Chapter 1: My partner, my best friend.

Jay/Hailey. Set after series 7 and goes AU from there. Kim and Adam are getting married and it makes Jay and Hailey realise their feelings for each other. My first multi-chapter Chicago P.D story.

I do not own Chicago PD or any of the characters.

Please enjoy, read and review :)

"Kim, you look amazing! You look so beautiful. Serge, doesn't she look great?" Hailey asked, as she, Kim, Platt and Tay, Vanessa and Kim's sister and niece were in the bridal suit, about half an hour before the wedding. She knew that Trudy was secretly very glad to be there; she just didn't want to show it.

Kim's sister, Nicole, walked over to her sister and asked, "Kim, I wouldn't be doing my duty as your older sister, if I didn't ask you this: Are you absolutely sure this is what you want?"

Kim just titled her head, then smoothed down her dress. "Nicole, I love Adam. This isn't like when we were engaged before. We've been through a lot together," her eyes fell with the reference to her miscarriage and Hailey felt a stab of guilt in her stomach and she looked away from Kim so that she would not see the look in her eyes, "and we just really want to be together."

Platt stood up and declared, "I say yes to that! I've had enough of watching the two of you stare at each other longingly for too long!"

Kim and her former partner, Tay, started to laugh, talking about when Tay had worked out that Adam was her ex-fiancée and Hailey took the chance to excuse herself. She was very glad to be there, but she and Kim were not close friends. She had been surprised that Kim had wanted her in the bridal suit, but Kim had told her she had not wanted it any other way.

Hailey was wearing a very slim green dress, with her hair down in its natural curls and she had a blue allice-band in her hair, which Kim said showed off her eyes. It was strange to think that, little over a year ago, she and Adam had been together, but she knew that he was supposed to be with Kim. It had always been Kim and Hailey had not been serious about Adam; in fact, being with Adam had made Hailey realise her feelings for someone else. The wedding was in a beautiful church in Springfield, so Kim and Adam had hired out hotels for all of their guests and, of course, they had booked the honeymoon suit.

As soon as Hailey was outside, at the back of the church, she saw that she was not alone. Jay was outside, too, with his head hanging and Hailey knew, from years of being his partner, he was trying to control a panic attack. The church was very crowded and noisy, so Hailey was not surprised, but he was her partner, her best friend, and she would not let him go through this alone. He was wearing a suit, with a green tie, which Hailey noted, made his green eyes sparkle.

Slowly so as not to startle him, she walked over to him and rested her side against the wall. "Hey, you doing ok?"

If it had been anyone else, Jay would have said that he was fine, but this was Hailey. She had seen him like this before and there was no point in even trying to lie to her. He raised his head and cleared his throat as he replied, in a tight voice, "Yeah, there are a lot of people in there, that's all. I didn't think it was going to be a problem, but- I just need a minute." He paused, then looked at her and inquired, "What are you doing out here?"

Hailey shrugged and turned so that her back was against the wall and her elbow was resting against Jay's. "I needed some space. I'm glad Kim invited me, but I didn't expect to be here."

"Because of Adam?" Jay didn't miss a single thing when it came to his partner.

Biting her lip, Hailey swayed her head to the side as she replied, "I guess, but also, weddings aren't really my thing. I was never a little girl who dreamed about her wedding day, because – well, you know why." They fell into silence and she could hear Jay breathing in and out, slowly, in an attempt to control his breathing. His panic and she stayed by his side and brought him a glass of water when he finally decided to take his PTSD medication. He didn't want to take it, but he knew that it was the only way he would be able to be there for Kim and Adam today.

Jay smiled at Hailey, taking another sip of the water, before murmuring, "Thanks for being here for me. Not that I'm surprised; deep down, I think we're both anti-social." Hailey smiled and nodded, laughing. In their team, she and Jay were the most private. Maybe that was why they were such good partners, because they understood each other. The fact that Hailey was smiling made Jay laugh, too, and, after a couple of seconds of silence, their eyes connected. Green eyes met blue and the silence was a still one, as their eyes searched each other's, before Jay finally whispered, "You look beautiful, Hailey. That band in your hair really highlights your eyes."

Hailey knew that her cheeks were flushed as she smiled and replied, in a similar tone, "Thanks. You look very handsome with that green tie." Her eyes never left his and they looked at each other in silence, searching each other's face, both wondering if they would ever cross that line. Hailey knew that she had feelings for Jay, but the timing had never been right and Jay had feelings for her, but he scared of her rejecting him, of losing their friendship. He was afraid because of Erin, but he also knew that Hailey was not Erin. In the past 2 years, there had been moments like this and, in this silence, with their eyes connected and they knew what they were both feeling, but the moment was interrupted when Kevin told them that the wedding was starting. The moment was gone and both Jay and Hailey looked away from each other and cleared their throats, but when Hailey looked back at Jay, he smiled at her, his eyes lingering on her for longer than usual, before he followed Kevin inside. All it would take was a moment, uninterrupted.

The wedding ceremony itself was sweet and it was good to see Kim and Adam finally at this place, together, now joined in marriage. There was no doubt in Hailey's mind, or Jay's, that Kim and Adam belonged together and they deserved to be happy.

The wedding reception was in the hotel and, as soon as they were there, Kevin and Voight were given the task of DJ, so they announced together, "For the first time, we announce to you Kim and Adam Ruzek!" Hailey was standing with Vanessa, watching the couple first dance together and Vanessa was taking pictures. She knew that Jay was near the back of the room, where he felt safe, but he knew where she was if he needed her.

As soon as Kim and Adam's first dance was over, Kim left Adam, walking over to Hailey, crying: "Hailey, you must dance! Come on!"

Laughing and feeling awkward, Hailey responded, "No! Who would I dance with, Kim?"

"Jay, of course!" Adam appeared beside her, with a reluctant Jay in toe. He could sense their feelings, so he added, "Guys, it's a wedding present to us, come on!"

Jay and Hailey looked at each other and Jay shrugged, giving in, as he said, "I suppose we can't deny you, can we? Hailey, shall we get this over with?" They walked to the dance floor together and Jay put his arms around Hailey's waist and Hailey put her arms around Jay's neck and their eyes connected and they both blushed, very aware of their proximity to each other. How close their faces were, how easy it would be to lean into each other and share a kiss. Trying to break the tension, Jay asked, in a teasing, but kind tone, "So, I know you said you never thought about it, but if you get married, how do you picture it?"

Hailey laughed and rolled her eyes, allowing her blonde curls to fall into her face. Only Jay Halstead would ask her that question. "Erm… I guess it'd be very small. With a few family and friends. I'd have my brothers there, but not my parents." She paused and was silent for a second and she looked into Jay's eyes and she could see his understanding and she quickly asked, "What about you?"

"I know I wouldn't want it like it happened with Abby. I'd want it small, but not like that."

There was a silence as they continued their dance and Hailey could tell that Jay was beginning to become more anxious, so she suggested, "Should we get out for here?" She didn't wait for Jay's answer before she walked away. She hugged Kim and Adam goodnight, before she and Jay went to her room.

In Hailey's hotel room, she sat down on the chair in front of the mirror and took off her allice-band, placing it in front of the mirror, and Jay sat down on the bed, lying his back down. Hailey laughed and declared, "I know one thing. If I get married, there won't be all of that dancing. My feet are killing me."

Laughing, Jay said, "Mine, too." He took off his tie and lay it down on the bed, before he sat up. He looked at Hailey and bit his lip, before remarking, "But the dancing was good."

Hailey took out her earrings and rested them on the table, before she nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it was." She left her chair and sat down on the bed next to Jay, nudging him as she said, "What I want to know is how you learn how to dance like that?"

A smile crossed Jay's lips and he cleared his throat before replying, "My mum. She taught me and Will to dance. She said it would be good for us if either of us ever married." He swallowed a lump in his throat and looked down at his hands, thinking about how it had been so many years since his mum had died.

Slowly as to not startle the former Ranger, Hailey touched Jay's shoulder and stroked it, causing him to look at her as she said, in a soft voice, a soft voice only Jay heard, "I wish I'd had the chance to meet her. I could thank her for raising the best partner, the best friend, I've ever had." She paused and looked into Jay's eyes and she knew. This was it. This was the moment, so she asked, "Do you remember that day in the hospital- Do you have any idea what I was going to say to you? I've trusted you since the day I met you and I would follow you anywhere. When I was in New York, I missed you, so much."

Hailey's blue eyes were shining and her blue eyes were looking into Jay's green ones, searching, before both of their eyes finally stayed still, just looking into each other. There was no more searching, no more questions and Jay wrapped his arms around Hailey and pulled her into a passionate kiss and Hailey wrapped her arms around Jay's neck and they kissed passionately. This was that moment, uninterrupted and it was everything both of them had imagined and so much more. Their reckoning was here. Their time.