16. Chapter 16

Eeeek drama!

The first week of December brought another wave of snow in addition to a slight dip in criminal activity. Intelligence was working on small drug-smuggling ring that appeared to be folding fast. "Jay." Erin picked up her phone. "I'm sorry I missed your call, I was in an interrogation. Did you get the guy?"

"It's Kate," he replied, "The school just called, she's running a slight fever."

"Oh no." Erin put her hand to her mouth. "We got the confession so I'll get someone to cover me so I can go pick her up."

Jay nodded and turned to Atwater, who gestured that he could handle things on their end. "I'll be home early, okay? As soon as I can."

After speaking with Hank and receiving the go-ahead to pick up her daughter, Erin jumped in her Jeep and peeled out of the parking lot to get to Kate's school as fast as she could. In the five months that Kate had been a member of their family, she hadn't been sick and rarely complained of feeling poorly even with broken and sprained arms. Motherly instinct took over, and Erin had a gut feeling her baby really wasn't feeling well.

Erin wished she had been in the Sierra so that she could turn the lights on, but she as able to make it to Hillside Nursery School in record time. Erin parked in the fire lane before switching off the car and briskly making her way to the school entrance. "Where's the nurse's office?" Erin asked the woman behind the front desk. She swung her keys impatiently as the woman continued to write on the different colored slips of paper. "My daughter is sick." Erin placed her hands on her hips, pulling back her long winter coat and revealing the badge clipped to the waistband of her dark jeans.

"Down the hall, to your left." The woman looked up from the paperwork and directed the detective on where to go.

"Thank you." Erin sped walked down the hallway and into the nurse's office. "Hi, I'm here for Kate Halstead." She glanced around the small room, taking note of the kiddie-sized chairs and posters encouraging the little kids to wash their hands and cover their mouths.

"Hello Mrs. Halstead. Kate's in the other room. I'm going to need you to sign her out and take a pass to give at the front desk." The older woman smiled at Erin. "It's only a slight fever, but I figured it was better to be safe than sorry."

"Thank you," Erin said gratefully as she hastily signed her name on the clipboard and handed it back to the woman. The nurse gestured to the back room, indicating that it was where Erin would find her daughter.

"Mommy," whispered a small voice as Erin entered. Erin followed the familiar tone to the far bed in the corner, where her baby was lying on her side.

"Hi baby." Erin sat down on the plastic bed Kate was lying in. "I heard you're not feeling too good, huh?"

Kate shrugged. "I'm sorry you had to come from work." She looked up at her mother tiredly, "I said I was fine but Miss Carlson said I feeled warm."

"I wasn't busy and it's okay to tell an adult if you're feeling sick, okay? I don't mind leaving work especially if it means I get to spend time with you." Erin stroked her daughter's cheek. "Let's get you home, sound good?"

Kate nodded and lifted her arms. Erin scooped her up and grabbed her backpack from the chair. "Thanks again," she said to the nurse and walked down the hallway that she had entered through.

The lady at the front desk gave a sympathetic look Kate when Erin handed her the green slip that allowed Kate to leave school. "Poor thing." the woman said benevolently, stamping the slip. "Feel better sweetheart."

"Thanks." Erin replied and exited the school. She slipped Kate into her car seat and buckled her up, placing a soft kiss on her warm forehead.

"Did you feel sick this morning baby?" Erin looked in her rearview mirror as they drove along the street, "Like before school?" The little girl had been silent since Erin had buckled her in.

Kate shook her head. "I didn't feel good in snack time," she shivered slightly, "And I slipped. That's how come Miss Carlson said I feeled warm, when she helped me up."

"Did you feel dizzy?" Erin was alarmed, suddenly concerned that her baby may have another concussion, "Did you hit your head?"

"No," Kate responded, tiredly looking out the window. "I was just so tired I could barely stand."

"Does your head hurt?" Erin asked but the little girl shook her head. "Your tummy?"

Kate shook her head again. "I just ache all over," she complained, rubbing her eyes. She let out a yawn, "And I'm sleepy."

"All right then." Erin parked in front of the apartment building, not bothering to waste time finding a place in the garage. "I bet your bed sounds good to you right now."

Kate nodded again as her mother carefully unbuckled her and helped her out of her seat. While Erin grabbed her backpack, Kate tiredly wandered up the steps to the building. She faltered as she stepped over the stoop. "Careful there," Erin caught her arm, "Hold on, let me carry you."

"I'm okay." Kate accepted the boost into her mother's arms and rested tiredly on her shoulder as they entered the elevator. Erin fumbled for her keys and trudged into the apartment, Kate still in her arms.

"I can get down," Kate informed her mother, "I'm okay."

"Are you sure?" Erin set her down and placed Kate's backpack on the floor by the door.

"I'm think I'm going to sleep now." Kate stated as she kicked off her shoes and dropped her coat to the floor. She was normally a neat little girl but was clearly bone-tired and not concerned with making a mess.

"I'll be right in baby." Erin was pouring apple juice into a sippy cup in the kitchen. "Go put your pajamas on."

Kate did as she was told and crawled into bed. The second her head hit the pillow, she fell asleep. Erin left the cup by her daughter's bed and placed a hand on her forehead. The little girl was definitely running a slight fever, evident by her flushed cheeks and occasional shivers.

Erin quietly shut Kate's bedroom door but brought the baby monitor from Jay's beside table out into the living room. She put on her sweats and curled up on the couch before dialing her partner's number.

"How is she?" were his first words.

"Tired." Erin replied. "I mean, it's just after one and she's exhausted. Barely kept her eyes open on the drive home. She's sleeping now. I didn't even get a chance to take her temperature or give her anything."

"She seemed all right this morning." Jay ran his fingers through his hair. "We got the guy so I'll be home in an hour or two. Voight said it's fine."

"I'll cook tonight." Erin told him. "She's asleep and I've got time."

"Sounds good." Jay glanced at his watch. "I gotta go. Love you."

"Love you too." Erin hit end and headed for the kitchen.

She began peeling potatoes and chopping celery. Before she knew it, her boyfriend was home and homemade chicken soup was cooking on the stove. There were only few dishes that Erin could concoct, and chicken soup was one. The recipe had been Camille's and Erin was sure to follow the directions carefully every time.

"It's nice to be home early, isn't it?" she asked Jay after they shared a kiss.

Jay nodded, nuzzling her cheek. "She still sleeping?"

"I checked on her ten minutes ago. Hasn't uttered a sound since she fell asleep, and that was at one." Erin stirred the soup. "Poor thing has a fever though. It was 101.2 an hour ago and she didn't even stir."

Jay sighed. "Kids get sick all the time. She'll be fine in a day or two."

"I hope so." Erin mused, turning the temperature down on the stove. "Maybe we call Will in a bit?" She glanced up at Jay nervously, "Just for some doctorly advice." Jay nodded and led his partner to the couch. They snuggled there together while watching the recent Blackhawks game highlights, listening intently for any noise from their daughter's room.

Kate slept through dinner. Jay and Erin rotated going in to check her, almost every ten minutes. "I'm paranoid." Erin sighed as she rested her head on her partner's chest. The duo had retreated to the couch again after eating the soup that Erin made. Jay had been extremely surprised at Erin's culinary prowess, repeatedly telling her how glad he was that the kitchen wasn't burnt to a crisp, earning a swift punch to the shoulder.

"So am I." Jay replied dryly. "I've never had a sick kid before."

Erin glanced at her cell phone. "It's nearly eight. She's been asleep for seven hours."

"I texted Will and he said that it's probably just the bug that's been going around. He did say that we could wake her, maybe get her in a cool bath to bring down her fever." Jay suggested. "I mean, it's a bit above 101, but I guess it couldn't hurt."

Erin nodded and got up. "You want to wake her? I'll start the bath."

Jay rose and headed for his little girl's bedroom. She was sound asleep, breathing deeply. "Kate, sweetheart, wake up."

She rolled over. "Daddy?" she mumbled, "Why are you home so early?"

"Well, it's late now since you've been asleep for quite a while." He gently cupped her flushed cheek in his palm, "It looks like you're running a bit of a fever."

"Oh." Kate rubbed her eyes. "I'm tired."

He pressed the back of his hand her forehead. "You feel a little warmer than you did earlier. Mommy's drawing a nice bath for you, how does that sound?"

Kate nodded and rubbed her eyes again. "But I'm so sleepy."

"I know Squirt," He helped her remove the covers off her sweaty body and carried her to the hall bathroom, "We're going to get you back in bed soon."

"Hi baby," Erin took the little girl out of her partner's arms, "Little bit tired, are we?"

"Little bit," murmured Kate, relaxing into her mother's touch, "I took a long nap."

"Mh-hm," Erin ran her fingers through Kate's soft hair, "Are you up for a bath to help cool you down?"

"'kay." Kate leaned back and struggled to pull her pajamas off. Erin gently helped pull the damp pajamas over Kate's head and carefully set the little girl in the lukewarm bath water.

"I'll grab her some clean pajamas." Jay left the bathroom and let Erin help Kate with her bath.

After her cool bath, Kate snuggled in Erin's lap on the couch. Erin carefully combed out Kate's hair and glanced worriedly at Jay, who was texting his brother. He handed his girlfriend a sippy cup full of juice. "Will said to have her drink that. Fluids."

"Can you have some juice, baby?" Erin lifted the cup to Kate's mouth and helped her get fluids into her system. When the cup was half empty, Kate shook her head no. "I don't want anymore."

"Just a few more sips," Erin tried to lift the cup back up to Kate's lips, "We need to keep you hydrated so you can get better."

"It's too cold." Kate shivered and pulled her arms in closer around her body.

Erin felt her daughter's forehead, warmer than before. "You're running a bit more than a slight fever now, sweetheart. It's just your body's way of fighting off a virus so that you can get better."

"I don't like this." Kate complained, tears welling in her eyes.

"I know baby. I'm sorry you're feeling sick." Erin ran her fingers through Kate's damp hair before resting the back of her hand on Kate's forehead again. "Damn." she muttered before calling "Jay!"

Jay appeared out of the kitchen. "Warmer?" he asked, as his girl nodded. He reached into the sink and pulled out the thermometer. "Er, can you set her on the counter? I called Will, he's going to be over shortly."

Erin carried her daughter over to the kitchen counter. "Can you open up for me, Squirt?" Jay held the thermometer up. The little girl looked apprehensively at the thermometer, unsure of what it was going to do. "It just goes under your tongue to see if you have a fever. It won't hurt, I promise." Jay offered a smile. Obediently, Kate opened her mouth. When the little needle looking device beeped, Jay glanced at the number. He held up two fingers, letting Erin know that the little girl's fever had reached 102.

"Does anything hurt baby?" Erin ran her fingers through Kate's wet hair and pressed a kiss on top of her head, "I know you were feeling achy earlier."

"My whole body aches," Kate mumbled as her father cupped her flushed cheek with his cool hand.

"Anywhere specific?" he asked, looking concernedly in her wet hazel orbs. He caught Erin's panicked gaze.

"My head." Kate pushed her palm up against her forehead. "And my tummy." She gingerly wrapped an arm around her stomach, leaning against Erin, who stood beside the counter.

Erin widened her eyes, "That's new."

Before Jay could ask another question, a sharp knock at the door caused the little girl to jump. "I think that's Will." Jay hurried to the entrance and opened the front door. "Hey man, thanks for coming."

"Anything for my favorite niece." Will followed his brother to the kitchen and squeezed Erin's shoulder. "Hey Goosey, how's my favorite patient doing?" He bent down and smiled warmly at Kate.

She shrugged, leaning closer to her mother. "She's got a fever, headache and just now said that her stomach hurts," Erin told him, continuing to run her fingers through Kate's hair, "And she's not one to complain."

"And she's exhausted." Jay added, nervously watching his little girl struggle to keep her eyes open.

"Is it okay if I take a look?" Will asked, taking in Kate's flushed complexion and glassy eyes.

She nodded and Will gently lifted Kate's pajama top to examine her belly. "Does it hurt when I push there?" He pressed her abdomen where the appendix was located.

Kate shook her head. "It hurts more up here." She motioned to where her stomach was.

"Where she's pointing is her actual stomach, not her small intestine or kidneys." Will adjusted Kate's pajama top. "It looks like you have a bit of a stomach bug, little Miss Halstead. That would explain the aches and fever. The good news is that you'll be okay in a day or two. You can give her some Motrin right before bed to help with the fever."

Jay kissed the top of Kate's head. "That's good to hear. Thanks for coming by man."

"Anytime. Let me know if you need anything." Will smiled and headed for the door. "Feel better kiddo!"

"Thanks Will." Erin rubbed Kate's tummy soothingly. "Do you feel like you're going to be sick?"

"Just hurts," she shrugged and yawned. "I'm not going to die." Kate managed a small smile at her parents.

Jay chuckled and stroked her cheek. "We're just making sure."

Erin picked Kate up off the counter and brought her back to the couch, Jay in tow. "We just love you so much and we like to see you feeling better."

Kate rubbed her eyes and yawned again. "Why am I so sleepy?"

"Your body is fighting something, babes." Erin kissed the top of Kate's damp head. "You might be tired for a few days, but that's your body's way of getting you better."

"Do you want to go back to bed?" Jay asked, glancing at his watch. It was past Kate's normal bedtime, but the little girl had been asleep for most of the day.

Kate shook her head. "I've been in bed all day."

"But you said you were sleepy," Erin pointed out, continuing to run her fingers through Kate's damp hair, "And lying down might feel good."

"I know," Kate settled back against her mother, "But I want to be with you guys." She looked up at her parents with wide eyes. "Please?"

"A few minutes, but then you need to rest, okay?" Jay smiled. He couldn't deny his little girl the comfort of her parents, and if he was being honest, he was more at ease when she was in between him and Erin. Kate nodded, snuggling in closer to Erin's chest. Jay pulled his girls in close and switched on the news. For fifteen minutes the family watched the daily events unfold, Kate dozing lightly between her parents.

"Daddy." Kate said urgently, abruptly leaning away from her mother.

"Mmm?" Jay turned to the little girl and raised his eyebrows, anticipating a question.

"I think I'm going to get sick." Her face had gone pale and sweat lined her hairline. Jay jumped up immediately. Quickly, Erin boosted Kate into Jay's waiting arms. He scooped up his daughter and carried her to the kitchen sink where she emptied the contents of her little stomach, narrowly missing the floor.

"Ew." Kate moaned after she was finished, tears rolling down her flushed cheeks. "That's so gross."

"Oh baby." Erin came into the kitchen, bearing a damp washcloth to wipe her daughter's mouth. Jay set the child down on the counter and tucked her messy wet hair behind her ears while Erin ran the cloth over Kate's face.

"I bet you're sleepy now huh?" he asked, gently rubbing her back. "Are you going to be sick again?"

The little girl shook her head and extended her arms. "I want to go to bed." she mumbled, sagging against her father in exhaustion.

"Let's just get some fluids in you quick, okay?" Jay stroked his daughter's hair, "And maybe some Motrin to bring down her fever." Erin nodded, quickly gathering the medicine and juice and setting them on the counter. He lifted the liquid to her mouth and she swallowed, quickly washing the horrible taste down with apple juice.

"Can I go to bed now?" Kate whimpered, leaning against her father again.

"All right baby." Erin kissed her forehead, and Jay picked her up. "I'll be in to check on you later, okay?"

Kate nodded as Jay carried her to her bed. Her eyelids were closed by the time Jay kissed her forehead and quietly closed the door. When he glanced into his bedroom, he saw his partner curled up on the bed, reading a book on parenting that Ruzek had gifted as a joke but she was actually making a point to read.

"Sleepy?" he asked, touching her knee affectionately. He leaned down and kissed her lips gently.

She nodded and stifled a yawn. "Little bit."

"Worried?" Jay pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it into the hamper. He placed the baby monitor on his bedside table.

"Very much so." Erin sighed and bookmarked her place. "I mean, her fever is slight but she's so tired. There's a million different infections out there."

"And it's flu season." Jay climbed into bed. "Schools are Petri dishes for germs."

"I know. And I know Will said she was going to be okay but-" Erin shifted closer to her boyfriend and turned her head to kiss him. "I love you." she whispered.

"I love you too." Jay switched out the light.

The moonlight was streaming in from the bedroom window, right into Erin's eyes. She rolled over and slung her arm over her sleeping partner, pulling her body closer to his. Jay was sound asleep on his back, mouth slightly agape as he gently inhaled and exhaled.

Suddenly, she heard irregular noises echoing from the baby monitor on Jay's bedside. "Jay," she mumbled, kicking the covers off. "Jay," she shook him. "Do you hear that?"

"What?" Jay opened his eyes lazily. He glanced at the clock. "Er, it's three in the morning. What's wrong?"

"It's the monitor," Erin murmured, her mind playing ping pong between awake and asleep. Then she grasped the situation. "The monitor."

The couple listened for a moment, but there was no noise. "There's nothing coming out of it," Jay muttered. "I think she's fine." He rolled over, pulling Erin closer to him and closed his eyes again, breathing in his girlfriend's sweet scent.

They drifted off for a few more minutes when a sudden thump from outside their bedroom door quickly woke the couple up. "Kate," Erin gasped, scrambling against the covers.

Jay practically leapt out of the bed and raced into the living room, Erin right behind him. Kate was laying in the hallway in a heap, halfway between the bedrooms, blood all over her mouth. "Kate!" Jay cried, kneeling down beside his daughter. The little girl was white as a sheet and was sweating profusely, strands of hair matted to her face.

Erin dialed 911. "This is Detective Erin Lindsay, I need an ambo. My four year old is coughing up blood and passing out." She glanced around the apartment, "Jay!" she shrieked as she saw the trail of blood coming from Kate's bedroom.

"She's unconscious," he took Kate's wrist. "Faint pulse."

"I'll get her jacket. The ambulance is on its way." Erin grabbed three coats off the hangers and slipped into her boots. She tossed Jay his shoes and sank down to Kate. "Oh, Kate." she whispered, wiping the little girl's mouth with the sleeve of her coat.

"There's vomit all over the floor in her bedroom. Half of its blood." Jay declared, helping his partner get Kate's coat on her shivering body.

"Her fever's way up." Erin touched her baby's forehead. "She's still out though."

Jay paced nervously, pulling a pair of jeans on. He tossed Erin the pants she had left on the floor earlier, "You can change," he told Erin. "I'll stay with her."

Erin quickly took her pajamas off and tied her hair back in a bun. "We should just drive her," she said, her voice breaking. "She needs to go, now."

Jay nodded, carefully lifting his daughter. Just then, the paramedic knocked on the door. "Oh thank God." he said as Erin flung open the door and pointed to her little girl with a shaking hand. It wasn't a paramedic they were familiar with. "Detective Jay Halstead, Intelligence."

Erin took her little girl's hand as she was laid on the gurney. "Go with her." Jay instructed, "I'll meet you there."

"Are you sure?" Erin was close to tears as they made their way down the hallway and into the elevator.

"I drive faster than you." Jay nodded, "I'll see you in a minute." Jay kissed Kate's head, and then Erin's before turning to head down the stairwell.

"Be careful." Erin told him as the doors slid shut.

The paramedics loaded Kate into the back of the ambulance. Erin climbed in, still clutching Kate's hand. "It's going to be okay Kate." Erin stroked her daughter's hair back. "Everything's going to be just fine."

The ambulance peeled into Chicago Medical Center and Kate was quickly unloaded. "Four year old female, high fever and bloody vomit." The paramedic shouted at the on-call doctors.

Erin hurried alongside the gurney, holding Kate's hand tightly. "Mommy?" Kate slowly opened her eyes, pushing the oxygen mask off her nose. "What's happening?"

"Kate, baby." Erin let the tears slip down her cheeks. "You're in the hospital. We're getting you to surgery right now."

Kate coughed, sending blood all over the front of her jacket. "She's going to crash!" shouted one of the EMTs, pushing open double doors.

"Get me a bag of O neg," One of the nurses shouted, "And someone page Choi!"

"Stay with me." Erin gripped her daughter's hand. "Kate, stay with me." The little girl's eyelids fluttered and she was unconscious again.

"Ma'am, you have to stay here." One of the nurses held Erin back as Kate's gurney disappeared behind another set of doors.

"No, no, I don't. I'm her mother!" Erin desperately tried to see where Kate went.

"I'm sorry." The nurse stood her ground. "We'll notify you as soon as we know what's happening."

"Where is she?" Jay raced into the ER, breathless.

"She's in OR 3. Please wait outside." The nurse said calmly. "You can take a seat in the waiting room."

"Like hell I will." Jay's eyes were wild. "Where's my brother?"

"Hospital regulation says that you can't be in there." The nurse repeated, firmly standing between the double doors and the terrified parents.

"Halstead!" Maggie's voice ricocheted off the cement walls. "Lindsay."

The two spun around, Erin's faced streaked with tears and Jay's bright red and angry. "What are you two doing here?"

"Kate." Jay choked out. "Vomited up a massive amount of blood."

"Oh my God." Maggie put her hand over her mouth. "Come with me."

She led them to the OR waiting room. "I'll go check on her." Maggie said softly. "Wait out here."

"I want to see her." Jay said, about to head into the OR.

"You can't." Maggie motioned for him to go sit next to Erin, who was on the couch trembling. "Take care of her. I'll be back in a moment."

Defeated, Jay sank down next to his partner. She turned her face into his shoulder, shoulders quaking. "She's going to be alright." Jay tried to reassure himself and Erin. "She'll be fine."

"She's so tiny." Erin sniffed, her head still buried into his shoulder. "Jay, she was throwing up blood! She was throwing up blood and we didn't hear her!"

"This isn't our fault." Jay said, his voice lacking confidence. He gently rubbed his girl's shaking shoulder. "This isn't our fault."

"If we had heard her, then she wouldn't have passed out in the hallway, then, then…" Erin dissolved into tears. The little girl who she had just gotten back had been ripped away again without notice.