Hey! I know it has been a while since I've uploaded here and with a break in school and life, what better time to update!

This is an AU set around season 3.

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It started out as any other day in Intelligence. They hadn't been assigned any new cases, so their jobs consisted of sitting and doing paperwork, looking over cases from other units, or doing absolutely nothing. Their last option was the current one for almost everyone. Well except Voight, who was taking a call in his office.

The boys, minus Antonio and Al, had been throwing around this foam basketball Ruzek had in his locker for days like this. Erin had been mindlessly doing nothing, entertaining herself by watching the boys or playing around on the Internet.

They had been doing nothing for almost an hour before Voight came in and caught their attention.

"Gear up guys," he announced, "we've got a new case."

Everyone quickly readied themselves, grabbing jackets and guns and heading to their fairly respective vehicles; Al with Hank, Adam and Kevin with Antonio, and, as always, Jay with Erin. Mouse entered the address Voight gave him into each car's GPS, which took them to a house right outside of Chicago.

A feeling of dread settled into everyone's stomach when they reached the yellow tape surrounding the property. They didn't need to be told that kids were involved based on the football in the yard and the tricycle on the porch.

The scene before them struck that chord, the one that made them determined to catch the killer. The parents lay dead on the floor, blood pooling beneath. A teenage boy was in the next room, positioned the same as the parents. But that didn't explain the tricycle outside.

They weren't Intelligence for nothing.

Burgess soon appeared beside them and began giving information.

"This is the Washington family," she explained, "mom and dad are James and Christine. The boy is their 16-year-old son, Logan. Neighbors didn't see Mr. Washington leave for work like normal, nor did Logan get on the bus. The man next door came over and saw them dead. Called it in."

"So, they have a routine?" Antonio asked.

Burgess nodded, "So says the neighbor. He's lived next door since before they moved in. He gave me a detailed list of their usual day-to-day."

She handed it over to Antonio, who read it over before tucking it away.

The unit looked around once more before Erin moved towards the mantle where family photos were placed. She looked them over before turning back to Burgess.

"Where's the other boy?" she asked.

All eyes fell to Burgess as she sighed deeply and looking down.

"He survived. Based on the ME's preliminary report, they were shot last night, late. He was sleeping upstairs. Brett and Borelli have taken him to Med."

Jay excused himself, no doubt calling his brother. It wasn't long before he returned.

"Will said they just arrived," Halstead explained, "Dr. Manning is trying to look him over, but he keeps crying when she gets near."

That got worried looks from everyone.

Halstead continued, "There watching him for now, to see if he calms down. But there's no physical injuries. He's unharmed. Just scared."

Voight looked around at everyone before pointing at Halstead and then Lindsay.

"You two head to Med and see if he will talk to you. The rest of you head back to the district and start digging. I want everything on this family."

Everyone nodded and headed back to their cars. It would be a long day.

"He calmed down enough to let me look him over," Will explained, "wouldn't let Nat near him. He's the same way with April and Maggie. And he was fine when Rhodes went in as well. Looks to me like he could have been abused by women, maybe the mother. But there's no physical scars."

"Doesn't mean there aren't mental ones," Jay retorted, shooting a look at his younger brother.

Erin knew enough to understand what was going on. Their father hadn't been the best and it left scars with Jay. He was better with Will, but Will put in some effort while Jay saw right through everything.

"I'll go in," Jay volunteered, "see if he will talk to me."

Erin and Will nodded before Will stepped away. Jay took one look at his partner before entering the room.

"Hi Liam," Jay said softly as he entered. The little boy looked up at the detective.

"I'm Jay, I'm a police officer."

The four-year-old remained quiet, but didn't show any signs he would be set off.

"Do you mind if I sit?" Jay asked.

He sat anyways, watching the little boy.

"I'm Dr. Halstead's brother. Do you remember Will?"

A small nod was the only answer he got.

"He told me you are perfectly fine. Right on track to grow big and strong."

Once again there was no response. He turned to look out the glass and found Erin watching him. They had a silent conversation before Jay turned back to Liam.

"Do you know why you are here?" he softly asked.

Liam looked up at Jay with brown eyes that were shining with tears. He nodded once again before speaking so softly, Jay couldn't quite hear him.

"They're gone," he whispered, "Logie too."

Jay sighed, and tentatively placed a hand on his leg.

"I'm gonna find who did this. Promise."

"James Washington had ties to the Irish Mob back in Boston," Ruzek explained, "and we found out he wasn't always James Washington."

He slapped another picture up, this time a mug shot.

"Meet his former self, Sheamus Gallagher. Used to do the books for a family back in Boston. Went into Witness Protection after he testified at a trial against the family."

"Wife and son?" Voight asked.

"Formerly Jane Gallagher and Nicholas Gallagher. The younger son wasn't born yet."

"Liam's behavior at the hospital is consistent with abuse by a female," Lindsay said, "Dr. Charles agrees. And x-rays show no preexisting abuse, so we're assuming it's all emotional and verbal."

"I interviewed a girl that used to babysit Liam when the parents were working and Logan wasn't out of school yet," Atwater spoke up, "She said there were a few nights when Logan wouldn't be home and the parents went out. They had a strict schedule for Liam. Logan's girlfriend, Alyssa, confirmed that Liam was in bed every night by 9, but get this. She never saw the mom put him to bed, always dad or sometimes Logan."

"So, mom had no interest?" asked Antonio.

Atwater nodded before continuing, "Preschool workers also said she never dropped Liam off or picked him up. Dad would drop him off and either him or Logan would pick him up."

"Sounds like were also dealing with child abuse, on top of a triple homicide," Olinsky offered.

The room went silent before Voight spoke up.

"Sadly, there's nothing we can do for Liam. Witness Protection means no way of finding family members, so he will go to DCFS. But, find out if a hit was called on the family and who knew where to find them."

The teams busied themselves, and a ringing phone caused Halstead to get up and walk to the break room. He returned shortly after before heading to Voight's office.

"That was Will," he said, "Liam's having a panic attack but they say he keeps asking for me."

Voight nodded, "Go."

Halstead was out the door and down the steps in minutes.

Not even fifteen minutes after he got to the hospital, Jay sat in Liam's room, holding the little boy as he slept. He had calmed the minute he saw Jay, reaching towards him wanting to be held. Jay had never been the one for kids to reach to, it was always Erin. But he now understood why she was so much more invested in these cases after.

Will walked in, leaving Goodwin and a DCFS worker outside.

"Hey," he whispered, "we're ready to discharge him, but they need to know if the investigation is closed."

"Not yet, and I'm not sure we are close," Jay responded.

"Well, DCFS says you can place him into police custody, but only until the case is closed. Something they do when children are in danger. But, I wasn't sure who would take him."

"I will," Jay answered immediately.

"I'll tell them," Will replied and stepped back out of the room.

Jay texted Mouse on his way back, telling him what was going on and to get the board out of sight.

Liam was quiet the whole car ride back, but before Jay pulled into the parking lot at the district, he looked back through the rearview at the boy.

"You hungry?" he asked. The little boy looked up and nodded.

"Does a milkshake and fries sound good?"

The smile the little boy gave made his heart swell. It was comforting to know that underneath the trauma, he was still a little boy.

Twenty minutes later, they returned and before Jay could head up the stairs, he looked down at Liam who held his arms out, showing he wanted to be carried.

Jay obliged, and carried him in through the back.

When he entered the bullpen, he avoided everyone and took Liam into the break room and sat him in a chair.

"I've got to go talk to my boss, but can you stay here and eat your fries and milkshake?"

He nodded before looking at Jay.

"When can I go home?" he asked.

It was then Jay's heart broke. He did his best and held back tears as he knelt in front of him.

"You're gonna go home with me for now, but then we will figure everything out. Okay?" Jay said.

Liam didn't say a word as he turned back to his food. Jay took that as his cue to leave.

He cracked the door before standing by his desk.

"What's new?" he asked, as the team quickly filled him in.

They ended up wrapping the case a week later. Turns out, a higher up in the family who was in prison due to Washington's testimony got out and paid the Marshals off. They caught the guy who was now headed back to prison but this time, to Stateville.

But, while Christine Washington may have abused her son, that was what saved his life in the end. He had been in bed and asleep when his parents and brother were murdered, and never knew what happened until the police arrived. He had slept in that morning because no one woke him up.

Since he left Chicago Med, he had been with Jay, which also meant with Erin. The partners had been living together for over a year. Jay never thought that Liam seeing Erin would trigger the PTSD Dr. Charles said he may have. But when they arrived home that first day, Erin had moved their king sized mattress and every pillow and blanket into the living room and was waiting there with pizza and movies. Jay had explained that his girlfriend was waiting at home, but she wouldn't hurt him.

Liam had grown attached to Jay, and believed him. So, when they entered, he didn't freak out. He did, however, stay close to Jay the whole night.

That was almost a week ago. Liam warmed up to Erin, but wouldn't speak a lot to her. He spoke more to Jay, but was still relatively quiet.

It wasn't until DCFS came to take him did he start talking.

Jay had sat in the breakroom with Liam, explaining that the nice lady would be taking him so they could find him a family to take care of him. He promised he would try and visit if his new family let him. Liam stayed quiet for almost ten minutes before speaking softly.

"I wanna stay with you," he whispered.

Jay looked up to meet Erin's eyes, who was standing against the wall of the breakroom. Neither had to say anything before she walked out to talk to Hank and the case worker.

"I would love to have you buddy," Jay replied, "but I don't know how to make that work."

Liam nodded before turning into Jay's side and snuggling there. It had been something he always did when he was scared. Whether they were eating dinner, or he was at the station with Jay or sleeping at night. Liam always snuggled with him.

Erin peeked her head in and motioned for Jay to follow.

"I'll be right back bud," he said, running a hand down the boy's back to let him know it was okay.

Once outside, he saw the case worker and Hank in his office. Jay just looked at Erin, wondering what to do.

"They don't usually do this, but they are willing to make an exception," she began.

"Because Liam was abused, they would take precautions placing him. But he seems to have warmed up to you."

Jay nodded before she continued.

"But, because he was in Witness Protection, they would change his name and move him to a different state. And we both know they want to child's best interest."

Jay had a feeling he knew where this was going.

"So, if we wanna take him, we can. They think he will be safe, and they won't have to worry about the trauma he's suffered."

Jay suddenly let out a breath he didn't know he was holding. But before he could answer, he questioned Erin's words.

"What do you mean we?" he asked.

She let out the soft laugh he only ever heard when he was around. Her eyes drifted to the ground before meeting his again.

"They would always prefer they place a child with two parents," she explained, "so I said I would be the second parent."

This time Jay laughed as he brought his hands up to cup her face. They never showed PDA at work, but their day had been full of exceptions. This called for another.

"So, Erin Lindsay," he began, "are you telling me we're gonna be parents?"

She nodded her head, "Yes we are, Jay Halstead."