Jay Halstead sat quietly in the back of his maths class, sighing as his hearing aid batteries once again signalled that they were about to die.
Reaching into his bag, he pulled out the case that carried the spares, eyes widening when he saw that there were none left at all.
He reached for his phone, texting his older brother, anxiety starting to sneak through, as the 14 year old hated when his world went quiet.
It was unnerving.
His phone vibrated, and a small whimper left his lips when Will, his 18 year old brother, replied that he had none either. His hands were now shaking with the fear of having to potentially not hear anything until he got home.
"Mister Halstead, put your phone away please" a rough voice said, making Jay look up in fear
"I need to go home" Jay whispered, not trusting his voice
"Why?" the teacher asked, a stern frown on his face
"My hearing aids are dying, need batteries" Jay whispered, voice shaking
"You can't use that excuse everytime Mister Halstead" the teacher reprimanded
"No please, I need to go" Jay cried out, standing up and running out of the classroom
The youngest Halstead ran out of the school, and then without thinking ran to where he knew his dads were working.
The 21st District.
He soon arrived at the police station, and ran up the stairs to where his god mother Trudy was stood telling his Aunt Burgess off for once again damaging a patrol car.
The older lady stopped thoubh when she saw the distressed look on her young god sons face, tears streaming down his face.
"Woah, Jay, what's wrong buddy?" Trudy asked, quickly walking to him
The boy only shook his head, hands reaching to his hearinf aids, which made the dots connect in Trudy mind. His hearing aids were dead and he was scared.
"Let's get you to your dads, yea?" Trudy signed, guiding the crying boy up towards the bullpen
"Jay, whats up buddy?" Antonio asked, worried about how upset his smallest son was
"His hearing aids have died, and by the looks if it, no batteries" Trudy said, pushing the crying teen towards his dad
Antonio embraced the small child, hugging him close while gently taking off his hearing aids, and replacing the batteries in one swift motion. He gently pushed Jay away from him so that he didnt scare his son.
"You want them on or off buddy" Antonio signed, smiling softly when his son motioned he wanted them off
He only ever asked for them off when he felt safe in an environment, and the district was a place he felt the safest. Jay cuddled back into his dads chest, gripping the tshirt he was wearing tightly as he slowly started to calm down.
Antonio pressed a gentle kiss on Jays head, smiling as he noticed his husband walk into the bull pen, on the phone with someone who was causing him a great deal of anger.
"Can I wear them dad" Jay whispered, so quirt that Antonio nearly missed it
"Of course buddy" Antonio signed, gently placing the little hearing devices onto his heads head and ears, switching on and allowing the small boy to get used to them again
"Bud, why did the school tell me you walked out?" Hank asked, a frown present on his face
"They wouldn't let me change my batteries, sorry papa" Jay whispered, looking at the older father
"Ok, I'm not angry buddy, did you let Will
know you left?" Hank asked, a sympathic smile on his face when his youngest shook his head no
"I was too scared, I don't like the quiet" Jay whispered, leaning more into Antonio who wrapped his arms around him
"I'll phone him" Antonio soothed, allowing Jay to sit on his lap, the boy tired from the upset he had had
"Sleep buddy, we'll wake you when its time to go home" Hank soothed
