Hailey wakes up the next morning well-rested, already trying to think of ways to tell Jay that the rest of the team sans Voight know about Casper.
"Morning," Vanessa greets as she joins Hailey in their kitchen.
"Morning," Hailey replies, distractedly.
"Everything okay?" Vanessa asks the blonde.
"Yeah, just trying to figure out the best way to tell Jay that the rest of the team knows about Casper."
"I'm sorry about that. Kim and I just thought it would be a good idea to visit him."
"I know, it's not your fault. It was going to come out eventually, I just thought that there would be more time and it would be Jay's decision."
"If it helps any, Adam seemed to be the only one who didn't get it."
"Not really. This is what Jay was worried about from the beginning."
"When are you going to tell him?"
"I'll tell him when he gets home," Hailey decides.
"You think you can keep it from him for that long?"
"I don't need to. He's going home today; I'm actually going to be leaving early today. I'm Jay's ride home- once he gets settled, I should get back."
"What about Will?"
"Will can't get off, plus he'd drive Jay crazy."
"And you won't because he's in love with you," Vanessa teases.
"He's not in love with me."
"You're both pretty dense to be detectives," Vanessa responds. "You love him."
"Of course, I love him, he's my partner and my best friend."
"Let me rephrase that, you're in love with him."
Hailey takes a deep breath, "If I was, I don't know if he feels the same. And even if he did, we have both been burned by a workplace romance."
"But it's different with you two. It's like you're each other's other half. If someone didn't know you and saw the two of you together, they'd think you were married."
"We have a partnership that works-"
"You guys have feelings that you're both denying."
"I don't want to mess up what we have," Hailey answers.
"You won't because you guys are stronger than that. But if you're waiting for him to make the first move, you're going to be waiting for a while," Vanessa tells her, giving a pointed look to the blonde detective.
"Even if what you're saying is right, I can't say anything right now. He just went through something traumatic. He doesn't need to be thinking about this too."
"Fine, not now, but one of you need to make a move eventually. I don't know how much longer Kev, Adam, Kim, and I can take the two of you making heart eyes at each other."
"We don't make heart eyes," Hailey gives the brunette a glare.
"Everyone can see it," Vanessa grins.
Before either one of them can say another word, Hailey's phone rings. Vanessa raises her eyebrow, questioning if it is Jay. Hailey mouths that it is Will before answering the phone, "Hey, Will. Is everything okay?"
"Jay's fine, but he's getting antsy about being here. He should have his discharge papers in the next fifteen minutes and if you aren't here soon, I'm going to have to convince him that it is not a good idea to walk home."
"Okay, okay, I'm leaving now," Hailey tells him before he can get himself too worked up over his brother.
"Is everything okay?"
"Yeah, I just need to go to Med to get Jay before he gives Will a heart attack."
"Okay then," Vanessa laughs.
"Can you get a ride?" Hailey asks Vanessa realizing that the young officer now has no way to work.
"Go, I can call Kev," Vanessa practically pushes the detective out of the house.
"Hailey," the blonde detective hears her name being called. Hailey looks over to spot the redhead that she became very familiar with over the past year.
"Hey, Will," she greets. "Is Jay okay?"
"Yeah, other than driving the nurses crazy."
"So, in other words, take him home?" Hailey guesses.
"Yeah, he's good to go. His at-home care instructions are with his discharge papers, just make sure they don't end up in the trash."
"He's good to be on his own?"
"Yeah. He's going to be too stiff to be getting into any trouble. If you can get him to lay on the couch, Casper will probably lay with him so he shouldn't move."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, he was still a bit sore, so he's not moving around much."
"Well, I guess I should save the nurse from him," Hailey jokes.
"Yeah, the poor nurse," Will jokes back leaving Hailey to go to Jay's room as he is called over by Maggie to grab a chart.
Jay looks up when he hears a knock on his door frame. He looks up at her with the best puppy eyes he can muster, "Hailey, you gotta get me out of her," he pleads.
Hailey lets out a soft laugh, "I am. Were your papers signed yet?"
"Yeah, just waiting for the nurse to bring the wheelchair," Jay rolls his eyes.
"If you want to go home you will use the chair," Hailey tells him, causing him to slump down in his spot of sitting on the edge of the bed. "If our positions were reversed, you'd be telling me the same thing."
Just as Jay's about to respond to her, a nurse comes in with the unwanted device. After a quick conversation with the nurse and getting Jay's papers that she'd promised Will would not end up in the trash, Jay is in the wheelchair with Casper by his side.
Hailey takes the handles of the wheelchair, knowing that Jay would hate being pushed by a stranger. "Wait here," Hailey tells him once they are outside of the entrance, Jay insisting that he doesn't need the wheelchair to make it to the car. "I need to bring this back in." Hailey then looks at Casper, "Make sure he doesn't move."
Hailey takes less than five minutes to return the wheelchair and then the three of them make their way to her car. Hailey watches Jay as he makes sure Casper is okay getting into the back seat before helping him into the passenger seat. Getting into the car, Jay groans in discomfort.
"Sorry," Hailey apologizes, not knowing what else to do for him.
"Not your fault," he responds. "Distract me? What's happening at work?"
"Not much," Hailey answers as she pulls out of the parking spot. "Just a paperwork day, Voight wants all outstanding paperwork by the end of the week. He even took our unit off call unless something important happens."
"I do not want to think about all of the paperwork I owe," Jay groans in displeasure.
"You have a good excuse."
"Did you guys figure out why they were doing what they did?"
"Revenge and jealousy," Hailey summarizes. "It only really made sense to them."
"One of those things?" Jay asks.
"Yeah," Hailey sighs.
"Are you good?" Hailey asks as she helps Jay get settled on to the couch.
"Yeah, you should go to work," Voight's going to be pissed that you're late.
"I texted him. He understood once I explained that you were driving the nurses crazy and they were ready to kick you out on the street," Hailey jokes.
Jay grins at that, "But you should get to work. I'm not going to do anything stupid, you don't need to babysit me.
"I'm not babysitting, but I do need to talk with you about something," Hailey responds, taking a seat on the other side of the couch.
"What's up?" he asks sitting up a little to give Hailey his full attention.
"So, last night when I couldn't visit, Kim and Vanessa decided to visit you at the hospital and they brought along Adam and Kev. They saw Casper and saw him calming you down from a nightmare. Kev also spotted his vest and put it together."
Jay is quiet for a moment.
"Jay, what are you thinking?" Hailey wonders.
"What were their reactions?" Jay asks, worry in his voice.
"Vanessa made it sound like Adam was the only one who was having trouble comprehending what was going on."
"He's been against Casper from the start," Jay mutters while rubbing Casper's head.
"He'll come around. He's a good friend- clueless sometimes, but he always means well."
"What if Voight or someone higher up finds out and they say I can't go in the field?"
"Then we explain that Casper is only to help you at night. Jay, this doesn't make you a bad cop. I trust you with my life and I know the rest of the unit does too."
"How do I know Adam won't say anything?"
"Because he's loyal to his friends."
Jay doesn't say anything.
"I think this might be a good time to talk with them. Let them know what's going on, it doesn't have to be everything, but enough that can understand.
"To know that I'm fucked up?"
"You're not. You are someone who's been through a lot and found a way to cope."
"I guess."
"That's a good start."
"You should go to work. I've kept you away long enough."
"Are you going to be okay on your own?"
"Yeah, I have Casper. Besides, I'm still a bit sore to be moving around."
"Okay, text me if you need anything," Hailey reminds him.
"I know."
Hailey reaches out to put her hand on his shoulder, "It's good to have you back. I'm glad you're okay."
Jay places his hand on top of hers and squeezes it for a couple of seconds before letting go.
"I'll check in with you later. And I mean it- if you need anything text me."
"I will," he answers. "And Hailey? Thanks, for being here and for everything."
Hailey gives a soft smile, "Of course. Nowhere else I'd rather be."
Hailey leaves, making sure that he has a water bottle near him and the remote in case he wants to watch anything before she leaves.
Once the door shuts behind her, Casper makes himself comfortable between his human's legs, especially since they took his vest off once they got into Hailey's car.
The two fall asleep into a light nap, with Jay scratching behind Casper's ear until he is out cold.
Jay wakes up an hour later to find Casper staring at him. "Hey, boy," Jay rubs Casper's head.
Casper pushes his head into Jay's palm. "What do you think? Is it good that the team knows about you?"
Casper goes to lick Jay's hand.
"Oh, that's a yes, is it?" Jay asks. "Do you think they still trust me?" Casper gives him a friendly bark. "You haven't been on a walk in a while, when Uncle Will gets here, I'll get him to take you on one," Jay promises.
Casper cocks his head to the side before happily wagging his tail as if he could understand what was being said to him.
Jay slowly moves to a sitting position and turns on the television in an attempt to find something to watch. "Daytime TV sucks," Jay tells the dog before switching to Netflix.
Two movies later, Jay hears a knocking at the door. "Jay, it's Will. Don't shoot me," he hears his brother tell him as he hears the door open.
"Funny," Jay deadpans as he watches Will step into his apartment.
"How're you feeling? Do you need anything?"
"What are you doing here?"
"It's my lunch break. I came to check on you. You never answered my question," Will pushes.
"Fine and no. Well, I might have told Casper Uncle Will would take him on a walk."
"Fine. But do you need anything?"
"I'm good. I feel kind of stiff, like I need to move around."
"Okay, I'd rather you do that while I'm here. Do you want to walk around then I take Casper or do you want me to take Casper first?"
"Take him first."
"Okay, don't do anything stupid."
"You have so much trust in me."
"Behave," Will gives Jay a pointed look while clipping Casper's leash to his collar.
"Do you have to do anything for physical therapy?" Will asks as he walks with Jay in the halls of his apartment.
"Just some home exercises he gave me, I don't have to go anywhere for it."
"Okay, that's good. You're going to do them?" Will asks pointedly.
"Yes, mom. Whe-"
"Good to see your attitude hasn't been affected," Will dryly states.
Jay rolls his eyes, "When can we start with the training again?"
"Let's give it a week, see if you can move around more comfortably."
"I don't want to get behind."
"You won't. And Casper will be fine too." Will gets Jay back to the couch. "Do you need anything before I go back to work?"
"No. I'm good."
"Okay, I'll be back tonight."
"You don't have to. I'll be fine."
"I'm coming back with Kohl and we are spending the night."
"Fine," Jay gives in knowing his brother can be just as stubborn as he is if he wants to be.
"Text me if you need anything. If it's an emergency call me and if I don't pick up call the front desk."
"Hailey already told me to text her if I need anything."
"Did she?" Will raises an eyebrow.
"Not like that," Jay mutters, cheeks darkening. "Don't you need to get back to work?" Jay asks, trying to get Will out the door.
"Fine, fine. I know when I'm not wanted," Will jokes as he heads towards the door.
Jay sigh in relief when Will leaves, as much as he loves his brother, he also gets on his nerves when it comes to some topics.
A/N: WOW! Long break. So I think this was a little choppy, I just need to get back into the swing of writing this story. So... Jay knows the team knows, Vanessa is pushing Hailey, and Will is onto Jay. In the coming chapters, we'll get to see how the kidnapping affected Jay and how Casper helps him. This is going to be Upstead, but I want to see how they get together on the show (fingers crossed) because I want it to be as in character as possible. There is also going to be a chapter or scene/part where Jay talks to the rest of the team. Hopefully will be updated on Wednesdays, if I can keep my schedule.
In other news, we're two episodes in, and is anyone else missing Vanessa too? Writing this I realized how much I miss her, like way more than I should miss a fictional character.
As for other stories:
+ Rock Bottom: Hiatus- needs more research and thinking about changing the approach. Also needs a hard edit, don't like how it's turning out. I started on the re-write of chapter 1, but have no idea when it will be published.
+Silence is a Strange Sound; In-progress- working on chapter 5. Can't wait to share more. Updated on the first of the month. Also, go over there and let me know if I should write their whole week or if I should do the first couple of days they skip to when they are back in Chicago. Only asking here because I like to have at least half of the next chapter written when I post a chapter and I won't be updating SiaSS until January 1, 2021.
+ A to Z: Completed- being edited for minor things; no major/noticeable changes.
+Whump prompt by floopdeedoodee (Spelling?): In-progress. On chapter 2 of 5; case-oriented.
+One-Shot Sunday: If you want to see something, request it.
+ Awareness One-Shots: Nothing in December that I know about. If there is something that you want to see, let me know, preferably before the day of the actual awareness date.
+ Also planning on posting a Christmas fic and a late fic for something else.
Questions & Coments:
LostCause789- Chapter 31- Not sure how I got so behind on this story! I'm still loyal and loving it though. Lol. Just got sidetracked with life I guess. I'm glad Kim called Adam out for saying rude things about Casper. I hope it goes over well when Jay decides to talk to everyone about it. It really is just the nightmares for him I think. They shouldn't be worried, he's always had everyone's backs.
Yeah, I've gotten some comments about how they don't think that's Adam, but I always saw him as oblivious in particular situations and this would be one of them. I agree that I think its just the nightmares for him. And sometimes other problems associated with PTSD, but that is usually when there is a case that involves the military. This is shown in the episode where Adam wakes Jay up from one in early season five. While some might argue that this is a military case episode, this happened before they caught the case. The nightmare and PTSD seemed to be triggered from when he shot and killed the girl.
RubyHummingbird- Chapter 31-
Hey, I can't see anything, so I hope you liked it. If you used emojis, they don't show up on this website and just show up as blank squares.
Notes:
1) On my Twitter I have screenshots of detailed information on the characters of PD. I need to add more still, but there is a good bit of information. I'm in the process of organizing my Med and Fire charts to add. Currently doing a re-watch of Fire. Feel free to use that if you are looking for something to make your story canon. Twitter: otter_love_asl Also if you have any good Twitter suggestions in the fandom to follow, let me know. Or if you know other fanfic writer's Twitter.
2) I'm going to try to be better about using Twitter, so updates on stories, polls for different stories, that kind of thing. There is a poll for 7 Days.
2) If you want to request something you can contact me on here and Tumblr: Otter-Love-ASL & on AO3 and Twitter: Otter_Love_ASL