As Jay walked into the district, he was greeted by his unit members with a round of applause and some friendly ribbing.
"Hey, look who's back," Adam Ruzek teased. "Thought you were never coming back."
Jay chuckled and gave Adam a playful punch to the arm.
"Just needed some time off. But I'm back and ready to get back to work."
Hank Voight stepped forward, a smirk on his face.
"Welcome back, Halstead. We missed you around here."
Jay nodded at Voight, appreciating the greeting. "Good to be back, boss."
The rest of the unit gathered around, patting Jay on the back and making jokes about his absence.
"Did you forget how to do your job while you were gone?" Kim Burgess joked.
Jay laughed. "Hardly. Just took a little break."
Jay dropped his bag on the desk, and kissed Erin.
"Do me a favor, get all the cases I've missed, I need something to do."
Erin smiled and planted a quick kiss on his lips.
"Sure thing." She grabbed a stack of case files from her desk and placed them on Jay's desk.
"Here ya go, hotshot. Catch up work for the next few days."
Jay groaned at the sight of the pile. "Thanks, babe. Just what I wanted to do. Paperwork."
"Hey, someone's gotta do it," Erin teased, patting his shoulder.
Adam, who had been watching from the sidelines, interjected.
"You two are gross. Get a room."
Erin rolled her eyes. "Shut up, Ruzek."
Jay shot Adam a glare. "Watch it."
As Jay was immersed in paperwork, a little girl of about two years old came waddling up the stairs. She had wide innocent eyes and fluffy blonde hair.
Jay glanced up from his paperwork, surprised to see the child. He smiled at her and knelt down to her level.
"Well, who do we have here?" he asked, his voice soft.
The toddler reached out a tiny hand and touched his badge.
Jay chuckled. "Look at you, checking out my badge. Do you like it?"
The little girl nodded, her fingers tracing the gold badge.
Voight noticed the interaction and walked over to see what was going on.
"Who's your friend, Halstead?"
Jay turned to Voight with a smile. "Not sure. She just wandered up here."
Voight chuckled and crouched down next to Jay. He looked at the little girl, who was now shyly hiding behind Jay's leg.
"Where did you come from, sweetheart?" Voight asked gently.
The little girl didn't answer, just continued to cling to Jay's pant leg.
Jay gave a small shrug, glancing at Voight. "Not sure who she belongs to. She can't be more than two."
Just then, a worried mother appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Isabelle! Where are you?" she called out, frantically searching for her missing toddler.
Hearing her mother's voice, Isabelle looked up and started to cry, clinging tighter to Jay's leg.
Jay scooped Isabelle into his arms, offering comfort. "It's okay, it's okay."
The mother rushed up to them, panting from running.
"Oh my goodness, I turned around for two seconds. I'm so sorry."
Jay handed Isabelle to her mother, who immediately engulfed the little girl in a tight hug.
"It's alright. She's safe now," Jay reassured the mother, giving her a smile.
The mother thanked him profusely before carrying her daughter away.
Hank chuckled and slapped Jay on the back. "Looks like you have a way with kids, Halstead."
As Isabelle's mother carried her away, the little girl looked over her mother's shoulder at Jay, pointing to his badge and saying, "badgey badgey" in her baby voice.
Jay chuckled. "Yeah, that's my badge."
Isabelle, still clinging to her mother, made grabby hands at Jay, wanting to hold his badge.
Jay noticed her reaching out and remembered the spare badge he had in his pocket. He pulled it out and gave it to Isabelle, who immediately clutched it tightly in her tiny fist.
"Here you go, little one. Just like mine," Jay said, smiling at her.
Isabelle's mother smiled gratefully, impressed with how good Jay was with her daughter.
"Thank you so much," she said to Jay, holding Isabelle in her arms. "I don't know what I was thinking, taking my eyes off her for even a second."
Jay laughed. "Don't worry about it. Kids are fast, they get into everything."
The mother nodded, looking down at her daughter who was now quietly playing with the spare badge.
"Well, thank you for keeping a watchful eye on her. I owe you one."
The mother chuckled, used to her daughter's stubbornness. "Isabelle, sweetie, I think that badge belongs to Officer Halstead."
"It's okay," Jay reassured the mother. "She can keep it. I have plenty of spares."
The mother looked relieved and gave a grateful smile. "Are you sure? I can try to take it from her."
Jay shook his head. "Nah, really. It's fine. She seems happy with it."
The mother nodded, relieved that she didn't have to wrangle the badge away from her stubborn toddler.
The mother thanked Jay once more before carrying Isabelle away, the little girl still clinging to the badge.
The unit went back to work, but not without making some good-natured jokes at Jay's expense.
"Looks like you've got a fan club now, Halstead," Adam teased.
Jay chuckled, shaking his head. "Yeah, something like that."
"Hey, guys, we got a case. Domestic disturbance at 557 Parkview Lane." Platt explained.
Kim jotted down the address while Adam grabbed his coat. They nodded in response, preparing to head out.
But Jay, who had been quietly working at his desk, suddenly looked up.
"Wait," he said, furrowing his brow. "557 Parkview Lane…why does that address seem familiar?"
Adam and Kim exchanged a glance, wondering what he was on about.
"Uh, not sure, man. You know someone who lives there?" Adam asked, still getting his gear ready.
Jay thought for a moment, trying to remember why the address sounded familiar. He quickly pulled up his phone and searched for something.
Suddenly, his eyes widened in realization.
"No way..." he muttered under his breath, his fingers flying over the screen.
Kim noticed the stricken look on Jay's face and approached him.
"Jay, what is it? You look like you've seen a ghost."
Jay pocketed his phone.
"Someone call Sarge, it's Isabelle's house, we gotta go!"
He grabs his jacket and rushes downstairs.
Adam's eyes widened in horror. "The little girl with the badge? That's her house?"
Kim quickly whipped out her phone to call Voight while the others hustled downstairs after Jay.
Jay, Erin, Adam, Kim, and Kevin arrived at the house within minutes. Voight followed closely behind them.
The house looked ordinary enough, like any other on the block, but there was an air of tension surrounding it.
The unit parked their vehicles and gathered together, preparing to approach the house.
Voight gave a firm nod to Jay, signaling for him to take the lead.
Jay didn't hesitate. He kicked the door open with a loud thud, the splintered wood giving way effortlessly.
The unit quickly rushed into the house, guns drawn and flashlights at the ready.
Jay marched down the hall and flashed his torch and aimed his gun at different angles and rooms.
"CHICAGO PD!"
The house was eerily silent, the only sound was the creaking of the floorboards under their feet.
Jay motioned for the others to spread out, searching each room one by one.
As the unit searched they house, Erin discovered something disturbing in one of the rooms, a badge with dried blood splattered on it.
Erin's heart sank as she picked up the badge, immediately recognizing it.
"Guys, I think I found something…" Erin shouted.
The others rushed over to where Erin was, gathering around her.
Adam saw the badge in her hand and his face paled. "Oh God, is that…?"
Erin nodded, her hands trembling slightly as she held the badge gently. "Yeah, it's Jay's."
Jay walked into the room and immediately spotted the badge in Erin's hand. His face hardened when he realized it was his own badge, now marked with dried blood.
He approached her and took the badge, his hands clenching around it.
"Damn it..." he muttered under his breath.
Voight, seeing the seriousness of the situation, quickly took charge.
"Alright, listen up. Adam and Kevin, search the perimeter. Kim, radio for backup and CSU."
The unit nodded and immediately set to their tasks, but Jay was still fixated on the bloodied badge in his hand.
Voight turned to Jay, noticing his fixed look. "Halstead, you with us?"
Jay snapped out of his thoughts and met Voight's gaze.
"Yeah, boss. Sorry, just…" He trailed off, staring down at the badge in his hand again.
Voight clapped a hand on his shoulder. "I get it. But we've got a job to do. We'll find whoever did this."
Back at the bullpen, the unit was frantically working to gather any information they could to find out what happened to the young girl and her family.
Kim, who had just received the test results from the lab, approached him holding a piece of paper.
"Halstead, I just got the test results on the blood samples we found… it's the little girl's."
Jay's face dropped at her words. His worst fears had been confirmed.
"Damn it." He slammed his fist onto the desk, frustration and anger clearly written across his face.
Voight noticed Jay's obvious agitation and decided it was time for a break. He approached him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Halstead, you need to take a break. Go get some air, clear your head."
Jay nodded, knowing deep down that Voight was right. He grabbed his jacket and headed towards the stairs, mumbling to himself as he went.
"Stupid, stupid, stupid," he muttered under his breath, beating himself up for not being able to find the little girl and her family fast enough.
After Jay left, the rest of the team watched him go, knowing that he was taking the case hard.
Adam spoke up, breaking the tense silence. "He's really beating himself up over this one."
Kim nodded in agreement. "He always takes it personally when kids are involved."
Erin let out a weary sigh. "Yeah, I know. He'll be alright, though. We just have to find them."
After receiving a tip-off, the unit found themselves outside a warehouse in a seedy part of town.
Jay, Erin, and the rest of the team cautiously approached the perimeter, keeping out of sight. As they looked through the fence, they spotted a man unchaining the gate and walking into the warehouse.
Jay's eyes widened in realization. "He has her."
Without waiting for approval, he started running towards the warehouse.
The rest of the unit reacted immediately. "Halstead, wait!" Adam cried out.
But Jay was already too far gone, heading towards the warehouse at full speed.
The others exchanged nervous glances but knew they had to follow him.
They rushed after him, trying to keep up.
"This is a bad idea, Halstead," Kim panted as they ran.
But Jay ignored them.
As they approached the warehouse, the team slowed to a stop some distance away to avoid being seen.
"Where is she?" Jay demanded, his voice a low growl as he held the man down.
The man thrashed under him, trying to break free, but Jay had him firmly immobilized.
"I said, where. Is. She." Jay repeated, his grip tightening around the man's wrist.
The man tried to struggle under Jay's grip, his eyes darting around the warehouse, looking for any escape.
"S-she's not here anymore." The man blurted out between gasps.
The man tried to struggle under Jay's grip, his eyes darting around the warehouse, looking for any escape.
"S-she's not here anymore." The man blurted out between gasps.
"What do you mean, she's not here?" Jay demanded.
"We…we sold her off," the man confessed, his words coming out in a rush.
Jay tightened his grip.
"We? Who's We?"
"I don't know. They just… they came last night. Paid us good money, said they'd come get her this morning." The man squirmed uncomfortably under Jay's weight.
"Who paid you?" Jay's voice was low, the edge in his tone making it clear he was on the verge of losing his temper.
"I don't know," the man repeated, his voice trembling. "They didn't give names, never do."
Jay twitched his lips.
"Give me an address, or I swear to god, I will blow you up!"
The man whimpered under the threat, fear obvious on his face.
"It-it's 598 South Street. A-an old warehouse. Please, man, I-I don't wanna get hurt."
Jay narrowed his eyes. For a brief moment, he considered the man's plea. But the rage bubbling inside him overwhelmed his compassion.
He leaned in, his face mere inches from the man's.
"You're coming with us. And you better hope the girl is still in one piece, or you're gonna be regretting this."
He yanked the man to his feet and shoved him towards the door. The man stumbled forward, the fear etched on his face.
The unit arrived at the address, a dilapidated warehouse in a shady part of town.
As they prepared to enter, Erin helped Jay strap on his bulletproof vest. The others were doing the same, readying themselves for the dangerous task ahead.
Voight, ever the leader, gathered the team together and gave them a short but powerful speech.
"Alright, guys, we're going in. Remember, eyes open, and keep each other safe."
The unit entered the warehouse, their flashlights piercing the darkness. They spread out, searching the labyrinth of corridors and rooms for any sign of the little girl.
Jay, however, had a different plan. Without warning, he headed off in a different direction, away from the rest of the team. His eyes were fixed on a specific spot further in the building.
The rest of the unit exchange concerned looks as they watched him disappear into the shadows.
"Where's he going?" Adam muttered, his eyes still on the dark corridor where Jay had disappeared.
"I don't know," Erin replied, her voice hushed. "But he better stay safe."
Jay silently made his way deeper into the warehouse, his eyes adjusting to the dim light.
As he turned a corner, he spotted a worn-out bed in the corner of a room. Something about it seemed out of place in the otherwise-empty space.
He approached the bed cautiously and shone his flashlight on it. It looked like it had been used recently – the sheets were rumpled, and a tattered stuffed koala bear lay discarded on the floor.
A chill ran down Jay's spine. He had a bad feeling about this.
He reached out and touched the cold metal frame of the bed, his hand clenching around it. The bed creaked under his grip, the sound echoing through the empty room.
As Jay stood next to the bed, he shone his flashlight down towards the floor. And there, under the bed, he spotted something – a tiny hand sticking out from underneath.
His heart lurched. It was a child's hand, small and fragile.
Without a second thought, he dropped to his knees and cautiously reached for the hand, his own hand closing around it gently.
"Hey, hey, it's okay," he whispered, his voice soft and soothing.
The hand in his grip tensed for a moment, but then relaxed at the sound of his voice. Jay carefully pulled the hand out from under the bed, revealing the rest of a small figure bundled up in a torn and filthy blanket.
"It's okay, I'm here to take you home to your family," he reassured her, gathering her close as she clung to him, her tiny arms wrapped around his neck as she buried her face against his shoulder.
Isabelle sobbed.
"Killed Mama…"
Jay's heart broke at her words. He pulled her closer to him, rubbing her back with one hand.
"I'm so sorry, kiddo," he whispered, his own eyes stinging.
Jay carefully navigated his way out of the room, the little girl still clutched to his chest.
The unit, who had been searching other parts of the warehouse, noticed him emerge from the shadows. They exchanged relieved glances when they saw the child in his arms.
"We found her," Kim said, her voice shaking slightly.
Adam let out a sigh of relief. "Thank God."
Voight looked at the child, wrapped in the torn blanket. "Is she okay?"
"Physically, she's okay, but she's terrified," Jay replied softly. He adjusted his grip on the child, her small body trembling against him. "She told me they...they killed her mom."
Erin's face hardened. "We'll get the ones who did this, I swear."
Later, Jay and Erin found themselves in a small hospital room, standing beside Isabelle's bedside.
The little girl looked even smaller amongst the white linens, her tiny frame dwarfed by the hospital gown covered in cartoon teddy bears.
Jay leaned against the wall, watching as Erin approached the bed with a gentle smile.
"Hey, kiddo," Erin said softly, her voice soothing.
Isabelle's trembling hands clutched at the blanket, her eyes darting from Erin to Jay.
"You're safe now," Erin reassured her. She sat down beside the bed, her gaze drifting to the stuffed teddy bear clutched in Isabelle's hands. "What's your teddy's name?"
Isabelle looked down at the worn stuffed bear, tracing a small finger over its well-loved fur.
"B-Brownie," she whispered, her voice no louder than a mouse's squeak.
"Brownie's a great name," Erin replied, her voice warm.
Jay watched from his spot against the wall, his heart aching at the sight of the little girl's frightened face.
Jay smiled.
"Has my brother bought you Jello yet?"
A ghost of a smile tugged at Isabelle's lips at the thought of a tasty treat.
"H-he will?" Her voice was soft, but there was a hint of hope there.
"Oh, he definitely will," Erin confirmed with a smile.
Jay pushed off the wall and approached the bedside. "And maybe even some ice cream too," he added, a gentle tone in his voice.
Isabelle's eyes widened at the mention of ice cream, a look of wonder on her face. "I-ice cream?"
Jay smirked at her surprise and nodded. "Yep. If you behave and eat all the bland hospital food the nurses give you, my brother will definitely bring you ice cream."
Later, Kim, Kevin, Voight, and Adam entered the room, followed by a young social worker, Jenny.
Isabelle's eyes widened as the group entered, her grip on Brownie's fur tightening.
Voight approached the bedside, a solemn look on his face. "Isabelle, we have someone here from Child Protective Services. She's going to take care of you for now, okay?"
Jenny, the social worker, moved closer to the bed and knelt down to Isabelle's eye level. She smiled softly. "Hi there, Isabelle, my name is Jenny. I'm here to make sure you're safe and taken care of."
Isabelle shook her head.
"Me no go…"
Jenny's smile faltered a bit at the little girl's words. She didn't want to upset her any further.
"I know this is scary, Isabelle, but we just want to make sure you're safe and with people who can take care of you," she explained gently.
"No… want…" Isabelle's voice trembled as she clung to Brownie tighter.
The others watched on, their expressions filled with concern. None of them knew what to say.
Jay stepped forward.
"She can stay with me, I got an apartment, a guest bedroom."
Jenny's eyebrows raised. "That's a big offer, Mister..."
"Halstead," he supplied, not taking his eyes off Isabelle.
Jenny's eyes shot up.
"As in Patrick Halstead's son?"
Jay nodded. "Yeah, he's my old man."
Jenny hummed, mulling over this information. "Well, you certainly have the credentials..."
Voight looked at Jay, his expression unreadable.
Jenny shuffled through the files in her hands, pulling out a paper with Jay's name on it.
"Your father is former police, and you're an army soldier. That's quite a background. Not to mention, you work in the Intelligence Unit. I'm assuming you have a security system in your place, correct?"
Jay nodded. "Yeah, got one installed a few months ago after an... incident."
"Then that's good enough for me," Jenny said, shuffling the papers back into place. "But under one condition."
Jenny still looked a little perplexed, but she continued. "Well, everything seems to be in order, then. But I must stress one more thing - this will only be a temporary arrangement for Isabelle."
"Of course," Jay agreed, his eyes drifting back to Isabelle. She was staring up at him, her tear-filled eyes still scared.
"When can she come home with me?" he asked, his voice soft but firm.
Jenny considered the question for a moment before replying. "I'll need to discuss this with my supervisor and get the paperwork sorted out, but given your background and the fact that we haven't been able to locate any immediate family for Isabelle..."
She paused, her eyes meeting Jay's as she gave him a small smile. "I think we can get her released into your care as early as tomorrow."
"Tomorrow," Jay repeated, relief flooding through him. He looked down at Isabelle, who had her eyes on him, still gripping Brownie tightly. "You're gonna come home with me, kiddo."
Isabelle's lips quivered, her voice barely above a whisper as she spoke for the first time since the social workers showed up. "R- really? I can stay with you?"
Jay crouched down.
"Unless you wanna stay with Voight, who will make you eat veggies…"
He poked her tummy, and tickled her.
Isabelle giggled softly, the sound was music to everyone's ears.
"No veggies!" she blurted out between giggles.
Jay smirked at her reaction, his heart swelling a bit at the sound of her laugh.
"Exactly. No veggies at my place," he assured her, still poking her tummy lightly.
Jay sat on the couch in his apartment, a glass of wine on the coffee table in front of him. He took a sip and glanced at the clock, seeing it was past midnight.
Suddenly, a shrill scream pierced the quiet of the night. It was Isabelle. Jay shot up from the couch, the wine forgotten as he raced towards Isabelle's bedroom.
Bursting through the bedroom door, Jay found Isabelle in the bed, her small body curled up in a ball, her hands covering her face. She was shaking, her breathing coming out in ragged gasps.
"Hey, hey, Isabelle," Jay called out, his voice soft and calm. He quickly crossed the room to the bed and sat down on the edge, reaching out to gently touch her arm. "It's okay, you're safe. You're with me."
"H-had a... a nightmare," Isabelle managed to stammer out between sobs, her voice shaky and quiet.
"It's okay," Jay comforted her, his hand still resting gently on her arm. "It was just a bad dream, kiddo. You're here with me now, and nothing can hurt you here."
Isabelle's sobs quieted a bit, though she still looked shaken. "I-it was so real... M-mama... she..." she couldn't even finish the sentence without breaking into fresh tears.
Jay's heart shattered with each sob she let out. He knew all too well the horrors that could play out in nightmares. Without another word, he shifted on the bed, pulling Isabelle into his lap.
This is gonna be like when Kim fostered Makayla, I know I've missed some bits out, but I hope it's okay?