A/N: Floopdeedoopdee requested a one-shot with anesthesia awareness a little bit ago, so I thought I'd give it a try. If you have your own one-shot request, feel free to send it my way and I'll add it my list of things to write :)

"Lean on me."

"I'm fine."

"This whole lying thing…not cool. I'm offering my help."

"Ow, ow."

"Hey, hey, let me help."

"Vanessa, can you call an ambulance?"

"No, I'm fine. Hailey, I'm f – ow!"

"Hailey, I've got him."

"I need to sit."

"So let me help you, stop fighting me."

"I don't like your attitude."

"Jay, eyes on me. Stop talking."

Hailey breathed shakily and tilted her head up to the ceiling. She knew that Jay would eventually get hurt from jumping over fences, but she figured he'd roll an ankle or even break his wrist, not require surgery because he tore his ACL.

Will had said it was a common sports injury and that Jay was going to be fine, but it hadn't helped calm his nerves before going in for surgery.

"You're going to be okay. I'm not going to leave the hospital at all."

"Last time I had surgery, I wasn't even conscious going into it. I don't like this. I don't like knowing I'm about to be cut open."

"Don't think of it like that. They're going to help you."

"Hailey…"

"Shh, try and relax."

"Don't leave."

"I wouldn't dream of it."

"Still waiting?" Natalie asked as she sat next to Hailey.

Hailey nodded and breathed, "Yeah."

"It should be done soon," Natalie held out a cup of coffee.

Hailey nodded and glanced toward the screen listing all the surgeries happening currently.

"Will's in there," Natalie said softly.

"I'm glad," Hailey said, "He needed to see a familiar face."

"Needles still freak him out?" Natalie asked.

Hailey took a deep breath, "Yeah, and it's not something he's just going to get over anytime soon."

"Something about when he was overseas?" Natalie guessed.

Hailey nodded and looked at her cup of coffee, "He – uh – woke up in the middle of some emergency surgery on a helicopter. He mentioned needles and feeling like he was burning…sounds horrible."

Natalie straightened up, "He woke up?"

"Yeah, but I don't think they properly had him under," Hailey shrugged, "I'm assuming he was unconscious anyways and were just trying to stop the bleeding."

"Gosh, that's traumatizing," Natalie shook her head.

Hailey nodded and ran a hand through her hair.

"I'm going to get back to work," Natalie stood, "If I hear anything, I'll let you know."

"Thank you," Hailey said softly and watched Natalie leave.

She closed her eyes and shifted on the chair in an attempt to get comfortable.

"Maybe you can come over and stay the night?"

"Now we're planning our impromptu sleepovers?"

"I just figured that since we just got dinner, maybe we could continue at my place."

"This is feeling like more than just two partners getting dinner."

"Is that okay?"

"Yeah…yeah, it's okay."

Hailey sighed and looked around. They'd decided just last week to attempt to label themselves as boyfriend and girlfriend and now here they were in a hospital. She didn't want to think of it as a sign, but it was pretty hard to ignore.

She definitely didn't like that the others seemed to be catching on to the two of them because of this. She couldn't help but be worried for Jay. He always meant a lot to her, but now by officially calling him her boyfriend…it sparked something in her and her instincts to protect him at all costs heightened. She had a feeling the same feeling was ignited in him based on how he reacted when Hank suggested she enter the house first a few days ago.

"Sarge, I think it's a better idea if I were to go in first."

"Upton's smaller, she'll be able to sneak in faster. We've seen what these people can do."

"If this is about speed, I am faster."

"Halstead, drop it. Atwater, get Upton the camera."

"Hey, are you sure you're okay with this?"

"Yeah, cool it. I'll be fine."

"But…Hailey…"

"I know. I'll be okay."

"I'm not going to be far behind."

"I know."

Hailey's head snapped up when she heard Will's voice on the other side of the doors.

She jumped out of her seat and ran to push through the doors, "Will?"

"You idiot! What do you think's going through his head right now?" Will was yelling at the anesthesiologist Hailey had met before Jay went into surgery.

"I'm sorry, Dr. Halstead, I don't know what happened," the young doctor said. She eyed Hailey and swallowed, stepping backwards.

"Will?" Hailey asked softly, "What happened?"

Will turned to face her and breathed heavily, "He woke up."

"Can I see him?" Hailey asked.

"No," Will ran a hand through his hair, "That's not what I mean. He…he woke up in the middle of the surgery."

"You're lying," Hailey breathed.

Will glared at the anesthesiologist, "I'm not."

Hailey turned to the anesthesiologist, "Are you new?"

The anesthesiologist, "I-I'm sorry. I don't-"

"Oh shut up," Will shook his head.

"Where is he?" Hailey asked softly.

Will nodded down the hall and led Hailey away, "She was able to get him asleep again after a minute, but he looked freaked out."

"And now he'll never step foot in a hospital again," Hailey breathed.

"If he remembers," Will said and stopped outside Jay's room, "So, fingers crossed he's fine."

Hailey shook her head and opened the door.

"His surgeon was going to talk to Dr. Charles, so I'll go see if they're ready then we'll come check in," Will explained.

"Thanks," Hailey nodded and walked in the room.

Jay was awake, but still seemed drowsy as his head kept drooping against his chest.

"Hey," Hailey whispered and pulled a chair over to sit next to his bed. She softly touched the side of his face, "Feeling okay?"

Jay blinked a few times before coughing and nodding.

"There you are," Hailey smiled and brushed her hand over his hair.

"Woke…woke up," Jay breathed and closed his eyes again.

Hailey stiffened and glanced toward the door.

Jay shivered and gripped the bed sheets, "Was awake…they c-cut me."

"So you remember?" Hailey asked softly.

Jay nodded slightly.

"I'm so sorry," Hailey whispered and moved on the bed to hug him tightly.

The door opened and Will walked in with Dr. Charles, the anesthesiologist, and the surgeon, "How're you doing?" Will asked.

Jay pulled away from Hailey and looked at him, "I woke up."

Hailey bit her lip and sat back in her chair.

The surgeon cleared his throat, "And we are incredibly sorry that had happened. Can you please tell us what you remember?"

Jay coughed again and rubbed his throat, "I…I remember hearing Will's voice, but I couldn't make it out. Maybe he was talking about dinner?"

"Are you freaking kidding me?" Will shook his head and started pacing the room.

Hailey squeezed Jay's hand.

Jay looked at her, "And then I could feel this weird pulling in my leg," he bit his lip, "It hurt. It reminded me of…you know."

Hailey nodded, "It wasn't though. You were safe."

"Was I?" Jay asked, "I was awake!"

"Shh," Hailey breathed and, ignoring everyone in the room, set her hand on the side of Jay's face again, "You're okay. I'm here, Will's here-"

"Will was there! I saw him. I saw his face when I was supposed to be sleeping," Jay yelled.

Will rushed over and looked at the monitors, "You're blood pressure's getting too high."

"I don't care," Jay pulled away from him, "Don't touch me right now."

"We were able to finish the repair despite the small complications," the surgeon said.

"Wonderful," Jay rolled his eyes and coughed.

"Let me get you some ice," Hailey said softly and stood.

"No, no," Jay grabbed her hand, "You said you'd stay."

Hailey softened and nodded, "Okay."

"I'll go get the ice," the surgeon said and left the room.

"Jay, we understand why you're angry," Dr. Charles started, "What happened to you today isn't something that any of us could have experienced, but we will help you in any way you might need."

Jay shook his head and stared up at the ceiling.

"Maybe you should leave," Hailey said cooly to the anesthesiologist.

"Okay," the anesthesiologist nodded. She bit her lip and looked at Jay one last time before leaving the room.

"How's your leg feel?" Will asked.

Jay scoffed and looked at him, "It hurts."

Will nodded, "Is the ice still cold?"

Jay shrugged and looked at the wrap around his knee, "Enough."

Dr. Charles walked further in the room, "Jay, don't forget what you've learned in your therapy sessions as you try to work through this."

"I don't feel like talking about it right now," Jay whispered.

Hailey glanced to Dr. Charles before rubbing Jay's arm, "You don't have to right now."

Dr. Charles nodded, "But when you're ready."

"Yeah," Jay said and made eye contact with Hailey.

Dr. Charles left as the surgeon came back in with a cup of ice.

"I'll take it," Hailey said softly and put her hand out. She dumped some ice in her hand and turned to Jay, "Open."

Jay chuckled, "You don't have to do this."

Hailey smiled, "I've helped you take showers and get dressed and you've done the same for me."

"This seems a little more intimate than that," Jay smirked.

Hailey shrugged, "Maybe." Jay opened his mouth slightly and she tipped two ice chips in. "There," Hailey whispered and squeezed his hand.

As Hailey helped Jay eat the ice chips, the surgeon explained recovery and the positives of the surgery before leaving them and Will alone.

"Just another hour at max before we can get you out of here," Will said and sat at the foot of Jay's bed, "I'm assuming you're going home with Hailey though."

Jay blushed and swallowed his ice, "As long as she doesn't mind."

Hailey smiled softly and nodded, "You can come home with me."

"Are you two dating now?" Will asked.

"Yeah, we are," Jay said confidently.

Hailey's eyes widened, "What?"

"Is it not true?" Jay raised his eyebrows.

"N-no," Hailey shook his head, "No, we are."

Will watched amused shaking his head.

"So," Jay chuckled, "We're dating. You're my girlfriend. Hailey Upton is dating me, Jay Halstead."

Hailey laughed softly, "You're ridiculous."

"Hey, you're the one dating me," Jay smirked.

"You two are something else," Will said, "But I'm happy for you; I wouldn't want my brother dating anyone else," he winked at Hailey.

She blushed and smiled, "Thank you."

"Let me know if he gets to be too much, though, I will happily put him in his place for you," Will chuckled.

Hailey nodded and squeezed Jay's hand, "Thanks, but I think I can handle him – especially with him down for the count for the next month."

"I can still do stuff," Jay argued.

Hailey laughed and shook her head, "Okay, if you say so."

"I will prove so," Jay smiled.

Hailey lightly kissed his temple, "Take it easy for me. We don't need to end up back in here."

"You can say that again," Jay breathed.

Jay woke up in the middle of the night and jerked around on the bed, smacking Hailey while doing so.

She jolted awake and sat up, "Hey."

Jay tried sitting up and gasped for breath.

"Hey, hey," Hailey repeated quietly, "Jay."

"It burns," Jay gasped, "Stop it."

"Nothing's happening," Hailey said and rubbed his arm, "Look here, look at me."

Jay shook his head fast and tried pulling away from her, "It hurts."

"I know it does," Hailey sat up on her knees, "But you're safe, you're safe."

Jay ripped at the sheets and sighed at the bandages wrapped around his knee.

"It's over," Hailey ran her hand over his back, "You're in bed in your apartment. You're safe here."

Jay blinked and swallowed, "I-I thought…"

"I know," Hailey continued rubbing her hand up and down, "But it wasn't real."

"It was though, it was Hailey," Jay coughed, "It happened today."

Hailey nodded, "It did, but it's over and you're safe here. I'm with you."

Jay rubbed his face, "Can you help me sit up?"

"Yeah," Hailey breathed and slipped her arm under Jay's shoulders, "Deep breath."

Jay groaned softly as he pushed himself up with Hailey's help.

"I'll get ice for you," Hailey said softly and hurried out of the room.

Jay shifted on the bed and pulled at the pillows. He caught his breath and took his shirt off before running his hand through his hair. He looked around the room to remind himself of where he was. He saw his shoes shoved to the side under the window next to his dresser where his badge was sitting by another badge. He blinked and nodded – Hailey's badge. It was Hailey's badge next to his own. He looked around the room and spotted the dark purple bag by his closet. Hailey was staying with him right now because he had surgery. He wasn't in a helicopter and he wasn't in Afghanistan. He was in Chicago in his apartment in his bed that he bought with his first big paycheck from working on patrol.

Hailey walked back in carrying an icepack and a wet washcloth, "You good?"

"Yeah," Jay breathed, "I'm good."

Hailey smiled and sat next to him on the bed, "Good." She gently set the icepack on his knee. "I hope you don't mind," she said, "But I notice you always get sweaty from nightmares and this one's no different, so," she held up the washcloth, "Do you mind?"

Jay chuckled, "Trying to tell me I smell?"

Hailey smirked and shook her head, "Trying to tell you I don't like to sleep in beds with sweaty men."

"Fine," Jay said, "But please don't ever say you'll sleep in a bed with another man."

"Copy," Hailey laughed and gently wiped Jay's forehead with the washcloth.

Jay kept his eyes steady on her face and set a hand on her thigh.

Hailey held back a smile and shifted on the bed to wipe the washcloth down his back.

Jay whispered, "It's cold."

"Sorry," Hailey breathed and traced the soft lines on his back. She set her hand on one of his scars and rubbed her thumb in a small circle.

"From when my dad died," Jay said, looking back at her.

Hailey nodded, "I remember," she swallowed and set the washcloth in her lap.

Jay tilted her head up, "What's going through your mind right now?"

Hailey took a deep breath and looked in his eyes, "That I've waited a long time for you."

Jay reached down and grabbed her hand, "Well, now you have me. Are you sure you want me though? I mean, you couldn't even get a full night of sleep on night one of you temporarily living with me."

Hailey squeezed his hand and nodded, "More than anything."

Jay swallowed, "Even though I have all this baggage."

Hailey shook her head, "I don't like you despite your past; I like all of you. I like you now, I like you ten days ago, I like you before I even met you."

Jay chuckled, "That sounds a little crazy."

Hailey smiled, "But it's true. I'm here for you. I'm not going to abandon you when things get tough or complicated or crazy."

"And I don't scare you?" Jay asked.

"Never," Hailey scooted closer to him.

"I don't know when or if I'll ever get over what happened today," Jay breathed.

"My feelings for you are not dependent on that," Hailey set a hand on the side of his neck.

Jay nodded and hugged her to his chest.

Hailey squeezed him softly and rubbed his back, "Can I be cheesy for a minute?"

Jay smirked and pulled back slightly to look her in the eyes, "Please."

Hailey laughed and shook her head before running a hand through her hair and saying, "I feel awake when I'm with you. I feel like a better, more alert person because I know that we're a team first before anything else."

Jay nodded and lightly kissed her nose, "We are."

Hailey smiled softly, "Think you can go back to sleep?"

Jay winced and shook his head, "I'd rather just watch TV."

Hailey raised her eyebrows, "So you think you can make it to the couch?"

"Help me?" Jay asked with a slight smirk.

Hailey laughed and nodded, standing with her hand out, "Come on, big guy, I got you."

In the six weeks before Jay was back in the field for work on light duty, he had fourteen nightmares and three panic attacks, but Hailey was usually able to help bring him down from them rather quickly.

They were looking around a crime scene in a school when Hailey shushed Jay and breathed, "Do you hear that?"

Jay listened for a second and nodded, "Yeah."

"Help," a weak voice cried out.

Hailey and Jay ran through the halls, Hailey yelling into her radio that someone was still inside.

"Hey, wait," Jay stopped in front of a dark classroom. He pointed at the blood on the doorknob.

Hailey nodded and cocked her gun.

"Ready?" Jay breathed. He waited for Hailey's signal to throw the door open and step inside, "Hello?"

"Help," the voice responded.

Hailey followed the trail of blood and stopped behind the teacher's desk, "Hi, my name's Detective Upton."

A teenage girl looked up at her, "Help me."

Hailey nodded and quickly knelt down, "Jay, I need your belt."

Jay hurried over and groaned at the sight.

The girl had a long cut down the front of her leg with a short knife stuck at the top of her knee.

"Your belt," Hailey put her hand out.

Jay shook his head quickly and tried to focus on Hailey's face. He shakily undid his belt and held it in his hands, but he couldn't look away from the crying girl's leg.

"Don't look at her," Hailey said, "Pass it here. Give me the belt."

Jay swallowed and held out his belt.

"Good, good job," Hailey whispered as she made a tourniquet with the belt. She wasn't sure exactly who she was talking to, but figured it applied to both Jay and the girl.

The girl yelled in pain and grabbed the desk.

"Can you carry her out?" Hailey asked Jay.

He nodded and knelt down.

"This is Detective Halstead," Hailey told the girl softly, "He's going to help bring you out of here."

"He looks g-green," the girl said.

"Well, he's going through something right now," Hailey breathed.

Jay shook his head and carefully lifted the girl. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

"Don't move the knife," Hailey whispered and stood with him, "You've got this."

The girl whimpered and pressed her face into Jay's chest, "It burns."

"Oh god," Jay groaned.

"No, hey," Hailey set a hand on his arm, "You can do this. Fight past it." She gently pulled him, "We'll get out. You need fresh air. One foot in front of the other."

Jay nodded and slowly walked out of the room. As soon as they were outside the building, two of the paramedics ran over with a gurney and took the girl from Jay.

Hailey led him to a bench, "You did it."

"That was disgusting," Jay breathed.

"But you helped her," Hailey rubbed his back, "Eyes on me right now, focus on me."

Jay nodded and set a hand on her leg.

Hailey looked around before pulling Jay against her and whispering, "I love you, remember?"

Jay held her tightly and replied, "I love you too."

A/N: Please let me know what you think! I'll be honest, this one kind of scared me, so I hope it's okay. If you have your own idea for a one-shot, send it my way! I know someone mentioned food poisoning next time, so that will likely be the next one-shot, but after that I'm free. :) I hope you're day is going well!