Fighter

Chapter 16

The drive back to the house was quiet, aside from the radio playing and the movement outside the car. She slid from the seat, and into the house before the Chicago winter chill could hit her full force. Inside, her bed was desperately calling her name, but first, she grabbed the coffee pot and started it up. Leaning against the counter, she read through the list of stuff she'd require for the hospital stay, the treatment she would be getting, and the expectation of what chemotherapy would bring. Hair loss, nausea, mouth sores, and so on. She didn't really need a manual for how this would go, though. They had second-hand lived it through Camille when she was fighting her last fight. Memories of visiting her in the last few days flashed through Erin's mind as she stood waiting for the coffee to finish filtering. Shaking her head clear, as the timer went off and she grabbed her mug. "I'm going to head over to the district. I have to check in on this case, you gonna be okay here?" Voight appeared in the doorway, raising an eyebrow at how she had just been staring off into nothing. "Actually..could I come with you? I think I'd like to see everyone before I go into the hospital." She said softly. He nodded, walking toward the cupboard for a travel mug so she could take her coffee with her, and they headed out for the precinct.

The climb to the Intelligence unit was torturous, due to the fact that she still had not told anyone about the real reason she was here. She recalled the sympathy filled looks that Camille would get from their neighbors when she was going through it and she really didn't want that, but she knew that she didn't want to keep this from them either. "Erin!" Kim said excitedly, as she stood from her desk. She was currently the only member out there. "I'll leave you to it." Voight said, giving her a comforting shoulder squeeze before heading into his office where Al was temporarily tucked away working the case. "Just came for a visit?" Kim asked, pulling an empty chair over to her desk for Erin to sit. As much as she didn't want anyone else to know, she felt this heavy weight on her chest to let it out. "Actually, no. I have something to tell you." Kim's smile slowly fell, replaced by concern lighting up her face. "Judging by your tone, it doesn't sound good...what's going on?" Erin tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear, and placed the warm steel mug on Kim's desk. "Where is everyone else?" She asked, gazing around to the empty desks. "Al gave them an early lunch, since the case is giving us some issues. What's going on, Erin?" She took a breath, her emotions getting the best of her. "I found out out I have cancer. That's why I'm back in Chicago, since Med is the best place for treating it." She hated that she had begun to cry, even though she didn't work here anymore, it still felt so unprofessional as she wiped at the stray tears rushing down her cheeks. Kim's eyes went wide, and she was suddenly in front of Erin, taking her into a hug. "My god. I'm so sorry. When did you find out?" "When I was still in New York. I was having some symptoms that I just brushed off as nothing, and here I am." "Well, whatever you need, you know we're all going to be here for you...have you told Jay yet?" She shook her head as Kim reached around the desk to pull out her tissue box, and handed it to Erin. "No. I was hoping to not have to tell anyone here until I was finished treatment, you're the first one besides Lieutenant Benson and Voight, to know ." Kim nodded. "Well I'm glad you told me. I just wish your sudden visit wasn't for cancer treatment, though." "What?" Erin's heart stopped for a quick second at the sound of Jay's voice, and the sound of something hitting the floor behind them. Oh God.