P.O.V. Jay

It was just a normal day in Intelligence. Well as normal as it could get. Hailey still wasn't back yet, and the stuff with Kevin was finally settling down. Voight has been putting Kim and I as partners for most of the assignments. I'm trying to make the most of it. I know she hasn't had the best of luck when it comes with partners getting thrown around between Kevin, Roman, Al, Antonio, and then being left in limbo. I'm trying to be there for her, but I know I won't be able to live up to Antonio. Whereas I've only really had Erin and Hailey.

I don't think Hailey's coming back anytime soon, and if so what would that mean for us. She's been turning into Voight more and more. I get that she has a history; everyone does. I'm afraid that she will come back, and expect that something between the two of us will become something. I just have had time to think of her a lot and why I think that I like her. She's a lot like Erin which scares me. I don't want to be with her just because she's a replacement for Erin. Then, there is… Ring… hold up it's my phone.

"Hello this is Detective Halstead" I said as a default. After 7 plus years of being a cop it becomes second nature.

"Hi this is Moira Green from Child Protective Services I hope it wouldn't be a bother if I could have a couple minutes of your time." CPS? Why the hell is CPS calling me? I walk into one of the break rooms for privacy.

"Sure is this about one of my cases?" That had to be it right. I mean why else would they be calling.

"No it is not, have you ever heard of a Melanie Walker?" Why did that name sound familiar?

"I'm not sure the name sound familiar, but you have to understand that I come across a lot of people and names on the job. What is this about?" Why did that name sound familiar?

"Detective, Ms. Walker died in a car crash yesterday afternoon, and your phone number was engraved on a bracelet that was worn by her two year old daughter." Daughter? Why would she put my phone number on her daughter?"

"We are running her DNA to hopefully find her father, but until then we are highly packed at all of the foster homes, and there is nowhere for her to go. We were wondering if you would be able to watch her while we track down her father." They want to leave me with a kid.

"Why would you leave a complete random person with a child?" Like really.

"Detective, we know your history of volunteering for multiple different organizations, some involving children. We also know that you have a flawless record. We know that this blunt, but did you ever have sexual relations with Ms. Walker?" What the he….wait that's where I knew the name isn't it. She was my only one night stand after Erin left, and that was a little more than 3 years ago. That means that there is a chance that I have a daughter. Woah.

"Yeah. Now that I think about it we had a one night stand about 3 years ago. Do you think that..." I couldn't finish that sentence; couldn't say do you think I'm a father out loud.

"Think you might be the father? Yes. Could you come down to the office so that we can discuss this more thoroughly." I'll have to talk to Voight about this, but we don't have a case today so it should be ok. It's family.

"Umm… sure how about 5 tonight I have to talk to my boss." What do I tell them, but if she's really my daughter then I will be there for her.

"That would be great. You can come whenever."

"Ok" That was it. The call was over. I feel like I'm going to be sick. I walk back into the squad room, and immediately see Kim giving me a concerned look. I must be looking and feeling the same. I try to give her a smile to calm her. She doesn't need to worry about me. She just gives me a look saying that I could talk to her about it. We were getting there as partners. She is one of the best, and we understand each other. It's one of the things that I found I liked when working with her because both Erin and Hailey tried to close off their emotions, but make me deal with mine. Kim and I both try to open up to each other in order to be a solid partnership. I gave her a look that said later and went into Voight's office.

"Hey Sarge can I talk to you about something?" He looks up, and even if we haven't been agreeing for the most part he is still like my father. A part of me was nervous telling him that I might be a father because I wasn't sure if he would be disappointed. However, I had to tell him in order to get to the office earlier to know for sure.

"Hey Jay what can I do for you?" He already could tell that Hank knew he was nervous.

"Umm… well I just got a call from the CPS saying that a two year old child was found with my number on her bracelet, and they think that I might be her father." He looks at me with an unreadable look.

"Go… take as much time as you need, and take Burgess with you." Why Kim? I get that she's my partner, but why for this.

"Why do you want me to take Kim?" He just smirked. I hated it when he played games."

"You two are partners. You need to learn to rely on each other, and she has her niece. She might be able to help. Now. Go." I didn't need to be told twice. I walked out of his office and went right to my desk to get my stuff. While I was getting my things I sent a look to Kim to tell her that they were leaving. She seemed to understand because she started to pack up. When we were finally in the car she finally spoke.

"Jay what's going on. Where are we going? Are you ok?" She always cared about everyone else. That made me smile for probably the first time since that call.

"We're going to the CPS office, and I'm not sure how I'm feeling. Before you ask this isn't for a case. This is about the call I took before." The one thing that came out of this was that I realized that we were getting better at reading each other.

"Ok so what was the call about." I might as well tell her everything right. She is my partner now. We got to be open with each other.

"After Erin left I had a one night stand with someone named Melanie Walker. Today a Moira Green called me from CPS asking if I knew her. It took me a while to remember, but I did." Now was the harder part talking about her; my possible daughter. I didn't want to get my hopes up, but I couldn't help it not when my mind didn't stop thinking about her. I was probably going to continue if I didn't hear Kim's soft voice."

"Jay" Right back to the story.

"Oh um well Melanie died in a car crash yesterday evening, and her two year old daughter was not injured, I don't think she was in the car, but the kid was wearing a bracelet with my phone number engraved in it. That's why she called me and then we started putting the pieces together. When we get there she wants to compare my DNA to hers just to be sure." Oh my god I'm rambling; I never ramble. I look over at Kim and I don't see disgust, but I'm pretty sure she's still processing.

"Woah" What did that mean?

"I can drop you off at your place if you want. You don't have to come with. Voight just thought that because we're partners, and you with Zoe which means you're probably better with kids then I am. What if I drop her?" I'm going to be an awful father. Great so much for not getting my hopes up. I'm already saying I'm her father.

"Jay I'm not leaving you. We're partners now, and we got to have each other's backs whether for work or personal life. Don't worry about dropping her. Nicole had the same fears before Zoe was born." How could she calm my nerves so easily. I was gonna say more, but we were basically there so I just turned to her, gave her a smile and said,

"Thanks" to which she smiled back. We made our way into the building, and up to the front desk. She pointed us in the direction of Moira Green's office where we were to meet her. When we got to the door I knocked, and we were greeted with an older woman who was dressed in an emerald green blouse with black dress pants. She had a smile that reminded me of my mother.

"Hello Detective it is very nice to formally meet you." She shook my hand and then went to Kim.

"Jay please and this is my partner Detective Kim Burgess." I said while she was shaking her hand.

"Right well it's a pleasure to meet you both. Now I'm going to get right down to it and ask to do a cheek swab so that our lab can hopefully have the results by the time we are done discussing.

They did the cheek swab, and then she started telling us everything about what they knew about what happened to Melanie and that there were no relatives from Melanie's side. She also says that my possible daughter's name is Thea Grace. Then, she goes ahead asking me questions about how I'm going to take care of Thea. Kim is just staying silent. Being silent support. Which I was so grateful for. After what felt like an hour of talking someone came in with what I assumed were the results that would change my life. Moira took them from her and sat back down at her desk to check them. Kim put her hand on my leg because she could tell that I was anxious. It helped a little and I gave her a small smile before turning back to Moira. She looked up with a smile on her face and said,

"Well, congratulations Jay Halstead you're a father. Would you like to meet Thea she's in one of the play rooms with the other toddlers?" I was speechless. I didn't know what to say. I was in my own world.