For Jay, all was right with the world when he was sitting on the couch, Kate on his lap and Erin pressed up against his shoulder. Unfortunately, the last two weeks in February not only brought a brutal Chicago wind, but a large uptick in heroin overdoses linked to a crew on the South Side. There were also a half dozen homicides left unsolved and three assaults, all believed to be the work of a group of six men and one woman.
Intelligence has been working long hours and even on the weekends to try and catch these guys, as the order had come from the highest level. Jay had been hoping for a weekend for the family to escape to Wisconsin and get out of the city, but there was no such luck. He was just waiting for the right time to ask Erin to marry him and had contemplated just carrying the ring around with him, but ultimately decided that it would be safest in his sock drawer until he found the right moment.
He had also thought about telling Kate that he was planning on proposing to Erin, but given the little girl's skepticism on lying to anyone, he figured it would better to air on the side of caution. And so, his mother's ring lay buried in a pair of the ugliest brown socks he owned, knowing full well that his girl wouldn't think to touch them.
"Jay, man, I can take Kate for the day. It's really not a problem. Nat was going to take Owen to the children's museum and I know Kate loves that place, so-"
"So you want to take my kid for the day so you have an excuse to hang with the woman who 'isn't' your girlfriend?" Jay joked, taking the cup of coffee that his brother had extended to him. His brother liked to stop by the district now and again to check in on his little brother, but mostly to see Kate, who absolutely adored her Uncle Will.
"I'm just trying to make sure my niece isn't cooped up in the police station while her parents are out solving crimes," Will bit back, "Seriously, man, it's a Saturday. I bet she would much rather be playing with that giant static machine at the Children's Museum that makes your hair stand on end than read a book on it."
"You're right, you're right," Jay clapped a hand on Will's back, "It would be good to get her out of here. And I'm sure Erin would be on board. Plus Voight is about to boil over because we haven't caught the guys yet, and I don't want Kate to bear witness to that."
"Trouble with the in-laws?" Will ribbed, receiving a swift punch to the shoulder, "Ow, okay, I guess you haven't popped the question yet?"
"Shh, man, keep your voice down. And no, I haven't. I've been waiting for the right time. We've been insanely busy with this heroin ring, so just shh, okay?" Jay gave his brother a pointed look.
"Okay, okay," Will raised his hands in the air, "So, where's my niece at?"
"Erin took her to go get bagels since we left so early this morning, we didn't have time for breakfast," he gestured to the steps, "But I think I hear some little feet."
"Uncle Will!" Kate exclaimed, catching sight of her uncle standing in the middle of the bullpen, "You here!"
"I am here," Will scooped the little girl up and placed her on his hip, "How is my absolute favorite monkey, hm?"
"I'm good," Kate giggled, looking over at her mother, "Me and Mommy got bagels, 'cause they got a real busy day today."
"I heard," Will mused, offering a smile to Erin, "Hey, Er."
"Hey, Will," she smiled tiredly, passing the bag of bagels to Jay, "You're not in the ED today?"
"Got off a 48 hour shift late last night, got in a quick nap, and was thinking that this monkey here would like to join Nat, Owen and me for a trip to the Children's Museum." He winked at Erin, who nodded at Jay.
