Chapter 21: Old job, new job and you.

Jay/Hailey. Set after series 7. At 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.

Please enjoy and review. I'd love to know what you think about where the story is going for Jay and Hailey.

A few weeks went by and Jay started to settle into the role of Sergeant of the Intelligence Unit. The homicide case was solved and everyone could tell that was a huge relief for Jay. It had been his first official case as Sergeant. Jay's introverted personality made him a very different Sergeant, a very different leader from Voight, but the change did not seem to bother any of them. It was good that Kevin and Adam had had a fight, because Jay had established, if there were any messing, that was it. They would be out of the unit. He was a fair boss, but his Army days had drilled into him the importance of discipline, as well as kindness and loyalty. Jay was actively involved in cases, whilst at the same time, allowing himself to step back. He was grateful for his time as a Sergeant in the Rangers, as it helped him with his confidence in this new role. The new partnerships were adjusting to one another. Adam and Kevin had made up and Adam was doing his very best to work well with Jay and Jay appreciated it and Kim was proud of her husband. Adam was still adjusting, but his resistance was not as overt as it had been and it was appreciated.

Over the past couple of weeks, Jay had only been to Hailey's house a couple of times and she had only been to his place once. This concerned Hailey, not for herself, but as his best friend, as his partner, she was worried, because Jay was mostly sleeping in his office and that wasn't good for him. His new role of Sergeant also meant that they no longer talked to each other at work as they had done before, as Jay believed they had to be more secretive about their relationship now. Hailey also missed spending time with her boyfriend, alone, which was something she and Jay had not had a chance to do. They hadn't even celebrated his promotion yet, besides when they had celebrated Voight offering it to him before and that had been their own private celebration.

It was Friday and their shift was coming to an end. Due to their high case load that week, Jay had decided to give the unit the weekend off and Hailey hoped that he was including himself in that. Jay was still in his office as she and Kim made their way to the locker room. As she and Kim were changing, Kim asked, "Hailey, any plans for this weekend? Are you seeing your boyfriend?" She asked, with a smile.

Hailey pulled her jumper over her head as she replied, "I'm not sure." She paused, then added, "He's got a new job and he's adjusting to it. I'm happy for him, but I feel like I haven't seen him for weeks." She laughed, trying to make a joke out of it, but she knew that Kim saw right through that.

"Well, if you don't want to be on your own, Adam and I are having a dinner tomorrow night. You could come over." Kim paused, then suggested, "You don't talk about him much, but I know your guy's important to you. I can see how happy you are and it's clear you're serious about him, so just tell him you want to see him more than you are right now. There's nothing wrong with that. You're both adjusting." There was a silance, before Kim asked something she had noticed over the past couple of weeks. "Are you and Jay ok at the moment? I know you guys are close, but you've seemed a bit… distant at the moment?"

Pulling her hair out of its high bobble, Hailey ran her hand through her blonde curls. "No, we're fine, Kim. It's a change, but he's my partner and he always will be. He's my best friend."

"Yeah, you two will always be good, no matter what. You have an unbreakable friendship. I'm going to join Adam and Kev at Molly's. Do you want to come?"

Hailey brushed her hair quickly, before she picked up her overnight bag. She smiled, as she replied, "No, I'm just going to go home, but thanks, Kim."

Kim smiled back and just replied, "Any time. Have a good weekend, Hailey."

Hailey waited, until she was sure that Kim, Kevin and Adam were gone and she walked into the bullpen, leaving her bag at her desk. She had a strange sense of deja vu. She could see Jay working at his desk, through the glass, and the tension in his body was clear. Maybe Kim was right. Maybe she should tell him how she felt. As if she hadn't seen him for weeks, so she didn't bother to knock.

Smiling, Hailey walked over to Jay. "Hey, Serg." Jay looked up at her and smiled. "You did good today. We all did, so how about we go and have some dinner? Pizza, then go back to my place?"

Jay bit his lip and reached out for her hand as he replied, "I'm sorry, Hailes, but I've got to stay here. There's so much I've got to do."

"Jay, I think you need to get out of here. Being here all the time isn't good for you." Hailey paused, then added, "I know you're sleeping here. You've only been to my place a couple of times in the last few weeks."

In the calm way he did everything, Jay stood up and snapped, "Hailey, this is my job. I have a responsibility to this unit."

Hailey stood up, too, in not such a calm manner. "Yes, you do, Jay, but you also have a responsibility to yourself! I've hardly seen you since you took this promotion, but you also don't talk to me here like you used to. We haven't even celebrated your promotion yet. I care about you, you know I do, and you're my best friend, my partner and my boyfriend, but at the moment I feel as if your priorities are: Me, old job and new job, in that order." She indicted them in order, lowering her hand almost to the floor with the word 'me', contrasting with the words 'new job' when she raised her arm over her head. The look on Jay's face was one of shock. Hailey shook her head and touched his hand gently, before she just said, "See you tomorrow, Jay."

Hailey was annoyed with herself. She had allowed her emotions to overwhelm her; she had not meant for all of that to come out, but it had. Hailey ran her hands through her blonde curls and she closed her eyes.

There was a knock on the door and Hailey answered it, wondering who it was at this time of the evening. It was Jay. Even without saying anything, Jay wrapped his arms around Hailey and she whispered into his chest, "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have lost it like that."

Jay shook his head and put his hands in his pockets. "No, Hailey. You don't need to apologies. I do. I've become so consumed with the job, I've lost sight of the person who gave me the confidence to do the exam."

Running her hands through her hair, Hailey rocked her head as she said, "Jay, I was worried about you. I see how hard you're working, how you're sleeping there. And-" she paused, before adding, "I've missed you. I've missed my best friend."

Jay smiled as she murmured, "I've missed you, too. You'll always be my partner. We'll work it out. What we have, I want to work, more than anything." He paused, then added, with a serious look in his eyes, "In case you were wondering, my priorities are: Old job, new job and you. In that order." With the word 'you' he held his arm over his head to emphasise his point.

Hailey wrapped her arms around Jay's neck and her blue eyes met his green ones as she whispered, "That's what I want, too." She titled her head and repeated, "Old job, new job and me. Partner, best friend and boyfriend." Her lips found Jay's with a passionate kiss and all of their worries were forgotten. They would always be by each other's sides, no matter what.