His Forever Flame

37. Can't Live Without You

Jay and Lauren stayed at the cabin all weekend. The babies were happy and adjusted to the new space well. Lauren felt safe there and didn't want to leave, but she knew they had to go back home. Finally, late Sunday afternoon they packed up and headed home.

Antonio had told Jay that Erin was back, but not in the unit yet. She wanted her spot back, and while it had been held for her, the Commissioner insisted on a trial period to test her mental stability. They were going to slowly work her back in. Jay wasn't happy, but it was out of his hands. He swore to Lauren he would never be partners with her and that he would keep her and the twins safe. Lauren believed him; she knew Jay loved her and the babies and would do anything for them.

Monday he went back to work, and while Lauren was anxious about being alone and Jay having to be around Erin again, she knew she had to suck it up or she'd end up upsetting the babies. Around lunch Shay came over and Lauren was thankful. After the babies nursed, the girls curled up on the couch with them.

"So you ok?" Shay asked quietly.

Lauren nodded; "Yea, yea I'm ok. She uh... part of her deal was that her position would be held pending treatment. The Commissioner is giving her a trial period to work her way back to the unit."

"How does Jay feel about that?"

"He doesn't like it, but he can't really do anything about it. Her deal was made before he was told anything. He's going to make them give him a copy of her psych report from the treatment center too."

"Think they will?" Shay asked as Jayla snuggled against her in her sleep.

"He said it wasn't going to be an option."

"Good for him," Shay smiled kissing Jayla's forehead. Jayden was snuggled on Lauren already the total definition of a mama's boy. The girls watched a movie that afternoon until Jay came home. Once Jay got home, Shay went home to Kelly.

It had been a long day for him, and he was so glad to be home with his wife and babies. The twins were in the floor on their play mat playing and looking around. Jay sat down on the couch and pulled Lauren into his lap. "I'm so glad to be home," he smiled softly kissing her.

Lauren smiled against his lips before laying her head on his shoulder watching the twins. "How was it?" she asked tentatively since neither baby had noticed daddy was home yet.

"It was ok. She's on patrol for at least a week. She passed the psych eval and the treatment center said she'd completed all steps of her program and appeared stable and functional for society."

Lauren was running her fingers through his hair "I know she's eventually going to get her spot back, but I'll never trust her," she whispered.

Jay rubbed her back and kissed her forehead. "You never have to. I made it clear to Voight today that I would never ever, ever work with her as a partner again."

"What did he say?"

"I didn't have to," he smiled as Jayla squealed seeing her daddy was home. They got down in the floor and played with the babies until they got hungry and sleepy.

It'd been two and a half weeks since Erin had been back in Chicago. She'd done patrol for a week and a half, and she'd been riding the desk in Intelligence the other week. Hank told her she would be permanently partnered with Antonio, no questions asked. She'd expected as much based on Jay's reaction outside his apartment that night. She knew he didn't want anything to do with her which made it hard to sit across from him day in and day out in the bullpen without so much as a glance from him. She tried not to let it bother her because she really was better, but it still sucked that she had fucked up their partnership. Jay worked with Kevin or Adam each day, and he would leave as soon as they were free to get home to his family.