Since moving in with Erin, Jay could count the number of times he awoke to a cold bed on one hand. Erin was not a morning person, preferring to spend her mornings in a deep sleep rather than rising with the sun. Even if she did wake up before him, she was not a quiet mover and tended to shift around so much that he was wide awake by the time she took three steps.
On nights that were particularly bad, when he would wake up in a cold sweat, thinking he was back in Afghanistan, feeling the warm body of his partner to his right always grounded him and brought him back to Chicago. When it was Erin who awoke to comfort their daughter, she would always return to their bed, little girl in her arms.
In fact, Jay could count the number of times he woke up to cold sheets on one finger. And it had been the morning after Erin found out she couldn't bear children and had gone for an early morning run. So when he awoke to an empty bed the morning after Erin experienced a miscarriage, Jay's mind immediately thought the worst. The clock showed that it wasn't even five in the morning, but Jay flung the covers off and leapt off of bed, stumbling blearily toward the bedroom door.
He hurried into the living room and nearly jumped out of his skin when he saw his little girl sitting on the couch, her tiny hand draped delicately across her mother's chest. Erin was fast asleep but held Kate's hand in her own while the little girl rested her head against the couch cushions, watching as her mother's chest rose and fell. She glanced up at her father and offered a small smile as he moved toward them and squatted beside the couch. "What are you doing up, Squirt?" he asked gently, placing a hand on her polar bear pajamas – he noticed that she had changed from their matching pair, probably for the same reason he shed his. Neither of them wanted to be reminded that Erin's pair were stained red with blood.
Instantly, the little girl became nervous, "I-I'm sorry, Daddy...I-I-I had a bad dream that Mommy was hurtin' and-and I came to see her and then she was out here and I didn't wanna leave her 'lone." Kate gave an apologetic look, "I-I'm sorry."
"Oh, kiddo, you don't have to be sorry," Jay whispered, standing to press a kiss atop her head, "You had a bad dream?"
Kate nodded sadly, "And den I was worried 'bout Mommy. But when I came to find you guys, Mommy was layin' out here havin' a bad dream too."
"I see," Jay nodded, gently running his fingertips over Erin's cheeks, "You know you can wake me up if you're having a bad dream, right?" He looked to the little girl, "No matter what, you can always come get me."
"I know," Kate whispered, glancing down at Erin who was still sleeping, "But Mommy was cryin' in her sleep and-and I didn't want her to be by herself 'cause when I'm scared I don't wanna be 'lone e-der. And Mommy don't leave me when I'm scared."
"You're a little angel, you know?" Jay praised, "How did we get so lucky to have you?"
Kate managed a smile, "I'm lucky too, Daddy."
Erin stirred slightly, grimacing as she dragged her eyes open, "Hi," she mumbled, tired eyes locking on Jay's concerned gaze. She titled her head slightly, realizing that her little girl was sitting by her head and holding her hand, "Hi, baby."
"How are you feeling?" Jay asked, tenderly stroking her cheek, "You didn't want to sleep in bed?"
"Couldn't sleep," she replied, giving the hand that Kate was holding a gentle shake, "You couldn't either, huh baby?"
"I had a bad dream," Kate explained, "And I didn't wanna leave you by yourself when you were havin' one, 'cause you never leave me." Erin smiled sadly at Kate's statement and caught Jay's gaze, realizing that he had already been filled in on the fact that she had been having a nightmare too.
