A/N: Ok updates will normally be once a week, but I had this half-way finished yesterday so I decided to post it today. A lot of people were enthused for more, I was not expecting this story to be doing so well. I figured you would enjoy getting to the Chicago PD part. Also, there won't be any romance in this fic for Clay. Any romance feels you get will be between Jay and Hailey. Though, I do have an idea for a sequel to this book and that is where you could get some Clay romance. I want this book to be about family and recovery.

Chapter 2

It was just before eight in the morning when Jay made sure that everything in his place was clean and in order. He had a bag packed so he could spend the week over at Will's. Once he got off the phone with Clay last night Jay had immediately called Will and grabbed his keys. He wanted to grab some groceries so they would have some food. He had been working late a lot and eating at the station or just grabbing a pizza on the way home. Jay had also gone to the beer store and grabbed some Bud, but also Clay's favorite craft beer. He had told Will that Clay was coming down and like him, he was worried that Clay was going to be off for six months on medical leave. Plus he was coming down completely randomly. He had never been to Chicago before and it was worrisome that he was coming down without really any notice. Something had happened and they were both worried about what it could be. It also didn't help that he was coming down with Jason, someone that Clay considered to be his father.

Will had said he could switch his shift for tomorrow so he would be off tomorrow and working Wednesday instead. It would allow him to pick them up at the airport and he would have his medical bag with him just in case Clay was physically injured. He would be keeping a very close eye on him. Jay would also be keeping a close eye on him and making sure he was doing ok. He had been worried about Clay for the past ten weeks. Normally they spoke on the phone once a week and they would often text throughout the week. For the past ten weeks, Clay had been disappearing on him and when he did get a hold of him, he was distant. His answers were short and Jay could tell something was going on with him, but he wouldn't open up. If he hadn't changed soon, Jay would have gone down to see him and make sure for himself that Clay was ok.

When he had discovered that he had an eighteen year old cousin when he was twenty-five, it was a huge shock, but Jay had been excited. Him and Will had been having a very hard time with their relationship at that point and it was a huge relief to Jay to have another family member out there. He had made a point of getting to know Clay, of seeing him. When he found out that Clay was in the Navy, he would often give him pointers. Clay was very intelligent and skilled with a rifle and Jay knew he would be doing a lot of great things in his career. It came as no surprise when he was picked for BUDs right away. Jay had been picked for Ranger school right from Boot Camp. When he had gone down to see Clay at his Boot Camp graduation, seeing him had been amazing. They had an instant connection and it felt like they had been cousins for their entire life. They felt like brothers and Jay had made sure to always be there for Clay. He was not going to make the same mistakes that Will had made with him. He would see Clay today and if he was not ready to go back in a week, he would be talking to him and getting him to stay longer. He had six months and there was no reason why he couldn't do them here.

Jay pulled up out front of Hailey's condo and she came out a minute later with two coffees. He had to tell her about Clay. He had been keeping him quiet because of the type of work that Clay does. Just like he knew Clay didn't tell people about him. It was the life they both chose to live, but Clay would be coming by the station today and he didn't want to cause any shock to Hailey. She gave him a warm smile as she got into the truck.

"Hey partner."

"Morning. Thanks." Jay said, as he took the coffee.

"No problem. You going away?" Hailey asked with a nod to Jay's duffle bag in the back seat.

Jay answered, as he headed off for the station. "No, staying with Will for the week. My cousin and his father are coming up for the week and they are gonna crash at mine."

"You have a cousin and an uncle?" Hailey asked surprised. Jay had never spoken about any other family outside of his dad and Will. Neither had Will. She thought they had gotten past family members in their partnership.

"I have a cousin, not an uncle. It's not his biological dad, who is just an asshole sperm donor. My cousin, Clay, he's in DEVGRU and his team leader has become a father to him."

"And DEVGRU is what?" Hailey asked, confused.

"It used to be called Seal Team Six. It's for Tier One Navy Seals. They are the next level for Navy Seals." Jay answered with a warm smile.

"Ok and is that higher than the Rangers?"

"Same level. Rangers are a Tier One team in the Army. We're all at the top of the pyramid." Jay easily explained.

"Ok, so you have a cousin." Hailey said, trying to get her mind around all of this.

"Yes, we didn't know about each other until roughly eight years ago. According to what my father told Will, our mother was Clay's mother's older sister. Clay's mom, Beth, was on and off heroin for most of her teen and adult life. When my mom got pregnant with Will she gave Beth the choice of staying sober or leaving. She chose to leave and ended up in Virginia Beach. They hadn't heard from her since she left. Clay was born six years after me and when he was five his father shipped him off to live with his grandparents in West Africa. He spent the next thirteen years of his life moving around with a mission throughout different war torn parts of West Africa. He came back to the States and enlisted at eighteen, where his DNA kicked back a connection to mine."

"Because you were in the military database. So you've only known him for eight years. I'm assuming you've met." Hailey asked, trying to catch up to everything.

"Ya, me and him have seen each other a lot more than him and Will. Will was still off in New York ignoring the rest of us at that time. But when he moved back to Chicago five years ago he's been trying to get to know Clay better. I was there for Clay's graduation for Boot Camp and BUDs and then about two years ago he moved to Virginia Beach for Green Team."

"And that is?"

"It's what Navy Seals apply for if they want to become Tier One operators. If they get accepted they go through a six month course in Virginia Beach. If they make it, they then have to be picked by one of the eight assaulter teams or they will be placed on support teams, sniper teams or intel gathering teams. There's roughly six hundred Tier One Seals in the country. Only eight will get to be placed on an assaulter team each year. The rest that make it through Green Team will be placed within the other squadrons based on their skills. If a Tier One Assaulter is killed in action or has to be medically discharged, one of the guys in another squadron could be moved over to the assaulter squadron should they wish to be."

"I think I understood most of that." Hailey said, still slightly confused.

"I know it's complicated and not just for a civilian. Clay went through Green Team, earlier than most. He was accepted in at twenty-four, most are thirty or older. He graduated top of his class and was picked by the top Tier One team, Bravo. That is where he met Jason, his dad, he's Bravo One, the team leader. Clay is the last man on the team so he's Bravo Six. There's only six of them."

"Ok, and they go on insane missions like you would have done?"

"Yes, for the most part. They will have done water rescues and attacks, but for the most part it would all be classified and very dangerous. Black Ops stuff."

"Which is why you have never talked about him." Hailey easily stated.

"Ya, it was safer to keep his name out of everything. He doesn't tell any of his friends or teammates about me. I've never met Jason or even spoken to him. The last time I saw Clay in person was about two years ago. I went down to Virginia Beach for a week just before he started Green Team."

"Ok, but now he is coming down today with Jason." Hailey said, now that she was all caught up.

"Ya, for the week. Something is going on with him though. We normally talk on the phone once a week and we text throughout the week, even when he's on tour. But for the past ten weeks he's been distant. He only texts once a week and it's very short. He said he was on medical leave for six months, but he didn't want to talk about what happened."

"So he's injured." Hailey said, picking up on Jay's unease with the situation.

She had never met Clay, obviously, but she knew how much family meant to Jay and she knew it would bother him that Clay would be on medical leave for six months. That was a long time for someone to be off medically. Something drastic happened and it was bad enough that Clay was coming up here to see Jay.

"In some capacity. I don't know what happened yet or how bad it'll be. They were flying in this morning. Got on the first flight out. Will switched his shift today so he can be off. He's going to pick them up and bring em by the station first. I got the place cleaned and grabbed groceries for them."

"And how old is he?"

"He'll be twenty-seven in a few months."

"It's funny how that sounds young." Hailey said with a small smirk.

Jay gave a soft chuckle to that. "I know. We're thirty-three and yet twenty-seven seems young. I'm hoping it's nothing too serious. That maybe he was shot and he needs physical therapy. But I'm worried it's something more. He hasn't sounded good in months."

"You think the life is getting to him?" Hailey asked.

"Maybe. Before when he called he was always happy and talking about the guys and how great things were. Then the past few months that's gone down and he's been sounding stressed. He's seen a lot of horrible shit in his life before he even went into the Navy. He grew up around war for thirteen years, I was worried about him going into the Seals and then again into Green Team. He's seen a lot of traumatic things and I'm worried he's hit his wall."

Jay had seen it himself, he had seen guys hitting that wall and they either never get up again or they are able to move on with their lives and become something. He had almost been one of those guys that never got up. If Clay was on that line, he wasn't going to let his cousin, someone that was like a kid brother to him, fall off that edge.

"The good news is that he's coming to see you. You'll be able to talk to him and if he is reaching a breaking point, you'll be able to help him. He's only coming down for a week, but he's got six months, there's nothing keeping him from staying longer than a week."

"No he can do what he wants on medical leave as long as it doesn't cause any harm. If he's not ready to leave in a week, then he's staying. It all depends on what his condition is. I'll know soon enough he should be at the station before noon."

"He cute?" Hailey said with a playful smile.

"Jesus." Jay said with a big smile and a shake of his head.

"Is that a yes?" Hailey was only playing around, but she knew it would put a smile on Jay's face and hopefully stop him from worrying too much.

"Blue eyes, and blonde wavy hair. He's easy on the eyes, just like me." Jay said with a cocky smirk.

"So a brunette, a blonde and a red head in your family. You sure you all are related?" Hailey teased.

"My mom and her sister were blonde, my dad was brown and Will got a recessive gene. We are Irish, remember?"

"I know, I've seen you drink." Hailey said with a smirk.

"Says the girl that prefers to drink tequila." Jay quipped back.

"Is he a tequila guy?"

"Whiskey and craft beer."

"Craft beer? Well, that's disappointing." Hailey joked.

"I ignore what he drinks on account he likes American muscle cars and he has a truck." Jay commented, as they pulled into the station parking lot.

"Two very important things." Hailey said with a playful eye roll.

Jay laughed at that as they both got out of his truck. He had been worried, but just like always, some time with Hailey and all of those worries melted away. Now he just needed to wait until Clay was here so he could get eyes on him himself.

XXX

Will stood there in the arrivals area of the airport. When Jay had called him last night informing him that Clay was coming in today for the week, he was worried just like Jay. Moreso, he was also worried about Jay because he knew how close they were. He knew that Jay looked at Clay like a younger brother and if Clay was seriously hurt, like they both suspected, it was going to affect Jay as well. He would be making it his mission to get Clay back to full health, whether that was physically or mentally. Will was hoping for a physical injury, that would be easier than a mental one, but it worried Will that Clay didn't want to talk about it over the phone to Jay. It also concerned Will that Clay was coming with Jason, someone he considered to be a father. That meant either a physical injury was limiting him or mentally he wasn't safe to travel alone. Neither were good and he wouldn't know which one it was until they got off the plane.

Will had only seen Clay through photos and a couple of video calls that he shared with Jay. They had texted a few times a month, but Clay and Jay were a lot closer. They talked all week long and Will had seen Clay on a few video calls when he was over at Jay's. Jay did keep him updated on what had been going on with him, if he was injured or not. So far everything had been going well and he was glad that Clay seemed to be doing well with his new position at work. He had been told a very small amount about Jason. All he really knew was that Jason was his team leader and Clay considered him to be his father. Will was hoping there won't be any conflicts while they were here. He knew Jay would not back down when it came to Clay's health or life. Hopefully everything would go smoothly for the next week.

The passengers started to come down the escalator and it was easy for Will to see Clay out of the large crowd. He could also see the man that Will assumed was Jason based on how close he was to Clay and the large size of him. They were both wearing civilian clothes and Will could see they both had a carry-on for the week and no larger luggage. Two things though that Will noticed that caused him concern, the first Clay had a dog he had never seen before and instantly his mind went to a service dog. The second, Clay looked like death. He had bruising on him, but that wasn't what put him on medical leave. Will's heart sank at knowing that Clay was suffering from PTSD. He knew Jay had it, he had seen it and helped him through it and now he was going to have to help his own cousin through it as well. Will also knew that Jay would not be willing to let Clay go home in a week. He would know what Clay was suffering from the second his eyes landed on him and he was not going to let him suffer through it alone. He would want to be there to help him, to help prevent Clay from making the same mistakes that he had.

Will went over to them and gave them both a warm smile. He knew from Jay how to interact with someone suffering from PTSD. He knew there was no point in pointing it out or handling the person with kid gloves. Jay hated it and he knew Clay would as well. The best thing for Clay would be for him to act normal.

"Hey Clay." Will said, once they were close enough.

"Hey Will." Clay said, as Will went and opened his arms for a hug.

Clay hugged him, but he wasn't the person he wanted to hug. He had been hoping that Jay would be here to pick them up. He really wanted a hug from Jay. Will made sure to hug Clay gently as he had no idea if he had bruises anywhere else. His voice was a bit raspy from the bruising around Clay's neck. After a moment Clay pulled back and spoke.

"This is Jason Hayes and this guy is Cerberus."

Will held his hand out to Jason as he spoke. "Will Halstead, it's nice to finally meet you."

"It's nice to meet you." Jason said back.

He still wasn't sure how he felt about being here in Chicago. He didn't have a problem with the city itself, but more the fact that he was meeting cousins of Clay's that he didn't even know he had. He also was worried that Clay wouldn't want to go back in a week.

"Is he military?" Will asked, as he pet Cerberus.

"Ya, he was our K9 in our unit, but he's retired now. The life was getting to him." Clay answered.

"It's a hard life for a dog. He seems like a sweetheart." Will said, as he pet Cerberus.

"He is. How's Jay?" Clay asked and both Will and Jason could tell that he really wanted to see him.

"He's good. He's at work waiting for us. You guys ready to go? You don't have any baggage you need to pick up?"

"Naw we're good." Jason answered.

"Let's go then. The station is about thirty minutes away. We can stop for some breakfast or coffee if you guys want." Will said, as they started to head out. He was worried about how thin Clay was. He had easily lost sixty to eighty pounds since the last time he spoke to him on video call six months ago.

"We're good. We ate this morning." Jason answered. He would have loved to grab some coffee, but he could tell Clay was feeling anxious and just wanted to get to his cousin Jay. Jason was going to be talking to Clay about his relationship with Jay more when they were alone. It appeared that Jay was more than just a cousin to Clay.

Will gave a nod and they made their way over to his car. Jason had Clay sitting in the back with Cerberus. He made a mental note when Clay didn't even try to sit in the front seat with Will. He had a feeling that Clay wasn't that close to Will. They hit the road and Will spoke.

"How was the flight?"

"Good." Clay simply said.

"I guess for you guys two hours is nothing. You can do it standing on your head." Will said with a friendly smile.

"It's a short trip. We normally are on a plane twenty some odd hours at a time." Jason commented. He could tell that Clay was not in the mood for conversation so it would rest on him if they didn't want an awkward thirty minute trip.

"Jay used to tell me the worst was when you get spun up first thing in the morning, because you were wide awake and couldn't sleep through it."

"That can be hard. You can get bored easily, but we normally play poker or do something to entertain ourselves before getting some sleep. Clay told me he used to be a Ranger, that he's been out for eight years now." Jason said.

"He was, he got out almost nine years ago now. He joined the CPD after being out for seven months. He loves it, even though it makes me nervous as hell sometimes." Will said with a small smile.

"Clay told me you were a surgeon, I'd imagine it's hard for you to have your younger brother out there getting shot at." Jason said, as he snuck a peek at Clay in the backseat. He was currently looking out the window petting Cerb.

"It took a long time for me to get used to it. I would stay up all night worried about him, but I've come to realise that he is very talented and skilled. He is excellent at what he does and I have to have faith in his skills. He always comes home and that is all that I ask. Any injuries, I can fix them. I can heal him, but I can't do that if he doesn't come home. That's the deal we have. No matter what he has to do, he comes home and I will heal him." Will said with a great deal of love to his voice that made Jason feel a lot better.

Will might not be close to Clay and he would have made mistakes in the past with the both of them, but he loved Jay. Will was a man that could handle the worst as long as it meant his family was still there with him. Jason could respect that.

"That's a lot like our team medic, Trent. He doesn't care if you are sick or hurt, you go to him and he will make it better. His sole focus is our health all across the board. I got a lot of respect for that, because it's got to be hard. To know that people you care about are going to get hurt and it's on you to keep them alive. It's on you to patch em up and have them go back out there to be shot at. It must have been hard for you when he was overseas."

"It was. I made a lot of mistakes where Jay was concerned. Mistakes that I will forever regret and wish I could erase. But I have been trying ever since I've been back in Chicago. And thankfully Clay has not had any serious injuries during his time overseas. Though, I can always breathe easier and sleep better at night when I know he is Stateside where he is safe." Will said with a warm smile, as he looked in the rearview mirror to see Clay had zoned out and was watching the traffic moving around them.

"We do what we can to keep him safe." Jason said and Will was able to pick up the regret and guilt within his voice.

"He'll be ok." Will said softly. He knew Clay wasn't listening to them, he was lost in his own thoughts, but he didn't want to snap Clay out of it either. He knew from Jay and Mouse that sometimes it was better to leave them in their own world.

Jason turned to look at Clay and could see he was out of it. He went to go and reach out to him, but Will stopped him.

"Don't, leave him be. He's calm in his own world."

"I guess a doctor wouldn't take long to figure out what is going on with him." Jason said, as he pulled his hand back and turned to face the front of the car.

"It's pretty easy to see if you know what to look for. Jay will know right away and it's going to hit him hard. They're cousins, but Jay is a lot like an older brother to Clay and Jay looks at Clay like a kid brother. They're two peas in a pod. It's going to hurt to know that Clay is suffering from PTSD." Will said, hurt for Jay and what he was about to go through. He would be keeping a very close eye on Clay and Jay for the next few months. He didn't want Clay's PTSD to trigger anything in Jay.

"I had a feeling they were closer. Clay seemed to really want to be in Chicago for him. After he called Jay to see about coming down last night, I swear I thought we would be getting in my truck and driving all night. Everything in his body was screaming for him to get to Jay. I've never seen him like that before."

"They have a special bond. They are a lot alike. They are both snipers, both speak most of the same languages. They both wear their heart on their sleeve. They both joined the military just to help people. When Clay was first in Boot Camp, he was terrible with social situations from growing up in Africa. He was often bullied and teased and it was Jay that taught him how to interact with people. It was Jay that taught him how to shave, and gave him tips on how to drive. Jay was the one that helped Clay file for taxes for the first time. How to get an apartment, get a car. He showed him how to have a civilian life while also helping him with his training. They talked on the phone every single day he was in Boot Camp and then again in BUDs. They've told each other things that they've never told anyone else. They're kindred spirits and it's made them extremely close."

Hearing that helped to make Jason feel better about coming here, about Clay seeing Jay. It was sounding like Jay was a good man and had been a vital part of Clay's adult life. He was looking forward to meeting him and hopefully they could get along and things would work out ok. He was worried that Jay wouldn't want Clay to leave in a week and Jason was not comfortable with leaving his son here in a strange city with people he didn't know. He needed family, he needed to be around people that loved him and would be there for him to help him through this so he could go back to Bravo.

"I can't wait to meet him. He sounds like a good man and I appreciate everything he's done for Clay." Jason said warmly.

"I'm sure you both will like each other. You just gotta watch out for that Irish temper, it comes out when someone he cares about is being threatened." Will said with a smirk.

"You guys are Irish? I guess that explains why you have red hair and Clay doesn't."

Will gave a chuckle to that. "We are full Irish and Clay is half-Irish. But Jay has brown hair. I'm the only red head in my family, it's a recessive gene and a lot of people assume we are half-brothers or I was adopted."

"That must suck for you." Jason said with a smirk.

"I'm used to it. In high school Jay used to tell everyone I was adopted all the time." Will said with a chuckle.

"I missed out on the joy of having siblings. My parents figured one of me was more than enough." Jason said with a smirk.

"It had its moments growing up that is for sure, but I wouldn't trade him for anything. Have you been to Chicago before?"

"No, I've never had a reason to be here. I've heard the pizza is good though."

"We have amazing deep dish pizza and barbeque. If you like rib tips, there's a place just around the corner from Jay's apartment that is to die for. There's also a coffee shop, a pizza joint and Chinese food all within a block of Jay's place."

"He's got his priorities." Jason said with a smirk.

"Oh ya. There's a gym too and a bar." Will said with a warm smile.

"Smart man." Jason commented.

He could see the benefits of having a few places around your apartment so you wouldn't have to drive anywhere after work. For Jason, there wasn't much you could do in Virginia Beach and everything was pretty spread out from the military apartment buildings. If he lived in a city this size though, he would be doing the same thing Jay was. Finding a spot that had everything you needed so you wouldn't have to drive around.

"What's it like living in Virginia Beach? I've never been, Jay has, but I wasn't able to go when he went down almost two years ago."

"It's nice, ya. It's a quiet city, but the beach front is amazing. We're not Stateside for very long, so we don't get to do much when we are home."

"I know from Jay he used to be gone for three hundred and thirty days out of the year. Are you guys the same?"

"We are yes. We're gone most days out of the month. It's a hard life, but we have each other and we make it through together."

"Can't ask for more than that." Will said warmly.

They spent the rest of the drive in comfortable small talk while Clay continued to stare out the window mindlessly watching the sights going by. Completely unaware of the conversation going on around him.

XXX

It was just after eleven when Jay was getting anxious. Hailey could tell that he was getting antsy and was sick of waiting around for Clay to show up. He had been bouncing his right leg for the past fifteen minutes and every minute his eyes left his paperwork and travelled to the stairs. They were in the middle of investigating a drug case, but Jay's mind had been travelling all morning. Hailey knew it was to be expected. He had been anxious and worried about Clay and what injuries he could have since he received his call last night. She also knew once Jay got eyes on Clay he would be able to focus and calm down. At the buzzing sound of the gate at the bottom of the stairs, Jay's head snapped up and his eyes were fixed on the top of the stairs. The second he could see Clay, Jay was on his feet and moving towards them.

Seeing the condition of Clay had caused Jay instant pain. It wasn't the bruises that littered his skin, it was how sick and thin he looked. His eyes were dead, a look Jay knew all too well. His heart broke at knowing that Clay was suffering from PTSD, just like he has to. He never wanted that for Clay and he had been hoping he would never develop it. From everything Clay had told him, he was doing really well on Bravo and the guys were very protective of him. He thought Clay would be safe from ever developing PTSD, but he had been wrong. Something had happened to him during the past ten weeks to hurt him and Jay was going to get to the bottom of things.

Once he was close enough Jay was pulling Clay into his arms and Clay wrapped his arms around Jay and placed his head down against Jay's shoulder and turned it into Jay's neck. Jay held Clay close and he could feel the slight tremble to his body. If they had been alone, he suspected that Clay would be in tears, but he was holding strong. Will could see the confused looks on almost everyone's faces and he decided to speak while Jay and Clay were embracing.

"Hey guys, that's our cousin, Clay Spenser and this is his father Jason Hayes."

"A pleasure to meet you." Adam said, moving first and shaking Jason's hand. Jason took it as Adam continued. "Adam Ruzek. That is Kevin Atwarer. Kim Burgess, Hailey Upton and our Sergeant Hank Voight."

"It's nice to meet you. Sorry for the invasion." Jason said, as he took each of their hands.

"Don't worry about it. Family is always welcome." Voight said.

"I didn't know you guys had a cousin." Kim said, as she saw Jay and Clay still hugging each other. She could see Jay's mouth moving, but she couldn't hear the words.

"From our mom, ya. We don't talk about Clay with him being a Seal." Will stated, as Jay finally pulled back.

Clay took a shaky breath in and Cerberus whined and nudged his hand with his nose. Clay gave Cerb a pet as Jay spoke.

"Who's this guy?"

"Cerberus, he was our K9, but he's now retired." Clay said with a thick voice.

"He's beautiful." Hailey said with a warm smile, as she sat on the edge of her desk.

"Clay, that is my partner Hailey. My Sergeant Hank Voight, and then Kevin Atwater, Adam Ruzek and Kim Burgess." Jay said, as he pointed to each one, knowing that Clay hadn't seen Will doing the introductions.

"Hey, it's nice to meet you guys." Clay said, from where he stood.

"How long are you guys down for?" Adam asked.

"A week." Jason answered, as Jay guided Clay and Cerb over to his desk.

Both Jay and Will noticed that Clay started to scratch the back of his left hand. Jay could feel the anxiety radiating off of Clay and he hated that he couldn't make it better.

"You guys will have to come to Molly's and grab a beer. It's a bar that all first responders go to." Adam said with a friendly smile.

"Sounds nice." Jason responded.

"Bathroom?" Clay asked Jay.

"Straight down the hallway third door on the right." Jay answered, but he made a pointed look at Will.

"I'll show you." Will quickly said, knowing that Jay was worried about Clay.

Will guided Clay down the hallway and the second the door closed Jay spoke in a demanding tone to Jason. "He's not leaving in a week."

"He needs to be home and that is exactly where he is going in a week." Jason said back. He was not happy at all with the tone Jay was taking with him nor was he used to it. People didn't talk to him like that and he was not about to take it from Jay.

"He is home and he's staying here. He's got six months of medical leave and I'm going to make sure he takes every second of it."

Jason crossed his arms over his chest and stood facing Jay as he spoke. "He needs family so he can heal and get back to work. He needs people that understand him and can be there to help him. That's in Virginia Beach, not Chicago."

"Except his family is in Chicago. When he needed family more than ever, he came here. He came to me. As for you and your team, I know he's not on Bravo anymore. I know he was transferred to Echo, for some reason. Sounds to me like the only family he has is right here and this is exactly where he's going to be." Jay challenged as he crossed his own arms.

He was not about to have anyone try and tell him what was best for Clay. Jason didn't get it and he would never get it. He was not about to let anyone push Clay around. He needed time to heal and he was going to make sure he got it. Hailey could tell the tension was getting worse and if something wasn't done, they might actually start to fight. She went and stood in between them as she spoke.

"Ok, as interesting as it would be to see if a Seal can win a fight against a Ranger, let's take a breath. You both love Clay and want what is best for him. What is not best for him would be to see two people he loves having an all out brawl in a police station."

"I'd win." Both Jason and Jay said at the same time and Hailey couldn't help but roll her eyes at the testosterone.

"My money is on Jay." Adam whispered to Kim and Kevin.

"I don't know Jason is huge." Kim commented.

"I'm with Adam, I've seen Jay make a guy my size cry." Kevin said.

"What happened on my team is none of your business and it is something that will be resolved. Clay will be back on Bravo." Jason said, as he moved so he wasn't right next to Hailey anymore.

Jay leaned against the edge of his desk as he faced Jason and spoke. "You don't get it. He can't go back. He's got PTSD, he's done."

"He can operate with PTSD, lots of guys do. Don't talk about something you don't know." Jason said. He was not about to listen to someone else tell him what he needed to do for his son. He knew how to handle Clay and he was not about to let some kid tell him otherwise.

"The fuck I don't know." Jay snapped. Hailey put her hand on his chest and Jay looked over at her and took a few calming breaths. He knew what she was saying without even saying it. He had to calm down, because getting mad was not going to get Jason to listen. After a second Jay took a deep breath in before he spoke in a calmer voice this time. "You're not a sniper, you don't know what it's like to look through your scope and not be able to react to anything you see. To have to lay there waiting for the go ahead to take a shot. To have to watch the worst humanity has to offer. Having to watch women and children being tortured, raped and beg for death and not be able to do anything to help them. To be trained to kill yourself to avoid capture. It's different and it takes a huge toll on someone."

Jason let out a sigh before he spoke. "I'm not saying it doesn't. I can't imagine what they see. I always try and make sure my guys don't have to see it and I hate that I couldn't protect Clay from seeing it. But he can recover. He can come back to Bravo and do what he is gifted at doing. People operate with PTSD all the time."

"And how is that working for them? You and I have both seen it. Guys that stayed in too long that get taken out by a mistake or by their own gun. Guys that have no personal life. They drink it away or pop pills and barely function Stateside. There is a very small window when PTSD develops for the operator to get out and have a normal life. He's in that window and if he stays in, if he goes back, it will kill him." Jay calmly explained.

"He can speak to a shrink and get better. It's early days, he doesn't have to throw it all away." Jason countered.

"There's not some magical pill he can take. He's at war with his own mind and he will be for the rest of his life. There is nothing you or anyone can do to change that. The damage is already done. He will have to battle with the stress and triggers for the rest of his life and he will never win if he is constantly being triggered with being over there. His career is done, it finished the second he developed PTSD."

"You don't know that." Jason said, still not willing to accept that Clay might never be able to go back to Bravo. That his career was over.

"Yes, I do. I am functioning with PTSD, I am living with it. Clay can too, but he won't be living if he goes back there. You are worried about his career, but I am worried about his life. He's twenty-six, he's got eighty years left to live. He doesn't deserve to live it constantly in fear, filled with anxiety and the only peace he gets is at the bottom of a bottle. He's a genius, he can have another career, he can have a life with a wife and children, he can be healthy. He can't have any of that if he is back in the Middle East and you know that. You have to let him go, because he won't go unless you tell him it's ok to. He'll keep going back and destroying his mind so he doesn't lose you. Only you can save his life Jason. Say goodbye to your rookie and save your son's life."

Before Jason could say anything Clay and Will were walking back and instantly Clay was going over to Jay. Jay placed a hand on the side of Clay's face and asked Clay how he was without saying a single word. His eyes flicked to Will, who gave a small shake of his head. It hurt Jason to see how close Clay was with Jay. To see Clay going to Jay over him. As much as it stung, it also warmed his heart. There was a deep connection between them and maybe that had to do with the fact that Jay understood. Jason had no idea that Jay had PTSD. It would make sense why Clay wanted to be around him so much right now. Jay not only understood how Clay was feeling, but he was a beacon of hope for Clay. Jas had survived whatever he saw and he was living a real life. He was still helping people. As much as it hurt Jason, Jay was right. They were talking about Clay's life and if he had to let him go as Bravo Six to save his life, then that was what he needed to do.

"You need rest, we should get out of here Sunshine." Jason said gently.

"Will, is gonna take you guys to my place. I have a case to work, but I'll come by tonight. There's food there and I picked up some of that beer you like. Sheets on the beds are clean, the best thing for you right now would be to curl up in my bed and get some sleep Kiddo." Jay said to Clay.

Clay gave a nod and Jay pulled him in for a quick hug before he reluctantly pulled back. He would have loved to go with Clay, but they had a case and he was not about to leave his guys in the field without him.

"I'll see you soon Cerb." Jay said, as he gave Cerberus some love before Will placed his hand on Clay's back and they started to head out. Jason gave Jay a nod and Jay knew that he might have gotten through to him. Jay was hoping that tonight when he went and checked in on them, that Clay was able to get some food into him and get some sleep. His body desperately needed it.

Once they were alone, Voight spoke. "You can go with them Jay."

"I appreciate that, but we have four dead bodies and a pending gang war thanks to these drugs. This case is important and you need all hands on deck right now. Will has Clay and he'll get him something to eat and get him in bed. Clay will sleep the day away." Jay said with an appreciative smile.

"Let's get these bastards then." Voight said with an understanding nod before he turned and went back into his office.

Hailey offered Jay a warm smile and he knew that she had his back no matter what in this. Jay offered her a warm smile in return before they both went and sat down at their desk. They had a drug dealer to catch and then Jay would go home and make sure Clay was going to be ok.