A Hero (One Shot)

Hero

Hey guys, this was hard to write but here's my first attempt at a one-shot. Please read and review! Hope you like it!

**

"You've always been a hero, my beautiful boy," Katherine Halstead whispered, her fingers weakly tracing over the stitches above Jay's right eyebrow. He had sustained the injury two weeks prior to coming home, when his humvee had been blown to pieces by an IED. Shards of glass had cut into his skin, leaving him bleeding badly, while all his men had died, except for him and Mouse.

Somehow, his mother's words brought Jay some solace. She was dying but up till now she had been holding on for him. He'd been in the hospital when the news of his mother dying of cancer reached him. Jay had immediately talked to his commander, who graciously agreed to let Jay go home for a couple of weeks.

" Remember, I love you. And I'm so proud of the man, the hero, you've become, Jay. Never give up your morals for anyone. I know you can always be the man any woman would be proud to call her husband. Just promise me you won't ever compromise your morals for anyone."

Holding his mother's hand, Jay pressed his lips to her pale and cold hand. " I promise, Mom,"  he vowed sincerely. "I love you too."

Tears in her eyes, Katherine Halstead pulled her younger son to her, kissing his forehead. " Be strong for Will, okay?"

Jay nodded, not trusting himself to speak for fear his voice would crack or get caught in his throat.

A small smile lit up his mother's beautiful face, before she slowly closed her eyes one last time. Her hand still holding onto Jay's, Katherine Halstead breathed her last.

And Jay finally let himself cry. His mother was gone. He was alone.

**

Present Day

Ever since Erin had left Chicago five years ago, Jay Halstead's PTSD had progressively gotten worse. He could barely sleep, he would sometimes black out if he drank too much, which happened frequently. At night in his apartment, he would usually just have one beer, but now that had increased to two, sometimes three. His life had become a complete mess.

Jay had stopped attending the peer support talks because most nights, the unit would be working over-time to catch the bad guys. The unit was different without Erin. Although Antonio Dawson had returned, nothing was the same. It had all changed overnight.

When Jay had found out from Hank Voight, that Erin had left, he hadn't accepted it. He refused to believe that his partner, and ex-girlfriend, would walk away from him without even a goodbye hug. She had progressed so much in such a short time, opening up to Jay and letting him fully in, and he could not believe she wouldn't confront him about such an important decision. Although, given everything, he could understand why she had to leave and why it was necessary. He just wished she had said goodbye.

After that, Jay had returned home, drunk. Will had been the one to drive him home, definitely not letting his younger brother drive under influence. Jay had taken the ring from his pocket and handed it to Will. Will had looked stunned, not sure what to do or say. Instead, with tears in his eyes, Jay had told Will that when the time was right, Will should propose to Natalie Manning, using that ring.

Then, Jay went to his room, ready to fall asleep. He had woken up with a pounding headache, but knowing he couldn't skip work, he had gotten up and changed. He drank a cup of coffee and had an Advil before work.

Driving to work, Jay tried to block his mind from everything that had happened. Instead, he walked into the district with an impassive look on his face. Although his friends could see he was hurting, he didn't want their sympathy or pity. He just wanted to work. It was the only constant thing in his life. So they said nothing. Erin was never mentioned again.