Another few weeks go by as Jay recovers. He's not back at work yet, but will be starting desk duty soon. If it wasn't for Hailey, and the team, and even Trish, he'd be going a little stir-crazy, but everyone's made sure to keep him occupied in some way. Hailey's come over a lot of the nights that Trish hasn't, which is more often than not because Jay seems to always be able to make excuses. He's slowly pushing her away, whether intentional or not, but since it's getting him to spend time with Hailey again he's not thinking about it too much. Each day that passes the world he envisioned being married to Hailey seems to be drifting further and further away. It makes him sad, but hopeful that maybe it was a premonition, and maybe now it's not the right time, but it's definitely something he'd like to strive for.
Tonight is another night he comes up with another excuse to not spend with Trish. He tells her he had told the team he would try as best as he could to assist mentally with their latest case. It's not a complete lie, he is seeing the team tonight, just not for a case. They're all heading to Molly's for some drinks. It's been forever since they've all gone there, and Adam had suggested it. Jay was going to drive himself, but Hailey insisted on taking him. He naturally agreed, just flipped it on her slightly.
"You know, when I insisted on you coming with me, this isn't exactly what I had in mind. You're the one on leave from injury and who should be getting picked up." Hailey exclaims as she hops in his truck once he picks her up outside her apartment.
"Well you deserve a night of drinking without having to think about driving, besides I'm still taking the pain meds on occasion so I can't drink that much anyway." He shrugs at her, as if that explains it all.
"Well when you put it that way… better step on it Mr. DD."
They smile at each other while Jay pulls away.
When they pull into Molly's parking lot, it's surprisingly busy, with people double parked waiting for a spot to open. It is a Saturday night, but they're both shocked how busy it is, it really has been a while since they've frequented there, or really any popular bar. Growing frustrated, Jay plows out of the lot and takes off.
Hailey braces her arm on the roof. "Oh God, street!"
Jay finds a tight spot he'll have to parallel park in about a block away from the entrance and Hailey looks at him like he's nuts when she realizes he's going to attempt it.
"Dude, you won't fit. Just drive around back, we'll get a trophy spot, end of story!" she laughs at him.
He holds his finger up at her. "I got this!" he says confidently as he rushes in, not-so-gracefully hitting the curb on the way in.
Hailey cracks up. "Well, that was the curb, but adorable, really."
"I'm not sure that was a compliment." He tilts his head at her as she smirks back.
Jay gets a strange sense of deja vu, but he closes his eyes and shakes his head quickly and it's gone as fast as it came. Hailey notices, of course she does, and grabs his arm in concern.
"Hey, you okay? You seemed spaced out for a second."
"Yeah. Yeah, I'm good." He assures her. "Let's get in and meet them before they put out an APB or Ruz drinks the whole bar."
They walk in to find it still looks exactly the same, aside from the addition of the outside patio, and spot their crew already at a table in the far back right. They weave through the bar patrons, not recognizing anyone they know along the way… man do the times change fast when you start getting older, and finally make their way to their friends.
Kevin, Kim Burgess, and Adam Ruzek already had beers in hand and two spare chairs waiting when they walked over. "Look who's upright on two feet at a bar!" Adam exclaims toward Jay.
"Yeah, yeah. What's the matter, you forgot how to buy a whole round of drinks?" Jay chides, referring to them only having the three beers.
"See, I was gonna grab you some, but figured since I was first to visit at the hospital with Voight, that Ruz owed you one." Kevin says.
"Wow, really, Kev? We were five minutes behind you guys getting snacks at the cafeteria for you!" Kim exclaims.
"Technically, I was first to hospital, so really you all owe both of us!" Hailey jokes.
"Please sugar, that's no surprise, you're with him 24/7 anyway, so hardly fair." Adam laughs back while Kevin and Kim nod their heads in agreement.
Both Hailey and Jay blush softly. "Okay, okay. I'll get our own drinks." Jay says.
"No, I got it. Sit. You drove me, I'll buy tonight. Besides, you're currently one and done anyway!" Hailey insists and winks.
"I've heard Jay gets that a lot!" Adam teases and they all crack up while Jay rolls his eyes.
"Come on, Hails, I'll go with you and buy a whole new round, gonna need something stronger if Ruz is in one of those moods tonight." Kevin says and the two of them head over to the bar, leaving Jay with Kim and Adam.
"So how you doing, Jay, really? You're looking better than last week." Kim asks.
"Good, thanks. Feeling good. Ready to get back out there."
"I'll bet. Where's Trish?" Adam asks.
"Um, I told her it was just a team thing tonight. She understood." Jay states quickly.
"I see. And you drove Hailey?" Adam questions as him and Kim share a knowing look.
Jay shakes his head. "Don't start!"
"I know it's not my place, but…" Kim starts saying, but stops suddenly when she sees Hailey and Kevin returning with their drinks.
All three of them look awkward and Hailey stares at them oddly. "What you guys talking about?"
"Umm…" Kim tries when Jay interrupts.
"Adam was just resharing with us the story of when a training officer tazed his balls for a lesson right in the bullpen."
"Uhh yeah, hurt like a bitch! Thought my little swimmers were done for!" Adam agrees, playing along.
Kevin cracks up at the memory. "Man, we do have some good stories!"
They all laugh in agreement and sip down on their drinks. Soon the memories and the alcohol starts flowing and they can't believe how long it's been since they stayed out and partied this long together. It's just what Jay needed.
"Hey, remember that first time you hung out with us here? You practically called me stupid." Kevin asks Hailey.
She laughs hard, clearly feeling the effects of the liquor, and Jay can't help but stare at how carefree she looks again. "I didn't call you stupid! I said any cop who didn't understand what the Ivory Tower was like was."
"Oh yeah, she was all 'Greek tragedy' and everything! I was thinking, who the hell is this girl?" Adam chimes in as they all chuckle in memory.
"Oh my God, I remember that! I was still on furlough, but I came to meet you guys. I was excited Voight had finally added another female aside from Erin and me." Kim exclaims.
At the sound of that name from their past, their eyes all suddenly seem to drift towards Jay. He nods along, caught in the memory too. "It wasn't the best time for me… but I think it eventually turned out pretty great!" He responds smiling softly, his eyes only finding Hailey's as they share a charged look that makes the other three feel like they're intruding on something.
Hailey breaks out of their little trance first, clearing her throat. "I can't believe that was almost five years ago already!"
"Yeah…" Jay whispers as Kim starts speaking.
"Yeah, time's really been flying. But I'm glad it's getting spent with you guys!"
"This calls for a toast!" Adam shouts and despite the other's groans, they go along in raising their drinks. "To the greatest police unit ever, and to the greatest addition we could have asked for!"
They all clink their glasses and bottles and Jay and Hailey find themselves in another moment as the others get quickly distracted with their drinking. They smile shyly at each other and tip their drinks to each other's again unhurriedly, then take a slow sip. They're pulled out of it once they hear Adam start getting rowdy again and turn back to their friends. Another hour or so goes by and Jay watches on as Hailey gets more and more tipsy. He's content to just watch her and how happy she seems tonight. He'd be fine just watching her like this for the rest of his life.
It's near closing time when they finally decide to wrap up and Hailey is definitely the most drunk that Jay's seen her in a while. They all say their goodbyes as Jay leads a giggling Hailey outside. She may be on the brink of wasted, but he just loves how innocent and carefree she is in this moment. It reminds him of the Hailey he first met, and the one from his visions of lazy mornings in bed.
"It's a good thing you drove tonight, Halstead. Because. I. Can. Not." She enunciates as he helps her get into his truck.
Jay just laughs and lets her continue to ramble on. She fiddles with his radio and soon finds a tune to sing along with. There's a part of him that wants to pull up his phone and record her as proof and blackmail for a later date, but he just smiles along quietly. Halfway into the song, her hiccups start.
"Think you had one too many whiskey sours tonight, Hailey." He smirks at her.
"There's no *hic* such *hic* thing!" she tries to get out and then pouts when she can't say it straight, causing Jay to crack up more. "I am tired though."
"We're almost back." He tells her.
"Thank you, Jay."
"For what?"
"For driving… and being you." She gets the last part out before her head starts drooping forward, the drunk exhaustion taking its toll.
Jay swallows hard, trying to bite back the emotions her words cause him to feel. It's only a few minutes later when he's rolling up at her apartment, but he spent any moment he could glancing at her peaceful form. She doesn't stir when he turns off the car, nor when he gets out, closes his door and opens hers.
"Come on, lets get you inside." He rubs her arm gently, causing her to wake and mumble an "okay" incoherently.
He helps her down from the truck and walks her inside with his arm wrapped around her waist. He guides her to her bed, pulls backs the covers, and helps her down into it. Then he takes off her boots and tucks her in, all the while with her eyes closed but a content smile on her face.
"I'll be back in a minute, okay?" he tells her and she manages a nod even though she's falling back asleep fast.
He heads out to her kitchen to grab a bottle of water, and grabs her aspirin in the bathroom closet, too easily knowing his way around an apartment he doesn't live or sleep in. He returns to her bedroom to find her almost fully out and places the water and pill bottles on her night stand.
"Hailey, I brought you some water, you should drink some, yeah?"
"Mmm" she murmurs.
He shakes his head in amusement, knowing she's going to be so angry at her hangover tomorrow... probably will even find some way to teasingly blame him. He's about to head back out to the living room when he makes out her voice softly again.
"I'm sorry…"
He leans back closer, confused. "For what?"
She's on the brink of sleep, but he can make out her words just enough through the garbling of her pillow. "Pushing you away."
He swallows hard again, his tongue clicking. "Hailey…" he starts to say until he hears her gentle snores, signaling she's fully passed out now.
He leans down and kisses her forehead, fully aware this may be the only time it's appropriate for him to do it, wishing that wasn't the case. "I'm sorry too, for pushing myself away from you… when you're the only thing I ever wanted to hold onto…"
He sighs and exits her room, closing the door over. He debates staying in the guest room or on the couch, but he knows maybe this version of them he shouldn't. He kicks himself for being an idiot and tries to believe there has to be a time where he finally gets it right…
[A/N: Little team bonding for this one, lol. Thanks for all the lovely responses and reviews! Catch you next time :) ]
