Hailey goes to her car, Voight's words echoing in her head. Just be careful… I know you like to do things your own way…Means I know you… We need Jay just the way he is. Careful, your own way, I know you, just the way he is. The words echoing louder each time, making her rethink everything.
This is the best job she's ever had… the most stable thing in her life. But on the other hand, Jay's the best relationship she's had since Garrett, the most stable one. Does she sacrifice her relationship for the job… or her job for the relationship?
Hailey groans in frustration before hitting the wheel. With her mind still spinning, Hailey slowly backs out of her parking spot and begins her drive home.
Entering her apartment, Hailey checks her phone: no messages from Jay. Deciding that what she needs is a hot shower to relax her, she goes into her bathroom, stripping and stepping into the steaming hot water. The water from the shower head falls down her back, her conversation with Voight still loud in her head.
Hailey doesn't get out until the water runs cold. Wrapping a towel around herself, she goes into her bedroom to put to some comfortable clothing for the night. Just as Hailey is pulling Jay's Blackhawks hoodie that he left there over her head she hears rapid knocking on her door.
Running a hand through her still damp hair, she takes a breath, knowing that it is none other than Jay on the other side of her door. She could ignore him, hold off on the conversation that is about to happen. But it's Jay, if she doesn't answer and he thinks something is wrong, he's going to be worried and use his emergency key that she gave him.
Hailey knows she needs to bite the bullet. She walks to the door, taking a breath before opening it. Before he tells her that they can't be together. Before he tells her that he doesn't want to be her partner anymore. Before he tells her he can't deal with the person she has become.
"Hey," he quietly greets when she opens the door for him. "Can I come in?" he asks holding up the six-pack he brought with him.
"Yeah," she whispers being careful to avoid looking at him, not wanting to see the anger and disappointment she knows she will be greeted with.
Jay makes himself at home on her couch, cracking open a beer and holding it out to her.
"What are you doing here?" Hailey can't help but wonder.
"Because I figured, after this case… we both need our thing," Jay answers, still holding out the beer for her.
"Aren't you going to yell?"
"Why would I yell?"
"I jammed you up. You lied to Voight because of me."
"Yeah, I'm not happy about that, but that doesn't mean I'm going to yell."
"Then why are you here?"
"I wanted to talk… about you… about the case."
"You want to try to fix me?"
"No… I just want to understand."
"Understand what?"
"Why you did it. Why you're acting like Voight."
"There was a dead kid Jay. Didn't you want answers?"
"Yes, but right now, with everything happening we can't afford to go off-book. We have to do things the right way."
"Just say it," Hailey demands.
"Say what?"
"You know what."
"No, I don't," he pauses. "Talk me through what's going on in your head. I can see the gears turning," he tries to lighten the mood.
"What if we aren't good for each other?"
"That's not true."
"Voight told me to be careful… because we, the unit, need you just the way you are."
"What does Voight have to do with this?"
"I think I need to start earlier, but I need something stronger first," Hailey answers getting up and raising an eyebrow to Jay, silently asking if he wants a drink too. Jay nods, knowing that beer won't do for some conversations.
Jay watches her silently as she gets their drinks, letting her know that he'll wait until she's ready.
Hailey comes back over to the couch with two glasses, handing one to him. Hailey sighs, "I don't know where to start," she tells him before running a hand through her hair.
"Okay, you said you needed to start earlier," Jay guides. "How much earlier? This morning? Yesterday?" he asks softly.
"Um, after what happened with the botched meet-up... once you left, um, Voight said I need to follow my gut and not my heart. Then he asked if we were a thing."
"What did you say?" Jay asks, now understanding why Hailey wants to be even more careful than they already are at work.
"I asked him if it mattered and he said it does– if it affects how we police."
"So, you wanted to prove that we're 'not dating' by doing what you did?"
"No, that was about the dead kid. And the husband," Hailey answers.
"How did we go from here to 'not being good for each other'?" Jay asks still confused.
"After we closed the case, I went to see Voight- to give him some forms that he needed to sign. And I, I, um, I came clean. I told him we were together."
"What did he say?"
"Not a lot. I only told him because I thought that use dating and us being partners was clouding my judgment, so I suggested that I might need a new partner."
Jay goes to speak, but is cut off.
"Let me finish," Hailey places a hand on his knee. "I thought that, if I had to sacrifice my partnership with you, or our relationship– it would be our partnership because we can build new partnerships with different people, but for me, there isn't another Jay Halstead."
Jay gently takes her hand off of his knee and holds it in his own, squeezing it. Her hand so small in his; she moves it so their fingers are now intertwined.
"Who are our partners now?"
Hailey gives him a small smile, "You're stuck with me. Voight said we're a good team and he's not splitting that up."
"There's more to it?" Jay guesses, knowing that her smile isn't meeting her eyes.
"He told me to be careful; implied that I was going to change you and not in a good way."
"What do you mean 'change me'?"
"He said that he knows I like to do things my own way and he knows me... and that we, intelligence, need you to be you. By the book."
"Hailey..."
"As crazy as it sounds, this job makes me feel safe. Probably the safest I've ever felt, but being with you– it's a different level of safe."
"So, what are we? I'm getting some mixed signals here."
"I want to do better. I want to be a better cop, but I don't know if I can."
"I'll help you with whatever you want."
"Are we still good?" Hailey asks, afraid of the answer.
"We're good, and we're always going to be good," he reminds her.
"I love you, Jay. So much."
"I love you too, Hailey," he responds pulling her into a secure hug.
Hailey pulls away, "Where do we go from here?" she asks wiping under her eye.
"We keep each other in check. I try to keep you from going off the books and you try to keep me from getting too close."
"That sounds really good. I don't want another Angela situation," Hailey shudders at the memory. "What about us? Voight knows, like officially know."
"I guess we have some paperwork we need to sign."
"You know, with anyone else, I would be hesitant with signing the HR forms, but with you, it feels right."
"You're okay with this?" Jay questions.
"Yeah. It was nice, having our little secret, but I'm not mad that I get to tell people that you're my boyfriend."
"This mean I can tell people you're my girl?"
Hailey gives a soft smile and nods.
"Are you good? Now that we had 'our thing'?"
"Yeah. You?"
"I'm always good when I'm with you," he answers getting up.
"Where are you going?" Hailey asks seeing him go over to where his jacket is.
"Home."
"You can stay– if you want."
"Are you sure? If you wanted some alone time..."
"I'm sure. Unless you don't want to stay."
"I'd follow you anywhere," Jay answers.
Hailey grabs his hand and pulls him towards the bedroom. Jay strips down to his boxers and Hailey trades the hoodie for a tang top before climbing into bed with Jay. Her back is facing him, so he pulls her close so her back is against his chest, wrapping his arms around her. Hailey hugs his arm, relaxing in his embrace.
"I love you," he whispers into her hair.
"I love you too," Hailey whispers back.
The two detectives fall into a peaceful sleep, knowing that they are going to be okay.
A/N: Hey all! I know that me posting has been a bit sporadic, but I'm trying to get back on some type of schedule. I just don't know what it looks like right now. I am around though, if you message me anywhere, I'm usually pretty good about getting back within 24 hours. So, this isn't something that I usually write, but I got a request on Twitter. I don't really like how it turned out, but here it is. See you soon!