Author's Note: Happy Friday! I'm sorry for the lack of updates this week. It's been a busy one in my neck of the woods. I did get to watch Chicago PD on Wednesday and was less than impressed with the way the show just bypassed the conversation between Hailey and Jay. I understand the storyline focused more on Kevin, which is fine... he doesn't really get enough good storylines in my opinion. BUT, they could have given 5 minutes to the whole Hailey/Jay situation, after building up to it this entire season. I thought that was a bit disappointing.
Anyhow, here is Chapter 11. This has been a hard chapter to write. I've known pretty much all along, this was where the story was headed... but I'm also not totally comfortable writing such things. Which leads me to the following warning being added...
WARNING! THIS CHAPTER CONTAINS CHARACTER DEATH OF A SEMI-MAIN CHARACTER! IF THIS TYPE OF THING BOTHERS YOU, THEN YOU PROBABLY SHOULD SKIP THIS CHAPTER!
I'm sorry... don't hate me!
Friday Night...
After shift, Jay met up with Hailey and Vanessa in the Locker Room. It appeared they were both about ready to take off.
"Molly's?" Jay asked, casually, as he entered the room.
"I'm pretty beat, think I'm just gonna' call it a night." Vanessa said.
"I'm pretty tired too, Jay... I think I'm just going to go home." Hailey said.
Jay shook his head. "Look Hailey, I meant what I said... I'm not leaving you alone and I don't think it's a good idea for you to even be at your apartment, right now."
"I get it, Jay... but I can't spend my life hiding from this forever." Hailey said, sharply.
"For what it's worth, I agree with Jay." Vanessa said, cutting in. "If this guy is after you, I think you should stay with Jay... just for a little while."
"What about you?" Hailey asked. "I don't think..."
"Hailey!" Vanessa said with a smile, putting her hand up. "I'm fine! This guy isn't obsessed with me and I'll be careful. I'll lock up when I get there. I'll be fine."
"I agree with Hailey on this one..." Jay said. "I think you should crash with a friend or you're always welcome at my place."
"I appreciate it, really... but I can take care of myself. I'll be fine." Vanessa said, as she walked towards the door. "See you guys Monday."
"Okay, but I want you to call if anything happens!" Jay said.
"Will do!" Vanessa said, as she headed out.
Friday Night, Jay's Apartment...
"I never pictured you for a movie guy." Hailey said, taking a sip of her beer as the credits for Titanic rolled.
"There's a lot of things you don't know about me." Jay said, with a sly smile on his face.
"Really?" Hailey questioned, with a smile. "What else don't I know, Halstead?"
"I'd tell you, but... then you know, I'd have to kill you and I kind of like having you around so..." Jay said, with a laugh... unable to keep a straight face.
"Right..." Hailey said, rolling her eyes.
"It's hard to find a good partner..." Jay replied, looking into Hailey's eyes.
Suddenly, they both were silent, just looking into each other's eyes as they sat together on the couch, only inches apart. It was times like these, times when their eyes could say far more than they were willing to say with words... that made them both realize just how much they meant to each other.
As Jay stared into her beautiful, deep Blue Eyes... he really wanted to tell Hailey exactly how he felt. However, he knew this was not the time. Knowing that he was on the verge of saying something that he couldn't take back, Jay finally looked down at his lap, breaking the gaze.
"So uh, how have you been doing... really?" Jay asked.
Hailey swallowed hard, nodding her head softly. "Better... nights are still rough, but I'm getting there."
"Good." Jay said. "You know, I don't want to push you, but... I'm always here if you want to talk."
"Thank You, Jay..." Hailey said, softly.
Another moment of silence filled the room.
"It's late... I'm going to lay down and get some sleep." Jay said, finally breaking the silence. "You should too."
"Yeah... you're right." Hailey said, getting up and walking towards Jay's bedroom because he absolutely refused to let her take the couch.
"I'll be right here, if you need anything." Jay said, softly.
Hailey nodded. "Night Jay..."
"Night Hailey."
Hailey walked towards her apartment door, she paused... seeing it was slightly open.
"Vanessa?" Hailey called out, as she pulled her gun and slowly entered. "Vanessa?"
Inside of the apartment, Hailey took in the sight before her. The apartment had been completely ransacked. Everything was thrown around, the couch was over turned, the floor was covered with stuff.
"Vanessa?" Hailey called again, as she walked further into the apartment.
That's when she saw it, written on the wall in the hallway going towards the bedrooms... written in what appeared to be blood. The word "SLUT". Throwing all caution to the wind, Hailey immediately rushed down the hallway towards Vanessa's Bedroom.
"Vanessa!" Hailey shouted. "Vanessa!"
As Hailey reached the doorway to Vanessa's Bedroom... she saw it, there was blood platter all over the walks.
"Oh my God!" Hailey screamed. "Vanessa!"
There, on the floor next to the bed, was Vanessa... her lifeless body was covered in blood. As were the walls, bed, and carpet. Hailey immediately rushed over, dropping to her knees on the floor. She felt for a pulse, but there was none. When Hailey did that, her hand was covered in blood. Vanessa's blood.
"No..." Hailey whispered, tears running down her cheeks. "No!" she said again, this time it escaped her lips as a scream.
In the distance, Hailey could hear a voice calling her name. She couldn't quite make it out, it sounded so far away, but she thought it was...
"HAILEY!" Jay shouted, gently running his hands up and down Hailey's arm. Desperately trying to wake her from the nightmare she was having.
Hailey shot up in bed, looking around the room wildly. Tears immediately came to her eyes, running down her cheeks.
"No..." Hailey whispered, through her tears. "No..."
Jay pulled her into his arms, pulling her into his chest. He buried his face in her hair, planting a kiss on her head. "It's alright, it's alright..." he whispered into her hair. "I've got you, it was just a dream."
"No..." Hailey cried, shaking her head. "She was dead, oh my God... she was dead."
Jay gently released Hailey from his embrace, placing his hands on her shoulders and moving just far enough back so that he could look into her eyes. Hailey was sobbing, her whole body was shaking, tears streaming down her face, her breathing was ragged. It broke Jay's heart to see her like this.
"Who was dead?" Jay asked, softly.
"Vanessa..." Hailey sobbed. "I went to the apartment, the door was open... there was blood everywhere and she was..."
"It was just a dream." Jay said, speaking softly. "A nightmare..."
"No..." Hailey cried. "She was dead, there was blood everywhere..."
In that moment, Hailey looked down at her hands, which were covered in blood just moments ago. Much to her surprise, there was no blood.
"It was just a nightmare, Hailey..." Jay repeated.
"A nightmare?" Hailey whispered.
Jay nodded. "Come here..." he said, opening his arms and inviting Hailey into his embrace.
Hailey accepted, throwing herself into Jay's arms.
Jay pulled her down with him, so that they were both laying on the bed. Jay held her tightly, Hailey just cried.
Saturday Morning...
Hailey woke to find herself alone, in Jay's bed. The smell of breakfast cooking filled the air. She jumped into a quick shower, before walking into the kitchen.
"Morning..." Jay said, softly. "Here, I thought after last night... you could use this." he said, placing a hot cup of coffee and plate of food down in front of her.
"Thanks..." Hailey said. She wasn't really sure that she felt much like eating, but since her partner had went through the trouble of cooking breakfast, she would have to try.
Halfway through breakfast... Hailey's phone began to ring. She looked at it, "Restricted" flashed across the screen.
Swallowing hard, Hailey answered the phone. "Upton?"
"Well hello sweetheart, how have you been?"
Hailey's eyes immediately filled up with tears, but she tried hard to keep her emotions at bay. "What do you want?" she snapped, getting Jay's attention.
"I just wanted to see how you've been... and to let you know, everything that's happened and everything that happens from here on out, is your fault."
"What?" Hailey questioned, tears now falling freely down her face.
"Just remember, it's your fault."
With that, the line went dead. Hailey let her phone drop to the table.
"Who was that?" Jay asked, his voice full of concern.
Hailey looked down, more tears falling.
"Hailey?" Jay said softly. "Who was that?"
"It... it was him." Hailey cried, still refusing to look at Jay.
"Him?" Jay questioned. "You mean... James?"
Hailey nodded.
"What did he say?" Jay asked, unable to keep the rage he was feeling, from being heard in his voice.
"He said... he said everything that has happened... and everything that happens... is my fault." Hailey managed to get out before a sob overtook her body. She looked up at her partner, her tear filled eyes meeting his concerned ones.
"What does that mean?" Jay asked, more to himself than to Hailey.
"Vanessa!" Hailey cried, as she picked up her phone and dialed Vanessa's number. It went straight to voicemail.
"We have to go to my apartment, I have to make sure she's alright!" Hailey cried, frantically.
Jay immediately jumped up, grabbing his keys, he took Hailey's hand and they ran to his truck.
The drive to Hailey's apartment was mostly silent. Hailey was crying, unable to stop the tears.
"It's going to be alright, Hailey." Jay said softly, unsure if he were trying to convince her or himself. Deep down, he had a bad feeling about this.
Hailey didn't say anything, but another sob overtook her body.
"She's probably just sleepin..." Jay said.
After what seemed like an eternity, but in reality wasn't long at all... the partners arrived at Hailey's apartment building. Together, they ran inside.
The dream that Hailey had the night before was still fresh in her mind. Her heart was pounding as they reached her door. It was not open, but it wasn't locked either.
Hailey opened the door, slowly stepping inside, with Jay right behind her. Much to Hailey's surprise, nothing seemed amiss. Everything in the living room and kitchen was just as tidy as it was the last time she had been there.
"Vanessa?" Hailey called out, as she made her way down the hall. A wave a of relief washed over her, when she realized the walls weren't covered in blood. Maybe it was just a dream, Hailey thought to herself.
"Vanessa!" Jay shouted.
There was no response. When the partners reached Vanessa's Bedroom, the door was closed.
"Vanessa!" Hailey called again, knocking on the door.
Their calls were met by silence.
"Vanessa, I'm opening the door." Hailey called, as she opened the door and stepped inside.
The scene inside of the bedroom was something that looked like as if it come straight out of a horror movie. Vanessa's lifeless body lay on the bed, her hands and ankles bound to the bed. Crimson Red covered the White Sheets, as well as Vanessa's body.
Hailey rushed over to her friend, feeling for a pulse. There was none. Sobs immediately escaped Hailey's body.
The next hour was just a blur. Hailey had fallen to the floor on her knees, laying her head on the bed next to her friend's lifeless body.
"I'm so sorry..." Hailey cried. "So sorry..."
Hailey had heard Jay call it in, she had felt his arms wrap around her... pulling her into his embrace. She'd heard the paramedics arrive, along with the M.E. Homicide showed up, but it didn't take long for Voight to arrive, as well.
Everything was just a blur... this had to be some horrible nightmare.
TBC...
