Chapter 6: What Could Have Been

"There are things that are known, and things that are unknown, and in between, there are doors."

- William Blake

It was the beginning of the third day working with the FBI. The third day since he'd seen Erin Lindsay after three years and 10 months. The third day he saw how she changed, how she looked the same, how she was the same and how she was different, yes it's confusing. It was also the third time he discovered that she is a higher rank than his boss. That she oozed confidence was the start of the second day he discovered she was a mother. The day before, everything should have been normal, no more surprises, but it wasn't.

He saw Lindsay as a mother and everything hurt because he thought that when that day came he would be there. He would be there as he would be the father, he would see her become a mother as she saw him become a father. He would know everything, for she would be his wife. He'd smile and pick her up and turn her around when they found out they were pregnant, he'd be worried when she felt bad and she'd roll her eyes at all the healthy things he'd make her eat. They would read books and more books and still feel unprepared and scared, but they would comfort each other by saying that they would not be their parents, they would be better. He would make sure she felt beautiful every month her belly swelled, he would make sure how beautiful she looked, they would stay for hours and get into arguments about the colors and the decor and everything, but none of that would matter when the fruit of their love came into the world.

He'd always felt complete with Erin, but when the thought of being a father even though he'd lost three years crossed his mind, he wanted that little girl to be theirs. He imagined what it would be like to have to wake up at night or what it would be like if she just wanted a cuddle from her daddy. He wanted to know all about that little girl and what it was like to have her in her apartment making a mess, filling the place with laughter and joy, but then it was all gone, just as quickly as it came. One minute he was certain she was his and the next he wasn't her father. His life would remain exactly the same. It was at that exact moment that hearing Erin say she wasn't his hurt him. He would be angry and hurt that she kept this from him, but he didn't feel relief when she said that who he thought her daughter was not, he felt empty.

Was it weird that he wanted that? Well, he thinks of Hailey. If Charlotte were his he would be mad at Erin, it's been three years of lies but she hasn't lied and then Hailey lied. He trusted her as his friend at the time and so she lied to him. He would never hide that fact if he were a friend of hers. However, he also understands her. He knows he wasn't the best person after Lindsay left and maybe she was right, if the girl wasn't his and seeing that she moved on and had a baby, well, he wouldn't like that at all.

When he went to his room he decided to take a shower, he wanted to cool off. It was a lot to think about. This whole situation was too much and took away any appetite he had. It didn't help, and all through the night he wondered what Lindsay was doing. Charlotte was sick. He lets his mind wander that instead of Nick going up it would be him, the father of that little girl, husband of the woman he once loved.

He thought about what the girls' routine was like. If he was there, he would feed Charlotte while he let Lindsay eat and right after she was done he would take her daughter to the bath so her mother could take her own bath, but knowing his wife, she would shower with him. the daughter. He would then go organize things in the kitchen after dinner and get his daughter to change her clothes. He thought about what they would do with their sick baby, so they would leave the three of them in bed and watch cartoons that they would already know about cooked and sautéed, but wouldn't take away because their daughter loved it.

He wanted to be a part of it, he wanted to be her father, but life is never on his side. He's moved on with Hailey and Lindsay has moved on with a daughter and maybe Nick. Jay doesn't know. He knows how wrong it is to be angry with Lindsay, he knows that just as he moved on, so did she, but he can't take the hurt out of his heart and he can't say why either.

He tried his best not to think about their "what ifs." In the "maybe one day", it was so hard not to think. He had a girlfriend, a job and he liked that, didn't he?

Jay shakes his head, as if that would dissipate his thoughts. That's because he couldn't have a daughter. It wasn't the time. How would he do with different states? How was he going to make that father-daughter bond that would have been stolen from them for three years? He shouldn't want Charlotte as his as it would be too hard for him however his mind goes back to the thought that yes it would be easy his daughter would always come first and he would move to NY. He knows it's selfish as he has a job and a girlfriend, however he knows everyone should understand his side.

Jay was restless, there were so many sensations he didn't know how to react to them. He didn't know what to do, but something was bothering him. He knew he was going to have to make it up to Hailey, but it still hurt to feel the lie she'd kept from him. He wanted to talk to Lindsay, but after the day he'd had it, he didn't even know if he wanted to know the answers anymore. Charlotte wanted him in, he knows he has to go up and in, but he doesn't know if he'll be able to, because he doesn't know if he'll be able to get into Lindsay's house and see that it's home. That when she comes home he has toys and someone to greet her, but he will never be a part of it.

He hates himself for all the confused feelings he's feeling right now. He hates the feeling that something is missing, that he failed Lindsay as a man and was being the same with Hailey now. It was all so confusing that it was hard for him to make a decision.

It wasn't necessary, as when he blinked he saw that he hadn't slept at all during the night, he'd been up all night and that meant he already had to get ready for work.

The first person to see it that morning was Hailey.

- Jay... - She approaches, she is angry with him, even if she feels guilty for having withheld the truth, she is still angry.

- Hailey... - He approaches her. - Yeah... I think we have to talk. - He starts.

- I think so too...

- But not now, not today. - He says. - I don't think now is a good time, there's a lot going on and we have a serial killer out there so we should focus on that and talk later, when tempers calm down and maybe in Chicago. - He explains. She doesn't agree, she doesn't want that, but just nods, as he was right about one thing, they had a serial killer and they should focus on that.


After a day like the previous one all you want is to ask for a day off, everyone, but the truth is they can't, so everyone just wished they had a lot to do and their minds don't think about things, but the life isn't that simple, of course Jay and Hailey had to stop the car right behind Nick's and the four of them get out together, but it's obvious.

- Hi guys, good morning. - Upton is the first to start a subject, she was embarrassed, but silence would be even worse.

- Good Morning! -Nick says smiling and Erin responds the same right behind, but she gets nervous when she notices Halstead, she doesn't know why, she just feels like that.

- Oh, Lindsay... - Upton says as they enter the headquarters. - I heard about your daughter, I hope she is better. - She says sincerely with a kind smile. Erin reciprocates and thanks him.

Erin doesn't want to go there. She's worked her mind pretty well against Halstead these past few years and when she's a mother she's got a lot to do to let her mind go there. Yet with him here, with all the emotions of everything that had happened to him and her and their baby and Charlotte, it was hard not to go there. It was hard to leave the "what if" behind. It's been hard on her since she left Chicago but she was strong and got through it all but then he came back she knows it's temporary but her mind only needed a second to bring it all out.

Call it whatever, but there was something about seeing Hailey and Jay together, she felt like there was something there, it didn't look like they were lovers, but at the same time she thought they could be. Jay shared about her daughter with Hailey yesterday. He must have been relieved, especially if he'd moved on with Hailey and if so, she again doesn't want to think about it. I mean...she's his partner right? Well...

- How is she? - Jay finds himself asking and interrupting her thoughts. That he didn't know his ex was starting to harbor a rage for him. However, Jay had been wondering all night how she was and only going almost to the fountain to find out.

- Not totally well, the medicine made her have some not very good reactions, which means busy dawn, but this morning she was sleeping peacefully, I asked Mackenzie to let me know any changes. - She counts as they enter the elevator. She almost dropped the words "you know how it is", but none of the three knew. She was the only mother there. Nick has spent a few nights and seen the situation, but it wasn't the same. And she may have moved on with her baby, but she certainly wouldn't have known how to handle it if Jay was a father and the mother was Hailey. Silence takes over as the four climb without exchanging more words. That was totally uncomfortable. And poor Nick didn't even have anything to do with this whole situation.


They start to update the findings in more detail and start following more leads. They just hope to find this child hunter before it's too late. They don't want any more bad news. In the early afternoon they get more information.

- We received a report of an attempted kidnapping in central park. - Agent Pierce appears centering in the room. - We did a search and got a picture of him. - A photo of a man appears on the screen. – His name is Garry Hughes, 39 years old and he has a criminal record since childhood. - Tess looks at Finn.

- He was hospitalized at age 13 after exposing himself in front of a daycare. - Tutuola starts... - He didn't stay even 8 months for good behavior. At 14 he was denounced for staying in the park trying to lure children with sweets, nothing went further as he never got to do anything. So around the same time his father sent him to boarding school and he only left when he enlisted in the army, but he was expelled for inappropriate behavior, he came back and was arrested for raping an 11 year old girl. - It makes everyone's stomach turn. It is even difficult for Tutuola to speak.

- We did more research on him, he got out of prison and went to Chicago. - Agent Pierce says and looks at Detectives Halstead and Upton.

- Can't we get his location? - ASAC Lindsay asks.

- Nothing, he just disappeared, but as we know he's still around, we closed all borders. We have officers all over the city, we don't warn anyone so we don't scare the civilians, but all the state police got his picture, he won't be able to escape.

- Got 3 addresses. - Downey informs.

- Okay, I want Agent Pierce to go with SSA Tucker to the first address. Rollins and Tutuola, you can go second, me and Detectives Upton and Halstead go third. - Lindsay informs and everyone prepares, apart from her, everyone else was the current partners in their respective jobs she knew they knew better how the other worked, she really wasn't excited to get in a car with the two she imagines being in a relationship but she was the lieutenant, they were the two detectives outside, she has to be professional and go with them. Also, she may not know the way they work these days, but the two of them work together and both of them have worked with her. Was it the worst personal option? Yes, but without a doubt, this was the best professional and that's what they had to be.

- This man has been doing this since he was young, let's make sure he never touches a child again. - Tucker warns before everyone leaves for the address they received.


Lindsay gets in the driver's side and lets Jay and Hailey decide who will go in the front, they don't really talk about it, Upton thought he wouldn't want to go with her in the front but he didn't say anything and for the sake of having been longer partners he enters the front, it's a strange situation and they don't know what to say, luckily for them Lindsay's cell phone rings.

-I'm sorry, I wouldn't normally answer, but...-She starts to apologize for her lack of professionalism, but it was Mackenzie and she was worried about her daughter.

- Go ahead. - Hailey says so.

- How is she? - Lindsay didn't wait for a formal greeting and got straight to the point, as she had to focus on work, but hearing about the case made her want to drop everything and be with her daughter, but first she needed to make sure her parents would have a chance. quiet night with one less killer on the loose.

- She woke up looking for you, it took a while to calm down and then I let her watch TV in her room, she is very quiet, she doesn't want to do much, but I managed to give her breakfast and now I made macaroni and cheese she didn't even want to even eat, but I managed to get a few spoons. - She counts.

- This is normal, the pediatrician said she would be a little wilted these next few days, there is natural yogurt in the freezer, try to give it to her. The doctor asked for healthy things, but on the last occasion you might try to bribe her with some crap, she has skwinkles in the upstairs closet, you know she doesn't refuse that for nothing. - She says and laughs as soon as the nanny laughs. She doesn't notice Jay attentive and if it was back in the day he would have laughed or scoffed, he always tried to bribe Lindsay with crap when she really wanted something, especially Skwinkles, she probably got her daughter hooked on that too, very early on in their friendship it was crap when they started to dating… No, he certainly wouldn't go there with his ex at his side and his current one right behind him.

- Okay. - Mac says. - Mommy? - The three listen to the child's background voice. - Yes, do you want to say hi? - The young woman offers, no one sees when the girl climbs onto her nanny's lap and puts her cell phone to her ear. 'Hi Mom...' Hailey watches her boyfriend tense up, bite his jaw and focus on the road, but as wrong as it is, it's not just Lindsay paying attention to the conversation.

- Hi my sunshine, how are you? – She is totally awkward having this conversation with her two ex partners present.

- I wanty you. - She says in a tearful tone ignoring her mother's question.

- I know and I wanted to be there too, but as soon as Mom catches this bad man we'll spend many days together. -She says, as she was already planning to take a few days off due to her first year with the girl officially being hers.

- I wanty you now. -She cries and her cry breaks the hearts of everyone present. They overhear Mac trying to calm her down by talking about everything they can do while Mom doesn't arrive and everything they're going to do when she does.

- I know my love. - Lindsay forgot them both, this feeling of abandoning her daughter is shit and she needs to be strong. - But you have to have fun with Kenzie just a little longer and soon I'll be there. - With Mackenzie's conversation and her mother's words, she finally calms down.

- Will you catch the bad thugs? - She questions.

- Yes, baby. - She guarantees.

- You and Uncle Nick? - She questions.

- All of us. - Erin says clearing her throat.

- Jay too? - She says excitedly.

- Yeah him too. - Lindsay looks quickly at him. - Sweetie...

- Is he coming today? - She says and Upton pays even more attention to it, Jay didn't say anything to her.

- Charlotte... - Erin begins.

- Hi Charlie... - Jay makes his entry into the conversation, it was stronger than him.

- Jay! - Erin feels the child's mood change.

- How are you? - He asks.

- I am tired. - She counts.

- Well, you are a strong girl and it will get better. - He is kind.

- Will you want to see my toys? - She asks changing the subject.

- Clear. - He clears his throat nervously and before she can get into the subject of each of the toys that Jay will meet, Lindsay interrupts.

- Sunshine, Mom is at work, can you say goodbye? - She asks kindly.

- But...

- Okay little show, say bye and be good to Kenzie ok? - Lindsay asks and the girl agrees with an "uhm". - Okay baby, can you let me talk to her, please?

- Yes, bye Jay, I love you mom, from here to the moon. - She says before transferring the cell phone to the nanny.

-Round trip. -She says and doesn't need to see her daughter's face to know she has a smile on it. - Okay, Mac... - She says as soon as the phone goes from the daughter to the nanny. - I don't want you two to leave under any circumstances, I don't want you to risk this man on the loose, you can have a lazy day today and only open the door if it's for me. - Lindsay warns just in case. After having confirmation from the girl that Lindsay has entrusted her daughter to, she hangs up. - Sorry about that. - Lindsay starts.

- It's all right. - Jay says.

- No problem. - Hailey adds, even wanting to understand why Jay is going to visit the girl that is not his, but she doesn't say anything and they are in an uncomfortable silence, as they wish they had taken the nearest house. Again they are interrupted, this time it was Lindsay's radio.

- ASAC... - It's Agent Tucker calling. - There's nothing in this house. - He informs.

- Understood, we are 5 minutes from our destination. - Their address was the furthest away.

As soon as they get out of the car they position themselves. Halstead is first, followed by Upton and right behind Lindsay.

- FBI, open up! - Lieutenant Lindsay shouts and when they don't receive any answer Detective Halstead stares at her and she waves for him to violate the entrance. As soon as the door is kicked in, Detective Upton enters with her gun pointed she walks clearing the hallway, Lindsay is right behind, gun leveled and lastly Halstead, his gun is in hand.

- Clean. - Halstead yells as he looks at the first door in the hallway as Upton enters the room.

- Clean. - She screams and stops at the beginning of the second hallway and lets her partner pass. Lindsay is further behind them both, taking care of the stairs and the entrance while the detectives survey the first floor of the house.

After realizing it's clean, Halstead walks to the stairs to protect, Lindsay walks past him, her gun now on sight and she is accompanied by Upton, while this time Halstead is watching. Once they are at the top they both stop on either side, with two fingers the lieutenant signals Upton which way she will go as she advances towards the second floor rooms. After the detective nods Lindsay follows the path with Upton close behind, they both clear the second floor. The survey is not over and they leave together for the basement. Lindsay positions himself to the left and Upton to the right while Halstead is in the middle and kicks in the door. The three give it up and when Upton finds the switch and turns on the light the three are shocked by what they find.

It's technically a kid's room, fully equipped, but it's extremely scary as it has disgusting and horrible pictures of kids, all three's stomachs churn and Lindsay would cry if she didn't have to maintain her composure. The red shoelaces are on top of a wooden table one that has a notebook full of notes, several photos scattered around, has children's clothes, every piece, even the underwear, they notice the blood on the floor and they have a mattress in the corner.

-Hey..-Lindsay catches the two's attention with a whisper as she walks to a place where she has traces of blood. - That's... - She says pulling an iron bar and with that she lets the plate fall with a big bang, she looks and it's literally what she feared, it's a hiding place. She watches a girl, apparently 6-8 years old, she is naked, bruised and completely scared. -Hey...-Her voice is soft like the one she uses with her own little girl. - You're safe, we'll help you. - With the help of Upton who appears with a blanket she gently covers the girl. She looks at the detective and both are teary-eyed and she realizes that it's no different with her ex partner. She then watches him give her privacy and goes to ask for backup. - You're safe, everything will be fine. - With those confident words of a mother, the girl quickly snuggles into ASAC's arm.

-Hey...-Halstead appears and quickly apologizes when he sees the frightened girl. He walks away, knowing that this is not his moment, but from afar he informs the three of what he has achieved. - Yeah... the ambulance is already coming and I asked for reinforcements. - He counts and they both nod.

As soon as the ambulance arrives and the girl refuses to be separated from Lindsay, she takes the girl while everyone else leaves the house. Halstead doesn't care about professionalism at the moment.

- Hey... - He approaches Hailey and they hug.

- This is horrible. - Her voice is shaky, but she doesn't allow herself to cry.

-I know...-Jay he says regretfully and pulls away, enough to look her in the eyes, but his arms are still around her. - As horrible as it is she is alive, she will come home. - He tries to see at least one good thing in this situation.

The girl was examined quickly in the ambulance, the paramedic said they would have to make the rape kit, but apparently she was not raped, blood was on her forehead right at the eyebrow line, a cut in her mouth, elbows and knees scraped. , she was physically assaulted, but it would be a relief if they confirmed non-sexual assault. The child's parents arrived quickly at the scene and Lindsay walked away as soon as possible, she would have noticed Upton and Halstead if she hadn't been shaking all over and needing to make a call, this time she video calls Mackenzie.

- Hi... is it...

- Where's Charlotte? -She asks moving away from everyone, the curious, the officers, the expertise, paramedics, she just watches the screen in front of her.

- She's sleeping... - She shows the little girl in an Elsa from Frozen dress, her messy hair overshadowing her pretty face as she sleeps with her pacifier.

- Can you please wake her up? -Lindsay asks, she knows she shouldn't be unfair to the sick girl, but she really needs to see her daughter, hear her and talk to her. Hailey gets out of Jay's arms and they both watch the scene.

- But she... - Mackenzie starts, but Lindsay doesn't let her finish.

- I know, but I need this, 5 seconds... - She says and watches the girl wake up her daughter gently. Charlotte is a little confused and lost, she turns around holding her stuffed dog and that's when tears fall from the young mother's eyes. - Hi my sunshine, I love you so much! - She says to her daughter wiping her tears, the case is being difficult for Halstead and Upton that they don't even have a son, imagine for Lindsay.

- Why are you crying? - With a sleepy voice your perceptive little girl asks.

- I just miss you, that's all. - She lies, in part in the case, because now she can't be with her daughter and that's what she wants most, but she needed to ensure that that sick person never gets close to a child again. - I'll come home soon I promise. I love you so much, sunshine. - She says and hangs up. - Let's get this bastard! - She says to the two detectives as she goes to the car with both on her heels, she saw that the two watched her, but couldn't care less. She had a fear and a feeling about her daughter that made her put her professional side aside.


At FBI Headquarters, cameras where they get the closest to the locations where the killer passed are all watched. It's not just Marvin who looks at the cameras, everyone is watching and trying to find anything that indicates places where this man might be.

- Lieutenant Lindsay. -The receptionist calls her, who was sitting at Tucker's desk evaluating the cameras, she didn't want to stay in the office, she has one, but it's like she doesn't have one, she likes to be with everyone. As soon as she has the desired attention she continues. - There's a child and a man wanting to talk to you.

- You can let them up. - She says and the woman leaves. The headquarters weren't surrounded by anything else, they were just watching some recordings, nothing compromising.

- Hi Lieutenant, my name is Billy and this is Sarah's sister, Samantha. - The man says.

- Hi... how is Sarah? - Lindsay says after smiling quickly at the girl.

- She is recovering, the doctors say she will be fine and will be discharged soon. - The girls' father says.

- Thank you for saving my sister. -The girl hugs Lindsay's legs and her father quickly pulls her back.

- Samantha! -Her father scolds her. - I'm sorry about that... - He says awkwardly.

- It's all right. - Lindsay is not normally in favor of touching people who are not close to her because of the corona virus, but she really understands the girl.

- I'm sorry... - The child says. - It's just that... - She takes a deep breath and continues. - I should have gone in her place and...

- Samantha... this is not your fault daughter... - The man begins.

- Hey... - Erin bends down to the girl's height. - Your father is right, it's not your fault. - She reassures the girl. - But why do you think that?

- We were playing in the park, I wanted to go on the slide, but she said she wanted me to see her going and then a man came and... - She starts nervous and looks at her father. He didn't know anything, his daughters were with their aunts and they only found out that she disappeared hours later. "He said he wanted me to go get a stuffed toy from his car…" She says, her eyes filling up. - I didn't want to and he offered it to Sarah, but she really wanted it and I said she couldn't go, but he said it would be quick, I said we couldn't go, but neither he nor Sarah heard me. I called my aunt Carol but she wouldn't hear me, she was talking to someone and so I said no to Sarah, I said only if Aunt Carol let me and the man told me to go ask, when I came back they were gone . - The girl tells everything, her eyes full of tears.

- When was that? - Halstead appears asking. - We have not received a kidnapping report. - He remembers.

-It was earlier today, but Carol is my wife's sister, she didn't want to tell why she was scared, we found out hours later. - The man says angrily.

- All right, Sam... - Tucker appears next to Lindsay. - I'm Nick. - He introduces himself standing at the girl's height. - Can you tell me if you can identify the person? - He asks and looks from the father to the girl. He realizes that the father took the child precisely to help with the case and the information that the 10-year-old girl had. When she nods, he shows her 8 photos.

- It's that! - She points exactly at the man they suspect. They get some more information from her, but nothing that really helps them with the man's whereabouts.

Time goes by, they interrogate witnesses from both parks. The one about the kidnapping attempt and what he managed to kidnap. They also continue to watch the camera recordings. They get answers, but none of them are the ones they want to hear "we found him" so badly. Then the hours go by and it gets later and later, they go from normal to overtime and Lindsay realizes how tired everyone is. She was in her office as she needed to take a call. With that she noticed everyone.

Marvin rubbed his eyes but didn't take them off the screen. Mike and Monica were both at their desks sifting through some files on possible locations, but all they got came to nothing. Tess was currently talking to Mike and showing him something she can't really tell what it is. Amanda and Tutuola weren't at headquarters, they had returned to SVU. At another table that Jay was offered were Upton and Halstead. They were focused on what they were looking at, Lindsay realized and remembered how she watched him, how his brow furrowed as he read, or how he unconsciously bit or licked his lip. It messed with her when they were partners and when they started a relationship she was happy to be able to do something about it. She watches Hailey looking at him and wonders if they think the same way or if Hailey did something about it too.

Her heart ached to think that she wasn't his anymore, just a co-worker on a temp job that luckily for them (professionally) was coming to an end. They are focused, but she can see how tired they are. She then gets up and leaves.

-Ok, as much as we want this bastard to be arrested as soon as possible, he doesn't have much we can do, go back to your homes and...

- No, let's stay! - Tess interrupts.

- You are very tired, we have already seen the recordings, we have heard witnesses, we have looked at the possible places he could be and none of this has led us to this man, the borders are closed, highways and airports are surrounded, when we get any address, we will, I can't make you tired and when we find him you're tired, we can't give him that taste. Go home, rest and keep an eye on your phones, maybe I need all of you. - She says and without further discussion everyone starts getting ready to leave.

- ASAV. - Marshall makes his entrance.

- Principal. - Lindsay says as soon as she sees him. She doesn't need to say anything, she just walks into his office when he does the same waving to the detectives and agents. - We don't have much to do and they are exhausted. - She begins.

- That's not why I'm here. - He interrupts her. - I saw that you are very close, tell me what you discovered so far... - He says and sits down, Lindsay also sits down and starts.


Outside, some are getting ready to go, but not Jay, he's looking at the office.

- Hey, Jay... let's go! - Hailey calls him.

"Yeah, you…" He says looking at her, but Hailey knows where he was looking.

- What's going on between you two? -Her question is sudden, but she needed to ask.

- Anything. - He answers confused.

- It's the third day since you guys met again, you're not being yourself and...- Jay looks around, Mike is getting his coat and Tess is sitting at her desk, everyone else is gone. Jay gets up and pulls her into the FBI break room.

- There's nothing going on. - He starts.

- No Jay, I trust you, it's just that you're weird, you're acting differently and you don't tell me things, you told Erin's daughter that you were going to visit her and now you want to stay later. I just want to know what's going on. - Her eyes fill up. - I heard the woman say that the girl's favorite food is macaroni and cheese, her name is Charlotte and I saw her pictures. Jay..." She approaches him and puts her hand on his shoulder. - I'm not going to get mad or whatever, it's not your fault, so please tell me… Is Lindsay's daughter yours? - She says seriously, she thought a lot about it, Jay walked away the night before and didn't want to talk, she thought maybe he was hiding something from her or he was afraid of the reaction she would have.

- No Hailey, I told you she is adopted. - Jay responds with a little anger that she thinks he's lying and hiding it from her. - I wouldn't hide my daughter and I wouldn't even lie about it. - He explains.

- All right, but who's to say Lindsay isn't there? She may be trying to protect her daughter or I don't know, she doesn't want to admit the mistake she made, I think you feel that too, because why else would you want to insist on it? - She asks.

- She's not lying Hailey. - He feels a duty to protect Lindsay.

- How can you be sure? I... think you should try taking a paternity test and...

- I believe in her and I won't make that mistake...

- I'm sorry I... yeah... I'll... uh... - Tess didn't know they were in the room, did she catch them having a dr? She believes so and is totally embarrassed.

- No, it's... you can come in. - Halstead speaks for her. He and Hailey leave the room towards the table. - Hailey... - He takes her by the arm only for her to turn to him. - I think we need to talk, the two of us and me and Lindsay and I promise to tell you everything as soon as I know everything, I can't tell you anything right now because I don't have any answers for you, but I'm not hiding anything from you , I promise. I'll settle here and head back to the hotel. - He says and she nods unwillingly, but she felt the sincerity in his words and so she didn't argue. He's a little annoyed that she doesn't want lies, since she was the one who lied, but he didn't say anything.

Jay hasn't lied, he's not hiding anything from her, he doesn't know what he's feeling, he can tell he's never felt this way before, he's confused and that's why he sits and waits until Marshall and Tess have the last few that were left to leave.

- Are you still here? -Lindsay was standing at the door and looking at Jay and Tess, but she imagined her friend was going to wait for her father, but she didn't understand Halstead.

- Good night Linds. - Tess says and Marshall smiles leaving and leaving the exes alone. Jay didn't speak until he was sure the elevator had started down.

-Yeah...-He clears his throat and gets up, he's facing her, but they are far apart, he at his temporary desk and Lindsay at her office door. - I imagine you're tired and probably want to see your daughter, but... - He takes a deep breath and approaches. - I don't know how to act here LIndsay! - He throws his arms in frustration. - I'm confused and... and I don't know if I should just ignore all these last few years, should I be angry or just wait for this affair to end so we can get back to our lives, but I feel like I deserve answers, I need you to tell me everything. Why do you apologize, tell me where you are, say we need to move on, get all the paperwork done in our apartment by email and then a lawyer... - He says the last part hurt. - None of this should have been through messages, none of this gave me answers and I may have taken your advice and moved on from years ago but I still need answers, I need the whole truth why in a way I don't know explain I feel like you're hiding things from me, I see in your eyes guilt and pain, I see that you avoid talking to me or looking into my eyes, so even though this is not the time and there's a lot going on, I need them and I need them now. He speaks in a way that Lindsay can't say no and just hearing his plea brought tears to her eyes as well as his.

-Alright.. it's me...-She starts and thinks about how she's going to do it. - Jay I... - Okay, if tiredness, the hard day and the desire to see Charlotte didn't stop them, Lindsay's cell phone would. 'I'm sorry I...' She starts but Jay shakes his head, it could be her daughter or Hughes and he can't help much against it. So she answers and quickly she hangs up. - They found Hughes.

"Some wars never end. Some end in uncomfortable truces. Some wars result in complete and total victory. Some wars end with a peace offering. And some wars end in hope... But all these wars are nothing compared to the most frightening war of all. The one you have yet to fight.."

- Grey's Anatomy


A/N: I know you guys are looking forward to the conversation, but this was really the worst time for them to talk. Don't kill anyone for now, especially me, you guys depend on me for the sequel. Hahaha and I swear, you will know very soon the story of baby Linstead! I know you're wanting to know what happened and I'm not going to get too far about it.