Confessions- Chapter One

After what felt like the longest day of her life, an exhausted Hailey was finally leaving the precinct for the day. So many thoughts running through her mind. So many questions left unanswered- so many uncertanties. Whats going to happen to Adam? Will he be okay in jail?Whats going to happen to the unit?

Hailey is so deep in thought that the sound of her cell phone ringing makes her jump.

Incoming call from Antonio Dawson flashes across her cell phone screen.

"Why is HE calling me?" she says, annoyed. She knows that Adam is in jail because of Antonio. She might not be dating Adam anymore, but she still cares about him as a person and certainly doesnt want him locked up for something he didnt even do.

"Hey Antonio, whats up?" says a slightly puzzled Hailey.

"Hey... uh... I'm really sorry to ask, but is there any way you could meet me somewhere right now?" Antonio says. Hes talking fast, she can tell that hes nervous.

"Um, I guess I can do that. Mind telling me what I'm meeting you for?" asks Hailey.

"I just... uh... I just need your help. I didnt have anyone else to ask, I'll explain in person." he replies.

"Okay, where?"

"The abandoned storage building off 53rd" says Antonio.

"Okay, I'll be there in 20. Should I have Jay meet us there?"

"NO! Please dont. Please just come alone" Antonio pleads before hanging up the phone.

She can tell by the desperation in his voice that he is in some trouble. She doesnt understand why he called her of all people. Afterall, out of everyone in the unit, she is the last person he shouldve turned to for help, outside of being coworkers they really dont even know each other.

She pulls in the dark parking lot and the sketchiness of the location mixed with the nervousness in Antonios voice has her worried. She might not be close with him, but she does trust him, so that eases her mind a little. But just incase anything happens, she figures it would be best to text Jay just letting him know where shes at and who she is with.

"Hey. Kinda weird situation came up. I'm meeting Antonio at the old storage building. I'm fine, just wanted someone to know where I am, just incase something crazy happens"- Hailey hits send on her text message and tosses her phone in the passengers seat.

Antonio is sitting on the curb with his head in his hands, unsure of how to even start the conversation.

"Whats going on Antonio, what do you need help with?" Hailey says immediately upon seeing him.

"And why did you call me of all people?"

He looks up at her and she sees the tears in his eyes starting to form. He starts rambling, almost inaudibly. A mixture of not being able to find the words to say what he needs to say and the fact that the pills he took tonight are still fresh in his system.

"Antonio... seriously? Are you high right now? Give me your gun, right now." She demands...

He gives it to her right away, he might be high but he understands her concern.

"And your car keys" she says.

"I took a few pills tonight because the guilt of Adam getting arrested is eating me alive. Which is why I called you. I need your help. I know you already know what went down... I cant sleep, i cant eat. I just want to make things right." He says, with his voice breaking up as he fights the tears.

As upset with him as she was over Adam taking the fall, she definitely feels for the man. She cant imagine what she wouldve done in the same situation... She drops her tough cop temperment and sits next to him on the curb.

"Okay. How do you want to do it?" she asks softly.

"I want to turn myself in. I am going to make a deal with the investigators. I will tell them everything they want to know if they drop all charges against Adam. I called you because I couldnt bring myself to have this talk with Kim, Kevin, Voight, or Jay. I just couldnt do it. I've worked with them for so many years. I am too ashamed that I used again."

"So why not just drive and turn yourself in, I dont mind helping you, I am just having trouble understanding what you needed my help with" she says.

"I want to do this with a clear mind. I dont want to go in there high. I'm scared that if I waited to sober up all alone I would change my mind about the whole thing... even though this is what I want. This is what needs to happen... and I just cant do it alone."

Shes starting to understand. He called her because shes the least closest person to him. He doesnt want to hurt anyone any more than he already has.

"Okay. I'm here. We will do this together" she assures him.

"Well, I dont know about you but if we have a few hours to kill I am starving. Theres a Portillo's a block away from here- my treat". Hailey says with a half smile.

"See, I knew I called the right person" Antonio says.

As soon as they get in Haileys car she checks her cell phone and realizes her text to Jay never went through. Her cell phone signal is terrible where they are. Oh well, she figures... everything will be fine, she assumes Jay is already in bed anyways, given the exhausting week they have had.

Jay, Kim and Kevin walk out of Kelton's house, all three in shock with what they have seen.

"Well this will be tough. When so many people would be better off without Kelton screwing with their lives, our list of possible suspects is going to be huge" Kevin says.

"Hey Jay, where is Hailey?" A concerned Kim asks. "And has anyone heard from Antonio? He isnt answering my calls".

"And wheres Voight?" Kevin quickly adds.

"I have no idea. I'm actually starting to worry. I've called her three times but it keeps going straight to voicemail"

Jay knows what Voight said, about doing what needs to be done... but did he really do THIS?! He wonders... that thought is quickly overshadowed by his worry for his partner. Where is she and why isnt she answering his calls... He knows something must be up.

"Hailey- where are you? Kelton was murdered. Its just me Kev and Kim here, nobody knows where voigt is, or you. What in the world is going on. Please call me when you get this so I know you are okay."

He feels bad leaving a third voicemail on her phone, but this is not like her at all. There are so many things going wrong right now... Adam is in jail, Voight and Antonio are MIA... Kelton- the mayor of Chicago was just murdered... yet all he can think about is his partner.

He snaps out of his thoughts for a minute to be the leader Voight trusts him to be. Afterall, Voight did tell him today that the unit will be his one day.

"Okay... Lets head out, let forensics do their thing and we will meet back at the district tomorrow morning".

"Sounds like a plan" says Kevin as they head to their vehicles to leave.

Its been two hours since they left Kelton's house. Jay has checked his phone repeatedly hoping for something, anything, to let him know that Hailey is alright.

"I'm sure its nothing...", he tries to convince himself. It doesnt help, he cares about this woman on a deep, deep level. He knows she is more to him than just a partner. She's his best friend. Shes the person he wants around at the end of a tough day...Shes the person he wants around at the end of a good day.. or any day for that matter. Heck, Shes the person he will follow no matter what happens in the unit, he goes where she goes. He's already made up his mind about that.

He tries her phone one more time with no luck.

"Damnit Hailey" he says as he grabs his keys and heads out the door.