So sorry for the delay! I re-wrote this several times until I was somewhat okay with it so I hope you enjoy :)

"Cooper, come!" Jay called, crouching down on the frozen ground to encourage the newest addition to their family to return, "C'mon, buddy."

The dog looked up from the bush he was sniffing, his tail wagging rapidly. "Coopie!" Erin sing-songed, putting one hand on Jay's shoulder, "Come to Daddy."

At the sound of her voice, Cooper's ears twitched and he ambled toward the couple, the speed of his tail increasing as he approached. "Good boy," she gushed, bending down gingerly to scratch his head, "You are such a good boy. So smart." Erin beamed when he grazed her chin with his wet nose. "And you give the best kisses."

Jay stood, brow furrowed. They'd been up in Wisconsin for a few days with Cooper, and Erin had made remarkable strides. His girl was so much stronger and was healing in the cool country air. Her lungs were sounding clearer and her stomach didn't ache quite as much. Will was very pleased with her progress and Jay could tell his girl was feeling more like herself than she had in weeks. "The best kisses?"

Erin looked up from Cooper and rolled her eyes. "Not as good as yours, babe. His are a little sloppy." She giggled when he bounced and knocked into her chin again. "Ah, Coop!"

A smile spread across his lips. The puppy was an amazing addition. Cooper was energetic but somehow lazy all at the same time. He enjoyed lazing against Erin's legs while she rested on the couch and had even joined Jay on a few trail runs. Once Erin got even stronger, Jay was pretty sure Cooper would be the third member of their morning running group.

His girl was also itching to do something, so Jay suggested a casual stroll. He and Will had discussed it while Erin napped the day before, and Will gave the okay. The elder Halstead was incredibly diligent when it came to Erin, always ensuring that she was feeling okay, that her incision was healing and that her lungs were clearing up. Having his brother join them in Wisconsin was a huge weight off Jay's shoulders.

"Chill out, Coop," Jay said firmly, holding his hand out to the puppy, "Chill."

Cooper's tail wagged rapidly as he sat, leaves brushed away with each wag. "Good boy," Erin repeated, stroking his ears, "Such a good boy, Coopie. Look at that tail, babe."

Jay crouched down to scratch Cooper's head. "He is a good boy," he mused, "Maybe we could get him certified to be a service dog or something."

Erin wrapped her arms around the pup. "Maybe he could come to work with us," she said, kissing the side of his head, "What do you think of that, bud? You want to come to work? We could get him his own desk. And a little police outfit."

Cooper nibbled at her ears. "Ah," Erin squealed, "No bites."

"Maybe some puppy training classes first," Jay said, gently pulling the dog back, "Gentle kisses only. You okay?"

Erin nodded and accepted his hand to stand. "He's just excited," she explained, reaching down to stroke the dog's head again, "I don't blame you, buddy. Daddy gets a little nibbily too when he gets excited." Erin gave a wry smile. "Don't deny it, babe."

"How much money do you have saved?"

Jay widened his eyes slightly. Erin was lounging in his arms as they sat on the floor so that Cooper could snuggle between his parents. The pup was stretched out atop both of them, fast asleep. "Uh-"

"I have some," Erin followed up quickly, "Couple of months, probably. Could sell a lot of my crap, too."

He ran his fingers through her hair carefully. "You're thinkin' you don't want to go back to work?"

Erin shrugged. "I like it up here. There's nothing keeping me in Chicago except for you. Maybe we could move up here for real. Let Coop have room to run. I could figure out something to do for work. Maybe Susanna needs help in the grocery store." She stroked Cooper's chest gently. "This week…I just feel so much better. I don't want to go backwards."

"Babe-"

"I couldn't function," Erin interrupted, "I couldn't…I couldn't do anything. There's no way Hank is going to give me my job back. Any department psych would be insane to clear me to do anything. I didn't go to college, I barely made it through high school and I've only ever been a cop. Or a fucking drug-dealing hooker." She shifted her body and accidentally roused Cooper, who lifted his head in confusion at the change in the air. "I-I should just stay up here. Away from it all. It's too much of a risk."

Jay shook his head. "You haven't lost your job. It's still yours."

"Not if I can't do it," she insisted, "I…I just started being able to stand for more than a couple of minutes. I've been taking all kinds of pills for days, I won't pass any type of drug test and I don't think Hank is going to trust me to come back. You won't be able to rely on me as your partner, it could put your life at risk. I can't do that to you."

"Erin-"

"And I am unraveling again," Erin said, venom on her lips, "I just think about going back and all of a sudden t-the walls are closing in and I can't go back, I can't."

"Hey, look at me." Jay touched her chin gently, "I'm here, babe. You're here, in Wisconsin, with me. And Cooper. Look, he's worried about you." He gestured to the dog, who had tilted his head to the side in concern.

She let out a pained breath that caused her features to pinch in displeasure. "Ow."

Jay pulled her closer, moving his hand up and down her back. "We're here," he promised, "You're not alone."

Erin whimpered slightly. She had been doing so well. She was sleeping through the night, for the most part (with help from the pain pills that dulled the ache so she actually could) and her lungs felt clearer. But when she let her mind wander and started thinking about returning to real life…it felt like the façade came crashing down.

He kissed the side of her head, doing everything he could think of to bring his girl back. Jay was doing his best not to feel discouraged. Erin really had been doing so well. The woman in his arms had been a stark contrast to the woman he cradled on the floor of their apartment in Chicago. This Erin was stronger, steadier and breathing easier. Except now, just the prospect of returning to their regular life had sent her into a spiral.

And then, Jay managed a smile. Cooper had moved his head to Erin's lap and was carefully pushing his wet nose against her arm, attempting to encourage her to put her hand on his head. "You trying to give Mommy some love?" Jay asked, giving the dog a reassuring pat, "Good boy Coop."

She sniffed and ran her fingers over his ears. "Good boy," she rasped, coughing slightly, "My boys."

Jay pressed another kiss into her hair. "You are so strong," he whispered, "I wish you didn't have to be, but you are. And I know the future is uncertain, but we don't have to decide anything tonight."

Erin sniffed again, continuing to play with Cooper's ears. The pup was helping, but it was Jay's heartbeat that was what she needed. He was so steady, always. "Sorry."

"You don't need to apologize," Jay reminded her, "Your boys are here for all of it." He stroked her hair back and kissed her forehead. "We're with you every step of the way."

"Even if I'm not a detective anymore?" she asked, her voice small, "Even…even if I can't be your partner?"

"You're my forever partner," he replied, "Us working together doesn't change how much I love you, babe. You're mine, for as long as you'll have me."

Erin startled awake and immediately tensed at the darkness. The air was cold but her body was warm – she couldn't be in the basement.

She let out an exhale of relief when she realized why her body was so warm. Jay was asleep on his side, facing her while she slept on her back, one of his hands at the top of her head. Her partner was a stickler about not sleeping too close because how sensitive her stomach was, but he was still close enough that she could feel his breath on the top of her head as he slept deeply.

Erin relaxed further. It was good Jay was sleeping deeply. Even though he insisted that he was well-rested and doing okay, she could tell that the sleepless nights while she was held captive by Charlie and the sleepless nights while he did all he could to nurse her back to health had seriously impacted her partner.

He was so good to her… and Erin honestly kept questioning as to why he stuck around.

Even when she was frustrated with herself from the injury and taking it out on him, Jay chose to let it roll off his back. He dutifully made sure she was taking her medicine on schedule and even continued to wake her up in the middle of the night for the pain medication dose so she wouldn't wake up in agony. He cooked anything he thought she would be interested in and was always trying to make her laugh, mostly at the expense of his brother. It was the Jay she always knew and loved.

But he wasn't the same.

In every joke, in every meal he cooked and every time he took her temperature and kissed the top of her head, Erin could see the difference in his eyes. It was a combination of a lot of different things – pity (she could recognize that look a mile away), sadness, worry…almost losing her had nearly caused him to lose himself.

It was the main reason she was determined to get better. It was why she liked the cabin, being away from Chicago. When she did better, Jay did better, and that look in his eye dwindled and was replaced by a sparkle that made her weak at the knees. It was the look she lived for. The look that kept her alive in the basement and the look that was keeping her going now.

Erin wrinkled her brow when she heard a noise. It was the same noise that had woken her up. It wasn't a bang or a clash, but a soft, pitiful whimper. She was fairly certain a few of those had left her lips while she was down in the basement alone.

She carefully shifted from the bed, hoping that she wouldn't wake Jay. He looked so peaceful as he drew in a heavy breath in his slumber. Erin smiled. She loved watching him sleep. It was only in sleep that he ever looked so relaxed, almost childlike. It was a version of her partner who she didn't get to see often, except for when an exciting game was on TV or when she relinquished the keys so he could drive.

After a moment, she padded out of the bedroom, wrapping Jay's sweatshirt around her shoulders. The cabin was chilly and the upstairs didn't have the benefit of the coals from the fireplace that the living room did. Erin shivered, ignoring the discomfort in her belly. The pain was getting better every day, but each reminder of her current limitations brought a scowl to her lips. She was ready for it to be healed.

Cooper whined from his cage and pawed at the metal, his tail thumping loudly against the dog bed Jay had placed inside. "Hi Coopie boy," she cooed, putting a finger to her lips, "Shh, we don't want to wake up the boys. What's goin' on down here? You need to go potty?"

Erin couched down gingerly to open the cage. "Careful there," she warned, wide smile on her lips. Cooper barreled out of his bed and into Erin, tail wagging rapidly. He nudged her chin with his nose happily. "Do you need to go potty?" Erin repeated, gesturing to the door, "Or are you just really happy to see me?"

She beamed when Cooper flumped against her in relief. Erin stroked his soft fur and rubbed his silky ears. "I would be lonely down here too," she whispered, "Especially because your daddy and I are in bed together. I would bring you with me, but he's pretty serious about the no dogs in bed rule. And I kind of agree with him. Once I'm all healed up, you don't need to see what your parents do behind closed doors."

Jay moved his hand sleepily, hoping to come into contact with Erin's soft hair. One of his favorite things about sleeping next to the love of his life was just how good her hair smelled. On the nights when he'd come home late to find her on their couch, he would lift her gently and press feather-light kisses atop her head, memorizing every bit of her.

In the days she was missing, it had been one of the things he missed most.

When his hand met the pillow instead of Erin, Jay's eyes snapped open.

They were in Wisconsin, where there was nobody around for miles. If someone had broken into his grandfather's cabin to take Erin, he certainly would have woken up. The floorboards creaked and there was a dog downstairs. What good was a guard dog if he didn't wake up when his partner was being snatched from their bed in the middle of the night?

Jay shed the sheets and sprinted out of the bedroom, neglecting to grab any sort of sweatshirt in his haste. He pushed open the bathroom door, his heart in his throat. She wasn't upstairs. Erin was gone, again, this time snatched right under his nose.

Erin opened her eyes, slowly remembering where she was. She elected to settle on the floor in front of the fireplace with Cooper, the young pup snuggled against her legs while she rested against the back of the couch. Her plan was only to stay for a little while, but she dozed off from the warmth of her new friend and the fireplace.

Her eyes widened when she heard the footsteps from above. Jay.

He'd woken up to an empty bed and probably thought the worst. She couldn't blame him, either. Not after everything they'd been through.

Jay thundered down the steps frantically, making a beeline for the front door. "Babe?" Erin mumbled sleepily, "Babe, I'm here."

He stopped in his tracks, his lungs burning as he fought to catch his breath. That was Erin's voice. She hadn't been taken anywhere. "Where are you?" he croaked, willing his voice to sound more stable and less like that of a man who'd nearly lost his better half for the second time in less than a month. "Erin?" He swallowed, his mouth incredible dry. "Where's Coop?"

"With me," she said, stroking Cooper's head carefully, "On the floor in the living room." Erin turned her head, hoping to catch his gaze. "I'm okay."

Jay hurried over, taking another deep breath to slow his heart rate. Erin was okay. She hadn't been taken and she wasn't hurt. He closed his eyes briefly before opening them again, relief flooding his veins when he saw the form of his partner huddled against the couch, puppy asleep against her leg. "I heard him whining," she said sheepishly, offering a small smile, "I thought he might need the bathroom, but I think he was just missing us."

He managed a chuckle and squatted down on the floor. "He's totally out," he mused, eyebrows raised, "A real guard dog, huh?"

"He's just relaxed," Erin defended, smoothing her hand over his fur, "He knows he's safe, so he doesn't have to be on guard." She gave Jay an apologetic look. "I'd say the same should apply to you, but I know I freaked you out."

Jay gave a nod, unable to refute. He had been freaked out, but seeing his partner with his own eyes had him feeling a whole hell of a lot better. "I don't mean to be so overprotective," he murmured, reaching forward to stroke her cheek, "But when I woke up to an empty bed-"

"I get it," she interrupted, "You were just sleeping so deeply. And I didn't want him to be down here alone if he needed something." Erin smiled when Cooper sleepily lifted his head. "Hi Coopie. You see Daddy?"

Immediately the pup's tail thumped loudly against the floor when he realized Jay was in the vicinity, but made no moves to separate himself from Erin's leg. "He's comfy," Jay chuckled, patting Cooper's side affectionately, "I can't believe you didn't bring him up on the couch."

"It took all of my willpower," Erin informed him, "But it's warm down here from the fire."

"It is," he replied, cracking his neck slightly, "And it's also time for your meds anyway. I'm going to grab them and be right back, okay?" Jay dropped a kiss atop Erin's head and headed for the kitchen.

When he returned, he couldn't help but smile. Cooper had rotated so that he was on his back, legs in the air. "He's so funny," Erin said, rubbing the dog's belly, "Such a sweet boy too. Even if he does wake me up in the middle of the night."

"I might have a confession there." Jay extended the pills and a glass of water to Erin. "When I come down to get your meds, I always check on him, give him a few belly rubs and make sure he's warm enough." He smiled when Erin raised her eyebrows in surprise. "I overslept by about an hour, so he might have been trying to tell me somethin', I was just too asleep to hear him."

"You are such a smart boy," she cooed, continuing to rub Cooper's belly, "Maybe we should get him certified, babe."

"Good run?" Erin asked, sliding a glass of water across the counter to Jay when he entered through the back door of the cabin breathlessly, "Hi buddy. Did you have a good run with your dad?" She glanced up at Jay when Cooper continued to pant and flumped down on the kitchen floor. "How far did you take him?"

"Three miles," Jay replied breathlessly, "But he kept running to Will and then back to me so I think he might have gotten up to five. He'll sleep well tonight."

"You left your brother out there?" Erin furrowed her brow, "What, were the two of you trying to race?"

"I beat him," Jay offered, taking a sip of the water, "And Coop thought it was hilarious. He'll sleep well tonight too."

Erin shook her head. "I can totally see the two of you racing around here when you were kids," she mused, reaching to the cabinet to procure another glass for Will, "He used to beat you, didn't he?" She rolled her eyes when Jay's jaw dropped indignantly. "Oh, please, babe. You have the same look in your eye every time I beat you at the range."

He smiled cheekily. "I may have a competitive streak," he said after another sip of water, "Helps that my big brother makes it so easy."

Will entered the cabin, frown on his lips. "One of us chases criminals for a living," he said, gratefully accepting the glass of water from Erin, "The other one of us saves lives."

"I'm pretty sure both of you save lives," Erin interjected before Jay could refute, "And you both are stupidly competitive." She glanced down at Cooper, who had lifted his head. "Cooper agrees with me."

"He's probably thirsty," Will said after swallowing half the glass of water, "Little guy ran more than we did. He need water?"

Erin looked to Cooper's water bowl and leaned down to pick up the half-full dish, momentarily forgetting the stitches in her stomach and her overall sensitive torso. "Shit," she hissed, the bowl slipping from her fingers and clattering to the floor. Water sprayed all over the pair of Jay's sweatpants that she was wearing and all over Cooper, who jumped up in surprise and immediately cowered behind Jay.

"You alright?" Jay asked immediately, reaching across the counter to grab paper towels, "Babe?"

"I'm fine," she gritted out, gingerly resting her hands on her hips, "I just forgot for a second." She grimaced as she attempted to stand up straight. Erin swallowed, doing her best to remain measured. It was just water. Will had dropped to the floor to wipe up the mess while Jay continued to look at her worriedly. She drew in a breath when she noticed how Cooper was hiding behind Jay. "He's afraid of me," she managed, her attempt to remain in control quickly failing, "I-I scared him."

"It was just the noise," Jay promised, reaching down to pet Cooper's head, "He's totally fine." He smiled when the dog's tail wagged slightly. "I think Mommy could use some kisses, Coop."

Erin sniffed when he tentatively approached her, tail speed increasing with each step. "I'm sorry," she croaked to Cooper, "Oh, I got you all wet. I'm sorry Coopie."

"He's all good," Jay assured her, reaching to rub her shoulder gently, "He can dry off in front of the fire, and I think there are some dry sweatpants upstairs. Maybe then we can join him, hm?" He smiled when Erin nodded. "Okay-" Jay grimaced when his phone buzzed loudly on the counter, causing both Erin and Cooper to jump. "I'm going to take this, and then we'll get you both dried off."

Erin gave another small nod, resting her hand atop her tender stomach. She was doing much better, but when she forgot about the stitches and moved like she normally would – that's when things usually went south. She took a breath to steady herself while Jay answered the phone, attempting to slow her heart rate. "You're due for your noon dose actually, Er," Will said, standing up from wiping the water from the floor, "Might help."

She blew out a breath and nodded again. "How many more do I have?" she asked, rubbing her forehead, "It's been two weeks, hasn't it?"

"A few more doses," he replied noncommittally, "Your lungs are sounding better though." Will gave a small smile. "You're almost there."

Erin accepted the pills Will passed her, along with a glass of water. "It's not good news," she mumbled dejectedly, gesturing to the pacing form of her partner outside the cabin front window, "He only paces like that for bad news."

Will glanced to the door, unsure of what to say. He recognized the same pacing. "Maybe not," he tried, "Maybe-" He paused when Jay entered through the front door, phone in his hand.

"What happened?" Erin asked immediately, gripping the counter to keep herself upright. She knew the look on her partner's face. "Jay?"

Jay swallowed and stepped forward to take Erin's hand carefully. "One of the offenders is in custody," he said calmly, rubbing her fingers in his, "Detective Chris Bessey out of Major Crimes who was working with Charlie."

Erin searched his eyes. That would be considered good news. She knew that there was something he wasn't saying. "One offender?" she rasped, "There…there are more than one, wasn't there?"

He nodded slowly, reaching up to stroke her cheek. "They think he was working closely with Officer Keith White who was in the same cell block as Charlie before they were both released. The team is closing in on White and Bessey's in custody." Jay cleared his throat. "He was picked up outside Bunny's bar."

Her heart pounded loudly in her chest as Jay's eyes pierced hers. Erin could tell he was trying to be gentle in his delivery and that he was worried about her, but she needed to know. And there was something else he wasn't saying. "Okay," Erin managed, taking a shallow breath, "Do I…do I have to make an ID or something?"

Jay shook his head. "Not right now, anyway. Charlie was the only person you saw after Landon, right?"

Erin brought a hand to her forehead. "I…I think so. I mean I heard muffled voices I think, when he was upstairs, but it could have been him on the phone or anyone, or all in my head because I was so out of it and-" She sucked in a breath and coughed, immediately recognizing the look Jay gave to his brother. "I'm fine."

He continued to regard her with his sad baby blues, tucking loose tendrils of hair behind her ears. "The inhaler could help," he offered, "Just as a precaution." Jay stopped when Erin's gaze narrowed. "Sorry. Was only a suggestion."

"Precaution?" she asked, shifting slightly, "You've got something worse to tell me?" Erin stifled another cough. "We…we have to leave, don't we?"

Jay nodded again. "But I like it up here," Erin protested, "And-" She paused. "Did they find out about this place?"

He took a step closer, hating that he had to deliver the news to his incredible fragile partner. "Our apartment was broken into," he said as carefully as he could, watching as panic crossed Erin's face, "Security cameras in the hallway show Bunny convincing the super to let her in. There was no sign of forced entry, but the apartment below had a noise complaint. Hank already had the locks changed and it doesn't look like there was any major damage."

"She…she was in our home?" Erin asked, her voice uncharacteristically small, "Did she let them in?"

"Bunny was only there for a few minutes," Jay told her, moving a hand to place on her back, hoping his touch would keep her grounded, "Hank said everything in the bathroom was on the floor, like she was looking through the medicine cabinet."

Erin gasped. "She knew I was on pain pills," she said, "I bet that's what she was there for." She swallowed, ignoring the increasing discomfort in her abdomen. "Bitch."

"I brought all the pain medication you were prescribed with us. In case anything happened while we were up here." Jay took another breath. "But uh, while Hank was at our place, Bessey got picked up. Uniforms responded to a call from inside Bunny's bar and identified him on the scene."

She closed her eyes. "And Bunny?"

Erin opened her eyes when Jay didn't immediately respond. The second she locked eyes, she knew. "The call was about her, wasn't it?"

Jay squeezed her hand before nodding. "It looked like an overdose. I'm so sorry, babe."

Erin searched his eyes again, words failing her. She'd heard that phrase before. Bunny. Overdose. "She…she's dead?"

He nodded slowly. "Paramedics couldn't do anything. It had been at least an hour by the time it was called in." He continued to rub her hand carefully. "The reason we need to go back to Chicago is because you're next of kin, and they need someone to identify her body."

Erin bit her lip and nodded. She didn't want to cry. She didn't want to go back to Chicago, but she really, really didn't want to cry.

"I always kind of knew it would end like this," she whispered, "Her screwing up. Me identifying her body." Erin let out a shuddery breath. "She couldn't help but drag me down one last time."

I'm pretty sure this is the longest I've been without posting any update across any of my stories in over a year (since I had so much inspiration on the Golden series) and I gotta say I missed it! Hoping to get some creative juices flowing to round out this story. I'm really trying to figure out what I do on the Golden series since I do love writing for you all, so hopefully it won't be too long and not as long as it was for me to update this one.