65. Chapter 65

Sorry it's been so long but I haven't given up on this story just yet. Let me know what you think!

The following morning, Erin laid awake in her daughter's bed, tenderly threading her fingers through the little girl's soft hair as she slept snuggled into her shoulder. While Jay had been feeling much better following the crackers, apple juice and gentle ministrations from his girls, he insisted that he spend the night on the couch so that neither Erin nor Kate would get sick. However, both the ladies in his life were stubborn, and were adamant that he spend the night in his bed while Erin had a sleepover with Kate.

"Mommy?"

Erin widened her eyes upon the realization that her little girl was awake, "Morning, baby. Did you sleep well?"

"Uh-huh," Kate murmured, rubbing her eyes tiredly with her fist, "Daddy still sleepin'?"

"I think so," Erin replied, scratching the top of Kate's scalp slightly, "I'm sure he's feeling better after a good night's rest."

Kate nodded and exhaled softly, "Daddy said he's gonna get special dinner tonight because it's your birthday."

"Oh yeah?" Erin asked, "We don't have to do anything special."

The little girl looked quizzically at her mother, "You don't like your birthday?" She paused, recalling the conversation she had with her father a few days prior. "Oh! I'm sorry, I-I-I didn't mean to make you sad."

"It's okay, baby, really. I'm not sad, promise." Erin gently held Kate's arm as the little girl tried to pull away in anguish, "I'm very excited to do something special."

Kate breathed a soft sigh of relief, "Okay, 'cause Daddy made a 'res-vation at the Pig Place."

"The Purple Pig?" She couldn't help but feel a little disappointed. After a few days away from her little girl, all Erin wanted to do was to spend time with her family together. By no means did she want her baby to think that her parents were abandoning her on their first family birthday together.

"You don't like it?" Kate furrowed her brow, "Daddy said you like the tuff-ls."

"No, no, I do like truffles, but I…" Erin trailed off, unsure how to tell the little girl that her parents were going out for the night without her. Typically, she and Jay played date nights as special time for Kate and Hank or Will, so to not frighten her.

"Come on babe, you know you can't resist the desserts either," Jay poked his head into Kate's bedroom wearing a cheeky grin. "Table for three at six thirty."

Erin raised her eyebrows. "Table for three, huh?" It wasn't exactly a family-friendly place. While Kate wasn't a picky eater or a rambunctious little girl, Erin was skeptical that the host would even let them sit down.

Jay grinned in response, knowing full well that his girl didn't want to spend the evening away from their daughter. "You bet."

"Daddy!" Kate exclaimed, "You feelin' better?"

"So much better," Jay confirmed, creeping toward the bed, "In fact, I feel up to a birthday tickle fight!"

"Ah!" The little girl squealed and burrowed closer to her mother under the covers, "Daddy, we're snugglin', not ticklin' this morning!"

"Oh are we now?" Jay ceased wiggling his fingers teasingly and leaned over Kate's body to kiss Erin's lips, "I guess we can make an exception on Mommy's birthday."

"Mm," Erin replied, reaching up to tug Jay's t shirt lightly, "Come snuggle for a bit, babe."

"We don't have to go to dinner, you know," Erin informed Jay as she quickly swiped mascara onto her lashes, "I'd be fine with just take out and a movie."

"It's your birthday, babe," Jay replied, adjusting his sport coat, "We're going to do something special as a family and celebrate you and all of us being together."

"I know, and I love you for wanting to do something special," Erin turned and smoothed her hands over Jay's chest, "But I'm not sure if there's anything Kate will want to eat on the menu and it's not really a place for families and-"

"Er." He titled her chin up gently, "We'll figure it out, promise. Let's have a nice night okay? We'll come back early if you hate it. I know it's a rough day for you."

She nodded solemnly and blinked, trying to keep the tears at bay. "I'll go see if she's ready."

Erin took a deep breath and gently knocked on Kate's bedroom door. "Kate, baby? Are you getting ready to go?" She paused when there was no reply? "Kate? I'm coming in, okay?"

She pushed open the door, revealing her little girl standing in front of her closet, still wearing her clothes from earlier that day. "You didn't want to change, babes?" Erin asked, slowly approaching her daughter.

Kate spun around, her eyes swimming with nervousness. "I-I-I didn't know what to pick," she whispered. She cast her eyes down toward her tiny toes, "I never been to fancy dinner before."

Erin felt her heart clench, recognizing that feeling all too well.

"Erin, honey, come on now. We're heading out soon," Camille smiled warmly as Erin slumped on the couch, watching whatever program Justin happened to have on at the time, "Jump in the shower now so you're ready when Hank gets home, which should be in about forty five minutes."

Erin glanced up at the woman, "I'm coming to this thing?" She asked, unable to keep the surprise out of her voice. She self-consciously adjusted the leather jacket around her too-thin shoulders and hated herself as Camille peered into her soul.

"Of course you're coming. We always go to the bistro for Hank's birthday," Camille replied firmly, "Go on and get cleaned up. The television will still be here when you get back."

She grunted slightly and hoisted herself off the couch to trudge up the steps. "I've laid a dress out on your bed," Camille called behind her, "Shoes are by the door."

Erin stood at the edge of the bed and glanced down at the piece of fabric laying atop the comforter. The tags were still on the dress – she had never owned a brand-new dress. Most things that were hers came from thrift shops and hand-me downs. Bunny had never bought her new clothes as far back as Erin could remember.

"Are you ready?" Camille knocked on the bedroom door and carefully pushed it open. She quizzically looked at the young woman sitting atop the bed, clenching the comforter so tight her knuckles were white. "Is the dress too big? We can exchange it for another one and I have something you can wear in the meantime."

Erin shook her head, "I didn't try it on."

"Well come on then," Camille gestured for Erin to stand, "Hank will be home any minute."

She shook her head, "Camille, I-I can't accept this." Erin gripped the comforter tighter.

"Whyever not?" The woman asked, her voice softening as she tried to meet Erin's eyes, strands of hair obstructing her view.

"I don't deserve it," Erin mumbled, leaning away when Camille sat beside her on the bed, "I don't."

"Oh, Erin, honey," Camille wrapped an arm around her shoulders, feeling the child stiffen beneath her touch, "Of course you deserve it." When Erin shook her head shamefully, Camille tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "Sweetheart, you've been clean nearly two months. You're in back school, doing well in fact, and you've been so patient with Justin."

Erin shook her head again, "But I was awful to you. Putting you through that."

Camille was silent, but brought Erin in closer despite her rigidity. "You have been dealt a rough hand of cards, my dear. You did what you had to do in order to survive. But you're here now. And let me tell you, you snapping at me while you were detoxing on the bathroom floor was the least of my worries in that moment, and now it's a distant memory." She put a hand up to Erin's cheek, "You're a part of the family, so of course I'm going to buy you a nice dress because you deserve it."

With that, Erin cracked, tears running freely down her cheeks, leaving streaks of mascara in their wake. "Shh, Erin-honey," Camille rubbed her arms gently and held her closer, "You're alright now. Everything's okay."

After a few moments, Erin sniffed and pulled back. "I like that you call me that, you know. My mom she… she never had anything nice to call me."

Camille brought Erin back in, "Well, you've got me now, Erin-honey."

"We're going to fix that tonight," Erin replied after she had cleared the lump in her throat, "How about that blue dress in the back there?" She crouched beside Kate and gestured to the navy dress hanging in the corner of the closet.

"I didn't know I got that one," Kate said quietly, touching the material as Erin held it out.

"Looks a little like mine, don't you think?" Erin eyes sparkled, "How do you feel about almost matching tonight?"

Kate's eyes lit up, "Really?"

"Of course!" Erin helped the little girl change into the dress and gently ran a brush through her hair. "Ready?"

She nodded and slipped her hand in her mother's. "Well, don't my girls look gorgeous," Jay beamed as Erin and Kate emerged from the bedroom, "Wow. You two clean up very nicely." Kate giggled shyly.

"You don't look half bad yourself," Erin teased, leaning up to kiss Jay's lips, "Shall we?"

"Halstead, party of three," Jay said to the host, flashing a grin at Erin and Kate. The little girl held tightly to her mother's hand, unable to see much due to the tall stature of everyone around her.

"Right this way," the gentleman collected the menus and instructed the family to follow him through the restaurant. Erin nervously glanced around, realizing that there were in fact no children present at the restaurant.

"Jay," Erin hissed, shaking her head slightly.

"Trust me, babe," Jay promised. She sighed and held tighter to Kate, hoping for the best.

"Here you are," the host smiled kindly, stepping aside to reveal a table for three, one with a raised seat for Kate.

Erin glanced to Jay in surprise. "I called ahead," Jay shrugged, flashing another grin, "C'mon, you must be starving." He pulled out Kate's chair. "This look okay, Squirt?"

Kate nodded and reluctantly let Erin's hand go so Jay could settle her into the chair. "Your server will be with you momentarily," the man said, exiting the table and leaving the family alone.

"So?" Jay raised his eyebrows proudly, "What do you think?"

"I think you are just full of surprises," Erin opening the large menu and glancing at the options, none of which appeared suitable for a four year old.

"Hello, my name is Dave and I'll be your server this evening. I also have a special menu for this young lady right here," the waiter said, handing Kate a piece of paper that had a few more kid-friendly items listed. "Let me know if you have any questions. I'll be back in a bit to take your drink order."

Erin shot Jay another incredulous look. "How'd you manage to pull this off?" she asked, glancing down at the special menu for Kate. "Wow, that all looks really good, baby," she beamed.

"I got a guy," Jay winked, "Happy birthday, babe. What would you like to drink?"

"Clear!" Jay shouted, his weapon still drawn in front as the Intelligence unit raided what appeared to be a stash house. While Erin's birthday had been a massive success, criminals did not take a day off. The case that Intelligence thought had been wrapped up in New York made an ugly reappearance with the discovery of multiple homicides related to the same cartel.

The dark building smelled of mildew and stale beer as the unit scoped out each room. "Body," Atwater swallowed thickly as he caught sight of a decapitated young man in the bathroom, head in the sink.

"Cartels," Antonio muttered, "Anyone check upstairs?"

"Lindsay and Ruzek are up there now," Hank glanced up the steps and then around the dingy space with a grimace.

"Body," Ruzek's saddened voice called from upstairs. Jay raised his eyebrows at his coworker's unusually disturbed tone. "It's a kid," he added, leaning his head down the steps, visibly shaken, "She's just a kid."

"Damn," Atwater muttered, quickly looking for the exit, "I'll uh- call the coroner."

"Jay," Ruzek gestured up the steps. The young officer's wide eyes indicated that his partner needed him. He nodded grimly and proceeded up the steps, unsure of what he would find at the top.

The small bedroom at the top of the stairs was basically empty, save for a twin sized mattress in the corner. Jay sucked in a breath, overwhelmed by the sense of déjà vu as he peered into the room. Erin was crouched next to the lifeless body of a small little girl, around the same age as his own daughter. "Er," Jay managed after he found his voice, "C'mon, uh, the coroner is almost here."

Erin looked up, her eyes shining with unshed tears. She made no moves to abandon the child, so Jay crossed the room and rested a comforting hand on her shoulder. "Babe," he whispered, "Let's go get the guys who did this."

She nodded and stood on shaky feet, accepting Jay's hand to stand up. Silently, the detectives exited the bedroom and walked down the steps as forensics and other units entered the house. "She's Kate's age," Erin choked out, swallowing harshly as the unit stood together solemnly, "They shot her, point blank."

Hank nodded, his teeth gritted together, "We'll get them."

Erin turned for the Sierra but chose to sit in the passenger seat. "Uh, Sarge?" Jay asked. The gruff man raised his eyebrows in anticipation of his detective's question, "Would it be alright if Erin and I picked Kate up from school? I think uh, it would be good for us to see her after…" he gestured to the house, "I just want to hug my kid."

"I get that," Hank replied, casting a glance back to Erin, who was seated in the Sierra, staring down at her phone, "Keep an eye on her, would you?"

"Always."

"Babe?"

"Mhm?" Erin snapped out of her reverie and turned toward her partner. "We're at Kate's school?"

"Mm-hm," Jay affirmed, unbuckling his seat belt, "I texted Platt, I thought it would be good for us to pick her up today." He drew in a breath, "Just…after today, I um, really needed to see her."

She nodded slowly and sighed, "Yeah. Me too. Finding that kid," Erin swallowed, "It-it could have easily been Kate." Her voice cracked, "And I don't even want to think about that. Or what our lives would be like without her because she is just so-" She stopped, unable to finish the sentence.

"I know, babe, I know." Jay reached over the center console and brought a hand to Erin's cheek, "But we got her. She's ours, and she's healthy and happy and the bravest kid I ever met." He smiled sadly and stroked her cheek gently with the pad of his thumb, "And we owe it to our kid to be there for her, because that poor little girl today didn't have anyone looking out for her."

Erin managed a watery nod and brought her hand up to her partner's. "How'd you know just what to say?"

"I'm not just a pretty face," Jay joked, earning a snort from his fiancé.

"Yeah, yeah," Erin muttered, dragging the back of her hand across her face to get rid of any residual tears, "Let's go get our girl, hm?"

"Daddy?" Kate widened her eyes as she spotted her father among the many parents at pick up, "Mommy?"

"Hey, baby!" Erin grinned, squatting down to accept a hug, "How was your day?"

"You surprised me!" The little girl said excitedly, "I thought Sergeant Platt was comin' to get me."

"We just missed you so much," Jay bent down to kiss the top of his daughter's head.

"We goin' home early?" Kate looked up at her father hopefully, "And play legos?"

"Well, Daddy and I have a few things to wrap up back at the district," Erin smoothed Kate's hair back, feeling guilty when the little girl's face fell slightly, "But I think Goose will be very excited to see you."

"Goose gonna be there?" Kate widened her eyes, "He not trainin' today?"

"He's all yours. He had training this morning," Jay's eyes twinkled, "I'm sure he'd love to read a story or two."

"Halstead, Lindsay, we gotta go," Ruzek knocked forcefully on the door frame to the breakroom and peered in urgently. Jay was brewing a pot of coffee while Erin was sitting beside Kate, helping her color in a picture. Goose sat beside them, occasionally moving his nose to rest in the little girl's lap. "Got a hit."

Jay quickly abandoned the coffee. "Alrighty Squirt, you know the drill. Sergeant Platt will be up in a few, Mommy and I just need to vest up and we'll be back soon, okay?"

Kate nodded bravely, dropping the colored pencil and hugging Erin tightly. "You gonna come back through, right?"

"Always, baby." Erin kissed her forehead. "Daddy and I'll be back soon." While she was accustomed to leaving her little girl behind when duty called, it never got any easier to kiss her good bye.

"We love you, kiddo." Jay knelt beside his girls and stroked Kate's cheek, "Can you draw me a picture?"

Kate nodded again and wrapped her arms around her father's neck. "I love you too, Daddy."

"Lindsay. Halstead," Hank barked from the bullpen, "Vest up."

"Gotta go, babes. Have fun with Goose and be good like always, okay? Love you," Erin pressed a kiss on the top of Kate's head before hustling out of the breakroom, unable to look back at her daughter for fear she'd stop in her tracks.

"They've got two kids as hostage," Atwater informed them as they crouched behind an abandoned car in the lot, "Called in for back up."

"I think I can get a shot," Jay replied, glancing at the warehouse where the captors were holding the kids, "Just gotta get a bit closer."

"No!" Erin exclaimed, "Are you crazy?"

"You got a better idea?" Dawson asked her, sizing up the distance from where they were standing to the warehouse, "They'll kill the kids once they hear SWAT. Halstead's our best shot."

"It's too risky," Erin argued as Jay opened his mouth to protest, "We should wait for backup."

"You speaking as a cop or as a fiancé?" Antonio snapped, "They're gonna kill these kids."

Erin scowled and was ready to rebut when Jay stepped in, "He's right, Erin. It's now or never."

She shook her head again, "I'm speaking as your partner."

"He's got us for back up," Hank decided, "Halstead, you're up."

Erin scowled again but recognized that she was out numbered. "Be careful, Halstead," she said tersely.

"Always am," Jay replied, holding his weapon out in front. "I got this. Stay behind me." The rest of the unit nodded, weapons drawn.

Jay maneuvered out in front of the vehicle and toward the warehouse, the unit a few paces behind. He gestured that he was going to pull open the doors and received a nod from Hank to confirm.

The door crept open and Jay let off too shots, resulting in shouts from the criminals. Everything happened in seconds as Atwater and Lindsay scooped up the frightened young boys while Halstead, Antonio and Al barreled into the warehouse.

Suddenly everything went silent when a single shot rang out from the other side of the wearhouse, followed by Erin's blood-curdling scream.

"Jay!"