Hailey Upton was walking through the district, deep in thought. She was lost in her own world, oblivious to the hustle and bustle around her. She was caught off guard when a hand touched her shoulder.
"Hey," a familiar voice said, pulling her out of her thoughts.
Hailey turned to see Jay Halstead standing beside her, his concerned expression drawing her attention. She smiled softly at the sight of him.
"Hey," she replied, the tension of her thoughts disappearing as he stood beside her.
"You okay?" he asked, studying her face.
She nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine. Just got lost in thought, that's all."
Jay raised an eyebrow, sensing that there was something she wasn't telling him. He knew her too well.
"You're sure you're alright?" Jay pressed, his hand still on her shoulder.
Hailey sighed, realizing that he could see through her. "It's just... I've been thinking about Erin coming back to the unit."
Jay's expression darkened at the mention of Erin. He knew that Hailey had feelings of insecurity and doubts whenever Erin's name came up.
"You know, you shouldn't worry about stuff like that," he said, his voice firm.
Hailey rolled her eyes. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one who feels like they're constantly being compared to the perfect Erin Lindsay."
"Erin's got her own flaws, trust me," Jay said, his grip on her shoulder tightening slightly. "And you're not perfect, but you're damn close."
Hailey looked at him, her eyes searching his face for any hint of doubt.
"Do you still love her?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Jay's expression softened, and he took a step closer to her. He cupped her face in his hands and looked deep into her eyes.
"I love you, Hailey. You're the one I'm with now," he said, his voice full of conviction. "Erin's part of my past."
Hailey's breath caught in her throat, her heart swelling with relief and love at his words. She wanted to believe him, but the insecurities still tugged at her.
"But what if she comes back and wants you back?" she asked, the fear in her voice evident.
Jay's thumb traced along her jawline, trying to soothe her worries.
"She can want whatever she wants," he said, his voice firm. "It doesn't change how I feel about you. You're the one I chose, Hailey. You're the one I want to be with."
Hailey's shoulders sagged, the weight of her fears lifting off of her. She leaned into his touch, finding comfort in his words and his gaze.
"I just...I don't want to lose you," she admitted, her voice quiet.
Jay pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her and pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead. "You won't lose me," he assured her. "Not to Erin, not to anyone."
Hailey melted into his embrace, the warmth of his touch soothing her anxieties. For now, she decided to let herself believe him, to trust in his love for her.
"Promise?" she asked, looking up at him.
Jay smiled down at her, his love for her evident in his eyes. "I promise."
The unit was caught in a dangerous gunfight, and a shot pierced through Voight's chest, sending him to the ground.
Jay's heart sank as he saw his sergeant fall, and adrenaline pumping through his veins. Without hesitation, he shouted into his radio, "Officer down! Sergeant Voight is hit!"
"Medic! We need a medic!" he barked into the radio, his voice filled with desperation.
He ran over to Voight, dropping to his knees beside him. He could already see the blood staining Voight's uniform, and fear gripped him.
The unit waited anxiously outside the operating room, their worries for Voight keeping them on edge. The room was silent, save for the low hum of the hospital machines.
As they sat, they couldn't help but notice Jay's increasing anxiety. He paced back and forth, running his hands through his hair in frustration.
"You okay, man?" Adam asked, breaking the silence.
"No," Jay snapped, his voice strained. "I just - I just hate feeling this helpless.
"I know," Adam said, his expression sympathetic. "But Voight's tough. He'll pull through."
Jay just glared at him, his frustration and worry fueling his anger. "Yeah, because that's so helpful right now."
Hailey watched from her seat, her heart aching for Jay. She wanted to comfort him, to tell him everything was going to be okay, but she could see that he was in no mood to hear it right now.
"Maybe you should take a walk, clear your head a bit," Kevin suggested, gesturing down the hall. "We'll call you when there's news."
Jay hesitated, then nodded. He couldn't bear sitting here any longer. He stalked down the hall, his mind racing with worries and "what-ifs.
The unit watched him go, concern etched on their faces. They knew Jay was going through hell right now, and they wished they could do something to help him.
"He's just worried," Adam said softly. "We all are."
Hailey chewed on her lip, her heart breaking for Jay. She wanted to follow him, to comfort him, but she knew he needed time alone.
"He's taking it harder than the rest of us," Kim chimed in. "He idolizes Voight, we all know that."
The rest of the unit nodded in agreement. They knew how close Jay was to Voight, how he looked up to him like a father figure.
"He's blaming himself," Kevin said, his voice low. "Feeling like it's his fault Voight got shot."
Hailey's heart sank. She knew that Jay would be beating himself up inside, blaming himself for not being the one who took the bullet instead.
The unit fell silent for a moment, each of them lost in their own thoughts. Then, Adam spoke up again.
"You know who would know how to handle Jay right now?" he said, a hint of a smile in his voice.
Hailey knew who he was talking about, and her heart clenched.
"Yep," Kim agreed, her voice soft.
Hailey looked down at her hands, her heart twisting in her chest. She knew they were right. If Erin were still here, she would know how to comfort Jay, how to ease his worries. But she wasn't here, and that stung more than anything.
Adam must have sensed Hailey's discomfort, because he quickly added, "Not that you're not doing a good job, Hailey."
Hailey shrugged, trying to hide her pain. "It's not the same," she said quietly. "I love him, but I'm not Erin."
Kim reached over and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Hey, none of us are Erin. And that's okay. Jay loves you, Hailey. You're the one he's with now, and that's what matters."
The doctor walked into the waiting room, his face serious. "The operation was successful," he said, addressing the team, "but Voight lost a lot of blood. He's stable for now, but he's asking for someone named Erin."
This will be a Linstead Story and how Erin and Jay cope after being apart for years.