September 2025

Hailey felt excited when she opened the 21th district's door. It was her first day back at work and she was so happy about it.

Her time at home with Cara had been good and she had enjoyed it, but the longer she had been at home, the more she had missed her job. Being a cop, working in this unit was her passion, she just loved it, it hasn't changed. Today Cara had started at daycare and Hailey was finally back at work.

"Detective Goldilocks, so good to see you back in business", Platt greeted from behind her desk.

"It's good to be back, I really missed this", Hailey beamed.

"Sergeant Chuckles, isn't it lovely to get your detective back?" Platt quipped to Jay, who had followed Hailey.

"Oh, definitely", Jay replied, but Platt noticed that his smile didn't reach his eyes.

Platt looked at Hailey, raising her eyebrows.

"Separation anxiety", Hailey stated smiling.

Jay snorted, but Trudy nodded understandingly. It wasn't a big secret that the sergeant of Intelligence had a soft spot for his daughter.

The partners headed upstairs. When they got to the bullpen, Vanessa launched herself at Hailey. Jay continued straight to his office, looking still a little broody.

"My partner! You are finally back", Vanessa squealed. "No offence", she continued, looking at the young black haired officer next to her.

"None taken. Maybe I will like working with Williams more than with you", the man teased back.

Officer Wang greeted Hailey. The young officer had come to the unit as Hailey's replacement, and had been happy when he could stay although Hailey was coming back. Like before, it was again the intelligence baby which gave him this opportunity. After years of being unofficially together Kim and Adam had finally made it official again. Their little boy was due to be born in October. Kim was still working but strictly in desk duty, so she was the next one to welcome Hailey.

Supporting her lower back, Kim stood up and came to hug Hailey.

"It's good to get you back", she told Hailey. "How was the first drop to the daycare?"

Hailey sighed. "Depends who you are asking. I'm okay, Cara will be okay, she cried a little but seemed to calm down quickly."

"And Jay?", Kim asked, almost knowing how Jay would react if his little girl was sad.

"I had to usher him out of there before he either took her to the work with us or started to cry too", Hailey grinned.

"I wasn't going to cry!"Jay protested at the doorway of his office, standing there with his arms defensively crossed.

"Really?" Hailey looked at her husband.

"She was so sad!", Jay told them, looking almost desperate.

"She will be just fine", Hailey said, looking at Jay reassuringly.

"I hope so", Jay muttered and went back to his office.

Women chuckled. Officer Wang looked a little confused. He didn't have kids and he was used to see Sergeant Halstead to be all solid and competent. He had been a little disbelieving when Vanessa had once said in passing that sergeant was a totally different man when being with his wife and kid. Now it seemed that she had told him the truth.

"You can always stay home with her. I'm sure the playground mamas are happy to get hot jogger dad to their group", Hailey shouted after Jay, who shook his head and laughed.

They had bought a new house in the summer. Originally, they had planned to look for the house not until the fall, but like destiny, the perfect house had landed in front of them as early as the spring. It had been too good an opportunity to miss. The house is reasonably sized and was located in the good neighborhood not too long from the 21th district. Hailey loved the house, it was beautiful and cozy, just perfect to their little family.

"Excuse me, hot what?" Kim wanted to know.

Hailey had overheard some women talk in the playground about a new family in the neighborhood and apparently her husband had already gained a nickname. The women had been quite embarrassed when it had dawned to them that the hot jogger dad was Hailey's husband.

"Well, your sergeant here likes to take our daughter to run with him, and the lovely ladies in the neighborhood have paid attention to him… ", Hailey grinned.

"Oh my god", Kim giggled. "And you know about it, how?"

"The playground gossip", Hailey made a face.

"Yeah. It was time for you to come back. I really don't see you gossiping at the playground", Vanessa rolled her eyes.

"You are absolutely right", Hailey granted. She really didn't see herself there.

"How's my best girl? Has she already learnt to au auntie Nessa?", Vanessa asked.

They had celebrated Cara's first birthday the previous weekend with Will and the unit and of course also Platt and Hank had been there. Will and Vanessa had tried to teach Cara to say uncle Will and auntie Nessa, competing which one she would learn first. Cara's first word had been dada, something Hailey found sweet and a little bit annoying at the same time, but luckily Cara had learnt to say mama soon after it.

"As cute as always, but unfortunately no. I have to also tell you that Will is probably cheating, he came for dinner one evening, and claims Cara is already saying Will, but I am not so sure", Hailey laughed.

Just then Kevin and Adam rushed in, Kevin scooping Hailey up and hugging her tightly.

"Isn't it my favorite detective", he murmured.

Haley giggled when Kevin lowered her down. "It is hard to believe that you have seen me almost weekly."

"Not the same thing", Kevin said happily. Needless to say, Hailey and Cara had visited the precinct regularly and they had spent time together outside the work, but it really wasn't the same. They had all missed working with Hailey.

Adam hugged Hailey too before looking at the Jay who sat in his office.

"Did Jay cry when you dropped Cara to the daycare?", he asked, whispering intentionally loud.

"No he didn't", Jay answered, not raising his gaze from the papers.

"No, he was being very brave, almost as brave as Cara", Hailey said, making Kevin and Adam laugh. They knew how tightly Cara had wrapped her father around her little finger.

"If you have already mocked me enough, I believe you have a case to solve", Jay announced from the office, trying to look serious although they could see he was biting back the laughter.

Hailey sat behind her desk and sighed happily. It felt good to be here, at the bullpen with her co-workers, her friends. This was her extended family and she loved it.