The next morning Jay had messaged Erin, he wanted her to come into the district, he wanted to tell everyone together, would save the hassle of explaining it over and over again.
She was hesitant at first, she didn't want them to hate her. But she didn't want Jay to get upset, more then he already was so she agreed to do this for him.
Jay sat at his desk, she was late. So he started worrying, was she regretting all of this? He just wanted everyone to know, that's all, was it so hard, they were going to find out eventually.
Hailey saw how tense and nervous Jay seemed, he wasn't even doing his paperwork, just looking at the monitor blankly, she walked over to his desk and leant on the corner, "You all good?"
He looked at her and nodded towards the break room, she followed him in, she became concerned when he pulled the door shut behind her.
"Jay what's going on?"
"I'm going to be a dad." Jay said, shocking Hailey, quickly she put two and two together.
"So that's why Erins back, wow Jay, this is huge." She said leaning up against the window.
"Your telling me." Jay slouched into the lounge.
"How do you feel?"
"I was angry at first, I mean after everything but I can't be angry, not for the baby. We aren't going to be in the best place but I'm going to be there for her throughout this and when the baby comes I'm going to make sure I'm apart of its life." Jay explained as Hailey smiled, she knew how good Jay was with kids, she just never expected him to become a father this early in life.
"I can't even begin to imagine how you must feel about all of this but I'm glad your putting your feelings aside for the baby, can already tell your going to be great at this."
"I hope so, it's just I know nothing about being a father and with Erin and I in the situation we are I just hope it all works out."
Hailey walked towards him and placed her hand on his shoulder, "Jay it will, don't forget we are all going to be there for you and this baby, we are a family."
"Thankyou."
"So is that why your so tense?"
"She's meant to be coming here so we can tell everyone together, that she's back and pregnant with my kid but she's late and now I'm worried she's running away again." Jay said sadly.
"I'm sure that's not the case, have you rung her?"
Jay looked down at his phone and shook his head, Hailey told him too, to stop stressing himself out, just as he was about to she sent a message and said she was outside.
"I'll be back." Jay said as he walked out, Hailey sat there and took a deep breath, this was massive, poor Jay.
Jay rushed down the stairs, he walked outside and saw Erin waiting by her car across the road. He walked over and her eyes were puffy and red, she'd been crying, "Erin, hey what's wrong?"
"Jay it's nothing, sorry I'm late." He raised an eyebrow, continuing to be concerned.
"Tell me."
"Seriously it's nothing, just one of those mornings. Come on let's go." Erin said as she grabbed his arm, pulling him to cross the road.
"No, don't do that. Tell me what's going on." Jay stopped, he wasn't going to let her hide things from him, not if it was to do with the baby or something that would affect it.
"Okay fine. Firstly, I'm exhausted because I have barely slept for the last month. It took me an hour to do my shoes up and I put the kettle in the fridge." Erin paused, "This is why I didn't want to say anything because it's stupid. But hey you asked."
He was taken back when she snapped at him, then it hit him, pregnancy hormones. She had been dealing with this for the last 5 months, he wasn't there so he had no idea how she was handling it all. Even though he was angry with her he felt bad for her and what she was going through.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to push. See if I had been there I could help with all those things."
"Don't do this now Jay and how are you suppose to help me putting the kettle in the fridge instead of the milk?" Erin rolled her eyes as he tried to stop himself from laughing.
"Can we?" She featured towards the building, he nodded and they started walking towards it, "Look, half the reason why I didn't want to come back is I left my family behind too, I was just worried about their reaction. They are going to hate me for what I did to you."
"Erin as I have said, it's not about me and you anymore. Your still there family and this baby will be too, they are going to be happy." Jay said, comforting her. No matter how much he resented her at the moment he couldn't help himself trying to make her feel better, maybe it's just because he didn't want her stressing or worrying for the baby.
They walked into the district, Erin looked around, she had missed this place. This had been her home for so long, all the long nights and early mornings made her who she was.
She was pulled out of her trance when she heard a very familiar voice, Trudy Platt. She smiled when Trudy quickly rushed out from around the front desk, bringing her in for a hug. After she was done squeezing her, Jay standing there in awkwardness, she pulled back still holding on to the sides of Erins arms, "Wow, Lindsay your pregnant."
"Yeah, it's good to see you Sarge." Erin smiled, resting her hand on her bump.
Trudy looked between the two detectives, "So its Halstead's then?" Erin and Jay nodded, "Well congratulations to the both of you." They both smiled and before it became awkward and too many questions were asked Jay walked them to the gate to buzz them up, they had to face the rest now.
Erin took each step, one by one. She shouldn't be nervous but she was, she just didn't want them to hate her, she knew she made so many mistakes and put Jay through so much but she needed them to be here for her, and their baby.
Once they got to the top of the steps, they stopped. Jay cleared his voice, everyone was head deep in their computers or paperwork, they quickly all became aware of what was going on. They all stood up quickly and rushed over.
"Linds, come here girl. It's so good to see you." Atwater said, bringing her in for one of his warming bear hugs.
"Erin, I can't believe your back. I have missed you." Kim said, second to hug her.
"Hey sis, missed you." Antonio said hugging her, everyone started sharing looks, who was going to be the first to address the situation.
Al was next to approach her, "Missed you kid, Hank hasn't been the same." She smiled as she hugged him.
"Hey Erin, it's good to see you again." Hailey gave her a quick hug.
Adam quickly came into the bullpen from going to the bathroom, "What the hell is going on in here, all I could hear was..." he paused when he saw Erin standing there, "Oh my god, Lindsay, hey!" He said, rushing over to hug her, "Wow, your pregnant."
She dropped her head and then awkwardly looked at everyone, "Yeah, surprise I guess."
"Halstead are you the..." Adam continued to be clueless and it only made the room feel more awkward.
"Yes the babies mine." Jay nodded with a slight smile.
"Congrats man, this is good news." Antonio said, extending his hand to shake Jays.
After everyone awkwardly congratulated the two of them, knowing the history and what Jay had gone through after she left, Erin walked into Voight's office, leaving the room filled with questions for Jay.
"Man, this is huge are you okay?" Adam asked.
"Yeah, I have to be," Jay shrugged, "I know what Erin done was shitty and I know I was a dark place for a while which affected each and everyone of you in a different way but please don't take it out on her, trust me, as much as I hated her for that, I have moved on from it and I don't want her stressed, it's not good for her or the baby."
"We got your back bro, don't worry. What you and Lindsay went through is your business and I think I talk for everyone when I say that we will leave our opinions to ourselves." Kevin said as he squeezed Jays shoulder.
"It is good to see her again though, I mean it hasn't been the same since she left." Kim shrugged, everyone nodded, they had nothing against Hailey and she fitted into the family nicely but when Erin left a little part of each of them left with her.
"Look man, I think you need a drink tonight. So everyone Molly's, my shout." Antonio said everyone agreeing with the idea.
After they all asked Jay more questions like did he still love her, did it bring up unwanted feelings, was she moving here, where was she going to live, how much Jay was going to be involved, he answered them all the best he could and they got back to work. Jay sat at his desk, looking into Voight's office where she still was, he heard his phone vibrate, he looked down and then looked over his desk to his partner.
"I'm proud of you, see everyone has your back. It's going to be okay."
