Jay starred at the door where Erin had just disappeared. He had waited so long for that moment, and it had been such a spur of the moment. Pulling the keys out, and marching over to the door, he knocked and waited for her to answer. No way was he leaving things like this, they both deserved better.
On the other side of the door, Erin's heart was was thumping hard against her chest with the anxiety arising, the sudden knocking startled her out of the miniature anxiety attack. She knew without a doubt it was Jay, so taking a deep breath, she pulled open the door to face him.
"Okay. Are we going to talk about what just happened?" He said awkwardly. "Do we have to?" She said, avoiding his eyes. "Erin, come on. Almost a year without you, then this happens and you really don't want to even discuss it?" She pulled him by the hand inside the house and out of the cold air now filtering in behind him, and closed the door. "Why does this have to be a thing? I got caught up in the moment and just did it on impulse." "And you don't think that deserves even a small discussion?" He raised an eyebrow at her and folded his arms across his chest. "What do you want me to say here, Jay? I'm about to start cancer treatments. Cancer!" Her voice was shaky now, and raising with each word to leave her mouth. His expression softened, as things began to piece together in his mind. "I can't do this to you. I can't let us become a thing again...in case...you know." Battling against the tears that threatened to fall, she turned away from him. "I'm sorry I did that, and gave you hope that there was still something there." 'No matter how much I want there to be'. She thought the unsaid words to herself. "Please don't shut me out again. I want to be here for you, everyone does...but especially me. I was mad at first, but I didn't even have the whole story, and I'm sorry for that. I want us to be together again." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "Please." He begged. The look in his eyes when she turned back to face him was overwhelming. "I want us to try again. Be like we were before things got so messed up." She scoffed at this. "Jay, things are messed up. Why would you want to have to deal with me now? I'm sick, and things are going to get ugly. I can't ask you to stick around for this." "It's a good thing you're not the one asking then. I'm a big boy, Er. I can decide what I can and cannot handle and I don't want you to have to do this alone. Before you say it, I know you have Voight. But I want to be there for you, too." She was silent. Contemplating his words, knowing no matter what she said - he was willing to fight for her.
After she sent Jay away, promising him she would text him later, she got to work on her list of what to bring with her. She had packed most of her coziest clothing, leaving her jeans, and work attire in the old dresser. "Guess I'm making a trip to town." She said to herself as she glanced down at the items she didn't have, that were suggested. She left the open suitcase on her bed, and headed down the stairs to pull her jacket and boots back on, before heading to her car. Pulling out of the driveway, she made her way out of the neighborhood, she made a mental checklist to stop at the electronics store. As she drove along, all of sudden she was first hit with a wave of nausea, followed by the same pains she had gotten so used to the last bit. She pulled over to the corner of the road and switched on her lights, before leaning her forehead against the wheel, closing her eyes for a moment, breathing calmly as she waited for the nausea to subside. As she sat there, the exhaustion had tried to cover her like a blanket, but she refused to give in and sleep - especially on the side of the road. Reaching into her bag on the seat, she pulled a gravol out, before pulling back out and continuing on for her list.
She had reached the last stop on her list, when she ran into Natalie and Will. "Erin? It's so good to see you!" Natalie said, pulling her into a hug. "You too! Will." She nodded in his direction. "Everything okay? You look a little ashy." He observed. She bit the inside of her lip, as she nodded. "I'm great, just out to grab a few things." She lifted one of the bags in her hand. "Will told me you were back, I'm glad. We should all do a night over at Molly's!" She liked Natalie, though they had only known each other a small amount of time before she left for New York, the woman had been nothing but kind to her. "Does Jay even know you're back?" Will said suddenly. The smile fell from Natalie's face and she nudged him, as a warning. "Actually, yeah. I talked to him earlier at the district. A Molly's night would be fun. It was nice to see you guys, but I really should get back." They nodded. "Good to see you too! Swing by the hospital and we can set something up." With one more pleasant smile, they went their separate ways. She would definitely be swinging by the hospital, but not for making plans to catch up over a drink. Sighing, she gathered herself to make her last purchase for a laptop at the electronics pop up store, before making her way back to the house.