Author's Note:

Hi CPD Fandom! Welcome to my new story. I know my stories are all about Jay Halstead and his family. However, this story is not like the others. You will see. Lean back and enjoy it! ;)

Linstead is a fresh couple! Jay is a single dad.

"Wake up. Come on, buddy. We're late." Jay shook his small shoulder. Every morning he struggled with waking his son.

"I wanna sleep." he mumbled wearily, turning his back to his father and closing his eyes again.

"You know exactly what I'm doing if you don't get up." Jay grinned, started a tickle attack. A little while later he held Ethan in his arms "Get dressed. We have to leave soon."

Ethan sighed. If he had not asked his dad to stay awake because of the hockey game, he would not be so tired now. The process was still the same every morning. Getting dressed, having breakfast, packing school stuff and then they drove to school.

"Who picks you up?" Jay asked for safety, looking through the rearview mirror.

"Megan." Ethan replied.

"Correct. When and where?"

"At the school fence at 3 o'clock in the afternoon."

"Alright. Have fun at school."

"Bye dad!" Ethan said, giving him a high five.

"Oh come on. I was serious." Jay grinned and trotted behind Erin into the break room.

"I'm supposed to be alone with 2 Halstead men in North Wisconsin, where there might not even be running water?" Erin asked suspiciously.

"Uh ... there's running water."

"Yeah? I don't know, Jay. Nature isn't quite mine. I'm a city kid."

"That doesn't matter. I'm not saying we're moving to North Wisconsin permanently. Only staying for a weekend. The cabin and nature are great."

"You want to tell Ethan we're together, right?" Erin stated, placing her coffee mug on the table.

"Don't be so worried ... Ethan will be happy."

"It's not about Ethan, it's about not being allowed to be together. We violate Voight's only and most important rule."

"Erin, I want to be a couple. I don't want to hide anymore."

"I'm thinking about it."

At the same moment Jay's cell phone rang. The display showed the number of the babysitter. As soon as Jay answered the call, Megan chattered in panic, "I've searched everywhere. I don't know where he is!"

"Megan, stay calm. What's happening? What about Ethan?" Jay asked and Erin looked worriedly at her partner.

"He ... he's gone. Disappeared. He wasn't there when I wanted to pick him up, but I was also 30 minutes late," she stammered.

"Stay there. I'm on my way." Jay ended the conversation and stormed off.

"Jay! What happened with Ethan?" Erin shouted after him.

"I don't know. He's gone," Jay said in panic, grabbing his jacket, which hung over his chair.

"And then you go alone? We'll come with you." Antonio said.

"Megan! Now, calm down, what happened with Ethan?" Jay asked, as the rest of intelligence gathered around the young student.

"I wanted to pick him up, but I had a little car breakdown, so I was here 30 minutes late. Normally, Ethan is waiting right here at the school or the playground, but he wasn't there. I searched everywhere. He's gone." she cried.

"Maybe Ethan went home by himself?" Adam mused.

"Okay. Send Roman and Burgess to the apartment. They should also search the way to school." Voight said and Adam disappeared to make phone calls.

"Ethan wouldn't go home alone ... if I'm late, then he plays on the playground," Megan explained.

"We're just checking all the options," Erin said.

"Does Ethan have a cell phone?" Al asked curiously, looking around the empty schoolyard.

"No. I thought about it, but he doesn't miss a cell phone yet ... so he doesn't need one either."

"You don't have to justify yourself. Diego and Eva didn't have a cell phone at that age either," Antonio said.

"Alright." Voight muttered, glancing at his watch, "We're at four o'clock. Kevin, you get the class list and call it off. Everyone else looks around here and on the playground. Interrogate the residents and find witnesses. And tell Mouse to check the surveillance cameras."

"Everything will be alright, Jay. I think Ethan is with friends or in the mall," Erin comforted her desperate partner, looking around the playground. There was a swing, a slide, a climbing frame and a sandpit. But not a single trace of Ethan.

"He is still a little boy. He doesn't just go out with friends like this. Not at this age." Jay said and ruffled his hair helplessly, "There's nothing here."

"Who knows? Maybe he's at a friend's house and he forgot to let you know."

"Not Ethan. That doesn't look like him." Jay mumbled and checked the message on the smartphone. Nobody was home. Neighbors did not see him either. Drive it back to the school– Kim.

"Damn it!" Jay cursed.

"What's going on?" Erin asked curiously.

"He isn't home."

"Don't go crazy, Jay. He'll show up." Erin encouraged her partner.

In the meantime, Adam and Alvin asked the residents if they saw anything suspicious.

"You haven't seen anything? Really nothing?" Adam asked again.

"No. I haven't seen a child here." The woman assured

"Who are you looking for?" an older man asked.

"Who are you?" Al asked suspiciously.

"John Thomas. I live right over there." the older man introduced himself and pointed to an apartment building.

"We're looking for a boy." Al explained, showing him a picture of the child, "Did you see him?"

"Yes ... yes I think so. He walked down the street towards the mall."

"Can you describe the boy you saw?" Adam asked suspiciously.

"Blonde hair, blue jeans and brown jacket,"

"Thank you for your help." Adam mumbled and the two detectives turned their backs to him, "It was not Ethan. According to Halstead, he wore black pants and a dark green sweat jacket."

"Mh ... maybe he's color blind." Alvin mumbled.

"Ah, come on, Al, you don't believe that yourself." Adam said.

"I don't." answered Alvin, "Check the man... maybe he gave us the wrong information on purpose."

"So you're assuming that the man was instigated to give us the wrong information?" Adam asked curious.

"I'm not assuming anything, all I know is that the son of a colleague is missing."

Meanwhile, Roman and Burgess drove off again, following Ethan's route to school.

"Kim, how many more would attract Ethan over here? Nothing. So why would he run through this alley?" Roman moaned annoyed.

"Maybe Ethan didn't choose to walk here long, but was forced, or someone hurt him" Kim explained.

"Maybe."

"Ethan is smart. Besides, Jay has certainly told him what to do if anything goes wrong. Maybe he was kidnapped and left a clue behind." Kim told.

"Yes exactly. He certainly had the time to write a call for help." he ironized.

"Roman, I'm serious." Kim said annoyed.

"I know, but I think we should drive another way." Roman said and Burgess nodded.

One road after another, they drove slowly. At first glance, there was nothing noticeable on the side of the road to see. Inquisitively she watched every little corner and questioned the adjoining shopkeepers, but she had no success. Kim was only a block away from the school when she saw something flash on the ground. Slowly she bent down and picked up a broken chain. It was a Dog Tag and the label was clearly recognizable - Jay Halstead.

"What happened, Ethan?" Kim mumbled to herself and picked up the radio...

Alright. Feel free to leave reviews and suggestions. Anyone interested in this story? Let me know that. Do not worry. The intelligence will not come too short. Even Mouse plays along.

Bye lelema!