Author's note: thank you all for inspiring me to continue writing this fic. Your comments and support mean SO much! It makes me incredibly happy to know that others support Anthony and Erin as a couple too!

Special guest star in this chapter ;)

CHAPTER 11

Erin opened her bleary eyes feeling like she had gotten hit by a Mack truck the night before.

She remembered going to bed early after her and Anthony had made love. She had felt so incredibly tired.

She tried to lift her head off the pillow and searched the room.

Anthony was dressed in his suit and tie, entering the room with a smile.

"Good morning, sunshine."

"Ughh" was all Erin could get out as she raised a hand to her pounding head.

"Hey, you don't look so good. I thought I'd shower first so you could sleep in but you might want to take the day off." He suggested.

"No, no I can't. I've got so much work to do. That Epstein case. I gotta get to work on that." She swung her legs out of the bed and tried to stand up.

Instantly she felt dizzy.

"Hey," Anthony came rushing to her side. "Don't get up. You don't look too good."

She tried to persist in standing but he was forceful and helped her back into bed. She was feeling too awful to argue with him anymore.

She was suddenly attacked with a coughing fit that sounded raspy and harsh in her throat.

"Yeah, that's it. You're staying home, missy. That's an order," he pointed a stern finger at her.

She nodded weakly.

" ' Ere, i'll make you some toast before I leave." He left the bedroom and came back a few minutes later with a couple pieces of buttered toast.

She smiled gratefully at him, "Thank you, Anthony."

He nodded. "And you need anything, you call me, you hear?"

"Yes sir."

He chuckled at her realizing she must be sick if she was actually going to obey him.

Later that morning, Anthony called Erin's cell phone. It just rang and went to voicemail. He figured she was probably sleeping and she would get in touch with him later.

Walking into court for a hearing, he put his phone on silent.

Erin woke up feeling worse than before. She needed to take some medicine. Get some fluids in her. But she was struggling just to get out of bed.

Her body felt so incredibly weak. She didn't feel strong enough to make it to the kitchen.

She fumbled on the nightstand for her phone. Weakly she dialed Anthony but it just rang and went to his voicemail.

Everyone else was working day shifts in the Reagan family.

Feeling like she was running out of options, she dialed a familiar number.

"Hey, you" the voice on the other end said huskily.

Jack Boyle brought in hot and steaming chicken noodle soup on a serving tray.

"Here, get this in you," He gently spooned it to Erin.

She sipped it feeling like it was warming up her insides. She had been so cold. Shivering.

"Let me get you another blanket," he stood up and made his way to the closet, pulling out another blanket and draping it over her.

"Thank you, Jack." She smiled at him.

Jack paused. "It's good to see you again, Erin."

"Likewise. And thank you. This helps. I was feeling so weak I couldn't get out of bed. And I couldn't reach Anthony…"

Jack sighed. "Yeah, well I uh, better get going…"

Erin's face fell, looking disappointed.

Jack noticed and said, "Well, I can stay a few more minutes."

Anthony tried Erin again. No answer still. He let the DA know he was going to take off early and go check on her. It wasn't like her to not answer her phone.

Anthony walked into their apartment.

"Erin!" He called out and heard voices. Instinctively, he put his hand on his holster as he entered the hallway, moving towards the bedroom.

His eyes widened in surprise as he walked into their bedroom to see Jack Boyle sitting on the edge of the bed.

His blood boiled at the sight of Jack sitting so close to his wife.

He stormed at him.

Erin caught sight of Anthony entering the room, "Anthony, no!"

"What the hell's he doing here?" he demanded as he reached out to grab Jack by the lapels.

"Hey Anthony, take it easy," Jack held up his hands. "Erin called me."

Anthony's eyes flashed angrily as he looked at Erin, "Yeah, I'm sure she did."

"Anthony, let him go! I couldn't reach you so I called Jack to help me. I was so weak I couldn't get out of bed."

Anthony grabbed Jack tighter, lifting him off the bed and shoving him towards the door.

"Time to go, buddy" he snarled at him. The nerve of this guy.

"Anthony, look, nothing happened here. Seriously. She just asked for my help, that's all." Jack protested as Anthony continually pushed him out of the bedroom.

"You're like this snake that just keeps showing back up in her life. She doesn't need you, pal." Anthony growled.

"Well apparently she needed me today more than she needed you," Jack said boldly.

"Jack…" Erin said realizing she was probably about to witness Jack get a beatdown by her jealous husband.

"Alright, that's it. You're outta 'ere. Go!" Anthony continued shoving Jack down the hall. "You say one more word to me or even whisper Erin's name again, I'm gonna pound you."

"Anthony!" Erin called from the bedroom hoping he wasn't going to pulverize Jack's face in. "Remember, he's a lawyer, Anthony."

Anthony paused from taking a swing at Jack and instead grabbed him by the lapels again and said, "If I ever see you here again, my face will be the last one you see."

Jack nodded and bolted out the door.

Erin let out a sigh of relief when she heard the apartment door shut and no sound of Jack getting knocked to the ground.

Anthony came back into the bedroom, his face dark.

"Anthony, look, I"m sorry, please –"

"I get you weren't feeling well. I get that you couldn't get ahold of me. But to call him, him, of all people, Erin…" he sighed and ran a hand through his hair and turned his face away from her.

Erin could feel his emotions in the air.

Frustrated. Angry. Jealous. Hurt?...

"You need anything else?" he said abruptly, turning towards her.

"Would you mind making me some hot tea?" she asked meekly, feeling like she didn't deserve to ask Anthony for much of anything at the moment.

"Yea sure." he left the room briskly leaving an iciness in the air.

Erin sighed. Being sick she felt like crap, and now her best friend and husband was mad at her.

Truth be told he had every right to be. Inviting her ex over was not the smartest move. And had she not been delirious with a fever she would have considered her actions before doing such a thing.

"Damn," she mentally cursed herself, feeling like a big jerk.

Her throat was killing her and now without warning she could feel tears welling up in her eyes.

She absolutely hated hurting him. Her and Anthony sometimes fought like cats and dogs but she realized a good thing when she had one.

Now if she could just keep her emotions in check. What was it about being sick that made it so hard to do so.

She swiped her eyes with her sleeve, sniffling slightly as Anthony suddenly came back in the room with a steaming mug of hot tea.

He paused at the doorway, his detective instincts on alert.

He knew Erin well enough to know that she wasn't just swiping away a runny nose but that she had been crying.

"Hey…" he said quietly as he came in and put the mug on her nightstand.

Erin looked like she was in physical and emotional pain but of course, Erin being Erin, was trying to hide it.

He was still mad as hell at finding Jack Boyle in his bedroom with her but she looked so pitiful he couldn't help but to put off his gruff exterior for a moment.

He shrugged out of his suit jacket, placing it on the armchair across the room and sat down on the edge of the bed next to his wife.

Erin looked at him, dewy-eyed and surprised.

He put his arm around her and she gratefully laid her head on his chest as he tucked her hair back from her warm face.

"I'm sorry…" she said, muffled into his chest.

"Yeah, yeah I know."

He held her for a moment longer and then got up, tucking her back into the bed so she could get her rest.