After After long day of working a domestic abuse case, Hailey and Jay arrive back at their apartment completely exhausted and emotional. As soon as the door closed behind them, they were safe and shielded from the harsh outside world.
Right from the get-go, Jay could tell Hailey was a bit up in arms about it all. The case flaunting bruised parts of her that she constantly worked so hard to mask.
"Why don't you go shower, whilst I make us something for tea/three am snack" Jay suggested, earning a light, exhausted chuckle off Hailey. "I don't really feel like eating" Hailey said, grateful for Jay not pressing her about the day. "Hails..." Jay said sternly. "Pasta pot" Hailey decided, knowing Jay was right about needing to eat something. "Love you" Jay winked, the comment making Hailey's heart burst like always; that time a little more though after the last few days. Hailey lovingly smiled back, before disappearing into the bathroom and washing the day away.
Fifteen minutes later, Jay poured the microwaved pasta pots into two bowls and placed them on the island top; right in the nick of time for Hailey to re-appear in one of Jay's tops and a pair of leggings. "Mushroom and cheese" Jay announced, watching Hailey as she joined him. "My favourite" Hailey sighed, inhaling the delightful smell. "I know" Jay smiled, the smile that always made Hailey's heart melt and made her feel like one in a million.
"So, am I the new Ansley Harriet?" Jay questioned a few minutes later. "Please, you wish" Hailey rolled her eyes, swatting Jay playfully on the shoulder. "What? Can you not see the amount of patients and skills this took to make?" Jay ghasped, feigning offence. "Dude, you stuck the pot in the microwave and then poured it into the bowls" Hailey laughed. "Na-a...I got the cutely out, the bowls and pressed start on the microwave" Jay corrected. "Oh well, in that case I better get you a gold medal" Hailey said sarcastically, shaking her head at Jay's efforts. "I'm hurt" Jay pouted. "I'm Hailey, nice to meet you" Hailey faked introduced herself- kissing Jay on the cheek and placing the empty dishes in the sink. "Haha, funny" Jay moaned.
Hailey didn't fire back a sassy comment lie usual and froze silently, staring at a scar on the inside of her wrist- once she got when she was a child and her father went down on her. She never noticed it usually, but, when her eyes caught it that evening, time stood still and the memories came flooding back.
*flash back*
A piercing scream shrieked through the young girls house, as she landed in a heap on the ground after her father practically threw her across the room. Blood streamed from the inside of her wrist, where Hailey caught it on the side of the coffee table, her head banging from where it bounced off the wall- her entire body bounced off the wall. The grown man continued to yell ungodly, angry things at his daughter- scaring Hailey even more than she already was.
"Dad, please. I'm sorry" Hailey whimpered, desperately trying to get her father to back off. "No you're not. You're not even the slightest bit sorry" He snarled, grabbing Hailey by her top and lifting her up in the air. "Pathetic" He spat, throwing her back down on the floor and walking off. Leaving his little girl bleeding, crying and completely terrified in the corner of the living room.
*end of flash back*
"Hailey"
"Hailey"
"HAILS!"
The echoes of name being called didn't process properly, until Jay shouted her nickname and grabbed her on the shoulders; launching her back to the safe reality. "Hey...it's okay" Jay whispered, shaken at how traumatised and haunted Hailey looked as she stood frozen infront of him. He'd seen her breakdown before, but what he just witnessed was completely new and scary. "He...It...I" Was all Hailey mumbled, struggling to fully grasp onto reality again. "Breathe, follow me" Jay softly instructed, guiding a calming breathing technique that he was taught at therapy...the therapy Hailey forced him to go to. "Sorry" Hailey breathed out, falling into Jay's chest. "You've got nothing to be sorry for. It's okay. You're okay. We're okay" Jay assured Hailey, wrapping her tightly in his protective arms. "D...Dad...Jerry...everything" Hailey sobbed, gripping Jay's shirt like she was holding on for dear life. "I know...I know. You're not there anymore and Jerry is in jail now. Samantha and Berry are safe, and you're safe. You're always going to be safe" Jay hushed, rubbing his hand through Hailey's wet locks; a thing he figured out that calmed her down pretty early on in their relationship. And sure enough, Hailey's breathing rate and heart rate slowly started to calm down and small, muffled sniffles was now the only thing that could be heard. "Why can't all guys be like you?" Hailey questioned, looking up to Jay with red-raw eyes and tear-staned cheeks. "I mean, I am one of a kind" Jay joked, always knowing how to put a smile on Hailey's face when she needed it most. "True" Hailey chuckled. "I'm serious though. You're so kind and gentle. You never raise your voice, you have all the patience in the world- mostly. And, most of all, you never take advantage" Hailey lovingly spoke, making Jay tear up this time. "Advantage?" Jay furrowed his brows, out of all the lovely comments he was given he picked up on the last part. "Yeh. You could've easily gotten me drunk and into bed...but you never. You made tea, whilst I showered and hugged me whilst I broke down. Not many blokes do that, even decent ones don't" Hailey explained, thinking back to a few occasions were exactly that had happened. "Who done that? You don't have to answer, but you're clearly speaking from experience and I just want to be here for you in every way" Hailey knew Jay wasn't pressuring her to say anything, but the way Jay bought her wall down by just breathing made Hailey want to tell him anything and everything. "Alot of undecent guys. Once decent guy too, but, honestly, not compared to you" Hailey answered- missing out who the decent guy was to protect everyone. "I'm sorry, Hails. You didn't deserve any of that stuff. What you went through with your Dad, what other guys have done. Non of it" He struggled the fathom how beautiful and kind-hearted Hailey was, even after what she'd gone through. But, maybe that was what Jay found so beautiful about Hailey. "I've got you now, Jay. You're my safe place, I know I'm safe with you. Even if I have mini breakdowns like I just did, it doesn't mean I don't feel safe with you. Because I do, I really do" Hailey cried, wanting so badly for Jay to under just how safe he makes her feel. "I know, I get it. I really do. And, we'll always be safe when we're with each other. And, hey, you haven't nearly shot me- so that's a plus" Jay pointed out, making them both laugh away their tears. "True. Imagen if you did shoot me then accidentally, you might not have gotten to woke up to this vogue-worthy face everyday" Hailey grinned cheekily. "We couldn't have that" Jay laughed, down to kiss his World.
"I love you, Hails"
"I love you, too. So much" Hailey reciprocated, leaning back to her tiptoes and finding Jay's lips again.
