It was a nice early Spring day in Chicago and Voight had given his team the rest of the afternoon off since they had no current cases. Instead of going home, Jay and Hailey thought it was the perfect opportunity to take Morgan to the park. It had been a while since they had gotten to see the young girl because they were usually swamped. She was so excited when her mom told her she could go. She had made immense progress in the almost two years since Jay's bullet accidentally hit her that it was almost miraculous. She sometimes would walk a little crooked on the particularly rough days, but the fact that she was alive and proved to doctors and everyone she'd actually walk again was a testament to her perseverance.
It had also been a couple weeks since the kiss and things were almost back to normal between the two detectives. Jay wanted to give her the space to make her decision and focused solely again on being her friend; and Hailey acted like everything was alright outwardly, even if internally she was still conflicted between the two men in her life. She knew honestly if push came to shove she would choose Jay, but it would still probably take some kind of force to finally make that leap. Until then they were content with how things were going, their friendship has and always will be the most important thing and focus. Hailey was sitting on a swing and smiling watching as Jay helped Morgan on the zipline bar. When she made it to the other side, Jay helped her down and she went running over to Hailey as best as she could.
"Hailey, Hailey! Did you see me? It was like I was flying!" Morgan exclaimed excitedly.
Hailey grinned even wider. "I did! I'm jealous, was it fun?"
"It was, but I'm ready to do the swings with you now."
"Okay."
The little girl smiled as Hailey helped her jump fully up on the swing as Jay made his way back over to them.
"Jay, can you please push me? And Hailey too?" Morgan asked sweetly causing Hailey to burst in laughter at the ask.
"Yeah, Jay. Please push us!?" Hailey said cheekily.
Jay gave her an amused grin back, willing to give Morgan whatever she asked, but not ready to be outdone. "I'll push you, Morgan. But Hailey doesn't need me, she's a big girl." He teased.
"It's okay. She'll kick too, but it's more fun if you push both of us." Morgan stated.
Knowing there was no way he'd refuse the request now, Hailey stuck her tongue at him. Jay quickly began pushing the two of them, making sure on Hailey's first one to give her a super strong one, surprising the blonde detective and causing her to grip the ropes tight to catch herself. Jay laughed, immensely enjoying himself knowing Hailey would have to bite her tongue from swearing at him. The three of them had been at the swings for a few minutes now when Morgan stunned both of them.
"Hailey, is Jay your boyfriend?"
Jay stopped pushing for a moment as Hailey turned to the girl open-jawed, neither expecting this question. Especially with how things had been between them the past few months. Hailey brushed it off and quickly answered.
"No sweetie, you know we're partners at work."
"I know. So is that why you're always together then?" Morgan asks another valid question because even an 8-year-old is wise enough to know that just because people work together doesn't mean they spend time together outside of it. It stumps Hailey too for a moment causing her to get lost again in her own thoughts so Jay steps in.
"Well, we're friends too. And we both love hanging out with you, so we do it together." He explains.
"Oh, kinda like Jayden and me at school? He's one of my boy friends." Morgan asks.
"Yeah, exactly like that." Jay replies smiling, turning to give Hailey a look back as she also gives Morgan a small smile. They share a look and know it's just another awkward little hump they'll have to overlook; especially now that they have children calling them out too.
They spend another hour at the park before taking Morgan home and going their separate ways. They're supposed to meet back up later at the bar with the whole team, but Hailey tells Jay she'll just meet him there. When he arrives, it's everyone minus Hailey, and then a group text comes in from her letting them all know she was passing on tonight and that she'd see them all tomorrow at work. Jay's bummed, but again he doesn't push…
It had been good that Voight had given them that afternoon off because a couple days later Voight's long-time CI, Lexie, was kidnapped. It turned out that she was abducted by a serial killer who hunted strippers. The case was gruesome, long, containing buried police cover-ups, and taking its toll on everyone. And it certainly didn't help that time was running out for someone the team knew and cared for. While searching databases for information in the bullpen, Hailey's phone kept incessantly ringing. It was Nathan. Finally, she got fed up and excused herself to call him back. She went down to the back by the garage, knowing it probably wasn't going to be a pleasant conversation and hoping for some privacy. Her emotions had already been everywhere over the past few days so it's no surprise she's practically screaming at her boyfriend the second he answers.
Trudy was putting walkies back in their holders when she overhears Hailey's voice getting loud from the stairwell and goes down to see if everything is okay. Hailey had just hung up the phone when she notices Trudy and stares like a deer in headlights who just got caught.
Hailey sighs, defeated, and instantly starts trying to explain without trying to be a burden. "Sorry, Sarge… my boyfriend… it's just… you know I'm starting to wonder if our relationship is just more drama than it's worth."
The older woman studies her knowingly. "Hailey, as much as you know I would love to tell you what to do, I can't. This is a decision you have to make on your own. But a little advice – if he's the one, then it shouldn't be hard to make it work. With the right person, through the good and the bad it's a struggle you secretly enjoy because it brings you closer."
Hailey thinks about her words intently. "And if he's not the one?"
"Then I think you already know your answer if you have to question that. And if there is, maybe someone else who fits the description… maybe you shouldn't just let it slip away…"
Hailey doesn't miss the slight look Trudy gives to the Intelligence stairway as she says the last portion. Hailey nods at her in understanding, unsure of her words to respond.
"Thanks, Sarge!" is all she can manage.
"Anytime! Now get out of here before people start giving me a reputation that I care." Trudy jokes knowing the detective needs it and Hailey smiles as she tucks her phone back into her pocket and walks away. Once she's gone Trudy mumbles to herself, "I've never seen so many blind detectives!"
A few hours later the team discovered that their suspect was, Steven Sawyer. They located his vehicle and setup an op for Hailey to put a tracker on his vehicle while he was inside a restaurant. Adam and Voight were keeping eye from one car while Jay was keeping eye waiting for Hailey in his. Hailey is almost to Sawyer's car when Adam calls over the radio for her to get out of there. He's finished eating and on the move right towards her. Sawyer passes her and instantly calls out.
"Excuse me, miss?"
"Yeah?" she stops and answers nonchalantly.
Jay's senses go on high alert, he pops his head up straighter in his truck, ready to take the fucker out if necessary.
"Do you live around here?" Sawyer's questions play over the radio.
"No, I'm just meeting some friends for dinner." Hailey replies.
"Ah. I'm a little turned around. Do you know the best way to get on the Eisenhower?"
"On ramp is at the end of this street." Hailey points with a smile.
"Thanks."
"You're welcome." She replies again and turns around to continue away from him again.
Jay stares Sawyer down as he enters his car finally. Voight calls out that they're going to follow him old school since the tracker is a no-go. Hailey runs back out and hops back into the truck with Jay as all four of them take off after Sawyer. Jay gives her a quick stare as he starts driving.
"You okay?" he asks, the concern in his voice evident.
"Yeah, I'm good." She gives him a reassuring nod.
"I was ready to put a bullet in his head right then if he so much as took another step closer to you…" he states, gripping the steering wheel so tight that his knuckles turn white.
Hailey knows he means it… and she knows she would feel the exact same if the situations were reversed and it was him who nearly got caught by a psychopath. She places her hand on his shoulder and gives it a squeeze, trying to calm his nerves and just overall needing to touch him herself.
"I know. Let's just focus on Lexie and get this bastard!" she says softly.
He gives her a nod this time and then reaches for her hand over the console and loosely holds it. Neither of them questions it, both needing the comfort at the moment that they only get from each other.
The rest of the night goes by in a blur. It's brutal, horrific, and one that the whole team wishes they never had to deal with. By the time they found the true location of where Sawyer takes his victims, they were too late. Lexie had already suffocated to death in the hollow grave Sawyer put her in, her body beaten and bruised. The one consolation was that Sawyer was dead, killed by one of the homicide detectives, but even that is not much solace considering that's what caused the delay in finding Lexie's location. All in all, it was a night to drown their sorrows. No one wanted Voight to be alone, him taking it the hardest, so they all took him out to the bar. When they finally all parted ways for the night, Jay and Hailey hugged each other a little tighter than normal.
The next day Voight unsurprisingly gave everyone the day off. It was needed, mentally more than physically. For Hailey, her mind was already made up and she knew how she was going to spend her time. She let herself into Nathan's apartment with her key and waited there all day for him to return home from work. She didn't even let him know she was there. She didn't want any questions to distract or discourage her anymore. When she finally hears his key turning in the door a little after 7:30, she sat up straighter on the living room chair so he'd see her right way.
"Well, this is a pleasant surprise, I wasn't expecting you until later." Nathan says as he puts his briefcase and keys down, a hesitant smile on his face.
"Yeah, I figured it would just be easier if I was already here waiting." Hailey cautiously says, wanting to ease this conversation in.
"What would be easier? Hun, if this is about our fight the other day I already forgive you, I know you're under a lot of stress. This job is taking a lot out of you."
"See, that's the thing, it's not. Sure, some of the things we have to deal with and see are brutal, and the hours can be atrocious, but I love this job. I feel like I'm truly helping people, even in the instances when we unfortunately can't. This department helps so many in this city, I never felt that way in other units, as often at least."
"Well, I can get that. We all want to find meaning. I promise I'll do better in understanding that our schedules just can't align as much as they once did… not that our hectic schedules were ever great to begin with." He tries at being understanding.
Hailey shakes her head sadly. "Nate, you and I both know that's not why we've been drifting apart. It shouldn't be this hard to make it work…"
He swallows. "No, it shouldn't."
She steps closer to him, knowing there's no way she'll get out of hurting him, but wanting to be as gentle as possible. "You're a great guy and I did love you, I do… I just don't think we were ever really in love with each other. You know it and I know it. Maybe when we first met, it was new and exciting and we wanted it to work so badly… but it hasn't been that way in a long time. You were never happy when I went undercover or even when I took this job… and years ago I resented you for all the business trips. We never truly let each other in or tried to work out our issues… just let them fester. This is the right move for both of us. You deserve someone to love you for all that you bring to the table, you deserve only the good."
Nathan sighs, accepting, because there was a part of him that knew this was coming too. "You deserve that too!"
Hailey takes the key of his off her chain and softly places it in his palm, standing on tip toes to give him a kiss on his cheek; she whispers "Take care of yourself!"
She starts making her way to his front door and right when she's pulling it open she hears him call out to her again. She turns her head.
"Hails?"
"Yeah?"
"He better never hurt you, or I'll come after him with more than the law." He gives her a knowing, disarming grin.
She finally smiles, pleased there's no hard feelings. "He won't."
She simply states, knowing exactly who he means without question. And with that she walks out of his apartment and his life forever.
Thirty minutes later she's breathing in the cold air that comes with March's fluky weather as she stands on the outside steps bracing herself for the knock. When she finally gets up the nerve to, she hears the footsteps instantly making their way from inside. His face shows pleasant surprise at finding her on his doorstep unexpectedly.
"Hailey? Everything okay?"
He says it as soft as he always does and somehow this time means more to her than all the rest.
She tilts her head slightly and smiles up at him. "I broke up with Nathan…"
The words are barely out of her mouth before he's pulling her toward him and kissing the life out of her. When they finally slow down they can feel each other's smirks against the other and for the first time in two years Hailey knows she finally made the right decision. Who knew that a giant unknown leap could simply lead you home…
[A/N: Oh snap, Upstead! ;) Only a chapter or two left to go. Hope you're enjoying and thank you for reading!]