Adam slowly opened his eyes as he felt Jay nudge him. The room was still dark, only a few faint traces of sunlight peeking in through the curtains. He groaned sleepily, shifting a bit under the covers.
"What?" he muttered, blinking his eyes as he turned to face Jay.
Jay looked at Adam with a concerned expression on his face.
"I think I feel sick," he admitted, his hand resting lightly on his stomach, which was toned beneath the sheets.
Adam, now a little more awake, reached a hand out to touch Jay's forehead.
"You don't feel warm," he said, a hint of worry in his voice as he sat up a bit more. "What kind of sick are you feeling?"
Jay moved closer to Adam, seeking comfort in his warm body.
"I don't know," he replied honestly, rubbing his stomach again. "My stomach just feels really upset. Like it's doing somersaults or something."
Jay got up shakily from the bed, feeling his stomach churn unpleasantly.
"I think I'm gonna-" he managed to get out before he hurried over to the bathroom, barely making it to the toilet in time as he retched violently.
Adam followed Jay into the bathroom, concern etched across his face.
"Are you okay?" he asked, moving forward to rub his back soothingly.
Jay was bent over the toilet, his body shuddering as he emptied his stomach.
"No," he managed to gasp out between bouts of vomiting. "This sucks."
As the morning light started to brighten the room, Adam glanced at the clock on the bedside table.
"It's already 6AM," he said, realization hitting him. They were due at work by 7. "We should probably get dressed."
Jay, still not feeling well, groaned at the thought. "I don't know if I can make it in today," he said, his voice strained. "There's no way I can handle a full day like this."
Adam looked at Jay, torn between wanting to take care of him and knowing they had responsibilities at work.
"Hang on a sec," he said, gently patting Jay's back before standing up. He quickly dashed out of the bathroom, returning a moment later with his phone in his hand.
"I'm going to let Voight know you're not feeling well," he said, starting to dial their sergeant's number.
Jay shook his head weakly, struggling to pull himself upright from where he was slumped over the toilet.
"No, don't," he protested. "I can handle it. I don't want to be the one holding the team back."
Adam looked at Jay skeptically."You can barely stand up straight," he pointed out. "I don't think you'll be able to do much except make things worse. Besides, I really don't want you throwing up on anything at the district."
Jay knew Adam had a point, but he couldn't help feeling guilty. He didn't want to let the team down, especially since they had a big case to handle.
"But we have that case to take care of," he tried to protest again.
"Alright, we'll go in," Adam relented after a moment. "But if you start feeling worse, we're heading home. No arguments, got it?"
Jay gave a small nod, leaning against the bathroom wall. He was still feeling pretty nauseous but the thought of being able to power through the day at least gave him a bit of motivation.
"Alright," he agreed, slowly getting to his feet. "Let's give this a shot."
Jay followed Adam into the bullpen, doing his best to hide the fact that he was feeling far from okay. His stomach was still twisted in knots, and he felt a cold sweat on his forehead.
Adam glanced at him, concern evident in his eyes but he kept silent. They needed to start their day and he was keeping a close eye on Jay, ready to step in if he took a turn for the worse.
The team greeted Adam and Jay as they walked in, but it was Jay who drew the most attention. His normally sharp features looked paler than usual and there was a pinched expression on his face.
Kevin, ever observant, was the first to comment. "You look like you're about to be sick, man," he said bluntly.
Jay shot Kevin a weary look before leaning on the desk heavily, closing his eyes and swallowing hard.
"Please don't say that," he managed to get out through gritted teeth. "I'm trying really hard not to think about it."
Hailey, who had been watching the exchange, stepped closer to Jay, her eyes full of concern.
"You okay, Jay?" she asked quietly, reaching out to touch his arm.
Jay let out a shaky breath, opening his eyes and forcing a weak smile onto his face.
"Yeah, just peachy," he replied, his voice a bit higher pitched than usual.
Hailey wasn't convinced but she didn't push him. She knew how stubborn Jay could be about appearing vulnerable.
Meanwhile, Vanessa caught Adam's eye from across the room. She raised an eyebrow and mouthed, "Is he really okay?"
Adam gave a subtle shake of his head, mouthing back, "He's not feeling good." He gestured towards Jay, who was now leaning even heavier on the desk, his eyes shut again.
Voight, who had been watching the interactions, decided it was time to chime in.
"Halstead," he called out, his voice firm. "In my office."
Jay sighed internally, knowing he couldn't avoid his sergeant for long. He pushed himself away from the desk, trying to look as normal as possible but failing miserably.
"Coming," he said, making his way towards Voight's office.
Once inside Voight's office, Jay slumped down in a chair, his head in his hands. The room was spinning a bit, but he did his best to fight the nausea.
Voight shut the door behind Jay before turning to look at him. He took in Jay's pale face and clammy skin.
"You look like crap," he said bluntly, never one to sugarcoat things.
"Thanks, you always know how to make a guy feel special," Jay muttered in response, lifting his head slightly to look at Voight.
Voight merely raised an eyebrow at his sarcasm. "Adam said you were feeling sick when you got here," he stated. "So I'm going to ask you straight up. Are you sure you're fit enough to work today?"
Jay shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He wanted to say yes, to prove that he could handle it. But the truth was, he was struggling.
"I...I think so," he said hesitantly, swallowing hard against the nausea that was building up again. "I can try, at least."
Voight studied Jay's face for a moment, noting the way he was struggling to keep it together.
"Alright," he said after a moment. "I'll give you a chance. But if I think you're not up to it, I expect you to listen to me and go home. Understood?"
Jay nodded, silently relieved but also silently dreading the idea of having to leave the station later if his condition worsened.
"Understood," he said quietly.
Voight walked over to his desk, grabbing a file off a stack. He handed it over to Jay, a concerned expression on his face.
"You're going to take this case," he said. "And you'll be paired with Vanessa for the rest of the day."
Jay took the file with a silent nod. He knew that pairing him with Vanessa was Voight's way of keeping an eye on him. He also knew Vanessa wouldn't go easy on him.
"Got it," he said, standing up carefully. "I'll give her the details and we'll head out."
Voight watched as Jay left his office, his concern for the younger man growing.
He knew Jay was strong, but it was clear he was struggling. He hoped Vanessa would keep a close watch on him and have the good sense to bring him back if necessary..
After, Jay and Vanessa walked out of the bullpen, Jay fumbled with the keys he had in his pocket. His stomach was churning and his hands were shaking slightly. He tried to hide it, but Vanessa was perceptive.
"Jay, are you sure you're good to drive?" she asked, eyeing him carefully.
Jay let out a shuddering breath, trying to keep his voice even.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he lied, finally managing to get a grip on the keys. "I got it, don't worry about me."
Vanessa clearly didn't believe him, but she knew how stubborn he could be.
As they walked towards the parking garage, she decided to try a different tactic. "You know, if you want, I can drive," she offered casually. "Just to make sure we don't end up in a ditch somewhere."
Jay hesitated for a moment. He really didn't want to admit that he didn't feel well, but the thought of being behind the wheel made his stomach twist.
"Alright, you drive," he said after a moment, handing her the keys. His pride was telling him he should be fine, but deep down he was grateful for the offer.
Vanessa took the keys from him, her concern growing. She'd known Jay long enough to tell when he was trying to hide something, and right now he wasn't doing a great job of it.
"Alright, let's go," she said, trying to keep her voice nonchalant. "But if you start looking like you're gonna puke, you tell me."
Jay grimaced, knowing she had him there. "I'll tell you," he promised, settling into the passenger seat with a sigh.
"Can we roll down the windows?" he asked after a moment, feeling like the car was closing in on him.
"Yeah, sure," Vanessa agreed, starting the car and rolling down the windows.
As they pulled out of the parking garage and onto the street, she stole occasional glances at Jay, noting the way he was gripping the edge of his seat.
"You holding up okay over there?" she asked after a few minutes, keeping her voice light.
As Vanessa navigated through the city, she noticed that Jay was growing increasingly silent. She glanced over and saw that his eyes were drooping, his head sagging against the window.
"Hey," she said, gently shaking his shoulder. "You falling asleep on me?"
Jay's eyes fluttered open, and he blinked groggily. "No, I'm...I'm just resting my eyes," he mumbled, but it was obvious he was fighting a losing battle with exhaustion.
Vanessa chuckled softly, sensing that he wasn't going to admit how out of it he was.
"Sure, you are," she teased, but there was no malice in her voice. "You can catch a few Zs if you want, I'll wake you up when we get there."
As the city lights passed by, Jay's eyes slowly closed again, and he slumped further down in the seat.
Vanessa pulled up to the address for their case, but Jay was still fast asleep in the passenger seat. She radioed Voight, keeping her voice low to avoid waking him.
"Hey Sarge, it's Vanessa. We've arrived, but Halstead's completely conked out."
On the other end of the radio, Voight's tone shifted from business-like to concerned.
"Is he alright?" he asked, his voice laced with worry.
Vanessa looked over at Jay, who was still slumped in the seat. "He looks pretty out of it," she said quietly. "I told him he could take a nap in the car, but I didn't think he'd conk out this hard."
There was a pause on the other end of the line, and then Voight spoke again. "I want you to wake him up and keep a close eye on him," he said, a note of command in his voice. "If he's not up to this, I want both of you back at the district. Understood?"
"Understood," Vanessa replied, setting the radio back in its holder. She turned to Jay and gently shook his shoulder.
"Hey, Halstead," she said softly. "Time to wake up."
Jay stirred slowly, groggily opening his eyes. It took him a moment to remember where he was, and he sat up with a groan.
"Are we...are we there?" he mumbled, rubbing a hand over his face.
"We're here," Vanessa confirmed, watching him closely. "But Voight wants us to keep him updated. How are you feeling? Up for this?"
Jay managed a nod, but his face was pinched with pain and his eyes had a glassy look to them.
"I'm...I'm fine," he said, attempting to put on a brave face. But he couldn't fool Vanessa, and they both knew it.
As she helped him out of the car, he stumbled a bit, and she kept a steadying hand on his arm.
"You sure about this?" she asked quietly.
As they approached the crime scene, it was clear to Vanessa that Jay was in no condition to be there. He was stumbling more often than not, his face pale and drawn.
She quickly radioed Voight. "Sarge, we're here, but Halstead's in bad shape. He's basically falling asleep on his feet. I don't think he should be working like this."
There was a pause on the other end of the line before Voight's voice came through, concern evident in his tone.
"I'd say you're right," he said gravely. "Get him back here. I don't want him collapsing on a crime scene."
"Copy that," Vanessa replied, clicking off the radio. She turned to Jay, who was leaning heavily against a wall, his eyes half-lidded.
"Alright, buddy," she said, looping his arm over her shoulder. "We're heading back to the district."
Jay nodded weakly, too exhausted to put up any protest. As they made their way back to the car, he stumbled several times, and Vanessa had to nearly drag him along.
Once they got him settled into the passenger seat, she buckled him in and climbed into the driver's seat, dialing Voight's number as she pulled away from the scene.
Voight picked up on the first ring. "Tell me you're on your way back," he said, his voice tense.
"We're on our way back," Vanessa replied. "He's in rough shape. He's been stumbling and falling asleep at the same time. I don't think he should've come in today."
There was a silence on the other end of the line before Voight spoke again. "I'd agree with that," he said gruffly. "Get him back here. I want to talk to him."
"Understood," Vanessa said, ending the call. She glanced at Jay, who was slumped against the window, his eyes closed.
"Hang in there, buddy," she whispered under her breath, stepping on the gas.
The drive back to the district was made in uneasy silence. Jay remained asleep the entire time, leaning heavily against the door. Vanessa kept stealing glances at him, worry creasing her brow.
Once they arrived at the district, Vanessa parked the car and gently awoke Jay, who blinked owlishly at her.
"We're here," she said softly. "Come on, let's get you inside."
She helped Jay out of the car, his legs shaky beneath him. As they headed towards the bullpen, Adam and Kevin noticed their arrival and exchanged worried glances.
Adam saw Jay stumbling as Vanessa practically supported his weight, and he hurried over to them, alarm etched on his face.
"Is he okay?" he asked Vanessa urgently, taking in Jay's pale face and unfocused eyes.
"Not really," Vanessa said, shaking her head. "He's been falling asleep, stumbling...he's in pretty bad shape."
Adam reached out and took hold of Jay's other arm, helping Vanessa guide him towards Voight's office.
They half-walked, half-lugged Jay towards Voight's office, the rest of the team watching them in concern. Once they reached the door, Adam opened it and they steered Jay inside.
Voight looked up as they entered, and his expression hardened when he saw the state Jay was in.
"He shouldn't have come in today," Voight said bluntly, his gaze shifting to Jay. "What were you thinking, kid? You can barely stand."
Jay swallowed hard, but didn't respond. He knew Voight was right, but he hadn't wanted to admit how bad he was feeling.
Adam and Vanessa helped Jay to a chair, and he slumped down into it gratefully. His eyes were closed, his breathing audibly labored.
Voight moved to stand in front of him, arms crossed over his chest. "Halstead," he said gruffly. "Look at me."
Jay forced his eyes open, wincing at the brightness of the room. He looked up at Voight, his face a sickly pale.
"I'm...I'm okay," he tried to say, but his voice came out as a weak croak.
Voight huffed out a breath, anger flashing in his eyes. "You don't look okay to me," he said, his tone sharp. "You look like you're about to pass out on my floor."
Adam watched as Jay's hands trembled visibly, his body shivering. Adam crouched down in front of him, concern flooding his chest.
"Hey, hey, you're okay," he said softly, his hand gently cupping Jay's face. He swiped a thumb across Jay's cheek, wiping away a few tears that had escaped.
"You're cold as ice, babe," Adam murmured, rubbing his hands up and down Jay's arms.
Jay leaned into Adam's touch, his body craving the warmth. The tears continued to fall, silent and ceaseless. He felt as if he was on the verge of collapse, both physically and emotionally.
"I...I don't feel good, Addy," he admitted, his voice hoarse.
"I know, baby. I know," Adam replied sympathetically, his heart clenching in his chest. He kept rubbing his hands up and down Jay's arms.
The door opened, and Hailey and Kevin stepped in. The sight of Jay, pale and tear-streaked, was a blow.
"What the hell happened to him?" Kevin asked, his voice tight.
Voight grunted, his expression gruff. "He came in when he clearly shouldn't have. He's on the verge of collapsing."
Hailey took a few steps forward, her eyes wide. She'd known Jay had been struggling since his return, but seeing him like this was jarring.
"Jesus, Jay," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "You look awful."
"Feel awful," he mumbled through chattering teeth. He pressed closer to Adam, seeking the warmth of his body.
"Why the hell didn't you just stay home?" Adam asked, gently tucking a blanket around Jay's shoulders.
Adam's voice had taken on a sharper tone, and Jay flinched visibly. He clamped his hands over his ears, tears falling faster, and shuddered.
"Don't...don't shout at me," he said, his voice cracking. "Please."
Adam's expression immediately softened, and he moved closer. "Hey, hey, I'm not shouting," he said, his voice as gentle as he could make it. "I'm sorry, babe. I wasn't shouting at you."
Jay hiccuped softly, his body still shuddering with suppressed sobs. He leaned into Adam, seeking his comfort. The world felt like it was closing in on him, and he desperately needed something to hold onto.
"I...I just want to go home," he whispered, his eyes squeezed shut.
Voight watched as Jay clung to Adam, his heart panging with sympathy. He'd seen the kid suffer through a lot over the years, but this was different. Jay looked truly broken.
He stepped forward, voice unusually soft. "Halstead," he said quietly. "Can you look at me for a minute?"
Jay's eyes opened, but they were swimming with unshed tears. He looked up at Voight, his lower lip quivering.
"Yeah?" he managed to croak out.
Voight crouched down so he was eye-level with Jay. He kept his voice low and gentle, aware of how fragile Jay was right now.
"Listen, kid," he began. "You can't work when you're like this. You're not doing anyone any favours, least of all yourself."
Jay swallowed hard, a tear finally escaping down his cheek. He knew Voight was right. He shouldn't be there, his body was screaming at him to leave.
"But...I...I can still help," he protested weakly, even as he shivered under the blanket.
Voight shook his head. "You won't be much help if you're passed out on the floor. You need to rest, let your body fight this sickness."
He paused, his gaze shifting to Adam. "Is there any way to get him home? He's in no shape to drive."
Adam nodded, his hand still rubbing up and down Jay's arm beneath the blanket. "Yeah, we share an apartment," he confirmed. "I can take him home."
Voight nodded, clearly relieved. The last thing he wanted was for Jay to be left stranded here.
"Alright," he said. "Take him home, get him some sleep. Keep an eye on him, okay?"
"Will do, Sarge," Adam replied. He gently stood up, coaxing Jay to his feet as well.
Jay wobbled, his legs trembling under his weight. If it weren't for Adam steadying him, he would have surely stumbled.
Jay leaned heavily against Adam, his head lolling against the other man's shoulder. His teeth were chattering, and he shivered uncontrollably. Adam wrapped his arm around his waist, supporting him as they made their way towards the door.
"You can lean on me, baby," Adam murmured, his voice soothing. "We just gotta get you out to the car, okay? Can you make it that far?"
Jay nodded weakly, his body feeling like it was made of lead. Every step was a monumental effort, and he knew he wouldn't have made it without Adam's support.
"I...I can make it," he mumbled, his words slurring together. "Just...just don't let go."
Jay did his best to follow the instruction, though his steps were more akin to shuffles than actual purposeful strides. He kept his head resting on Adam's shoulder, allowing the other man to guide him towards the exit.
Each step was a struggle, his body protesting every movement. But with Adam's support, he slowly but surely made it out of the bullpen and towards the parking lot.
Once they were safely at the car, Adam helped Jay into the passenger seat and got into the drivers seat. As he buckled his own seatbelt, he glanced over and noticed something.
It was subtle, but there was a slight softness to Jay's stomach that hadn't been there before. Adam frowned, his hand instinctively moving to brush against the subtle curve.
Jay had been so busy shivering that he didn't notice, but Adam couldn't help but feel a small sense of alarm. He'd been used to his boyfriend having a toned, flat stomach for years, but now there was a soft, warm curve beneath his hand.
"Hey, babe," Adam said softly, keeping his voice low as not to startle Jay, who was now half-dozing in the passenger seat. "You've...uh, you've gained a little weight, haven't you?"
The gentle question had the unintended effect of causing Jay to burst into tears. His sobs were quiet and gut wrenching, his body shaking with the force of them.
"Why are you so horrible?" he managed to choke out between sobs. "Why would you say that?"
Adam's heart shattered into a million pieces. He hadn't meant for this to happen, hadn't expected his innocent question to have such a drastic effect on his boyfriend.
"No, no, no, no," he said quickly, reaching out to grasp Jay's trembling frame. "I didn't mean it in a bad way, I promise. I'm sorry, baby, I didn't mean it like that."
Jay continued to sob, unable to stop the flood of tears that cascaded down his pale cheeks. The sickness and exhaustion had made his emotions raw, and he felt each word like a stab to the heart.
"Liar," he hiccuped, his face contorting in pain. "Why would you say that if you didn't mean it?"
"Because I'm an idiot," Adam said, his voice thick with regret. "I wasn't thinking, I didn't mean to upset you. I promise."
He pulled Jay as close as possible with the constraint of the seatbelts, his hands rubbing soothingly over the other man's back.
Jay clung to Adam's shirt, burying his face in the material as he continued to sob inconsolably. Adam's heart ached, knowing he'd caused such pain to the man he loved.
He started the car with one hand, and the other hand held Jay close, as if he could somehow absorb his suffering. He drove carefully, the only sound in the vehicle being Jay's quiet, heartbreaking sobs.
Once they made it home, Adam carefully helped Jay out of the car and into the apartment. He guided the shivering, sobbing man through the door and towards the bedroom.
Inside the bedroom, he gently coaxed Jay onto the bed and knelt down in front of him.
"I'm gonna get you some clothes, baby. I'll be right back, okay?" he murmured, his hands gently cupping Jay's face.
Jay nodded weakly, his eyes red and puffy from crying. He watched as Adam stood and left the room, the sound of footsteps echoing down the hall.
Several minutes later, Adam reappeared, carrying a pile of sweatpants and a sweater. He set them on the bedside table before returning his attention to Jay.
"Alright," he said, his voice soft. "Let's get you out of these clothes, yeah? You're probably so uncomfortable still wearing these."
Gently, he helped Jay strip down to his boxers, then guided him to stand so they could get the new clothes on him.
Jay's body was still trembling, each movement seeming to take a great effort. Adam helped him into the sweatpants and sweater, taking care not to jostle his feverish form.
"Almost there," he encouraged, tugging the sweater over Jay's head. "You're being such a good boy, baby."
Once the clothes were on, Adam guided Jay back onto the bed, tucking the covers around his shivering frame. Jay's eyes were half-lidded, exhaustion etched into every line of his face.
The silence of the bedroom was only occasionally interrupted by Jay's soft, uneven breaths. His body was finally beginning to relax, no longer shivering as the fever abated.
Adam lay beside him, his eyes half-open. He kept a gentle hand on Jay's back, his concern still present. After a few moments, he reached for his phone and began sending a text to Kim.
"Hey, Kim," he typed. "I was just wondering...how did you know when you were pregnant with Makayla? Like, were there any early signs?"
He hit send, then set the phone down on the bedside table. As he did so, he felt Jay shifting against him slightly. He looked down and saw that the other man's eyes were open, watching him with unfocused gaze.
"Hey," he said softly, resuming his gentle hand rubbing over Jay's back. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you. Go back to sleep, baby."
Jay didn't respond verbally, but he closed his eyes again, leaning into Adam's touch. Adam watched as his breathing slowly evened out, his body relaxing further.
After a couple of minutes, his phone buzzed with a message from Kim.
"Hey," the text read. "I had a lot of symptoms - throwing up, tired all the time, craving weird things. Why do you ask?"
Adam typed back, "Just wondering. Jay's been sick lately, and I noticed he's gained some weight. He's got a weird stomach right now. He's sleeping now, but I was just thinking he could be pregnant. Is it too early to know?"
The next message came a few moments later. "Early, but not impossible. How many weeks are we talking? I mean, I didn't want to say anything, but I've noticed he's looking a bit different lately too."
Adam felt his heart skip a beat. Kim had noticed something too, which only confirmed his suspicions. "I don't know, maybe a few weeks? He's been off lately, kinda weird stomach, tired all the time. And he's emotional as hell, which..." he chuckled softly to himself, "Is normal, but it's worse than usual."
The next message came swiftly. "When I was pregnant, I was a lot more emotional too. I'd have random crying fits. Any chance you can get him to take a test?"
Adam glanced down at Jay, his heart clenching. He didn't wanna disturb him, but it was true, a test would tell them a lot more than just speculating. He sighed softly and typed back.
"I don't know if I can get him up now. Maybe I'll try tomorrow morning. Can you keep this between us for now? I don't want to get his hopes up if I'm wrong."
"Of course," the reply read. "Keep me updated though, yeah? I wanna know if you guys are gonna have a little bundle of joy running around soon."
Adam smiled, feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety at the thought of being a dad. "Will do," he sent back. "I'll let you know."
He put the phone down and resumed rubbing soothing circles over Jay's back. Tomorrow, he'd broach the subject of a pregnancy test, but for now, he just needed to make sure his sick boyfriend got some rest.
I got this idea from my friend who obsessed with Halzek (Adam and Jay) and, she wanted me to do a pregnant fiction! Hope you enjoy this book!