As their first case wrapped up and the second case hit their tables, the dynamic between him and the boss remained the same. Jay came in early and left late the first month of his new job. It didn't seem to make a difference because apparently there was nothing he could do to get on the good side of his boss. It was still a probationary period and his new job hung in the balance on a platform that was shaking wildly. If Jay screwed up, he knew Voight enough to know that he would be out of a job and he most likely wouldn't be able to find anything better in the city. He was walking on thin ice and that was only because it felt like there was nothing he could do right.

Jay needed a drink because after this day he truly deserved one.

A few days ago he was introduced to Molly's Pub and he'd become a regular customer.

Jay stared down at the open file on his desk. He was reading through the facts of the new case, highlighting any and all parts that stood out to him. It was a thick packet, stacked with documents and photos and it was already going to be a long night for him considering he needs to get through it before he leaves. It makes for less work the next day.

And if it makes him look good in front of his boss then that's a bonus.

He wanted to be out no later than ten. And if he finished this file then he could come in around nine in the morning, the latest he's ever been in since the day he strolled in late. He's been working above and beyond to prove himself. Most of the guys on the team had already left, choosing to do their share of the work early tomorrow morning. He stayed late, sitting at his assigned desk, and scoping through the file in hopes of finding something, anything that would break the case. Jay lifts the borrowed mug –it belongs to Dawson- and he takes a sip of the coffee to stimulate his body and focus his mind, "I got something for you Halstead."

He looks up to see Voight drop three more files, just as thick, onto his desk, "Come in early tomorrow morning and start looking through these."

"…when you say early," he leaves the question open for Voight to fill in.

"Seven," he answers, and Jay releases a sigh of relief. While he once planned to come in at nine, he's just grateful that he didn't have to come in at five or six.

Voight disappeared back inside his office leaving Jay alone with enough files and documents to cover his desk. It wouldn't be like this forever, he has to remind himself. It's only temporary, it's only until he proves himself, until he shows his worth, then it should all get better.

Jay continued to flip through the file detailing their new case and when his eyes land upon the autopsy report, he pulls it out, "Tortured prior to death," he reads aloud, whispering those words to himself more than once, "disfigured," he continued to read, only uttering a few words aloud every once in a while, "injuries to the face," he glanced over at the autopsy photo, "defensive wounds to the hands," he shouldn't be looking at the photos, not this close to when he should be getting off and going home, "cause of death, blunt force trauma." He circles the word three times with a red inked pen.

It's obvious the person knew their attacker. It seems to be a crime committed out of passion, out of revenge. He grabs a sticky note and places it near the corner of the autopsy report before writing, -check out significant others, relatives, etc. see if he had any enemies. He sticks another sticky note to the other edge of the page and jots down, -personal? He knew his attacker. He continues to read the report, focusing on the details the medical examiner provided in reference to the shape of the wounds on his face before flipping the page to see a list of possible objects that could have caused that amount of damage and left those impressions into his flesh.

He was in his zone. And time seemed to creep on by as he reread the autopsy report for the second time. If he could provide new information to the case tomorrow then Voight would have to cut him some slack, he would have to release pressure from the foot he always has pressed against Jay's neck. He was going to prove himself.

"Halstead, what are you doing here? The files I gave you are for you to go over tomorrow."

Jay looks up when his boss starts talking to him. Not once did Voight leave his office chair, instead, he shouted his disapproval through the opened doorway of his office.

"I wanted to get a head start sir."

Voight rolls his eyes, unimpressed, "No one likes a show off." Jay gulps. How does that saying go again? Damned if you do and damned if you don't, -it seems like that's his life story right now. Jay grabs the files and places them in his empty desk drawer before focusing back on the autopsy report, "I'm not going over the new files you handed over to me. I'm still getting myself caught up on the truck driver case."…because their victim was a truck driver found in the back of the 18-wheeler that was registered to him.

Voight doesn't respond. He's on the phone now so it's obvious he wasn't even listening. But, Jay is watching him and for the first time in a month, he catches his boss smiling. There's a glow on his face as he leans back in his chair and clicks his pen repeatedly, "Erin, stay as long as you want," he says to whoever it is on the other line, "I don't mind and you know your mother doesn't mind at all. Stay. She'll tell you the same thing."

Jay didn't know his boss had a kid. That caught him off guard. He couldn't picture Hank Voight as a father; he didn't think he had one paternal bone in his body. It took him a month to process the fact that his boss was happily married for over twenty years, now that, that was a surprise because he couldn't see it. He thought his boss was a loner; it would make sense if he was, but apparently he had a wife and a kid. Jay's never been in his office long enough to look around for photos, so maybe, if he gets the chance or if he eventually gets on Voight's good side, he'll take a look and if he's brave enough, he may even ask about them.

It's the vibration of Jay's phone against his desk that draws his attention away from Hank. It was a text from his brother, one that Jay simply ignored. He distanced himself from him for a reason; the same can be said for his father. He didn't want them in his life. He made this big move to start over, to better his career and to cut all ties with Wisconsin. His phone vibrates again and this time he doesn't even bother checking it. It could be one of three people, -Will, Abby or his father. And none of them he felt like talking to, not tonight.

Jay is drawn back into the conversation between his boss and his kid when he hears Voight laugh. He actually laughs, and it's loud and bold and raspy and Jay couldn't help but to look in amazement. He stares so hard that Voight senses it and looks back, laughter gone and smile absent. Jay immediately focused back on his work as he hears his boss move, "Erin, hold on kid." He assumes his daughter responds before Voight puts her on hold.

Once she's on hold, Hank sits his office phone face down before rising to his feet, "Halstead," he jumps when he hears his last name being shouted across the bullpen.

When Jay looks up, he sees his boss wave for him to approach, "Yes sir?"

"Go home," Voight's raspy voice demanded, "you can finish that tomorrow. You're distracted anyway. You don't get paid to listen to my phone calls. I'll see you in the morning." It wasn't an option, it was an order. And if Jay learned anything over the last month, it's to never question the orders of Hank Voight. Too bad Jay has never operated like that.

"…but sir-" he starts.

"Oh, did you think that was a question," Hank sits up in his seat, phone still faced down on his desk, "or was I not speaking English? Or…" Voight lifts his hands, waiting for Jay to fill in the blank.

"…or what sir?"

"You tell me because I'm obviously missing something. I gave an order that didn't require a response back. Let's try this again because it's obvious you were confused. Finish your work in the morning. Goodbye."

And that was that. Jay tucked his hands into his front pockets before turning on his heel and walking out. He needed a drink. He had to leave earlier than he had planned which only meant he was going to get to Molly's earlier than intended. After today, after this month, and all the grief he's been getting, he needs a couple of drinks. Jay was halfway through putting the files away when his phone rings. Will. He grimaces because his brother obviously couldn't take a hint.

Jay was in no rush to answer, but with the way his boss was watching him, diverting his eyes from him to his desk where his phone sits, it's almost like he didn't have a choice. He zips his leather jacket, grabs his car keys out of his top desk drawer before answering his phone, "Hello," a part of him hoped that the call would go to voicemail before he had a chance to get it, but he wasn't that lucky, "Will, what do you want?"

"I want to meet Abby, officially, face to face." His brother knew very little about his girlfriend but she knew even less about him.

And is Jay expected to care about what his brother wants. He doesn't say that though. He's a little more respectful than people give him credit for, "That's cool, but we're on a break right now. So, why are you calling me? Was that it? I'm a little busy." He wasn't but his brother didn't need to know that.

"I just wanted to see if you've come to your senses yet."

"If coming to my senses is moving back and leaving law enforcement then no I have not."

Will sighs disappointedly, "That's disappointing."

Voight watches him from his office and if it was anyone else, Jay would have said something or at least glared right in their direction, but he's already been caught eavesdropping, it's only right that he gets it in return. Jay balances his phone between his ear and his shoulder as he uses his hip to push his chair against the desk, "I'm not arguing with you about this. Not today. Not now, not ever Will. I'm tired of the arguing. We never get anywhere."

"I don't want to argue with you either. Look, it would have been me or dad calling you so you should count your blessings that I elected to do so. We're just looking out for you Jay. It's my job as your brother to call you out when you're making stupid decisions."

"Everything I do you think is stupid."

"…then maybe you should stop doing them. This job isn't the right fit for you. You do things to get a reaction. It's how you've always operated, but not anymore Jay, you need to grow up and take things seriously, take life seriously. You're 31, you need to start acting like it. You make stupid mistakes and then you need someone to come bail you out of them."

"I haven't asked you for help in years." That's the truth; Jay stopped looking to his dad and brother for guidance a long time ago, before he was even a legal adult.

"Just because you don't ask doesn't mean that we haven't bailed you out of trouble. We try to help you avoid these stupid situations you get yourself in. You got a good girl in Abby, yet you threw that relationship away by moving to another state. You had a decent job, it could have been better but it paid your bills. You had a great life here! Why would you want to leave it?"

"…because I wasn't happy," Jay admits. His voice rose above the necessary volume for two people having a private and personal conversation.

"You can't have it all, Jay. You were content here. That should have been enough."

It wasn't though. It wasn't enough. He wanted more. He wanted to like his job, he wanted to love his girlfriend, he wanted to cherish his life, but he couldn't because he was surrounded by things, people and obligations that made him hate it. This conversation was pointless. It was getting them nowhere. And the only thing it's succeeded in doing is piss him off. Jay runs his hand through his hair and he quickly walks down the stairs.

This is why he's never seen eye to eye with his brother and father. The two of them always looked down at him, brushed him off as the rebellious kid and never batted an eye in his direction because they wrote it off as a phase. It wasn't though. It was him. He was a risk-taker. He wasn't the type of guy to play it safe and they never understood that. He got a tattoo from a friend's older brother a year before he was legally able to get one, he went sky-diving, he went whitewater rafting, he went bungee jumping and he joined the military. But it seems that last one was the straw that broke the camel's back. It's like his father and brother couldn't get past the four years he selflessly served the country because by the time he got back, their relationship went from bad to worse. Jay had realized that none of them were talking and every part of him hoped it was because Will either hung up or decided to change the topic. He wasn't that lucky though. He's never that lucky.

Will inhales a sharp breath and releases it in one long sigh, "…look, maybe you can go back to school, major in something a bit more high-paying like accounting. Isn't Abby an accountant?"

"…yes."

"Perfect," Will beams as if he's won a long overdue argument, "you can apply to my alma mater, I'll put in a good word for you with admissions and we'll get the ball rolling."

"I'm not applying to college William," Jay asserts his brother's full name. He wasn't playing. This wasn't up for debate or argument, "I'm a cop. I always wanted to be a cop. If you and dad can't accept that then oh well, I don't give a fuck anymore because it's obvious that you two can never be satisfied." He's outside, practically shouting into the air as he holds his phone to his mouth and yells into the device, "Time and time again you both knock down what I'm doing just to make yourselves feel better. I'm not quitting my job. I'm not moving back to Wisconsin. Get that through your thick fucking skull or delete my number." Jay doesn't even wait for a response, he hangs up with a hard click against the red button.

If he thought he needed a drink before then he definitely needed one now. Between his brother pressuring him to return, his dad taking every chance to remind him just how much of a fuck up he is and Abby giving him the cold shoulder, he needed to open a tab and tell the bartender to keep the drinks coming. He shoves his phone into his back pocket and his hands into his front pockets before he kicks a walk and starts the trek towards his car, "Halstead," he hears his name being called out and it's only one person that gruff and raspy voice can belong to, -his boss.

"…damn," he sighs and comes to a stop; he didn't feel like dealing with Voight's shit either, "yes sir?"

"Are you busy?"

Hank must have been in a hurry because he didn't even get a chance to put his leather jacket on. Now as he stands in front of Jay, he slides his arms through the sleeves and adjusts the collar.

"Not anymore," he answered, "you sent me home remember."

Voight tilts his head to the side and looks at him, stares at him intently and it makes Jay shuffle around uncomfortably, "Walk with me," it wasn't a suggestion, it was an order and even though he didn't want to, he finds himself walking side by side with his boss.

It starts off quiet with neither of them speaking. It turns from comfortable silence to awkward silence before Voight finally fills it with his words, "You moved all the way from Wisconsin to work here in Chicago?"

"I did," Jay nods solemnly.

"What sparked that move?"

"I needed a change of scenery."

"…and you couldn't move to another neighborhood, you had to move to another state?"

"Sir, not to come across as rude but that's not really any of your business."

Voight laughs dryly. His face transformed from a smirk to a scowl in mere seconds, "You're still in a probationary period, Jay. There are plenty other respectable detectives who would love your position on my team. I took a risk on you because I saw something in you. Don't screw up. Don't make me regret hiring you." He pats the young detective on his back before muttering, "Keep up the good work. Go home. Get some rest. I'll see you bright and early. Don't be late."

Jay feels the tension in his shoulders relax when his boss started to walk in the direction of his parked car. He parked in the opposite direction so he turns to further the distance between them. It had been a long day and the entire time all he thought about was drinking his stress away, but with the parting words from his boss, he reasoned that maybe he should skip the bar tonight. He had something to prove to Voight and coming into work with a hangover would do the opposite of what he's aiming to portray with his boss.

Maybe he'll go to the bar tomorrow night? If he comes in early enough, he could get as much work done and then leave at a reasonable enough time to spend a few hours in Mollys. A little hesitantly, he pulls out his cell phone and sets his alarm, "…less than five hours of sleep," he whispers to himself because he calculates the math in his head and based on the time now, the time of when he'll most likely get home and the time it'll take to get himself ready for bed, he already knows that he'll get less sleep than the recommended amount a person should get a night.

Jay gets behind the wheel of his truck and shuts the door. His head falls forward and lands upon the top of the steering wheel and when his right fist clenches and he slams the side of it down against the horn, he releases a shout of frustration, "FUCK!" because nothing is going right in his life. This was supposed to be his escape, his chance to start over and distance himself from everyone and everything that caused him stress. It didn't work though. His brother and father take turns calling him every other day. Abby is sending mixed signals, not reaching out and leaving him clueless about the terms of their relationship break. And Voight, his own boss wouldn't cut him some slack; he has to practically walk on eggshells because his boss constantly reminds him that as a new hire he's under some sort of probationary period. Any slip up could cost him his job. And the last thing he wanted to do was prove to his brother and father that they were right. Jay was going to stick this out for the long haul because the pay was good, his coworkers were cool and the opportunity for career growth was great. He could do this, he just needed to keep reminding himself.