173Timeline: Early season six
Completed: Feb. 28, 2020
"Hey, who's hitting Molly's?" Adam Ruzek asks the rest of the unit after a long day, where they seemed to always be one step behind their suspect. Kim and Kevin quickly agree to go. "Antonio, come on."
"Not today. I have Eva and Diego tonight," he responds.
"Hailey? Jay?"
"I'm in," Hailey answers, "Jay, you coming?" she asks her partner.
"No. Not today, next time"
"Jay, come one? What do you have better to do tonight?" Adam pressures.
"I told Will I would have dinner with them," he answers.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah, next time. Sorry Ruze," Jay apologizes, even if he is slightly annoyed with the young officer.
When Voight dismisses them for the day, Adam, Kim, Kevin, and Antonio quickly head down the stairs. The former three wanting a head start on Molly's, and the latter wanting to get home to see his children.
Hailey hangs back with Jay, "Are you sure everything is okay Jay? Do you need to do our thing?" she asks her partner concerned.
"Yeah, everything is fine. Adam's just getting on my nerves."
"Okay, but you would tell me if something were wrong, right?" she questions, not wanting him to go rouge again.
"Yes, Hailey. I would tell you if something was wrong. I'm just tired. You should go before they start without you," Jay tells her.
"Okay," Hailey says slowly, not completely convinced that he's telling her everything. "Text or call me if you need anything," she tells him sternly before leaving.
Natalie opens the door, after hearing Jay knock, "Hey, Jay. Come in, it's freezing out," she ordered while ushering him inside.
Walking inside, Jay feels a force plowing into his legs, "Uncle Jay," a small voice exclaimed.
"Owen," Jay grinned, picking up his nephew and settling him on his right hip. Even after the worst day, seeing everything that he does in his line of work, seeing his soon-to-be nephew always seems to make him forget about it, even if only for a little while. Wincing a little when he feels a sharp pain in his side, Jay shifts Owen to his left side.
"Jay," Will calls when he comes down the steps, "What did you do to get Owen to like you?" Will asks his brother, referring to the child who's content in his uncle's arms.
Jay grins, "I was always the better liked Halstead," he jokes.
"Sure you were," Will sarcastically agrees.
Natalie interrupts the brothers before things can get out of hand, "Boys, settle down. I need to finish dinner, try not to kill each other and keep an eye on Owen," Natalie tells them, before going back into the kitchen.
The boys go into the family room and turn on the sports highlights of the Cubs afternoon game, Owen still attached to Jay.
They go into the kitchen when Natalie calls them for dinner. The three adults catch up with each other, Will and Natalie eating their dinner, while Jay only eats a little before he starts picking at it, noticing that his stomach is slightly upset.
Natalie notices first, "Does it taste okay, Jay?"
"Yeah, just not that hungry," he answers, "Sorry." This catches Will's attention.
"Are you alright?" Will asks, knowing it's not like his brother to not be hungry.
"Yeah, just tired," he answers. Will not accepting his answer goes to reach for his forehead, but Jay quickly moves out of the way. "What are you doing?"
"Checking to see if you have a temperature."
"Stop. I can take care of myself," Jay yells at his brother.
"I never said that you couldn't," Will yells back, the Halstead temper getting the better of both brothers.
"Just stop it! You're not responsible for me!"
"Yes, I am! You're my little brother! Mom made sure I knew it was my job to watch out for you!"
"Don't bring her up! You left! You weren't here for her when she was dying! You were out partying!"
"You weren't here either!"
"I left to fight a war! I tried to come back, but I couldn't get leave!" At this point, Natalie takes Owen and leaves the room to let the brothers work this out between themselves.
"You were always her favorite! You were her precious baby boy!"
"Mom didn't have a favorite! If anything, Dad always favored you! Nothing I did made him proud!"
"Dad and I didn't have the best relationship and you know that!"
"You made up! He told you that he was proud of you!"
"He-"
"He died thinking that I hated him! You have everything! You got your relationship with dad back, you could have been here for mom when she was dying, your girlfriend didn't leave you!"
"Are you-"
"I don't see why you wanted to reconnect when you came back! You have a perfect life; I'm just your screwed-up brother! You can easily move on and forget about me! It wouldn't be the first time!" That last statement hits Will hard, making him feel like he got slapped. Both brothers' faces red from anger.
Jay feeling worse leaves before Will can say anything else. Getting in his car he drives off. Not knowing where to go, he finds himself instinctively driving towards Hailey's house- her house is safe. Not wanting to be alone, but also not having anyone else.
Arriving at Hailey's, he hopes that he won't be bothering her, but sees that her car is not there. He gets out of his car and sits on her steps waiting for her to come back, afraid that if he stayed in his car, he would leave and do something stupid.
Hailey pulls up a half an hour later to find Jay sitting on her steps, looking like someone kicked his puppy. Looking like he is in a trance, Hailey approaches cautiously, not wanting to startle the former Ranger. "Hey, Jay," she starts, continuing when he looks at her, "How long have you been sitting here?" Jay only gives her a blank look. "Come on, let's go inside, you're going to get sick if you stay out here."
Hailey manages to pull him up, noting that he is freezing to the touch, and guide him to the couch. Forcing him to sit own before he goes to the hall closet in search of a blanket for him. Draping the blanket over his shoulders, she tries getting something out of him, "I'm going to make you something warm to drink. Do you have any preference? I have hot chocolate, tea, or coffee." Not receiving an answer, Hailey makes an executive decision to make tea.
Bringing it back to her partner who hasn't moved, she hands him the cup, "Here. Drink this, it'll help you warm up." Hailey is glad he listens to her when he takes a drink. "Did something happen at Will's?"
Jay, still in his trance-like state answers, "I messed up."
"Okay. Tell me what happened so I can help you."
"We got into an argument. It was stupid, he hates me now. He's the only family I have left," Jay answers, while the beginning of a panic attack approach.
Hailey sensing what is about to happen starts to rub circles on his back in hopes to ground him, "He doesn't hate you. He might be mad for a while, but he could never hate you."
"You don't know that."
"You just said it yourself, you're the only family each other has left."
"No. that's not true. Will has Natalie and Owen now."
"You're his brother. He cares about you." They sit there for a while, both finishing their tea; Hailey is happy when Jay stops shivering. Treading carefully, Hailey asks what the argument was about.
"I don't remember how it started, but it turned into about our parents. I questioned why he wanted to reconnect when he's just going to leave again." Before Hailey can respond, Jay speaks urgently, "I'm going to be sick," rushing to the bathroom, leaving Hailey stunned on the couch.
Coming to her senses, Hailey follows Jay. Standing outside of the closed door, she can hear the sound of him being sick. "Jay," she calls while knocking on the door, "Can I come in?" Receiving only a moan she tells him that she is coming in. Hailey finds him leaning over the toilet. Hailey rubs his back once again while he is reduced to dry-heaves. "Done?" she questions.
"I think. Sorry," he apologizes.
"Not your fault," she tells him while handing him a cup of water, "Rinse and spit." Jay does what he is told. Looking her partner over, she notices that he is pale, but flushed; not knowing if it is still from the cold, she asks, "Are you feeling alright? You look flushed."
"I wasn't feeling great at Will's," Jay admits.
At this Hailey places her hand on his forehead, "You feel a little warm. I can't check it right now because of the water. Do you want to go back to the couch? It's more comfortable." Jay nods and they go back to the couch.
Hailey turns on the television to a soccer game, Chicago Fire versus Columbus Crew. "What makes you think that Will doesn't hate me?" Jay asks after a while.
Looking at him, so he can read her eyes, she confidently states, "Because I've seen the two of you together before. And I have two older brothers, siblings may get annoyed at each other, but we can never hater each other." Jay seems to accept her answer.
After the game ends, Jay gets up, "I should go," only to be stopped.
"No. I don't trust you by yourself right now. You know where the spare room is."
"Hailey…"
"Go, and check your temperature first," handing him the thermometer she brought out with them. Jay sticks it in his mouth, under Hailey's watchful eye. When it beeps, Hailey holds her hand out, Jay gives it to her, knowing better than trying to lie.
"What is it?"
"100.4, not bad. There's some Tylenol in the medicine cabinet," Hailey tells him before making him go to bed.
The pain in his side becoming more pronounced, Jay takes the Tylenol hoping that it will help. He falls into a restless sleep, tossing and turning, fighting the rising nausea.
Jay wakes up a few hours later, rushing into the bathroom. Leaning over the toilet, trying to not wake up Hailey. When he is finished, Jay leans back, trying to catch his breath. Gathering his composer, Jay goes back to the spare bedroom, hoping to sleep for the rest of the night.
This happened three more times throughout the night. Finally falling asleep around five.
Hailey wakes up at six-thirty, going to the kitchen to start a pot of coffee. Once in the kitchen, she is surprised that it is still dark. Normally, when Jay crashes at her place, he is up and went on a run before she is even up.
At seven-fifteen, there is still no sign of Jay. Hailey goes to wake Jay, wanting to give him enough time so he isn't rushing. Knocking on the door, she receives no answer, so she walks in. Jay is out cold, so she turns on the lights, hoping that would wake him up. When that doesn't work, she calls his name.
"Wha'?" Jay answers.
"It's quarter past seven."
"That's late."
"I know. You coming to work today, or you need a ride home?"
"I'm going. Give me ten."
True to his word, Jay appears ten minutes later. "Ready to go?" He questions Hailey.
"Go where?"
"To work," he answers like it is the obvious answer.
"Not yet, you need to eat."
"Not hungry," Jay mumbles.
"Are you feeling okay? You still look a bit flushed," she asks while reaching out to feel his forehead.
"I'm fine," he lies before dodging her hand.
"If you're fine, then you're going to eat. You lost anything that you ate yesterday. If you don't eat, I'll tell Voight that you're not a hundred percent and he will bench you," Hailey threatens him.
"Hailey…"
"Jay, please. I'll make you toast if you're still not feeling great." Reluctantly, Jay gives in.
"Thanks," Jay tells Hailey when she places the toast in front of him.
Jay slowly eats under Hailey's watchful eye, hoping that his stomach won't reject the food. Once he finishes, they both get in Hailey's car, Jay not wanting to argue with her again this early, and drive to the district.
Arriving at the district, they go up to the intelligence bullpen and realize that they don't have a case and are going to be catching up on paperwork.
The day goes by slowly, when lunch creeps up Hailey offers to go on a lunch run. Everyone gives her their orders, except for Jay.
"Jay," Hailey gets his attention, "I'm going on a lunch run. What do you want?"
"Not hungry."
"Okay, do you want to ride with me?"
"No."
"How you are feeling?"
"Fine." Hailey sighs, before going to the deli to get everyone's food.
At the deli, Hailey orders what everyone asked for and gets Jay a container of soup.
Back at the district, Hailey hands out the food to the correct person, giving Jay a look when she hands him the container. He mutters a thanks, before attempting to eat it.
Everyone, except Jay, happily takes a break from their paperwork to eat. The unit spends their lunch break, talking about lighter subjects than what they would normally encounter on the job.
Going back to their paperwork when they finish, Jay is concentrating on his breathing trying to keep his stomach from turning.
His breathing trick works until it doesn't. Feeling like he is going to lose this battle, he jumps out of his set to head for the restroom. Adam, being Adam sees this and stops him, "Jay, man where you going?" he asks blocking his path.
"Ruzek, move," Jay orders him, using as little words as he can, feeling the contents of his stomach making their way up his throat.
"No, where you going? Leaving us with this paperwork," he insists, not noticing Jay's face pale. The rest of the unit has stopped to watch at this point. Jay covers his mouth with his hand, trying not to throw up in front of the unit.
Antonio, being a dad, knows what is about to happen, quickly gets the trash can from his desk and puts it in front of Jay just as Jay loses the contents of his stomach. He older detective rubs the younger man's back. "Kevin, Kim, Adam, why don't you check the inventory," Antonio says, discreetly trying to get them out of the bullpen.
Once the three officers leave, it is only the detectives in the room. Antonio grabs a chair for him to sit, "Hailey, can you get some paper towels?" When Hailey leaves he turns his attention back to Jay, "How do you feel now? You don't look great."
"Hurts."
"Here," Hailey hands him the paper towels. After cleaning up, Hailey asks, "Jay were you sick at all through the night?" He holds up four fingers. "You should be at home."
"Jay, I'm going to call Will to pick you up," Antonio tells him.
"No."
"They got into an argument last night. He crashed at my place," Hailey informs the senior detective.
"What hurts Bud?"
"Side."
Antonio becomes concerned at this, "Here?" he questions pushing at Jay's lower right abdomen. Jay flinches and cries out when Antonio makes contact, giving him his answer. "We need to get him to Med, it might be his appendix," he informs Hailey.
"No," Jay whimpers.
"Sorry, but it's the closest hospital Bud."
"I'll get the car." Hailey leaves while Antonio helps Jay into a standing position. Slowly they make their way down the stairs and to the car that Hailey pulled up.
Headed to Med with the lights and sirens blaring, Antonio drives while Hailey sits in the back with Jay.
Arriving at Med, Antonio drops off the two partners while he parks the car.
Maggie sees them and brings over a wheelchair for Jay, "Treatment two." Getting into a room fairly fast since Hailey called in the car.
Antonio and Hailey get Jay into the room, helping him onto the bed. Maggie hands Jay a gown, "Put this on Jay. April will be in in a moment to get vitals," she tells him before leaving and handing Hailey the forms to fill out.
"After a moment April opens the curtain, "Hey Jay, I'm just going to get a set of vitals on you, then Ethan going to take a look. Sound good?"
Jay just nods. "No latex," Jay manages to speak.
"Okay," she acknowledges. April swipes a thermometer across Jay's forehead, "101.6." She then takes his pulse and blood pressure, making a note of it before Ethan comes in.
"Hey, Jay. Heard you might have a case of appendicitis," Ethan says as he takes the ultrasound to Jay's side. "And it looks like that would be correct. Your appendix looks very agitated." Jay just groans. "I'm going to let pre-op know we're on the way up."
Once in pre-op, Jay had to sign consent forms and was given some IVs. Once an operating room was open, Jay was taken into surgery.
Seeing Hailey and Antonio in the waiting room Will walks up to them, "Hey, guys. Is everything okay?"
Antonio takes the lead, "Jay wasn't feeling well. They just took him into surgery for his appendix to be removed."
"Why didn't someone call me?" Will yells.
"He didn't want us to. He didn't even want to come here."
"Of course he didn't. He hates hospitals."
"No, he said 'no' to coming to Med, not another hospital."
"He told me about the argument," Hailey tells him, "he thinks you hate him."
"What?" Will is shocked by this revelation. "I should…"
"No. You can't do anything for him, but wait."
The surgery lasted for two hours, Jay's appendix rupturing just as he was opened up, so after removing the appendix, the area had to be flushed out. Once closed up, Jay was moved to a recovery room and put on some antibiotics to be safe.
Once in a normal room, Hailey and Antonio checked on Jay before going back to work at Will's insistence.
When Jay wakes up a couple of hours later, the first thing he sees is his brother. "Why you here?" he tries to ask.
"To make sure you're okay."
"Why?"
"Because you're my brother. And no matter what stupid argument we get into, nothing is going to change that, or that I love you."
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay, don't worry about that. Just rest."
"Stay?" Jay asks, feeling like a child.
"I'm not going anywhere," Will promises his brother. Jay takes the previous advice, knowing that things were going to be okay between him and Will.
Conversions:
100.4= 38
101.6= 38.7
