#ed upton

[start-anywhere]

okay context-free spoilers for love lies bleeding

[witchygagirlwrites]

Broken Bonds- Part 9

Former (ish) Greg "Mouse" Gerwitz x Reader, BabyDaddy! Jay Halstead x Reader

When an undercover op leaves Jay struggling you don't leave him to face it alone

Warnings: talks of violence, hate crimes

“So are we doing a co-ed baby shower or am I gonna be the only guy there?” Kevin asked, sitting on the edge of your desk with a broad grin. You pushed your chair back a little to look up at him and shook your head with a laugh “Didn’t really think it was an issue of guy or gal. If anyone who loves me and Jay wants to come celebrate our daughter, they’re welcome to”

He nodded “Well then you know I’m gonna be there. Vanessa and Jordan have even sent gifts once they found out she was a girl and you know uncle Kev has to make sure she’s looking right” time he said that apparently Addy wanted to make her opinion known because you could feel what was either her elbow or knee running across your stomach. Kevin watched the movement with a small smile until you grabbed his hand and felt around a little before placing it right on top of her movements. His smile grew when he felt her “Damn. She’s as strong as her mama”

Kevin was one person you hadn’t worried about judging you in the least from the word go in any of this. He’d always had the biggest heart and if he cared about you? He’d go to war in a heartbeat. “I’m sorry we haven’t really gotten to spend any time together in the last few months Kev. I swear you’re still my best friend” you told him and he laughed lightly, turning his hand from holding your stomach to holding yours “I know lil mama. You’ve been going through a lot. I’m just glad it seems to be calming down a little because I was worried there for a while”

You cut your eyes around to where Hailey was talking to Kim, Hank was on the phone and Adam was gone with Jay. “Did everyone notice how insane my emotions were?” he shrugged “Upton pushed it off on hormones anytime anyone mentioned it so they wouldn’t push the subject but I know you. You know I love Jay and Mouse but if those two would’ve put enough stress on you that something would’ve happened to you two? I would’ve been helping Stella drop bodies”

You laughed at the thought of your fire lieutenant sister and detective best friend sneaking onto a military base in an active war zone to go after someone, only after taking out a detective in Chicago. “Neither of them would’ve purposely done that” he nodded “I know but that wouldn’t have helped our feelings” you shook your head “You two are insane, you know that?” he shrugged “You are her sister and damn near mine. We’re just as protective of you as you are of us” 

You gave his hand a squeeze “And I always will be” he winked at you then stood up “In that case since I know I don’t gotta crash next week I’m gonna get back to work” you motioned to your computer “Me too”

Things had gotten better. Things were still pretty silent from Mouse but you hadn’t expected him to exactly be chatty. That man had taken more than anyone should’ve had to in stride and still put your health first. 

The first time you’d gotten an email from him after telling him about Addy you’d nearly cried even if it was just a photo of a crescent moon over the base with one line that said Made me think of you

You’d changed the background of your phone to the photo and planned to keep it like that until Addy was born and took its place. The standing plan was that he’d only call if his unit was moving, his orders changed or his contract got an end date. Beyond that or the emails you sent him he didn’t want any contact and you couldn’t blame him. That was why you always kept the emails short, just told him you hoped he was safe and left it at that. You refused to hurt him worse, even if it made you ache not to tell him at every chance just how much you loved him and hoped like hell you’d get to see his face again one day.

It was about noon, everyone was just finishing up lunch at their desks when Hank came walking out of his office “Listen up. We had a shooting at a mosque on the south side. Three confirmed dead, two on their way to med. Upton and Burgess, go to med and interview the families. See if anyone remembers anything. Kidd see if you can pull anything from any traffic cams or security cams nearby. The rest of us will head to the scene”

You nodded and turned to your computer as everyone started grabbing their jackets. You felt Jay’s hand on the back of your chair before he was leaning over you to gently touch your stomach. “I’ll see you when I get back” “Talking to me or her?” you teased so he kissed the top of your head “You’re carrying her so both”

You heard him turn to catch up with Kevin who he was no doubt riding with so you turned your attention to trying to find any footage you could of the shooter.

___________________

By the time everyone got back to the precinct the knot in your stomach was growing. You’d clocked the posture and formation of the guys the moment you saw it. When you pulled the partial of the tag you’d gotten from the getaway car it had confirmed your fear. It belonged to Matthew Riley, an Army vet who was medically discharged about four years before.

When you dug deeper you found out he’d struggled with PTSD, depression then that turned into substance abuse which in turn caused his wife to leave him and get granted full custody of his two kids. The last social media footprint you could find was on a page for a militia type group that was ranting about the “outsiders” in the country and how they needed to “purify” it.

“Kidd, what ya got?” Voight asked as everyone filed in from the back hallway because you were at the board, adding everything you’d found. Your eyes flickered towards Jay before you ran down everything you’d found out.

“Ok, do we have anything more on this group?” you shook your head “I’ve put in some calls but so far nothing. This is the first big move they’ve made. Considering the gear I couldn’t identify any of the other men and on their site there’s too many to narrow it down before they could hit another target. I’ve got an address on Riley’s ex wife and an A.P.B. out on his car”

Hank nodded “Ruzek and Burgess go talk to the ex. Atwater, Upton and Halstead hit the streets, see if any of your C.I.s may have heard something” “Got it boss” Adam nodded then him and Kim headed for the back hall. 

You grabbed Jay’s hand on the way by “Hey, you good?” you knew how these types of cases affected him in the past. He smiled slightly  “Yeah, I’m good” then slowly pulled his hand out of yours and headed behind Adam and Kim. Kevin patted your shoulder on the way by and Hailey assured you “We’ll keep an eye on him”

The ex wife proved to be a bust. She hadn’t spoken to him since their divorce two years before. “She stuck with him as long as she could. It just became too much” Kim explained from where she sat on Hailey’s desk. Jay hadn’t spoken since him, Kevin and Hailey had come back from talking to C.I.s and you were starting to worry but you weren’t going to say anything.

“Kidd, anything on any of the other members of the group?” Hank asked you so you shook your head “The ones that actually have phones I’ve got but they’re inactive. The ones that have cars I’ve yet to find on any traffic cams. It’s like they’re all hold up somewhere just out of eyesight and that thought alone is scary as hell”

Kim’s phone started ringing so she answered it, looking around as she said “Thank you for letting us know” when she hung up she stood and walked to the board to move one of the victim’s faces over to the deceased slot. “Damn” Kevin breathed. 

Adam ran a hand down his face “How do we find a fricking unit that has just as much, if not more training as we do and doesn’t want to be found?” Jay cut his eyes up “Put a prime new member out in the open for them” you felt your heart drop. Was he really offering to go under?

You could practically feel everyone’s eyes on you when Hank said “You think that’s a good idea Jay?” Jay nodded “C’mon Voight. We set up somewhere with a few other undercovers. Make it big enough and look good enough to get their attention. They’ll find me then we got em”

Your hand went to your stomach without thinking. You wouldn’t interfere with Jay’s job anymore than you’d want him to interfere with yours. That didn’t mean you had to like it and that didn’t mean you wouldn't be keeping Stella and Will on speed dial for the entirety of this op.

Hank nodded slowly “I’ll make some calls and get your uc apartment in line” Jay nodded as Hank walked towards his office. You refused to look anyone in the eye but a pin drop could’ve been heard when Jay stood and walked over to your desk “Hey, can we talk?” you looked up to see he was holding a hand out. Hailey, Kevin, Adam and Kim were all four trying their best to make it look like they weren’t paying attention.

You stood without Jay’s help and walked towards the breakroom. He walked in behind you and shut the door then pulled the blinds. You turned to face him after taking a deep breath. “I don’t fucking like this Jay. The last time you went under like this you and Mouse were up for a week straight after”   

He took a step towards you so you met him halfway, letting him slip his arms around you. He rested one hand on your lower back and one on your stomach “I’ll be ok. It’ll just be a few days but you saw what those guys did. What if that was the beginning? You pulled the videos off their site, saw what their ideas are. We can’t leave them on the street”

You nodded “I know. I know it’s our job. That doesn’t mean I have to fucking like it” he smiled and leaned closer to press a kiss to your temple “Can I ask one favor?” you nodded “Yeah” he pulled away to look down at you “Will you stay with Stel while I do this?”

“Why?” you asked and he moved the hand on your stomach around just enough that Addy reacted to it. “Because you’ll be worried. Here you’ll have everyone around you but when you go home I know your mind will get too loud. With her and Kelly there it wont. Plus if something went wrong they would be there. That helps me focus knowing you two are good”

“Low blow Halstead” you grumbled and he grinned “See? I can play that game too” you shook your head “I’ll text her to let her know” “Thank you”

It was decided Adam would go under with Jay because a two man team taking out a clinic of “outsiders” was more believable than one. While Adam’s undercover persona Jon didn’t have the military background Jay’s undercover persona Curtis did because he didn’t know the things Jay did, you did make Jon’s father former military to make him more attractive to the group.

You sat watching the security footage of the “clinic” from the precinct. The plan was for “Jon” and “Curtis” to attack the clinic around ten and the CPD to barely miss catching them. You had rooted their online manifesto right to the militia group’s front door. All you had to do now was sit back and let it play out.

________________________

Once Voight called it you made sure the false news report would be everywhere online any member of the group looked. They’d have no choice but to find “Jon” and “Curtis” 

You sat at your desk,waiting to get a text from Jay. He was supposed to let you know when he and Adam got back to the uc apartment. Hailey, Kim, Kevin and Hank were on their way back along with a loaner detective from major crimes that worked well with the unit in the past since you couldn’t exactly hit the streets.

You were on the verge of panicking when your phone chimed we’re under. Stay safe. See you soon. That would be the last contact you could have with Jay until the actual meet with the group came down. All other contact would be through Voight or Kevin.

You let out a breath and laid your phone down, running a hand over your stomach. Why had your life gotten so complicated? You couldn’t dwell because all at once the group’s phones started lighting up one by one “Took the bait” you whispered to yourself with a smile before going to work to try to triangulate their locations.

You couldn’t sleep. Why the hell did you expect yourself to be able to sleep? Your baby was planning soccer with your internal organs, the father of said child was undercover waiting to be plucked up by an extremist group with one of your closest friends.

You turned over for what felt like the thousandth time when the door opened of Kelly and Stella’s spare bedroom you were back staying in. You looked over your shoulder to see Stella. “Did I wake you up?” you asked with a grimace. She shook her head “No. I was worried about you”

She walked over and climbed into the bed behind you, sliding her arm around your waist to rest her hand on your stomach. “Mouse will survive this tour. Jay will survive this undercover op. Addy will be the healthy and happy and everything will eventually work out ” “I know” you whispered and she buried her face into your hair “Then sleep because my niece needs it” you laughed lightly and said “Yes ma’am” 

It wasn’t long before you did indeed find yourself lulled to sleep simply by the comfort of being held.

It took exactly two days before Adam and Jay were neck deep with the group and privy to their next target. It was the larger mosque on the north end that was hosting a celebration. Over two hundred people planned to be in attendance. They also didn’t plan to just use guns this time.

The unit’s floor had never been more insane than it currently was. Detectives from Major crimes, a couple marshals and even an agent or two from ATF was slammed into the tight quarters ready to swoop down upon Voight’s all clear. 

You’d had one or two of them doubt your being there with how far along you were until you hacked one agent’s phone while smiling in his face. “What she can’t do in the field she’s learned to do behind a computer” Hank told them with a smug smirk. You shrugged at the agent “That was slow compared to who I learned from”

After that no one doubted you being there and instead was routing questions your way too. Especially when Hank added in one of the detectives that had gone under was your child’s father. That had earned you a look of respect from the marshals at the fact that you were working so calmly under pressure, if only they knew it was a fake it till you make it kind of thing.

_______________________

You watched everyone leave and was left listening to the coms and watching surveillance from the convenience store across the street. You felt your stomach flip when a truck rolled up outside of the mosque and men started to step out. Even in full gear, with a mask on you would recognize Jay anywhere. Next to him you clocked Adam along with half a dozen other men. 

According to the message Adam got out to Hank there were four other men that would plan the explosive while the rest of them were supposed to take out who they could with the firearms. “Hold until my signal. Those are my guys” Hank warned across the coms and you smiled. He was an asshole but his unit was his. 

You saw Jay say something to another man and assumed that was probably Matthew Riley. Damn you wished he had a com to know what was going on. Another car rolled up and that must have been the signal because the men spread out and moved towards the mosque. Four went to the front entrance and four towards the back.

You said a silent prayer when the group with Jay and Adam disappeared from the screen. You didn’t have eyes inside so you would be blind. The sound of automatic gunfire made you flinch right before Voight’s voice “Go go go”

You watched as agents poured out of homes and cars that were around the mosque. You saw Hailey’s blonde hair next to Kevin’s broad frame followed by Kim’s dark brown hair and took a deep breath. Your unit would bring him back. You had to trust that.

Out of the ten members of the group, eight arrests were made. One guy got shot drawing on Hailey and unfortunately Matthew forced Jay’s hand into putting him down.

In total the group had thirty three members. One of the arrests rolled over on the rest of the names and after that addresses were easy to find. Judges were lining up to sign their warrants. It was nearly ten at night by the time the final arrest was made and your unit made it back to the precinct to finish up and head home.

You were talking to Trudy when Hank led the unit up through the back hallway. Adam was first through and he gave you a tired smile then was Kim who smiled “That was exhausting” Hailey walked over to whisper in your ear “He tried to talk Matthew down. Adam said the two spoke a lot over the last couple days” you nodded and she patted your shoulder with a small smile.

Kevin walked over and leaned down to hug you when he walked in “I hate these kind of cases but love when they’re done” you laughed lightly “Yeah, they’re even worse when you’re stuck here”

Jay was last through the door. He looked like he hadn’t slept since the last time you saw him. There was blood splattered on his jeans, what looked like dirt or soot smeared across one side of his face and the look in his eyes told you his mind was anywhere but there. You cut your eyes at Hailey who gave you a small nod. “Everyone head on home” Voight dismissed you all as soon as he saw Jay was in the bullpen as if he was waiting on him. 

You stood up and walked over to where Jay was now leaning against the wall, hands resting on the vest he still wore which alone told you his head wasn’t on right because normally he would’ve already stripped the vest. You didn’t quite touch him, afraid of startling him because you didn’t know how bad it was “Jay?” you called his name lightly and he blinked before his eyes finally focused on you and the look in them softened automatically “Hey”

“Hey” you smiled and held your hand out “You headed home?” he nodded and took your hand. He didn’t say anything as the two of you walked downstairs behind Kevin who looked over his shoulder at you twice. You shrugged because you didn’t really know what Jay needed at that moment so you had to trust he’d let you know.

Once you were outside in the cool night air Kevin wished you both goodnight and headed for his car. You walked with Jay to his truck. “So I’m gonna go home tonight since you’re not under anymore” you spoke and he nodded “Ok” he reached out a hand to your stomach but stopped and curled it closed “I’ll see you later” he spoke low, eyes moving from your stomach to your face. You nodded “If you need anything you know where I am” 

He watched you walk over to your jeep and get in before climbing in his truck. A part of you started to ask if he wanted to stay with you but you weren’t sure that was the right idea either. You sighed as you pulled out onto the road, glancing down at the polaroid and ultrasound on your dash before turning your attention to the road.

You were asleep, curled up on your side  when your phone started ringing. You groaned as you pushed yourself up the bed and tried to find it without opening your eyes. When your hand finally wrapped around it you brought it to your ear and just answered it with a “Kidd”

At first you thought whoever it was had hung up before Jay’s voice finally hit your ears “I’m sorry for waking you up but can I please come over?” you wiped a hand down your face,worry for him pushing sleep out of you. “Of course” “I’m on the way” he replied then hung up.

You laid the phone down then climbed out of bed. You needed to put on sleep pants considering you’d gone to bed in just a maternity camisole, which considering it was winter was probably insane but she was making you a human furnace most night.

_________________

You’d nearly dozed back off on the couch by the time Jay knocked on the front door. You walked over and opened it to let him in and closed it behind him. The moment he crossed the threshold he pulled you into a hug, one hand going to your stomach. “Please don’t take her from me” he begged, voice breaking.

“Jay?” you asked, leaning back as far as you could from his grip to look up at him. Dark circles were under his eyes, that same hollow look still there along with unshed tears. He’d showered and changed but you doubted he’d ate or slept since leaving work.

“What is it?” you asked, feeling your own tears threaten to fall at seeing his. “It broke him losing his kids sweetheart. That’s what made him not care. Everything he saw, everything he did. He could deal with it by going home to his kids but when he lost them he didn’t care anymore. Please don’t take my little girl, I love her so damn much already. I know the shit in my head gets to be a lot at times but I am trying to be better for her I really am”

You pulled him down into a hug and felt him bury his face into the bend of your neck, tears wetting your skin “Jay you listen to me. You are her father.I would never take her from you. I see that you’re trying. You’re a good man and if you stumble I won’t leave you down there I’m gonna help you to your feet. We’re partners, remember?” 

He nodded and you blinked hard a few times to stop your own tears from falling. “I knew this case would mess with your head” “I’m sorry for waking you up for this” he whispered and you stepped back to look up at him, really look at him “How much have you slept in the last week Jay?”

At his silence you shook your head and grabbed his hand “C’mon” He let you lead him through the apartment and to your bedroom, his eyes widening slightly “Don’t get excited cowboy. We ain’t hitting round two” you teased, reaching to take his jacket off then nodded to his boots “Kick those off”

He did as you told then looked at you questioningly so you said “Take your jeans off unless you’d rather sleep in them and if you would it’s nice knowing I’m pregnant by a psychopath”  “I didn’t come over here to try to get in your bed” he whispered, eyes dropping to the floor as a look of shame flashed across his face at the thought that you were thinking this was a show to get you to take him to bed. You nodded “I know but you have said and I’ve seen that you sleep pretty well when you’re near her and currently being near her means near me. So get comfortable and get in the bed. I’m pregnant and tired. You’re exhausted so let's go to bed”

He nodded slowly and unzipped his jeans before pushing them off his hips. He folded them in half and sat them on top of your dresser. You smiled “See? No big deal since I have seen you naked after all” you ran a hand over your stomach and he smiled so you waved a hand “I’ve got the left side so you’ve got right” you slipped under the covers and motioned to him.

“Is it ok if I take my shirt off?” he asked and you touched your hand to your chest in mock shock “Oh my Mr Halstead! Topless! That’s indecent” and was rewarded with a full grin before he slipped his shirt off and put it with his jeans before joining you in the bed. 

He turned on his side facing you and brushed the hair out of your face, hand cupping your chin. “Thank you. I know I’m not who you want here but thank you” you covered his hand with yours and smiled softly “Get some sleep Jay. You deserve it” his hand moved from your face to your stomach “What happens if Mouse decides to come home when his contract ends?”

That was the first time in weeks he’d directly said anything about Mouse. You raised your eyes to look up at him “What do you mean?” he raised his eyes to yours “He still loves you now just as much as he ever did.Addy doesn’t change that..Are we still going to be good if he comes back? Don’t get me wrong baby I want him home safe and I want you happy but I want us good”

You reached a hand up to his face “What happens if you date?” he smiled “They’ll have to accept that you’re my partner, the mother of my child and my other half in some ways. No matter if we’re not together we’re gonna be in each other’s lives regardless”  You nodded “Same goes for me, now like I said before..get some sleep and for the record, if I didn't want you here, I wouldn't have told you to get in the bed”

“Goodnight” he whispered, hand gently rubbing your stomach. “Goodnight” you replied with a yawn. You fell asleep with his hand stretched wide across your stomach.

@desimarie12

Part 10

@allisonargent144

@waywardhunter95

[saintsir4n]

5

WARNINGS: MATURE CONTENT, REFERENCE TO SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND ED'S.

ARRIVING at Saltburn took a couple of hours, the sunset and the nighttime breeze blasted through Northamptonshire. Calypso hadn't slept, she spent her time texting her family, informing them of her whereabouts. Car games were played until Farleigh fell asleep. Felix and Calypso then sat in comfortable silence, she played with his ring-clad fingers until they rocked up to the vast estate.

Farleigh abruptly sat up like he knew they'd arrived and quickly exited the car, with the other two in tow, not thinking about their suitcases and belongings just their comfortable beds. The colossal doors swung open before either of them could knock revealing a beady-eyed man who lived and breathed the Saltburn.

"Good evening Mr Catton, Mr Start and Miss Danforth," Duncan's wry smile didn't dare reach his empty eyes. "Welcome home and welcome back."

"Thanks, Duncan," Felix said tiredly, greeting the butler with a nod as the trio dragged themselves through the archaic building filled with more artefacts than the country's museums.

Great paintings hung on even greater walls, showcasing the generations that stepped foot on the land. The same people who would've rather seen Calyspo and Farleigh slaving away than being treated like their equals.

"Night," Farleigh muttered as he carried his feet towards his room, leaving Calypso and Felix to yawn and stroll.

Their rooms were on opposite sides of the house, separated by yards of wooden planks and a spiralling staircase. She preferred that distance to how she felt wondering the lonely halls of her Upton estate. She was close to someone here, many someones and that was enough. Saltburn was a place where she didn't belong, but Felix pulled her in and made her feel like she was protected from the world he was born into.

"You have to share a bathroom with him?" she tiredly asked, irked that Oliver was only next door to Felix.

He hummed, "The other one is on the other side of the house. It's the least I can do."

"So I can't walk around naked when I'm coming to see you?" she quietly teased.

He snickered, "Of course fucking not. Well, not when he's there."

He pressed a kiss to her forehead, before letting her go.

"Night night Lix."

"Sweet dreams."

___

It only took seconds before Calyspo swanned into breakfast for her to be overwhelmed by the presence of Lady Elspeth Catton.

"Oh, how beautiful you look. And these braids," she gushed, wide eyes analysing every part of Calyspo's face, "I once had them when I went to Jamaica, your mother was there, didn't I darling?" she turned to her husband who nodded along.

"You did. Absolutely splendid," Sir James grinned.

"They weren't for me, too tight."

"Too white," Farliegh mumbled as he read through his newspaper.

"I think they're nice," Venetia hugged the girl, "I bet the blokes at Oxford jumped at the chance to talk to you."

"They did, didn't they Felix?" Farleigh jabbed, turning the page.

Felix hummed, barely shooting a glance his cousin's way, deciding to focus on his eggs and stuffing his face until his mother insisted he slow down or he would choke.

"I have our bird-watching kit ready Calypso, and some snacks," Sir James said, very excited.

Whenever she dropped by they spent their time fascinated by the birds that soared in the skies. It was a shared interest no one really understood.

"I'll be right with you. I need to freshen up after breakfast," she informed, making him clap.

"No doves in sight," he added.

She frowned, "Hopefully we'll find them."

Sir James vigorously nodded before returning to his food.

Felix watched the interaction with a crooked smile, adoring how excitable she was about something mundane as birds, he knew her all too well which is why he gifted her the necklace she hadn't taken off.

"Such nerds," Farleigh remarked to an amused Venetia then received disapproving looks.

Calypso rolled her eyes, "Sounds like envy."

"Go find your birds, come find me when you want some fun."

"I'll go to Felix for that."

"And I'll be happy to help," Felix smirked making her snort.

As Calypso told Duncan that she wanted scrambled eggs, an eccentric woman walked into the room, with ulterior style and crimson-coloured hair.

Elspeth gasped, "Oh, Pamela this is Calypso, you know Desdemona's daughter?"

Pamela, who appeared more dazed than sober turned to the girl, "Oh yes, I remember her." she commented, sitting down next to a now irritant Farleigh, "Beautiful eyes."

"Beautiful everything," Elspeth countered, before introducing her to Calypso. "Darling this is my friend Pamela, who's been staying with us while she gets back on her feet."

"Hi," Calypso greeted.

"Hi."

Calypso thanked Duncan who provided her scrambled eggs and then rose from the table to get some French toast, sausages and strips of bacon.

Venetia had quite a small plate, she nibbled on things here and there but her mother was chatting away with her friend, her cousin had his eyes on his paper, her father rambled about various birds he couldn't wait to spot and her brother stared at the girl he adored.

Calypso noted Felix removed his piercing, a credit to his mother's phobia of... anything ugly.

He sent her a smile and she sent one back.

The morning was awfully eventful.

___

Sir James was unfortunately right. Calypso saw for herself, that there were no doves in sight, they spent an hour looking and couldn't find one. House sparrows and blackbirds came and went but that was it.

So they quickly returned to the library where Duncan reported the rest of the family apart from Venetia resided as she was spotted lounging around attempting to gain their new guest's attention.

Felix quickly joined them after showing an early Oliver around. He suggested to his father to watch a comedy called 'Superbad'. It was the new rage and everyone loved it. They quickly set it up and laughter soon followed, background noise to his mother and Pamela's conversation about about Oliver. Farleigh smoked as he opened his laptop and Calypso occupied her time with her nails, painting a red coat attracting Felix's attention.

"Need any help?" he quietly asked, fortunately, Sir James was thoroughly amused by the film to care.

"I don't want to distract you," Calypso murmured.

Farleigh clicked his tongue, "That's a first."

She hit his leg, "Shut up."

"It's not a bother," Felix ignored his cousin and took the nail varnish as she draped her legs over the back of his chair.

Elspeth caught the interaction with a smirk before turning back to Pamela, "Well, I mean, they probably don't have rehab in Liverpool."

"No, gosh, no. No, I can't imagine they do," Pamela agreed, both uncaring that the door was cracked open.

"No, see, everybody just goes to ruin, I suppose."

Pamela twirled her cigarette between her fingers, "Where is Liverpool?"

"I think it's on the sea, isn't it?" Elspeth glanced around to ask her husband, "Darling, where's Liverpool?"

Sir James didn't tear his gaze away from the television, "Er, north."

"North," Pamela repeated slightly perplexed.

Calypso stared at her painted feet, "I thought he was from Birmingham."

"You know he isn't," Fareligh laughed, whilst Felix focused on making sure he didn't mess up.

She innocently shrugged, "Slipped my mind."

"It's called Prescot," Farleigh informed his aunt.

Elspeth gasped, "Oh, it'll be some awful slum."

"Mmm. A sort of hellish squat," Pamela commented, just as Felix finished his job, smiling at the girl who pressed a kiss to his cheeks in praise.

His mood only faltered when his mother continued dragging his friend through the mud, forcing him to turn his focus to the television.

"And both his parents were dealing. God and his mother's a drunk. I mean, babies can be really affected. Traumatised."

Pamela shook her head, "Oh, they come out drunk."

"Is that right, that he had to put his fingers down his mother's throat to make her sick?"

Felix exacerbated, not turning around, "Farleigh, that's private stuff."

Farleigh took a drag of his cigarette, "Well, you told us."

Felix argued,  "In confidence."

"Bad Farleigh," Calypso nudged his leg, causing him to flip her off.

"It's awful, darling. Can you imagine doing that to me?" Elspeth voiced, concerned.

Pamela's brows pinched together, "I think that's actually rather normal when you're poor. I think, when you're poor, that sort of thing does happen a little bit more."

Elpsleth proposed, "We should give him the most wonderful time."

"Good luck, he doesn't smile much," Farleigh exclaimed, offering the cigarette to his friend who quickly took it as she fanned her feet.

Elspeth turned to her son, "Farleigh seems to think he's ghastly. Why are you friends with him, darling?"

Pamela listed, "Dirt poor, not attractive and his parents are drug addicts I can't actually..."

A head belonging to the boy in question poked through the door, preventing them from continuing.

"And here he is now! We were just talking about you," Farleigh stated, as they all stared at him, each wondering if the information was accurate or not. 

"Don't be silly," Elspeth quickly disagreed, rising to her feet to approach Oliver. "Farleigh, you just make up the most awful things. Of course, we weren't. Hello, Oliver, darling," she took his hands in hers as she marvelled, "Oh, what beautiful eyes. Oh, how wonderful!"

Felix laughed, "Yeah, I told you he wasn't a minger."

"Oh, but, darling, you're kind about everyone."

"He really is," Calypso muttered, earning a  pout from Felix.

"Calypso's right, you're kind about everyone," she glanced at her son, "you can't be trusted," Elspeth said looking directly at Oliver as she tugged his hands, "Oliver, I have a complete and utter horror of ugliness. Ever since I was very young. I don't know why."

"Maybe because you're a terrible person?" Felix exclaimed, amusing himself and his cousin.

His mother frowned, "Don't be mean."

Felix chuckled, watching her go over to lounge on the sofa.

"Has Venetia seen you yet? Oh, my God, she'll die," Elspeth continued, chuckling as she did. "She's been draping herself all around the house all day hoping you'll come across her."

"As it were," Farleigh added.

"Do stop. The poor boy's only just arrived," Sir James said disapprovingly as he greeted the boy, shaking his hand, "Oliver, how good to finally meet you. Trip all right?"

Oliver gulped, "Yes, thank you, sir."

Calypso moved from Farleigh and chose to sit between Felix's stretched legs, he welcomed her tugging her towards his chest as the pair watched Oliver who stared back with a twinge of irritation.

"Oh, God, don't with the 'Sirs'. No, no, no, we can't stand anything like that here. Go on, come and sit by me," Elspeth encouraged, making the redhead shift to the side as he sat down, "This is my dear friend, Pamela, who's been staying with us."

Pamela lazily lifted her and for him to shake, "Hey."

"Pamela, darling, will you go and find Annie and ask about tea?"

Startled by the question she just about responded, "Yeah. Yeah. Who, which... Which one's that?"

"You'll find her, darling. Annie," Elspeth insisted.

Calypso surveyed the interaction feeling bad for the woman who was obviously replaced by the new charity case of the summer. It was clear by her unsure tone she didn't know how to take it, knowing their attention was set trained on her but not anymore. She wasn't given a choice but to search for Annie, about when dinner would be ready and only left when Sir James repeated what his wife said.

Pamela wasn't out of the room for a second before the gossiping started, "Poor Dear Pamela. She's been staying with us while she gets back on her feet. She's had an awful time this year. Hideous," Elspeth's eyes widened in size as she touched Oliver. "But, oh, Oliver, so have you. God, I was so sorry to hear about your father. How utterly, utterly tragic. I've lost so many friends to addiction. So, so many dear, dear friends. It's the root of Poor Pamela's horrors too, I'm afraid."

Farleigh grumbled out, "And the only interesting thing about her."

Oliver took in all their comments, eyes darting between the Lady of the house and Calypso who was giggling at Felix's whispers. They looked so cute, and tight, but they weren't together.

"Farleigh! No, she is rather dull, actually. But she's so beautiful. You have to admit, she's very beautiful," Elspleth insisted, "But it's only ever really been a curse." Calypso winced at the fact. "I mean, the men. Oliver, you wouldn't believe it. The latest one is some ghastly Russian billionaire. Malignantly ugly, of course. And she's been holed up here for months hiding from him." She looked up to see her daughter saunter into the room. "Anyway, let's not talk about that.  Darling, tell me about your mother. How is she bearing up? Still drinking?"

"Stop!" Felix pleaded as his sister lit a cigarette, drawing Oliver's gaze to the bright light.

Elspeth waved her son off, "Ignore him."

Felix emphasised, "It's rude."

"Nothing shocks me, Oliver. Absolutely nothing. Tell me everything."

___

"Is that honey?" Felix's voice made Calyspo jump in shock.

She palmed her chest, turning up to see him wearing a nice tux for dinner.

"Christ Lix, you scared me."

"Sorry," he bashfully chuckled, then licked his lips at the sight of her. "You look divine."

The faint smell of her new scrub was in the air, honey, he was right, she changed it again and he loved it more than the last one.

"So do you," she agreed, standing up from her bed as she stared at him. "Here to escort me to tea?"

He held out her arm, "My lady."

She took it with ease, "My lord."

Journeying through the house, he continuously peeked at her, the lacy dress she wore had a train that was a few inches long. Her back was exposed, only slightly concealed by small threads that weaved to ensure her arse wasn't on show. Her sleeves were long and her hair was tied into a bun, insinuating her cheekbones.

"You might as well take a fucking picture, Felix."

"Trust me I will," he muttered, realising she braless and the thinnest of materials alluded to that. "Fucking hell."

"What?" she blinked innocently as they approached dinner.

"Fucking tease."

Calypso laughed as was escorted into the room, where she sat between Felix and Venetia.

Elspeth was the first to compliment her gown before Pamela informed Oliver – who wore a tuxedo provided by Felix — all about her boyfriend.

"We met in rehab, so... He was just so lovely at first, and then all of his business partners started, sort of, falling out of windows," she said softly, "You know."

"Right. Lucky escape," Oliver assessed, putting a smile on Felix's face as he ate.

"Mmm. I suppose so. But he spoke Russian all the time and it just sounded so romantic. And I don't know the Russian word for 'whore'," Pamela explained, missing Farleigh's smirk. "So I, sort of, thought it sounded like lovely poetry."

"Yeah."

Calypso's perplexed expression made a smile break out on Farleigh's face.

"Daddy always said I'd end up at the bottom of the Thames," Pamela went on.

"So far so good," Oliver remarked, gaining a smug smile from Venetia.

"I don't know what I'd do without Elspeth. She really saved me," Pamela added.

"Don't bang on about it, Pamela, darling. You know we're delighted to have you for however long it is you mean to stay," Elspeth falsely insisted as she picked up her drink.

"Forever?" Farleigh murmured, facing his uncle.

"Oh, no," Pamela spoke, "I think I might have, erm, found somewhere."

The Catton's were delighted to hear that.

"Oh, well done, darling. Oh, good," Elspeth smiled.

"Yeah, my cousin... My cousin has a flat."

"Oh, that'll suit you very well, a nice little flat."

"It's more of a... More of a bedsit really," Pamela continued, becoming less confident as she went on.

Elspeth grinned, "I loved living in a bedsit in my 20s. It's so freeing to live all in one room. And much less cleaning to do."

"Cheaper too," Calypso decided to add, knowing where this was going.

Felix playfully tutted at her.

Elspeth nodded in her direction, "Oh yes it is, but it'll be terrible when you're gone. How will I cope?"

"Well, I..." Pamela stammered, "I could actually stay for a little bit longer..." She trailed off hoping for someone to agree.

Elspeth softly gasped, "Oh, no, darling, no. You must be desperate to be rid of us and find your own place. I quite understand."

Pamela went back to eating, as did the rest of them, engaging in small talk.

It was only when Elspeth turned to Calypso did the girl placed down her fork, "Now Calyspo you must tell me everything about the boys in your college, your mother and I always had to fight them off when we modelled," Sir James agreed with her words. "But that was before your father so selfishly trapped her. So tell me, how were they?"

Oliver caught the dismay written over Felix's face as he abandoned his food and slid his hand under the table and judging from Calypso's flustered expression when she replied, it was clear what was going on.

___

"That wasn't an accident Felix, you can't accidentally finger someone – and don't bring up your cousin. And for Christ's sake, stop telling people about that," Calypso ranted, shaking her head as she dragged him back to her room, shortly after dinner finished.

He rolled his shoulders back, "Would you rather me listen to you go on about your university shags? I couldn't stand to hear what happened."

"So you thought doing that whilst everyone was eating was better?" she expressed as they stood around.

"You loved it," Felix recalled how she breathily spoke at the table, only alerting the young adults around.

"I had to cough loudly when I came, your mum must've thought I caught the plague," she groaned into her hands before he pulled them away.

"She didn't think anything of it," Felix reassured, "She wouldn't. She thinks you're perfect."

She wasn't convinced, "Sure."

Felix stared her down and decided to cup her face, forcing her to watch as he sucked his fingers dry, groaning at the taste lingering on his flesh until he was satisfied.

"You taste irresistible."

She pulled away from him, feeling her legs tremble as she dropped to her bed, slowly tugged down her thong and dropped it to the floor.

Felix's eyes darkened as he lowered himself onto the ground in front of her, pushing up her dress, and exposing her dripping arousal as she whimpered at his touch.

"You sure you want this? Once we start, you'll only slow me down for so long before I beg for more."

"Go ahead," Calypso breathed out, giving her the green light as he began kissing her thighs. "Fuck."

Her moans and his grunts as she gripped his hair echoed through her room. They were lost in the lust and sensual atmosphere, completely unaware that they were being listened to on the other side of her door.

▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃▃

a/n:

no guys, they didn't have sex but they did more than expected. i mean really felix, jealousy makes you do that in front of your parents? i don't know why but i feel like that was in character for him, considering all the tales and references to the family's past. the two are getting closer, crossing those sexual boundaries and now oliver knows... yuck.

https://pin.it/4kZZbXCeF (how imagine cali's dress!) https://pin.it/6vmO0LUMU (how i imagine her hair)

the interactions with elspeth will feel borderline... microaggression-ish, very subtle to the point it'll fly over cali's head. it's a sad reality, considering she must've experienced it when she went to several private schools in her youth. i still experience shit like that to this day. throughout the film, there were many racial undertones, by the way, i know many people wouldn't notice, but it was brushed under the carpet as expected.

[theshippirate22]

ROARING

It was said that Nancy Wheeler was picking fights from the moment she could speak. She was rather cunning, quite unimpressable, and more or less out of control of her venomous tongue, and quickly found herself pressing to the top. She served as the tangible visage of the press, titled “heroic” in a special regarding her liberation of an all-woman sweatshop in downtown Detroit through a series of articles, and called “muckraker” in a particularly cruel segment of political cartoons published after she publicly humiliated a corrupt politician in New York. It was even rumored that she worked for a short time with contemporary Upton Sinclair, during his drafting of The Jungle, and widely celebrated that it was her suspicion (and disregard for the local police department) that not only helped free one falsely accused Ed Munns in the Chrissy Cunningham homicide investigation, but also brought the actress’ real killer, a deranged, violent suitor called Jason Carver, to justice. Paired with her specialty knowledge of firearms after a certain run-in with organized crime, and her affinity for high-living, namely partying, she proved a tenacious character that even the richest families in Hawkins couldn’t engineer for their own children. When Hargroves originally approached her, regarding whether or not she’d be willing to be a surrogate mother for them, her initial response was no, but she quickly began to sense something extremely disturbing about the couple, and like any good journalist, stuck around to investigate. 

******************************************************

message me to be added to the tag list! first chapter of ROARING coming soon!!

prev/next

[mercadona007]

If growing up you were sold the idea that kate upton is a plus size model you’re a warrior in my eyes (and probably have an ED)

[ulkaralakbarova]

Ypsilanti, Michigan, 1945. Engineer Preston Tucker dreams of designing the car of future, but his innovative envision will be repeatedly sabotaged by his own unrealistic expectations and the Detroit automobile industry tycoons. Credits: TheMovieDb. Film Cast: Preston Tucker: Jeff Bridges Vera: Joan Allen Abe: Martin Landau Eddie: Frederic Forrest Jimmy: Mako Howard Hughes: Dean Stockwell Junior: Christian Slater Marilyn Lee: Nina Siemaszko Frank: Marshall Bell Kerner: Peter Donat Alex: Elias Koteas Kirby: Jay O. Sanders Noble: Corin Nemec Stan: Don Novello Johnny: Anders Johnson Bennington: Dean Goodman Ferguson’s Agent: John X. Heart Millie: Patti Austin Stan’s Assistant: Sandy Bull Judge: Joe Miksak Floyd Cerf: Scott Beach Oscar Beasley: Roland Scrivner Narrator (voice): Bob Safford Doc: Larry Menkin Fritz: Ron Close Dutch: Joe Flood Gas Station Owner: Leonard Gardner Garage Owner: Bill Bonham Ferguson’s Secretary #1: Abigail van Alyn Ferguson’s Secretary #2: Taylor Gilbert Woman on Steps: David Booth Newscaster (voice): Al Hart Security Guard: Cab Covay Man in Audience: James Cranna Board Member: Bill Reddick Mayor: Ed Loerke Head Engineer: Jay Jacobus Bennington’s Secretary: Anne Lawder Singing Girl #1: Jeanette Lana Sartain Singing Girl #2: Mary Buffett Singing Girl #3: Annie Stocking Recording Engineer: Michael McShane Tucker’s Secretary #1: Hope Alexander-Willis Tucker’s Secretary #2: Taylor Young Police Sergeant: Jim Giovanni Reporter at Trial: Joe Lerer Ingram: Morgan Upton SEC Agent: Ken Grantham Blue: Mark Anger Jury Foreman: Al Nalbandian Senator Homer Ferguson (uncredited): Lloyd Bridges Girl at Mellon Publicity Event (uncredited): Sofia Coppola Film Crew: Executive Producer: George Lucas Director: Francis Ford Coppola Producer: Fred Roos Additional Music: Carmine Coppola Director of Photography: Vittorio Storaro Production Design: Dean Tavoularis Editor: Priscilla Nedd-Friendly Casting: Janet Hirshenson Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Richard Beggs Producer: Fred Fuchs Casting: Jane Jenkins Music Editor: Mark Adler Supervising Sound Editor: Gloria S. Borders Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Tom Johnson Set Decoration: Armin Ganz Costume Designer: Milena Canonero Unit Production Manager: Ian Bryce Foley Artist: Dennie Thorpe Sound Effects Editor: Tim Holland Leadman: Doug von Koss Second Unit Director: Buddy Joe Hooker Assistant Costume Designer: Judianna Makovsky Assistant Makeup Artist: Karen Bradley Set Designer: Jim Pohl Camera Operator: Jamie Anderson Foley Editor: Sandina Bailo-Lape Stunts: Jimmy Nickerson Screenplay: Arnold Schulman Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Randy Thom ADR Editor: Louise Rubacky Original Music Composer: Joe Jackson Researcher: Anahid Nazarian Assistant Sound Designer: Mildred Iatrou Location Casting: Aleta Chappelle Stunts: Gary McLarty Screenplay: David Seidler First Assistant Director: H. Gordon Boos Stunts: Dick Ziker Makeup Artist: Richard Dean ADR Editor: Tom Bellfort Art Direction: Alex Tavoularis Assistant Hairstylist: Terry Baliel Technical Advisor: Enrico Umetelli Property Master: Douglas E. Madison Script Supervisor: Wilma Garscadden-Gahret Still Photographer: Ralph Nelson Jr. Stunts: Steve M. Davison Sound Effects Editor: Robert Shoup Stunts: Tim A. Davison Assistant Sound Editor: Martha Pike Hairstylist: Lyndell Quiyou Costume Supervisor: Winnie D. Brown Assistant Sound Editor: Michele Perrone Foley Editor: Diana Pellegrini First Assistant Camera: Billy Clevenger Assistant Property Master: Douglas T. Madison Construction Coordinator: John J. Rutchland Jr. Unit Publicist: Susan Landau Finch Second Assistant Director: L. Dean Jones Jr. Production Sound Mixer: Michael Evje Assistant Sound Editor: Clare C. Freeman Assistant Sound Editor: Paige Sartorius Location Manager: Rory Enke Second Assistant Director: Daniel R. Suhart Gaffer: Pat Fitzsimmons Dialogue Editor: Melissa Dietz Associate Producer: Teri Fettis-D’Ovidio Boom Operator: D. G. Fisher Special Effects Supervisor: David Pier Production Accountant: Joe Murphy Negative Cutter: Donah Bassett Second Assistant C...

[leanstooneside]

THE CRUSADES

• NONSENSE JULIUS

• NONSENSE DORIS

• NONSENSE LYNCH

• NONSENSE DOMINIC CONTRIBUTOR NIXON

• NONSENSE SEBASTIAN ASPEN

• NONSENSE PATTERSON

• NONSENSE CHRISTENSEN

• NONSENSE PORTIA OLSON

• NONSENSE ELISABETH DOORKEEP

• NONSENSE DENVER ALISON

• NONSENSE PRESIDENT ROBERT MUGABE

• NONSENSE STAN AFFIANCE

• NONSENSE ANGELA FIREWORK

• NONSENSE MAX 6

• NONSENSE EARNEST

• NONSENSE ANNA

• NONSENSE ASHLEY ASSIGNEE

• NONSENSE MARK

• NONSENSE BERNARDO STROP

• NONSENSE ROOSEVELT

• NONSENSE LACY CORNEA

• NONSENSE TIM ERICH

• NONSENSE ERIC DUGAN

• NONSENSE PHYLLIS DONNER

• NONSENSE MATT

• NONSENSE ANDY BROODY CATHERINE LEECH

• NONSENSE DAVID LOCUTION

• NONSENSE BUDDY ANNE

• NONSENSE ADA ELECTROCARDIOGRAM REMARK PENNANT

• NONSENSE TYSON

• NONSENSE DR. ROBINSON

• NONSENSE LINDA RESPONSE

• NONSENSE MARGERY UPTON

• NONSENSE MCCARTHY

• NONSENSE ALICE

• NONSENSE CHRISTINE

• NONSENSE ED

• NONSENSE MACDOUGALL

• NONSENSE PERRY

• NONSENSE KATHARINE BROTH

• NONSENSE ALLEN SPARTEN

• NONSENSE DAVIES

• NONSENSE ANGIE WINTER LYDIA

[paolawdiary]

CASE DIGEST: Alice Reyes Van Dorn v. Hon Romillo Jr. | G.R. No. L-68470 | Melencio-Herrera, J. | October 8, 1985

CIVIL CODE OF THE PHILIPPINES ARTICLE 15. Laws relating to family rights and duties, or to the status, condition and legal capacity of persons are binding upon citizens of the Philippines, even though living abroad. 

FACTS:

This case discussed the issue of whether Richard Upton, the respondent, can assert his rights to manage the alleged conjugal property between him and Alice. Also, this case talks about whether the foreign divorce of both parties in Nevada is binding in the Philippines. Alice Reyes Van Dorn was a Filipina married to an American, Richard Upton, in Hong Kong in 1972. They established a residence in the Philippines and had two children. In 1982, both parties were divorced in Nevada, USA. The petitioner then re-married in Nevada, to Theodore Van Dorn. In 1983, the respondent sued the petitioner before RTC, Branch CXV, Pasay City, asking her to render accounting in her business, and the respondent declared his right to manage the conjugal property. However, the petitioner moved to dismiss the case as the cause of action is restrained by the judgment in the divorce proceedings before the Nevada Court, wherein he acknowledged that they had “no community property”. Respondents said that divorce issued by Nevada doesn’t prevail over Philippine laws and declared national policy. As the motion was denied by the RTC, Alice filed a petition for certiorari and prohibition with the Supreme Court.

ISSUES:

1. Whether or not the foreign divorce of both parties in Nevada, USA, is binding in the Philippines 2. Whether or not Richard Upton can assert his rights to manage the alleged conjugal property between him and the petitioner

RULING:

On the first issue, yes, there is no doubt about the validity of the Nevada divorce within any state of the United States. The divorce decree is binding on the private respondents, who are American citizens. While it's a fact that the Civil Code's Article 15 adheres to the nationality principle, restricting the acceptance of absolute divorces to Filipino nationals due to their consistency with Philippine public policy and moral standards, foreigners can obtain divorces in foreign countries. These foreign divorces may be acknowledged in the Philippines, provided they meet the requirements of their own national laws. On the second issue, no, pursuant to his national law, he has no standing to sue the petitioner as her husband is entitled to exercise control over conjugal assets. The petition is granted, and the respondent judge is ordered to dismiss the complaint filed in Civil Case No. 1075-P of his court.

Source:

Family Code of the Philippines (2022); Judge Ed Vincent S. Albano , Ed Vincent A. Albano, Jr.

[bassmobile]

 Video from Fact Magazine, showing off a quite nice bit of custom kit from Ed DMX!

[earinfluxion]

DMX Krew: Glad To Be Sad (Hypercolour)

DMX Krew is no stranger to this site, although it's been a while since last writing about his steady stream of transmissions. Some of that posts here have slowed, but Glad To Be Sad is also Ed Upton’s first release since 2017… that much is understandable, considering the continuous slew of releases from the project in 2016-2017 (3 albums and 3 EPs). In fact, 2018 was his first year off from releases altogether in a decade. Glad To Be Sad feels like a logical extension of the DMX Krew catalogue, and in particular his previous outing for Hypercolour, 2017’s Strange Directions. Upton continues to be a master of his own particular sound, fueled by vintage gear and a keen sense of space. It’s another fully instrumental outing, like most of his releases from the last several years, and it’s also a fairly even collection of tracks. The tempo varies, but the dynamics are relatively consistent. However, DMX Krew isn’t a project I associate with curveballs but rather reliability. And along those lines, Glad To Be Sad provides more of the squiggly arrangements at which Upton excels. While it’s certainly not as spirited as some of his work from the 90s, and its instrumental slant rules out most of the cheekiness of early tracks like “Street Boys,” Glad To Be Sad’s kind of sad is more oblique and spacious rather than overly emotive.

Glad To Be Sad by DMX Krew

Much like Strange Directions, the vibe is somewhere in between all of the sounds he’s shown off in the past, with a very deliberate and measured constraint and sense of space. He continues the home-spun beatmaking of Strange Directions’ “Home Made Drum Machine” with an aptly named “Part 2,” wherein samples of snaps and pops and clacks provide the drums for a spacy electro number. Similarly stabby electro bass appears on several tracks, including “Gate Output” and “Non-Entity.” Elsewhere he focuses in on vintage machines to provide the underpinnings; 8-bit crunchiness and fuzzy distortion tinges the drum tracks of “Mystic Relevation, “NP-Hard,” and “Metal Mod Beat” while Upton’s synth arrangements are airy and feaure a touch of the sadness the album’s title suggests in contrast. The chunkiest and funkiest track by far is “Jagged,” whose thick bass and steady four-to-the-floor recall vintage Chicago jack. Fans of his cheekier Fresh Up singles will enjoy the palate cleansing treat of the closing track “Winter Dance,” a swinging, melodic midtempo number. It’s a stark contrast to the beatless opener, “Shell Game,” but perhaps that’s by design. Upton may be Glad To Be Sad for the hour, but probably not all the time. Another solid entry in DMX Krew’s vast catalogue, one you’d be remiss not to check out.

Buy it: Hypercolour Bandcamp

[adri-2022]

Again!

Fandom: Chicago PD

Characters: Jay Halstead x FemReader/ Will Halstead/ Hailey Upton

Warning: swearing/ some comedy?

Word count: 945

Jay Halstead Materlist

A/N: Hey beautiful people! Here is an original imagine. I hope everyone is staying safe and you guys enjoy.

Don't be afraid to leave your comment!

--------

You almost had a heart attack when you got the call from your boyfriends brother, that Jay “dumbass” Halstead had gotten shot, again. Couldn’t he be more careless, always putting everyone’s safety before his, and quite frankly you wanted to punch him in his beautiful face, so now on your way to Med you were thinking of all the ways you could get away with murder.

“You called Y/N?” Jay exclaimed to his brother looking at him like if he had grown two heads. “Yeah... I did. She deserves to know Jay” Will looked at his brother with an unamused expression.

“What? You scared?” Will bit back a smile that was fighting to surface in his face at the worried look on Jay’s face. Jay scoffed “Me scared -of Y/N... puff no- she doesn’t make me nervous or scared. Okay? I’m the one who wears the pants in the relationship” Jay said trying to convinced his brother or himself -because, yeah, he didn’t wear the pants in the relationship you did-.

Just when Will was about to torture his brother a little more, they heard your voice from the other side of the ED, “WHERE IS HE?” And just like that Jay was proved a liar, as Will noticed how his heart monitor when trough the roof.

“I hope you enjoyed your time with me, cause I’m pretty sure I’ll get murder in my sleep tonight…” “If not now” Will responded laughing at the expense of his brothers fear.

If there was something that could scare Jay was number one -hospitals- and two -you-, and now he was had both. Yes, he wasn’t scared of getting shot or tortured because you- you were very, very scary when angry. Which made everyone you knew joke about how a 5’10 former ranger and detective of one of the most feared units in Chicago, could be scared of a 5’3 law receptionist. And it was about to be proven again when Jay heard Maggie giving you his room number and your high heels clicking in his direction. Just then the door opened,

“What. The. Actual. Fuck Jay Grayson Halstead!” “fuck…” he muttered under his breath, looking at his lap trying to not show you he was worried or in pain.

“Did she really say…” “Shut up, shh, shut up” Jay cut his brother who was trying so hard not to laugh at his brother, because only Will knew Jay’s second name -he didn’t like it, you thought it was cute-.

“Will” “Y/N” “There’s the door” you said pointing to the door of Jay’s treatment room, to which Will looked at Jay wide eyes before moving towards the door, while Jay shook his head wide eyes pleading to Will not to leave him alone.

You were now looking at him, furious expression, arms crossed in your chest, raised eyebrow waiting for him to say something,

“Babe…I love you; did I tell you how beautiful you look today?” “Don’t- don’t even think about trying to smooth talk me…You got shot, AGAIN?!” you were pretty sure that the city could hear you,

“Honey, I’m okay, I promise. Its just a graze nothing major” “Just a graze?” he nodded giving you a small weary smile.

“Where is it?” you asked with a sweet voice and worried expression, to which Jay pointed to his right shoulder. You got close to his side not breaking eye contact, before you smack the injury,

“OWW, fuck, babe why did you do that?” he said groaning while you glared at him. “I told you if you got shot again, I would hit you” “But why did it had to be on the arm, babe?” he whined,

“Because maybe the pain will help you consider your decisions next time, huh, don’t you think, cause I can hit you again…” “NO, no, no, I’ll remember I promise” he said catching your hand that this time was going on full speed. You took a deep breath,

“You scared the hell out of me” “I know, I’m sorry” you talked sweetly at each other while Jay kissed the back of your hand. You leaned in placing your hand on his cheek to look into his eyes, then you exchange a caring kiss to which he smile in,

“Hey just making sure he’s alive, it got quiet…so, I don’t have to resuscitate you, huh?” Will’s voice made you pull back making you giggle, and Jay make a mocking face towards his brother.

“You have to stop being wheeled in here man. Your gonna kill us one day” Will continued,

“Got to keep you on your toes somehow…” Jay smirk towards Will missing the -are you kidding me- look you send his way,

“Its like you wanna be punched again!” “N-no, no babe, oh shit Will!” Jay screamed jumping out of the hospital bed hiding behind his brother who just laughed at the both of you,

“Okay, lets settle down you two, Y/N, I promise next time I’ll let you hit him a couple of times. You know so that it gets on his thick skull” Will sassed, wiggling his eyebrows up and down, while you smirked.

“I love how my dear brother and the love of my life plot to abuse me. Its hilarious…” Jay said sarcastically before sitting back down, then the door opened again showing Hailey with a worried expression,

“Did she kill him yet?” she said smirking at Jay

“Ha, Ha laugh it up” Jay said rolling his eyes. “Almost did…” that made everyone laugh, you looked at Jay and he winked at you mouthing “I love you” to which you smiled and mouth “I love you too” back.

[torreshalstead]

You make the miles worth it - Chapter 13

Summary - The Chicago Marathon had always been a dream for Hailey. And when she meets a stranger in pink running shoes whilst training, she realises maybe she had been dreaming for more.

Chapter - 14/21

Chapter Summary - Jay gets discharged from Med and Hailey takes care of him when he returns home

Notes - this is pretty much all fluff! Hope you enjoy! Thanks as always for the continued support with this story! AO3 Link

‘Jay, put that bag down. I said I’d come back and get it when you’re inside,’ Hailey said loudly when she noticed that he had picked up one of the carrier bags with the takeout food in from the footwell of the passenger seat.

‘I’m not an invalid Hailey,’ Jay scoffed.

‘Right now, that’s exactly what you are!’ she said and grabbed the bag out of his hand, ignoring his protests. ‘Come on before I call Will, and get him to bring that wheelchair to get you upstairs’.

‘Don’t even think about it’ he said through gritted teeth as he walked slowly behind her. The pain meds they had given him at the ED had started to wear off so any sudden movement was sending jolts of pain through his body.

Sensing Jay was in pain trying to follow at her pace, Hailey slowed her walk down slightly until she could feel him behind her and offered him her arm. He shot her a look of disgust but when she returned it with a smile, he reluctantly threaded his arm through hers.

‘You alright?’ she asked as the pair headed towards the elevator to take them up to Jay’s apartment.

He nodded in response but Hailey could feel him lean a bit more of his weight against her which she was happy to support.

—————————————————————————

‘No V, I won’t be home tonight’. Hailey was on the phone in the kitchen whilst Jay was attempting to make himself comfortable on the couch.

‘He’s alright but Will wants me to make sure he has no concussion symptoms’.

‘I’ll be fine. I’ll see you on shift tomorrow?’

‘Okay, I’ll tell him. Love ya girl.’ And with that she hung up and finished putting the takeout on a couple of plates she had found, remembering where they were from her previous visit.

‘Vanessa alright?’ Jay asked when Hailey walked back over to the couch, food in hand.

‘Yeah she’s fine, she says get better soon. She offered to bring me some clothes over but figured I could just steal a shirt of yours to sleep in and get changed at work. I keep a change of clothes in my locker’.

Jay almost choked on his spring roll at the mental image of Hailey dressed in nothing but his t-shirt.

‘You okay?’ Hailey said worriedly as she put down her own food and rubbed his back. This contact did nothing to help Jay’s predicament so he nodded quickly.

‘Just went down the wrong way’, he spluttered and gratefully accepted the glass of water Hailey passed him. ‘You’re welcome to a shirt but you really don’t need to stay. I can tell Will where to shove it’.

Hailey laughed and returned to eating her dinner, ‘I’m staying. That’s final’. Jay smiled at her stubbornness but he felt a warmth spread through his chest at her insistence to look after him.

‘Okay Nurse Upton, if you insist,’ he winked at her.

‘After dinner I’m going to grab a shower, I can help if you want to have one after?’

Dropping his chopsticks onto his plate with a loud clang, Hailey turned her head at the noise to see Jay shaking his head.

‘I’m not being funny Hailey but I don’t think I could cope if the first time you saw me completely naked was when you were attempting to help me shower in a completely platonic way’, Hailey’s cheeks reddened when she realised what she had offered. ‘Unless you mean it in a non-platonic way?’ he added quickly with a smirk.

‘Don’t push your luck Halstead’ she countered quickly.

‘If you’re sure?’

‘Positive. Now eat up, so I can make sure you don’t choke on the rest of your dinner’. Jay chuckled and returned to eating his dinner but didn’t fail to notice Hailey scoot slightly closer to him.

——————————————————————————

As Hailey was showering, Jay pulled himself gingerly off the coach and walked into his room. He may be the one needing to be looked after but he was still going to do his bit to make sure Hailey was comfortable in his space.

Pulling open the top drawer of his dresser he pulled out one of his t-shirts, the dark material was slightly old with faded lettering reading RANGER across the chest, but it was large and soft so should fit Hailey fine.

He tried to reach the bottom drawer where he kept his sweatpants, but bending over caused him to yelp in pain. He heard the water shut off from the en-suite and a second later, Hailey appeared. Wearing nothing but a towel held tightly across her chest that barely skimmed the tops of her thighs, the water still glistening on her skin. Jay felt his jaw drop.

‘Jay, what happened?’ she asked worriedly, hurrying over to him.

‘I’m fine’, he said dejectedly, ‘I just wanted to get you some clothes to wear so you’d be comfy’.

Hailey’s features relaxed and she smiled. ‘I could have done that’, she said softly.

‘I know you could’ he said slowly, ‘I just wanted to do it for you’. Hailey reached over and rested her hand on his arm.

‘You do a lot for me Jay. But right now this is about what I can do for you. Head back out to the couch and I’ll get dressed and be out to join you soon’, she squeezed his arm and waited for him to nod before she let go.

‘I got you out a t-shirt’ he gestured to the shirt he had put on the bed, ‘but the pants are in the bottom drawer and I couldn’t get them’ he added quietly.

‘Okay, I can get a pair,’ she said softly, ‘thank you’. Jay smiled and walked out the door, leaving Hailey alone in his bedroom.

—————————————————————————-

‘Yes Will. I’m sat on the couch. I promise I’m fine’, Hailey could hear Jay on the phone as she returned to the living room now dressed in Jay’s clothes. When he noticed her he smiled, ‘Hailey’s back now so I’ve got to go. Okay fine, I’ll call you tomorrow’. Jay hung up with a huff.

‘He checking in on you?’ Hailey asked as she took a seat on the other side of the couch, tucking her legs up underneath her.

‘Checking up on me more like,’ Jay huffed as he leant back and closed his eyes. ‘I love my brother don’t get me wrong but sometimes I could do with a break’.

‘You’re lucky to have him’ Hailey said quietly, facing towards the black TV screen.

‘Hails, I didn’t-’ Jay started.

‘No I know’, she said as she shook her head and smiled at him gently.

‘If you ever want to tell me about him, Michael, I mean. I’m a good listener,’ he said softly.

‘I know Jay. Thank you’, she reached out and took his hand squeezing lightly as she laced her fingers through his. ‘Now, before we put a movie on, let’s talk sleeping arrangements’ she said.

‘Sleeping arrangements?’ he looked puzzled at her, he hadn't really thought about where they’d both sleep in his one-bed apartment.

‘Well I know you’ll try and be the gentleman and take the couch but you are also the one who got shot today. So I’m going to sleep out here and that way you get the comfortable bed and can rest those ribs’.

‘Hailey-’

‘Jay. You are not sleeping on this thing, don’t make me call Will.’ He laughed.

‘That wasn’t what I was going to say’ he said softly, squeezing her hand. ‘My bed is big enough, we can share’. Sensing she was about to disagree, ‘purely platonically, I promise,’ he smiled again. ‘But if it makes you uncomfortable-’

‘I’m not uncomfortable’ she said quietly, glancing up at him through her lashes. ‘If you’re sure?’

‘I’m sure Hailey, neither of us would win the argument over sleeping on the couch so at least this way both of us can get a good night's sleep and you can keep an eye on me,’ he winked which was answered with a laugh.

‘Okay then, now that’s sorted, another Marvel movie?’ Jay nodded and handed her over the remote.

As she scrolled through the movies, giving a commentary on the options, he just watched her. Seeing her feel comfortable in his space and seeing her dressed in his clothes was really doing something to him. She was beautiful.

‘Jay? You with me?’ he heard Hailey say.

‘Yep yep, I’m here. Whichever one you want is fine, I’m good.’ He smiled as she shot him a questioning glance.

‘Okay’ she said as she selected the first Avengers movie. Pulling the blanket off the back of the couch Jay threw it over his lap and lifted up the side, glancing over at Hailey. ‘I don’t want to hurt you’ she said tentatively.

‘This is my good side,’ he answered with a smirk. Scooting over, she settled in next to Jay, the closest they had been in a while. ‘Comfy?’ he asked as he tucked the blanket around them. She nodded and when he put his arm around her, she hummed contently and rested her head against his shoulder. ‘Good’ he whispered as the pair focused their attention on the screen.

————————————————————————-

As the movie came to its conclusion, Hailey pulled away from Jay and stretched her arms above her head.

‘Bedtime for the patient,’ she grinned as she stood up from the couch and folded up the blanket.

‘I think so,’ Jay agreed and carefully raised himself into a standing position. Hailey had gotten him some more meds midway through the film but he was still feeling a bit stiff having been sat in the same position for a couple of hours.

‘Need a hand?’ Hailey asked, noting the awkwardness with which Jay had begun to move towards his room.

‘If you’re offering’ he winked and she shook her head with a laugh, but still wrapped her arm around his back and let him put some of his weight across her shoulders. The pair ambled slowly into Jay’s room.

‘Can you get changed alright?’ Hailey asked as she walked Jay over to the bed. He sat down slowly and nodded.

‘I’ll be alright. Umm, are you alright with me just sleeping in my boxers?’ he asked, not meaning to make her feel awkward but he usually slept in his birthday suit so this was a step up.

‘It’s your bed Jay, you do what you want’ she smiled. ‘I’ll just sleep in your shirt, if that’s okay?’.

He nodded with a smile, ‘of course’.

There was a moment's silence until Hailey excused herself to the bathroom allowing Jay to take his clothes off in peace. Once he was stripped down to his boxers, he climbed into bed attempting to get comfortable without putting any additional pressure on his ribs.

In the bathroom, Hailey was tugging on the hem of Jay’s shirt. It did completely cover her butt but it still was pretty short. It wasn’t like she was particularly self-conscious, she ran a lot so her legs were nicely toned but this was a step-forward for her and Jay. Taking a deep breath, she shut off the bathroom light and walked back into the bedroom.

Jay was already tucked up into bed and although he could see Hailey dressed only in his shirt out the corner of his eye, he kept his eyes focused on his phone as she crossed the room to get the lights and then approached the bed. As she climbed into the opposite side, he heard her whisper ‘thank you’. He didn’t need to ask what the thank you was for.

He was aware they were crossing lines here but this was going to be at Hailey’s pace and he wasn’t going to push her anywhere she didn’t want to go. If it was up to him, he’d have her wrapped in his arms, her head against his chest, their legs tangled together. But Hailey stayed on her side of the bed.

‘Goodnight Jay’ she said softly as she turned on her pillow to look at him. ‘Wake me if you need to okay? I’m here to help,’ she smiled.

Jay switched his phone off, placing it on his bedside table and turning over to face her. ‘Goodnight Hailey’, he reached over and brushed a loose strand of hair out of her face, ‘sleep well’ he whispered as she closed her eyes at the contact.

Removing his hand, he pulled the covers up over his shoulder and nestled his head into the pillow with a smile. It might not be how he would have hoped but Hailey was in his bed and seemed comfortable to be there. Just when he thought he’d be spending all night on his side of the bed alone, a hand reached across and rested against his chest. He smiled to himself in the dark and brought his hand up to hold her small hand in his, keeping them joined and resting on his chest. He heard Hailey let out a deep breath as if she hadn’t been sure the contact would be welcome, he squeezed her hand gently to let her know it had been. Most welcome indeed.

[justiceamberheard]

Celebrity support I've seen from Kathy Griffen and Rachel Riley(famous in UK from Countdown show)

Abby Govindan (comedian) just announced her support on Twitter so go show her some love

Non Aquaman celebs following her on Instagram: Thandiwe Newton, Eva Longoria, Kate Upton, Ariana De Bose, Mindy Kaling, Mel B (scary spice), Izzy Bizu, Zoe Saldana, Lala Anthony, Lilly Singh, Sharon Stone, Jenna Dewan, Chord Overstreet, Jessica Chastain, Jack Whitehall, Ed Helms, Emma Roberts, Bella Thorne, Karen Gillan, Ike Barinholtz, Taika Waititi, Jurnee Smollett, Matt Mcgorry, Halle Berry, Vanessa Hudgens, Chloe Fineman, Danny Trejo, Dan Stevens, Katie Couric, Kelly Brook, Aka Naomi King, Andie Macdowell, Lena Dunham, Seth Rogen, Cara Delevingne, Jessica Alba, Margaret Cho, Kumail Nanjiani, Melissa Benoist, and recently Julia Fox

[elenarodriiguez]

day one: head wound | h.u.

summary: you almost managed to leave the ed on time today. almost.

pairing: hailey upton x doctor!reader

word count: 1054

You didn’t want to jinx everything by thinking the word, but the ED had been surprisingly Q-word this shift. Not only had you been able to actually sit down and eat your lunch with Sarah and Ava, but you had even managed to finish off a cup of coffee while it was still warm, not even needing to microwave it.

It was basically a miracle at this point in your shift, and you were clinging onto the hope that you would get to leave on time and get to have a romantic night in with your girlfriend. So it would stand to reason that literal minutes before your shift was supposed to be over, there is an influx of injured gang bangers being wheeled into the ED, and as the resident trauma fellow, you’re barking out orders left and right, glaring at the med students who are getting in your way.

Thankfully there aren’t any serious injuries that require major surgery, you think you’d wind up falling asleep if you had to scrub in, but just as you turn to head to the staff room, you hear the unmistakable gruff voice of Hank Voight. Following the sound to one of the treatment rooms, you swing the curtain back only to find your girlfriend arguing with Will, pushing his hand away from her face and insisting that she’s fine.

“Hailey Anne, you better have a damn good reason for not letting me know you were hurt.” You snap, garnering the attention of everyone in the crowded room.

“Babe it’s fine, it’s just a scratch. I’m okay, I didn’t want to worry you.“ She reaches her hand out to you, motioning for Jay to move out of the way so you can get close enough to hold her hand.

“Well it’s too late for that, and I don’t know where exactly you got your medical degree, but that isn’t just a cut. Now that I’m here, and officially off shift, I can keep you company and relieve your team, and you can be a good little patient and let Will treat you, capisce?”

Voight barks out a laugh and Kim giggles as Jay fails to bite back a knowing smirk. Her unit say their goodbyes, wishing you luck as they hug you on their way out. As soon as they’ve left, Will mouths his thanks to you, promising to be back in just a moment with a gown for Hailey and a suture kit for her head laceration.

You try to settle into the uncomfortable looking chair at her bedside, but Hailey’s having none of it, wobbling as she leans over the side of her bed and grabbing your arm to tug you on it with her. There’s a brief moment where you put up a pitiful amount of resistance to your girlfriend’s attempts, but you soon give in and settle down on the side opposite to where her wound was to make things easier for Will.

She tries to apologise but you quietly shush her, pressing gentle kisses to her temple and her forehead. Lacing your fingers together, you run your thumb against her slightly reddened knuckles, bringing them up to your lips to press a quick kiss to them just in time for Will to return, eyeing Hailey cautiously as if she’d start kicking up a fuss again.

“Okay so it shouldn’t take long at all, and while I would much rather you stay here overnight so I could monitor you, I’m not entirely convinced you wouldn’t try to escape when no one was watching.”

She flushes bright red, glaring as your silent laughter shakes her shoulder, but doesn’t try to deny the accusation. Taking that as permission to get everything ready, Will sets up the suture kit on the metal tray beside her. Her grip on you tightens at the sight of the lidocaine syringe, realising that it would be injected into her forehead while she was still conscious.

“Hey,” you whisper into her ear, too quietly for Will to hear you over the hubbub of the ED, “the sooner Will stitches you up, the sooner we get to go home. And the sooner we get home, well, let’s say if you’re a good girl, you’ll be in for a treat.”

She relaxes somewhat, still clinging onto your hand with a death grip, but when you start rubbing circles on her back and her eyes flutter shut, Will takes the initiative and injects her with it before she can freak out completely. The rest of the procedure goes off without a hitch, Hailey keeping her eyes shut and letting Will get on with it, bringing up how weird the muted sensation is.

Once he dresses the wound, sticking some gauze on it to cover it up, he starts with the same aftercare spiel, Hailey trying her best to pay attention but failing as she yawns loudly. He sends you both on your way, grabbing a wheelchair for Hailey to sit in on the elevator ride up to the staff car park. Although she bitches about being capable of walking, it isn’t hard to see how off kilter she is just transferring herself off of the bed.

Taking his iPad from him, you sign the discharge papers as you walk to the elevator, letting Will push her down the busy ED corridors. The journey in the elevator takes no time at all, and before you know it, you’re in your car, waving Will goodbye as he sprints back to the elevator, the sound of his pager beeping growing fainter by the second.

“I’m sorry I scared you.” Hailey says as soon as you get settled behind the wheel.

“I know you are. It’s just… I see shit like this every day; someone comes in with what seems to be a minor injury and ends up dead hours later. I don’t know what I’d do if that was you.” Your voice breaks and you forcefully blink back the tears welling up in your eyes.

“Hey, hey, look at me. I’m okay. I love you babe, and I’m not going anywhere. Come on, let’s go home.”

She reaches over and places her hand on your thigh, knowing how much you hate driving one handed like she does so effortlessly. Home, that’s just what the doctor ordered.

[beardedmrbean]

I have another theory . I heard the movie strange world did not test well.So Disney being Disney instead of putting the film on Disney plus.Because that would be a prnightmare having your first gay main protagonist movie getting shaft.They decided the best thing to do was to release it with little fan fair.I think they had no faith in it.

Animated movies are tough I think, you get the focus groups and the test screenings and you either have a finished produce or a nearly finished project when you're doing that and it's dead expensive and time consuming to go re-do all that stuff and I'm sure there's a few accountants in the back crunching numbers trying to decide if they should bother or not.

Occasionally it pans out

but from what I'm seeing on that post there was diddly for promotional work done on it so not chance for organic outrage or love to form at all

so ya you may be sitting on a solid theory there

Also though not all Disney movies do great, Walt knew that so one fell flat they just pushed on to the next one, you ever heard of Candleshoe

Jodie Foster being incredibly Jodie Foster in this one.

How about Gnome Mobile

RIP Ed Wynn :(

This one is funny since obviously you're going to recognize these two

Jane and Michael Banks from Marry Poppins, had the dvd of this one of the trailers just called them the "Marry Poppins Kids"

Movie was based on a Upton Sinclair book of the same name, came out the year before Chitty Chitty Bang Bang so no copycat claiming.

Black Cauldron is there if you want a animated one

Movies bomb, it happens

[thebookreader12345]

Major Discovery

Pairing: Halstead Sister! x (Jay Halstead x Hailey Upton)

Summary: Y/N's informed that Jay is in the hospital, and at Chicago Med, she sees that Hailey is just as anxious as she is to find out if Jay's okay, which leads to her finding out about Hailey's feelings for her brother

Requested: Yes, by @stephie123

Warnings: slight swearing, mentions of injuries/near death

Word Count: 1,784 Words

Note: takes place during Mercy, Season 7 Ep 10 of Chicago PD

"Nice save back there," Kelly acknowledged and pat my shoulder. "I didn't know there was someone left in the house."

"One of the perks of having a detective for a brother is that he taught me to observe everything," I tell my lieutenant. "So when I saw that family photo on the mantle, I knew there had to be one more kid in there somewhere. Please don't make it a big deal and tell the rest of the firehouse though. It was just an observation. Nothing huge."

Kelly held his hands up in surrender. "All right. I won't say a word." Just then, my phone started ringing from where I had just placed it on the Squad 3 table, and Jay's name lit up the screen.

"Speaking of the devil," I joke and accept the call, holding the device up to my ear. "Hey, Jay. What's up?" But the voice that responded wasn't Jay. I listened intently as a woman talked to me from the other side of the line, her voice ever so calm while I was freaking out. "Okay. Um, is Will already there?"

"Yes," the woman replied.

"All right. I'll be there shortly. Thank you," I say and hang up. As I lowered the phone from my ear, my hand began to shake, and tears welled up in my eyes.

"Y/N? What's wrong?" Kelly asked.

"That was the hospital," I mumble. "Jay was just shot. H-he's in surgery. I have to go."

Kelly nodded. "Of course. I'll talk to Boden. Go."

The whole drive to the hospital, I couldn't help but think of the worst possible outcomes of the situation. More tears brimmed my eyes, a few even slipping down my cheeks, which I hastily brushed away. In the parking lot, my car lurched to a stop in the nearest open spot, and as soon as I exited the vehicle, I was running towards the ED. Inside, I spotted the rest of the Intelligence Unit, all with somber looks on their faces. Among them was Hailey, Jay's partner, who I had grown close with the past few weeks. Between chatting about anything and everything at Molly's to talking discreetly about Jay behind his back whenever one of us had to go the others' place of work for something, we had developed a good friendship. And then I spotted my older brother Will, his red hair making him stand out easily in the crowd.

"Will," I call out and dodge a few cops to get to him. "Is Jay okay? Please tell me he's gonna be all right."

"I-I can't," Will confessed. "Because I don't know. Dr. Marcel has him up in surgery. He said the bullet grazed an artery, and he's lost a lot of blood."

"This cannot be happening," I whisper as my breaths started coming out unevenly. I wasn't that much of a stranger to panic attacks. I had a few of them in my teenage years growing up, plus a couple here and there as an adult. And right now, I was not looking forward to having one in front of all of these people. Thankfully, Will was there to help me through it.

"Hey," Will murmured and pulled me towards him, wrapping his arms around me to hold me close. "This is Jay we're talking about. He's a fighter. He's gonna get through this. And when he wakes up, the both of us are gonna be there for him, okay?"

"Okay," I sniffle. "But only after we give him hell."

Will laughed. "Deal. I've gotta get back to work now. I'm hoping it'll help me keep my mind off of this for at least another hour. You're more than welcome to stay in the doctors' lounge if you want to be alone."

"Thanks, but I think I'd rather stay here," I admit and glance back towards the packed waiting room, my eyes landing on the blonde detective sitting off to the side by herself. "I should talk to Hailey and see how she's holding up. But I'll see you in a bit."

"All right. See you later," Will confirmed and walked back in the direction of the ED. As soon as he left, I made my way over to Hailey and took the seat next to her, pulling my knees up to my chest so that my heals rested on my chair as well.

"Hey," I greet her. "You doing okay?"

"I should be asking you that," Hailey countered. "Jay's your brother."

"He's also your partner," I retort. "And to me, that means you're basically family. How are you holding up?"

Hailey sighed and rubbed a hand over her face, leaning back against her seat. "I saw him before he got shot. He was right next to me. I was gonna get him to safety, but he said he wanted to go help Angela, so I let him. I should've insisted that he come outside with me. If I did, he wouldn't be in this position."

"Hailey, this is not your fault," I console her. "Even if you insisted you get him back with the rest of the team, chances are he wouldn't have listened. That's just how Jay is. He cares too much for others, even when he shouldn't. So don't blame yourself for something you couldn't have stopped."

"Thanks, Y/N," Hailey mumbled and turned to face me. "Now it's my turn to ask. How are you doing?"

"Well, I'm not feeling the greatest right now," I answer. "This isn't the first time Jay's been in the hospital, and I know it won't be the last, but I just want it to get a little easier, you know? The other two times he was shot, it wasn't anything serious. But now...I knew with him being a cop he'd face danger on the job, but I never imagined that there'd be a time when I'd lose him."

"You're only worried because you love him," Hailey told me.

"So, what? You love him too?" I question playfully.

"Sure, just not in the same way you do. As a friend," Hailey clarified.

"Uh-huh," I hum quietly to where she couldn't hear me. "I uh, I'm gonna get a coffee. You want one?"

"Coffee sounds great," Hailey responded.

............................................

"Crockett, hey," I breathe out and join the doctor by the entrance to the ED. Hailey was a few feet behind me, also ready to hear the news about Jay. Unfortunately, the rest of Intelligence had a case, so they had to leave, but I was sure Hailey would deliver the news. "How's Jay?"

"I managed to stop the bleeding, so he's out of surgery and in recovery," Crockett informed me. "He's also awake and alert, but for the time being, only family members are permitted to see him."

"Go," Hailey urged. "I can wait."

"Okay," I say. "I'll come get you in a little bit. And then you can lecture Jay about never getting shot again."

Hailey cracked a small smile. "That I can do." So Crockett led me up to Jay's room, and when I got there, I saw that Will was already inside.

"Man, I thought someone finally managed to kill him," I joke to Will.

Will chuckled. "I know. Such a shame that he's alive."

"I hate both of you," Jay grumbled.

"No you don't," Will disagreed and turned to me. "I've got patients down in the ED that I've gotta get back to, so would you stay with him?"

"Boden gave me the rest of the shift off, so I will not leave his side," I announce. With that, Will left the room, leaving me all alone with Jay. I took the seat next to Jay's bed, and my eyes glanced at the sling my brother's arm was in, which didn't go unnoticed by Jay.

"What?" Jay quizzed.

"Nothing," I mutter and tear my eyes away from his bandaged shoulder.

"Y/N," Jay coaxed.

"You could've died, Jay. We just lost dad last year, and to lose you too..." I trailed off, unsure of what to say. But Jay understood, and with his uninjured arm, he reached out and took ahold of my hand.

"Listen to me," Jay requested. "You and Will are never gonna lose me. Never. Cause I'll always fight to stay alive for the both of you."

"And Hailey," I add in quietly.

"What was that?" Jay asked.

"Nothing," I lie and stand up. "I'm starving. Hailey's still down in the waiting room, so I'm gonna see if I can convince Crockett to let her up to see you while I'm eating. I don't trust you in hospitals by yourself. One way or another, you'll find some way to leave."

"Hospitals are terrifying," Jay defended. "I don't know how Will works in one. And Hailey's still here?"

"Of course she's still here. She's your partner, Jay. And she cares about you a lot. Now, I really do need to get something to eat, so I'll see you in a bit. Don't die while I'm gone," I call out playfully as I exited his room.

About half an hour later, I finished up my lunch in the cafeteria and went to go sit back with Jay, and when I got to my brother's room, I saw him and Hailey talking. The way Hailey was looking at him now, and the way she was talking about him earlier...I was pretty sure she had feelings for him. When Hailey noticed my presence, she drifted away from Jay.

"I uh, I've got to get back to the district," Hailey declared. "I'll talk to you later, Jay." Hailey then walked past me, but I knew I couldn't let her go. Not yet.

"Hailey wait!" I shout and follow after him. Hailey stopped in her tracks a hundred or so yards beyond Jay's room, and I was able to catch up with her. "You love Jay, don't you?"

"W-what?" Hailey stammered.

"I saw the way you looked at him. It's the exact same way my dad used to look at my mom," I explain. "I like you a lot, Hailey. And you'd be really good for Jay unlike Erin, who left him unexpectedly when he was going to propose. Just don't hurt him, please. I don't know how much more pain he can take. Physically and emotionally."

"I won't. I promise," Hailey pledged. As Hailey took off to get to work, I went to rejoin Jay in his hospital room.

"What was that about?" Jay implored.

I waved him off. "Nothing you need to worry about. So, dear brother, what are the two of us gonna do for the next day or two to keep busy in here?"

______________________

Tag List:

@prettypyschoinpink @securityfriendly-jay @scarletsoldierrr @lorenakaspersen @virtualreader @carnationworld @caitsymichelle13 @ncostin2001 @dreamingmanip @campingmonkey @winterberryfox @nevertoofarfromivar @anotherfan07 @giagma @mrspeacem1nusone @i-like-sparkly-things