A/N: So this is a little bit of a filler chapter, but once we get to trial I've got LOTS planned. Super excited.
Hope you enjoy :)
Reasonable Doubt – Chapter Fourteen
Erin POV
"How you feeling babe?"
"Oh you know. Like I got a couple holes in me."
"Ha. Ha." I deadpan, sending him a harsh glare.
"Too soon?" He smirks at me; I notice the colour back in his cheeks and the food untouched on his tray.
"Not hungry?"
"Not for that crap."
"Does it beat prison food at least?" He glares at me.
"Too soon?" I tease back before pulling out the food from my bag.
"I guess it's a good thing I got you a burger." I lean down to place a kiss on his lips.
"You're amazing."
"I'm about to get more amazing."
"Oh yeah?"
"Yeah. Judge approved your release on bail, I've made payment so you're good to go."
"I can go home?" My heart swells at the sentence.
"As soon as the hospital releases you, yes I can take you home." His smile is contagious as I lean down to place a kiss on his forehead.
"Thank you."
"I'd do anything for you." I whisper softly, knowing I'll do whatever it takes to win the his case.
"How'd I get so lucky?"
"Shut up and eat your burger." I roll my eyes before sitting down with a smile.
We share small talk while Jay demolishes his burger, my heart full of gratitude he's still here with me.
After a while we are interrupted by the nurse coming in.
"Just going to check your wounds and change your dressings."
I debate stepping out, to avoid seeing what he suffered through.
I watch the nurse pull the bandages off and my stomach twists, remembering the distress I felt when I received the news of the attack.
We're silent as she checks and dresses the wounds, satisfied with how they are healing before she excuses herself.
"Have the police talked to you about the attack yet?" I ask softly, eyes still on his injuries.
"Yeah." He pulls his gown down.
"And?"
"They said they would investigate."
"Huh. So they don't really give a shit cuz to them you're guilty as sin…" I spit out, mind thrown back to the prosecutor at the bail hearing.
"They said it's hard to prove, so I have a feeling you're right."
"Then we have to ensure that you never get back there, and we sure as shit are going to investigate ourselves." My mind is already working on subpoena's to file.
"What's the point of focusing on that when I'm fighting for my life?" He throws his head back on the pillows, looking defeated.
There's another pang in my heart at the double meaning.
"I'd bet my money that there was a different motive for that attack Jay. Money."
"You think it was a hit?"
"Allie's murderer would have everything to gain if you died while incarcerated. You can't clear your name that way." I shrug, keeping the other information to myself knowing maybe he won't look at me the same once I share it.
"Do I want to know what you're insinuating?"
"No, and I don't want to tell you because I know exactly how you'll react."
"I'm slightly terrified." He raises his eyebrow, an attempt at a joke but the worry shining through.
"You have no reason to be, others however, they do."
"I trust you." We're interrupted by another knock on the door, watching as Will sticks his head in.
"Am I interrupting?"
"Yes." I glare at him; Jay catches my hand and tugs.
"It's okay babe." Our eyes meet and carry a silent conversation before I nod softly.
"Okay, I'll be outside."
I lean against the wall outside the room impatiently, wishing I could know what they are discussing.
Time passes slowly as I scroll through my phone messages, and emails I've missed today prioritizing as I go.
The door opening catches my attention.
"What did you want?"
"Just to talk." He shrugs, looking lost.
"About?"
"How he's feeling. I can't believe I almost lost him." His eyes are on the ground, his voice sounding far away.
"You care?"
"He's my brother Erin."
"That hasn't stopped you before."
"This has been hard on me okay?" He snaps at me.
"On you? How hard do you think it's been on Jay? Don't pout to me because I have no sympathy for you."
"Whatever Erin, I didn't come here to see my brothers lawyer slash girlfriend." I roll my eyes at him.
"Is that even ethical?" I clench my jaw knowing very well it's not.
"Is there a reason you don't want Jay solving this?" I deflect, asking a burning question.
"Wht's that supposed to mean?"
"The DNA was a close match." I step closer, my eyes not dropping from his.
"And?"
"You're a doctor do I have to spell this out? You're his brother." I raise an eyebrow before shrugging and walking back into Jay's room, leaving him speechless.
"Time to go home." I smile at Jay as the nurse brings the wheelchair into the room.
"I don't need that." He groans as I help him off the bed, slipping my phone into my jeans.
"Too bad. Hospital policy and all that."
"You're enjoying this, aren't you?" I smirk over at him.
"Maybe. A little." I admit nuzzlnig his neck.
"Maybe more than a little." He fires back at me.
"Guilty." I giggle, tilting my head back for a kiss.
"Let's get you home."
"Welcome home." I'm supporting Jay into the apartment, throwing my bag down on the table by the door.
"Wow." He looks around at all the papers spread everywhere, including the couch.
"Guess this means you gotta get right into bed." I steer him towards the bedroom.
"Babe, I've spent days in a hospital bed. I'd like to change it up. Maybe sit on the couch."
"Well I'm tired, I'm going to have a nap."
Before I can turn him back to the couch to move some papers, he stops me and craddles my face in his hands.
"You do look tired baby, have you been getting much sleep?" The concern in his bright blue eyes is obvious.
"I knew I should have worn make up today." I joke half heartedly as he traces the dark circles and bags under my eyes.
"Showing my age today."
"You can't be serious. Baby you're beautiful… truly gorgeous. I love when you don't wear make up." He kisses me tenderly.
"I just…" I trail off, blinking back tears.
"What?" He whispers.
"That first night here alone… it hit me. Exactly what I'm fighting for. Being alone is what I'm in for if I lose this case, I'll be laying there just worrying about you like crazy every night. So I got up to work, and I've been working non stop ever since." He pulls my head against his chest and kisses my hair.
"God I don't deserve you."
"Yes you do." I whisper into his chest, inhaling his scent.
"Come on, let's get you into bed."
"I think I'm supposed to be taking care of you."
"Fine we'll help each other into bed."
"If only." I wink back at him, wishing he was up to such activities.
Laughter fills the apartment as we walk into the bedroom and crawl onto the bed, not even pausing to slip out of our jeans.
I kick my sneakers off before tiredly reaching down for Jays too and then snuggling back into his side.
The sun is setting when I wake, golden orange lighting up the room around us.
I snuggle further into Jay's warm chest, closing my eyes again feeling at peace.
"You're so beautiful." He whispers into my hair.
My eyes open, tilting my head back to look at him, seeing the sunset glow on his skin.
"Especially right now in this moment, I can't imagine anyone else I'd ever love as much as I love you."
"You love me?" I whisper, not quite beleiving all my dreams might come true. I've spent my life hiding from love, from relationships after my upbringing but a secret part of me craved exactly this, and burried it away.
"More than I thought possible, more than I've ever loved anyone." He strokes my cheek, his blue eyes conveying all his feelings to me.
"I love you too, so much it hurts." Our lips join, pouring all our love into it and wishing we could stay trapped in this moment forever.
"Alright, enough laying about. Time to get to work." I stretch, feeling more refreshed than I have in a long time, the nap stretched into a peaceful nights sleep.
"But first, food." I mumble as my tummy rumbles.
I climb from bed and strip from my jeans and shirt, looking back at Jay moving to sit up.
"Uh uh. Don't even think about it. Stay."
"But I need a shower too. Or are you gonna give me a sponge bath?" He smirks at me, while I roll my eyes.
"Alright, fine. But no sex."
"You're torturing me." He groans as I come around to help him stand, moving him into the bathroom before slipping him out of his clothes and discarding my underwear.
The process of showering is slow, careful with his heeling injuries and the need to wash my hair, the shampoo making the tiles slippery.
Finally, we emerge from the shower fresh and clean laughing at the experience.
I dry off and slip into new underwear and a new pair of jeans and shirt before helping Jay finish drying himself and slipping on some boxers.
"Okay, lean back on the counter so I can change the dressings."
I'm slow and soft as I move my hands over his abdomen changing his dressing, his body rigid and him stiffling some moans.
"Almost done."
"I'm okay." He pants out.
"You don't have to pretend with me, I won't think you're less of a man or anything. You've been stabbed Jay, I would be concerned if you didn't feel pain."
He catches my hand, causing me to look up, watching as he leans down to kiss me softly.
"Thank you."
We finish up in silence before I get out some sweats for Jay and a loose fitting shirt.
"You warm enough?" He chuckles and nods as he heads to the couch, trying to lean over and clear a space.
"Hey, hey, just slow down." I run over to clear the space.
"Besides, it's all in order."
"This chaos?" He raises an eyebrow before letting me help him sit down.
"Organised chaos. It's a thing. This is my process."
"Right."
"Okay, time for food. I'm starving, then to work."
I cook up bacon and eggs with toast, both of us eating in silence after I explain what Jay can do to help with the discovery.
I'm typing away on my laptop, switching up with reading more discovery and making more notes.
I highlight and bookmark items of interest, to circle back to before moving onto another box.
I remove my glasses to rub my eyes before slipping them back on, rolling the stiffness from my neck. My eyes catch Jay's looking at me in admiration.
"What?" Tucking hair behind my ears.
"You just blow me away."
"Reading and typing, yes… admirable work." I scoff before looking back down.
"You don't see it." I roll my eyes before sharing a gentle smile with him.
I open the next folder and frown for a moment at what's here.
"What?" Jay questions, trying to lean forward.
"Oh my god." I whisper, eyes scanning all the pages in this folder unable to beleive what I'm reading.
"I haven't seen this fact in evidence anywhere… it's not been made public and… is what the prosecution didn't want me to find? They think this speaks further to motive?" I'm talking to myself, usually asking these questions to other litigators on my team and the investigator at the firm.
Now only having myself to run through the importance and impact of this document.
"What?" Jay asks again, causing me to look up knowing this will crush him.
"I gotta go." I say suddenly, knowing I need to jump on this.
"No, babe. What did you find?"
"I'll tell you later." I gather the papers and run for the door, picking up my bag and jacket as I race out the door.
A/N: hehe more I love you's lol
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