It doesn't take long for the puppy to perk up a little and it causes both of them to let out a sigh of relief. Jay continues to give her small amounts of water here and there while she sits up in Erin's lap.

"I don't even want to know what's going to happen to her when we go home next week." Her voice is low and broken as she gently pulls the puppy closer to her chest.

He only nods, not quite sure what to say to make her feel better. He doesn't know if or how they would be able to get her back to the states but he knows there has to be a way. He's gotten attached to her – to both of them – and he wants to help.

XXXXXX

A tear rolls down her cheek as she places a kiss on the forehead of the puppy she's cared for for the last month and a half. She's never had a pet – never had the privilege – or any luxury in her life for that matter. But she knows now exactly how much she could have benefited from a pet while she was younger. How nice it would have been to have a companion – someone in her corner.

Jay had brought up how he was trying to get in touch with a guy he knows, someone whose wife volunteers for a rescue who occasionally brings dogs back to the states. When he mentioned it to Erin, he could see the excitement in her eyes but then it disappeared. She's been let down a lot in her life – at least that's what he got from some of the things she has told him in the last couple weeks. He can see now that she doesn't want to get her hopes up – she doesn't want to be disappointed if things don't work out.

He gets her to look up at him and he promises that Luna will be home soon enough. The disbelief and hurt is evident in her expression as she cuddles the puppy once more before they have to leave. He leans down and pets Luna's head a couple times before making the same promise to her – a promise he doesn't intend to break.

XXXXXX

Jay's seat is in between Erin and Mouse during their final flight – the flight from New York to Chicago.

Jay can immediately tell that she's not comfortable flying as her hands tightly grip the arm rests and her eyes are closed as they begin to take off. "I hate flying." Her voice is a little shaky.

He raises his eyebrow at her briefly. "I couldn't tell."

She looks over at him, – giving him a sincere pout, and it takes everything in him not to lean over and kiss her worries away, her slightly puckered lips almost becoming too much of a temptation. He decides to start a conversation to distract them from their thoughts. Eventually she falls asleep with her head on his shoulder and he smiles at her before drifting off too.

Mouse chuckles and shakes his head as he puts in his ear buds and listens to his music.

They don't wake up until the captain's voice comes through the speakers informing all of the passengers that they'll be arriving at O'Hare within the next fifteen minutes. Jay rubs his eyes and looks over to see that she's still asleep. He smiles again as he gently shakes her shoulder.

They wait for their luggage together and then head for the exit.

He feels himself get increasingly nervous as they approach the time for them to part ways.

"So I guess maybe I'll see you around." She says after he helps her get her dark green bag into the trunk of the cab.

"I was actually thinking maybe we could grab a drink or dinner sometime." He feels the heat rise in his cheeks even with the cool fall air against his skin. Her dimples pop as she digs into her backpack and pulls out a pen and envelope. "I'd like that." She hands him a piece of the envelope with her number on it. She nods towards Mouse and he nods back.

XXXXXX

They've texted or talked over the phone nearly everyday since they got home and they even hung out a few times, and yet he still feels himself get nervous as he waits for her to answer. Eventually her voicemail comes through and he ends the call, choosing instead to send her a text message before driving to the airport.

When he gets there he goes to the cargo desk and they have him sign some forms before they wheel out a cream plastic pet crate. He sets the pen down on the counter and moves over to the crate. Luna is cowering in the back, her tail thumping against the side once she sees him. He can see that she still doesn't use her rear right leg as she holds it off the bottom of the crate. His voice remains low as he asks if he can let her out and the attendant nods.

Jay has to say her name in order for the frightened puppy to crawl forward and he can see how much she's changed in the last four months. And after he repeats her name once more, she jumps out of the crate and into his lap with so much force that she almost knocks him down. Her tail is wagging faster than before as she whines and kisses his cheek. He pats her side and reaches in his pocket to take out the leash and collar he picked up on his way there.

As they're leaving, he looks at his phone and sees a text message from Erin letting him know that she's on her way to work but she'll call him when she can. He looks down at Luna and nods his head as they exit the airport.

XXXXXX

A few days later they decide to meet at River Park. He gets there at the agreed time and looks around for her but doesn't see her so he sits down on the bench closest to them.

It's obvious there's something wrong when she slowly walks over to them. He knows she sees him but she keeps checking over her shoulder as if she's looking for someone else. When she gets closer he sees that her right eye is puffy and swollen and there's a light bruise on her left cheek.

She whispers an apology and he shakes his head as he asks if she's ok. She doesn't answer as she kneels down to greet the very excited puppy at their feet. She mentions something about how big Luna has gotten and how healthy she looks.

When she stands up a couple minutes later he extends his hand to give her the leash.

But much to his surprise she gently pushes his hand back and looks down at the ground. He's confused, but he takes the opportunity to look at her eye and cheek which seem to become darker with every second. He wonders if her bruises have anything to do with her odd behavior.

"Jay I really appreciate you getting her over here but I-" Her voice is just above a whisper, and when she looks back up at him, he can see tears in her eyes. "I uh….I'm just not in a good place right now and I can't really take care of her."

"Erin-" He was going to offer to help with whatever she's going through but she shakes her head.

"I can pay you for all her expenses but I can't take her. I wish I could but I can't." A tear rolls down her cheek as she keeps her eyes cast down but she's quick to wipe it away.

He fights the urge to pull her into him. "If you're in some kind of trouble, I can-"

She shakes her head before he can even finish his sentence, petting Luna's head one more time as she whispers, "I'm sorry." He's not sure if her apology was meant for him or the dog as she walks away but he can tell how sincere she is.

He sees her hand go up to her face again as Luna barks and whines – trying her hardest to get to Erin. He squats down to console the puppy as he too watches Erin go.

XXXXXX

His calls and messages go unanswered after that.

He decides to send her one last text letting her know he's there for her, but it never gets sent – the sight of his mom laying on the kitchen floor causes him to drop his phone before he finishes typing.

Luna is by her head acting as a pillow as Jay checks for his mom's pulse. He begins to shake ever-so-slightly – feeling chilled to the bone as he reaches for the phone.

He barely manages to dial 9-1-1 as he wills his mom to hold on.