A/N 1: I haven't really sat down with my laptop just writing for hours in about six or seven years. I've been watching a lot of Chicago PD recently during this time of uncertainty and my love for Upstead has sparked a love inside of me that I can't shake. I love their slow burn love story and how natural it feels between them.

As for the latest episode, Why do the writer's keep sending the women Jay loves to New York? It's unfair. Now we have to wait until the next season for anything from them! Unless the writers want to give us some good Jay missing Hailey angst. Or Jay telling Voight off you his decision to send his partner away. I'm all for that!

Anyway, here is (probably) another little snippet of what us Upstead shippers want to have happened between our favorites. I guess this is also a little introduction to the other CPD/Upstead fans to my writing as well. I'm just dipping my toe in and testing the waters with this. I do have Upstead and Burzek fanfictions with actual chapters, which are both in the beginning stages of being planned out, if there is any interest!

She stops and stares into the window of the bar, looking straight at the familiar back she's could spot in any crowd.

As much as she wanted to tell Jay when they were still at the station together, she wanted to take a second and push down the fact that Voight had reminded her briefly of her father. When her sergeant had gotten in her face and screamed at her, something in her had immediate switched to keep herself from breaking. She had to remain stoic to protect herself in this situation because she made herself a promise that she wouldn't let that man break her.

Even though she doesn't like the fact she has to leave, she knows that Voight is doing this for her own good. She can be angry at him all she wants to but she does want to find her place within the unit again.

When Hailey starts to walk over to him, Jay turns as if he could sense that she was in the room. Their bond definitely gives off the vibe that they can still detect each other without even having to be around each other physically.

"Hey," Jay greets her, "I noticed you stayed back after we were dismissed."

"Yeah. Voight wanted to talk to me in his office."

Jay nods. "Is everything okay? I'm asking because you seem a bit off and you know we can tell when the other is lying."

Hailey's teeth skim over her lip. There is no way that she could lie to Jay about this. He's going to find out one way or another. It's going to be extremely obvious that she's not there. She wants to be the one to tell him, after all Jay is her partner and she wants to be the only one he hears things about her from.

"Um, I have an assignment." She pauses. "It's in New York."

"I'm going with you." He blurts out.

She shakes her head, even though she should know by now that he would react this way. "You're not. This isn't-"

"No," he's quick to interrupt her, "when I told you I'd follow you anywhere Hailey, I meant it. I looked right at you because I wanted you to know that I've got your back no matter what. No matter where we are; we're together in this. Always." He's practically pleading with her.

Hailey knows that Jay meant every word he's ever told her. Hailey's told Jay plenty of things too - that she's trusted him since they first met and that she's go with him wherever he went. She's never had a partner like Jay Halstead. There's never been a man in her life that has been someone she can fully rely on. There's no one that's ever protected her in the way Jay has. Hailey's built up many walls over the years and she's never let them down for anyone before Jay - and most likely will never let anyone else in after him.

"So what? You're going to go back home, pack a bag, and go with me to New York?" She asks him, slightly shaking her head. As much as she'd love to have Jay by her side, she knows this is only going to be something Voight thinks will help her. Jay is still needed in Chicago. There's no reason for him to follow her to New York because he wouldn't be any use. Hailey doesn't want Jay to feel like he's useless because he's the exact opposite.

He means so much to the city of Chicago, to the rest of their unit, and so much to her - more than he even knows.

Jay doesn't respond. His eyes briefly drift down to the floor before looking back to her. He swallows back. "I don't like this. It doesn't make any sense. Why is Voight assigning you to New York?"

Hailey lets out a sigh. "I don't like it either but it's a non-negotiable situation."

She can't bring herself to tell him why. She doesn't want to descend into a darkness that she can't free herself from. She can't make Jay be the one to pull her out of it and she knows Jay would do whatever he could to bring her back. She'd do the exact same thing if their roles were reversed. Hell, she's done it a few times already and has felt the fear and pain of thinking that he was dead. She doesn't want him to ever feel that fear and pain about her.

They let each other drag the other through Hell and let each other learn of all of their demons along the way.

"I'm really going to miss you. I feel like we've only just got back to where we were before I was shot."

It still hurts Hailey to hear, even though he's standing right in front other perfectly healthy. She hadn't been there to protect him like she should have been and being left in the waiting room with the thought of having Will tell her that he didn't make it would feel like she was shot too, right in her chest. When Jay pulled through, Hailey wanted to tell Jay that she was in love with him and she didn't want to lose the chance to say it before it was too late.

But she still hasn't been able to tell him and she knows telling him right before she heads off to New York isn't the right time to be confessing her every thought and feeling she's only just begun processing.

Instead, she keeps to their narrative.

"We always fall right back and it'll be just like that after all of this is over. We can't act like this is the end, okay?" Hailey gives him a look, waiting for him to agree with her.

"I'm going to miss you too. It's only for a few weeks, Jay. I'll be back before you know it. I'm not leaving you." She offers him a small smile, trying to reassure him that nothing could really keep her away from him.

"Now I have to go home, pack up, and break the news to Rojas." She crosses her arms over her chest and shakes her head. "Do you think you can check in on her for me while I'm gone? It's tough on her right now and I just want to make sure she can come out of this on the other side."

Jay nods. "Of course. She's going to be all right. She's a tough one. Just like her mentor." He lets out a chuckle and Hailey rolls her eyes at him.

He is right about Vanessa's strength. So far, they've all been impressed with the way their newest teammate has adapted within the group. She can take down men larger than she is and make it look effortless. Hailey knows Vanessa Rojas is meant for Intelligence, and with time Vanessa will know it too.

Vanessa also is the only one who knows her true feelings about Jay. It's not something Hailey's use to talking about yet but Vanessa seems to know Hailey's feeling more than she does. Showing her emotions is one of her toughest battles and being vulnerable is a place she doesn't let herself go to that often. Hailey's never had many girl friends but the women in her squad feel more like sisters to her at this point. At first, she had no clue if she'd fit in with them but luckily it hadn't been too rough of start.

"Thank you, Jay."

He nods again and Hailey can see that his eyes want to tell her more but he's not allowing himself to go there. For right now, it's for the best.

"Don't go too crazy without me." She tries to joke with him.

Jay pulls Hailey in for a hug, his broad body shielding hers and protecting her like it always does. "I can't promise anything. The girl that keeps me grounded is running off on me."

She pulls herself away from the hug and feels as the warmth from Jay's body begins to leave hers. Hailey smiles at him again and lets her eyes linger on him. Soon she won't be able to look to him for the comfort and safety he brings to her each day. The next time she'll lay her eyes on Jay Halstead will be when she returns to him, when she returns home. His blue eyes will be the first thing she looks for. His arms will be the only ones she'll be running to.

A/N 2: A little sloppy right? I want to do a follow up to this with how Jay is coping without his partner, or I might just stick to outlining for my other works. We'll see where my mind goes.