"Hey, is everything okay?" Adam asks Kim as he sees her getting her third cup of coffee in the hour.
"Yeah, just tired," she answers.
"Rough night?"
"You could say that," she answers, taking a sip of her coffee. "Makayla was having night terrors again."
"That what? The third time this week?" Adam asks. It was only Wednesday.
"That sounds about right."
"Can I do anything?" Adam wants to know.
"Not unless you can time travel and prevent her from going through the trauma she went through."
"Sorry, Darlin'," Adam apologies sympathetically.
Kim sighs, "Maybe come over tonight?" she suggests, "I think Makayla feels safer when we're both there."
"Okay," Adam responds before seeing Jay. He squeezes her shoulder quickly before going after Jay.
"Hey, Halstead. Got a second?" he questions walking up to Jay.
"I'll leave you two to talk," Hailey offers, leaving the two guys on their own.
"What's up?" Jay asks after watching his girlfriend leave him with their coworker and friend.
"It's about Kim and Makayla," Adam tells the detective.
"Are they okay?"
"Makayla's having nightmares… more like night terrors."
"I don't know how I can help," Jay responds confused.
Adam looks around before continuing, "I was thinking maybe you could talk to Kim, maybe ways she can help Makayla."
"I don't have kids; I wouldn't know how to help."
"I know you used to have the same problem as Makayla," Adam responds in a hushed voice. "I remember almost being punched out one time trying to wake you. In the breakroom," he recalls the memory from three years prior. Jay looks like he's about to deny what the officer just said, but Adam stops him. "Please, this isn't for me or for Kim; this is for Makayla," he reminds the detective, knowing he has a soft spot for children.
"Fine, Jay sighs, "I'll talk to Kim, but I don't know how much good it will do.
"Thanks, man," Ruzek is grateful that his friend is going to try to help his girls.
"Everything okay?" Hailey wonders when Jay makes his way back to her.
"Yeah, Ruzek just asked me for a favor."
"Oh, no. Should I be scared?"
"No," Jay laughs. "He just wants me to talk to Kim."
"Talk to Kim?" Hailey raises an eyebrow.
"Makayla's having night terrors and she doesn't know what to do to help her."
"I'm proud of you," Hailey places her hand on his back, in a supporting manner. Jay looks at her confused. "Three years ago, you would have been denying that you knew anything about that."
"It's not that bad anymore."
"More time?" Hailey asks.
"That, and I have you to help me through it."
"Always," she whispers.
"I was thinking I could drop you off before going to Kim's?"
"I can get a ride from Kevin," Hailey offers.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, it's no problem."
"Okay, I guess we should get back to the case."
"I guess so. You going home after Kim's or back to my place?"
"Your place, as long as you're okay with it," Jay answers.
"You're always welcomed," Hailey pecks his cheek quickly after making sure no one could see them.
"Hey, Kim," Jay calls after the officer on their way out for the night.
"Hey, Jay. Need something? I kinda need to get Makayla," she tells him.
"I know. Is it okay if I come over? Ruz said Makayla was having some trouble at night."
"Jay, we're fine."
"That's what I said."
"What?"
"I don't know if there's time for me to tell you before you have to get Makayla."
"Okay. I need to get her from her after-school program. Meet me at my place in half an hour?" Kim asks.
"Okay," Jay agrees.
The two brunettes head towards their respective vehicles; Kim focused on her adoptive daughter and Jay focused on what he's going to say.
"Mama Kim," Makayla greets Kim when she sees her, the sound muffled in the fabric of Kim's clothing.
"Hey, Bear. How was school?"
"The same."
"Really? Nothing new?"
Makayla just shrugs her shoulders.
"My friend is coming over. He's going to meet us at the apartment. Is that okay?"
"Adam?"
"No, Uncle Jay."
"Oh, I guess," Makayla answers slightly disappointed.
"But Adam is going to come over tonight, just a bit later."
"Okay," Makayla answers, a bit happier now that she gets to see Adam.
Helping Makayla out of her car seat in front of her apartment complex, Kim sees Jay arriving in his truck.
"Hey," Jay greets seeing the two.
"Jay," Kim smiles while Makayla hides behind her. "Makayla, can you say 'hi' to Uncle Jay?"
Makayla peeks out from behind Kim and gives a small wave.
"Hi, Makayla," Jay waves back. "I got you something," he tells her, handing over a small stuffed otter holding a starfish.
"What do you say?" Kim asks her daughter.
"Thank you," Makayla whispers.
"Come on, let's take this inside," Kim suggests, leading them inside her building.
"Makayla, do you want to watch a movie while I talk to Uncle Jay in the kitchen?"
"Onward?"
"Okay," Kim agrees, turning on the movie.
After a few minutes, Kim has Makayla set up in front of the television with her new stuffed otter and cup of bite-size Nutter Butters.
Kim goes back to the kitchen where she left Jay, "So, what were you saying before?"
"I always said I was fine. It didn't matter if it was true or if it was what I wanted to believe."
"But why did Adam talk to you? He just seems to go to Kev more."
"Because he thinks I can relate to this whole situation better."
"What do you mean?"
"That Makayla's having trouble at night. Night terrors."
"Yeah, she is. It's not unusual with the amount of trauma she went through though."
"Is anything helping?" Jay wonders.
"Not really."
"Does she talk to you?"
"No, she just wants me to stay with her."
"Have you thought about taking her to a therapist?"
"Who are you and what have you done with Jay Halstead?" Kim is shocked by what just came out of his mouth.
"I didn't like it at first and I never would have gone on my own, but it isn't so bad," Jay admits.
"What changed your mind?"
"When I was spiraling a few years ago, Hailey gave me an ultimatum: get help, or she was requesting a different partner."
"Do you think it will help her?"
"It helped me deal with some things that happened when I was overseas and here in Chicago."
"I don't know if she will open up."
"It might take a few sessions. What do you think?"
"It can't hurt, can it?"
"No, it can't. If you want, I can talk to Will, see if he can get some names of child psychologists?"
"Thanks."
"No problem."
"How do I tell her?"
"Just be honest. I can stick around in case she has any questions?" Jay offers.
Kim and Jay stay in the kitchen for a while longer, so she can ask him all the questions she can think of and he patiently answers all of them the best that he can.
"The movie is over," Kim tells Jay.
"Okay, just let me know if you need help," he follows her into the living room where Makayla is.
"Hey, Bear. I want to talk with you about something is that okay?"
"Yeah," Makayla answers.
"Is it okay if Uncle Jay stays for it?"
Makayla nods in response.
"Okay. I wanted to talk to you about your nightmares."
"Why?"
"Because I don't like to see you scared."
Makayla is quiet.
"I know you don't want to talk to me about anything, but what about talking to someone who…" Kim trails off, not knowing how to explain it to an eight-year-old.
She looks to Jay for help, "Someone, whose job is to listen to you and help you work through your thoughts and feelings."
"Why?" Makayla asks her new uncle.
"It can help with some of the bad thoughts in your head."
"How do you know?"
"Because it helped me when I went."
"You talk to someone too?"
"Yes. Aunt Hailey asked me to see someone."
"Why?"
"Because she was worried about me like your Mama Kim is worried about you."
"And it doesn't hurt?"
"No. It doesn't hurt."
"Okay," Makayla whispers.
"Okay?" Kim asks.
"Okay," Makayla repeats going over to Kim to hug her.
Kim wraps Makayla in a protective hug, hearing a knock on the door. "It's Adam," Kim speaks up.
"I'll get it and head out," Jay offers.
"Thanks, Jay. For everything," Kim tells him, Makayla still wrapped in her arms.
"No problem. Let me know if you need anything."
"They're all yours," Jay pats Adam on the shoulder as he leaves and Adam enters.
"What's that?" Jay hears Adam ask Makayla before he shuts the door to Kim's apartment, leaving her little family to have some alone time.
Jay smiles to himself, maybe his demons were able to help someone after all, he thinks to himself before heading to Hailey's apartment.
"Hey," Hailey greets, letting Jay into her apartment.
"Hey."
"How'd it go?"
"Okay. I think Kim had her questions answered and Makayla seemed okay with the idea by the time I left."
"I'm so proud of you," Hailey hugs him, reaching up to peck his lips.
"Why?" Jay asks confused.
"Because, when we first met, you would have been denying needing help and now here we are four years later, encouraging it."
"It wasn't that bad," Jay mumbles into her hair. "But I don't need it anymore."
"I'm glad it helped. But if you ever did decide to go back, you know I would never judge you, right?"
"I know. But I don't need to, besides having you helps."
"I love you,"
"I love you too, Hailey."
A/N: Hey, all. Sorry it's been so long, if you're in some Tumblr group chats with me, you know that I just had a lot going on with my classes. I don't know how I feel about this one-shot, just because I don't think I can write Kim in character. A little Burzek, Upstead crumbs, and Jay & Kim friendship.
I got this idea from the last episode (8x13 Trouble Dolls) Makayla having night terrors and possibly having PTSD (Undiagnosed), and I thought it was something that Jay could relate to and be a way that he talks to Kim.
Disclaimer, I've never seen Onward so I don't know if it's something that would be appropriate for Makayla. I know that with children who have been through traumas what they watch needs to be monitored (Ex: a family vlog that I follow on YouTube said that their children are triggered by Finding Dory because of the looking for her mother aspect).
I am still working on Man's Best Friend and Silence is a Strange Sound. I'm halfway through the next chapter of MBF and a little more than 1/3 through the next chapter of SiaSS, which I hope to have 2 chapters out this month.
Keep an eye out on Twitter, sometimes I'll give little snippets or make polls that may or may not have to do with a current or future story. I'm also trying to be more active on Tumblr, otter-love-asl/otter_love_asl on all platforms.