Please peep the author's note at the end!

"Can you take a deep breath for me, tiger?" Will asked, placing his stethoscope on Erin's back, "As deep as you can, okay?"

Erin complied, frowning when she heard the whistling sound escaping her lips. "When did I get that nickname?"

"Since you nearly broke my fingers," he replied dryly, "A force to be reckoned with, you are." Will furrowed his brow, "Can you give me one more breath, please?"

Erin nodded and did as the doctor Halstead instructed, incredibly aware at how Jay was listening from the kitchen. "I can hear you worrying all the way from over here, babe," she said, a small smile forming on her lips, "You're the one who knows about all this doctor stuff, so you may as well come over here and listen instead of eavesdropping."

Jay flashed a boyish grin and abandoned plating the tacos Will had brought for dinner. "I'm the doctor in the family, you know that, right?" Will raised his eyebrows in jest, "Jay just happens to be my very capable assistant."

"I prefer Nurse Halstead," Jay shot back, taking a seat beside his girlfriend on the couch.

"Well, you're going to be keeping that title a little longer," Will informed him, giving Erin an apologetic look when her face fell, "Your lungs sound like they still have quite a bit of fluid in them, Erin, so it's a good thing you're in for an x-ray tomorrow."

"But I'm taking the medicine," she whined, "On schedule."

"I know, but we might need to get you on some stronger antibiotics to kill the bacteria," Will said gently, "I really want to avoid pneumonia here, especially given your asthma. It might be taking a while to kick given that we were trying to find the right balance of pain pills. Are you still keeping food down okay?"

She nodded, "They still make me loopy and tired," she sighed, "But I'm not getting sick anymore. A-and I guess the dreams aren't as bad."

"Okay, good," Will nodded and turned to Jay, "I'd like to get Erin taking the cough medicine and pain pills around the clock. That means halfway through the night. I know it's not ideal, but-"

"We'll do it," Jay interrupted, stroking a hand over the back of Erin's head, "I'd stay up all night if you told me to."

Erin managed a wry smile and leaned into her partner gratefully. "I'll try to be nice to you. Even when you wake me up."

Jay snorted, "Please. You literally hate being woken up. I'm going to wear a full suit of armor to bed."

"I've got like sixteen missed calls from Bunny," Erin sighed and tossed the new cell phone Jay had procured and had Mouse set up onto the couch cushion beside her, "And a whole bunch of texts like 'where are you, I miss you'." She scowled when the phone chimed again, "Wonder what she's on this time."

Jay raised his eyebrows. "Sixteen missed calls?"

"She gets like this," Erin turned to face her partner, who was busy tidying up the kitchen from the tacos Will had brought. Both Halsteads had been pleased with her consumption of two. "Usually when she's fucked up. Both on drugs and just doing something wrong."

"Mm," he wiped down the counter, "I mean, we thought she might be involved before since she had Landon over at her bar." He paused, "And the other night when you had that really terrible nightmare, you mentioned that Bunny wanted Hank killed."

"What?" Erin shook her head, "Why would I say that?"

"I'm not sure." Jay abandoned the towel on the counter and took a seat beside his partner, "The team was looking into her, just in case, but nothing came up. There was something about her and Charlie and some deal that went south."

Erin shook her head again, "I-I don't remember. I know Charlie wanted Hank. But my mom? I know she's petty and vindictive and stupid but I didn't think she was that stupid to get involved with Charlie."

"You don't have to see her until you're feeling better, you know that, right?" Jay said after a moment, "Even if she was just hosting Landon at her bar, I just-"

"You don't need to worry, babe," Erin assured him, "I'm not going to see her. I don't want to see her. Not now, not really ever. And even if I did, I wouldn't do it without backup."

Jay exhaled and leaned over to kiss his partner's cheek. "I'm glad. You about ready for bed?"

"It's so early," she whined, "I spend all day in bed."

"Yeah, but you had a big day today. And you've got a big one tomorrow too, and you need all the rest you can get." Jay stroked her cheek gently with his thumb, "I'm also going to be waking you up halfway through the night for your pain meds too. Which reminds me." Jay stood to fetch the pills from the kitchen, "Nighttime dose."

"I'm going to be so foggy all the time," Erin complained, leaning back against the cushions in exasperation, "Really babe, can't we not and say we did?"

"Not when it comes to your lungs and stomach healing," Jay replied, uncapping the various bottles to retrieve the correct dosage, "As your nurse, I am incredibly committed to your recovery."

"Since when did we become such old people?" Erin scoffed as she snuggled into Jay's chest after he climbed into bed beside her. "Honestly, babe, it's like not even nine."

Jay snorted. "I like going to be early. Early to bed, early to rise, you know."

"Hmph," Erin replied, adjusting herself in his arms, "I don't want to rise early."

"Just at 2am for a minute or two," Jay pressed a kiss on the top of Erin's head. Just as he was about to switch off the light, a loud knock came on the front door. "What the…"

"Who is that?" she mumbled, attempting to open her eyes wider.

"I'm not sure babe," Jay furrowed his brow and reached for his phone, "I know Will is on shift. Maybe it's one of the guys."

"It's too late for guests," Erin murmured, clearly fighting the medication-induced sleep, "Tell 'em go to away."

"A minute ago it was too early," Jay chuckled, "I'll go tell whoever it is to leave."

"Wait," she grabbed his arm through her haziness, "I-I don't want you to leave me here."

"I'll be right back, I promise," he assured her as he swung his legs off the side of the bed, "I'll be two minutes."

"I'm counting," she said after him, earning a soft chuckle from her partner.

Jay yawned as he approached the front door, unsure of who would be banging so loudly. "Jay!" A woman's voice came muffled through the door, "Jay Halstead, let me in."

His blood went cold. He knew that voice.

Bunny.

He cursed as quietly as he could. Erin did not need to deal with her mother right now, not while she was half asleep on drugs and not while her stomach was so fragile. Jay whipped open the front door to reveal a clearly drugged out Bunny leaning against the doorway for support. "What the fuck?" he hissed, stepping outside the apartment in the hopes that Erin wouldn't hear, "What do you want, Bunny?"

"I can't reach Erin," she said desperately, wringing her hands as she spoke, "I've called, and I can't find her, and I think something has actually happened to her."

Jay narrowed his eyes, intending to tell Bunny that Erin was asleep in the next room, but something stopped him. "I told you she was missing," he retorted, fiddling in his sweats pocket for her cell phone. He was going to call her in.

"I didn't mean for this to happen," Bunny bemoaned, bringing a shaking hand to her forehead in distress, "Really, I didn't. But I didn't know who else to turn to."

"What did you do?" Jay asked, dread filling his stomach. All the muscles in his body tightened as he regarded the woman in front of him. God, was he glad that Erin was safe and sound in their bedroom, because otherwise he would have lost his mind. "What did you do, Bunny?"

"I tried calling him," Bunny continued, "I called, I texted, I told him that it was over, it wasn't worth it, but I haven't been able to get through. I-I think he's turned on me, and turned on Erin."

"Who has?" Jay demanded, "Who turned on you?"

"Charlie," she exhaled. Jay's eyes darkened as the name of the man who abused his girlfriend left her mother's lips. "He-he came by the bar once or twice, asked to see me. Didn't say anything about Erin, just that he had a proposition for me to get her back in my life. And I missed my girl, and all I wanted was for us to be together. So I said yes. But I didn't think that he'd cut me out and kidnap my daughter."

"You were involved in this?" Jay was positively beside himself. Erin was right, through her nightmare-induced panic attack. Bunny was involved. "What was this deal you made?"

"He was going to take care of Hank," Bunny managed, her words slurring together, "He's always stood in between me and Erin."

"I could have you arrested, right now," Jay spat, "But I'm going to tell you to leave, and never come around here again. Stay out of Erin's life, or you will regret it."

"She's alive? You found her?" Bunny's tear-filled eyes cleared, "Oh, thank God."

"You have no idea what you did to her," he growled, "I will make it my goddamn life's mission that you never see Erin again."

"You can't stop me from seeing my daughter," Bunny argued, attempting to push past Jay, "She's my daughter. Erin!"

"I'll book you for possession. I'll tell her everything." Jay held up his cell phone, "Or actually, you will."

Bunny gasped at the phone recording. "This isn't over," she hissed and turned down the hallway.

The second Bunny was out of sight, Jay exhaled. She was gone, for now, but she was involved. Worse, she helped orchestrate Erin's kidnapping and was responsible for all the pain his girl was in. His chest felt heavy as he thought about having to tell his fragile partner that her very own mother was part of the plan that involved her direct harm. It was a problem he'd deal with tomorrow, but he certainly wasn't going to sleep tonight.

Jay pushed open the front door again and stopped short when he caught sight of his partner huddled against the hallway wall, her knees drawn to her chest. In an instant, he knew that he wasn't going to have to tell her. She already knew.

"Baby," he breathed, immediately sinking to his knees after locking the front door, "I am so sorry you had to hear that."

"'s her fault," Erin choked out, crumbling into Jay's side, "She tried to kill Hank. She set it up."

Jay was quiet as he rubbed Erin's back gently. His poor girl was positively shaking as she fought against the horrific memories of Charlie, the thoughts of her mother's involvement and her own physical agony. "C-can you check on Hank?" she managed after a moment, "I-I want to make sure he's alive."

He nodded, and had honestly been thinking the same thing. Last time Erin had a nightmare regarding Bunny, Hank's presence had helped calm her down. He was hoping that the same would hold true for Bunny's actual appearance in their apartment. Tears sluiced off Erin's cheeks as Jay dialed Hank, her frame still trembling despite the minutes ticking by. "Why-why isn't he picking up?" Erin croaked, a sob rising in her throat, "What if something happened to him?"

"He might be in a meeting at the club," Jay said, "Or out to dinner." He didn't want to frighten his girl, but when he was met with Hank's automated voicemail, his stomach had dropped. He didn't think that Bunny actually had the juice to harm Hank, but she certainly knew her fair share of bad actors.

"He said he would always pick up," she insisted, her voice breaking, "What if she killed him?"

"Don't think like that, okay?" Jay wiped the tears off Erin's cheeks with his fingertips, "Let's give him a few minutes to call back. I sent him a text too."

Erin's lower lip trembled but she managed a small nod. "Why would she do that to me?" she whispered, clutching Jay's arm tightly as he held her close, "My own mother."

"I'm so sorry," Jay just said, unable to come up with any type of reason why a mother would sacrifice their child's health, "I really am babe. And I wish I knew what to say to make this easier for you. But I want you to listen to me, just for a second." He reached underneath Erin's chin so he could meet her watery gaze. "No matter what she did, nothing is your fault. You have risen beyond Bunny's mistakes time and time again, Er. You are so strong, and beautiful and smart." He pressed his forehead to hers, "I love you. And I promise I'm not going anywhere."

Erin nodded slowly before tucking her head into the crook of Jay's neck. "I thought you said you didn't know what to say."

He smiled sadly and continued to run his hand across her back, "You're going to be okay."

"How come Hank hasn't called?" Erin abruptly pulled back from Jay's shoulder and winced at the protest of her stitches, "He hasn't called."

"It's only been a minute or two," Jay reminded her, "He could be in the shower or something too."

"Can you please try again?" she begged, "Please?"

Jay nodded, incredibly aware of how his partner's breath was becoming more shallow as the seconds passed. He held his breath as the line rang, "Halstead?" Hank answered on the last ring, "Jay?"

"Hey, Sarge," Jay exhaled thankfully. In the same breath, Erin burst into tears. "Oh, Er, it's alright, he's on the phone, Hank's fine."

"Everything alright over there?" Hank asked, "Sorry I missed your call, had a steak on the grill out back."

"I want him to come over," Erin wept through wheezed breaths, "I-I need to see him, now."

"Okay, okay," Jay soothed, "Um, Sarge, any chance you can swing by our place? Erin's alright, but she needs to see you, and I gotta fill you in on a few things."

"On my way," he said immediately, "Tell her I'll be there in ten."

"He's coming, babe," Jay assured her, holding his girl closer in his arms as she sobbed, "Hank's on his way."

Hank made good time, arriving at the apartment not seven minutes after Jay called him. When he arrived and knocked on the door, Jay had told him to open the door using his spare key.

Erin was huddled in Jay's lap with her face buried in his neck as he held her. They were clearly on their way to bed, as Jay was shirtless and Erin was clad in one of her partner's long sleeve t shirts. Hank immediately understood why Jay hadn't answered the door – he was preoccupied with encouraging his girl to breathe deeper than the short pants she was managing. "Hank's here," Jay murmured, stroking Erin's hair back as he looked up at his sergeant, "Thanks for coming, sarge."

"Of course," Hank nodded tightly and crouched down, "Hey, kiddo. I'm here."

"I'm sorry," Erin choked out, her face still pressed against Jay's neck, "I'm so sorry."

"You don't have anything to be sorry for," he assured her, furrowing his brow as he made eye contact with Jay, "What happened?"

Erin let out a sob and held impossibly tighter to Jay. "Can't," she wheezed, "I can't do it."

"Shh," Jay cooed, "It's okay, Er." He glanced up at his boss, "Bunny stopped by earlier this evening and um," he extended his cell phone to his sergeant, "She was involved."

Hank set his jaw, "How involved?"

"She knew when we were in her bar a week ago that Charlie had Erin," he informed him, "She helped orchestrate it. Tried to get you killed."

Hank sucked in a breath and nodded, accepting the device from his detective. He hit play on the recording and listened to the exchange between Jay and Bunny. "She's using again," he mused after the recording ended. Jay nodded grimly, still holding a shaking Erin in his arms, "I want to say I can't believe it, but unfortunately I can."

"I almost got you killed," Erin whimpered, lifting her head from Jay's neck to regard her sergeant and father figure with glassy, tear filled eyes, "You could have died."

"This is not your fault," Hank shook his head, "Not at all. This is all Bunny."

"I'm bad news," Erin replied, "Everyone around me is at risk. I-I can't keep being the reason people get hurt or killed, I can't."

"Babe," Jay breathed, holding tighter to Erin, "She hurt you. Hank is okay, and everyone is fine. Nothing you did caused this. She is jealous and vindictive and looking to drag you down, and no matter what, we are not going to let her. We're not going to let her hurt you, or anyone you love."

"Charlie followed you," Erin sniveled, "I-I remember now, he-he drugged me with a bagel from the same place you said you were going, the day I was taken. He could have killed you too. He could have taken everyone I love just to-" She cut herself off with a painful sob.

"He's not going to hurt you, or anyone ever again," Hank reached a hand out to place on Erin's shoulder, "The doctors don't think he's going to wake up. And even if he did, of which there's a small chance, he will be in prison for the rest of his life." He paused, "You're safe, kiddo. Jay's here, and I'm just a phone call away."

"What about Bunny?" Erin whispered, "She tried to get you killed but she's still my mother and I-"

"We don't have to decide anything tonight," Hank assured her, "Not tonight. Tonight you can get a good night sleep, and we can think about it later."

Erin shook her head adamantly, "I don't want to think about it. She-she may have given birth to me, but she tried to kill you. And you're my real family. You and Jay." She let out a short breath that whistled through her lips, "She should go to jail."

Jay and Hank exchanged glances. "You sure that's what you want?" Jay asked gently, "I know things are complicated but-"

"Things stopped being complicated when she tried to kill Hank and brought Charlie back," Erin said, her voice now carrying more conviction, "I don't want her to hurt anyone I love, ever again."

Soooooo I have an idea for a new story. It's post season 4 Linstead reunion, but wanted to gauge interest. Same genre as my other stuff but I got a thought and I just couldn't put it away or fit it into this story. If you'd read it, let me know and I'll get the first chapter up this weekend! And don't worry, I'll still be writing this one at the same time.