20. Treadmill
The first time Rixton left Hailey on the treadmill, Ruzek came to find her. "Thought you hated running on those hamster wheels?"
She looked at him as she continued running. "Still do."
He leaned against it. "Then why you on it?"
Finally she stopped the wretched machine from a run and slowed it down to a walk. "Rix and I were supposed to workout before starting but he bailed on me, I guess."
Ruzek looked at her. "Don't know the guy that well, but he doesn't seem like the guy to bail. You try texting him?"
She shook her head. "Nope. Anyone else in?"
"Rojas, but that's it. Not even your boyfriend," Ruzek said, jokingly but Hailey knew that, they took separate vehicles this morning.
Vanessa poked her head in. "I've been looking all over for ya'll. Rixton just texted me an address. Do you know it?" She rattled off the address to Ruzek and Hailey.
Hailey looked at Ruzek sagely. "That's Big Bertha's address. I'll get changed."
Jay and Rixton were across town at Big Bertha's as Rixton had called him as Jay was on his way to the office.
"You know we don't exactly have a warrant to be doing what we are doing, right?" Jay asked, going through the couch cushions.
Rixton looked at him. "You've met Big Bertha, right?"
Jay nodded. "More than once."
"So have I. And I don't believe her overdose was an overdose."
Jay looked at the former Narcotics detective who was filling in for Atwater. "How'd you know about Big Bertha?"
"Who doesn't know her when you're in Narcs?" Rixton asked. "The amount of information she passed is in return for some good steaks was insane. All she wanted was a good steak in return. I was more than happy to oblige."
They continued looking around for stuff while they waited for the rest of the team to arrive and an update on Big Bertha's condition from Med. Jay wasn't really sure why Rixton called him first but he didn't question it. Voight had switched up the partners- Hailey and Burgess, Jay and Ruzek and Rixton and Rojas. They were all not a fan but Voight didn't want Burgess and Ruzek working together so quickly again and he thought Rojas might learn a thing or two from Rixton. Even Hailey had to admit Voight had a point about all that.
"I'm going to be really bold and come out and say this but you and Hailey are a lot more solid than you and Lindsay ever were," Rixton said, after rummaging through the kitchen.
Jay looked at him. "What makes you say that?"
"Well maybe you've matured in the two years I've been done but this relationship with Upton seems a hella lot more mature."
"Interesting perspective," Jay replied. He didn't deny it. He had grown up a lot and he had Hailey to thank for that. "A lot less drama, I can say that."
"No shit, Halstead."
Jay laughed. "Last time I talked to you about relationships, you were thinking about moving in with a girl and now Hailey says you are married?!"
"Didn't see that coming," Rixton muttered. "But yeah, we got married last year."
"Congrats, man. It looks good on you. I gotta ask, how and where did you meet someone outside the Chicago Police Department?"
Rixton shrugged. "Super romantic. A bar."
"Figures."
Hailey and Vanessa arrived to see them going through Big Bertha's things. "Whoa, you do this or was the place tossed?" Vanessa asked.
"We did it," Rixton replied. "By the way, is the rumor true that Aaron is at U of Michigan and someone from CPD helped him get there?"
"Where'd you hear that?" Jay asked.
Rixton shrugged. "Big Bertha, herself."
"Aaron did all the work, we just helped him file his Army ROTC scholarship packet," Hailey said.
Vanessa put up her hand. "Who's Big Bertha and Aaron?"
Jay laughed. "Big Bertha is probably the coolest lady you'll ever meet. And Aaron is the kid that Kevin, Hailey and I helped to get to Michigan. Remember Kahlia Davis?"
"Yeah. She got popped a couple weeks ago and some banger from the 45's took credit for the murder," Vanessa replied, not seeing how the dots connected.
"Big Bertha is Kahlia's aunt. And Aaron's mom," Hailey answered.
"And I'm guessing none of you think she overdose?" Vanessa asked.
Rixton winked. "Ding, ding."
The second time Rixton left Hailey on the treadmill was a week later. This time she texted him, asking where the flying fuck he was. Before she could even type out a text, he texted her. And it left her a ltitle perplexed.
From: Kenny Rixton
Meet me at Med in 45. And shower.
Hailey was highly annoyed at that but she got off the damned treadmill and dragged her ass to the locker room. Jay was in court that day with Voight so she was essentially in charge and that scared her a little. And she certainly didn't like Rixton giving her orders.
On her way out, she stopped by Platt's desk. "Any idea why Rixton would be at Med?"
"Big Bertha," was the answer that came from Platt's mouth.
Hailey nodded and put her wet hair in a messy bun. Before going to Med, she stopped by the grocery store and picked up from groceries before heading to the hospital. Given the fact that she knew she wasn't going to Emergency, she stopped by the front desk and flashed her badge and asked where Big Bertha's room was. She understood his shower part of the text now- she needed to look good for Big Bertha.
In there, she found Kenny joking with the older woman. "Found you."
"Hailey!" Big Bertha exclaimed. "Going home day today! This joker volunteered to drive me. I had no idea you two knew each other. What a small world."
Hailey rolled her eyes at Kenny. "I guess we're both going with you today."
When she got to Big Bertha's before Kenny and Big Bertha, she was shocked. The place was put back together. She had no idea who did it. But she put the steaks in the fridge and quietly left. They still had no idea how the older woman overdosed on morphine- something she was allergic to and something she was definitely not prescribed. But they would find out eventually and make them pay.
The third time Hailey was left on the treadmill was Jay's fault. But she had a sneaking suspicion that he would bail on her for the workout because it was sprint day and nobody liked sprint day. They both preferred running outside but below freezing temperatures in Chicago was nobody's idea of fun so treadmill it was. She was a little surprised that he'd bail giving the fact that she'd call him out on it but maybe that was his plan. Or maybe Jay hated sprints as much as Hailey did.
Burgess came into the gym. "He bail?"
"Of course. It's sprint day."
She laughed. "Don't blame him. Can't say I'm willing to do sprints with you, but I'll at least join you on the bike."
"At least someone doesn't bail on me for workouts," Hailey smiled at Kim.
Twenty minutes later, both Burgess and Hailey were tired and sweaty. Burgess eventually got off the bike and joined Hailey in her sprints. Jay leaned against the door as he watched them guzzle water. "Good workout, ladies?"
"Fuck you," Hailey said, not maliciously though.
He smiled at her. "Carly says hi."
"You purposely go meet your dancer CI to go blow me off on working out?" Hailey asked, as she gave him a sweaty hug.
He looked down at her and smiled. "Yeah."
She looked around to make sure no one was watching and then stood on her tiptoes and whispered in his ear. "Guess you'll just have to make it up to me later tonight."
He looked at her and winked. "Maybe." Bailing on her was probably his plan all along.
Next- U; Upgrade
