Just two more chapters to go with this story. Thank you so much for your support, glad you like it so far.

Chapter 10

They spent a quiet, cozy evening, talked about the day, the case, the whole situation, and fell asleep holding each other tight.

However, in the middle of the night Jay woke up. Hailey's sleep was uneasy, she was tossing and turning, and she had moved to the other side of the bed, as far away from him as possible. Slowly, Jay's sleeping mind began to realize what was going on, and in order to calm her down, he tentatively touched her shoulder.

"Hailey," he whispered. "It's okay."

It didn't do any good; Hailey slapped his hand, shied away from his touch.

"Don't touch me!" she murmured in her sleep. "Don't!"

Jay wasn't sure how to react. "Shh," he whispered. "It's okay, hon."

"No!" she suddenly cried out, pushing him away, fighting an invisible attacker.

"Hailey," a bit louder.

"No!" she yelled, then sat up straight, buried her face in her hands and cried. All while still fast asleep.

Jay still was unsure what to do, it was terrible to see her like that. Perhaps he should wait until she snapped out of her nightmare, but that felt so cruel, so wrong, therefore he stood up, walked around the bed to her side, sat down next to her and pulled her into a firm embrace. He felt Hailey's body stiffen, and he tried to calm her down with soothing words, rocking her gently. At first she resisted, tried to fight him, but Jay didn't let go, and suddenly her body relaxed in his embrace, she buried her face in his shoulder. He noticed her tears on his skin. Jay felt so sorry, and so guilty. After all, he had treated her badly today. It didn't matter that they had agreed to play their UC mission out like that, it didn't matter that it had been Hailey's idea. His behavior had triggered this nightmare. And he had to do something.

"Hailey, it's just a nightmare," he whispered over and over again, his hand on the back of her head. "Wake up, hon."

"Jay?" finally he heard her soft voice. And again, "Jay?"

"Yes, it's me. Nobody will hurt you."

She wrapped her arms around him, needed to feel his strength, the comfort his warm body gave her.

"What happened, Jay?" she asked. "I'm frightened, as if something bad had happened."

"You had a nightmare," Jay softly explained. "But it's over now. It's all good."

"Yeah."

"Want to go downstairs? Do you want a cup of tea?" He was afraid she would fall asleep and fall right back into this nightmare.

"No, it's okay. Stay. Talk to me."

Jay obliged, got back into bed, pulled her into his arms, and softly talked to Hailey, just like she wanted. Talked about all and nothing, plans for the weekend, a bike ride into the woods, until he noticed that her breathing had calmed down and she was asleep.

The nightmare didn't return that night, but Jay's worries stayed. What had he done? And what could he do to help her? This UC operation had to stop!

Back in the office in the morning, the unit gathered all the information they had obtained until this point. It turned out that Pat James had received a similar "offer" from Begnini after having given him the money. Pat had finally decided to trust Intelligence and Adam specifically, and as soon as Begnini and Agnello had left, he told Adam about this. After his wife had been assaulted, he didn't have the courage to stand up to the Outfit.

"How's Moira?" Hailey asked. "Did he say anything?"

"A bit better," Adam replied. "She's recovering well. And your father?"

"Not sure," Hailey answered evasively. "They can't stop the internal bleeding."

"Are you okay?" Kevin asked. Like everyone else he had noticed how tired and worn Hailey looked. "How are you coping? Anything we can do to help?"

Hailey shrugged. "I'm fine, Kev, thanks. Can't wait for this case to be over."

Kevin nodded, smiled at her encouragingly, then quickly looked in Jay's direction. Jay nodded almost invisibly, I've got this.

"I'm convinced that they will return tonight and demand an answer," Voight brought the attention back to the case. "So, Upton and Halstead will be on location, as well as Ruzek. Atwater, Burgess, you and I will patrol the area for any suspicious activity. I suspect Ramirez has received a similar business suggestion."

"Sarge, I'll drop Hailey off at the restaurant and will join you then. I won't be too far away if anything happens, but I'd rather pull back a bit after yesterday."

Voight nodded. "Fine. Burgess, have we found out anything about the licenses and the financial issues?"

"Maybe," Kim put two photos on the whiteboard. "Tony Agnello's sister-in-law works with the city. I haven't been able to find any actual evidence that she accessed financial data or can help with gambling licenses, but it's highly probable. I already asked our tech guys to look closer into her finances and her activities. And we should bring her in."

"We'll wait for what happens today before we do that. Did you make it urgent?" Voight asked.

"Yes, we should have some results by tonight."

"So, how are we going to play our relationship today?" Jay asked Hailey as they were on their way to Lake Forest.

"Stop here," she answered impulsively. "Jay, grab my arm, give me a bruise."

"What?" Jay stopped the car, stared at Hailey as if she were out of her mind.

"Grab my arm, make it look like you gave me a bruise."

"Hailey, I can't do that." Especially after her nightmare Jay simply couldn't do that.

"Of course you can." Hailey didn't like her own idea, but it might give her some more credibility. "A visible bruise, and then today you can behave all guilty, extra nice."

"I don't know," Jay shook his head.

"Jay, I'm fine, honestly." Hailey took his hand, put it on her upper arm. "And you can make it up to me tonight, babe."

Jay swallowed hard, before he reluctantly pressed his fingers and thumb into Hailey's arm. She flinched, and immediately Jay let go. "You okay?"

"Sure, Jay," she smiled at him. "That wasn't too bad." Her arm showed red marks from his hand, and Jay felt sick from seeing it. He had done this!

"I'm so sorry, Hailey."

"Jay, it's fine," Hailey assured him. "This is nothing like the real thing."

"We should have used make-up."

"You're right, but I didn't think about this back in the office." Hailey shrugged it off. "Now let's go, I can't be late."

Jay parked the truck right in front of the restaurant, where they kissed good-bye. He softly caressed Hailey's cheek, kissed her tenderly. "Be careful, okay? And call me if anything happens."

Hailey smiled at him. "I will, Jay. Don't worry too much. I'll be fine." With another kiss, she left the truck and entered the restaurant under Jay's watchful eyes.

He hoped this act wouldn't go any further, he couldn't stomach treating Hailey like that, even if she told him it was okay. When she was out of his sight, he drove off to meet with the others.

"What's wrong, Jay?" Kim asked when she saw him.

"I hate this act," he replied. "I hate pretending to be an abuser. Especially with Hailey."

"I know, Jay," Kim assured him. "And Hailey knows too."

"I hope so."

The unit decided to patrol the area, both on foot and by car, and Jay paid Ramirez another visit. He hoped nobody would notice him entering La Bodega through the back door.

Pablo didn't seem happy to see him. "What is it, Detective?"

"Just checking in on you, I want to make sure you're okay."

"Why wouldn't I be?"

"Any new activities? Did they approach you with new ideas, gambling perhaps?"

Pablo looked down.

"So they did? Pablo, we're sure something will happen today, and we'll be in the area all day long. We'll be around until we've put an end to this. Please call me if you see anything suspicious, okay?"

Hesitantly he took the card with Jay's UC-phone number.

"It will be over soon, I promise. Until then watch out for yourself, will you?" Jay turned around and left. This meant that they had to keep their eyes on three businesses at least. He wondered where they would show up first.

In the meantime Hailey had arrived in the restaurant, changed into her work clothes, when Kathy, the waitress, approached her.

"Hailey, are you okay?" she pointed at the bruise on Hailey's arm.

"Sure," Hailey pretended to be embarrassed, looked down.

"What did he do?"

"Nothing, it was my fault."

"Hailey, you sound like your mother!"

So Kathy knew about her parents?

"No, it's nothing like that. Don't worry, Kathy, I'm fine."

"Listen, Hailey, if I see Jay doing anything here that hurts you, I'll be the one to call the cops if you won't do it."

Hailey barely managed to suppress a smile. "Thanks Kathy, but it will be fine." It was good to know that there were people willing to help in such a situation. At least when it concerned her. Nobody had done this for her mother, though.

The restaurant was still empty, but the lunch crowd would arrive soon. Hailey joined her brother in the back room.

"Morning Danny."

"Hey," he looked at her inquiringly. "You okay?"

"Sure. Any news here?"

"Not yet. Nobody showed up last night."

"Danny, what about that couple sitting at table 21 last night. Do you know them?"

Danny thought for a second, then shook his head. "I think they showed up a few weeks ago for the first time. Now that you mention it, they have been here every other night since then. Why?"

"Do you have a name? A credit card receipt?"

"So you think they are involved? Let me check for a receipt."

As Danny looked through his credit card receipts, Hailey looked into the main room. A few people had arrived already.

"Here's the credit card receipt. Table 21, Anna DiStefano. Does that help?"

"I'll give the name to my colleagues."

"Hailey, they just arrived," Danny noticed. "Same table."

"I'll call Jay." This could mean it – whatever "it" was – might start soon.

Jay was in the neighborhood, had just left La Bodega, therefore he could be in the restaurant within minutes. Before sitting down in his usual booth, he approached Hailey, kissed her on the cheek. She pretended to freeze for a second, Jay pretended not to notice.

"Good morning, honey," he said, loud enough for everyone to hear. Just as agreed he was extra nice today. That wasn't difficult. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, Jay," she answered cautiously. "Anything I can do for you?"

"I'm good, honey. I'll just sit down and have lunch. You know I love you, don't you?"

"Yes, I do. I'll be with you in a second, okay?"

"Sure."

Jay kissed Hailey's cheek again before he returned to his booth, all too aware that Danny and Kathy were watching the two of them closely, obviously ready to interfere should he be the slightest bit aggressive.

He briefly noticed the ominous couple and made sure he sat down so that he could have an eye on them and on the back door.

They didn't have to wait for very long. From the corner of the eye he noticed an unmarked truck, which turned into the back alley, the couple at table 21 tensed, and just seconds later Danny and Hailey hurried into the back room.

"Guys, it starts," Jay whispered into his microphone. He automatically put his hand to his earpiece, making sure he could hear exactly what was going on in the back, when suddenly the front door opened and Marco Gambino entered. As if he knew exactly where to go, he walked across the room to the back door and into the adjacent room.

"Where are you?" Jay's voice was more urgent now. "Gambino just arrived. He's in the back with Hailey."

"Going in," he heard Voight's voice, and in the same moment there was noise in the back, loud voices, falling objects.

DiStefano and her companion stood up and turned towards the back door.

"Stop! Chicago PD! Hands in the air!" Jay was behind them within seconds, joined by Kevin who just came through the front door. The two men exchanged a quick glance.

Kevin handcuffed the couple, with Jay watching closely. Kathy and the guests were frozen in their spots.

More noise from the back, a woman cried out. Hailey!

"Kev, you got this?"

"Go, Jay!" Kevin just answered, his gun still directed at the two cuffed offenders, who were lying on the ground. He ordered a patrol car to the restaurant.

Jay ran to the door, ready to help Hailey and the others, and found chaos in the back room.

He could see Voight standing in the back, his gun pointed at Gambino, who was right behind the door, one man – Begnini – held Danny and pointed a gun at his head, and Hailey was fighting another man. He ran and pulled that guy away, threw him on the ground.

"You okay?" he asked Hailey.

"Yeah," she panted and pulled out her gun.

"Gun down!" Jay yelled at Begnini. "Put it down, let him go or I'll shoot!"

Begnini shook his head vigorously. "You'll shoot me one way or another." He shook a struggling Danny.

"Gun down or I'll shoot!" Jay repeated. He could see the panic in Danny's eyes, the determination in Begnini's. Jay saw something in Begnini's eyes change, noticed a tiny movement in his hand and shot. Begnini fell down on floor, let go of Danny.

Gambino watched the whole scene without showing any reaction, and he didn't resist when Voight handcuffed him.

Hailey ran across the room to her brother, helped him sit up.

"Danny, are you okay?" Hailey knelt down next to her brother, who was clearly shaken up.

"Yeah," he answered weakly. "You got them?"

Hailey looked around, exchanged a glance with Jay. "Yes, we got them. It's over, Danny."