That weekend, Hailey spent a good amount of time researching service dogs and PTSD in veterans. She learned that service dogs for PTSD do a multitude of tasks such as retrieving medication, searching the home to alleviate hypervigilance, guiding their handler home during a dissociative episode, using tactile intervention when the handler is experiencing sensory overload, and turning on the lights and waking their handler if they are having night terrors.
Seeing that these tasks are only the beginning of what a service dog can do because it is based off of what their handler needs, Hailey is starting to be convinced that this could be good for Jay; but at the same time, she is worried if this could affect his job.
Another question to add to her list.
After looking up the information on service dogs, Hailey then goes on to look up the organizations that Ethan was talking about. Finding many organizations, she narrows down the search to ones that help veterans, coming up with K9s for Warriors and Pets for Vets.
From what Hailey could tell from their websites, Pets for Vets is more about giving veterans companions rather than services dogs. Looking at their FAQs, Hailey knows that Jay is not going for the three-week training at the facility.
Call me when you get a chance and you're not with Jay, Hailey texts Will.
Twenty minutes later her phone rings, picking it up she sees that it is Will calling her.
"Is everything okay?" Will asks her.
"Yeah, I just talk with you more about the dog thing."
"Okay, what about it?"
"So the first thing would be, would it affect his job?"
"It shouldn't since he would only really be using the dog when he would be alone. That seems to be when it is at its worst, right?"
"Okay, my other concern is, if Jay is accepted, how do we get him to participate in the three-week training. It's a twenty-four-seven training."
"Yeah," Will says slowly, "there's no way he'll go for that."
"There's also getting the letter of recommendation from the therapist who Jay is working with."
"Okay, if we train the dog ourselves we can worry about the letter of recommendation later."
"I think you're forgetting something. We don't have a dog," Hailey reminds Will.
"Let me make a call. I know a guy who's dog just had a litter of pups. He's been trying to get rid of the runt. He's just about giving the dog away, but no one wants the runt of the litter."
"Okay, let me know how that goes. Are you sure that Jay is going to go for this?"
"I don't know if he'll go for it at first, but if I know one thing about my brother, it's that he has a big heart, especially for animals and kids." After a few more minutes, the two hang up.
Monday morning, Hailey walks into the break room of the intelligence office to find Jay asleep on the couch. Watching him, she can see the bags under his eyes, as he becomes restless. "Jay," Hailey places a hand on his leg, hoping not to startle him too much, "Jay, wake up. You're dreaming."
Jay startles awake, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes, "Hailey? What are you doing here?"
"'What am I doing here?' Jay, what are you doing sleeping in the break room?"
"I came in here to take a nap," Jay answers as he sits up.
"Nap? It's seven-thirty in the morning," Hailey tells him as she sits down next to him. "What time did you get here?"
"I couldn't sleep, so I came in at five and then I got tired. I was just going to lay down for a couple of minutes."
"Okay, it's just us, Kim and Vanessa here so far. So, why don't you drink some coffee and I'll keep them out of here until you wake up?" Hailey asks while rubbing his back in a comforting manner.
"Thanks," he thanks Hailey as she hands him a mug of coffee.
"Hailey, Jay, Rojas. Take a ride and see what you find at the LKA," Voight orders.
"I'm driving," Hailey states, knowing that Jay probably shouldn't be driving, but at the same time not wanting to say anything in front of Vanessa. Jay gets in the passenger seat and Vanessa in the back seat.
"So, do you think this will get us anywhere?" she asks the two detectives.
"One can hope," Hailey answers. Vanessa not noticing Jay being unusually quiet in the passenger seat.
Arriving at the location, the three get out of the car and start searching the outside of the building. Finding nothing unusual, they search the inside and find thousands in hundred dollar bills, but no products. They call it in before they start collecting it as evidence.
Calling it a day, the majority of the intelligence unit decides to decompress at Molly's. Jay decides to skip going once again and this time Hailey is going to her partner's because whether he wants it or not he is going to have company.
No sooner does Jay get home, when Hailey knocks on his door.
"What are you doing here?" he asks her, as he steps back enough to let her in.
"It's been a while since we've done 'our thing'," she states while holding a bottle of tequila.
"I don't really feel like talking."
"I know, but that doesn't mean I'm going to let you sit by yourself."
"Fine," Jay gives in as he grabs them some glasses.
"How have you been? For real?"
"It's hard. I don't want what I did over there to define me, but I can feel myself slipping," Jay admits slowly.
"Have you been going to your group?"
"It doesn't help."
"That's not an answer."
"Not as much as before."
"What about therapy? Did you try going back to that?"
"Yeah, but… it. I don't know how to explain it, but it doesn't seem to help. The nightmares, the insomnia, it all seems to be getting worse."
Hailey uses this as an opportunity to ask, "Have you ever considered getting a pet to talk to? I've heard that has helped some people."
"With our hours?" Jay responds.
"Would you though?"
"Maybe in the future. You know, marriage, kids, pets," Jay trails off wanting to end the conversation.
"I think there's a replay of the Sox game," Hailey changes the subject, not wanting Jay to shut down on her.
The rest of the week for the intelligence unit continues, much the same. After shutting their current case, they quickly receive another one, this time involving three missing kids of aldermen.
Due to the high profile of the case, the team is working tirelessly on getting the missing children back, while to Voight's dismay, by the book.
On Thursday, just before they are getting ready to leave for the night, Hailey gets a text from Will, Talked to my contact. Can get it on Saturday, just bring Jay. I'll take care of the rest.
Great. I owe you, she texts him back.
No, once I told him about the situation, he gave a great price for it. And if it helps him.
"Hey, Jay. You busy on Saturday?" she asks.
"No, why?"
"If I pick you up, can you give me a hand with an errand?"
"Sure. What is it?"
"I'll tell you Saturday," Hailey answers.