Chapter 34: Blood relation
"It doesn't matter if we are strong, traumas always leave a scar. They follow us to our homes, they change our lives. Traumas bring everyone down, but maybe that's the reason. All the pain, the fear, the idiocies. Maybe living this is what makes us move forward, it's what drives us."
- Grey's Anatomy
The next day arrived, Jay woke up when he felt Erin's body moving. Her body snuggling closer to his. He smiled in his sleep and hugged her, pulling her to him. As her body was already satisfied with the amount he slept he opened his eyes to admire her girlfriend.
It was incredible how unpredictable the world could be. After everything they had been through she was still there and it seemed like nothing had changed.
- Stop looking at me. - she whispers to him. - Is weird.
- Is your boyfriend looking at you is weird? - he says amused.
- Feeling like someone is watching you while you sleep is weird. - she murmurs into his chest.
- Again, your boyfriend looking at you? I'm not just anyone. Plus, you're talking too much to someone who's sleeping. - he teases poking her belly.
- Yes, because... - She leans on her elbow so she can face him. - my boyfriend... - she emphasizes this part. - It won't let me sleep.
- You are beautiful. - he says observing her messy brown hair, her wrinkled and red face from a good night's sleep and he would have continued with his observation about this specific beauty she had when she woke up, he had every intention of kissing her, but he realized something...
- You're corny... - she says, making a face.
- Did you have a good night's sleep? - he already forgot her comment that he knew would be followed by her speech.
- Yes, if you weren't watching me I could sleep a little longer.
- I didn't hurt you? - and now she realizes it too.
- No... you didn't hurt me. - she smiles, her excitement growing. - And he didn't even have nightmares or struggle.
- That is good...
- That's excellent Jay. - She smiles and gives an excited peck.
- You know we can't count on this every night. - he starts by not trusting himself.
- Yes... - she strokes his hair. - But one step at a time, remember? That is great. - she says and leans down to catch his lips. It was soft and didn't last as long as he would have liked, because she pulls away and looks at him and he smiles, he knew that look. - I think we have to celebrate, right? - she says, smiling mischievously and his response is to lean in to join their lips again, this time deepening the kiss the way they both wanted.
Jay's hands go to the other side of Erin's waist, so he has the strength to pull her onto her lap. Their last time was when she knocked on her door a few nights ago. And no matter how many times they repeated that night, there was still a long way to go before they could make up for the years they lost.
Erin moans once she's on Jay's lap and smiles as she feels him perk up. She drops her kisses to his neck.
- Daddy... - Charlotte's voice reaches her ears.
Jay's hand that was inside Erin's shirt quickly holds her tight and in a second she feels her back hitting the mattress. Not the way she wanted and she was going to comment on it, if she hadn't noticed that Jay got up from the bed in a matter of thousandths faster than throwing her to the side.
- Jay... - Erin looks in disbelief, not knowing what he was doing.
- Mommy...
She was so focused on Jay's neck that she didn't notice Charlotte standing in the doorway. She watches Jay desperate and running to take the girl in his arms and she starts to laugh. Laughing nervously, laughing at Jay being scared and worried. She is mentally grateful that they were both still well dressed and that they did not cause any trauma to their daughter.
- Hi my princess. Come here. - Erin recovers herself and asks Jay to take her to her.
- Why are you laughing? We almost traumatized our daughter. - he says getting closer. Lindsay had no intention of getting up, but at Jay's words she stood up and pulled the girl into her arms and approached Jay.
- Our daughter... - she raises her eyebrows and he realizes what he just said. - She's going to be fine. Mom was just kissing daddy good morning. - she kisses Jay reassuring him and Charlotte kisses daddy's cheek too. - Mommy doesn't get kisses, does she? - Erin asks, receiving a strangling hug and a long kiss.
The morning for the three of them was normal, the only difference was that that feeling of sadness for wanting to be a family when they spent the morning together was no longer there, it was replaced by joy for actually being able to be a family. Psychology may say that it is not recommended that a child become too attached to a person who may or may not be stable in their life, but this family was intended to be very stable and they were willing to solve any problem that arose in their life as long as were together.
Jay hadn't shared everything about his past and what he wanted her to know, but he had come a long way with Erin and now they would have plenty of time for that.
Jay loved Erin, like he'd never loved anyone, at least until Charlotte came along. And if he asked Erin, she would say it was foul play, Charlotte called him daddy 11 times for every 10 words she uttered. She seemed to enjoy having someone to call daddy and Jay looked at her as if she had hung the moon. However, Charlotte winning Jay's heart and vice versa only increased her love for that guy.
Their routine was the same, but the simple fact that they could actually act like family changed everything. Erin went to shower with Charlotte while Jay showered in the hall bathroom. After he was ready, he picked up Charlotte so Erin could get dressed and finished getting her ready for daycare.
They were so self-absorbed that they didn't even notice they were being watched as Jay strapped the child into the car seat and got into the car.
Bryan would not waver. He investigated them for the last 5 days before he started following them. They were all police officers and not only was he being wanted, he wasn't going to put himself down the rabbit hole. He needed just one distraction, one and he would get his daughter back.
The beginning of the morning was peaceful. They were not called for any case. Just Torres and Ruzek who went out to talk to an informant of Adam who apparently had a case for them.
Jay had been watching Lindsay all day through the window. She looked much hotter on that side of the table. Her suit driving him crazy and he only needed 5 minutes. He shakes his head, they were probably too bored for his mind to wander about what he wanted to do with his superior and it wasn't professional at all.
- Are you well? - Vanessa takes him out of his reveries. She was sitting opposite him. Taking her old place, while he was taking Hailey's place. He liked that he had changed, so he had a good view of his girlfriend when she was nice enough to leave the blinds open.
- Yes, just thinking. - he quickly responds.
- Hey guys... - Lindsay appears at the door. - They're going to have lunch. Maybe Ruzek will have something when he gets back, so enjoy this free time. - she says and was ready to say that they could eat out and that she would call if needed, when her phone rang.
Kevin nodded and was happy when he got up to leave for lunch. He was starving. Vanessa also got up and they decided where they would eat.
- Hey Jay, are you coming? - Kev asks.
- No, you go. I had already ordered it to be delivered, I didn't think we would be released. - he lies easily. Not the part about ordering food, that he actually did, but he actually ordered food wanting to make an excuse to go into Erin's office.
He hears the invitation being extended to Kim who was leaving the bathroom. When her phone rings telling her that her food has arrived. He smiles when he realizes he'll have a few minutes alone in the office with Erin.
Jay got the food and went straight to the office seeing the bullpen empty. Erin smiles, already knowing Jay. He would never leave without offering her food.
- Everyone is gone. - Jay says, placing the food on her table and turning his attention to the door and the blinds. Erin didn't notice what he was doing as she got up to snoop around what he ordered for lunch.
-It smells good... - she says and is surprised by Jay pulling her into his arms and not waiting a second to rest her ass on the table and kiss her intensely. Her tongue asking for passage and his hand caressing the back of her head, trying to deepen the kiss even more. She was taken by surprise but it didn't take long for her to reciprocate. Her hand holding his waist for support as he explored her mouth.
- Yes, it smells very good. - he says as soon as he pulls away and leans in to kiss and smell her neck. Erin's entire spine shivers. Jay was giving some breathtaking kisses lately. She needed him, strong. But her duties as lieutenant and mother weren't leaving room for her and Jay. - You in that suit are driving me crazy. - he whispers in her ear and she thanks the table for her support. Just the hoarseness and the whisper in her ear made her weak in the knees.
- Jay... - she hits his chest with a weak voice while pushing him slightly so she can stand upright. - You better stop... - she says caressing his chest. He smiles, already thinking of an answer for her, imagining that she would say that she was his superior and that they must be professionals, but that's not what he got. - If not, you'll have to eat... - she bites her lip with an even huskier and lower voice and pulls him closer. She lifts her feet to join his lips, she kisses him and bites his lip and starts kissing his face until she reaches his ear. She bites and runs her tongue before continuing. - And I'm not talking about eating the food you brought. -her voice and the way she says it makes him even crazier. She smiles, placing kisses on his neck and walks away smiling at him.
- You play dirty. -he complains trying to relieve her erection.
- Two can play this game babe. - She hits him on the shoulder and he walks away.
She finds him walking to the door strange and she feels a heat rise up her legs imagining him locking the door and throwing her against her table, but to her disappointment he unlocks the door that she didn't know he had locked and opens it. Jay returns to the table, but this time he sits in the chair facing Erin.
- Let's have lunch... the food I brought. - he smiles mischievously knowing what she wanted him to do. Erin takes a deep breath, returning to the earth and putting her feet on the ground. He made her lose control. - You know... if the team wasn't going to come back at any moment, you would be lying on that table right now.
- So as to. - Lindsay says, putting her hand on her neck and grabbing a bottle of water. Jay was pushing her to the limit without even touching her. Just imagining herself lying on that table with Jay on top of her does things to her. She can't go there.
- Payback is shit baby. - he says taking a bite of her food.
They had barely finished lunch when they were called. Something went wrong with Adam and the informant, which resulted in an exchange of gunfire. Jay and Erin ran out to the car. It didn't take long for them to arrive, but they were apprehensive, their friends were in danger.
Detective Torres and Officer Ruzek were at a bar with one of Adam's informants. The rest of the team only found out that a shooting started in the bar they were in, but they don't know the reason or the situation. Lieutenant Lindsay and Detective Halstead already had their vests on when they both entered the bar with their guns drawn.
- Stay where you are! - they are warned the moment they enter. They obey, but look around.
Lunch time had already passed, so the bar wasn't very busy, which was good, as there were few civilians.
A black man was holding a Caucasian guy against the wall. Jay quickly looked at his partners. They were disguised and when he noticed that the two men were fine, he realized that it wasn't about them being discovered.
- They still have their disguises on. - Jay whispers to Erin who looks at the two and waves. They would keep their disguises.
- Hey man... calm down. - Jay says to the guy who was holding the other one. It seemed like everyone was fine. The man with the gun didn't seem to want trouble with anyone in the bar just the man he had against the wall, the guy looked like his leg was injured. Maybe that was the reason for the shots.
The guy takes the other one off the wall and turns him to face the police. Without any delicacy he knocks him to his knees and the man screams in pain, as he was shot in the knee.
- I called you. - he starts surprising them both. - I came here to kill him and I'm about to do that, that's what I want to do, but I promised I would take care of my family and I know that if I'm arrested I won't be able to do that. - he says looking at Jay and Erin, but they both don't understand what he's getting at, but the fact that Dante and Adam hadn't acted meant that he wasn't a threat and he was talking, so they both remained silent waiting to know where he was. I was wanting to arrive. - This bastard... - the man kicks the bullet wound. - He raped my sister. She is 17 years old, he drugged her and abused her while she was out of it and then unconscious.
At that moment Jay almost put the gun down and let the guy finish the job. He wasn't the type to believe a single version quickly, but he saw the truth in that guy's eyes. The way he wanted to take the law into his own hands, but at the same time he knew it would cost his family his safety.
- I just need you to do your job. I need you to arrest him because I swear to God, if I see this bastard walking around I will show no mercy. - the man says and kicks him, knocking him to the ground. He raises his hands showing that he is going to surrender and lets Jay and Erin approach.
- 5021 Lincoln. This is Lieutenant Lindsay, we need an ambulance. - Erin says approaching the man responsible for the shooting and taking his gun. - We have to follow protocol, I'm sorry. - she also saw truth in his eyes. He wasn't resisting, nor was he being aggressive, he was just a wounded man, someone who was fighting the desire to protect his family without harming them.
- I understand. - he says, lowering his hands to be handcuffed.
Jay helps the man on the ground, not that he wanted to. If he was sincere, he would be happy to step on the wound, but he promised to serve and protect and no matter how much he was going to arrest the guy because he was sure he was a bastard, he still had to follow the rules.
- Get me out of here man, he's going to kill me. - the injured man complains, but Jay doesn't respond. He handcuffs him and makes him walk. He doesn't care that he can barely do it. He simply pushes him away, even though the guy is moaning and complaining of pain.
- I'm not going to handcuff you, but you need to go with us to the police station. - Erin says to the almost 2 meter tall man and he nods as soon as an officer enters and takes him away. Lindsay turns to release the civilians. - Can you get up, is everyone ok? - she asks, keeping an eye on Dante and Adam. They nod and Erin is so focused on them that she doesn't notice the person she just stood up behind the counter watching her until she catches her attention.
- Erin? - Bunny's voice comes out and it catches her off guard, of course she knew her mother was still in Chicago, but she didn't expect to find her. Erin looks at her, but then turns her attention to the civilians.
- Listen, there will be some officers outside, they will ask you some questions before you are released. So please collaborate. - she says turning around, ignoring the other 2 calls from her mother.
Erin leaves the bar relieved that her two officers were safe and well. They would have to keep the role. Being discovered in this neighborhood and especially discovering that there was an informant there would not be good for them. She doesn't even think much about Bunny at the moment, but she can't help it for long when she sees Bunny running up to her and being stopped by the police at the door.
- I need to talk to Erin. She lets me go. She is my daughter. - she tells the officers who don't listen. - Erin, can you please ask them to let me go? - the woman says and Erin thinks whether she should or not.
She watches as Jay hands the man to Sylvie and turns to her. Bunny keeps getting her attention, so much so that the cops turn to Erin for what to do. With just a gesture from Erin, they release her. Lindsay stands still with her hands clutching her vest as she watches Bunny approach her. She is complaining and mumbling as she fixes her plaid blouse.
- I'm your mother, you shouldn't let them do this to me.
- Bunny, I'm working. What do you want? - Erin says without much patience.
- You came back, I didn't know you were back. - she says trying to touch Erin, but she takes a step back. - I'm your mother, you should have looked for me. - At that moment Jay joins Erin.
- Listen Bunny, I don't have time. Either you say what you want or I'll leave. I have a lot of work to do. - that wasn't true since the incident was practically handed to them on a plate, but their mother didn't need to know that.
- Why didn't you tell me she came back? -her question was directed at Jay this time and he knew that sooner or later Erin would find out and from what he noticed, Erin was staring at him with questions written on her face. He decides not to respond and instead of giving his mother one more chance, Erin turns to leave. - Erin, wait, wait. - Bunny holds her and Erin turns back. She knew her mother wanted something. She always wants to. - I need you to release me from the statement.
- I can't, it's protocol. - Lindsay says turning around.
- If they interrogate me and arrest me.
- Unless you've done something that they'll know about right away, you don't need to worry about it. They'll just interrogate you for what happened at the bar. Not your extensive criminal record Bunny. - Lindsay says turning around and walking away. This time without listening to his mother's pleas. She gets in the car and doesn't even wait for Jay to get in properly before asking. - Why would she ask about you not letting her know I came back.
- Is your mother. Since when does it make sense? - Jay asks and that was true, Bunny had no sense, she always thought she was right or had arguments for the shit she did.
- Did you know she worked here? - Erin asks, starting the car.
- Not really, but Ruzek knew she was in the area. He's had this informant for a few years and said he'd already run into her, but she never knew Ruzek well enough to do the math and that's why I never came with him, we didn't want to run the risk of blowing the cover.
- I understood. - Erin ends the subject there. She thought he was hiding something from her, but that explanation was enough and made a lot of sense.
- But, there's something I didn't tell you. - She looks at him. Not so surprised that there was something more, but still surprised, she actually thought what he had told her was the whole story. - I met her a few months ago... - Erin looks at him again. She was trying to pay attention to the road at the same time as she looked at Jay and his features. - Actually, Charlotte found her. - he says and this takes Erin by surprise. She certainly wasn't expecting that.
- What? - she says with her anger starting to grow.
- It was the day they moved here. You were tired and I went to the supermarket with Charlotte, she ran to get some cereal and ended up bumping into Bunny.
- And you were never going to tell me? - now she was definitely angry.
- To be honest, no. And I don't want to make you angry and I know that you want to know what's going on with Charlotte. But Bunny thought she was my daughter, I had no idea you were back and it was your first day back. Besides everything that was going on at work and with Charlotte, I really wasn't going to bring up Bunny. I know we agreed not to lie to each other and I didn't lie, I just withheld that information from you and it was before we made any agreement not to lie to each other.
- Jay... I can deal with Bunny now. So please don't withhold this from me next time.
- I am not going. -he says, completely surprised that she had lowered her tone and her voice no longer had the tone of anger, he was so surprised that even though a part of him thought it was crazy, he had to comment. - Aren't you angry? Aren't you going to fight? - he asks, afraid of her attacking.
- I understand you. Besides, today you could have lied. Your story about Adam made perfect sense to me, so if you didn't decide to be honest about it, I wouldn't suspect it, but you were. And you justified yourself very well, so there's no reason for me to be mad. - she says and he smiles. - We are fine. - she says and puts her hand on his leg.
They returned to the district and it wasn't long before Dante and Adam arrived as well. The others had been released when they were told that everything was fine and that the police would return later because they were still in their disguises.
Lindsay came out of her office and observed Kim trying to subtly fight with Adam in front of the team, which stopped being subtle when she slapped him twice. It was funny because she was fighting with him for scaring her, as if he had done it on purpose, he didn't, but he's been with Kim long enough to accept the slaps in silence and be reprimanded and then apologize for something that he is not to blame.
- I'm glad you're okay. - Lindsay says holding back a laugh. - We thought you had been discovered and were injured. - she says and everyone nods. It was good that it was just a misunderstanding. - Well, what we have is that Darryl discovered that his sister was abused at a party and it didn't take him long to find Jeremiah who, instead of denying it or telling the truth, justified that it was consensual, that they were enjoying themselves at the party and that Denise, Darryl's sister asked for the drugs and asked them to have sex. Which is a lie because we have security cameras showing Jeremiah walking away with her unconscious and taking her to an alley. - Erin says and observes the team's disgusted expression.
- Do we have cameras in the alley? - Vanessa asks.
- Unfortunately not, but Denise agreed to do the rape kit and take a drug test. Jeremiah seems very scared so he'll probably end up turning himself in sooner or later. - Lindsay responds.
- Did you guys get anything? - Atwater asks Torres as soon as Lindsay finalizes what they have on the current case.
- Not much, but we have a case we're going to send to narcotics. They are selling altered drugs that can end up giving you an overdose with little use. It's not circulating much yet, but we discovered that they will arrive in two days, narcotics can intervene.
- Wasn't that the drug Jeremiah used with Denise? - Jay asks thoughtfully. - Where are they distributing?
- At the bar, but for few people yet. We don't know who the supplier or the trafficker is, but Jamal said that the first shipment to arrive will spread very quickly.
Erin is thoughtful. She's been through this before. She remembers something similar, as everyone has probably experienced too, but it's not the drugs that catches her attention, but rather who is involved once again. She doesn't even consider that she might be, she's sure she is. Bunny was dealing at the bar. It's not the first time she's sold adulterated drugs and she highly doubts this will be the last.
- Kev, Jay, bring Jeremiah, I want you to find out who he bought the drugs from. - she says and when she was about to enter the office Adam speaks.
- But this is a narcotics case, there's nothing for us.
- I don't care if it's narcotics or not. I want to know if Jeremiah is going to talk about his drug dealer.
- I already asked them to bring him, Lieutenant. - Atwater says and at that moment Jay takes the opportunity to get closer to her.
- Hey...
- I'm not going to free her, okay? I want to be sure and we're going to turn the case over to narcotics.
- I didn't think you were. - he quickly responds.
- I know... you think I'm doing this to get rid of her, but I'm not. - Erin suddenly goes on the defensive.
- Hey... I'm not saying anything like that here, okay?
- I'm sorry... - Erin passes her hand over her face irritably. - Is it just that she always needs to show up? I can't take this anymore Jay.
- In a few months we are going to NY. That's all you need to think about, okay? - he says wanting to hug her. But he doesn't. They were dating and knew what they wanted and once they saw Charlotte, they would know that a lot more was going on with Jay and Erin, but for now, they enjoyed being in their bubble without exposing their relationship to anyone.
As soon as Jeremiah went up, Halstead and Atwater disappeared for questioning. Erin returned to her office when she saw Burgess at her door.
- Platt said Bunny is downstairs wanting to see you. - Kim warns. She doesn't know the whole story, but she knows enough. Erin takes a deep breath thinking about what she should do and then asks Bunny to go upstairs.
Adam looks at Bunny then at Erin. Dante and Vanessa didn't know the story so they end up not understanding why Kim and Adam seem nervous about the woman heading towards the office.
- Hey man, what's the woman at the bar doing here? - Dante asks Adam.
- Long story. - Adam doesn't know whether or not to tell her that she is Lindsay's mother, but he decided to leave it up to her.
- Are you really going to ignore me? Erin, I'm your mother. You disappeared for years. - Bunny says with his fake tone, but nothing else affects Erin.
- You gave me life, but you are not my mother, you never were. I disappeared for years and didn't intend to see you again. So please, Barbara, spare me your nonsense. I only allowed you to go up for one reason. I want to know if you were the one who sold Jeremiah the drugs.
- You're just like Hank... he made up his mind, look how you're treating your own mother.
- Are you going to answer me or do you want me to hand you over to narcotics?
Bunny was scared, Erin was never this cold. She was usually easily manipulated, ended up falling into Bunny's conversation, but her eyes seemed distant, without any feelings for her.
- I do not know what you're talking about. - Bunny responds with fear of what Lindsay might do. - I'm leaving.
- Okay, don't tell me, one time or another I'll end up finding out and Barbara, this time there won't be anyone to save you. -Lindsay says taking out her cell phone.
Bunny was outraged, Erin was ungrateful. After everything Bunny did for her. Erin was disrespecting her own mother and making fun of her, treating her like a criminal and she wasn't going to get away with it.
- Do you want to know something Erin? You sit there pretending that your life is perfect, but it's a fake. You are just like me, you always will be and when you realize that, you will come back to me. - Erin doesn't even look at her. Her words didn't affect her, not anymore, but Bunny had more to say. - And apparently, Hank isn't man enough to tell you. Do you know why you never met your real father? Do you know why Hank was always so kind to you? Guess what dear? It's remorse and guilt for neglecting you for 15 years. Why do you think he was so present when you were little? Why do you think he caught you when you were 15? He wanted to have an excuse to bring his biological daughter into the house, without raising suspicions that he slept with an addict and cheated on his wife. What do you think? That he had plenty of love to give and welcomed you? He's your real father so he's not as perfect as he appears to be, darling.
Finally she got a reaction from Erin, even if she didn't want to show any, it was impossible. She looked at Bunny, a thousand questions clouding her mind.
- You can go now Barbara. - Erin gets up trying to compose herself. She follows her mother who opened the door and left the office and if she wasn't going to treat her mother right, Bunny wasn't going to take it easy.
- Well, I hope your employees know that their boss was an addicted prostitute. - She turns to Erin. She found out from Trudy that Erin was a lieutenant and that Voight was away. She felt that she would be arrested. She was involved with drugs and Lindsay would not come away unscathed from what she was doing. - And their ex boss, besides being unprofessional because while he was undercover he had sex with a bartender, he pretended he was a good man welcoming you... - she screams. Jay and Kev approached with faster steps when they heard a higher tone of voice. - her own daughter.
Bunny left, she was satisfied. She got a reaction from Erin. That was Barbara Fletcher, as long as she couldn't insult Erin until she felt belittled, she wouldn't get tired. And she did it. Lindsay was at the door of her office looking at her mother, completely destroyed by the words of the woman who brought her into the world, while things from her personal life were exposed to her detectives.
Jay immediately ran over to her.
- I'm fine, Jay. - she moves away from him. It was clearly a lie, but Erin wasn't going to hang her head. She couldn't. She had to be stronger than that. Erin closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. When she opens it again, she just looks at Kevin. - Did you guys get anything from Jeremiah? - she asks. Pretending nothing happened, even though she noticed everyone's shocked faces.
- He said Bunny sold it to him.
- I already imagined it. I'm transferring the case to narcotics, you can take it down. Thanks, Kevin. - she says and turns around entering her office, closing the door in Jay's face and leaving everyone's questions behind.
Erin closed the door and she wanted to scream, break something. She needed this, but she needed to control herself. She tries everything she learned in therapy. She tries to forget, but it's impossible. She tries to breathe and count to 10, but at 5 she kicks the trash can. Everyone outside listens. She takes the pencil holder and throws it at the wall and Jay enters.
- I want to be alone Jay. - she says and he says nothing as he walks up to her and pulls her into a hug. And that's when she collapses. She cries. That was what she needed to calm down. Jay kisses her hair and caresses her back until she calms down. - Thanks. - after about five minutes she moves away from him and wipes her tears. - I need to work. I promise we'll talk later, okay? - she asks.
- Don't you want to take a break? - he asks, clearly worried about her.
- No. We'll talk later Jay. - she says seriously and turns to go to her desk to call narcotics and transfer the case.
Jay isn't happy, he's not happy with what he heard from Bunny. He's not happy that Erin is sad and much less happy that she was pulling away from him and that wasn't a good sign, but he knew he couldn't pressure her. She had calmed down and accepted him holding her. Maybe she really needed to be alone.
It didn't take ten minutes for the team to see her leaving the office, she seemed to have composed herself and faced her team. She was their lieutenant and she was acting like it, she didn't seem cowed like she did minutes ago.
- The case was just transferred to narcotics. Ruzek and Torres I want the paperwork on what you got today from the informant and what happened at the bar as well. Halstead, you also need to give me a report on the bar shooting. I want the report on my desk by the end of the day and then you're free. - she says and those mentioned nod. - Regarding what happened earlier, I believe Dante and Vanessa are wondering who it was, or maybe not so much, but in case they don't know yet, that was Bárbara Fletcher, my mother. And please, I don't want any comments on that. I know I can trust you, but I just want to make it clear that this is a private matter and I would like it to stay that way. I apologize for what happened and for having to witness this, but I don't control people. I will ask that if this affects you in any way or the trust you have in me, that instead of fussing and asking around, you come to me with your questions. After all, I'm the one involved, right? -she says and she knows she's probably being a little rude, but she's always hated her life being exposed, she wouldn't start liking it now.
Everyone nods in silence. They actually had a thousand questions and clearly none of them were going to ask them.
- Those who do not need to submit reports are free for today, but leave their cell phones on. - she says and enters her office, leaving the door open, indicating that it was okay for someone to enter her office.
Hearing her mother humiliating her was never new to her, nor did it affect her that much. Therapy did a lot of good for her and even though she still felt sad about everything Bunny said, being called a junkie whore didn't affect her like it used to. Lindsay was old enough to know that no matter how much she actually sold her body, the name for what happened to her was neglect and abuse. She wasn't in that life by choice, she didn't enter that life by choice. She grabbed every opportunity to change her life. She wasn't like Bunny. She never would be. She would never do anything that could hurt her daughter. And that's when she stopped trying to seek Bunny's approval. She discovered that as a daughter, she could forgive Bunny, but as a mother, she would never understand Bunny. The love she felt for Charlotte was something so intense and so surreal, that just imagining her daughter going through 0.1% of what she went through in her childhood left her breathless. As long as she could protect her daughter, she would and she would never understand Bunny.
No one came to ask anything. So Erin decided to calm her heart with the only person she could. Actually one of the two.
- I need to pick up my daughter from daycare. I'll be back soon. -she says and looks at Jay, her look informing him that she didn't want him to follow her.
Bryan didn't see Erin leave, he didn't follow the woman to the daycare, because a while ago, he had unknowingly found a gold mine. He was standing outside the police station when he saw a woman coming out screaming and yelling a lot of things. He didn't even pay attention, at least not until he heard Erin Lindsay's name being cursed.
He knew that kind of person. She was someone not at all trustworthy, but easily buyable and imagine his surprise when he discovered that in addition to being willing to help him, that woman, she was nothing more, nothing less than her mother.
He smiled subtly when he heard the woman complaining about how her daughter was a former drug addict, prostitute and thief. He didn't know half of this information and he took the paper to get help.
- I don't understand how people with bad character can join the police.
- Because she had access easily. The man who helped her get in is corrupt, you know how easily they do it. - Bryan agrees with her.
- Yes you are right. She stole my daughter from me.
- She what? - Bunny looks at him.
- She took my daughter from me, took her from me and disappeared with her. She turned my daughter's mind against me and now takes care of her as if she were her own. - he says looking for some empathy and he gets it.
- Is your daughter small, blonde, with green eyes? - she asks, doing the math.
- Yes, do you know her? - he asks.
- I saw her once, I thought her father was the police officer who was with her.
- Yes, they took it from me. - he says making the saddest voice he can.
- It doesn't surprise me, obviously she would do that. I'm sorry for you. - she says and Bryan was happy, he would probably have an ally. Maybe he could use Bunny to pick up her daughter from daycare and deliver it to him. If she was Bunny's mother, maybe the daycare would trust her.
Bryan doesn't say much else, he just needed access to Bunny and got the address of the bar where the woman worked. He needed to be smart, he couldn't just tell her everything there and he also couldn't risk catching his daughter without being sure that he could hide her so that his plan would work. He was prepared to stay for months if necessary.
Erin smiled at the sight of her daughter. She was perfect and just seeing her made her leave all her problems aside.
- Hi my baby. - Erin pulls her into her arms and hugs and kisses her. - I missed you today. - Charlotte smiles with all her mother's love.
- Where is daddy? - she asks when her mother arrives in the car and sees that Jay isn't there.
- He had to finish the work, but we're going to meet him now. He must be missing you too. - Erin says, placing her daughter in the car seat.
Erin smiled, her daughter just needed to exist to be able to comfort her.
Jay was second on her list. He was so wonderful. She smiled when she saw him smiling when he saw the girl. She ran into his arms and Erin was so lost that she totally forgot what Jay was being called. Great, today her entire team knew more about her personal life than she wanted to share.
- Daddy... - the way the girl called him caught the team's attention. Erin was even relieved when she saw that only Adam and Dante were in the bullpen. The others listened to her and went home, but her relief wore off when she looked at the two. Adam was living with Kim, he, like a good lost person, would tell her without even realizing it. He would probably ask her if she knew Charlotte called Jay Daddy, leaving Kim shocked to find out and she knows she would get a call from Kim minutes later. Dante might be discreet, but obviously he would approach Vanessa and ask her if she knew that the woman earlier was Erin's mother, that Sergeant Voight was Erin's father, and now if she knew that Charlotte was Jay's daughter, being that he didn't even know that Erin and Jay were a couple. As far as he knew Erin lived in NY.
After an exhausting day. Jay ended up leaving after finishing his paperwork and was surprised that none of the guys teased him about being called Daddy, but after the tense atmosphere that Bunny left behind, he believes that none of them would have the courage to make jokes about it, much less get involved. Charlotte.
Lindsay took a deep breath as night came. She was already alone in the bullpen and her thoughts were still on Bunny. She managed to rent a triplex in her head. Erin was no longer affected by the insults, but what she said about Hank caught her attention. She didn't want to believe that, not when if it were true, Voight let her live for 15 years in an abusive home, let her get into drugs and be abused, she would never forgive him for that.
Bunny had always been a liar and manipulative and it was taking everything from Erin to not believe her, but it was getting harder and harder when Erin had more questions than answers. She didn't believe Voight would do this to her, nor to Camille. However, Hank was always secretive, always overprotective, always told her she shouldn't believe Bunny and always tried to remove her from her influence. Erin snaps out of her thoughts when her cell phone vibrates. It was a message from Jay. He was giving her space. As soon as he finished the report he knocked on the door and announced that he was taking Charlotte home. He asked his daughter to say goodbye to her mother, approached her and kissed her forehead, saying he was waiting for her at home. As soon as she opened his message she smiles at the photo sent.
In the photo Charlotte was wearing pajamas and was sleeping on Jay's lap, the photo was beautiful, but his message made her cry.
- Your family is waiting for you at home. - JH
That was it, they were her family and no matter what, she would have them. She gathered her things and left to go back to her house.
"At the end of the day, when everything is over, all we want most is to be close to someone. So this thing where we keep our distance and pretend not to care about others is usually bullshit. So we choose those we want to stay close to and, since we choose such people, we tend to keep in touch. No matter how much we hurt them, the people who are still with you at the end of the day are the ones that are worth keeping. And, of course, sometimes close can be too close. But sometimes that invasion of personal space can be exactly what you need."
- Grey's Anatomy
