Case by Case Love ✔️

Chapter 72: Back Home

The statement delivery did not take long. 

The check-in with medical also did not take long as they told him what he thought. 2 broken ribs, a couple others bruised. He was given instructions to not do anything major for the next couple weeks in allowing it to heal.

He made his way home afterwards, ready to relax with a nice hot shower after a long not just physical, but mental tasking day. He wanted to put the events that had transpired on the roof behind him as quickly as possible. 

"I'm going to grab a shower," he tells Erin once they are inside the house, slipping off his t-shirt. Erin could not take her eyes off of him as he did so, the bruising and marks on his side becoming more apparent. "You don't need to stare at me and watch me intently. I'm fine, Erin." 

"I also know that you are the king of pushing things off or saying they're fine and you're in pain," she quickly reminds him from previous experience. She recalled several times where you were certain he was in pain one way or another, and yet he brushed it off as nothing. Who comes out of being captive for 24 hours and says they're entirely fine? "It's okay to admit that you are in pain. It's okay to admit that things are difficult. It's okay to talk to me, Jay." 

"I know..." He walks over to where she stood, wrapping both arms around her and holding her against him. "But I'm honestly fine. It's a little sore, but nothing that I am not used to." 

"You shouldn't be used to being sore, though. That's not fair and right for you..." She then rubs his side, her own pain growing in seeing the marks. "It's not fair for you." 

"I signed up for it when I took the job." She rolls her eyes, having heard that excuse from him before. But yet it seemed when bullets were flying or punches thrown, they always went his way.

"Ask any officer that works in this city, Jay. Not one single officer has taken as many bullets as you have. Not one single officer has been hurt as many times as you have. Not one single officer has been as heavily watched or scrutinised as you have by Internal Affairs." Jay looks into her eyes, knowing this whole discussion just wasn't about how he was feeling or the marks on his body. She was still concerned with what had happened at the scene, and the fact he was still without his badge and firearm. What if they stripped him of his duties permanently due to their belief in what had happened?

"We both know that dealing with IAD comes with working for Hank Voight. We both knew that when we signed up to work with Intelligence. I have been through it before, and I am sure we will go through it again. I will be fine, Erin." Erin wanted to believe those words. It was certainly the case each time before they had met with one of their department officers. However, there was something about this case that was not sitting well with her.

"I want to believe you as you handle it better than anyone, sometimes even better than Hank. But I can't help but worry. What if they come to the wrong finding?" Jay shakes his head in knowing that was not possible. "Aren't you worr-"

"I did nothing wrong on that roof, Erin." She takes a deep breath, debating on that herself. However, she knew that argument would not help Jay right now. She should be comforting him, not arguing with him. Why were they even having this discussion? He should've been in the shower already. He needed a massage afterwards. He needed to relax.

"It's not always about what you did and what happened. Sometimes it's about the perception of what happened based on evidence or lack thereof. That's what I am worried about, Jay." Jay understood her concerns. The optics did not look best in knowing someone fell off the roof while in handcuffs. There was no cameras to show what led to that event happening. It was all about IAD putting their story together, hopefully taking in what he had to say to them from what happened.

"I know I did nothing wrong, and I told the officers exactly what happened." Jay takes a deep breath, as he debated what should come out of his mouth next. "That's all we can rely on - the truth. Hopefully it comes out the other side the way we want. Hopefully they realize that nothing wrong was done and I'm cleared. Standing here worrying about it isn't going to change it. Let them do their investigation and find their findings. Whatever they find, whatever discipline if any they feel based on what they think happened, we'll get through it. We always do." 

"What if you lose your badg-"

"We'll get through it, whatever it is. We'll be fine." Jay then leans in, lightly brushing his lips against hers. "I love you, Erin."