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Erin cursed under her breath. The traffic from O'Hare was ridiculous, and she was exhausted. Her feet were killing her from the heels, and she needed to get to her sister. After landing back in Chicago, the short voicemail from Jenna took her breath away and nearly caused her heart to stop. Piper needed her.
She shed the heels as she hustled into the Emergency Department, wildly searching for where her little sister might be. "My name is Erin Lindsay, I'm looking for my sister, she was brought in a little while ago and I got a call-" Erin stopped as she caught sight of Will's familiar red hair, "Will!"
The doctor turned quickly. "Erin? What are you doing here?"
"I-I got a call from Jenna, she said that Piper was brought in and-" She stopped again as Will looked confused, "She's not here?"
Will shook his head and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder, "No she-"
"Is she dead?" Erin spluttered, tears rapidly spilling down her cheeks, "Just tell me, I can't-"
"Erin," Will shook his head, "She's okay. Jay brought her home like a half hour ago. He left you a message."
"W-what?" She fumbled with her phone before realizing it was out of battery. She hadn't thought to pack a portable charger. "She's okay?"
He nodded, "She was really dehydrated and her blood sugar was incredibly low but she's going to be fine."
Erin burst into tears and covered her face with shaking hands. "She's okay," Will repeated, tentatively bringing Erin against his scrubs, "She's one tough kid."
"Sorry," she sniffed after a minute before wiping her eyes, "I thought the worst and…" Erin trailed off and shuddered slightly, "Jay got her?"
Will nodded and gave a smile, "She wouldn't let him go. Voight drove them back to Jay's." He gave her shoulder a light squeeze, "She was asking for you though."
Erin sniffed again. "I um, I better go then."
"I can give you a lift," Will offered, "My shift's over. Let me grab keys, and we'll head to Jay's."
She nodded gratefully before wiping her eyes again.
"I'll find a parking spot, you head up," Will instructed as he slowed to a stop outside Jay's apartment building, "Don't forget your shoes."
"Thank you," Erin said quickly with another sniff. She hadn't been able to stop the tears, despite the fact that she was about to finally see her little sister. Her heart was aching with anxiety.
Will had given her the cliff notes on the drive over – Bunny hadn't been giving Piper enough to eat, was stupid enough to have friends over and even stupider to think that leaving a child for an extended period of time was alright. She was angry, but also sad. Erin remembered just how many times Bunny had left her for days on end, the many friends she had over, most of whom were none too kind, and the limited supply of groceries. Bunny hadn't changed in thirty years, not after countless chances.
She hastened down the hallway, heels still in her hand before rapidly knocking on Jay's apartment door. "Where is she?" she asked immediately when Hank pulled open the door, "I-I came as soon as I got Jenna's voicemail, where's Piper?"
Hank gestured to the living room where Jay was standing, holding an incredible fragile version of her little sister in his arms. She swallowed and took a step forward before dropping her shoes to the ground. "She's alright," Hank said in a low voice, "Shaken up, but Halstead's doing a great job."
Erin nodded as her gaze found Jay's. Immediately, his eyes softened at her tear-filled hazels. "Pipes," he whispered, "Erin's here."
The little girl weakly lifted her head. "Erin's here?"
"Hi Noodle," Erin rasped, quickly closing the gap between her and her little sister, "I'm sorry it took me so long. I went to the hospital instead." She managed a small smile, "It's so good to see you."
Piper regarded her sister with heavy-lidded eyes, as if not believing that she was in front of her. "I-I though you didn't want me anymore," she whispered, "I was worried."
Erin shook her head fervently, tears once again trickling down her cheeks. "No, I want you forever, sweetheart. Forever, okay?"
She sniffed and relaxed against Jay when Erin placed a gentle hand on her back, "I missed you," she mumbled, "I didn't like livin' with Bunny."
Erin swallowed and rubbed her thumb over Piper's back, furrowing her brow when she felt just how thin Piper had gotten. "You're safe now," she choked out. Jay extended an arm and brought her closer, and she gratefully melted into his side. "I'm so sorry."
"'s not your fault," Piper murmured as she reached a shaky hand to wipe Erin's cheek. The action only made Erin's tears flow faster.
"What if we have some ice cream on the couch?" Jay suggested, "What do you say, Pipes? You want to share some ice cream with Erin?"
Piper nodded. "Can you stay?" she asked Erin, "So I know you're safe?"
"Of course," she responded, "I um, I'm going to wash my hands really quickly, but I'll be right back." Erin felt like a thousand pounds had been removed from her shoulders when Jay's lips grazed her forehead. She'd missed him too.
Erin was quiet while she resumed running a hand over Piper's back as the little girl remained cuddled into Jay's chest. She tentatively accepted bites of melting mint chocolate chip ice cream as she did her best to keep her eyes open, exhaustion settling in again. "How's she doing?" Will asked Hank as he leaned against the kitchen counter eating some of the pasta dish the sergeant had concocted.
"Been relatively quiet," he replied, not taking his eyes off his daughter, his detective and the little girl, "Poor thing's exhausted."
"I hope you get whoever traumatized her before her mother. And her mother, for all I care," Will murmured, "Was a really good thing Jenna stopped by when she did. Don't know how much longer she could have held on."
"Great job, kiddo," Jay praised after Piper ate another bite of ice cream, "Are you still dizzy?"
Piper shook her head and let out a small breath. "I'm just glad I'm not alone anymore."
"Me too," he said before leaning down to kiss the top of her small head, "Would you like some pasta maybe? It smells pretty good to me."
"I-I don't wanna leave you," Piper insisted, instantly gripping Jay's shirt in her fists.
"I know, I know," he assured her, "We're going to stay right here, okay? Will, do you mind bringing some pasta over?"
"Comin' right up," his brother said quickly, "Erin, you want some as well?"
"Sure," she said in an exhale, realizing that despite the fact that she didn't have an appetite, she needed to set a good example for her sister. "Camille's stuffed shells was always one of my favorite meals."
"Bunny didn't cook," Piper mumbled tiredly, "I didn't have any vegetables the whole time I was there."
"I think some veggies can be arranged," Jay said carefully, eyes trained on his partner. Erin had been incredibly quiet. "What do you think Er, maybe some spinach for with dinner tomorrow?"
"That sounds good," she whispered, threading her fingers through Piper's hair, "I missed your spinach."
"Before you have some pasta, is it okay if I take a quick listen to your heart, munchkin?" Will asked, perching himself on the coffee table, "I just need to make sure you're still on the mend."
Piper shrank back in alarm when Will produced a stethoscope. "It's okay," Jay assured her, "Just want to get you feeling better, kiddo."
After the little girl's nod of assent, Will carefully placed the cool metal on Piper's back. "How's your head doing?" he asked, glancing down at his watch to measure the child's heart rate. It had been through the roof when she'd been brought into the Emergency Department. "Still aching?"
"I don't wanna go back," Piper rushed out, "I wanna stay here."
"You're staying here," the doctor promised, "You're going to be with Jay, and Erin, but we want to get you feeling better, like Jay said." He exchanged a glance with his brother, "Does your head hurt?"
Piper shrugged dejectedly. "I don't want to leave."
"I know the hospital is scary," Erin interjected, "But sometimes they have medicine there that can help more than we can do here. Even if we had to go back, Jay and I would be with you." She offered a small smile, "If you can tell us what's hurting, then we can figure out how we can best help you."
The little girl gave a sniff when Jay and Will nodded in agreement. "I don't feel sick anymore. Just tired, and my head hurts."
"Okay," Will nodded, "I think what we should do is get you a few bites of dinner, and then see if you're feeling better in the morning. You might just need some rest."
Jay and Erin both let out a breath. Taking Piper back into the hospital wasn't an experience either of them wanted for the little girl. "I need to head into the district," Hank informed them quickly, "Jay, you stay here with Piper and Erin, and I'll get the team to provide an update, alright?"
"Thank you, Sarge," Jay said gratefully. He wasn't about to leave Piper, not when she'd refused to separate herself from him for over two hours.
"I'll head out as well." Will rose from his seat on the coffee table. "Make sure she gets rest, and call me if you need anything, alright? Anything."
Jay gave a nod of appreciation to his brother. "Thanks Will," Erin breathed, "I appreciate it. Everything."
"I'll stop by tomorrow to do a quick check up," he said with a wink, "Maybe I'll even bring some less melted ice cream for my favorite patient."
Piper blushed slightly, and Jay had never been more relieved to see color in the little girl's cheeks. "Thank you," she whispered, "For helping me."
"Anytime, munchkin," Will smiled, but stopped himself before gently placing a hand on her head. He knew just how skittish she could be. "Feel better, okay?"
"Thanks man," Jay said, "I'll text you." He turned back to Erin, who had held up a forkful of pasta to her little sister.
"It's really good, Noodle," she said, taking the first bite before extending the fork again, "Hank's got a secret sauce recipe."
"You're not gonna leave too, right?" Piper asked, "You're gonna stay here?"
Erin nodded after Jay gave her a reassuring look. "I'm staying with you, sweetheart."
Piper accepted the bite of pasta before leaning back against Jay tiredly. "I didn't like hearin' Bunny talk about you," she said after she swallowed, "She kept tellin' all these bad stories."
Erin felt her heart drop and she looked urgently to Jay. "What was she saying, kiddo?" he prompted, knowing full well that Erin didn't want to ask, but that they needed to know to get ahead of whatever Bunny said.
"She doesn't act like a mom," Piper said finally, "She never tried to keep you safe." The little girl looked up at her sister sadly, "She told me 'bout all the times that you didn't come home, and that's how come she wanted me to stay in the bedroom. She said you were out drinking and doing drugs and sleeping in other places."
Erin and Jay simultaneously sucked in a breath. "She um, wasn't lying about that. I didn't really want to come home." Jay's heart felt like it had been stepped on when Erin's voice broke. "I'm really sorry you had to experience it too."
"Nobody hurt me though," Piper assured her, putting a gentle palm on Erin's bent knee, "I had a place to go."
Erin managed a watery smile. "I'm really glad nobody hurt you."
"I hid. 'cause of what you said," she told her sister, "You said you used to get hurt by Bunny's friends, so when they came over, I hid in the closet."
"I'm sorry," Erin croaked again, "I wish she was better. And that she had better friends."
"One of her friends came lookin' for me." Piper's voice dropped, "I was hiding, so he gave up. He said he didn't believe that you had a sister. He said you used to be friends."
Erin felt her blood run cold. "D-did you catch his name?"
Piper thought for a moment. "Um, Dylan?"
Jay wrinkled his brow in concern. Erin looked like she was going to vomit. "Do you know him?" Piper asked curiously, anxiously trying to read her sister's facial expressions, "Was he your friend?"
"Yeah," she said after a moment, "I um, I knew him. But we weren't really friends. He was more my mom's friend."
Jay instinctively moved a hand from the couch cushion to Erin's hip as he watched the memories of her childhood flash before her eyes. "Did he hurt you?" Piper whispered, her voice wavering slightly as she regarded her sister.
Erin bit her lip. Dylan was Charlie's older brother.
He was the one who brought Charlie into her life, after Bunny made the introduction. He was the one who touched her, who Bunny didn't care enough to stop, who Bunny repeatedly let into their home because he had booze and pills and God knows what else. He was ex-boyfriend with the sawed-off shotgun, and one of the faces that kept her up at night, and plagued her dreams.
"Did he see you?" Erin managed as she skirted Piper's question, "When you were at Bunny's? Did he see you?"
Piper shook her head. "I-I don't think so. Bunny told him I looked just like you, that's how come he came looking. Said he wanted to see me with his own eyes."
Erin swallowed. At least he hadn't laid eyes on her little sister. If Dylan got to Piper, on top of everything she'd already been through, Erin would never forgive herself.
Jay was staring at her, baby blues swimming with concern. He knew she couldn't talk about it, not now, and not in front of Piper. "Are you sleepy, kiddo?" he asked after a few moments of silence, "Maybe ready for a good night's sleep?"
Piper tensed up in his lap almost instantly. "I-I don't wanna leave."
"You're not leaving," Jay promised again, "I swear. You're staying here, and I'm going to be right outside on this couch, all night, okay? And Erin's gonna be here as well."
She looked from Erin's worried gaze and then up to Jay. "You're not leaving?"
"Not a chance," he confirmed, kissing the top of her head yet again, "Let's get your teeth brushed, okay?"
Piper nodded and carefully slid off Jay's lap before taking a few tentative steps toward the bathroom. "Piper!" Erin exclaimed when the little girl faltered, and Jay quickly jumped up from the couch to catch her as she stumbled.
"Sorry," she mumbled, "I'm still a little dizzy."
"Oh, kiddo," Jay shook his head, "You don't need to be sorry. Maybe Erin can bring your toothbrush out here, and we can brush at the kitchen sink?"
She leaned against his chest heavily. "Thanks for catchin' me."
Jay left Piper's bedroom door slightly ajar. The little girl fell asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow. He didn't love the idea of being separated from her, even if it was just one room, but his other girl needed him.
Erin was seated on the couch, her mind miles away. She glanced up when Jay sank heavily beside her. "She's asleep," he said in relief, "Door's open so we can hear her if she needs us, but she's absolutely exhausted."
She nodded, unwanted tears once again forming in her eyes. "I missed her so much," she whispered, voice thick with emotion, "I um, I missed you too."
He placed a gentle hand on her knee. "I missed you both as well." Jay rubbed his thumb over the material, not wanting to push his partner too far. "How um, how was Washington?"
Erin sniffed, "They um, they fired my boss, I guess. I was there to interview candidates for his replacement."
Jay raised his eyebrows in surprise, "Any good prospects?"
She shrugged. "A few. I uh, I wasn't really all there. Spent most of the interviews thinking about Piper. And you." Erin swallowed, "I actually went to New York after. I couldn't come back just yet."
He was quiet, waiting for her to continue. "I was going to quit my job," Erin managed, "But my boss's boss said there wasn't any real prospects for me without a recommendation, which doesn't happen if I quit. And um, there's nothing really I can do back with the CPD, so I'm stuck." She covered her face with her hands, "I can't quit without a job, because then I won't get custody. And if I get custody, I gotta take her to New York. And she's going to hate me for it."
Jay was stunned. He couldn't believe that Erin was actually seriously considering quitting her job to stay in Chicago with Piper. "She's not going to hate you," he said softly, moving his hand from her knee to her back, "She doesn't hate you, Er."
Erin shook her head. "But she's going to. After I take her away from Chicago, away from you." Her voice broke, "She loves you, Jay, and I know you love her and I feel like I'm just fucking everything up."
"Erin." Jay stroked her cheek, "I love Piper, I do. And I also said that I would anything for her, and that she was the top priority. I meant that. That means keeping her safe, and giving her a chance at a real family, and at a really good life, and I know that means staying with you. And if that means you both are moving to New York, I'm okay with that. But I also promised I'd be there for you, whatever you need, and that isn't going to change, no matter where you guys live."
"But what about you?" Erin asked, her tear-filled hazels meeting Jay's, "I don't want anything to…I can't lose you and I don't want to hurt you and-"
"You don't need to worry about me," Jay shook his head, "I'm going to be fine, especially if I know that Piper is safe with you, and that you guys are together. That's all that matters."
He couldn't help it anymore. Jay pulled Erin closer, and she sagged against him in relief, almost exactly how Piper had done several hours earlier. His heart ached as he held his partner closely. He didn't want to lose her either. "I was so worried," she murmured, "I got the call from Jenna and I went to the hospital and I couldn't find her and I thought she was dead."
"I'm sorry," Jay apologized immediately, "We called, I got your voicemail-"
"I didn't pack a portable charger," she interjected, "'s my fault, I'm just so glad she's alive." Erin took a shuddery breath. "Bunny's friends are…not good."
He nodded, carefully tracing circles on her shoulder with his finger. "That one guy? Dylan?"
"Charlie's brother." Erin shivered and instinctively cuddled closer. "He um, was older than Charlie, one of Bunny's dealers. Came around a lot when I was probably twelve or thirteen. Introduced me to Charlie."
Jay held closer. "He was the one who got me dealing, starting with some of the kids at school. Weed, coke, not a lot but enough to get me in with the wrong crowd. Bunny would pass out early and he'd just be in the apartment, drinking and smoking and whatever. I never really felt safe with him around. I-I wasn't safe, but Bunny didn't care enough to realize. He got mad when I told him I didn't want him to touch me, or kiss me." She swallowed when Jay's eyes darkened. "I-I kind of blocked a lot of that stuff out of my memory. I called Hank once, when things got really bad. I don't know if I could live with myself if he did the same thing to Piper."
"We're not going to let that happen," Jay promised and pressed a kiss to the side of her head. "She's going to be with you."
Erin was about to reply when a small thud caused both of them to jump. Jay immediately got to his feet and hurried to Piper's bedroom to check on his little friend. "Jay, Jay," Piper cried, stumbling toward the detective. He sank to his knees and opened his arms to allow Piper to crash into his chest.
"Hey, hey, it's alright. You're safe," Jay whispered, "You're okay, Pipes."
"I-I got scared," she choked out, "W-where's Erin?"
Jay smiled softly, glad that Piper was still asking about her sister. "We were just sitting on the couch. Do you want to come sit with us for a bit, til you get tired again?"
Piper nodded gratefully and held closely as Jay carried her toward the living room. "I'm sorry," she mumbled, "I-I didn't mean to wake you up."
"We weren't sleeping just yet," he assured her. He flashed a small smile at his partner, "Erin and I were just catching up."
"Hi Noodle," Erin said, reaching out to touch her sister's arm, "Did you have a bad dream?"
Piper nodded sadly. "I-I dreamed I was back there."
"You're safe now," she promised, unable to take her eyes off the timid little girl in her partner's lap. So much of Piper reminded her of herself. It wasn't just that they looked the same. It was the shared look behind their eyes. The brokenness, the loss, the fear. Erin knew just how her sister felt, and it broke her heart.
"Maybe we could come sit with you while you lie down in bed. Would that be okay?" Jay offered. He wanted to get the child the best sleep he could, and figured that would be her sleeping in her own bed.
She shook her head desperately, "I wanna stay here with you guys, please, please."
It was enough to break him, and Jay just nodded. He couldn't say no, not after five days of not getting to be close to his little friend. "We'll stay right here until you fall asleep," he said after a moment, "And I'll bring you to bed a little later, but we're going to be out here all night, okay?"
Piper relaxed and reached an arm out to Erin. She leaned forward, and Jay couldn't help but smile as Erin leaned in closer and rested against Piper, allowing the little girl to hold her closely. Erin exhaled gratefully. It was honestly the comfort she needed after the day she'd had – Piper and Jay's touch both grounding her. "I forgot how comfy you are," Erin murmured, her heart leaping when her little sister carefully stroked her hair, "I missed you, so much."
"I missed you too," Piper whispered, her voice thick with sleep as Jay's gentle heartbeat reminded her that she was safe, and that she was loved. "I like having both you guys close."
Thought y'all deserved some togetherness :) Updates on the case in the next one...
