"Agent Morgan will not be happy with this decision, Ron. Especially since I did almost cost us the case."
The Director gave her a small smile as he shrugged. "I am your direct supervisor, Erin, just as you are Aaron's direct supervisor, and he is Agent Morgan's direct supervisor. So, in the scheme of things, I am the final say over what happens to you, not him. Did you make a mistake? Yes. And we have all made mistakes before. The case was handled well from that point, and the arrest was clean. You played a large part in that by rattling Massey's cage and getting him to make a few costly mistakes. So, in the end, it worked out for good. A week suspension, with pay, is harsh enough, because I can tell by the look on your face that you are castigating yourself far more than if I were to have you off for months and in a rehab facility for an issue that it sounds like you have firmer control on than you realise."
"All right. Just, have you spoken with IAB?"
"I have, and they agree with me. Should Agent Morgan take this above our heads and go to them directly, the Director of that department will let him know that this has already been taken care of, because that is how they feel."
She nodded, feeling a sense of relief sweep over her body as she realized that everything was going to be all right. "I suppose that I should look on this as a blessing, as it will allow me to decorate for Christmas and finish up the shopping?"
"That sounds like a perfect use of your time, Erin. I'll have Aaron and Dave cover your work for you while you're gone, and try not to do it at home if Dave brings it with him."
Erin laughed a little as she nodded. "I'll try to keep from peeking, Ron, I promise." He nodded and rose to his feet, with her following suit shortly after. "Thank you, this is a burden lifted off my heart. And I'll head right home to begin that suspension."
He gave her a small smile as he led her over to the elevator bank. "I would expect nothing less. And make certain that you spoil those little girls of yours this year."
"You don't think my David does that every year? Along with his family, and my family, and Aaron's family? I really don't have to buy them anything, since all my children get more than they could ever use." Ron laughed as he nodded, guiding her onto the elevator and riding down with her to the sixth floor. "I take it that you're going to touch base with Agent Morgan while I get my things?"
"That is the plan, yes."
She nodded as they stepped out, and it was difficult not to watch him head into the bullpen as she went over to her office, finding Helen and Penelope gossiping away at her desk. "Erin! What's going on?"
"I have a week's suspension, which will help me finish up decorating the house and last-minute shopping. It was more than fair, and less than I deserved, so don't rail against his decision. It was made alongside IAB, and this is what they felt was best. All right?"
They nodded in unison, and Erin rubbed her lips together as she looked over at her inner office. "That eager to head home?" Helen teased, and she rolled her eyes a little as she made to head for the door.
To her surprise, they both followed her inside, and Erin sighed a little as she packed up her attaché case before slipping into her coat and grabbing her purse. "When you see David, tell him that I took the car home, and he can catch a ride with Aaron. Okay?"
"I can do that, Erin," Penelope chirped before giving her a quick hug. She nodded before allowing Helen to hug her as well as she headed back out to the elevators. Thankfully, she was able to get right on one, and as she headed down, she thought about the grace that she had been shown by owning up to her mistakes and being willing to accept the consequences this time around. A part of her wondered what would have happened if she had done so during the Amerithrax case, and a wave of pained nostalgia swept over her as that turned her thoughts towards Alex and how much she missed her friendship.
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts, Erin stepped out of the elevator and made her way out to their car. As soon as she was behind the wheel, Erin called Jessica to let her know about the decision. "Erin! Aaron just texted to let me know that you'd probably be calling. It went well?"
"It went better than I thought it would, yes. I have a week's suspension, and I am going to use them to the fullest, with the first order of business being to finish up decorating the house. I know that you're working while you're watching Catherine, but if you want to come over after you pick up Jack and Elise from school, I wouldn't say no to the extra help. And then we could bake with the children, too."
"It sounds like you have everything planned out for the week already."
"I have to stay busy, and Ron told me that I am forbidden from helping David when he inevitably brings some of my work home with him. But we can talk more about that when I see you this afternoon. I'll let you go back to work."
"All right, I'll see you soon. Love you."
"Love you, too, Jess."
After ending the call, Erin finished the rest of the drive in silence, which allowed her to think about how she would finish up decorating and which recipes that she would make with the children. There would have to be a few easy ones so that Catherine could help with them, but she also wanted to make church windows, since Tabitha mentioned craving them the other day.
By the time she pulled into the garage, Erin had a list of recipes far too long for one day in her brain, and she hoped that she could convince David to help her work some of them when he was home, since she suddenly wanted to have one of the best Christmases ever. It was easy to smile as she stepped into the house, though that smile turned into a bit of a frown when she smelled something baking in the kitchen already. "Who's home?" she called out as she closed the door from the garage and made her way into that room.
"It's just me, Mama. I wasn't feeling the best at school today, and Dad brought me home. Well, this home. He still doesn't like when I think of this more my home than his house."
Erin nodded as she went over to her side and hugged her tightly. "Are you certain that you should be baking if you don't feel well?"
"It's my period, Mama. I was just cramping so badly that I couldn't concentrate at school. And I'm making church windows for us!"
"I was going to do that later this week, to help fill the time of my suspension. I suppose that I'll have to find another recipe to take that place. I'm going to start decorating the house more, if you want to help there, or…"
"Yes?"
"You could whip up a triple batch of sugar cookies and use the cutters so that Catherine has something to decorate while we bake with Jack and Elise."
"One of those will work, Mama." Tabitha kissed her cheek before shooing her out of the kitchen, and Erin let out a happy little breath as she hung her coat up and then got down to work with decorating their house for the holiday.
