Organizing her two bags and setting up her latest purchase, she tucked herself away in her room. Listening to the wind rattle the old frame of her window that had been the same way for years. She found comfort in it, as the rest of the house remained quiet. Wrapping herself up in the furry blanket she had washed and dried after pulling it out of the shopping bag, she closed her eyes as tears rolled out from beneath them, and trailed down her cheeks. Her silent cries, that she had no intention of holding back as she lied back in her bed. It was only when Voight took a seat on the end of the mattress as it dipped beneath his weight, did she even realize that she had fallen asleep. It was dark out, the room now illuminated by her beside lamp. "Hey kiddo. You hungry for anything?" She shook her head as she sat up. "Not really. What time is it?" "It's about seven. Did you finish getting together everything you need? I can run into town if not." "Oh wow. No, I took my car in earlier. Everything's packed." She said, gesturing to her luggage. "Good." They sat in silence for a minute, before he pulled something out of his pocket. "I know we didn't do the whole church thing, but i gave this to Camille when she had her first diagnosis, after Justin was born. It was like a good luck charm. I want you to hold onto it." He handed her the four leaf clover and horse shoe on the small silver chain. She took it, and observed the piece of jewelry, before he stood, getting close enough to envelop her into another hug. "It's going to be okay. Love you kiddo, get some more sleep and I'll wake you up for breakfast." She nodded and laid the chain on the table before rolling back over and closing her eyes as he shut off the light, the room now basked in darkness, aside from the street light outside her window.
Voight pulled the door closed behind him and stood there for a minute, just outside as his own tears fell. For the first time in years, he had dreamt of his late wife the night before and knowing how ill his foster daughter really was, it brought back his repressed memories of Camille in and out of hospital. Erin had been living with them during her foster mothers relapse and it was not a pretty sight. Aggressive, was a light term for how the cancer had taken his wife, and he just wasn't prepared to lose the second most important girl in his life. She was all he had left in this world.
Morning came with dark grey skies, and snow quietly covering the ground as Erin sat staring out the kitchen window with a cup of coffee nestled between her hands. The plate of half eaten breakfast sat in front of her. Bags waiting by the door, as she waited for Voight to finish getting ready. Today was the first day of treatment, and she would definitely be a fraud if she denied being afraid. She'd rather be facing a criminal than having to do this, yet life had a weird way of throwing her for a loop.
She finished off the last of the coffee as Voight entered the kitchen, jacket and shoes already on. "Your bags are in the car, you ready kiddo?" She stood, and took her mug to the sink, rising it before she gripped the counter for a moment and taking in a breath. "Yeah." She whispered. They headed out, the drive was painfully long as she watched the streets pass her by, the snow still falling as they pulled into the parking lot of Med. Voight grabbed her bags and carried them ahead of her as she walked slowly behind, stopping as they neared the doors to tip her head up toward the sky with her eyes closed as the snowflakes touched her skin. Usually, she hated the Chicago winter. It was far too cold, messy, and she was always craving the sun - but today was different. "Kid?" She snapped her head to him, standing in the doorway, before following him.