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"How long was he up last night?", Erin asked while preparing for work.

Jay was sitting in the rocking chair with the baby resting on his chest.

It was his part to stay at home with Terry now and to his desperation he became sick just a few days after he started his time off work.

"You don't want to know. His fever is still rising. It's about 103. Finally the medicine is working. So it went back to 102 in the morning. However he cried a lot. I bet he has an ear infection. He's always touching his head while screaming."

"You should drive to Med to make sure that he's okay. Maybe Will can take a closer look at him."

"Yeah. Might be a good idea", Jay touched the forehead of the 8 months old, who was lying in his arms, tired from crying and the fever he was still fighting.

"Call me when you're back home", she begged him, giving Jay a kiss before she left for work.

Alerted by the sound oft he jamming door, Terry opened his eyes and started to cry again.

"Oh come on, buddy. It's just 6 in the morning", Jay soothed the screaming baby, getting up from his chair to walk around.

He gentely patted his back, to calm him down, stroking his little head.

"Shhhh… I know. I know you're ears hurt. Seems like we should meet uncle Will earlier than planed", he put the crying boy on the diaper-changing table.

With Terry screaming that much, it was hard to changed his diaper and his clothes. But after Jay gave him his staffed giraffe, he finally stopped whining.

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"Seems like you're right. His ears are infected. I will give him some antibiotics, so he might feel better in a few days", Will looked through the otoscope what resulted Terry starting to cry again.

"I know, big guy. Thats hurts. Especially when it's already infected", he tried to console his nephew what didn't seem to work.

Thats when Jay put him on his arms and started bouncing to calm his son down.

"Shhhhh… It's alright. You're done", he comforted the baby, who was still distrected by the examination.

"Poor guy. Seems like he's in a lot of pain. You can give him some Mortrin to numb it. But follow the instruction leaflet. And don't stop the antibiotics too early."

Will grabbed a needle, then walked back to the examination table.

"I thought we are ready to leave."

"Can you sit on the chair?"

The younger Halstead looked at his brother in confusion.

"Why are you asking that?"

Will sighed.

"Listen, Jay. He needs his first dosage as soon as possible. So it's better to give him the infusion before you continue with the fluids at home. And since you're not the first Dad that is collapsing right in front of me, I better suggested that you should sit down right here."

Finally Will was right. It nearly killed Jay to watch his son screaming and crying while the doctor inserted the needle with the help of some nurses. Terry was scared to death and Jay really worried that he wouldn't be traumatized after the whole torture.

Tiredly he made it home. Entering the living room he took the baby on his arms while taking a seat on the couch.

The Mortril seemed to work, because Terry had stopped crying. He just watched his Dad with his big blue eyes.

"I know, buddy. That was a rough time. I'm really sorry and I hope you will forgive us for causing you so much pain. But you have to understand that this was necessary to help you."

The 8 months old snuggled on Jays chest and pointed at him with his little fingers.

Seconds later Jay couldn't believe what he saw.

His little boy started to smile for the first time. A magical moment that he was luckily able to witness...