Jay drove to pick up Hailey the next day. Yesterday, when they'd been in the showers, he'd joked about telling Adam they had showered together and she'd said, "in your dreams, Halstead." That was exactly what he'd dreamt about all night. And then that morning he'd spent most of breakfast trying to come up with an explanation for his actions when they were at Hailey's car, and he couldn't justify any platonic reasoning. He was fairly certain he had feelings for Hailey, but acting on them would definitely make things messy.

She was waiting on the sidewalk when he pulled up. "I need coffee." She groaned. Barely sleeping the past two nights was catching up to her. And her lack of sleep both nights was because of Jay.

Stopping at their favorite cafe, they stood in line to get their coffee. "How are your abs today?" Hailey said with a grin.

Jay lifted up his shirt a bit, showing off a glimpse of skin saying "still there." She laughed.

They got their coffee and headed into work. Voight was business as usual. "Alright, one of Attwater's CIs got us a drug buy from Gian Fredricks, were gonna set up a meet." Loading up their gear, Hailey took her sniper rifle. Her, Jay and Adam would cover Vanessa and Kevin while they made the buy. Burgess and Voight were covering the exits.

They were set up under the bridge an hour before the drug dealers showed up. A dark green Escalade pulled in, Attwater's CI shaking hands with the passenger. Introducing Attwater and Rojas with fictious names, they began negotiating.

Hailey saw a flicker in the Escalade. "Sarge, there's more people in that SUV," she whispered into the radio.

Kevin was handing over the money when Fredricks pulled out a gun, yelling at Kevin to get on the ground.

Rojas and Attwater dropped, and pandamonium erupted. Fredricks shot the CI, Jay took out Fredricks, then whoever was in the SUV started shooting at Jay. Hailey picked off the guy in the SUV with her rifle. Adam snuck up to the other side of the SUV, pulling out another passenger. Adam declared, "all clear," and Hailey ran down to the CI, putting pressure on the wound in his abdomen. "JAY! You alright?!" She shouted.

No response.

"Adam!" She screamed.

"I got this guy, go!" Ruzek told Hailey, swapping places with her.

She ran over to Jay's position, he was laying on the ground clutching his side, blood pooling around him.

"Jay, are you okay?! Where are you hit?"

He groaned, through gritted teeth saying, "my side, i think it went through but it hurts like a bitch."

Hailey ripped of his shirt and vest. The bullet had caught him above his right hip. Jay's eyes started to flutter.

"Jay, stay with me, don't go to sleep on me, Jay," she was shouting at him.

He was trying to focus on her voice, but her face was swimming. Reaching out he touched her still swollen eye. "Hailey..." His eyes closed.

"JAY," she shouted. She had to keep him awake.

So she kissed him.

Jay's eyes flew open. This had to be a dream... Hailey's soft lips were on his and she tasted like peppermint gum. His hand that was on her face slid around to the back of her neck, pulling her in for a deeper kiss. His other hand wrapped around her waist.

"Uh, whatchya doin guys?"

Hailey sprang away from Jay flushed. Kim stood there, a bemused look on her face. "He's going to need an ambo," Hailey said, not meeting Kim's gaze. "I was trying to keep him awake."

Kim smiled. "Mhmm."

The paramedics arrived, Hailey was glad to see it wasn't Foster. They loaded Jay up and were off to Chicago Med. Hailey tried to help wrap up the scene, but she was distracted. Voight must've sensed that, because he pulled her aside and said, "We got this, go check on your partner."

Hailey drove to Med, finding Jay's brother, Will when she got there. "Any news on Jay?"

"He'll be fine." Will said. "He's just going to need stitches, the bullet went through. You should be able to see him in an hour."

So she sat on the edge of her seat in the waiting room, elbows on her knees, hands clasped in front of her. She could not get her right leg to stop shaking nervously. She just kept thinking about that kiss.

Finally Will told her she could see Jay. Walking into his room she said, "Hey. You gave me a scare there."

"Eh, I'm just a big baby, it wasn't that bad."

She smiled, glad he was back to himself. Now, what about that kiss?

"Look Jay-"

"Hailey I-"

They both stopped, not quite sure what to say. Finally, Hailey spoke. "Look Jay, I'm sorry I kissed you, i was just trying to keep you awake. I shouldn't have done that, I mean, were partners, and you know workplaces relationships are messy and all..." She trailed off, hoping he would stop her and say she was wrong.

"Right." He said, looking down. If she wanted to pretend like it didn't happen, he would do that too. He knew romantic pursuits had great potential to destroy their great partnership.

Jay insisted on going home that night, but Will was against it. "You shouldn't be alone, with all the pain meds you're on, what if you screw up your dosage? Im not letting you leave unless you have someone stay with you."

Jay glanced at Hailey. He wasn't going to miss an opportunity to ask her to sleep over. Even if they were just friends. "Hey, um, Upton? Any chance you can help me out?"

She hesitated. Sleeping at Jay's. Well, she had already done that once this week, but now that they'd kissed it took on a whole different meaning.

Noticing Hailey's hesitation, Jay said "I mean, I could try calling Kevin..." Jay's only family was Will, and he had 7 more hours in his hospital shift.

"Oh, no. That's fine, I can stay at your place." Hailey said. I mean what harm could sleeping on the couch do?

Hailey pulled her car around while the nurse helped Jay dress in some of Will's extra scrubs to wear home, then Will went over Jay's medication with him and Hailey and he was discharged. They drove back to his place and Hailey helped him in the door. He was very stiff and sore, but otherwise in good spirits.

"Alright, you should probably get some rest." Hailey told him. She sent him back to his room to change while she made him something to eat.

After an unusually long time, Jay still wasn't back. Hailey went and knocked on his door. "Jay, you okay?"

"Um... No. Could I get some help?"

Hailey opened the door and let out a laugh. Jay was standing in the room in his underwear, his shirt was off of his left arm, but still around his neck and right arm.

"I can't lift my arm high enough to get my shirt off." He said awkwardly.

Hailey stepped closer to him, sliding her hand gently between his skin and the shirt. She slowly pulled his shirt off the rest of the way, his eyes watching her the whole time.

She went over to his dresser, pulled out a shirt and sweatpants, and helped him put them on. She held out the pants for him to step into, and pulled them up to his waist, her touch grazing his hips. As she slid the shirt over his head and pulled it down his body, her hands lightly brushed his chest and abs. Not thinking, Hailey wrapped her arms around his torso and embraced him.

"I'm glad you didn't die today. Don't ever do this again," she whispered.

"Copy that, boss." He said quietly with a small smile, squeezing her petite frame. His face was in her hair again, and he just couldn't get enough of her smell. They stood like that for a while, probably longer than friends should.

Pulling away, Hailey turned to go back to the kitchen. "I have your supper and pills," she told him.

"Why thank you nurse Upton," he said, taking them from her. When they were done with supper she helped him into bed, pulling the covers over him.

"Goodnight, Jay."

"Night Hail."

And she returned to her couch, laying there wishing she was somewhere else.