Detective Hailey Upton had been looking forward to this evening all week. After a particularly grueling stretch at work, she wanted nothing more than to unwind with her boyfriend, Detective Jay Halstead, and his brother Dr. Will Halstead.

She'd carefully planned a menu, settling on a creamy shrimp pasta dish that she knew Jay loved. Of course, she hadn't known about Will's severe shellfish allergy. It wasn't something that had come up before, and Will typically managed it discreetly.

As the evening approached, Hailey hummed to herself in the kitchen, putting the final touches on the meal. She set the table, making sure everything looked perfect. Jay came home, a smile on his face as he kissed Hailey hello and poured himself a glass of wine.

"You look gorgeous, as always," Jay said, pulling her in for a quick kiss.

Hailey blushed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Thanks, Jay. Will should be here any minute."

Sure enough, a few moments later, there was a knock on the door. Will Halstead stood there with a bottle of wine in hand, looking slightly tired but smiling nonetheless.

"Hey, guys," Will greeted them warmly, stepping inside. "Thanks for having me over."

"Anytime, Will," Jay said, clapping him on the shoulder. "It's good to have you around when Hailey cooks. Lord knows what she'd come up with if it was just me."

Hailey rolled her eyes playfully. "Hey, I can cook when I want to."

They settled in the living room for a drink before dinner. Conversation flowed easily, covering work, recent cases, and the latest news around the city. Hailey glanced at the clock, realizing it was time to serve dinner.

"Okay, dinner's ready," she announced, getting up and heading to the kitchen. Jay followed her, and Will moved to set the table.

In the kitchen, Hailey carefully plated the shrimp pasta, making sure each dish looked appetizing. She carried them out to the dining table, setting them down with a satisfied smile.

"Looks amazing, Hailey," Jay said, pulling out a chair for Will. "You've outdone yourself."

Will smiled gratefully and took his seat, trying to ignore the slight tightening in his chest. He knew he should say something about his allergy, but he didn't want to ruin Hailey's mood. She'd clearly put a lot of effort into the dinner.

As they began to eat, Will tried to discreetly pick around the shrimp, focusing on the pasta and salad. He hoped Jay wouldn't notice, but Jay was more perceptive than Will gave him credit for.

"You okay, Will?" Jay asked. "You're not eating much."

Will nodded quickly, his smile a little strained. "Yeah, yeah, just not that hungry tonight. The pasta's great, Hailey."

Hailey beamed at the compliment, but Jay's brow furrowed slightly. He could tell something was off.

"Come on, man," Jay pressed, his frustration bubbling up. "You can't just sit there and not eat. Hailey put a lot of effort into this."

Will glanced nervously between Jay and Hailey, feeling increasingly uncomfortable under Jay's scrutiny. "I know, Jay. I'm sorry. It's really good, but—"

"But what?" Jay interrupted, his protective instincts kicking in. "You don't like it? You have a problem with Hailey's cooking?"

Hailey's eyes widened, sensing the tension escalating. "Jay, maybe Will just isn't hungry. It's okay."

Jay shook his head, not willing to let it go. "It's not okay, Hailey. You put a lot of effort into this."

Will shifted uncomfortably in his seat, torn between not wanting to cause a scene and not wanting to compromise his health. "Jay, really, it's fine—"

"No, it's not fine," Jay insisted, his frustration mounting. "Hailey spent hours slaving over the stove, least you could do is appreciate it."

Hailey reached out to touch Jay's arm gently, trying to diffuse the situation. "Jay, maybe we should give Will some space. If he's not hungry, that's okay."

Jay sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair, before picking up his fork and going back to the meal.

"I'm really sorry Hailey, I really do appreciate all the effort you put into this" Will said.

Hailey smiled reassuringly at Will, grateful that the awkward moment seemed to be passing. "No worries, Will. Let's just enjoy the rest of the evening."

They continued eating but the atmosphere was now strained despite Hailey's attempts to lighten the mood. As they ate, Will felt Jay's eyes on him again and again although Jay said nothing.

Will decided to push through and eat what was on his plate. He forced himself to take small bites, swallowing each one with a growing sense of discomfort. The creamy sauce and the faint aroma of shrimp made his stomach churn, but he soldiered on, determined not to let his discomfort show.

Jay, however, was still on edge. He watched Will closely, his earlier frustration simmering just below the surface. When he saw Will taking reluctant bites, Jay's protective instincts kicked into overdrive. He couldn't understand why Will wasn't speaking up if something was wrong.

Minutes stretched into what felt like hours for Will. With each passing moment, the discomfort in his stomach grew more pronounced. He felt hot and clammy, his throat tightening uncomfortably. He knew he needed to leave before it got worse.

Feeling trapped, Will made a split-second decision. He needed to get out, even if just for a moment. With a forced smile, he excused himself, muttering something about needing to get some air.

Jay, however, wasn't having it. "You've barely touched your food, Will. Sit down and finish."

Will's heart sank. He couldn't sit back down. "Jay, I really need—"

"Just finish your plate, Will," Jay insisted, his voice firm.

The urgency in Will's stomach intensified. He could feel the telltale signs of a reaction beginning to take hold. Desperate now, he tried to maneuver around Jay, but Jay stood firm, blocking his path.

"Jay, please," Will pleaded, his voice strained. "I really need to go."

Jay's expression softened for a moment as he saw the genuine distress on Will's face. But before he could step aside, it was too late.

With a sudden lurch, Will doubled over, one hand clutching his stomach, the other pressed against his mouth. His body rebelled against the shrimp he had forced down moments ago. He stumbled backwards, away from the table, desperately searching for a way out.

Jay's eyes widened in shock as he watched Will stumble past him, staggering towards the bathroom. The smell of vomit filled the air.

"Oh my God, Will," Hailey gasped, rushing to his side. She rubbed his back gently as he heaved, his face pale and sweaty.

Jay stood frozen for a moment, the scene triggering a distant memory. Suddenly, it clicked.

"Will," Jay said softly, his voice barely a whisper. "You're allergic to shrimp."

Will grimaced, still bent over the toilet as his body decided to resume gagging.

Hailey looked up at Jay, confusion and concern written on her face. "What do you mean, Jay?"

Jay swallowed hard, his mind racing. "I remember now. Back when we were kids, Will got really sick after eating shrimp. Mom rushed him to the hospital."

Hailey's eyes widened in realization. "Oh my God, Will. Why didn't you say something?"

Will finally straightened up, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "I didn't want to ruin dinner," he admitted hoarsely. "I thought I could manage."

Jay's shoulders sagged with guilt. "Damn it, Will. You should have said something."

"I know," Will said quietly, leaning back against the wall. "I'm sorry, Hailey. I didn't mean to—"

Hailey shook her head, kneeling beside him and taking his hand in hers. "Don't apologize, Will. You should have told us, but we'll make sure you're okay now."

Jay stepped closer, placing a hand on Will's shoulder. "You need anything? Water? Medicine?"

Will shook his head weakly. "I just need a minute."

Hailey helped Will to his feet, guiding him to the couch. Jay hovered nearby, torn between wanting to help and feeling responsible for Will's discomfort. He fetched a glass of water and handed it to Will, who took it gratefully.

"I'm really sorry, Will, I should have remembered," Jay said again, his voice thick with regret.

Will managed a weak smile. "It's okay, Jay. Just... lesson learned."

Hailey squeezed Will's hand reassuringly. "Next time, I'll check for allergies before cooking."

Will chuckled softly, though it sounded more like a groan. "That would be good."

They sat in silence for a while, the tension slowly dissipating. Hailey fetched a blanket for Will, who was starting to feel the chill that often followed an allergic reaction. Jay paced the room, feeling a mix of guilt and relief that Will was okay.

Eventually, Will insisted he was fine to go home, Hailey and Jay seeing him off with promises to check on him the next day. As he left, Will couldn't help but feel grateful for their concern, despite the evening's unexpected turn.