Upstead comfort fics

Emetophobia

(Set season 6 but Jay and Hailey are already married. I have this phobia and y'all, it sucks. And I've been so beyond anxious this week because a ton of people at my church have a stomach bug and I'm so paranoid I'll get it, so I'm releasing some of my anxiety by putting Hailey through it. This also goes with a request of Hailey having a panic attack infront of Trudy in season 6)
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Hailey Anne Halstead (Upton at work) willingly went into dangerous situations on a daily basis, but there was one thing that scared her more than anything in the world. Throwing up. Hailey had emetophobia. And she hated it.

Jay and Trudy knew of her extreme panic when it came to the possibility of vomiting, but no one else in the district had a clue. Hailey found it rather embarrassing. She had no real reason to be so terrified of throwing up. She hardly ever got sick and she'd never had a major stomach sickness that would have traumatized her. And yet, any time she heard someone even mention they felt sick to their stomach, it had her panicking.

She wasn't as jumpy if she knew for sure the person wasn't contagious, but if there was any possibility of her catching a bug and getting sick herself, she'd be overcome with unbearable anxiety for days. And she hated it. She was always so careful with washing her hands and changing clothes the moment she got home during flu season. Hailey also constantly checked expiration dates on anything that could give her food poisoning and worried if meat was cooked enough. Jay took everything in stride to help ease the fear that was always in the back of her mind.

It wasn't a secret that a bug was going around the district. A few patrolmen had been sick, but intelligence hadn't been around them at all, and they were on the night shift. But then Kevin got sick, and Hailey grew worried. Jay had found her pacing outside the morning Kevin hadn't come to work.

"Hey, babe, talk to me," he encouraged and she looked at him with fearful eyes.

"Kevin's sick," she stated.

"I know. But remember that we didn't see him Friday because he was in court, and no one from the unit saw him all weekend. It's okay, Hails. We're okay. I think Trudy has some immune system booster at her desk, would you like to get some?" Jay suggested, hoping to ease his wife's growing anxiety.

"Okay, you're right. We didn't see him. So it's fine, everything will be fine. And yes, please," Hailey nodded as she spoke, trying to convince herself that it really would be okay.

Jay took her hand and walked back inside with her, though he headed for Trudy's desk while Hailey went to get a water from the break room. "What do you need, chuckles?" She asked when she saw Jay approaching.

"Some of that immune system boosting drink, please," Trudy gave him a look but grabbed a packet.

"Why?"

"Hailey heard Kevin has the stomach bug. She's a little stressed," Jay whispered.

"Damn, I was hoping she wouldn't find out what he had. She can have all of these if it helps. Let me know if she needs to leave," Trudy handed the box to Jay and he went upstairs to give them to his wife.

"Thanks," Hailey poured a packet in her water, shook it up, and chugged it in one sitting.

"Hails, don't drink two. It could make your stomach hurt," Jay whispered and stopped her from drinking the whole box.

"Kay," she sighed and got back to work after she wiped her desk and keyboard with a disinfectant wipe.

Hailey was on edge the whole day and she absolutely hated it. She refused to go through the main entrance of the district to avoid the patrol officers, and she was so nervous leaving the bullpen anyway. Jay had to talk her out of a panic attack each time and they had to go home at lunch to get her anxiety meds so she could calm down enough to actually do her job.