One Chicago: Linstead

Chapter 60: Not Them

"They're dead. And it's all my fault. I'm sorry, Erin." Jay teared up and turned to hide his face.

"It's not just your fault, I'm sorry, too." Erin cried.

Jay motioned for a hug and Erin fell into his arms. "I don't want him to be dead." Erin mumbled.

"It's okay. We'll get through this." Jay sobbed.

"It'll never be okay. I know we'll get through it but it'll never be the same. Everything's changed." Erin wailed.

"I know," Jay agreed. "I know."

 30 minutes earlier

"Jay Halstead, so far, I have enjoyed my birthday. This morning was... unbelievable, and tonight will be..."

"Spectacular." Jay finished for Erin.

"Exactly. But, we don't wanna be late so we better get the kids dressed and packed for Will and Nat's." Erin stated.

"True." Jay kissed her and ran up to the kids' rooms.

He packed them up and got them dressed while Erin looked at a magazine. Twenty minutes later, they all came laughing and smiling down the stairs.

"We're ready to go." Jay said.

"Me, too." Erin stated. She led them all out the door and to the car.

"Damn, I forgot the keys." Jay laughed. "I'll be right back."

"I wanna go!" Shay shouted.

"Shay, hey. Calm down, Daddy's on his way, he forgot to grab the kids... I mean keys." Erin corrected.

"Haha! Silly Mommy. He didn't forget to grab us." Noah giggled.

"Ready to go." Jay hopped in and started the car.

As they were driving down the road, Jay looked over at Erin and checked his mirrors and looked at his three beautiful kids but before he could look back at the road, a semi came plowing through from behind them and flipped their car.

They flipped six or seven times before it started to slow and come to a stop in a ditch.

Erin looked around, she turned around to look at her kids, all looked like they were asleep. She struggled while trying to get out but eventually did. First she tried to get Jay out but he wasn't waking so she moved to the back and pulled out Nicole first. She was closest. She then pulled out Noah but struggled trying to get Shay out. 

"Jay, wake up. We gotta get him out!" Erin cried out. "JAY!" She shouted.

Jay opened his eyes, looked around, and finally figured out where he was. He pulled his seatbelt off and crawled to the back. He tugged and pulled at Shay's. Eventually it came off and he handed Shay to Erin.

He stumbled out of the car and over where his three kids were. He checked all of their pulses. Each of them had none.

"They're dead. And it's all my fault. I'm sorry, Erin." Jay teared up and turned to hide his face.

"It's not just your fault, I'm sorry, too." Erin cried.

Jay motioned for a hug and Erin fell into his arms. "I don't want him to be dead." Erin mumbled.

"It's okay. We'll get through this." Jay sobbed.

"It'll never be okay. I know we'll get through it but it'll never be the same. Everything's changed." Erin wailed.

"I know," Jay agreed. "I know."

The sirens came just seconds after and they led the cops and paramedics to their children. The paramedics tried to save each child but couldn't. 

Jay and Erin's kids all died in one moment. They were supposed to be enjoying Erin's birthday at the sears tower, not in an ambulance. Not watching their kids rolled away in body bags. Not crying into each other's shoulders.

Will was calling Jay, so Jay answered after a couple rings trying to build up the courage to say his kids were dead.

"Jay. Where are you? You were supposed to be here 35 minutes ago. Is everything okay?" Will asked.

"No. Nothing's okay. We..., we got in an accident...., Shay..., Nicole..., Noah..., they're all dead." Jay sobbed.

"What!? Where are you? I'm coming." Will said. He told Natalie everything.

Will pulled up and ran towards Jay and Erin. Natalie followed. They dropped Owen off at Maggie's.

"Jay. Erin, I'm so sorry. Can I do anything for you." Natalie cried and hugged them. Erin squeezed Natalie and sobbed. 

"They're gone. I..., I should've died. Not them." Erin cried out.

"God does things for a reason. Just believe that." Natalie comforted.

"Let's get you home." Will suggested.

"No. I can't. I can't go back there." Jay said. "Erin, I'm so sorry, it's all my fault."

"Jay..., stop." Erin said, she hugged him and gave him a kiss. "God does things for a reason." She cried and they both leaned on each other while they walked to Will's car.

"I love you, Erin." Jay mumbled in tears.

"I love you, too." Erin replied.