A/N: This chapter is extra long because of my unfortunate lack of updates. I don't have much to say about this chapter except that it will set the tone for a good amount of the story. Hopefully, you guys like where I am going with the rest of the story and will stay tuned. Please review :)
Erin woke up the next morning thanks to the bright sunlight peeking right through her bedroom curtains. Turning her head, Erin couldn't stop a smile from spreading across her face as she eyed Jay sleeping peacefully next to her. He had his arm wrapped securely around her waist and one of her own legs was draped over his.
Last night had been amazing. Honestly, Erin couldn't believe she had waited this long to kiss her partner. Now that she had, there was no way she could ever go back.
After a few minutes lost in her own thoughts, Erin felt Jay stir next to her. Turning on her side, she carefully leaned up and gently began to pepper kisses on his neck.
Erin began to laugh quietly to herself as Jay let out a quiet moan and even with his eyes closed captured her lips in a breathtaking kiss.
Somehow Jay's hands found her face and after a few moments, he pulled back and simply held her face in his hands.
"Good Morning", she whispered giving him a shy smile.
"Good Morning", Jay repeated tucking a piece of her hair behind her ear.
"Last night", Erin began to say. "Was Amazing", Jay finished her thought.
Jay watched as another shy smile came over her face. "Unless you disagree", Jay countered quickly after she didn't respond.
"You're scrabble game is quite impressive", Erin teased. "So, yes it was amazing", she said.
Jay couldn't help the smile that overtook his face as he kissed her again. "Let's just stay here today", he begged.
"I have to take Mia to the district and you have to go back to work", Erin explained laughing at him slightly.
"Mommy", Mia's voice suddenly called out from the hallway as she knocked on the door.
Erin and Jay quickly reacted to the sound of Mia outside by Erin reaching down and pulling on Jay's shirt.
"Hey, now I have nothing to wear", Jay whisper yelled.
"Here", Erin said as she threw a pair of Jay's sweatpants she had for some reason.
As soon as Jay had them on, Erin opened the door and scooped Mia into her arms causing her to giggle.
"Good Morning Little M", Erin cooed pressing raspberry kisses on her cheek as she sat back down on the bed next to Jay.
"Daddy! You're still here", Mia exclaimed as soon as she saw Jay.
"Morning M&M", Jay greeted her as Mia jumped from Erin's arms and snuggled into Jay's chest.
"Why did you stay here", Mia asked curiously. "In mommy's bed", she added trying her best to whisper it to Jay.
Erin laughed quietly as she heard Mia talking to Jay, "It was a little too late for me to drive", he lied.
"Ohhh", Mia sighed as she wrapped her tiny arms around Jay's chest and snuggled further in.
"What are we gonna do today", she asked looking towards her mother.
"Well, Mia we are going to the district and you get to see all your uncles and Grandpa", Erin explained.
Mia looked away from her mother and seemed to hide her face in Jay's chest. Jay quickly looked up at Erin with concern in his eyes.
"Mia", Erin reached over and rubbed her back. "Baby, what's wrong", she asked.
Mia slowly lifted her head and both Erin and Jay noticed the tears in her eyes, "I just wanna stay home", she explained in little detail.
"All your uncles and Grandpa want to see you", Erin stated. "But, they are going to stare at me", Mia said in return.
"I will just slap them if they do", Jay added earning a slap from Erin causing Mia to laugh.
"Daddy and I will go and get you ice cream after we leave", Erin suddenly bribed her daughter.
"Deal", Mia happily obliged even after a little bit of hesitation. "Go get ready then", Erin requested.
Mia smiled as she jumped from Jay's arm and ran off to her room. "You must be really confident that Voight is going to give me another day off", Jay smiled as he reached over trying to pull Erin into his lap.
"He knows you want to be there for her", Erin explained. "That doesn't mean he automatically likes me, Er", Jay said raising an eyebrow towards her.
Erin couldn't seem to wipe the smile off her face as the unfamiliar nickname left his lips. It was simple, yet sweet. It gave her more confidence that she meant something to him. Leaning down gently, she planted a sweet kiss to his lips.
"What was that for", he asked equally matching her goofy smile. "I like when you call me that", Erin answered biting her lip gently.
"Er", he questioned earning a shy nod from the beautiful woman sitting on his lap. "Add it to the list of things that please you then", Jay answered before kissing her.
xxx
On the way to the district, Mia was full of things to tell Jay and Erin, including her dream last night and trying to pick a favorite ice cream flavor once she completed whatever task she had to do.
As Erin drove and Mia spoke, Jay glanced towards Erin at a stop light and noticed her hands were slightly shaking. He should have noticed it earlier with her hesitation as to what to wear or how she changed the radio station constantly.
Making a quick decision, Jay reached over and gently intertwined her hand in his. He wasn't sure what last night meant. By her actions this morning, she obviously didn't regret anything that happened.
Mia gasped as Erin turned into the district parking lot. "It all looks the same", she exclaimed. "All the police cars and the sign is still the same", Mia pointed out as she pressed her face to the glass.
"Daddy, do you still have all my pictures taped to the inside of your desk", Mia asked as Erin parked the car in the lot.
"And your markers, crayons, and coloring books", Jay almost laughed at her excitement.
"Then I wanna color", Mia exclaimed opening up the car door. "Mia Lindsay, you have to wait for us", Erin called out as she opened up the car door.
Just as she was about to get out, Erin felt Jay gently squeeze her hand, "You know in order for me to get out of the car, you have to let go of me", she laughed.
Jay laughed as he brought their entwined hands to his lips and kissed the top of her hand. "That's your last one now, since we are at the district", Erin teased not being able to hold back the blush that filled her face.
"Woah. Woah. That wasn't even a good one", Jay teased in return as Erin got out of the car.
"Mommy! Daddy! Come on! Let's go", Mia exclaimed from outside the car. "Come on, Jay", Erin smiled as she shut the door.
Jay couldn't wipe the smile off his face. Just her actions in the car gave him some reassurance that last night wasn't some one time thing.
Once Jay got out of the car, Mia grabbed both Erin and Jay's hands as they walked into the precinct. "I am going to go scare Sergeant Platt", Mia whispered as she ran towards the front desk.
"Definite mood change from this morning", Jay noticed. "She did always like to mess with Platt", Erin laughed lightly.
Both adults watched as Mia leaned up on her tip toes and began to ding the small bell Trudy had on her desk. At the sudden noise, Trudy looked up, not spying little Mia, and saw Jay and Erin standing there.
"I wonder who that could be", Platt said as she caught onto the fact it was the return of Mia Lindsay.
Mia couldn't resist giggling as she tried to hide from the desk sergeant. "Is that Mia Lindsay I spy", Platt exclaimed as she came out from behind her desk.
"Surprise", Mia exclaimed as she ran towards Trudy and hugged her as tight as possible.
"I've really missed you kid", Trudy said trying to hide the tears in her eyes. "Hey, while you're here you gotta come check out the new snack machine", she explained setting Mia back down on the ground.
"Can I mommy", Mia asked turning to Erin. "Maybe in a little bit. We have to go see Grandpa", Erin explained.
"Okay", Mia replied sadly. "See you later, Sergeant Platt", she said before walking towards Jay and raising her arms to be picked up.
Erin buzzed them in quickly while Jay carried Mia up the steps, "Can I scare everyone else", she asked Jay.
"Unfortunately M&M, I think they are all expecting you", Jay explained causing Maggie's joyful smile to turn into a frown.
"But, that doesn't mean you can't make a grand entrance", he said getting her to smile once again.
With that bright smile still on her face, Mia got down from Jay's arms and walked the rest of the way into the district. Once she got there and saw everyone on their computers, Mia looked around not sure what do since they were not seeming to notice her.
"I am here", she suddenly exclaimed. Everyone's heads quickly snapped up from whatever they were doing and saw Mia standing there, as sassy as ever, with her hands on her hips.
"Mia", everyone in the unit exclaimed simultaneously as they got up from their seats and wrapped her up in a giant group hug.
"I can't breathe", Mia suddenly stated as she was lifted into the air and then quickly set back down.
"It's good to see you munchkin", Antonio teased. "I am not a munchkin anymore! I am almost four and a half", Mia exclaimed holding up four fingers.
"Yeah, Antonio get it right", Adam teased the older detective getting approval from Mia.
"Mia Lindsay. Are you not going to come say hello to me", Voight suddenly announced.
"Hi Grandpa", Mia sighed as she went to him and wrapped her arms around his legs.
"Look, guys it's Jay", Adam teased as he wrapped his arm around his friend. "Where the hell have you been hiding", he asked.
"Language, Ruzek", Erin lectured as she walked over to her desk to check her messages.
"How's she doing", Adam asked as we followed Jay to his desk.
"Erin or Mia", Jay asked. "Both, I guess", Adam shrugged as Mia came from Voight's office over to Jay.
"Both are doing great", Jay smirked as Mia came over and sat on his lap.
"Daddy, I wanna color", Mia demanded as she looked around his desk. Jay opened up the drawer where he had secretly kept all of Mia's doodles and coloring tools. Mia immediately lit up with a bright smile as she chose her favorite coloring book, crayons, and got to work.
"You know Voight wants you and Olinsky in the interrogation today, right", Adam suddenly whispered in Jay's ear.
Jay shot him a look of disbelief, but before he could say anything Voight came out of his office. "Alright, everyone you know the plans. Olinsky and Halstead with me. Antonio and Ruzek please take Erin and Mia to the breakroom", Hank announced.
"I don't wanna go, Daddy", Mia said as she dropped her crayons sadly. Jay looked up and signaled Erin over at the sights and sounds of the sad child.
"Mia, you can bring your crayons in the breakroom and color while we talk, okay", Erin explained as she bent down to her daughter's height.
Mia glanced down towards her mother briefly and then towards her father, "Fine", she agreed sadly.
"Don't worry M&M. It's going to be over before you know it and then chocolate chocolate chip ice cream", Jay promised her as she got down from his lap.
"With extra sprinkles", Mia added her smile widening. "With tons of extra sprinkles", Jay exaggerated.
Erin smiled as Mia happily agreed with Jay's bribe and grabbed her coloring books to take to the breakroom. "You good", he asked as he stood.
"I am ready to pull it off like a band aid", Erin stated through the fakest smile she could possibly pull off.
Jay reached down and squeezed her hand gently before taking off to the interrogation room and Erin went to the break room. Mia was already comfortable in her seat with her coloring books while Antonio and Adam were waiting on Erin.
"Alright, Mia, we only have a few questions for you", Antonio started off the interview. "When Mommy found you in the basement, is that where you always stayed", he began.
Mia shook her head simply, "That's where you would go when you did something bad", she explained.
"What did you do", Adam asked bluntly immediately earning the evil eye from Erin.
"I stole some cookies from the kitchen when we aren't supposed to have any snacks", Mia explained.
"Did you eat a lot", Adam asked. "Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. But, no snacks", Mia stated.
Erin began to understand now why Mia had such an unusual sweet tooth when she arrived home. She had been deprived some of the most childish things.
"How about T.V", Antonio asked. "He told us T.V. rots our brains and that we shouldn't watch it. But, when he wasn't around we did and then if he caught us we went to the basement", Mia whispered.
"Who's he, Mia", Antonio asked. Mia didn't answer as she continued to color.
"Look I didn't even color outside the lines, Mommy", Mia exclaimed showing her mother her perfectly colored flowers.
"Did you have any friends in the house, Mia", Antonio asked. "My best friends were twins", Mia suddenly exclaimed a smile coming to her face.
"Their names are Hailey and Hannah. They are almost identical", she explained.
Antonio, Adam, and Erin each exchanged looks towards each other. They knew exactly who Mia was talking about. The two girls they saved from the first house had been with Mia earlier. It was now obvious that Sean Lindsay had been transporting the kids from his home to Clark's home.
"I'll be right back", Adam stood and went off to the interrogation room to tell Voight the news.
"We shared a bedroom", Mia smiled as she put down her crayons, noticing Adam's absence. "Do you know where they are Mommy", she asked.
"Yeah, we do baby", Erin said as she stroked her hair gently.
"Where are they", Mia asked anxiously. "Can we go visit. Their my best friends and they went away before you came", she explained.
"Mia, you and your mommy can go visit them once you finish answering these questions", Antonio stated.
Mia sighed as she put her head in her hands and waited for the next question, "What do you remember about the day you were taken from home", Antonio asked.
Mia shoved her head into her hands on the table at the question, "I was sleeping", she explained briefly.
"Do you remember anything other than that, Mia", Antonio began to slightly press her.
Mia shook her head as she lifted it from the table and Erin noticed tears threatening to spill. "I don't remember a lot", she said sniffling back some tears.
"Could you describe the person that took you", Antonio continued.
"I don't want to talk about it", she began to cry.
"Antonio", Erin tried to cut him off. "Erin, I have to ask these questions. I am sorry", he apologized.
"I don't want to talk about it", Mia repeated again. "I don't want to get taken away again", she cried.
As those words left her mouth, there were now full blown tears and there was no stopping them. "Mia, maybe you could", Antonio began.
"NO! I don't want to talk anymore", Mia exclaimed as she ran out of the break room and towards Jay's desk.
"I am sorry, Erin", Antonio apologized as Erin stood to find her daughter.
Erin plastered on the best fake smile she could pull off before turning her back on her coworker. "Mia, sweetie", Erin whispered in a soft voice.
"Get Daddy", Mia demanded from her hiding place under Jay's desk. "I want Daddy", she repeated.
Erin felt her heart sink into her chest as she stood and walked towards the interrogation room. Of course the only person she wanted to talk to was Jay. It may not be true in Mia's world, but Erin believed Mia blamed her for all this.
When she arrived to the interrogation room, Erin took in the sight of three men who meant the world to her all sitting around her father.
"I don't understand why all you want to talk about is Mia, detectives", Sean Lindsay stated. "There were plenty of other kids", he explained.
"Because that's how you started this whole operation", Olinsky fired back in a cool demeanor.
"You took Mia and then realized 'God that was easy so why don't grab another kid'. And another. And another", Alvin continued.
Sean Lindsay replaced his once confused look for a smug smile, "Why decide to sell almost all of them except Mia", Jay asked.
"Because Mia is my granddaughter, detective. I couldn't give her up like she's last weeks trash. She's a very special little girl", he smiled.
"Don't call her that", Erin's voice suddenly filled the interrogation room as she stood at the doorway. "You have no right to call her that", she spat.
"Erin", Jay tried to calm her as she took a step further into the room.
"You took her away from me and you took a year of her life away from her", Erin began to yell. "And guess what she's never going to be the same again all thanks to you", she yelled trying her best to fight Jay to get in the room.
"Come on Erin", Jay said as he got a firm grip on her and lead her out of the room.
"Nice to see you too, Erin", Sean almost laughed as the two left the room.
Once Jay dragged Erin out, she yanked away from his grasp and walked down the hallway. "What's going on", Jay asked before she got too far away.
"He changed her. He deprived her of so many childish things and now she's afraid, Jay. She won't even go near me. She's hiding under your desk because she knows that I am to blame. If I had just locked the window or not denied her the opportunity to sleep with me this wouldn't have happened", Erin began to sob.
"She would still be the same", she sobbed as Jay wrapped his arms around her. Gently rubbing her back, Jay listened as her breaths became even and the crying subsided.
Lifting her head from his chest, Jay lightly grabbed Erin's face so she was looking at him. "In the past couple of days, I have seen the Mia I love. She's happy, healthy, and wants to do everything a four year old would want", he began.
"She does not blame you, Er", he stated clearly. "Don't ever think that for a second. It's going to take time. And maybe today wasn't the best day for questioning. But, that's nothing a little ice cream can't fix", he finished getting her to laugh lightly.
"I am going to tell Voight we are taking the rest of the day to ourselves and then I will be there to get Mia out of her cave", Jay explained.
Erin nodded as he swiped away the last set of tears falling from her eyes. Leaning forward, Jay pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead before she walked down the hallway.
As soon as he turned around, Jay saw Voight standing in the hallway. "I, uh", he began to stutter.
"Go home, Halstead", he demanded not even giving Jay a moment to get any words out. "Take care of them", he finished before turning back into the interrogation room.
Jay was almost frozen as Voight left the hallway. He had just seen him kiss his pseudo daughter and Jay wasn't beaten to a pulp. Voight approved.
When Jay made it back to the main unit, he immediately took in the sight of Erin standing by his desk. She pointed towards the underneath of his desk as Jay walked towards it.
"Mia", Jay said gently as he bent down to sit by his desk where Mia was hiding underneath.
"You know, princesses don't hide in caves. That's usually the dragon's job", he smiled.
Mia turned her head as she looked at Jay and swiped a few tears away, "I don't want to answer any more questions", she explained.
Jay sighed as he crouched down some more and got under his desk as best he could, "I know and you don't have to", he said tucking a piece of hair behind her ear.
Mia sniffled away a few more tears as she curled into Jay's side, "But what I would like you to do is get out from your cave and give mommy a hug", he told her.
"She's feeling kind of sad and just wants to give you as much love as I want to give you", Jay said as Mia looked up at him.
"I love you guys", she whispered giving him a small smile. "We love you too, Mia", Jay said as he kissed her forehead gently.
Mia smiled as she came out from under the desk and ran into Erin arms. Erin was a bit taken back as Mia clinged to her. "I am sorry", she whispered into her ear.
"It's okay, baby. Just now that I do love you, okay", Erin said as Mia gave her a big smile.
"I love you too", she repeated.
"Daddy, let's go get ice cream", she demanded.
"Yes Ma'am", Jay fake saluted towards Mia as she giggled and they all left the district.
xxx
Hank leaned back in his chair as he looked at not only Mia's file but dozens of other kids and Sean Lindsay's mug shot.
"He didn't take the deal", Olinsky asked as he came to Hank's office doorway.
"You were in the room, Al", Hank said as he shook his head and dropped another file on his desk. "In a few months, this case will go to trial and Mia is just going to be even more traumatized than she was today", he sighed.
"What's with Jay and Erin today", Olinsky asked as he sat down. "They seem closer than usual", he noticed.
"I gave Jay my blessing", Hank said rubbing his forehead.
"Good for you", Olinsky said with a smile.
"You're going to have to continuously remind me that", Hank sighed.
"Erin's happy, Hank. That's what you and Camille always wanted for her", Alvin tried to point out.
"I need her to be happier for a little longer. All this stuff with Mia is going to just mess it up", Hank explained.
"Than we will protect them from whatever is going to happen in the next couple months", Alvin decided.
Picking up Mia's file, Hank looked at the smiling girl in the picture, "Yea. We will protect them", he decided.
xxx
The credits of yet another House of Cards episode rolled onto Erin's television screen as she was tucked into Jay's side. Mia had gone to sleep, by request, in Erin's bed after the events of today, so now it was Jay and Erin bingeing good television.
"Another one", Jay asked looking down at her. "Yeah, why not", Erin smiled as he hit the next episode.
The theme song played as Erin took glance at Jay. He was tracing soothing patterns on her back while focusing on the television screen and yet Erin didn't understand.
"You keep coming back", she blurted out her thoughts. Jay picked up the remote and paused the television at her question.
"What", he asked, giving her a confused look.
"I attack you sexually, I yell at you outside of interrogation, and yet you keep coming back", she explained.
"We've only had sex once", she began earning an eye brow raise and a dirty grin from Jay. "You know what I mean", she said slapping his chest "If I had yelled at anyone else today they wouldn't have come back. It would have just been a one night stand. A mistake", Erin continued.
"You're not a mistake, Er", Jay made sure she understood. "You want to know why I keep coming back", he asked as she nodded.
"Because the first time I saw you I knew 'one day I am going to get Erin Lindsay to fall in love with me'", he began making her laugh.
"I met Mia, you and I became better friends, and then I completely knew that if I ever made my move I was never going to let you go", he explained.
"Well, you and Mia. I wasn't going to let either of you go", Jay finished looking down at the grin that consumed Erin's face.
"So, this is your master plan of making me fall in love with you", Erin laughed.
Jay laughed in return as he tucked some fallen pieces of hair behind her ear, "How am I doing", he asked.
"Pretty damn good", Erin answered leaning up to capture his lips in a kiss.