The next morning Jay woke up early, still in the brilliant mood he and been in the night before. He started his usual morning routine before going on his daily morning run: breakfast, get dressed, find keys, and grab headphones then leave. Jay was a man of habit. He'd always had a routine, even when he was young; it relaxed him and helped him get things done.

He walked out of his apartment at around 6:30 as always and made his way out of the building and across the street. After plugging his headphones in and shuffling his music, Jay started running his usual route.

After jogging for a good 20 minutes, Jay stopped for a rest. He took a gulp of water from the bottle he had brought with him and sat on a nearby bench, pausing is music and taking in his surroundings. He like this, sitting on a quiet bench in the early morning just thinking. Chicago could be a busy place at times and that could get suffocating so it was nice to just sit once in a while and just enjoy the silence and the beauty of the city that had awarded Jay with so many opportunities. He took another swig from his water bottle and starting his music up once again, setting a steady pace from the beat of the song.

Around 10 minutes later Jay approached one of his favourite places to run: a small park not far from his building. It was quite an enclosed place and Jay felt at peace running here. There was a big open space with a small children's play area which was unsurprisingly empty at this time, behind which there was a wooded area for runners like Jay who wanted to pass through. Jay once again took out his headphones, having got bored of the monotonous beats he was listening to.

As he carried on running he faintly heard his name being called. Jay turned around and could just about see a small silhouette making its way towards him; he smiled broadly when he realised who it was. "Hey, Anna"

"Hey?" Anna fumed, "That's all you have to say? After I have been running after you shouting you for about 20 minutes! Seriously, you must be deaf or something. You must be freaking Usain Bolt or something. Honestly I think I might pass out." She was out of breath now, steadying herself on a nearby tree trunk as she attempted to catch her breath. Her brown hair was tied back neatly with a single hair tie and her face was make-up free. Jay found himself staring at her intriguing eyes once again.

He reached a hand out and grabbed one of her shoulders to help calm her breathing but couldn't help himself from laughing at the sight of his worn out neighbour that stood in front of him. "Anna, I'm so sorry. I had my music on, I didn't hear you." Jay passed his half empty bottle of water to Anna which she accepted gratefully, taking multiple gulps from his water bottle.

"Damn, you sure do run fast," Anna told an amused Jay "and why the hell are you laughing at me?" she glared at her neighbour, but had to fight back a chuckle from escaping her own mouth, Jay's laugh seemed to be contagious.

Jay managed to stop laughing long enough to form a sentence, "You do realise I basically chase people for a living right?"

Anna smiled sheepishly and looked at her feet in embarrassment, "that detail may have been forgotten." Both she and Jay continued laughing until Anna's cheeks hurt from chuckling so much. "Anyway," she interrupted "there was actually a reason I chased you for a few blocks."

"And what would that be?" questioned Jay.

"Well I wanted to invite you to have lunch with me today but then I realised I never got your number so I couldn't. Then I happened to see you whilst on my morning run so I figured I could kill two birds with one stone." She laughed awkwardly, subconsciously playing with a strand of her dark brown locks. "So, what do you say?" Anna asked expectantly.

Jay thought about it and was ready to agree however he realised that Intelligence could get a new case at any time and didn't want to have to cancel on Anna last minute. "Sorry, I can't."

Anna's hopeful look dropped off her face at those words. She had honestly thought that Jay would've said yes. Then again she had pointed a gun at his head yesterday; maybe that was why he'd declined. "Oh, don't worry about it, I get it."

Jay had noticed her demeanour change and felt bad; he knew she probably thought he didn't want to go which was completely wrong. He watched as Anna started to walk away. "Hey, wait up." He shouted to Anna. She slowed and allowed Jay to catch up with her. "What if I cook for you tonight instead?" Jay proposed, "I'm not sure what time I'll finish work but let's say 8 and I'll text you if anything changes."

Anna smiled broadly and nodded. "Sure sounds good but don't you need my number to text me?" she asked, holding out her phone for Jay to type his number into. He obliged and quickly added his number into her phone, passing her his phone to do the same.

As Anna handed him back his phone, it buzzed with a text from Erin appearing on the screen, telling him they had a crime scene and she was on her way. "Shit, I've gotta go." He told Anna, "I'll see you later"

Jay sprinted back to his apartment where he got changed and was out of the door in record time. He ran back down the stairs to the front of the building where Erin was just pulling up. As he climbed into the car he was met by a question from Erin. "Why are you late?"

"There were road works just down the street where I run; I had to take a detour." Jay told Erin, lying through his teeth.

Erin scoffed, "Bullshit," she said "you and I both know there was no road works anywhere round here.

Jay held his hands up in surrender and sighed, "I got held up,"

"Uh huh" Erin replied, still not believing a word coming out of Jay's mouth. "Who'd you play scrabble with this time?"

"No one," Jay answered and Erin raised her eyebrows in response. "I'm serious!" Jay persisted, "I did not go out with anyone last night! Why do you think so low of me?"

"Maybe because I know you Jay Halstead." She laughed, "Now come on, tell me who she is."

Jay sighed in defeat, "Her name is Anna, and I have a date with her tonight." He told Erin, who's mouth turned up into a grin.

"See that wasn't so hard was it?" Jay shook his head sarcastically, making Erin laugh. "Anyway," she continued "what're you gonna wear?"

"I have no idea, Erin I barely know what I have in my closet!" Jay exclaimed causing Erin to roll her eyes.

Sighing loudly, Erin turned to Jay as she stopped the car at a red light. "Wear the blue shirt I got you for Christmas last year."

"Okay," Jay agreed "but I still don't get why it matters."

"Ugh, you're such a guy."