"Halstead."

Jay's sleepy voice pierced the haze of her sleep and Hailey moved slowly, tucking her arms under the pillow.

"Yeah. Yeah, Kev. Half an hour, yes. Send me the address." He muttered moving behind her.

Hailey rolled over to meet Jay on the other side of the bed and ran an arm over his stomach.

"Sorry, I woke you up."

"You're not getting up, are you?" Hailey sighed softly as she tucked her head into the crease of his neck and left a quick kiss.

"I have to."

Hailey moaned again, sinking a little deeper into him as he wrapped his arms around her back. Her weight was all over him now, but Jay doesn't seem to recognize it as he stroked her naked back silently.

Hailey sighed again with her eyes closed and her lips pressed against his throat.

"It's not right."

Jay chuckled beneath her causing her to move at the movement of his chest, before letting a quick kiss in her hair and untangling their legs.

Hailey whimpered again, the absence of his warm skin against her made her eyes narrow in indignation and she stretched out trying to grab at least one of his arms. But her fingers only tightened the air and she moaned in defeat.

Jay's hoarse laugh coming from the other side of the room made her snort and sink into his pillow.

"C'mon, don't go. It's Sunday, you don't have to go."

"I have to go, Hailey. Someone once told me that crime never stops."

"Someone stupid." She blurted out, making Jay laugh.

She saw his shadow against the bedroom door as he was pulling on his jeans and she sighed in defeat knowing that he was really leaving.

"I'm still naked in your bed."

"I know and you're making it incredibly difficult for me to get out of here."

The mattress slowly lowered and she felt his hand in her hair, while the other one slowly ran along the line of her spine.

Hailey hummed lazily for a few seconds, "You have to suffer getting out of here, it's right."

"This is just cruel." Jay chuckled as he kissed her bare shoulder before moving towards her neck. Hailey rolled over onto her back and pulled him by his shoulders until he rolled over her and giggled.

"Uh, Hailey." Jay warned her.

"You have to go. But…"

"You are naked in my bed, I know."

Jay sighed dramatically as he slipped over her. Hailey lazily entwined her arms around his neck closing her eyes again.

His lips slid down her neck to her collarbone, several times, and she shivered happily under his breath. Jay had to have had a weakness for her collarbone, it was probably one of his favorite spots, judging by the attention he had paid it too many times already.

"Okay, you have to go. But I'll continue to be naked in your bed."

Hailey reluctantly pushed him away - immediately missing his skin - and rolled into his sheets.

"I hate you."

She smiled with her eyes closed, "Not true."

"No, it's not true. I'll call you later, now just sleep."

Jay gave her a quick kiss before leaving the bedroom and Hailey slipped into sleep within seconds.

...

The second time she opened her eyes, a thunder made her jump violently and it took her a few seconds to figure out where she was.

Memories of the previous night overwhelmed her and she realized she hadn't really paid attention to his bedroom - to the whole apartment, if she had to be honest.

She stretched lazily before getting up and putting on her underwear and the first shirt she could find on the floor.

The apartment was quiet and incredibly tidy.

She went into the bathroom washing her face quickly before continuing the exploration of his apartment.

The short corridor opened onto a large, colorful living room and she had vague memories of the previous night. She remembered that the blanket that was now neatly folded over the arm of the sofa had ended up on the floor and the two blue cushions, now stacked on the other side of the sofa, had been randomly thrown behind their backs.

Unlike her place, in Jay's, nothing seemed out of place, all simple and reduced to the essentials.

Hailey slipped into the kitchen noticing a post-it in the center of the table and she laughed amused as she recognized his hurried handwriting. Even in the rush, he could be tidy, she noticed annoyed.

That Jay liked being tidy and that this was also reflected in his handwriting was clear to her the first second she sat down at his desk when she went to Intelligence.

'There is a key in the Scottish mug, feel free to leave. But if you want to stay in my bed, I won't mind. J.'

Hailey laughed again shaking her head and going to find the famous Scottish mug.

Jay had to have some passion for mugs, she noted amused as she opened the window cabinet next to the fridge. This contained at least ten different mugs - from colorful checkered ones to typical souvenir shop ones. New York, Seattle and Los Angeles, 'The best brother in the world', 'My brother is a cop'. And Hailey had no doubts who gave him the last two. He reached up to be on tiptoe to find the Scottish mug, the last one at the bottom of the cabinet, and pulled out a key, as he had promised.

She turned it over in her hands for a few seconds as the options of what to do that day ran through her mind.

She was supposed to work, study some documents she had on her laptop. But it was pouring and her laptop was in her bag in his living room. The idea of driving in the flood to get home didn't make her crazy, so she could just curl up on his couch and work until his return.

She left the key on the same post-it on the table and quickly made a coffee. Before she could really realize the ease of everything she was doing, she was curled up on the couch with a sweatshirt and the blanket spread across her legs.

Her laptop was open over her lap and the idea of her being in Jay's home, without him, left her strangely calm - as if it wasn't such a strange thing.

The day passed slowly and it was only in the early afternoon that Hailey got up and stretched. Outside it continued to rain incessantly and from time to time lightning lit up the living room. She plugged in the laptop charger before looking for something edible in the fridge. She started warming a soup and, while she waited for it to be ready, she looked around the living room.

Despite the sparse furniture, the shelves of the wooden cabinet were littered with frames and Jay's entire life unfolded before her eyes in seconds.

With the soft light from the lamp on the cabinet, she could see Jay over the years, him with the rest of the Intelligence, with some friends, with Will, in the soldier's uniform and with those who, Hailey imagined, were his parents.

Her gaze slid over them and she couldn't help but see Jay's same good smile on her mom's face while his eyes were his dad's. Will was the proud owner of a mop of red hair and Jay was so full of freckles that he made her smile stupidly.

Hailey took the soup realizing they had never talked about their families, and she was secretly happy about it. She didn't want to open the box of worms about her past, it was something she wasn't ready for - maybe she would never be ready for. And delaying that moment, the moment when she should lie to Jay, just seemed the most reasonable thing. She didn't really want to lie to him, but she didn't even know how to face the truth she didn't want to tell.

She shook her head, letting those thoughts drift into a remote part of her brain as she quickly finished her soup and curled up on the couch again.

The rain seemed to have no intention of stopping and she was really unwilling to go back to her place. There it was warm, comfortable and quiet and so, so much Jay everywhere.

And she took in all those things to be able to focus better on her documents.

She looked up from the laptop only at the sound of the keys turning in the lock. She looked around quickly and for the first time nervous. She had been there all day, without him, and only then did she realize how pushy she could be in that situation.

She saw Jay hanging his coat behind the door and brushing his hair from the rain before looking up to see her.

He smiled slowly, crossing his arms across the chest. A flash of surprise flashed on his face and she was pleasantly surprised. Being able to take Jay by surprise was something that always amused her.

"You're still here."

"Do you mind?"

Hailey immediately retorted closing the laptop and placing it on the coffee table. His quiet expression silenced the nervousness that had vibrated inside her until a moment before.

"Not at all."

Jay slid his gun over her laptop before sitting down beside her. Reaching his arms above his head with a long yawn, she took the opportunity to curl up against him.

"How did it go today then? Have you fought crime?"

"Eh, someone has to do it."

Jay sighed dramatically as he brushed his wet hair again and made her wrinkle her nose in amusement.

"You look like a wet dog!"

"I'm sorry if it's raining outside!" He poked her shoulder in feigning offense, "We're not all lucky enough to be able to stay under the blanket all day."

"Yes, whatever."

Hailey gave him a quick kiss on the neck before moving deeper against his body. His badge, still clipped to his belt, dug into her side but she seemed to pay no attention to it.

As she moved, the blanket she still had on fell to the side showing one of her legs.

Jay let his gaze slide down her bare skin before returning to her eyes. He smiled slowly with an expression, again, pleasantly surprised.

"No pants?"

She shrugged before his arm crushed her against him, "I hate having pants on under the blanket."

"Gosh." He muttered under his breath as his hand moved down her side until it lightly gripped her bare thigh, "If I ever complain about coming home and finding you on my couch without pants, please take my gun and shoot me."

"I'll remember it."

Hailey hid her pounding heart behind a laughter because, really, she didn't think she would ever get used to his gaze.

Jay shifted her legs on his lap before reclining his head on the couch and releasing a long sigh. Hailey watched at him, eyes closed and breathing heavy.

It was still new to them - this contact, almost a real physical need to touch each other - but she found it truly amazing. Jay had always been unexpected, he had come when she expected nothing from her life and, in his own way, he had managed to make her think again about herself and what she wanted.

Jay let his hand wander along her thigh in a slow caress, "What did you do today? Did you dig into my drawers to discover all my secrets?"

"No, I worked a little." Hailey laughed out loud shaking her head.

"Well, I have no secrets."

"Everyone has secrets."

He snorted, moving her hair over her other shoulder, "Catastrophic."

Hailey sank slightly against him, thrusting her face into his neck. And, again, she felt this jolt of excitement realizing how comfortable she felt about being there - his living room, the storm outside, the dim light and Jay all around her. It was just something that felt perfectly right to be like this.

"Hey, I need a shower."

"One more minute." She hummed cheerfully as she squeezed her arm over his stomach and lifted her face towards him starting to slowly kiss his neck.

Jay laughed beneath her and his laugh vibrated against her pleasantly.

"Hailey. I stink."

"You don't stink. Just a minute."

"You're weird."

Hailey snorted a laugh against his neck and he chuckled again before shaking her off and letting her slide to the other side of the couch.

"The sooner I shower, the sooner I come back. Anyway, that's my sweatshirt."

Hailey shrugged indifferently, "Not anymore."

Jay was already in the bathroom when his head popped out the door, "What do you want for dinner?"

Hailey diverted attention to the blanket and began to fold it before slowly replying to him.

"Uhm, I should actually go home."

She knew she had to go home, she knew it well. But the idea of getting up and leaving just seemed crazy and she realized the truth was that she didn't want to leave. She just wanted to prolong that moment for as long as possible.

Jay had to have her same idea, because he emerged from the bathroom again and walked quickly over to her.

"No, stay. Stay, c'mon. Let's make up for this day!"

Hailey nodded thoughtfully before turning away from him, arranging the couch cushions, "I think I can agree with you, yeah."

Jay walked away humming and Hailey saw him close the bathroom door behind her.

Well, maybe she could get used to all of that after all.

...

"Hey, you didn't have to cook."

Jay surprised her by giving her a quick kiss on the back of her head before reaching over her shoulder to grab two glasses and place them on the table she was setting.

"I made my secret recipe. An incredibly difficult one."

"What is it?"

"Mac and Cheese, obviously."

Jay laughed out loud. His hair was still damp and without gel was incredibly curly and she couldn't help but immediately remember a photo of a young Jay with his family.

Hailey watched him for a few seconds as he was eating. He was tired and silent and she could see the signs of his tiredness all over on his face.

But he was even more serene. He had started going to therapy for a few weeks and although the first appointments left him angry and impatient, day after day Hailey began to see some positive signs in him. Not every encounter left him excited, but she knew how those things worked and she knew how not to push him. And he seemed to appreciate it.

But the first big improvement, Hailey only saw the first night they really spent together.

She had figured there was something about sleeping together that he was worried about and she was pretty sure it was something related to having nightmares.

'What if I scare you?'

She still remembered so well the night when despair was sucking him in and she had spent all night sitting next to him in her bed.

Jay had refused to sleep. Despite being exhausted, he had done everything he could to never close his eyes. And when she had asked him why, he had repeated those words that still continue to break her heart.

'I don't want to scare you, Hailey.'

Now, however, when she fell asleep next to him and woke up during the night, she heard his slow and relaxed breath beside her and listened to it for minutes - to listen to him, to his serenity and just trying to imprint it in her memory.

She closed her eyes and when she blinked, she was back in his kitchen, she was still wearing his sweatshirt and he still had wet hair. And he was still calm and handsome in front of her - and not for the first time, Hailey realized the depth of her feelings for him.

"So…today I looked at the photos you have in the living room..."

He nodded and chewed.

"And I was wondering..."

"Oh no, dangerous."

Hailey snorted giving him a dirty look, before continuing, "I haven't seen any girl..."

He frowned, "Do you have photos with your ex?"

"No, clearly not."

"And what makes you think I might have them?"

She shrugged, concentrating on the plate in front of her, as he burst into a light laugh. "What is the real question here?"

"I was wondering, Detective, something about the women of your past. Something spicy."

Hailey kicked on her Detective's word by crossing her arms across the chest.

"Something spicy." He repeated reasoning, "Okay well, I've been married."

He dropped it into the silence of the kitchen and her fork fell into her plate making a thud.

Jay stared at her seriously for a second before laughing nervously, "In Las Vegas, like twelve years ago. A thing, you know, nothing serious, I guess. I wasn't in my best place, yeah."

Jay shrugged as Hailey continued to stare at him.

"Have you been married? Seriously?"

Her astonishment seemed to hit something in him and Jay stepped slightly away from the table and stiffened in his chair.

"Hey, you've been married. It happens." Hailey smiled as she reached out on the table waiting for him to recognize her gesture. Jay looked at her, evidently weighing her intentions, before sliding his hand toward hers and raising an eyebrow.

"It happens?"

She wrinkled her nose in a light laugh, "Whatever. And how did it end?"

"Ah, I thought we were divorced two days after the wedding. But she showed up here last year telling me it wasn't like that. It wasn't a good time." Jay laughed slightly shaking his head, "After that we got really divorced, though."

Hailey burst out laughing, "So you've been married for years without knowing it?"

"Yes, thanks for laughing at me." Jay slapped her hand and she paused to watch his carefree smile.

He was always so reserved about his past, so protected - like her, after all. And maybe that was the reason she could be so empathetic with him. They both had so many demons - too many demons - but every time he opened up a little to her, Hailey was enchanted.

"This was spicy, I admit."

He snorted another laugh and her heart skipped a few beats.

...

Hailey crossed her arms leaning against the counter as Jay finished drying the last two dishes. They had washed and dried everything in silence - a comfortable silence.

"You're staring." He snapped two fingers in front of her face awakening her from her thoughts.

"You're curly."

He shrugged indifferently, "Eh, so it seems."

Hailey put her hands on the counter behind her, "It's pretty cute."

"Uh, okay?"

Hailey laughed shaking her head before reaching out and running a hand through his hair, "I'm serious. And that photo, over there, as a kid you really had a lot of curls!"

He hit her with the rag and rolled his eyes before bending over her. When Hailey tied her arms around his neck, he lifted her to sit on the counter.

"Ah, I can finally see your eyes."

Jay mimicked their height difference and she hit his chest in feigning offense.

"You, smart ass."

He chuckled again and she closed her eyes at the feel of his hands sliding over her legs still bare.

She really didn't know if she would ever get used to the calm that surrounded him. She wasn't ready to talk about herself, but she knew that if she succeeded sooner or later, she would do it with him. There was just something in his eyes, something good, that she couldn't get used to - it was a calm that slipped inside her, silencing her thoughts.

"At least I'm not a red head like Will."

Hailey slipped her hands under his shirt and stroked the skin of his back, "I like guys with red hair."

"Okay, no. This is too much."

Jay sighed dramatically as he squeezed her thigh lightly and Hailey laughed crossing her legs behind his back and sliding against him.

She tied her arms behind his neck dragging him against her body until her lips smashed into his and hummed happily as she felt her hands go up her thighs to her back.

Hailey slipped her hands under his t-shirt again and then pulled it over his head and dropped it at their feet.

Her hands slowly moved up to his chest and she sighed at the feel of his warm skin - Jay always had warm skin. She remembered how, the first time they went out together, his hand was hot around her under the snow.

She slowly touched the scar on his throat and, as she had imagined, he tensed slightly at her movement. When she looked up at him and met his eyes, Jay had tilted his head to one side with the shadow of a smile on his lips.

"We'll talk about it. Just…not tonight, okay?"

His voice was low and vulnerable and she kissed him again, just to silence that voice in her head - the same voice that kept reminding her of the extent of her feelings for him.

Jay slowly melted around her while his hand got stuck in her hair and the other slipped back under his sweatshirt to lightly go up her spine.

Hailey sighed against his lips, savoring every second of that slow and calm kiss - as if they have all the time in the world.

"So..." She whispered with one hand stroking his hair, "In your post-it it was written that today I could stay in bed..."

Hailey smiled tilting her head and he seemed to grab her message immediately.

"Sounds like a good plan to me."

His hands slid under her ass and she hid a laugh against his neck as he lifted her and dragged her into the bedroom.

Just like they had all the time in the world.

Aaaaaand thank you all, again! And, again, thanks to one-cpd, just for being what she's.

This one was...difficult to write. I woke up one morning and looking around, I wondered what the point was. Working on it, thinking, writing these stories. I didn't find a satisfying answer right away and just needed a few days - a few days for me to figure out what was going on and if I really wanted to come back here. And now I'm here.

And I hope to hear from you soon :) H.