"Please? You can't just quit. They are two very nice and good kids… It was just some harmless pranks." Jay tried to explain to the new babysitter he was currently on the phone with. Abruptly she hung up on him. Jay slammed his fist firmly on the tabletop and ran his hand through his hair in despair. His colleagues looked at him questioningly.
"What did they do this time?" Alvin asked curiously.
"Zach probably dumped chili peppers or laxatives into the Nanny's coffee." Ruzek grinned.
"No. I have to disappoint you. This time, he supposedly smeared himself with fake blood and pretended to want to eat his sister." Jay explained, leaning back in his chair, annoyed. Antonio, Kim and Alvin looked at him open mouthed and wide eyed. There was no way those two cute little Halstead kids would do that.
"So that's your understanding of harmless pranks?" Antonio wondered.
"Wow. The boy has a bloody fantasy. Maybe you should ban him from watching TV." Kevin said.
"How many babysitters do they have on their conscience?" Upton asked curiously.
"That's number three." Kim said and Upton looked at her in surprise.
"Sure, keep making fun of it." Jay said annoyed.
"Have you ever considered mourning therapy for the kids?" Antonio asked.
"I don't think they'll be thrilled." Jay replied.
"This is not a permanent solution. The kids chase away every babysitter. Even us." Adam said hinting to his babysitting, when the kids poured salt and chili into his coffee.
"They are a bit difficult at the moment. This phase will soon be over." Jay said.
"I doubt it. The children need help. It seems they can't handle the situation." Upton said.
"I don't need any advice from you. I know what my kids need." Jay said.
"Does your son have time to come back to boxing?" Antonio asked curiously.
"He's not coming to the gym?" Jay asked horrified.
"So much for knowing about your kids." Upton muttered.
"The last few weeks his visits have been very sporadic." Antonio told him.
"He was sick a few weeks ago and ... uh ... school is bothering him." Jay said.
"Okay. I thought he had no desire to be there."
For many of the intelligence members it was inconceivable that Jay came back to work after a break of just 3 days. No wonder the kids kept scaring the babysitters off. They just tried to get their dad's attention.
Angrily, Jay drove to the house which they had bought before the birth of their second child. Jay entered the house through the front door. The house looked like a garbage dump. Everywhere empty packaging, scraps of food, clothes, school supplies and toys were laying around. Lazily, the two kids lay on the couch and zapped through the television program.
"That was the third babysitter in 4 months!" He shouted.
"Relax. She couldn't do her job anyway." Zach muttered.
"If you have a problem with the babysitter, then talk to me about it. I have to work. My work hours aren't exactly family friendly. She was just helping us out and making sure this house doesn't look like a pigsty." He complained.
"If you say so." Zach muttered disinterested.
"Why are you chasing every sitter away? What's wrong with you two? You guys know you can talk to me. This family only works if we stick together."
"You can see that." Zach said.
"What does this mean?" Jay asked not understanding his son's sentences.
"I've been trying to talk to you for weeks. You're never there!" Zoey screamed suddenly.
"That's not true. I…" Jay said.
"Yes that's true. You never have time! We're not a family anymore!" Zach shouted furiously and disappeared up the stairs to his room.
Zoey silently followed her brother, leaving Jay stupid. The statement of the almost 9 year old hurt, but it was true. Helpless, he sank down on the couch. The living room was a mess. His eyes met the family picture, which stood on the shelf next to the TV. It showed a happy and cheerful family. A daughter who represented the image of her mother and a son who simply came after his father. Zoey was on his arm while Zach stood in front of them, Mom and Dad. Everything was fine during that time. They were a family.
Flashback
"The poor kid. He does not have anyone to look after him now." Erin whispered into the darkness, her head resting in the crook of Jay's neck. "He will suffer for years" Erin made allusions to the case, which the team had worked on the day before and looked at her friend thoughtfully.
"Sad but true," Jay said softly.
Tenderly, she ran her fingertips over Jay's chest. He closed his eyes with pleasure and felt the drowsiness seizing him when Erin brought him back to reality, "Jay?"
"Yes?"
"I have to tell you something."
Halstead opened his eyes, raised his head to look at Erin.
He grinned smugly, "Are you married?"
The serious look on Erin's face spoke volumes. Jay immediately noticed that something was wrong.
"What is? Come on. Talk to me, Erin" he asked worriedly.
She swallowed loudly, avoiding looking her boyfriend in the eye.
"I went to the doctor this morning."
"Okay. Why? Is it serious? "Jay asked worriedly.
"I guess so."
"Erin, what do you have? What's wrong with you?"
"I ... I am pregnant."
Totally in shock, he looked at his girlfriend.
"W-what?" Jay asked in surprise.
"We're getting a baby, Jay." Erin smiled. Jay looked at her i completely overwhelmed.
"You're sure?"
"See for yourself." Erin said, flicking on the night light and holding out the ultrasound image of their first child.
"Are not you happy?" She asked uncertain.
"Yeah. That ... that's awesome." he stammered, placing his flat hand on her belly, "I love you Erin and the baby."
"I love you too." Erin whispered and they kissed.
CPDCPDCPD
"Hank. We need to talk to you." Erin said and they sat down opposite of him.
"What do you want to talk to me about?" He asked curiously.
" Um. So. I would like to do desk work." Erin said. Jay had done a lot of persuading that his partner shouldn't be in the field anymore. After all, she should not be in the line of fire while pregnant .
"Why so? You certainly will not be behind adesk." He said.
"The next nine months at least. If not longer."
"W-what?" Voight asked stunned.
"Jay and me. We're having a baby." Erin smiled.
"So that's what you understood by no romances between colleagues, Halstead?" Voight asked.
"I thought we would be okay."
"You thought it was okay to make your colleague pregnant?" He asked and Halstead nodded.
"I thought you'd be happy, Hank", Erin asked, her voice small.
"Of course I'm happy." Voight suddenly beamed, hugging Erin and giving Jay a handshake,
."When's the kid coming?"
"The end of June." Jay said.
"Jay. I hope you know what that means. The next few years you are coming around for Thanksgiving." Voight joked.
It had been a week since her colleagues and Will heard the news. Everyone, even Voight, was completely freaked out with joy. "Cheers to Lindsay and Halstead!" Everyone who had gathered at Molly's lifted their drink to celebrate the baby news.
"I still haven't realized that you, Jay Halstead, will become a father." Mouse shook his head in disbelief and took a sip of his beer, "Do you know what it's going to be?"
Jay rolled his eyes annoyed. Everyone at Intelligence had asked him, because they had made a bet among themselves. "Mouse. Even if I knew, I would not reveal it yet. Apart from that, I don't care. I just want a healthy kid."
Burgess was immensely busy planning a baby shower for Erin while Antonio shared the knowledge he had collected as a father of two children over the years with Jay. Meanwhile, Voight had turned into a caring father, showing Erin everything she'd never known before.
"Halstead! A word." Voight grumbled, "I'm really happy for you and Erin and I'll support you, no matter how it works out between the two of you. But I want you to be a responsible father for this kid and a good one too. No matter what happens."
"Always Sarge. You have my word. I love Erin and the child."
CPDCPDCPD
The months until birth dragged on. On the parents' checklist was a pregnancy preparation course, as well as setting up the baby room and shop for baby clothes. Finally it was time. The baby came only 2 days early.
Jay held Erin's hand while Natalie proudly reported seeing the baby's head. After another contraction, the first cries of the newborn were heard.
"Congratulation. You have a little boy." Natalie congratulated. Jay was allowed to cut the umbilical cord and briefly see the baby before he was carried away by the doctor for the first examination. Erin and Jay, beamed with joy.
"So it's about time you met Mommy and Daddy." Natalie smiled and passed the little man to Erin, who was lying in bed. He was dressed in a blue baby suit.
"He's healthy and well." Natalie smiled before leaving the small family alone.
Fascinated, Erin and Jay looked at their little boy. He was so tiny. Gently, Jay lay down beside Erin on the bed. Their boy lay peacefully on her chest and slept.
Will and the intelligence came by early in the morning.
"May we introduce to you our little son, Zachary Jayden Halstead." Erin smiled, holding her baby proudly in her arms.
"Aw. Zachary is so cute." Kim raved,"I want a baby, too."
"That shouldn't be a problem." Adam grinned.
They marveled at the little man and discussed who had won the bets.
Adam, Antonio and Voight had guessed the sex correctly. Kim, Mouse and Al had guessed the surname. Platt had been right with an earlier delivery date. Only Atwater didn't win anything and nobody guessed the first name right.
"That's unfair. Platt only bet yesterday." Atwater complained.
"I just had the right feeling." Platt said.
"Yes, after the phone call that Erin was in labor." Atwater bucked.
"Now stop bitching around. Atwater. You're not a kid anymore." Platt said.
"I just mean it's unfair." Atwater muttered.
"I hope Zachary doesn't grow up the spitting image of his father." Antonio laughed.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jay complained grinning.
"It's bad enough to put up with you, but now there's also a mini-Halstead." He laughed.
Flashback
Later that evening, Jay prepared diner. Even in the fridge he found empty packaging. Silently they sat together through dinner, as so often recently.
"Mommy's plate is missing." Zoey noted and took a knife, fork, spoon, cups and plates to Erin's seat. Jay deliberately had left it out. Too much of the house reminded him of Erin.
"So. Uh. How was school?" Jay asked to interrupt the silence.
"Great! We had... it was okay." Zoey answered after seeing her brother's face.
Of course, Jay hadn't forgotten that Zoey would like to talk about her day, but Zach always stopped her. Zach had a problem with him and Zoey suffered from it.