49. Chapter 49

A short one but a quick update! Thanks to all who provided reviews and advice/support, I really like to hear what you have to say!

"Hi, come on in," Erin greeted Brian Atwood at the front door of their apartment, "Um, where's Ms Klein?"

"I'm told she was held up on another case," Atwood said, stepping into the apartment, "Lovely home you have here."

"Thank you," Jay said, accepting the social worker's coat and hanging it on the hook, "We called her last night, but she didn't answer."

"It was Sunday evening, Detective," Atwood replied, glancing around the apartment and making a few notes on the legal pad before gesturing to the floor-to-ceiling windows, "Are those windows locked?"

"They don't open," Erin assured him, "The only ones that open are in the bedrooms. And they only open about six inches."

"Enough for a child to crawl out of them," Atwood raised his eyebrows.

"We have the bars and keep the window locked," Jay supplied, "And we have child locks on the cleaning supplies. But Kate is smart, she doesn't put things in her mouth or eat stuff she's not supposed to."

Atwood nodded, "May I take a look around?"

"Please," Erin waved her hand, "Kate's bedroom is on the right." She turned to her partner as the caseworker made his way around their home, "Where's the other woman?" she hissed to Jay, "She's the one who is supposed to see Kate every day, where is she?"

Jay shrugged, his eyes watching Atwood's every move. "Well, your home appears to be in order," Atwood declared, "We should be in touch in the coming weeks with next steps."

"Weeks?" Erin exclaimed, "We haven't seen our daughter in four days, and you're saying it's going to be weeks before everything is back to normal?"

"Detectives, I give a recommendation. But there are many other components to you getting your daughter back, not to mention a lot of paperwork and other people who need to sign off. I assure you, we are working as fast as we possibly can to reunite your family, but these things take time."

Erin suppressed a grunt but nodded in agreement, standing stiffly with her arms crossed over her chest while Jay put an arm around her shoulders. "Will you be speaking with Ms Klein?" he asked, his question attempting to veil what he was really trying to say, Are you going to see my little girl today?

"To be completely honest, I am not sure. You have to understand, we are incredibly busy, most of us juggling multiple cases. I will have her call you as soon as she is able." Atwood offered a smile.

Jay nodded, "Well, um, please let us know if there is anything we can do to expedite this process."

"Sweetheart, I'm a nurse. I promise you can trust me, okay?" A young woman leaned down to talk to Kate, who was laying on her side in a hospital bed. Betty Klein had brought Kate into the Northwestern urgent care late Sunday evening to be sure that the little girl's intense stomach pains were related to the lack of food she had eaten over the past four days. Unfortunately, they spent the night in the Emergency Room as the child stubbornly refused any assistance.

Kate clutched her aching belly and peered up at the nurse with swollen, red eyes. "I-I want my Daddy and my Mommy."

"I know you do, sweetheart, but it looks like you're not feeling too good, huh? And the doctor and I just want to focus on getting you better, and hopefully then you can see your parents." She smiled kindly, "Can you show me where it hurts?"

"I had surg-rey there," Kate gestured to her stomach gingerly after cautiously unwinding her arms from around her abdomen, "It stopped hurtin' but now it hurts." Tears filled her eyes and quickly spilled over, "I really want Mommy and Daddy."

"I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling well," the nurse smiled, "My name is Georgia, and the doctor is going to be in soon, okay?"

"C-can you call my Uncle Will? He's a d-doctor," Kate winced, "He can help."

"Does he work here?" Georgia raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"He works with Doctor Manning," Kate whispered, "In the E-merg-cy 'partment at Med."

"Oh," Georgia nodded, "Well, this is Northwestern, so your uncle doesn't work here, but I'm sure you can see him soon." She offered a lame smile and reached out to touch Kate's stomach.

Kate recoiled immediately, shrinking into herself, "C-can you call him? I don't want another doctor."

"I'm sorry sweetheart, but your uncle doesn't work here. But I'm going to help you as best I can. You said your stomach hurt, and I see that you had surgery a few weeks ago." Georgia tried to lift Kate's top, but the child squealed in displeasure.

"No-no thank you," Kate whimpered, "No thank you."

"I promise that I won't hurt you Kate," the nurse reassured her, "I need you to help me help you though, alright? I won't do anything without your permission. I can tell that you're hurting really bad, and I just want to help."

"I-I just want my Mommy," Kate wept, shaking her head slightly, "I want her and I want my Daddy."

"She won't let me near her," the nurse reported to Betty Klein and Colleen Humphrey, "And from the looks of her file, it's for a good reason."

"Is there any update on her parents?" Colleen turned to the social worker, "If I'm being honest, I think it would be best if she could see them. She's so stressed that she hasn't eaten in three days, it's no wonder that her stomach hurts. The poor thing is thin and exhausted, and I don't think she's slept either."

"With all due respect, Mrs. Humphrey, your role as a foster parent is to care for the child, regardless of the status of the family's current situation," Betty Klein said curtly, "But we are in the process of returning the child to her parent's care. DCFS is ensuring all bases are covered in regards to the child's welfare."

"With all due respect, Ms Klein, it doesn't seem like the welfare of this child was at all considered when she was removed from her parent's care," Colleen retorted, glancing worriedly into Kate's hospital room, "It seems like this agency is just trying to make up for the fact that they missed this child's trauma in the first place. But Jay and Erin have done an incredible job with that little girl, and the only problems I can see are what has been caused by taking her away from her loving home. Now, I may not be a social worker, but I am a mother, and so I am telling you that that child needs her parents." Colleen swallowed and gestured to the nurse, "She is literally writhing in pain, but is too afraid of other people to allow anyone to help. She hasn't eaten or slept in nearly four days. Kate has probably been in pain for days."

"I hear your frustration, I really do," Klein's features softened somewhat, "But this is out of my hands for the time being. We need to do everything we can for her right now, and I will see about getting her parents over here."

"They have a right to know that their child is in the hospital," Colleen nodded and turned to the nurse. "Georgia, let's see if I can't convince her to let you help."

"I don't want the bad men," Kate sobbed, quivering in fear as Colleen held her tiny hand. She had eventually agreed to allow Georgia to take a look at her aching stomach, too exhausted from the pain to fight it any longer. However, once it was determined that the doctor would need to take a look at Kate, the child withdrew completely, trying as hard as she possibly could to make herself small in the hospital bed.

"Sweetheart, he's a doctor, he won't hurt you," Colleen tried, giving a pleading look to the nurse, "He just wants to help you, I promise."

"I don't want help," Kate whimpered, weakly crossing her arms over her abdomen, "I just want my mommy and daddy."

"We're working on it, Kate," Betty Klein piped up from the chairs at the side of the room, "We're trying to get your parents here as soon as possible, but we need you to let the doctor take a look at your stomach so that he can help you."

"I-I don't believe you," the little girl managed through clenched teeth, trying hard not to cry out from the pains in her stomach, "I don't trust you."

"Kate, I'm a mommy just like yours, okay? And I promise that we're trying as hard as we can to get your mom and dad down here so they can be with you, but in the meantime, I know they would want you to let the doctor help, okay?" Colleen stroked Kate's shaking fingers, "I know you're scared, but we don't want you to be sick, okay?"

After a moment, Kate unwound her arms from around her belly, still gripping Colleen's hand tightly. "Good girl, just close your eyes, okay? I know you're hurting, but think about how in a few hours, you're going to be back with your mommy and daddy, and you'll be feeling a whole lot better," Colleen soothed, running a hand over Kate's sweaty forehead as she tried to provide comfort as best she could, "Try to take a deep breath."

"It…hurts," Kate wept as the young male doctor issued an apology for gently touching Kate's aching stomach.

"You're being so brave, honey," Colleen praised, casting a hurry up glance to the doctor as the child grew restless, "So brave. And you know what, maybe the doctor can give you something that might make your tummy hurt less, how about that?"

Kate shook her head vehemently, "I don't wanna sleep, I don't wanna."

"I'll be right here with you, I promise. Until your parents get here," Colleen promised, nodding slightly at Georgia to start administering the pain medication and IV, "You won't go to sleep right away, but this will help make it hurt less."

"You not gonna let nobody hurt me?" Kate whispered, absolutely spent from fighting the pain for so long, "You…you promise?"

"I promise," Colleen smiled, "And Georgia is going to be here too, and we're going to make sure that you start feeling better soon."

"Okay," Kate nodded tearfully, barely registering that Georgia was going to inject her with a needle. In a rare stroke of luck, the nurse was able to hook Kate up to an IV despite her dehydration, providing her with some much-needed fluids, vitamins and pain medication. Almost instantly, the little girl dozed off, completely exhausted from the pain and anxiety. Colleen sat by the child's side, staying true to her word that she wouldn't let her be alone until her parents arrived.

Dr. Hansen determined that Kate would need an endoscopy to examine the extent of her injured abdomen. While Kate was sleeping, they quickly put her under anesthesia for the procedure in hopes that they would be able to solve the problem quickly.

"Hello, I'm looking for Detectives Halstead and Lindsay," Betty Klein stood in the lobby of the 21st District, pulling off her leather gloves and looking pointedly at Sergeant Platt.

"In regards to what?" Platt snapped, cranky from the non-stop onslaught of low-level offenders, rookie patrolmen and beaurocratic earache.

"My name is Betty Klein, I'm with DCFS, I have an update on Kate Halstead." Klein offered a smile, but Platt did not return it.

"You're not the woman who dragged that little girl out of my district, screaming and crying for her parents," Platt looked her up and down, "You better be here under better circumstances."

"Sergeant, I am not at liberty to discuss the circumstances I am here under," Klein replied shortly, "If you could please direct me as to where I could find Detectives Halstead and Lindsay, that would be much appreciated."

"Garcia, watch the desk," Platt pointed to the young officer, who quickly nodded and scurried around. Platt gestured for the social worker to follow her up the steps. "Lindsay, Halstead," Platt barked, quickly ascending the steps. Both Jay and Erin's heads snapped up from what they were working on, eyes falling on the caseworker.

"Are you here about Kate?" Jay got to his feet, looking anxiously at the social worker, "Is she alright?"

"Is there somewhere we can speak privately, detectives?" Klein asked, following Erin as she headed for the breakroom. Jay shut the door behind them and folded his arms across his chest, looking expectantly at the woman.

"So?" he asked bluntly, acutely aware of how rigidly Erin was standing, barely breathing as she waited to hear what the woman had to say, "Are we getting her back?"

"I am working with Danielle and Bryan to get the paperwork finished, and we are hoping to officially have Kate back to you by the end of this week," Klein began.

Erin and Jay let out a breath. "We can't get her back any sooner?" Erin asked, noting the glint in the caseworker's eye. She paused, suddenly realizing that something was off, "What aren't you telling us?"

"Your daughter isn't well, Detectives. She hasn't been eating for the past few days-"

"What?" Jay exploded, "She's sick? And you're just telling us this now?"

"Where is she?" Erin demanded, "If she doesn't eat, she could get another ulcer, she's got to be in a massive amount of pain-"

"She's been admitted at the hospital," Klein said calmly, both detectives growing red in the face from anger, "They're taking her in for an endoscopy as we speak and will hopefully have her feeling better shortly."

"We need to see her. Now." Jay gritted out, barely able to keep his cool.

Klein nodded. "I understand, detectives. And due to the extenuating circumstances, the Department of Children and Family Services are allowing you and Detective Lindsay to be with your child before the paperwork is finalized."

"Where is she?" Erin repeated, "What hospital is our daughter at?"

"Northwestern Memorial," the woman responded, "And for what it's worth, I am sorry that this has happened."

Erin and Jay didn't reply, instead swiftly snatching their coats and sprinting for the Sierra, hoping to get to their little girl as quickly as they possibly could.

"Where is she?" Jay asked breathlessly after arriving at Northwestern, "Is she okay?"

"She's alright," Colleen Humphrey stood from the chair outside Kate's hospital room, "She's a strong little one."

"What happened?" Erin asked, glancing into the room to find the bed empty, "Where's Kate?"

"They took her up for an endoscopy an hour or two ago, but she should be back any minute. She's going to be out for a bit though, but I'm sure when she wakes up she will be thrilled to see you." Colleen smiled kindly, "I can't imagine what you've been going through these past few days."

Jay nodded gingerly, "Uh, thank you. For taking care of her."

"I am truly sorry for everything that has happened to her. We tried everything but she just would not eat," Colleen wrung her hands, "She is such a precious little girl and it is obvious how much you love and care for her."

"She's…been through a lot," Jay confirmed, "It took a really long time to get her to open up to us and still every day…it breaks my heart."

Colleen nodded again, giving Erin's arm a reassuring squeeze, "I know you must be an incredible mother. Your little girl-she um, didn't speak much, but the way she missed you…"

"Thanks," Erin whispered, glancing up at Jay, "Klein said that we're hopefully getting her back this week, but uh, because of the extenuating circumstances, they're letting us see her today."

"Well, any way that I can help you, I am happy to," Colleen said, "Oh! Doctor Hansen, this is Jay Halstead and Erin Lindsay. They're Kate's parents."

"Tough kid you got there," the doctor said after shaking Jay and Erin's hands, "She must have been in absolute agony, but she's going to be just fine. I saw in her chart that she was on a few types of medications that we'll have to put her back on until the stomach heals but there wasn't a need for surgery."

"God," Jay ran a hand over his face, "So she's going to be alright?"

"We'll keep her overnight for observation and to moderate her pain levels, I'm sure as you recall initially it can be quite intense. Her throat may be sore from the endoscopy, but all things considered, she's going to be fine. The nurses will be bringing her up shortly. She's going to be groggy for the next day or so, especially with the pain medication, but hopefully once we switch her to the pills things will even out."

"Thank you," Erin murmured, glancing down the hallway in anticipation. She looked up at Jay, "I think we should call Will, too."

He nodded in agreement and pulled his phone out of his coat pocket, "Good idea. I want him to check her out as well, make sure they didn't miss anything like that time in New York."

Betty Klein walked down the hallway, Bryan Atwood beside her. "How is she doing?" Atwood asked, turning to the doctor, "Bryan Atwood, Department of Children and Family Services."

Dr. Hansen shook his hand, "Good, I was just telling Kate's parents that she should make a full recovery. I'm sure her pediatrician will have more to say in regards to Kate's anxiety and other factors that can play into her sensitive stomach."

"Stress caused this to happen?" Klein asked, "Not because she wasn't eating?"

"Well, I'm sure that not eating doesn't help, but stomach ulcers are typically brought on by stress. And from what Mrs. Humphrey filled me in on, this child, with a history of abuse, was taken from her family? But from what I can see, over the past few months, Kate has been cared for and has shown marked improvement from her initial exams from July." Dr. Hansen turned his head to catch the nurse, Georgia, pushing Kate's hospital bed down the hallway, "And there she is now."

Trying to get the next one up ASAP!