Simple Complexity

Part 8

'Jill...' Erin said softly, pulling away an inch and Holtz looked at her, waiting for her to speak.

'How did you know I'd chose the gun? From the weapons table?'

Holtzmann grinned, looking sheepish, 'I didn't.'

Erin creased her brow.

'Whatever weapon you chose wouldn't have been ready, I would have said it regardless so I could give you the Swiss Army knife.'

Erin smiled, pushing her lips back into the woman's in front of her.

'That's very silly romantic of you.'

'Anytime Miss Gilbert.'

Holtzmann slept for a few hours, Erin not leaving her side and she curled herself up next to her and napped. Abby and Patty sitting on chairs, chatting softly. Patty leaving to get updates on when Holtz could be discharged, the blonde not wanting to spend the night.

Erin looked over at Abby and Patty, then to Holtz, she was sleeping soundly, and Erin slowly sat up. She slid herself off the bed and walked over to the two women who were talking in low voices.

'I'm so sorry,' Erin whispered, expecting tears to fall but not surprised when they didn't, she knew she had no more left to shed.

The pair looked up at her, standing and Abby opened her arms to her childhood friend.

'I was so out of line, I'm so sorry.'

Abby shook her head, 'You were hurting.'

Erin nodded.

The brunette turned to Patty, the woman opening her arms too.

'I should never ever have spoken to either of you like that. I'm so sorry. God I'm so sorry.'

Patty squeezed her, Erin closing her eyes and cuddling her tight.

'Baby girl, you're forgiven, it's okay. You're okay, she's okay and we're all okay.'

'The Firehouse,' Holtz said after she'd woken late morning, and had something to eat, the blonde staring at Erin, her eyes wide and eyebrows raised.

'No Jillian, no way,' Erin replied shaking her head.

Abby chuckled, looking at Patty.

'Arguing like a married couple already hey? And what?' Patty looked at her watch, 'You two have been officially together for what, maybe four or so hours.'

Abby chuckled again, her eyes flitting over at the pair.

'C'mon Patty they've been unofficially dating for the last two years.'

Patty laughed loud, Abby joining in. The laughter felt good, it was welcomed, it was relief.

Both Holtz and Erin were still in a heated discussion about where best it was to take the recovering engineer.

'And you're gonna sleep in that small room while injured?' Erin shook her head, pacing, ' I can't look after you properly there.'

'Erin, it will be fine.'

'Jill,' Erin said with a sigh, 'my place will be better.'

'Erin, Erin, Erin,' Holtzmann said, her eyes narrowing, 'when was the last time you spent the night at your own apartment? Hmmm?'

'Hey,' Erin said, narrowing her eyes back at the blonde, 'it's not my fault you chose to spend all your time at work so in order for me to see you I had to be there too.'

Holtzmann laughed, her body shaking as she grinned in adoration at the woman and then she gasped a little in pain, holding her side.

Erin blushed at the woman's response, walking back to the bed to take her hand, knowing that was exactly why she hadn't been at her apartment for more than a couple nights at a time. If Holtz was at the Firehouse, then that's where she wanted to be too.

'You okay,' Erin said, almost wincing as the blonde's face tightened in pain, her hand still clasping Holtzmann's.

'Yeah, yeah....I'm good.'

'My place.'

'Fine,' Holtzmann said, with another laugh, softer this time, 'your place, okay?'

Erin tilted her head with satisfied grin, 'Thank you.'

Patty and Abby had offered to pick up some of Holtzmann's things from the Firehouse and her apartment and then meet them at Erin's and the two left while Erin waited for Holtzmann's discharge papers.

Erin was laying on the bed next to the woman, Holtzmann drifting in an out of sleep as her medication began to wear off and Erin was playing with her phone, sighing as she let a third call from Josh go to message bank.

'Hey Jill?'

'Yeah,' the woman said turning her head to face her and Erin leaned in, planting a soft kiss to her lips.

'I need, to make a quick call,' Erin held up her phone, 'I'll be right back okay.'

Erin slid off the bed, turning as Holtzmann sat up a little, propping herself up awkwardly with her elbows behind her.

'Erin, before you...uhh..do... whatever it is you're gonna do, are you...sure?'

'Sure?'

Erin creased her brows and stepped back closer to the bed.

'About,' and she tilted a finger to herself.

Erin's face softened, 'I've never been surer about anything in my life.'

Holtz smiled, 'That is very silly romantic.'

Erin laughed, 'I love doing silly romantic with you.'

Erin watched as Holtz leaned back into the bed, the dimple in her cheek prominent as she smiled.

The brunette walked out of the room, dialling Josh and bringing the phone to her ear, pacing a little, an arm folded across her chest as she listened to it ring.

'Erin?'

His voice was one of surprise and relief.

'Hey.'

'Are you okay?'

She nodded into the phone.

'Um, there was an accident-'

Josh cut her off, 'Are you okay?'

She nodded into the phone again, 'Yeah, yeah, it's Jill, during the Bust. I'm at the hospital with her now, she's going to be okay.' Erin could feel tears prick her eyes and Josh could hear her voice waver, 'She's going to be okay though.'

'I'll be there in fifteen.'

'Uhh, no, no it's okay, but I just wanted to let you know and could I...uh maybe come and see you later?'

There was quiet on the end of the line, a drawn-out silence or maybe there wasn't Erin couldn't be sure but it sounded like the pause was too long, maybe he knew already, he knew what was coming.

'Yeah, sure, of course.'

'Thanks,' Erin said, turning back to Holtz's room, noticing a doctor walking in.

'Hey,' Josh said softly, and Erin waited for him to continue, 'about last night, I'm sorry. I am. I didn't mean to say the wrong thing. I respect what you have with her. I just-'

It was the way he said it. The way he said her. Erin knew he knew. He had to know.

She interrupted him, not acknowledging what he had said, clearing her throat.

'Hey, the doc is here for her, I'll talk to you later okay, see..see you.'

'Bye beautiful,' Josh murmured, and Erin hung up, not responding as she walked quickly back into the hospital room.