-You ready to go? – Hailey asks Adam standing up in front of him.
Her boyfriend doesn't look up at her, still focused on his phone. She takes a deep breath, trying to be patient with him. Ever since Olinsky died and all hell broke lose, she is deeply aware that her boyfriend is making no effort to make things better at work or in their relationship. Truth is that yeah, he is still there with her and not out drinking or cheating on her but talking to him is particularly hard if you didn't agree with what he thought regarding Voight.
-Adam? –
-What? – he finally looks up at her and seeing her standing with her hands over her waist, he puts his phone down and stands up. – Sorry babe. – he walks up to her and smiles at her, towering over her. – Shall we go? –
Hailey puts her hands over his chest and smiles at him too, nodding once. – I love you, you know that right? –
-Of course I do. – he tells her, kissing her forehead. – Let's go. – he grabs her hand to lead her towards the car. The Intelligence team, including Trudy but not Hank, had gotten together to toast for Al, but a few hours had passed and it was now time to go home. Kim had grabbed a ride with Kevin and Platt, while Jay was now getting in his car with Antonio.
Hailey couldn't help but think about the events that had transpired lately in the Intelligence unit. Al's death hanged over all of them, a thought in the back of their minds that was making things harder every day. And the clear disagreement Adam and Antonio had regarding Voight's behavior made things even worse.
They all tried to keep a neutral position, but enough people had been hurt and Hailey didn't believe fighting would make things better for anyone.
-Hey. – it's Adam now who's looking at her, waiting for her response. They had gotten in his car in the now clear parking lot.
-Sorry, I didn't hear you. – she tells him, putting on her seatbelt.
-I was thinking it might be a good idea to move in together. -he says starting the car, as if he were talking about the weather or the traffic.
-What? – she asks, keeping her blue eyes on him.
-You don't agree? – he asks surprised.
-Well… would it change anything really? We are kinda living together now. -she says, now looking ahead of her.
-So, if it wouldn't change anything, why not do it? – he asks without taking his eyes of the road.
She scrutinizes Adam's face. It feels as if he's not even paying attention to her anymore. These days he's usually only focused on the job.
-Well, what's the rush? -she passes a hand through her golden locks, trying to relax herself. She can feel anxiety, almost creeping on her bones.
-I just thought it would be a good idea, but you clearly don't agree. – he says, shaking his head once.
She almost starts to explain him that no, that's not it. She does love him, she does want to move in with him and start a life together, but she's pretty sure that he's not asking for this for the right reasons, that he's only trying to fill a void that she won't be able to fill, because she's not Al, and she's not Voight, and she's not another of the team members of his past. She doesn't even resemble Kim when they dated.
But she can already see in his face that he's closing of, and that he won't hear much of what she has to say.
The following morning, Kim, Antonio, Kevin, Jay, Adam and Hailey approach their boss on Brent Park to start working on their new case.
-What happened to your face, boss? – Adam asks him the second they see Voight, who waves a hand to dismiss the subject.
It was time to get to work, Hailey thinks at seeing Hank. And apparently, they are not the only ones having a hard time dealing with Al's death.
-Listen, there is some bad dope out on the street and we are going to find it. Fast. – he looks around his team members before landing his eyes on Antonio. – Antonio is gonna take the lead. –
A look passes between Antonio and Adam, and Hailey knows this won't be easy. Ruzek isn't exactly supportive of anyone or anything that didn't involve helping Voight.
-Get on the phone with CFD right away, get a list of all the od's from the past two days, the exact locations where the bodies were found. Track down the 911 tapes, tox reports… - Voight starts to give them orders, until Antonio nods.
– I got it Hank. I'm good. – he certainly wants to do right not only by the team, but also because of him.
-Sarge, you want to tell us what's going on, why aren't you involved? – Jay asks, voicing everyone's concern.
-The COPA thing. They are still investigating the shooting. -he looks between them, trying to make sure they understand what was going on. – Listen, I am on the bench until it's resolved. –
-Way to step up bro. – Adam says looking down, but it's clear the comment is addressed to Antonio.
-Stay out of this, Adam. – Antonio shoots back.
-Hey, enough! -Voight almost roars. - Listen, everything is going to be fine. – he assures them. – So, stop talking and track down that bad dope. -he orders them before walking away.
-Ok, let's get to work. – Antonio tells them, and they all get in motion.
A couple of hours later and after Hailey had traced the calls to a dealer, she and Ruzek are sitting on the back of a van trying to find the guy.
Being Adam's girlfriend, the blonde felt she was in a though spot to talk about Antonio with Adam. She didn't want to be in the middle of it, considering she was personally attached to one of them, but agreed with the other about Voight's situation.
But staying quiet had never been her strong suit.
-Dealer's name is Andre Thompson, aka "Little Dre". 5,9, a hundred and thirty-five pounds, 19 years old. Two priors. – she read his sheet from her tablet.
-Yeah yeah, I think I got him. – Adam tells her without taking his eyes of the camera.
-Yeah? – she grabs her binoculars to look as well.
-Yeah. -he taps her shoulder to point the guy at her- Working near the southeast corner, do you see that? Blue jacket. –
She finally finds the guy and nods once. -Oh yeah yeah, I see him. – she says, putting her binoculars down to then grab the forms to fill out with the information about the op.- So this Antonio thing. – she finally starts, knowing she needs to take advantage of the time alone at work.
But of course, Adam wouldn't be receptive about it. – I don't want to talk about that. – he says grabbing the camera again. It was almost as if he avoided the topic with her.
-He didn't see the shooting, Ruzek. – she says using his last name to grab his attention. She knew it still annoyed him. He preferred Adam any day when it came to her.
-Oh my God. That doesn't matter. – he says, and she is at least grateful that he is finally talking about this issue with her. –
-Yeah, it matters. -she says but he is quick to interrupt her.
-No, that doesn't matter. Not in this situation it doesn't. – he says finally looking at her side while she keeps her eyes on the front. – Not when the dead guy got exactly what he deserved. -he waits until she is finally looking at him. The pain is almost obvious in his eyes. – We're talking about the guy who ordered a hit on Al. –
-Look, I get it… - she starts to say before he speaks again.
-No! Hey! – he says hoping to get her attention. – Antonio was right there, Voight's future hinges on his word. He had the opportunity to back up his brother and he didn't. I don't know why, but he didn't and that's the end of the story. – he says before grabbing the camera again.
-End of your story maybe. –
-Hailey… - he warns her. On his book, she is pushing the subject.
-All I am saying it's not as simple as you make it sound, just keep that in mind. -she is looking at him while she speaks but she knows he isn't listening to her. Again.
-Found his jab. -and with that last line, it was back to work for them. They had a job to do, and he wouldn't listen to her anymore. He got out of the car while she tipped the team that they were ready to get in motion.
It only took Adam a couple of minutes to get the drugs and he was back in the van in no time.
-Andre is hot. – She tells him as soon as he takes a seat inside again.
-He should be. – he replies moving the bag in the air in front of her – He just lost thousands of dollars of someone's else's drugs. –
-Do I call my supplier and admit I screwed up? – she asks looking back at Andre through the binoculars- or do I keep my mouth shut and pay from my own pocket? – she wonders keeping her eyes on the dealer. - And the answer is…. – she smiles at seeing Andre call from his phone. – Choice A. –
-Always is. – Adam says after putting the drugs on an evidence bag and Hailey grabs the tablet and her phone to point the location to her team.
-Alright… we got a phone number and an address. 8660 W 54th street. – she says through the phone, while Adam moves towards the driving seat.
-Ok, let's go get this punk. –
-Yeah. – she agrees moving too.
After grabbing Andre's supplier, Jay, Kim and Antonio were in an interrogation room with him, trying to get some answers, with almost no success.
This guy wasn't willing to talk.
Hailey looks through the glass at her colleagues, taking a deep breath.
-He's laughing at us. – Adam hisses with clear irritation. He hasn't moved from his spot near the window since they put Jaylon in the interrogation office. – There's people dying and the kid's laughing. -
-If he doesn't want to talk, there's nothing we can do about it. – when she speaks she almost knows it's the wrong thing to say, but she doesn't have it in her to keep her guard up anymore.
Adam glares at her, before walking away from her and out of the room.
Taking a deep breath, Hailey runs a hand through her hair, looking back at his retreating form. He's slipping away from her.
That's the reason why she's surprised he calls her to meet a local dealer an informant tipped him about. They are used to working together under stressful situations, but standing in front of Phil Gamble, she hopes Adam is starting to realize his behavior is wrong.
-Told you. I got nothing to say. – Gamble says.
-We got six kids on the morgue because of your dope and you're gonna pull the "I got nothing to say card"? – Hailey whispers her question trying to keep her tone down.
-My dope? What makes you say that? – Phil Gamble questions her, but it's Adam who answers back.
-Phil, it's being sold in an area you control, and it's got your logo on it. – Ruzek replies and Phil seems to ponder on the information. –
-You sure about that? –
-Very. – Adam assures him while Hailey takes out her cellphone to show him a picture.
After showing him the drugs with his logo on it, Hailey asks him. – Come on Phil, what's going on here? Who's cutting your product with bad acid? That doesn't happen by accident. –
-Look, bro, it's clear you don't know what we're talking about. So, help us, help us get this crap of the street before it kills anybody else. -Adam tries a different approach trying to convince the guy. -We can work out some sort of deal alright? But you gotta help us now. -
But anything they try is useless. – No. Like I said before, I got nothing to say. – Phil says looking down at his notebook one more time, before looking at them again. -Now it's best you leave… officers. – he tells them, and Hailey can't believe what this guy is doing.
Adam is the first one to get up and move out of the place, with Hailey following soon after.
-Hey! Wait up! -she calls her boyfriend but he doesn't stop, simply starts to walk a little bit slower to wait for her. – I'm sorry that didn't work out. – she says hoping he can see that she's trying to support him in her own way. She knows he's going through the mourning of losing Al, but she can't help but miss the Adam from a few days ago. She needs him back.
-It's alright. We'll find something else. – he tells her, sliding his hand on hers so they can walk together. He's not looking at her, but he squeezes her hand on his own and she breathes a little easier with the contact.
After grabbing the car, they meet up with Jay and get back to the station to brief Antonio about the case. Dawson is clearly feeling the weight of being the leader, and Hailey feels sympathy towards him.
-No luck, man. Talked to a bunch of low level dealers. Kids really 16, 17, they don't know anything. I did confiscate this though. – Jay explains to Antonio while he, Hailey and Adam walk up to the Intelligence bullpen, showing him a bag of evidence with drugs with the logo spider on it.
-Yeah, we struck out too. Tried to squeeze this guy named Gamble, but he wasn't having it. – Hailey says as she takes of her jacket, walking towards her desk.
-Gamble? Who the hell is he? – Antonio asks them.
-Word is he controls the spot where the hot loads are being sold. Like I said, he shot us down pretty quickly. – she explains as she takes her seat looking at Antonio.
-Yeah, he seemed more confused than anything, like he had no idea the OD's were connected to his dope. – Adam says now seated at his desk, without looking or turning towards Antonio.
-How did you hear about this guy? – Antonio shoots back at them.
-Adam's CI. – Hailey answers back while going through some papers in her desk. These dealers were hard to find.
-I got a source who knows the area pretty good- Adam explains.
-A source? –
-Yeah. –
-This source on the books? – Dawson asks now only looking at Adam.
-Not yet. – Adam replies without taking his eyes of the screen.
-You got a name? – Antonio asks, and Upton can feel the change in his tone. She turns to look back at her boyfriend, expecting his answer.
-Excuse me? – Adam bits back, finally facing Antonio.
-You talking to Voight? – Antonio asks him.
-I'm talking to whoever can get as information…- Adam starts to yell over Antonio's words, but the current Intelligence chief doesn't let him finish.
-So, you're talking to him! – Antonio finally explodes, turning back to leave the bullpen, clearly pissed off.
Adam walks behind him yelling – We got six people dead! Who does it matter who I talk to or where do I get my information? I'm trying to solve the case! -he keeps yelling, as he walks back to his desk. – This is insane. – he says before sitting down again, ignoring his girlfriend on the other desk.
Hailey takes a deep breath, finally standing up to face him. She puts her hands over his desk before speaking. -Look, I know you're pissed about this Voight thing but that's your issue. Not mine. Don't jam me up in all this. Understand? – she asks raising her eyebrows with her last question, before turning around to leave him alone.
She knows he's listening to her, but she's not sure he understands before turning back to leave. He needs to learn not to take her for granted. She won't agree with him just because they are in a relationship.
She honestly cannot wait for this day to end.
Hours later, after grabbing the guys responsible for the bad dope on the street, Hailey remains leaned back against one of the police cars, in front of the barber shop that worked as a lab.
-Hey. – Kevin says as he walks up to her, smiling slightly. They are both still wearing their vests and she nods at him once.
-You sent him home? -Hailey asks without looking away from the barber shop.
Kevin stands next to her, nodding once. -Yeah, Kim and Jay offered to give him a ride. –
-Thanks. – she appreciates her colleague's gesture. She knows he's Adam's brother but she can help but feel he's doing it for her too.
-You know, he was the closest to Olinsky, besides Voight. -Kevin says it as a casual comment, but she knows what he means.
-I understand what's he going through, Kev. It's just… - she breathes in, without knowing how to put her feelings in words. She has never been good at it.
-I know, Hailey. It's ok. Just… don't give up on him. – he says patting her shoulder once, before moving away from her towards his own car.
It's hours later when the blonde detective knocks on his door, waiting for him to answer. It's been a long few days and after shower and new clothes, she feels a little bit like her old self.
For a minute she thinks he won't answer the door, but he proves her wrong a second later, when she sees his tired expression as he opens it.
It's clear he's taken a shower too, and his eyes also prove that he's cried a bit.
Her heart breaks a little bit for him in that moment. Hailey walks up to him and runs her finger through his beard, then reaching up to touch his neck.
It doesn't take him long to envelope her in a hug, just there in his front door. The petite blonde murmurs an "I love you, and I got you" before pressing a kiss to his lips.