"You're kidding me, right?" Jay looked at Hank and Susan incredulously. "This is some kind of mean joke?"
"I'm afraid not." Susan responded, pulling out her blackberry after it buzzed again, "Apparently, this woman, Jillian Turner Bissett whatever her last name is, believed you to be the father of her child."
"Bu-but that's impossible," Jay sputtered, examining the document, "It was like five years ago. And we used protection!" He looked down at the birth certificate again. "At least, I think? God, I don't know, I was such a mess back then, but she never said anything! The only time I ever heard from her was yesterday when she showed up to the district strung out." He paused, looking from Susan to Hank to Natalie for some kind of explanation.
"She never reached out to you?" Hank asked, and Jay shook his head vigorously.
"No! What the-" Jay ran his hands over his face, "I have a kid?" He peered back through the small window in the door. "A kid who has been abused for the past however many years and I didn't know about it?" He began pacing back and forth, "Good god, the kid is absolutely petrified and probably scarred for life and I don't know anything about raising a kid let alone-"
"Jay," Erin interrupted him, "Hold on." She grabbed his forearm and pulled him closer, placing a hand on his chest. "What happened to Kate is not your fault. You had no idea she even existed."
"B-but..." Jay stammered and took another look at his daughter through the window, "She's mine?"
"We'll find out for sure in an hour or two with the DNA test. Since you're CPD you're in the system, so if it matches, we'll let you know." Dr. Manning spoke up.
"I-I just can't believe this." Jay ran his hand over his face again. "I gotta get some air." He headed down the hallway, nearly knocking over a nurse in his haste to get away.
"What am I gonna do, man?" Jay turned to his brother as he sat on a staircase in the back of the hospital. "I mean, I have a kid."
"You're talking to the wrong guy," Will Halstead mused, looking down at the copy of the birth certificate that DCFS obtained. "I mean, I can't tell you what to do. But I am confident that you and Erin will figure it out."
"Oh god. Erin." Jay brought his hands to his temples. "I didn't even consider what this is doing to her. If she wants to stay. Oh god. I live with Erin. And I'm a police officer. How am I going to raise a traumatized little girl when work is so hectic-"
"Dude." Will patted his little brother on the back, "Erin is going to be fine. Knowing her, she's not going to cut and run out on you and a kid. Just talk to her. And talk to Voight. He can be reasonable." Jay looked at his brother incredulously. "Okay maybe he won't be reasonable, but it can't hurt to try. I mean the guy's a father. Trust me, Jay, you're probably the best guy I know. And I'll deny that tomorrow. But right now, you need to find out for sure if you're the dad. You can go from there."
Jay let out a sigh. "You're right. It's rare, but you're right." He stood and headed down the steps. "Thanks man."
"Hey, I'm an uncle now," Will called after him, "I'll come by later."
Jay emerged from the stairwell and saw Susan Perkins standing outside Kate's room, presumably waiting for him. "Hi, sorry." He said breathlessly, pausing outside the door. "So?"
"She's yours, Detective." Susan informed him, "I just found out myself. DNA hit came back for a Jillian Turner and Jay Halstead." She glanced up from the blackberry to see the wheels turning behind Jay's eyes. "Now, if you are unable to or don't want to take her I can figure something out, seeing as this whole thing was just sprung on you. But if you do, it is an extenuating circumstance so I will have to check out your home in a week or so and check back in periodically, but it will be much less formal than fostering a child. That being said, I am giving you an out here, I can find a good family to take her-"
