Kevin

Kevin jogged back to the car from his favourite coffee shop with two cups of coffee and a pastry bag. He slumped to his seat and passed another cup and the bag to Hailey, who was sitting in the passenger seat.

"Thanks, I owe you! I was going to die for caffeine deprivation. Oh, I love these", she thanked him and seemed to almost inhale her favourite pastry .

"My pleasure, girl", Kevin answered. He looked when Hailey devoured her precious treat. Such a little girl with such a apetit.

"That was amazing! Jay and his healthy eating habits have ruined me. I get too little sugar!", she moaned.

Kevin chuckled. That was interesting. He knew Haley and Jay spent much time together, but did they eat together so often? In addition he knew that Hailey's complaints were partly exaggerated. He has seen how often Jay brought Hailey her favourite pastry when bringing her every morning coffee delivery. Everyone in the unit knew that Jay spoiled his partner (not so) secretly. Albeit Vanessa had been only with the courage to say it aloud. Remembering Vanessa brought a smile to Kevin's face. Damn he missed her!

Kevin really enjoyed working with Hailey. They had the same sense of humor and working with her was always a great pleasure. They worked well together. Sure he liked working with all his teammates, but with everyone it was a little different. With Kim he had a special bond, they had been friends since patrol. When life was hard, Kim was his rock. Adam was one of his best friends and working with him was usually very smooth. Until it wasn't… but at the end of the day, they were always friends. Cooper was the newest. Kevin liked him, but with him it was the most different. Kevin wanted to think he was kind of a mentor to Cooper. At least he hoped he could be. Jay was most private of his team members. Kevin thought Jay didn't let anyone in completely, except Hailey. But Jay was always solid. He was professional, a good cop. Kevin respected Jay's way to work. He felt that Jay had a similar moral compass than Kevin himself, it made him feel safe when Jay was leading the team in the field more often today. He had begun to think that Jay could be the next sergeant in the Intelligence and he liked the idea.

Jay and Hailey were usually the most tight knitted partners in the team, but today Voight had wanted Jay with him and ordered Hailey to go with Kevin. Not that he would complain! Like said, he loved to work with Hailey.

They had met his CI and were driving back to the district. Hailey had been even happier and more talkative than usual. Kevin glanced at her while driving a car. There was something in her that he couldn't fully define. Something good. Something very good.

Hailey looked back. "What? Do I have something in my face?"

"No. Well, yes. But not the way you think. You just smile a lot nowadays", Kevin hinted.

"I always smile a lot. I have been known as a happy person, you know?", Hailey dodged his effort.

"Sure you are. But that's not what I mean. You sure there isn't anything special happening in your life, Miss Upton?"

"I don't understand what you are meaning. You see me at work almost everyday. With our hours, when do you think I would find any happening?", Hailey presented ignorance.

"Oh, the night is long… Ya sure that there isn't any dark stranger in your life? Or not a stranger? "

"You have a terribly wild imagination, dude", Hailey giggled.

They had arrived at the parking lot and Hailey hopped quickly out of the car. "Come on, we have a case to be solved."

Kevin sighed and followed her in. He was sure there's something going on. Hailey was being super cheery. Her comment about Jay's eating habits. Maybe he should talk with Kim. That woman has a super senses regarding love.

Little did he know, he really didn't have an opportunity to talk about his suspicions with Kim for the next couple of days. Their current case turned out to be tricky. They had worked long hours for days and everyone was really exhausted. Case was finally closed and Kevin was writing his report. Just Hailey and Jay were left besides him, others had gone home already.

Kevin looked to the break room. Jay had gone to get some coffee and Hailey had followed him. He saw Jay leaning on the counter. Hailey walked in and Jay turned to face her. They seemed to talk. Jay smiled at Hailey, with his eyes tired but the smile so soft and warm. Kevin couldn't see Hailey's face. There's something intimate in the scene. When Jay looked at Hailey his gaze was somehow more tender than before. Kevin knew they were close, had been a long time, maybe this isn't any different than before. But then he saw Hailey to step closer and hug Jay. Jay didn't hesitate to hug her back. It seemed natural as if it were not the first time. Kevin blinked his eyes. He was quite sure he had just seen Jay kissing the top of Hailey's head. This definitely was something.

It was a quick hug as if they had immediately remembered that they were at work. They pulled apart and came back to the bullpen. Kevin quickly looked at his computer.

Hailey looked like she could crash at any moment. She yawned and Kevin could hear her stomach rumbling.

"Hailey, why don't you go home and get some food? I can finish this", asked Jay, his voice soft.

Kevin could see Hailey hesitating, she was going to protest. But Jay was quicker. "Hails, it's ok. You're exhausted. Besides, even Voight has already left. And it isn't like Kevin and I are gonna stay longer than it's necessarily. We'll leave soon for sure."

Hailey looked at Jay, her eyes somehow asking something. Kevin could see Jay to nod a little. Oh, this thing again, he thought. This weird speechless communication. He should be used to it. Hailey and Jay had done it for years, but it always felt like those two had some psychical connection. But like always, it seemed to work.

Hailey took her jacket. "Fine. I'm gonna go home and order some pizza. See you guys! Don't be late!" She looked Jay in the eyes and again Kevin got a feeling that something had said without actually saying it aloud.

"We won't. Bye!" Jay reassured her.

"Relax girl, see ya tomorrow", answered Kevin.

Kevin had finished his report and saw that Jay was also shutting down his computer. When writing his report, Kevin had thought, what he had just witnessed. He couldn't hold back anymore.

"Are you together? I mean, you and Hailey… Has something changed?"

Jay looked at him. Like always, it was hard to read him. Jay took a deep breath.

"Yes."

"Yes. Yes? Is that all you're gonna give me?", Kevin huffed. "I mean, this is huge. You have no clue how long we have waited for this to happen…"

Jay cut him. "Kev. Wait. Please, I need you to stop. I don't want to deny it, but we aren't ready to share it yet. Maybe soon, but first we need to prove that we can do it. Be professionals, let this make us stronger, not the other way around. If this doesn't work, we can't risk the team."

Kevin shook his head." I hear you. I respect your wish. But I don't think it would affect your work, in a bad way at least. I think you can do it. It isn't that you hadn't been close earlier and you have already made it work. "

Jay looked at Kevin with a hint of smile on his face." Maybe. I really hope so, but we'll see it. We try, we want to try. But if we can't do it, we have to think about what we will do with our careers. Whatever happens, I will not leave Hailey, I rather leave Intelligence. I can be a good cop in other units too."

His words were so sincere. Kevin was impressed. He had thought to give Jay some kind of big brother talk, but now he understood that there's no need for that kind gesture. This wasn't a fling, not something that had happened in a heat of a moment. What ever had brought those two together at last, had been inevitable. His friends were in love.

"Nobody is leaving. You can make it work." Kevin really believed it.

Jay smiled. "Can you keep this with yourself for a while? Although Kim knows, because she figured it out like you do."

"Of course. That woman has a magic hunch when it comes to other people's relationships. I promise, my lips are sealed", promised Kevin.

" I probably should go…" Jay knew Hailey was waiting for him. He put his jacket on and reached his fist out for a pump.

"Go, man! Don't let our girl wait!" Kevin said and gave Jay a fist pump.

"You mean my girl?", Jay quipped, already striding down the stairs.

Kevin laughed. So eager. Oh, the young love.

He gathered his belongings thinking about earlier. So Kim knew. Voight always knew everything, whatever they tried to hide from him. Cooper was new, he probably didn't know or he could think that it was normal. Jay's and Hailey's partnership had been so unique for a long time that it wasn't new that people assumed them to be a couple. Adam, well Adam was a great cop, but with things like relationships he could be quite blind. Kevin chuckled. It would take Adam a while to find out.