Hello, remember me? It's been ages since I updated this and I've got note at the end. Wasn't going to leave ya without another twist - turns out we're not at the end just yet!

Erin wept silently into the crook of Jay's neck as he cradled her on their couch. The position she was in wasn't the best for her stitches to heal, but Jay put that thought out of his head. His girl needed him.

He couldn't imagine all that was rushing through her head. There was the obvious relief - Charlie was dead, she wasn't going to be dragged through a trial, and he couldn't hurt her any more. She was safe.

But then there was the shame. He could feel it in each tear that trickled down her cheeks. Because he knew that thirteen year old Erin, still buried within the fully grown woman in his arms, was mourning the loss of someone she once loved. She had been loyal to Charlie. He kept the lights on, he guided her through some of the most turbulent years of her life, and while he was directly responsible for a lot of pain and suffering, he was a part of her story.

"I can't believe it," she whispered, her breath shuddering slightly, "I-I feel like I've waited so long for this."

Jay just nodded and moved his lips to the crown of her head. "He put you through a lot. Way too much."

She murmured in assent, grateful for Jay's gentle touch. He was moving his hand up and down her back, grounding her with his presence. "When did it happen?" she asked, "Just now?"

"About an hour ago," Jay replied, "Hank was the one who texted, so he must have heard from the hospital or Charlie's lawyers. I just wish this whole thing happened before you had to get up there this morning."

"I'm glad I did it." Erin pulled back slightly. "I-I think it helped to put it out there and on record. His questions sucked but now I know I don't have to do it again, or ever see Charlie."

Jay kissed her nose tenderly. "You are without a doubt the strongest person I have ever met."

"I don't know about that," she scoffed, cuddling in closer. "I am holding onto you for dear life here. Can barely stand on my own."

"That is what I'm here for," he promised, "You've held me up more times than I can count, babe." He held her even closer as she tucked her head back in the crook of his neck. Despite her emotional stamina, his girl felt incredibly fragile in his arms. "How's your stomach feeling?"

"I'm okay," she assured him, "My lungs were a little achy but after the meds kicked in I'm feeling much better." Erin stroked her fingers up and down his bicep. "Thanks for always lookin' out for me."

Just as Jay was about to reiterate that it was what he was here for, his thought was interrupted by a series of loud knocks at the front door. Erin immediately tensed in his arms, gripping the material of his t shirt in her fist. He furrowed his brow – they hadn't been expecting company. Hank's text said that he'd be at the district until much later, apparently dealing with another case. Will had also sent a text earlier in the day to check in on Erin, and confirmed that he'd be on shift until late evening but would try to stop by in the morning.

"Maybe it's the wrong door," Jay mused after the knocking ceased, "We're not expecting anyone."

Erin released Jay's shirt ever so slightly and let out a small breath. She didn't have anyone to be afraid of now that Charlie was dead.

The knock came again, more forcefully.

She flinched and drew in a sharp breath, following it up with a painful cough. "I'll go see who it is," Jay said gently, rubbing her back lightly after the coughing subsided, "Do you want to go into the bedroom?"

"I'll stay here," she replied meekly, attempting to regain her composure. Charlie was dead, for crying out loud. She didn't need to hide anymore.

"Just a second," Jay called as he hastened to the door, the loud knocking persisting. He glanced into the peephole and sucked in a breath.

"Who is it?" Erin mouthed, nervously gripping her hands together.

"It's Bunny," he gritted out, "Out on bail, somehow."

"W-what?" she stammered, "She's here?"

"I can hear you through the door!" Bunny shouted, banging more forcefully, "Please, open up. I just need a minute."

"I'll get rid of her," Jay said, studying just how rigid his girl's features had gotten. He pulled open the door but stood in the way so Bunny couldn't enter or see Erin. "What do you want?"

"I need to talk to you," Bunny said quickly, attempting to glance over the detective's shoulder in search of her daughter, "And Erin."

"Not happening," he replied firmly, "What are you doing here?"

"They put up the bail money," she managed, "The dirty cops Charlie owed money to. They want a payout based on what he promised them. Now that Charlie's dead, they're looking elsewhere. They want whoever killed him to be brought to justice."

Jay narrowed his eyes. "He had a blood clot, stroked out. He wasn't killed."

Bunny wrung her hands. "What do you know?" Jay growled, heart in his throat, "What did you do?"

"I was just trying to move on," Bunny whispered, "After he hurt Erin I-I knew I couldn't live with myself, I needed to confront him. He came to the bar, I gave him a drink and the next thing I knew he was face down in the booth."

Jay rubbed his forehead in aspiration. How Bunny could always find trouble was beyond him. "What did you do?" he repeated slowly, "Bunny."

"I didn't do anything," she insisted, "But those dirty cops he was working for said something about an excess of clotting medication caused the stroke, and they think you two are behind it."

"What?" Jay exploded, "You've got to be fucking kidding me."

"They're coming after Erin," Bunny said, "I came to warn you."

Jay opened his mouth to reply but was cut off by the buzzing of his cell phone. Voight. "Sarge it's not a great time-" He paused, his eyes widening as his boss proceeded to inform him about the allegation that Erin was behind Charlie's swift demise. Before he could even tell his sergeant that Erin's mother was in fact in front of their apartment, informing him of the same allegation, she had hurried away.

Erin was stoically seated on the couch while Jay paced. His girl was eerily quiet as they both processed the earth-shattering news.

Charlie was dead.

The people who Charlie owed thought Jay and Erin were at fault.

"I think we need to get out of town, babe," Erin whispered, finally breaking her silence.

Jay stopped pacing. His girl was never one to shy away from a fight, but the sheer terror in her hazels damn near shattered his heart. "I think so too," he said softly, taking a seat on the coffee table in front of her. "I was thinking we could head up to Wisconsin for a few days, but it's really far from a hospital, and if anything were to happen-"

"I'll be okay," she promised, doing her best to keep her voice from wavering, "I just…I just don't want anyone to hurt you. I don't care if anything happens to me but you I-"

"Babe," he breathed, cupping her cheek with his palm, "I'm not going anywhere, okay? Neither are you."

"I'm sorry," she whispered meekly, "I'm so sorry."

"You don't have anything to be sorry for," he said as firmly as he could, "This isn't your fault."

"It's my mother," Erin choked out, "My mother who couldn't stay out of trouble. They're out to get us because of her."

"Babe-" Jay paused when another loud knock came at their door. "Go into the bedroom, now please." He stood and grabbed his gun from the kitchen counter. "Erin," he hissed, "Bedroom."

His girl stood frozen in the living room, torn between wanting to help her partner but also run for dear life. "Babe, please," he begged, "Go."

Jay let out a breath when his girl headed for the bedroom. He cocked the gun and glanced through the peephole, letting out a large sigh when he caught sight of his boss standing on the other side. "Sorry, Sarge," he greeted, opening the door slightly to ensure there was nobody behind him, "I'm just a little on edge."

"Rightfully so," Hank replied dryly, "Erin alright?"

"I told her to hide in the bedroom," Jay said, holstering his weapon, "Didn't want to be too cavalier with Bunny and whoever else." He glanced to the closed door. "You know what, I'm just going to check on her. One second, Sarge."

Jay carefully pushed open the bedroom door. "It's just Hank, babe," Jay called softly, stepping into their bedroom, "It's alright." He frowned when he didn't immediately see his girl on their bed. "Er?"

His pulse quickened when he poked his head into the bathroom and was met with an empty room. "Erin?" he repeated, "It's okay, just Hank." He pushed open the closet door, hoping and praying that his girl was behind it. "Babe?"

Jay felt his heart crack for what felt like the millionth time since his girl was taken. Erin was pressed against the back wall of their closet among his dry-cleaned uniforms still wrapped in plastic, her breath emerging in short, pained wheezes.

"I-I-I'm trying to control it myself," she rasped, leaning further against the back wall of their closet, "I'm trying, I'm trying but I c-can't." A pained sob burst through her lips before she could stop it. "I'm sorry."

"You don't need to apologize," Jay insisted, squatting down on the closet floor to meet her eyeline, "There is a lot going on, and you're feeling a lot of different things." He touched her knee gently and grimaced when she flinched violently. "It's just me here, babe. Me and Hank."

"I'm sorry," she repeated, dropping her head in shame as another sob rolled off her tongue, "I can't, I can't-"

"You can," he said gently, placing both of his palms on her knees, "You can. Remember how we matched my breath? Let's try that, okay?"

Erin drew in a breath with her partner but punctuated it with a series of painful coughs. "One more, babe," Jay encouraged, "Just one. You can do it."

She tried again, this time nearly choking on the inhale. Her vision darkened as she coughed again, shaking her head in desperation. "We need to get you to the inhaler," he said quickly, realizing that his girl's attempt to expand her lungs amidst a panic attack was futile, "You just need a bit of help opening up your lungs."

"I don't want help," she gasped, shaking her head when Jay tried to help her stand, "I-I-I need to do it myself, I can't keep burdening you with-" She coughed again.

"You are the farthest thing from a burden," he promised, "I can't let you struggle like this, okay? C'mon." He carefully lifted his partner in his arms, frowning as she trembled against him. His poor girl wanted to try to fight the demons in her head alone, and while he respected the hell out of her for it, it nearly broke him to watch her struggle. "I'm sorry, baby," he whispered into her hair as he carried her toward the couch, "I know it sucks."

Erin whimpered when Jay lifted the inhaler to her lips and the medication dispersed in her lungs. She coughed and scrabbled at his t shirt for something to grip. "Shh," he cooed, pressing his lips to the top of her head, "You're okay. You're okay."

She whimpered again and cuddled into her boyfriend's neck, hungry for comfort. "S-sorry," she stuttered when her lungs finally allowed her to get a breath, "I'm sorry."

"Please stop apologizing," he said gently, wiping her cheek delicately, "It's okay, babe."

Erin caught sight of her father figure standing in their kitchen. "I-if it hadn't been Hank, I couldn't have helped," she whispered, "I can't do anything, I can't protect you, I-I can't even calm myself down, I-"

"Shh," Jay repeated, running his fingers over her back, "It's okay."

"It's not," she spluttered, her breath quickening again, "It's too dangerous to have me around you guys. I-I should be the one to get out of town, I can't keep putting the people I love at risk."

"Erin," Hank shook his head and crossed into their living room, "You're not getting rid of us, kid."

"I can't live without you," Erin wailed, trembling against her partner, "I can't do it, so you h-have to let me go. I won't be able to live with myself if something happened to either of you."

"Sweetheart," Jay tried, stroking her hair back, "When you were gone for five days, it was the worst five days of my entire life. I couldn't do anything, and trust me when I tell you that I can't live without you either. That's why we're staying together."

"You can't sacrifice yourself for me, Jay," she choked out, "I-I'm a risk. I can't fucking fend for myself, if anything were to happen they'd kill us both."

"Not happening," he insisted, "You may be the most stubborn person I've ever met, but I'm about to top that. You're not going anywhere without me, and I'm not leaving you."

At that, Erin burst into sobs. "I just want this to be over," she wept, "I'm so tired of my mother ruining everything, I-I just want to sleep and breathe and-and go back to work and forget it all ever happened."

"I know," he whispered, "I know. We're close, babe. So close. Just gotta hold on for a little while longer."

Hank watched as his daughter finally regained her breath, huddled in his detective's lap. Witnessing the strong young woman he raised feel so broken and vulnerable left a deep ache in his chest. His girl was so resilient, and was clearly hurting so badly.

"I'd like you both to get out of town," he said carefully, "Ideally as soon as possible. With the allegations made and Bunny coming by, the safest place for you is not in Chicago."

Jay nodded and stroked Erin's back gently. "I have the cabin in Wisconsin, but it's not close to any sort of hospital," Jay told him, "I um, I was thinking of asking my brother if he could come with us. I'd feel a whole lot better about being out in the middle of nowhere if we've got a doctor with us." He inhaled deeply, his nose pressed into Erin's hair. "I um, I'm sorry if I'm being paranoid, babe, but after you tore your stitches and I couldn't do anything to help I-"

"I don't want to drag anyone else down with me," Erin whispered, "You guys are already in danger because of me."

Hank shook his head. "Don't worry about anything like that," he said gently, "You just gotta focus on getting better, okay? Just keep listening to Jay and the doctors." He leaned forward to cup his daughter's cheek. "I just want you to be safe, kiddo. I love you too much to take any chances."

Erin sniffed and nodded. "Are you going to come too?"

The sergeant felt his heart tug at the innocence in his daughter's voice. "I'm going to get them," he promised, "So nobody lays a hand on you again. We're going to get whoever Charlie was working with and-"

"And Bunny," she supplied, "Right?"

Hank exchanged a look with Jay. "Right." He drew in a breath. "Charlie was dosed with Aprotinin, which is-"

"I was taking that," Erin managed, glancing up at her partner to confirm, "That was one of the medications I was on, wasn't it?"

Jay nodded slowly. "That's why they think I did it?" she stammered, "Because I was taking the same thing he died of? H-how did they have access to my medical records?"

"We're looking into it," Hank said carefully, "There are a lot of moving parts, but you don't need to think about that right now. You and Jay should get out of town, and the unit and I will handle everything else."

Jay ran his fingers through Erin's hair as she laid across his lap in the back of his brother's car. Will insisted on driving, citing just how tired Jay must be, and if he was being honest, Jay was incredibly grateful. His brother dropped everything to join them in Wisconsin and was adamant that he didn't mind. "Thanks again for coming, man," Jay mused, ghosting his fingertips over his partner's slack features. "I really appreciate it."

"I'd do anything for you," Will reminded him, glancing into the rearview mirror, "That goes for Erin too. How's she doing back there?"

"Sleeping," he confirmed, "Thankfully. The second dose of the day usually knocks her out." He rubbed his forehead tiredly. They'd been driving for several hours, and he could usually fall asleep in the car, but his mind was miles elsewhere.

"I picked up groceries on the way to your place so we don't have to stop in town," Will said lightly, "I also texted Johnny from the General Store to see if he can get the fire going. It'll be chilly up there."

Jay nodded. His brother was a godsend. "I'm waiting on an update from Voight," he said, glancing out the window, "No word yet."

Will shook his head. "I can't believe what you guys are going through," he mused, "I'm glad you're getting outta dodge. When you called, part of me was worried you'd try to stay in Chicago."

"I'm not leaving her," Jay said, lightly stroking Erin's arm as she snuggled into his hip, "She's been through hell and back. The team can handle it."

"I'll give her heart and lungs a check once we get there," Will determined, glancing to the center console of the car, "I have a feeling the fresh air is going to help a ton."

Erin settled against Jay on the couch in the rustic cabin, the blanket his grandmother made drawn up to her chin. He had one hand just above her tender belly, the other lightly threading through her hair as he periodically left gentle kisses on her neck and shoulders. For the first time in weeks, Erin felt like she could actually, actually breathe. The Wisconsin air was crisp and cold, but it flowed through her lungs easier than the air in Chicago.

"How are you holding up, tiger?" Will asked gently crouching in front of his brother and brother's girlfriend, "Any pain?"

She shook her head tiredly. "I feel good, actually. More like normal."

"That's great," Jay beamed, pressing a kiss a top her head, "We love to hear that."

Erin gave a wry smile when Will extended his hand to take her wrist. "Pulse is good," he confirmed, "We'll check your lungs in a bit." He raised his eyebrows when Erin wrinkled hers in displeasure. "You've got a full time doctor and a part time nurse here, Er."

Jay chuckled. "You do," he said, running his thumb over her cheek, "You're going to get sick of us before long."

"Mm," she mumbled, turning her head into his neck, "Guess it pays off to have a doctor in the family."

"And Jay used to make fun of me for all the times I wanted to play Operation growing up," Will quipped, gesturing to a stack of games in the corner by the fireplace, "He always wanted to play Scrabble."

Erin snorted. "He's never wanted to stop playing Scrabble, apparently."

"It's how I got so good," Jay retorted, "Grandma and I used to play right down there." He gestured to the faded carpet in front of the crackling fire, "She may have been an English teacher, but I could beat her."

"Please, she let you win," Will rolled his eyes, "Just like I'm sure Erin lets you win when you guys play."

"We both normally win in the end," Erin teased, running her hand up Jay's thigh, "I can imagine it now though. Little Jay on the carpet, Will in the corner sulking because he was bad at Scrabble."

"Hey!" Will exclaimed, "You must really be feeling better if you're trying to mess with me."

"I am," Erin said in an exhale, leaning against her boyfriend heavily, "I know it's a really shitty situation and we're hiding out here but for the first time in weeks I actually feel relaxed." She let out another breath. "Thank you. Both of you, for coming up here to keep me safe." She gave a small smile, "I'm really glad I have my boys."

So the honest truth – I was going to go one way for the end of this story but then I panicked and changed it so it took a bit for me to get it back to how I want to end. I think I've got two more chapters left so hoping folks are still interested to read how it turns out!

Thanks for being patient and if you're feeling a little less patient, I did write a whole other Jay & Erin story (plus part of a sequel!) while writing this one. It's more of a family story but it's got some comfort elements. I've been way better about updating that one. Thanks again for hanging out with me!