[A/N: A brief glimpse of some Hailey thoughts after the 6X17 episode. Sorry for the shorter chapter, but they really didn't give much Upstead to work with in this latest episode, unfortunately. Hopefully the final episodes of this season bring great things! Thanks so much for following along & continuing to read, much appreciated!]


Jay and Hailey were sitting around her kitchen table, empty take-out containers strewn about, and glasses with tequila on the rocks in hand. It had been another long day and another crazy and emotional case, especially for Voight.

"You wanted to punch Williard today, didn't you?" Hailey asks.

"Only as much as you did!" he replies as they smile and nod at each other.

She thinks back to hours before when they were listening in to Voight trying to talk Darius down. They were standing right by Williard when they found out the person he really was. Another corrupt asshole who was supposed to protect those troubled kids, but instead sold them out for his benefit. She and Jay just looked at each other after Williard half-assed tried to explain. The look was all it took, as usual; they both could read what the other was thinking. It was a tough situation to hear and witness, but she was glad to have Jay next to her during it. As much as they both wanted to kill him, they knew they had to stay in the boundaries. It made her think that if Adam was there, he may not have controlled his anger and did something rash and stupid; reminding her again of which guy she was always more on the same page with. Not that it matters because apparently she's too stubborn to do anything or figure things out.

"At least he'll be behind bars for a long time now… maybe he'll get a taste of his own medicine like all the kids he sold out did!" Jay says.

"Let's hope so… for Darius' sake, and every other boy he screwed over from getting a real shot to reform themselves, and for Voight…" she says, shaking her head and taking another sip of her drink.

"Voight, man. You were right, guy can't catch a break. Not that a lot of us have had an easy go of things working this job, but still."

"Yea, I wish there was something we could do for him. At least he has Adam I guess, attempting to fill Al's shoes…" she says slightly bitterly.

"I'm sensing some resentment there… you still don't want to talk about it?" he asks.

"No, what's to talk about? Adam's Adam… he's always been more off the rails than us. He idolized Voight and Al. Besides, it's not something you and I should be discussing anyway."

"What do you mean? You can talk to me about anything, Hailey, you know that!"

"I know, but, not this… it's awkward…"

He purses his lips at her and nods his head, understanding what she means. He wants to ask her to expand upon those thoughts, but he holds back… for which she is completely grateful. She can't discuss her relationship, or whatever it is, with Adam, with him. For one, she practically burst into tears when Jay found out about it and she had to confess… and for two, she can't stand how he looks anytime the subject of her and Adam comes up, she swears Jay looks heartbroken; and whether it's wishful thinking or not, she can't handle seeing him like that. She wonders for the millionth time this year how she got herself into this whole mess. It's what she deserves for running from her true feelings…

"Hailey, I just want to let you know that whenever you're ready… to talk… I'll be here. I'll always be here for you!"

He says it with such emotion that she knows there must be a double meaning behind it. She's not ready to handle it right now though. She has to get the Adam situation in order first. Then all cut ties have to be clean. And then, she has to allow herself to stop running and let in all the emotions she's been trying to avoid dealing with. And this is if everything goes perfectly… which has yet to be shown to exist working in Intelligence or her shitshow of a life in general. Things could and should be so much simpler if it wasn't for her stubbornness and fears… but, that's life in a nutshell. For tonight, she's just glad her partner is the most understanding person she's ever met.

She reaches her hand across the table and softly puts it over his, allowing this one brief and revealing glimpse.

"I know, Jay, I know… I'll always be here for you too… no matter what or who else comes along!"

They stare at each other and smile softly, knowing full well that one day they both need to talk… whether it comes sooner or later, it's bound to happen at some point…