Promises

Chapter 3: "A Forgotten Halstead"

Jay sat at his desk looking at the ultrasound from his first kid. Erin had a miscarriage the year before Kyle was born they were going to have a girl and they were going to name her Camille Jayne after her grandmas. Jay just sat there like he was put in a spell. He wanted to meet his daughter so badly. He was so excited when Erin found out she was pregnant. Erin was too and they just couldn't wait until one night tragedy struck and they were told Baby Camille wasn't going home with them. It had left Erin heartbroken. He had always carried the photo in his pocket. No one ever asked why. They just figured it was Kyle's or the twins'. Jay wanted a little girl that would mimick Erin and be her little princess. She would be spoiled until a year later Erin found out she was pregnant and it made the two whole again. Kyle William Halstead was born. Shane walked into the bullpen and saw his dad staring at the photo.

"What are you staring Dad?"

"An ultrasound photo."

"Wait is Mom pregnant?" Jay heard Adam chuckle.

"No Shane. It was what would be your older sister Camille. She died when she was born." Jay wiped a tear from his face. Shane walked towards him and hugged him tightly.

"Oh. Does Mom know you still have that?"
Jay shook his head no. He stuck the photo back into his desk drawer.

"Okay. Well Mom and Lainey are gone for the weekend so I'm gonna go home until you get home. We can watch the Cubs game tonight."

"Sure son." Shane walked right back out the bullpen and started walking home. Erin packed the car and Elaine and her are going to a spa with Tori and Kim. Shane unlocked the door to the house and ran to his room. He walked in and started playing the Xbox. His dad text him to say they got a case so he wouldn't be home. Shane walked to the kitchen and fixed some dinner for himself. Shane sat and ate his food.

Lainey and Erin walked into the spa and their mouths shot open.
"Mom,this is beautiful." Lainey yelled. Tori smiled so big.

"This is amazing. Mom thank you for taking me." Tori hugged Kim.

"No problem Tori." Kim smiled at the thought of her daughter being so happy. Erin followed the lady to where the rooms were. Jay drove to the store before going to his house. He got some beer then drove home. Adam and the guys were coming over for the game. Will was bringing Owen over. Adam was bringing his son Tyler his 13 year old son. Shane saw a letter pop out to him and he picked it up. It was addressed to his dad.

United States Army
Dear Sergeant Halstead,
May you report at the airport 009 hours. August 1st your leadership is needed once again for a year. Shane didn't know what to think of it. He was beyond speechless. Jay walked through the door.

"Dad,when were you going to tell us? You kept it a secret? Why? Yo are leaving just like Kyle did. You always do. Everyone leaves me. You are leaving. Kyle left. Everyone I love leaves. Just gets up and leaves. You weren't going to tell us. I know. Do you ever? You never do. You always like keeping secrets from the family. It's what you do best. Well just go already. How long have you known about this? Why haven't you said anything? I am so mad Dad it's not even funny. You knew you had to leave. You have to leave in 2 weeks. How the hell is Mom going to feel? She's going go feel like shit because you didn't tell her earlier. And don't give me the 'i don't know how' bullshit. Dad you knew about it and you should've told us. Go now. We'll probably lose you like we lost Kyle. I'll probably never see you again so It doesn't matter." Will walked in with Owen.

"What happened?"

"Dad is being called back to war and he hasn't told anyone." Will scoffed. He ripped the letter from Shane's hand and read it.

"Jay,when were you going to tell us?"

"I don't know. I leave in two weeks. I planned on telling you. I just didn't know how Will." Will walked up to him and hugged him.

"Jay,tell Erin when she gets back. She'd want to know now not later." Jay scoffed then sat down on the couch.

"Alright. I'll do that." Owen ran towards Shane's room. He tried opening the door but it was locked.

"Uncle Jay! Shane locked the door!" yelled Owen. Jay gave Will the look then ran towards the room. He gave Will another look and then kicked the door open. Shane was lying unconscious on his bed. There was an empty bottle of pills lying on his nightstand.
"He overdosed. Will! Help!" yelled Jay

Will started doing chest compressions. Jay called Erin but he couldn't get a hold of her.
"Damn it. I'm calling Hank." Jay dialed Hank's number.

"Hank! You gotta get to the house quick. Shane overdosed." Jay's voice started cracking.

"I'm on my way." He was at Molly's sitting next to Alvin and Antonio. Hermann stood in front of them.

"Hank,What happened?" Alvin asked as Hank grabbed his jacket and keys. Hank looked at all the men with a worried look.

"Shane overdosed." Antonio looked over at Alvin then back at Hank.

"We are coming. He's my nephew." Antonio grabbed his keys and got in the car with Hank and Al. Hank sped to the hospital.

In heaven

Shane stood in front of his older brother Kyle and his older sister he never met. Camille.

"Kyle? Where am I?" Kyle smiled

"In purgatory. The place before you go to heaven or hell. You aren't dead yet but you could die. Come see little brother." Kyle wrapped his arms around him. Kyle stood proudly in his Army Uniform with his hat tightly on his head and his name tag on his right chest area. It read Halstead and he had a couple ranks above it. Since was a Sergeant.

"Kyle,who's that?" Shane pointed to Camille. Kyle let out a small chuckle.
"Your older sister Camille. She died when she was a baby. I just met her when I got here."

"Well Hi Camille. I'm S-"

"Shane,I know. I protect you and your sister and Kyle over here."

"Then why did he die? If you were protecting him?"

"Not what we wanted to talk to you about. Shane you can't do this to yourself." said Kyle

Shane scoffed "Now you two are gonna give me the talk."

"Yeah,We are. You need to stop Shane. You are gonna kill yourself like you already almost have. Stop taking the drugs. Kyle is safe. We know you miss him we know you are trying to push the pain away. Trust me it's hard but you'll get through this." Kyle hugged his little brother tighter. Shane wiped a tear from his face.

Jay heard monitors beeping and screeching. He looked over and saw his son lying next to him in the hospital bed. Will walked in the room.

"Good thing. We got to him in time. He'll wake up tomorrow. Jay,you have to tell Erin."

Jay nodded his head.