Once again thank you all so much for your support and touching reviews. I really hope everyone is ok in this difficult time and you are all staying safe. My thoughts are to you all!

24 hours.

It had been 24 hours since she'd last spoken to her partner. That was the longest they had been apart. Summer vacation, Christmas Holidays, personal days off work... nothing could ever keep them apart for long. Even when he was at the hospital after getting shot, she never left his side.

Even though Voight had always been a father figure to her, she couldn't help but resent his choice. All she ever did was follow his footsteps. Try to protect those she loves. Make him proud.

For the past 24 hours she had been trying to pinpoint the exact moment where she went too far. Was is Gael? Was it Darius? Or was it Angela?

No one ever found out about her encounter with Angela after she was released from the hospital. Jay almost died because of her and she was not willing to let his future in the force depend on her good will.

So, one night she paid her a little visit. There was no yelling involved. She just made it crystal clear that if she even dared to think about betraying Jay, she would destroy her life and never see her son again. She never felt sorry for her or the kid. All that mattered, was keeping her partner safe.

So, there she was now, sitting all alone in a cold hotel room in New York.

She always dreamed about visiting NY, just not this way.

Her bucket list included visiting the MET Museum. Attending a theater show on Broadway. Pay her respects at Ground Zero. Go on top of the Empire State Building. But none of that mattered right now. All those things that once made her happy now seemed unimportant. She would settle for the simplest enjoy such as hearing Jay's voice.

She checked her watch and debated whether or not to call him. He was clearly worried about her since he had left about tem messages already.

She missed him so much yet, she couldn't bring herself to press the call button. Hearing his soothing voice would make her realize how much she missed home. No, she needed to be strong. She needed to be professional and get this over with.

So, she settled for a simple text.

"Goodnight partner! Sorry to break it to you, but NY seems pretty cool. I might consider moving here. "

The moment she pressed the Send button she regretted her subtle joke. How could she forget that Erin left him for NY?No explanation, no goodbyes, she simply emptied her apartment and left. She never understand why she did that to him. Why break him down like that? Yes, we hurt the ones we love, but that was plain brutal.

"Don't worry, I was just joking. I'd never leave you. We're good together, remember?"

She meant every word of that sentence. She would never willingly leave him. She trusted Jay from the very first minute she laid eyes on him.

She closed the curtains of her room and laid back on the bed. She was so tired that she didn't even take off her clothes before crushing. Just her shoes.

As much as she hated to admit, hanging out with OA turned out to be fan. He seemed like a descend guy who had awfully a lot in common with Jay.

Both served as Rangers in the army. Both driven by their instincts. Both quite charming. There was no denying it, OA was a handsome man and any other day she would consider flirting with him.

Oh God, she rubbed her eyes. She had a type in men!

No, that was not true. Yes, she might flirt with guys like OA but that didn't mean she was in for a serious relationship. Just like Adam. All there was, was just meaningless sex.

She had forgotten when was the last time she had sex. She could be out there, hitting New York's night clubs for a one night stand, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.

As stupid as it sounded, she felt like she'd be cheating on let out a deep sigh trying to shake those thoughts away. He wasn't her boyfriend. He was her partner, her best friend. Friend without benefits, so she was allowed to sleep with other men.

She shook her head and smiled. She knew deep down inside that there was no other man that would make her feel the way he did. Her cheeks flushed every time he looked at her with those piercing blue eyes. Her heart beat accelerated every time he touched her. A smile formed on her lips every time he texted her.

Had she ever thought about sleeping with him? Of course she had. Countless nights she restrained herself from knocking on his door for a simple one night stand.

She often had vivid dreams of his warm lips claiming hers. His rough hands exploring her naked body. His hot breath against her bare skin.

But she knew deep down inside that it wouldn't be just a one night stand. Both she and Jay would want more and she wasn't sure whether they were ready for it.

So, the best she could do was lie and bury her feelings from anyone around her. Even if Jay could always see right through her, she had mastered the art of concealing her love.

Would she ever find the courage to come out? She didn't know. Jay and herself were two different sides of the same coin.

She had enough traumatic experiences of her own, she didn't know if she could handle his as well. He was driven by his heart, she was drive, by her mind. He played by the book, she played dirty. He wanted to save all innocents, she wanted to destroy all guilty. He loved people too easily, she loved her job.

She kept on trying too hard to convince herself that they were not a good match, but all her doubts disappeared once she got a text back from him.

"Miss you partner. They better treat you well or else I am coming over."

And there it was, the power he had all over her. A simple message from him and her whole face glowed.

She licked her lips and placed her phone close to her heart.

Shit, shemuttered.

It looked like she was driven by her heart too. She couldn't lie to herself anymore. She didn't just love him, she was in love with him.

She slowly closed her eyes with the phone still in hands.

One down, 13 more days to go, she whispered to herself and drifted away with Jay in mind.