Author's note: Maybe this chapter is a bit more M-rated than intended. Let me know, if it's too much. The next chapters will be less so.
March 28th, 2020
15
The hairdresser Samantha knocked on "the Halstead's" door at eleven on Saturday morning. She was already wearing her sweats, but other than that, she was perfectly styled. Erin put on a smile when she opened the door.
"Hey, Samantha, how are you? Right on time! That's great!"
"I'm fine, thanks. Couldn't wait to do something else than starting at the walls in our house! I am so glad you let me break quarantine at your place. How are you?"
"Glad to have some adult female company. Come on in!" Erin showed her inside. "We got a punching bag downstairs. I thought we start there, and later do some mild sparring in our backyard. Would that be ok with you, Samantha?"
"Sammy is fine," Sammy looked around, shortly assessing her surroundings. She stopped her scan at the family pictures over the fireplace. "Where's your family?" she asked.
"They just left. Sophia wanted to feed the ducks again, and Jay wanted to go for a run. So; they'll be busy for the next hours or so."
"Mitch was still sleeping of his late night with the boys when I left. Did Jay leave early last night?"
"I don't think so. I wasn't really awake, when he came home, and he was quite tired when Sophia woke us this morning."
"I tell you, Erin, my husband wouldn't be able to get up, take his daughter to do anything, and plan a run after a night they seemed to have had. Is yours some kind of superhero?" Sammy was again looking at the pictures.
Erin laughed. "Well, his physical constitution is quite good, if you know what I mean," she winked at Sammy. "Plus, he's Irish, so his liver is working better than most people's liver. I think, I never saw him with a real hangover."
"So, he is a kind of Superman. At least looks like it," Sammy stared at their pictures.
Erin wasn't sure she was okay with were the conversation was going. "Well, I can't complain," she therefore just said. "Do you want something to drink, before we go downstairs, Sammy?"
"No, I'm good," she turned to Erin. "Wait, why are you wearing glasses?"
Erin was slightly embarrassed. "I didn't manage to get my contacts in this morning. But I am taking the glasses off as soon as we are downstairs."
"But you weren't wearing glasses or contacts, last time we saw each other, were you?" Sammy asked.
"No, I wasn't. I had to get them yesterday. I'm getting old!" Erin complaint with some humour in her voice.
„You don't look old at all! I'm sure you're not older than 30, are you?" Sammy tried to compliment her.
„Try mid-thirties," Erin acknowledged. „But all those sleepless nights with our toddler, make me feel older."
„I wouldn't have guessed you older than 30. And I got an eye for that!" Sammy assured her. „So, how did you get your eyes checked out during lockdown?"
„I went to the optician in Celina," Erin told her.
„It's open?" Sammy asked with disbelief .
"Yes, it's a health service. They are open."
"I can't believe that!" Sammy said with some anger in her voice. "How is that any different than what I do? They also work close to the face, don't they?"
"Yes, but it's a health service," Erin tried. "And we had to wear face masks."
"Face masks? They made you wear masks?" Sammy asked shocked.
"Yes, wouldn't have let us in otherwise. Sophia has a running nose. She's teething," Erin explained.
"And you let them do that to you? To your child? Could she even breathe through those things?"
"Well, actually that was a problem. Sophia refused to wear one. She was cranky and is in the terrible-two-phase, or at least was yesterday. Probably will be an angel with her Daddy today." Erin tried to divert the conversation.
"I would never make you wear a mask in my shop!" Sammy exclaimed. "Isn't the optician in Celina this black guy? What's his name again?"
"Mr. Michaels," Erin remembered.
"Of course, the black guy with those criminal sons of his is allowed to work and forces his customers to wear face masks, but I got a fee this week, because I gave my sister a haircut in my salon!"
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that!" Erin put some empathy in her voice.
Sammy waved it away. "Let's do something more fun now! Or something where I can get my aggressions out! Didn't you say something about a punching bag?"
"Follow me downstairs." Erin said smiling at Sammy and let the way to the basement.
Downstairs, Erin showed Sammy their gym equipment. She didn't attract any attention when she turned on the listening devices on the stepper. Sammy was too distracted by the punching bag.
"I can't tell you how much I need this right now," she said before she used an aggressive jab on the punching bag, which was immediately followed by a loud "Ouch!"
Erin had to suppress a laugh. "Better take these!" she said and handed Sammy some gloves.
Looking at her well-manicured long nails, she commented: "Not sure they will fit."
"They should. Jay's wearing them, and I'm pretty sure his hands are bigger than yours."
Sammy shrugged: "I'll try!"
Erin was glad Sammy was so occupied with getting her nails inside the gloves, that she didn't see how Erin had difficulties getting her own on, because her hands were still shaking. Somehow the magnesium she took since yesterday hadn't kicked in yet. She saw Sammy carefully bending her glove.
"Feels weird!" she said looking critical at the gloves.
"Sorry, Sammy, I wasn't thinking about your nails. If it feels too weird, we have to start warmup with something else."
"Nuh! I'll be fine!" Sammy assured her.
"If you say so!" Erin turned to the punching bag and showed Sammy a short sequence of jabs and punches. "Try to start with this. Don't use too much force in the beginning."
Sammy followed her order, but then complained about pain inside the gloves.
Erin suppressed the urge to roll her eyes. "Maybe we should start with some kicks instead?" she asked.
"No, I'll be fine!" Sammy said, and redid the sequence faster this time. Soon her punches became a more aggressive.
"Wow! Samantha! What did the poor punching bag do to you?" Erin asked.
"Sorry, I just imagined it to be officer O'Neill, or our governor, or this horrible doctor woman."
"Who's officer O'Neill?" Erin asked.
"He," she air-quoted, "enforces our quarantine. Haven't met him yet?"
"No, what does he do exactly?"
"Officially," Sammy threw another punch at the bagg. "He controls the lockdown procedures in Mercer. Unofficially," she threw another punch, „he likes to dictate and control how we live our lives!" Sammy punched hard on the bag again. „I'm sure he works for the cabal, that made up this virus. He really feels great telling us normal folk what we should and shouldn't do." And again she hit the bag hard.
Erin tried to hold it fast. „Did he do something to offend you personally?"
„He was the one enforcing the fee on me! They don't let me work, but I have to pay a fee for trying to work anyway." The bag earned other punch.
„Well, that's the idea of lockdown," Erin couldn't help to comment.
Sammy ignored what Erin had said and continued "And that fucking n... in Celina is allowed to work, because he offers health services! Haircuts should be considered health services! I wash people's hair!" Another angry punch.
„I think we both agree that the law is really ridiculous. I mean, do we even know that virus exists?" Erin asked to provoke her to tell more about her idea of the pandemic.
„Exactly! You lived in a bigger city. Did you know anyone who caught it?" Sammy was punching the bag again. That way she luckily didn't look Erin in the face when she answered lying. „Of course not!"
„I had to pay a fee for a made-up virus! Can you believe that?"
„It's unbelievable!" Erin managed to say more convincingly, while she was thinking how failed Sammy's perception was.
„Isn't it?" Sammy asked for confirmation.
„Does that mean, you can't pay me back with a new haircut for this session?" Erin asked.
"I always pay my debt, don't worry. We find a way. Those ridiculous orders are only in place for nine more days. Do you think, you can wait that long?" Sammy tried to get a closer look at Erin's hair. She touched Erin's ponytail and looked critical at her hair line. "Well, the tips are still fine, but the hairline could use some new dye. Could you undo it for me, please?"
Erin took of her gloves and did as she was told.
"Well, maybe I would give you a whole make over. When was the last time you went to a hair salon?"
Erin tried not to be offended. "Actually, it's been a while. Being a full-time mom, and with Jay working long hours back in Chicago, I did what I could on my own, and only had a friend trim it a bit." That was almost the truth, although she had been the one working long hours, and her live-in nanny Svetlana had been the one to cut her hair.
"You have such a great looking husband! You should do more for your own looks!"
This time Erin couldn't hide her annoyance.
Sammy picked up on it and added: "Don't get me wrong. You are beautiful and attractive, but there's always room for improvement, and that's what I am here for!"
"I thought you were here for the free gym session!" Erin tried to lower the sarcasm in her voice.
"Yes, here at your place, but here on earth I am to improve people's looks, and with people looking that good as you, it's even more rewarding." She smiled at Erin who was busy putting her ponytail back up.
"Thanks!" Erin smiled back. "I'm not sure though, if I should really wait for nine more days."
"Well then we should do it sooner. Maybe we could do it at my place, and afterwards we have a barbecue with our men!"
"That sounds great. I just have to see about Sophia."
"Bring her! I'll asked Loreen and the kids to come as well. They'll all be happy to get out of their house. Loreen loves her kids but having them home all the time without school … it's hard on her."
"Yes, I can imagine. What about your neighbors? Won't they alert Officer O'Neill?"
Samantha waved that away. „Nuh! Marge is our neighbour. She's fine. Maybe I invite her as well."
„That crowd grows bigger by the minute," Erin joked again.
"The more, the merrier! Especially in times like these!"
Erin had to try hard not to show her amusement.
Sammy continued. "So, during the week one day? The guys could join after work, or is Jay on the night shift?"
"No, not in the first month."
"Perfect," Sammy smiled at her. "So, when do we start sparring?"
"I think, we start with some Tae Bo first," Erin suggested. "I'm a bit out of shape, and that really helps to get all the aggressions out."
"Tae Bo? Is that something Chinese?" Sammy asked critically.
"No, it's short for Total commitment to whatever you do, Awareness of yourself and the world, Excellence, the truest goal in anything you do, the Body as a force for total change, Obedience to your will and your true desire for change. Tae Bo. It's basically aerobics with kickboxing and karate moves. You'll be learning all the important moves and improve your fitness." It was basically what Erin had begun doing with Tina since her rips were better. "We can do it in the backyard. More space for roundhouse kicks etc."
"Roundhouse kicks, sounds good!" Sammy said taking of the gloves. That was followed by an "Ouch!" And an "Oh no!" When she realized one of her fake nails had stayed in the gloves.
"Oh, no!" Erin empathetically repeated. "You ok?"
Sammy looked reproached at her hand, but then shook her head. "I should be able to redo it at home. Let's go upstairs!"
"Fine!" Erin said heading up the stairs. Samantha followed. At the top stair, Erin turned around. "I should get Jay's glove to get your nail out with something upstairs. Go ahead, I'll be back."
Sammy nodded and went through the door. Erin went back downstairs and turned the listening devices off before she grabbed the glove.
They drank something in the kitchen, where Erin managed to get the nail out of the glove. Sammy had the glue she needed with her in her purse, but said, she'd repair it after their next session. Therefore, they left the nail and the glove on the kitchen table.
When Jay came home carrying a sleeping Sophia, he heard the music from the backyard, where Erin and Sammy where just about to finish their session. He put Sophia down at the couch before he entered the kitchen. He looked irritated at the nail and the glove, but then turned to the kitchen sink. While washing his hands, he could watch Erin and Sammy eexercising. He liked what he saw. Erin's fitness seemed to have improved by a lot over the last week. She'd didn't appear to have difficulties with the cardio-workout, and he really liked her moves. It also became clear, that Sammy was willing to follow Erin's lead. That was important as he knew from her husband, that Sammy did not follow anything from anyone easily. That she accepted Erin's lead, was a good sign. It meant that Erin would be accepted by Sammy and her peers, as Sammy seemed to be one of the more dominant female figures of the group they were watching.
When the music became slower, and the women began their cool down and stretching routine, Jay entered the backyard, and made himself know.
"Hey, Babe! We're home," he said while coming closer. He gave Erin a kiss, who was stretching her left thigh. "How are you?"
"Great!" She used his shoulder as help for her balance. He nevertheless managed to turn around to Sammy.
"Hi, Samantha, how are you doing?"
"Great as well! Your wife is a great coach!" She smiled at Erin and scanned Jay again. "You did some workout yourself it seems?"
Jay looked down at himself. "Yes," he confirmed. "Went for a run on the lakeshore."
"Wanna join in?" Samantha asked.
"No, did my stretching routine on the lake already. Just wanted to say hi, before I take Sophia upstairs and take a shower."
"Where's Sophia?" Erin asked now stretching her arms not needing Jay's support anymore.
"Asleep. I put her down on the couch."
Erin got big eyes. "With or without a diaper?"
"Oh!" Jay said, turned around and ran inside.
Sammy had to laugh. Erin joined in.
"Sorry, for that. We're in the middle of potty training." Erin explained.
"It's amazing that he takes on that responsibility. I'm pretty sure, Gary would have sent Loreen to check, and probably never would spend the morning alone with one of their little kids. Don't get me wrong, he's a great dad and everything, but they have to be out of diapers and able to form longer sentences for him to spend time with them alone."
Erin smiled. „Jay really enjoys spending time with Sophia. But he's still new to this." As she realized what she just said, she quickly added. „I mean, he was working long hours in Chicago, sometimes went undercover for weeks, thus he didn't see as much of Sophia's first two years as he would have loved to. He complained the other night, that he didn't start a new career where he would be working from home now."
„Aww, that's amazingly cute!" Sammy said. „Hot and cute! You picked a great one!" she winked at Erin.
Erin smiled lost in thoughts. Sammy was right. She just didn't feel that she actually picked him. Not as a father for her child at least. She'd turned away from him back then.
„If he loves spending time with her that much, is he ok, with spending the night with the Sons of Mercy?" Sammy pulled her out of her thoughts.
„What?" Erin looked up. She hadn't had time yet to speak with Jay about last night nor read his report. Thus, she just hoped, there wasn't something she'd missed, when she answered. „No, I mean, most of the time, Sophia is already asleep, when he leaves. And he deeply identifies with their goals. Plus, it's good for him to hang out with guys as well." She hoped she convinced Sammy.
"Do you know, what they are planning?" Sammy asked with a low voice.
Erin shook her head. "You?"
"Yes, they want to kill someone!"
Erin acted shocked. „They what again? Are you sure?"
Sammy nodded. „That Socialist candidate of the damn democrats!" she looked proud.
„Well, can't blame them for that wish," Erin said. „But they don't want to kill him for real, do they?"
"Yes, they do. How do you kill a snake? Cut of his head! Without him, the radical left will be gone, and we are gonna stay free!" Sammy smiled at that.
Erin didn't know what to think. She hadn't expected Sammy to talk about their plans that bluntly. She knew that it would be suspicious if she agreed on everything directly.
"Well, that are great plans indeed!" she tried. "How do you know about that? Did Mitch tell you?"
Sammy smiled proudly. "I got my techniques to make him tell me things."
Erin smiled back at her. "I can imagine!" Then she became more serious. "Is that why you want to be able to defend yourself?" she asked.
"Yes!" Sammy nodded. "I, they, expect the radical left not to go without a fight. Even if you cut the head of, there might be others joining in. Have you seen what those self-proclaimed snowflakes are posting on the net? They want to overturn our government! The fake news will make it appear like a fair election, but it will be rigged. The entire Silicon Valley stands behind their movement. They have the means to rigg the election, and they will do so, if we don't do anything, the radical left will turn over our country. It's up to us to prevent that from happening. When war begins, I want to be able to defend myself."
Erin tried to look serious. "I'll be very honored to help you on your way. You showed great skills today. We should continue that. What are your plans during the week? Maybe we can make a regular appointment?" Erin liked how much Sammy shared, and obviously knew, so she'd liked to meet this source on a regular basis.
"Sure, do you think, once a week will be enough?" Sammy asked.
"The more, the better, I'd say. Maybe we could make the Saturday a regular thing, and one time a week in the evening, when Jay can watch Sophia, so when the Son's aren't meeting? What do you think?"
"That sounds great! I am so glad to have met you! Maybe I can get Gary to let us use his father's gun range as well."
Erin hid her fear of maybe not being able to shoot. "Actually, about that. Do you think, me and Jay could use the range one day on our own before we do that?" she tried to find a reason that would convince Sammy without her thinking Erin wasn't capable of shooting. "The thing is, it's been a while, and I would like to try it with my new glasses or contacts before I promise you too much. I used to be one of the best shots in our district, even outdid Jay back in the day, but with the glasses and everything…"
Sammy seemed convinced. "I'll ask Loreen to ask her father-in-law tomorrow."
Erin smiled at her thankfully. "That would be really great! Thanks!"
"Well, my coach should be sure to be able to coach!" Sammy winked at her. "If you need me to watch your daughter that night, let me know!"
Erin looked surprised at her.
"Don't look like that! I am good with kids. I often watch my nieces and nephews for Loreen and Gary. What do you think, why they were able to make so many kids in the first place!" She winked at Erin again.
Erin laughed. "Thanks for that offer. I'll ask Jay if he'd be fine with that."
"Let me know! I don't want to keep this short, but I really would like to take a shower now and redo my nails. Oh my! Your husband has probably seen the nail" Sammy looked embarrassed.
Erin laughed. "Don't worry, he's seen worse!"
"Oh, I'm so embarrassed. Now I really have to head back home fast and hide myself before your husband makes a reappearance!" She said inside when she picked up the nail from the kitchen counter.
"I assure you, that won't be a problem for him, but its ok if you head home now, I also need a shower!"
In the living room they heard the shower from upstairs. Erin quickly scanned the couch, but there seemed to have been no accidents to clean.
"You should join him!" Sammy said nodding to the upstairs. "Use the time wisely while your daughter is asleep."
Erin wasn't sure she liked that insinuation from Sammy but played along. "I sure will!"
She went upstairs directly after she'd said goodbye to Sammy. She really needed a shower. She looked at Sophia first. She was still, or again, sleeping. Then she directly went into the bathroom. Jay just stepped out of the shower reaching for the towel. She looked at him and became nervous.
"Sorry," she said. "I..."
He grinned at her. "You what?" he asked not taking the towel after all.
She looked at him. It was the first time she saw him completely naked since well three years ago. The other night in the hidden office, they hadn't really spent time looking at each other, nor undressing each other completely.
She tried not to stare but failed completely. It became quite clear that he liked that. Still dripping wet, he closed the small distance between them. "You what, Erin?" he whispered close to her face.
"Need to take a shower!" she managed to get out before their mouths met and she was unable to talk.
"Then, maybe you should get undressed," Jay whispered cockily in her ear between kisses.
Soon after, her clothes were on the ground. Without any hesitation, Jay joined her in the shower, savoring almost every part of her body. When she turned around to shampoo her hair, he thoroughly kissed her neck from behind and massaged her breasts. She felt his arousal on her behind, and positioned herself, that he could easily enter. It felt so damn good. They both reached their climax shortly after.
"I really missed that!" he admitted.
She turned around looking into his eyes. "Me too!"
After a few more kisses, Jay left the shower, so that Erin was able wash her hair after all. When she came out of the bathroom, he was waiting in bed for her. She looked at the door leading to Sophia's room.
"I just checked. She's still sleeping," he answered her unspoken questions.
She grinned letting her towel fall to the ground. "Well, in that case..." she began, while entering the bed beginning to kiss him again.
Round two started slower but became even more intense then the first one in the shower, although it involved a condom this time. They both had to pull themselves together not to scream out loud and thereby waking Sophia from her nap.
Soon after they fell asleep as well. Erin was still conscious enough to make them both put on some minimal clothes again before they actually fell asleep.
They were woken by Sophia in the early afternoon. She didn't scream, but came into their room, tipping her mom awake.
"Mommy! Sophia pee!"
Erin opened her eyes and was very awake all of a sudden when she realized that she was in Jay's arms, something Sophia hadn't seen in that form before, and her daughter obviously had to go to the bathroom quite urgently. Her sudden movements to get out of bed woke Jay.
"Wow! 3 pm!" he said while Erin was already out of bed and halfway to the bathroom with Sophia.
"Yes, I just hope Sophia didn't sleep for too long!" she answered him from the bathroom, from where he could also hear, that Sophia reached the toilet in time. He got up as well and put some more clothes on before Sophia proudly came out of the bathroom. Erin just wearing her, or really his, Blackhawks t-shirt and a slip smiled as well.
"The diaper was dry again!"
"Wow, Soph, you're really becoming a big girl! Good for you!" Jay said while he picked her up and gave her a kiss on the cheek. Sophia hugged him back. Erin had to smile at them while she was getting more dressed herself.
"I'm kind of hungry," she said. "What about you?"
"I could eat a bear!"
Sophia got big eyes. "Bear?" she asked.
"Yes, a really big one! You are not that big, but maybe I should start with you first!" he said playfully pretend biting Sophia's cheek. She shrieked in joy.
"I suggest, we see what the kitchen has to offer, I'd like to keep Sophia in one piece!" Erin suggested humorously.
Laughing they went downstairs.
"What about," Jay began in the kitchen, "we have some sandwiches now, and prepare the ribs to barbecue tonight."
"Sounds good to me!" Erin agreed. "Then I would finally be able to read your report in between and write my own report about this morning, and you two can have some more father-daughter time." she smiled at him.
To her surprise he didn't smile back, though.
"No," he said.
"No?" she asked irritated.
"No, because, for once this week, let us be a real family without anyone working. We just slept more than two hours during the day, we are both exhausted from the week, let's have some us-time."
She looked surprised and torn. "Wasn't the 'us-time' we just had the reason we slept that long?" she teased him.
"I meant us-time with Sophia. Family time! Let's make some good memories together, just for this afternoon. Maybe we could take some pictures and replace some of the fake one with real ones!" he suggested.
Erin was really moved, but still not convinced. "That sounds like a real nice idea, but..."
"Erin, no but, please. Let us be happy, and not think about any Nazi-agenda just for this afternoon, please!"
"No Nazi!" Sophia repeated happily.
"Exactly!" Jay said grinning at her proudly.
"Jay! Watch your words! We don't want her to repeat that in front of our new friends!"
Jay looked a bit embarrassed. "You're right!" he admitted. "But still, can we take the afternoon off, please?"
"I thought, 'no buts'?" she winked at him. "Fine! Where do you want to go?"
"The backyard, and then the kitchen again, and then back to the backyard."
"So, we're taking lockdown serious for the rest of the day?" she asked amused.
"Yes, after all those semi-legal outdoor activities I'd really like to stay at the house for once. And I don't want those pictures having anything Ohioan in them. She shouldn't be forced to remember her stay here."
"You're probably right! So, do I get something to eat now?" She grinned at him.
"Sure!" he said while opening my fridge. "I see my good housewife bought everything we need for decent meals!"
That earned him a bump with her elbow to his side.
Spending the afternoon in the backyard not thinking about their mission, but just relaxing and enjoying their time together, proofed to be a great idea. The weather of early spring was fantastic. Erin could hardly imagine, that less than a week ago, they were freezing in their bedroom upstairs, because it was so sunny that after some time of moving around, they were all in t-shirts.
They also managed to take some great pictures. Without someone else there, to take one of the three of them, they were forced to take selfies. They took one by the swing set, one in the sandbox and one while they were all laying down at a picknick blanket. Although the ground was still cold, they managed to all smile happily at the same time. Jay liked that picture the best. Erin looked very cozy on his shoulder, and Sophia, laying between them all but beamed into the camera.
Sophia had the best of times. She ran around, swung, played in the sandbox, and was joined by both of her parents while doing that. She baked sand pie for them and let them push her far up the swing. She screamed out of joy when her mother swung her around by holding her on both arms turning around herself. She wanted to repeat that again and again, but after the third time, Erin really felt dizzy and Jay had to take over. He then held Sophia while she climbed up on him. He let her hang from his arm. She loved this almost as much as being turned around by her Mommy. Both her parents were impressed by her strength, and her agility. She could feel their proudness, but also their newfound closeness with each other.
For dinner, they made a little barbecue and ate outside. They had ribs and salat and some bread. After that, it was bath- and bedtime for Sophia. Erin gave her a bath, while Jay cleared up the backyard and the kitchen. They met again in Sophia's bedroom. Erin said her goodnight, while Jay was about to take over the reading routine, so that Erin could finally read his report from last night, check all of her fake social media accounts and write her report for the day. But something held her back from those unpleasant tasks. She looked back at Jay and Sophia from the door and watched smiling as Sophia asked for her "Bunny book" again. Jay looked up at her when he read the title out loud "Guess how much I love you". An honest and full smile appeared on her lips. "Thank you!" she said.
Jay kept looking at her waiting for her to add something.
"For this afternoon, for making us take it off, for being here with us." She said after a moment.
His smile widened. "I wouldn't have it any differently," he assured her.
"Daddy, read!" Sophia complained.
They exchanged an amused looked, and Jay began to read again.
Erin followed their routine from the hidden office, while she read, well more scanned, Jay's report. It seems he had become closer with everyone in that group, but still wasn't in on any details yet. What they knew from the deceased Sam and was confirmed by Samantha today, had not been mentioned in front of Jay yet. They did however mention needing guns, and a meeting/event that should take place at the Easter weekend. And Jay was asked if he would be able to buy a motorcycle.
Erin began to write down her own report fast. She was about to finish it when Jay entered the office.
"Hey!" she greeted him smiling. "Did she go down ok?"
"Weren't you watching this time?" he winked at her.
"Too observed in the reports," she excused herself.
"Took some time," he explained. "Maybe we shouldn't have let her sleep that long in the afternoon."
She offered him an empathetic smile. "Yes, that wasn't very clever of us!"
"But it was worth it, I'd say," Jay said sassily.
"Of course, you would say that!" It was hard for her to stay focused on her work. "So, you want a bike?" she asked him, getting back on his report.
"Oh, I think, you didn't read the report properly. I NEED a bike, and I need you to sign off on that." He handed her the form. "Gary wants to sell me one."
"You so want a bike!" Erin said taking the paper. "Speaking of Gary: Sammy mentioned we might be able to get use the shooting range just the two of us."
"You told her you might not be able to shoot?" he asked irritated.
"Well, she'd already seen my glasses, which by the way, I bought at the wrong place. You shouldn't buy at shops owned by black people over here, I learned," she remarked sarcastically. "Anyhow, the glasses gave me a reason, why I would want to go to the gun range with you before I went with her."
"She bought it?" Jay asked.
"Yes, I guess. She wanted to ask for us and offered to take Sophia. I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that, though," she looked up at him.
"Why not?" he asked.
"Because I'm not comfortable of our baby daughter bonding with someone who wants to join a civil war against," she air-quoted," the radical left, and is fine with people being killed for their political believes, and thinks it's not okay to buy from someone, who's skin color doesn't match your own."
"Had a fun morning, hadn't you?" Jay tried to joke.
"Almost as much fun as you had last night, it seems. I'm almost done with my report. You can get over it soon." She turned back to her report taking down his bike request form.
"Shall we wait with the shooting range till Hank arrives? Or ask him to come earlier?" he asked her while she was typing.
She finished her sentence before she answered him. "I'm not sure, I want him to know, there's something wrong, that I might not be able to shoot," she admitted.
He squeezed her shoulder with warm empathy. "What about Brianna?"
"No! Not when Johnny is around!" Erin said defensively. He felt her going stiff. "I don't want my child to stop talking as well!"
"Ho! Erin, calm down! Marge, maybe?"
Erin turned around and looked at him lost in thoughts. "We could ask her. She adores Sophia. If she feels up to it?"
"Fine! We try that! Can you cosign my request for a bike now?" He smiled at her likes little boy and handed her the form again.
She had to laugh. "There should be a pen in the upper drawer."
Jay opened the drawer and looked at it a bit irritated. Then his lips formed into a cocky grin. He got the pen out and gave it to her.
"Can you, maybe, explain to we, why the drawer is full of condoms?" he said still grinning.
She signed his paper and looked up, slightly red. She handed him the paper back. "Here! Go scan it and sent it."
He did as he was told still grinning. She went back to her report, trying to focus again. When she managed to write the last sentence, he was still standing behind her still wearing a cocky grin.
"I'm done!" still trying to ignore his grin.
"Fine, hop over, that I can read it. And then you explain the condoms next to the stapler to me."
She rolled her eyes, but had to check, if there was really a stapler in that drawer as well. He was right. She carefully closed the drawer again, but of course, he'd realized that she checked.
"All still there, or are you missing one?" he asked without turning around.
"Concentrate on the report!" she just said.
"Well, that isn't as much fun!" he admitted. "She really told you about the assassination plan?" he asked more serious.
"Well, not in detail. Just that she knew of it. I think, she thinks, it's still in place. Is it?"
"I'm not sure. They haven't told me anything about that just yet. I'd say they are planning something big, and they want me for my skills with the rifle, but I didn't get any details, other than that there is to be a meeting with other groups thinking alike over Easter, where I should go."
"Yeah, I got as much from your report." she said thoughtfully. "Do you think, you'll get more intel before that?"
Jay shrugged. "I hope so. But can't tell. Maybe we'll have enough to get them on conspiracy against the state till then and bust that meeting."
"Hopefully!" she said.
"So, back to the condoms!" he said wearing his cocky grin again.
Erin rolled her eyes. "They are there just in case," she explained.
"In case of what exactly?" he said coming closer.
"In case we need them!" She said just before kissing him.
He suddenly broke their kiss and looked at her oddly. "Where did you get them? Did you bring them from New York?"
"No, of course not! I didn't plan on this," she moved her hand towards him, "to happen! You were still with Hailey, remember?"
He looked a bit ashamed. "Yes," he admitted. "So where did they come from?"
"I bought them at the pharmacy yesterday, when I was in Celina."
"With Brianna?" Jay asked a bit shocked.
"Yes, well, I told her I forgot something and went back in for them."
Jay had to grin at the picture in his head of her heading back into the pharmacy, and then hiding the contents of her bag from her very Catholic friend. "Hope, she didn't see what you had in that bag," he said.
"She didn't. I made sure of that." she looked at him. "Jay, I want us to be a bit more responsible. I really love our daughter, but we're so not in a situation where we should risk me getting pregnant again. Neither with this mission nor with ... us," she tried to explain.
He came closer again and hugged her. "You're right," he agreed caressing her cheek. "But I do hope, that - maybe one day - this situation will change."
"Maybe one day!" she agreed.