Upstead comfort fics

Losing a Pet

(A quick oneshot for someone who lost a pet this week:(. Pets really are family, and losing one is so difficult! It's something I wish wasn't a thing, and that our beloved pets could live as long as we do. This is set pre-established Upstead, I'm setting it in between season 5 and 6.)
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It was July. Hailey had been a little off for a couple of days, which she didn't think anyone in the unit had noticed. They did, though, but Jay had picked up on it first. They were partners and were becoming closer friends, especially after what had happened with Booth.

When 9 AM rolled around and Hailey hadn't come upstairs, Voight went over to Jay. "Where's your partner?" He asked.

"I don't know, I'll call her," Jay unlocked his phone and pressed Hailey's contact, calling her. It rang for a while, but she eventually picked up.

H: hey, what's up?
J:  where are you? It's after 9.
H: it is? Crap. Um, I'll come later.

Jay heard her sniffle and that concerned him. Hailey was crying.

J: hailey, what's wrong? Where are you?
H: um, the vet. My dog, he's, I don't know it's not good.
J: which vet? I'll be right there.
H: no, you don't need to do that, Jay. Stay at work.
J: we're literally doing paperwork, Hailey. I'm coming. I know it's hard when this happens.
H: no.
J: yes. Are you going to tell me where you are or do I need Platt to get your location?
H: you're insufferable, Halstead. But thank you. I'm at the office closest to my place, the one by the flower shop.
J: i'll be there soon.
H: kay.

Jay went into Voight's office and told him Hailey sounded sick and needed meds before leaving. He drove to the vet's office and got there 20 minutes later. In that time, Hailey's dog, Rocco, had crossed the rainbow bridge.

Jay went in and the receptionist looked at him. "May you please tell me where Hailey Upton is? She brought her dog Rocco in."

"Oh, I'm so glad someone is here to be with her, I'll take you back," this concerned Jay even more as he followed the woman. He heard Hailey's crying before he saw her; when he did see her, his heart broke.

Rocco was on the table, hooked up to things, and Hailey was bent over him, face buried in his fur, sobbing. She'd rescued him off the side of the road almost 8 years before, she wasn't sure what kind of dog he was, but he looked like a cross between a black mouth cur and a German shepherd. Jay was the only person in the unit that knew about Rocco, and had been around him a lot; he was an amazing dog and he was Hailey's fiercest protector. She was very attached to him.

"How long has it been?" He asked quietly.

"About 10 minutes. I'll give her some more time with him," the vet whispered before leaving the room.

Jay walked over to Hailey, making sure he made noise before he put a hand on her shoulder. She jumped and tightened her grip on Rocco.

"Hails, it's me, it's Jay. I'm so sorry," he soothed, rubbing her back.

"I want him back, Jay," she cried. Hailey was devastated. Rocco was old, he'd been around 5 when she got him, and his health had been deteriorating. This week, it went downhill super fast, and he'd been unable to get up that morning or breathe right, so she'd asked a neighbor for help getting him into her car and come straight to the vet.

"I know, Hailey. He loved you so much, i know that for sure. I've been where you are, and it sucks. I'm here, okay? The vet said you could have a few more minutes, and I'm here," Hailey nodded but didn't lift her head up.

Jay stood there, one hand on her shoulder, the other on Rocco's arm. He even shed a few tears himself, for his friend and for the amazing dog she'd just had to say goodbye to.