WARNING TO ALL STORY READERS WHO READ THIS STORY!
️THE NEXT FEW CHAPTERS AFTER A COUPLE OF THESE CHAPTERS WILL CONTAIN HEAVY AND UPSETTING TOPIC. IF SOME OF THESE TOPICS TRIGGER YOU PLEASE SKIP THE CHAPTERS. I WILL PUT TRIGGER WARNINGS IN EVERY AND EACH CHAPTER IF NEEDED ️
️AGAIN HEAVY TOPIC IS COMING SOON ️
The next morning, the soft light of dawn filtered through the curtains, casting a gentle glow over the room. Nadia and Jay were asleep, their breathing steady and peaceful. The quiet morning was a stark contrast to the chaos of the previous day.
Nadia stirred first, her eyes fluttering open as she felt a wave of nausea wash over her. She quickly sat up, her hand instinctively moving to her stomach. "Oh no," she whispered, trying to steady her breathing.
Jay, sensing her movement, woke up and turned to her, concern etched on his face. "Nadia, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice groggy with sleep.
Nadia took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. "I think it's morning sickness," she said softly, her face pale.
Jay immediately sat up, his worry deepening. "Lie back down," he said gently, guiding her to rest her head on the pillow. "I'll get you something to help."
As Jay moved to get some water and crackers, Nadia closed her eyes, trying to focus on her breathing. The apartment was still, the only sound the distant hum of the city waking up. Despite the discomfort, she felt a sense of peace knowing Jay was there with her.
Jay returned with a glass of water and some crackers, placing them on the bedside table. He grabbed a cool washcloth, placing one on her forehead and another underneath her shirt. "Just lean into the cold," he whispered, his voice gentle and reassuring.
Nadia smiled weakly, appreciating his concern. "Thank you, Jay," she said softly, her eyes meeting his.
Jay leaned in to kiss her forehead. "Always, Nadia. We're in this together."
Suddenly, the bedroom door burst open, and Erin and Kim rushed in, their faces lit with excitement. "Guys, are you ready?" Erin exclaimed, her voice full of energy.
Nadia groaned, stuffing her face into Jay's neck to hide from the commotion. Jay looked at Kim and Erin, trying to keep his voice calm. "We'll meet you at the district," he said, giving them a reassuring smile.
Kim nodded, understanding the situation. "Alright, take your time. We'll see you there," she said, gently pulling Erin out of the room and closing the door behind them.
Jay turned back to Nadia, his hand gently stroking her hair. "Just rest for a bit longer," he whispered. "We'll join them when you're ready."
Nadia nodded, feeling comforted by his presence.
Later that morning, Nadia and Jay walked into the bullpen. The team was busy with their usual tasks, but Ruzek immediately noticed Nadia's pale complexion.
"Hey, Nadia, you okay? You look a bit pale," Ruzek said, his voice filled with concern.
Nadia, already feeling overwhelmed, snapped at him. "I'm fine, Ruzek. Just drop it," she said sharply, her frustration evident.
Jay placed a calming hand on her back, giving Ruzek an apologetic look. "She's just not feeling well this morning. We'll be fine," he explained, trying to diffuse the tension.
Ruzek nodded, backing off. "Alright, if you need anything, just let us know," he said, his tone softer.
Nadia took a deep breath, leaning into Jay for support. Despite the rough start, they knew they had the team's support and were ready to face the challenges of the day together.
A little while later, Nadia found herself in the locker room, trying to compose herself. The morning sickness and the stress of the day were taking their toll. She sat on the bench, her head in her hands, tears streaming down her face.
Just then, Erin and Kim walked in, their conversation halting as they saw Nadia. "Nadia, what's wrong?" Erin asked, rushing over to her side.
Nadia looked up, her face wet with tears. "I just… I can't handle this right now," she sobbed. "I need Jay."
Kim knelt beside her, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's okay, Nadia. We're here for you. Do you want us to get Jay?"
Nadia nodded, her voice barely a whisper. "Please."
Erin quickly left the locker room to find Jay. Moments later, Jay walked in, his face filled with concern. He rushed to Nadia's side, wrapping his arms around her.
"Nadia, what's wrong?" he asked softly, holding her close.
Nadia buried her face in his chest, her sobs gradually subsiding as she felt the comfort of his embrace. Erin and Kim stood nearby, offering their silent support.
Jay gently stroked her hair, his voice soothing. "We'll get through this together, Nadia. Just take it one step at a time."
Nadia nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over her.
Exhausted, she soon fell asleep in Jay's arms.
Jay carefully lifted her, cradling her gently as he walked out of the locker room. As they entered the bullpen, the rest of the Intelligence Unit looked up, their faces filled with concern.
"Is she okay?" Voight asked, his voice gruff but caring.
Jay nodded, adjusting Nadia in his arms. "She's just exhausted and dealing with some morning sickness. She needs to rest."
Ruzek stepped forward, his earlier concern still evident. "Do you need anything? We can cover for you if you need to take her home."
Jay gave a grateful smile. "Thanks, Ruzek. I think I'll take her home for now. We'll be back once she's feeling better."
The team nodded in understanding, their support palpable. "Take care of her, Jay," Erin said softly, giving him a reassuring look.
Jay nodded, his grip tightening around Nadia. "I will. Thanks, everyone."
With that, Jay carried Nadia out of the bullpen.
A few hours later, Jay and Nadia arrived back at the district. Nadia looked much better, though still a bit pale. Jay held her hand as they walked into the bullpen, the team immediately noticing their return.
"Hey, you two," Erin greeted them with a warm smile. "Feeling better, Nadia?"
Nadia nodded, giving a small smile. "Yeah, a bit. Thanks for understanding earlier."
Voight approached them, his expression softening. "Glad to see you're back. Take it easy, alright?"
Jay squeezed Nadia's hand, looking around at their supportive team. "We will. Thanks, everyone."
Ruzek gave a thumbs-up. "Good to have you back. If you need anything, just let us know."
Nadia felt a wave of gratitude for her team. Despite the challenges ahead, she knew she wasn't alone. With Jay by her side and the unwavering support of their friends, she felt ready to face whatever came next.
Later in the day, Nadia walked into the breakroom and noticed Jay asleep on the couch, his face peaceful despite the day's stress. She smiled softly, feeling a surge of affection for him. As she turned to leave, she saw Erin and Kim entering the room.
"Hey, Nadia," Kim said, her voice low. "How are you feeling?"
Nadia glanced back at Jay, then looked at Erin and Kim. "I'm okay," she whispered. "I'm gonna go to Med. Just to make sure everything's alright."
Erin nodded, understanding. "Do you want us to come with you?"
Nadia shook her head. "No, it's okay. I don't want to wake Jay. He needs the rest."
Kim gave her a reassuring smile. "Alright, but call us if you need anything."
Nadia nodded, feeling grateful for their support. She quietly left the breakroom, heading towards the exit.
Nadia arrived at Chicago Med, the bustling hospital a familiar sight. She checked in at the front desk and was soon escorted to an examination room. Dr. Natalie Manning entered, her warm smile putting Nadia at ease.
"Hi, Nadia. What brings you in today?" Dr. Manning asked, taking a seat.
Nadia took a deep breath. "I've been feeling really nauseous and exhausted. I just want to make sure everything's okay."
Dr. Manning nodded, her expression reassuring. "Let's run some tests to be sure."
After a thorough examination and some blood tests, Dr. Manning returned with the results. She sat down next to Nadia, her expression gentle but serious.
"Nadia, the tests show that you're pregnant," Dr. Manning said softly.
Nadia's eyes widened in shock. "Pregnant? I had no idea…"
Dr. Manning smiled reassuringly. "It's completely normal to feel overwhelmed. Your symptoms are consistent with early pregnancy. Just make sure to rest and stay hydrated."
Nadia took a deep breath, trying to process the news. "Thank you, Dr. Manning. I was so worried."
Dr. Manning placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's going to be okay. If you have any more concerns, don't hesitate to come back."
Nadia nodded, feeling a mix of emotions. She thanked Dr. Manning and left the hospital, her mind racing with thoughts of the future.
Back at the district, Jay woke up and immediately noticed Nadia's absence. He quickly found Erin and Kim, who reassured him that Nadia had gone to Med for a check-up.
Just as Jay was about to head out to find her, Nadia walked back into the bullpen. Jay rushed to her side, his face filled with concern. "Nadia, are you okay?"
Nadia smiled, feeling a sense of relief wash over her. "I'm fine, Jay. Dr. Manning said everything is normal. But… there's something else. I'm pregnant."
Jay's eyes widened in surprise, then softened with joy. He pulled her into a gentle hug. "That's amazing news, Nadia. We'll get through this together."
Nadia nodded, feeling grateful for Jay's unwavering support. Together, they left the district.
Nadia and Jay were finally able to get some much-needed rest, both of them asleep in their bed. The apartment was quiet, the soft hum of the city outside providing a soothing backdrop.
Suddenly, a loud banging on the apartment door shattered the peace. Jay stirred first, groaning as he rubbed his eyes. He carefully disentangled himself from Nadia, who was still sound asleep, and got out of bed.
As he walked to the door, the banging continued, more insistent this time. Jay opened the door to find the entire Intelligence Unit standing there, with Ruzek holding up a case of beers and grinning widely.
"Surprise!" Ruzek exclaimed, his voice full of excitement. "We thought we'd bring the party to you guys!"
Jay blinked in surprise, his irritation quickly turning to confusion. "Ruzek, what the hell? Do you have any idea what time it is?"
Ruzek held up the beers as if they were a peace offering. "Come on, Jay. We figured you both could use a little cheering up after everything that's happened."
Jay sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Alright, give me a minute." He closed the door and walked back to the bedroom, his irritation giving way to concern.
He gently shook Nadia awake. "Nadia, the team's here. They brought beers and want to hang out."
Nadia blinked sleepily, her eyes focusing on Jay. "Really? Now?"
Jay nodded, a small smile forming on his lips. "Yeah, I think they just want to make sure we're okay."
Nadia sighed but smiled back. "Alright, let's go see them."
They both got up and walked back to the door, opening it to find the team still waiting, beers in hand and smiles on their faces.
"Hey, you two," Erin said warmly. "We thought we'd bring the party to you."
Nadia chuckled, feeling a bit more awake. "Thanks, guys. This is really sweet."
Voight stepped forward, his expression softening. "We just wanted to make sure you're both doing alright."
Jay nodded, feeling a wave of gratitude for his team. "We appreciate it. Come on in."
The team filed into the apartment, setting the beers on the table and making themselves comfortable. Ruzek handed a beer to Jay, who accepted it with a smile.
"To getting through tough times together," Ruzek said, raising his beer.
"Cheers," the team echoed, clinking their bottles together.
As the evening went on, the team shared stories and laughter, the beers helping to lighten the mood. Nadia excused herself for a moment and returned with a small stack of envelopes.
"Hey, everyone," she said, catching their attention. "I have something for each of you."
She handed out the envelopes, one by one, to each member of the team. They looked at her curiously, wondering what was inside.
"Is it money?" Ruzek asked, examining his envelope with a hopeful grin.
Nadia and Jay both shook their heads, and Jay added with a chuckle, "No, man."
Ruzek groaned playfully. "Aw, come on!"
The team opened their envelopes, and their expressions quickly changed from curiosity to surprise and joy. Inside each envelope was a sonogram image.
Erin's eyes widened as she looked at the sonogram. "Nadia, Jay… are you guys…?"
Nadia nodded, her eyes shining with happiness. "Yes, we're expecting."
The room erupted in cheers and congratulations. Voight stepped forward, his expression softening. "This is wonderful news. Congratulations, both of you."
Ruzek, still holding his sonogram, grinned widely. "This is amazing! I'm so happy for you guys."
Jay put an arm around Nadia, pulling her close. "We wanted to share this moment with all of you. You've been like family to us."
The team raised their beers again, this time in a toast to the new addition to their family. "To new beginnings," Voight said, his voice filled with emotion.
"To new beginnings," everyone echoed, clinking their bottles together.
As the evening continued, the team shared stories and laughter, celebrating the joyous news of Nadia and Jay's pregnancy. The warmth and camaraderie in the room were palpable, and it felt like a true family gathering.
Eventually, the excitement began to wind down, and the team started to relax. Nadia and Jay, exhausted from the day's events and the emotional rollercoaster, found themselves drifting off to sleep on the couch. Jay's arm was wrapped protectively around Nadia, and her head rested on his shoulder.
The rest of the team noticed and exchanged knowing smiles. Voight, always the father figure, quietly got up and walked over to a nearby closet. He pulled out a soft blanket and gently draped it over Nadia and Jay, making sure they were comfortable.
"Let them rest," Voight whispered to the others, his voice filled with affection. "They've had a long day."
The team nodded, their expressions softening as they watched the sleeping couple. The room fell into a peaceful silence, the only sound the gentle breathing of Nadia and Jay.
Voight turned off the main lights, leaving a soft lamp on to provide a warm glow. He motioned for the team to quietly gather their things and head out, giving Nadia and Jay the space they needed.
As they left the apartment, Erin whispered, "They're going to be great parents."
Voight nodded, a small smile on his face. "Yes, they will. And they'll have all of us to support them."
The team left, closing the door softly behind them. Nadia and Jay slept soundly on the couch, wrapped in the warmth of the blanket and the love of their friends. Despite the challenges ahead, they knew they had a strong support system and a bright future to look forward to.