Should've Been Us

Demons

"Babe." Antonio came into the nursery. "What's wrong?"

Jo looked up from their infant daughter. "She was up all night. Fever, sniffles... pretty sure she's got a cold or maybe an ear infection."

Antonio sighed. "Take the day, stay with her... get her checked out... I'm sure Voight will be fine with it."

"Dad hasn't been fine with much since we sent Justin to Basic and the wedding countdown got to 14 days."

"But, everything for the wedding is all set... nothing left to do but have them walk down the aisle and say 'I do'."

"Justin won't be there." Jo sighed, slowly getting up from the rocking chair. "That's hitting home for him."

"It's not like there was much choice."

"No, but with Gradishar gone... things should get easier, right?"

Antonio shrugged. "No clue. I have no idea what the deal was for him to get out, but your dad should've been locked up a lot longer than he was."

"You still bitter that he got out?"

Antonio bit his tongue. He was bitter, but at the same time the Voight they worked with wasn't anything like the Voight he'd arrested. "That's not it... whatever deal he worked out, they're not just going to let him out of it. They'll send someone else."

"You're assuming he'll be worse."

"I know whoever it is, isn't going to let what happened with Gradishar happen again."

"Intelligence in danger... again." Jo knew that until her father got out from under Internal Affairs' thumb, their unit was going to constantly be under the gun.

"So, you're not going to take the day." Antonio knew his wife.

"I'll go take her to the pediatrician and then I'll come in. If anything jumps off, call me?"

Antonio nodded. "Yeah." He kissed her and then bent down and kissed their daughter. "She is warm."

"Mhmm." Jo grabbed the diaper bag.

"Give me Grace, go get ready... I'll make sure the others are ready for school."

Jo didn't argue. She was too tired. Grace had been extremely healthy but the last few days were just hard for her. Josie suspected that one of the other kids had brought home a cold and Grace caught it. It happened, but it sure as hell didn't make their lives any easier.

She splashed some water on her face to wake up. She looked in the mirror and grimaced as she saw the dark circles under her eyes. She reached for some cover up and foundation. Once the circles were mostly covered, she grabbed a pair of jeans and a light sweater. It was nearly summer, but still a bit chilly. She grabbed socks and headed down to the kitchen.