ᴀʟᴡᴀʏs | ᴊᴀʏ ʜᴀʟsᴛᴇᴀᴅ

𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝚏𝚒𝚟𝚎.

✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ:*

Jay leans forward with both hands on the counter, staring at the coffee machine as the dark liquid drips slowly into his mug. He doesn't believe for a second that Mia would knowingly withhold information from the police, let alone from him, but Voight doesn't trust her. Hailey at least was on his side, defending the fact that Mia was willing to answer all of their questions when they interviewed her at her office.

Hearing footsteps from outside, Jay turns his head to see Ruzek and Olinsky escorting Mia up the stairs before leading her to the interrogation room. Straightening up, he walks out of the break room and through the doorway to Voight's office, seeing his boss stand from his chair and lock his gun in his desk. Before Jay even has the chance to speak the words on the tip of his tongue, the older man holds up a hand.

"No," Voight asserts with a firm voice, knowing he was about to ask to join the interrogation, "You're too close to this, Halstead."

The detective draws his brows together, "I'm fine." The words come out almost on instinct; he's said them more in the last few weeks than in his entire life combined. He gives a rigid nod, "I can handle it."

Hank stares at the younger man with narrowed eyes, taking him in. Silently, he moves around his desk with his hands shoved in his pockets, stopping in front of Jay. He arches a brow, "That psychiatrist I told you about. She says you haven't been by yet."

Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, Jay matches with a raised brow of his own in disbelief, "With all due respect, Sarge, I've been a little busy."

"And I told you that if you're gonna be in my unit, I can't have you pointing your gun in your partner's face," Hank accuses, voice increasing in volume. Breath catching in his throat slightly, Jay's eyes tick down in shame at the mention of what happened during the case with Luis. "Get an appointment on the books before the end of the week, or you're done."

Jay's head rises at the threat, eyes widened just slightly. He stares at his boss, searching his face for any hint that he's lying but seeing none. Jaw clenching tightly, Jay gives the barest of nods he can manage and grits out, "Yes, sir."

After a few more seconds of their silent staring contest, Voight moves around his detective and out of his office. Without looking at anyone, he calls out, "Upton. With me." Continuing through the bullpen, he hears Hailey push her chair back and stand as he makes his way towards interrogation.

✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ:**:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧