Her head was pounding, but her heart still hurt more. She turned her head too fast as she sat up in bed, trying to find her shirt. She heard Adam stir next to her, before the first words out of his mouth made her chuckle.

"I don't have pants."

She nodded in the direction of his side of the floor, where they had probably been discarded.

"Ah, thank you."

They each tugged on another layer of clothing before facing one another. The next words out of Adam's mouth confused her.

"I didn't know you went to the University of Chicago."

She glanced back to where he was looking, at the chair where her old college sweatshirt was. "Yeah," she shrugged. "My dad wanted me to be a lawyer." She gave another shrug, realizing that was the first time she had talked so casually about her father. She felt that familiar jab in her chest when she remembered with whom she first discussed her father.

Ruzek's voice brought her from her thoughts. "So, how do you wanna play this?"

The words were automatic. "Like low-key, no one finds out about this one-time deal, low-key."

He nodded, seeming to understand. They finished getting dressed for the day before Adam insisted on driving her to work. Who was she to say no to a free ride?

"Adam, Hailey, nice of you to join us." Voight's greeting echoed across the bullpen.

"Sorry, traffic." Adam excused.

"Yeah," Hailey whispered in agreement, still keeping her eyes down.

They took their seats at their respective desks: Adam with Kevin and Hailey with Kim. Voight reiterated their duties for the day: surveillance of a known drug boss, Ramôn Garcia. His crew had been laying low for a while, but with the new string of OD's in the West Loop, Voight figured he'd come out of hiding to find new customers.

"Hailey, Kim, you guys are sitting tight on the outside. Adam, Kevin, you guys are on the inside. Got it? Simple observe and report, no contact. Am I clear?"

"Yes," was the unison reply.

"Good. Let's go to work."

A little while later, Hailey was about ready to rip her hair out of boredom. Ramon and his men hadn't made one solitary move all night.

"God damn, why didn't we get pizza before we started our post?" She whined to Kim, who laughed next to her.

"Because you insisted on being prompt," she teased.

"Well, smack some sense into me next time, would you?"

"I have another protein bar if you want it," Kim offered, rifling around in the glove box.

"Fine," Hailey relented, her stomach growling so loud she thought she'd cry. "And thanks."

"Sure," Kim said, before her eyes widened and her binoculars met the bridge of her nose. "We got eyes," she radioed. "Ramon's on the move. Getting into a black SUV, no plates."

"Do not engage," Voight's command rang out over the radio.

"Hailey!" Kim screamed as the blonde sped off in their car. "What the hell are you doing?!"

"I'm not engaging, I'm following," she countered, not looking at Kim.

"Hailey, you heard Voight! We don't have backup because I didn't get a chance to call it in!"

"No one's stopping you now," she quipped, making a sharp left-hand turn.

"5021 Frank, requesting backup on South Glendale Blvd. In pursuit of suspect in black SUV heading north, no plates. I repeat, no plates."

"5021 Ida, responding," Kim thankfully heard Kevin's voice over the radio, which meant at least he and Adam were en route. She was sure Voight was close behind. She let out a breath, which was ultimately rammed back into her throat as she herself was thrown back against the car seat.

"Dammit," Hailey cursed, as she had derailed off the road a little after attempting another series of sharp turns. "We lost him!" She banged her hands against the steering wheel multiple times, a scream startling Kim.

"Hailey…" she started, to which she was abruptly stopped.

"Don't."

"Alright, fine. But I'm here if you need. And you seem like you need something…or someone to talk to."

"I'm fine, I'm fine."

Kim eyed her partner once more, before getting out of the vehicle to meet up with Voight and the rest of the team.

"You guys alright?"

"Physically yes, but mentally, I don't know where Hailey's head's at, Sarge."

Voight patted her shoulder, understanding what Kim meant. "Alright, let's get you both to Med regardless, just for a check. Then maybe we can see if Hailey will open up to Dr. Charles or hell, even Will."

Kim nodded, walking back over to inform Hailey of their next moves. This was going to be a long night.

She had to laugh. Back at Med once again. She was letting out a dry chuckle when she was greeted with the sight of Will Halstead, Jay's brother.

"Hailey," he said, and if she closed her eyes, she could almost pretend it was Jay's voice. "What happened?"

"I'm fine. Voight's just flipping for nothing. Told me I had to talk with Dr. Charles, so here I am."

"That might be a good idea," Will tried, holding his hands up defensively when Hailey shot him a glare. "Or not."

"I'm fine, Will." She insisted, running a hand through her hair.

"Hailey, it's me you're talking to here. Even I'm not fine most days. He was my brother, you know?"

"I know," she whispered, her voice catching in her throat as she chanced it to look at Will. His eyes were sad, and she knew why, because her eyes were welling up with tears just the same.

"I'm sorry," she said, and he sat down next to her, being there while she let a few tears slip. "I know you loved him."

"Yeah, as did you. It's okay that you miss him."

She sniffled, shocked by the ease with which he uttered that statement. "Of course, I loved him, he was my partner."

Will grabbed them each tissues, but Hailey didn't miss the knowing glance he shot in her direction. She threw him one back, and he smirked, dismissing himself when Dr. Charles showed up at Hailey's door.

"Hi Hailey," Daniel said.

"Hi."

"You ready?"

"No. But I don't really have a choice now, do I?"

"Every moment's full of choices Hailey. You could choose to walk out those doors right now and never come back. But it's the consequences of those choices that are harder for people to think about."

She sighed, knowing he had a point. "Fine, but I don't know how talkative I'll be."

"Just be present, Hailey. That's all I ask."

She nodded, following him back to his office. Here goes nothing…

"Hailey, I know you lost Jay, who was your partner on this last case you were working. Do you wanna tell me about that?"

"Not really, no."

"Okay, well what about Jay? Do you wanna tell me about him?"

"You've known him for years, haven't you?" She asked, quirking her brow.

"Sure," Dr. Charles said slowly, tapping his pen. "But not like you know him. Getting to know someone through the eyes of someone else is actually quite fascinating."

Hailey fought an eye roll, but gave in. She'd have to talk sometime. "Jay was the best. In every way. And I just wish–" she choked on her breath, wishing the tears hadn't decided to come back now.

"Wish what? That he knew that? Of course, he did, Hailey. You guys were partners." Dr. Charles said.

"But I never told him–" she tried, but she froze, realizing what the actual word was she was trying to articulate. Love. She never told Jay that she loved him. And that's what was eating her up inside.

"Told him what? How you felt? Well, let me ask you this, did you show him?"

"What?"

"Did you show Jay you cared for him?"

"Sure, of course. We laughed, and talked, and kissed. We were just always so in-sync."

"Okay," he started, drawing out his words again. "So, how's that any different from say, telling someone you love them?

"I–" she thought she had an answer on the tip of her tongue, but she closed her mouth instead.

Dr. Charles smiled. "You see, Hailey…sometimes actions can say more than words ever can. Just remember that, okay?"

She nodded, a strange sense of calm washing over her at the new knowledge she held. "Thanks."

Daniel nodded, leading her back out to the Med lobby. "I'm around Hailey. Don't be a stranger."

She shook her head once more, before zipping up her jacket and going back out into reality. Maybe he was right. Jay had to have known how she felt. She showed him how much she loved him in many ways…she bit her lip as she felt her cheeks warm at their one night they did spend together.

As she looked up though, she was met with the last person she ever expected to see standing by her car.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"Just give me one minute," Garrett pleaded.

"Why?" Hailey spat, digging in her pocket for her keys. She unlocked her car door, but Garrett still didn't move. "Garrett, now's not the time."

"I just wanted to see how you were."

She scoffed. "Yeah, right. Like you care. Just get out of here, Garrett. Go home, okay? I'm fine."

She tried to move him out of the way, but he surprised her by gripping her arm harshly. Her eyes met his, and for once she was a little frightened of how much heat they held. Like he was mad….at her.

"Garrett," she tried, searching his face. "Let go, please."

It was like a light switched on, or off, Hailey wasn't too sure at the moment. Either way, he was literally shaken from his daze, and finally released his grip on her arm. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

She took her chance and hopped into her car, turning on the ignition and driving away before he even had a chance to call her name.

What the hell was that about?

A low cry of frustration jostled Jay from his sleep. He recognized Garrett's tenor, hating that he kept coming back here. Like what? Jay was going to escape at any moment. How could he? It'd been a month and a half; somehow by the grace of God, Garrett had gotten one of his low-life friends that was a "doctor" to remove the bullet from Jay's shoulder; yet that was the only contact with another person he'd had since he'd been here.

"God dammit!" Garrett's yell travelled down the hall to Jay's door, which was promptly thrown open. "What the hell is wrong with you?"

"Me?" Jay asked incredulously, not believing his ears. What the hell could he have possibly done by sitting here?

"You've gotten into her head, man. And here I thought she'd at least be able to talk to me by now! I mean, my god, 6 fucking weeks is a long time…" Garrett sighed, tugging on his hair with his hands.

"What're you talking about?"

"Hailey, you idiot."

If his shoulder still didn't hurt like a son of a bitch, he would've decked Garrett right then. He stewed silently instead, letting him rant on.

"She wouldn't even talk to me. Like she's so fucking entitled to feel everything but not let people in to help her. She let Adam in, you know?" He paused, a maniacal grin spreading over his face at the reminder that Jay didn't know Hailey had shacked up with Adam, not once, but a couple times now, if he had to guess.

"Right," he began, turning to face Jay. "You don't know."

"What are you going on about, Garrett?"

"Hailey and Adam. They're together now. She'll apparently fuck that Neanderthal, but not talk to me–"

"Hey," Jay ground out, gritting his teeth. He hated how demeaning Garrett was to Hailey or about her. No wonder she didn't want to talk to him.

"Oh, give it a rest, Halstead. Like you didn't do her while you two were literally sleeping together."

His silence spoke volumes to Garrett, who had the audacity to laugh at the admission. "Wow, I am actually surprised."

"Why's that? She still wouldn't be with you, man. She hated you."

"Watch it," Garrett said, before backhanding Jay.

He winced at the pain that radiated from his cheek. He shook his head, looking up at Garrett in disgust. "You really are a piece of work, aren't you?"

Garrett turned, walking out of the room without dignifying Jay's semi-rhetorical question with a response.

"You sure you're good?" Adam asked her for the millionth time. Hailey sighed as she pulled back her pool stick. She hit the red ball, but it bounced off the side, missing both the green and blue ones she was aiming for. Dammit.

"Well, thanks for that." She deadpanned, tossing him the cue.

"Sorry," he said, trying to get her to smile, but it failed. She just wasn't into it right now, the whole, talking, carrying on, acting like things were– god forbid – good.

A few hits later and Adam had won the game, or so Hailey let him think. She'd forfeited a long time ago, wanting it to be over sooner rather than later.

"That was fun, Hails," he said, lazily wrapping his arm around her as they headed for the door of Molly's.

"Mhmm," she said, and as they made it to his car, she stopped, pushing him against it to kiss him. Her hands were running rampant over his body, their breaths coming out in short spurts. She kept her eyes closed, trying to remember what he tasted like instead. She knew it was wrong, but she couldn't help it.

She wished Adam's tanned muscular frame was Jay's freckled, toned one. She wished his dirty blonde boy band hair was replaced with a shorter-cropped cut of brown curls, if you got lucky enough to be that close. She wished his untamed brown eyes were his caring green ones. She wished with all her might, and yet, when she did open her eyes, she was faced to face with reality. And the truth hit her like a ton of bricks.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, trying to get him to stop. Adam had undone the first few buttons of her own plaid shirt, but she grabbed onto his hands, making him stop indefinitely. "I can't do this."

"Do what? This? Hailey, no one's saying we have to," he said, his voice laced with pure confusion. She couldn't blame him. It's not his fault he wasn't who she really wanted him to be.

"I know," she said, nodding furiously and running a hand over her mouth before it made its way into her hair. She noticed Adam's hand did the same thing along the back of his neck. "But it's more than that, isn't it?"

She caught his eyes once more, and she saw that flicker of understanding, of the truth he couldn't avoid. He nodded, pulling her into a light hug before whispering, "I'm not him" into her hair. She stiffened at the harsh bomb that had been dropped, but quickly relaxed as she felt relieved to have it out in the open.

"I'm sorry, Adam."

"Me too, Hailey."

A/N: And that's part two of the Hailey-centric POV. I only have a couple chapters left, I think. But thanks for sticking with me through the long pauses in updates guys, I sincerely appreciate it! Hope this chapter was enjoyable for you all. Can't wait to see what happens for Upstead in this next episode!