One Chicago: Health First Part 4

Chapter 1266

Meanwhile, down the street with Jay & Erin:
Jay's POV: As me and Erin walk into the dog park with Lucky, I smiled as she started to get hyper. She loved the dog park whenever we came and honestly, it was nice to give her time to just be a dog rather than be my emotional support dog. That's when I saw some people I seemed to recognize but, just couldn't remember from where. Deciding to ignore it, I got Lucky off of her harness and grabbed the ball. "Sniff girl, let's play." I then went to throw the ball for her and smiled as I looked at Erin. "Want to move somewhere you can sit down."

Erin then looked at me and nodded. "I don't know how long we'll be here so, might as well." I then nodded while leading her to the bench when I got Lucky back with us. "Come here for a sec Lucky." I then smiled as I helped Erin sit down before setting the leach down with her. "Just relax and listen to some music. Fresh air is good for this little one." I then went to put my hand on her stomach before kissing her softly. "Love you." Erin smiled and nodded. "Love you too. Now, go play with her before she starts to get restless." I then nodded and threw the ball.

"Go get it Lucky." I then smiled as she ran away when I saw somebody walk up to me. "Where do I recognize you guys?" I then looked at him and tried to remember him. "Wait, you work with Matt Casey and his wife Gabby don't you?" He then nodded and smiled. "Yeah, Darren Ritter. I'm on Engine 51. Oh and this is my boyfriend Eric." I then smiled and nodded, waving. "How you guys doing?" Eric then laughed. "We haven't killed each other in the past year if that's a good sign. Looks like this past year has been nice to you."

I smiled and agreed. "Oh, where are my manors. This is my wife Erin and...." I then felt Lucky walk up to me. "...This is my Emotional Support Dog Lucky." Eric smiled and nodded when he saw his dog come back. "Finally, took you long enough to find that ball Tuesday." He then grabbed the ball with a stick like I had before throwing it again. "I totally get how important ESDs are. But technically, I am kinda like her ESD. She has separation anxiety."

I was shocked when he said that because I had never heard of a dog who had separation anxiety before. "That's interesting and something that I've never heard of. I thought he was your ESD." Darren nodded. "At the end of the day, aren't all pets our emotional support pets?" I thought about it and nodded. "Well mine is a bit more trained. I am a Veteran. Two tours of Afghanistan. Have post-traumatic stress disorder. Let's just say that 9/11 is my least favorite day of the year."

Erin then looked at me and smiled when Lucky ran up to her. "Hey girl, daddy not giving you enough attention?" I then walked over to her and then grabbed her ball. "Here we go Lucky, let's run." I then went to throw the ball pretty far and was shocked. "Okay, didn't expect it to go that far." Erin nodded and agreed but just smiled. "I think you can relax on lifting weights for a while." I nodded and agreed as I turned to look at Darren. "So, you still a candidate? You're pretty new." Darren then laughed. "Nope, I am not the candidate anymore. That would be my best friend there." That's when I saw Gallo walk over to Darren.

"Hey man, hey Eric." Eric then waved at him. "Hey Darren, can I get the stick if you are going to talk to someone? I agreed to come play with Tuesday. I am not here to just watch you talk to other hot guys." I then rolled my eyes while Erin looked at Eric. "Calm down boy. He's taken and going to be a dad in exactly 2 months." I then turned to look at Erin, knowing she wasn't really jealous considering I didn't play for the other team. "Eric and Gallo, that over there is my wife Erin Halstead." They then both turned to look at her and waived.

Gallo however smirked at me. "Dang, you're lucky. She's hot." I then smiled at Erin when Lucky walked up to me and then gave me the ball. I then went to throw it again. "Don't I Know that I'm lucky. She's gorgeous." We then all nodded and smiled. Gallo then spoke up. "Hey, so I know you're good friends with Matt and Gabby based on what people say at the firehouse. You have any insight on what's happening with them? I mean, we work together but...we are not really in the loop considering we are the younger crew if that makes any sense."

I nodded and understood. "I do. But, I am not really in any place to tell them. Let's just say that they have a lot on their plates. If you want to know what's up with them...talk toy our co-workers or ask them yourself. But not right now. Apparently, they are out having a date in a hotel around here." Eric then laughed. "Wonder if they can see us in the park playing with our dogs?" I then laughed when he said that before thinking to myself that they are more likely to be in a room with the blinds closed rather than looking inside.

Gallo then spoke up. "Darren, have you seen them at work? They are all over themselves. Best guess for me, they are probably all over each other in bed now that they don't have their son. I mean, imagine having a son always bothering your sex life." Darren then turned to look at him. "I have one. His name is Blake Gallo and still hasn't found a new place to live when we've asked him to move out." Gallo then shut up and I just laughed. 

"Trust me Gallo, just find a place and then you can have girls over anytime you want. It must be awkward to have to explain that you live with your best friend and his boyfriend every time you come over. Or at least, it must not be easy for Darren...you know having to explain that Eric isn't just his friend but his boyfriend." That's when I saw Erin walk over to me. "Okay, if you aren't going to throw the ball. Let me do it."

I then looked at her and nodded, giving her the stick. I then watched her throw the ball and was quite impressed. She threw it further than me while being pregnant. I could then tell the guys were impressed too, especially Gallo. "Dude, did your pregnant wife just throw the ball further than you did?" I then turned to look at Erin and nodded as I moved to stand behind her. Putting my hands on her stomach, I nodded while kissing her head. "Yeah, she did."

Erin then smiled as she leaned back against my chest before going to grab the ball. "Here, let's get both of them going at the same time. Hey Tuesday, Lucky. Go fetch!" Erin then threw the ball for both the dogs and then ran after each other. Gallo then smiled. "What did I tell you guys, women are always smarter then men." Erin then smirked when he said that. "Damn straight we are. We also control your sex life!" Erin then went to grab the ball from Tuesday when she came back. "You throwing or am I going again?"

Darren then smiled at her. "Go ahead, you're good." Erin then threw the ball again as we all stood there and continued to speak to each other while playing with the dogs for the next 30 minutes.