Please Remember Me

Chapter Forty Six

It had been about two days since Erin's shooting and Haileys traumatic incident.

Hailey was doing so much better, her wounds had been stitched up and she was feeling much stronger physically. Emotionally and mentally was another thing entirely, she felt so lost and genuinely broken.

She had lost the one thing in the world that mean the most to her.

Jay wasn't any better, he'd come and go from the hospital as he couldn't bear to leave Hadley Mae alone for so long.

He usually left her with Helen and Owen for the day whilst he worked.

She was starting preschool in less than a month, Jay was nervous at her starting because other kids would have their mothers and fathers dropping them off.

Haddy would only have her father, and Jay could practically imagine the questions the little girl would ask.

Each one more heartbreaking than the next.

He didn't want to think about it but the only thing that was on his mind was Haddy asking questions like "Why don't I have a mommy anymore?" and "What happened to mommy, is she coming back?".

Jay knew he couldn't tell her the truth until she was a bit older but he didn't want to add to her trauma from the whole Johnny ordeal.

Which they were still trying to overcome.

Jay sat at his desk tapping his pen like Erin used to do. The whole team was walking on eggshells around Hailey, whenever a subject came up they would hope and pray that no one mentioned Erin or what had happened.

Hailey was strong, she was very professional but at the end of the day she had lost her best friend.

Erin wasn't coming back.

Haddy would have to grow up without a mother, Jay without the love of his life, Hailey without her best friend, Voight without his daughter. And the whole unit without their friend.

Erin was truly the light of the Intelligence Unit making everyone feel at home and safe when she was around.

Then Jays mind wandered to Nadia, she would've loved Haddy. Jay wasn't close enough with Nadia to understand everything she went through before Erin got her off the streets.

But he was close to Erin who told him everything about Nadia, and every time she did. He could see the spark in her eyes that burned only for her.

That spark was what drove Erin to do everything that she could possibly do to keep Nadia safe and give her a better chance at life.

He smiled then frowned at the memory before Voight came in with a file, he opened it and slammed multiple pictures on the board.

"This is what happened the morning of Erin's shooting. What else do we have so far?" the team cringed. It had been almost three days and they still had absolutely nothing, Hailey saw the car and the gun, a 9mm. But didn't have enough details on the car and there are so many 9mm guns in Chicago it would take too long to track each and every one of them.

"As I said at the scene, Erin's the only one who got a good look at the car, the driver and possible passengers before the um. The accident" Hailey said, at first her tone was confident and level. But as soon as she mentioned the name of her best friend her voice faltered and she bit her quivering lip.

Trying not to cry.

Everyone was silent for a bit until Voight spoke up again.

"Well, Erin isnt much help to us at the minute. The best we can do is catch whoever did this to her, go back through the files, the cameras, talk to your CIs. I want answers people! I'm not letting that son of a bitch get away" Voight said before walking back to his office. Jay meekly followed him in and shut the door.

"What is it Jay?" the older man spoke. His voice once again, flat and monotone.

"Would you um, could you rather take Hadley Mae for a couple days?" Jay asked his boss and his eyes widened slightly.

"What's up?" Hank asked his detective.

"Just with Erin and everything. I'm not in the right headspace to be with Haddy right now, I want to give her everything that she deserves and more but right now. I'm not sure I can do that" Jay offered. Voight just nodded.

"You know Jay. You're one hell of a cop, and when you take over this unit. I'm going to need someone to keep me company a couple days, I'd love to spend time with my granddaughter. So yes I'll take her and you let me know if you need anything" Hank said to Jay who stared at him in disbelief.

He didn't believe anything Hank had just said, he agreed to take Haddy for one. But also said that Jay was next in line to lead the unit and that Voight wanted Jay to go to him if he needed anything.

Jay felt a strange sense of comfort, he shook Voights hand and headed back to his desk.

Jay twiddled his thumbs for a bit, mulling over what Hank had just said to him.

His mind was all over the place, thinking of Erin.

Then his daughter.

Then thinking of his mom, and how she would've loved Hadley.

His thoughts were interrupted by a phone ringing, he picked it up.

"Jay?" Will sounded alarmed. Jay perked up slightly from worry.

"Yeah?"

"You need to come to the hospital now" Jay was filled with worry.

"Why what's going on is Erin okay? Did something happen?" Jays mind was racing. What had happened to Erin??

"She woke up" Will said and Jay dropped his phone and his hands flew to his mouth.

The whole unit looked at him in surprise.

"She woke up" he repeated Wills words and the whole room erupted with emotion.

Hailey was crying so hard that she couldn't breathe, and even Voight was standing in his doorway with a smile on his face.

Erin made it.

Just like Jay always knew she would because that girl.

His girl.
Would forever fight for what she wanted.