18. Reunion

Jay and Hailey were with Vanessa, Adam and Severide. Stella was bartending tonight so Kelly had come to the table with the cops as they drowned out their sorrows for the week. Voight had Kevin undercover doing something and Burgess was at home, and given she couldn't drink, she didn't really want to be at the bar. Nobody blamed her.

Jay's phone rang and everyone turned to him, expecting a case. But they also expected Hailey's phone to ring and it didn't. He frowned at the caller ID but decided to answer it. "Halstead."

"This is Captain Jonathan Strauss, Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 75th Rangers. I understand you are listed as next of kin to Greg Gerwitz."

Jay knew what this call was about. He stepped away from the table, but not before giving Hailey a look. Adam just nodded that he would take care of things here, which Jay appreciated. "I am." He also knew that if Mouse was dead, a uniformed Army casualty assistance officer would be making the appearance in person to tell him that dreadful news. So this phone call had to be that Mouse was injured.

Thankfully Captain Strauss paused long enough for Jay to exit the bar. "Staff Sergeant Gerwitz sustained some serious injuries while in theatre. I thought you should know, as I'm his commanding officer."

"I appreciate it. Where is he? Ft. Benning?"

Again. the Captain paused. "No. He was just flown to Walter Reed. He's in surgery as we speak."

"I'm on the next flight out. Can I reach out at this number?" Jay asked.

"You can. I'll provide any details I can," Captain Strauss said before hanging up. "I'll talk to you later."

Hailey had followed him out of the bar. "What's going on?"

Jay was bent over at the knees, trying to comprehend that phone call. He hadn't talked to Mouse much since he had re-enlisted, he knew he had done a tour in Syria and then before he knew it he was on another deployment to the Middle East, or so Jay suspected because he had tried Mouse three months ago and got a voicemail and the voicemail was full. "Mouse."

Hailey knew a little of Mouse. "What's wrong with Mouse?"

"He's at Walter Reed. I need to go."

"We are going," Hailey said, putting her arm on his back.

Jay shook his head. "No, I need to do this myself."

"Jay, I'm not sure that's a good idea."

Jay shrugged. "Somebody's gotta keep Voight in line while I'm gone."

"Nice joke," Hailey fired back. "I think I should come with you to Bethesda."

Jay shook his head again. "I appreciate it, Hailey. But no, I need to go alone and be there for Mouse."

Hailey grabbed her keys as she was the one who had been drinking less and Jay was in no position to drive. "Alright, let's go home and book you some plane tickets then to the east coast and get you to O'Hare."

Before they could get into Jay's truck, he turned to her and kissed her hard. "Thank you for understanding."

The next morning, it was just Ruzek and Rojas at their desk and a surprising face sitting at Kevin's desk. Hailey just looked at him as she had seen the face before but had no idea who he was.

Voight came out of his office. "Detective Hailey Upton, meet Detective Kenny Rixton, Narcotics. Seems we are a little shorthanded around here so it would be a good day for a reunion." Voight caught Hailey's eye on that last word. Jay had texted Voight last night that he was going to Walter Reed and it wasn't up for discussion but understandably, Voight just told him to take the time him and Mouse needed.

Adam looked confused. "Where's Halstead?"

Hailey shrugged. "Not at work," she replied.

"Is he undercover? Gone? Not coming back?" Adam asked.

Voight shook his head. "He'll be back but it's none of your damn business."

Adam was more confused than ever and looked directly at Hailey. "But you do know where he is?"

"I'd advise you to drop it," Platt said, coming up the stairs.

Voight leaned against the doorway. "Figured we'd look a little more into the Farish thing today, that Amanda brought us a couple weeks ago. Upton and Rixton, look into his firm and more his financials. Platt and Ruzek, go have a visit with Steve Kot and take the temperature of the ASA's office these days. Rojas, you're with me. We have an errand to run."

An hour later, Hailey and Rixton were pouring over documents on the conference room table. "This probably isn't what you signed up for today, eh?" Hailey said, laying out more files and paperwork. Not her most favorite thing either.

"Makes my wife happy that I'm not getting shot at while in Voight's unit," Rixton shot back.

Hailey leaned back in her chair. "You're married?"

Rixton laughed. "Why does everyone find that so funny?"

Hailey just shrugged. "I don't know. White collar stuff drives me up the wall. I should have pawned this case off on someone else but my CI came to me with it, saying her dad was in deep and not in a good way."

Rixton flipped over a document. "I have a degree in Finance from the University of Florida. Sometimes this is a good change of pace than chasing dope dealers and gang bangers through streets."

"So if you have a degree in Finance, why are you not doing forensic accounting or audits in the Ivory Tower?"

He just laughed. "Do I look like the type of guy who wants to sit behind a desk? Fuck no. Enough questions with me. What's up with you and Halstead?"

Hailey panicked. She had worked with this guy for all of an hour and he was asking questions?! "We're partners."

"Uh huh. Voight may have not told you but I spent four months in this unit while Ruzek was playing cowboys and whatever for someone. Something's going on between you and Halstead."

"What makes you think that?"

Rixton raised an eyebrow at Hailey, continuing to flip documents. "Well, something tells me you usually show up together because Ruzek kept looking around the corner for him after you walked in. And then he kept looking at you for why Halstead isn't here. And given the fact that Voight said Atwater was undercover but nothing about Halstead, says you know exactly where he is. And while you are being very courteous to me, it's apparent you don't swap partners often."

Hailey chuckled. "It's a great thing they already promoted you to Detective, Rixton."

"Non denial denial. Interesting play, Upton."

"My turn. Your wife CPD?"

He looked at her, almost offended. "Fuck no. She's a dental hygienist."

"You surprise me more and more Kenny Rixton."

"I aim to please," he said. He slammed the table and pointed to the file. "I think I also found your smoking gun on Craig Farish."

Jay was half asleep on a very uncomfortable chair when Mouse started stirring. Jay had been told the details of his injuries- lacerated spleen, collapsed lung, torn rotator cuff and something else he couldn't remember. Nobody would tell him how or where Mouse sustained these injuries, which did and did not surprise Jay. He had to hazard a guess, Mouse's unit was operating in Iraq but he couldn't be certain.

"Takes me getting blown up for you to visit, huh?" Mouse said, gingerly.

Jay stood up and smiled. "Yeah, I guess so. You did a number on yourself."

"I feel worse than the time that IED hit us off the road in Korangal Valley."

Jay shook his head, still wondering how Mouse could actually bring those memories up. He had shoved them in a suitcase and shut that bitch shut. "Then you have to be feeling pretty fucking awful, man."

"I'm glad you came," Mouse said. "Strauss call you?"

Jay nodded. "Surprised the hell outta me. Didn't know you were spun up again."

Mouse tried to shake his head. "One of those stupid secret deployments I couldn't talk about. You know how it is."

"I do. I don't blame you. I'm just glad you're alive," Jay said, sincerely.

Mouse smiled. "Tell me one thing. Where's your partner?"

Jay laughed. "Of course that's what you would ask."

"Last time we talked you weren't sure about being partnered with her. Said she challenged you."

Jay smiled again. It had been a long time since he had talked to Mouse. A long time. But no matter the time, it was like they hadn't missed a beat. That last phone call was around Camila Vega and he was hurting pretty bad. Mouse wasn't exactly in the best head space either but he had gotten a pretty good lecture from his friend as well. "We're good. She's… she's good."

Mouse broke into a shit eating grin, or one that he could given his state. "Are you sleeping with her?"

"Do I have to answer that?"

"I'm in a hospital bed, after getting blown up, I need all the stories I can get right now. You owe me."

Jay shook his head. "Whatever, Mouse. But I will say this. I think you'd really like Hailey."

"I think so too. You seem happy. Happiest I've seen you in a long time."

Jay nodded. "That's because I am. Getting phone calls like this doesn't help my heart rate but I'm happy. She makes me happy."

Next- S; Storm

AN: I had this idea for a reunion between Mouse and Jay ever since I posted the first chapter so enjoy! And I will never stop writing Rixton into my stories somehow...