This was a request from remiparker and it takes place during 7x12. Hope I didn't disappoint you!
The endless three weeks were finally over.
Three weeks of pain, medications, soups, non-alcoholic beverages, vitamins, bed rest and Hailey's babysitting abilities.
Even though she never opened up again about what she wanted to say at the hospital, his blonde partner never left his side throughout this long ride.
For almost three years now, she thought he had seen every side of Jay. His anger, depression, guilt, anxiety, but never his vulnerability. Though, after the recent events she could cross that out of her list.
Of course Jay always hated that feeling. Feeling vulnerable made him feel week. In this line of job he couldn't afford to be week. Being a ranger demanded discipline and so did being a cop.
Even though Hailey helped him on a daily basis through his three week recovery, she had this magic way of not making him feel like a patient, but a friend.
In times like that he always missed Mouse. A bond that could never be broken connected them.
Even since Mouse enlisted for another tour he had gone rogue. Jay dreaded the day someone would knock on his door to deliver him the sad news. He was used on being on the deliver's side, never on the recipient's.
But he had to shrug all those thoughts now. He was finally back in the field. Back with his teammates.
Even though he felt strong enough to join the undercover operation he didn't trust his body to dive into action just yet. So, when Adam offered to take the offender down, Jay swallowed his pride and silently accepted.
Everything went as planned except for Hailey's sudden request to hold down the arrest.
Everyone was baffled as hell, especially Jay, but one thing he had learned in three years was to always trust his partner. So he did, eyes closed, he did.
"What happened?" a curious Voight approached the back of van where they were the team were sitting.
"My dealer," Rojas simply responded as she took a step back to make room for Hailey.
The blonde detective turned her laptop screen over revealing the truth to Voight.
"One of us," he exclaimed in shock.
"Assigned to Area South Mission Team, TAC." Hailey carried on.
"11-year veteran. Nothing but standard beefs," Jay finished the sentence for his partner.
"And we're sure it's him?" the Sarge asked with a hint of hesitation.
"We went to the Academy together," Hailey replied "He might've asked me out on a date."
Suddenly everyone's eyes landed on her. Everyone's but Jay's who just frowned and stared casually at the concrete floor.
"I might've said no," Hailey smiled awkwardly to shake of their piercing gazes.
A million thoughts were going through Jay's head as he desperately tried to focus on the case and not Hailey's unexpected confession.
"Well, maybe he was just doing what we're doing," Hank tried to give Tyler the benefit of the doubt. "Got our wires crossed. Could've been detailed to DA, Customs."
"We deconflicted before we got here. And now we were going through the list of all the agencies, checked A and A records" Upton quickly destroyed all his doubts.
"There's nothing that suggests he's here in any official capacity," Jay jumped in to back his partner up.
"You're saying he's dirty?" the realization finally hit Voight.
We're saying what we know to be true.
"We have no reason to believe Kelly Tyler was here working today. He was selling heroin," Hailey made the obvious statement.
As everyone walked back to their cars, Jay couldn't help but wonder about Hailey's fling. Was she completely honest about it or was she ashamed to admit that she actually went out with Tyler?
No, she would never lie to him. On the other hand, she might in front of Adam or Voight just to protect her integrity.
Oh, the curiosity was killing him. He had to know. Should he ask her? No! He didn't' want to break her trust by disregarding her statement.
Besides, Tyler surely didn't seem her type. On the other hand, neither did Adam and they secretly dated for months.
The knot in his stomach was growing tighter and tighter. Why did he even care about a potential ex boyfriend? He tried to convince himself that none of that was important but deep down inside him he knew. It wasn't curiosity he was feeling, it was jealousy.
Jay's eyes widened at the realization. No! He unconsciously shook his head. Why would he be jealous of a man he didn't even know? It didn't make sense.
Was it because deep down inside he wished he was in his shoes? He wished he could openly flirt with Hailey without worrying about the repercussions? Without the fear of being rejected? Without having anything to lose?
He wished he was just free to make the choices he wanted.
On the other hand, he was free once; with Erin. Then, she broke his heart into a million pieces and since then, he would see the cracks in everyone. He never openly admitted how much she hurt him. He just put on his "happy" mask and pretended he was too tough to be broken.
Though, Hailey could see right through him since day one. He could never hide from her and that scared him. It was frightening how someone could simply look right into his soul without asking any questions.
Just like that, his jealousy turned into panic. Was there any chance she was aware of his hidden feelings? No! She couldn't. After all, he never spoke about them to anyone. Speaking about them out loud would make them real, and he was too scared to get real.
Once again, he shook his head, took a deep breath and sunk into his little delusional reality where he was just a cop and Hailey was just his partner.