Author's Note: As always, I want to say Thank You to my readers! Your support and feedback is greatly appreciated!
This Chapter is a little shorter than most, so my apologies for that. I've been very sick, which definitely isn't helping. This is basically just a little cross Chapter to fill in a little before the action picks up again... which will probably start in the next Chapter. I hope y'all enjoy!
Friday Night...
"I don't care what anyone says, that is one of the saddest movies I've ever seen." Jay said, as the credits rolled for Forest Gump.
"Jay Halstead, you are such a sap!" Hailey teased.
"I am not!" Jay protested.
"Are too!" Hailey shot back.
"Look, I just feel like it's sad that he spends all his life living a crappy existence, wanting that one thing, one person and once he finally gets what he wants... she dies." Jay explains.
Hailey nods, leaning her head back against Jay's shoulder, as they sit together on the couch.
"Watch another?" Jay asked.
"I'm pretty tired, think I'm just going to hit the shower and go to bed." Hailey replied.
Jay gives her his best pouting face, trying hard not to laugh while doing so.
"That sad puppy look isn't going to get you anywhere, Halstead." Hailey said, jokingly, as she got up from the couch.
"What can I say? Had to try... it's hard to find good company" Jay said, with a smile.
"I have to get this place cleaned up before Vanessa gets back on Sunday." Hailey said.
"Almost that time already?" Jay replied.
"Yup! That means you can stop babysitting me." Hailey said, with a nervous laugh.
Jay shook his head. "I'm not babysitting you, Hailey."
"None the less, I'm sure your bed is much more comfortable than my couch." Hailey said.
"I don't mind your couch." Jay said.
With that, Hailey rolled her eyes and headed off to the shower.
Jay leaned back into the couch, taking another drink of his beer. "Night Hailey..." he called.
"Night Jay." Hailey said, as she slipped down the hallway.
The week had passed by quickly and fairly uneventful. The partners had fallen into a strange domestic rhythm. In the morning, Jay would get up first and cook breakfast, afterwards they would share dish duty, before going for a drive and walk. Then, it was back to Hailey's Apartment to have dinner and watch a movie or two. Hailey would usually shower and go to bed. Jay would start out on the couch, but usually he'd be woken sometime during the night by one of Hailey's nightmares, which she was having every night. Jay would always end up in Hailey's bed before the night was through, just holding her tight.
The truth was, Jay was really going to miss spending this much time with Hailey once Vanessa returned. Sure, Jay wished their time together would have been under better circumstances... but he really cared about his partner and loved having this time with her.
The two had always been close, but this past week had brought a whole new level of closeness. It had Jay questioning his feelings for Hailey. They were partners and friends, nothing more, right? That's what Jay had always told himself but during the nights he had spent laying awake in his partner's bed, holding her close, watching her sleep after a nightmare... all he could think about is how deeply he cared for this woman. How he couldn't imagine his life without her. Being there with Hailey, it just felt... right. He was starting to realize that the feelings he held for his partner, were more than just feelings of being partners or of friendship. Jay was starting to wonder if what he was feeling for Hailey just might be love.
There had been a couple times during that week, where Jay had almost spoken up and told Hailey what he was thinking, how he was feeling. However, deep down he knew that this was not the time. Hailey was still in a very fragile state emotionally. Yes, she was doing a little better every day... but she still had a long way to go and the last thing Jay wanted to do was cause her any more turmoil. This, right now, was about Hailey and making sure that she got better. Jay's feelings could wait...
"No! Stop!"
Jay woke to the sounds of muffled cries coming from Hailey's bedroom. He wasn't sure when exactly he had fallen asleep, but obviously at some point he had passed out on the couch.
The clock on the end table flashed "2:18AM"
Jumping up quickly, Jay made his way down the hall and into Hailey's bedroom. She was thrashing violently, her body tangled up in the blanket. Jay climbed into the bed, slowly wrapping his arms around Hailey... pulling her into his embrace.
As always, Hailey struggled to get away at first... her mind was still caught up in the nightmare she was experiencing.
"Shhh, it's alright..." Jay whispered into Hailey's hair, just above her ear. "It's Jay, you're safe... I've got you."
Hailey's eyes shot open. "Jay?" she questioned, her voice cracking.
"Yeah Hailey, it's just me..." Jay whispered, softly, as he pulled her body closer to his.
Hailey turned over, facing Jay, she threw her arms around him and buried her face in chest. He stroked her hair, gently.
Before long, Hailey had drifted back off to sleep. Jay would lay awake for a short while, before drifting off to sleep himself.
When Jay woke the following morning, the sun was already shining brightly through the bedroom window. Hailey was sleeping peacefully beside Jay, his arm casually draped over her mid section.
Jay lay awake for a while, just watching her sleep... for he knew that this reality would soon be coming to an end. On Sunday, Vanessa would be returning home and on Monday, the two were supposed to return to work. Jay was certainly going to miss these mornings.
After a while, Jay decided it was time to get up and go start some breakfast. He planted a soft kiss on the side of Hailey's head, before getting up to slip out of bed. When Jay lifted his arm up off of Hailey, her shirt pulled back just a bit. What Jay saw when it did, made his blood run cold...
There on Hailey's stomach, the word "slut" carved into her flesh. Jay swallowed hard, immediately feeling hot tears begin to prick his eyes. "Oh Hailey..." he whispered, shaking his head. How could someone do this to her? Jay felt as though his heart was breaking into a million pieces. He felt so helpless, because no matter how much he wanted to... there was just no way he could fix this for her.
After a few moments had passed, Jay quietly slipped out of bed. He immediately found his way to the shower... his mind was whirling, he actually felt as though he was going to be physically ill.
Ever since the attack, Hailey had been wearing long sleeve shirts and hoodies. Jay didn't think too much of it, guessing it was to cover the nasty marks she wore on her wrists from the attack. Never had it occurred to Jay, that Hailey was hiding other injuries. Jay was so angry! All he wanted to do, right now, was find the bastard responsible for doing this to his partner and make him pay.
After a long shower, Jay found his way into the kitchen... where he started making breakfast, but he just couldn't get his mind off of his partner and everything she had been through. Hailey was so strong, far stronger than anyone should have to be. She had been through so much in her life... it seemed like no matter what, she could never catch a break.
A short while later... Hailey woke to Jay's hand gently shaking her shoulder.
"Hey sleepy head..." Jay said, softly, as he set a tray of food down on the night stand beside the bed.
"What's all this?" Hailey asked rather surprised, as she sat up.
"I just thought you deserved breakfast in bed." Jay said, forcing a smile.
"You didn't have to do all this..." Hailey said. "Thank You, Jay."
"It's nothing." Jay said.
"Aren't you going to join me?"
"Uh yeah, sure." Jay said, sitting down on the bed beside Hailey.
It didn't take long for Hailey to notice that something was wrong with Jay. He hadn't said a word, but she knew him well and she could tell when something was bothering him.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Hailey asked, softly.
"Huh?" Jay said, a little confused.
"You seem really, distant, this morning." Hailey said. "Is something wrong?"
Jay's first thought was to lie, to say that he was all good. However, he knew that Hailey would see right through him, because she always did.
Jay sighed heavily before speaking. " I saw it." he said.
"You saw what?" Hailey asked, somewhat confused.
Jay swallowed the lump that had formed in his throat, he could feel tears once again pricking his eyes... he needed to be strong, for Hailey.
"Jay?" Hailey questioned, looking more and more concerned with each moment that passed.
"When I got up this morning... your shirt was pulled up some and... I saw it." Jay managed to get out.
Suddenly, it dawned on Hailey what the it that Jay had seen.
"You weren't supposed to see that... no one was." Hailey said, her own eyes now filled with unshed tears.
"It wasn't on purpose, but... God Hailey... what did he do to you?" Jay asked, softly.
"I'm okay, Jay... really." Hailey said, wiping away a few tears that fell from her eyes as she spoke.
Suddenly, the distance between the them... even though almost non-existent, as they were sitting side by side on the bed, was too much for Jay. He needed to be close to her, to know that she truly was "okay".
Without a word, Jay reached over and pulled Hailey into his arms. This time, it was he who buried his face into her neck. Hailey was taken aback, but she didn't pull away. Instead, she just leaned into his embrace, wrapping her arms around him. Hailey could now feel Jay's tears, soaking into her shirt.
"I... God, I'm so sorry, Hailey." Jay whispered. "So sorry..."
Hailey pulled back now, far enough so that their eyes met. "This is not your fault, Jay."
"I know, but... we're partners. It's my job to protect you..." Jay cried, tears streaming down his face.
"Hey..." Hailey said, pulling Jay back into a hug. "I'm okay, really I am..."
"I don't know how..." Jay managed to get out, his voice so low she almost didn't catch it.
"What?" Hailey asked.
"Hailey, you're the strongest person I know... you've been through, so much. I just... it kills me to know how much you've been hurt."
"That's life..." Hailey said, with a bitter laugh. "I'm used to it by now."
"It shouldn't be that way..." Jay cried. "You deserve so much better."
Hailey was taken aback by Jay's sudden outburst of emotion. It wasn't like him to get super emotional and she felt bad.
Holding Hailey tightly in his arms, Jay pulled them both down on the bed. Holding Hailey tightly, her head lay on his chest. That's where the two stayed for several hours. Just laying there, in each other's arm. Truth be told, this was the only place where Hailey truly felt safe.
TBC...
