Chapter 30: 19 years.

Jay/Hailey. Set after series 7. At Kim and Adam's wedding, Jay and Hailey finally confessed their feelings and spent the night together and now they are back in Chicago and hiding their relationship from their friends.

I do not own Chicago PD or the characters.

Chapter 30! I am loving writing this story, but this chapter was challenging. Please review, let me know what you think :)

The weekend after Jay was released from hospital, Jay and Hailey spent the weekend at Hailey's house, where Jay could relax, rest and ensure that he was totally ready to return to work as Sergeant of the Intelligence Unit. This is how they spent their weekend, with the knowledge that they loved each other making it all the more perfect. Jay was starting to feel better, mentally and physically, and Hailey could see this change in him and his behaviour and he was so grateful to Hailey, for being there for him, for challenging him, not allowing him to give up. Jay slept better and his moods were more like himself. It was because of her that he had gone to hospital, but neither of them were prepared for what was to come.

It was Jay's first day back at the 21st and he was settling back into his role as with a pile of paperwork. He felt as if he had been away for a long time, because the last time he had been there, he had not been well, mentally. He was already feeling so much better than before. His anxiety and mood swings were under control now and he had not suffered from a panic attack or a flashback for weeks. The new medication and techniques the Drs had given him seemed to be working. Even though it was a Monday and past 9, only he and Hailey were in the bullpen and Hailey was secretly glad; Jay needed the space to readjust to work, after being in the hospital for weeks and he needed time and space in order to do that, away from questions and confused looks. She knew that Kim, Kevin and Adam had been wondering where he had been and Jay knew that they were wondering that, too.

Just as Jay was starting to feel settled in his office, Platt called his office, telling him that he had a visitor downstairs. It was Gail Corson. Ally and Ben's mother. Jay and Ally had dated during high school, but had broken up before Jay had first deployed to Afghanistan. Ben had been murdered by Lonnie Rodiger when Jay had been a patrol officer, ripping the family apart. Jay and Ally had rekindled their romance briefly about 7 years ago, but it had only been brief, because, despite Jay's suggestion and her parents' persuasion, she had returned to Phoenix. Jay hadn't spoken to her much since, but he was close to her parents, Gail and Danny, going to see them every couple of weeks and they had celebrated his promotion with him, as if he were their own son. The two of them had attended his graduation from the academy all those years ago, when his own father had refused. They hadn't met Hailey, yet, but there was always time for that.

Jay threw Hailey a smile before he made his way downstairs to the front-desk. He had seen Gail and Danny a couple of weeks ago, so he wondered why Gail had come to visit him.

By the front-desk, Gail smiled as she saw Jay walking down the stairs. She and her husband were very fond of him, loving him as if he were their third child, even. Jay was concerned, so he hugged Gail and asked, "Are you alright? Is Danny ok?" His green eyes were full of concern.

Gail faked a smile and tried to reassure him as she replied, "Jay, don't worry about us so much, we're fine." She paused, then asked, trying to sound as casual as possible, "Is there any chance you're free for dinner tonight? Danny and I would love to see you."

Jay frowned, still concerned, before he nodded. "Yeah, my shift ends at 7. Should I bring your usual orders?" He added with a smile, before asking, "Gail, what's the occasion?"

A look crossed Gail's face, but she shook her head and forced another smile, "Everything's fine, dear. Just bring yourself and dinner." She paused, then pulled Jay into another hug, before adding, "We'll see you tonight, Jay." Without another word, she turned and walked out of the District, aware that Jay's eyes and Platt's eyes were focused on her. Platt could see the stress in Jay's green eyes, and she knew that, with everything that had happened recently, with his episode, this was the last thing he needed to deal with, him and Hailey.

In the bullpen, Hailey looked over at Jay as he walked into the bullpen. Titling her head, she walked over to him, reaching out for one of his hands. There was no-one else there and, even if there had been, they were partners and, to any other eye, it was just a friendly exchange. Jay frowned, before he told her, "That was Gail. Ally and Ben's mum. She wants to see me for dinner tonight." He hesitated, then added, "Hailey, there was something wrong. I could feel it."

Trying to reassure him, Hailey smiled softly and replied, "Jay, I'm sure it's nothing, you probably just felt it because of your new meds and everything that's been going on."

Jay smiled back at her and nodded. "You're probably right." He tapped her arm, before he said he had paperwork to do. In his office, he found Ally's number on his phone and called it. No answer. Straight to voicemail.

Just before 7, Jay arrived at the Corson's house. It was a home away from home. He had spent many happy times there, with Ally during their teenage years and since then, with her parents.

Gail and Danny engaged in small talk for a while, asking Jay how his job was and how he was feeling after being in hospital, before Jay finally asked, with a concerned smile, "Gail, Danny, what's wrong? I know something's up."

There was a dead silence and Danny's eyes fell on the picture of their son and Jay's heart ached for the older man. It didn't surprise him that Gail was the one to speak. "Jay, we received a call from a hospital, in Phoenix, a couple of days ago. It was about Ally, she"- Gail broke off, closing her eyes for a couple of seconds and Jay gave her a comforting hand, "She was in an accident and she-she died, Jay. We went there, to her house, and we met a young woman there. She said that she was Ally's daughter, that we were her grandparents."

In confusion, Jay frowned and shook his head. "Ally didn't have a kid."

Gail glanced at Danny, who tore his eyes away from his son and started to talk, "Jay, this young woman is Ally's daughter, but Ally didn't tell us about her for some reason. But there's no doubt that she's Ally's daughter. Her name is Avery and she lives in Phoenix and goes to college there." The older man paused, before continuing, hoping that Jay would understand his words, "Son, Avery, our granddaughter, is 19 years old. She was born the Spring after Ally graduated from high school."

Jay connected the dots and realisation dawned in his eyes. Ally's daughter had been born after their high school graduation, after he had enlisted in the Army. She was 19 years old. Jay ran his hands through his hair and stood up, quickly, pacing, running his hands through his hair. He had a daughter. Why had Ally never told him? He turned back to Gail and Danny, shock all over his face, "Ally had a baby without telling me? Why did she- How could she? Does- does Avery know about me?"

Gail left her chair and walked over to Jay, taking hold of his hands. "Yes, she knows you joined the Army after high school. Avery told us Ally told her that she couldn't get in touch with you because you were in Afghanistan."

"I've been back from Afghanistan for years!" Jay exclaimed, throwing his arms up in the air. "Ally knew where to find me! I saw her years ago. She should've told me! I don't want my daughter to think I abandoned her!" He shook his head violently and repeated, "She should've told me! I had a right to know! She's my child."

There were tears in Gail's eyes as she just nodded. "I know, Jay. How do you think we feel? Knowing we've missed the first 19 years of our grandchild's life? I can't understand, for the world, why she didn't tell us."

Silence fell across the whole room and Jay felt as if his emotions had bene torn to shreds. He had a child. He had a daughter. Avery. 19-year-old Avery. He shook his head and swallowed, before saying, "Gail, Danny, I'm sorry. I need to clear my head. I'll call you tomorrow, I'm sorry."

Before he left, Gail passed him a picture of Avery, but Jay didn't look at it. Danny looked at him and all the older man said was, "You should bring Hailey by sometime for dinner. We'd love to meet her."

It was after 11 and, considering all that had happened with Jay's mental health recently, Hailey was concerned that Jay was not back yet. He had told her that he would come to see her and spent the night after having dinner with Ally and Ben's parents, but he was not back yet. Hailey was lying in her bed, listening to her iPod, waiting for him. She wanted to know that he was safe and alright. There was something wrong. She just knew it.

Hailey was almost fast asleep when she heard the front door of her house open and close and she heard Jay's footsteps walk up the stairs. They sounded very heavy. Hailey turned on the sidelight and watched as Jay dropped his overnight bag at the foot of her bed. Sitting up, alarmed, Hailey moved over in the bed. Jay had been crying. She could tell by his eyes. Without saying a word, Jay collapsed onto the bed and Hailey wrapped her arms around him as he cried into her chest and she rocked him back and forth.

After about half an hour, Hailey asked, in a soft voice, "Jay, what happened?" They adjusted their positions so that they were sitting next to each other on Hailey's bed and she rested her head next to Jay's on the pillow. When her boyfriend made no reply, she repeated, "Jay, what happened at the Carsons?"

Jay closed his green eyes, before he inhaled a deep breath and replied, "Ally's dead. There was an accident." Jay paused and opened his eyes, meeting Hailey's blue eyes, searching her eyes. "Hailey, the spring after I left for Afghanistan, Ally gave birth to a baby girl. 19 years ago. Avery. She's my daughter. How could she do that to me? Hailey, what do I do now? I have a daughter."

Hailey never took her eyes off Jay as she replied, calmly, "Right now, we're going to sit here and get some sleep. You need it, Jay, and then, tomorrow, we can talk about it, but there's something very important you need to remember." She smiled softly and whispered, "I love you and I'm here with you, no matter what."

Kissing Hailey's forehead, Jay rested his head against hers and closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around Hailey and she closed her eyes, too, wanting him to sleep after receiving such news. News that would change both of their lives, but, right now, all they could do was rest.