[A/N: A short little write-up in relation to one of 7x15's scenes. There were a few good Upstead crumbs in this episode. I'm excited to see where this apparent 7x16 Upstead-centric episode goes. What do you guys think? I'm hoping for at least a few good moments/talks. Anyway, hope you enjoy this update and thanks for the continued support. I have two ideas for multi-chapter stories again, but they're quite elaborate so I want to make sure I have the time to invest before I delve completely. Hopefully stay tuned soon!]
Jay and Hailey were walking into the ER to talk to their latest person of interest, Travis Butler, when the sight they come across almost takes them back. There was a large group of parents all arguing and berating the others. The two shared a look before Jay realized Brett and Foster were in the middle of the mess, and figured he'd see if they knew what was happening.
"Hey, what's going on?" he asked Brett.
"Victims of the fire were brought here, and so was Travis…" Brett started to say before the parent's fight started to escalate even more.
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF ME!" one started yelling as two fathers got into each other's faces.
"Woah!" Hailey started to say as her and Jay started to try to break them all up. "Police, Hey, Police!"
Hailey tried to get the attention of the one by putting her hands on his shoulder as Jay cornered the other. The guy didn't seem to hear her nor care as he just swiped his hand back and hit her in her throat to keep her away.
"Get off of me!" he yelled back.
That was clearly Hailey's last straw as she touched her throat in shock and then proceeded to roughly grab the guy from the back and then throw him against the wall.
"Police! You need to calm down!" she authoritatively shouted.
Jay turned to notice her original distress and thought about letting go of the guy he was holding down to assist her when he realized she was holding her own. She had the twice-her-size man now completely pinned against the wall. Jay internally breathed a sigh of relief and then told his offender, "Calm down, calm down!"as Hailey repeated it as well.
Jay heard her then say, "Come on, let's go this way." As she started moving who they would later find out to be Travis' father away from the other disgruntled parents. He then made sure they all kept calm and took seats in the waiting room like civilized adults. He shot a quick look Hailey's way to make sure she was alright before conducted his questions to find any leads on the fire that was set. She nodded back to him signaling that she was so he continued on.
A couple minutes later he returned to where Hailey was talking with Mr. Butler along with Brett and Foster. He stared the man down as he walked over, seething inside, still angry at the fact he could have seriously injured Hailey. He knows it's best to just let it go since she is perfectly capable of handling it herself, and she seems to have made peace with the worried father. He whispered in her ear that none of the witnesses had seen Logan flee. Seconds later a doctor emerged to tell them that Travis' surgery went well and that he was stable, so they went in to question him. There wasn't much info to get out of the poor boy, he didn't know much about the drugs or where Logan had went. He had just wanted revenge for his dead girlfriend, something both detectives could relate to all too well. They decided to give the father and son some time alone; leaving slightly dejected knowing the teenager just gave up the next few years of his life and freedom.
They were silent as they made their way back out to Jay's truck, both lost in their own thoughts. Once they reached it and before Hailey could pull on the handle of the passenger door, Jay instinctively placed his thumb on Hailey's chin and his fingers under her jaw before he could stop himself. They both froze for a second at the contact, a mixture of warmth and shock in their eyes as they stared at the other.
"Let me see it." He said softly as he gently tilted her head back.
"I'm okay, Jay." She tried to assure him, not wanting him to make a fuss but secretly thrilled to see his concern.
"I know, but just appease me, alright?" he asked as his fingers lightly drift down her jaw and throat.
He felt her shiver under his touch and tried his hardest to suppress the triumphant grin he had. There was a small, pink spot right in-between her collarbone which may turn into a slight bruise, but overall she seemed fine. After his assessment was done, he let his fingers linger a bit longer, not wanting the loss of contact. She was holding her breath the whole time, the entire scenario much too intimate for her sanity at the moment. When he finally dropped his hand back, she let out a soft sigh. The two continued to stare seconds longer at each other, the air feeling thinner and thinner with the tension getting more and more palpable. Finally it's Hailey who takes a little step back, breaking the moment. She reaches up with her own hand to touch where Jay's just were; knowing if she closed her eyes she could still feel his touch, a pleasant burning remaining.
"See, I told you I'm fine." She manages to whisper out.
"Yeah…" he agrees drifting off.
She gives him a small smile and nod as she opens up the passenger door and starts to get in, officially ending the intimacy. Jay sighs and makes his way over to the driver's side. He starts the engine before he turns to her again.
"I have to say, Hailey, I was impressed by how you handled that guy."
She tries to shrug it off. "Just putting to use all the training we do."
"I don't know it was kind of hot how you had him pinned. I wouldn't mind a woman doing that to me." He gave her one of his flirtatious smiles, the kind he used to use a lot towards the beginning of them starting to open up to the other all those years ago.
She raises her brow at him and smirks back. "Oh yeah? Be careful what you wish for, Halstead!"
"Copy you, Upton!"
They grin at each other as he starts pulling away from the hospital to head back towards the district. They may be walking on egg shells on how to proceed with whatever this was between them, but they could at least have a little fun while they're both too stubborn to figure it out. After all, their things work…
