Surprise! Two chapters in one week? I might have lost my mind, but I just couldn't wait to post this, so here's chapter 12 and it is quite a long one friends. I hope you love it and can't wait to hear your thoughts on this one! Enjoy and I'll see ya soon for 13!
She looks just like you.
Hailey's hands don't stop shaking, her heart doesn't cease its relentless pounding against her chest, her shoulders heaves erratically as she struggles to breathe, and then her legs give out, but Jay is right there behind her to grab onto her. He wraps his arms around her waist, holding her up with her back against his front, and steadies her on her feet.
"I got you," he whispers over her shoulder.
Hailey shakes her head against him, crying out, "Avery."
"She's okay," Jay says into her hair, squeezing his arms around her. "She's sleeping on the couch, remember?"
Hailey shakes her head again, pulling herself out of his arms and dropping the envelope and its contents to the counter before she hurries out of the kitchen and into the living room.
"Avery!" Hailey calls out, wiping under her eyes as she moves toward the couch and picks up her daughter, holding the little girl to her tightly.
"Mama?" Avery mumbles as she stirs, clutching to her teddy bear and her mother as she wraps her legs around Hailey's torso.
"Yeah, it's mama, baby," Hailey says quietly, kissing the side of the little girl's head as she heads back into the kitchen.
She finds Jay, Vanessa and Kevin at the end of the island, talking quietly amongst themselves and as she walks toward them, they look over at her.
"What?" Hailey asks.
"You can't stay here," Kevin says, looking between her and Vanessa, and Jay nods in agreement.
She sighs out a shaky breath, glancing over at Vanessa. "You should go with Kev."
Her friend shakes her head quickly, stepping toward Hailey. "No way! I'm not leaving you and Avery."
"Booth doesn't want you, he wants me. You'll be safe with Kev. I'll figure something else out," Hailey tells her, tightening her arms around Avery.
"You and Ave can stay with me," Jay offers.
Hailey snaps her head over at him, shaking her head. "No! No, y-you saw that picture. He – "
"Hailey," Jay says quietly, stepping toward her and reaching out a hand to the shoulder that Avery doesn't rest her head on. "You'll stay with me. You're not staying in this house, no one is. And you're not going anywhere by yourself. It's too dangerous."
He stares down into her eyes, his heart breaking at the terror and tears he finds in them, and squeezes her shoulder.
"You'll stay with me," he says again quietly.
"Okay," she whispers, giving a slow nod of her head and then he drops his hand from her.
"Y'all should go pack a bag, whatever you need so we can get the hell up outta here," Kevin tells them.
"Give us five minutes," Vanessa says, looking back at Hailey.
"Let me take her," Jay says carefully, turning to Hailey and jutting his chin to Avery, and she tightens her arms that much more around her daughter.
"She'll be okay. Let me take her and you go with Vanessa. Grab what you need and then we'll leave, okay?"
Her chest still heaves with quick, shaky breaths and her eyes dart between Jay and her daughter, but she gives him another slow nod. He reaches his arms out toward Hailey and Avery, and she reluctantly loosens her hold over the little girl so Jay can lift her into his arms. Avery stirs only slightly as he settles her against his chest and he tilts his head at Hailey.
"Go," he whispers, "I got her."
Hailey stares at him, glancing at her daughter with the same fearful eyes, and places a shaky hand against the little girl's back as Vanessa steps toward them and reaches for Hailey's arm.
"Come on Hails. Just five minutes. She's safe with Jay," Vanessa says quietly, tugging on Hailey's arm and leading her out of the kitchen.
"This is insane bro," Kevin breathes out as the two women disappear up the stairs. "Guy's a damn psycho. You sure you're cool?"
"Yeah, I'm good," Jay says quietly.
"You saw that picture bro. He might not be coming for just Hailey."
"I don't care. I'm not letting either of them out of my sight," Jay tells him, tightening his arms around Avery.
"Fair enough. Where's your stuff at? I'll grab it for you since you got the little one."
Jay tilts his head toward the living room. "There's a duffle next to the couch. Can you grab the purple backpack too? It should be on the coffee table. It's got Ave's books and crayons."
"Got you," Kevin says, heading for the living room.
He comes back a couple minutes later and sets the bags on the island. Jay stuffs the envelope that was delivered into his duffle, figuring they'll need it later, just as Hailey and Vanessa enter the kitchen again, each of them with two bags in their hands.
"You got everything you need?" Jay asks, looking between the two of them and they both nod.
"The kitchen's still a mess," Hailey sighs, glancing around the room at the open dishwasher and the cake on the counter and the birthday presents piled together at one end of the island.
"I got it," Vanessa tells her friend, moving around the counter. She quickly makes room for the cake in the fridge and starts up the dishwasher, then looks over at Hailey. "The rest of the food is already put away and the presents can wait. Let's get the hell out of here."
Kevin steps around them, moving toward the front door. "You think this cat's watching?"
"He's always watching," Hailey whispers, moving to stand next to Jay and glancing down at the bags in her hands. "Could you – "
"Yeah," he says quickly, knowing the only thing she wants right now is her daughter.
Hailey drops the bags to the floor then takes her little girl back into her arms as Jay passes her over. She tightens her arms around Avery while Jay picks up her bags, then reaches for his duffle and the little girl's backpack.
They head out of the house, Kevin leading them with Vanessa behind him, then Hailey with Avery, and Jay at the back. He makes sure the alarm system is armed and locks up behind them with Hailey's keys, and they make their way to their cars.
"We'll take the truck. I'll get her seat," Jay says to Hailey and she nods.
He heads over to Hailey's Jeep to grab Avery's car seat, Kevin standing on the sidewalk by Hailey and Vanessa, keeping an eye out for anything or anyone that might look unwelcome. Jay switches the car seat between vehicles quickly and once he's done, Hailey buckles Avery in the back of the truck and closes the door with a quiet thud.
When she turns around Vanessa steps toward her, wrapping her arms around her friend and squeezing her against her. Hailey loops her arms around the young woman's waist and the two hold onto each other tightly.
"Listen to Jay okay?" Vanessa whispers over her shoulder. "He won't let anything happen to you. To either of you."
Hailey nods at the young woman, leaning her head against her friend and squeezing her again.
"Same goes for you. Kev's as solid as they come and I trust him completely. He's got your back," Hailey tells her.
Vanessa nods and they unravel their arms from one another, both pulling away with tears in their eyes. They say their goodbyes and Hailey steps toward Kevin, pulling him in for a hug.
"Thanks Kev," she says quietly, patting him on his back.
"I got you girl. Y'all be safe," he tells her, giving her a quick squeeze before they let go of one another.
Hailey steps back and jumps up into the passenger seat of the truck, closing the door and wiping under her eyes quickly before turning around in her seat to check on Avery.
Jay and Kevin say a quick goodbye, clapping one another on the shoulder, and as Jay makes his way to the driver's side of the truck Vanessa takes a step forward.
"Jay?" She calls out.
He turns around, taking in the look on her face and the tears rolling down her cheeks, and offers the woman a small smile, nodding his head once at her.
"I got 'em. I promise."
Vanessa nods back, wiping at her eyes and steps toward Kevin as Jay starts the truck, and then drives off down the street.
"We gotta go girl," Kevin says gently, reaching his arm out and placing it around her shoulders.
Vanessa nods again, but doesn't speak, just leans into Kevin's side as he leads her toward his car. She keeps her eyes on Jay's truck as it disappears further down the street, and then she can't see it anymore.
The drive to Jay's apartment is silent other than the sniffling that comes from Hailey in the passenger seat as she tries to calm herself down. She turns around twice as he drives to check on Avery, who is still sound asleep in the backseat, and when she does it a third time Jay reaches over and places a hand on her knee.
"She's okay," he says softly, giving her a gentle squeeze.
Hailey nods slowly, taking a few deep breaths as she tries to settle her frantic beating heart, and looks over at him.
"You're taking the long way."
"Just being careful," Jay says as he glances in the rearview mirror.
"Are you sure you're okay with this? We can stay somewhere else. You don't have to – "
He breathes out her name, shaking his head as he glances over at her for a moment with a look of concern before turning back to the road, and then he squeezes her knee again.
"Okay," Hailey says softly.
She swallows back a lump in her throat as she drops a shaking hand over top of his that still rests on her knee. He flips his hand over and wraps his fingers around hers, squeezing them tightly, and she breathes out a deep sigh as she leans back against the headrest.
They arrive at Jay's building almost forty minutes later, doing a few loops around his neighborhood for good measure, and when he's certain no one is tailing them he pulls into the parking garage.
"You never park down here," Hailey comments.
"They've got surveillance in the garage, not at the front entrance though for some reason. Plus you can spot this rig on the street, not so much down here," he says quietly, glancing over at her as he puts the truck into park and kills the engine.
She swallows nervously again and nods, and they get out of the cab. Hailey immediately goes for the back door and unbuckles Avery, lifting the little girl into her arms and breathing out another deep sigh as she holds her daughter tightly. She pushes the door closed and moves to the front of the truck, Jay meeting her with the bags slung over his shoulder and in his hand.
They head inside the building through the garage and ride the elevator up to Jay's floor in silence. When the elevator car stops, Jay clocks the hallway as they step out and leads them down the hall toward his apartment.
He unlocks the door quickly and pushes it open, nodding at Hailey and she steps inside ahead of him. He trails in after her and closes the door behind them, locking it with the deadbolt and securing the chain on the door.
"It's definitely not as nice as your place, but it'll do the job for the time being," Jay jokes as he sets the bags down on the floor next to the couch.
Hailey shakes her head, smiling gratefully over at him. "Thanks for letting us stay with you."
He turns to face her and nods, smiling back at her, and then catches Avery stirring awake. The little girl lifts her head from Hailey's shoulder and looks around at the unfamiliar surroundings, a curious stare in her sleepy eyes.
"Mama?" Avery mumbles.
Hailey readjusts the little girl in her arms, settling her against a hip and tightening her hold on her as she looks her in the eyes. "Hi baby. You slept a while. You okay?"
"Yeah," she says, clutching her astronaut teddy bear against her. "Where are we?"
"We're at Jay's house," Hailey says, glancing over at her partner.
Avery follows her mother's eyes and finds Jay standing a few feet away, a soft smile still on his face as he stares back at them.
The little girl smiles at him, but it's not the wide grin she usually wears, and then she turns her head back to look at her mother. "Why aren't we at our house?"
Hailey glances at Jay again then back to Avery, her breath catching in her throat as she forces a smile at the little girl. "Um, we're – "
"We're having a slumber party," Jay says, stepping toward them with the same soft grin on his face and not missing the way Hailey's eyes dart to his, her face relaxing as her smile stretches over her face. He gestures down to the little girl's backpack on the floor and looks back up at them. "Even brought your backpack so we can do some coloring together. How's that sound?"
"A slumber party?" Avery asks, scrunching her eyebrows together as she looks between her mother and Jay.
"Yeah," Hailey breathes out, smiling at the little girl again. "Jay's been staying at our house so much and we thought it would be fun to stay here at his. What do you think?"
Avery shrugs her shoulders, squeezing her teddy against her again. "Okay mama."
Jay takes a step closer to them, reaching out a hand to Avery and moving it up and down her back gently. "You hungry, kiddo? I don't have a whole lot here since I've been staying with you and your mama, but we can order something if you want."
"I am kinda hungry," she says softly.
He nods, grinning down at her. "Whatcha hungry for?"
She shrugs her shoulders, tilting her head at him. "I don't know."
"Well, I know what you and mama like, so how about I surprise you. Would that be okay?"
Avery nods and Hailey glances over at him, her smile widening, and mouths, "Thank you."
He winks at her before he steps away from them, pulling his phone out of his back pocket as he heads into the kitchen.
Hailey makes her way around the couch and sits down with Avery in her lap, and the little girl quickly reaches for the necklace around her neck.
"You really love that thing, huh?" Hailey asks her as the little girl twists the chain, then turns over the simple silver pendant between her fingers.
Avery nods. "It's pretty."
"Yeah, it is," Hailey says, glancing between her daughter and the necklace. "It'll be yours one day, ya know?"
"What do you mean?" Avery asks, tilting her head at her mother.
"I mean I'm going to give it to you one day. This necklace means a lot to mama. I always wear it."
"Really?"
"Mhmmm," Hailey mumbles, her throat becoming tight as she looks at the little girl in her lap. She lifts a hand to Avery's face, brushing a finger over her cheek. "Someone really special gave this to mama and I want you to have it someday. When you're a little older."
"Who gave it to you?" Avery asks, twisting the chain again.
"An old friend. I don't get to see them anymore," Hailey says softly, brushing her daughter's cheek again. "But I know they would have loved you."
Avery smiles at her mother, dropping her head against Hailey's chest as she still holds the necklace between her fingers. Hailey moves a hand to the little girl's back, holding her close, and drops a kiss to the top of her head.
Jay emerges from the kitchen a few minutes later and finds them still cuddled together on the couch. He takes a seat beside Hailey, glancing over at her and Avery, and smiling at the pair of them.
"Food should be here in about thirty minutes," he says quietly.
Hailey nods, lifting her eyes from Avery to look over at him. "What'd you order?"
"Breakfast."
Hailey quirks an eyebrow at him. "For dinner?"
"Yeah, for dinner. Figured it was still someone's birthday so why not go a little crazy," he says, his smile widening as he glances down at Avery.
"Better have ordered waffles," Hailey mutters, a teasing grin on her face.
Jay lifts his eyes back to her with a raised brow. "You really think I didn't?"
She smiles at him, shaking her head before looking back to Avery. The little girl still clutches her teddy tightly in one arm as she stares over at Jay beside them.
Hailey kisses the top of her daughter's head again, then leans down to whisper, "It's okay."
Avery tilts her head to look up at her mother and Hailey smiles a little wider, nodding back at her, and the little girl climbs off her lap and moves toward Jay.
"Hi bug," he says quietly, a soft smile on his face as he opens his arms to her.
"Hi," Avery smiles back and he pulls her into his lap. She cuddles against him instantly, her head falling against his chest, and he wraps his arms around her, giving a tight squeeze.
Hailey leans her head back against the couch, looking over at them with a smile still stretched out over her face. That familiar ache comes over her quickly, ripping through her and making her breathe out a quiet sigh. But it's not one of uncertainty or fear, it's contentment. Maybe even a little bit of longing. Longing for this, with them, with him, all the time, and realizing that maybe she can have it despite the uncertainty of everything else.
The three of them sit together a little while longer until there's a buzzing from Jay's phone and he keeps one arm around Avery as he uses his other hand to reach for the device in his pocket. He glances at it quickly then looks over at Hailey.
"Food's here."
She nods and Jay looks down at Avery, still snuggled against him, and gives her a little shake.
"Hey Ave. Can you go to mama for a minute? I'm gonna go get your dinner."
Avery nods against him and he sets her down beside Hailey before standing from the couch and moving toward the door. The little girl cuddles against her mother's side and Hailey wraps an arm around her, holding her close until Jay returns a few minutes later. He's got a large brown paper bag in his hands and he locks up behind him once again before he makes his way to the couch.
"Breakfast for dinner," he announces, sitting down on the other side of Avery.
"We're eating in the living room?" Avery asks, scrunching her nose at him in confusion.
"Yeah, why not? It is a slumber party after all," he smiles, reaching a hand to her face and tapping her on the nose playfully. "Plus, I think my kitchen is too small for the three of us."
Avery smiles at the gesture and nods as Jay pulls several containers and some drinks out of the bag and sets them down on the coffee table in front of them.
"Waffles!" Avery squeals when Jay flips open one of the containers. "I like those."
"I know ya do," he chuckles. "Just like your mama."
"It's not breakfast if there aren't waffles," Hailey says as she leans forward and takes a container that Jay passes over to her.
He hums out a response, shaking his head at her with an amused grin on his face, and the three of them dig in.
When they finish eating a short while later, Hailey cleans up after them, ignoring Jay's objection and stuffing the trash in the paper bag before bringing it into the kitchen. She drops it into the trash can and turns to head back to the couch, but something out of the corner of her eye stops her. She turns again and glances around the kitchen, and then her eyes land on the refrigerator, or what's hanging on the front of it rather.
It's a finger painting, one that she quickly recognizes as the one Avery made for Jay. The one she had given to him the night he'd picked her up from daycare and watched her little girl for her, and made them dinner.
Hailey smiles at the sight of it as she steps toward the refrigerator and lifts a hand to the sheet of paper. She traces the painted images of herself and her daughter and Jay with the tip of a finger, the memory of that day making her grin stretch out wider across her face. She drops her hand and turns toward the living room when Avery's giggle floats into the kitchen. She glances over her shoulder at the refrigerator once more before she makes her way back to her daughter and partner.
"What's so funny?" Hailey asks as she moves around the couch to sit back down.
"He's doing the funny voices again," Avery tells her through another giggle as she looks over at Jay.
"Ya know something," Hailey starts, pulling her legs up beneath her and leaning back into the couch before throwing a pointed look at Jay. "It's really not fair that you only do these voices when I'm not in the room to witness it. It's cruel honestly."
"Why? So you can tease me about that too?" Jay asks, raising an eyebrow at her.
"It's all in good fun," she tells him.
He shakes his head, laughing lightly. "Sure it is."
Hailey just shrugs at him, then looks at Avery kneeling in front of the coffee table, her coloring book and crayons splayed out in front of her and Jay sitting beside her on the floor. She stares at her daughter for a few minutes, a soft smile peeking out as she watches her color away, lost in her own little world, and then she glances over at Jay and catches his stare.
"Probably a dumb question, but are you alright?" He asks her quietly.
She gives a slow nod, then shrugs her shoulders again a moment later. "It is what it is. I'll talk to Voight tomorrow."
"What about…" Jay trails off, glancing at Avery then back to Hailey.
"I'll figure something out. I know she's not going to D-A-Y-C-A-R-E," she tells him before blowing out a deep breath. "I'll ride a desk if I have to and keep her in the pen with me."
Jay nods, casting another glance at the little girl beside him then returning his gaze to Hailey. "Not a bad idea. I put the envelope in my duffel. Figured we can show Voight and go from there."
"We?"
He tilts his head at her with another raised eyebrow before he nods again. "Yeah, we."
That soft look comes over his face again as he stares at her, making her heart race the same way it did in her kitchen just a short while earlier. She knows they're gonna have to talk about it at some point. The way she spoke to him and tried to make him leave, the way he didn't and then kissed her, or tried to before they were interrupted.
She can't help wondering what would have happened if they'd just had a few more minutes, even a few more seconds. Wonders if kissing him the way she's been wanting to would have measured up to the expectations of it she'd created in her head. She had thought about it more often than she'd ever admit since the morning after she kissed him on the couch in her living room, and the memory alone has her swiping her tongue over her lips and pulling her bottom one between her teeth.
"You okay?" Jay asks, noticing her straying stare.
She nods quickly, looking up at him and giving a tight lipped smile.
"You sure? You spaced out there for a minute."
"I'm fine. It's just been a long day," she tells him.
"Yeah," he says quietly, his eyes drifting to Avery and she swears she sees a hint of sadness flash across his face as he looks at her daughter for a moment before he glances back up at her. "Did you want a shower?"
"Would you mind?" Hailey asks, her voice sheepish and unsure.
"Not at all," he shakes his head, smiling that soft grin as usual at her, and points over his shoulder. "There's a linen closet next to the bathroom, extra towels and stuff. Help yourself to whatever you need."
"Thank you," she smiles gratefully before dropping her feet to the floor and leaning forward. "Ave, mama's gonna go take a quick shower. You okay hanging out with Jay for a bit?"
Avery looks up, her hand stilling over the page in her book she's coloring in and glances at Jay for a moment before turning back to Hailey.
"Okay mama," she says quietly.
Hailey smiles at her and stands from the couch, looking over at Jay. "I won't be long."
He nods and she moves around the couch to grab one of her bags, then heads for the bathroom, closing the door quietly behind her. He turns his attention back to Avery, the little girl immersed back into her world of coloring and paying him no mind as she reaches for a different crayon to use.
He watches her for a while, smiling softly at her, and replaying the events of the day in his mind. A day that was supposed to be fun and carefree with no problems. It had started out perfectly, waking up with Hailey and spending the day with her and Avery, and their friends, and then with one word from the little girl's mouth everything shifted.
Jay had never pictured himself as a father, never imagined having kids. As much as he loved them, he just didn't see that kind of future for himself. At least not until Hailey came into his life, and then Avery, the two of them completely turning it upside down in the best way possible, putting everything into a whole new perspective for him and changing absolutely everything.
Hailey had been right when she said most guys would be thrown off or running for the hills, but Jay wasn't most guys and Hailey and Avery weren't just anyone. They were special to him. They were everything to him.
Maybe it had terrified him when he'd first heard the little girl call him her daddy, but then she said it over and over, and it had turned his world upside down once again, shifting everything yet again. The sound of Avery saying that word and looking at him when she said it had Jay wanting things to be different. Had him wanting things to be more than what they were for him and Hailey and Avery.
He was so sure he'd be able to sacrifice his feelings for his partner if it meant he could still be a part of her and Avery's lives, but the second that word came out of the little girl's mouth he had realized that being friends, being partners with Hailey wasn't enough. He wanted it all. He wanted everything. And he was pretty certain the idea alone should probably terrify him in some way, but all it did was make him smile a little wider and make the tug on his heart a little stronger.
Jay was in love with his partner and he was in love with her daughter, and now he just had to figure out a way to tell Hailey. And hope and pray to everything he wouldn't lose her, that he wouldn't lose either of them when he did it.
He pulls himself from his thoughts, focusing on Avery sitting in front of him, and then he notices her staring at him.
"Are you okay kiddo?" Jay asks.
She nods slowly, looking over at him with an almost sadness in her eyes, and then she says, "I'm sorry I called you daddy."
His eyes widen, wondering for a second if he had lost his mind and said any of what he had been thinking out loud in front of the little girl, and then he tilts his head at her.
"What?"
"I'm sorry I called you daddy," Avery says again with a quiet voice. "Mama told me that's not who you are. That you're our friend and I can't say it again. I didn't mean to make you mad."
"You didn't make me mad," Jay tells her softly, shaking his head as he leans closer to her. "Why do you think I'm mad?"
She shrugs her shoulders. "You didn't talk to me again at my party. You didn't sit next to me anymore."
Something tugs on his heart again, but he's pretty sure it's guilt now as he stares back at the little girl and the saddest blue eyes stare right back at him.
"Oh, Ave," Jay sighs, reaching for her instantly. He pulls her into his lap, then places a finger under her chin and tilts her head up so he can look her in the eyes. "I'm not mad at you. I could never be mad you. You're my bug! You're my favorite bug."
"Really?" She asks, her blue eyes staring up at him unsure and glistening with tears.
"Really," he nods. "I may not be your daddy, but I'm still your friend. Just like mama said. I'll always be your friend. And I love you a whole lot. That's never gonna change. I can promise you that."
The little girl's tears spill over as she leans forward and throws her arms around Jay's neck. He wraps his own around her and squeezes her against him, pressing his lips to the top of her head.
"I love you too," she whispers to him and he squeezes her once more.
He pulls away to look at the little girl again and sets her back in his lap, reaching his hands toward her face and wiping away the tears that have fallen. "Don't cry bug. I'm not going anywhere."
Avery nods and Jay gives another swipe under her eyes to wipe away the rest of the little girl's tears, both of them completely unaware of the slightly open door behind them as Hailey watches from the bathroom with tears of her own rolling down her cheeks.
She watches as Jay holds her daughter, watches the way he comforts her and loves her. She stares at the both of them with that familiar ache rushing through her chest all over again as a fond smile spreads out across her face slowly, and then she steps further back into the bathroom and closes the door quietly.
Jay points to the other bag by the couch, still smiling at the little girl in front of him. "What do you say we get you into some PJ's and get you ready for bed, huh?"
"Okay," Avery says with another nod. "Where am I gonna sleep?"
"You and mama are gonna sleep in my room, my bed is plenty big enough for you two to share, and I'm gonna stay out here. Then tomorrow you're gonna come to work with us. How's that sound?"
"Really? Can I help you get the bad guys?"
"Yeah, you can help us get the bad guys," he says with a laugh.
She grins up at him and he can't help leaning down to place a quick kiss to her forehead before setting her on her feet. He gets up from the floor and goes to the bags, opening up the other he assumed is for the little girl, and finds some shorts and a t-shirt that look to be for bedtime.
He holds them up to the little girl. "These okay?"
"Yeah, those are jammies," she nods at him.
"Alright. I gotta tell you though, I've never dressed a kid before. Can you do it yourself or do you need help?"
"I need help with my shirt so I don't get my arms stuck," she tells him.
"Okay," Jay smiles. "Jump up on the couch for me kiddo."
She does as he asks and he helps her out of her party dress, then pulls the t-shirt over her head. He guides her arms through the sleeves and then she sits down to pull her shorts on. When she's dressed in her pajamas Jay pulls the hair tie and bow from around her ponytail, letting her blonde curls hang freely, and tosses the ties into the bag.
"You ready?" He asks, looking down at her.
"Ready," she nods, grabbing her teddy bear.
Jay lifts her into his arms and brings her into his bedroom, setting her down on the bed, and then tucks her in under the blankets.
"Mama will be in soon. I'm gonna go clean up in the living room, okay? Just holler for me if you need me," Jay tells her.
"Okay. Goodnight," Avery says quietly, holding tight to her teddy as she settles against the pillows.
"Goodnight bug," he whispers, leaning down to kiss the top of her head and he gives her one more smile as he stands up straight.
He turns off the light on the nightstand on her side, leaving a dim light turned on from the other side of the bed before he makes his way back out into the living room. He boxes up the little girl's crayons, putting them in her backpack along with her book, then sets the bag down by the couch. He moves through his apartment, turning off most of the lights except for the ceiling light in the living room, and then goes to the door to make sure it's locked up for the night.
As he moves back to the couch, the bathroom door opens and Hailey steps out dressed in a pair of sleep shorts and a t-shirt. Her hair is still damp from her shower and as she enters the living room Jay notices her slightly puffy eyes and the glistening look in them, but he doesn't say anything.
"Where's Ave?" She asks quietly as she glances around the room.
He tilts his head toward his bedroom. "I got her into some pajamas and she's waiting for you in my room. I'll stay out here."
She shakes her head at him. "Jay – "
"I'm not letting you two sleep on the couch. Just take the bedroom," he tells her, that soft smile peeking out again.
The way he looks at her tells her it's an argument she won't win so she sighs, nodding over at him.
"Thank you," she says with another smile of appreciation for him.
He nods back, but catches the look in her eyes as the smile slowly fades from her face, and he tilts his head at her again.
"You okay?"
"Yeah," she says a little too quickly. "I was sort of hoping we could talk, but if you wanna sleep – "
He shakes his head. "I'm not that tired and we should talk."
She nods slowly, forcing another tight lipped smile then points to his bedroom.
"Let me check on her first. I'll be right back," she tells him, moving toward the bedroom and feeling his eyes on her as she walks past him.
Hailey goes to the side of the bed where her daughter lies, but finds her already down for the count, her eyes shut tightly as she snuggles with her teddy bear. Hailey smiles down at her, leaning over the little girl and kissing her on the cheek. She moves in her sleep, but doesn't wake and Hailey heads back out to the living room.
She finds Jay sitting on the couch, a nervous look on his face, but he still manages another smile for her as she moves toward him and sits down beside him. She turns to face him, taking a deep breath and offering a tight lipped smile as she looks at him.
"I'm sorry," Hailey says quietly, blowing out another deep sigh.
Jay's eyebrows scrunch together as he stares back at her. "For what?"
"For freaking out on you earlier, for the things I said. I – I shouldn't have told you to leave. I just, Avery really caught me off guard when she said…well, you know what she said and I wasn't expecting it and maybe I should have been expecting it with all the time she spends with you and – "
"Hailey, it's okay," Jay tells her, shaking his head slowly. "I get why you were upset. It caught me off guard too. And maybe you were right, maybe we do spend too much time together and all it's doing is confusing her."
"No," Hailey says quickly. "You've really been there for me, for her, and she loves you. I shouldn't have pushed you away. I was scared. I'm still scared. I – "
"It's okay," he says again. "Really. You don't have to explain yourself. Not to me. She's your daughter, Hailey. I never meant to overstep or be – be something I know I'm not."
She stares back at him, taking in the sincerity of his words and the soft look in his eyes, and then quietly, she says, "I heard you."
"Heard what?" Jay asks, tilting his head.
"When I was in the bathroom. I opened the door and was about to come out, but I heard you and Ave talking so I stayed back to listen," she tells him, a sheepish smile crossing her face. "I've heard you tell her you love her before, but watching the two of you like that, it – it was different."
He grins at her as he says, "Yeah, I really love that kid."
"I know you do," Hailey whispers.
He nods slowly as she stares at him, trying to read the expression on his face as his grin slowly fades and that achy feeling hits her in her chest again.
She knows she can't ignore what happened in her kitchen. She can't ignore the way it felt to have his hands on her or how his lips brushed over hers or the way it made everything inside her ache in the most glorious of ways.
She blows out a deep, shaky breath, swallowing back the nerves building inside of her, and then she throws caution to the wind as she stares over at him.
"I can't stop thinking about what might have happened if Vanessa and Kevin hadn't come in when they did," she admits then, swallowing nervously again as she looks at him.
"Me too," he says quietly, but then he shrugs his shoulders, a small smile peeking out from the corner of his mouth. "Maybe it's for the best we were interrupted though. You have a lot going on right now. You don't need me making things more complicated for you."
"You don't complicate anything Jay," Hailey tells him with a shake of her head. "You make things easier. You make things better."
He smiles softly at her, then gives her a look, one she knows well. "Hailey, I – I just…"
"Jay?"
"Yeah?" He asks, looking at her as if waiting for her to end the conversation as quickly as she started and run away into the bedroom, away from him again, but her lips curve up into a grin instead.
"Shut up," Hailey whispers before she leans forward on the couch and reaches for him. She lifts her hands to hold either side of his neck, and then she's pulling him to her and crashing her lips against his.
He's kissing her back in an instant, moving his lips against hers with the same sweet fervor and raising a hand to her face. He holds her cheek in his palm for a moment before he moves it through her still damp hair to hold the back of her head.
It's a duel between them as they move their lips frantically, kissing one other hard and fast, their hands clutching tightly to each other as if the other might disappear from their grasp. Jay swipes his tongue against her lips and she accepts him willingly, excitedly, kissing him back and moaning into his mouth and feeling his lips curve into a grin against her when she doesn't push him away this time.
She holds tighter to his neck with one hand and drags the other down to his chest to push him back into the cushions of his couch. He goes willingly, but brings her with him just as she intended, his hands falling to her waist and gripping her thighs as she straddles his lap, her lips never leaving his.
He digs his fingers into the warm flesh of her thighs as she rests one hand on his shoulder and moves her other hand to the back of his head, gripping his hair tightly as she bites down on his lip. He lets out a groan and she giggles into their kiss, and then he drags his lips from hers only to pull her closer and latch his mouth onto her neck.
She moans into him as he licks and sucks and nibbles at her skin, burying his face against her neck, and she pulls tighter at his hair, wondering how she had gone so long without this, without him. They haven't known each other even a year, but she can't figure out how she could have ignored it for so long.
Her breathing stutters and shakes, and she grinds her hips against him, soliciting another groan from him that reverberates against her throat and makes her shiver in his arms. She moves her hips again and he bites at the skin below her ear, making her growl out, happy and frustrated all at once, and then she hears her daughter calling for her from the next room.
They still their movements immediately at the sound of Avery's voice and then the little girl calls out another "Mama!" from Jay's bedroom.
"Interrupted again," Hailey breathes out through a quiet laugh as he removes his lips from her neck and she pulls back to look at him.
"Par for the course, I guess," Jay smirks at her, that sweet grin plastered on his face that she's pretty sure should be illegal.
She shakes her head at him with a playful smile and lifts a hand to his face. She grips his jaw in her hands, holding his head in place in front of her as she leans in and presses her lips to his once more. She kisses him slowly, purposefully, then moans begrudgingly when she pulls away after a moment, running the tip of her tongue over her lips as she lifts herself from his lap. She stands from the couch and heads into his bedroom to check on her daughter, and Jay follows after her another minute later.
He watches from the doorway as Hailey kneels down next to Avery at the side of his bed, reaching out a hand and moving it over the little girl's head, gently raking her fingers through her hair.
"Mama's here baby," Hailey whispers. "You're okay."
The little girl's eyes close slowly, the sound of her mother's voice and her fingers in her hair lulling her back to sleep quickly. When Avery's breaths even out again Hailey leans down and presses a kiss into her hair before she stands back on her feet. She moves around the bed and looks over at Jay standing in the doorway.
"She okay?" He asks.
"Yeah, just a bad dream I think. She's asleep again."
"You should probably sleep too," he tells her.
"Not likely after what we just did on your couch," she smirks at him and he raises an eyebrow at her.
"Pretty sure that was mutually beneficial," he grins.
Hailey nods slowly, a blush creeping into her cheeks as she walks toward him and reaches for his wrist, then whispers, "You should sleep in here with us."
"Hailey – "
She moves her hand from his wrist down to his hand and weaves their fingers together, squeezing tightly, and says, "Stay with us."
Her heart pounds in her ears as she looks up at him, and then he's giving her that same smile he always does before he squeezes his hand in hers and nods his head. He reaches his other hand to the switch on the wall and turns off the living room light, and then she's leading him to the bed.
She drops his hand as she slides in next to Avery, making sure the little girl is still asleep, and pulls the little girl against her side as Jay gets in the bed after her. She lies on her back, her head turned toward Jay as he reaches for the nightstand and turns off the last of the lights.
"Are you sure this is okay?" Jay asks quietly.
He can just barely make out her face as his eyes adjust to the darkness of his bedroom, and then he feels her reaching between them for his hand.
"I'm sure," she tells him, weaving their fingers together again.
"You know, what just happened on my couch…I'm gonna wanna do that again."
"I would hope so," Hailey teases.
He squeezes her hand before he pulls it from her grasp and then he turns on his side to face her and lifts his arm to lay it across her stomach, his nestled between her and Avery. "Just making sure we're on the same page."
"We are," Hailey tells him, raising her arm between them and dropping her hand on top of his.
He squeezes her side in response and feels her relax next to him, the tips of her fingers drawing nonsense into his skin as she waits for sleep to come to her.
"I can't believe you kept it," Hailey whispers through the darkness a moment later.
"Kept what?"
"Avery's painting on your fridge. I saw it earlier after dinner," she says, breathing out a quiet sigh. "You kept it."
"Of course I kept it," he tells her, and she knows even without seeing his face that he's smiling at her.
"Do you have any idea how amazing you are?" She asks him.
"No more than you are," he throws back.
"We're gonna be okay, right?" She asks him.
He knows what she's really asking and he squeezes her again, tightening his arm around her as he leans over and presses his lips to the side of her head.
"We're gonna be just fine," Jay assures her.
He squeezes her once more and she nods. Her fingers ghost over his arm again for a few minutes more until she finally relaxes beside him, her breaths evening out as she welcomes the sleep that overtakes her.
When morning comes, Hailey wakes first, feeling a weight on top of her, and blinks her eyes open to find Avery almost lying on top of her and Jay's arm over the both of them. She smiles softly to herself as she remembers the night before and wiggles an arm out to rest a hand over top of Jay's forearm.
He twitches beside her in his sleep, tightening his hold on them a tiny bit more, and her smile widens as she turns her head to look over at him. That look of peace is on his face again as he breathes out quiet snores and she taps two fingers on his arm. When he doesn't stir she drags her nails over his skin gently, then taps him twice more.
He stirs beside her, blinking his eyes open slowly and when he finds her looking at him with a blush in her cheeks and a sheepish smile on her face he grins back at her.
"Good morning," he croaks out. "Did you sleep?"
Hailey nods. "I did, very well actually."
He hums out a response, his grin widening and he leans in closer to press his lips into her hair.
"Ave?" He asks quietly.
"Still out like a light. I don't know what time it is though," she says.
He nods, lifting his arm from her and Avery, careful not to wake the little girl if he doesn't have to, and turns over toward the nightstand. He reaches for his phone that he placed there the night before and checks the time before turning back to face her.
"Quarter after seven."
She breathes out a sigh of annoyance as she looks up at him. "We have to get up."
He nods again, but can't help leaning down over her and pressing his lips against hers for a quick, soft kiss.
"Just in case you start thinking too much with that brain of yours and change your mind on me," he says quietly with a teasing grin.
Hailey shakes her head, lifting a hand to his face and bringing his head back down to her.
"Nuh uh," she mumbles, shaking her head before pressing her lips back to his for another slower kiss.
They pull away reluctantly, smiling those soft grins at one another, and force themselves out of the bed. They wake Avery and take turns getting dressed and using the bathroom while the other watches over the little girl. They leave the apartment shortly after Hailey gets the little girl dressed for the day and stop off at a local cafe for a quick breakfast, then head off to the district.
They pull into the parking lot a little after eight and make their way inside, Hailey carrying Avery despite Jay's offer to do it for her – she just wants to be close to her daughter.
When they enter the bullpen, all eyes fall on Hailey. She quickly notices the worry on everyone's faces then looks at Platt as the woman comes out of Voight's office, the older man trailing out after the desk Sergeant.
"Hailey," Platt says, her tone of voice immediately putting Hailey and Jay on edge as the partners glance between one another.
"What's up?" Hailey asks, tightening her hold around Avery in her arms.
Platt tilts her head toward Voight's office and Hailey glances at Jay again before looking over at Kevin.
"Kev, could you…" she trails off, nodding down at Avery.
"I got you," Kevin nods, quickly standing from his desk and walking toward them. He smiles down at Avery and reaches his arms out to her. "Hey little one. Wanna hang out with Uncle Kev for a bit?"
Avery nods, grinning back at him and reaching for him.
"Thanks Kev," Hailey smiles, passing her daughter over to her friend.
He smiles back at her and takes Avery to his desk, sitting down with her in his lap and distracting her while Hailey and Jay head into their Sergeant's office, closing the door behind them.
"What's going on?" Hailey asks, a hand on her hip as an uneasy feeling settles in the pit of her stomach.
Platt and Voight share a look of concern, and then the woman steps forward handing an envelope to Hailey.
"This was delivered sometime last night. Night shift Sergeant said a guy came in, said he worked for a messenger service and handed it over, said it was for you, then left. Didn't ask for a signature upon delivery. I showed him the photos you and Halstead used with the florist. He fingered Tyler Whitlock."
Hailey takes the envelope from Platt with shaking hands as her breathing quickens and her heartbeat turns frantic. "Did you open it?"
Platt nods. "I did. Atwater filled Voight and I in on what happened last night and we were concerned."
Her shoulders rise and fall quickly with each breath she takes, the fear and paranoia taking over as she opens the envelope and pulls out another black and white photo. It's one of just her and Avery as they're leaving the little girl's daycare and she flips it over to find another message in black ink.
I'll see you both soon.
"No," she cries out, her eyes filling with tears in an instant as she stares at the message and shakes her head in disbelief.
Jay steps closer to her and she looks up at him with nothing, but terror in her eyes as she passes the photo to him. His eyes go wide as he looks over the photo, then the message on the back of it, as Hailey steps back and falls into a chair.
"The florist couldn't make a positive ID, but I knew it," she breathes out, her head falling forward into her hands as her entire body trembles. "I knew it."
"Hailey," Voight says quietly, stepping around his desk and moving toward her. "You and Avery aren't safe. I've already talked to the ADA. As of right now the two of you are in protective custody."
"No," Hailey says, shaking her head quickly as she stands from the chair.
Voight sighs, tilting his head at her. "Hailey – "
"That's what he wants Sarge. This is a game to Booth. He wants me running and scared. He – "
"Hailey," her Sergeant says again, stepping toward her and bringing his hands to her shoulders. "This guy's got it out for you. You need to lay low, get out of the city. You're not safe here, neither of you are."
"So what? I just – I keep running and hope you catch him? Take Avery away from everything she knows?" Hailey says through her tears as they roll down her cheeks. She shrugs off Voight's hands and sits back down, wiping furiously at her eyes, and then looks up at her partner. "Jay?"
Jay tilts his head, looking at her with those soft eyes of his, but there's a sadness in them as he walks over to her and kneels down in front of her.
"Voight's right. You and Ave aren't safe here, Hailey," he says carefully, his tone matching the look on his face as he reaches for her hands and holds them tightly in his. "Protective custody means a 24/7 detail from the U.S. Marshals. Around the clock. No one will get near either of you."
"And what about you?" She asks quietly. "You saw that photo last night. You're just as in danger as we are."
"He doesn't care about me," Jay shakes his head. "He just wants me out of the way. So I'll stay here, and me and the team will pick up Tyler. We'll break him and find Booth and we'll end this. He won't get near you."
Hailey tilts her head, more tears falling from her eyes as she stares at him, and then whispers, "I don't wanna leave you."
"I don't want that either," he tells her, ignoring the knowing looks from their Sergeants and squeezing Hailey's hands again. "But you have to. Just for a little while. We'll find him. I promise."
She catches the glistening in his eyes and then he's squeezing her fingers again, and she nods slowly at him before looking past him at Platt and Voight.
"I'll take the detail," she says quietly.
Voight nods. "I'll call the ADA. Get what you need and be ready to roll out soon."
"I'll go and get your stuff. You stay here," Jay says, looking down at Hailey then back to Voight. "Sarge?"
"Fine by me," he says.
Jay nods, then he and Hailey head back into the bullpen, Platt behind them as Voight sits down at his desk and gets on the phone. Platt places a hand over Hailey's shoulder, patting her gently and offering a small smile at the blonde before she walks through the bullpen and goes back downstairs.
Hailey makes her way to Kevin's desk, wiping at her eyes again quickly and ignoring the looks from her team as she forces a smile and takes Avery from him. She doesn't say a word as she tightens her arms around the little girl and goes into the break room, closing the door behind her and sitting on the couch with her daughter.
"Kev?" Jay calls out, nodding to the man. "Need some backup. Wanna take a ride with me?"
Kevin nods and stands from his desk, and the two head out of the bullpen, disappearing down the back stairwell.
The men return a short while later, a few bags with them, and they set them down by Hailey's desk. He spots Avery on Kim's lap, and when he catches her eye, the woman tilts her head to the break room.
Jay turns his head, looking through the window of the door and finding Hailey on the couch and heads toward her. He knocks on the door and when she looks up and nods, he goes inside, closing the door quietly behind him.
"Hey you," he says, walking over and sitting down beside her. "Got your stuff from my place. It's at your desk."
Hailey nods slowly, sniffling and wiping at her eyes as the tears keep coming, but she doesn't look at him, instead staring down at the floor. He reaches an arm out behind her and runs his hand up and down her back slowly.
"I need you to do something for me," Hailey says quietly, her voice hoarse from her crying as she keeps her eyes cast down to the floor.
"What's that?" He asks, moving his hand up her back again and squeezing her shoulder.
He watches as she blows out a deep sigh, and then she lifts her eyes and turns her head to meet his gaze, and he sees the fresh tears.
"If something happens," she breathes out, her voice trembling. "If things go sideways, for whatever reason and no matter what the situation is or how bad it might be for me, I need you to promise that you won't choose me."
Jay shakes his head, his hand stilling on her back as he stares over at her. "Hailey, I – "
"He can't get away, Jay," she cries out as more tears spill over. "Not this time. Not after everything he's done and everything he's taken. Because of Garrett and Avery and because of me, too. Promise me."
He doesn't like it, not at all, because he knows what she's really asking him to do. That if push comes to shove, he won't save her no matter what the circumstances are. That he'll take Booth down even if that means sacrificing her safety, her life.
"Hailey," he says again, nearly tripping over her name as he breathes it out almost painfully.
"Please?" Hailey pleads with him, her eyes begging him just as much as her voice as she stares at him.
Jay shakes his head again as he looks down, replaying her words over and over, his heart beating wildly, and when he brings his eyes back up to hers he prays to everything that it won't come to what she's asking him to do.
"I promise," he whispers.
Hailey nods, forcing a tight lipped smile through her tears, and then she says, "Marshals are on their way. ADA told Voight they'll be here within the hour."
Jay nods, looking over at the door then back to Hailey. "You tell Avery yet?"
"Yeah, I told her we're going on a trip," she scoffs, shaking her head, but then she smiles sadly at him. "And then she asked if you were coming with us."
"I wish I could," he tells her, moving his arm around her and pulling her into side. She leans against him, winding her arms around his waist as he rests his chin over top her head. "We're gonna get him, Hailey."
She nods against him, squeezing her arms around him, and then there's a knock on the door. They pull themselves away, looking to the door as Voight enters the room.
"Marshals are here. Down in the roll-up," he tells them.
"Okay," Hailey says quietly, standing from the couch and Jay follows.
"Take this," Voight says, handing her a small box. "It's one of our UC burners. Can't be traced. Only numbers in it are mine and Jay's. Leave yours here, just in case."
Hailey nods slowly and takes the box from him. "Thanks Sarge."
Voight nods back, offering her a reassuring smile. "We'll get him. You'll be home before ya know it."
Hailey tries to smile, but it doesn't quite stretch out over her face as she intends it to, and then they head out into the bullpen. She says a quick goodbye to the rest of her team, then lifts Avery into her arms while Jay grabs her bags and Voight leads them down the stairs to the roll-up.
The gate to the roll-up is closed and there's a black SUV parked with tinted windows and two men standing at the back of it while Platt stands off to the side with her hands clasped in front of her. The men are dressed casually in jeans and hoodies, a piece strapped to a holster clipped on each of them.
"Sergeant Voight?" One of them asks, stepping forward with a hand outstretched.
Voight nods, stepping toward him and shaking hands. "ID gentlemen?"
They nod and pull out their stars, then separate badges, and Voight nods when he confirms their identities before turning to face Hailey and Jay.
"Wilson and Morales," Voight says, glancing at each of the men respectively, then looking back to Hailey.
"Detective Upton," they both greet her, a friendly enough smile on each of their faces.
She nods, forcing a smile, and then Morales steps forward and takes the bags out of Jay's hands.
"We gotta move, ma'am," the other one, Wilson says.
"And the location?" Voight asks, looking between the men, and then he gestures to himself, Jay and Platt. "Only people that will know are the three of us."
"It's a safe house outside of the city. About a forty minute drive. Sergeant Platt already has the details," Wilson tells him, glancing to the older woman who nods when Voight looks over at her.
"Alright," he says, turning back to Hailey. "You only call me or Halstead. Understood?"
"I understand," Hailey nods.
He nods once and walks over to Platt, giving Hailey and Jay a moment to themselves, and Jay takes a step closer toward her.
He smiles at her softly, nodding down to Avery, and Hailey passes her over to him. He holds the little girl against his chest, his arms tight around her as she wraps her own around his neck.
"Mama said you can't come with us," the little girl says against his neck.
Jay nods, smiling sadly as he pulls back to look at her. "Mama's right. I gotta stay here and get the bad guys. But it won't be long. I'll see you soon, okay?"
"Okay," she says quietly, her bottom lip quivering in a pout.
"I love you bug," Jay whispers to the little girl before kissing the side of her head. "Be good and take care of mama for me, okay?"
"I will. I love you too," Avery says to him sadly as she holds onto him tightly.
Jay squeezes her once more as he makes his way to the open back door of the SUV and sets the little girl down in the backseat. There's no car seat so he buckles her with the seatbelt, checking to make sure it's securely around her, and then he turns and faces Hailey.
He breathes out a deep sigh as he looks back at her, smiling that grin he keeps just for her, and then she steps toward him and snakes her arms around his waist. Her head falls against his chest and she breathes him in as he wraps his around her shoulders, squeezing her against him and leaning his against hers.
"Call me when you get there. Please?" He says quietly and she nods against him.
He knows she has to go and the last thing he wants to do is piss off a couple of Marshals so he pulls back after another moment to look at her.
"It's gonna be okay," he tells her, fighting the urge to pull her back into him when he sees her glistening eyes.
Hailey nods again and he leans forward to press his lips to her forehead, lingering a few seconds before kissing her twice, and then he pulls away and drops his arms from her.
She smiles up at him through teary eyes and steps around him toward the other side of the SUV. She pulls open the back door and lifts herself into the seat, and just as she reaches to close the door, she hears Jay call her name.
Hailey looks up at him, quirking an eyebrow as he stands between the backseat and the open door, staring at her with those soft green eyes of his that she loves so much.
"What?" She asks.
"I – uh, I…"
She smiles at him, sweet and sad at the same time, and nods her head slowly as she whispers, "I know."
He tilts his head at her, his eyes glistening again with his own tears as he stares back at her. "You know?"
"I know," Hailey says again, nodding once more before she says, "Me too."
He swallows hard, the apple of his throat bobbing harshly, and he nods at her, smiling his soft grin at her before he steps back and closes the door.
He moves out of the way, walking to the back of the SUV, and Platt presses a button on a panel against the wall. He watches as the gate of the roll-up starts to lift upward, the engine of the vehicle roaring to life, and then they're moving.
Jay's eyes follow them as the SUV pulls out of the roll-up and onto the street, his heart aching as they get further and further away from him, but also soaring because Hailey knows.
He loves her and she knows and she loves him too.