it's belle again, with another update. guys i'm so touched by your reviews, they truly mean so much.

they keep me going. so, please keep reviewing, keep letting me know your thoughts.

you all are so sweet, much love xx

My whole body tenses as my mind still tries to process Jay's words. To come to terms with the fact that the monster who killed Garrett, who almost raped me, is out in the streets once again.

"No," I say, my voice breaking. "It-it can't be true."

Jay gently grabs my chin, tilting my face upwards so that I'm looking into his eyes. His eyes, normally so soft and gentle, are now raging with determination, and a promise I know he's about to make the moment he opens his mouth.

"I won't let him hurt you again, Hailey," he speaks with conviction. "He's going to have to go through me first."

My eyes snap up to him. I almost want to scream at him, ask him how he can say that when he knows what Booth did to my last partner, but instead I speak in a deathly calm tone. One I use quite a bit during interrogations.

"And, I'm supposed to sit back and watch him hurt you too?"

I'm stunned by the cheeky smirk that crosses Jay's face. "Please, Hailey. We both know he can try, but you'll just kick his ass if he even thinks of doing anything to me."

And just like that, despite the news, despite my fears, I'm laughing. I'm laughing because it's true. I'd kill Booth if he merely even looks at Jay the wrong way. God knows I wanted to exactly that the last time when I'd seen Booth pull a gun on Jay.

Somehow, I'm at ease again. No, not just somehow. It's because of the man standing in front of me. This thoughtful, caring, selfless, insanely attractive man whose arms I'm wrapped in. Who has proven, time and time again, that he's the only man I can trust and follow blindly. The only man who I know really deserves my heart, and all of me.

"Before I forget," Jay says, his voice dragging me away from my thoughts about him. "Voight doesn't want you going to New York just yet."

I feel as if a huge burden, a huge weight, has been lifted off my shoulders. My body visibly sags against Jay, and for a moment, I'm silent. I'm relieved. I'm grateful.

"I guess things really do happen for a reason, huh?" I smile at my man.

It hits me. My man.

I'm really here, standing in the middle of Jay's bedroom, in his arms, my own arms wrapped tightly around his lower back and waist. I'm suddenly keenly aware of his scarred skin beneath my hands. But I know this is a conversation for another time, another day. Because I know without a doubt, I want to be coming home with him – and to him – everyday.

Showering doesn't take more than ten minutes in total. I'm actually glad I'd kept an extra change of clothes in my car, given that it would look a little suspicious if I showed up to work in the exact same clothes I'd left with yesterday.

Though we take separate cars to work, I still sense that Jay's tailing me to make sure I'm not being followed. It warms my heart to know he's always got my back.

The moment I step into the bullpen, I find everyone's there, except for Voight. A part of me feels relieved he's not here, because I'm not sure I want to look him in the eyes just yet. I'm not sure I want him to know his reaction yesterday actually frightened me.

I'm suddenly aware of a warm hand pressing against the small of my back. I know it's Jay. I don't even need to turn around to confirm it. Because in just a few hours, his touch has become so familiar to me.

"You okay?" His lips are so close to my ear, and a little shiver runs through me, down my spine. It's still hard to believe everything he does has an effect on me. But this proximity, his breath hot against my ear and neck, it's unravelling me, and I need to stay composed if I'm to get anywhere with this case.

I nod. "I'm fine, Jay." Despite the jelly feeling in my legs, and my erratic heartbeat, my voice comes out strong.

Just as quickly as the warmth came so too does it disappear. I realise Jay has stepped away from me. And when I see Voight walk in, I understand why. Not that I particularly care what Voight likes or dislikes.

I drop my jacket on the back of my chair, and look over to find Vanessa staring at me, an eyebrow raised in amusement. I roll my eyes at her, but she just gives me a triumphant grin. It's all I need to know exactly what she thinks happened between me and Jay.

"Ronald Booth escaped last night at ten pm," Voight's telling us. "He had inside help, it seems, because the guard who was on duty at that time has mysteriously disappeared. And he disappeared right after Booth escaped."

"Do we know what he wants?" Kim asks.

"Revenge." As he says it, Voight nods in my direction, and all eyes turn to me. All except Jay's. And it figures since he already knows, it wouldn't come as a surprise to him.

But then I wonder if there's something more he didn't tell me, that Voight told him over the phone.

I peel my eyes away from my partner.

"We're going to make this case our priority," Voight says. "No other cases until we have Booth locked up again."

Everyone is nodding immediately. Voight turns to me and Jay. "Upton, Halstead, my office. Now."

I follow Jay into Voight's office and close the door behind us. Voight doesn't say anything for a minute, and then he finally turns around to face us.

"Did you see anyone following you?" he asks me.

I'm momentarily taken aback by his question. I finally answer, "No, I don't think so."

"But you aren't sure."

It's more of a statement than a question. But I shake my head. "No, I'm not sure, Sarge. Because I had no idea he was out of jail until this morning."

I see Voight's jaw clenching. And I know it's just because he's worried. About my safety.

Jay's quiet, even though his body is stiff. I can tell from his posture and the way his arms are crossed over his chest, accentuating his biceps. A muscle in his jaw clenches and unclenches. But his eyes are clear, devoid of any emotion that will betray how he really feels about this situation.

Because only with me, only with me, will he let his guard down and let his vulnerability show.

"Sarge what's going on?" I finally ask, my voice hard.

Voight doesn't answer. Instead he opens a drawer and pulls out a photograph. He hands it to me, saying, "This was sent to the district at 11pm."

Frowning, I look down at the photo. It's of me, at my house. It was about an hour before I had gone to Jay's apartment. I look back at Voight, even though my mind is racing.

"He's following you," Voight confirms. "That's why I asked."

"I was alone...He didn't ..." I trail off.

"If and when he makes his move, he wants it to be a grand one. A public one."

I swallow, and from the corner of my eye, I see Jay shift a little closer to me. His hand brushes mine, too softly, too swiftly for Voight to notice.

"What do we do then?" I hand the photo back to Voight.

"Until we catch him, you're going to stay where we can see you. Which means, the precinct and Halstead's."

I blink, not sure I heard him correctly. But when he doesn't correct himself, I realise he means it. I'm supposed to stay with Jay. At his apartment.

And in spite of the danger to my life, and consequently the danger to Jay's, I can't help but think: this won't be so bad.

A thought comes to me. "What about Vanessa? She's staying with me. If he goes back there..."

"I already talked to her. She'll be staying with Atwater temporarily."

I nod, my heart feeling lighter than it did a moment ago. At least she's protected too.

I turn my gaze back to Voight. He gives me a nod and I turn to leave.

I make my way into the break room, my mind whirling. My heart is pounding in my ears. I lean against the sink, head down.

"Hailey."

I turn and find Adam standing there. I shoot him a small smile, trying not to let him see the unshed tears prickling at the corner of my eyes.

"This is kind of déjà-vu huh?" he jokes lightly. I know he's trying to lighten the mood.

It makes me think of the time he's referring to, when Jay had been kidnapped and I'd been losing my mind, fearful that we wouldn't find him on time. That when we did, he'd be dead. That I would never get to tell him how I felt and that he would die without know my feelings for him.

"Seems so," I crack another half-hearted smile.

"Look. I know this isn't easy. But, you have all of us in your corner," Adam reminds me, placing a hand on my shoulder.

"Thanks," I nod, not quite trusting myself to say more in case my voice breaks.

"Plus you know nobody's going to sleep till we catch this bastard," Adam adds. "Least of all your boyfriend."

My eyes snap up to meet his. "My- what...Adam, what are you talking about?"

"Hailey, come on. I'm not that stupid. We've all seen how you look at Jay and the way he looks at you. You're both so in love with each other. And, I saw firsthand how him being kidnapped affected you. He's not going to rest till he's hundred percent sure you're safe."

It strikes me how right Adam is. Sometimes, I forget how silently observant he is.

"It actually scares me how I feel about him," I whisper. "Now, with Booth on the loose, I stand to lose a lot more."

Adam shakes his head, a hard look appearing in his eyes. "Like I said, Hailey, we've all got your back. And Jay's. So, no, you won't lose him. We won't lose either of you."

Adam's words hit home with me. We're a family. That's how we've always been in this unit. And I'll be damned if I let myself forget that.

"I – Thank you, Adam." This time, when I smile at him, it's no longer half-hearted.

Adam just hugs me before walking out of the break room. I'm suddenly aware of how exhausted I feel. From lack of sleep and this worrying I'm doing.

"Hailey?"

The voice sounds muffled. I can't move my mouth or my lips but I feel my legs give way. My vision is blurry.

The last thing I'm aware of is Jay's strong arms catching me right before darkness sucks me into its embrace.