Author's Note: Sorry again for another delay in posting. The site has been acting up since Halloween, and I've been trying to wait for it to go back to normal, but I'm not sure that's happening. I hope that someone actually gets to see this chapter! If you do, please let me know!

This chapter is going to have a couple of time jumps as we navigate Erin's healing process, with a little treat for my Linstead fans at the end :)

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Chapter 37-She's Getting Her Life Back

Four months later…

Erin checked the last item on her list.

"Put the plates on the table," she read out loud. She carried the two plates over, setting them down in front of her and Jenna's seats, stepping back to survey her work as a look of pride crossed her face.

"I did it!" she said to herself.

Right on cue, the front door opened.

"Jenna? Is that you?" Erin asked.

"It's me Sweetie," Jenna said, walking into the kitchen. "What's this?" she asked, looking at the table.

"Lunch! I made it myself, and I only had to call Jay for help one time."

"I'm so proud of you Erin," Jenna said as she hugged her.

Erin shrugged. "It's not a big deal, just sandwiches, but I think everything is there. I couldn't really screw that up too much, right?"

Jenna squeezed Erin's hand. "But those are a lot of steps to put together, and you did it. You've come so far in such a short time. This is great."

"I'm going to get better. Hopefully next time I'll be able to make us lunch without step by step instructions."

It had been a hard four months. While Erin's motor skills and memory of the people in her life were mostly intact, they quickly realized that her brain injury seemed to affect her ability to perform daily activities, especially those that required multiple steps. When she was recovered enough to leave the hospital, it was decided that the best place for her to be during her recovery was Hank and Jenna's house. Since she couldn't be left alone during the day for any extended period of time, Jenna would be able to be with Erin while Jay and Hank were working.

Erin went to a rehab center every day to work with an occupational therapist to help her relearn basic tasks and continue to heal the injured parts of her brain. Her family saw improvements in her abilities every day, and Erin was determined she would recover completely and get her life back with the support of her family. She knew anything was possible.

While she felt herself getting better, Erin still had extremely hard days. She had spent so much of her life taking care of herself that it was hard to have to depend on others. Showing her vulnerabilities made her feel weak, especially in front of Jay, but he was her rock, constantly reassuring her of his love and commitment to her, and insisting they would someday have the life they'd dreamed of.

Hank struggled as he watched Erin fight her way through her injury. He was extremely proud of her dedication to her treatment, but he continued blaming himself for the injury ever happening and wishing that he could fix everything. Every night, he would lay in Jenna's arms as she reassured him that Erin would get through this, and he was not to blame for what happened. It was hard, but Hank hoped that one day he would be able to believe Jenna's words.

"I don't know what we'd do without you," Hank mumbled against her shoulder.

Jenna smiled. "You'd figure it out, but I'm glad to be able to help. You know I'd do anything for that girl. And for you."

He planted soft kisses along her collarbone. "I love you," he whispered.

"I love you."

"She's going to be ok?"

Jenna nodded, wrapping her arms tighter around him. "She's going to be ok."

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Nine months later…

Jay squeezed Erin's hand as they walked side by side up the stairs.

"Relax, babe. Everything will be fine," he said.

Erin leaned into him a little. "I'm just nervous."

"Don't be. I'll be right beside you the whole time."

When they reached the door, Jay knocked.

"Come in," they heard.

Erin took a deep breath before stepping through the doorway. "Good morning," she said as they stepped inside.

A smile spread across Hank's face as he looked up from his desk to see Erin and Jay. "How's my favorite detective?"

"Doing great, Sarge. Thanks," Jay said teasingly as he elbowed Erin.

Hank rolled his eyes. "Good for you, Halstead. Now, how's my REAL favorite detective?"

"She's pretty nervous," Erin said shakily.

"Don't be." Hank reached into his desk and pulled out an item Erin had been longing to touch again, but it had seemed so far out of reach. Hank placed it in her hand as he held her hand in between both of his. "You've earned this, and I couldn't be prouder. Welcome back, Detective Lindsay."

When Hank removed his hands, Erin finally got to see it.

Her badge.

She couldn't help the tears. The last year was one of the hardest of her life, but clipping that badge to her belt made it all worth it.

Erin was back.

While she had made incredible progress over the last year, she had not yet been cleared to return to the field or to carry a weapon. Because her injury was sustained on the job, the department had pushed her to take an early retirement. Hank wouldn't hear of it, and he fought to give her back her spot in his unit. Even if Erin couldn't go in the field, she could interview victims and offenders, and she could help with paperwork and technology. The unit hadn't felt the same without her, and Hank was determined to prove that she was still an asset to his team. As he watched her walk out of his office and into a sea of congratulations and welcome backs from the rest of the unit, he had to choke down tears. He was so proud of everything she had overcome, and for the first time since that horrible day, he felt like he could breathe again.

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At the end of Erin's first week back, Jay was determined to celebrate her huge accomplishment. Erin insisted that she didn't want a big fuss, but when Jay brought up the subject of a celebratory dinner, the rest of the unit jumped on board. After begging, pleading, and a little bit of threatening, Erin reluctantly agreed to dinner at one of her favorite restaurants. Jay made Saturday evening reservations for the whole unit, plus Jenna.

They were given a private room in the back of the restaurant, and once food orders had been placed, Jay stood up and got everyone's attention. When everyone was quiet, he said, "Thank you all so much for coming tonight. It's been…quite a year. We went through something that could've potentially taken out this entire unit, and…" Jay stopped, looking down at Erin, who was sitting next to him. "We are extremely lucky that as of this week, our unit is finally complete again. Erin, I know I can speak for everyone when I say how proud we are of you, and how grateful we are that you're back with us."

Jay took Erin's hand, pulling her up to stand next to him. He turned to fully face her, taking both of her hands in his. "I love you, Er. Over this last year, watching you fight, your strength and determination to overcome the challenges you faced…Erin, I loved you a year ago, but it doesn't even begin to compare to how much I love you now."

"Jay," Erin said tearfully, trying not to fall apart, and slightly embarrassed by Jay's public declaration of his feelings.

"I know you don't like this kind of attention, but I wanted the most important people in our life to witness this. I had plans to do this a few days after the bombing, so obviously those plans were derailed, but here we are now." He let go of one of her hands for a moment, wiping at a tear. He took a deep breath.

"Erin, I knew the day I met you that you were someone special, unlike anyone I'd ever met before. When I found out we were going to be partners, I had a feeling that we were going to be good together. I had no idea it would turn into this, but I'm grateful every day that Sarge put us together. I'm also grateful that when he figured out how we feel about each other, he didn't immediately dump my body in the lake."

The entire room erupted in laughter, knowing all too well how right Jay was. Hank shrugged his shoulders as Jenna elbowed him.

Jay continued. "I love being your partner at work, but even more than that, I love being your partner in life, and that's a partnership I don't ever want to end. We came so close to losing that a year ago, and I don't want to wait another minute to tell you that you mean everything to me, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Jay got down on one knee, and Erin's tears came harder. "Erin Lindsay, will you marry me?"

Erin put her hands on Jay's face, pulling him up to stand as she kissed him deeply. "Yes," she said through her tears. "Yes, Jay Halstead, I'll marry you!"

Erin kissed Jay again as their family and friends cheered, and Jay slipped the ring on Erin's finger. Everyone rushed over to congratulate them.

Tears streamed down Jenna's face as she hugged Erin and Jay. "I love you both so much, and I'm so happy for you," she said.

"Love you too," Erin whispered.

Jenna took Erin's hand, admiring her engagement ring. She looked up at Jay. "You did good."

"Yes he did," Erin said as Jay shrugged, a small smile on his face.

Hank hugged Erin before turning to Jay. "Halstead."

Erin put her hand on Hank's shoulder. "Please Hank, let us have this day."

He glared at Erin for a moment before extending his hand to Jay. "Welcome to the family, son."

Jay shook Hank's hand. "Thank you Sarge, for everything."

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Hank and Jenna walked hand in hand into their house after dinner. It had been such a beautiful evening. After the last year, they all enjoyed having a relaxed night where they could just enjoy being together. Erin's injury deeply affected the whole unit, and they all felt a sense of relief and closure now that Erin was back with them.

When they got into the house, Hank walked to the couch, pulling Jenna down next to him and putting his arm around her.

"Tonight was great," he said.

"It was. I'm so happy for Erin and Jay," Jenna said softly in his ear.

"Me too. She deserves this, especially after the year she's had," Hank said, kissing the side of her head.

"I think we all deserve a little happiness after the year we've had."

Hank pulled Jenna close, kissing the side of her head before resting his forehead against her temple. "I don't know what we would've done without you. This isn't the way I imagined our first year of marriage, and I'm sorry that we had to spend it taking care of my kid."

Jenna moved to sit in Hank's lap, straddling his waist and taking his face in her hands. "Hank, don't you ever apologize for that. I wanted to take care of her, and I'm so glad that I was in a position to be there for her."

Hank leaned in and kissed her softly. "We are so lucky to have you."

"I'm just thankful we got the outcome we wanted. I know Erin still has some work to do, but I'm glad she's getting her life back."

"Me too."

As they climbed into bed, Jenna said, "One more thing. I don't ever want to hear you call Erin YOUR kid again. I don't know how many times I have to say this, but she's my kid too, our kid."

Hank gave a small smile before kissing her deeply. "Goodness, I love you."