I got the sweetest request about Erin and Piper and I just had to write it. I hope you like this one!
"Babe, Will said it's better if you lay flat at night," Erin told him gently, running a hand through his hair while he sat on the couch after Hank had left. She'd managed to get some bites of lasagna into Jay and some dry crackers into Piper, but she knew what both of her patients needed was a good night's rest. "Let's go upstairs."
He glanced down at the little human still asleep on his chest. "I just don't want to put her down," he whispered, "It's helping to keep her close."
She nodded and continued to stroke his hair. "I know. But you gotta take care of yourself too, and that means listening to your brother." Erin offered a small smile, "She can take my side of the bed tonight, how about that?"
Jay shook his head. "But you-"
"She's little, and I can squeeze on the edge." Erin leaned forward to kiss his temple. "You need a good night sleep in your own bed, Jay."
He nodded. "And a shower," he mumbled tiredly against the top of Piper's head, "I could really use a shower."
"C'mon." Erin stood from the couch and held out her hand. She followed her boyfriend up the steps after checking to confirm the doors were locked, keeping one hand on his hip.
"I wanna stay with you and Erin," Piper whimpered as Jay entered their bedroom, basking in the familiarity. He was so glad to be home.
"You're staying with us," Erin promised, "You're gonna sleep on my side of the bed tonight, okay? Dr. Manning says that it's good for you both to lie flat."
"What about you?" she mumbled as Jay gently settled her against Erin's pillow, "You're stayin' too?"
"Mm-hm." Erin stroked Piper's hair back gently. "I'm going to help Jay get ready for bed since he's a little sore, and then we'll be right back, okay? Are you feeling sick?"
Piper shook her head. "Sleepy," she replied, closing her eyes while Erin continued to stroke her cheek, "My head hurts but it doesn't hurt so bad when my eyes are closed."
"Good," Erin mused, "Keep your eyes closed, sweetheart. We're going to turn the lights off so it doesn't hurt your head, and we'll be right back." She waited a few moments as Piper's breath evened out before turning to the bathroom in search of her partner.
When she caught sight of her shirtless boyfriend standing in front of the mirror, Erin stifled a gasp. "Babe," she choked out, quickly closing the gap between them.
Jay's torso was littered with bruises, scrapes and cuts. Purple, blue and brown splotches marred his usually smooth skin, particularly around his ribcage. "It looks worse than it is," he attempted, holding his shirt over his chest, "Really."
She shook her head and lowered the shirt. "Oh, Jay," Erin whispered, running her fingers across his chest and abs. She drew in a breath. "C'mon, let's get you cleaned up."
He was quiet as Erin turned on the shower. Steam rose in their bathroom as he carefully slipped out of the sweats Will had dropped off in the hospital room for him, his legs feeling somewhat unsteady after all he'd been through. "I've got you, baby," Erin promised, placing both hands on his hips, "Let me help."
The hot shower water washed away the grime and shame of the past week as Erin methodically ran her loofa over his bruised body. His girl was impossibly gentle as she stood against him beneath the spray, feeling his skin beneath her gentle fingers. "Don't let me hurt you," she whispered, running a cloth across his injured ribs. His abs clenched at the contact but relaxed quickly as Erin pressed a kiss to his arm.
"I shouldn't have done it," he choked out, "I-I shouldn't have done the undercover assignment."
Erin looked up at her partner, tears streaming down his cheeks as the spray from the shower dripped onto them. "Jay-"
"She could have been killed," he whimpered, "Erin, he-he hit her. He was going to take her away. It's my fault."
She was quiet for a moment. It had been in the back of her mind since she nearly collapsed in the Emergency Department, watching both loves of her life being treated by a variety of doctors. There had been so much blood, and she was beside herself. She was so angry that Jay had taken the assignment in the first place. In a really sick way, she was almost glad he felt guilty, because she knew he'd probably never take an undercover assignment again. But the other part of her was aching at just how guilty he felt. She couldn't have her partner going anywhere, not physically or mentally. Even though they talked about it, she was going to make sure he stayed with them.
"We can't change the past," she said finally, brushing his cheek lightly with her fingertips, "But we can make sure that it doesn't happen again."
Jay nodded vigorously. "I'm so sorry," he gasped, dropping his head in defeat, "I'm just…so sorry."
Erin kissed his chest carefully, allowing his tearful apology to wash over her. "I know you are," she replied gently, "And we can talk about how you're feeling more after you've had a good night sleep, okay?"
He wasn't sure if it was tears or shower water dripping from his cheeks as he stood in the glass chamber, his girl's tender touches washing away the horrific memories of the past few days. When the water chilled slightly, he pulled her into his chest, feeling her soft skin on his, her heartbeat against his. "Let's get you warmed up and into bed," she said, reaching behind him to switch the shower off, "There's a certain little bug waiting for us."
"Thank you," he whispered, dropping a kiss atop his girl's head as she wrapped a towel around his waist, "Guess it does hurt a little."
Erin kissed his chest gently. "I'm right here," she promised, "Not going anywhere, and neither are you."
Erin glanced up from her laptop on the kitchen table to the baby monitor seated beside her. It had been a gag gift from Ruzek to keep an eye on Jay that was coming in handy in a big way with both of her loves recovering. Rest had been the biggest prescription for Jay and Piper, which meant that there wasn't all that much that Erin could do besides sit and wait.
She thought about taking time off from work, but with how slow her days were at home with Jay and Piper, and with the support from Diane, working from home was a great middle ground. Jay was already on the mend and Erin was optimistic. They were both worried about their little bug, who had been averse to the new pain medication as well.
It was helping that Jay could be close to Piper all day. She knew her partner was still feeling incredibly guilty for how badly the little girl had been hurt, but the doctor-mandated days off were helping him heal both physically and emotionally.
Jay was fast asleep on his side of the bed, flat on his back per Will's instructions. It was Piper who had drawn Erin's attention to the video monitor. She'd put her little sister down for a nap next to Jay on her usual side of the bed and could tell something wasn't right.
Erin abandoned her laptop and hustled up the steps. The required pain medication to help heal his lungs caused her partner to sleep far deeper than he normally did and despite the distress of the little person on the other end of the bed, he was still out. "Hey, hey, it's okay," Erin soothed as Piper sat up in bed, "Just me, sweetheart."
"I don't feel good," Piper whimpered, scrambling at the covers before putting a shaky hand to her mouth. "I'm gonna get sick again."
She grimaced and tried to help the little girl the few steps from their bed to their bathroom, but wasn't quick enough. Poor Piper lost her breakfast all over Erin's shirt, the nausea from the concussion spinning the bathroom.
"Shh," Erin cooed, holding Piper against her chest after quickly discarding the t shirt she'd been wearing. She sank both of them to the bathroom floor nearest the toilet and snagged some tissue to wipe Piper's chapped lips. "I know, Noodle, I'm sorry."
"I don't like it," she wept, bringing a hand to the bandage on her head, "It hurts."
Erin swallowed the lump in her throat. Dr. Manning had been reluctant to prescribe another different type of pain pill for Piper given her age and size, but the little girl was trying her best not to take them because they made her feel out of sorts. It was a double-edged sword because Erin hated to see her sister feeling lethargic and unlike herself, but she hated it more to see Piper in pain. She was intricately familiar with the post-concussion symptoms and it caused her heart to ache watching Piper suffer.
She kissed the top of Piper's head. "It's going to get better soon," she promised, both for her sake and for Piper's, "What if we try some of those painkillers, hm?"
Piper let out a low whimper. "You said you don't like to take those, so I don't wanna take them either."
Erin rubbed her forehead. She was consistently impressed with how perceptive Piper was, but it always managed remind her when she least expected it. She didn't realize that Piper had been aware of her own skepticism when it came to pain medication back when she'd had emergency surgery. "Oh, sweetheart. They're safe for you, I promise." She ran her finger below the bandage on Piper's forehead, "You've been pretty badly hurt, and they're supposed to ease the pain in your head and help you breathe a bit better. Jay's taking them too."
She sniffed. "You wouldn't be upset?"
Erin shook her head. "Not when you're hurting." She swallowed again, doing her best to keep her eyes dry. "What if we get you cleaned up and into some new pajamas, hm? And then maybe we can try some medicine?"
"If it will help," Piper mumbled dejectedly, "I-I'm sorry for gettin' sick on you."
"Don't worry about that," Erin assured her, "We're gonna get you feeling better, Noodle."
Piper shuddered slightly from the bathroom chill. "When I was in detention with Griffin the first time 'cause Reid tripped him, he told me that his mom still gave him hugs when he got hurt." She took in a small breath. "It was the first time I had to tell someone that I didn't have a mom." Piper glanced up at her big sister, her glassy eyes clearing somewhat, "But then it was the first time I got to tell someone about you. And after I told him 'bout how you love me and take care of me, he said you were my mom."
Erin widened her eyes in surprise. She knew that Piper had related her father-daughter relationship with Hank to the little girl's relationship with Jay, but she had no idea Piper actually thought about her as a mother.
"I know you're my big sister. But you're a really good mom too," she whispered against her sister's shoulder, "And I'm really glad I have you as my sister and my mom."
Erin leaned down to kiss Piper's forehead. "I'm trying my best," she said thickly, "I love you so much. And I don't like to see you hurting."
"That's 'cause moms don't like seeing their kids hurt. That's what Griffin said."
"She is a good mom," Jay murmured from the doorway. He gave his girls a tired smile after catching the tail end of their conversation. He felt badly he hadn't woken up in time to help. "Still feeling crummy, Pipes?"
He frowned when Piper nodded. "I'm sorry I didn't hear you," he said guiltily, crouching down in front of his girls, "Maybe I could get you some clean pajamas?"
"Good idea, babe," Erin said, still stroking Piper's hair. She finally found her voice when it dawned on her. She really was a mom. Moms were supposed to pick their kids up from school and hold them when they were feeling sick. Moms were supposed to overlook all the icky bugs and runny noses and just be there for their kids regardless. And Piper saw that in her, before she really, truly saw it in herself. She wasn't just a parent – she was a mom. "Maybe some juice too? And her meds from the kitchen counter, please."
By the time they reached the weekend, Erin was never more grateful to close her computer early. Work had been manageable from home, and Diane was a godsend, but she was looking forward to getting to join Piper and Jay in their couch naps.
After convincing the little girl to take the painkillers, the nausea from the concussion was significantly reduced, albeit replaced by serious lethargy. Piper was usually cuddled into Jay on the couch or asleep on Erin's side of the bed – they hadn't broached the idea of having her sleep in her own bed yet, and both Jay and Erin were dreading it. Erin had grown accustomed to snuggling up beside her little sister in the week Jay had been away, and Jay just wanted to be close to both of his girls.
"Hey, babe," Jay greeted, padding down the steps lightly, "Your day going okay?" He kissed the top of Erin's head as she sat at their kitchen table, "Keeping an eye on us, I see."
"Best gift Ruzek has ever given me," she replied, pointing to the video screen where she could see Piper sleeping soundly in her bed, "I love that I can keep tabs on you. Might have to talk to Hank about getting one for the district."
"Very funny," he retorted, taking a seat beside her, "I'm feeling much better, but I've got two and a half weeks of medical leave that I am going to take full advantage of." He tilted his head to the side, "You doing alright?"
"Me?" Erin pointed to her chest, "I didn't just get out of the hospital two days ago."
"I know. But you've been babysitting both Pipes and I, and you had a week of just the two of you and I know a lot went down." He offered a small smile. "I just wanted to see where your beautiful head was at."
She reached over the table to grasp his fingers. "My head missed yours," she said honestly, "And I'm still really worried about you guys."
"I am feeling better," he promised, "Bruises look way more disgusting now, which means they're healing."
Erin tried to smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "We uh, we haven't talked about the Bunny of it all. That she was the one to give you up."
Jay let out a breath. "I'm normally not one to defend her," he said slowly, "But Dylan said she didn't know anything about me being undercover. Just happened to show him the picture. I mean, it's still a problem that she'd hired people to take pictures of us, but I don't think she meant to actually make me."
"It's just like her though," Erin rubbed her forehead, "Getting into something, dragging the people I love down with her. I-I'm sorry babe."
He shook his head. "Did you talk to your lawyer?"
"Yeah. Leslie confirmed that she can't do anything. She signed away her rights to Piper." Erin sighed. "I just wish she'd leave forever."
"She's in Canada, according to Dylan," Jay said, "Maybe she'll stay out there."
"Just like our deadbeat dad. Two parents, both on the run from the law. What great role models." Erin tilted her head to the side to regard her partner. "I'm just glad you're still here. That you're home, and safe, with me and Piper."
"Me too." Jay lifted her hand to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss to her fingers.
"I thought I was going to lose you again," she whispered, running her thumb over his hand, "And I didn't think I was going to be strong enough to handle it." She let out a shaky breath. "I didn't sleep in our bed once while you were gone. I-I could barely be in this house."
His knowing eyes were bringing tears to hers. "A-and then I realized that I did that to you," she managed, "I left you for a year."
"Babe." Jay shook his head, "That was a different time. And I left first."
"I know," her voice cracked, "And it just made me miss you even more."
Jay pushed his chair out and opened his arms. "C'mere," he whispered, gesturing for her to come sit with him, "You're not gonna hurt me."
Erin wrapped her arms around his neck gently and settled into his less-injured side. "I was so mad at you," she managed, burying her face in his neck, "For leaving. For taking this assignment, for leaving us. I-I know you had to do it but-"
"You should be mad at me," Jay said slowly, swallowing the lump in his throat, "You should both be mad at me. It's my fault that I'm hurt, that Pipes is concussed and in pain. It's on me." He sniffed. "When we were in that warehouse and she told me that I was her dad, I've never felt so happy. Or more guilty. Because I don't think I deserve to be her dad."
"Jay-"
"Dads aren't supposed to put their kids in danger," Jay choked out, "They're supposed to keep them safe, supposed to be there for them when they need it and I wasn't. I didn't keep her safe. I am the reason she's lying in that bed upstairs with a bandage around her head."
"Parents make mistakes," Erin told him, "Partners make mistakes too. It doesn't mean you shouldn't be a parent, or a partner." She wiped his cheek gently. "Just because I was angry doesn't mean I stopped loving you. I mean, I saw you in that hospital bed and all I wanted to do was smack you around but then I actually saw you and-" Her breath caught. "I can't live without you. We can't live without you. And please, don't go anywhere again."
Jay nodded and brought his head to Erin's. "I'm so sorry," he whispered, "I-I can't say it enough."
"I forgot how bad it hurt to be without you," she whimpered, "I don't want to do it again, okay? Watching Piper miss you just-" Her voice cracked again. "I can't do it."
"You're not going to have to," he promised, kissing the side of her head, "Here to stay, babe." He ran a hand across her back, "I know I can't promise staying out of harm's way because of the work the unit does, but I made Hank promise no more undercover assignments."
"But it's your job-"
"My job, first and foremost, is to keep you and Pipes safe," Jay said carefully, "And it's the job I take the most seriously." He took a breath, "And it's the best job I ever had. Doesn't even feel like work."
She nestled her head into the crook of his neck. "I never thought I could be so co-dependent," she said wryly, "But here I am."
He chuckled softly. "Well if it makes you feel any better, I hardly slept without you next to me. First real rest I got in a week was probably last night."
"Noodle was my snuggle buddy," Erin replied seriously, "I slept in her bed…except for the night after she saw the video of you." She stroked his hair back. "She uh, called Hank. I was having a really bad night, I'd just lost it on her and she called him. He got the video and I made him show me and then she overheard." She shuddered at the memory, "I never felt like more of a failure. She totally lost it. Had to do the inhaler and everything. Couldn't get her upstairs after, we stayed on the couch all night."
The guilt crept back up Jay's throat. "Poor little bug," he mused, "She's had a real rough go of it."
"I'm glad we're taking her in tomorrow," Erin said honestly, "It's only been twenty-four hours or so since she was last so nauseous, and I think the pain meds are masking it. At least they're taking the stitches out."
He nodded in agreement. "Honestly breaks my heart to see that bandage wrapped around her tiny little head." Jay let out a breath, "I wish I remembered what happened."
"I'm glad you don't," Erin replied, stroking his cheek gently, "Hank said you guys got really lucky." She kissed his lips gently but pulled back and frowned. "Are you in pain?"
"A little." Jay exhaled again. "But being close to my girls is helping."
"Speaking of," Erin gestured to the baby monitor, where Piper was climbing out of bed, "She's up."
"That thing is handy," Jay remarked, "Where was this after you had surgery?"
"At the store, thankfully," she replied, pressing a kiss to his temple, "You didn't let me out of your sight anyway."
"Hey, kiddo," he greeted as the little girl slowly made her way down the steps, "Did you have a nice rest?"
She nodded shyly. "I'm a little hungry."
"You're hungry?" A grin spread across Erin's cheeks as she quickly scrambled off Jay's lap. Piper being hungry was excellent news. The child hadn't been hungry since returning from the hospital three days ago. "What are you hungry for?"
Piper shrugged. "You're excited that I'm hungry?"
"Mm-hm," she nodded, smiling wider when Piper came closer. She boosted the little girl into her arms, mindful of her sore torso. "I get very excited when my little bug is hungry." She pointed to the kitchen, where Jay had already pulled open the fridge. "Jay's already making you a snack."
Piper rested her head on Erin's shoulder with content, and Erin kissed just below the bandage. Her little sister had been incredibly clingy to her and Jay since returning from the hospital, but particularly with her. Erin was surprised given how Piper was typically more willing to accept comfort from Jay, but she wasn't complaining. In the week Jay was gone, their relationship grew even stronger and Erin was incredibly grateful to have her little girl in her arms. "You ready to get those stitches out tomorrow?"
"Uh-huh," Piper nodded, "We gotta go back to the hospital?"
"Just for a check up," Jay promised, placing a variety of food options on the kitchen island. "Okay, Pipes, what sounds good? We could do a sandwich, maybe some eggs, a smoothie?"
"A smoothie please," Piper determined, offering a smile, "With peanut butter."
"Excellent choice," he beamed, "Er, you want one too?"
"Sounds delicious." She nuzzled Piper's cheek with her nose. Erin hadn't realized it until Piper did, but she really was a mom. Having her little sister on her hip was like having her own baby back in her arms, and she was so thankful that she was feeling a bit better. "But those noise might be really loud. Maybe we could go upstairs while Jay runs the blender?"
"I'll run it in the bathroom," he determined, dropping a banana, some strawberries and a dollop of peanut butter into the blender, "You guys want to get comfy on the couch?"
Erin sat on the exam room table, Piper cradled in her lap. She needed to bring both her recovering loves for check ups at the hospital, and poor Piper was struggling with the florescent lighting. The little girl was wearing a pair of Erin's sunglasses and had her face buried in her big sister's neck while they waited for Dr. Manning to remove the stitches from her forehead.
Jay was due for another x-ray, and had been taken to a different floor for the quick procedure. After four days of not letting either of them out of her sight, Erin was stressed. "I know Noodle," she cooed, stroking Piper's hair back, "We're almost outta here."
"Want Jay," Piper whimpered, shivering slightly in her sister's embrace, "And I wanna go home."
"Soon," she promised, exhaling when a knock came at the exam room door, "Dr. Manning's going to take your stitches out, and then we'll get you home."
"Hi guys," Natalie Manning greeted gently, "How's everything going?"
Erin gave a nervous look. "The lights in here are really bugging her."
"That's not uncommon," the doctor assured her, "Can I take a quick look?"
"I wanna stay with Erin," Piper insisted, gripping her sister's shirt in her fists. Erin drew in a breath. She would be lying if she said she wasn't glad for how clingy Piper had been. After seeing her little sister laying in the hospital bed four days ago, and after not knowing where she was for half a day, Erin was more than happy to keep the little girl close and never let her go.
"You can stay right there," Natalie promised, "I'm just going to take the bandage off your head and see if those stitches are ready to come out."
"The nausea's gotten a bit better, I think," Erin said as the doctor peeled back the bandages on her sister's forehead, "She's been sleeping pretty much all day, laying flat. She hasn't been eating that much though."
"Mm," she nodded, assessing the stitches, "These can come out, so showers or baths are okay now. And the sleep is good. The painkillers are working out okay?"
"Got a few pills left," Erin confirmed, kissing the top of Piper's head, "I think so, huh sweetheart?"
"They make my side hurt less," Piper said softly, "But I feel best when I'm stayin' with Erin and Jay."
Natalie smiled kindly. "I'm glad. And I think Jay's probably on his way down here now." She tilted her head when she heard the knock at the door, "I bet that's him."
"Two Halsteads comin' in," Jay announced, keeping his voice low, "Will wanted to check in too."
"Sweet glasses, munchkin," he said, offering a smile. He extended a cup to Erin, "I thought my favorite girls could use a milkshake."
Erin returned the smile. "Thanks, Will," she said, accepting the cup, "What do you think, Noodle?" She looked at the red-headed doctor, "We haven't been eating all that much. Still a bit nauseous."
"We're going to prescribe some special smoothies you guys can make at home," Natalie informed them, carefully pulling the stitches out of Piper's head while the little girl huddled in her sister's lap, "Those will help you fill up and keep you nice and strong."
"I like smoothies," Piper said, her voice brighter after accepting the sip of the milkshake, "That's really good. Like the frozen hot chocolate Hailey gets me."
"And the stitches are out," Dr. Manning announced, "I just need to take a listen to those lungs of yours, and then you all can get outta here."
Piper froze when the doctor produced the stethoscope to place on her back. "I wanna stay with Erin," she insisted, leaning back against her sister. She did not want the doctor to touch her.
"I'm right here," Erin promised, stroking the top of her head, "Just gotta lean forward a bit so Dr. Manning can take a listen and see how your ribs are doing."
She shook her head, "It's gonna hurt," she whimpered, tears filling her eyes behind the sunglasses, "I don't want to."
Erin shot a desperate look to the other adults in the room. "What if I held you?" Will offered, holding his arms out, "You can go right here, and then Dr. Manning can take a quick listen." He poked Jay in the shoulder, "Or what about Jay?"
"Would that be okay, if you go to Jay or Will, Noodle?" Erin asked, "And then we're done."
Piper looked at the brothers. "J-Jay," she whispered, reaching her arms out.
"C'mere, Pipes," Jay lifted Piper into his arms after she gave a tiny nod, "I know it hurts." He held her closely as she sagged against him and issued a small nod, indicating that the doctor should look at Piper's lungs. He kissed the top of her head and stroked her hair, hoping to bring as much comfort as he possibly could.
Erin grimaced when the little girl flinched at the contact. Just seeing the black and blue bruises across her tiny torso was enough to turn her stomach and break her heart. "Jay's ribs are healing," Will informed Erin, "Swelling's down, and he's on the mend."
She exhaled. At least one of her patients was doing better. "Told you those frozen peas were a good idea," she informed him, "I picked up a thing or two in my research."
"Piper's lungs sound better too," Dr. Manning determined, "You guys are doing a great job. Just going to take some time." She offered Erin a smile, "You're doing everything right, Erin."
Erin let out another breath, and Jay smiled. "What about her headaches?" she asked, "I-I still think she's in more pain than we realize."
"You'll just need to avoid the triggers for a bit," Will supplied, "Like keeping the lights down, reducing noise, that kind of thing." He kissed Piper's forehead as she buried her face in Jay's shoulder, "It's all going to take some time."
"Erin," Piper whispered, reaching a hand out for her big sister, "I want Erin."
"Her sweet little head," Erin whispered, stroking Piper's forehead as they sat on either side of the little girl in the dark bedroom, "Guess bad concussions are in the family genes too."
Jay nodded sadly. "I know the rest is good for her. I mean, she's been struggling to sleep for months, so the hours she's getting now make sense it's just…" he trailed off. He hated to see either of his girls in pain, and watching Piper deal with continued headaches in the aftermath of her concussion was breaking his heart.
Their little bug had become increasingly clingy with the headaches, particularly following the trip to the hospital. While Erin worked on Monday and Tuesday, she did so from the couch to allow Piper and Jay to snooze beside her. Each day was a little bit better and thankfully Piper's nausea was gone, but it didn't stop her mama heart from constantly aching.
"Wish it wasn't still so damn cold outside," Erin mused, "The fresh air usually helps me." She gave a guilty smile. "I guess I've had a few concussions to be able to speak from experience."
"Too many," he replied dryly. Jay paused. "I mean, we could head up to the cabin for a few days. It's not the best time of year given that it's gross with melted snow and sleet, but she always sleeps better up there anyway. Country air could be good."
"That's a great idea," Erin mused, "We're keepin' her home anyway. Next week is spring break, and I already put in for those days off before. I'm sure Diane can handle the rest of this week, and Bryer already told me to take more time if I needed it." She offered a smile, "Let's get outta here tomorrow, babe. Just us, our kid and the fresh air."
Jay wasn't used to being in the passenger seat. Well, normally he was. But on their drives to Wisconsin, he always drove. It was one of the few times that Erin would relinquish the keys and allow him to take control. He knew the country roads like the back of his hand, and could practically do the drive in his sleep.
But this time, Erin insisted she drive. And he couldn't fight her on it, not when the drive was six hours, and he'd been napping so much throughout the day he hadn't made it six consecutive hours awake in over a week. He no longer needed the pain meds but was seriously looking forward to the country air to help heal his ribs.
He was mostly looking forward to lounging around the cabin with his girls. It wasn't so different from what he'd been doing for the past week with Piper, but Erin left her laptop in Chicago. They had a week's worth of groceries in the back of the car and were ready to put the rest of Jay's medical leave and Piper's spring break to good use. It helped that she wasn't actually missing school, but both of them felt that even if it wasn't break, they'd have to keep her home. Her headaches were still frequent and while she tried to muscle through, they could always tell when she was struggling.
Before the undercover assignment, Jay had actually been thinking about taking all of them up to Wisconsin for a couple of days over Piper's break anyway. It coincided with Erin's birthday, a day they never really celebrated after Nadia. The first year's morbid anniversary included burgers at Kuma's, but the next year Erin and Jay hadn't been on the best of terms. The third year was marked by bourbon – both of them, separately, several states between them.
Being up in a secluded cabin, away from it all, was a good way to celebrate in Jay's mind. Just him and his girls. All he needed, all he ever wanted.
"How are you feeling, babe?" Erin asked, not taking her eyes off the road. "You can nap, you know. The address is in the GPS."
"The GPS is stupid," he scoffed, "I can get us there quicker."
"You get us lost in Chicago without the GPS," Piper mumbled tiredly from the backseat, "That's how come Hailey always has it on in your car."
Erin smirked. "Pipes," Jay groaned, "I thought that was a secret."
"'s not a secret that you get lost," she replied simply, earning a snort from her big sister, "Erin knows it."
"Okay fine. Maybe I'm not so great with directions in Chicago, but I know how to get to Wisconsin with my eyes closed." He leaned back in the passenger seat when Erin chuckled. "When did it become standard practice for the two of you to gang up on me?"
Had to get Mama Erin in there! Little bit of Wisconsin sweetness up next :)