Timeline: Season 7

Completed: Mar. 2, 2020

After a grueling five days, the intelligence unit was finally able to close the case that they had been working on non-stop. An up and coming drug cartel have started trafficking Afghan children, mostly immigrants, along with the drugs.

Working tirelessly, the intelligence unit had managed to capture all of the members before they started dropping bodies. With the members of the cartel captured and the case closed, the children are now in the custody of DCFS with the hope that they can be reunited with their parents.

While the officers of the unit had returned to the Twenty-First, Hailey and Jay had remained on the scene to interview the children. With many of the children only speaking Pashto, it was up to Jay to do most of the interviews. Hailey interviewed the children who were able to speak English and kept an eye on her partner, knowing that cases involving children always affected him a bit more.

After almost four hours, Hailey and Jay were able to join the rest of their team at the Twenty-First. "How did the interviews go?" Kim asks when the two walk into the intelligence bullpen.

"The kids went through a lot," Hailey answers.

"A lot? Hailey, they went through Hell," Jay argued.

"Well, the good thing is that they are safe with DCFS now, right?" Kim asks trying to be positive.

"Yeah, but it won't erase what happened," Jay came back. "A lot of them didn't speak English either. DCFS is going to have to find a translator."

"Jay," Hailey sighs, "Take the win. We got the cartel before bodies started dropping, we got the drugs off the street before they hurt people, and the kids are safe."

Voight hears, his team talking from his office. Stepping out of his office he calls everyone's attention, "Call it a day. You can finish your paperwork tomorrow. You don't need to be in until ten," he adds.

A chorus of thanks Sarge can be heard throughout the bullpen as Voight goes back into his office. "Who's up for Molly's?" Atwater asks. Various answers of agreement make their way back to him.

"Last one there buy's the first round?" Ruzek asks. At his question, the rest of the unit quickly leaves the bullpen wanting to beat Adam.

"Am I the last one here?" Adam asks as he enters Molly's.

"Jay still hasn't shown up," Kevin answers.

"Shouldn't he be here by now?" Vanessa asks.

"Do you know where he is?" Kim asks Hailey as they all turn to look at her.

"No. I'll text him," Hailey states, now worried about her partner.

"Maybe he saw someone who needed help on his way here?" Kim suggests. "You know how he's always trying to help people."

As Kim is speaking, Hailey's phone goes off with a text from Jay, Sorry, I started feeling sick after I left the district so I went home instead. Tell the others I said sorry and I'll buy the first round next time.

Do you need me to bring you anything?

No. Plus, I don't want you to get sick.

Okay, feel better and text me if you change your mind.

Thanks.

"Jay's not coming," Hailey tells the rest of the group.

"Why not? Doesn't want to get the first round?" Adam jokes.

"No. he said he started to feel sick when he left the Twenty-First so he went home. He also said to tell you guys sorry and that he will get the first round next time."

"Or maybe he met someone," Adam pipes up.

"What makes you say that?" Kim asks her ex-fiancé.

"Because he seemed fine when we left?" Adam asks like it is the obvious answer.

"I don't know, Adam," Vanessa replies, "You know that feeling can come on pretty quick at times. And he seemed pretty quiet after he got back from interviewing the kids with Hailey."

"But he's always like that with cases that involve kids," Adam argues.

"Adam, I'm sure if Jay's not really sick, he has a reason for not showing," Hailey tells him, "But I don't think he would lie about this."

Hailey manages to get the others on a topic other than Jay and their case. For the next hour, the team enjoys their drinks and the time that they are able to talk about non-work related things.

Deciding to call it a night, Hailey makes a stop to a grocery store to pick up some things for Jay, knowing he doesn't have anything in his apartment.

Not knowing what is wrong with him, Hailey gets a variety of items including Gatorade, Ginger Ale and tea, crackers, canned soup, and vanilla yogurt.

Knocking at his door, she calls, "Jay, open up. I have some things for you." Not receiving an answer, she knocks louder.

When the door finally opens, she pushes her way in before he can close it on her. Hailey places the grocery bag on his kitchen counter before turning to him.

"What are you doing here?" he asks as he walks into the kitchen with her.

"You never have anything here on a good day, so I brought you some Gatorade, Ginger Ale and tea, crackers, canned soup you can heat, and vanilla yogurt," Hailey answers while reaching out to feel his forehead for a fever. "You don't feel warm," Hailey notes, noticing that while he doesn't seem to be running a fever, he is a bit pale, "You should try to eat something," Hailey suggests.

"I'll pass on that, but I will take some Ginger Ale," Jay states as he pours some out of the bottle and into a cup.

"What's wrong?" Hailey asks as the two of them walk over to his couch.

"Don't know. Just started feeling nauseous when I was leaving work," Jay tells her as he sips on the soda.

"Have you been sick at all or do you just feel like you need to be?"

"I've tried, but nothing comes up."

"Do you want to lay down? Maybe you can sleep it off," Hailey suggests.

"No, that makes the feeling worse," Jay starts gagging before rushing to the bathroom with Hailey following close behind, worried about her partner.

Jay leans over the toilet, spitting into it. Hailey rubs his back, not knowing what else to do. "You should really go. You don't need to see this and I would feel worse if I got you sick," Jay tells her when the feeling subsides.

"I'm not leaving you if you're sick. And you were probably contagious while we were at work." Jay only groans as his partner is talking to him. "Do you want me to call Will?"

"No, I don't want to bother him."

They sit on the bathroom floor for another twenty minutes, Jay alternating between leaning over the toilet and leaning against Hailey before he loses the contents of his stomach. Hailey rubs his back and speaks to him softly as he gags.

Hailey grabs a cup and puts some water in it for him, "Here. Rinse and spit," she tells him. Jay does as he is told. "Do you think you're done?" Hailey asks.

Jay answers by retching into the toilet. "It's okay. Let it out," Hailey comforts as his body shakes.

When Jay's stomach stops tormenting him, Jay is able to lean against the tub. Handing him the cup again, Hailey orders, "Rinse and spit." Jay does as he is told again. "Do you think you're done?" Hailey asks again.

"I think for now," Jay says hesitantly.

"Are you feeling any better?"

"Not really," Jay murmurs as he leans against her.

Hailey feels his head again, still not feeling a fever. Wanting to make sure it's not his appendix, she asks, "Where does it hurt?"

"Stomach."

Not getting the answer she wanted, Hailey tries again, "Jay does it hurt here?" She asks as she puts pressure on his lower right side.

"No."

"Okay. Do you want to move back to the couch?"

"I don't know if I should."

"Okay, I'll grab you a bucket." Jay just nods.

"Come on," Hailey guides Jay back into the living when she comes back a moment later. Hailey turns on the television to re-run of the Fire game from the day before, knowing that Jay likes soccer.

As they watch the game, Hailey is absent-mindedly rubbing Jay's back. With the combination of feeling sick and the soothing motion of Hailey rubbing his back, Jay drifts to sleep.

It's not until the end of the game that Hailey realizes that he has fallen asleep. She doesn't want to wake him, but at the same time, she knows he will sleep better in his bed and she wants to try to get something in his system before she goes home for the night. "Jay, wake up," she whispers, not wanting to startle him.

"Wha'?" Jay asks tiredly.

"Hey, I'm going to leave soon. I thought you would sleep better in your bed and I wanted to try to get something in your system. Do you think you can eat a couple of crackers and drink some Gatorade?" Hailey asks.

Jay is silent for a moment, "Crackers maybe. No Gatorade," Jay finally answers.

"Jay, you're going to get dehydrated. What about ginger tea?"

"I can try."

"Okay, sit here. I'll be right back," she tells Jay as she makes her way to his kitchen.

When Hailey comes back a few moments later, she finds Jay slouched against the arm of the couch. Placing the cup of tea and the plate of crackers on his coffee table, she wakes him up.

"Hailey?"

"Yeah, it's me. Try to eat this and then go to bed," Hailey hands him the plate with five crackers on it and the cup of tea. Jay slowly nibbles on the crackers until he's eaten most of them.

"I can't eat anymore," Jay tells her when he is halfway through the fourth one.

"That's okay. Try to drink some of this, the ginger should help settle your stomach," she tells him as she hands over the cup.

"Why did you stay?" Jay asks as he sips on the drink.

"What do you mean?"

"You know you're probably going to have the same thing as me in a couple of days, right?"

"I already told you. You were most likely already contagious at work today. Besides, I know you're just a lug when you're sick."

"Thanks, for everything," Jay yawns.

"No problem. Are you done?" When Jay nods, she takes the cup and dumps the rest into the sink and throws the uneaten crackers in the trash. "Go to bed, I'll bring the bucket in in a minute." Jay goes into his room, while Hailey cleans up the mess in his living room.

Hailey knock on the door, "Jay, can I come in?" she asks. She answers after hearing a muffled yes. "Hey, here's the bucket."

"Thanks," he murmurs already half asleep.

"Do you need anything before I leave?" she asks him.

"No, I'm good. Thanks."

"Okay, I'll check in with you tomorrow. Just try to sleep this off."

"Thanks, Hails."

When Hailey gets home, it is well past midnight. Glad that Voight is giving them a later start, Hailey quietly makes her way to her room, not wanting to wake Vanessa. Hailey quickly falls asleep once she is in her own bed.

The next morning Hailey wakes up to the smell of coffee. Looking at her phone to check the time. Seeing that it was nine o'clock, Hailey forced herself to get out of bed.

"Hey, when did you get back last night?" Vanessa asks, Handing Hailey a cup of coffee when she sees her emerge, texting on her phone.

"After midnight," Hailey answers as she takes a long sip of her drink.

"So, you were with Jay?" Vanessa asks with a knowing look.

"Yeah, he really was sick last night. He probably picked up that stomach virus that's been going around the city."

"That sucks," Vanessa comments.

"Yeah, I just hope he doesn't think he's okay to work today."

"He'd try to come in?"

"Knowing Jay? Yes."

"Where's Halstead?" Voight questions when he realizes one of his detectives is missing.

"I don't think he's going to be here today," Hailey tells him.

"Why not?"

"He was sick last night," Hailey answers him, "I think he got that stomach bug that's making its way through Chicago."

"Well if he contacts you, let him know he should have let me now himself," Voight barks before returning to his office.

"Has he answered you back yet?" Vanessa asked Hailey.

"Not yet, but if he had a rough night he's probably still sleeping. If he doesn't answer by lunch, I'll head over there to check on him," Hailey tells her after checking her phone.

Since they just closed a major case, the team was working on completing their paperwork for the Ivory Tower. While working on her reports, her phone dings notifying her of a text.

Sorry, I'm just getting back to you. Just woke up. Still feeling the same.

Have you been sick at all since last night?

Couple of times.

Do you need me to bring you anything on my way home?

No, you've done enough.

Okay, text me if you change your mind. And try to eat and drink something even if you don't feel like it.

Yes, Will.

Hailey rolls her eyes at his last response, before texting Will. Hey, what should I get Jay? He said nothing, but I know he's not going to eat.

"Hey, Will," she answers when her phone rings a moment later while walking into the breakroom.

"Hailey, is Jay okay?" He responds quickly.

"He's not hurt, but I think he picked up that bug that's been going around. He's gotten sick a few times and it was hard for me to get him to eat anything. I picked up some Gatorade for him last night, that's good for you right? But I couldn't get him to drink any; I know he likes it, he drinks it when we go to the gym. And I got a couple of crackers into him, but I don't know how long that lasted."

"Okay, don't worry about it. I'll stop and check on him when my shift is over. Did he have a fever?"

"I didn't check, but he didn't feel warm."

"Okay, it sounds like a stomach virus, let it run its course. Was he altered or delirious?"

"No, just tired, sick, and miserable," Hailey lists.

"He'll be fine, I'll stay with him," Will tells her. "Oh, and for future reference: If Jay's sick, he won't drink Gatorade. He always complains that it makes him nauseous. He does like the Berry Frost and Blue Raspberry Pedialyte, Grape will work too."

"Isn't Pedialyte for kids?"

"It is, but it's not going to hurt him if he drinks it."

"Okay, let me know if there's anything you need me to drop by on my way home."

"We'll be fine."

When Will finishes his shift at Med, he goes home to let Kohl out, before stopping at the to get food for Jay.

Will quickly goes through the store, grabbing bread, apple sauce, bananas, Pedialyte, ginger ale, and apple juice. The first five items being good for him and the last one being something that their mom always got them to drink when they were sick.

Will unlocks Jay's apartment when he gets there to find it dark. He turns on the light before placing the items that he got on Jay's kitchen counter. Will then goes to check on his brother, first looking in his bedroom only to find it empty. He then goes into the bathroom to find Jay asleep on the floor, head laying on a towel as a pillow.

"Jay," Will coaxes awake. His brother only moaning in response.

"What?" Jay mumbles once Will manages to wake him up, "What are you doing here, Will?"

"Hailey told me you weren't feeling well. She asked me what she should get for you, but I told her I'd check on you."

"'m fine."

"When was the last time you've gotten sick?" Will asks, noticing the lack of color Jay has.

"Don't know."

"How many times?"

"I don't know. Every half hour or so?"

"Okay, you're probably dehydrated. Do you think you can drink some Pedialyte?" Jay shakes his head no. "Okay, let's get you to the couch," Will tells him, trying to think of what their mom did for them when they were sick growing up.

Jay slowly gets up with the help of Will. He makes it to the couch with the help of his brother. Will gets the bucket from Jay's room and brings it to his brother before grabbing a blanket out of his closet.

Will covers Jay with the blanket, before placing his hand on his brother's forehead to check for a fever. Jay weakly tries to swat his hand away. Will ignores his brother, "I don't think you have a fever, but I want to make sure," Will tells Jay as he walks towards the bathroom to grab the thermometer that he placed there.

Returning to Jay, thermometer in hand, "Here let me take your temperature," he tells Jay as he tries to stick the thermometer in his mouth. Jay takes the device from his brother and sticks it under his tongue himself.

Halfway through the reading, Jay starts to gag, Will grabs the bucket and holds it under Jay's chin with one hand while grabbing the thermometer with the other. "Just a little longer," Will encourages his brother. Not able to hold it any longer, Jay opens his mouth heaving. Will takes the device, placing it on the coffee table, before rubbing Jay's back as he dry heaves, eventually bringing up acid. "You're okay. Jut breath."

"Sorry," Jay apologizes when he catches his breath.

"Do you think you can try again?" Jay just nods his head. Will gives Jay the thermometer and this time Jay is able to hold it for the full time. When it beeps, Jay lets Will remove it to see the reading, "97.8, no fever. That's good, how are you feeling?"

"Tired," Jay murmurs.

"Jay, try to drink some of this," Will orders his brother while handing him a cup of Pedialyte. Jay looks at it skeptically, before taking a tiny sip. "More, you're dehydrated and at the point of dry heaving." Jay drinks a little more, before looking at Will, begging him with his eyes to let him stop.

Giving in, Will takes the cup, "Okay, why don't you try to go back to sleep," he asks while adjusting himself so he is under Jay's head and can rub his back.

"You should go. I don't want to get you sick," Jay tries to get Will to leave.

"No, Jay. I'm around germs all day, I've built up a tolerance. Besides, I'm not afraid to be around my brother when he's sick." Jay, too tired to argue, just adjust himself to be more comfortable on his brother's lap and falls back to sleep. Seeing that he's won for now, Will turns on the television and searches for something to watch.

Jay jerks awake sometime later gagging. Will quickly grabs the bucket, getting it under Jay's chin just in time. Will rubs Jay's back as he throws up the little Pedialyte he managed to get Jay to drink.

"Do you think you're done for now?"

"No, but I don't have anything left."

"I know. I know," Will says while rubbing his back. Eventually, Jay decides he is done, so he leans against Will closing his eyes. "I'm going to empty this. Will you be okay for a couple minutes?"

"Mmm-hmm." Jay leans his head back against the back of the couch.

"Hey," Will says when he walks back into the room, not wanting to startle his brother. When Jay makes a non-committal noise, he continues, "Do you think you can lay back down or do you want to sit up for a while?"

"Sit." Will sits next to his brother and Jay lays his head down on his shoulder. Jay eventually falls asleep like this, causing Will to adjust his so he is laying down.

Jay manages to sleep for a couple of hours before waking up again. Jay stretches out, causing Will to notice that he has woken up. "Hey, you need to eat something. Do you think you can manage some toast?"

"I don't know."

"Can you try?"

"I think." Will makes two pieces of toast for Jay. Jay forces down a piece and a half before putting the rest back on the plate. Will then holds a cup of the Pedialyte in front of Jay, silently telling him to drink. "No."

"You're dehydrated."

"It's going to make me sick again."

"Jay, if you don't get fluids in you here, I'll have to take you to Med for an IV." Not wanting to make a trip to the hospital, Jay takes the cup and takes a couple of small sips. "More." When he drinks enough that Will is satisfied, Will takes the cup, before tuning of a documentary about sea life.

"You should go home," Jay tells Will after the documentary is over.

"Why? Tired of me?"

"You have Kohl."

"My neighbor said she would let him out for me."

"I think I'm going to bed."

"Okay, do you need help getting there?"

"No," Jay answers as he sways getting up.

"Sure, you don't," Will sarcastically states as he steadies his brother.

Will gets Jay to his room and helps him get settled before turning to leave. Will goes back to the living room to get the bucket, placing it by his bed before spraying the couch with disinfectant, so he can spend the night there.

Jay wakes up through the middle of the night, the familiar feeling in his stomach. Not realizing that Will placed the bucket by his bed, Jay races to the bathroom. Leaning over the toilet, Jay tries to be quiet, not wanting to wake Will, as he throws up the toast and Pedialyte that Will forced in him.

Hearing a noise coming from the bathroom, Will listens carefully to see if he should check on Jay. Hearing Jay gagging painfully, Will knocks on the door, "Jay, I'm coming in." Upon entering, Will sees Jay leaning over the toilet, body shaking violently as he dry heaves. "Jay, let me take a look at you," Will asked.

Feeling like he got hit by a bus, Jay nods his consent.

Placing a hand on his brother's forehead, Will notes that he doesn't feel warm, but he is clammy. He then pinched a large part of the skin on the back of his hand and watches as it slowly goes back to its original position. "Jay, I really think I should take you to Med. You're dehydrated and you can't keep anything down. They can give you something for the nausea."

"I feel like I got hit by a bus."

"I know. Do you think you can stand now?" With the help of his brother, Jay manages to stand and get ready to go to Med.

Will helps Jay to his car and gets him settles into the passenger seat before driving to Med.

Arriving at Med, Jay is taken back fairly quick, since it is the middle of the night.

Jay lays on the bed letting the nurse take his vitals. "A doctor will be in shortly," the nurse tells them.

"Thanks," Will speaks for the both of them.

Not five minutes later, one of the night shift doctors comes in, "What seems to be the problem?" he asks them.

Seeing that Jay isn't going to answer, Will speaks for him, "He got sick after work yesterday, so I went over after work today and he told me that he probably threw up every half hour or so through the night. He hasn't been able to keep anything down."

"Okay, there is a virus going around right now. It sounds like he picked it up somewhere. I'm going to give him IV fluids, along with anti-nausea medication through the IV and hopefully, we can have him out of here and back at home resting in a few hours."

After the IV is set up, Jay and Will both fall back to sleep. Jay is much more comfortable than before.

By the time the IV is finished, it is seven o'clock and Jay is still asleep. Knowing he won't have time to take Jay home and return in time for his shift, he calls Hailey.

"Hey, is Jay okay?" she asks when she picks up.

"He's doing better. I had to bring him into Med for fluids. Do you think you can pick him up and take him home before you have to go into work? I don't have time to take him home and get back here in time."

"You took him to Med? Are you sure he's okay?"

"Yeah, the fluids and anti-nausea medicine really helped him."

"Okay, I can be there in twenty." She tells him before hanging up.

His next call is to Voight, so Jay doesn't have to worry about making that call, "Sergeant Voight?" Will asks.

"Yes, who is this?"

"It's Will Halstead."

"How is Jay doing?"

"Better, but he won't be in today. I brought him into Med through the night to get fluids, they're releasing him soon, but he's still drowsy."

"Let him know, he can't come back until he's no longer nauseated."

"Okay. Thanks."

"Jay," Will wakes his brother.

"Hmm?"

"My shift is starting. Hailey is going to be here soon to take you home. Is that okay?" Jay just nods his head before falling back to sleep.

Hailey arrives and is pointed to the room where Jay is in, "His discharge paperwork is already filled out. The anti-nausea medicine he was given is making him drowsy and the pills for nausea are in his room," the nurse tells him.

"Hey, I'm here to spring you," Hailey tells Jay once she is able to wake him. Hailey helps him into a wheelchair before pushing him to her car. He gets him settled before taking the chair back into the E.D. The drive is silent since Jay still has the medication in his system.

With a little struggle, Hailey is able to get Jay into his apartment and settled on the couch, "Do you need anything before I go?"

"No. Thanks for getting me though."

"Don't worry about it. I'll check in with you later, okay?"

"Okay, thanks." Hailey leaves to go to work.

Two days later Jay returns to work. He still has no appetite but he is no longer nauseous and can't sit at home any longer. Even though they are no longer partners, Hailey keeps her eyes on him for the next few days until she is convinced that he is back to his normal self.

A/N:

Conversions:

97.8= 36.6