Today was the day they went for their 12 week checkup, the day they could also tell people they were having another baby and Jay couldn't have been happier. Happy that maybe Erin could hopefully be put on desk duty and his mind would ease a little knowing she wasn't in harms way 24/7.
They also wanted to tell Lily she was going to have a new baby sister or brother soon because they couldn't keep trying to not let the word 'baby' or 'pregnant' slip anymore.
Erin's morning sickness was worse then when she had it with Lily unfortunately. With Lil she only had it for the first 10 weeks then it thankfully went away but not with this baby and it was only getting worse. Also she was exhausted and dizzy half the time but she just kept telling Jay that it was normal and it would be over soon.
Jay tried to help but he could only do so much, yet every chance he got to hold her hair back, rub her neck with a cold washer, run to get her a glass of water or massage her shoulders he did. That's what made Erin so in awe of him knowing this time round that she was pregnant and he was definitely soaking up every bit.
He would talk to her stomach when they laid in bed late at night, he would constantly check the multiple baby apps on his phone to see how big little Halstead was but he was still so worried at the fact that she was putting herself at risk and that her morning sickness was getting worse and worse as each day passed.
He stood in the doorway of their ensuite as he watched Erin rinse her mouth out for what felt like the 10th time already this morning.
"So today we will ask Dr Proudman if there's anything we can do to make you feel better or if there is actually something wrong making you feel like this."
Erin nodded, she was sick of hearing him say it but she knew that he cared and he was only trying to look after her and their little one, "So we will go to the appointment and then pick Lily up and come home?"
"Yeah."
She faintly smiled and went to walk off but Jay grabbed her hand, "Babe I'm sorry if I frustrate you with how much I'm worrying but I just hate seeing you this way."
"Yeah I know, sorry if I'm blunt I just feel so horrible lately, I never experienced this with Lil." She said giving a faint chuckle.
Jay bought her into his arms and kissed the top of her head, "Well I'm happy to be at your beckoning call for as long as you need me but I just want to hear from the doc that everything is fine and it's nothing to worry about. That's when I will back off a little."
"Yeah sure thing Halstead, can totally see that happening."
He laughed, "Okay maybe not, but I will try."
"Your such a great dad Jay."
"And your such an amazing mum."
He went to lean down to kiss her when their 20 month old came busting into their room, "Mummy! Daddy! Look!"
Erin's eyes went wide when she saw Lily covered head to toe in paint, paint that Jay had accidentally left her with while he went to check on Erin.
Erin turned to Jay and he knew straight away that she was on the brink of losing her cool but the one thing she hated and would try very hard not to do was fight in-front of their daughter, "Come on we have to get you cleaned up while your father sorts out the mess you have made."
Jay looked outside their ensuite and saw tiny little footprints all over the carpet, thank the lord it was water based so it would wash straight out but it certainly wasn't what Erin needed, "Lily what have you done."
"Don't blame her Jay you shouldn't have left her by herself." Erin said angrily as she walked off.
'Excellent, angry wife and messy baby. Just how I wanted my morning to pan out.' Jay thought to himself.
Voight called Jay into his office, they were in the middle of a case but with Jay and Erin finishing early today and they didnt explain why he was curious and wanted to make sure everything was okay.
Jay knocked on the door, "We got surveillance footage from the bar, Jane Doe left at around..."
"Halstead I didn't call you in to hear about the case."
Jay paused, "Okay?"
"Sit," Hank motioned to the seat infront of his desk, "You and Erin all good? She seems off lately and now your both finishing early?"
"We are fine sarge." Jay forced a smile, as much as he wanted to tell Voight he just needed to wait a couple more hours, he needed to respect what Erin wanted, he couldn't undermine her.
Hank grunted, not believing that nothing was going on, "So what are you two off to this afternoon then?"
"Going to look into different daycares, possible closer to home. Since we moved we are still driving across town to drop Lily off then having to come back this way for work." It wasn't a total lie, that's what they had planned to do but they rescheduled when they booked Erin's 12 week checkup.
"Ah, how is my granddaughter doing anyway?"
"Getting sassier by the minute."
Hank laughed, "She's definitely Erin's daughter then."
"Your not wrong there."
On the way to their appointment, Erin looked at her phone and angrily sighed, "Everything okay?" Jay questioned, confused about her sudden reaction.
"Oh it's just Bunny, remind me again why I thought it was a good idea to let her back into our lives?"
"What's happened?" He said trying to stay focused on the road but listen to his pregnant hormonal wife.
"Well after I saw those bruises on her arms and she made up the excuses for them she went away, god knows where to do god knows what. She said she's fine and that she is just on a holiday but I don't buy it. I think once again she has gotten into a bad relationship and she's getting dragged along and doesn't want me to fix her mess? I don't know maybe I'm just overreacting and thinking of the worse case scenario." She shrugged.
"When is she meant to get back? Or do you not know?"
"Monday." Jay counted in his head, 'Right three days. Three days to do some digging.'
"You worry because you care, sometimes maybe a little too much especially when it comes to Bunny."
"Jay I really don't need to hear it, I know you hate that she's in our lives but you just have to deal with it." Erin bit back.
Jay raised his arms in defence as he pulled up at the lights, "I don't actually think it's been to bad lately, she has actually changed, I will give her that."
"But you have been waiting for her to stuff up so you can be like 'I told you so.'"
"Okay you don't have to shove words in my mouth, I have supported you when it comes to Bunny being back in our lives, I may not agree with some of the things she does but that doesn't mean I have been waiting to say I told you so."
Erin looked at Jay apologetically, "Sorry, I'm sorry."
"Babe I really don't want to argue about Bunny, todays meant to be an exciting day for us."
"Yeah I know, I guess I'm just really emotional lately, I'm sorry. It feels like everything is more heightened this time around."
Jay smiled, "Maybe it's just cause you have someone to be emotional towards."
"Yeah maybe, sorry about that." She chuckled.
Once again Erin was laying on the table, hand in hand with Jay waiting to see their baby, make sure everything was okay and then they could go an tell everyone.
Dr Proudman walked in, "Afternoon you two, how are we all going?"
"Good thanks doc." Erin smiled and Jay repeated what Erin said.
"Now first thing first, any morning sickness or any questions?"
"A little."
Jay frowned, "She is lying, it was a little at first but it's getting worse as the days go on. She can barely keep any food down unless it's some dry crackers."
"Okay well the nurse ran some tests so I will check on them once your ultrasound is done. But it does seem to me that your blood pressure is a little low, have you been more fatigued or any signs of dizziness lately?"
"Maybe a little."
"Stop being modest Er."
"Okay maybe a lot, it's a lot more different then my first pregnancy. I had morning sickness but it went away when I was 10 weeks, I also wasn't this exhausted."
"Well I can give you some anti nausea tablets but if nothing changes or if it gets worse in the next couple days then come back in and we will have another look."
"Okay." Erin nodded.
"Now let's have a look at your baby shall we." Nina smiled.
They waited a few moments then smiles washed over their faces as they heard their babies heartbeat, "There's baby Halstead. Nice strong heartbeat. Still measuring perfectly."
"You can't see if it's a boy or a girl yet can you?" Jay asked curiously, they hadn't talked about whether they wanted to know so Erin was surprised but she couldn't help smile at how excited he was.
"Sometimes we can tell but," Nina paused as she moved the ultrasound around, "Baby doesn't want us to see today. Sorry."
"Nah it's fine, we haven't even talked if we want to know yet, was just curious."
"I love how excited you are baby." Erin said stroking Jays cheek.
"Love you."
Nina smiled as she wiped the gel off Erin's stomach, "Erin if you want to get cleaned up then come into my office and we will go over a couple of things."
After 5 or so minutes they went and sat with Dr. Proudman in her office, "Now Erin your a little underweight for how far along you are compared to your last measurements but I put that down to your morning sickness. I want you to take these anti nausea tablets for the next day or two and the we will book you another appointment to check on things."
"Is the baby fine?" Erin said worried as Jay rubbed circles on her lower back.
"The baby is fine but it's not just the baby we have to worry about, we have to make sure mum is healthy aswell. Dad that's your job."
Jay smiled, "I will try my best."
"Also I want you on light duties for the rest of your pregnancy, which probably means sitting at a desk which is probably not what you want but I'd rather you both in a safe environment, somewhere you won't get shot at." Nina added.
Erin sighed but nodded, knowing that the doctor was right. She'd been here once before, she'd do it again.
Before they picked Lily up they decided it was time to tell everyone, they had a few extra ultrasound photos printed to give to Will and Hank. Jay was so amazed, soon they were going to be a family of four and he couldn't be more excited.
They walked up the steps to intelligence and all their colleagues turned to them, surprised to see them back. Voight stopped what he doing, "Why are you two back?"
"We have something to tell everyone. Something we have been keeping on the down low for a while." Jay said.
"Lindsays pregnant?" Adam said and they both smiled but were confused and shocked that he was right on the money, usually Adam was the last person to click on.
"Yes I am, how did you?"
"Kim is a month away from giving birth, I also know what it looked like earlier on. You have been sick, exhausted and Jay has been so overly protective of you it's a little frightening."
"Ha.ha." Jay said sarcastically.
"Anyway congratulations guys." The rest of them said giving them both hugs.
Voight walked up to them last and Erin pulled out the ultrasound photo to give him, "Congratulations kiddo, so happy for you."
"Thanks Hank."
"So how far along are you?" Hank asked.
"12 weeks, we have known for 3 but I wanted got get through the first trimester before we told anyone."
Hank have Jay his typical unhappy/disappointed look, "She was being stubborn." Jay said defending himself.
"Well even if the doctor hasn't said your on desk duty, light duties. No getting shot at."
"I know the drill, but thankyou. Both of you for caring." Erin said.
While Erin talked with Hailey and Kim Jay went and got a coffee. Adam walked up to him and poured himself one, "So another baby, that's huge."
"Yeah we have been trying for like 6 months."
"Wow. Well congrats again man." Adam said clinking his glass to Jays.
"Thanks bro. So Kim is nearly ready to pop, how you feeling?"
"Is nervous even the right word?" Adam chuckled.
"I know exactly how you feel but trust me, as soon as that baby is placed in your arms all those nerves go away." Jay smiled, remembering when Lily was born. Yes after her birth she took a turn for the worst but before that seeing her for the first time, hearing her cries washed all his worry's in the world away.
Once they picked Lily up and got home they thought while she isn't too hungry or sleepy they would sit her down and explain that mummy is carrying her baby sister or brother.
"Lil bear do you want to sit down with us for a minute please?" Jay said calmly.
Erin sat down on the floor in Lily's toy room as Jay walked over hand in hand with her, "Now Lily you know Aunt Kimmy and how she has a baby in her tummy?"
Lily nodded, "Well mummy has a baby in her tummy too." Jay said placing his hand on Erin's very toned and flat stomach.
"Baby?" Lily pointed to Erin's stomach, "Where is it?"
Erin and Jay chuckled, "Well the baby is really small at the moment but soon it will grow and grow and then mummy's tummy will be even bigger."
"Yay." Lily clapped.
"Yeah, so soon you will be a big sister to a baby sister or brother." Jay smiled.
"No, no brother." Lily said shaking her head.
"Lil it might be a baby boy we aren't sure yet." Erin said trying to calm her daughter down who seemed very unhappy about having a brother.
"I don't like boys." She said, tears forming in her eyes.
"But I'm a boy and you like me?" Jay shrugged.
"I wuv you daddy." She said falling into his arms.
"I love you too Lil bear."
Jay kept her in his arms while Erin leaned onto his shoulder, "God help us if it's a B.O.Y."
"She will be great either way, just might take her a little while to warm up to if it is."
Jay chuckled and cuddled his girls even harder, he wasn't sure what he wanted. Another girl would be great but he felt that he would have grey hairs even quicker but then another boy would probably just be as hard work if not harder. He knew the craziness him and his brother always got up to.
