[A/N: This is based on the promo for the 6x17 episode involving the sniper. Depending how things go with Hailey, Jay, and Adam in the show, I think I'll continue to loosely base chapters in accordance with the rest of this season. We'll see how it goes... for the time being, hope this one suffices. Thanks for reading, as always!]
Hailey Upton was sitting by her locker mulling over the days' events. They had caught the sniper, and at the end of the day, that should be all that mattered – that the cases were resolved with as minimal damage as possible. She wished that was all she could say was on her mind, but it wasn't. She thinks back to hours before when the sniper barely missed her, by the grace of luck Antonio getting to him first; the bullet landing a foot or so behind her into the empty office building. She remembers turning around to see Jay's worried face running toward her from across the park, then him suddenly halting. Next thing she knew, Adam was at her side asking her if she was okay and pulling her into a hug. She smiled and nodded at Jay from Adam's embrace, acknowledging to him that she was fine… and her heart broke a little more as she watched Jay give her one of his nods back and start to walk away.
Things between all of them have been more complicated recently, to say the least. She's been butting heads with Adam more and more as of late, and while the reasoning she's maintaining is his "mini-Voightness," she knows there's more to it than that… she just isn't ready to admit it fully yet. The bottom line being, her views will always align more with Jay's these days, then they will ever align with Adam's. Her and Jay have just grown together… as people, as partners, as friends… they've brought the best out in the other. She doesn't see that happening with Adam. She cares about him, and she knows he cares about her and that he has a huge heart, she just doesn't know if there's a real future there. She's always known. Just like she's always known that her feelings for Jay are just… complicated. There are so many different lines being crossed, and it's driving her moral-code soul insane. She never meant for things to get this far. She knows things have gotten worse since that case with Aidan, her and Jay have been even more in sync, and Adam has gone more off the rails. Jay just looks at her differently now since that day… of course, if she's being really honest with herself, he's been looking at her differently since he found out about her and Adam. She's tried to convince herself it's all in her head though, it's the only way to keep her semi-sane.
When they finally got back to the precinct, Jay had come over to her, putting his hand comfortingly on her shoulder, and sharing a look that only the two of them can. He wanted to make sure she was okay, and she assured him she was. Everyone else came barreling up the stairs then, and the moment was over. Kim announced to everyone that they should go to Molly's and celebrate, and while most were on board, Hailey wasn't. Adam tried to get her to agree to go in private, but she politely declined and told him to have fun. He was hesitant at first, but didn't want to cause yet ANOTHER fight between them. Fast forward to now, Hailey finally slams her locker shut, and mind made up (before she changes it again), she runs outside to catch Jay at his truck before he leaves. He's opening the door when she runs over and looks a little surprised to see her.
"Hey…" Hailey says.
"Hey" Jay replies.
"You're not going to Molly's are you?"
"Nah, not if you're not. Not really in the mood to socialize, been a long day." He states simply.
"Yea, you're telling me…" she hesitates briefly, trying to talk herself through it. It's just Jay, Hailey, breathe! "…Pizza and beer at my place then?"
He gives her his token grin. "Sure. I'll grab the beer and meet you in 20?"
"Yea, sounds good!" she smirks back.
She starts walking to her car, unable to stop smiling to herself. She tries to calm her beating heart, telling herself it's just a normal night with her partner like always… but even her subconscious knows there's simply more to it now, no matter how much she wants to deny it…
Jay is sitting in his truck outside of Hailey's place trying to get his emotions in check before he goes in. The two of them haven't hung out as much since that night Adam called her while they were at the bar, neither emotionally ready for another awkward moment. And they really haven't spent a lot of outside time together since the Aidan case… Jay had felt an extra charge between them that day, and he needed to keep his distance. After all, no matter how he felt about her, she was with Adam, and he was his friend… and she was his partner. No, he had to get this in check, and fast. Something about the way she looked at him today though made him agree. That and the thought of almost losing her again, made him realize he'll take any and every moment he can get with her.
Jay lets out a heavy sigh. To say life has been unfair to him would be a bit of an understatement. He's been able to keep all of his triggers in check thanks to Hailey and her forcing him into getting help… he can do his best to block out the loss of his parents, the loss of Al, even the loss of Erin (though, he can honestly say that he's been over her for a long time now, also, thanks to his current partner)… but he's been finding it harder and harder recently to block the feelings he has for Hailey. It makes him angry in a way… angry that Adam was able to realize what he couldn't before him… angry that he's too damn unselfish… even angry that he's gone and fallen for another partner. He tries to convince himself things between them romantically would just end badly like they did with Erin… but he knows deep down that him and Hailey are more alike and compatible than anyone else he's ever met… and the fact he can't be with her is becoming too much for him to accept. But, that's a worry for a different time. Tonight, he's just glad he gets to spend some time with her like they always used to.
By the time he walks inside her place, the pizza delivery guy is minutes behind. They grab their beers and plates and go plop in front of her TV. The two of them are just quietly enjoying the other's company as they eat and sip their beers.
After wiping his mouth and taking another long chug of beer, Jay finally speaks.
"So, anything you want to talk about? "
Hailey gives him her trademark smirk. "Like what?"
"I don't know… like, oh, getting shot at? Or preferring to be on your couch with me and shitty beer over free shots?"
"I'm just glad you can finally admit that you buy shitty beer!" they both chuckle at her joke.
"But, seriously Hailey…"
"I'm fine, Jay, really."
They share one of their looks, and Jay has to force himself to turn away.
"Ok…"
"It's not like a bullet hasn't ever come at me before. Hell, I took one to the vest in an undercover and had to play dead until my unit busted in. " She tells him matter-of-factly.
"You never told me about that one before."
"Yea, it's supposed to be pretty under wraps…"
He starts laughing to himself.
"What's so funny?" she asks.
"Nothing, I'm just remembering the first time we met…"
She gives him her sarcastic, want-to-enlighten-me, look.
"You told me if you talked about your past you could get fired and not to be offended but…"
"…This is the first time in the back of your van…" she finishes for him and they both crack up.
"Wow! I forgot about that! No wonder you seemed to dislike me when I first joined the team." She says.
"What!? I never disliked you… I just figured you'd be a hard one to crack, much like someone else I may know…"
"Yea, good thing we're both open books, or else our partnership may have never worked!" she jokes and they both almost tear up from laughter.
"It was certainly a bumpy road, but I'm glad we were finally able to open up to each other, at least."
"Me too!…" she quietly whispers.
They stare at each other for a long time, the electric charge palpable between them. Neither is sure how long the moment lasts, but both know it's far too long for either of their sanities. Luckily the moment is broken by both of their phones vibrating. They open the group text and it's a picture from Kevin of Platt, Adam, Kim, and Antonio singing drunkenly on the faux-stage. They chuckle and breathe a sigh of relief for the interruption.
"Looks fun… maybe we should go and stop being so emo." Jay says.
"Yea, you're probably right. Let's go!" Hailey agrees and gets up from the couch.
She goes to grab their empty bottles the same time as Jay does and their hands graze… They both quickly pull back, trying to ignore and not feel the obvious spark. They swiftly get their stuff together to leave then, knowing they have to get the hell out of there… being alone together right now is far too complicated for either of them…
