Hellooo, never have I ever been so happy for a website to be working again. I have been smiling from ear to ear at your reviews on here and also for those on AO3 too. I don't deserve such kindness and love, and your comments truly blow my mind. Thank you.
Here's the penultimate chapter. It's a long one again though not as long as the last.. I hope it lives up to what you hoped for. *crosses everything*
Officers Bryce Delaney and Keira Miller have been on duty on South Justine Street for the last 3 hours. Nothing's happened besides the local kids practicing on the brand new bikes they got for Christmas.
Still, at least Keira's husband prepared some sandwiches, so she's got those to look forward to later.
"Any ideas why we're waiting outside this place for an old lady?" Delaney asks.
"Not the full story, all I know is she's part of an ongoing investigation. Pays not to ask too hard when Sergeant Platt asks you to do something? You do it well and perhaps she'll chalk it up for one day when she's allocating vacation time."
"Huh. So when do I get vacation t-."
Miller cuts him off with a loud, "Shh," and an accompanying smack on his arm. "That's her right?"
Delaney follows the direction of Miller's hand and sees a woman approach a vehicle.
"The very same."
"That a cab or someone she knows?"
"Who the hell cares? Let's follow it and you call it in." Miller instructs, starting the engine and following the car a few seconds after it pulls away from outside Marcie's apartment block.
"Copy that." Delaney replies as he presses the button on his radio and talks.
Everyone's in various locations close to the meeting point. Hailey with Olinsky and Voight. Burgess with Dawson in theirs and Ruzek with Atwater are closest and on foot.
The meeting point, a disused warehouse with beams only instead of a full roof and vegetation growing from the ground. The walls around it and nearby covered in graffiti. Close by is where Jay had been found on Christmas morning.
The moon is slightly more than half full, illuminating the inside of the building slightly though Hunt had assured them that as a place he was familiar with from when things had gotten particularly bad during the time he worked for Price, there was lighting available in a small hut in the corner of the warehouse.
Hailey checks her watch. 10.56pm. In the distance she can see the Nissan Kacey, Hunt and Flynn had arrived in. They're inside the warehouse now, each wire so far working. Hunt's with a video feed that Olinsky's holding the tablet for at the moment. Hunt had been right. And the lighting alongside the moon makes the view inside the warehouse clear enough.
She's always nervous at times like this. They're healthy nerves, though. Nerves that have kept her alive so far at least.
"5021-squad, you read?"
Platt.
"Yeah, we hear ya, Trudy, what's going on?" Voight says holding his radio.
"I realize the meet is imminent, but I thought you should know. My patrol officers who had eyes on Marcie Townsend's place? She left thirty minutes ago. They followed her. Here. 5 minutes ago she walked up to the desk and said she wanted to hand herself in for handling drugs and conspiracy to murder Eddie Stapleton, Craig Farmer, David Flynn and her own son. Thought you should know."
Voight turns around to Hailey quickly and then Al.
"Copy that, Trudy. Keep her in the cells till we get back."
"Copy that."
The radio falls silent again.
"Sarge? That's gotta be linked." Hailey leans forward.
Kevin's voice comes through on the radio, "We still going ahead?"
Voight looks at Olinsky who shrugs then quickly nods and decision made, Voight holds up his radio, "We all heard that. They probably know what this is, or it could be they don't. Whatever, we back out now, it could be our last shot so we keep our heads on a swivel. We move in fast if we have-."
"We got company." Burgess's voice interrupts Voight before he can finish,
In the distance, headlights illuminate the darkness for several seconds before they dim and turn off, Hailey lifts the binoculars to her eyes, peering through as the doors open on either side of the vehicle and the two figures move towards the building.
"That's them."
She lowers the binoculars, her attention focused on the screen from now on as Voight lowers his voice with one more instruction.
"Okay, everybody stay in position till I say we move."
The moment Price and Barnet lay eyes on Flynn is telling enough as he flanks Hunt but it's when they realize who the person on the other side of Hunt is that it feels to Hailey like everything is coming together but on the verge of falling apart all at the same time.
Barnet's expression, the way his mouth forms a perfect O shape before he gasps out her name.
"Kacey, what the fuck? I thought you were-." He doesn't need to complete the sentence.
"What is this?" Price. His tone is sharp. He looks around him quickly before he gestures in front of him, eyeing each of them suspiciously.
"These are my people, Boss," He pauses, gesturing to both men. "Where are my bricks, the money?"
Price laughs. "The money. Yeah, I mean there's plenty, but none for you and your people. You still on something, you stupid bastard? Hear that, Pete? His people. Like we haven't figured out the whole reason this meet is happening."
Price looks at Barnet, expecting him to be laughing too or curling his lips in disdain, but the man's staring towards Kacey.
"He told me you were dead. He told me that Brian Townsend had you killed."
"Once you open up Pandora's box, huh Pete?"
Flynn looks between both men. Price appearing unrepentant. Barnet's gaze still focused on Kacey.
"Thought you followed Helen and left the city, Steve. You really should've."
"You've always had that tell, Jim. Right back from when we served together. When you were losing an argument, even a card game, you always resorted to threats, veiled as they are."
"You don't know me, Steve."
"You're right and not knowing you well enough or the man you became cost me my son. Nearly cost these two people everything and did cost Kacey her right to live where she wanted. Her brother's right to know that she was okay. Anthony's right not to be tortured by memories long after the damage you did to him ceased. All those other men. For what?"
Price squares his shoulders, an unpleasant cold smile slowly emerging. "As soon as I realized Foster was a cop, I knew you had to have something to do with it. Getting him out of there. You always had that savior complex. Several times, we thought we'd got rid of him. Steve, you and Tony going to ground merely proved our suspicions."
"I mean, I almost understand the cop, Boss," Hunt starts then pauses, shaking his head. "Although I don't actually but my point is, what made you want to do the things you did to Marcie's son, to Kacey's brother."
Quieter, his voice breaking, "to me. We were helping you make so much money. We stayed loyal, we never said a word. We did everything you said even before you started making every memory me and the other guys worked so hard to push down, come back and take away our sanity, bit by bit until it killed us or you got bored and you made sure those guys died because of that."
"Some tours of duty come to a natural end," Price shrugs, "Some of you simply weren't right for this tour."
Hunt clenches and unclenches his fists, laughing bitterly.
"That's bullshit," Kacey inches forward toward Price, stopped only by Hunt's hand.
"Kace, no. Come on."
She pivots away to her right, away from his hand, her eyes on Price before they shift to the man beside him. Barnet whose eyes have barely moved from staring at her the whole time, only now they lower and he stares down, avoiding eye contact.
"You stood by and watched this? You came out of prison and the first thing you encountered was me and Brian and this place that could've been home for you despite all the crap behind the scenes. It was still better than how it turned out. And instead of trying to change like you told me that time before it all went to shit, you tried to hurt me and to add to that, you believed this piece of shit and you went along with hurting Brian, hurting so many other people."
She steps closer, her head inclined to one side before she shakes it, looking away and then back to Barnet. Barnet whose head jerks to the side with the force of her palm slapping his cheek.
She steps backward. "You know I used to think you were the worst, Jimmy, but you had power to keep. It obsessed you and everyone knew that. You though, Pete. I hope you rot wherever you end up. I hope you both do. You and that bitch Marcie."
It happens fast. The gun which points at Kacey. That Price trains on Kacey's forehead.
"Sarge? Do we move?" Atwater asks over the radio.
Voight exchanges a quick glance with Al, maintaining his attention on the screen in front of them and the gun aimed at Kacey.
Holding up his radio, he replies quickly, "Do you or Ruzek have a shot?"
"Negative."
"We don't move yet. We watch and be ready when I say move."
"Copy that."
Behind him, Hailey checks her vest fastenings reflexively, touching the gun in her side holster and reaches toward the door handle, ready for the inevitable command no matter whether it comes immediately or in a few minutes.
Her attention never wavers from the screen.
Kacey doesn't flinch. Instead, feigning a yawn.
Barnet on the other hand is anything but disinterested.
"Don't do it, Jimmy. Not her. Come on, why are you so mad at her. Cause she mentioned Marcie? What about what she said about me? Where's your loyalty to me? To lie that Kacey was dead?"
Price doesn't respond. The aim of the gun directly at Kacey is unwavering.
"Don't do this, Jim," Flynn urges.
Hunt moves to stand in front of Kacey, but Barnet gets there first. Straightens his spine, his head bowed for a moment before he lifts his chin and stares directly into the barrel.
"Pete, move out the way for christ's sake," Price requests, his tone uncertain for the first time since the meet began.
Kacey does her best to get in front of Barnet, ignoring the protests of Flynn and Hunt, and the quietly spoken, "No," from Barnet himself.
The squawk of a bird suddenly arriving in the warehouse provides enough distraction for Kacey to push Barnet aside and step closer to the gun and Price. Close enough that the barrel almost touches her temple.
She grins, her arms by her sides, relaxed. "I'm not scared, You already took so much from me. My only regret would be to leave Tony and Steve behind, but you wouldn't dare anyway, would you, Jimmy? Not man enough unless you got your right-hand man next to ya, huh? Or that murdering bitch Marcie. Hey, I'll even make it easier for you and shut my eyes."
Two seconds later, there's a scream of "No!" and a gunshot.
Hailey doesn't wait for Voight to shout for them all to move in. She's already running fast towards the warehouse. Vaguely registering the voices of her colleagues as they all approach the warehouse and Voight and Olinsky follow closely behind her.
She waits for them to join her and the three of them move in formation into the warehouse, Burgess and Dawson, Atwater and Ruzek from their positions too, nearing the scene, close enough now so they can figure out quickly what's happening.
Hailey sees Kacey first, apparently unharmed, staring at the floor. Near to her, someone is crouched next to another. The person Kacey's staring at who appears to be attempting CPR.
A few feet away is Price. The gun pointed to his own head. Hell no. Hailey approaches cautiously from behind.
"Chicago PD, Price, lower your gun and place it on the ground."
Antonio stands in front of him, his own gun raised. "Do it, Price."
Price laughs mirthlessly. "Never did find out your actual name, Paula."
Hailey ignores him, repeating her order, "I said lower your gun."
"Is-is he alive?"
Hailey shifts slightly, making eye contact with Antonio who looks at the scene behind Hailey and Price. Lifting one hand away from the gun for a moment, he moves his thumb downwards before returning it to the gun.
"He's still fighting," Hailey lies.
Price shudders, his shoulders sagging and the gun lowering. Hailey moves closer, familiar with how the situation can flip at any moment, but the gun falls from his hand and clatters to the ground.
Hailey moves forward, barking out, "Get on the ground, Price. Get on the ground now!"
Price obeys though Hailey keeps her gun on him the whole time, nodding at Antonio who does the same, then steps round to put Price in cuffs. For a fraction of a second, she looks behind her. Taking in the scene. Al with his hands trying to move Kacey away as she sobs quietly as Burgess stands beside them.
Atwater talking to Hunt, who stares at the body on the ground, glancing across at Price as he lies face down on the ground, his expression unreadable while Voight talks to Flynn who shows no sign of listening instead staring at his blood-soaked hands.
Ruzek is on his radio calling for paramedics, even though Barnet appears to be dead, and backup to secure the scene with forensics to make sure they miss nothing.
Hailey returns her attention to Price and Antonio who's helping to stand up and turning him so he sees Barnet's body lie motionless.
"Oh god no."
It's almost satisfying to see the panic on Price's face as the realization hits him that his time may have finally run out.
Hailey leans against the wall of the interview room, arms folded. Her expression impassive as she stares at Price.
Price who's refusing to talk until a lawyer arrives. His right. Though it doesn't stop Voight from pushing him.
"We have the shooting on tape. We have everything said in the meet on tape. We have evidence including that of my detectives and at least 2 of your victims including one of my cops and that's even before we act up on the warrants that are being granted to search the bars where you trafficked coke for years. No lawyer will get your sentence reduced. You're going away for a very long time, Price."
Price studies the table, his hands laid flat and still on top of it till he clasps them together, raises one to cover his eyes and holds the bridge of his nose. He doesn't look at either Hailey or Voight.
"So you have all the evidence? Could be that I won't even deny it, but I will lawyer up. I will make it as hard as possible for you and your detectives, including the cop Halstead, and you, Detective Upton, to take me down."
Hailey pushes away from the wall, rests her hand on the table close to Price's hand that remains there, leaning in as close as possible.
"What about Marcie, Jimmy? What if you staying quiet means she has to stay in prison longer?" She takes her hand away, smiles sweetly. "Marcie seemed like a sensitive spot for you in the warehouse."
Price meets her stare, expression vacant. Giving nothing away except the slight flush in his cheeks and the brief bite of his lower lip.
"If there's one thing I know, it's that Marcie Townsend will always be okay. Now if you don't mind, Detective. Sergeant. I'd like to wait for my lawyer."
He lays his other hand down again, flat on the table, and smiles beatifically. As though he's waiting for a train or a cab rather than a lawyer. Impassive again in contrast to the panic before. Despite the multiple charges set to be levelled against him no matter what the lawyer tries.
Voight shrugs. "Your choice, Price."
Hailey follows him to the corridor. Just like she'd done so recently when Marcie had first been here. But even though Price has put up a wall, it's so different. Everything is.
Kim and Antonio are waiting.
"Marcie dialled back a little on her confession. Now denies all knowledge of her son's murder but admits handling drugs and conspiracy to murder Eddie Stapleton and Craig Farmer," Antonio tells them.
"We've already gone to the State's attorney and we're waiting for confirmation of charges. Marcie's downstairs." Kim explains.
"Okay. Any sign she wants to make a plea deal?"
"No, Sarge," Kim replies.
"Also, the warrants are ready and Olinsky spoke to Platt and we have patrols ready for raids when we say go," Antonio supplies.
"Where are Flynn, Hunt and Kacey?" Hailey queries.
"They're just back from Med. Got checked over. We're about to take statements and Kev, Adam and Al will too. The Medical Examiner will do the autopsy on Barnet tomorrow," Kim looks down at her watch realizing it's well into the next day already, amending her choice of words, "later today, rather."
"Okay, so if me and Al talk to Kacey and we wait for his lawyer?" Hailey jerks her thumb toward the interview room.
Voight shakes his head. "We'll take him downstairs if the lawyer doesn't arrive in the next few minutes. Kim, Antonio, between you both, Atwater and Ruzek, me and Olinsky, we'll speak to Flynn, Hunt and Kacey. Go make a start on that now."
"Sarge," Antonio and Kim chorus in acknowledgement, walking toward the bullpen.
Hailey furrows her brow, "So, if you guys do that, what do I do?"
"I think there's someone who could use an update, don't you?"
Hailey doesn't have to be told twice.
It's 5am when Hailey arrives at the hospital. She'd been to her home first to change her clothes, hoping to feel fresher, but the adrenaline from the op has passed now, and she's bone weary.
She doesn't know what to expect on her arrival. Olinsky had been hopeful, but that was then, and she's adamant she won't raise her hopes yet.
It's still dark and the blinds are down in Jay's room. There's a small amount of light from the nurses' station, but that's all. She expects or rather hopes he'll be asleep but as she steps into the room and nears the bed, she can see his eyes are open and he's staring up toward the ceiling not showing a sign of having heard her.
For a moment, she considers touching him but quickly dismisses it, pushing down the disappointment and turns away. Not quite avoiding the trolley. She cringes at the noise and swears under her breath at the short-lived pain in her toe.
Gently pushing the trolley aside and walking closer to the door.
"Hailey? Are you okay?"
She lays her hand against the glass of the window next to the door, takes a breath and turns around. Jay's reaching upwards and pressing a button and the light comes on. Jay smiles apologetically as he reaches toward his ears with each hand and pulls earphones out and reaches under the blanket and pulls out an iPad.
"Couldn't sleep, and for once it had nothing to do with, well, you know, it was not being there with you guys. Anyway, one nurse loaned me her iPad, and they found some earphones for me to use so I listened to a podcast about well I don't know what I wasn't really listening. Just kept hoping you were all safe. And you are, or you are at least," almost as an afterthought he adds, "Is everyone safe? Did it go okay?"
Hailey approaches the bed.
She debates quickly whether to tell Jay everything before deciding that's for another day, settling instead for the basic truth. "Yeah. Everyone is safe. It's over, Jay."
Jay looks away immediately and she can see the way he swallows hard, and how the fingers on his right hand worry at the edge of the blanket.
She watches him quietly, allowing him the moment. After a minute, she murmurs his name, and he turns toward her, moisture in his eyes, the smallest fraction of a smile but a smile nonetheless.
"You good?"
"Been better, Hailey, but also I've been a lot worse," he admits then almost shyly, he asks," How are you doing? I mean, really?"
Right on cue, Hailey yawns and they share a smile.
"Okay, short and to the point. But really, you even slept at all lately?"
"A little."
The bed creaks as Jay shifts slightly, and Hailey notices that his cheeks have reddened. She blinks in confusion as Jay flicks his head and with his eyes looks down at the small space beside him in the bed.
"Look, you don't have to and I will no doubt apologize a thousand times so this is the first of many for how I behaved but I figure I owe you and I have no coffee to offer you as of now and its either here or the chair if you're staying for a while and the chair looks real uncomfortable but I understand if you'd rather not."
People talk of breakthroughs.
The smile on Jay's face and the way the anxiety in Hailey's stomach unknots as she takes off her coat, lays it on the trolley, kicks off her shoes and climbs on the bed in the perfectly Hailey sized space Jay had created for her?
She thinks perhaps this is one, perhaps the first she hopes of many.
"You realize you're being allowed home on the condition you don't rush back to work next week, or even the week after or the one after that?"
Will's dangerously close to wagging his finger at Jay but for once Jay's too elated to to argue about it.
"For the fifth time this morning, bro, yes, I realize that."
Will lowers his eyes and mumbles, "Sorry, man."
"And for the fifth time, or it's more like the hundredth time, how many times do I have to remind you you don't have to keep saying sorry when It's me who should say the sorries?"
"We could go back and forth on this for hours which would be a very Halstead brothers' thing or we could just admit there were times we thought this day wouldn't come and that we should focus on that, right?"
"Right," Jay readily agrees, his gaze following Will's as his brother holds his hand up to wave at someone behind him.
Hailey.
Will slaps Jay's chest, snatching Jay's attention from Hailey and grins continuing their conversation from earlier today. "So, I'll come over for New Year's Eve, bring some pizza and celebrate the fact that Jay Halstead gets to see 2018?"
"Just no beers for me so no fun at all, right?"
"Right!" Will laughs and then pulls Jay in for a hug and then at arm's length surveying his little brother. Relieved beyond measure that Jay's alive, smiling albeit still looking exhausted, beaten down and according to the nurses barely able to sleep at all.
That'll come with his support and people like Hailey at his back. He observes the way Jay responds to Hailey. The aggression and fear, the pain diminished and the lashing out all but gone now from his brother. Instead, there're brief smiles shared between them and avoidance of eye contact with his brother.
He watches them leave, nodding to himself, thanking anything and every soul that's ever existed that he's here this afternoon and not in a funeral home instead.
Hailey sets the small bag down and shuts the door to Jay's apartment behind her. Looking around her till her attention settles on Jay, who's clutching the back of a chair. One of two in the living room area.
She touches his elbow lightly, noting that he startles slightly, quickly mumbling an apology toward her.
"Sit down before you fall down, Jay," she urges, pointing toward the leather couch. Above it a painting of a motorbike.
In one corner of the room, a guitar rests against the wall.
He shuffles slowly toward the couch, sinking heavily onto it, observing and then voicing her thoughts aloud for her.
"I know. It's a real bachelor pad. It kinda works, though. Low maintenance and not even that messy after all the time away from it."
"I like it."
At Jay's unconvinced noise, she gestures toward the guitar and around her, insisting, "No, it's nice. You have nice art, these chairs even look comfortable. And if you can play that guitar, I'm even more impressed."
Jay brightens. "Oh yeah, well it's been quite a long time, but I was definitely one of those assholes in country with a guitar singing Bob Dylan and thinking I was the coolest."
"Well, I think it's cool."
"Tell that to the local farm animals in some places in Afghanistan whose sleep I ruined."
"No farm animals to disturb around here, Jay. I still think it's cool and one day you could teach me? I used to play the recorder in elementary, but that's the extent of my musical prowess."
"Funny cause I always wanted to learn to play the recorder so you teach me yours, if I teach you mine."
"Deal," Hailey agrees, then gesturing towards where she can see the small kitchen, "Want a drink?"
Jay's smile widens. "Like you have to ask."
Hailey beams with delight, "You remembered?"
Jay's expression changes to one of surprise, "You thought I'd forget?"
"You just went through a lot is all, Jay."
"Yeah, yeah I did but I'm here now and I do still like coffee and I'm thirsty so?" Jay's eyes look toward the kitchen.
Hailey laughs, "So I'll take the hint and go get you the coffee. Back in a minute."
Twenty minutes later Jay's holding the mug of coffee and sitting on the couch while Hailey sits on the nearest chair. Her coffee mug placed on the side table.
It's a quiet, companionable silence.
Hailey's not sure she should break it but it was burning a hole in the inside pocket of her coat before so she stands up, picks up the coat and pulls the rolled-up map from it.
Jay looks quizzical for about 2 seconds before his eyes widen, and he makes a sound of surprise though he quickly gathers himself as she unrolls it and like every time she sees it, feels herself well up with emotion.
"You found it in the apartment then?"
Hailey looks up from the map. "Yeah, well, actually I think Al saw it first, or at least the package, but he doesn't know what it's in it. Just me and you. Honestly Jay, it's the most thoughtful gift I ever had and I still look at it and can't believe it, where d'you find it?"
Jay blushes. "I just searched on the internet, made a heap of calls and there was this guy and lucky for me, he's based in the city. It kinda felt like fate. If I couldn't get hold of it easily, I would've taken it. It wasn't meant to be, but I could get hold of it easily and that time, that day."
Jay looks away. "The entire time since Erin left. It was as though I was in this rut, this place was like a pit where I kept finding myself falling deeper. I just thought it was in a bad way. Then that time I spent with you, the whole undercover, and getting to know you. That one day. Learning about Ikaria and feeling like I'd known you my entire life. I told you things it took me years or even never to tell Erin, Hailey. Maybe it was just the undercover and maybe I just wanted to feel some normalcy and getting the map felt like I was grabbing hold of the good in amongst the crap and things that made me feel like I was losing my mind."
He gathers himself, looking back toward Hailey, a tentative smile on his face. "Whatever it was, I'm just glad you like it. It means a lot to me you like it, Hailey, and I'm sorry that I've messed up whatever we built by being how I have in the past few days."
"Jay, no, what you went through, it's okay." Hailey protests but then quietens trying to form words, better words or sentences, coherent enough to make sense of then and what it means now.
We were just undercover.
Eventually it comes, though not quite how she imagined it would.
"Hey Jay, did the guy say if this was the only version of the map he had?"
"What do you mean?"
"It'd look good by the door or even just in a corner of this room or your bedroom?"
"What?" Jay looks genuinely perplexed.
"You can stay on my island, Jay. Not just as Ryan and Paula. Jay and Hailey and I figure a little visualization of that. One in my place and one in yours, at least at first it's a kinda nice way to make that commitment."
Later on they'll be hard pressed to recall how long they just stared at each other. Small smiles and eye contact speaking multiple words, neither of them quite ready to articulate.
Jay's history is littered with impulsive moments, like it was several weeks back, and apparently so's his present now too as he eventually stands up and Hailey does too. As they stand so close to each other and he lowers his mouth towards hers and he watches in what feels like he's on fast forward as she stands on tiptoes and her mouth is so close to his.
What if it's still a rebound thing? What if it's just the trauma seeking comfort? What if it's the coming home and reality that will bring that could bring along with it? What if that doesn't matter and they're both grown adults and he knows it's not just that any more?
The kiss is brief but long enough that Jay thinks at least in amongst the nightmares, there'll be this fragment of good, no, great to break up every terrible memory and have hope for the future. They separate, but only far enough that they could kiss again so easily if they wanted to. Far enough that he sees her smile, her eyes and feels bathed in the warmth, comfort, stability and more that she's offered since he allowed it all to lower his defenses.
Just undercover then, maybe. But what if it's more now?
It is more. The start of more.
Ah so yeah. Deleted my waffle about being nervous cause yeah, you get it! Just hope it was ok.
The final chapter (good grief) and what is written so far and planned (in full) will mean it's not just going to be a short epilogue, while I can't promise full resolution for every tiny last thread cause life isn't always like that and things don't happen overnight, there will be some more for Jay, for some case related stuff and the final part of the chapter I've had written since July!
Anyway, momentous times for those of you in the US, hope the past days haven't been too arduous, hope whatever your thoughts about it all, you can sleep a little heavier tonight and I hope everything is as smooth as possible in the coming weeks/months/years. And in general, for all of you, hope you're staying safe and well. Next chapter I hope extremely soon.*touch wood* xx