The team was on the hunt for a serial carjacker turned murderer and the evidence had lead them to an abandoned hotel on the east side. As the team entered the building, Jay and Hailey took the upper floors. One by one they cleared the floors and the empty hotel rooms.

"One more to go, then we'll join the others" Jay said as they descended to the last floor they had to clear. As they exited the elevator, Jay went right and Hailey went left. That's when Jay heard the sound of bullets hitting the metal plate inside a bullet proof vest and ripping through flesh. His partner cried out as she hit the floor.

"Hailey!" Jay screamed as he fired on the two assailants that had just shot his partner. The two gunmen dropped to the floor as Jay landed head shots on both.

Jay ran to his partner and knelt down beside her "Hailey, just breathe, I'm going to check to make sure the vest caught them both." He said as he felt underneath the Kevlar. Hailey's lungs were on fire as she struggled to catch a breath. Paralyzed by shock, Hailey laid on the floor and focused on Jay hovering over her. She could barely feel his hands on her as things started to go fuzzy. Jay immediately noticed blood pooling on the floor from her side. As he lifted up her shirt, he saw where a bullet had torn through her side.

Jay grabbed his radio to let the others know what was going on.

"Sarge, Hailey took one to the vest and one to the side. Two gunmen dead. We're coming down." Jay said into his portable "10-4, I'll roll an ambo" Voight responded.

"Hailey, look at me" Jay said, cupping her face. "I'm going to get you to the elevator, then an ambulance will be waiting for you outside, okay?" Hailey nodded, gasping for air. Jay scooped up his partner and headed towards the elevator. As they descended to the ground, Jay couldn't help but be thankful they had switched out their Kevlar plates today, otherwise the ceramic would have never stopped the rifle round. Jay bent down and kissed her head, hopeful she would live to see another day.

As Jay carried Hailey down the front steps, he was greeted by their team members. Kevin grabbed onto Jay and Hailey and helped guide Jay to his truck.

"The ambulance is too far out, you'll need to take her to the ER, Jay" Voight told him. Kevin will drive you.

Jay laid Hailey down in the back seat of his dodge and climbed in after her. On the way to the hospital, he cradled her in his lap and kept pressure on her bleeding wound. He prayed silently that traffic would ease so they could get to the hospital quickly.

"It burns" Hailey whispered. Jay held her tighter and stoked some hair out of her face. "I know it does. We're almost there, I just need you to hang on, Hailey."

Once they arrived at the ER, Will and a team of nurses met them in the ambulance bay with a stretcher and took Hailey from Jay's arms. As they wheeled her into the ER, Jay stood back. He needed a minute to catch his breath and realize what just happened.

"Is she going to be okay?" Jay froze. He would know that raspy voice anywhere. He turned around and there she was, like a ghost haunting him.

Erin Lindsay

"Hailey.. is she going to be alright?" Erin asked again. Jay realized he had never answered her. "Uh, yeah, I hope so" Jay stammered. "What are you doing here?"

"We're in town looking for someone" Erin answered. There was a moment of awkward silence between them. Jay had bottled up years of what he wanted to say to her and right now they were threatening to spew out of his mouth.

"Jay, I know it's a bad time, but I was wondering if we could talk about some things while I'm in town." Erin said.

"How long are you here for?" He asked, not knowing if this was something he was ready to do, but figuring he might not get another chance.

"Til we find who we're looking for. Could be tonight, or a week from now."

Jay thought it over and agreed they could get together at some point while she was in town. He wasn't sure how he was going to tell Hailey, but Hailey was the most understanding person he knew, and he hoped she wouldn't mind. After all these years, Jay could use some closure.

Just then Will appeared at the ER doors. "Jay, Hailey's asking for you."

Jay looked at him and nodded then turned back to Erin. "I gotta go. Let me know a good time, and I'll see what I can do." Jay said to Erin as he turned and headed into the ER.

Jay entered the ER and met Will outside of Hailey's room. "How is she?" Jay asked.

"The bullet that hit her vest broke two ribs and luckily the one that hit her side was a through and through and didn't hit anything major. The nurse is in there sewing her up now." Will said. Jay breathed a sigh of relief. "We just gave her some pain meds, but she will be good to go home in a few hours if someone can drive her."

Jay told his brother thanks and headed into Hailey's room as the nurse was finishing up. "How are you feeling?" Jay asked her "kinda like I'm floating right now" Hailey answered. She was looking at Jay, but struggling to keep her eyes open. Jay stroked her face and kissed her forehead. He briefly thought about mentioning Erin, but decided she probably wouldn't remember it if he did. Instead, Jay held her hand and watched as Hailey floated off to dream land.

A few hours later, as the sun started to set, Will came in with Hailey's discharge papers. Jay helped her get dressed into a pair of jogging pants and a t shirt he had went home and grabbed her earlier while she was sleeping.

"I ordered some food for us, it should be there when we get back to my place." Jay told her as he tied her shoe for her. "Thank you, Jay" Hailey responded. "For everything today."

"I love you, Hailey. There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you." Jay stood up and kissed her on the lips, then helped her to her feet.

When they arrived at Jay's apartment building, he helped her out of the truck and they walked up the front steps. Jay never let go of Hailey's arm. Once inside the elevator, Hailey leaned against Jay and sighed. They were both grateful the day had ended well.

"What did you order us to eat?" Hailey asked as the elevator ascended to his floor.

"Pizza" Jay said with a smile. "From that new place we've been wanting to try."

Hailey smiled back as the elevator doors opened.

Jay's smile quickly faded when he saw who was waiting for them outside his apartment door.

"Erin, hey!" Hailey greeted as enthusiastically as she possibly could with two broken ribs.

"Hey, Hailey.. " Erin said, slightly bewildered. "How're you feeling?"

"I'm on the mend." She answered.

Jay wasn't sure what to do since he hadn't mentioned Erin to Hailey yet and he certainly wasn't expecting her to show up outside his door tonight.

"Erin, could you give us a sec?" Jay said while unlocking his door. He ushered Hailey inside and shut the door behind them.

"Hailey, I'm sorry, I didn't know she was going to show up tonight. She was at the hospital earlier and asked if her and I could talk while she was in town, but I wasn't expecting this."

"Jay, it's fine, really." Hailey said. "I'm going to change and try to eat some. This medicine has made me nauseous, but you should go see what she wants."

"Are you sure?" He asked, pulling her close

"Yes, Jay. Don't keep her waiting." Hailey said as she pulled back and started towards the bedroom.

Jay stepped into the hallway and Erin was still there waiting, looking at something on her phone.

"She okay?" Erin asked

"Yeah, she will be." Jay said as he crossed his arms, looking expectantly at Erin to hear what she had to say

"Jay, I didn't know y'all were together. If I did, I wouldn't have come. I'm not trying to start anything."

"I know. It's fine. Her and I just happened recently and I didn't know you'd be coming by so soon."

"I didn't either, but we caught who we were looking for, so we're headed back to New York in the morning." Erin paused for a second then continued "Jay, I'm so sorry about how I left things."

Jay nodded and leaned against the wall, staring at the floor. This conversation was going to hit harder than he thought.

"I messed up my career here, Jay. Hank got me a spot with the FBI in New York and I had no choice but to take it. I was going to be investigated and kicked out of intelligence if I didn't."

"You could have told me bye, at least." Jay said. His blue eyes ice cold. "You could have told me that you loved me."

"That's where you're wrong." Erin said in almost a whisper. "I knew if I tried to break things off and tell you goodbye, that I wouldn't be able to leave. They would have started investigating you and the whole team and intelligence was already hanging on by a thread."

"Then I would have went with you!" Jay harshly replied

"You're whole life is here, Jay. I couldn't drag you down with me. I made my mistakes and I have to live with them."

"Would it have changed things if I told you I tried to find you that day? Before you left, I chased you all around this city with my mother's wedding ring in my pocket. Just to find you so I could ask you to marry me." Jay hissed

Erin was taken aback. She leaned her head back against the wall and closed her eyes.

"Jay, I had no idea. I'm so sorry." She said.

"I'm sorry too" Jay replied. His words stung.

A heavy silence passed before Jay knew he needed to end things there.

"Erin, I hate to cut this short, but I need to get back inside." Jay knew in his heart that if he stayed out in that hallway talking to Erin, that things would get deeper and more hurt would get brought to the surface.

"Yeah, I know.. I have to get going too" she said. Erin took a step closer to Jay.

Jay's heart started pounding because he knew she wanted a hug and he wasn't going to lie, he did too. He had waited for this for almost four years. Jay closed the gap and wrapped his arms around Erin. The familiarness of her body, the way she smelled, every memory came flooding back at once, but Jay felt different than he had back then. These memories hurt and they seemed so far away. He knew this was not the woman he fell in love with and at the moment they pulled apart, Jay wanted nothing more than to run inside his apartment and be with the only woman he truly loved.

Jay bid Erin farewell and watched as she entered the elevator and the doors closed behind her. A wave of relief washed over him and he hoped the FBI wouldn't have business in Chicago for a long time.

Jay entered his apartment and noticed Hailey wasn't at her usual spot at the bar. He crept into the bedroom and saw Hailey propped up in bed asleep. He figured her ribs were hurting and she wasn't able to lie down flat like normal. Jay turned out all the lights and stripped down to his underwear before sliding under the covers with her. He was careful not to disturb her as he slipped his arms around her and pulled her close to his chest, so she was propped up against him instead of the pillows and headboard.

She stirred against him and he kissed the top of her head. "Did you eat?" He whispered

"Mmm, a bite. I feel sick." She said

He hugged her closer, wishing he could take away her pain.

"Do you wish it was different?" She said, in almost a whisper

"Different how?"

"Do you wish.." Hailey swallowed, the sleepiness was settling in "that she had stayed? That it was her, instead of me?"

"No." Jay said in a fierce whispered tone. "I wouldn't wish you away for the world, Hailey"

With that answer, Hailey gave into the drowsiness that consumed her. She settled back against his chest and just like that, she was far away in dreamland.

Jay pulled the covers up over them, kissed her cheek, and finally, this painful day was behind them both.