Chapter 16: Changes.
Jay/Hailey. Set after series 7. After Kim and Adam's wedding, Jay and Hailey finally confessed their feelings and spent the night together and now they are back in Chicago and hiding their relationship from their friends.
I do not own Chicago PD or any of the characters.
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Hailey's conversation with Platt was in the forefront of her mind as she made her way back to her house, where she knew Jay would be as soon as his shift was over, so she had a shower and ordered a takeaway. She wanted to talk to Jay, to tell him that she was willing to move to another detective position in order for their relationship to work for the long-term. She also knew that he would say the same thing.
As soon as the takeaway arrived, Hailey put it into the oven, before she had a shower, tidying up her blonde curls in a high ponytail and she sat on the sofa, waiting for Jay. With Adam, she would not have made such a sacrifice, but her relationship with Jay was different. Jay was different and she was the best Hailey Upton when she was with Jay Halstead. They balanced each other. It was their time together, after so many interrupted moments and Hailey knew that Jay felt the same way. The change didn't have to happen immediately, but in the future.
Jay was the last one in the bullpen. Voight was in his office, but he often was at such a time and Jay could not wait until the paperwork was done and he could go back to Hailey's house. Back to his partner, his best friend. His thoughts were interrupted when Voight opened his office door and walked over to Jay. Out of his old Army habit, Jay stood up, with his hands behind his back. Jay could tell that Voight had something on his mind, but he waited, patiently, even though, by this time in the evening, all that he wanted to do was to be with Hailey.
Finally, Voight titled his head and inquired, in his gravelly voice, "Jay, have you thought about taking the Sergeants' exam?"
Jay was surprised, but he nodded. "I have, yes. But it doesn't seem like the right time." When Voight looked at him in a questioning manner, he cleared his throat and explained, "Hailey and I work well together. She's the best partner I've ever had. If I were to take the exam and I passed, she and I wouldn't be partners anymore."
"You guys will always be partners. Al and I weren't partners, officially, for years, but that bond, that trust, never leaves. I know you and Upton are one of the best partnerships I've ever seen. One of the best decisions I've ever made, putting you two together 2 years ago." Voight lent on Jay's desk and he continued, "That trust will never leave you and Hailey. That bond, Jay. But you have to think about the future. The truth is: I want to move closer to Olive and Daniel. I want to be closer to my grandson. Leave this unit and you're the only one I want to leave it with. I know you'll do it the right way. Better than I ever have."
Jay pressed his lips together and was silent for a couple of seconds, before he nodded. "Thanks for saying it, sir."
"No need to thank me, kid." Voight paused, then added, with a smile, "I'm taking early retirement next week and I'll be leaving this place in your hands. The Sergeants' exam is next week, so Platt'll be up here with you, until you pass, but I have no worries about that. What do you say, Jay? Are you ready for this unit to be yours?"
Standing up slowly, Jay asked carefully, "Can I have the night to think about it?"
There was a lock of shock in Voight's eyes, but he still nodded and smiled. "Sure, kid. Take the time you need, but I'm leaving next week. I know you'll run this unit the right way."
Sergeant of the Intelligence Unit. That was all that Jay could think about on his way to Hailey's house. That and how it would change his relationship, his partnership, with Hailey. They would no longer be partners.
He could smell takeaway as he walked into Hailey's house and he called her, to find her sitting on the sofa, with a book. "Hailey," he sat down next to her, putting his arm around her, "I have something to discuss with you. Voight just surprised me."
Hailey smiled and titled her head as she remarked, "Let me guess: He offered you the position to run the unit." The look of surprise was clear on Jay's face, so she smiled again and added, "Jay, we've known it's only been a matter of time."
Jay was silent as he looked at Hailey, before he replied, "I was surprised." He paused, then continued, "He's going to retire next week, and Platt will be up there with us until I pass the exam. It's not too much time, is it? Hailey, what if I'm not ready for this?"
Putting her arms around his neck, Hailey looked into his eyes. "Jay, you've been ready for this for years and Voight wouldn't be giving you the chance unless he was 100% certain you're ready. You led your units in Afghanistan, didn't you?" There was a silence as Hailey's blue eyes looked into Jay's green ones, before she asked, "Jay, what else is holding you back?"
In a gentle, but swift motion, Jay's hand landed on Hailey's cheek, and he rested his forehead against hers. "Hailey, if I took it, we wouldn't be partners anymore. You're the best partner I've ever had."
Hailey closed her eyes and felt Jay's forehead against hers as her arms lay around his neck, before she opened her eyes and smiled, looking into his eyes, "Jay, we'll always be partners. I'd follow you blind anywhere, partner or not, and we have a new partnership now. You taking that job won't change what we have, Jay, trust me."
Looking into Hailey's eyes, Jay admitted, in a whisper, "What about my PTSD? How can the team trust me when I can get lost sometimes?"
"Jay, Voight knows about your PTSD and so does the team and they will always follow you, no matter what." Hailey paused, then asked, in a whisper, "I'll be by your side, whether I'm your partner officially, or not."
Jay's answer was to kiss her passionately and hold her close and Hailey returned the kiss, looking into Jay's eyes he smiled and she smiled back at him. This would be a change, but they would always be partners, best friends. Hailey would tell Jay about her conversation with Platt later, but now, it was time for them to celebrate and that conversation did not seem to matter now, because Jay was taking the chance Voight was giving him, and, unknowingly, it was, in part, to secure his future with Hailey. Nothing had ever felt more right to either of them.
