Chapter 4.

The next few weeks were a blur of work and Ally. Hayley was happy with how her life was right now. She had friends that were turning into family, Vanessa was like a sister to her. Jay had arranged for the whole team to travel up to his parents cabin it was July 3rd. They had three cars all packed up for a three-night vacation. Food beer and BBQ, what more could they need.

As they arrived Jay reminded them they needed to tidy up before they got to drink. The usual banter and laughter perused all of the unit kept an eye on Ally as they went along and with many hands make light work. They were done within a few hours. They had all settled in, beds were allocated and Hayley was cooking tea tonight. A simple jacket potato with salad. A range of fillings.

Ally was running round the front lawn Jay, Adam and Kevin sitting on the porch watching her talking . Hank and Olinsky sat talking to Vanessa and Kim. The evening was full of laughter and the group all spending time together. The following day the group were heading to town. There was a fayre and then they were heading back to the cabin for 4th of July celebrations.

After dinner Ally was flat out and the group sat outside round a fire, one by one the group filtered to bed. The only two left were Hayley and Jay.

"I'm going for a walk to the lake!" Hayley stood up and started walking,

"You OK if I join you?" Jay asked.

"of course." They set off walking slowly, the only light was from the house and the full moon that shone over the lake. They had clicked as friends from the moment they met, but recently there had been something different between them. Tonight, butterflies ran through Hayley veins in to her stomach, the quickening of her heartbeat multiplying them with every beat. She never would have said anything to him though, she was too scared of losing the friendship they had. Ally would never forgive her for messing this up. She loved Jay so fiercely. He was the closest thing to a dad she had ever had. Her friendship with Owen had grown stronger with the bond her and Jay shared. Before she knew it she was wiping tears from her face.

"Hey, you OK what's wrong?" Jay asked his hands coming up to Hayley's face wiping the tears away with his thumbs, their eyes meeting for the millionth time.

"I, I am just overwhelmed. I have spent so long on my own and now we have you guys, who would do anything for us when you don't even really know us. I'm sorry I'm over tiered. I'm going back up to the house to bed." Jay was confused and wrapped her in his arms. They held each other for a while and then walked up to the house. Hayley went to bed and Jay sat outside watching the fire burn down. He was so in love with her and he couldn't find a way to tell her. Maybe he should just forget it, maybe it would destroy their friendship if he came clean with her. He drank some more beer and went to bed. The next day would be a long day.

The next morning they had breakfast cleaned up and head out. They split up into groups, Hayley and Ally headed for the animals, it was so hard to drag the four-year-old away from them. Jay and Kevin caught up with Hayley after a few hours. Ally been excited to tell Jay about what she had seen. The group met for dinner and chattered about their morning, Ally had been gifted more stuffed animals than Hayley could carry. They all walked round together in the afternoon, taking turns on rides with Ally and with sitting watching her whilst Hayley had a few turns.

By 3pm the team was done and ready to head back to the cabin. They were having a BBQ for Dinner and Jay had promised Ally a boat trip. The little girl falling asleep on the way home. Jay carried her to her bed.

"Thank you Jay I love you, I wish you were my Daddy!"

"I may not be your real daddy princess, but I love you so much. I'll always be here for you, no matter what, OK?" Hugging Ally he stood up. Shut the blinds and walked out of the room. Hank had heard the exchange,

"You OK son?"

"Hey, yeah! She is the best right."

"Shall we go for a walk?"

"Yeah, I'd like that." Jay replied hesitantly.

The pair headed up into the woods finding a clearing they sat down on the grass.

"Why don't you tell her how you feel?" Hank asked. Jay looked at him and sighed.

" We work together as a team at work. I would just end up hurting and ruining what we have. The one of us would leave and it will disrupt the unit and it would be all my fault. I've been here before. Ally deserves better than me. I'll just screw everything up and then she will end up hurt. It would be my fault. I couldn't forgive myself if I hurt them."

"Jay you wouldn't hurt them. That little girl idolises you. She is desperate for a daddy, you and Hayley need to stop being stubborn. Rip the Band-Aid off and sort yourselves out. Before I lock you in the cage together."

"You really think Hayley feels the same way? Has she said something to you? I can't get my hopes up for her to turn me down. I don't think I'd survive another break down. Hayley helped me through the last one."

"Just talk to her, take it slow, I'm not saying jump into bed with her and marry her next week. Just date her, go for dinner or the movies, I'll watch Ally. Take Ally with you, show her you are all in."

" Thanks Hank, I'll figure it out. Come on I promised Ally a boat trip." They chatted back down to the cabin. Ally was awake and waiting to go out on the lake.

"Are you coming Hayley?" Jay asked

"Erm, nope I'm staying with me feet firmly on the ground thank you." Hayley sat in lawn chair to prove a point. Hayley hated the thought of the boat sinking and getting caught up in the reeds and ultimately drowning.

"Can I talk to you?" Jay asked her motioning across the lawn.

"What? I'm not getting in a boat, they sink, and I'll get my feet stuck in the reeds and drown!" She was serious.

"OK are you OK with me taking Ally out there though?" He questioned.

" Well, Jay I trust you with my life and Ally's life and I'd follow you anywhere, except on a boat. Ally is really looking forward to going out there and I can't take that away from her. So I am staying here, and I'll get a drink and drink till you get back." She was starting to panic and she could see Ally was getting worried that she would say she wasn't allowed to go out on the lake. " take Hank with you or Adam or Kevin. But I do trust you Jay." She placed her hand on his chest and looked into his eyes x his green eyes that seemed to dilate the longer she stared into them. The butterflies started fluttering and somewhere deep with her core a muscle clenched as she realised she was close enough to kiss him. Something made her flicker her eyes behind Jay, the whole team was watching them. As soon as they realised they had been caught watching the exchange they spun round and made out like they were just chatting. Hayley swallowed and moved her hand away from Jay's chest. She had seen him without a t shirt on but never actually felt his rock hard Abs. Her mind flickered to what else could be rock hard, the clenching deep within her core making her blush, as if Jay could read her mind. Taking a deep breath she walked up to Ally and helped with her life Jacket. Waving them off she sat on the Dock. As she sat there a drink was put in her hand. Vanessa and Kim flanked her sides and both pushed her slightly.

"Shut up! Both of you OK!" she half joked with them.

"Just Kiss him already, please we can't stand the tension any more!" Vanessa said.

"Hayley if you haven't sorted this out by August we are so going to intervene. And it will not be pretty. Please for the love of God jump him tonight!"

Kim laughed.

"Mommy, look I'm driving the boat." Ally shouted as they got closer to the Dock. Vanessa snapping pictures with the camera she had brought with her. Showing Hayley the picture she had taken, she moved the memory across to far, the next picture was of Hayley putting on Allys life vest, Jay crouching next to the girls. The look on his face is one of adoration, the next picture is one of Hayley and Jay stood talking again Jay's face looked like he would move mountains for her and her face Mirrored his. If she didn't know better she would say it was a wedding photo without the wedding dress or vows. Looking out over the water her eyes locked with Jay's, she couldn't deny it anymore. She was well and truly madly deeply in love with Jay.

"Mommy can I go again tomorrow? Please mommy its amazing. If you look really hard you can see the fish, Jay says next time we can try and catch one. Can we Mom? can we?"

"Sure sweetie! Did you say thank you to Jay?" she asked.

"Yes Mommy."

"Good girl come on let's go get a jacket and some dinner, Pops has been cooking while you were out on the water." Turning she smiled at Jay. Both hesitated but Hayley looked away first, walking up to the house with Ally. The rest of the evening was amazing fireworks were going off, they drank and ate till they were full. Tomorrow they would head back to Chicago and back to their routine. Jay was positive he was going to make some changes for the better though.

As the rest of the unit took off to bed Hayley set off down to the lake again. Jay left her for ten minutes he picked up two beers and a blanket, and walked down to Hayley.

"Hey, want a beer?" he questioned. Sitting down he passed Hayley a drink and the blanket

"Thanks, thank you for this last few day. Ally has enjoyed herself so much. She has smiled and laughed more than I can remember her ever doing. She needed this a family. Sorry I am rambling." Blushing she turned and looked at Jay. Jay was looking at her, the butterflies were back, she bit the inside of her lip, looking at Jay she glanced at his lips, his tongue sweeping across his top lip, he looked deep in thought.

"Jay." It came out as a whisper before she could say anything else, their lips had connected. Softly they touched, Hayley's hand reaching up to touch Jay's face the other putting her drink down to the side of her. Then she placed it round the back of his neck delicately playing with the hairs at the base of his skull. As they got deeper into the kiss Hayley stopped and pulled back from him.

"Mommy!"

"Shit sorry!" Getting up Hayley ran up to the Cabin, Ally stood on the steps, the lights coming on behind her as Vanessa and Kim walked out to see who was crying.

"Hey what's wrong?" she asked Ally sweeping her up into her arms and pulling her close.

"I had a bad dream and you were gone!" she sobbed.

"I'm sorry, I was outside do you want a drink of milk?"

"No thank you! I just want,." Ally started to sob again. Kim and Vanessa went back to bed and Jay came back inside.

"Ally, what's wrong?" he asked her, looking at Hayley. His expression questioning Hayley, she shrugged.

"Here, take these." Passing Hayley the beers and blanket Jay picked up Ally and went into the front room. He sat under a lamp in an old rocking chair. He sat Ally on his knee.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"No" she replied sadly

" OK well let's just sit here till your mom is ready for bed then you can go with her and sleep till morning ok?"

"I want you to come too, you can keep us safe, and stop the bad guy from taking my mommy away."

"Was that what your dream was about?" he asked gently.

Nodding Ally's tears ran down her face again.

"Your Mom is super brave and super strong. She won't let anyone hurt you, your safe."

"It wasn't me, I was safe but I was a baby, I was in my crib and a man came and dragged mommy out of the room by her hair and she cried and he shouted at her! He was mean."

"Ally bed time now please," Hayley had heard the dream that All had had. It wasn't a dream though. It had Happened. The one night stand story wasn't true. How had Ally remembered that night she wasn't even a year old. The look on Hayleys face said it all Jay had questions and he knew he wasn't going to get answers straight away. He nodded and winked trying to reassure her.

"Jay please come sit with us till I fall asleep please!"

He looked at Hayley who nodded at him and smiled. They all climbed into the king-size bed. Hayley and Jay either side of Ally. The light from the hallway shone on the three and Ally was asleep in minutes. Jay looked at Hayley and she looked him. He took a deep breath whispered goodnight and got up to leave.

"Stay please?" she asked, her voice was low and had a hint of sadness. He lay back down holding Hayley's hand above Ally's head. Both falling asleep.