The flight landed at 10am in Chicago, greeting the couple with a brutally cold wind and nearly 18 inches of snow. Kate was barely aware of the flight, continuing to snooze against Jay for the entire trip. He sat in the back of the Sierra with the little girl in his lap, draped with his coat. Neither Jay nor Erin wanted to put the child into a car seat, so Jay pulled two seatbelts across his lap for dual safety. Erin carefully drove along the slick Chicago streets, glancing in the rearview mirror every so often to be sure her baby was in her partner's arms, safe and sound.
"Jay!" Will exclaimed, moving from his position of sitting outside their apartment. He leapt to his feet and embraced Erin tightly, "Thank god you got her."
Jay smiled at his brother's concern for his niece. "She's going to be okay."
Will let out a breath and followed Erin into the apartment. "I brought coffee, bagels and some stuff for Kate." He gestured to a bag that appeared to be full of books and assorted medical supplies.
"Thanks, man." Jay nodded in appreciation, gently tucking Kate's hair behind her ear. "I think we should all eat something, babe." He turned to Erin who was already pulling cream cheese out of the fridge.
"You wanna wake her?" Erin poured water into a small plastic cup and sliced a bagel in half, popping it into the toaster and tapping the counter impatiently. "God, I'm starving."
"Hey, Squirt." Jay kissed the side of his little girl's head and gently rubbed her shoulder, "Wake up kiddo, it's time for breakfast."
Kate groggily opened her eyes, catching sight of her uncle sitting at the breakfast bar sipping from a to go cup. "Uncle Will?" she mumbled, glancing around the apartment, "We're home?"
"Mm-hm, we're home." Jay smiled at Erin, "How does a bagel sound? Maybe a banana and some strawberries too, hm?"
Kate nodded and lifted her head off Jay's shoulder. "Hey there, Goosey." Will flashed the little girl a smile. She widened her eyes and smiled back. "It's good to see you, little lady."
"Good to see you too." Kate replied as Jay adjusted the little girl in his arms so that she was sitting up. "I went to a hospital but you weren't there."
"I know." Will's eyes darkened, trying not to convey his sadness to the little girl, "But I'm here now and I heard that you're going to be all better in no time."
Kate nodded as her father set her on the chair and Erin slid a half a bagel in front of her. "Bananas and strawberries coming right up." Erin stated, pulling open the fridge.
"Thank you!" Kate gingerly lifted the cup of water to her mouth using her splinted arm. Unfortunately, her grasp was inhibited by the bulky plastic and the cup tumbled to the ground, spraying water all over the counter and dripping onto the floor. "I'm sorry!" Kate exclaimed, tears forming in her eyes and quickly making their way down her face, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"
"No worries, baby." Erin rushed to comfort the little girl while Jay quickly wiped up the mess. "Just a spill. No big deal." Kate sniffled, still unconvinced that she wasn't in trouble.
"All good, Squirt." Jay tossed a towel into the sink and Will set about filling a kiddie water bottle for Kate. "Thanks, man." He accepted the bottle from his brother, "Here, this may be easier to use while you have the cast and splint." Jay wiped the tears off her cheeks and kissed the top of Kate's head.
"This is better." Kate replied, sniffling subsiding as she took a drink from the bottle. "Thanks Daddy."
Jay grinned at Will, who looked shocked at his brother's new name. 'Daddy?' Will mouthed, earning a nod from his brother. Jay gestured to Erin and mouthed 'Mommy.' His brother's jaw dropped as he turned to Erin, giving her a thumbs up. Erin rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Oh, Will, we brought back the files from Bellevue if you wouldn't mind taking a look." Erin reached into the tote bag that Olivia had given her to carry Kate's antibiotic prescription and documents.
