Way Back Home - [Linstead] ✓

2. - City of Sleepless People

"Hi. I'm Erin Lindsay. Someone called me about Jay Halstead being brought in a couple of hours ago?" Erin asked the nurse behind the reception desk as she held Robin's hand so she wouldn't wander away.

"Uh.. just a second..." the blonde nurse in light blue scrubs typed something into the computer "Come with me," she smiled to Erin and headed down the hall.

It had to be an interesting view, Robin wearing her cape and her lightsaber on her belt, with double buns and in yellow jeans and a grey knicks sweatshirt. They got to the door number 214. The nurse already pushed the handle down but then she turned to Erin. "Um. I should probably tell you what happened. He got shot in the abdomen, and he fell from some height because of the force of the bullet so he also has pretty bruised ribs. I think he'll be able to go home this evening, tho," she offered a little smile and Erin tried to smile back, but she failed. She wasn't ready for this at all.

When the nurse let them go in she teared up at the sight. She covered her mouth with her hand to silence her already quiet sob.

He was sleeping, but she guessed he felt someone's presence because he stirred awake and rubbed his eyes. When his eyes met hers, they widened and he wanted to sat up, but winced at the pain that shot through his body at the movement.

"Erin?"

"Jay?"

"Daddy?"

Jay's eyes widened even more, if that was possible at that point. "What?" he said just above the whisper.

First rays of sunshine made their way through the window and Jay saw how the little girl's hair sparkled reddish in the sunlight as dimples appeared in her freckled cheeks.

"Erin.. I... What?" What did he just wake up into? Because it definetely wasn't his life.

"Jay I..." Erin started as she plopped into the chair next to Jay's bed. Robin cimbed into her lap and curiously stared at Jay. "I don't know what to say to you. I'm sorry. I screwed up. I'm awful and feel free to hate me, but please don't hate Robin because of me," she was barely holding tears back "She's yours."

Jay looked from Robin to Erin and back to Robin. "Knicks, huh?" he smiled to her. He was super shocked, but knew that he shouldn't show that in front of a five year old. "You better not meet Kevin wearing that thing." he smirked and she smiled back.

Erin noticed what he was doing, and she was really grateful. They could talk later. Alone.

He turned back to Erin with a worried face "What are you doing here ? Is everything okay?"

Erin ran a hand through her hair and smiled sadly. "Jay, nothing's okay. Not for the past few years. All because of me tho. We came because the hospital called me. Apparently I'm still your emergency contact."

"Uh, yeah, you are," he said nervously "I'm sorry, I should've put someone else's sumber in."

"Um, no, it's... it's okay. It pushed me to come back here. I'm just glad you're okay," she quickly brushed his apology away.

As she finished that sentence, the door to Jay's room opened again, and a pretty blonde walked in. And behind her, there was a little girl, she looked about the same age as Robin. She had blonde hair that almost reached her shoulders. She was wearing a green hoodie and jeans. The first thing that Robin noticed were pink straps over the girl's shoulders, but they weren't attached to a backpack, she had pastel pink butterfly wings on her back.

Robin let out a small gasp.

Erin was speechless. The woman was Hailey. Yes, Hailey Upton, the one who joined the unit just a little before Erin left.

Erin connected the dots pretty quickly. She stood up and took Robin by her hand. "Am, hi, Hailey. It was nice seeing you, Jay," she turned to him just before exiting the room."See you around," she didn't look back. She didn't want anyone to see the tears.

"Erin, wait, let us explain..."

Robin waved to Jay before being pulled into the hall.

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"Can I ring the bell can I ring the bell?" Robin jumped up and down excitedly when they reached the familiar porch. The porch on which she spent hours with her favorite people. The people that gave her an amazing family. People that took her in and loved her unconditionaly, no questions asked.

Erin nodded her head and tried to smile. What has she done to this child? Was she following Bunny's path? She was the child who grew up without knowing her father, without a proper family. And she hated her mother for that. Is the same going to happen to her daughter and her?

She didn't even notice the door open and as she turned she saw Hank with a ridiculously big smile plastered on his face.

"Hank, I-"

He didn't let her finish, but pulled her in his arms for a hug. "I missed you, kiddo."

She exhaled the breath she was holding in and smiled "I missed you, too."

As they pulled back, she lifted Robin up in her arms. "Am, this is Robin. She's... she's my daughter."

Hank's smile stayed up on his face as he looked between the two girls standing on his porch.

"She's the same as him," he said, looking at Erin then "But prettier, of course."

Erin chuckled and then felt Robin's warm breath on her neck as she whispered to her "Mommy, is this grandpa Hank?"

"Um," Erin quickly glanced at Hank, just to be sure he's okay with all of this. And she was incredibly happy when she saw that his smile only got wider at the word 'grandpa' "Yes, yes he is." Erin smiled with her eyes still on Hank.

"Come on in."

a/n

hello nina here

i hope you noticed that this update is up (if you're reading this, yes, you probably did lmao) bcs my parents took my phone away and i cant promote my story on instagram hahah.

happy easter to anyone that celebrates!

thank you for all the sweet comments.

please comment what you think, what should happen or if you have any ideas. i'll read them all.

remember, you forget to review - i forget to update