Hank stood looking down at her headstone. Some days he could feel her there with him, protecting him as he was as work. Some days he swore he would see her in the most random places, though he loved every second of it. Some days he didn't feel or see her at all. But he visited her grave at least 4 times a week, sometimes more if it was slow. She'd been gone close to 3 years now and he still to this day couldn't quite believe she was gone until he brought himself to her grave. He's read the name, the words and the date many, many times. The day of her funeral was by far the worst day of his entire life. The day she died wasn't even as painful as the day they finally were forced to say goodbye forever. He took a deep breath, seeing it float up in the cold. "I'm gonna find them." He said down to the stone. "I'm gonna find who did this."
He knelt down on one knee and touched the stone, running his finger over her name. "I need your help. I need to see you, feel you, know you're here with me during this, alright?" He felt tears coming to his eyes, but he pushed them back, refusing to let them fall in front of her grave. He stood and looked down at her name one last time. "Do me a favor? Please, just look after her." He tried harder to push back the tears, but he could feel his eyes giving in. "I can't lose her too."
He bent and kissed his wife's headstone, before making his way to his car and driving to Chicago Med to see his daughter, knowing Camille was smiling down on him, listening to every word he had said to her.
The waiting room was silent as everyone sat there, waiting for some kind, any kind of news on Erin's condition. Jay sat, his knee bouncing up and down anxiously. A few of the people waiting had fallen asleep in the chairs, refusing to go home to rest until they got some news. He heard the front doors open for the millionth time tonight, and his head shot up as the familiar face of his boss walked into the waiting room. All of the heads turned to him as he stood there. He made eye contact with Jay, who stood. "Anything?" Jay simply shook his head. Hank nodded and sat down in an empty seat and stayed there quietly. Jay wasn't expecting him to say anything on why he took so long, but a little part of him was anxious to know. He pushed that thought aside as he saw his brother walk up to the group. "Ryan." he said, jumping up quickly, followed by the rest of the room.
Ryan looked around nervously, not used to having so many people at once staring at him, wanting to know what he had to say and praying that it would be the slightest bit of good news. He took a deep breath. "Surgery went very well." The entire room seemed to let out the breath they were holding all at once, and immediately the room felt lighter. "There was some internal bleeding in her abdomen due to the second bullet, but we've stopped the bleeding and patched her up. She's stable and expected to make a full recovery."
Jay felt tears coming to his eye. Tears of happiness. He couldn't believe that she was gonna be okay. He hugged his brother tightly. "Thank you man." Ryan chuckled. "It's my job." The brothers laughed together and Ryan let go. He turned his attention to Voight. "You're daughters a strong woman. You should be very proud." Hank gave him a small smile and shook his hand. "Thank you. For helping her." Ryan nodded and exited to room, leaving the very happy room to themselves. After a few minutes of people hugging and shaking hands with the Intelligence Unit, happy Erin was going to be okay, the room was practically empty, leaving only her co-workers.
"She's gonna be alright man." Antonio said, a smile on his face as he gave Jay a hug. "I know man." He glanced at Voight who had sat down, staring off into space. "Listen, you guys can go, if you want but I think I'm gonna stay for a bit, see if I can see her." Toni nodded and followed Ruzek, Al and Atwater out of the hospital. Jay nervously walked over and sat next to Hank.
After an awkward silence, Jay finally spoke. "Do you want me to see if you can go see her?" Voight shook his head. "I don't wanna see her until she's awake. I don't think I'll be able to handle seeing her like that. Not having her usual wit and not having her usual smile." Jay looked over and saw Hank looking down at his hands. "You know she won't let this stop her, or even slow her down. She never has, not when something like this happens. She has this thing about her that wants to show everyone that she's okay, but she never truly heals up like she's supposed to. When something like this would happen when she was younger, she would rest up and be back on her feet in no time, but mentally..." he trailed off, playing with his fingers.
Jay hasn't heard much of anything about Erin's past except what she's had to deal with the past couple of years. Her C.I. file, Charlie, Bunny, Teddy. But that's really it. He knew she's had it hard and that if Voight hasn't come along she's be in real bad shape or even dead by now. Secretly, Jay thanks God for Hank Voight every day. Every day he get's to see her smile, hear her laugh and even kiss her.
"I think she's stronger now though. She's got the unit. She's got 21." Voight looked at Jay for the first time since they'd been alone. "And she has you, Halstead." Jay gave him a confused look. "I'm not stupid Jay, I know what you two are doing behind my back, and I was gonna squash that when you guys came back in, but I see you here. I see that way she looks at you. She's visibly more happy now that she's got you. As much as I hate to admit it, I think you're good for her. I think you're actually the best thing for her." Jay smiled at his Sergeant as they had this short little heart-to-heart.
"Take care of her, Jay." Hank said, holding out his hand. Jay took it and shook it firmly. "Always." Hank gave Jay one of his rare smiles, and proceeded to get up fro his chair. "Go see her. Let me know when she wakes up, I'll be here in no time." Jay nodded and watched him leave. He took a breath, taking in what just happened. He smiled. He couldn't wait to tell Erin what Hank said. He got up from his seat and up to the nurses desk, asking if she was able to have any visitors.
"They've already taken her to her room. It's down the hall, to your left, number 134." The nurses smiled and Jay thanked her. He made his way to her room. He debated knocking on her door, but didn't even know if she was awake. Thinking she most likely wouldn't be, he reached for the door knob and slowly turned it, hoping to make as little sound as possible. He cracked the door and peaked in, seeing her small body laying in the hospital bed, a nasal cannula for oxygen in her nose. He shut the door softly and sat in the empty chair next to the bed.
"Hey baby." He whispered, almost inaudibly. He reached over and took her hand in his, and he stared at her face. She was a bit pale, but she looked good. She looked peaceful. A smile came to his face as he heard the slow and steady beeps of the monitor, confirming that she was okay, and that her beautiful heart was beating. He planned on staying up longer, wanting to be here if she woke up or if she needed anything, but being with her and holding her hand got his own heart beating normally, and the weight of the world lifted off of his shoulders, and he soon fell asleep.