July 2022

Jay woke up before his alarm went on. Something tickled his chin and without looking down he knew what it was. Hailey's hair. He smiled. Although they had lived officially together for a year, he could never get tired of waking up next to Hailey every morning. He turned to his side and wrapped his arms around Haileys small figure. He sighed happily, burying his nose in her hair. Her hair always smelled like an apple blossom.

Jay let Hailey to sleep a little little longer and lay in bed holding her close and thinking, how good everything was right now. Part of him was afraid that maybe everything was too good, perhaps he should wait for the other shoe to drop. But he didn't want to live his life like that, not anymore. All nighttime conversations with Hailey during the years and all the hours in therapy had done their job, he wanted to believe that he deserved this happiness. He had worked hard with his demons to get there. Right now it felt that he had done good, he had Hailey and his career was about to take a leap forward. Of course, in the line of their work things could go south at any moment, but Jay didn't want to concentrate to think about that.

Today was a big day. His first day as a sergeant. In addition, his first day for five years without being Hailey's partner. He knew he should be terrified of his promotion, but somehow he wasn't. Instead, the thought that he could not no longer be Hailey's partner felt almost unbearable. It made a knot in his stomach and lump to his throat. It helped a little to know that Vanessa would never voluntarily let anything happen to Hailey.

Vanessa had started in the unit about a month ago. Jay had been able to convince her former sergeant to agree about her transfer, but like Jay had suggested, Vanessa had kept a couple weeks vacation before coming back to the Intelligence. Also Jay and Hailey had been off two weeks in June. Smile formed on Jay's face when he thought about those lazy summer days at the cabin. They had been back a week ago and last weekend they had all celebrated Hank's retirement. It had been wistful but still kind of a happy reception. Hank had been relaxed and seemed to be happy about the opportunity to spend more time with his grandson. Seeing Hank so content made Jay feel easier to take his position.

"Hailey", he whispered. "Hails, babe… It's time to wake up."

"Mmmm….", Hailey stretched herself. "Good morning, Sergeant!" Her smile was like the morning sun, warm and bright.

Jay could nothing but kiss her. She kissed back, soft kisses turning more heated.

"Baby…. I would love to do this, but I think I really can not be late at work today", Jay murmured between the kisses.

Hailey broke the kiss and giggled. "You are probably right, it wouldn't make a good impression."

Hailey climbed out of the bed, leaving Jay to lay there. She looked along his body with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"You may want to take a cold shower", she giggled and started to rummage around her wardrobe.

Jay let out a grunt and got out of the bed. Heading for the bathroom he slapped Hailey gently on the butt as he passed her.

"We will continue this in the evening", he winked at Hailey smirking.

Hailey and Jay arrived in the district on time. When they entered the building, Sergeant Platt stood behind her desk. They greeted her.

"Well, good morning you two! Jay, do you have a moment", Platt answered.

Hailey smiled at Jay and headed upstairs when Jay stepped to the Platt's counter. Trudy handed some forms to him.

"Need your signature on these, Sergeant", Trudy said.

Jay grabbed a pen and signed forms before raising his eyes and looking at Trudy with a bemused smile. It still felt a little weird.

Platt looked at him and smiled reassuringly.

"You can do it, Jay. The cases, investigations… they are all something you have done for years and before you say that you were a detective then I will say this. We both know that Hank was preparing you this even then. You have led this team and made decisions before, you can do it now. When it comes to bureaucracy, don't hesitate to ask, I am always here for you. And if it helps you, I am sure you can anyway handle it better than Hank, if asked from ivory tower", she laughed in the end.

Jay looked Platt on the eyes and smiled sincerely. "Thanks, Sarge. Coming from you, this means a lot. I am sure I will cash in your favour."

Platt looked at Jay when he headed for the stairs. She had known him for a long time. That day when a young cocky detective first entered the 21st, she had thought he was one of those pretty boys without so much inside. When his transfer papers arrived with his personal file, Trudy had been forced to change her opinion a little bit. An army veteran and prized sniper with an excellent track record in police forces so far, maybe the boy really could manage in Intelligence. Since then Trudy had learnt a lot about Jay Halstead. He may not have let out much about himself, but his actions had spoken for him. The growth of the man over the years had been remarkable. Trudy really had no doubt that he can do this, be a good sergeant.

Jay walked through the bullpen to the sergeant's office. Hailey sat behind her desk, chatting with Vanessa. Others hadn't arrived yet. Next to his old desk Ja felt that his legs weight tons, it felt so hard to pass Hailey and continue to his office. Hailey nodded to him, like encouraging him. They had talked about this a lot. How hard it felt when they could not be partners anymore and what it meant to them. Hailey had supported his decision since Voight had started to talk about him taking a lead, and he had made peace with himself. He wanted this. Yet it felt hard.

Vanessa greeted him. "Morning Sarge!"

Vanessa knew Jay well enough to know how hard this was to him, but beyond that Vanessa thought that though Hailey didn't want to display it, this was hard to her too. Jay was Hailey's fiance at home and his boss at work, but somewhere deep down he would be always her partner. That unique their partnership had been.

Kevin arrived a moment later, Williams following him. Vanessa went to the break room to fill a coffee maker. She heard Kevin coming in.

"Hey girl, how's it going? Excited to be Upton's partner again?", he asked.

Vanessa sighed. "Yeah, I have missed working with Hailey. But ya know… I know she wants to work with me, but this is a huge change for them. They have been partners for so long and you know how it is… I can never replace Jay."

"Don't think about it like that. Yeah, you will probably never learn to speak trademarked Upstead eye language, but yet you can be a great partner to her. Maybe in some areas better than Jay was", Kevin reassured Vanessa.

"Doubt that. But I already told Jay that I will not take all his partner duties", Vanessa laughed.

"You better not", Kevin laughed. "Nessa, you have to remember that Hailey is a big girl and this was their, I dare to say, mutual decision. They chose this. Personally, I like this decision. I rather take Jay as my boss than someone stranger who does not understand how this team works. Yes, this will be a little weird at first, but maybe not so much eventually."

Vanessa poured coffee to mugs and handed another to Kevin. "When do you become so wise, Atwater?"

They sipped their coffee and watched the bullpen. Kim and Adam had appeared and sat behind their desks. Hailey stood up and came to the break room.

"Try to steal my partner, Atwater?", she quipped.

"Nah. I would like to, but none of you can handle Adam all day long, so I have to stick with him", Kevin joked.

Like ordered, Adam peeked to the room.

"Hey guys, is this some cool kids meeting? Why have you left me with those teacher's pets?" Adam teased, nodding towards Kim and Williams, who had immersed themselves in the work.

"Well… like you said, we are the cool kids. You? Not so much", Kevin looked at Hailey and Vanessa grinning.

Adam laughed and went to take some coffee.

"This is so weird. Hell, I don't still get that Voight is retired", he said, shaking his head.

"Dunno. I just said to Nessa, that this will be good. I like this", Kevin smiled.

Hailey looked at him and nodded. She had talked about this with Jay and they had assumed that this would be hardest to Adam. He had been in the team almost as long as Jay and Voight had been like his mentor.

Hailey pondered if she should say something. She felt she had to and she decided to let her heart win. "I know that some of you think that I'm biased, but I will say this despite it. Give him a chance. You think this is weird, but you can bet this is even weirder to Jay. You all know him, you know he would never take this team for granted. Jay has always been the first going through the door. This is him doing it, taking responsibility. I have no doubt he can do it, but no boss can succeed without his team support. Not even Voight could, he had always our support."

Adam stared at Hailey. "You are right. Absolutely. Now folks, let's go to work, we have a unit to keep on top and new boss to impress", he jested.

Taking their mugs with them, they departed to their workstations.

An hour later Jay came out from his office, looking enthusiastic.

"Gear up everyone!", he ordered. "We have a case. Double murder, superintendent wants us. Address will be sent to your phones. I see you there."

"Oh yeah. Let's roll again", Kevin exclaimed.

Partners stood up and directed to their cars. Jay followed them and went to his truck. He can see Hailey get into her car where Vanessa already sat on the passenger seat. Jay took a deep breath. He could handle this, he thought with a determined look on his face.

Hailey stood outside of the crime scene looking at the view in front of her. Jay was there, talking with officers who had first responded to a call. Everything had gone smoothly and things had proceeded like always. Jay had taken lead immediately when they had arrived though the sergeant of robbery-homicide had protested. Haley snorted, the older man had probably tried to test the new sergeant only to see that he had no chance against Sergeant Halstead. Hailey smiled remembering when one robbery-homicide detective had headbutted with Intelligence. She knew Jay had remembered that too. It seemed to have happened eternity ago.

Detective Williams stepped next to Hailey. Sergeant Halstead seemed to have everything under control. Williams smirked when he noticed that young officers looked to be almost scared in front of the sergeant's stern gaze. He had been part of the team for the shortest period, but he could already say this was hands down the best team in which he had been and he had no doubt it would be like that also in the future.

Team had finished processing the crime scene and gathered at their sergeant. Jay directed the patrol to leave.

"Everything ready?", he asked.

Team nodded. They shared information they had. Kevin pointed out that his CI might have some helpful intel.

"Okay. Atwater, take Ruz and go to meet your CI. Hailey and Vanessa, go to the Med to see the witness. Kim and Williams, with me to the district, I want you to do some background checks", Jay commanded firmly.

"On it", Adam responded when everybody started to spread out. Maybe Kevin and Hailey were right. Maybe this isn't so weird.

Day had been long. They had made some remarkable breakthroughs, but the case wasn't finished. However, there is nothing they could do before the next morning.

"Alright. Awesome work, all of you. Go home, sleep a little. Be here in time tomorrow", Jay ordered.

Everyone was more than ready to go home. Already going, Kevin gave Jay a fist pump. "Good work too, Sarge", he stated.

Watching everyone leave, Hailey put her hand on Jay's shoulder.

"Let's go home", she said softly.

Jay looked at her and smiled. "Yeah. Always with you."

Hailey looked back to his green eyes, seeing that tender look which was meant only for her.

"Forever."

It felt good. Partners or not, at the end of the day they would go home together. Always and forever.