A shrill scream drew Erin from her comfortable position sleeping on her boyfriend's chest to her little girl's bedroom door. Kate appeared to be caught in a vicious nightmare as she struggled against the sheets, emitting another screech that finally woke her up. "Kate, baby," Erin cooed, quickly making her way through the door and to her child's bed, "It's okay, you're okay, it was just a dream."
Kate erupted into sobs, cowering backwards amidst the tangled bedsheets, pressing herself against the headboard. "It's just Mommy, you're okay," Erin held a hand out to the shaking little girl, "You're okay, baby."
Kate lifted her head slightly and regarded her mother with heavy-lidded eyes. "M-Mommy?" She whispered, carefully holding the hand Erin extended, "I-It wasn't real?"
Erin shook her head, "No, no, just a dream." She smiled softly despite her exhaustion, taking in the appearance of her little girl, "Oh, sweetheart, you're soaked." The poor child was drenched in sweat from her nightmare, the polar bear pajamas clinging to her small body in wet patches.
"I-I'm sorry," Kate wept, shivering in her damp pajamas, "I didn't mean to wake you up."
"I was already awake," Erin assured her, although she had most definitely been asleep, "Can we get you changed into some dry pajamas and then you can come snuggle with me and Daddy?"
Kate nodded, and allowed her mother to help her change into some pink and white striped pajamas. "Daddy's sleepin?" Kate asked while Erin pulled the top over her head.
"Mm-hm, but I know he'd still love a kiss from you." Erin hoisted the little girl onto her hip, picked up both Tiger and Lion and carried her baby to her bed, where Jay was stirring slightly.
"There are my two favorite girls," Jay smiled tiredly as he saw Erin enter the bedroom with his daughter in her arms, "Are you okay, Squirt?"
"I-I had a bad dream." Kate whispered, wrapping her arms tightly around her father when Erin passed her off, "It was really bad."
"I'm sorry to hear that, sweetheart." He kissed the side of her small head and settled her against his chest, pulling Erin closer to them as well, "Do you think spending some time with us will help?"
"Uh-huh," Kate replied, already dozing slightly, snuggled in between her parents, "I always feel safer when I'm with you guys."
Jay softly threaded his fingers through Erin's hair as she shifted closer to her partner, "Sleepy, babe?"
"Mm," Erin replied, closing her eyes as Jay's gentle ministrations relaxed her, "Rough one, but resolved quickly."
"I can't wait until he's finally behind bars. Maybe then she'll sleep easier," Jay mused, staring up at the ceiling while Erin drifted off. Kate had been with them for six and a half months. While it had been two and a half since her abduction and six weeks since her emergency surgery, Kate was still paranoid from the experience. The nightmares had gotten slightly better, but after she was forced to testify in front of 'Big Joe', they seemed to return at full force.
Intelligence had been coordinating with NYPD trying to apprehend Paul Jackson and his associate Sarah Harding, but he proved to be a savvy and experienced criminal. Jay was convinced that once he was behind bars, his little girl would sleep easier, as would he.
"Halstead." Jay picked up his cell as he walked toward the Sierra, two reusable grocery bags in one hand. Hank decided that a trip to the aquarium with him and his granddaughter was long overdue, so it was just going to be Jay and Erin tonight for dinner. He had a special meal in mind, but a CI had called Erin as they were leaving the district, so he would be cooking alone. "Hello?" He asked into the receiver.
