Another couple of weeks have gone by and Jay is settling into desk duty as best as he can. He yearns to run out with his teammates when a call comes over the radio or Voight is barking out tactical orders for a case. But he is glad to be sitting at his desk across from Hailey again, the soft smiles she sends his way, or the glances he catches her give him when she thinks he's not looking, or even when she's stealing his pens or hand sanitizer. The two of them didn't really talk about that night after Molly's. He's not even certain Hailey remembers her drunken mumbles. He ended up staying in the guest room just to be close to her, make sure she was okay, but he snuck out early in the morning; leaving coffee ready for her and opting for a note that he'd touch base later. He figured it was probably the safest and smartest move at the moment, especially since he was so confused about everything himself.

He's still seeing Trish, and honestly, she's a very sweet girl, but he just doesn't feel the connection to her that he did before his injury. The two of them hadn't even had sex since, in an odd way he feels like if he does that he's somehow cheating on Hailey. Luckily, with his back and head still hurting a little, it's given him a perfect excuse. But he knows something's going to have to give soon. When he goes to sleep at night he swears he still dreams of a different life with Hailey and their excitement of being together, how happy the unit was for them, how much nervous energy he held for finding out they were having a baby. It's sometimes so vivid that he almost thinks of mentioning it to Will or his own doctor, but he refrains. The last thing he needs is having all these people wonder if he was more seriously injured than they thought. So he continues on and takes things day by day.

It's finally Friday again and everyone is wrapping up for the weekend, hopeful they won't get called in for something crazy. He's finishing up some paperwork, because really, there's not much else for him to do at the moment, when he realizes it's just him and Hailey left in the bullpen. Even Voight had said his goodbyes a little while before. He notices Hailey's wind down moves; slowly organizing her desk from the day, trying to put stuff back in its proper place, shutting down her computer, and reaching in her coat pocket for her keys. He quickly starts his own same process.

"All good? Jay asks her.

"Yeah. I think I'm tapped for today, probably going to head out." She tells him with a smile.

"Want to grab some dinner or pick some up? He requests.

"Uh, sure. You're not seeing Trish tonight?" she enquires cautiously.

"No, I think we agreed for tomorrow, maybe." He responds, leaving out the part where his girlfriend asked him to hang and he gently turned her down.

"Oh okay. I'm beat, not sure I'm in the mood to go out, out. Want to order in and watch the game at my place?"

"Sure." He beams at her, probably more enthusiastic than he should be.

"Cool. I'll pick up some Thai and meet you over there?" she asks.

"Yeah. I'll go pick up some beers."

She nods smiling, pulling on her coat and untucking her long hair out if it, causing a yearning in him wanting to run his fingers through it. She catches him staring, but ignores it and just continues gathering her things. "I'll see ya in a few!"

"Yah." He hums.

Pull it together, Jay! He thinks to himself. It's just Hailey. The two of them used to hang out practically every night. Of course, that was before she did her FBI stint and they were super slowly exploring their romantic feelings for the other. Before he got scared and ran into the arms of another woman. Before he started having dreams of being married to her. But it's all good, right? How hard can it be to just act like everything is the same as it has been? He groans internally, knowing exactly how hard it will be.

He gathers the rest of his stuff and makes his way out, shutting the lights along his way, casting the bullpen in darkness aside from the street lights shining through the windows. It's almost eerie how different it makes it seem, so much quieter and calmer, free of whiteboards with gruesome images and the team running back and forth traumatized from whatever their latest case is. Maybe he should spend more time alone at his desk these days, sit back and bask in this tranquility, help it clear his head some more. Maybe he'll try it on Monday depending how his weekend goes… Hailey tonight, Trish tomorrow, his head is already hurting again. He blocks those thoughts out and focuses on how content he is to be spending tonight with his partner.

He makes it to his truck quickly, the weather starting to settle into the brutal start of early Chicago winter. He stops at the liquor store along the familiar drive to Hailey's place, and picks up a pack of their favorite IPA, along with a fancy bottle of tequila that he knows Hailey loves, for good measure. On a whim he also decides to make another quick stop at a convenience store and pick up a few bars of her favorite candy for dessert. Forty minutes after they last parted, he's at Hailey's door.

She smiles brightly at him as she lets him in and they head to the kitchen, where their containers of Thai food are already waiting on the island. Jay puts two of the beers in the fridge and leaves two out for them to drink, then flashes the tequila at her, earning him another grin, and adds it to her liquor cabinet. She spots the candy bars hanging out of his jacket pocket before he can even show her.

"Oh my God, you didn't? You stopped to get these too? How'd you know I was out?" she snatches them from his pocket, beaming like a little kid.

"Who said they were for you?" he jokes as he goes to snatch them back out of her hand, but she holds on tightly.

"Do not!" she swats at him. "Thank you! Maybe if you stay on your best behavior I'll let you have half of one after dinner."

"Don't worry, they're all yours. I bought myself some Trail Mix." He tells her.

She rolls her eyes at him and makes a grossed-out face. "You're so healthy, what a bore!"

"I'm probably about to eat two containers of take out to myself, and then another 1,000 calories from alcohol, I'd hardly consider that 'healthy.'"

"Whatever you say, gym rat!"

It's his turn to roll his eyes at her and then their grabbing their plates, piling on the food, and heading into her living room. She already has the game playing on the TV. They eat in silence for a while, comfortable enough around each other that they don't have to consistently feel the urge to converse. Once intermission hits and their stomachs are full, Hailey turns to him.

"So, how've you've been feeling, really?"

"You make like you haven't asked me this question over and over again for the past few weeks." Jay responds.

"I know. I just want to make sure you're okay."

She places her hand on his thigh quickly and tilts her head at him, the gentle look in her eyes threatening to burn a hole in his head. It's almost enough to make him tell her he'd be better if she was actually his.

"I'm good, Hailey. Really."

She gives him her: I know you better than you know yourself look, but she also knows not to press.

"I'm serious. I mean I was a little off after the injury, sure, but I'm fine. I have you to have my back." He assures her.

"Yeah. Yeah, you do." She says reflectively.

Satisfied enough with his answer, she settles her head back into the couch and focuses on the television again. He watches her out the side of his eye, trying not to draw her suspicion and catch him gawking. Towards the end of the game he looks at her fully and maybe it's the extra beer and the shot they did, or maybe he's just tired of wondering alone, but something triggers him to broach the subject.

"Do you remember what you were saying that night after Molly's?"

She mutes the game, hearing the seriousness in his voice and turns to face him.

"What do you mean?" she asks.

He sighs in disappointment. "Never mind!"

"What? No, Jay, come on."

"Nothing, just… do you think if I hadn't started dating Trish, that maybe you and I would have gotten together when you got back from New York?"

He notices a flash of pain cross her eyes, that would not have been evident to anyone else, but he knows Hailey. She's quiet for a while, contemplating her words carefully he's sure.

"What does it matter? That's not what happened, so maybe it's something we'll never know." She finally replies.

"It matters to me, and I think it still matters to you." He murmurs.

"Jay…"

"Look, Hailey, I'm not trying to put you on the spot. It's just this past month or so I've been reevaluating a lot of things and I just can't help but feel we screwed up."

"Maybe. Maybe not. But we're in a good place, Jay. I'm finally back in a good place. That's what you wanted for me, remember? We were dicey for a bit because we let our feelings get in the way, I don't want that to happen again. You're my best friend." She whispers.

He swallows hard, nodding. "And you're not just saying this? To protect yourself? Or protect me?"

"We can't do this again. I can't. You're with someone else… and that's okay, you deserve to be happy. We both do."

She manages to get out and he just knows it's a line she's giving him. But maybe this is what he deserves and the last thing he wants to do is add any more to her heartbreak. Lord knows she's suffered enough of it throughout her life.

"Yeah, maybe you're right. I'm sorry for bringing it up."

"It's okay. It's probably a discussion that's been long overdue. And I'm happy for you, Jay, I really am!"

"Thanks." He says as they smile timidly at each other.

She turns the volume back on the TV and they go back to amicable silence for a bit. A few minutes later she's reaching for the candy bar on the coffee table. She unwraps it wordlessly and breaks off half. She offers it out to him and her hand grazes his along the way. He reaches for the chocolate like it's his lifeline. Even though he really does find it to be too sweet, he eats it contently, can't help but feeling maybe it's some kind of euphemism. He sees from his peripheral vision that she's smiling and he knows it's at him as he bites more of it until it's finished. She may not trust again yet that they're ready to fully share their life as one, but she's willing to share her favorite candy in the world, and that's enough for him tonight.


[A/N: Imagine if their slow-burn had continued well into season 8? I know some wanted it, but I probably would have slammed these two dummies head's together, lol. Thank you all so much for your positive response and continuing to read... I've written almost all of it now and looking forward to sharing the second half of this story!]