April 30th, 2020

28

"138 Ohioans died from or with Covid-19, yesterday. That is the highest number recorded so far. Stay safe! Stay inside. Wear your mask if you need to leave the house," the radios news anchor told them at the morning of Brianna's funeral. Erin sighted, got up and turned the radio off.

"More good news!" she grumbled to no one in particular. Sophia wasn't really following the news and Jay was upstairs getting changed for the funeral. He had been able to take the day off, the same as all the members of the Sons of Mercy. He also would be free for the whole weekend, although one day they would have to go to Bexley, near Columbus, with the Sons of Mercy, where a protest was planned in front of the house of the state's leading health official managing the pandemic, the 'damn doctor's lady', as the Sons tend to call that official. During that protest, they wanted to see how they could attack the life of her in the foreseeable future.

"Hi, I'm here!" Erin heard Su greeting from the entrance.

"In the kitchen!" Erin answered.

Sophia looked at her. "Su?" she asked.

"Yes, Babygirl, it's Su!" Erin said wiping Sophia's mouth off the last cereals and milk. "Remember? She's staying with you today because Mommy and Daddy have to go somewhere."

"Alex?" Sophia asked.

"Alex is staying with his Daddy and his Grandma today." They'd decided to spare Sophia the experience of the funeral. After what happened the weekend before, they wanted to keep her away from the Sons of Mercy and their families as far as possible. "Alex is coming back tomorrow. You're having Su all to yourself today." Erin nodded towards Su, who entered the kitchen.

"Hey, Sophia!" she greeted the little girl. "Are you up to a fun day with auntie Su?"

Sophia didn't look convinced yet.

"Would you like to do something fun like going out with your tricycle or feeding the duckies?" Su tried.

"Stay inside!" Sophia answered.

"Shall we do some art project to show your parents, how great an artist you are?" Su asked.

Sophia nodded.

"And we can play whatever you want!" Su said.

"Be careful with what you promise, she might get ideas!" Erin winked at her partner. She turned to Sophia. "I am upstairs getting ready, okay, Babygirl? You good to stay here with Su?"

Sophia nodded. "Stay inside!"

"That you can do. Your Daddy and I need to leave the house soon."

"No!" Sophia protested. "Stay inside! Stay safe!"

Su looked irritated, but Erin finally got it.

"Remember me to turn the radio off when she's in the kitchen. She understands way too much already," she told Su. Then she turned to Sophia. "Baby, the man in the Radio was talking about the virus, you and me already had. That means, we're safe. And the man also said, to wear a mask, when you go outside. That's what Daddy and I am doing. We will be safe, okay?"

Luckily, the priest had only allowed more than 5 people at Brianna's funeral, under the condition that everyone would wear a mask.

Sophia nodded. "Okay!"

Erin caressed her head. "I am upstairs now." She nodded towards Su.

Sophia waved her Mom goodbye.

Jay just left the bathroom freshly showered and shaved, when Erin arrived in the bedroom to get out fitting clothes for the occasion. The upper two knobs of his dress shirt were still open. He looked awfully hot, she realized.

"You smell good," she couldn't contain herself from saying.

Jay put on a cocky grin and came closer. "Do I?"

Erin actually blushed and turned back to their closet. Jay was right behind her. The aroma of his aftershave was very intense now. Erin had to pull herself together not to turn around. She grabbed her black dress and got some matching stockings out the lower drawer. She knew he was watching her behind. When she got up, she needed to turn around, but she also knew, if she did that now, her dress would get all wrinkled and they would be probably extremely late for the funeral. She shook her head. Her thoughts just weren't appropriate for that occasion.

Jay's arm reached past her. She had to take in a breath. Jay grabbed one of his ties and took a step back. When Erin finally turned around with the dress and the stockings in her hand, he was grinning, while he was working on his tie.

"I think, you wanted to take a shower," he said winking at her.

"I was!" Erin confirmed with a husky voice, then she put the dress down on their bed and came closer. She took over his tie and straightened it for him. Now it was his turn to take in a breath. She took a step back again and contently viewed her work.

„You look awfully handsome!" She said with a mockingly surprised undertone.

He of course put on a cocky grin. „One of the many qualities I offer!"

Erin scanned him. „I wouldn't say many ..." she winked at him. "but it is definitely a quality!"

She came closer again, but instead of kissing him, she took her dress, smiled seductively, and went to the bathroom. "I'm taking a shower now. A real pity, you've taken yours already!" With that she vanished behind the bathroom door.

Jay stayed shaking his head and taking a deep breath. He looked at the time, and sighted. As much as he loved, no urged, to join Erin in the shower, there just wasn't the time. And it wasn't really appropriate. In about 45 minutes he was supposed to help carrying the coffin of Brianna. Thus, he put on the jacket.

Erin and Jay arrived at the church's graveyard on time. Although they lived close by, they had decided to take the car, as Erin didn't feel like walking with her heels for long.

There had been no service prior. Everything would be done outside on the grave side. The church had stopped indoor services as a precaution a week ago.

They saw Marge, who muttered over the face mask she was wearing below the chin.

The pater arrived and greeted her.

"Dear Marge, would you mind wearing your mask over your mouth and nose, please?" he asked her.

Marge reddened slightly and put the mask over her mouth. The nose was still not covered.

"Over the mouth and nose, please, dear Marge," the priest said friendly.

"I'm sorry, pater, but I just can't breathe through these things!" she explained.

"Dear Marge, surgeons wear them for hours, I'm sure a capable woman like you is able to do that at least for this service, which will take less than an hour," the priest said while his smile reached his eyes.

"But I have a slight cold, and difficulties breathing," Marge tried to explain.

"Even More the reason to wear your mask properly. You don't want anyone to get sick here, do you?" the priest asked, still very friendly.

"But I don't have that fake virus. It's just a spring cold!" Marge defended herself.

"Marge, dear, I'm sure you don't want to be responsible to pass on a spring cold to your friends here as well," the priest kept arguing in a very friendly tone.

At that Marge gave up. She put the mask up a bit. Soon she began to cough, but because the priest was still looking at her, she didn't dare to put the mask off again.

Then the car with the coffin arrived, and Jay, Johnny, Mitch, Gary, Stan, and Mouse each took one handle. Marge followed with Alex by her side. You could see, she was still suppressing a cough, and some anger.

It was weird to see all the Sons of Mercy and their wives wearing facemasks. During the service, most of those ended up at least under their noses, except for Marge's. She somehow was impressed by the conversation she had with the pater earlier.

Having the whole service outside during a pandemic also meant there was no singing. That was weird even to Jay. He remembered well which hymns and sermons he'd picked for his mother's funeral all those years ago. He had been too far too many funerals already, comrades, some victims, whose death hit especially close to home, friends and colleagues like Nadia and Al, his father. Non had been nice, of course, but none had been so hard to go through than the one of his own mother. He'd just been back from a tour overseas, dealing, or more not dealing with everything he'd seen there, and then she was just gone. She'd suffered awfully in the end. He had been there, too late to still spend quality time with her, but he had been there at least. He had been in his mid-20s but had still felt far too young to lose his mom.

He looked at Alex, who just starred towards the coffin. If he understood what was going on already? He was still so young. Still in diapers, only a year and a half older than Sophia. Would he even remember his mom over time?

What would have happened to Sophia if Erin wouldn't have made it at Easter. He pressed Erin's hand. He didn't want his thoughts to go there. She gave him a small smile.

Erin looked more composed than she had been the days following Brianna's death. Ever since they'd found the letter, she seemed more collected. She'd found her purpose in everything. Being there for Alex was her long-term goal. Although, they both agreed they couldn't just take the boy from his family, Brianna's letter gave them the means to take care of him, if Marge seemed unfit to fulfill that task once his father was behind bars.

After they'd finished the Lord's Prayer, they heard Marge coughing and wheezing again. It sounded, as if she had difficulties breathing. Before anyone could do anything, Marge turned around and went a few steps away to get rid of her face mask. Alex stayed by the grave without moving. Erin looked for any reaction from Johnny, but there was none. Thus, she went to Alex's side and took his hand in hers. Now she could feel him trembling. She pressed her hand a little to assure him. Then she helped him with the shovel, that he could put some soil on the coffin before the ceremony ended. Erin still looked for Johnny, but he was busy with people coming to his side and offering their condolences.

There was no wake planned. Jay's alert of Officer O'Neill last week, had brought an end to that plan. There would of course be some drinking with the Sons of Mercy down at the gun range but nothing in which the women would be included. Erin still wanted to make sure, Alex was as fine as possible under the circumstances, so she took him with her, when she went over to Marge, who now stood at another grave. It was the one of her late son Sam.

„I'm sorry," she said, as she saw Erin and Alex coming. She wheezed again.

"Are you ok, Marge?" Erin asked.

Marge turned away and coughed. "Must have caught something, nothing serious, but I didn't want to disturb my ceremony with all my coughing." She explained between coughs.

"Are you okay to take care of Alex, or shall we take him with us?" Erin asked.

"I'll be fine. Alex should be with his family today. A pity, Brianna's aunt didn't make it."

"Yes, I talked to her yesterday, but if she'd really had contact with someone infected with the virus, it's sensible to stay away," Erin explained.

"I think that's made up!" Marge commented before she coughed again.

"The virus?" Erin asked.

"Well, maybe, but too many people have it now, so maybe it is real?" Marge still didn't look convinced. "Anyways, I still don't believe it's as serious as the fake media makes it. But what I meant was, that that woman only wanted to have an excuse not to come," Marge explained her point of view.

Erin nodded. "She seemed to be seriously concerned for all of our health. We agreed that I'll bring her Brianna's things after lockdown."

Marge coughed again. She looked pale and her eyes were red.

"You're sure, you are able to take care of Alex?" Erin asked again.

"Sure!" Marge attested. "If you could get him tomorrow before my shift, that would be great, though."

"Sure, I'll come by at 8:30 to pick him up. Would that work for you?" Erin asked.

Marge nodded.

Erin bent down to Alex level. "Hey, Alex, you're leaving with your Granny now, but we will see each other tomorrow morning, okay?"

Alex pressed Erin's hand harder and looked at her.

"Alex, you have to let go of my hand, now, okay?" Erin asked.

„He's really fond of you!" Marge said. You could see she was smiling under the mask she put up again as she saw the pater approaching.

Erin nodded, when Alex still held her hand closely, she began to whisper in his ear. „Your Daddy won't be in tonight. It's only you and your grandma, okay?"

Alex nodded, and let go of Erin's hand.

„What did you tell him?" Marge asked whose hearing wasn't that good anymore.

„That I will be back tomorrow morning, and that he'll have a great day with his grandma," Erin extended the truth.

Marge nodded and took Alex by her hand to leave. Erin waved at them. Alex looked at her with sad eyes but didn't resist to leave any more.

When Erin got up, Jay was by her side. "He'll be okay?" he asked.

"I hope so, one day," Erin answered honesty.

Jay put an arm around her and pressed a kiss on her covered head. "We'll make sure of that!"

Sammy came towards them. "Hey, Erin, I haven't seen you since the weekend. Everything okay?" Then she paused, remembering where she was. "I mean, besides Brianna's death of course. I know the two of you were close," she added more earnestly.

Erin was incredibly happy for the face mask at that moment, so that Sammy couldn't see, how much of her smile was fake. "Sammy, hi!" Erin said in the friendliest voice she could manage. "I'm sorry if I ghosted you. We had Alex with us quite a lot..."

Sammy nodded. "It's wonderful, that you make such an effort for such a strange kid."

"Alex is special!" Erin said, and this time it was a real smile that reached her eyes. "It's great to have him."

"But isn't he," Sammy searched for the right words. "A bit quiet?"

"He used to talk with us, before..." Erin nodded towards the grave side. "We hope to get him there again."

Before Sammy could pick up on the idea, that they were trying to get another's family kid talking, Jay intersected. "And Sophia talks enough for both of them!" he said with a fake laugh.

"Sure!" Sammy agreed. "Where is that wonderful daughter of yours?" She looked around.

"At home with the nanny," Erin said.

"Such a pity. Wasn't she stunning the other day?" she asked turning to Jay.

Jay's grip around Erin's shoulder tightened. He didn't respond.

Erin decided to come as clean as their cover would allow. After all they wouldn't want their daughter looking like that again. Although other than Jay, Erin still would allow her to wear makeup before she turned 18.

"You know Sammy," Erin began to explain, „we really appreciate that you gave our daughter such a special time on Saturday. She obviously enjoyed it a lot. That said, we would have appreciated it even more, if you had asked us, if it's okay to style her, because, honestly, we think she's far too young for such a make-over."

„Oh," Sammy said surprised. „I thought you'd like that."

„Just ask us, next time, okay?" Erin said trying to ignore the pain in her shoulder from Jay's hand that was almost cramping at her.

„Yes, of course, it's your kid. I just wanted to do something fun with her." Sammy said still surprised.

„She had fun for sure!" Erin agreed placeable.

„What I actually wanted to ask you is," Sammy began to change the subject. „You probably heard from Jay that phase one starts on Saturday, so I think it's about time we restart our martial arts training and finally go to the gun range together. Are you up for that?"

Erin nodded slowly. „I should be. Su moved out of the basement, so we should be able to start, maybe tomorrow? I mean, I got the kids, 'cause Marge is working, but Su's there. So, why not tomorrow?" She looked at Jay in confirmation.

He nodded. „I'll be back from work around 5:30 pm, if you want to do whatever then."

„Perfect," Sammy said excited. „Then we can go to the gun range at night. I already reserved us a spot, and I come by let's say at 3pm, and we do a martial arts session, then we have dinner together and then we can head to the gun range. I'll ask Loreen to join, and maybe even Jane, Stan's mom. Have you met her yet?" Sammy asked.

Erin cringed. That was the esoteric healer that had given Brianna false hope. „Only by name. So, you're planning a whole party again?"

„Nuh, I don't think O'Neill controls the gun range as well. Otherwise, the guys would have been locked up already," Sammy explained.

Officer O'Neill actually had been about to do so the week prior. Jay luckily had found out in time. That was when he decided to recruit him. Because of the cameras and the listening devices installed there, a bust by the local police might endanger their intel.

„Fine, then. I can't guarantee I'm a good shot again, as I haven't tried since the stroke, but I could still teach you the basics at least in theory," Erin offered.

She had to pick up her work on the women one day, and Sammy was right, the first part of the new plan of the Sons of Mercy was to begin, the day after tomorrow. So, the sooner, the better.

„Great! So that's a date then!" Sammy said enthusiastically. „Will you also be there on the 2nd?"

„Yes, actually, if Sophia lets me go, I wanted to join in this time." They had decided to have as many eyes and ears on the ground for the protest in front of the house of the woman responsible for Ohio's pandemic response as possible. There would be parts of their team from New York on the side of the law enforcement present as well, but it would certainly be fruitful to have as many undercover agents between the protesters as well.

„Perfect, then we see each other the next two days! Isn't that great?" Sammy said happily.

„Yeah, I can't wait!" Fortunately, the hint of sarcasm in Erin's voice got lost by Sammy. Just in case it didn't, Erin hurried to add, back to her undercover persona: „Can you believe, my friends back in Chicago haven't had any social gatherings for almost two months now!"

„If you ask me, they are idiots! The fear of death shouldn't keep you from enjoying your life and have a fun time with friends. You saw what happened to Brianna. That was quite fast. And no virus was responsible for that! Though I wouldn't wonder if this autopsy said she'd died from the virus." Sammy rolled her eyes.

„More with the virus..." Erin joined in although that was quite painful for her.

"How do you even know about that autopsy?" Jay inquired.

"Well, I think Johnny was complaining to everyone about that. He obviously did to you, didn't he?" Sammy asked back.

Jay nodded. "He might have mentioned it once or twice." He looked around, but Johnny had already left. "Looks like he's left already, we probably should get going as well to relieve Su." He looked at Erin, who nodded thankfully.

"Yes, ever since my hospital incident, Sophia isn't very good without me for long!" Erin explained to Sammy.

"Sure! Go and see her. We'll be seeing each other tomorrow and the day after tomorrow!" Sammy stated happily again. "So long! Byeeee!" She waved goodbye to them.

As soon as she was out of ear shot, Jay whispered only for Erin to hear. "I really hate that woman!"

"Let's go home, I have to relax so that I have enough energy to face that woman the next two days!" Erin muttered with an equally low voice. She took out her phone. "Su and Soph are at the lakeside after all." She showed Jay a picture Su had just sent her. "So, she did leave the house after all." She smiled thinking of her worried daughter in the morning.

Jay smiled at that information without asking why Sophia wouldn't want to leave the house. He had other things on his mind. "Let's hurry home then, it's not often that we have the house all to ourselves," he insinuated.

"Jay, we just were at a funeral!" Erin protested while they walked to their car.

"All the reason to do something good and mind numbing, don't you think?" he tried his luck.

Erin just rolled her eyes. "Don't you have to be at the gun range soonish?"

"Nuh," Jay answered while disinfected his hands inside the car with the door open. "I convinced everyone that it would look far too conspicuous if we all arrive there at once. I got at least two hours, before I need to be there."

"They are probably quite happy to have a former detective amongst themselves, aren't they?" Erin asked. She was now on the passenger seat next to him and took the hand sanitizer from him.

"I sure hope so!" He said starting the car.

Erin looked back at the graveyard. A wave of sorrow and pain overcame her. This was the end now. Of Brianna. She'd only known her about a month, but she still felt for her. If only, she'd pushed her more to ...

"You, okay?" Jay asked from the driver's seat.

Erin didn't hide her tears. She nodded. "I will be. Just give me a minute."

Jay put his hand on her leg reassuringly. "Stop blaming yourself, will you?"

Erin took a deep breath and nodded. She took his hand in hers. "I'm glad we're in this together!"

Jay parked the car in front of their house. He turned towards her, opened his seatbelt, and carefully touched the last tear that was still on her cheek. He smiled with so much love at her, that she almost shed another one. "Me too!" he said before he carefully kissed her on the mouth, which she returned tenderly.

She looked at him smiling. Then she became serious again. "We should go inside and maybe take another shower. I didn't like the way Marge coughed all the time."

"Do you think she got it?" Jay asked.

"Wouldn't be that surprising, would it?" Erin asked. "I mean she has contact with a lot of people at work and normally refuses to wear a mask."

They left the car and looked around if none of their neighbors was listening.

"You're right," Jay agreed. "It's not that far-fetched. But not every cough is Covid. Maybe she just has allergies."

Erin shrugged, while she waited for Jay to unlock the door. "We should still be careful. You, especially!"

"So that's why you want me to take a shower again?" Jay winked at her insinuating.

Erin got a mirroring grin. "I guess, that would be a start."

"Care to join me?" Jay asked the obvious while he put his keys in the bowl.

"You know," Erin said with a seductive smile. "I actually might be as dirty as you."

They hurried upstairs. They hadn't been intimate together ever since Hank had arrived before Easter. First, Jay wanted to wait till Erin was better, and then Brianna had passed, he had been on the night shift, and the kids were somehow always there. Jay didn't know, how other working parents managed to have more than one child.

They took it slow this time. They carefully explored each other's bodies with so much tenderness, that it almost made Erin cry again. She'd almost forgotten that side of their intimacy, as they mostly just gave into the urge and attractiveness, that pulled them together.

They rarely had managed to take it slow. Those were always incredibly special occasions when one of them, or both of them, felt especially down, after Justin's funeral for example or after cases that had hid too close to home for either of them. Now was such a special occasion. Their tenderness was however not only based on the sadness that had surrounded them that morning and the week before, but for a large part was also founded in the love they'd confessed for each other after the last time they had been intimate together.

They still held each other close afterwards. Jay softly kissed Erin's forehead and then combed through her short hair, while he looked at her. He could get lost in those eyes, he thought an awfully familiar thought, while she felt liked cocooned in all his love and tenderness.

"I can't tell you how much I love you!" he couldn't stop himself from saying.

Erin smiled at him tracing his hairline with her fingertips. „To the moon and back?" She asked citing Sophia's precious bunny book.

Jay hugged her closely. „To Andromeda and back!" He said laughing.

Erin joined in his laughter. When he let go of her for a bit, she looked into his eyes. „I can't tell you, how happy you make me! I love you, Jay Halstead, with everything I have!" She kissed him.

He held her close and flipped her over while kissing her deeply. She could feel he was ready for round two. This time it was quicker, but still awfully intense and passionate. They were glad, they were alone in the house, otherwise they'd surely woken Sophia from her nap when they screamed it out. Erin had to giggle at that thought. She even thought, she heard her daughter's worried voice, asking if she was ok, at one point.

„What is it?" Jay asked, who was still panting.

„I just thought, what would happen, if we ever were this loud with Sophia in the house," Erin said grinning.

„Please, not!" Jay said, but he also grinned.

Then Erin heard Sophia's voice again. This time she was pretty sure it wasn't in her head. "Fuck!" she said.

"Yeah, that's what we just did," Jay said grinning.

"No, Jay, she's here for real! Don't you hear that?" Erin asked, while she quickly got out of bed collecting her underwear of the bathroom floor.

Jay tried to listen but couldn't make out anything. "No, there's nothing. It's all in your head. Come back to bed!" he then said, offering his arm for her.

Erin was sure what she had heard and quickly put over some sweats. "I'll have a look," she said and was about to open the door.

Jay grinned at her. "Maybe you should look into the mirror, before you go out of here," he said amused.

Erin quickly peaked into the bedroom mirror. "Thanks!" she said, while she adjusted her ruffled hair. Then she opened the door, and she was right, Sophia seemed to be in the backyard.

"Oh," Jay said and quickly got out of bed as well to collect his things and join them downstairs.

When Erin entered the backyard, Sophia immediately came running into her arms.

"Hey, Babygirl, how are the duckies?" She asked hugging her daughter closely.

"Great!" Sophia said smiling. Then she scanned her mom critically, however. "Mommy good?" she asked.

"Yes, I'm great actually!" Erin said, kissing her girl on the head. She then looked at Su and thanked her with her eyes.

„Mommy sceam?" Sophia asked at which Su clearly had to suppress a laugh. That immediately told her, exactly what scream Sophia had heard.

„How long are you back, Babygirl?" Erin asked to make sure.

„Long enough," Su explained still grinning amused.

Now Erin's head turned incredible pink.

„Mommy?" Sophia asked.

„No need to worry, Babygirl, Mommy and Daddy were," Erin was looking for an explanation, „just ... playing a game. Who screams the loudest?"

„Mommy win?" Sophia asked.

„Your Mommy always wins," Erin heard Jay from the doorway.

She turned around. While she was still slightly pink, he wore a very cocky grin.

"I'd say we're even!" She couldn't help to reply.

Jay nodded towards Su. "Hi, Su! How was the lakeside?"

"We had fun," she answered. "Didn't we, Sophia?"

Sophia nodded eagerly still in Erin's arms. "Dere was a swan!"

"Wow, you saw a swan, did you?" Jay asked his daughter.

Sophia nodded. "White Swan!"

"Wow, that's impressive, Babygirl!" Jay commented.

Erin was glad the topic had changed.

"When do you need to leave?" she asked Jay.

"I'd say we have some lunch and then I'm driving to the gun range? What do you think?" he proposed.

Erin nodded. "Sounds about right. Maybe you should get changed a bit in between," she said winking at him.

Jay looked down on himself. "You think my Cups T-Shirt and sweatpants aren't formal enough?"

"Maybe not," Erin said amused. She turned to Su. "Have you two eaten already?"

Su shook her head. "We only had some cookies. I wanted to give her something once we were back, but something got me to bring her to the backyard first," she said grinning.

"Thanks!" Erin just said. "So, let's have some lunch, and then Sophia can have a nap and we can do some sparring, if you're fine with that."

"I am, but are you up for that? Sounded like you burned some energy already up there!" Su couldn't stop herself from saying.

Jay turned around and went inside without another word, probably suppressing a laugh.

"I'm fine," Erin said following him with Sophia. "Sammy wants to come by tomorrow, and I need to be in shape for that session."

"If you say so," Su commented.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey guys. Hope you liked it. Just a heads up again. I might have to leave you hanging for a bit again.