Chapter 6

For the moment, Jay couldn't follow up on Hailey, as the investigation was taking up all his time. After a false lead, an arrest and work late into the night, they went through Hailey's files the next morning and had a new lead to follow. The bank robbery crew targeted Credit Unions, which provided easy access and a fast escape route.

Therefore, Jay and Erin headed off to another Credit Union that matched these criteria, to check the surveillance footage. Yet in the exact same moment they were checking it, the Credit Union was targeted. While pursuing the offenders, Erin shot one – a 15-year-old boy –, and another one was arrested.

Back at 21st, Jay found out that Voight had asked Hailey to join in on the investigation. But before he had time to process this, she was gone again. Together with Voight, Adam and Kevin, Hailey paid a visit to the used car garage owned by Lavar Spann, Hailey's main suspect in the case.

Later that day, Jay worked with Hailey directly for the first time.

"You look good," Jay whispered in Hailey's direction on their way downstairs.

She flashed him a brief smile. "You too, Jay."

And that was it for the moment.

They were hidden in a surveillance van placed out of Spann's garage. Hailey was in the back taking photos, while Jay sat in the front with Al.

Even though he didn't want to talk to Hailey privately while Al was there, he just couldn't stop himself from teasing her.

"Rumor has it you were meritoriously promoted to detective, is that right?" he said matter-of-factly.

"Yeah, that's right," Hailey answered with a grin.

"What, you shake your feathers in front of the right commander, or is your uncle an alderman?" Al chipped in.

Both Jay and Hailey could barely suppress a laugh. Funny, how comfortable they already felt in each other's company after all those years.

"I was undercover for a year, so put that in your pipe and smoke it."

Jokingly Jay asked for more information but was finally cut short by Hailey.

"No offense, but this is the first time in the back of your van," she quipped.

They shared a smile and a wink, before concentrating on the garage again. Jay was literally waiting for Al to say something, but his colleague just observed the exchange with a smirk. Oh, he would mention it sooner or later, Jay was sure of that. This was getting more and more interesting.

The case took more turns, two more dead boys, another suspect, but Intelligence could finally close it. They arrested the killer of the two boys as well as Spann, and they even made sure the boy in custody, Corey Jenkins, was taken care of as best as possible under the circumstances. Too many casualties, but at least one boy had a chance to lead a good life once he turned 18.

Jay wasn't sure if he had missed his chance to talk to Hailey. He was still sitting in the locker room, thinking, when he heard Hailey talking to Trudy Platt. Now that was a surprise. After their rocky start, their voices sounded soft and friendly. Slowly and carefully Jay approached. Perhaps he could slip out of the precinct directly behind Hailey and talk to her. He didn't want to interrupt, however, and overheard their conversation. Hailey had become a cop because of Trudy? Wow. Trudy would always love Hailey for that confession. She would always have backup here in 21st. He smiled to himself. As soon as he heard Hailey leaving, he casually walked outside, too.

If Trudy Platt noticed that he followed Hailey, she didn't comment on it.

"Hailey, wait," Jay whispered into the darkness once the door was closed.

"Yeah?"

Jay flinched; she stood close to him, leaning on to the wall. He could almost feel her gaze, see her raised eyebrows.

"Can we talk, please?" he asked.

"Sure."

"My car? It's cold out here."

Hailey slipped into Jay's car, immediately taking in the familiar scent. Yes, she had missed Jay, a lot. They had been good together.

"You ok?" she asked.

"I guess," Jay answered reluctantly. "And you?"

"Better than expected. It seems we work together now."

"Do we?" Jay said.

"Voight offered me a spot in Intelligence. Are you ok with that?" Hailey looked at him. "Because if not, I will decline Voight's offer."

"Don't decline," Jay quickly said. "I would love to work with you. For all I know you're a good cop. Are *we* ok working together?"

"Yes, we are," Hailey reassured him.

After a moment of silence, she added, "So you and Erin?"

Jay frowned, surprised. "How?"

"I'm a good cop, remember?" Hailey laughed. "So, you two are an item."

Jay shook his head. "We were, for a while. But not anymore."

"Sorry to hear that. What happened?"

"That's a long story," Jay said, unwilling to go into detail just now. "What about you?"

"Yeah, there was someone," Hailey admitted. "But that's another long story. We should catch up soon, ok?"

"Absolutely."

"And now go and celebrate your birthday."

Jay looked at her, even more surprised.

"Hey, I do remember your birthday."

"Yes, you do." Jay smiled. "Without your Google calendar," he added more to himself.

"What?"

"Nothing, Hailey."

Hailey opened the door of Jay's car, ready to get out. "See you in the office tomorrow, Jay Halstead."

"See you tomorrow, Hailey Upton," Jay answered. "And just so you know – I'm really glad we work together."

"So am I."

Still smiling Jay drove to Molly's. He knew his colleagues wanted to throw him a surprise party, and he couldn't let them wait much longer. He had told Hailey the truth, he loved the idea that they would be working together. Sure, it would turn out interesting with Erin there. Even though Erin didn't know about their former relationship, he had a feeling these two might not become best friends. They would clash eventually, simply because of who they were. Not one better or worse than the other, but too different. And he might end up in the middle, if he wasn't careful. He wasn't worried about Hailey, though. She had changed in these three years. She was still cute as hell, and so soft and sweet, but she was tougher, harder than he remembered her. The long undercover assignment must have been difficult, and these things change a person.

He had changed too, for sure. The tough cases, the times his life had been in danger, Erin – all that had left an impact. He was not the same man he had been three years ago, just like Hailey wasn't the same woman.

Jay wasn't quite sure about their future relationship. He had barely broken up with Erin, and it was still messy, uncomfortable. He was attracted to Hailey, but he knew he shouldn't fall right back into her arms. That would be unfair to all of them, to Erin, to Hailey, and to himself. He had been serious about Erin, he couldn't just leave it all behind in an instant. And he wasn't even sure if he still had these feelings for Hailey, or if it were just the memories. Or if she still had feelings for him. Yes, he needed to be careful for once, not go just by impulse, but be considerate. He couldn't risk messing up their lives by jumping head over heels into a new relationship. He would welcome the renewed friendship and camaraderie with Hailey, but that would be it for the moment.

Hailey drove home, thinking about the situation. A lot had happened within just two days. A case that seemed normal was suddenly taken away from her, she had a job offer in a great unit, actually in the best unit in CPD, and she met her ex-boyfriend again. The boyfriend, with whom she had been madly in love. Breaking up with him had been a huge sacrifice for the job, and until this day she wasn't quite sure if it had been worth it. They had both changed, they had grown up, had matured in their jobs. Jay was still terribly handsome, charming, sweet, but there was a darker aura about him now. It made him even more attractive, sure, but that was not the point.

He had been in a serious relationship with another woman. While he had said that this relationship was over, Hailey wondered if that was true. She had watched the two of them, and there was still a lot going on between them. Things Jay needed to figure out.

Simply restarting her relationship with Jay was clearly out of the question. Some part of her wanted to do just that, but the reasonable part of her knew this shouldn't happen anytime soon. She was just about to start her job in Intelligence, *his*team, and she couldn't start in this unit by dating her co-worker. While she wanted to be on good, on friendly terms with Jay, she needed to keep her distance. And over time it should become easier. If she was to stay in Intelligence, she would have to find her place there, build a good professional and personal relationship with the whole team, not just Jay. And perhaps one day, they would both be ready to renew their relationship, if they still wanted that.

Jay in fact got a "surprise" birthday party at Molly's. Kevin and Adam were there, the three of them had a pleasant yet superficial conversation. Erin stopped by, gave him a ridiculously expensive bottle of cognac, and was gone again. Sure, she was still thinking about the boy she had shot, but Jay figured there might be other reasons for her to leave so quickly.

He tried to hold her back, make her talk. She accepted his comforting hug, but that was all. Erin didn't want to talk to Jay, didn't want him to support her.

Jay went back to the bar, to his colleagues. It still didn't feel good that Erin pushed him away, whenever something was bothering her.

That was one huge difference between Hailey and Erin. Erin never really opened up to him, not the way Hailey used to – back then. Also, Hailey had always been the one to ask if he was ok, only Hailey. Yes, his relationship with Erin was definitely over, Jay noticed. It had been fun at times, but not healthy at other times, not healthy for either of them.

Still, he needed to keep his distance from Hailey. Her new job would be difficult enough, he shouldn't add any problems to that by pursuing her romantically. She would do just fine, and he would be there to support her if necessary. As a friend. And perhaps one day there would be more. One day.