Jay stirred in his sleep, a peculiar sensation on his chest rousing him. He whispered, "Huh?"
Sitting up, he inhaled the minty aroma and he called out for his girlfriend. "Hailey…" he began, but his words trailed off.
Hailey groaned, her eyes fluttering open. "What?" she mumbled.
Jay let out a sigh. "What's on my chest?" he inquired.
Hailey sat up, her nose twitching. "You were coughing all night. I found some Vicks in the cupboard, so I massaged it into your neck and chest. You seemed to relax and drifted back to sleep…" she explained
Jay looked at Hailey with a mix of gratitude and confusion. "Thank you, Hailey. I didn't even realize I was coughing that much," he said, his voice still heavy with sleep.
Hailey smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. "It's okay. I'm just glad you're feeling better," she replied, her concern evident in her gentle tone.
As the morning light began to filter through the curtains, Jay felt a warmth spread through him, not just from the Vicks but from Hailey's care. He reached out and took her hand in his, squeezing it gently.
"Let's try to get some more sleep," Jay suggested, hoping to return to the comfort of their shared bed.
Hailey nodded, slipping back under the covers beside him. "Good idea," she agreed, and soon the two were drifting off again, this time in peaceful slumber.
The rest of the day passed uneventfully, with Jay recovering from his cough and Hailey taking care of him.
Hailey sat up abruptly, a cough escaping her throat. "Woah! Hails, you okay?" Jay asked, concern etched on his face.
She nodded, trying to catch her breath. "Damn! We're both sick!" Jay sighed, feeling the weight of their shared illness.
Hailey lay back down, her body aching. "Let's go back to sleep," she suggested, hoping rest would bring some relief.
They both settled back into bed, finding comfort in each other's arms. As they drifted off to sleep, the room was filled with a sense of peace and togetherness.
Halfway through their nap, Jay groaned softly. "H-Hails…" he mumbled, his voice barely audible.
Hailey woke up groggily, noticing Jay's discomfort. "Oh, babe! It's time for more Vicks. Lift your shirt and lie on your side," she guided gently, ready to care for him once again.
Jay lay on his side, his shirt lifted slightly as Hailey prepared the ointment. She carefully applied it to his back, then moved to his neck and chest, her touch soothing and gentle.
"You should start feeling better soon," Hailey whispered, her voice a soft murmur in the quiet room.
She helped Jay onto her lap and turned on the television, a comforting background noise. "We'll head downstairs later," she decided, looking at him with a reassuring smile.
Jay nodded, his eyes closing as he relaxed into her embrace. "Hailey?" he asked softly.
Hailey nodded back, her hand still on his back. "What's on your mind, babe?" she inquired, ready to listen.
Jay hesitated for a moment before speaking again. "Nothing important, just… could you rub my back? I think I'm ready to sleep again," he mumbled.
Hailey understood without words and began to rub his back, her movements rhythmic and calming.
"Babe, perhaps it's time we reached out to Sarge?" Hailey murmured softly.
Jay stirred from his sleep, nestling closer to Hailey's embrace.
"Indeed…" he agreed with a nod.
Hailey winced slightly as she picked up her phone and dialed Voight.
Hailey's fingers trembled slightly as she pressed the call button, the screen illuminating her concerned face. The phone rang, each ring, echoing the urgency of their situation.
"Voight," came the gruff voice on the other end.
"Hey, Sarge," Hailey began, her voice steady despite the worry that knotted in her stomach. "It's Hailey. Jay and I… we're not feeling too well. We think we might have caught something."
There was a pause, and then Voight's tone softened. "Alright, stay put. I'm coming over to check on you both. Try to rest and keep warm."
Hailey nodded, even though Voight couldn't see her. "Thank you, Sarge. We'll try."
Jay's body relaxed into a gentle slumber, and Hailey's eyelids fluttered shut. The two of them descended the stairs, their movements becoming increasingly sluggish until they could no longer manage on their own.
Hank's footsteps echoed softly as he entered the room, his eyes widening at the sight of Hailey and Jay sprawled across the couch.
"Oh, Kiddos!" he exclaimed, a mix of concern and affection in his voice.
He approached them slowly, his hand hovering over their foreheads. "Let's see what we're dealing with here," he murmured, gently pressing his palm against their skin.
"Daddy?" Jay mumbled, his voice barely audible.
Hank's smile softened as he nodded reassuringly.
"Yeah, kiddo…" Hank whispered, his voice filled with warmth.
Jay groaned and slowly sat up, his eyes meeting Hank's.
"Your temperature is 100.9 and Hailey's is 101.2," Hank noted down, his mind already formulating a plan to help them recover. He knew that a fever was their body's way of fighting off an infection, but he also knew that rest and care were crucial at this point.
He fetched a cool cloth and gently placed it on their foreheads, the coolness providing a momentary relief from the heat. "We'll get you both some fluids and make sure you're comfortable," he said, his voice calm and steady.
Jay let out a weary sigh and closed his eyes, seeking solace in the darkness.
"Hi Sarge…" Hailey mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.
Hank's smile was gentle as he whispered back, "Hi Kiddo!" His heart swelled with love for the two of them, and he knew that they were in good hands.
He would take care of them, just as he always had. With a tender touch, he tucked them in and made sure they were comfortable, promising himself that they would soon be back to their detective selves.