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My eyes feel heavy as they flutter open but I immediately squeeze them shut again when the bright light hurts them. I breathe in deeply, before slowly opening my eyes again, this time making sure to allow them to adjust to the light. The pounding in my head is painful, causing to me flinch as I attempt to sit up. I'm suddenly aware of the fact that I'm lying on a hard mattress, and there's a pinching sensation in my hand. Even turning my head just a fraction causes a wave of nausea and pain to overwhelm me.

"Hey. Hailey, take it easy. Relax."

My eyes flutter open again, and I find myself looking into Jay's concerned eyes. His hand, I realise, is holding mine, and his thumb is gently running over my knuckles.

"What – where am I?" I can barely speak, my throat parched and just the effort it takes to speak is draining me of energy.

"We're at the hospital," Jay responds gently. "You passed out in the break room."

"What?" I can't seem to remember that.

"Hey, you're okay now," Jay assures me, still holding my hand. His other hand comes up to brush a strand of my hair behind my ear. His touch is soft, gentle, kind. While he's intimidating to criminals, I know how much of big softie he really is.

I nod. "I'm sorry you were so worried."

He just gives me a small smile, one that doesn't quite reach his eyes, but I won't push. Not now.

At the exact moment, Will Halstead walks in. He gives me the signature Halstead smile when he sees me awake.

"Oh good you're awake!"

I give him a sassy smirk. "You should become a detective, Will. Your observation is very accurate." My sarcasm is not lost on the Halstead brothers, as Jay hides his face in his arm to muffle his chuckle, and Will pretends to glare at me.

"Yeah she's definitely okay if her sarcasm is intact," Will remarks and I playfully narrow my eyes at him.

Jay just laughs, but I suddenly realize he still hasn't let go of my hand. And it makes me blush even more when Will notices it and gives me a subtle smirk before looking at his clipboard. He knows.

And I don't mind. Not one damn bit.

"Hailey, in all seriousness, though, when was the last time you ate? Or, even drank water?" Will asks me, suddenly switching into doctor mode.

I rack my brain, but it's fuzzy. "I-I don't remember," I admit quietly.

"And when was the last time you slept properly?"

Again I shake my head. "I haven't," is all I can say.

Will just nods. "It looks like lack of sleep coupled with dehydration and low blood pressure caused you to pass out. We gave you a saline IV drip."

I look at my other hand finally, which is laying on my stomach. The cannula is indeed there, and that was the pinching sensation I had felt very briefly when I had woken up.

"Do I have to stay overnight?" I inquire, looking at Will.

"No, but I'd advise you to take it easy for a couple days. Sleep well. Eat well. Stay hydrated."

"Understood," I agree.

"I'll come check on you again in a few hours. If you're better by then, I'll have you discharged," Will promises with a smile.

"Thank you, by the way," I say to him as he's walking out. He stops and sends me a knowing smirk.

"Anything for my brother's girlfriend," he grins before running out. I'm laughing, and Jay's just visibly mortified by his brother's words. But he doesn't even deny it, and that makes me smile even more. Not to mention blush profusely.

Jay opens his mouth but I reach over and cover his mouth with my hand. I raise an eyebrow at him. "Jay Halstead, if you're about to apologize for what Will just said, I will kick your ass."

Jay chuckles as I remove my hand from his mouth. "Duly noted, ma'am."

My smile is so wide, and I see the effect it has on Jay. Where before, his smile wasn't reaching his eyes, it is now. And I'm beyond thankful I can bring that smile to his face after causing him so much worry and emotional pain.

I neglected taking care of myself which had led to this happening. To me in a hospital bed. With Jay by my side, holding my hand. Even though some of his worry seems to have been alleviated, I know he's not fully himself just yet.

"You know, when you were in surgery a couple months ago, Will kept me company," I confess as I run my thumb over the back of his hand and over his knuckles. Knuckles which, I realise for the first time today, are bruised and cut.

Jay's just watching me, and I give him a gentle smile, even as my heart hurts at the knowledge that he was so frustrated and worried about me, he'd punched a wall. Hurt himself.

"Uh, he may have told me you know how to cook really well," I shrug, pretending to look embarrassed.

The sound of a genuine laugh from Jay is music to my ears. I can't remember the last time I actually heard him laugh like this, and the fact that it's me who is the cause of such a beautiful sound warms my heart. I blame my hormones for the joyous tears that also appear in my eyes.

"Lucky for you, you'll get to find out if he's right," Jay winks at me.

My eyes feel heavy all over again. Jay stands, leaning over to brush a kiss against my forehead. "Rest," he informs me.

I shake my head, scooting away, making some room on the bed. "Stay," I murmur groggily.

"Hailey, I -."

"Just shut up and stay with me, Jay. Please?"

I know he can't resist me, let alone the puppy dog eyes I give him, and I grin triumphantly as he lays down with me. I turn my body into his, nestling my face into the crook of his neck. He's got one hand tangled in my hair, his fingers gently lulling me to sleep.

The warmth that radiates from his body just soothes me, a constant reminder that I'm safe with him. Always.

When I wake up again, I'm feeling more energetic. The pain has dissipated into thin air and my nausea, though still there, has somewhat subsided. My eyes adjust to the brightness of the room again and I look to see Vanessa at my side now.

"Glad to see you awake, Hailey," Vanessa smiles.

I return her radiant smile. "Yeah it's good to be awake too," I agree.

"You gave us all a scare there," she admits softly. "Especially, I think, Halstead."

"Yeah, I –uh – I didn't realise how much I'd neglected to take care of myself," I confess with a deep sigh as I rub my forehead.

"It gives me a whole lot of peace to know you'll be staying with Jay," Vanessa comments. "He's good for you, and to you, it seems." She grins at me again, that playful, knowing grin meant to tease me.

I can't help the blush that creeps to my cheeks. "He's just a good man."

"One who clearly has you whipped, so it seems," Vanessa laughs, and then reaches over to squeeze my hand. "I'm happy for you, Hailey. You deserve happiness."

"So do you, V," I wink at her knowingly and smirk as her cheeks turn tomato red but she keeps her lips sealed tight.

At the same moment, Jay returns from wherever he had gone. It's an instinctive, almost automatically unconscious reaction when a smile breaks out over my face. I feel like a teenage girl who's fallen in love for the first time. But I realise in some ways, it is the first time I've fallen in love this hard and fast and deep. My connection with Jay goes deeper than any form of intimacy ever could. Being in love in itself isn't new to me. But to love this deeply, love this hard, yeah that's definitely new. And as much as I loved Garrett, I love Jay in a way I never did Garrett.

"So, there's good news and bad news," Jay starts, and my heart drops.

"Start with the good news, then," I say.

"Okay. Good news is, you're being discharged," Jay tells me and I'm momentarily joyous until I remember there's apparently also bad news.

"And, the bad news?" I frown.

"Well, uh -," Jay rubs the back of his head before saying, "the bad news is, you're stuck with my ass for a while now."

I let out a laugh, unable to control it. "Oh my goodness Jay! I'm going to KILL you. You had me worried there about the bad news!"

"Besides, I'm sure Hailey's absolutely thrilled at the idea of being stuck with your fine ass," Vanessa laughs as I turn beet-root red.

"Are you – are you hitting on Jay for me?" I choke out, my eyes tearing up with how much I'm laughing.

"Someone's gotta do it for you, since you seem completely oblivious to the fact that his ass..."

"Yeah, okay, okay, I get it thank you," I stop Vanessa, immediately knowing exactly where this conversation was heading.

Jay's watching us in amusement but when I look at him, there's a knowing, mischievous little glint in his eyes. I drop my head, groaning inwardly. He's not going to let me live this one down.

"Ready to head home?" Jay asks me.

Home.

The word didn't scare me. Because where he is, that's where my home is.

"Yeah, I'm ready," I nod, flashing him a big goofy smile.