Hailey held up a red dress while looking in the mirror. It had been a long week working on a case. Her and Jay had worked some long days with the team doing interviews and canvassing neighborhoods trying to find out who killed a young girl from Wisconsin. Now that the case was finally solved, and the man responsible was no longer on the streets, Voight had given them a couple days off. Lucky for them it was Friday, and they were ready to take full advantage of a lazy weekend together.
She walked back into her bedroom looking at a black dress she had also pulled from her closet, and another outfit with black slacks and a floral blouse. They had been dating for several months, but with Chicago being a busy city for crime, they hadn't exactly had a lot of time for fun dates together. Jay had insisted on taking her out, even after Hailey suggested just going home and ordering in and spending the evening on the couch. Of course Hailey didn't want to admit she was secretly excited to have her boyfriend planning out a fun evening for them. They left each other at the district to go home and shower and get ready for the evening.
Haileys phone pinged from the dresser. Jay had texted to let her know he was on the way to pick her up. Hailey responded with an excited Ok and several smiley face and heart emojis before turning back to the bed, deciding on the red dress and running back to the bathroom to blow dry her hair and finish getting ready. She was thankful Jay lived at least 20 minutes away, since it took her longer than expected to figure out what she wanted to wear. Unexpected date nights had to be perfect.
Hailey had just finished pulling up part of her hair when she heard a key in the door. She had given him one even before they were dating.
"Hailey are you ready?" Jay called as he walked into the bedroom. He glanced at her bed and the clothes that were thrown across it. He couldn't help but laugh.
"I just have to put on shoes and ill be ready." Jay turned as Hailey walked out the bathroom putting in her last earring. They paused and looked at each other for a moment. Jay had decided on a dark green button up shirt and a pair of jeans. The green definitely a great contrast with his green eyes.
"Wow" was the only thing Jay could think to say. "Oh stop." Hailey replied with a giggle as she walked up to him for a kiss. She'd never get used to the way he looked at her.
They exchanged a quick kiss before Hailey turned to her closet to grab shoes. "So where are we going?"
"You'll see." Jay replied with a smile.
Hailey knew Jay wouldn't give in. Man loved his surprises. She slipped on her smaller heels and they were ready to go. She grabbed her purse from the kitchen and they walked out of the apartment together. Jay locked the door behind them. It was a beautiful evening in Chicago. Summer was coming and they were ready to enjoy the somewhat cooler temps before it got too hot. Jay opened the door of the truck for Hailey to climb in, shutting the door behind her. Jay climbed in the drivers seat and started the truck, both putting on their seat belts as they grinned at each other. Excited energy was definitely shared between them. Jay reached over and grabbed Haileys hand, holding it on the center console of the truck as he drove to their destination.
Jay surprised Hailey with an evening at a very pretty restaurant along the river. This time of year riverfront restaurants were always busy. Jay thought with them coming early before the rush they wouldn't need a reservation, but as they pulled into the parking lot it seemed others in Chicago had the same plan.
"We might have to park along the road and walk a little." Jay told Hailey.
"Something told me to wear my smaller heels tonight." Hailey replied grinning at Jay. Nothing was going to come between their evening.
Jay was able to find a spot just up the road and around the corner from the restaurant. There was a couple smaller businesses that had closed years ago, leaving empty parking spaces for the busier places along the river. It wasn't exactly ideal but it was so pretty out that neither of them minded walking.
They were able to get a table overlooking the river like Jay planned. Both of them enjoying their meal and discussing anything that wasn't work related for once. Jay had a couple beers and Hailey had a couple glasses of wine. Their waitress was picking up their plates and empty glasses as Hailey was watching the boats come down the river. She had been wanting to have an important talk with Jay. The last several months had been amazing and she really felt she was ready for that next step, but she wasn't sure what Jay would think. She looked away from the water back at him as he thanked the waitress and handed over the signed receipt.
"Lets go for a walk." Hailey said. Jay looked over to Hailey as he put his wallet back in his back pocket. Jay stood from his seat and reached his hand out for hers. Hailey grabbed his hand with a huge grin and led them out of the restaurant and down to the riverwalk.
It was just getting dark. Only a few people left out walking. They walked in silence for a few minutes just enjoying the quiet. " You really look beautiful tonight Hailey." Hailey smiled up at him squeezing his hand. "Thankyou. So do you." They both laughed as they came to a stop along the river. " I dont think ive been called beautiful before." Jay said. Hailey swatted his arm and pulled him closer, wrapping her arms around his waist. Jay leaned down and gave her a kiss. " I love you Hailey." Hailey looked up at him. "I love you too Jay." They just looked at each other for a few seconds before looking back out to the water. She really did love him. Even more reason to have their talk.
" So Jay, i think you should move in with me." It was now or never.
Jay couldn't hide the shocked look on his face. I mean he already stayed there most nights anyways. But it was just a few weeks ago he confessed his love for her before a difficult case. He didn't think she'd be ready for this jump for some time.
" Are you sure? We don't have to rush if you don't want to."
Hailey didn't think she'd ever be more ready. " Im sure. I enjoy being with you. You already keep some clothes in my closet, and a toothbrush at my place. You stay every night anyway so i figured why not?"
Jay shook his head yes and looked down at Hailey. Moving in was going to be the easy part. They needed to talk to Voight. Luckily it had been a busy couple weeks so nobody noticed them riding in together every morning or at least they never said anything.
" We should tell Voight." Jay replied. " About us." Trying to sound confident, knowing this wasn't going to be as easy as moving in together. Jay understood Hailey liked to keep work things private from personal things. Understandably considering past work experiences. But they were together and riding in to work together most mornings. It was only a matter of time before they were seen out together after work, or seen riding in together on the way to the district. Better to just come out and tell him than letting him find out right?
"I dont think thats a good idea Jay. " Hailey replied, watching a boat go by.
" I think it will be better if we just tell him, instead of him finding out on his own. We come in together every morning, he's going to notice" Jay told her.
Hailey understood where he was coming from. But she just wasn't ready. " Ill start taking my car in the mornings. I don't want to be moved out from Intelligence. I sure don't want you to. Then we'd never see each other. "
"He didn't move Adam or Kim. It won't come to that Hailey."
"You can't be sure Jay. It was different for them." Hailey responded pulling away from him.
"Hails, its going to be …." Jay tried to respond as he reached back out for her.
"I cant Jay." Hailey replied, cutting him off. Watching as he looked down at his feet. She could tell he was hurt. But she just didn't think it was a good time.
"It's not that i want us to be a secret forever Jay. I just think we should wait." Hailey grabbed his hand and looked up at him. He looked down at her with her light green eyes she had grown to love. He took his other hand and cupped the side of her face. Running her thumb along her chin.
"Ok. We can wait. For that part anyway. Whenever you're ready." He smiled down at her and leaned in for a kiss. " We should get back it's getting late." Jay turned and started walking back towards the street. He wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer. The temperature had definitely dropped.
They walked past the restaurant towards the truck. The street they parked on wasn't as lit as the main road. With the businesses there closed, many of the street lights just weren't working. They weren't far from the truck when they saw a dark figure walking towards them from the other side of the street. Jay reached into his pocket for his keys, hitting the lock button twice, signaling the truck to start up. The headlights came on as it started, giving them a better look of the dark figure who was now obviously coming to them.
He couldn't have been but maybe in his 50s. Dark hair and wearing dark tattered clothes. He had on a hoodie and a beanie pulled down far over his head, leaving it hard to see his face. He had a shake in every step and the man smelled like beer. Jay figured he was homeless and looking to score some money to buy more alcohol.
" Hailey, go get in the truck." Jay told her as the man stopped right next to Jay. Hailey was not about to leave him with a strange man on a dark street. The man looked to Hailey and back and at Jay before asking "mind sparing a few bucks? I'm really hungry and lost my job."
Jay watched as the man stepped side to side, unable to stand still. His hands were shaking and he kept pulling down at his sleeves trying to cover his arms. It was obvious now this man wasn't just under the influence of alcohol.
" Hey man i don't carry cash. How about i go over to one of those restaurants around the corner and order you something?" Jay offered.
The man shook his head. " No. No, I need money." He looked over to Hailey and took a step towards her. " Do you have any money?" he asked her. Jay stepped between them not allowing the man to step any closer to her. Hailey took a step back. Jay was getting frustrated with the man but tried to reason with him. " Come on buddy, I said I'd go buy you a meal. Ill even buy you two. We don't have cash."
The man moaned angrily and started pacing. Yelling a few curse words towards the empty building behind him.
Jay turned to Hailey grabbing her hand. " Come on. Lets go. " Jay pulled her towards the truck. Not wanting to waste anymore time with this man. Seemed he was just trying to get money for another hit of whatever drug he was on. Hungry people would usually accept the hot meal.
" NO! Y'all are not going anywhere until you give me some money" the man yelled. Jay continued to push Hailey towards the truck not looking man just kept following. " I said i need money."
Jay was beyond frustrated now and turned to face the man who stopped just inches from him. "I can't help you man. I said i'd buy you something to eat. I don't have cash. "
Hailey stepped from behind Jay, Jay instinctively reaching to grab her arm. "You need help." She told the man." You can't live like this on the street. Maybe I can help find you a program to get clean."
The man laughed now and took a step back. "Oh now you think you know me huh?" He was mad, looking between the both of them. He started digging in his pocket as he turned to walk away. He went only 2-3 steps before he stopped and turned to look back at them. " I said….. i need cash," he stuttered.
Jays hand never left Haileys arm. The whole thing just made him uncomfortable. " We don't have cash for you. I can go buy you food. That's it. " Jay replied before looking to Hailey again. "Hails get in the truck we're leaving."
"You're not going anywhere." The man said angrily. Reaching into his pocket and pulling out a gun. Pointing it at them with his shaking hands. Jay stepped in front of Hailey with his hands up. " You don't want to do this man. I can go find an atm. There isn't one on this street."
The man laughed. "Your just going to leave and not come back. " He shook his head looking up at the sky. " I'm not crazy."
"Nobody said you were. I don't have cash." Jay responded as he reached for his wallet. " I can show you. Or you can take my card."
The man was beyond frustrated. Being without his miracle drug obviously taking a toll. " You come to this fancy restaurant with your fancy truck. You look down at me. You think you're better than me. I take your card as soon as you drive away you call and have it blocked. Or call the cops on me" the man shouted. The man took a few steps closer to them. Hailey looked up the street behind them. It was only them out there on this dark road. She looked to the truck just a few steps away. Knowing Jay kept a gun in his truck. But there was no way she'd get in there now without him noticing.
" Just take it. I'm not calling anyone," Jay said as he tossed his wallet to the man. The man looked at the wallet then back at Jay. Scratching his head and turning in circles mumbling something. He stopped and pointed the gun back at Jay yelling " You're a liar."
It all happened so quickly. The man ran at Jay, knocking him back into the front of the truck. Jay swung hitting the man in the face and watched as he stumbled backwards. Jay jumped forward grabbing his arm with the gun. Hailey opened the door of the truck and opened the glove box looking for Jays backup gun. Although the man was high, he was strong. Jay was grabbing his arm trying to get him to drop the gun but he wouldn't let go. The man pushed forward again knocking Jay into his truck and causing him to lose his grip on the man's arms. The man pointed the gun back at Jay firing twice.
Hailey was in shock. Not able to find Jays back up gun in his truck quickly. The man just watched as Jay fell to the ground in front of his truck. He looked up at Hailey. Hailey raised her hands begging the man to stop. He looked again from Jay to Hailey and dropped the gun. His hands going to his face and looking around him.
"Im sorry. Im sorry," the man said and took off running towards the road.
Hailey ran to the front of the truck and saw Jay on his side holding his side. Jay was watching as the man turned the corner out of sight. Red was already showing on the road under him " Hold on Jay. Im calling 911." She kneeled down over him and rolled him onto his back. Blood was coming from his left thigh and right side of his chest close to his abdomen. She tried to hide her fear as she placed one hand over his chest. She yelled into the phone who she was, and where they were. Giving a quick detail of events before putting the phone down next to her.
"This wasn't what i had in mind for our date night," Jay tried to make light of the situation. Smiling up at Hailey. Hailey tried to hide her fear and pressed both hands on his chest and looking back at his leg. "Help is coming Jay. Everything is going to be ok.
Hailey didn't know where to apply pressure. Both places were bleeding heavily and were no match for her small hands. She sniffed back tears and looked back at Jay. He coughed a wet cough and winced. He was feeling dizzy. Everything around him is just floating.
"Stay with me Jay. They will be here soon." Jay just nodded and looked over at his truck and then back at her. It was getting harder to breathe. Jay raised his right hand to cover his mouth
as he coughed again. As he pulled his hand away he noticed red on his hand, and that metallic taste in his mouth.
Hailey looked down at him as he wiped blood from his mouth. Their eyes met and Hailey couldn't keep the tears from falling. She was scared. His eyes began to feel heavy. Hailey looked up the street. She could finally hear sirens in the distance. She leaned down and kissed his forehead. " Come on Jay stay with me. They're almost here."