You asked for it, you got it. An alternative version of the van shooting during 6x22. I know my English is not fluent but thank you all for the positive comments and support! Hope this doesn't let you down.
The first fire shots came out of nowhere. Hailey subconsciously reached for her weapon that was lying on the board at the back of the van.
But it was the second round that caught them completely off guard when bullets started piercing the side of the van.
Jay didn't even have time to reach for his own gun that was still strapped to his waist. With one single move, his body covered Hailey's, his weight forcing her to stay pinned on the floor.
"Get down," he yelled at her holding her tight with both hands.
Even during that whole chaos, he managed to spot the vests that where hanging from the van's door. Without a second thought, he reached with his right hand and grabbed one of them. Without letting go of his partner, he quickly covered her with vest while holding her tightly close to him, using his body as a shield.
He growled in frustration as there was nothing else to do other than stay down and wait for their team to take charge.
The shooting only lasted for ten seconds, but for Jay it felt like eternity. Once they stopped taking fire, Voight's worried voice was heard from a distance.
"Jay, Hailey you're good?"
"We're good we're good," Jay was happy to confirm.
"Do not exit until we get you all clear," Hank warned them.
Halstead was breathing heavily, both hands still wrapped around Hailey's body. He could feel her hot breath on his skin as her head was buried in his neck.
He didn't want to let her go, and she didn't seem to let him go.
"Hey," he gently caressed her cheek with his thumb. "It's over, we're ok"
He could feel his partner's heart pounding on his chest, ready to explode.
Finally, she turned her face up to meet his worried eyes.
They both stared at each other for a few seconds, thankful that once again they had cheated death.
Jay picked himself up and sat on the floor waiting for his team confirmation to exit that damn van, as Upton was still lying with her back to the floor.
That was when Jay noticed the blood on her t-shirt. At the sight of it his eyes widened has he froze in fear.
"Hailey," he whispered slowly picking up his gaze from the blood to her blue eyes.
"What?" she asked, fear evident in her voice.
Jay reached out his hand to touch the blood on Hailey's left side.
"You're shot," he exclaimed in panic as he pulled her blouse up to check on her wound.
To everyone's surprise there was nothing, not even a scratch.
Halstead kept scanning her bare skin with his cold hands in search for any form of injury.
There was none.
"How is this possible," he muttered to himself.
That was when it hit her. Hailey swallowed hard and looked closely to her partner's blue blouse.
"Jay," she whispered with a trembling voice.
Halstead followed her gaze and his eyes landed on the huge blood stain that was forming on his right side.
He placed his hand on it and once he removed it, it was soaking red.
That was when he starting feeling it. That burning sensation eating through his skin. Suddenly, the adrenaline wore off and Jay lost all control of his body. Hailey was there to catch him before his back hit the floor.
"No, no, no" she started panicking. "This is not happening again."
She carefully placed Jay's head on her lap as she quickly took off her jacket and placed it on his wound, trying to stop the bleeding.
With her partner's blood still on her hands she reached for the radio. "50-21 Henry office down, I repeat officer down, we need an ambulance now!"
She didn't even wait for a response, she just dropped the radio on the floor. She turned Jay to his side and once she spotted the exit wounded she sighed in relief. With one hand she was trying to control the bleeding and with the other she was gently cupping Jay's face in order to keep him calm.
"I didn't feel it," Jay said between forced breaths. "I didn't feel it hitting me."
"It's ok," Upton softly caressed his cheek, smearing him with his own blood.
Jay leaned closer to her palm and let himself surrender to her soothing touch. He was telling the truth. He never felt the bullet hit his body. He was too preoccupied trying to protect his partner.
Thankfully, within a couple of minutes the ambulance had arrived. The paramedics dragged Hailey out of the van in order to give them space to work.
Why did they always do that? She knew that she wasn't much of a help but they at least could have let her hold on to his hand. After all, Jay hated paramedics as much as he hated hospitals.
She kept pacing up and down the road in agony, often running her fingers through her hair. There was no evident commotion inside the van so she figured that was a good thing.
Finally, after what it felt like eternity, the two paramedics walked out along with Jay, carefully supporting him.
"Are you ok," she rushed to him.
"Once again I was lucky," he chuckled. "The bullet went right through. I am going to live to fight another day."
"You asshole, you scared me," Hailey punched his shoulder in frustration.
"Ouch," he cried in pain. "Hitting an already wounded man detective? That's what they taught you at the academy?"
Hailey chose not to respond.
All her panic and fear where suddenly turned into rage. The paramedics left Jay rest at the back of the ambulance, as always there was no way in hell he was willingly getting hospitalized, and left the two detectives alone sensing the tension that was building up between them.
Jay wrapped himself with the blanket that they offered him since they had to tear his own blouse, and sighed waiting for the storm to begin. The storm called Hailey Upton is pissed at you!
He could feel her anger, he could see her nervousness, but he could not figure out what he had done wrong. He was just shot. Big deal. That could happen to anyone.
Finally, Hailey approached him just glaring right into his eyes.
Halstead lowered his head like a scolded puppy but never taking his eyes away from hers.
"I can tell that you are pissed at me, but I wish I knew why," he awkwardly smiled.
"Really?" Hailey squinted her eyes placing both hand on her waist. "Why did you do that?"
"Do what?" Jay raised his shoulders confused.
"Get shot," Upton snapped at him.
"Well it's not like I chose to get shot. We were under fire, we couldn't fight back, I got shot, I am ok now, end of the story," Jay desperately tried to make sense of her attack.
"You still have no idea, do you?" Hailey shook her head in disappointment.
"Honestly, no!" Halstead cried in surrender. "Look, whatever I did or you think I did, I am sorry. Can you please tell me what it was so as not to provoke you again?"
"You let your guard down" she snapped at him. "Not only did you cover ME with the vest, you just had to be a vest too. You let yourself unprotected and it resulted in you getting shot."
"Hailey," his voiced softened. "You are my partner, it is my job to protect you."
Oh, she wanted to slap him in his pretty face. How could he be so arrogant? What about her job? Wasn't she supposed to protect him?
Upton took a step closer to him closing the gap that was separating them. "Not if that means risking losing you."
"Hailey, I am fine."
"This time. What about the next time you try and be a hero. We are partners. We are equals. We keep each other safe. It is not one sided, ok?"
Jay simply nodded. His hand was resting on his wounded side but he could not feel any pain. He could only see the pain in Hailey's eyes.
She slowly walked towards the ambulance and sat right next to him, her bare upper arm making contact with his.
"This is the second time I have your blood in my hands, "she looked down on her red palms. "I don't want to feel that way again Jay. Promise me that you will never do anything foolish like this again. Promise me you will never get yourself killed".
Her blue eyes were piercing his green, forcing for an answer.
Jay reached to swipe the single tear that was streaming down her cheek. He could understand her pain and agony because it was exactly what he was feeling.
He never saw that bullet coming. But even if he had, he would still jump in front of it if that meant saving Hailey. He could lie to Hailey but he couldn't lie to himself. He would give his life for her.
So there he was. Having to make a promise he knew he wouldn't be able to keep. So, he softly squeezed her hand and nodded closing his eyes. He never verbally promised anything, so technically it didn't count as a lie.
At least now he knew. If he had to give his life for someone, it would be for Hailey.