I hope you all enjoy this. Once you finish reading don't me mad. Remember, have faith!
I hope you are all staying safe.
Tonight was the night. He thought about it a lot. Actually, he barely got any sleep.
It was funny, because he wasn't usually the "over thinking" type. If he wanted something, he jumped head first. The same happened with Abby, Erin and Camilla. But this time, it was different. He wanted to do this the right way since the stakes were high.
He had screwed up before, but now he was thinking straight. No more lies, no more games, no more hiding. He would ask Hailey to take a leap of faith with him.
Was he scared? Hell yes. Even though he had mastered the art of reading her mind, it was still hard to read her emotions. Life hadn't treated her right but she was strong as a rock and she had built a wall around her for protection. Jay didn't want to tear down that wall. All he wanted, was to let him join her in her fortress.
Vanessa had once again left them to spend the day with her new boyfriend, so Jay teamed up with his partner and volunteered at the homeless shelter.
There were so many people in need, especially during that crisis. Being around all those people, made them wonder why they didn't volunteer earlier. They sat down and discussed with ex marines, kids who had run away from home, ex drug addicts and people who had simply lost everything.
Hearing their stories made them appreciate life. Surely, they both had a difficult past but they overcame whatever obstacles life threw at them. They were healthy. They had a roof over their head, a job that they loved, a partner they could trust and colleagues that they could call family. Everything seemed perfect.
The day went by quicker than they realized. By 8pm they were back home preparing for their scheduled game.
Jay had already taken a shower and volunteered to order pizza. Hailey was the second to enter the bathroom, when 20 minutes later she yelled from upstairs.
"Jay,"
"Yeah? Is everything all right?" he yelled back as he prepared the dishes.
"Could you come here for a sec? Oh, and bring your dufflebag."
Jay grimaced in curiosity, grabbed his bag and headed upstairs.
Her bedroom door was slightly open but Jay still knocked before walking in.
"Come on in," Hailey's voice was heard from her en-suit bathroom.
As soon as Jay approached the bathroom door Hailey opened it a few inches, the hot steams finding their way through the crack.
"Remember when I told you earlier, that I had a feeling I was forgetting something?" she asked in a childish like voice.
"Yeeees," Jay frowned his eyebrows and took a step closer to the door, curious to hear the rest of the sentence.
"Well, I forgot to pick up my clothes from the dry cleaner's," her voice was barely audible in embarrassment.
A slight chuckle escapes Jay's lips. "I am sorry what? Can you repeat that?"
"I forgot to pick up my clothes," Hailey repeated clearly frustrated. "ALL of my clothes, including my towels. "
Jay broke up in laughter. He could not believe that Hailey, the absolute control freak, had actually forgotten her own clothes. His amusement soon turned into heated excitement as he realized that his partner was standing wet and naked only a few inches away from him.
He swallowed hard and fought the urge to storm into that bathroom. His imagination though, had already affected his body. He could already feel the fire growing in his loins.
Shit he muttered and threw his bag on the floor. The last thing he needed was another humiliating moment like that.
"I was wondering if I could borrow some of your clothes, just for tonight. First thing in the morning I am picking up mine," Hailey carried on but her partner was already stumbling himself out of the room.
"The bag is right outside the door. You can pick anything you like," he said stuttering and practically run back to the kitchen to ease his thoughts away.
Damn it. When did Jay Halstead start acting like a 15 year old at the thought of a naked woman? Where had his confidence gone? He had always been a ladies man. Always the charmer!
He took a deep breath and let his body relax. He was doing it again. Over thinking about his every move. He shook his head and rubbed his eyes when suddenly the door bell rang.
Get a grip Detective, he muttered and answered the door to the delivery guy.
A few minutes later Hailey walked down wearing one of his black hoodies and a pair of grey oversized woolen socks.
He couldn't hold back his smile. He just stood there in the kitchen, watching her as she walked towards him. His hoodie somehow fitted her tiny figure perfectly. He wondered if it had already caught on her scent. He bet it had.
As his gaze moved lower, he noticed the lack of pants.
"I tried getting into one of your pants but they were too big," she explained reading his thoughts.
Jay smirked and tried not to stare at her. Even in that simple outfit, she looked sexy.
Everything is ready," he turned his gaze to the floor as soon as her realized he was staring at her. "Pizza and Tequila shots. What could possibly go wrong tonight?"
Hailey smiled, grabbed the pizzas and walked towards to living room, followed by Jay who held the Bottle and shots.
Within a few minutes both pizzas where gone. Saying they were starving would be an understatement.
"You know, I could get used to this," Hailey smirked as she swallowed the last piece of pizza.
She was sitting on the floor and Jay had preferred to sit on the couch.
"Get used to what?" he asked.
"You know, all this. Pizza nights, drinking games, having YOU around."
Jay licked his lips clearly flustered by her comment.
"So, you want me around?"
"Shut up," she snapped back. "You know what I mean. We spend all day at the district and when we do get to go out for a drink, it's usually accompanied by our group therapy session. We barely get some US time"
"Us time? Well, you wanted it, you got it." Jay opened the bottle and served both shots. "The can of worms will be opened tonight. You go first Game on."
Hailey chuckled and raised her glass. "Ok, Never have I ever travelled abroad."
As expected, Jay took a sip since he had travelled to Afghanistan as a Ranger.
"My turn. I have never celebrated Valentine's Day."
Hailey looked at him with sympathy as he took another sip of Tequila.
"Seriously?" she asked in disbelief.
Jay simply looked at her, pressed his lips together and raised his shoulders.
Hailey sighed and shook her head. How was that even possible? A guy like Jay never had a date on Valentine's Day.
"I have never been shot," Hailey continued and chuckled as she waited for Jay to drink.
"If only I could drink for every single time I got shot," he smiled awkwardly.
"I have never dated a co-worker," Jay said in absolute mischief and we knew the answer to that.
Both of them had dated co-workers. In fact, he never openly admitted it, but he was jealous of Ruzek in the beginning. Jealous because she had picked him. Jealous because she had broken her 'no office romances' rule for him. Jealous because she had been lying to him for weeks.
But all was clear now. Hailey hadn't chosen him because she respected him and valued their friendship and partnership. With Ruzek she had nothing to lose.
"Well," the blonde detective carried on the game. "I have never been married."
Hailey's jaw dropped when she noticed Jay didn't join her in drinking. She looked straight into his eyes in shock, wondering if he was just messing with her.
"You've been married?" she finally managed to ask.
Jay nodded ashamed. "It was a long time ago. We were in Vegas and drunk as hell. I barely remember that night."
"Who was it?" Hailey asked filled with curiosity.
It couldn't have been Erin, someone would have told her by now.
"It wasn't Erin," Jay responded clearly reading her mind. "Not that I wasn't willing to propose her, but that's another story. I was married to a fellow Ranger."
"How long did it last?" Upton asked, never taking her eyes off of him in an attempt to read his emotions.
"Hours," he shook his head. "Once we woke up the next morning, we realized it was a huge mistake. Well, at least I did. I am not proud of who I was back then. I did some pretty stupid things and made some huge mistakes. But I learned from them."
"What about Erin? When were you going to propose to her?" she hoped she wasn't stepping on uncharted territories.
Jay diverted his look to the floor. Honestly, he didn't want to talk about his past but he knew he should. If he wanted to make this work, he should be honest with his partner.
"Right before she left. I even got the ring and all," he smiled sadly.
"And?" Hailey lowered her face hoping her eyes would meet his.
"She left the city before I had the chance to do it," he leaned back on the couch and run his finger through his hair.
"I am sorry," Upton whispered.
"I am not," Jay smiled in relief. "I know now that it wasn't meant to be. I wanted to propose for all the wrong reasons. Not because I loved her, but because I felt like I owed to her."
Hailey stood up and walked towards the kitchen with the empty plates in hand.
"Do you ever wonder how different your life might have turned out to be if she had stayed?"
Jay also stood up and followed her.
"Maybe at first, but not anymore," he leaned forward and drank his shot of Tequila. "I don't want the same things I wanted back then."
"What? No big wedding? No kids and a house in the suburbs?" Hailey teased.
"No," Jay said firmly and looked straight into her blue eyes. "I know what I want. I 've been wanting it for a long time now."
"What is it?" Upton squinted her eyes in curiosity.
Jay slowly approached her until her back was against the counter, her hands resting on the marble. His heartbeat accelerated, his breathing became uneven.
This was the closest they had ever gotten. He could feel her breath against his neck as his eyes met hers.
With a hint of hesitation, he moved even closer breathing in the fragrance of her shower gel. Her scent was intoxicating.
He placed his left hand on top of hers and with the other he gently cupped her cheek. With trembling hand, he brushed his thump against her soft lips.
To her credit, she didn't move or flinch. She just stood there, staring into his green eyes.
Time seemed to stop as he slowly leaned forward but stopped for a brief moment. He looked into her eyes once again as if he was seeking for approval and then pulled her closer for a kiss.
He could feel her tremble under his touch as he moved his left hand to her waist.
"What are you doing?" she whispered against his lips.
He didn't want to answer. He wanted to show her, so he gently pulled her in for kiss.
To his surprise, she welcomed his kiss and embraced him placing both hand around his neck. Her touch sent tremors to his feet, he heart pounding fast in his chest.
He deepened the kiss, his tongue finding hers and a soft moan escaped her lips. His own followed in assent.
Soon, the kiss intensified. It was no longer soft and gentle. It was deep and rough.
Suddenly, she pulled back breathless, shocked at herself. But Jay didn't give up. He kept holding her into his arms, savoring the moment for as long as it lasted.
"I am sorry," she muttered and gently pushed him aside.
Jay licked his lips, still tasting her in his mouth. "No, I am sorry. That was out of line."
"That's ok," Hailey raised her hand in an attempt to keep him at distance. "I think we got enough Tequila shots for the night. I am gonna go and sleep. It was a long day."
"I can leave if you want me to," Jay proposed clearly heartbroken.
"No," Hailey shook her head. "Just….. I can't right now….Good night Jay.
He stood there watching her climbing the stairs as fast as she could. She was running away from him.
That was not what he hope for. Was it too soon? Should he have waited more? Had he just ruined their friendship?
His was started pounding as all his fears nested into his head. The truth was, he didn't regret it. At least now he knew. Whether she was not ready or not into him, he should once again put his feelings aside.
Why the hell was Molly's closed now that he desperately needed their good old Scotch. He sighed and rubbed his face. Maybe he should give her some space. Maybe he should head back to his apartment. On the other hand, he didn't want to leave in the middle of the night without saying anything.
Then, he remembered that his duffle bag and keys were still in her bedroom. Whether he liked it or not, he was stuck there. So, he crushed on the couch and emptied the rest of the Tequila, in an attempt to drown his fears away.
Day 7 would determine the future of their relationship.