Chapter Text
“Excuse me, ma’am. I’m looking for Detective Halstead?”
“Who’s asking?” Trudy Platt asks, barely looking at the nervous young man standing in front of her desk.
“Uhh, Cadet Nelson, Sergeant.”
“You sure that’s your name?” Platt quips, making the academy recruit squirm in his spot.
“Positive, Sergeant.” The hopeful cop says with more confidence.
“Alright.” Trudy nods, pleased to see the cadet has finally found his footing. “What do you need Detective Halstead for? Can I take a message?”
“I was told by Detective Halstead that I should come by the 21st District, so here I am.”
“Interesting. Well, let me walk you up, so we can find out what Chuckles has in store for you.”
“Appreciate it, Sergeant Platt.” Nelson expresses with a friendly smile before he uneasily follows the desk sergeant toward the stairs and gate leading up to Intelligence.
“Chuckles!” Trudy calls when they reach the bullpen. “Cadet Nelson here is looking for you.”
“Sarge, how many times do I have to remind you? It’s Detective Chuckles.” Jay retorts with a playful grin as his gaze shifts to the young man Platt introduced. “Hi, do I know you?”
“Hello, sir… Detective.” The recruit quickly corrects himself. “I’m looking for Detective Halstead?”
“You found him.” Jay confirms encouragingly.
“Sir, please don’t take this the wrong way. But uhh, I’m actually looking for a female Detective Halstead.” The cadet inquires, bouncing from one foot to the other as he had downstairs.
Jay suddenly looks like a deer in headlights, as his eyes immediately redirect toward the hallway where Hailey is interrogating a suspect before returning to the gentleman in front of him.
A loud gasp can be heard from Burgess’ desk followed by a hushed “Oh my God” as she connects the dots.
“Bro, what’s going on?” Adam whispers to Kevin.
Hailey chooses that exact moment to reemerge from the interrogation room. All eyes on her.
“What?” The blonde asks confused, unaware of what just transpired.
“Ah yes, Detective Halstead. I was told I’d find you here.” Cadet Nelson explains.
Hailey’s blue eyes widen in panic, focusing on Jay just shaking his head.
“I’m sorry, did I say something I wasn’t supposed to?” The cadet sounds almost guilty as he picks up on the tension between them.
“It’s okay, Ian.” Hailey answers, addressing the recruit by his first name. “They’d have found out eventually. It’s my fault really, for using my married name at the academy.”
The rest of the team stare at the newlywed couple in complete shock, their mouths slightly agape.
“ Damn , you two got married?” It’s Atwater who breaks the silence.
“And didn’t care to invite or even tell us?!” Kim cannot believe any of this.
“Wait, does this mean we have to call Upton ‘Detective Halstead’ now too? That’s gonna be so confusing.” Ruzek wonders aloud, already thinking ahead.
“Now I wish I had brought my popcorn upstairs.” Trudy interjects with her infamous dry humor.
“You knew?!” Kim questions.
“Who do you think files all the paperwork around here, Burgess? Of course, I knew.” The omniscient sergeant bites back before walking away from the impending chaos.
“I need to sit down.” The brunette dramatizes.
“You’re already sitting down.” Kevin points out to his former patrol partner.
“Wow, they’re actually the Halstead’s now.” Kim mutters out loud.
Nelson, who is still standing in front of Jay and Hailey, looks apologetically between the detective duo. “Again, I really am quite sorry. I didn’t mean to cause any trouble.”
“Oh, no trouble caused, kid.” Jay replies with a reassuring smile.
“Yeah, Ian. It’s no problem. Really.” Hailey calmly reaffirms before taking on a more teasing tone for her colleagues. “Maybe if people around here were a bit more perceptive, they’d actually be asked to take the upcoming detectives’ exam.”
“Um, weren’t you meritoriously promoted?” Adam recalls that Hailey technically never took the exam herself.
“Is this really the time you want to be questioning how my wife got her rank, Ruzek?” Jay jabs, emphasizing how he now has every reason to defend Hailey.
“I can’t believe how casually Jay just called Hailey his wife.” Atwater states. “How long have you two been married?”
“Four months.” Hailey beams.
“FOUR MONTHS?!” Kim exclaims dramatically. “Can you believe that?!”
“I still can’t.” Jay admits, a smile growing on his face as his green eyes lock with Hailey’s baby blues.
“That new picture on my desk was actually taken on our wedding day.” Hailey gestures toward the photo that she had added to her workspace a few months ago. Nothing about it screams ‘wedding’ as they’re in simple outfits with wide grins as in all their pictures together; but if you pay close attention, you could spot the wedding bands they proudly wore on their left ring fingers.
“No way.” Adam comments as he picks up the frame and hands it to Kim, pointing to the rings.
“We really need to start paying better attention.” Kim groans.
“Um, Detective Halstead…” Both Jay and Hailey whip around as they’d all kind of forgotten about the young recruit’s presence.
“Yeah, that’s gonna take some time getting used to.” Kevin quietly recognizes, referring to them both reacting to the same name now.
“I was wondering why you asked me here today?” Cadet Nelson finishes with his eyes trained on Hailey, clearly indicating which Detective Halstead he’s speaking to.
“Right.” Hailey nods, instantly starting to walk out of the bullpen. “Follow me.”
“Hey!” Jay yells after his wife. “Hailey. Come back!” Hailey.” He hisses. “You can’t just leave me with them three-on-one! They’re gonna have so many questions for us!”
And as if on queue, Adam, Kim, and Kevin all simultaneously start asking Jay everything that comes to mind about their elopement.
Hailey peaks over her shoulder and chuckles at her husband, who looks helpless in the midst of their hyena friends’ frantic state. “Yeah, have fun with that, dude.” She gladly disappears in the direction of the surveillance room with Nelson not far behind her.