Chapter 6: Didn't want it for a second.
Jay/Hailey. Set after series 7 and goes AU after that. Jay and Hailey confessed their feelings for each other at Kim and Adam's wedding and are now in a secret relationship.
I do not own Chicago PD or any of the characters.
Please read, review and enjoy :)
Before either Hailey or Jay knew it, they had been together for a month. A month since Kim and Adam's wedding, but neither of them were into celebrating trivial anniversaries as some people were. They were working together as partners that day, anyway, and they had plans to spend the evening together, at Jay's.
"So, Hailey," Vanessa's voice interrupted her thoughts as she, Kim and Hailey were in the locker room at the end of their shift, "Are you seeing your mystery guy tonight? When are you going to give me the details about this guy?"
Releasing her blonde curls from a high ponytail, Hailey nodded and just replied, "Yes, I am." She smiled and put her bag over her shoulder. "I'll see you guys tomorrow. Have a good night."
Vanessa blocked her way to the door. "Hailey, you're always with this guy at his place and I get that, you want the privacy. But why don't you invite him to ours for once? Or to Molly's? I know he said he's shy, but you guys are clearly serious about each other. I want to meet the guy who's stolen your heart, Hailey! Just invite him to Molly's one night, he can meet all of us!"
Hailey just smiled tiredly and just said, "I will. When the time's right. Have a good night, guys."
Hailey texted Jay to say that she was just about to leave the station and she was on her way to Jay's apartment when Platt's voice stopped her. "Goldilocks, come over here." Hailey backed away from the door and pulled her overnight bag over her shoulder as she walked over to Platt's desk. The desk sergeant looked at the younger woman over her glasses, as she pushed a package towards her. "It seems you made quite an impression on the Feds. It's a package- and a job offer." The look of shock must have been evident on her face, because she added, "And it's not the first time this week, Hailey. Offers like this don't come round every day. They're like gold dust."
Eyeing the package, Hailey just nodded. "Yeah, I know, Serge."
"We'd be sorry to lose you, kid, but you'd be a good Fed."
Hailey's hands moved away from the package as she shook her head and replied, "Serge, I'm not going to take the offer. I'm not even considering it."
"And why is that, Upton? Because, for a good detective like you, this could be the chance of a lifetime. Just think about it, carefully, before you turn them down."
With no intention of doing this, Hailey just nodded, picked up the package, bid goodnight to Platt and left the station, making her way to Jay's apartment. It was rare that they had the night off, to be together, so she knew that both of them wanted to make the most of it and, as far as both of them were concerned, keeping their relationship private was the best decision they had ever made, besides giving into their feelings. They were partners at work, as detectives, and different kinds of partners in their personal lives.
"Is that an overnight bag I see? Has Hailey Upton finally brought some clothes to my flat?" Jay joked as Hailey walked into his apartment and he greeted her at the door, with a smile and kiss.
Titling her head to the side and grinning, Hailey laughed and murmured, "Well, it had to happen sometime, didn't it?" She leaned into a kiss, before she asked, "Are you cooking?"
Jay nodded and ran back to the oven as he replied, "Yeah, I am. Pasta. I figure we need to eat something that isn't pizza for once." He paused, then asked, "What's the package?"
The package in question was on the kitchen table and Hailey put down her bag as she shrugged. "It's a job offer, from the Feds, in New York."
The surprise was clear on Jay's face, but he tried to cover it as he walked over to Hailey, leaning against the table, taking hold of her hand. "That's great. Are you thinking about it?"
In spite of herself, Hailey found herself laughing as she shook her head and squeezed Jay's hands. "No, I'm not. Not for a second. I'd never want to be a Fed." She paused, then rested her head against Jay's, looking into his eyes, "What I do want is dinner and you."
Jay kissed her and whispered back, "That sounds perfect."
The next morning, at 5.00, Jay was the first to wake, so he showered and changed and, when Hailey woke up, they had breakfast together and, like always, Jay left the apartment first, to get some coffees for the two of them. They walked into the station, as partners, not boyfriend and girlfriend, but they did not make it to Intelligence, because Platt called Hailey over to her desk and, as her partner, Jay followed. "Upton, another package arrived earlier, for you, and there's an FBI guy waiting, in Voight's office."
For a brief second, Hailey's eyes connected with Jay's, before she thanked Platt and they went up the stairs. The sergeant had not been surprised by the exchange, because she had suspected that they had been together since Kim and Adam's wedding and the look the two of them had just now shared confirmed her thoughts. Hailey placed her coffee down on the desk and walked into Voight's office, feeling slightly anxious and Jay sat down and pretended that he was filling in a report, when he was really watching what was happening in the office.
Voight was sitting behind his desk, waiting for Hailey to arrive and when she did, he made the introductions. "Special Agent Brown, this is Detective Hailey Upton. He's the one who's been sending you the packages."
Hailey nodded in acknowledgement. "Special Agent Brown, it's good to put a face to a name. What brings you to Chicago?"
"Detective Upton, I've read your file and I've seen that you spent a year undercover. Is that correct? With that in mind, I'd like to offer you a spot on an FBI undercover taskforce. You'd have a month of FBI training and then go undercover for at least a year, probably more considering the nature of the case. This is a much-converted undercover assignment and you've been recommended by our New York office, Detective Upton."
There was a long silence, and all that Hailey could think to say was, "How long do I have to make this decision, Special Agent Brown?"
"24 hours, Detective Upton. May I say, you're the best of a lot we're seen and, with your undercover skills, you're highly recommended."
Biting her lip, Hailey asked, carefully, "You said I'd be undercover for a year, at least?" Out of the corner of her eye, she could see Voight watching her with a critical eye.
Brown nodded. "That's right. It would probably be longer than a year, but it's nothing you haven't done before, is it?" Hailey made sure that her blue eyes gave away no emotion and she was glad when Agent Brown nodded and said, "Sergeant Voight, I'll see myself out. I look forward to hearing from you, Detective Upton."
Hailey already knew what her answer was. She would not go. There was not a second when she had believed that she would accept it. She had barely survived undercover for a year before, with Booth. She did not want to leave Jay, her partner, her best friend, her boyfriend. Voight's gruff voice interrupted her thoughts. "You don't look as happy as I thought you would. Upton, what's holding you back? It's a great opportunity and to be singled out by the Feds is an honour."
Holding her arms, Hailey just nodded and replied, "I know, Serge. I do. But things are different now and I'm not sure if I want to be away for a year." She could see the critical way Voight was looking at her. She knew he thought she was making the wrong decision, but Hailey knew what she was doing, so she just looked Voight in her eye and excused herself.
Out in the bullpen, Jay gave her a questioning look, but she shook her head. She would talk to him about it later, because it was not important enough to discuss it now and, for the rest of the day, she was partnered with Kim. Hailey didn't think she needed to tell Jay right away, because she was not considering it and she knew that Jay knew this. They could talk about it later, in the privacy of Jay's apartment, with just the two of them.
The unit, however, did not share this idea, because, after their shift, they went to Molly's. Hailey was sitting next to Jay, with their arms resting next to each other and they both smiled at each other, secretly. No-one ever noticed.
Of course, Adam was the one to break the silence. "So, Hailey, who was the suit in the office with you and Voight this morning?"
Hailey titled her head to the side in a non-committal way, before she replied, casually, "It was Agent Brown from the FBI. He offered me a place with them."
"I've been with you the whole day and you didn't mention this!" Kim exclaimed, grinning. "Hailey, this is such a big deal. What is the job?"
Letting her curls fall against her face, Hailey shrugged and replied, "Undercover for a year. Maybe more."
Vanessa left her seat and pulled Hailey into a hug, pushing past Jay as she did so. "Hailey, that's amazing, but we'll miss you so much, won't we, guys? Halstead, you'll miss Hailey, won't you?"
Jay's eyes were fixed on the bear in front of him. It took him a couple of seconds to register that Vanessa was talking to him and his eyes met with Hailey's and he could see the concern in her eyes. She was worried that he had zoned out, like he did sometimes, because of PTSD, but it wasn't that. His eyes flicked back from Hailey to Vanessa, before he faked a smile and replied, "Yeah. She's the best partner I've ever had." He smiled, a real smile, and Hailey knew what he really meant.
Pulling her eyes away from Jay's, Hailey moved away from Vanessa and shook her head. "You won't have to miss me. I'm not going to take it." The surprise was evident on their faces, so she explained, "I have my life here. You guys are my team, my friends, and I don't want to lose that for a year." She ordered some more drinks, then announced, "I've got to get going, but I'll see you guys tomorrow." She smiled and left and made her way to Jay's apartment. Jay had given her his key earlier, so she let herself inside and changed into a pair of Jay's sweet pants and shirts, pouring herself and Jay some wine. She curled her body on Jay's sofa and rested her head on the back of the sofa, closing her eyes. Being with Jay was her home. She felt safe and happy when she was with him.
The sound of the door opening made Hailey raise her head and she opened her eyes, being met with Jay's eyes as he took off his jacket and came to sit next to her, kissing her temple, before he put his arms around her and Hailey rested her head against his chest. After a long silence, Jay began, "I know you said last night you weren't thinking about it, but Platt said it's a great opportunity. I'm sure Voight said the same thing. You probably have 24 hours to think about it."
Hailey raised her head so that she was looking into Jay's eyes so that he could read her words as well as hear them. She needed him to hear her, because, even before the offer had formally been made, there had never been a doubt in her mind. She had never wanted to take the job. In a gentle voice, Hailey told Jay, "I meant what I said when I said I wasn't thinking about it. Not for a second. That was just made even clearer when I was given the offer. I barely survived the year undercover, with Booth and the idea of not being your partner for a year is an awful one. You can't get rid of me that easily." She joked, titling her head. "Jay, I couldn't be away from you for a year. I never want to be away from you, for that long. This is my home, with you, and this is where I want to be. You're my best friend, my partner and my boyfriend and we're better together."
Green eyes were searching blue, before Jay whispered, "So, you're staying?" A smile spread across his face as he rested his head against Hailey's and said, "This is the happiest I've ever been, with you. I'm glad we went to Kim and Adam's wedding."
Grinning in return, Hailey nodded. "Yeah, I'm staying right here." Hailey's lips captured Jay's in a passionate kiss and they looked into each other's eyes, before they continued kissing. Their time was finally here, it had been here for a month, after being partners and best friends. Their moments before had been interrupted, but here they were now and neither of them was going to let this go.
The next morning, when Hailey walked into the 21st District, Platt called her over. "Goldilocks, have you made a decision? About the Feds?"
Hailey nodded and replied, in a very matter of fact manner, "Yeah, I did, Serge. I'm going to say thanks, but no. I never wanted it, anyway." She smiled at the desk sergeant and started to walk over to stairs, before Platt called her back.
Taking off her glasses, Platt rested her arms on the desk. She cleared her throat. "I'm only going to say this once, Goldilocks. Your mystery guy must be worth it. Maybe he's the gold dust." Her eyes landed on Jay as he walked into the district and she added, with a dry smile, "There goes your partner. I'm sure he'll want to know your decision." Hailey narrowed her eyes for a couple of seconds, before she just nodded and smiled, before she followed Jay up the stairs to Intelligence.
