The next week, Jay officially was on duty again. He and Hailey were driving into work Monday morning after he spent the night at her house.
"So, how are we going to play this with the team?" Jay asked.
"Let's keep it to ourselves." Turning to him with a stern look but a twinkle in her eyes she said, "so no funny business, lover boy."
Jay laughed. As he got out of his truck he put his hands up defensively. "I'm always behaved," he snickered.
Hailey grinned at him and winked, "I hope not!"
Jay smiled, leaning down to kiss her...
"Hey guys!" Said Vanessa as she got out of her car.
"Hey!" Said Jay, a little too loudly.
Vanessa raised her eyebrows and Hailey shrugged, walking in the door she said to Rojas, "Somebody is a little excited to be back." They laughed at Jay's expense and the two women headed upstairs.
"Halstead. Welcome back." Sargeant Platt nodded at him, holding out a stack of papers. "Here's your short term disability forms... Although your benefits are waived if you work during the disability period, so here's a Volunteering of Services form for your time here last Thursday." She said matter of factly.
"Uh. Happy to... Volunteer, Sarge." He smiled, taking the papers and joining the rest of the team upstairs.
The team was already standing around the board when he walked in.
"Halstead. Good to have you back," Voight said. "Alright, let's get to it." Turning he pointed to a picture on the board. "This is Lesster Mahoney, 48, Attwater's got a CI who said Mahoney is running cocaine through his boat shop down at the docks. Patrol's been sitting on the shop all day with no activity." He turned, looking at the group. "Kevin's CI says this guy's got a dog he likes to walk in a park in Oakland, let's check it out."
The Intelligence Unit packed up their gear, heading out to the park. Burgess sat on a bench reading a book, Kevin and Adam pretended to be checking something out under the hood of their car. Rojas starting jogging around the park. Jay grabbed Hailey's hand. "No better time then now to pretend to be a couple," he smirked.
They walked hand in hand around the park. "I could get used to this," Jay said, smiling down at her. "If only I could kiss you right now..."
"Anyone have eyes on Mahoney?" Voight's voice rang out in Jay's ear and he jumped.
Hailey looked at him, a serious expression on her face. "Jay, we agreed work and personal life is separate. I need you to focus."
"Right." He said, ashamed. Damn, but she was so beautiful. Thinking about her, touching her, kissing her. It was distracting. She was like a drug to him, and he wanted more.
Shaking his head to snap himself back to reality, Jay's eyes scanned the crowd. He watched a pitbull mix catch a tennis ball, running back to its owner...
"We got him, southeast corner by the fountain." Jay said into his phone as he watched Mahoney take the tennis ball from the dog.
Jay and Hailey split up, flanking Mahoney on both sides.
"Lesster Mahoney? Chicago PD, you're going to have to come with us."
He threw the ball at Jay and took off, running west. "Offender is fleeing west towards the bridge..." Said Hailey into her phone, pursuing.
Meanwhile the dog had followed the tennis ball and Jay was trying to get himself untangled from the friendly pup. He heard the sound of gunfire coming from the direction Hailey had gone.
"HAILEY!" He shouted.
"Shots fired at police, offender is armed, fleeing northwest towards the pond, plain clothes officers in pursuit," Jay heard Hailey's voice on the radio.
Jay took off, cutting around the other side of the park, hoping the short cut would give him an advantage.
Meanwhile, Kevin and Adam were at the bridge. Jay could see them closing in, but not close enough to help when the offender suddenly turned, tackling Hailey to the ground, his fists hitting her body. He jumped back up, as Hailey lay on the ground groaning in pain. Jay reached her, "you good?" He asked.
"Yeah, get him!"
Jay took off, even though in his heart he wanted to stay with her. Anger fueled him as he chased the perpatrator, slowly advancing on him until he was close enough to take him down. Jay pinned him to the ground, "you like beating up women?" Jay spat at the man.
Kevin and Adam arrived, out of breath, as Jay was putting cuffs on.
"Well take him, go check on your partner." Kevin told Jay.
He jogged back to were Hailey was now sitting up, holding her ribs. Burgess was by her side already.
"Geez, Hail. You alright?" He asked, tenderly putting his arm around her shoulder. The move did not go unnoticed by Burgess, who raised her eyebrows and gave Hailey a knowing look.
Hailey cleared her throat. "Yeah, all good, partner." She said, emphasizing the last word.
Jay pulled away from Hailey. Acting like nothing was going on between them was proving more difficult than he had expected.
Burgess stood up. "I'd better go check on... witnesses." She said, walking off.
"I should've stopped to help you after he hurt you." Jay lamented.
"Then he wouldn't be in custody." Hailey responded. "This is the job, Jay." She looked him in the eye. "Look, i want to do this... This thing with you and me. But I will not sacrifice my integrity as a police officer."
Jay nodded. "I know. I get that. I'll do better."
Hailey held out her hand and he pulled her up as Voight walked over. "I'm gonna drop you off at Med to get checked out, alright?"
Hailey nodded. "Yes sir."
As she followed Voight, she turned and said in a low voice to Jay, "I might need another check up later?" A small smile spread on her face.
Jay laughed. "Count on it."