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 HEAVY; THE HEAVY TOPIC WILL BE WHEN LILY GRACE IS OLDER
The next morning, Jay emerged from the bedroom, his face pale and drawn. He winced slightly as the morning light hit his eyes, a telltale sign of the migraine that had plagued him through the night. Despite the pain, he forced a smile as he joined the rest of the intelligence unit in the kitchen.
"Morning, Jay," Kevin greeted, noticing the strain in Jay's expression. "You okay, man?"
Jay waved off the concern with a dismissive hand. "Yeah, just didn't sleep well," he replied, trying to sound casual. "I'll be fine."
Kevin exchanged a worried glance with Erin, but before they could press further, Nadia walked in, holding Lily Grace's hand. The little girl was dressed in an adorable bunny outfit, complete with floppy ears and a fluffy tail.
"Look who decided to be a bunny today!" Nadia announced with a smile, her eyes twinkling as she looked at her daughter.
Lily Grace beamed, twirling around to show off her outfit. "I'm a bunny, Dada!" she exclaimed, hopping over to Jay.
Jay's face softened as he looked at his daughter. "You make the cutest bunny ever, Lily Grace," he said, bending down to give her a hug despite the throbbing in his head.
Nadia noticed the tension in Jay's shoulders and the way he squinted against the light. She placed a gentle hand on his arm. "Are you sure you're okay?" she asked quietly, her voice filled with concern.
Jay nodded, though his smile was strained. "Yeah, just a headache. I'll be fine," he insisted.
The rest of the unit watched the exchange, their concern for Jay evident. Will stepped forward, his expression serious. "If you need to take it easy today, we've got it covered," he said firmly.
Jay shook his head. "Thanks, but I'll be alright. Let's just get through the day," he replied, trying to sound more confident than he felt.
Nadia gave him a supportive smile, though her eyes were still filled with worry. "Just let us know if you need anything," she said softly
As the day progressed, Jay's migraine only worsened. The pounding in his head became more intense, and he found it increasingly difficult to concentrate. He tried to push through, not wanting to worry the team, but it was clear he was struggling.
Kim, always observant, noticed the way Jay was squinting at his computer screen and rubbing his temples. She walked over to him, her expression filled with concern. "Jay, you don't look so good. Are you sure you're okay?" she asked gently.
Jay forced a smile, though it was clear he was in pain. "I'm fine, Kim. Just a headache," he replied, trying to sound convincing.
Kim wasn't buying it. "It looks more than just a headache. Maybe you should take a break," she suggested, her voice soft but firm.
Jay shook his head, wincing slightly at the movement. "I appreciate it, but I can't afford to take a break right now. There's too much to do," he insisted.
Kim frowned, clearly not convinced but knowing when to back off. "Alright, but don't push yourself too hard," she said, giving him one last concerned look before returning to her seat next to Adam.
As Kim sat down, she exchanged a worried glance with Adam, both of them silently agreeing to keep an eye on Jay.
As the unit continued with their tasks, the atmosphere was a mix of focused work and underlying concern for Jay.
Suddenly, the room was flooded with bright light as Lily Grace, in her adorable bunny outfit, toddled over to the light switch and flipped it on.
Jay winced, the sudden brightness intensifying his migraine. He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to block out the light. "Lily Grace, sweetie, can you turn the lights back off?" he asked, his voice strained.
Lily Grace looked up at her father, her eyes wide with confusion. "But Dada, it's too dark," she said, her small voice filled with innocence.
Nadia quickly stepped in, gently guiding Lily Grace away from the switch. "Let's keep the lights dim for now, okay? Dada's not feeling well," she explained softly.
Lily Grace nodded, her expression serious. "Okay, Mama," she said, understanding the situation.
Nadia gave her a reassuring smile and then turned to Jay, her concern evident. "Are you sure you don't want to rest?" she asked quietly.
Jay shook his head, though the movement made him wince again. "I'll be fine," he insisted, though his voice lacked conviction.
Kim, watching the exchange, sighed softly and leaned closer to Adam. "He's so stubborn," she whispered, her tone a mix of frustration and concern.
Adam nodded, his eyes on Jay. "Yeah, but that's Jay for you. We'll just have to keep an eye on him," he replied quietly.
As the day wore on, the pain in Jay's head became unbearable. He tried to push through, but the migraine was relentless. Finally, it became too much. He pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a pained "ahh" as he tried to steady himself.
Nadia, who had been keeping a close eye on him, immediately noticed. She rushed over to his side, her heart aching at the sight of him in so much pain. She gently took Jay's head in her hands, guiding his hands to rest on either side of her waist. "It's okay, Jay. I'm here," she whispered softly.
Jay couldn't hold it together any longer. He fell into Nadia's chest, sobbing uncontrollably. Nadia held him close, her touch gentle and soothing. "Let it out, Jay. It's okay," she murmured, her voice filled with love and support.
Just then, Lily Grace toddled back into the room, thinking it was time to turn the lights back on. She reached for the switch and flipped it, flooding the room with bright light.
Jay, overwhelmed by the sudden brightness and the pain, cursed loudly. "Turn the fucking lights off!" he shouted, his voice filled with frustration and pain.
Lily Grace jumped, not used to hearing her father speak like that. She trembled, her eyes wide with fear and confusion. "Dada?" she asked, her voice small and trembling.
Adam and Kim immediately walked over, their expressions filled with concern. Adam scooped Lily Grace into his arms, trying to comfort her. "It's okay, Lily Grace. Dada's just not feeling well," he explained gently.
Kim placed a reassuring hand on Jay's shoulder. "Jay, it's okay. We'll handle things. Just take care of yourself," she said softly.
Jay looked up, his eyes filled with regret and pain. "I'm sorry," he whispered, his voice choked with emotion.
Nadia continued to hold him, her heart aching for him. "It's okay, Jay. We're all here for you," she said softly.
The unit gathered around, their presence a comforting reminder of the strong bond they all shared.
Nadia continued to hold Jay, her hands moving gently to massage his temples and neck. Her touch was soothing, and gradually, Jay's sobs began to subside. His breathing slowed, and the tension in his body started to ease. Nadia whispered comforting words, her voice a soft murmur that helped lull him into a more relaxed state.
After a while, Jay's eyes fluttered closed, and he finally drifted off to sleep. Nadia carefully laid him down on the couch, making sure he was comfortable. She brushed a stray lock of hair from his forehead and kissed him gently.
Turning to the rest of the unit, she whispered, "He's finally asleep. Let's try to keep things quiet so he can rest."
Kevin nodded, his expression serious. "We'll keep it down. He needs this," he said softly.
Erin gave Nadia a reassuring smile. "You're amazing, Nadia. He couldn't ask for a better partner," she whispered.
Nadia smiled back, though her eyes were still filled with concern. "Thanks, Erin. I just want him to feel better," she replied quietly.
Will stepped forward, his voice low. "We'll handle everything. You just focus on Jay," he said firmly.
Nadia nodded, grateful for their support. "Thank you, all of you," she said, her voice filled with emotion.
The unit moved quietly around the room, their actions careful and considerate.
As Jay slept peacefully on the couch, the rest of the unit moved quietly around the living room, careful not to disturb him. Meanwhile, Lily Grace stood just outside the doorway, peeking in with wide, uncertain eyes. She was still shaken by her father's outburst and hesitant to enter the room.
Nadia noticed her daughter's hesitation and walked over to her, crouching down to Lily Grace's level. "Hey, sweetie," she whispered gently. "It's okay. Dada's just resting now."
Lily Grace looked up at her mother, her eyes filled with worry. "Is Dada still mad?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Nadia shook her head, giving her a reassuring smile. "No, honey. Dada's not mad. He was just in a lot of pain, but he's feeling better now," she explained softly.
Lily Grace nodded slowly, still unsure. "Can I see him?" she asked hesitantly.
Nadia took her hand and gave it a comforting squeeze. "Of course you can. Just be very quiet, okay? We don't want to wake him up," she said.
Together, they walked into the living room. Lily Grace tiptoed over to the couch, her eyes fixed on her sleeping father. She reached out and gently touched his hand, her small fingers curling around his.
Jay stirred slightly but didn't wake up. Seeing him so peaceful seemed to reassure Lily Grace. She looked up at Nadia and whispered, "Dada's okay now?"
Nadia nodded, her heart swelling with love for her daughter. "Yes, sweetie. Dada's okay. He just needs to rest," she whispered back.
Adam and Kim, who had been watching from a distance, exchanged relieved smiles. Adam walked over and knelt beside Lily Grace. "You're such a brave girl, Lily Grace. Dada's going to be just fine," he said softly.
Lily Grace smiled, feeling more at ease. She leaned against her mother, her little bunny ears flopping to the side. Nadia wrapped an arm around her, holding her close.
After a while, Jay began to stir, slowly waking from his much-needed rest. He blinked a few times, adjusting to the dim light in the room. As he sat up, he noticed the concerned faces of his friends and family around him.
Lily Grace, who had been watching quietly, let out a small squeal of surprise and quickly hid behind Kim's legs. Her sudden movement caught everyone's attention.
Jay looked over, his eyes softening when he saw his daughter peeking out from behind Kim. "Hey, Lily Grace," he said gently, his voice still a bit groggy. "It's okay, sweetie. Dada's feeling better."
Kim smiled reassuringly and crouched down to Lily Grace's level. "See, Dada's okay," she said softly, giving the little girl a gentle nudge.
Lily Grace hesitated for a moment before slowly stepping out from behind Kim. She looked up at Jay with wide, curious eyes. "Dada, are you really okay?" she asked, her voice small and tentative.
Jay nodded, giving her a warm smile. "Yeah, I'm okay now. I'm sorry if I scared you earlier," he said, his voice filled with regret.
Lily Grace's face brightened, and she ran over to Jay, wrapping her small arms around his neck. "I love you, Dada," she whispered.
Jay hugged her tightly, feeling a wave of relief and gratitude. "I love you too, Lily Grace," he replied softly.
Nadia watched the tender moment, her heart swelling with love for her family. She walked over and placed a hand on Jay's shoulder. "How are you feeling?" she asked quietly.
Jay looked up at her, his eyes filled with gratitude. "Better, thanks to you," he said, giving her a grateful smile.
The rest of the unit gathered around, their expressions filled with relief and support. Kevin clapped Jay on the back. "Glad to see you're feeling better, man," he said warmly.
Erin nodded, her eyes filled with compassion. "Take it easy, okay? We're here for you," she added softly.
Will gave Jay a firm nod. "Whatever you need, we've got your back," he said.
Jay looked around at his friends, his heart filled with gratitude. "Thank you, everyone. I don't know what I'd do without you all," he said, his voice choked with emotion.
As Jay started to dial the pizza place on his phone, Nadia walked up behind him and began to gently massage his shoulders. The soothing touch was a welcome distraction, but it also made it a bit harder for Jay to focus.
The phone rang a few times before someone at the pizza place answered. "Hello, this is Pizza Pino. How can I help you?" the voice on the other end said.
Jay cleared his throat and began to place the order. "Hi, I'd like to order some pizzas for delivery. We'll need a large pepperoni, a large veggie, and—" he paused, slurring slightly as Nadia hit a particularly tense spot on his shoulder.
The team, watching the scene unfold, couldn't help but giggle. Lily Grace, standing next to Kim, whispered, "Why is Dada talking funny?"
Kim smiled and whispered back, "Dada's just a little distracted, sweetie."
Nadia, noticing Jay's struggle, leaned in and whispered different food items into his ear. "Get a margherita, and maybe some garlic bread," she suggested softly.
Jay repeated her words into the phone. "And a large margherita, some garlic bread, and… um, what else?" he asked, looking at Nadia for more suggestions.
Nadia continued to whisper, "How about some chicken wings and a couple of salads?"
Jay nodded and relayed the order. "And we'll also need some chicken wings and two salads," he said, his voice still a bit slurred from the massage.
The person on the other end confirmed the order, and Jay finally ended the call. He turned to Nadia, a playful smile on his face. "You're evil, you know that?" he said, shaking his head.
Nadia laughed softly, giving his shoulders one last squeeze. "Just trying to help," she replied with a wink.
As Jay retreated to the bedroom to make an important call with Mouse, the rest of the intelligence unit continued their tasks in the living room. Nadia glanced over at the team, a playful glint in her eye, silently asking if she should repeat her earlier shoulder-rubbing antics.
Kevin and Erin exchanged amused looks and nodded encouragingly. Nadia smiled and quietly made her way to the bedroom, intending to give Jay a little surprise.
Lily Grace, ever curious, followed her mother. Just as she was about to enter the bedroom, Kim gently stopped her. "Let's give Mama and Dada some space, okay?" she whispered, guiding Lily Grace back to the living room.
Inside the bedroom, Jay was deep in conversation with Mouse, discussing some critical details. Nadia slipped in behind him and began to gently rub his shoulders, just as she had done earlier when he struggled to order the pizza.
Jay's voice faltered slightly as he felt Nadia's soothing touch. He tried to maintain his focus on the call, but the massage was both relaxing and distracting. "Yeah, Mouse, I think we can… uh, we can handle that," he said, his words slurring a bit as Nadia hit a particularly tense spot.
Mouse, on the other end, paused. "Jay, you okay? You sound a bit off," he asked, concerned.
Jay chuckled softly, trying to regain his composure. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just a little distracted," he replied, shooting a playful glance at Nadia.
Nadia leaned in and whispered a few more suggestions for the call into Jay's ear, making him repeat them to Mouse. The team, listening from the living room, couldn't help but giggle at the scene.
As Jay finished his call with Mouse, he abruptly ended the conversation and walked out of the bedroom, crossing his arms over his chest. He looked at the unit, his expression a mix of amusement and mock seriousness.
"Alright, who told her to do it again?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
The team exchanged guilty smiles, trying to stifle their laughter. Kevin was the first to speak up, a playful grin on his face. "Hey, we just thought you could use a little help staying focused," he said, chuckling.
Erin nodded, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Yeah, we figured it worked so well the first time, why not try it again?" she added.
Jay shook his head, unable to keep a straight face. "You guys are something else," he said, his tone lightening.
Nadia, standing behind him, wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her chin on his shoulder. "Just trying to help, remember?" she said with a wink.
Jay sighed, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Alright, alright. I guess I can't be too mad," he said, turning to give Nadia a quick kiss on the cheek.
Lily Grace, watching the exchange, giggled and ran over to her parents. "Dada, Mama was just being funny!" she exclaimed, her eyes bright with excitement.
Jay scooped her up into his arms, his heart swelling with love for his family and friends. "Yeah, she was," he agreed, giving Lily Grace a gentle squeeze.
As the evening continued, Nadia found herself needing to make an important phone call. She stepped into the bedroom, dialing the number and waiting for the call to connect. The rest of the unit continued their tasks, but Jay had a mischievous glint in his eye as he watched Nadia.
Once she was deep in conversation, Jay quietly slipped into the bedroom. He walked up behind her and began to gently rub her shoulders, mimicking what she had done to him earlier. Nadia's voice faltered slightly as she felt Jay's soothing touch, but she tried to maintain her focus on the call.
"Yes, I understand. We can definitely arrange that," Nadia said, her words slurring a bit as Jay hit a particularly tense spot on her shoulders.
The person on the other end of the line paused. "Nadia, are you alright? You sound a bit distracted," they asked, concerned.
Nadia chuckled softly, trying to regain her composure. "I'm fine, just a little… preoccupied," she replied, shooting a playful glance at Jay.
Jay leaned in and whispered a few playful suggestions into Nadia's ear, making her repeat them into the phone. The team, listening from the living room, couldn't help but giggle at the scene.
After finishing the call, Nadia turned to Jay, a mock-serious expression on her face. "You're evil, you know that?" she said, shaking her head with a smile.
Jay laughed softly, giving her shoulders one last squeeze. "Just trying to help," he replied with a wink.
The rest of the unit chuckled, their spirits lifted by the lighthearted moment.