Jo Sainz

There.

It’s subtle.

So subtle you almost miss it.

A small, fluttering movement beneath your palm.

Not a cramp.

Not your imagination.

Something else.

Something—

Real.

Your hand stills instantly.

Your heart begins to pound.

Was that—?

You wait.

Every muscle in your body going tense, like if you move you might miss it.

And then—

It happens again.

Stronger this time.

A soft, unmistakable shift from within.

Your eyes widen.

“Oh my God…” you whisper.

Your voice barely there.

Your hand presses more firmly against your stomach, your breath coming a little quicker now.

That’s the baby.

The realization hits you all at once.

Not distant.

Not theoretical.

Right there.

Under your hand.

Alive.

Moving.

A laugh bubbles up unexpectedly, shaky and breathless all at once.

“Oh my God,” you repeat, louder this time, a mix of disbelief and something warmer—something brighter—filling your chest.

You don’t even think.

You reach for your phone.

Your fingers fumble slightly as you type.

You need to come over. Right now.

You don’t explain.

You don’t clarify.

You just hit send.

It doesn’t take long.

It never does.

The knock at your door is quick.

Urgent.

You’re already on your feet before it even finishes.

Your heart is still racing, your hand still resting protectively against your stomach like you’re afraid the moment might disappear.

You pull the door open.

Jay stands there, slightly out of breath, his eyes scanning you immediately.

“What’s wrong?” he asks.

Straight to it.

Concern written all over his face.

You shake your head quickly.

“Nothing’s wrong,” you say, your voice trembling despite your smile.

His brows knit together.

“Then why did you—”

“It moved.”

The words come out fast.

Before you can stop them.

Before you can soften them.

Jay stills.

“...what?” he asks, quieter now.

Your hand presses against your stomach again, like you’re grounding yourself in it.

“The baby,” you say, your voice softer now. “It moved.”

The silence that follows is different.

Not tense.

Not heavy.

Just—

Still.

Like the world paused for a second.

Jay’s gaze drops immediately.

To your stomach.

Then back to your face.

Like he’s trying to process it.

Like he’s not sure how to react yet.

It moved.

The thought echoes in his head.

Real.

Immediate.

Not something he’s hearing about secondhand.

Something that just happened.

Something he missed.

“Can I—” he starts, then stops.

You nod before he can finish.

“Yeah.”

You step back, letting him inside.

Neither of you says much as you move toward the couch.

Because the moment feels too big.

Too fragile.

Like talking too much might break it.

You sit first.

Your hand already back where it was.

Waiting.

Jay sits beside you.

Closer than usual.

His attention fixed entirely on you now.

On your stomach.

On your hand.

“What did it feel like?” he asks.

His voice is quieter than you’ve ever heard it.

Careful.

You exhale softly.

“Like… a flutter,” you say. “At first I thought I imagined it.”

Your hand shifts slightly.

“Then it happened again.”

You glance at him.

“And I knew.”

Jay nods slowly.

His throat tight.

Because he wants to feel it.

Needs to.

Not just hear about it.

Not just imagine it.

“Can I?” he asks again, softer this time.

Your breath catches slightly.

But you nod.

“Yeah.”

His hand lifts.

Hovers.

Just for a second.

And you notice it.

The hesitation.

The care.

He’s nervous.

That realization softens something in you immediately.

Because you felt that too.

Earlier.

That moment of is this real?

His hand finally settles against your stomach.

Warm.

Steady.

But lighter than before.

Like he’s afraid to press too hard.

Like he might miss it.

Your hand moves over his.

Holding it there.

Keeping it in place.

And then—

You both freeze.

Because there it is.

Again.

A small, distinct movement beneath his palm.

Jay’s breath catches.

Sharp.

Immediate.

“Holy—” he cuts himself off, his eyes widening slightly.

You laugh softly, your chest tightening with something overwhelming.

“You felt that,” you whisper.

He nods, almost in disbelief.

“Yeah,” he murmurs. “I did.”

His hand doesn’t move.

Doesn’t even shift.

Like he’s afraid if he does, it’ll stop.

Like he’ll lose it.

That’s real.

That’s my kid.

The thought hits him deeper than anything has so far.

Not the ultrasound.

Not the appointments.

This.

This is different.

Because he felt it.

You watch him.

The way his expression softens.

The way something changes behind his eyes.

And your chest tightens again.

But not from fear.

From something warmer.

Something that feels a lot like—

Hope.

“You felt it,” you repeat softly.

He huffs out a quiet breath, almost a laugh.

“Yeah,” he says again. “I did.”

Your hand tightens slightly over his.

And for a moment—

Neither of you moves.

Neither of you speaks.

Because you don’t need to.

The moment says everything.

After a while, you lean slightly into him.

Your shoulder brushing his.

Your head resting lightly against him without thinking.

And he doesn’t move away.

Doesn’t even hesitate.

His arm shifts, settling more securely around you.

His hand still resting where it was.

Like it belongs there.

Like it always has.

“This is crazy,” he murmurs.

But his voice isn’t uncertain.

It’s softer than that.

Warmer.

You smile faintly.

“Yeah.”

A pause.

Then—

“It’s kind of amazing though.”

You feel him nod against you.

“Yeah,” he says quietly. “It is.”

Your eyes close for just a second.

Just long enough to breathe.

To feel.

To let it sink in.

Because now—

There’s no denying it.

Not really.

This isn’t just something that’s happening to you.

It’s something growing.

Changing.

Becoming real in ways you can’t ignore anymore.

And for the first time—

It doesn’t scare you.

Not the way it used to.

Because he’s here.

Because he felt it too.

Because you’re not alone in it anymore.

And somehow—

That makes all the difference.

___

taglist:

@nevaehstreater18

@thorins-queen-of-erebor

“Bitch, what does it say?” Audrey’s voice calls from the other side of the door, impatient and loud as ever.

You don’t answer.

You can’t.

A second later, the door swings open. “Okay, now you’re scaring me—”

She stops when she sees you. Sees your face. Sees the test in your hand.

You don’t look up. You can’t. Your gaze is glued to those two stupid lines like they might rearrange themselves if you stare hard enough.

“Oh… oh shit,” you breathe.

Audrey walks over slowly, then gently takes the test from your hand. She looks at it, her brows lifting—and then, to your disbelief—

“Oh hell yeah! I told you!” she blurts. “I’m gonna be an aunt!”

You let out a sharp, frustrated sound, pushing past her. “This isn’t funny, Audrey.”

Your hands tangle in your hair, tugging as you pace into the kitchen, your thoughts crashing into each other.

“Come on,” she says, following you. “You’ve always wanted a kid.”

“Yeah,” you snap, grabbing a bottle of tequila out of instinct—only to freeze when it hits you.

You can’t even drink.

That realization hits almost as hard as the test itself.

You set the bottle down a little too forcefully.

“Yeah, I want kids,” you continue, your voice tighter now. “Just—not like this. Not right now. Not with someone I can’t even find.”

Your chest feels tight. Everything feels too big, too fast.

“I don’t even know his last name, Audrey,” you say, your voice cracking slightly. “We met at a bar. That’s it. One night—and now this is… my life?”

The excitement on Audrey’s face fades, replaced with something softer. More real.

“Hey,” she says, stepping closer. She reaches for your hands, gently pulling them away from your hair. “Look at me.”

It takes a second, but you do.

“You’re not alone in this,” she says firmly. “Whatever you decide—whatever happens—I’m here. Okay?”

Your throat tightens, and you swallow hard, blinking back the burn behind your eyes.

“I had plans,” you whisper. “This wasn’t supposed to happen like this.”

Audrey gives a small, almost sympathetic shrug. “Life doesn’t really care about plans.”

A hollow laugh escapes you. “Yeah… clearly.”

For a moment, neither of you says anything. The silence settles heavy, but not unbearable.

“What am I supposed to do first?” you ask quietly.

“First,” she says, shifting into practical mode, “we confirm it. Like, actual doctor confirmation. Then we sit down and go through your options. No rushing. No panicking more than we already are.”

You nod slowly, clinging to the structure of it.

Steps. A plan. Something solid.

“And the guy?” she adds carefully.

You let out a long breath. “I don’t even know where to start.”

“Well,” she says, grabbing her phone, “you remember the bar, right? We can work backward. Social media, receipts—something.”

For the first time since this all started, the panic loosens its grip—just a little.

Not gone.

But manageable.

You nod again, more firmly this time. “Okay. One step at a time.”

Audrey smirks. “Exactly. And hey—worst case scenario?”

You glance at her.

“That kid is gonna have the coolest aunt ever.”

You roll your eyes, but there’s a faint, reluctant smile tugging at your lips.

And somehow… you don’t feel like you’re falling apart quite as much anymore.

_

You stare at the screen, your breath catching in your throat.

There he is.

For a moment, everything else fades—the quiet hum of the kitchen, the faint ticking of the clock, even Audrey shifting beside you. All you can see is him.

Audrey actually found him.

A mix of relief and nerves twists in your chest, tight and overwhelming.

“You’re sure that’s him?” Audrey asks, leaning over your shoulder, her voice quieter now—more careful.

You nod slowly, though hesitation lingers in the movement. “Yeah… that’s him.”

Your eyes trace over his face on the screen, landing on his eyes.

Blue.

You remember them instantly.

The way they held you that night. The way they seemed to see right through you while he hovered above you, like nothing else in the world existed. You remember how easy it was to get lost in them.

Your stomach flips.

“And now what?” Audrey presses.

You let out a shaky breath, dragging a hand through your hair. “I don’t know. I can’t just message him like, ‘Hey, remember that one night five weeks ago? Yeah… you got me pregnant.’”

The words sound ridiculous out loud—but the reality of them presses down on you all the same.

Your fingers hover over the trackpad, uncertain. Frozen.

“What am I supposed to say?” you whisper, more to yourself than to her.

Audrey crosses her arms, thinking. “Well… it says he works at the 21st district. Maybe you go there? Talk to him in person?”

Your stomach drops at the idea.

Go there. Actually face him.

You close the laptop abruptly, like shutting it might quiet your thoughts. It doesn’t.

You press your hands over your face, exhaling hard. Frustration builds, sharp and suffocating.

“How did I let this happen?” you murmur.

The question hangs in the air, heavier than you expect.

A thought slips in—quiet, tempting.

“Maybe I don’t tell him,” you say slowly, lowering your hands. “Maybe I just… do this on my own.”

Audrey is quiet for a second.

Then, gently but firmly, “You know telling him is the right thing to do.”

You groan, dragging your hands down your face again, exhaustion creeping in.

“I know,” you admit. “I know.”

But knowing doesn’t make it any easier.

Your gaze drifts back to the closed laptop, like you can still see him through it.

And suddenly, this all feels very real again.

_

The drive there feels longer than it should.

Your fingers grip the steering wheel tighter than necessary, your thoughts looping endlessly.

You replay that night over and over again.

The music. The drinks. The way everything felt easy—effortless. Like nothing could go wrong.

You remember laughing.

God, you remember laughing.

Now it feels like a completely different life.

Your stomach twists as you pull up outside the building, your eyes lingering on it longer than necessary.

This is it.

There’s no turning back after this.

You could leave.

Right now.

You could just drive away, pretend you never found him, pretend none of this is happening.

Your hand tightens on the door handle.

Then you exhale.

“No,” you murmur.

You open the door and step out.

_

You climb the steps of the 21st District, tugging nervously at the sleeves of your shirt.

Your heart is pounding.

What if he doesn’t believe me? What if he doesn’t want this?

The thoughts spiral, loud and relentless, but you force yourself to keep moving. If you stop now, you won’t come back.

You push the door open and step inside, your eyes scanning the room.

It’s busy—officers moving around, voices overlapping—but your attention lands on the woman behind the front desk. She’s in the middle of absolutely tearing into a couple of officers, her tone sharp enough to make you wince.

You’re too anxious to find it funny, even when the officers walk away looking completely defeated, shoulders slumped as they mutter under their breath.

“Hey, how can I help you?” the woman calls, her attention snapping to you.

You hesitate, then walk up to the desk, your stomach twisting.

“I’m looking for Detective Jay Halstead,” you say quietly, your eyes fixed on the surface in front of you. For some reason, meeting her gaze feels impossible.

She doesn’t miss a beat.

“Hank!” she calls out loudly. “This girl’s looking for Halstead!”

You glance over your shoulder as a man approaches, stopping beside you. He looks at you with a small, curious smile.

“What’s your name?” he asks.

You tell him, your voice softer than you intended.

“I’ll go get him.”

And just like that, you’re left waiting.

You shift your weight from one foot to the other, your hands fidgeting with the hem of your sleeve.

Your eyes wander around the room, taking in everything—officers moving quickly, phones ringing, conversations you can’t quite make out.

It’s loud.

Busy.

Normal.

And yet you feel completely out of place.

Like you don’t belong here.

Like everyone else has a purpose—and you’re just… standing here, about to flip your entire life upside down.

You glance toward the steps he disappeared to, your stomach tightening.

What if he walks out and doesn’t even remember you?

The thought hits harder than you expect.

You swallow, pushing it down.

He’ll remember.

He has to.

The minutes stretch, each one heavier than the last.

Then—

Boots.

The sound pulls your attention instantly.

Your breath catches as you turn.

“Hey,” he says, a quiet sigh following the word.

And there he is.

For a moment, everything else fades again.

Those eyes—just as blue as you remember. The sharp line of his jaw, the faint stubble along it. He looks exactly the same.

Still… unfairly gorgeous.

Your chest tightens.

“Can we talk in private?” you ask, the words slipping out before you can overthink them.

He studies you for a second, then nods. “Yeah.”

His hand gently takes yours, guiding you toward a nearby room. The touch is brief, but you feel it—rough, warm, grounding in a way that only makes your nerves worse.

He shuts the door behind you.

Silence.

“So… what’s up?”

His voice pulls you back, steady and unaware.

You look at him, really look at him, trying to find the right words—the right way to say something that will change everything.

But there is no right way.

So you just say it.

“I’m pregnant.”

The words hang in the air, heavy and impossible to take back.

He stares at you.

Once. Twice. Like he’s trying to process what you just said.

Like he’s not sure he heard you right.

“Aren’t you going to say something?” you ask, your voice tighter now, nerves creeping in.

His throat bobs as he swallows, still looking at you like the ground just shifted beneath his feet.

He runs a hand over the back of his neck, pacing once like he doesn’t know what to do with himself.

“…Pregnant,” he repeats under his breath.

You cross your arms, suddenly feeling exposed under his stare. “Yeah. That’s usually how that works.”

His eyes snap back to yours. “Okay—okay, I just—” he exhales sharply. “I wasn’t expecting you to walk in here and say that.”

“Trust me,” you mutter, “neither was I.”

Silence stretches again, heavier this time.

Then, more carefully, he asks, “How far along?”

“Five weeks.”

He nods slowly, doing the math whether he means to or not. His jaw tightens slightly.

“And… you’re sure it’s mine?”

The question hits harder than you expect.

Your expression hardens instantly. “Wow.”

“That’s not—” he starts quickly, shaking his head. “I’m not accusing you of anything. I just—I need to understand what’s going on.”

You let out a breath, anger and nerves tangling together. “It’s yours.”

Another pause.

Then he nods again, more firmly this time.

“Okay.”

That one word shifts something.

You frown slightly. “Okay?”

“Yeah,” he says, meeting your eyes. “Okay. Then we figure it out.”

There’s a pause.

Silence settles between you, thick and almost suffocating as you look up at him, his words still echoing in your head.

We’ll figure it out.

You nod slowly, your lips parting as you try to find something—anything—to say.

But before you can, his phone rings.

The sharp sound cuts straight through the moment.

Then the door swings open, and a blonde-haired man leans in, his presence abrupt and urgent.

“Daren Riley was spotted near Sharp Street,” he says quickly, his eyes flicking between the two of you before settling on Jay.

The shift is instant.

You watch it happen—the way Jay’s posture straightens, the way his expression hardens into something focused, professional. Like whatever just passed between you gets tucked away in a box for later.

Your eyes move between them, the reality of his world crashing into yours.

Jay nods once. “Got it.”

The man lingers for half a second longer, curiosity still lingering in his gaze, then disappears just as quickly as he came.

Jay looks back at you.

“I have to get back to work,” he says, already reaching for his wallet.

Something in your chest tightens, but you nod anyway.

“Here,” he adds, pulling out a card and handing it to you. “Call me tonight.”

You take it, your fingers brushing his briefly. His name stares back at you in clean print, a phone number sitting just beneath it.

Something real. Something solid.

You inhale slowly, grounding yourself. “Okay.”

He starts toward the door, urgency pulling him away, but just before he leaves, he stops.

Turns back.

For a second, it’s not Detective Halstead standing there.

It’s him.

“I’m not going to let you do this alone,” he says, his voice steady, certain.

And then he’s gone.

The door clicks shut behind him, leaving you standing there, his card still clutched tightly in your hand… and your life feeling like it just split into two completely different paths.

The silence that follows is deafening.

You don’t move at first.

You just stand there, staring at the door like he might walk back through it.

Like maybe this didn’t just happen.

Your fingers tighten around the card in your hand, the edges pressing into your skin.

I’m not going to let you do this alone.

The words echo in your mind.

You want to believe him.

You really do.

But a part of you hesitates.

Because words are easy.

Life isn’t.

You look down at the card again, tracing over his name with your thumb.

Jay Halstead.

A stranger.

And somehow… not a stranger at all.

A small, shaky breath leaves you as reality settles in again.

This is happening.

Whether you’re ready or not.

And now—

It started one night, when she was out for a walk after a long day at work. The intelligence team had just wrapped up a particularly hard case and she needed to clear her mind.

She got this feeling.

The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, her stomach felt queasy.

She could hear footsteps behind her.

But when she looked back, no one was there, just an empty sidewalk illuminated by street lamps.

She walked slower this time, trying to listen.

She heard it again, turned around, nothing.

Maybe work was finally getting to her.

That continued for a good week, whenever she was out on a walk or just simply running errands--anything but working-- she heard the footsteps, got that feeling.

But no one was ever there.

She switched up her routines after that.

--

A month later, she was over at Jay's apartment and she could have sworn she saw someone outside watching her.

"What are you looking at?" Jay asked as he came up behind her, noticing her staring outside of the window for longer than normal.

Y/n didn't answer, she could feel her heart in her throat as she looked at the dark figure staring up at her.

"Y/n" Jay said her name, pulling her out of her thoughts, making her jump.

"Woah, hey, what's going on?" the concern was thick in his voice as she faced him, turning from the window.

"Nothing- I just thought..." She trailed off, glancing at the window to see an empty street "Nevermind, sorry, did you pick a movie?" She asked sweetly, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Jay smiled as he wrapped his arms around her torso, pulling her closer.

"Well, I was thinking action, cheesy comedy, or a horror that will have you hiding in my side. You pick" Jay jokes, placing a kiss on her forehead.

"hmmm" she hummed, nestling her head into his chest "Action--i'll be cuddled up to you no matter what, detective"

The man on the street was long forgotten thanks to Jay.

--

Another month went by, she still had that eerie feeling but it slowly went away as Jay and her spent more time at each other's apartments.

They usually left work , went home to one of their places and went to work the next day from there, repeating that process.

The rest of the team didn't suspect a thing, they kept things strictly professional at work. It was easier for now.

Easier than explaining the situation to Voight. The paperwork that would inevitably follow.

It was Wednesday morning, the team had picked up a homicide case and they were busy at the district looking at Pod footage, checking with CI's, etc.

Haley was returning from talking to a CI, she was making her way from her car to the basement door that led to intelligence when she spotted a man leaving something on Y/n's car.

Her eyebrows furrowed as she approached the blonde haired man.

"Hey, can I help you with something?" she asks, confused at to why this guy she had never seen before was in the police lot, messing with her friend's car.

The blonde man turned as he finished placing what looked to be an envelope under the windshield wiper.

"Hi, sorry I was just leaving a note from my girlfriend" the blonde man explained and friendly smile on his face.

"Oh, you're Y/n's boyfriend? I'm Haley, i've heard a lot about you" The detective suspected nothing.

Y/n had spoken about her mystery boyfriend to Haley and Kim whenever they got together but never told them his name.

"Yes, I've heard about you--Yeah, we had a fight this morning, just wanted to make up for it. I have to head to work, it was nice meeting you" The mystery man left calmly.

He wasn't jumpy, he wasn't nervous.

Haley called a 'nice to meet you!" after him which he waved back before disappearing around the corner.

Haley shrugged, making her way inside and upstairs to the bullpen.

She spotted Y/n sat at her desk across from Kim's, squinting at her computer, a grin forming on the blonde detective's face.

"Y/n, your boyfriend's really nice!" Haley said casually as she took a seat at her desk.

Jay and Y/n's heads shot up from their work, looking at Haley.

Jay did his best to act normal.

Y/n cleared her throat. "What do you mean?" She asked, confused.

"I met him in the parking lot, he left a note on your car" Haley continued.

The color drained from Y/n's face as she swallowed the lump in her throat.

The rest of the team let out 'ooo's at the news.

Jay's face was unreadable. His jaw clenched.

And before she could ask more questions, Voight stepped out of his office.

"Halstead, Upton. Give forensics a little push on the DNA, we need that back ASAP" The older man said in a gruff voice.

Jay and Haley stood from their desks and made their way to the stairs, Jay didn't even glance in Y/n's direction.

They had been dating officially for six months, had she been cheating on him?

Maybe she was talking to another guy?

The thoughts swirled around Jay's head and it made him increasingly upset.

Y/n felt the pit in her stomach grow and without a second thought, rushed to the parking lot in the back to see the note.

When she reached her car, there was no one around except a few police officers, the white envelope stuck out from under the windshield wipers.

Her hands shook as she retrieved it.

Reluctantly, she opened it, pulling out a folded piece of lined paper.

'My love,

I can't wait for us to be together, for no one to be in the way. No one to judge us. Getting to know you the past few months, watching you, has been exhilarating. We will be together soon.

xoxo'

This had to be a joke.

Her mind was slowly shutting down as she read it over and over again.

Making her way back upstairs, she felt her entire body shake as she sat at her desk.

Adam, Kevin and Kim gave each other worried looks when they saw her.

This time they noticed her pale face.

"Y/n? You okay?" Kevin asked, leaning forward on his desk,

Y/n didn't answer, staring at the folded up paper in her hand.

"Y/n" Kim called to her friend.

Y/n's eyes shot up, finding her three friends staring at her.

"Yeah, Yeah I'm okay"

--

The day went by in a blur, the team was busy for the rest of the day, hindering any chance Y/n had to talk to Jay.

When they were all gathering their things, Y/n emerged from the locker room to find only Haley and Kevin in the bullpen.

"Did Jay leave?" She asked simply, glancing at her boyfriend's desk.

"Yeah, few minutes ago" Haley answered simply before bidding the other two detectives goodnight.

Y/n followed suit a second after, telling Kevin to have a goodnight as she rushed to her car.

She was already hit the call button under Jay's name before she even made it to her car.

Straight to voicemail.

He must be pissed.

He had no idea she had a stalker, she never told him. She never told anyone.

She would sound crazy and if she told them now, they would think she's stupid for not saying something sooner.

She tried Jay's number again as she reached her apartment building placing her car in park.

Voicemail again.

She waited for the beep.

"Jay, please call me. It's not what you think...Someone's been stalking me...that's who left the note. Please just call me" she pleaded into the receiver before ending the call.

It was still a little light outside, that made her feel a little better as she got out of her car, gathering her things before heading inside.

When she made it to her floor, she tried Jay's number again.

Voicemail.

She was planning to hang up, to not leave another. But her brain didn't process the beep because she was too busy staring at her door halfway open.

Y/n dropped the phone, it hit the floor with a thud as she took her gun out of the holster.

"Chicago police, who's in here" she called as she entered the apartment.

As she cleared it like she would any other house, her hands shaking, she found nothing.

When she headed back for the front door to shut it she felt a sharp pain in the back of her head and then it all went black.

Her body dropped to the floor with a thud.

--

Jay stared at the phone, frowning at the notifications.

3 missed calls from Y/n.

2 voicemails.

He sighed as he sat on the couch in his apartment, pressing play on the first voicemail.

Y/n's voice was shaky, she sounded scared as she spoke. His heart clenched.

And then his mind heard that sentence that made his blood run cold.

"....Someone's been stalking me...that's who left the note...."

He was already on his feet as the next voicemail began to play, he heard a thud, like the phone fell.

Then Y/n announced her office.

Then he heard shuffling and another thud.

His mind was swirling with worst case scenarios as he grabbed his keys, running out of the apartment--not even locking the door.

His heart was racing as he pressed call under her name.

The phone rang and rang. No answer.

He called three more times as he started his truck and took off, throwing his lights and sirens on.

"Dammit!" He exclaimed as he sped down the street.

He dialed 911.

He could have been overreacting but something felt off.

"911, what is your emergency" the dispatcher answered.

"This is Detective Jay Halstead, badge number 51163, I need backup at 2678 Martin Street."

That was all he got out before ending the call.

His phone rang as he pulled up to the apartment building, he prayed it was Y/n telling him she was okay.

But it wasn't.

He pressed the answer button, holding the phone up to his ear as he threw the truck in park, jumping out as soon as he could.

"Jay, I heard the call over the radio--what's up? You got a case?" Voight asked on the other end.

"It's Y/n, sarge. I think she's in trouble, I just got to her apartment building" the blue eyed detective explained as he ran inside the building, making his way up the stairs in record timing.

"I'm on my way, I'll loop the team in" Voight said before ending the call.

Jay's heart was beating out of his chest as he made his way through the hallway.

It felt like his vision narrowed and his lungs were being squeezed.

She's okay

She's okay

She's okay

He repeated it over and over and over in his head, because she had to be.

Y/n had to be okay.

When he reached the apartment the front door was cracked and he could hear scuffling--and then glass breaking.

He didn't hesitate anymore.

Entering the apartment, he found a man about his height with blonde hair pinning Y/n to the ground.

She was doing her best to claw and fight at him but it was no use.

And then Jay spotted it.

The sharp, silver piece against her throat.

"Drop the knife" Jay's voice was low, lower than Y/n had ever heard it.

But God was she happy to hear it.

The stalker glanced at Jay, the knife pressing into her skin at the movement.

"You called him? You wanted him over me?!" He screamed in her face.

Jay saw the blood drip down the side of her neck, the tears fall from her eyes.

"Just let her go, we can all walk out of here" Jay tried to reason with the man.

And then the knife was brought up into the air.

Jay didn't think twice, pulling the trigger and sending a bullet through the man's arm.

He got knocked down, falling to the side, just in time for Voight to storm in.

And Voight wasted no time, lugging the guy up and putting handcuffs on him--ignoring his cries of pain.

Jay was by Y/n's side in seconds, pulling her into his arms as he crouched beside her.

Her body shook as she clutched onto to the material of his shirt as she tried to breathe. The tears were steady now.

"I'm sorry, I'm so so sorry, baby" Jay whispered into her hair, fully aware of their boss and team being in the apartment by now but he couldn't care less.

There's no words spoken, just comfort. Everything would be okay now. She could breathe without looking over her shoulder.

--

"I'm sorry" Haley says quietly as she sits at the back of the ambulance next to Y/n.

Y/n frowns, looking at her friend "Why? You have nothing to be sorry for" she says in a confused tone.

Haley sighs, looking down at her hands "I should have stopped when I saw him at your car, asked more questions, something"

"Haley, stop, you couldn't have known" Y/n tells her seriously, reaching up to itch where the bandage is taped to her neck.

They're silent for a moment.

Y/n glances up to where Jay is speaking with Voight and the deputy chief about the shooting.

"So.....you and Jay huh?" Haley says with a smirk on her face now "How long?" she asks curiously.

"Six months" Y/n said, a grin on her face this time.

"And we call ourselves detectives" Haley says with a laugh.

Y/n laughs along with her.

Jay and Voight approach them, having wrapped up with the deputy chief.

"Ready?"

Y/n nodded, stepping closer until she could fully lean into Jay's body.

Jay chuckled, wrapping his arms around her.

Voight sighed, shaking his head "We'll talk about this tomorrow...I'm glad you're okay, kid." the small smile on his face didn't go unnoticed.

"Thanks Hank" Y/n said softly, smiling at her boss before he began to make his way back to his car.

Haley was next, giving the two a smile as she stood with her hands in her pockets "I'll see you guys tomorrow, get some sleep" she directed the last part to Y/n, patting her shoulder.

Jay looked down at the girl in his arms.

His girl.

Everyone knew and there was nothing stopping them now.

"That went well" Y/n said, surprise in her tone.

Jay chuckled, a grin spreading on his face "I think Voight was going to give me the 'if you hurt her I'll kill you talk'"

Y/n laughs, burying her face in his chest before mumbling "Maybe he will tomorrow"

"God I hope not"

--

The first time it happened, it was a grip on her wrist that was a little too hard. He said he didn't mean it, he was sorry.

"I love you so much, I just get a little upset"

Brandon knew how to sweet talk her.

Y/n and Brandon met when he had just started the academy and Y/n was starting school to be a radiologist. It was love at first sight. They were meant to be. Everyone that knew them said that.

They were the perfect couple and everyone loved them together.

The second time was a hard shove that sent Y/n falling into the coffee table.

The bruises and sore muscles the next day from the fall were hard to ignore but Brandon knew how to make her forget.

Flowers, cards, a romantic dinner. Multiple apologies.

The third time was Brandon screaming in her face, making her scared enough to fall down and then the kicking started.

The pain Y/n felt the next morning as she walked into work was enough to detour her day.

She looked around the ED, she knew she could go to Will. Her closest friend. But he would see right through her so she went for the next best option.

"Hey Hannah, got a sec?" Y/n asked, approaching the blonde doctor.

Y/N and Hannah were friendly, they had drinks at Molly's together--back when Y/n would show up. They aren't too close for Hannah to ask questions.

Hannah smiles, leaning against the nurses station "Yeah what's up? Everything okay?" she asks curiously.

Y/n shrugs, adjusting the tote bag on her shoulder "I was kinda clumsy and drunk last night, took a tumble I might have a cracked rib or two" She says it lightheartedly to make it more believable.

The blonde chuckles, nodding "Come on, let's take a look"

--

Will Halstead was observant. Y/n had stopped coming out to Molly's about 6 months ago. Always said she was too tired.

Then Y/n started slowly not answering his texts. Only talking to him at work.

He wasn't sure what he did to cause the distance.

The two had been inseparable since Y/n started. Will always saw her as a little sister and cared for her like one. Always checking in on her, making sure she was eating and drinking properly and Y/n did the same for him especially on those long shifts.

Y/n was the one (outside of Jay) that Will went to about everything s and when he needed to rant and usually it was always vice versa.

Until lately.

Will watched Y/n walk over to the nurses station, handing over a report to another doctor.

That's when he noticed her face, the slight bruising and cuts on her cheek raising red flags.

"Hey, what the hell happened to your face?" The red head questions, the concern written all over his face.

"Gee, Will, way to make a girl feel good about herself" Y/n says sarcastically.

Will shakes his head, looking at her in disbelief "Y/n. Seriously, what happened?"

Y/n rolls her eyes at him "I took a little tumble. Will, seriously, I'm fine" She says, a little laugh coming out.

"Dr. Halstead! Incoming!" Maggie calls from the entrance of the ED.

Will groans pointing at Y/n "This isn't over" He says seriously before grabbing gloves and running off.

Y/n lets out a sigh of relief. Thank you Maggie!

---

Relief. Joy. Warmth.

Those three words used to describe how Y/n felt when she walked into the apartment shared with her boyfriend of 6 years.

Dread. Sadness. Guilt.

Those three describe the feeling she got when she entered the apartment now.

She can feel the hostility as she hears him stomping around.

Brandon emerged from the bedroom, duffel bag in hand. Badge and gun on his hip.

"Finally home huh? What took you so long? Hanging out with your work boyfriend?" Brandon questions, his tone is hard to place but the feeling in her gut makes Y/n feel uneasy.

"I told you he's just a frie-"

Brandon cuts her off, his hand around her throat, slamming the girl back into the wall.

"He's just a friend my ass. Think you can step out on me? Do you forget who I am?" His other hand is on his gun as he stares at her with rage.

"I think you know better than to lie to me" The dark chuckle is followed by a hard punch, right to her left cheek.

Brandon lets her go, stepping back and walking to the front door, picking up his duffel bag and his keys.

"I'll be undercover for a few days--You better have this place spotless when I get back."

--

It took three hours for Y/n to gather her strength, to move from her spot on the floor where Brandon had left her.

She was cried out, her throat was sore, her eye was already swelling up and she could feel blood running down her cheek.

As if she snapped out of her dazed state, Y/n stood up, still shaky. Going to the bedroom she shared with him.

Quickly grabbing the duffel bag out from under the bed she hastily starts throwing clothes into the bag.

Not all of them, just enough to not have to come back for a few days.

She knew she should probably call before just showing up but there was no way she was up for explaining things over the phone.

Glancing back at the apartment one last time she shut the door behind her, making her way downstairs.

---

Y/n stood outside of the familiar apartment. Hesitating.

She could just walk away. She could not tell anyone. That seems easier.

But the feeling in her gut. Her mind flashing back to Brandon's hand on his gun while he choked her.

She couldn't go back.

Hesitantly, she brings up a shaky hand, making a loose fist and knocking on the door.

It takes a second before she hears shuffling. Then the lock unlocking.

The pit in her stomach grows.

"Hey! What are you doing he--Holy shit" Will is stopped dead in his tracks when he sees the swollen eye, the blood on her cheek and the bruises on her neck in the shape of fingers.

"C-can I stay here--just for the night" Y/n stutters out lowly.

"Are you kidding me? You don't even have to ask" Will is quick to take her bag from her, ushering her inside the apartment.

"What happened? Who did this to you? Was it Brandon?" Will questions as he rushes to the kitchen for an ice pack.

"Yeah" It's more of a whisper as Y/n looks down at her shoes.

"Let's get some ice on your eye--Here, sit, sit" Will guides her to the couch, sitting next to her and handing her the ice pack.

"Have you talked to anyone? Did you call the police or-"

"I can't, I can't call the police, Will, he's a detective. I can't..." Y/n trails off, her words are panicked.

Will shakes his head leaning forward "Listen to me. You have to report this--h-how long has this been going on?" he asks frantically.

Y/n hesitates, glancing at Will with her uncovered eye. Debating if she should tell him the truth.

"Six months" Y/n says softly, avoiding eye contact.

Will is speechless for a moment. His brain racking through everything he's seen the past six months. How withdrawn she's been, the small winces when he startled her. Why didn't he question it?

"Listen, my brother, he's a detective with Intelligence. You can trust Jay, his whole unit. I promise. Please let me call him, just him" Will tries to convince her.

Y/n sighs, nodding slowly "Only him. I'll talk to your brother"

--

It was nearing 10 pm when a knock at the door makes Y/n Jump.

Will squeezes her shoulder, giving her sad smile "It's just Jay, I'm going to let him in okay?"

It might seem silly to ask if it's okay to let someone into your own home.

But Will was going to make sure she was comfortable with it first. He could see the fear in her eyes and her hands still had a slight tremble to them.

Y/n gives a slight nod, she feels like a bundle of nerves as Will stands up and approaches the door.

What if Jay knew Brandon? What if they were friends and he told Brandon?

It's Will's brother. You can trust him. She had to tell herself that as she heard footsteps coming to the living room.

"Y/n, this is Jay" Will says softly, entering the living room with a brunette man who Y/n would definitely say is attractive under any other circumstance.

"Hi" Jay says softly "I'm sorry we're meeting under these circumstances, I've heard a lot about you"

Y/n glances at him and then back to Will, feeling uneasy.

"From me" Will reassures her, he can sense that question rolling around in her head.

Y/n nods.

Jay's a little confused why he would hear about her from anyone else but he left it.

Jay pulls a chair from the dining table, setting it across from Y/n and sitting down while Will takes a seat next to her again.

"So Will didn't say much on the phone. Your boyfriend did this?" Jay asks, his voice soft, taking out his notepad and pen.

Y/n lets out a puff of air "Yeah-yes-um he did"

Jay nods "What is his name?" he asks, writing something down in his notepad.

"Brandon Wiley, he's a detective in narcotics in the 23rd district" Y/n glances at Jay nervously, noticing how he stops writing for a second and then continues.

"Can you walk me through what happened tonight?" Jay's stomach is turning, the thought of a cop doing this to an innocent woman.

It's definitely hitting hard for him.

"I-i came home from work around 6, he was in our bedroom packing a bag to go undercover. I didn't even set my things down, He started asking why I was home late, accusing me of being with my work boyfriend--It's what he calls Will"

Y/n pasues, rubbing her hands together nervously, reaching up to run her fingers over the brusies on her neck lightly.

It feels like she has a thousand eyes on her, like the two men are judging her but she knows Will would never. and Will wouldn't call Jay if he didn't trust him.

"He wrapped a hand around my throat, slammed me into the wall. He was screaming in my face saying not to cheat on him and to remember who he was a-and his hand was on his gun...and then he gave me this" Y/n gestures to her face, glancing between the Halstead brothers.

Will places a comforting hand on her knee. It's not romantic, just a friend comforting a friend. To let her know he's there.

Jay writes in his notepad, he can feel the weight of situation on his shoulders.

Something like this never sat right with him. A police officer who swore an oath to protect but instead he's inflicting the pain on someone innocent.

"Did he leave after that?" Jay asks, his voice is softer than normal, sensing how nervous the young woman is.

Y/n nods, "Yeah, it took me a while to get myself together after that I just kind of sat on the floor in shock. Once I snapped out of it I packed some of my things and came here" she sends a weary smile to Will.

Jay leans forward, closing his notepad and cautiously reaches out a hand, placing it on top of Y/n's shaky one that sits on her knee, catching her attention.

"I'm not sure what Will has told you but I work with intelligence. Just because this guy is a cop does not give him the right to hurt you and it certainly does not mean he will get away with this."

There's sincerity in Jay's voice, something in his eyes and his certainty that puts Y/n more at ease.

"Thank you" Y/n says softly--there's more to it, thank you for believing me. For listening.

She was terrified to go to any law enforcement about the abuse from a decorated detective but Jay made her feel silly for feeling that way. Not in a bad way but in a way that maybe if she had just talked to Will sooner, she could have gotten help sooner.

Jay gives her a sad smile, squeezing her hand.

"If it's okay with you, I need to take some pictures of your injuries and then the next step would be to come in to the district tomorrow morning so you can at least talk to my boss" Jay explains, taking his phone out.

Y/n looks at Will nervously and then back to Jay.

"You'll be there right?" She asks, feeling stupid and like a little kid. She knows Will can't come, he's working early in the morning.

Jay nods, a small smile on his face "I'll be with you the whole time".

--

The next morning Y/n woke up a little disoriented, her face and neck sore. The memories from the night before a blur.

She checked her phone, a few texts from some of her coworkers asking if she was okay after they heard she's taking a few days off.

Glancing at the bedside table, she noticed a bottle of Tylenol, a glass of water and a note.

"Take some Tylenol and drink water! Call me if you need anything, Jay should be picking you up around 9. - Will"

Y/n rolled her eyes at Will's overbearing nature but also smiled to herself. She was happy, not waking up wondering if he would be there.

She notices the time reads 8:45am.

"Shit" she mumbles, quickly getting out of the bed and making her way to the bathroom to get ready.

The first glance in the mirror was a shock, seeing her injuries for the first time since it happened. Her cheek and eye were a dark purple and blue. The fingerprints on her neck matching.

There was no way she could go to work like this. And mentally she thanked Will for calling her boss and letting them know she wouldn't be in the next few days due to a personal emergency.

She quickly and carefully washed her face, brushed her teeth and completed her morning routine-as best as she could-before getting dressed in whatever clothes she had grabbed from the apartment.

Thankfully she had grabbed an oversized hoodie that would cover her neck slightly in the way it sat on her frame. Slipping into a pair of jeans and a random pair of socks she felt a little more normal. The injuries forgotten for the moment.

A knock at the front door startled her for a second before she relaxed, realizing it must be Jay.

She quickly made her way to the front door, peaking through the peephole and then unlocking the door.

"HI, I'm ready I just need to get my phone and keys" Y/n said it quickly, a little too quickly, stepping to the side to let Jay in.

She was used to being rushed and then being screamed at when she wasn't quick enough.

Almost as quick as she said it she ran back to the guest room.

Jay frowned, watching her retreat quickly to grab the last of her things.

This guy really did a number on her.

That thought made his blood boil. From everything Will had told him about Y/n over the years, she was probably the sweetest and kindest person Will had ever met.

You have to be really messed up to hurt someone like that.

"Sorry that took so long" Y/n says as soon as she's back at the entryway, as if practiced.

"Hey" Jay says it softly, ducking down slightly to meet her eyes "You don't have to rush, you don't have to apologize. You're safe and he can't hurt you. Not with me around"

It took her a second to respond, not used to being talked to in such a kind way. But then something clicked in her brain. This is Jay. Will's brother. He's safe.

"I know, i'm sorry--shit--sorry it's out of habit" She finally meets his eyes, feeling secure.

Jay chuckles, shaking his head "Come on, you eat yet?" He asks, guiding her out of the apartment and locking the door behind him with the spare key Will gave him.

"Not yet"

"Breakfast first then, there's a diner down the street that has good food and decent coffee"

--

Y/n had been nervous when Jay suggested the diner, for one she looked horrible. and two, what if one of Brandon's cop buddies saw therm?

But then she realized she was with Jay and he wouldn't let anything happen to her.

So she let herself enjoy it and their time at the diner was full of Jay telling embarrassing stories about Will and laughter.

The ride to the district was easy, light, getting to know each other a little.

As Jay pulled his truck into the parking lot at the district he sensed her nerves.

He noticed her fidgeting with the seam on her hoodie, the way her leg bounced.

"Relax, breathe, you are safe. We're going through the back entrance, no one will see you but my unit. I'll be with you the whole time" Jay reassures her, flashing a smile at her.

Y/n nods, returning the smile, hers smaller but sincere. Her leg stills and she lets out a deep breath, smoothing her sweatshirt.

"Okay, yeah you're right, I'm being silly."

Jay shakes his head, reaching over and squeezing her hand.

"You are not being silly, you have every right to be nervous. You focus on yourself and I'll take care of the rest. Just breathe"

She takes a deep breath in through her nose, letting it out.

Jay takes the opportunity to get out of the driver side, making his way to her door and opening it for her.

"What a gentleman" Y/n says jokingly. But if she's honest, she's not used to a guy opening the door for her. Brandon would never do something that simple over the years they were together.

Jay chuckles as he shuts the door behind her, guiding her to the basement door.

Y/n notices the cage as soon as they enter the basement, glancing at Jay "I don't even want to know what that's for" she jokes, pointing at it.

"Don't worry you'll never be in it, I know someone that will be though" the last part is under his breath but Y/n hears it and she would be lying if she said that doesn't make her feel a little good.

Once upstairs, Y/n can feel all eyes on her as the four detectives at their desks watch them curiously.

None of them knew what was going on. The only one Jay looped in was Voight, explaining the situation late last night after he left his brother's apartment.

Voight was quick to tell Jay to bring her in. He had the same hatred for men like Brandon.

Jay knocks on the door to Voight's office, Y/n tries to relax but it's hard with all eyes on her. Jay senses it, sending her a small smile.

Which works, her heart rate relaxing slowly.

"Come in" a rough voice comes from the other side of the door.

Jay opens the door, letting Y/n in first before stepping in, shutting the door.

"Y/n this is my Sargent Hank Voight" Jay introduces, the older man standing from his desk.

"It's nice to meet you Y/n, Jay's explained the situation already. We're keeping this in house, meaning the only people that will be involved will be Jay, Myself, and the detectives sitting out there" Voight speaks softly, softer than normal trying to make her feel a little less nervous.

Y/n nods, giving Voight a small smile "Thank you, Sargent. I never thought anyone would believe me, I know it's tough with Brandon being a detec-"

The older man cuts her off, shaking his head "It doesn't matter who he is, he has no right to lay a hand on you. We're going to make sure he goes down for this" Hank reassures her, this time placing a hand on her arm softly.

"Would you be comfortable talking to the others to go over everything?" Jay asks softly from her right "No pressure"

Y/n contemplates it for a second before nodding "Yeah, as long as you're there"

That seems to be her answer for everything but as long as Jay is with her she feels safe.

"Okay, we'll talk in the conference room" Jay says, knowing it's a private area.

"You can take her to the conference room, I'll gather the team" Voight offers and Jay nods, opening the office door and guiding Y/n out.

The rest of the team watch them walk down the hall, curiosity eating away at them.

--

Meeting the rest of the intelligence went well, it was mostly Y/n recounting every thing that happened the past six months, which was when it really started to get bad with Brandon. When it got physical.

It started with little comments that were meant to bring her down, lower her self esteem. Then it built up to the physical stuff.

The rest of the unit either looked sorry for her or angry as she recounted everything, Jay by her side as she did so. Trying to give her some comfort.

The team all noticed that. The way she would tense up, Jay would place a hand on hers and she would relax.

You would think they knew each other for years.

The team had made a plan, Brandon was undercover currently and was supposed to be finished in two days. Voight was impatient, once they had things ready they were planning to pick him up. The photos of her injuries were evidence and they even found a girlfriend from the past, before Brandon got with Y/n.

It was in high school, he broke her jaw and cracked three of her ribs. It had been expunged form his record since he was technically a minor.

"That poor girl" Y/n said softly, feeling sadness as she sat in the chair next to Jay's desk, glancing at the girl that Haley and Adam were talking to in the small break room.

Jay only glanced at her, it was amazing how she felt so bad for the other girl, not even caring about her own injuries.

Brandon could have easily killed her that night and from what Jay had heard he almost did. Or at least probably thought about it.

Finishing up their interview, Haley guided the woman back down the stairs, the woman sending Y/n a sympathetic look.

"How are you doing?" Adam asks softly as he approaches Jay's desk and glancing at Y/n.

She shrugs "I don't know, I just feel bad for her going through that" she says quietly.

Adam smiles at her sadly before sitting at his desk.

Jay stands from his desk, picking up his keys and phone "Come on, I'll take you back to Will's. You should be resting" He doesn't say it as a question but not as an order either.

Y/n stands up, looking at Jay "I'm not broken" she says, hands on her hips.

Jay gives her a 'really' look "Will told me you were stubborn. There's nothing to do right now except let us work and arrest him. So, I am taking you home to rest and put some ice on your eye, okay?" He says it nicely, not in a mean way but in a concerned way.

Damn you Will Halstead

"William needs to mind his business" Y/n says under her breath as Jay guides through the hallway and downstairs to the basement.

"Couldn't agree more" Jay jokes, a smirk on his face and Y/n laughs quietly.

Once they get to the truck, Jay opens he passenger side door for her. Waiting for her to climb in the truck before shutting the door and starting the truck.

As Jay pulls out of the parking lot, Y/n has a thought swirling around in her mind.

"Jay" her voice has a different tone. scared. It makes Jay look over at her quickly.

"What if he finds me" it's quiet, whispered as if she says it too loud Brandon will just pop up.

"Then I'll be there. Hand me your phone" Jay's voice is calm, unwavering as he puts his hand out.

Y/n furrows her eyebrows, taking her phone out of her pants pocket and unlocking it, putting it in Jay's hand.

Keeping his eyes on the road, he taps the screen a few times, typing something in and then handing it back to her.

"You speed dial 1 and it will call me. Anything happens you call and I'll be there" It's a promise. A promise to show up. That's more than anyone has ever given her.

--

Y/n is sat on the couch in Will's living room, watching a movie and icing her eye.

Jay made sure she had everything she needed before leaving.

"Lock the door and lock the deadbolt after me" Jay had said and Y/n sent him a fake salute before he left the apartment, an amused look on his face.

It was only one more hour until Will was off shift and then maybe her uneasiness of being here alone with him out there would be gone.

That's when there's a loud knock on the apartment door.

Y/n's eyebrows furrow. Who could that be?

Then there's banging "Y/n, I know you're here"

Her blood ran cold.

No way.

This is not happening.

What a damn coincidence.

He wasn't supposed to be out of his assignment for two days.

Two more loud thumps.

"Come on, honey open the door" Brandon tries to sound nice, but Y/n knows better.

Her breathing is quickened as the door knob jiggles.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

Grabbing her phone and moving as quietly as possible she goes the guest room, shutting and locking the door and then going to the bathroom and shutting and locking that door.

She can hear him banging on the door more and yelling.

Okay maybe it's time to call for help.

Unlocking her phone with shaky hands, she opens the call app, pressing the 1.

She can hear the ringing and Jay answers on the second ring.

"He's here" That's all she can get out.

That's all she needs to say before Jay is moving from his desk. Placing his gun in the holster on his hip and grabbing his keys.

"Where are you right now?" he asks, staying calm.

He covers the phone, speaking to the team "We gotta go, he found her"

They're all on their feet in a matter of seconds and making their way downstairs--Kim telling Voight.

"I-in the bathroom" Y/n responds before there's a loud noise heard through the phone "Shit, I think he just broke the door"

Jay's got his truck started in a matter of seconds, Haley in the passenger seat as he speeds out of the parking lot, the phone on speaker now.

"Y/n don't hang up, just stay where you are. I'm on my way, we're coming." Jay tries to reassure her but he can barely stay clam himself as he hears more loud banging and yelling on the other end.

"Come on! I just want to talk! I don't know why you do this to me" Brandon's voice is muffled but Jay hear it and he exchanges worried glances with Haley.

Another loud bang.

"There you are, I know you talked to the cops you bitch"

On the other end, Brandon grabs her by her hair, landing a punch to her left abdomen.

Y/n groans doubling over as he pulls her up.

"They'll never believe you, a detectives words against you? It will never work." He has a sickeningly evil smirk on his face as he throws her to the ground.

Brandon draws his gun, aiming it at Y/n's curled up body on the bathroom floor.

"Chicago PD!" Y/n hears Haley yell and the relief washes over her.

"Put it down, Brandon!" Jay yells, gun pointed at the man.

"I'm on the job guys" He says as if that makes everything okay.

Voight steps up, coming behind him and pressing his gun to the back of Brandon's head.

"Put it down" His voice is gruff and Y/n can see the look in his eye, Brandon finally realizing they are not on his side.

He drops the gun, Hank grabbing him and slamming him against the wall as Haley kicks the gun away.

Jay moves on instinct not even giving it a second thought, grabbing Brandon by the collar and shoving him against the wall again.

"Guess what, I believe her" Jay's voice is darker than usual as he forcefully turns Brandon, shoving his face into the wall as he handcuffs him, making sure the cuffs are extra tight.

Adam takes Brandon from Jay "You realize what's going to happen to you? Sure they hate cops where you're going but you know what they hate more? Guys who beat women" it's not a threat or a suggestion. It's a promise.

Once Brandon's out of his sight, Jay relaxes, finding Y/n sat against the tub, Kim checking on her while Haley goes to direct the paramedics.

Jay kneels down next to her "I'm sorry I didn't get here sooner" he says it as if he's the only one responsible. As if they didn't save her.

"You showed up. That's all I needed" this time Y/n squeezes his hand comfortingly.

The paramedics finally enter the bathroom, taking Y/n's vitals and listening to her breathing. Of course she refuses to go to the hospital. Knowing they wouldn't be able to do much for her cracked ribs anyway.

The team has cleared out mostly, lingering in the rest of the apartment, Kevin and Kim speaking to the neighbors and getting statements.

Will comes running into the apartment, seeing the front door broken like it was kicked in.

He sees the team and he's terrified.

"Guys? Is Y/n-"

Adam stops him "She's okay, Brandon showed up, she's got a couple cracked ribs. Jay's with her and the paramedics are checking her out" he explains, pointing to the guest room.

Will lets out a sigh of relief "Thanks" he says before making his way to the guest room.

He finds Y/n now sat on the bed, Jay sat next to her and the paramedics packing up.

"Will, i am so sorry about the doors I will absolutely pay for them to get fixed" Y/n says immediately seeing her ginger best friend.

Will looks at her with wide eyes, his mouth opens and shuts before he finds his words "You think that's what I'm worried about?!" he questions in disbelief.

"Yes?" She says as a question and Jay does his best to stifle his laughter.

"Y/n I could care less about the doors" the red head sighs, looking at his brother "Thank you for being here"

"I wouldn't want to be anywhere else" Jay says, looking at Y/n with a small smile.

Will knows that look in his brother's eyes but he doesn't say anything.

"I'm getting my kit to check you out."

"Will, the paramedics literally cleared me"

"And I literally don't care, stop being stubborn" Will says sassily, leaving the room.

Y/n groans, but instantly regrets it, her hand going to her side as she coughs.

"Alright, easy there, sassy" Jay says, an amused tone in his voice as he places a hand on her back comfortingly.

Will returns to the room with his med kit, glancing between his brother and friend knowingly.

----

Y/n knew Jay would be so upset if he knew she left the house in this weather. Since she became pregnant, the man has become even more protective than before. However, she knew he was having a busy day and couldn't leave work just because Y/n was hot — although he would do that if Y/n called him and asked to buy a fan.

But everything got worse when Y/n's vision became blurry and a feeling of nausea appeared. Jay's wife leaned against the wall next to her, trying to get some shade to compose herself. She brought a hand to her mouth, trying to breathe slowly to calm her heart that was beating rapidly against her chest.

"Miss! Miss, are you okay?" a man appeared in front of her, with a worried look. "Do you need me to call an ambulance?"

"No, it's okay." she managed to whisper. "Could you help me get to Fire Station 51? It's just a two-minute walk." the man, already advanced in age, seemed friendly enough for Y/n to trust him. And the truth was that she had no other option, as it seemed like her legs were going to give out at any moment.

"Sure thing, ma'am. Here, lean on my arm." he agreed with a gentle smile, offering her his arm to help her walk. "In this heat, no one should be walking around. It could be dangerous, especially in your condition."

"I know." Y/n sighed, knowing that beyond this lecture, she was going to hear worse from Jay when he found out. "But I wanted to buy a fan. It wasn't even a five-minute walk."

The man patted her hand in understanding. "I don't judge you, dear. My wife has already had three children, and in all of them, she was very stubborn. I understand that you don't want to be dependent on us, poor husbands, but we just want you to be well."

The woman didn't respond, now feeling even more guilty for not calling Jay to ask for this favor. She didn't want to bother him, but the plan didn't go as expected. The rest of the short walk was done in silence, Y/n's cheeks becoming more flushed, and having difficulty breathing in the hot air.

When they finally saw the fire station, Jay's wife couldn't be more relieved. Gabby and Brett, who were getting out of the ambulance, having just arrived from a call, noticed Y/n's tired form and immediately took hurried steps towards her, helping to carry her and him into the shade.

"Y/n? What happened? Are you feeling okay?" Gabby asked worriedly, helping her into the back of the ambulance. Y/n sat down, one hand on her stomach and the other on her back, closing her eyes as she started to feel dizzy.

"I'll call Jay." she managed to hear Brett say, but she was more focused on not throwing up than responding to the paramedics.

Thankfully, the man who helped her took charge of explaining what had happened. Y/n had the strength to open her eyes and thank him deeply for his help, asking if she could do anything to repay him, but he just shook his head and smiled. Then he left, as Y/n was now with people who could help her medically.

"What are your symptoms, Y/n?"

"I don't feel well, Gabby." her voice shook, fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. "I'm sick, dizzy, and a headache is forming."

After leaving the phone call, Brett began taking her vitals, while Gabby applied a cold compress to her forehead. "You're most likely dehydrated, we have to go to the hospital to put you on an IV and check the baby."

"But he's fine, right?" Y/n sobbed scared, clutching her belly as she looked at her friends with a frown.

"Yes, he seems fine. But just to be sure." Gabby comforted, starting to help Y/n lay down on the stretcher.

"What did Jay say?"

"Well, he—" the blonde paramedic started to say, but was interrupted by the sirens of a police car, getting closer and closer. "I guess that's your answer."

"How did he get here so fast?" Y/n thought out loud as he watched the police officer get out of the still moving car. He immediately looked around for his wife. When he saw them, he quickly broke into a run, his eyes wide in panic. Hailey got out of the driver's seat, right behind Jay.

"I'm really sorry."

"What, baby? You don't have to apologize." Jay knelt down next to Y/n, gently cupping her face with his hands so he could assess her condition. Unconsciously, his hand slid down to her round belly, finally managing to take a deep breath when he felt a light kick against his touch. "I shouldn't have left you alone in this weather. You're okay, baby."

When Brett called him to explain the situation, he felt a sense of fear like he had never felt before. Not even when he had been shot at, kidnapped or beaten. The most important people in his life being in danger was his worst nightmare.

Luckily, they were in the neighborhood and managed to get to the fire station in record time thanks to Hailey's driving. Over time, Y/n and the blonde had become very close, often ganging up together against Jay. Not that he minded, since hearing his wife's giggles and knowing she was more relaxed when Jay was working as she trusted his partner to protect him.

"We need to get them to the hospital. Y/n is showing signs of dehydration and the baby needs to be checked." Jay's head turned unusually quickly to Gabby in concern. She hurried to add, "They both seem to be fine, but I want to make sure."

"I'll go back to the police station and let Voight know you won't be working anymore this week." Hailey offered. "I hope you're okay, Y/n. I'll stop at the hospital to check on you."

"Thank you, Hails." Y/n smiled weakly.

"Let's go." The man nodded, kissing Y/n's forehead comfortingly. He climbed into the back of the ambulance with her and held her hand the whole way while Gabby got into the driver's seat and Brett checked some vital signs.

The ride was relatively calm, but Y/n was getting paler and sicker by the minute. Jay mumbled words in an attempt to calm her down, but inside, he felt like he couldn't breathe. They should have called two ambulances because he was close to passing out.

Finally, they arrived at the hospital where Maggie and Will were waiting for them at the entrance. In no time, she was already settled in and several doctors were checking everything they could. Jay stayed by her side the whole time, answering some questions from the doctors when necessary.

The fluorescent lights of the hospital were harsh against Y/n’s already sensitive eyes as she waited for someone to tell her what was going on. Jay never let go of her hand, his grip firm but gentle, his thumb softly brushing against her knuckles in a silent attempt to comfort her. Her heart was pounding, but the cool sheets of the hospital bed and his touch gave her some relief.

Will Halstead, dressed in his white coat and looking every bit the composed doctor he was, entered the room, clipboard in hand. His face softened the moment he saw Y/n and Jay.

"Hey," Will greeted, his tone warm yet professional. "How are we doing here?"

"Not great, Will," Y/n admitted, her voice weak as she tried to give him a small smile. "I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck."

Jay immediately turned to his brother. "What’s going on? Is she okay? Is the baby okay?" His words came out in a rush, and it was clear he was doing everything he could to keep his composure.

Will raised a hand to calm his younger brother. "Take a breath, Jay," he said, flipping through the chart. "We ran some tests and monitored Y/n’s vitals. She’s severely dehydrated, which is why she felt dizzy and nauseous. Her blood pressure dropped, but thankfully, the baby is doing great. The ultrasound shows a strong heartbeat."

Y/n let out a shaky breath of relief, her free hand instinctively moving to her belly. Jay visibly relaxed beside her, the tension in his shoulders easing.

"So, she’s okay? The baby’s okay?" Jay asked again, needing to hear it one more time to truly believe it.

"Yes," Will assured them with a kind smile. "We’re giving her IV fluids to rehydrate her, and she should start feeling better soon. I do want her to stay overnight for observation, just to be safe, but I’m confident she and the baby will be fine."

"Thank you, Will," Y/n said, her voice cracking slightly as tears of relief welled in her eyes.

Will reached out to pat her head. "No need to thank me, Y/n. Just promise me you’ll stay out of this heat, okay?"

She nodded, feeling a mix of guilt and gratitude. "I’ll try," she murmured, glancing at Jay.

Jay turned to Will. "Thanks, man."

"Anything for my sister-and-law and nephew." He winked at her before stepping back. "I’ll check on you in a bit, but for now, just rest."

As Will left, the room fell quiet, except for the soft beep of the monitors and the rhythmic drip of the IV. Jay pulled a chair close to the bed, sinking into it as he brought Y/n’s hand to his lips, pressing a lingering kiss to her fingers.

"You scared me today," he said softly, his eyes glistening as they locked onto hers. "Don’t ever do that again, Y/n. Please."

"I’m sorry," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. "I didn’t mean to worry you. I just... I didn’t want to bother you at work."

Jay let out a soft, incredulous laugh, shaking his head. "Bother me? Y/n, you and this baby are the most important things in my life. I’d drop everything in a heartbeat if you needed me."

Her lips trembled, and tears spilled down her cheeks. "I didn’t think it would be such a big deal. It was just a fan."

He leaned forward, cupping her face with both hands, his thumbs gently wiping away her tears. "Listen to me," he said, his voice steady but filled with emotion. "Nothing is ‘just’ when it comes to you or our family. You’re my world. Promise me, no more trying to do everything on your own. I’m here for you. Always. Ask me to buy you a fan, food, a house, I don't care, I'll do it in a heartbeat."

She nodded, fresh tears streaming down her face. "I promise," she whispered, her voice breaking.

Jay leaned in, pressing a kiss to her forehead before resting his against hers. For a moment, they stayed like that, their breaths mingling as the world outside the hospital room faded away.

"I love you," she said softly, her hand finding its way to his cheek.

"I love you more," he replied, his voice low and full of sincerity. He placed a hand on her belly, feeling the soft flutter of movement beneath his palm. "And I love you, little one. But you’ve gotta cut your mom some slack, okay? No more giving her a hard time."

Y/n laughed weakly, the sound light and sweet. "Hear that?" she said, looking down at her bump. "You are already giving Daddy white hairs."

"I'm so sorry y/n, are you okay?" He began while inspecting your sunscreened face.

You shook your head while tears fell from your shut eyes.

"Did some get in your eyes?" He asked

"Uh huh" you whimpered. "It burns" you added while running your balled up hands in your eyes.

Moving your hands down, Jay stated, "hey, no, let's not do that!, let me call Will real quick"

After a short phone call, Jay set his phone down and turned on the faucet.

"Will says we just have to drown out the sunscreen from your eyes. So I'm going to lift you up and run water on your face, okay?"

When you nodded, Jay lifted you up and leaned you sideways. You immediately felt the water hit your eyes and you tried to squirm away, but Jay held you in place.

"Almost done, your doing so good" Jay praised. And shortly after that, he set you back down and turned off the water.

Wiping your eyes with a towel, he asked, "better?"

"Better" you assured when you finally opened your eyes again.

"I'm so sorry about that! But what do you say we go to the beach now?" Asked Jay while running a hand down your back 

“Pick up. Pick up. Come on pick up” you muttered while your phone was up to your ear and you looked over your shoulder while picking up the pace a bit. 

“Hey this is Detective Jay Halstead, I can’t come to the phone right now. Leave your name and number after the beep and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible” the familiar voice mail message spoke out into your ear. 

“Fuck!” you muttered while ending the call and picking your pace up a bit more after looking behind you and still seeing the person who had been following you for the past 3 blocks behind you.

“What’s a pretty girl like you doing out and bout?” asked the man while also picking up his pace. 

You ignored him and kept walking. Wondering when the hell you were going to hit 35th street. 

“Are you headed to work or school?” the man asked when he got shoulder to shoulder with you. 

You ignored the guy again really wishing your brother would have picked up. 

Gripping your phone in your sweatshirt pocket you picked up your pace again, walking slightly more ahead of the guy. 

Pulling your phone out again, you quickly ran through your contacts and clicked on Olinsky before letting it dial. 

“You’re really pretty you know that?” the man started again while finally keeping his distance from you but still following you. 

‘36th street… 36th street place… 35th street! Finally!’ you thought while reading the street signs. Al’s phone also went to voicemail. Meaning they must be at a crime scene or in the car or something.

Turning right onto the street you notice the guy who had been following you for the past 5 blocks is no longer following you but of course you don’t get far enough away before you hear, “Have a great day sweetheart! You're gorgeous!”

Visibly shuddering you honestly feel disgusting and don’t even want coffee anymore. Mainly because you're shaken up but also because it means you have to be in the area for longer. 

So you quickly pull your phone out and call a number you didn’t exactly want to call. 

“Trudy?” you sniffled when she picked up. 

“Kid, what's wrong?” she asked on the other side. 

 “Is my brother and Al on a call right now?”

You hear some rustling and then the sound of a buzzer and heavy footsteps before someone speaks again. 

“Y/N? Are you okay?”

“Jay!” you all but shout!

“What’s wrong?”

“Why didn’t you pick up when I called you? Why didn’t Al pick up when I called?”

“I’m sorry, we were doing an interrogation. What’s up.”

“Uh, can you come get me?”

“Why? Can’t you take the bus? I thought you were visiting a friend and getting coffee?”

“I visited with my friend, it was a good time but I uh got followed and cat called and feel dirty and just want to go home”

“Cat called? Followed? For how long? Al and I are on our way! Where are you?”

“Uh from 37th street all the way to 35th street. I’m walking up 35th right now. I can wait by that school that’s right there if that’s easy enough of a landmark for you guys to find me.”

You hear the car start and doors being shut before you can hear your voice echo.

“Kid, we don’t care where we pick you up. Wherever makes you feel safest is good enough for us.” you hear Al say. 

“Uh, uh, yea the elementary school should be good. I’ll be on the sidewalk.” you stuttered out while running a hand through your hair. 

“Sounds good, we should be there in 20” replied your brother. 

“Hang in there kid” added Al before the call ended. 

The next twenty minutes were the longest twenty minutes of your life. You still felt really dirty and uneasy and just wanted to be in the safety of your brother or even better the safety of your own bed. 

“Hey Y/N, get in” you heard. You looked up to see Al’s Dodge Magnum car in front of you and your brother’s window rolled down. Quickly shuffling to your feet you scramble into the back seat and audibly let out a sigh. 

“You okay?” your brother asked while turning in his seat to face you. 

Nodding, you reply, “now I am, thank you for coming and getting me. I’m sorry you had to leave work.”

Al pulled into a parking space near Scoops ice cream and stated reassuringly, “Kid, you’re family. Meaning you're important to us. No case will ever be too important to come and get you”

Smirking, you asked, “Let me guess, are you just saying that cause the guy you guys were interrogating was jamming up and you weren’t getting anywhere with them?”

 Shaking their heads, Al and Jay looked at each other knowingly. 

“But we are being honest kid, if you ever have a problem or encounter again like today you call anyone in intelligence and they will have your back!”

You always hated driving at night and in the rain, but both at the same time was a nightmare. It wasn't just rain now, sleet came down so hard and fast your wipers hardly had time to keep up. Driving in these conditions was dangerous, even for experienced drivers. So you slowed down, turned down the music and tried to limit the distractions. If you crashed Will's car he would never let you drive ever again.

Even with the wipers at full speed and your high beam lights on, the sleet made it near impossible to see. There was no one else on the road, at least, not in front of you. There was an SUV behind you in the left lane, you caught glimpses of its shape through the sleet every now and again. They were going much faster than you were, steadily becoming a larger shadow in your mirror. Eventually, you could see their lights fully in your mirrors. You let out a grumble as you realized they too had their high beams on. Flipping the tab on your rearview mirror didn't change the fact the wing mirrors were blinding you too.

"What on earth," You groaned, the only other car on the road, the only one you had seen in the last 20 minutes was burning holes in your eyes.

Everything changed so quickly. The SUV was speeding up, gaining speed even against all the wind and sleet. Then the car was hydroplaning on the ice and sleet on the road, it swung out of control, swerving from their lane and into your own. You couldn't look away from the mirror, watching in horror as the car kept spinning out of control. It slammed into the side of your car, hitting hard against your door as it pushed you off the road. Both of your cars slid down a bank, only coming to a stop when there was nowhere else to go.

You could feel the seat belt cutting into your chest, you wanted to claw it away but it wouldn't budge. The glass from the now smashed window was cutting through your skin, on your face, your arm, even a few pieces had cut their way through your jeans.

The cold was what kept you conscious. It flooded into your car, breaking the bubble of warmth and ripping away any sense of comfort you had seconds earlier. You weren't sure if it was tears or blood running down your face, but either way, you tried to clear your mind. There was a first aid kit in the glove box, one Will had made, if you could reach it you could help yourself. 

You forced yourself to go through the checklist Will ingrained in you. Starting with your head, you made note of the concussion you likely had, then your neck, whiplash for sure. Your chest next, which was in pain from the seatbelt, but nothing else you could tell for now. Your left arm was broken, but that was a problem for another time. Your legs were squished, but you should move your feet and toes without any pain. That was as good as it was going to get, you had to get out of here. The longer you stay in here, with the sleet soaking through your clothes, the longer you put yourself at risk. 

With a bit of wiggling and stubbornness, you managed to unclip the seatbelt. It didn’t move much, but with it not so tight you could now push it away from you and start the process of wiggling out of your seat. You climbed over the center console, taking your time to avoid smashed glass or hurting yourself further. Once in the passenger seat, you pulled open the glove box, dragging out the kit and rummaging through it. You ripped open one of the gauze packets, pressing it to the left side of your forehead, the sting causing you to hiss. You continued anyway, forcing yourself to open the plastic package with a sling in it. You forced the knot over your neck. Sucking in a deep breath you forced yourself to move your arm into the sling, clenching your jaw in until the pain subsided. After ten minutes of breathing through the pain, you decided enough was enough. You had to move, even if you didn’t want to, you had too. 

Throwing open the door, you forced yourself out into the weather. The first aid kit stayed tucked under your arm so that you could help the other car. Walking up the incline was harder than getting out of the car, the pain from your arm and the other scrapes and bruises weighed you down. One step at a time. One foot after another. Eventually you made it to the driver's door. The windscreen was smashed, webbed cracks making it impossible to see through. You reached for the handle on the driver side, using it to steady yourself the last few steps then yanking it open. Inside, the driver was hunched over his steering wheel. 

“Hey,” You tried to shake his shoulder, but he didn’t respond, “Please, no.” 

You took a deep breath, then placed two fingers to the man's coritod, trying to calm the sound of your own heartbeat to feel the man. 

10 seconds passed. 

20.

30. 

Nothing. No Pulse. No Signs of Life. 

You pulled your hand away slowly, as if not to disturb him. 

“I’m so sorry,” You pulled away, stumbling a few steps back. 

By now, you could guess it had been almost half an hour. Half an hour in the sleet and rain, with no coat, no dry clothes. No one would be able to see you from the road, there was no barrier or break in a fence. No one could see you.  You were at risk, you knew any longer out here would kill you. You had to call for help. Forcing yourself to walk back down the slope to your car was hell. Your entire body shook, every time you took a step, your legs shook and you had to take extra time to steady yourself. When you finally got back to where you started, the passenger side door, you used your right arm to pull yourself back into the car. You had left your phone in the holder on the 

 There were no lights on in your car, nor the other one, so you had to search with light from the moon and strained eyes. You patted down the floor of the passenger side, nothing. Leaning over the console you tried the driver side. Avoiding the mangled parts was hard, no wonder your leg was scratched up and sore. Eventually your fingers found an irregularity, your phone face down on the ground. You yanked it up, pulling it to your face and trying to turn it on. With the screen facing you, you could see the damage. It was like it had been through a blender, the only intact part of the phone being your case. It was useless. A glorified paperweight. 

“Fuck!” 

40 minutes in these wet clothes. You had never been so cold in your life. It was as if there was no heat left in the world, the comfort of warmth was a fleeting memory. The aggressive shivering was making it hard to do anything, but you were more worried about what would happen when you stopped shivering. Growing up in Chicago, with a doctor brother, meant you heard all about how hypothermia could sneak up on a person. Most people didn't see it coming, didn’t know the signs. You were painfully aware of them. 

The racing heart. Tachycardia. 

The cold white fingers. Your body pulling blood from your extremities to protect your core.

Next it would be the brain fog, shock, the feeling of being overheated. There was no telling when it could strike. 

The other driver's phone. 

A lightbulb went off, literally. 

If you wanted to survive, you had to get back to the other driver. You had to fight. 

Finding the driver's phone felt like grave robbing. You could see it sitting in his cup holder. Some kind of miracle it hadn’t bounced out. You had to lean over the man to get the phone, trying not to move him or touch the blood that was staining his clothes. With the phone in hand, you gripped it with two hands to press the power button and activate the emergency call. You pressed the phone to your ear, it rang twice. 

“911, what is your emergency?” 

“I was in an accident,” You answered, “I need an ambulance.” 

“Can you tell me where you are?”

“I- I don’t know. I’m not shivering anymore. I’m not shivering.” 

Your arm dropped, phone tumbling into the snow on the ground. 

“It’s not cold anymore.” 

“Dispatch, we’re going to need a Medevac.” 

“Hey kid,” The paramedic was trying to keep you alert, “Not far from a hospital, okay?”

“It’s too hot,” You slurred, strapped to the gurney in preparation of the Medevac, covered in foil safety blankets. 

“I know, love,” The woman was so nice, her voice was so soothing. “Just hold on a little longer, yeah?” 

You could hear the sound of the helicopter approaching, a steady rhythm. It grew louder and louder. it  felt as if it was taking the rhythm from your heart, as the helicopter got louder you could feel your heart getting quieter. 

The deafening sound and the wind that came from the chopper made you feel like you were hallucinating. The whole time as you waited for help, half conscious in the snow. It was nothing much at first, shooting stars, the moon glowing brighter and brighter. Then it was Will’s voice, Jay’s humming. All the things that reminded you of warmth, of that all encompassing feeling. 

Holding onto your own consciousness was like trying to hold onto a cloud. You could just see it, sense it, but physically touching it, holding it… it was nearly impossible. 

A moment of clarity had you reeling it in, forcing your eyes open. 

Inside the chopper was just as loud. But more hectic. A symphony of chattering radios, yelling voices and beeping machines. 

“My brother,” You croaked. 

“Don’t speak, kid,” The Medevac paramedic was a different man, older than the paramedic from before. He looked like a dad. 

“My brother, Doctor Halstead… Chicago Med.” 

The man's face was out of focus, but you could see the realization on it. He knew what you were asking. 

He turned to the other body in the back of the shopper, the one that was just a blur of blue shapes, “Get him on the radio now.” 

He looked back at you, “What’s your name kid?” 

You whispered it back to him, voice raw and mouth dry. You felt like you were drenched in sweat. Everything was burning. The clouds in your mind were getting further and further away, but you forced yourself to hold tight to consciousness. You needed to talk to Will. You had to talk to him. 

“My name's Tom,” The paramedic was placing headphones over your ears, adjusting the mic so that your voice might reach it, “I’ve got you, alright, kid? Just take it easy.” 

The other person was speaking, explaining something. You could hear the bass of his voice through the headphones, like he was speaking inside your head. But he might as well have been speaking another language, because nothing he said made any sense. Your eyes were so tired, burning from the lights inside the chopper, even though you knew they were as low as they could go. Light flares made it impossible to focus, everything blending and swirling in a sickening live painting. Nothing was peaking through those clouds now. They were dark, cold, and sinister. The ones that roll through right before a thunderstorm, before everything went haywire. 

But then there was sun, a beam of warmth that basked you in calmness. 

“Hey, sweetheart.” Will. The warmth that kept you safe. 

If you had been in your right state of mind, you would be able to hear the strain in his voice, the pure anguish. But you didn’t. All your brain could comprehend was that he was there. 

“I love you,” You whispered, not sure if it would be heard. 

Tom repeated your words, mumbling something about numbers or stats dropping. 

“I love you too.” Will replied, “I love you so much. I will always-” 

Will cleared his throat, it registered somewhere in the very back of your mind now. He was crying. 

“I will love you, forever. No matter what happens, sweetheart.” 

Will didn’t call you sweetheart anymore. It was always squirt. Sweetheart was what he called you as a child, the nickname that fizzled out when you turned 10 and having a hovering older brother was embarrassing. Again, that feeling of warmth returned. The feeling of lying in the sun after a swim, letting it dry you and warm you slowly. It was calm, gentle, nurturing. The warmth that made plants grow and flowers bloom. That you had spent your whole life with. Will was the sun in your family. Warm, nurturing and oh so loving. Always there, reliable and steady. If Will was the sun, then Jay was the moon. That Light that guided you through the dark. The one that brought coolness, serenity and wiseness. Jay was the one that kept you calm. Taught you to stand on your own two feet, to fight. The moon was always there, every single night. Sometimes it hid, keeping its light hidden, but it was always watching. 

Your brothers, your lifelines. 

The steady thrum of the helicopter was growing silent. Replaced with a ringing that pulled you into a clear empty and dark sky.

There were no more clouds. There was nothing. 

Will was on the roof as soon as he got word the chopper was getting close. The fear and anxiety that ran through his blood was making it hard for him to focus. He was standing by with strict orders not to intervene. When Goodwin had heard what was happening, she had made sure WIll knew that he could not be involved in treatment at all. No matter what, he could only watch. 

“I got this, Will,” Marcel assured Will. Marcel was a brother, he knew what it was like to worry over his sister. 

“I know,” Will responded, the words meant nothing. Nothing anyone could say would stop the thumping of his heart, the fear in his veins. 

As the chopper landed, Will watched Marcel and the trauma nurses run in, a practiced team. The hand-off was smooth as it could be, then everyone was running back inside, headed to the ED. Elevator rides with patients were always slow and nerve racking, now was no different. The Helipad was only a few floors above the ED, the distance was hardly far enough to feel as long as it was. 

“Baghdad's free” Maggie called as they barrelled into the ED. Marcel started barking orders, calling stats, medications. Will had done the routine before, thousands of times. Now, watching from outside the room,everything felt foreign and new. 

Marcel and Trinny cut off your damp clothes, replacing them with warm blankets and heat packs. 

“Temp check?” 

“61.2. Heart rates dropping. 62, 56, 43…” 

Maggie grabbed Will's arm, pulling him back as the monitors flatlined. 

“Get me an amp of epi!” 

"Epi’s in.” 

“Hold compressions…” 

“No pulse.” 

“Resume compressions.”

Will looked at his watch, the minutes were ticking by. 

“Alright,” Crockett switched with Asher on compressions, taking a step back, “Temps up to 63…” 

“It’s been ten minutes,” Asher said through compressions, “Should we try ECMO?” 

Marcel turned to Will, not for permission, but to see if he was following. THe face that Marcel saw was full of hopelessness. This wasn’t Will Halstead the ED Doc, it was Will Halstead the big brother. 

“Maggie?” 

“On it, Marcel,” Maggie stepped away from Will barking her own orders at nurses. 

How is this happening? 

Nothing else could take up space in WIll’s mind. Why was this happening? 

This morning when you had left, you showed Will the weather forecast, telling him it would be cold and rainy, that you would take your time and go slow. He knew you would too. You hated driving in the rain, so you were always alert. 

This morning, you had dropped him at work and yelled out the window, “Don’t kill anyone!” Before cackling and driving away.

You were so full of life when he last saw you. 

Now all he saw was a limp body that shared your face. 

“Will?” Jay's voice from across the ED. 

Will wasn’t just your big brother. He was Jay's too. At that moment, he knew Jay needed him. 

Will stepped away from the treatment room, intercepting Jay before he could get too close. 

“Listen to me,” Will pulled him aside, grabbing his shoulders, “You don’t want to see her right now. Marcel and Asher are working on her, they have it handled.” Lies. They were lies, or half-truths, either way, Will didn’t believe them. 

“How did this happen?” 

The Halstead brothers didn’t cry much, but now the both of them were tearing up. The fear of losing the light of their lives was weighing them both down. 

“That’s not important right now,” Will forced himself to say, “Right now, all that matters is she is getting treatment.” 

Jay nodded, he pulled out of Will’s grasp and turned to Hailey. She had watched the whole exchange, but Will hadn’t seen her until now. She looked like she might cry too. The same thoughts circling in the Halstead brothers minds were circling in her own. 

“She’s strong,” Hailey croaked out, “She’ll be okay. When she wakes up, she’ll have us, and she’ll be okay.” 

Will smiled at his sister-in-law. She really meant it, her belief giving Will something tangible to hold onto. If Hailey saw the way out, he would too. 

“I got a pulse!” 

The beeping of machines never sounded so sweet. A steady even beat. 

Will hadn’t prayed in so long, but he let slip, “Thank you, God.” A silent prayer followed. 

Where there was once nothing, now there was a wide blue sky, littered with meager clouds. They weren’t the ones that looked like faces or shapes, they were so small that they almost blended into the sky. But they were there. You could see them, feel them. God help you, you were going to reach them. 

The sun was out today too, a warm glow that set the perfect temperature. A spring morning with the first blooming flowers. The moon was there too, a watery reflection against the blue. It felt so serene here. The sun was calling to you, warming you in its embrace. You chose then, this would not be your goodbye to the sun and moon. 

Opening your eyes was the hardest challenge of the day. It was harder than walking up that slope, or staying conscious in the helicopter. Your body screamed for sleep, but you were too stubborn. You had to see the sun. 

“Will, Jay, get in here.” 

A warm hand on the side of your face, another one cradling your hand so gently. 

“We’re here, sweetheart.” 

“We’re not going anywhere.”