Hello friends, Happy 2022! I know it's been a while since I've been on here…but working in healthcare right now is hard. Please forgive me! I thought of this story over the holidays, just a cute take on Hailey and Jay spending every NYE together since they met. I tried to write the plot true to what was going on in the show at the time (around Dec/Jan), but I've taken some liberties. This story will only be 5 chapters and I currently have 4/5 done, so watch out for frequent updates! As for "Through the Years" I am also working on finishing the latest chapter for that, I just haven't had the mental energy to write lately (I don't blame you if you've lost interest haha). Thank you for your continued love and support on all my stories- your comments, messages, and follows always make my day (so has Hailey and Jay getting married ahhh!) Stay safe and healthy out there - K

2017

Hailey still wasn't sure what to make of her newly acquired partner, Jay Halstead. She trusted the guy, he was solid in the field, he had her back a few times already; as she had his. But there was clearly something else going on with him, in his personal life. He looked like he hadn't slept in weeks, Hailey knew he had been seeing Erin, who left abruptly for an FBI job in New York. Not to mention a few weeks ago he had pointed a gun at her, and fallen in with a criminal, who happened to be the sister of the army veteran who had been killed in said gun pointing case a few weeks back. It had been messy to say the least. Hailey was taken aback when Jay did that to her, he looked like he was off in his own world. She wouldn't forget the broken look on his face when he realized what he was doing.

They talked at work, but he kept her at arm's length. Sticking to discussing whatever case they were working, or where she wanted to stop for lunch, small talk. Most days he looked like he was just going through the motions, trying to push whatever was bothering him down to get through.

In many ways she felt sorry for Jay, but they were off to a bit of a rocky start in the partner department. She told him he needed to pull himself together or she was going to ask for a new partner. He seemed to take that threat seriously, but she still had no clue how he was doing. Even though he made mistakes and they didn't exactly hit it off right away, she could tell he was kind, and loyal, maybe to a fault of his own, hence the Camilla situation he found himself in. That's why when she walked out of the holding cell that night, she had no regrets about telling Camilla she would bury her if she came after Jay- zero. He made some extremely stupid, reckless decisions- one's the team also took note of. But Hailey could tell this was out of character for him, even just in the short time she knew him, the others seemed to notice that too. As much as he needed a push in the right direction, she also thought he might need some slack too.

She had to follow up with one of her CI's this morning, so she was late coming in. As she walked into the district just before lunch on New Year's Eve, she overheard on her way in two young female patrol officers mention Jay. She usually tried to stay out of station gossip, but she couldn't help but laugh. The two of them were clearly talking about his dating status, how hot he was, how he showed up at a scene once that they were working and told some guy off who was harassing them. They sounded like teenagers the way they were going on, Hailey took a better look at them and realized they likely weren't that far out from their teen years anyways.

She wasn't blind, Jay was an attractive man. She could admit that much. She just found it funny how some of the women in this department obsessed over him, not so discretely either. He's the type that would be so embarrassed to find out all the women were going crazy over him.

Hailey trailed the two young officers walking up the stairs approaching Platt's desk, she brushed past them as they stopped to talk to their desk sergeant.

"Upton!" Platt yelled out to stop her before heading upstairs.

"Yeah Sarge?" Hailey turned back around, feeling the eyes of the two women she followed into the district on her, she was sure they recognized her as Jay's partner.

"Halstead got called into court, but he left this for you", Trudy pulled out a coffee from behind her desk from Hailey's favourite café.

Hailey scrunched her nose. "Ahh, that sucks. But I do love these latte's."

Trudy laughed, "You've got him wrapped around your finger already." The two officers just silently watching this exchange, shocked looks on their faces.

"Yeah, yeah", Hailey rolled her eyes and smirked. Smirking at Trudy implying she had Jay trained already, and also at the faces of the officers who she followed in just realizing she might have overheard them talking about her partner.

"You young, hip people have any fun New Year's plans?" Trudy inquired, motioning upstairs.

"I think New Year's is a silly holiday personally Sarge, but we may grab some drinks at Molly's later", Hailey answered.

Platt turned to the officers next. One spoke on behalf of the pair; Hailey thought her name was Violet, but she wasn't sure. "No plans either really, probably something similar to Detective Upton."

"Well that sounds fun, enjoy. Don't stay here too late", Trudy replied, Hailey grabbing the coffee and heading upstairs, nodding to her desk sergeant and two officers who were still standing there timidly.

"Hey, heard you got called into court, thanks for the latte!" Hailey texted Jay.

He didn't respond for a while; Hailey had to do some paperwork and question a witness, so she didn't think much of it.

He finally got back to her around 4.

"Sorry long day. You're welcome!"

"Molly's tonight?" She responded a few minutes later.

"I don't think so, I'm pretty tired, feel a headache coming on."

"Ahh that's not good. Okay well if you change your mind you know where to find us!"

"Thanks Hailey, Happy new year."

Hailey put her phone back in her desk, this little voice in the back of her head saying she should ditch Molly's too, so Jay wouldn't be alone.

7 o'clock rolled around, Hailey was driving back from a quick errand to the store to get some bubbly for midnight. She passed by an outdoor rink in her neighbourhood, smiling at the group of young kids skating with their friends. It reminded her of her childhood and gave her an idea.

Jay was feeling fine despite what he told Hailey, he just wanted to be alone and drink himself to sleep, similar to what he's been doing for the last several weeks. He was already on his 3rd when he heard a knock at his door. He sighed, having a feeling who might be on the other side, but decided to answer anyways. If there was one thing he had learned about Hailey so far is that she was persistent.

"Hey", his partner said to him from the other side of the door.

"Hey", he replied back.

"You here by yourself?" Hailey asked just in case he had someone over, seeing the drink in his hand, smelling the whisky on his breath.

"Yeah", Jay answered neutrally.

"How's your headache?" Hailey tested.

"Huh? Oh… fine I guess", Jay said sheepishly knowing he was caught by the look on his partner's face.

"Kinda just wanted to be alone tonight", he admitted, Hailey picking up at the slight sadness in his voice.

"Yeah, well that's not going to happen", she said confidently. "You gonna invite me in for a drink?" She said as she brushed past him, he raised his eyebrows making room for her to move into his apartment.

He went over to his kitchen island to pour her one, returning to the couch a minute later.

"Cheers", Hailey said, Jay bringing his glass in to clink with hers.

"So", she started cautiously after a few semi-awkward moments of silence.

"So…", he didn't exactly bite, sipping his drink quietly.

"Since we're partners now…", Hailey said.

"Are we still going to be partners?" Jay blurted back, his voice sounding small.

Hailey exhaled, reminded of the ultimatum she gave him earlier this week, and set her drink on his coffee table, so she could turn and face him completely.

"Of course, we're still going to be partners Jay. I care about you. I'm worried that's all, I know I don't know you very well or for very long…but you seem…not yourself", she said softly.

"It's been a stressful few weeks, months…for me. You know that", he said void of emotion.

Jay was still icing her out. So, Hailey had to push on, and push until she hit the right buttons to get him to talk.

"Adam told me about catching you in the break room sleeping a few weeks ago…", Hailey pushed once again.

There it was. "He told you that?" Jay sounded defensive, angry almost.

Hailey put her hands up to defend Adam. "He only told me, privately. It wasn't a big group discussion. He's worried too."

"Jay you're clearly not sleeping, or eating well or taking care of yourself", motioning to the whisky, implying that she knew he'd shown up to work more than a few times hungover in the last little while. He would drink multiple cups of coffee at work and would often only eat if she spoke up and said she wanted to stop for lunch. Or if he needed to ask her for ibuprofen.

He stared at his floor, avoiding eye contact with her. Still not reacting to her pleas.

"You pointed your gun at me last week", she said bewildered, her voice begging him to understand why she was worried. That was the straw to break the camel's back, so it seemed.

She thought by the look in his eye that he was going to react further to that, yell, apologize more than he already had at the scene. But instead, he did something she wasn't expecting. He started to cry.

At first, she froze, watched his bottom lip quiver, the tears well up in the corners of his eyes. He hung his head and buried it in his hands.

She let him cry it out for a while, sitting there quietly by his side, supporting him without suffocating him.

"I'm sorry Hailey", he said as he sniffled and wiped his eyes. Hailey just listened.

"You've been so good to me- and I haven't been the same for you. You're a good detective and a good person", Jay stated. "You don't deserve how I've been treating you, treating everyone. I'm so tired. I can't believe I pointed my gun at you- I could have... I could have…", he couldn't bring himself to say it, he just shook his head.

"But you didn't Jay. You didn't", she reassured him. Slowly scooting closer to him on his couch.

She remembered the way Jay flinched when she put her hand on his shoulder as they were reviewing security tapes a while back. She gently set her hand on his upper back and left it there when he didn't pull away.

"It's okay to cry Jay. You're human, it's okay to be feeling this way. You've been through a lot", Hailey told him.

"This year has been really fucked up", he summed it up out loud, shaking his head, still wiping a stray tear here and there.

"I know it has. But things are gonna be okay Jay. It might not feel like they are right now, but they will", Hailey quietly reassured him again, testing her luck with the smallest of back rubs. Jay didn't jerk away like she expected, he actually kind of leaned into her touch.

They talked a little bit more, Jay let her in on some personal details of what he was going through. How Erin leaving had kicked things off, then accidentally shooting that little girl, everything with Luis and Camilla. He openly told her about his PTSD from his time in the army, and how he had it under control for a long time, but he felt like it was winning the battle right now.

"You have me okay?" She whispered, all he could do was nod back, flashing her a quick half smile. As soon as the moment came it was gone again, but Hailey saw it. The version of him that Camilla claimed only she knew. The real Jay Halstead. Hailey saw it, and she liked it.

Jay got everything off his chest and actually felt better. They were sitting there having another drink, eating a pizza that Hailey stuck in the oven from his freezer. He appreciated Hailey, she was open and honest, and he knew he could trust her. She broke their silence with a strange question.

"Do you have skates Jay?"

"Uhh yeah why?" He replied.

"I have an idea. Grab them and let's go", Hailey said downing her drink, checking the time. It was just after 11 at night, inching closer to the new year.

"Hailey we can't drive anywhere right now…", Jay said confused, and why she would want to leave the house now right before midnight.

"I know, we're walking! Taking the two foot express like the good old days", she said sounding chipper, already pulling her boots and winter coat on.

He chuckled at that. "Alright if you say so." Jay opened his hallway closet, rooting around for his skates until he found them tucked in a far back corner.

Hailey lead him outside his apartment, down a couple blocks until they arrived at this outdoor rink. There were no kids, it was late and far too cold now. But the twinkle lights were still on. It looked…peaceful…dare he thought.

Hailey smiled, setting her stuff down on a bench next to the ice, pulling her skates on.

Jay did the same, pausing to look at her. Hailey seemed to understand why he was staring at her.

"I played hockey growing up Jay I can tie my own skates", she said with a wink.

"Just checking, copy you", he chuckled back, finishing lacing up his own.

Jay got out on the ice first, holding out a hand to help Hailey step on initially.

"Such a gentleman", she said somewhat sarcastically.

"I try", he smiled.

They both skated around for a few minutes to get their bearings, it had been a while since Jay had done this, too long actually he couldn't remember the last time. But it was just like riding a bike.

They met in the middle, Jay cracking up watching Hailey try to do some tricks and mimic famous hockey celebrations, he would copy her after.

The cold air filled his lungs as he felt himself smiling and laughing for the first time in a while.

Hailey noticed his boyish grin, realizing it was the first time she's seen him genuinely smile in weeks.

They took a beer break on the bench, when Jay spoke up.

"Did you ever have any New Year's Eve traditions growing up?"

"Yeah this", she replied. "With my brothers, and friends. We used to have this great rink in our neighbourhood. We'd do this every year, until we got old enough to go out and party anyways, steal our parents alcohol. You know. Things change- simpler times." Now it was Hailey that was sounding nostalgic.

Jay felt touched, that she wanted to include him in something that clearly meant something to her. "That sounds like the best childhood", he replied.

"It wasn't all great, but around the holidays, and keeping our little traditions going, made things special", she replied, a hint of sadness in her voice when mentioning her childhood.

"Well, thank you for including me in this. I needed it; this is the first time I've felt…. relaxed in a while", Jay chose his words carefully.

Hailey turned so that her eyes met his, "I know you did. Any time."

"Plus, now I know you were a hockey player growing up. The more I learn about you, the more I realize I have no idea who you really are", he said smiling.

"Good my plan is working", she replied with a smirk. Jay shook his head and took another sip of his beer.

"A few weeks ago, you needed some tough love, and now I know you're just needing some real love. No one should be alone at the holidays, even you Jay Halstead", Hailey added seriously.

"You're alone too." He pointed out.

"Things are different now with my family", she confirmed.

"I get that", he echoed.

"But I think it's possible to find your own family", she said so much with saying so little.

"I get that too", he nudged her arm gently, scooting a little closer to her on the bench, both understanding the read between the lines of what they were really talking about.

Their conversation was interrupted as they heard a loud bang, followed by bright colours lighting up the sky towards Lake Michigan.

"Guess that means it's midnight", Hailey said, Jay nodding in agreement. They had lost track of time while they were skating.

"Happy New Year Hailey", he said quietly, clinking his beer with hers.

"Happy New Year Jay", she smiled back, hoping for brighter days for them in 2018.

Once they had stumbled back to his apartment, they peeled off their layers, Jay heading into his room to grab an extra blanket for them on his couch to warm up.

What he didn't know is that this was the first NYE in a while for her where she didn't have panicked thoughts about that party, when she was undercover, the last night she saw her partner Garrett alive. It still chilled her to the bone even thinking about it. She needed this night too in a way.

"I need to take my contacts out, my eyes are dry from crying now", he sort of laughed, heading into his room to change, returning with glasses she has never seen him wear.

"I didn't know you wore glasses", she said suspiciously.

"There's a lot you don't know about me either", he said echoing her earlier mysterious statement.

"Well, now we have all the time in the world to figure each other out", she said.

"The beginning of a beautiful friendship", he said goofily.

Hailey started to make a bed for herself on his couch, to which Jay promptly rejected that.

"You can sleep in my bed, I'll sleep on the couch", he insisted.

"I'm not going to make you sleep on your own couch Jay, it's fine", she replied.

"Trust me I've been sleeping on the couch more than in my bed these last few weeks", he slipped that last part out. He saw Hailey connect the dots in her head quickly and back track.

"Well we can both sleep out here then, make a fort or something", she suggested, earning a laugh out of Jay.

"A fort? Hailey we're in our thirties", he chuckled.

"I haven't exactly had the greatest New Year's track record the last few years either, so I'm thinking of starting fresh, a new tradition. You in?" Hailey said referring to their night so far.

"I could get behind that, fort included", he confirmed.

"Good, so this time next year we'll go skating, drink ourselves silly, ideally less crying involved, have a good old fashioned slumber party", she said, Jay made a face and nudged her jokingly, knowing she didn't mean for it to come out in any way other than a friendly one. Jay took the longer end of his sectional, Hailey lying down and making herself comfortable on the shorter end, their faces both meeting at the corner.

"Maybe get Chinese takeout too? We used to do that as kids", Jay yawning, revealing a small family tradition of his own.

"Chinese it is. Now who's the sentimental one", she said with a smirk, even though her eyes were closed.

"You caught me", he said, his voice sounding sleepy.

"Good night Hailey" "Good night Jay", they both whispered before dozing off into a peaceful sleep, never revealing how they spent their NYE to their colleagues who questioned them Monday morning.