Finally, after weeks of non-stop drama, Jay, Erin and Kate had fallen back into a routine. Kate returned to preschool after many discussions with her parents, who promised that they would most certainly still be at the district waiting for her after Platt brought her over. Erin's concussion had dissipated, though Jay noticed that she would still get tired easily after a long day. Valentine's Day was rapidly approaching, and after the excitement of the past few weeks, both Jay and Erin wanted nothing more than to have a quiet night at home with their little girl.
Unfortunately, the Chicago Police Department had other ideas for how Erin and Jay were going to spent their Valentine's day. At last minute, one of the higher-ups in the Ivory Tower decided that both Halstead and Lindsay would attend an annual Police Convention in New York City, along with about twenty other detectives and sergeants from specialized units across Chicago. "Hank," Erin all but whined, "Do we have to go?"
"Fischer asked for both of you by name," Hank shrugged, "I explained that you're raising a child together, and he said to decide amongst yourselves which one of you wants to go, but at least one of you needs to be there to represent this unit."
"It's not that easy!" Jay exploded, "We just got Kate to go back to school. The poor thing is going to have a breakdown if she finds out one of us is going to be in New York for two days. In her mind, it's practically the moon."
"She's absolutely terrified of one of us leaving and not coming back," Erin leaned against the door frame to Hank's office in exasperation, "I really don't want to have a repeat of the other week, where she didn't eat or sleep for two days. Will said she was close to hurting her stomach."
"We can't bring her with us, can we?" Jay asked Erin hopefully.
She turned to him, incredulous. "Jay, it's a conference. We'll be in panels and meetings and shit for twelve hours a day. We can't leave her in a hotel room for hours on end. Not to mention the fact that the last time she was in New York it was because she was kidnapped. I mean, the place itself probably freaks her out. And I have a feeling she'd be terrified to fly."
"So we don't bring her. And one of us goes to New York," Jay sighed, "The question is, which one of us?"
"Let her pick," Hank said dryly, gesturing to the stairwell where a tiny human was emerging.
"Hey, Squirt," Jay poked his head out of Hank's office, "How was your day?"
"Daddy!" Kate rushed toward her father and squealed when he boosted her into his arms, "I glad you're still here."
Jay smiled softly. Kate's current phrase was 'I'm glad you're still here'. She said it to Erin and Jay every time she returned to them, as if anticipating the worst. "I told you, I'll always be here," Jay kissed her cheek, "Mommy's talking to Grandpa Hank."
"Hi Mommy!" Kate greeted, still on Jay's hip. He passed the little girl over to her mother, where she melted into her embrace, "I missed you."
"I miss you more, baby." Erin buried her face in Kate's soft hair, "Did you learn a lot today?"
"Uh-huh." Kate leaned against Erin's chest as her mother held her close, "Hi Grandpa Hank."
"Hey, kiddo." Hank smiled warmly. He glanced to Jay, "You three catch up. We can get to the discussion a little later."
"Thanks," Erin said gratefully, carrying Kate toward the breakroom, Jay in tow, "So what did you learn about today?"
"Things that go," Kate said seriously, "We learned 'bout trains, cars, planes and buses."
"Wow," Jay mused, pouring coffee into a cup for Erin and pulling a juice box out of the fridge for his little girl, "And what mode of transportation did you like to learn about most?"
