is going to be permanent. For now, let's hope for the best."

"But..." Erin began.

"Nuh! I'm still talking! Thirdly, you haven't fired a gun since you became sick, have you?"

"No, but without a steady hand and with a blurry vision, I think I shouldn't."

"That's where I disagree. First of all, you don't have permanent tremors, and secondly, blurry eyesight can easily be fixed by wearing glasses or contacts."

"I am not wearing glasses, Jay!"

"Why not? The hot librarian look might suit you!" he sassily said.

"Oh, you would love that, wouldn't you?" she asked him.

Jay grinned brightly. "I so would! But even with contacts, you'll still look amazingly hot."

Erin's eyes got bigger, as Jay came closer, but instead of kissing her, he drew back again. He hadn't made his main point yet. He sat back in his chair and took her in. She seemed irritated, confused and a tiny bit embarrassed.

"I'd say, you try to check out your eyes really quickly. There should be an optometrist in Celina, and it should be open as people need glasses or contacts even during a lock down. After you got whatever assistance you need, I try to get us an evening at Gary's father's gun range, and we see, how good of a shot you still are. What do you think?"

"Sounds like a plan," Erin admitted. "So, tomorrow Celina, and a pharmacy for Magnesium!"

He nodded.

"Thanks, Jay!" She said talking his hands from her thighs into her hands. She fondled his hands tenderly. When he looked up, he couldn't contain himself anymore. He kissed her so intensely, that more than her hands tremored. Soon, she was on his lap her legs closing around his hips. They kissed hard and deep. She could feel that he was as turned on as she was. He got up and sat her down on the desk that was facing the other wall. She opened his pants freeing his arousal. He got her pants down. The connected quickly.

When they were done panting, Jay had a smug grin on his face. „Thank god, this room is sound proofed!"

Erin hugged him, hiding her laugh in his shoulder. Then she looked him in the eyes, winking. „All that without my sexy librarian outfit!"

"The thought of that was enough!" Jay said and kissed her deep again to proof his point.