Timeline: Season 7

Complete: Feb. 10, 2020

It was a slow day for the intelligence unit, it was as if the criminals of Chicago all decided to take the same day off. To keep his team busy and so they didn't kill each other with their antics, Voight decided to have his team update their CI files.

Hailey was working on her CI files while listening to Adam complain about there not being any action. After a while, Hailey gets tired Adam's complaining so she tunes him and everything in the bullpen out.

By tuning everything out, Hailey is surprised when Jay appears next to her desk instead of sitting at his own. "What's up Jay?" she asks. Jay tilts his head in the direction of the breakroom, indicating that he wants to talk in private.

Hailey follows him into the breakroom before repeating her question. This time Jay answers, "Can you give me a ride home? I don't feel good," he asks embarrassed.

Surprised by his admission, Hailey takes a closer look at her partner. He looks tired and pale, his face is flushed probably from a fever, "Yeah, what's wrong?" she asks reaching out to feel his forehead, which is burning.

"I just feel sick," Jay tells her, not liking how vulnerable he feels at the moment.

"You're burning up," she confirms. "Are you hot? Cold? Achy? Tired?"

Jay just shrugs, meaning 'yes, but I'm not going to admit it', at each symptom she list, giving Hailey her answer. "I have a headache and feel a little nauseous too," Jay tells her leaning into her touch as she still hasn't moved her hand from his forehead.

"What about your throat? It sounds sore," Hailey asks. Jay shrugs like before. "Okay, I'm going to tell Voight that I'm taking you home. Do you feel like you're going to vomit or do you just feel nauseous."

"Just nauseous."

"Okay, go grab your things," she tells him as she leaves the breakroom to talk with their Sargent.

"Sarge?" Hailey questions knocking at his door. Voight looks up from the paperwork on his desk. "I'm taking Jay home, he's not feeling well."

"What's wrong?"

"Don't know, but it sounds like the flu."

"Okay, are you going to stay with him?"

"I'm just going to make sure he gets in okay."

"Get him home before he spreads his germs here," Voight tells her ending the conversation.

"What about my truck?" Jay asks when they get in Hailey's car.

"Do you still have an extra set of keys in your desk?" Haile questions him. Jay nods. "Okay, I can drop it off tonight when I leave and have Vanessa follow me."

"Thanks."

The ride is quiet after that, Jay trying not to fall asleep to the movement of the car.

"Jay, we're here," Hailey wakes him.

"Thanks," Jay tells her as he gets out of her car. "What are you doing?" He asks confused when he sees her getting out of the car too.

"I'm making sure you get in your apartment okay," Hailey answers as she follows him into the building.

Jay opens the door to his apartment, "Happy?" he asks.

"Very," Hailey deadpans. "Go change, take something for your fever, and lay down. Do you want me to call Will?"

"No, I'll text him later."

"Okay. Feel better and call if you need anything," Hailey tells him as she leaves.

Once she leaves, Jay locks the door behind her before doing as she told him.

One o'clock hits and Hailey is just finishing her CI files when her phone rings. Looking to make sure it isn't Jay, Hailey sees that it is Will calling.

"Hey Will?" she answers.

"Is Jay okay?" Will answers.

"What?"

"Is Jay okay? He's not answering me."

"He said he would text you. I took him home probably two and a half hours ago. He wasn't feeling well. He's probably sleeping."

"What's wrong with him?" Will asks concern in his voice.

"I don't know. He just said that he felt sick, which I was surprised that he even said that. He had a fever, and mentioned a headache and feeling nauseous. I figured it was the flu, but I think this is your department, not mine."

"Okay, thanks for letting me know."

"No problem. Let me know if he needs anything. I've already told him, but I doubt he actually will."

"I will. Thanks Hailey."

Will opens the door to his brother's apartment when he gets off of his shift later that day. Before going to his brother's apartment, Will made a stop to pick up some things for Jay, including: crackers, Pedialyte, broth, and some ginger tea. Placing those items on the counter, Will goes into his brother's room to check on him.

"Jay?" He knocks on the door. Opening the door, his nose is attacked by the smell of sick. Will turns on the light to see that Jay is sleeping and there is vomit in the bucket by his bed. Placing a hand on Jay's shoulder, Will can feel the fever through his shirt.

Will leaves his brother to grab the thermometer form the medicine cabinet. Placing the device on Jay's forehead Will gets a reading of 104.6. Eyes wide at the reading, Will knows that he has to wake up his brother, "Jay, wake up!"

"Wha'?" Jay asks confused.

"Jay, you're burning up. When was the last time you took something?"

"When Hailey dropped me off," he answers more awake.

"Jay, what's wrong? Don't lie."

"Throat, head, tired, cold. I got sick, sorry. I'll clean it when I'm more awake."

"It's okay, you got it in the bucket. Jay, can you touch your chin to your chest?" Will asks wanting to make sure Jay doesn't have meningitis. Jay looks at him confused but does as he is told with no problem.

"Okay. Jay you have a really high fever and you're dehydrated. I need to take you to Med. I'm going to take care of this," Will tells him referring to the bucket, "Then we'll go."

"I hate hospitals," Jay tells him. "I'll be fine- please don't make go," Jay begs.

"I know. But you need to go. I promise I will not leave you."

"Okay." Hearing Jay agree Will knows that his brother must really be sick.

"Will, I feel better. Really," Jay tries to convince him while lying in a bed in a treatment room at Med.

Before Will can rely, Natalie walks into the room. "What brings you here?" she asks while looking at the chart.

"Will worries too much," Jay answers.

"Hailey brought him home early from work. High fever, vomiting, probably dehydrated," Will list. "He mentioned a headache, but can touch his chin to his chest."

"Okay," Natalie says as she looks at Jay's chart. "Temperature is still high. Jay when was the last time you took something for that?"

"When Hailey dropped me off."

Natalie looks to Will for a better idea. "Maybe ten-thirty?" Will guesses.

"Okay, I'm going to take some blood and get an IV going."

"I swear, I'm fine," Jay tells them.

"It will only take a second," Will promises.

Will tries to distract Jay as Natalie sticks the needles into his arm. "All done," Natalie announces. She gets up and pats Jay's shoulder, "Try to sleep some."

"Do you need anything? Will asks after she leaves.

"To go home?" Jay tries.

"Sorry, Bud."

Jay leans back and drifts to an uneasy sleep.

Forty-five minutes later Natalie re-enters the room, "Did you get his blood work back?" Will asks.

"Yeah, can you wake him?"

"Jay? Time to wake up," Will calls.

"What's happening?" Jay asks when he comes to.

"Natalie has your blood test results back."

"So, it shows that you have high anti-bodies for Epstein-Barr virus."

"What's that mean?" Jay asks.

"It means you most likely have Mono," Will explains

"Most likely. How long have you been feeling sick?" Natalie asks.

"Honestly," Will reminds his brother.

"A week," Jay sighs.

"Jay," Will scolds.

"Okay in that case we can do the mono-spot test. It will take about an hour for the results to come back."

"Okay."

Natalie uses this as an opportunity to prick his finger to get blood, knowing his aversion to needles, before leaving.

Natalie leaves ttheo two brothers alone.

"How did I get this? I thought it was for kids," Jay asks closing his eyes.

"Adults can get it too. Why didn't you tell me you were sick last week?"

"Thought it was a cold."

How's Jay? Hailey texts Will while they were waiting for the test to come back.

Pretty sick. Waiting for another test to come back.

Any idea what's wrong?

Looks like mono. Said he's been sick for about a week. Has he seemed off at all?

No, but it's Jay. He wouldn't show it. Need anything? I can bring it by when I leave work.

I should be able to bring him home in an hour or so. Can you stop by the store on your way home and get some popsicles, Jell-O, and apple sauce?

Yeah, any flavors I should avoid.

Citrus could bother his throat more.

Okay.

"Will," Natalie calls when she comes into the room. "He does have mono, so I want to take him for a CT scan to check his spleen."

"Okay."

"Do you want to wake him or leave him be?"

"Let him be I feel bad that we keep waking him," Will answers. Jay wakes up when they go to move the bed, "Jay go back to sleep; you're okay, they're just taking you to get a scan." Jay falls back to sleep, body exhausted from being sick.

He briefly wakes up again when he is transferred to the machine but falls back to sleep which is unusual for him.

"Verdict?" Will asks when Natalie reappears in Jay's treatment room.

"Wake him up?" Natalie asks.

Will does what he is told receiving a groan from Jay.

"What's happening?" Jay asks when he is more aware of his surroundings.

"Both tests came back," Natalie informs him. "You do have mono and your spleen is enlarged, a fairly common complication of mono."

"What does this mean? What about work?" Jay asks.

"Mono isn't an airborne illness, so you won't get others sick that way. Just don't share eating utensils, food, or drinks, and be careful if you cough or sneeze. I'm writing you a doctor's note for a month. After that, you can go back to work if you feel up to it, but if not I can write another note to extend your sick leave. When you do go back it will be on restricted duty because of your spleen."

"How long will this last?"

"Symptoms last one to four weeks and you are probably in week two, but it can take you to two months, sometimes longer, to feel up to resuming your normal activities; but you will most likely be too exhausted to function for a couple of weeks at least."

Jay groans hearing this.

"Drink lots of fluids, get plenty of rest and take Tylenol and Motrin for the fever. If you feel a sharp pain in your left side get to Med immediately, it could be your spleen."

"Can I take him home now?" Will asks.

"Yeah, I'll get his discharge papers. Feel better Jay," Natalie tells the brothers.

"Hey, thanks for getting these," Will thanks Hailey as she hands him the bags.

"How's he doing? Is it mono?"

"Yes it is and he's sleeping. He's going to be exhausted for a while. I managed to get some Motrin into him, but I think the pills hurt his throat."

"Okay, if you guys need anything let me know. Even if you need me to stay with him while you have a shift," Hailey tells him while walking out the door. "Oh, before I forget, I got some liquid Tylenol for him. Figured it would be easier on his throat. I couldn't find anything else though, looks like that what the only type that makes a liquid version for adults."

"Hailey, wait a second," Will tells her before she can leave.

"What's up?"

"Natalie wrote him a doctor's note for a month, I was going to stop by the district to give it to Voight, but if you could take it tomorrow, that would be great."

"Yeah, no problem."

"Jay owes you," Hailey hears behind her as she walks out of Jay's apartment.

"Hailey? Anything on Halstead?" Voight asks her when she gets in the next day.

"He's going to be out for a while, mono. Will gave me a doctor's note for Jay that he got when he took him to Med," Hailey tells their boss while handing him the note.

With the team short a detective, they were forced to work on their backlogged paperwork.

"Hailey, any idea when Jay's back?" Adam asks.

"No, but Will made it sound like it would be at least a month."

"Hey, how's he doing?" Hailey asks when she stops by at the end of the day.

"He's okay. He made it to the couch today," Will looks back to the couch before inviting her in.

Hailey walks over to the couch and places the back of her hand on his cheek to feel his temperature, "He still so warm," she comments.

"It should go away in a few days," Will tells her.

"Hailey?" Jay stirs, knowing it isn't his brother's hand on his face.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" she asks.

"Tired," Jay answers while trying to sit up.

"No, don't move," Hailey tries to stop him.

"I've been laying all day," Jay insists.

"Do you want anything to eat?" Hailey asks. Jay shakes his head.

"Come on, Bud. You need to eat," Will tells him.

"Did Will tell you I brought over some Jell-O last night? Do you think you can eat that?" Hailey tries. Jay nods and both Hailey and Will take that as a win.

Will goes into the kitchen to grab the Jell-O cup and a spoon for Jay. Jay slowly eats the Jell-O until it is just crumbs left.

"Why don't you go to bed?" Hailey suggests when she sees Jay fighting sleep.

"I've been sleeping most of the day," Jay complains.

"You needed the rest," Hailey tells him.

"Thanks for stopping by," Jay tells her.

"No problem, text me if you need anything. Both of you," she tells the brothers before leaving the apartment.

The next night Hailey gets a text asking if she can sit with Jay. She agrees instantly, knowing it is probably killing Will to leave Jay.

"How is he?" she asks when getting to Jay's apartment.

"Okay considering. He's probably going to sleep most of the night, but in case he needs anything, I'd feel better if someone was with him," Will admits.

"No problem. I've got it," Hailey reminds him while looking at Jay who is once again laying on the couch.

"Call if you need anything," Will tells her.

"We'll be fine. Go to work." Hailey practically has to push the older brother out of the door.

"Will?" Jay calls for softly.

"Will just left for work," Hailey tells him. "What do you need?" she asks while feeling his forehead again.

"Never mind," Jay mumbles not wanting to bother her. "You should go home, I'll be fine."

"Somehow I don't think that's the case. And Will would kill me if I left you alone. Now, what do you need?" Hailey asks again.

"Are you hungry? Thirsty?" She tries again when he doesn't answer. "You feel a little cooler." When Jay still doesn't answer Hailey gives up on getting an answer from him and goes into his kitchen to grab something for him to drink. Rooting around in his refrigerator finding a bottle of Pedialyte that Will brought over the first day he was sick. Pouring some into a cup, she brings it out to Jay.

"Thanks," he whispers as he takes small sips, trying not to hurt his throat.

"All you have to do is ask. You are not bothering me," Hailey reminds him.

After Jay drinks the offered liquid, Hailey makes him lay back on the couch. He lays his head in her lap while she runs her fingers through his hair, knocking him out in less than a minute. Hailey turns on his TV and puts on highlights of the game making sure the sound isn't loud enough to wake him up.

When Will gets back at six in the morning, he finds the two in the same position. He takes a picture on his phone before waking the two of them, sending Jay to his room, and making sure that Hailey is on her way home before she has to go into work.

Six weeks later Jay has enough energy to return to work. Jay is happy to be back even if he is on modified duty because of his spleen.

"Halstead, ready to stop being a lazy ass!?" Ruzek yells when he sees Jay at his desk in the bullpen when he walks up the stairs.

"Dude I wasn't being lazy, I was sick," Jay tells him annoyed.

"For almost two months? Okay, sure," Adam nodded.

"Adam, leave him alone," Hailey orders. "Are you caught up?" Hailey asks turning her attention to Jay.

"Yeah, trafficking," Jay answers.

"Everything okay?" Hailey asks surprised by his short answer.

"Fine. Just…" Jay tilts his head in the direction of Ruzek.

"Don't listen to him."

Jay seemed to settle down after Adam left him alone. With Jay on modified duty, he was stuck writing up search warrants and keeping an eye on their suspect's online activity.

By the end of the day, Jay managed to go stir crazy. Packing their things, the Intelligence Unit minus Jay and Hailey decide to meet at Molly's. Instead, the two go back to his apartment.

"How was your first day back?" Hailey asks.

"I went stir crazy after six minutes," Jay deadpans.

"When can you go back into the field?" Hailey asks.

"I go back to Med in two weeks for another CT scan," Jay yawns.

"I think that is my cue to leave," Hailey notes.

"You don't have to," Jay tells her fighting another yawn.

"I'm going. You- get some rest. You still aren't one hundred percent," Hailey tells him, not giving Jay a chance to respond before she gets up to leave. "I'll see you tomorrow."

When Jay is finally cleared for full duty, he is at the end of his nerves with Ruzek. Even though cleared for full duty, Jay is still easily tired, sometimes sneaking into the locker room for short naps since being out in the field is zapping a lot of his energy. It takes another two months after being back to full duty that Jay is back to his normal self.

A/N: Hey all! Wow, half-way done. Crazy. The next one is not finished yet and I have classes all throughout the summer. Good news is that the two following that one are finished. I have not forgotten about "Man's Best Friend," I just haven't had time. I might scale back and instead of trying to balance three stories and only focus on two. (Right now I'm writing for "A to Z," "Man's Best Friend," and Deaf Jay). No promises on a set schedule, since I can no longer keep track of what day it is due to the state I'm in being in lockdown, other than trying to post once a week ("Man's Best Friend" and other upcoming stories) I will do my best to keep this one on Saturdays.

Conversions:

104.6= 40.3

Questions & Comments

Chilly83- Chapter 12- I don't dislike Erin at all, but I really don't like the way she left. I'm glad to see Hank stand up for Jay. I often wonder if she came back if people would act like nothing happened or they would tell her she was wrong. I'm glad you mentioned k! I have to go back and read that now!

Response: I hope the response that everyone had to Erin returning was in character. I felt that Ruzek would be that person where nothing had changed; Hailey would be there for Jay; Vanessa would be friendly; and, Kim would still be friendly with Erin but let her know she didn't agree with how she left.

JONI- Chapter 12- I didn't expect that of Hank, but glad he did. Erin's not to be trusted. Great chapter. Loved it.

I used to be on the Lindstead train, but I am now on the Upstead one. Did anyone else notice in the impromptu season finale Jay had to be reassured by Hailey that she was coming back even after they made plans for when she got back to Chicago? Erin leaving the way she did, I feel, played with Jay's sense of trust.

Stay Safe Everyone