Chapter 14- Epilogue

April 10th, 2021

He woke up first, his head nestled comfortably in his pillow, hearing his chest lift and fall against the mattress as he breathed himself to a semi-awake state. At this point, he didn't think twice about sleeping on his stomach, falling asleep and waking up like every other person that slept that way. The pain was long gone, the limited chest movements and spasms disappeared well before the holidays. Stomach sleeping was the superior way to go and he was so glad he had the green light to reunite with it all. As his vision became more clear and his whole person was more awake, Jay decided to lift his head off the pillow in an effort to see if Hailey was asleep. She was, lying on her back but with her head turned away from him. She was about as out as one could be, deeply breathing while her body was totally relaxed. Jay smirked, thinking back to how far they'd come. Even six months ago, this was a very new, experimental thing; this idea of sleeping in the same bed and sharing each other's company and bodies. But now being where they were with things, the patience and trying of things really paid off. They were themselves once more, fully trusting and loving each other no matter what. It took some time and whole lot of understanding and willingness on each other's part, but in the end it was all worth it. Jay stayed frozen in place for a few more moments, watching Hailey sleep before he decided to see what time it was. He let out a little groan, more out of the hatred for having to move himself out from under the warm bedding then anything else. His tired arm could only slap down on the phone, pull it towards his face as Jay blinked for things to come into view. 8:37am

"Hailey, we've gotta get up," Jay quietly called to her, gently running his fingers along her arm as he watched and waited for her to stir. He did this for about a minute till she jolted under his touch, eyes slowly prying open as she joined the day.

"I was hoping that was just a dream," she moaned.

"I know. I don't want to get out of bed either."

"Well, let's just pretend we don't have places to go and things to do today. C'mon. Let's just go back to sleep," she sleepily teased.

"As much as I'd love to, we've gotta go." Jay planted a small kiss on her forehead, the two of them smiling at each other before they pulled away.

"Well, what do you think of it now in daylight?" Hailey pulled her left hand up, showing off the very special gift Jay gave her the night before. It was a whole thing. Jay faked being in pain so he could be on one knee as he sprung the box out for her. It was ridiculous, it was very much them. Hailey cried as Jay hurried up his little speech just so she could say yes. Again, it was a whole thing.

"I love it as much as I loved it last night. But seriously, you pull that fake pain crap ever again and I'll slap you."

"Well hopefully I won't have to propose again so.."

"Get out of here you jerk," she teased, gently landed a hand on his shoulder as he overly winced in pain.

"Hey! Happy one year," Hailey excitedly spoke as Jay got himself upright and out of bed.

"Thanks," he replied while turning to face her. The scarring had gone down completely by now. The once red and purple scar was now the same shading as the rest of him, it all looking so normal and healthy. It was apart of him. The scar was now telling a story, a very quiet one but one that still had quite a powerful impact on Jay, Hailey, everyone who knew the tale. She smiled at him while doing the scan, taking in the beauty and improvement of it all. This time last year, Jay was unable to breathe on his own, unconscious, beyond skinny, dying really. So to be one year out, looking at him alive, awake, back to a healthy weight and breathing on his own, it all truly drove home how amazing the human body, life is. Even at times when we can't feel it or see it, life is stunning and always able to be saved. There is never a point where it's too late to change someone's life. Jay was just one example of that.

"I'm serious! This is a huge deal, Jay. You made it a year. Ugh…thinking back to last year…" Hailey trailed off, looking at her phone for the time. Jay wasn't in surgery just yet, was probably just getting the call about the lungs right now. All of that still lay in front of him, the most harrowing, lengthy, emotional, yet amazing day yet to unfold.

"I know." Hailey got out of bed, rounded the bed so she could be at Jay's side. No longer did she have to ask permission to touch him or kiss him, she just nestled close before the two of them shared the moment together. It was a rather lengthy, good, perhaps tongue twisting kiss that only stopped when Jay reminded them once more that they had to go.

"I love you," she quietly spoke as they held each other in a hug.

"I love you too."

"Thank you for sticking around…and surviving surgery…and accepting the lungs." Jay smirked, kissing the top of her head before squeezing her lovingly.

"Thank you for not giving up on me."

"Never."

"Now I'm going to run in the shower before you take it and hog all the hot water." Hailey jokingly gasped as Jay took off for the bathroom.

"Such a jerk," she spoke under her breath, heading for the kitchen for food and coffee for the two of them. By the time Jay was done she was back with coffee mugs for two, balancing bagels on top for the both of them. They ate at the end of the bed together, joking about what was coming next and how excited Jay was to finally be cleared to go back into the field. From there they switched places, Hailey taking up the bathroom while Jay got himself totally ready for the day. Oddly enough, he had a bit of a coughing fit as he buttoned the last few buttons on his shirt. It was enough to make him pause, hold his chest as he waited for things to die down.

"That was weird," he spoke to no one, running his fingers along his chest one final time before buttoning things up all the way. Perhaps it was the lungs reminding him of the anniversary, how they'd made it a year together with hopefully forever to go. It was an odd moment, yet kind of cool at the same time. Like they both were aware what this day meant to the two of them, how crazy that day was and how awesome it was to be here, in this place in the closet at this exact moment in time. The coughing never happened again, things just went on as normal and usual as they always did. Jay tidied up the kitchen as Hailey finished getting ready for the day, bedroom was totally back to normal by the time she exited the bathroom and was now telling Jay they were running late.

"I kept telling you," Jay spoke as they grabbed masks, keys, and shoes before heading out the front door.

"I know, but now you're the one holding us up," Hailey joked as she stepped out the door and towards the elevator. Jay locked the front door behind him, meeting up with her just as the doors opened.

"So, do we keep this between us or tell everyone?"

"Jay, they all know where we're going."

"Not that," he spoke back, waving his left hand as a reference.

"Oh! That. Well, let's just feel it out. They'll be happy for us."

"Oh, yeah. But…do we want some time to just enjoy it between the two of us?"

"That is the question," Jay joked. Hailey wrapped her fingers into his hand, pulling herself in so she could rest her head on his arm.

"I still can't believe it's been year," she quietly spoke.

"I know," Jay spoke back.

"I'm going to call Cheryl when we're done."

"Aw, she'd probably love that," Hailey spoke. Right then the elevator stopped it's falling, opened the doors the the lobby. Jay and Hailey donned their masks before stepping into the bright, sunny world.

…

"You guys are late," Will greeted the two of them with. Hailey rolled her eyes as Jay shook his head, all of them smiling till they were within hugging distance.

"Congrats on a year, man," Will spoke as he hugged Jay.

"Thanks, Will," Jay spoke back, the two of them pulling away as they gave one another the scan.

"Man, this time last year surgery was…just getting underway," Will commented as he looked down at his phone, noting that it was a little after 10:30 now.

"Yeah, and here I am a year later," Jay spoke.

"We've got to get off this yearly visit thing," Hailey joked, all of them laughing and agreeing with her.

"Alright, let's get this done and over with," Will spoke as he ushered them into the ED, guiding Hailey and Jay to an available room before checking the two of them in.

"Here we go! Second doses for both of you, how exciting! Did you bring your vaccination cards?" Jay pulled his out of his wallet before handing it off to Will, Hailey taking her time to find the thing in her pocket before she scooped it out and handed it off.

"Hailey, should I cross out Upton and put in Halstead or are we leaving things."

"What," she sheepishly, embarrassingly asked. Jay just laughed.

"Oh, you were practically waving the thing in my face as you walked up."

"No, I wasn't. And no, Upton is still fine," she chuckled, looking to Jay who just shrugged.

"Oh, you think I just picked up the scan from anyone? Will taught it to me. Trust me, he's way more on top of observing things then me."

"Well then, he missed his calling to be a police officer."

"No I didn't. I can't stand the thought of learning police terminology. I'll go get Ethan and we'll be back in a second with the shots."

"Thanks, Will," Hailey spoke as Will disappeared behind the curtain and door. It was in the turning around to look at Jay that she couldn't help but roll her eyes. The poor guy was practically white, daydreaming as he gently swung his legs. He was miserable, or flashing back to last year, or just dreading what was coming next.

"Are you okay?" Jay shook his head, now looking down towards the ground as his eyes were fixed and huge.

"Jay, just take a breath. You're not back there. You're not undergoing surgery right now. It's all over, you made it and you're alright."

"It's not that," he quietly spoke to the floor. Now Hailey really rolled her eyes, groaning as she brushed a hand on his back.

"Jay, dude. It's just a little shot. You've had so many this last year. You've already had one Covid shot. This is absolutely nothing to worry about."

"Says the person who isn't afraid of needles." Hailey sighed.

"Do you want me to go first? So you can see that it'll be okay?"

"No, I just need to get this over with." Hailey nodded, rubbing circles on Jay's back till the doctors returned.

"Oh not again," Will greeted with as he looked at his fried, clearly shaken brother.

"He's afraid of the needle."

"Oh, I know what its about," Will shot back. He got down on a knee, looked up into Jay's face till his brother looked back at him.

"Hey, it's going to be fine." Jay could only shake his head.

"Can we just do this?"

"Yup, it'll be over in a second. Just roll your sleeve up." Jay could not move at the moment, so Hailey did it for him, both Will and Hailey telling him to relax as the alcohol pad was wiped around the area where the tiniest of needles would be inserted.

"Okay, here we go Jay. 1, 2, 3, and we're done." It really took a snap of a second, the timespan of the blink of an eye. Jay didn't even feel the needle go in or out, it all happened that fast.

"You did it!" Hailey patted his back as the bandaid was put in the injection site, Will taking over comforting duties as Hailey pulled her sleeve up to allow for her second dose to go in. And just like that, both were fully vaccinated. Jay Halstead, Covid survivor and double lung transplant recipient was now a fully Covid vaccinated person.

"So, what do you guys have planned for today," Will asked as Ethan signed off on the vaccination cards before handing them back.

"Work," they spoke together.

"Seriously?! Jay, please don't go off and get injured or sick on your transplant anniversary."

"I can't make any promises," he teased, that being the cue he was coming down from his needle phobia.

"But I'm also going to call Cheryl later on. Maybe I'll go home early and rest."

"Now that idea I like," Will joked.

"Okay, let's get you guys out of here and on your way. Congrats to the both of you. And Jay, congrats on surviving a year. That's huge news for a transplant," Ethan spoke.

"Thanks, man," Jay replied, waving to the doctor who exited the room first.

"Come here, one more hug," Will said as he held his hands out, the two of them hugging it out for a good minute or so before they pulled away.

"Man, what a difference a year makes," Will said.

"Yeah…" Hailey's radio interrupted the little moment, she endlessly apologizing as she turned the thing down a little while holding it to her ear.

"Sorry, we should go. Robbery in progress and it's a couple miles away." Jay looked to Will who nodded for him to go. He was giving him the green light, the go ahead to launch himself fully back into life.

"Proud of you Jay." Jay could only nod, catching up with Hailey who was jogging out to the truck.

"5021-George, hold two plain clothes officers down on that robbery on Wabash. Send additional units for responding and alert Intelligence that we're en-route."

"Copy 5021-George. We've got you responding. And also, welcome back to the field."