I had thought for certain that I was done with this story. But last years storyline with Jay, Hailey and Voight tangling with FBI Agent Walker North burrowed deeply into my mind and wouldn't let go. I wrote a few chapters and let them sit. Then this summer Liam decided he needed to write a few journal entries and a short story. Then the announcement from Jesse that he was leaving the show and that made feel that I needed to make my own ending that included his fictional son Liam.

So I dusted off the keyboard and went to work to finish...once again, this story in my own way. The first part is last years fall finale and then makes a jump to Jay's departure.

This chapter is short and begins when Jay confronts Voight in the field after he discovers what had happened with Roy Walton.

Fossils and Soccer

Jay stood there looking at the vast emptiness and contemplated how big the world could be and as he looked down at his son; just how small. This isn't what he wanted, not any of it. He didn't want to believe it to be true, but he knew, he knew in his gut why he was standing here and how it came to be. This is what was tearing Hailey up from top to bottom, driving a wedge between her and everything else.

This was not the night to do this, but he couldn't stand by and watch his fiance crumble and do nothing. The last few days had given him enough pieces to put a fuzzy picture together, and that picture brought him here. It also, unfortunately, brought Liam here as well. Just as Jay couldn't wait any longer, neither could Liam. The soccer game had ended, and his son had been waiting to be picked up. But the wheels were already in motion so Liam would just have to come along for the ride.

Jay looked down to see him digging in the dirt with a stick he had found. "Do you think there's fossils out here?" Liam asked as he flung dirt from the end of the stick.

"I don't know. Maybe." Jay replied, grateful for the small reprieve of all the thoughts that had been relentlessly pecking at him.

Liam was eleven now, hurtling towards his twelfth birthday and Jay wanted to hold him in place, not allow him to grow up and lose any more of the innocence that remained. Of course, that was impossible, but it didn't stop him from wanting it all the same. Soccer and fossils, that's what his son's life needed to be right now, and for as long as possible.

"What are we doing here?" Liam asked as he popped up, standing next to Jay. "I'm hungry."

"We'll go," Jay said sighing. He had thought his actions would have summoned the answer, a confirmation, but whether he liked it or not, it would appear that it would have to wait for another day.

"Why did we come out here anyway," Liam asked as he wiped his muddy hands on his soccer uniform.

"I just needed to see what was out here."

"What is out here?"

"A great place to be if you don't want to be found."

"What does that mean?" Liam asked. "Like hide and seek?"

"Something like that," Jay said turning back to the emptiness that he knew held answers to an unasked question.

"Hey, someone's coming," Liam announced and then Jay knew his suspicion, what he had been waiting for, had just been confirmed. "I think it's Sarge," Liam proclaimed happily as he shielded his eyes from the vehicle's headlights.

"I need you to get in the truck Liam," Jay said in a controlled but somewhat stern voice.

"Why?"

"Get in the truck now and close the door, like I told you!" Jay stated, biting off the last part so hard that his son's eyes grew wide.

Liam looked back at his father, but catching enough of the man's face, he knew not to question the command. He passed by Sergeant Voight who smiled and greeted him as he headed over to his subordinate. Liam then climbed into the truck and as much as he wanted to leave the door open so he could hear, he knew Jay would be listening for the latch to catch and if he didn't—well Liam didn't want to be in the firing line of whatever was about to happen.

Jay watched his son jump into the truck and slam the door shut. He had the keys, so there was no way Liam could lower the windows and listen. He then turned his attention to his boss and that attention soon turned to fury.

Liam watched the exchange with confusion and bewilderment. His dad had been distant when he picked him up but tried to hide it. But Liam knew his moods. He knew they had dealt with a difficult case. He saw the headlines on social media. He wasn't allowed to have any accounts, but he hid them behind other apps. He knew that several bodies of boys his age and even younger had been found, and he figured that's why Hailey had been acting so weird the last few days. But come to think of it, she had been acting weird ever since they moved into the same apartment, but even more so the last week.

He knew cases that involved kids hit the hardest, so he didn't think too much about it, but what was happening in front of him was off the chain. His dad looked so mad, in fact Liam could never recall him being that upset—ever. He could hear his dad's voice but couldn't make out the words. He could see the two men square off, spotlighted by the headlights from Voight's truck, and he could tell by the body language that there was deep discord. Voight seemed to be calmly listening as his father's tirade continued. Jay seemed in control, angry but handling it. But then Liam saw Jay turn away from Voight and when he turned back around Hank had said something and Jay, whose face was full of rage hit him. The punch was so fast, he wasn't even sure if he saw it. But he could see that Sarge touched his lip and Liam knew the punch had been real. Jay shook his head and marched to the truck where Liam tried to be as still as possible and just fade into the seat.

Jay got into the truck and turned it around, not saying anything for a moment. "We're not going to talk about it okay?"

"But you hit him." Liam managed to say, unable to hold it back. "You hit Sarge." He repeated as he looked out to see the man standing there alone.

"I said we're not going to talk about it," Jay snapped loudly, more loudly than he had intended. But truth be told he was no longer in control of his emotions. It felt as if his pores were infused with anger.

"Okay, sorry," Liam whispered.

It took a minute for Jay to come down from the adrenaline spike he had been on, but when he had finally calmed down enough, he looked over to see his son study the passenger window as if it was a van Gogh.

"I'm sorry kiddo. But this is grown-up stuff, police stuff, and I don't want you to worry about it."

"Okay," Liam whispered again, still looking anywhere but at his father.

"I'm going to take you to Uncle Will's for the night."

"Why? I just want to go home. Am I in trouble? I didn't hear anything. I got in the truck like you told me to."

"You are not in trouble. Do you understand that?" God he was a shitty father. How could he have allowed his son to witness this? Be even remotely around it. He exposed this kid to so much and that was when he managed to be around. But often, too much of the day passed by with minimal contact. Jay had become the father that was even worse than his own.

"I guess," Liam replied, now picking at his shirt.

"This was between me and Sarge. You have nothing to do with it at all. I'm sorry that you were with me."

"I like to be with you." Liam said looking over at him.

Jay's breath hitched at his son's statement, and it took him a moment to regain his bearings. "I love being with you too. But tonight wasn't for you, and I'm sorry."

"Then why do I have to go to Uncle Will's?"

"Because it will be better for you there. It's just for tonight." Jay said, knowing he and Hailey had a long night in front of them.

"Are you and Hailey going to break up?"

Jay looked over and smiled, well, attempted to smile. "I don't want you to worry about that, or anything else, other than how you're going to get those grass stains off your knees.

"Do you have homework?"

"A little. Science."

"Well then, Will is the perfect guy to help you with that."

"I guess. When will I see you again?"

"I'll pick you up for school in the morning. Promise."

"Will everything be okay then?"

"I'll work on it."

"Promise?"

"I promise on that too."

And despite a night filled with dialogue and eventual sleep for Hailey, Jay kept his promise and picked Liam up for school and deposited him on time and with the declaration that they would go for pizza and ice cream that evening. The last thing he saw before he pulled away was the smile of his child, a smile that would carry him through the rest of his day.

To be continued...