Timeline: Post Season 7; Follows "U" & "V"; AU Pat Halstead is still alive

Completed: Aug. 3, 2020

Disclaimer: Idea started before COVID-19

Two weeks after the fundraiser, Hailey and Jay are getting to go to Natalie and Will's for dinner. "It's going to be fine," Hailey reassures Jay.

"I didn't say anything."

"You didn't have to. You look really tense," Hailey tells him while rubbing his arm.

"Maybe it's not too late to cancel."

"Jay, what's wrong? You were quiet all day at work."

"Nothing."

"Jay," Hailey repeats.

"Headache."

Hailey reaches to feel his forehead, "You feel warm," she tells him cautiously since he just got over being sick a week or so ago.

"I think it's stress-induced."

"Okay, do you want Tylenol?"

"No, it should go away once this is over with."

"Okay," Hailey reluctantly agrees. "Come on, when we get back, we can relax," she tells him while pecking his lips.

"Okay," he agrees while letting her pull him towards the door.

The drive to Will and Natalie's is quiet, but Hailey can sense that Jay is in a mood and remains quiet.

Arriving at Natalie's house the two notice that Will's car is missing. "If he bailed," Jay starts.

"Hey, he probably ran out to grab something," Hailey grabs his hand walking with him to the door.

Before they have a chance to knock, Natale opens the door to let them in.

"Where's Will?" Jay questions.

"He should be back soon; he was just dropping Owen off at Helen's."

Jay raises an eyebrow.

"Will was worried about him being here if you and your dad got into it."

"See, I shouldn't be here," Jay tells Hailey.

"Jay, don't start. It's not going to be as bad as you think."

Seeing Jay's demeanor Natalie tries to distract him, "Can you two help me with dinner? I'm a little behind."

"I'm not sure that's a good idea. Jay might give everyone food poisoning," Hailey jokes.

"Can you handle a salad?" Natalie turns to Jay.

"Sure," Jay answers and follows her into the kitchen.

The three work in silence for a while before Jay starts coughing into his arm. "How are you feeling, Jay? That cough doesn't sound good," Natalie comments.

"Fine," Jay answers.

"I think he felt a bit warm," Hailey tells the pediatrician.

"Have you been sick since the fundraiser?"

"No," he tells her.

Natalie looks to Hailey for confirmation. "He was sick for a week, but he said he had a headache before we left and he can't seem to shake the cough."

"I told you the headache is from stress."

"So, you felt better then sick again?"

Jay nods.

"Can I check you out? You might have pneumonia."

"That's not necessary."

"Okay," Natalie gives in. "But if it's not better in a week stop by med and I'll check you out."

"I'll make sure of it," Hailey agrees before Jay excuses himself from the room to use the bathroom.

"You didn't need help, did you?" Hailey asks once she is sure that Jay is out of ear-shot.

"No, but I could tell he needed the distraction."

"Why?"

"I learned a long time ago that if Will was going to be in my life, Jay would be too, by extension. He's family."

Before Hailey can reply Will opens the door, "Look who I found in the driveway," he states as he walks in with his father.

"Dad," Jay greets stiffly as he walks back into the room.

"What are you doing here?" Pat asks surprised.

"I invited them," Will tells their father.

Pat then notices Hailey, "Who are you?" He asks the blonde.

"Hailey Upton," she introduces herself.

"My girlfriend," Jay adds.

"You have a girlfriend? Does she know you're a murderer?"

"Pops!" Will yells.

"Jay's not a murderer," Hailey defends while grabbing Jay's hand for support.

"Dinner's ready. Why don't we sit down?" Natalie suggests trying to ease the tension in the room.

The group moves into the dining room so everyone can have a seat.

The tension in the air could be cut with a knife. "You could have done so much better Jay. Look at your brother, he has a degree. What are you going to do if you can't be a cop anymore? How would you support your family?"

"If that were to happen, we would figure it out," Hailey answers placing a hand on Jay's thigh under the table.

"Should you even have kids? You're mentally unstable," Pat states.

"Pops!" Will exclaims.

"His PTSD doesn't define him," Hailey defends. "And, he'd be a great father."

Pat ignores her, "Speaking of kids, am I getting a grandchild anytime soon?" He asks Will.

"We have our hands full with Owen right now," Will answers.

"Have you decided on what you're going to do down the road?"

Will and Natalie look at each other. "When we get married, Will's going to file for guardianship," Natalie answers.

"Why not adopt him? Halstead is a great name."

"I'm not his dad and I'm not trying to replace him. His dad died a war hero and if the only connection to Jeff he has is his name, I'm not going to change it," Will answers. "I don't need a piece of paper to tell me that Owen's like my own."

"Well then, who's going to carry on the Halstead name?"

"We'll have at least one more eventually. But for right now," Will trails off.

"What about you two?" Natalie asks.

The two detectives look at each other before Hailey answers, "We both want kids eventually, we're just waiting for the right time."

"Probably for the best. Jay would just screw the kid up," Pat brings up his earlier point.

"Pat, Jay is great with kids," Natalie tells Halstead senior. "He's one of the better police who deal with kids in the ED."

Pat scoffs and the table finishes their dinner in silence as the more reasonable adults know anything they say is going to be Pat trying to break down Jay.

After dinner is over Natalie and Hailey go into the kitchen to clean up a little while the father and sons go into the family room.

"Will, your mother would be proud of you," Pat tells his oldest son.

"Mom would be proud of both of us," Will responds. "Jay's something to be proud of."

"Your mother wouldn't be proud of a killer."

"You can't speak for mom," Jay states. "When she was dying, you were getting drunk."

"When your mother was dying, you were off killing people," Pat spits back.

"I was fighting a war. I came home."

"But it was too late– she was already dead."

Jay goes to rebuttal but starts coughing instead.

Pat shakes his head in disgust, "You were always weak. Were always sick growing up, I guess somethings don't change. Look at Will, he works in a hospital and he's never sick. You would think between the two of you it would be him who gets sick. Your mother should have listened to me when I told her to abort you."

"POPS!" Will yells.

"What? He's weak and a killer, what mother wants that for a son?"

"At least mom taught me compassion," Jay responds. "That's something you'll never have."

"Compassion is weakness, real men are strong."

It is this moment that Natalie and Hailey walk into the family room. Hailey goes right to Jay, knowing that he is about to shut down from his body language.

Hailey looks at Jay, blue meeting green, silently asking if he is okay. He responds by looking at her, no, but I can't show it.

Hailey pecks his cheek before cuddling into his side.

"What's going on?" Natalie asks. "We could hear the yelling from the kitchen."

"I'm just talking with my boys," Pat answers.

Hailey, sensing that Jay is in a mood decides it's time to leave, "Jay, do you want to leave?" she whispers into his ear.

Jay squeezes her hand in response.

"Will, Natalie, thanks for having us, but we have a high-profile case, so Voight wants us in tomorrow," Hailey tells them.

"Okay, I'll walk you out," Natalie offers.

"Nat, I can," Will tells her.

"No, stay with your dad," Natalie insists as she walks with the two detectives.

"Is everything okay?" Natalie asks concerned.

"Yeah, it will be," Hailey answers as she watches Jay get in the driver's side of the truck.

"Okay. Make sure he's drinking plenty of fluids, I don't like the sound of his cough," Natalie tells Hailey.

"I will. Can he take anything for it?"

"I'd rather he didn't. If it is pneumonia, he needs to be coughing up the gunk that's in his lungs," Natalie advises.

"Okay. Thanks, Natalie."

"No problem, call if you need anything."

Hailey nods before climbing into Jay's truck.

The ride back to his apartment is quiet, Hailey knowing better than to push him too much.

"Hey, what's going through your head?" Hailey asks, grabbing his arm as they walk inside the apartment.

"He's right."

"About what?"

"I'm a murderer," he answers sitting on the edge of the bed.

"You're not a murderer," Hailey responds softly, sitting next to him.

"I've killed people before. That girl from the preschool, she was innocent."

"You didn't want to, though. You didn't have a choice."

"I've still killed people."

"Jay, I've killed people too. Does that make me a murderer?"

"No, of course, you're not."

"Then why is it different for you?"

"Because… because it just does."

"No, it isn't. You are a good man. You wear your heart on your sleeve, but that's what makes you Jay."

"Can we stop talking about this? I think my dad made my headache worse."

"Okay, I'm going to get you some Tylenol. Please take it."

"Okay."

Hailey makes her way to the bathroom to grab the pills from the medicine cabinet and then to the kitchen to get a glass of water. She finds a tall glass and fills it with water before going back to Jay.

Walking back into the bedroom, Hailey sees that Jay had changed into sleep pants and an old t-shirt.

"Here, drink all of this," she tells him handing him the glass and pills.

"This is a lot of water for two pills," Jay comments.

"Drink it all. Natalie said you need fluids."

Jay sighs and takes the pills before downing the water. "Are you staying?" Jay asks as he lays down.

"Do you mind?"

"Never."

"Okay, give me a minute," Hailey tells him as she goes to change.

When Hailey climbs into bed next to Jay, he pulls her against him. Hailey rests her head against his shoulder.

A few hours later, Hailey wakes up to the bed shaking. Thinking that Jay is having a nightmare, she prepares herself to have to defend herself. When she turns on the bedside lamp, she sees Jay trying to muffle his coughing.

"Shh, you're okay," she comforts while rubbing his back.

"Sorry I woke you," Jay apologizes after he stops coughing.

"Not your fault," Hailey assure him. "What's wrong? You look like you're in pain," Hailey.

"I'm fine."

"Jay."

"It hurts a little when I cough," he admits under her stare.

"Your throat?"

"No. My side."

"Where?"

"Here," Jay answers placing his hand on his side where his ribs are.

"Okay, we should go to Med when we get up tomorrow- or I guess later."

"No, it's fine."

"Jay, for the past two weeks, you have been coughing so much. I'm afraid that you could have cracked a rib."

"I don't have a choice, do I?"

"No," Hailey answers. "Do you think you can go back to sleep?"

"Yeah," Jay goes to lay back down before Hailey stops him.

"You should be elevated some," she tells him as she moves his pillows around.

"Hailey, I'm fine."

"I know, but this will help with the coughing."

Jay sighs before leaning against the pillows, wrapping an arm around Hailey. "What's wrong?" She asks him.

"What if Will agrees with my dad?"

"About what?"

"He said that my mom should have listened and had an abortion."

"That's– he doesn't deserve to have you as a son."

"What if Will agrees?"

"Is that when we heard Will yell?"

"Maybe. I don't know."

"He's wrong. You know that I love you, right?"

Jay slowly nods.

"And that Will and Natalie love you, too?"

Jay shrugs.

"I know from the little that you told me about your mom that she loved you."

"Sometimes, I think she was the only one who did while I was growing up."

Not knowing how to answer, Hailey just hugs him.

"It doesn't hurt," Jay tells Hailey as she pulls up to Med.

"Jay, you're not getting out of this," she replies as she finds a parking spot.

The two detectives make their way into the ED where Natalie spots them right away. "Is everything okay?"

"Yes," Jay answers.

Natale then looks to Hailey. "He said his side hurts when he coughs. Can you check to see if he cracked his ribs or something?"

"Yeah, treatment two is open," Natalie answers as she leads them into the room.

"Okay, hop up Jay."

Jay does as he is told and Natalie gets his vitals.

"Okay, low-grade fever and your lungs sound wet. I want to get a chest x-ray and that will check on your ribs and it will tell us if you have pneumonia," she tells Jay before turning to Hailey. "I'll need you to step out while we do the x-ray."

"Okay," Hailey agrees.

"No, I don't want Will finding out we're here."

"Jay, he's your brother– there's no way that he would think that."

"There's no way that a father should think that, but mine does."

"I can tell that Will cares about you. He wouldn't think that."

"Is everything okay?" Natalie questions.

"Just… last night some things came up," Hailey vaguely answers.

"Okay," Natalie responds sensing Jay doesn't want anyone else to know. "Jay, it will only take a couple of minutes. He probably won't even notice her."

"Okay," Jay gives in defeated.

Hailey takes that as her cue to step outside.

"Okay, Jay, when I tell you, I need you to hold your breath."

Jay does as he is told.

"Good. I'll get Hailey."

Natalie pokes her head out of the room to get the blonde detective.

"What's the verdict?" Hailey asks when she re-enters the room.

"The good news is, your ribs aren't cracked," Natalie tells them.

"Then why do they hurt him?"

"It happens, probably from coughing so much."

"What's the bad news?" Jay questions.

"See the white spots?" Natalie asks. Once the detectives nod, Natalie continues, "That is pneumonia. Now with the severity of your symptoms, I would say it is atypical pneumonia otherwise known as walking pneumonia."

"What's that mean?" Hailey questions.

"What does that mean for work?" Jay asks at the same time.

"It means that he's going to be fine. You can work, but I want you to keep pushing the fluids. Tylenol and Motrin for the fever, if you need a break don't go into the field."

"Does he need antibiotics?"

"I would rather not give him any and see if it clears up on its own. I don't want Jay to become resistant to antibiotics when we already have to eliminate anything in the penicillin family," Natalie answers. "If he's not better in a week, then I'll give him a prescription."

"Okay, is that all?" Jay asks.

"Yes, but please be careful. I'd rather not see you in the ED."

"What are you talking about?" Jay asks confused.

"You said Voight wanted you guys in today. I assumed you came here before you were going into work," she responds just as confused.

"Oh, yeah, right," Jay mumbles as he walks out of the exam room.

"He's just- yeah," Hailey doesn't know what to say without breaking his trust.

"Will," Natalie calls spotting her boyfriend looking at a chart.

"Yeah?"

"Whatever is going on between you and Jay- just take care of it."

"What are you talking about?"

"You were brought up and then Jay got weird."

"What are you talking about? When was this?"

"Hailey brought him in. She was worried about his ribs from coughing. Jay didn't want you to see her while she was standing outside of his room during the x-ray."

"Wait, is he okay?"

"Just check on him later, you know I can't tell you. And before you try snooping, I locked you out of his file."

"Will? What are you doing here?" Hailey asks as she opens the door to Jay's apartment.

"I came to talk to Jay. Is he busy?"

"He's on the couch," Hailey answers, moving so Will can enter the apartment.

Will walks into the apartment to see Jay lounging on the couch. "What's going on with you?" Will asks.

"What do you mean?"

"Natalie said you got weird today at Med. I tried calling you but you weren't answering, so I called Voight. I got worried that you got hurt and taken to a different hospital. Guess what he said," Will directs at him. "You weren't on duty. Why did you lie to me? And why were you at Med? Natalie said something about your ribs."

"Jay, do you want me to stay?" Hailey asks.

"I can handle it," Jay answers.

"Okay, I'll see you tomorrow," Hailey tells him. "Bye Will."

"Um, Hailey thought I cracked my ribs from coughing so much."

"Jay."

"No cracked ribs, but I do have walking pneumonia."

"Jay!"

"Natalie said I was fine. I don't even need antibiotics."

"Why did you lie about working today?"

"I couldn't be around dad anymore."

"Jay, he's an ass. You don't have to listen to him."

"Easy for you to say."

"What do you mean?"

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"About?"

"When he said mom should have listened about aborting me. Is it because you think that too?"

"What no!"

"Then why didn't you say anything?"

"He's our dad what did you want me to say? He's not going to listen and you know that."

"I don't know! But I thought you would say something!"

"Jay, you're my brother. Why would I think that?"

"I don't know."

"I love you, you know that right?"

"Hailey said that."

"Jay," Will sighs pulling his brother into a hug. "Stop," Will orders him as Jay tries to pull away. "I'm sorry I made you think that," Will apologizes.

A/N: Sorry it's late... I couldn't figure out the last 600 words. I don't really like this chapter, but here it is. I wanted to do more with Pat, but couldn't think of anything else, and I don't think he would be the type to physically abuse Jay... at least with witnesses and I feel like Hailey wouldn't leave him alone with Jay. But if you want to see that, check out "The One That Doesn't Count" by floopdeedoopdee.

Update on all stories:

-"Rock Bottom": I have not forgotten about it. It will be completed, but I am holding off on working on that until I have time to do more research to portray the subject in a respectful manner.

-"Man's Best Friend": Hopefully getting back to a regular schedule. I have no end at this point, so it will be continued for as long as people are interested and I can keep it fresh.

-Whump prompt by floopdeedoopdee: in progress. Have part of chapter 1 done, it will be 5 chapters. I will post when it is complete, one chapter a week.

-Deaf Jay: I am still on chapter 3. The problem with that one is that I am using the deaf chapter from here for the first chapter, so I am trying to make all chapters around 3,000 words which takes me more time than my normal 1,000-2,000 word chapters.

-"A to Z": So, there's three more chapters and I only have to write two of them. I'm going to miss writing one-shots. Should I do a "One-shot Sunday" and publish random one-shots on Sunday? If I did, I would be taking requests- I would just need to figure out how that would work so the request would all be in one place.

Questions & Comments

floopdeedoopdee- Chapter 22- Loved it! Poor Jay! Figure Adam would be an overly competitive goober! Lol. I can't wait to see Jay's dad be mean to him in the next chapter. I wish they would have had some more Pat/Jay/Will run-ins on the show! Well done!

Glad you liked it, but now you made me nervous about meeting your expectation for this chapter.