Chapter 74: I believe in you and me.

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 any of the characters.

Here is the next chapter. This is the last chapter that will be sad and, after this, things will get better for Jay and Hailey. They have happier times ahead. If you're still enjoying this story, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this chapter. For those who are disappointed about how much I've put Jay and Hailey through in this story, I'm sorry if that has put you off the story, but I wanted the two of them to go through this, to make them stronger in the end. I really do support Jay and Hailey. After this chapter, it will be better for Jay and Hailey :)

Jay and Hailey fell asleep on the sofa, in each other's arms, needing to be as close to each other as they possibly could. A couple of hours later, Jay was woken by the sound of his phone ringing. Hailey stirred beside him, but she didn't wake up. It was Platt, so Jay picked up the phone. "Chuckles, you and Hailey need to get here in half an hour. I signed you two up for overtime. Violence Reduction Duty. Your tour starts in about an hour. Don't be late."

Frowning, Jay asked, "Sarge, you signed me and Hailey up for overtime?"

"That's what I just said, Chuckles. See you soon."

Jay shook his head and chuckled slightly, before he turned to look at his wife, who was still sound asleep in his arms. He didn't want to wake her. He was glad that they had made a decision about trying to have a baby and he was glad that it was surrogacy. In all honesty, he wouldn't have wanted Hailey to be pregnant with a baby who wasn't biologically his own, but he would have tried it, if Hailey had really wanted to. He kissed her eyelids as she woke up and whispered, "Platt signed us up for V.R so we need to get to the station. I'm going to have a quick shower." A smile danced across Hailey's lips and Jay couldn't help kissing her and their kiss became passionate, but Jay pulled away and left to have a shower. Hailey sighed, running her hands through her curls. She and Jay hadn't had sex since before their fertility tests, a little over a week ago now. A week and a couple of days. Every time they wanted to, they were interrupted, and Hailey still thought that Jay was feeling nervous about it. The timing couldn't be a coincidence.

Jay was the first to change into his uniform, so he made his way down to the front desk, waiting for Hailey. Jay liked wearing a uniform. It reminded him of his time in the Army. It made him feel safe and connected to other police officers, just like his different Army uniforms had. Feeling Platt's eyes on him, Jay walked over to her desk, placing his arms against the desk as he did so. "Sarge, Hailey and I only got off our shift a couple of hours ago. Why did you sign us up for O.T?"

With a raised eyebrow, Platt stated, "It felt like a good idea." It was Jay's turn to raise his eyebrow in response, so Platt added, in a gentle voice, "Ok, I had a friend and she and her husband went through fertility treatments to have a baby. They used IVF in the end and they had a baby healthy boy. I know that kind of stuff can be expensive, so I figured that you and Hailey might need all the money you can get."

Jay swallowed against the lump in his throat. He and Hailey hadn't discussed how they would pay for surrogacy. Of course, he wasn't surprised that Platt knew, because the woman knew everything. With a small smile, Jay tapped the desk and nodded, "Thanks, Sarge. I appreciate it."

"Don't mention it. No, really don't. I don't want people to think that I have a heart." True to his nickname, Jay chuckled softly and nodded.

Just then, Hailey joined Jay by the front desk, dressed in her uniform, with her hair in a ponytail and Jay smiled, wanting to tell her that she looked great, but knowing that it wasn't appropriate because they were working. They hadn't worked together, as partners, since before they had married, but, within a couple of minutes, they were in synch, as they had always been. No matter what, they were partners and they were good together.

The married couple, former partners, hadn't been in their squad car for a long time when a call came in, about a kidnapping of a tender-age child within the last hour, so Jay and Hailey raced there and Hailey approached the back of the house, with her gun raised and Jay did the same, with the front of the house, opening the door and shouting "Chicago PD!" The house was quiet and still, but he could hear voices. Male and female voices, coming from upstairs. He heard the back door open and he knew that she was inside, so he signalled to her and the two of them went upstairs, with their guns still raised.

"Chicago PD!" Hailey announced. "Call out!"

A heart-broken response came, "We're in here, in our daughter's bedroom!" cry followed, followed by a "My baby! My baby!" As partners, Jay and Hailey exchanged a glance before they entered the room. It was a pink room, very much like Maria's. The woman was sitting on the bed, holding her own body, sobbing, and the man was pacing. Even with a slight glance, Jay knew that the man was former military. He shot a look to Hailey, who had the same thought, putting away her gun and approaching the woman.

Hailey sighed and said, "Ma'am, I'm Detective Upton and this is Detective Halstead. Can you tell me what happened here?" The only response was more sobbing, so Hailey looked at Jay, before looking at the husband. "I'll go and call in patrol. Lock down the scene. Halstead, you got this?"

Jay nodded and eyed the husband and wife, before asking, "Sir, can you tell me what happened?"

"She's only 3. 3 years old. They took her because of me!"

Before Jay could ask another question, the wife stood up and glared at her husband. "Yes, they did!" She spat at her husband, before she lunged towards him, slapping her wrists against him. "I hate you! If they kill her, I will never forgive you!"

In a shift motion, Jay separated the two of them and told them to calm down. Hailey returned and the sound of sirens could be heard. Backup was on the way, but because Jay and Hailey had been the first contacts with the parents, they stayed with them and they accompanied the couple of 21. The wife was hysterical and Hailey's heart broke for her. She called for Kim, thinking, without hesitation, that the other woman, Mrs. Basset, might respond to a woman who was also a mother. She did, because Kim told her about Maria and A.J, so Mrs. Basset told Kim and Hailey about her own daughter. Willow. She said that her husband had led secret missions in Afghanistan and, a couple of months ago, he had been threatened. She believed that the same people had taken her daughter. There was no doubt in her mind and Hailey and Kim believed her.

In the other interview room, Jay passed Mr. Basset a glass of water and referred to him by his former rank, "Captain, can you tell me why your wife said what she said at the house?"

The other man shook his head and snapped, "No! She didn't mean it. She was in shock. Willow has been taken, so why aren't you and your partner out there, looking for her?"

Slowly and deliberately in a calm voice, Jay responded, "Sir, we are doing everything we can to find your daughter. But, in order for us to do that, we need to have all the information you can give us. About you, about your marriage. Time is a big factor here and I know that you know that, sir!" He paused, before he asked, "Where did you serve?" He already knew the answer.

With a hollow laugh, Mr. Basset shrugged, "What d'you care? So you can paint me as crazy Vet who's had my own child kidnaped?"

Jay shook his head and replied, "No, sir. That's not why I'm asking. I did 2 tours in Afghanistan. 75th Rangers."

There was a silence. "You're Jay Halstead? You're a war hero! You'll understand more than most, then. We're trained to protect. I was supposed to protect my little girl, more than anyone on this earth and I've failed. I've failed Willow and my wife. She'll never forgive me. Do you have children, Halstead?"

Inwardly, Jay sighed. The clock for Willow's life was ticking, but he needed to gain her father's trust. He needed that information, so he cleared his throat and replied, "I have a daughter, from a previous relationship. She's a young woman now. My wife and I-we're- we tried to have a baby, but it didn't work out."

With a knowing look on his face, Mr. Basset simply stated, "Yeah, those toxins did a number of me, too. We had to use a sperm doner to have Willow." He fell into silence, then said, "Halstead, I trust you, so I'll tell you who I think has my little girl. No one else will understand. You're the only one I can trust."

Hailey and Kim walked back into the bullpen and Kim asked, "Do you believe her? That her husband's mission years ago is the cause of this? They've really kidnapped their daughter for revenge?"

Sighing, Hailey bit her lip and nodded, "I think so and I hope that Jay can gain his trust and get him to open up, for that little girl's sake."

"Yeah." Kim added, absently, before she looked at Hailey and told her, "If Adam ever did anything to endanger Maria, A.J, or this baby," she pointed to her still-flat stomach, "I'd never be able to forgive him. I really wouldn't and I don't think Mrs. Basset will either."

"I hear you." Hailey mumbled, before her eyes caught sight of her husband. "Jay, you got something?"

Without answering, Jay walked straight into his office and retrieved a sniper rifle from behind his desk. "Hailey, you're with me. Let's go." The two women exchanged a confused look, before Hailey went to the vault to collect her weapon and she followed Jay.

There were 6 kidnappers and none of them lived the tell the tale. They were all taken down by a sniper. These men, in their wisdom, had made notes of their plans, detailing their desire for revenge against a man who had attacked their organisation over a decade ago. Hailey would have thought it amusing if it weren't so awful. Jay put a crying Willow into his arms and Hailey called for an ambulance and they went with her to the hospital. Willow clung to Jay the whole time, never letting go and the sight warmed Hailey's heart.

At Chicago Med, Mr and Mrs. Basset arrived and Jay's heart swelled as they placed as their arms around their crying daughter, but he noticed the distance between the parents. All three of them were crying. Jay glanced at Hailey and they shared a look.

In the locker room, Hailey changed out of her uniform into a pair of jeans and a blue top, before she left to find Jay. She texted him, but there was no response, so she went home, where she found him standing totally still, staring at the wall. Slowly, so that she didn't spook the former Ranger, Hailey walked over to him and asked, "Jay, where are you right now?" She could see into his green eyes and they were full of tears.

In a hollow voice, Jay told her, "Today was the first day, in ever, I was glad we didn't have kids. I was glad. The sins of the father can go onto the child. Like Captain Basset's did to Willow. An innocent child. He was her dad and he couldn't keep her safe because of what he'd done, all of those years ago. He has the same sperm problems as me, but he and his wife. I was sitting opposite him and I was thinking- I'm glad that we don't have kids, because I wouldn't want to be where he was. Where he is now. Responsible for the trauma of his child for the rest of her life." His voice broke and he swallowed, before he repeated, "The sins of the father."

Hailey fought against the tears in her own eyes and placed her hands on Jay's shoulders, looking into his eyes. "Jay, I need you to hear me and really hear me. The sins of the father don't always pass to the child; if you want proof of that, look at me, with my father, or you, even, with your own dad. History doesn't always come back, Jay. That wouldn't be us, I promise."

With a week smile, Jay shook his head. "You can't promise that, Hailes. No one can. Ever. I did some… terrible things in Afghanistan and I thought that my sperm mobility was a punishment for that, but I'm not sure now."

"Jay Halstead, where is this coming from? Since when have you believed in something like that? Are you saying that you don't want to try to have a baby?" Hailey asked, her voice really calm.

Quickly Jay replied, "No, Hailes. That's not what I'm saying. I-I need to see my therapist, to work through this."

Hailey nodded a couple of times before she added, "That's good and, when you're doing that, I'll have lunch with my mum and I'll tell her the truth." Jay gave her a surprised look, but she shrugged and stated, "I can't hide it forever."

Jay kissed her forehead and hugged her, before he whispered, "I love you, Hailey."

Hailey stood on her toes and kissed Jay before she replied, "I love you, too, Jay."

The next morning, when Hailey and Adam were talking to a witness for another case, Platt found Jay in his office. "Chuckles, there's someone here to see you. The father from yesterday." Jay nodded slowly and sighed, before he followed Platt down the stairs, to the front desk.

The former Army Captain shook Jay's hand and thanked him. He had brought Willow home and that was worth more than Jay would ever know. He also told Jay that Willow's mother had moved all of her things out of the house and, even though Willow was still in hospital, she wanted a divorce. "Unless you and your wife have something really solid and you can withstand any pain together, don't have kids. Trust me, Halstead. My problems nearly broke me. If it's nearly done the same to you and your wife, don't go forward with having a baby. Your life might be better without it. It might even turn out to be a blessing for your marriage." He left, leaving Jay with his words in his head, before Jay returned to his office.

At the end of their shift, Hailey found Jay in the locker room and she rested her body against the locker. "Platt told me that Baset came to see you, so I'm guessing that's what's bothering you." She paused, before she titled her head and asked, "Do you want to talk about it?"

"You know that, no matter what, I believe in you and me. We've had crap and arguments, but we're so good together. It's you and me, always, Hailey, as far as I'm concerned. I believe in us, more than anything." Jay blurted out before he closed his eyes and lent against the locker, resting his back against it.

With a small smile, Hailey replied softly, "Jay, if this is because of what Basset said, let me say this: I've never doubted you, or us, for a second, through all of this, in fact, I think that this pain has made us stronger, because we've had to work through this pain, together. I really believe that we can face anything together, Jay, and I'd follow you anywhere. I always will."

Turning to face Hailey properly, Jay's green eyes bore into her blue ones as he told her, in a firm, but loving voice, "Hailey Halstead, I've never loved anyone I love you. It tore them apart, but that's not us. I don't have faith in much, but I have faith in you, in us. My partner, my best friend." He reached for her cheek with a loving, tender touch as he whispered, "You and me, Hailey. Always."

Hailey rested her head into the touch of her husband, her eyes never leaving his. She smiled before she murmured back, "You and me, till death do us part, Jay Halstead."