"How did it go?" Will asked.
"I got my job back," Jay said.
"But…" Mouse added.
"I need some time off," Jay said. "Especially after today."
"Why?" Maddie asked.
"Because I was taught that you stick with the team no matter what and the team didn't do that today," Jay answered. Mouse agreed with Jay.
"Well, we have the rest of the day to ourselves, how do we want to spend it?" Will asked, starting the car and changing the subject.
"Food and sleep," Jay answered. "I'm wiped."
"Ok, Jay's gonna be grouch," Maddie said as they drove off.
The next day, Antonio walked up to Jay's door and knocked. He didn't know what Jay was thinking but he knew it probably wasn't good.
Jay opened the door and saw Antonio.
"How are you feeling?" Antonio asked. Jay went back to what he was doing: packing a bag with clothes. "Are you going somewhere?"
"Uh, yeah," Jay answered and turned to Antonio before continuing, "I was taught that a team sticks with each other no matter the circumstances and that your team is the family you choose. That you can trust your team. When you get into trouble, your team will help you out, Intelligence did anything but that. I cannot tell you how many times I had a bounty on my head in Afghanistan, not once did my team leave me alone. When members of my team were kidnapped, they were told it would a suicide mission to rescue them, but they did it anyway."
"So you're quitting?" Antonio asked, surprised. He never thought this would happen.
"I haven't decided yet," Jay said. "I just know I need to clear my head."
"Well, I know I would like you back, so as soon as you clear your head let me know."
"I will," Jay said. He was having an inner debate with himself. "Yesterday, when you asked why I keep my work life and home life separated." Antonio nodded.
"You said it's easier. What's easier?"
"Dealing with everything I see. I used to be an Army Ranger. The stuff I've seen in Afghanistan and the stuff I've seen on the job, it's a lot. It's easier to deal with when my work life doesn't overlap with my home life."
Antonio was shocked. He never realized Jay was a vet. It explained some of the things he does.
Jay wasn't done talking, "I've never told a single person this, not even my family, but I have undiagnosable PTSD. That means that I can push it down and not deal with it. I can act like I'm fine and I can't do anything about it because I'll break."
Antonio didn't know what to do, "I'm here if you need to talk. I promise I won't tell anyone about the PTSD. Who knows about you serving?"
"My old boss and I think Platt knows. It's buried deep in my file."
"Ok, is there anything I can do?" Antonio asked.
"Yeah, support me when I go talk to Voight."
"You got it," Antonio heard a knock on the door. Jay left to get it. Will and Maddie talked in.
"You ready?" Will asked.
"Yeah, let's go," Jay answered. "See ya at work," Jay said to Antonio. Antonio left for work.
"Ok, you two stay in the car, I'll be back soon," Jay said once they were outside the precinct.
"No, I'm going with you," Maddie refused.
"What are you gonna do in a building with a bunch of cops in it?" Jay asked.
"I'm coming with you." Maddie wasn't backing down and Jay knew that.
"Fine. Will, do you want to come too?" Jay asked.
"Uh, sure," Will said, "Moral support," he added with a grin. Jay rolled his eyes and got out of the car.
Platt was sitting at her desk when the three Halsteads walked in. She looked up at the three of them and made eye contact with Jay.
"Sergeant Platt, these annoying people next to me are my brother, Will, and my sister, Maddie," Jay said.
"Nice to meet you," Will said and shook her hand.
Maddie just grinned and said, "I can't wait to pull pranks on Jay with you."
"I like you," she turned to Jay, "Why have you kept this girl hidden from me?" Platt demanded.
"Because I wanted to," Jay answered.
"Well, Chuckles, I'm sorry for how I treated you yesterday and I hope you could forgive me," Platt said with the most emotion Jay had ever heard from her, which told him she was sincere.
"Forgiven," Jay said as he started walking up to Intelligence, "Have a nice day, Sergeant."
Maddie eagerly followed Jay. Will was surprised more questions weren't asked.
Antonio heard the buzz of the gate and knew it was Jay, seeing that he was the last one here. He was glad it was a paperwork day.
"Hey, Antonio," Maddie said, drawing attention to the trio walking up the stairs.
"Hey, Maddie, did you force Jay to let you come in?" When she nodded, he chuckled.
"See what I mean, Jay, she's just like you." Antonio was still laughing.
"Yeah, yeah," Jay rolled his eyes yet again. Erin walked out of the break room with a coffee. Everyone else was at their desk.
"You know, Jay, if you keep rolling your eyes, they'll get stuck like that," Maddie without looking at him.
"How do you know I rolled my eyes?" Jay asked, surprised. Maddie just shrugged.
"Hey guys," Jay was addressing everyone in the bullpen. "Um, this is my brother, Will. He is a doctor at Med. This is my baby sister, Maddie."
"I'm not your baby sister!" Maddie exclaimed.
"No, you're a reincarnation of Mom," Will said.
Jay shot Will a look that said shut up, now.
"Now, Maddie, you met the team, you happy?" Jay asked.
"Nope," Maddie replied, "I want to know why they treated you the way they did yesterday."
Everyone looked shocked at her abruptness. Will looked like he wanted to sink through the floor.
"Uh, Maddie, why don't we go back to the car and wait out there?" Will suggested.
"Not till I have my answer," Maddie stood her ground.
Jay tried to change the subject, "Good morning, Sergeant Voight! Can I talk to you in your office?" He tried to get everyone back to paperwork.
"Uh, sure," Voight turned around and walked back into his office. Jay sent a look to Antonio and followed Voight. Antonio followed Jay and shut the door behind him.
"I was wondering if I could take some time off and use my unused vacation time," Jay said right down to business.
"Because of yesterday?" Voight asked.
"Not the reasons my sister says," Jay replied.
"Why then?"
"I need to clear my head. I've been trying to get Lonnie Rodiger since I found Ben. That was seven years ago." Jay said.
"Are you trying to guilt-trip me?" Voight asked.
"No, I'm just saying how long I've wanted justice for Ben," Jay replied.
"What do you think, Antonio?" Voight turned to the guy who brought Jay into the unit.
"I think Halstead deserves the time off to clear his head and so we don't have a distracted detective working with us," Antonio said. He made sure that he didn't say anything relating to what they talked about this morning.
"Ok, I'll grant you the vacation time even though I'm pretty sure you guys aren't telling me everything," Voight said.
"Thanks, Sarge," Jay said and he got up and walked out of his office.