Jay was waiting in his truck outside the school for Jayden.
The door swung open, and Jayden hopped in.
"Hi Kiddo!" Jay greeted with a smile.
Jayden returned the smile and fastened his seatbelt.
"Let's go!" Jay said cheerfully.
He drove out of the school parking lot and headed to the apartment.
Later, Jay and Jayden arrived home to find Erin lounging on the couch with Nibbles, their new puppy.
Jayden walked in, placed his bag down, and greeted Erin with a smile. "Hi Monkey-Moo!" Erin said with a chuckle.
Jayden laughed in response and settled next to her on the couch.
"Head upstairs and play! I'll call you when dinner's ready," Jay encouraged with a smile.
Jayden nodded and scampered upstairs.
"You look like you're about to burst into tears..." Erin murmured.
Jay settled on the couch with a heavy sigh.
"What's troubling you?" Erin asked softly.
Jay sniffled before replying.
"Just memories of the army; they catch up with me sometimes," Jay admitted.
Erin nodded, understandingly massaging Jay's tense back.
"When Jayden ran out... I envisioned the girl rushing into my embrace, only to be shot while in my arms..." Jay sniffled.
Erin sighed and moved closer.
"I wanted to let some tears fall right then and there, but I didn't want to deal with Jayden's questions..." Jay recounted.
Erin nodded and grasped Jay's hand.
"It's difficult for you. I understand..." Erin murmured.
Jay sniffled, finding the strength to speak through his emotions.
"It's overwhelming... It feels like I can't escape what happened..." His voice broke with the weight of his feelings.
Erin drew him close, cradling his head against her shoulder and rubbing his back in comforting circles. "Let go and lean on me... I'm here to carry the burden with you," she whispered reassuringly.
Jay let out his grief, his body shaking with quiet sobs in the safety of her embrace.
Later, the team was in the bullpen when Platt ascended the stairs.
"Guys! Lindsay's at Med! It's Bunny..." Platt whispered urgently.
The team rose swiftly, with Jay leading the rush downstairs.
In the waiting area, Erin sat immobilized as the team converged around her.
"ERIN!" Jay called out.
Erin remained fixated on the floor, paralyzed.
"Babe? Are you okay?" Jay asked gently.
Tears had welled up in Erin's eyes.
"What happened?" Antonio pressed.
Finding her voice, Erin finally spoke.
"Mom... she was shot in the street. She didn't have a pulse during the ride to Med," Erin explained.
Jay exhaled softly and caressed Erin's back.
"Has Ethan examined you?" Hank inquired.
Erin shook her head, extending her arms.
"I don't need an examination. I'm okay..." Erin murmured.
Jay let out another sigh, maintaining the soothing strokes on Erin's back.
Bowing her head, Erin released a profound sigh.
Connor emerged with a heavy heart, bearing unfortunate news.
"Erin?" he called out.
Erin rose, her breaths hitched with emotion.
"How is she?" she inquired, hope waning.
Connor exhaled deeply, the weight of his words palpable.
"We've done all we could. The loss of blood... it was just too much. My deepest condolences," Connor expressed his regret.
A wave of shock washed over Erin, sending her collapsing back into her chair.
"Damn," Kevin muttered under his breath.
Connor shared further details before departing.
"Oh, baby..." Jay murmured tenderly.
Jay merely nodded, his voice a mere whisper.
"She's... she's gone," she managed to say.
Erin gently caressed her arms, his nod conveying shared sorrow.
"She's really gone," Erin's laughter was tinged with despair as tears streamed down her face.
Jay enveloped Erin in a warm embrace, swaying gently.
"I know, love. Release your pain; let it flow into my embrace," he soothed.
Overcome by grief, Erin cried uncontrollably, her arms limply by his side, held by Jay's comforting presence.
Jay perched on the edge of the examination bed, gently swaying Erin in his embrace. Her eyelids fluttered in a sleepy rhythm.
"Is she alright?" inquired Adam, concern lacing his voice.
With a reassuring smile, Jay glanced up. "She's calming down. She'll drift off any minute now," he affirmed with a nod.
Around them, the team exchanged understanding looks, witnessing the gradual descent of their colleague's eyelids into slumber.
Jay gently positioned Erin on the soft pillows, ensuring her arm with the IV was comfortably resting on the bed.
"Erin got an IV with relaxants to help calm her down, she was quite agitated earlier, punching walls and clearing the trolleys. That's why she now appears so tranquil and drowsy," Erin detailed.
Hank nodded for the team and stroked Erin's hair.