Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from the OneChicago World.
Day 6 prompt: "You should probably go home." "But I'm already home."
This is just a touch heavier on the feels than the other prompts.
If you have any requests you can find me on Tumblr - Lady_RhaeSnow
"You should probably go home." "But I'm already home."
Hailey ducked, two bullets burying into the space her head had just been. She reached for her radio.
"5021 Henry. Shots fired at the police. In pursuit of the offender."
She raced up the stairs, giving chase as she saw him head for the roof. She yanked the door open, gun raised as she peered through cautiously. When no further bullets came whizzing at her, she followed through. She expected him to come out from a corner, and her grip on her gun tightened but as she walked further across the roof and he didn't show, she grew more nervous. It was nearly night and the lighting atop the roof was not ideal. He was simply nowhere to be seen. It made no sense that he could just disappear like that.
"5021 Henry," She called, walking back to join her partner. "Lost sight of offender on – ah!" she cried out in surprise as he took her down from behind. He'd materialised almost from nowhere and had the element of surprise on her. She'd barely seen his movement from the corner of her eye before he knocked her gun from her hand. He ran her into the wall with great momentum that Hailey winced as something hit against the side of her body.
Her radio blasted again, the dispatcher and Jay both calling out to her.
"Hailey?!" she heard Jay frantically call.
Their offender, Thomas Blake, lunged and this time while a little better prepared, her foot caught into something and suddenly Hailey found herself falling over the edge. Her fingers dug, manically into the rough stone as she was smacked painfully, against the building. She dangled there for a moment, trying to regain her senses.
Thomas loomed over her, watching as she struggled to pull herself up. Hailey wondered for one fear-filled moment if he would complete the job and push her off. He watched her struggle, gleeful. Again she tried to pull herself up only to be stopped by excruciating pain in her shoulder. Her fingers were slowly losing their grip and when she glanced down over the shoulder, her stomach lurched. It was a long way down. When she looked back up, it was to see the barrel of a gun in her face. It seemed Thomas would complete the job after all. There was no room for Hailey to hide as she hung from the edge of the building.
The blaring of her radio distracted Thomas for a moment but seeing as she could neither get the right footing to boost herself up or the strength to do more than simply hang on, it was of little use.
"Hailey!" she heard Jay's panicked calls across the radio. "Hailey?"
Thomas looked back at her, smirking menacingly. "Bye-bye darlin'."
The door to the roof burst open and Thomas turned instinctively, gun raised. Hailey couldn't see anything but she heard Jay call for her again. Then three shots rang out clearly, echoing across the rooftop. There was silence for a beat.
"Hailey?"
"Jay!" she called, relieved. Hailey dug her fingers determinedly into the rough stone, scraping them near raw. "Jay!" she huffed in agony. The pain in her shoulder was slowly becoming too much to handle. Her grip threatened to give way any second.
As she felt her fingers slipped a little more on their grip, Jay came into focus. He grabbed her arm immediately, trying to secure her from falling.
"I've got you," he said, grasping her tightly. He shifted and then tried pulling her up. "Come on, Hails. I've got you."
She nodded and with the last bit of strength, she bit through the pain and heaved herself up as much as she could. Her fingers clenched around Jay's arm tightly. She whimpered in pain as he pulled her up and back over the ledge. Hailey collapsed against him, panting heavily as Jay reached for his radio.
"5021 George. Offender down. Roll an ambo to my LKA."
Hailey looked over, Jay's words registering in her mind. Thomas was slumped against the ledge, three bullets to the chest. She released a shaky breath. This was not how they imagined this day would turn out.
"10-4. 5021 George."
Hailey realised she was essentially being held up by Jay and tried to move but the pain that shot through her had her gasping aloud, wincing in regret a second later.
"Hey, don't move. You're gonna make it worse okay." Jay told her gently.
She nodded, not seeing the point in fighting him. She exhaled, keeping her eyes closed as she tried not to focus on the pain. Soon enough they heard the sound of sirens and when Hailey peeked over the edge, she could make out the flashing lights in the darkness. There was little argument from her as she got into the back of Sylvie's rig and was carted off to Gaffney. As the doors of the ambulance closed Hailey saw Jay and Voight in conversation.
Jay turned, anxiously watching as the ambulance drove away. He itched to drive after her but Voight wanted to know the details of what went down first.
"What happened?"
"He caught the drop on her," Jay sighed. "When I got up there, she was already over the ledge, barely hanging on." The others joined them now as Jay caught them all up. "He had his gun out, I called it and did what I had to for my partner."
"No one's saying otherwise," Voight told him. "It's a good shoot. Head over to med and see that she's okay."
Jay nodded gratefully for the quick dismissal. He quickly headed towards his truck. He had just turned the ignition over when he heard the tap on his window.
"Take good care of my friend, Halstead," Vanessa said solemnly.
"Of course."
Vanessa nodded and stepped back as Jay drove off towards Gaffney. It wasn't a long drive thankfully, and it gave Jay little time to panic over Hailey's unknown condition. The ED was quiet for once as Jay stepped through.
He'd barely made it through the hallway when Will came around the corner. He grinned broadly at his little brother, handing-off a chart to the nurse beside him. She smiled, almost shyly at Jay but said nothing as she left them.
"Well, if it isn't my second favourite detective!" Will teased.
Jay rolled his eyes. "Is she down here?"
Will smiled knowingly. "This way," he gestured for Jay to follow him. "So is this what it takes for me to see you? Your girlfriend getting hurt?"
"She's not my – " Jay immediately started but stopped when he noticed Will's raised brow. "Never mind. Is she going to be okay?"
"Yeah. It wasn't so bad this time." They passed through the hospital as Will explained, "She suffered a dislocated shoulder, a few bruised ribs, some cuts and bruises, and a mild concussion."
"Oh is that all?" Jay quipped sardonically.
Will paused, turning and raising another brow in question at his brother. Jay sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration.
"I'm sorry," he said quietly. He shook his head, trying to clear the image of Hailey hanging off the ledge from his mind. "If I had been any later, she would have fallen from that rooftop."
"But she didn't." Will was quick to remind him.
Jay shifted on his feet, looking down at his boots because looking at his brother at he admitted to what he feared most was just too much. "I … I can't lose her man," Jay quietly confessed.
If Will was shocked by the vulnerability he heard in Jay's voice, he said nothing. Instead, he placed a hand on his shoulder, hoping to offer some comfort. "You won't." he paused, almost hesitating and then added, "At least not like this."
Jay scowled. "What the hell does that mean?"
He tried to throw Will's hand off his shoulder but Will held firm, looking at his brother with an uncharacteristically serious look. "It means, tell her how you feel Jay before it's too late. You two are so busy ignoring how you feel about each other, I swear you're going to drive the rest of us mad!"
"What are you talking about?" Jay asked feigning ignorance. His brother wasn't buying it though.
"Look man, I was there when you got shot. That woman didn't leave your side, not for a minute." Will said with a smile.
"She's my partner," was Jay's response.
"Is that all she is?" His question was met only with silence and Will allowed Jay to think on that for a moment before continuing. "Come on, she's in here."
Will led him to a room where Hailey was grumbling with the nurse. When she saw him, she smiled and though it was reassuring to see that, Jay could see the slight wince in her face as she shifted on the bed.
"Come to bust me out?" She joked.
"I dunno. Can I?" Jay asked looking at Will.
Will grabbed her charts, looking them over before eyeing them both. "They've sorted your shoulder I see."
"Yeah, thanks for that," Hailey groaned, remembering the pain of having her shoulder popped back into place.
Will chuckled, "You've still got a bit of a concussion though. Ideally, I'd like to keep you for observation."
"But …" Hailey prompted looking hopeful.
"If I let you go, you've got to promise to follow my instructions. And you're not to be left alone tonight, "Will ordered looking up from the chart. "You have a roommate, right?"
"Yeah but I – "
"It's okay, Will. I got it," Jay interrupted.
"Jay you don't need to do that."
"Hailey," he merely said and while it was only her name, it was more than enough. At least between them.
Will smiled smugly before turning back to the charts. "Alright," he conceded. "Jay, you promise to bring her back if anything doesn't seem right." Jay nodded. "I'll go get your discharge papers and meds."
"The good stuff please!" Hailey called and Will chuckled as he left them. Hailey winced as she shifted against her pillows, turning so she could see Jay properly. "Are you sure?"
"Nowhere else I'd rather be," Jay assured her. She smiled and Jay reached down, gently taking her hand in his. "Stupid question, but how are you feeling?"
"I'm … okay. Just sore," she answered slowly.
Yet the tears that lingered in her blue eyes told another story. Still, Jay didn't push her. This was not the place for that conversation. He ran his thumb along her hand soothingly. Will returned sometime later with all the necessary things and they stepped out to give Hailey a moment to gather herself together. When she was ready, they made a slow walk to Jay's truck. Will insisting on accompanying them.
"I'd say I look forward to seeing you again but I feel like you two might take that as a challenge to see who can end up back here the fastest," Will teased.
Hailey laughed and then quickly winced. "Oh, we both know Jay would win."
"Yeah probably," Will agreed. "Take care of my favourite detective, Jay."
Jay nodded waving his brother off as he helped Hailey up into the truck and closed the door as she settled into the seat.
Will walked to Hailey's side of the car with a cheeky smile, "I can't speak for Jay's bedside manner but if you need anything, give me a call."
Hailey chuckled, glancing at Jay through the open window. "Thanks, Will. I'm sure I'll be fine."
He leaned in, patting her cheek quite affectionately and dropping his voice so only Hailey would hear as he said, "Oh I know. Jay wouldn't have it any other way."
Hailey didn't say anything but nodded as Will stepped back, another soft knowing smile on his lips, before turning to his brother.
"Jay," Will said coming around to him, "Did you mean it when you said you didn't want to lose her?"
"Yeah," Jay answered frowning.
"Good. Then make sure that doesn't happen," Will said firmly. He pulled his brother into a hug, "don't let her get away," were his parting words before clapping his brother on the back and walking back to the E.D.
Jay exhaled, before joining Hailey in his truck. The drive to her apartment was quiet, Jay sneaking tentative glances over at Hailey. Soon enough they were pulling up outside her place. Getting up to her apartment was a little slower than when they left the hospital but at last, Hailey was relaxing on her couch.
Jay had busied himself in the kitchen for a bit as she got comfortable on the couch. He came in and placed a mug down on the end table.
"Tea," he shrugged. "it's supposed to relax you."
"Coffee relaxes me too," Hailey sassed.
Jay's lip quirked. "Just drink it."
She brought the mug to her lips, "Thank you," she said smiling softly.
They sat beside each other in an easy silence for a while before Jay finally said what he'd been meaning to tell her all night.
"Hailey, I'm sorry."
She frowned. "For what?"
He shrugged. "Not getting there sooner."
"Don't apologise Jay. It wasn't your fault. If anything, it's mine. I didn't see him there." She looked at him, her eyes tearful again. "You got there in time Jay. Believe me."
"I keep going over it in my head," Jay whispered. He almost jumped when he felt her reach for his hand. He took it in his, turning it over and rubbing his thumb over her pulse point, slowly and so tenderly. "I … I could have lost you," he said frowning at the mere thought.
"But you didn't," she said unknowingly echoing Will's sentiments.
"All I saw when I got up there was how close you were to letting go." He exhaled looking down at their hands. She squeezed his hand and he finally looked at her again.
Bravely, she reached out, laying a hand against his cheek. She felt him tense beneath her, but he didn't pull away. "I'm alright, Jay. I promise."
"Yeah?"
She swallowed, looking down at their joined hands. "There was a moment when I was dangling there where I thought it might be … but then I heard you coming through the door."
He sucked in a breath, his other hand reaching for the one against his cheek, and for a moment Hailey thought he might remove it. But he only wrapped his fingers around her wrist, holding her firmly to him. "Hailey, you can't let go. Please not ever."
It transcended to more than just what happened on the job, they both knew that. But it was also the most he had ever asked of her. She didn't hesitate. "I won't. I promise, Jay."
He nodded saying nothing more as he pulled her hand away from his face. His hands, were much bigger and warmer than hers as he held her hand out, palm up. She frowned, wondering what he was doing until she realised he was inspecting the damage done to her fingers. Her grip on the ledge had been desperate and some of the skin was now tender and red.
Gently, he ran a finger along her palm, so tenderly and reverently that Hailey barely recognised the pain. His fingers ran along her palm, around her wrist and
it tingled, pleasantly this time that she gasped.
Jay stopped immediately. "I'm sorry! Did that hurt you? I can sto – "
"No, Jay," She interrupted quickly. "Don't stop. It didn't hurt. It felt … good." She was near blushing as she whispered the last part.
There was less hesitance this time as he continued, delicately. "How's the shoulder?" he asked.
It was still in the sling they'd put on her at the hospital. She hadn't been too bothered by it until she had to get into Jay's truck and realised doing so with one arm was not so easy.
"Sore," she admitted. "But better than before."
"Want to take some of those good meds now?"
She chuckled. "Hm, maybe later. It's not so bad now that I'm sitting here and – you're helping a lot."
Her honesty was rewarded with a smile that lit his whole face up. "You know I make an excellent nurse," he said his voice taking a new teasing quality.
"Oh, and what makes you so confident?"
"Well, I've got a great bedside manner," he grinned. "Despite what my brother might think."
Hailey quirked a brow, "Shouldn't that be for me to decide?"
"I suppose," he said making a show of the fact that she didn't immediately agree with him. "How am I doing so far, then?"
"So far, so good," Hailey replied.
Jay reached forward, watching her cautiously as his fingers carded into her hair, and when she leaned into his touch, Jay smiled almost ruefully. "You look tired, but Will say's you need to wait a little while before you can sleep."
"How much longer?" she bemoaned.
"A while," he answered. "Hey, why don't you get changed and I'll find something on Netflix to help kill the time?"
Hailey felt her heart leap at his offer. "You don't have to do that Jay."
"But I want to." He rose from the couch, helping her up carefully. "Go on," he said gently urging her towards the bedroom.
It was a little more difficult to change with just one arm but she didn't know if she dared to call Jay in to help her just yet. So she battled and eventually managed to pull on an oversized sweater and some comfy leggings. Begrudgingly, she put the sling back on because her arm ached something awful without it.
When she joined in the lounge again, Jay had turned down most of the lights and had picked a comedy of some kind for them to watch.
"You good?" he asked from his spot on the couch.
"Yeah," she said sitting beside him.
"Here," he said handing her some of the pain meds Will had given them. Hailey smiled gratefully as she tossed them back and accepted the bottle of water from Jay. She took a few more sips and then placed the water on the coffee table, nodding to him.
He pressed play and the movie started as Hailey got comfortable. There was still some space between them. When Jay threw his arm over the top of the couch, Hailey couldn't help but shift a little closer. She winced as she did so but that sensation was almost immediately lost on her when she felt Jay absently playing with her hair. From the corner of her eyes, she watched him watching the tv, while his fingers toyed with her hair. They stayed like that for the longest time and Hailey was certain he would put her to sleep with the delicate sensations he was unknowingly causing.
Jay's arm eventually came to rest back over the top of the couch. The moment he did, she found she didn't want him to stop. So she shuffled, getting closer, maintaining the smallest of spaces between them. Jay turned, his attention diverting from the tv for the first time, looking at her closely. He didn't say anything, but then again neither of them ever had to. She moved again, till their thighs pressed together.
He lifted his hand off the top of the couch but paused, "May I?" he asked quietly.
Hailey nodded. Jay brought his hand down to wrap around her but the sling reminded them that would not be so simple. Instead, he gathered her close, gently and so tenderly, his hand falling to wrap around her waist and causing no disturbance to her injured shoulder.
She inhaled, deeply when she felt his hand resting on her waist, so assuredly and comforting. There was only one thing Hailey felt at that moment. Home. It should have startled her, that she would feel so about her partner, but if she were honest, Jay had been more than just her partner for the longest time. Whether it was being wrapped up like they were now on her couch or sitting in his truck during the countless hours of surveillance, Hailey always felt safe and at home with Jay.
"Is this okay?"
She nodded and then throwing caution to the wind, she settled against him, resting her head on his chest. She felt him squeeze her waist, perhaps reassuringly as they both went back to staring at the tv. They weren't watching anymore, but that was okay. They didn't need to say anything more.
For the first time in a very long time, Hailey felt safe, warm and despite her injuries, she felt content. So content, sleep threatened to take her under as the tv blurred before her.
"Hails," Jay whispered. "You can't sleep."
"Not my fault," she grumbled sleepily. She felt so sleepily and at ease. Jay's ministrations earlier had calmed her and the pills took away what lingering pain she had been feeling. "You're very comfy," she murmured and felt Jay chuckled beneath her.
"So it's my fault?"
"Hmm," she mumbled as Jay squeezed her hip again. His other hand found hers, his fingers twisting with hers to hold them gently. "Jay?" she asked and he squeezed her fingers to let her know that he was listening. "Thank you."
"Always, Hailey."
She smiled his heartbeat strong under her ear lulling her further towards sleep. "You make an excellent nurse," she told him.
"And my bedside manner?" he teased.
"Might be one of my favourite things," she confessed.
She was certain sleep was just a few moments away, the movie had long since come to an end and Jay had turned the tv off.
"You should probably go home," Hailey mumbled but even as she said it, she held his hand tightly.
"But I'm already home," Jay told her quite simply.
Hailey moved so she could look at him, her sleepiness temporarily forgotten as she stared at him, waiting, her heart thundering in her chest.
Jay reached for her, cupping her cheek gently as his thumb grazed her slightly flushed skin. "Don't you get it, Hailey? You are home."
He leaned in, tipping her chin up gently as he kissed her. There was no rush, no manic. It was just them and all the love and tenderness they had to share between them. Hailey, sighed, savouring the sweet sensation of Jay's lips against her, warm and firm. It started slow and grew a little more demanding with each turn. But Jay never pushed for more than she was willing to give. He was simply grateful she had not pushed him away. He'd been thinking all night about what his brother had said. As Hailey sighed against his lips, Jay knew he had made the right decision, because there was absolutely no way he was going to let Hailey go.
She was home. She was everything.
He pulled back, both breathing heavily as he ran his fingers through her hair again. He placed one kiss against her lips again and another to her forehead.
They stayed, pressed together for a moment before a cheeky smile found itself on Hailey's lips. He raised a brow in question.
"That's some bedside manner you have, Halstead." She leaned in kissing him again, "definitely one of my favourite things."
Jay chuckled and then readjusted them on the couch. "I think it might be safe to try and get some sleep now."
Hailey chortled, "I don't think I can. Not after … that." She didn't mean to blush but Jay was looking at her with such burning intensity, she couldn't help it.
"I'm not going anywhere, Hailey. Rest now," he assured her.
She nodded, her head falling to his chest once more. One hand still wrapped around her, resting on her hip. His other, found its way into her hair and she felt her eyes droop as he massaged his fingers through the blonde curls.
As her eyes finally closed and sleep was right upon her, Hailey felt Jay pressed a kiss to her hair, his lips lingering there for a moment. The last thing that registered before she fell asleep was that she was home.
Safe and content with Jay.
AN:
Thank you for the continued support to these little one-shots! I am truly humbled. Please leave a little love and review. I do have more planned for this pairing so stay tuned!
Stay Safe!
