Once again, you support and kind words are simply touching.S8 is a long way from now and I have decided to let the Upstead fire burn - at least for the next couple of chapters. I hope you all enjoy this.
Stay safe everyone and we will soon return to our lives!
Quarrantine!
God, he hated that word and all the correlations that came along with it.
Last time the city was on quarantine, Hailey spent most of her time at the hospital.
At least now, all they were asked to do was just stay at home until further notice.
The timing couldn't be worse. Just when Hailey got back, COVID-19 happened. It seemed like the Universe was trying really hard to keep them apart.
Of course he understood the gravity of the situation and Will kept him posted on a daily basis about what was going on at the hospital. He was worried about his brother but unfortunately there was nothing he could do to help.
Day 1 was nearly over. His mind was going crazy by not doing anything. He swept the apartment clean – his mother would have been so proud. He threw away all the garbage, did all his laundry, organized alphabetically his movie collection, organized his clothes by color and just as he was about to water his plants, he realized he didn't have any. What wouldn't he give to do some gardening right now. Well, do anything in fact.
The sun was set and he could hear the chilling wing howling outside his window. Suddenly, a few lightings lit up the sky forshadowing a big storm.
Movie weather, he thought and started browsing through his blu-rays.
Before he could make up his mind, his phone rang. To his surprise, it was Hailey. He silently wished she was calling to tell him they had a case but he instantly regrettedit. A case would equal one or more death bodies. No, he surely didn't want that.
"Hey partner," he answered the phone.
"Hey," Hailey hesitantly answered back. "Listen, I was thinking about this whole quarantine thing, well Vanessa and I actually, and we thought you could spend it with us. You know, at our house."
"Emmm," Jay lost his words for a second since that was the last thing he expected. "I don't know if that is a good idea. I mean, this thing could go on for weeks. Are you sure you can handle me for such a long time?"
"Yes," Hailey laughed. "Look, the house is big enough, we have 2.5 bathrooms and you'll sleep on the couch. Come on, I bet you are going crazy staying at home."
"I am not," Jay said in the high pitched voice that was evident he was lying.
"Oh no? Send me a photo of your house."
"Why?"
"Because I know or a fact that by now you' ll have everything cleaned and organized by name, color and size. If I am wrong I'll leave you alone, but if I am right, you are getting your ass right here and now."
Jay took a look around his house and hated the fact that she knew him that well.
"Well?" she kept teasing him.
"Fine," Jay let out a sigh of defeat. "My ass and I will be there in an hour."
"See you soon partner," Hailey laughed all too excited and hang up the phone.
Hailey, Vanessa and him in the same house for who knows how long. That would be a first.
He quickly packed a duffle bag, trying not to over think the situation and soon hit the road.
Punctual as usual, he was knocking at their door an hour later.
"Hey roomy," Hailey answered the door wearing black sweat pants and an oversized grey t-shirt. Her hair, gathered up in a messy pony tail.
"Hey," Jay slowly walked in as a deafening thunder made them both jump.
"Wow, it looks like it is going to be one hell of a storm," Hailey remarked as she closed the door behind them.
"Where can I leave this?" Jay pointed at his duffle bag.
"I am going to sleep with Vanessa in her room so you can have mine."
"No," Jay shook his head. "The deal was for me to sleep on the couch. I am not putting you out of your own room."
"It's fine. She has a king size bed after all."
"No," he shook his head again. "It's either the couch or I am going back home."
Hailey frowned her eyebrows and bit her gums. "Fine you spoiled little brat, you can have the couch."
Jay smiled in victory and walked towards the living room. He kind of missed Hailey's old house and the drinks they used to share in her kitchen.
He avoided visiting her after she and Vanessa moved to this house. He didn't want the new Detective to get the wrong impression about them.
As he walked past the stairs he couldn't help but notice the three photos at display. Those weren't there the last time he visited. But there it was now. In a big red frame, a photo of them and Ruzek.
He smiled subtly and moved towards the living room.
"As you remember, there are two master bathrooms upstairs and a wc downstairs. You can use my bathroom when you want to takeshower," she diverted her look to the upstairs floor.
"Where is Vanessa?" Jay asked looking around and crashed on the couch.
"She went over to visit a friend," Hailey replied and sat on the armchair opposite to him.
"At this hour?" he asked in curiosity.
"Yeah, you see he is THAT kind of a friend. She might not even come back tonight."
"Oh," Jay exclaimed in surprise. "So we are home alone, the two of us," he said with a wicked smile.
Hailey smiled back and bit her lip. "It seems so."
They stared into each other's eyes for a few seconds until they were interrupted by a knock at the door.
"Are you expecting someone?" Jay asked secretly hoping that she hadn't invited anyone else.
Hailey got up and walked towards the door. "It's just pizza. I figured, since we can't go out and get that pizza you promised me, we can eat it here."
Jay smiled in relief and walked towards the kitchen. This was just two partners hanging out. Why was he worried about someone else crashing their sleep over? Did he secretly have other expectations? After all she was the one to invite him and Vanessa was conveniently not at home.
He shook his head in denial. He was reading too much out of it.
Hailey walked into the kitchen, pizzas in hands. Jay opened the cupboard and took out two plates. He didn't even have to ask. In a weird way, he knew exactly where to look.
He couldn't explain why, but he felt like he was home. His home. Standing in that kitchen with Hailey by his side felt all too familiar. It felt right, like he was meant to be there. It was a unique feeling for Jay, someone who never felt he belonged anywhere. He could get used to that feeling.
Soon, they were both sitting side by side on the couch, sharing the same blanket, eating pizza, drinking beer and watching for the 100th time Lethal Weapon.
Jay wished he could freeze time at that moment, because it was the first time in a long time that he actually felt happy. Did it have to do with the moment or the person he was sharing it with?
Who was he kidding? Of course it had to do with her. Her scent was familiar and calming and the warmth of her body was sinking into him.
He wanted to place his arm around her and draw her closer, but he knew that they were not there yet.
At some point, Hailey joked about how much in common they had with the characters in the movie.
"You are so Murtaugh and I am Riggs," she laughed hysterically.
"What?" Jay squinted his eyes. "No, I am Riggs. I am the cool, rugged, handsome YOUNG guy."
"No, no, no," Hailey carried on teasing. "You are sooo Murtaugh. Always playing by the book, neat freak not to mention that you have this whole 'dad' vibe. You are always such a dad around kids. Me? I am the loose cannon. Breaking the rules and not caring about the consequences. I think that the latest events are a glorified proof. That, and the fact that I also have blue eyes and great hair."
Jay tried to smile but failed. He had been wanting to ask for so long but wondered if that was the right time.
Finally, he swallowed hard and went for it.
"Do you regret it?" he asked in an almost inaudible voice.
Hailey turned around to look at him. "Regret what?"
"Your actions. The ones that led you to New York."
The petit Detective let out a deep sigh. They were having so much fun. Why did he have to poke her like that?
She diverted her look back on the Tv and responded bluntly. "No!"
Jay closed his eyes in disappointment and also turned his head towards the Tv. How could she not feel any regret? A man was dead because of her. Surely, he was guilty as hell but her actions led to his brutal demise. And then, she had to tamper with evidence to force an arrest.
Silent tension started to fill the atmosphere. Both of them could feel it. Both of them desperately avoiding to discuss it.
Finally, Jay was the one to break the awkward silence.
"You know Voight won't tolerate any more instabilities."
"Instabilities?" Hailey raised her voice and looked at him in anger. "I only did what HE would have done."
"Hailey," he looked straight into her eyes, his voice almost like a plea. "Voight is Voight. He can get out of any mess. You can't! I can't! No one of us can! Too many people have been after our unit. Do you want to be the reason they shut us down? And forget about the unit. This isn't you. The Hailey I know wouldn't want blood on her hands."
The blonde Detective stood up in anger.
"You know Jay, whether you like it or not, this is me. This has always been me. You just couldn't see it."
"Oh I see you," he leaned his body forward. "I could always see you. You are a good person and a good detective. If you carry on with this attitude they will come after you. Trust me, I've seen this before."
"Well Jay, I am not Erin," she snapped back, her voice as cold as ice. "I am not another defenseless woman you can save. "
"That's not fair," he shook his head deeply hurt by her words.
"I don't need saving. I have been saving myself ever since I was a kid. I didn't have a knight in shining armor to swoop me away. I only had myself. I do what I have to do to get things done."
"I am trying to save you?" Jay stood up in frustration. "You were the one always pushing me to go to therapy and work my shit out. You were the one always telling me that I get to close to cases. You were the one to agree to take me off my father's case. And you have the nerve to tell me that I am the one trying to save you?"
"I did what I had to do to protect you. You get too emotional. Our job is to catch the criminals, not pamper the victims. I would rather have a murderer's or a dealer's blood on my hands than yours," she pointed her finger right to his still healing shoulder wound.
"This is exactly what I am saying," he raised his hand anger. "I am not trying to save you, I am trying to protect you. "
"Protect me from what? Losing my job?" Hailey smiled ironically. "I'll get a new one. I am sure the FBI will welcome me back. Or is this your abandonment issues talking? You think I am going to pull an Erin and walk away? Erase you from my life forever? Are you really trying to protect ME, or yourself?"
"That's not fair," Jay whispered clearly hurt by her words.
That was a hit below the belt. He never expected such a brutal attack coming from her.
"What's not fair is the fact that Erin screwed you so much, that you are not even trying anymore. You wake up, you come to work and that's about it. You are incapable of emotionally committing to anyone. No matter how hard you try to hide it, you are hollow inside."
Her blue eyes were piercing his green. Her words were a knife straight to his heart. Taking a bullet surely didn't hurt that much.
'Incapable of emotionally committing to anyone'? How could she say that? How could she not see right through him? How he smiled every time someone mentioned her name. How his heartbeat accelerated whenever she walked into a room. How his body heated when her skin touched his. How his pupils dilated whenever he looked at her. How he was madly falling in love with her.
"That's my queue to leave," he softly said as his eyes stared the floor in defeat.
Hailey closed her eyes and shook her head as if she was in some kind of a trance. What the hell got into her?How could she say such awful things to him?
He was right all along. This wasn't her. She could never live with a dirty consciousness. She could never risk the Unit's future. She could never hurt her partner like that.
Jay put on his shoes, grabbed his jacket from the chair, his duffle bag and walked towards the front door without making any eye contact with her.
"Jay, wait," she yelled and ran towards him grabbing his upper hand before opening the door.
"I am sorry," she apologized in a broken voice, hot tears filling her red eyes. "Please, I am sorry. I don't' know what got into me."
Jay turned around and looked into her teary eyes. He dropped his duffle bag and cupped her face with his right hand, his thumb brushing away the tears.
Hailey closed her eyes and rested her head into his palm, her left hand landing on top of his.
Slowly, he reached his left hand and placed it behind her neck, drawing her face closer to his. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead, lingering there for a moment savoring the feeling.
Then, he pressed his forehead against hers as she finally opened her eyes and she met his piercing gaze.
"For what is worth," he whispered to her as if he was sharing a secret. "I do love you! You are my partner and I will always love you."
"For what is worth," Hailey added. "The only reason I came back, was you. You are my partner and I will always come back to you!"
That was all they needed to hear. Soon they were back on that couch as if the harsh words they exchanged were never said.
Just like that, the storm was over and the sun rose for Day 2 of quarantine.
To be continued...