Chapter Three
Erin closed her eyes and tried to relax and sleep. She closed her eyes and all she saw was Jay. Jay in the car with her. Jay in her old apartment and her eyes teared up again. Being alone, she felt free to let the tears fall, not caring about holding them in anymore. She let out a sob and pulled the thin blanket that was covering up to her neck, starting to feel cold.
Erin sobbed to herself for a few minutes when she felt her eyes getting heavy. She realized how exhausted she was and let the pain medication lull her to sleep, memories of Jay and what happened to her, haunting her.
Voight had been gone from the room for about 20 minutes and was heading back when he heard Erin's sobs as he stood outside the door. He knew this wouldn't be easy for her and he felt heartbroken for her. He knew how much Erin loved Jay and also knew how much she hated coming to New York and that she only left to protect her mother. While Voight understood he also hated how Erin constantly protected the woman who never protected her growing up.
Voight sighed and knocked gently on the door before opening it, wanting Erin to hear him coming so he wouldn't scare her.
Voight walked into the room and pulled one of the chairs closer to the hospital bed. "Hey kid, is there anything I can do?" Voight asked, slowly reaching for Erin's hand.
Erin shook her head. "What's going to happen now?" Erin asked, staring at the blanket in front of her, not being able to make eye contact with Hank.
"Well, You'll need to heal before anything else obviously," Voight told Erin and watched as she sighed.
"So, I'm stuck in this hospital for a while I'm assuming?"
Voight shook his head. "Just until tomorrow so they can double-check that your head injury isn't more serious than it is," Voight explained. "Also, you won't be able to travel until the pain fades."
Erin snaps her head up. "What? What about Jay?" Erin asked, looking at Voight, tears forming in her eyes once again.
"We can hold off on the funeral until you're able to come home," Voight told her, gently grabbing her hand. Erin looked down and nodded. "Look, until you're able to travel I want you to stay with Olivia, okay? I trust her and while I have to get back to Chicago tomorrow she'll still be here." Voight said.
Erin sighed and nodded. "Fine, I'll stay with Olivia until I'm well enough to travel," Erin agreed.
"Thank you, Erin. I know you want to fly home and I know I want you to fly back with me but if anything happens on the plane it's," Hank hesitated. "It's too much of a risk,"
Erin nodded again. "I know. I know. How's Al doing?" Erin asked, worried about one of her oldest mentors.
Hank smiled gently and ran a thumb over Erin's hand. "He's awake. The bullet was a through and through. I wanted to make sure he was okay before I left. You know how much he means to me." Erin nods. "So, one of the doctor's requests is for you to eat. Is there anything I can get you?"
Erin was about to answer when the door opened.
"Detective Lindsey we need to talk," The person said, and Erin tensed in the bed, gripping Hank's hand tighter. Hank looked up and his face hardened when he saw Jennifer Spencer.
TBC