Upstead comfort fics

Joining the Unit pt. 2

(I keep getting requests for a follow up to Joining the Unit about Hailey's first day. Sorry it took so long!)
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"Breathe, Hails. Just breathe for me," Jay reminded his wife as she clung to his hand. It was barely 5 AM, and Hailey had woken up in a complete panic about starting with Intelligence that day.

Hailey squeezed her eyes shut as she cried and tried to keep breathing. She was so beyond nervous, and her anxiety had quickly taken over in her sleep, leading to the current moment. She just wanted to feel at home in the CPD. Being in this unit was her dream, especially with Jay, but she was insecure and scared to mess things up.

"Babe, they'll love you. The work you did all week was incredible. They know that. Everything will be okay, Hailey. I promise," Jay stroked her wavy hair back and kissed her head.

She nodded and turned to curl up against Jay's chest, placing her ear over his heart. Jay felt her relax ever so slightly and calm down. He kept rubbing her back until all the tension left her body, but he knew she wasn't asleep.

"I'm being stupid," Hailey spoke up after a while.

"No, you're not. With everything you've gone through, these concerns are valid. Don't be so hard on yourself," Jay kissed her head again and she nodded.

"I love you," she sighed.

"I love you, too."

They didn't go back to sleep, so Hailey was ready in plenty of time and Jay left before her so it wouldn't be suspicious.

Hailey had to fight to stay calm as she drove to get loukoumades to take to the district. Trudy's gentle smile when she walked in helped calm her down a little, but not much.

She did smile when Atwater welcomed her, and Olinsky actually spoke to her, but then seeing Erin's reaction to them being partnered made her nauseous. She shot Jay a panicked look and he gave her a gentle smile.

It was a long day. The pedophile case was hard on the whole unit. Hailey knew these cases hit hard because of Ben, and they hurt her because of her past. Then it became obvious that it was hitting a nerve for Erin. Hailey liked the older girl once she got to know her over the first couple days she was in the unit. Erin taught her a lot, but then she yelled at her.

Hailey tried not to flinch. Erin didn't know her past and she wasn't trying to scare her, if anything she was trying to look out for her. But it was a lot.

Jay heard what had happened from Erin and went to find Hailey, who was in the locker room, hiding. He knelt down and smiled gently.

"What just happened?!" Hailey asked, panicked.

"A lot. That's not normal for Erin, there's definitely some skeletons in the closet with this case. And her mom is doing some weird stuff, which always makes her get stressed. It's not an excuse for what she just dragged you into, not at all, but it's an explanation. Are you okay?" He asked, putting an arm around her.

"I'm fine, just startled me. Are you?" Hailey asked, knowing he found the boy.

"I will be. Let's go home," Hailey nodded and they headed out separately, but got home at the same time and Jay ordered take out for them while Hailey showered.

"That was a rough case, but how do you like intelligence?" Jay asked while they ate.

"I like it, definitely not a great starting case, but I like it a lot. I think it's gonna be a good fit," Hailey smiled, blue eyes lighting up.

"Good. I love having you at work with me," Jay kissed her head.

"I do too. I love you," she beamed.

"I love you," they had a relaxing rest of the night and Hailey felt better about work the next day. Yes, going before the review board a week into her job with intelligence was terrifying, but she didn't mind it. She was more worried about Erin.