28. Chapter 28

Sorry for the wait! Thanks for being patient :) Let me know if you like it!

"How come Mommy got to leave before you?" Kate asked as Jay stood in the elevator with his little girl in his arms, "Cause you guys are partners, and Grandpa Hank says that's why you're always together."

"Mommy realized we didn't have a lot of groceries this morning and I had some paperwork to finish up. And since you were having such a good time coloring with Officer Burgess, she thought you would want to finish the picture and come home with me," Jay explained, "But I think Mommy also picked up some sushi for dinner. And I bet she got the edamame you like."

"I love those!" Kate exclaimed, arms still wrapped around Jay's neck, "Bath first?"

"We'll see what Mommy says, how about that?" Jay put the key into the lock but was surprise when the door opened without him turning it. Erin usually remembered to lock the door behind her. "Erin?" Jay called out, pushing the door open and taking a step into the apartment. Kate let out a scream. He gasped and dropped Kate's backpack, instantly reaching for the service weapon on his hip.

"Mommy!" Kate shrieked, wriggling out of Jay's one armed hold and making a beeline for her mother, who was lying on the ground in between the kitchen and the living room, bag of groceries broken and various food items littering the floor.

"Kate!" Jay cried out, reaching to hold his child back, but she was too quick. He held out his weapon and quickly did a once over of the apartment before sinking down beside his unconscious girlfriend and his hysterical daughter. Kate had tears running down her face as she took Erin's hand gently in her own. "Erin, babe." Jay immediately grabbed Erin's wrist and detected a strong pulse, so he picked up his partner's limp head and stroked her cheek softly in an attempt to rouse her. "Erin!" He tried to keep the desperation out of his voice for Kate's sake, but his voice cracked, "Erin, come on back. Wake up."

Erin's eyes fluttered open, harsh light assaulting her blurry vision. She could barely make out the outline of her boyfriend, frantically shouting her name. She could hear soft whimpers in the distance. Kate? Where was she? Erin fought to focus, swallowing the metallic taste in her mouth. Blood. "Mm." Erin lolled her head to one side and weakly widened her eyes. "Jay. He was here."

"Who was here?" Jay asked, his heart in his throat. Kate was trembling beside her mother, glancing nervously around the apartment that didn't appear to have anything missing. The television was still there, as were both Erin and Jay's computers that sat on the breakfast bar. He stroked her cheek as she struggled to sit up, putting a comforting hand on Kate's back as well. "What happened?"

"Jackson," Erin choked out, her tongue feeling too large for her mouth. "Jumped me when I came in." She swallowed, realizing that she must have bit it when she was whacked over the head.

Tears streamed down Kate's cheeks as she watched Jay slowly get to his feet. "Okay, we need to get you to the hospital. Kate, sweetheart, I know this is scary, but I need you to go into your bedroom and get some clothes, underwear and socks and put them into the suitcase from under your bed, okay? We've got to get out of here."

She nodded, knowing full well that her mother was in no condition to help her. Tentatively, the little girl made her way to the bedroom, glancing over her shoulder to be sure her parents were still there. "I don't need the hospital," Erin tried to argue, "C-call Hank."

"I will, as soon as we get out of here," Jay promised. He gently helped Erin to stand and settled her on the couch. "Babe, you're bleeding." Jay informed her, showing her his hand that had been on the back of her head.

Erin opened her mouth to protest, but thump followed by a scream from Kate's room caused her to snap her head toward the noise. "Kate?" Jay shouted, running toward the bedroom as quickly as he could, "What's happened?"

"Daddy!" Kate shrieked, leaping into his arms and burying her head in his shoulder, "She's dead, she's dead!"

Jay glanced around the bedroom and saw that all of Kate's stuffed animals had been decapitated, their fluffy insides strewn across her bed. The pictures that she had drawn were ripped to shreds and scattered across the floor, surrounding the body of Sarah Harding, who lay lifelessly in front of the closet. "What the…" Jay could not believe the scene in front of him.

"I-I-I opened the closet and the lady fell out," Kate stammered, pulling her head off of Jay's shoulder and taking in the destruction of her bedroom. "Mommy said Mr. P was here." Tears continued to stream down her cheeks, "He hurt her."

"I know, kiddo." Jay held his daughter tightly with one arm and rummaged through her drawers quickly, pulling out a couple pairs of underwear, socks, shirts, pants and pajamas. "Sarge," Jay barked into his phone the second his superior picked up, "Jackson broke into the apartment, jumped Erin. Sarah Harding's body is on Kate's bedroom floor, she was dead when we got here."

He winced as Voight shouted a string of curse words into the receiver but promised to be there as soon as possible. "Jay," Erin gasped, leaning against the doorframe of Kate's room with all her weight. "Oh my god."

"You shouldn't be up." Jay informed her, placing all the clothes he pulled out atop of Kate's dresser. He grabbed a tote bag that was usually used to carry books and stuffed all the items on top before slinging it over his shoulder, still balancing Kate on his hip. "Can you two sit on the couch while I grab some clothes for us?"

Jay quickly set Kate down despite the strong grip she held with a promise that he would be right back. He led his girl, who was incredibly shaky on her feet, over to the couch and told her to sit tight while he headed for the bedroom. Jay pulled a duffle bag from the top of the closet and shoved clothes for him and Erin into it as fast as he could. He could not believe that Jackson knew where they lived and had managed to break in. Jay tightened his fists around the pair of jeans he grabbed from Erin's drawer, trying to keep calm. His girl had been assaulted by the same maniac who tortured his daughter. The fact that Jackson was sick enough to leave a dead body in the bedroom of a child disturbed him to no end and all Jay could focus on was getting him behind bars.

"It's okay, baby," Erin croaked, trying to comfort the distraught little girl, "I'm fine, it's just a little bump on the head." Kate had stopped sobbing, but tears sluiced off her cheeks rapidly as she observed her mother's pale complexion.

"You're being so brave," Jay praised, dropping the duffle bag beside the couch and lifting the quivering child in his arms, "We're going to get out of here, right now."

"Erin!" Hank shouted, running through the front door with Olinsky and Ruzek on his heels, "Christ, what happened?" He pointed to Kate's bedroom, indicating that Olinsky and Ruzek should check out the situation in there.

"Jackson," Erin managed weakly, waving her hand flippantly, "I'm fine. We just want to get Kate out of here."

"You were unconscious, babe." Jay told her gently. He looked up at his sergeant, who nodded, "Hank's going to take you to the hospital. I gotta deal with the," he swallowed, "body. Kate, you're going to go with Mommy and Grandpa Hank, okay?"

Kate nodded tearfully, squeezing her father tightly. "I-I can walk. Mommy needs help." She looked nervously at her mother, tears still dripping down her face.

"Good girl." Jay kissed her forehead and set her down, holding out the tote bag. "Do you think you can carry this bag while Grandpa Hank helps Mommy to the car?"

"I take both." Kate insisted, hoisting the large duffle bag over her shoulder and picking up the tote bag in the other hand. The strap was so long that the duffle hung an inch off the ground, but the little girl was determined. She wiped her hand across her face and swallowed her tears. Kate knew that her parents needed her to be strong.

"Her medicine, Jay." Erin choked out, leaning heavily on her father figure as he helped her stand. He quickly retrieved it from the kitchen and placed it into the tote bag.

"I'll meet you at the hospital, okay?" Jay cupped his girl's cheek with one hand, "O and Ruzek are already getting things started over here, so I won't be too long."

She nodded weakly in response. "I'll be there as soon as I can, Squirt." Jay bent down and kissed the top of his little girl's head, "Thank you for being such a help, I'm so proud of you."

Hank drove Erin's car to the hospital with both Erin and Kate in the backseat. He kept glancing in the rearview at his almost-daughter, who remained pale and shaky after being knocked unconscious by a sociopathic child abuser. Kate held her mother's hand tightly as Hank sped along the street, trying to reach the Emergency Department as soon as he could. "How you doing kid?" Hank asked at a stoplight, turning around to look at Erin.

"I'm okay, really." Erin said, still clutching Kate's hand shakily.

"You're bleeding, Mommy." Kate whimpered nervously, taking note of the blood that was on the back of Erin's coat and oozing down her neck. Erin reached her hand back and winced at the sight of a sticky wet substance on her fingertips.

"Let's go." Hank stopped the car and helped Kate out of the car before gently easing Erin off the backseat, "We need to get you looked at. You definitely have a concussion. Might need stitches."

"Ugh," Erin groaned, stumbling against her sergeant as he led her into the Emergency Department, "I feel like we live here."

Will greeted them at the entrance to the ED, "Jay just called me. C'mon, I need to take a look." He helped Hank lead Erin over to a bed. She gingerly sat down and winced at the bright light of the exam room. Kate nervously held Hank's hand as she watched her uncle examine the back of Erin's head. "Okay so luckily it doesn't look like you need stitches, but I would like to get a CT scan just to make sure everything's okay. You definitely have a concussion, but I'm not a neurologist." Will smiled sympathetically. "I'm just going to clean up the back of your head and get that scan set up for you right away."

"Ugh." Erin groaned again, "I'm really fine, we don't need to waste time here."

"You were unconscious, Erin," Hank said gently, "And this is second time you've been in the hospital for a blow to the head. You need to take it easy."

"First time it was a guy on a bike, now it's a pathological child abuser who jumps me when I'm carrying groceries," Erin bemoaned, "Shit!" she hissed as Will dabbed the wound on her head with alcohol. She winced when she caught Kate's frightened gaze, having forgotten her little girl was in the room, "I'm sorry, baby."

Kate shook her head, leaning closer to Hank's legs as Will continued to clean Erin's head. "When's Daddy gonna be here?" she asked quietly, clutching Hank's hand tighter.

"Soon, kiddo." Hank lifted the shaking child into his arms and held her closely while Will worked on Erin. He settled into a chair as they waited for Erin to return from the CT scan and neurological exam.

"Are you hungry, Kate?" Hank asked kindly, realizing that it was way past dinner and Kate's bedtime. The little girl had been resting on his shoulder but had yet to fall asleep, still far too anxious to close her eyes amidst everything that was going on.

She shook her head, "I'm just worried."

Hank felt his heart clench at the child's admission. "Your mom is going to be just fine. You saw how she was arguing with the doctors. She's a fighter and will be back here in no time. What about if you and I head down to the cafeteria for a bite to eat, hm? Maybe get some ice cream too?"

Kate shrugged, "But what if Mommy comes back when we're gone?"

"We could get something for her too. And we'll tell the nurse that we're just headed downstairs and to tell Erin that we'll be right back." Hank took the little girl's silence as agreement and headed toward the cafeteria, informing the nurse of their plans.

Jay entered the ED breathlessly, frantically searching for his girls. He didn't recognize anyone until he spotted a familiar redhead from afar. "Will!" he shouted, ambling toward his brother, "Where is she?"

"Up in CT. Just finished her nuero exam." Will replied, gesturing to the bay where Erin would return, "Voight took Kate for dinner."

"God." Jay sank into a plastic chair and covered his face with his hands.

"You alright, man?" Will put his hand on his brother's shoulder, "I mean, from what you told me over the phone…"

"It was horrible," Jay managed, lifting his head and squinting at his brother with tired eyes, "Absolutely horrible. To see Erin on the floor like that, to hear Kate scream…" he trailed off, running his hand over his face again. "Jackson killed his girlfriend and shoved her in Kate's closet. The woman fell to the fucking floor when Kate opened the door. The poor thing is petrified."

"Voight's been really good with her," Will offered, trying to bring some level of comfort to his brother, "And I know this might not make you feel any better, but from what you've told me, she's probably seen worse."

"I know." Jay choked out, leaning back in the chair, "That's what freaks me out the most."

"Daddy!" Kate cried, letting go of Hank's hand and running full speed into her father's arms.

"Hey kiddo," He kissed her hair, "Did you get some dinner?"

Kate nodded, relaxing against her father, "Grandpa Hank got me a burger. And we got one for you and one for mommy, too."

"Thank you, sweetheart." Jay rubbed her back and glanced up at his sergeant. "Thanks Sarge."

"Not a problem." Hank handed the detective a take away container with burgers and fries. Jay smiled gratefully and shifted the little girl so he could eat.

"Hey." Erin smiled tiredly at her family as she was wheeled back into the hospital room, "I was wondering when you were going to show up."

"How are you feeling?" Jay asked, standing to help his girl onto the bed. He passed a softly-dozing Kate off to her grandfather, where she tiredly settled against his chest.

"I'm okay." Erin echoed her statement from earlier, "Really."

Jay raised his eyebrows suspiciously but didn't try to fight her. "Well, it looks like Sarah Harding had been dead for less than an hour when we showed up. Security cams don't show either Harding or Jackson entering the building but they caught you entering at 6:37 and Jackson leaving at 6:39." He paused and tucked Erin's hair behind her ear, "You were unconscious for almost 10 minutes before Kate and I got home."

Erin grunted in response, recognizing that it probably meant she had a concussion. She did have a pounding headache and was exhausted, but she had hoped it wasn't that bad. "Do we have a location on Jackson yet?"

Jay shook his head, "It looks like he was headed downtown. Atwater and Burgess are going over traffic cams, but for now we probably shouldn't go home. Kate's bedroom is a crime scene."

"You three can come home with me," Hank piped up, "There's more than enough space."

Both Erin and Jay smiled gratefully, "Thanks Hank," Erin murmured, closing her eyes slightly as Jay continued to run his fingers through her hair.

Will entered the exam room, bearing Erin's chart. "So am I good to go?" Erin asked, looking expectantly at the young doctor, "Please tell me I don't have to spend the night."

"You don't need to spend the night, but you do have a severe concussion," Dr. Halstead informed her, "The fact that you lost consciousness indicates that. You actually did okay on the neurological exam, but regardless, you took a huge blow to the head. The CT scan didn't show any swelling in the brain but to be safe you should refrain from activities for the next couple of days. Dr. Abrams is going to want to see you in a few days to check in," He paused, setting the chart down on the bed, "You got really lucky Erin."

She let out a breath and nodded, "Okay, let's get out of here."

Will chuckled and handed her the discharge forms. "Call me if you need anything. And be safe." He looked pointedly at his brother.

"We will. Thanks." Jay nodded as Erin scribbled her name and pushed herself off the bed. "Easy, Er."

Erin grunted again, accepting her partner's help to slip on her boots. Hank carried the sleeping little girl out to Erin's car while Jay walked with Erin, standing close beside her. "I'm not an invalid, Jay," She scolded, settling into the passenger seat of the Sierra, as it was parked closer to the entrance.

"I know, babe. I'm just worried, that's all." Jay climbed into the driver's seat and followed Hank to his house, noting that he took an extended route that was nearly impossible to follow. "You must be exhausted," he said sympathetically after he parked behind the Jeep.

Erin nodded tiredly and accepted her partner's assistance up the steps to Hank's back door. The older man had Kate on one shoulder and the duffle bag on the other, and even held the tote bag in one hand. He tossed Jay the house key and indicated for him to open the door. The minute Jay stepped inside, he reached for his gun. After his last experience entering a home, he couldn't be too careful.

Luckily, everything seemed to be in order and he lowered his piece, motioning for Hank to follow him inside. "Should we wake her up?" Jay asked Erin, gazing at his little girl who was sound asleep in Hank's arms.

"You and Kate can take your room," Hank looked deliberately at his almost-daughter, "Jay, you can use Justin's."

"Hank," Erin all but whined, "Come on."

"My house, my rules." Hank replied gruffly, starting up the steps to Erin's old bedroom.

Erin groaned again and Jay chuckled at his girlfriend's frustration with her father-figure, "He's just being a protective dad, Er."

"It was cute when I was fifteen," Erin insisted, climbing up the steps and taking the tote bag with her, "But we live together. We share a bed every night."

"I doubt he thinks about it like that," Jay said dryly, hoisting the duffle onto his shoulder, "Let's just get some rest, it's nearly midnight."

"I got jumped entering my apartment and I have a concussion, there was a dead woman in my daughter's closet and he's gonna deny me the comfort of my boyfriend?" Erin muttered, trudging up the stairs, "Ugh."

Jay chuckled again, tossing the duffle into the bedroom that he knew was Justin's. "Come on, the doctors said you were going to need to rest."

Hank had set the sleeping child atop the comforter so that her parents could tuck her in. "Night, kid." He held Erin closely, "You know where to find me if you need me."

"Thanks Hank," Erin replied, hugging him back, "And thanks for having us."

"No trouble at all," Hank insisted, patting Jay on the back.

Erin tiredly pulled Kate's shoes and coat off, tucking her gently beneath the covers. She shed her clothes and pulled the t shirt Jay had brought for her to sleep in over her head. Jay even located some old sweatpants in the dresser that were hers in high school, which she gratefully accepted. "I love you," Erin mumbled, climbing under the covers next to her little girl.

"I love you too." Jay leaned down and kissed her lips, "And we're gonna get him this time. And all of this is going to be behind us, okay?"

She nodded sleepily, cuddling closer to the sleeping child, "I know." He pressed a kiss to her forehead and Kate's before quietly creeping out of the dark bedroom and down the hall.

Soooooooooo I've been thinking and doing some planning and might actually just continue this story but with a more spaced-out timeline. Is that something people would be interested in? The other idea I have is kinda half baked and this way I'd probs be able to get chapters up in a more timely fashion. I would still love some requests though, so PLEASE send em my way. xo