Trouvaille

08: He doesn't scare me!

Two hours later, Will Halstead came out to deliver the news to Erin's family. Upon reaching them, he sees Emerson in Jay's arms. He quickly wonders how the child has an affiliation with everyone, the only thing he knows is that she's Gabby Dawson's goddaughter.

"Erin is fine. No internal damage, or kit is needed. She fought this bastard back, and hard. She's just bruised. Nothing more at all. I asked who she wanted in the room right now, she said only Khaleesi? I'm hoping you guys know who that is." Laughing, Kevin informs them it's a nickname she gave Emerson.

Jay was still holding a sleeping Emerson, and Emerson was still holding onto him tight. "I'll take her back, it'll be just like last time."

——

As Jay guides a sleepy Emerson to her mother's bed, he sees Erin light up, and then start to cry, "oh, my baby" As Emerson slides into the bed, she doesn't hesitate to lay in her mother's arms. "Are you okay mom?"

Kissing her daughter's forehead,'"I always am when you are here Khaleesi, I always am." As Jay went to leave the room, he softly heard Erin say something. "Stay, Jay, Stay" doing just that, Jay sits in the chair next to Erin's bed. "You never have to ask twice. I'll always stay"

As Jay lies on the other side of Erin, he kisses her head and pulls a few strands out of Emerson's face.

They were happy. At that moment, they were a family. A very happy family. Emerson reaches her hand over for Jay to hold. Understanding the gesture from the child, Jay holds onto her hand. "I'm here Khaleesi, promise"

——

Not far away, the unthinkable happens. As Kim and Delilah come back with food, it was then that Delilah was shot. As everyone grabs their guns, Gabby runs straight to the child. Placing pressure on her wounds, Connor and Will were quick to come over and place her on a stretcher. Rushing her off to surgery, the person responsible for Delilah's injury, was placed in handcuffs and lead to a private room.

What everyone didn't know, was that this was the Nia. The Nia that had a crush on Emerson; but she didn't return them. Hearing commotion outside of the rooms Jay heads to see what's the problem.

Not feeling Jay on the side of them, Emerson follows him. Upon getting there, it was like time stopped. Seeing the love of her life, bloody and lifeless, Emerson barely heard nor felt her grandfather grab onto her. "Princess, you shouldn't see this"'

"Ganda, they hurt her" turning into his hold, Emerson lets out everything she had been holding in the last few weeks. Hank held Emerson so tight, scared that someone would harm his precious baby. "I know baby, but the person who did this will pay. They won't get away with this."

As Gabby finally comes out from OR 2, with Will Halstead trailing her, she shakes her head to Hank. As Emerson slowly sees out of the corner of her eye,
She lets out the most painful scream as she falls into her godmother's arms. "No, no, no, this can't be real! We were only supposed to be here for two weeks before heading back-" choking up, It was then that everyone in that room understood that they had to find the person responsible for her murder.

Delilah Carter would not die in vain

"I wanna see her"

"Emer-"

"Please, please. One more time"

——

As Emerson walks into the room where they moved Delilah, she sees the lifeless body of the girl she is madly in love with. Was madly in love with. Sitting on the side of the bed, she holds onto her hand tightly. Knowing that as soon as she lets go, it would be their last time.

"You promised me that we would grow old together, adopt some kids, and move someplace sunny. Do you remember our junior prom? You looked so beautiful in your suit. The color brought out both your eyes and hair. Remember how you told me we would do the same thing in a year's time when we got married? Delilah, I don't know how to do this without you. You are my everything. You were my everything. I don't know who did this, but I will find out. I will forever love you, Delilah Everly Carter. You just can't be replaced. I don't know how to move on without the love of my life; the person I planned on spending eternity with. But I know you're not far sweetheart. Kiss all the angel babies for me. I'll kiss the rainbow babies down here for you. I love you" As she placed one last kiss on Delilah's cheek, Emerson couldn't help but let the tears fall from her face and onto Delilah.

Her parents had already been called and told about the accident. They didn't blame Emerson, nor Gabby. But, Emerson blamed herself. Walking out of the room, Emerson ran straight into Jay. "Oh sweetheart, come on. Let's go for a walk." Nodding, Emerson allows for the Ranger to walk her outside of the hospital.

"When I was around your age, I lost a friend too. I won't say how, I'll save that for when you are older. But, I was devastated. My brother, told me that walking into nature, or walking in general, would help me out. Wanna know why?"

"It's because when in nature, you're surrounded by nothing but nature. You can cry, scream, and let it all out if necessary. If you ever wanna go out there, let me know. I'll hold you're hand, okay?"

"Okay Jay, can we go back to mom?"

——

"Why did you do it? Why did you kill Delilah Carter?!" As Adam and Kevin interrogate the young girl that killed their niece's girlfriend, they see no regret in her eyes. "Because, she was in the way. I've been trying to date Emerson for years. Do you know how hard it is to get into her pants! I was so close before that whore came around freshman year. I was tired of just being the best friend."

Adam had finally but two and two together, "you're Nia Smith!"

"Duh dumbass, took you long enough to realize it" at that moment, Hank barged into the room, "I usually don't hit women, especially little girls, but you got yours coming, Smith!"

As Trudy stalls In after, "let me do the honors, Hank.'I'll serve us all justice"

——

Elijah, Lee-Henry, and Emerson were in the waiting room, eating horrible snack food. The three usually handled losses like this, but a loss this close caused for all of them to be closed off.

Elijah couldn't figure out why someone would want to hurt the one person who was kind to all. It didn't make sense to him.

Before he knew it, he was crying and throwing his food on the table. Lee-Henry couldn't touch his food. He was dry sobbing the whole time. He may have been from a different city, but they always FaceTimed and hung out when together.

Emerson was worse of all three. She had officially shut off. She didn't care about a school, scholarship, championship game, or her health if she didn't have her girlfriend beside her.

She had never experienced loss before, she's never learned how to grieve. Never had to.

As the tears fall from her eyes, Emerson looks around for someone to help them out, seeing Olivia, Jay, Hermann, and Kelly in the doorway; watching the kids in concern, Emerson does something she knows will change her relationship with the man, "dad, please" As Jay takes her into his arms, he puts her in the car, and heads for the woods.

Nature would do her good.

Elijah went to talk to Doctor Charles, and Lee-Henry wanted his mother.

And just like that, a group of four strong independent teens, went down to three depressed ones.

Gotta love the city of Chicago