Jay sighs as the sounds of his daughter opening the door wakes him.
"Hey, Kiddo" Jay says groggily while rubbing sleep out of his eyes
Jay looks over at the clock on his bedside table before grumbling and turning back to face Mackenzie.
"Why are you up so early?"
Mackenzie gives her father a small sheepish smile as she sits on the edge of his bed.
"I didn't want to be late for school" She says quietly.
Jay grunts and shifts slightly, adjusting himself so that he was sitting up against the headboard.
"And you decided to wake me up why?" He asks groggily while running a hand through his messy hair.
Mackenzie looks down at her hands sheepishly as she fiddles with the hem of her sweater.
"I didn't want to miss you before I left for school" She whispers, her voice small.
Jay's expression softens immediately and he reaches out to gently ruffle Mackenzie's hair
"You know you could wake me up anytime, kid" He says softly, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips.
Mackenzie glances up at her father from beneath her lashes, a small smile tugging at her lips
"Even at 6 in the morning?" She asks cheekily.
Jay rolls his eyes but can't keep the amused smile off his face.
"Even at 6 in the morning" He confirms with a nod.
Mackenzie grins and stands up, walking around to the other side of the bed and leaning down to give her father a quick hug.
"I gotta get going! See you later, Dad!"
Jay returns the hug, wrapping his arms around his daughter in a tight embrace.
"See you later, kiddo. Have a good day at school" He says as Mackenzie pulls away.
Mackenzie smiles and waves goodbye before turning to head out the door.
"Love you!" She calls over her shoulder.
Jay chuckles and waves back.
"Love you, too!" He calls out, watching as Mackenzie leaves the room.
Jay sighs and slumps back down onto his pillow, closing his eyes and groaning as he realises that he's now awake at 6 in the morning.
Jay lies there for a few more minutes, trying unsuccessfully to fall back asleep before finally giving up.
"Oh, screw it" He grumbles, pushing himself up into a sitting position and rubbing his eyes.
He gets out of bed and heads to the bathroom, splashing some water on his face and running a hand through his messy hair, trying to make it look somewhat presentable.
Jay walks out of the bathroom and heads towards the kitchen, making a mental note to pick up some coffee on his way to the precinct since he knows he won't be able to function without it.
Jay grabs his phone off the counter and checks the time, realising that he's got about an hour before he needs to leave for work.
Jay enters the bullpen, his mood already sour from being up so early. He was tired and caffeine-deprived, and he knew it was going to be a long day
As he walks past Adam's desk, Adam smirks. "Damn, man. You look rough" He teases, looking up at Jay with a sly grin.
Jay scowls, not in the mood for Adam's jokes
"I swear to God, Adam, if you don't shut up, I will punch you in the face" He warns, his voice low and threatening.
Adam holds up his hands in mock surrender, but the smirk doesn't leave his face.
"Whoa, man, relax. I was just joking around" He says, still amused by Jay's irritable mood.
Jay glares at him for a moment longer before continuing to his desk, dropping heavily into his chair and letting out a frustrated sigh.
"Seriously, just shut it, Ruzek" He mutters as he powers up his computer.
Adam laughs, clearly enjoying riling up his friend.
"What's the matter, Halstead? Lose some sleep last night?" He teases, leaning back in his chair with a smirk.
Jay glares at him again, his patience wearing thin.
"As a matter of fact, I did. My kid woke me up at the crack of dawn" He grumbles, his irritation clearly showing.
Adam lets out a low whistle, feigning sympathy.
"Ouch. That sounds rough, man. But hey, that's parenthood for ya" He says with a smirk.
Adam grins, clearly entertained by Jay's grumpiness
"Nah, I think that about covers it. Oh, wait - how's Hailey doing on jury duty?" He asks, still wearing his smug smile.
Jay's scowl deepens at the mention of Hailey.
Jay's expression immediately softens at the mention of Hailey.
"She's doing fine. Bored out of her mind, I think" He says, trying to sound nonchalant.
Adam can sense the slight change in Jay's tone and smirks, knowing he's hit a nerve.
"Aww, you miss her already, huh?" He teases, unable to resist poking the bear.
Jay glares at him again, but there's no hiding the hint of longing in his eyes
"Of course I miss her. I miss my wife. What's so weird about that?" He retorts, trying to sound unbothered.
Jay's eyes narrow, his irritation rising again
"None of your damn business" He grumbles, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. He didn't want to admit it, but he was missing having Hailey next to him and he was feeling more than a little lonely without her there.
Jay pulls up outside the school, scanning the crowd of students that are making their way out of the doors
He spots Mackenzie amongst the crowd, her head buried in her phone as she scrolls through her social media feed.
Jay grins to himself, shaking his head slightly as he watches his daughter. She was completely oblivious to the world around her, lost in her own little digital world
He honks the horn, drawing Mackenzie's attention and waving her over.
Mackenzie looks up from her phone and notices her dad's car, a smile spreading across her face as she hurries over to him
"Hey, Dad" She says as she opens the passenger door and gets in, buckling her seatbelt.
"Hey, kiddo" Jay replies, a warm smile on his face as he looks over at his daughter.
"How was school today?" He asks, pulling away from the curb and merging into traffic.
"It was okay" Mackenzie says with a shrug, her attention already going back to her phone.
Jay glances over at her, arching an eyebrow.
"Just 'okay'?" He asks, his tone slightly sarcastic.
"Yeah, you know, the usual. Boring classes, annoying teachers, annoying students" Mackenzie replies, not looking up from her phone as she scrolls through her social media feed again.
Jay rolls his eyes, knowing that his daughter was being facetious
"Yeah, yeah, I know. But you still have to go, whether you like it or not" He says, his tone firm but gentle.
"But whyyyyy?" Mackenzie whines, letting out an exaggerated sigh. She flops back against her seat and crosses her arms over her chest in a melodramatic display.
Jay laughs, used to his daughter's over-the-top displays of teenage angst
"Because it's important. You're there to learn and get an education, and trust me, you don't want to end up like some of the idiots I have to deal with on the job" He says, teasing her.
Mackenzie rolls her eyes again but can't help but smile at her dad's comment
"Gee, thanks for the vote of confidence, Dad" She teases back, a hint of sarcasm in her voice.
At home, Hailey paces back and forth in the living room, bouncing Blake gently in her arms as she hums softly to soothe him. He's been fussy all afternoon, and nothing she does seems to calm him down.
"Shhh, shh, it's okay, baby" She whispers, gently stroking his soft hair. She glances at the clock on the wall, feeling frustrated and exhausted.
Just then, Jay and Mackenzie enter the house and Hailey looks up, her expression weary. She shoots Jay a grateful smile when he appears in the living room, but he can see the tiredness in her eyes.
"Rough day?" He asks quietly, walking up to her and resting a hand on her back. He gestures towards the baby in her arms.
Hailey nods, still rocking the baby in her arms
"He's been crying non-stop since I got home. I don't know what's wrong with him" She says, her voice strained. She looks exhausted and on the verge of tears.
Jay's expression softens and he rubs her back comfortingly
"It's okay, babe. You're doing great" He says softly. He can tell she's reaching her limit and he doesn't want her to start blaming herself for the baby's crying.
Hailey lets out a shaky sigh and closes her eyes, leaning into his touch for a moment
"I just wish I could get him to stop crying. He just won't settle down" She says, her voice cracking slightly. She looks close to tears again.
Jay's heart breaks at the sight of his wife in such a state. He knows how hard she's trying and he can see how much it's affecting her
"Hey, it's okay. You're doing everything you can. Sometimes babies just cry. It's not your fault" He says gently, pulling her into his embrace and wrapping his arms around her.
Jay continues to hold Hailey against him, rubbing her back soothingly as he tries to soothe her. The baby's cries have finally quieted down to soft whimpers, and he can feel the tension leaving her body
"See? He's better already. You're doing a great job, Hailey" He whispers, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head.
Hailey lets out a shaky sigh and buries her face in his chest, soaking up the comfort he was offering. She feels like she's been on the verge of tears all day and being in his arms is exactly what she needed.
"I just want him to settle down, you know?" She says quietly, her voice muffled against his shirt.
Jay nods, understanding her frustration all too well. He had spent many nights pacing the floor with a crying baby in his arms, feeling helpless and exhausted himself.
"I know, babe. I know. But you can't force him to stop crying. Sometimes they just need to cry it out" He says gently, rubbing her back soothingly.
Hailey nods and takes a deep breath, trying to calm down. She pulls back a little, looking up at Jay with weary eyes
"I know, but he's like, 16 months old now. Shouldn't he be mostly sleeping through the night by now?" She says, her voice tinged with frustration and helplessness.
Jay hesitates for a moment, knowing that the answer isn't going to be what she wants to hear
"Not necessarily. Some babies just take longer to sleep through the night consistently. Plus, he's teething right now, which makes everything worse" He says gently, trying to cushion the blow.
"But it feels like he's been teething forever. And the constant crying...I just feel like I'm losing my mind" Hailey says, her voice breaking again. She looks on the verge of tears once more and Jay pulls her back into his arms.
He holds her close, feeling helpless as he tries to comfort her. He hates seeing her so emotional and stressed out, but he knows there's not much he can do to help
"Hey, it's okay. I know it's hard, but you're doing an amazing job. You're the best mom in the world, Hailey" He says gently, pressing another kiss to her forehead.
Hailey buries her face in his chest again, feeling overwhelmed by the weight of her emotions. She knows he's right, but it's hard not to feel like she's failing at motherhood when the baby is crying and she can't make him stop
"I just don't know what to do anymore" She whispers, her voice choked with tears.
Jay's heart aches for her. He can feel her frustration and helplessness, and he hates that he can't take away her pain
"You don't have to do anything, babe. You're doing everything you can. Just take it one day at a time, okay? And remember that you're not in this alone. I'm here for you, every step of the way" He says, holding her tightly as she cries.
Jay holds her for a few moments longer, letting her cry and express her emotions. As her tears slowly subside, he strokes her hair gently and looks down at her.
"Hey, Hails" He says softly, using the nickname that only he calls her.
Hailey looks up at him, her eyes red and puffy from crying. She manages a small smile, grateful for his comfort and support
"Yeah?" She says quietly, her voice hoarse from crying.
Jay brushes a strand of hair out of her face, his touch gentle and comforting
"I know things are tough right now, but I want you to know that you're an amazing mom. You're doing everything you can for that little guy, and he's lucky to have you as his mom" He says sincerely, looking into her eyes.
Hailey swallows the lump in her throat, touched by his words. It means a lot to hear him say that, especially when she feels like she's failing at motherhood.
Jay, Hailey, Mackenzie, and baby Blake are seated around the dinner table. They're all digging into their food, except for Mackenzie, who is focused on her phone screen
Jay notices that Mackenzie isn't eating and glances over at her, irritation building inside him.
"Hey, Mackenzie. Put your phone down. It's time to eat" He says firmly, his tone making it clear that there's no room for argument.
Mackenzie looks up from her phone and rolls her eyes, clearly annoyed at being told what to do
"But I'm texting my friends" She protests, her tone bratty and defiant.
Jay's irritation grows at her attitude.
"I don't care. You can text them later. Put the phone down and eat your dinner" He says firmly, shooting her a warning look.
Mackenzie frowns and puts her phone down reluctantly.
"Fine. But this is stupid. I can talk to my friends whenever I want" She mutters, crossing her arms over her chest.
Jay stares at Mackenzie, his expression hardening
"Don't test me, little miss. If I catch you on your phone again, I will take it away and lock it up. And I'll find out where all your friends live and put their phones in evidence bags too" He threatens, his voice low and stern.
Mackenzie's eyes widen in shock at her dad's words. She looks at Hailey with disbelief.
"Mom, is he serious?" She asks, clearly alarmed by the thought of having her phone taken away.
Hailey nods, a small smirk on her lips at the sight of her daughter being put in her place.
"Yeah, he's serious. You know your dad doesn't make empty threats."
Mackenzie groans and pouts, clearly unhappy at the thought of losing her phone. She looks back at her dad with a sullen expression.
"But why? My friends will think I'm ignoring them" She whines, still testing her limits.
Jay glares at her, unimpressed by her attitude
"Your friends will understand that you're supposed to be having dinner and spending time with your family, not glued to your phone. And if they don't, then maybe you need to find better friends,"
Mackenzie huffs and slumps in her seat, looking like a petulant child. She knows there's no use arguing with her dad when he's in this mood.
"This sucks" She mutters under her breath, picking up her fork and pushing her food around on her plate.
Jay shakes his head, feeling a mixture of irritation and amusement at his daughter's attitude.
"Watch your language, young lady. And eat your food. I didn't spend all afternoon cooking for you to just push it around on your plate,"
Mackenzie sighs and starts begrudgingly eating her food. She shoots her dad a sullen look every now and then, but she knows better than to test his patience any further.
Hailey watches the exchange with a small smile, enjoying the fact that her husband was able to put their daughter in her place
Blake starts to fuss in his highchair, drawing their attention away from Mackenzie.
Hailey reaches over and scoops Blake out of his highchair, soothing him in her arms.
"Looks like someone's getting tired" She says, adjusting him so he's snuggled against her chest.
Hailey nods, shifting the baby so he's more comfortable in her arms. She starts to rock him back and forth, gently swaying with him.
"I'll go put him down for a nap. See if he'll stay asleep for longer than 30 minutes this time" She says with a wry smile.
Jay smiles sympathetically at her. He knows how frustrating it can be to put the baby down for a nap only to have him wake up 30 minutes later.
"Good luck, babe. I hope he gives you some peace and quiet for a while" He says, knowing how exhausted she's been lately.
Hailey nods, sighing heavily. "Me too. Otherwise, I might lose my mind" She says, a hint of defeat in her voice.
She starts to leave the room, cradling the baby gently in her arms.
Jay watches her leave with the baby, feeling a pang of guilt. He knows how much she's struggling with the baby's constant crying and lack of sleep.
He turns his attention back to Mackenzie, who's still pouting in her seat and picking at her food.
"Don't give me that look" Jay says, fixing his daughter with a disapproving glare. He knows she's trying to guilt trip him, and it's not going to work.
Mackenzie rolls her eyes again, clearly not happy at being scolded by her dad
"I'm just bored. This food's gross" She complains, pushing her food around on her plate again.
Jay clenches his jaw, feeling his patience wearing thin
"Your food's not gross. It's the same food you've eaten plenty of times before. And if you're bored, why don't you put down your phone for longer than 30 seconds and actually engage in family time,"
Mackenzie huffs, annoyed that her dad's calling her out on her bad attitude
"Why do I have to sit here and listen to baby noises and boring conversations? It's not exactly entertaining" She says, her tone defiant.
Jay's irritation flares at her disrespectful attitude
"That 'baby noise' is your baby brother, and those 'boring conversations' are your family talking. Just because you're not the center of attention for once doesn't mean you get to act like a spoiled brat,"
Mackenzie crosses her arms over her chest, feeling defensive and resentful. "But I don't care about the baby. And I don't care about what you and Mom talk about. It's boring grown-up stuff. Why can't I just go to my room?"
Jay takes a deep breath, trying to keep his cool. He knows Mackenzie is pushing his buttons on purpose, but it's still hard to resist the urge to snap at her
"Because we want you to be part of this family. You're not going to lock yourself in your room every time we have family time. And we are your family, in case you forgot"
Mackenzie scowls, feeling frustrated and trapped. "But why do I have to sit here and watch you guys play happy family? It's not like you guys actually care about me or listen to me" She retorts, knowing it's a low blow but not caring
Jay shakes his head, his tone stern. "You're not in the way. You're part of this family and you're going to act like it. That means no more eye rolls, no more pouting, and no more complaining. Got it?"
Mackenzie huffs, still feeling defiant and resentful towards her dad. "Yeah, whatever. I'll just sit here and be miserable then" She mutters, picking up her fork and taking a bite of her food.
Jay sighs, resisting the urge to shout something he'd most likely regret at her. He knows it wouldn't solve anything and would only make the situation worse
"No, you won't. You're going to sit there and act like a respectful, grateful young lady. You're lucky to have a family that loves you and cares about you. Not everyone has that" He says firmly, his voice leaving no room for argument.
Mackenzie rolls her eyes again, feeling stubborn and childish. She mutters under her breath, just loud enough for her dad to hear. "Whatever. I'd rather be an orphan than be part of this family most days,"
Mackenzie looks up at him, feeling a flicker of fear in her chest at the look on his face. But she's too stubborn to back down now
"I said I'd rather be an orphan than be part of this family" She repeats, her voice cold and defiant.
Jay's eyes flash with anger, hurt mixed with frustration. He can't believe his own daughter would say something like that
"You don't mean that" He says firmly, trying to hide the hurt in his voice.
Mackenzie shrugs, still putting up a tough front even though she's starting to feel bad for her words
"Maybe I do" She mutters, avoiding eye contact with him.
Jay's jaw clenches, his heart clenching in his chest as he looks at his daughter. He knows she's just lashing out, but it still hurts to hear her say something like that
"Mackenzie" He says softly, trying to keep his voice calm "I don't want to hear you say that again. Do you understand?"
Mackenzie looks up at him, feeling a pang of guilt at the pain in his eyes. But she's still too stubborn to admit she's wrong
"Why not? It's true" She says defiantly.
Jay's heart clenches tighter in his chest as he looks at his defiant daughter. He can't believe she truly believes what she's saying
He takes a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady "Mackenzie, go upstairs. Now."
Mackenzie looks at him in surprise, shocked that he's actually telling her to go to her room
"But-but-" She sputters, trying to come up with an argument.
Jay cuts her off, his tone firm and final "No buts. Go upstairs. We'll talk about this later after I've had time to cool off"
Mackenzie huffs, feeling frustrated and powerless. "Fine. I'll go to my room. But I didn't do anything wrong" She mutters, pushing the chair back and stalking out of the room.
Jay watches her go, his heart heavy and his chest still hurting. He knows she's pushing limits and testing boundaries, but saying she'd rather be an orphan than a part of this family was a low blow.
He slumps in his seat, running a hand over his face. He feels like he's failing as a dad. He thought he was doing a good job, being there for his family, love them, but hearing his own daughter wish she was an orphan makes him second guess every decision he's ever made.
Jay grabs the full bottle of beer off the counter, feeling weighed down by the weight of his thoughts. He pops open the cap, the sound of the bottle opening echoing loudly in his ears,
He slides down the fridge, letting his back press against the cold metal. He brings the bottle to his lips and takes a long, deep swig. The cool liquid slides down his throat and he closes his eyes, savoring the brief respite from his thoughts.
He lets out a sigh, feeling the alcohol starting to take effect. His head feels a bit lighter, his thoughts a bit more fuzzy. But it does nothing to quiet the ache in his heart.
Hailey walks into the kitchen, carrying a sleeping Blake in her arms. She notices Jay sitting on the floor next to the fridge, beer in hand
"Hey" She says softly, crossing over to him. She looks down at him with a mixture of concern and understanding.
Jay looks up at her, a weary smile on his face. "Hey" He says, his voice cracking slightly. He takes another sip from the bottle, his eyes still watery from the earlier exchange with Mackenzie.
Hailey looks down at him, her heart aching at the sight of her usually strong, stoic husband looking so vulnerable and defeated
"You okay?" She asks, shifting Blake in her arms.
Jay looks down at the floor, swirling the beer around in the bottle
"Not really" He admits quietly. He takes another swig, the alcohol burning his throat "Just a headache"
He's trying to play it off like it's nothing, like he doesn't really care that his daughter just said she'd rather be an orphan than part of this family. But his voice cracks slightly, betraying his true feelings.
Hailey studies him for a moment, seeing right through his attempt to brush it off
"Migraine or the other kind?" She asks, knowing he gets migraines sometimes. But she can tell by the look on his face that this isn't that type of headache.
Jay lets out a bitter laugh, taking another drink from the bottle
"The other kind" He says gruffly, wincing slightly. His head is pounding, but it's not from a migraine. It's from the words his daughter said, still stinging like a fresh wound.
Hailey nods, understanding exactly what he means. She shifts Blake into one arm and bends down, sitting next to him on the kitchen floor
"What happened?" She asks gently, placing her free hand on his knee.
Jay sighs, letting his head fall back against the fridge. He takes a moment to gather his thoughts, feeling the alcohol starting to make him feel tipsy
"Mackenzie was being her usual annoying self at dinner. She was picking at her food and being snarky. The usual teenager attitude" He paused, his voice cracking again "And then when I told her to stop being a brat, she said...she said she'd rather be an orphan than be part of this family"
Hailey's heart sinks in her chest as she hears his words. She can't believe Mackenzie would say something so hurtful to her own father
"Oh Jay..." She says softly, squeezing his knee "I'm so sorry. I can't believe she'd say something like that"
Hailey's eyes widen in surprise as she sees the tears welling up in Jay's eyes. She quickly and quietly places Blake in the nearby bassinet, making sure he's asleep before rushing back over to Jay
He let's himself fall forward, face planting in her lap. The bottle of beer still clutched in his hand, his knuckles white from the grip. His shoulders start to shake as he dissolves into quiet sobs.
Hailey's heart breaks as she hears the guttural sounds coming from him, feeling his tears soak through her pants
"Shhh, it's okay Jay. Let it out" She murmurs quietly, running her fingers through his hair in a soothing manner.
Jay continues to cry, his body shaking with each sob that wracks through him. He's not used to breaking down like this, especially not in front of his wife. But he can't hold it in anymore.
Hailey continues to run her fingers through his hair, whispering soothing words and letting him cry his heart out. She knows he bottled up his emotions for so long, feeling like he had to be strong for everyone else. But right now, she wants him to feel everything and let it all out.
Jay feels himself being gently lowered onto the bed, Hailey's arms supporting him as she tucks him under the covers. He's exhausted, both physically and emotionally
His eyes flutter open as Hailey runs her fingers through his hair, the soothing motion almost lulling him to sleep.
She looks down at him, her eyes filled with love and compassion as she continues to stroke his hair
"You tired, baby?" She whispers softly, seeing the exhaustion in his features.
She looks down at him, her eyes filled with love and compassion as she continues to stroke his hair
"You tired, baby?" She whispers softly, seeing the exhaustion in his features.
Jay nodded softly, closing his eyes. "Yeah, just tired…"
"Get some sleep, baby. You've had a rough evening" She whispers, bending down to press a soft kiss on his forehead.
Jay succumbed to sleep and Hailey got into bed and laid on his chest.
Hi,
I hoped you liked this chapter. I know I made Mackenzie a bit bratty and bitchy, but I still hope you enjoyed the chapter!