Conclusion!(?)

Jay takes a break between gym sets to think about everything that's happened the past few days. He puts down the weight casually and leans back on the bench. Going to the gym in the early afternoon on Saturdays has become a biweekly tradition between Hailey and him. They thought it was a great idea in case they needed to work off any excess liquor calories from a rough or fun Friday night. He's extra grateful today that they still made the trip and Hailey didn't cancel on him given everything that happened between them the other night. If Hailey actually remembered anything from her drunken haze, she certainly didn't bring it up… although with her, that could go either way. Even if she was aware, it's not unlike her to pretend nothing happened. When they woke up to go to work that Thursday morning, she grumbled about having a severe hangover and being tired, but didn't say much else, except to yell at him for letting her drink so much. Typical. She stopped to get them coffee on the way to dropping him off at his house to get ready, but overall their ride was pretty quiet. He wouldn't describe it as awkward, but it definitely felt like there was an unspoken agreement among them to not mention the prior night.

By the time they got to work that morning, it was busy from the get-go. They didn't have a moment to breath and ended up working a near 13-hour shift with the case they had, which led into yesterday. Since Friday was so busy also, they certainly didn't have a moment to discuss their near kiss even if both of them wanted to, which he's confident Hailey did not. When they finally wrapped work last night, he had to get to that stupid double-date, so he didn't have time to talk to Hailey even if he worked up the nerve to.

Jay had begrudgingly gone on the date for the sole fact that he knew Will would have killed him if he cancelled. Luckily the night ended quickly because it was a complete disaster, and fortunately not due to his feelings for Hailey, or he'd have Will busting him again. No, it was a disaster because the girl was a complete nut… slightly due to Will himself, but both brothers wouldn't be seeing those girls ever again; which is completely fine by Jay… he only has eyes for one anyway, and she's currently getting off the treadmill and walking his way.

"What is this? You're tapping out already, Jay? Your poor wittle arms hurt from the big strong weight? I just ran 6 miles during this bench set of yours!" Hailey says to him teasingly.

He smirks at her while shaking his head. "We can't all be a machine like you, Hailey. But I do appreciate your half-Greek feistiness at 11am. Besides, these arms are anything but wittle!" he says while flexing, knowing it's going to get some kind of reaction out of her… hoping for a turned-on one if he's wishing.

She rolls her eyes at him, pleasantly over their exchange… Although if he is wishing, he does notice a slight hue rise in her cheeks.

"Alright tough guy, are you really done already, cause I still wanna hit the battle ropes?"

"No, I was just taking a quick breather. I should probably get some cardio in too."

"Ok, well y'know where to find me then." She says as she starts walking away, but then flips around again walking backwards. "Hey, you wanna hit Molly's tonight? I heard on the radio the new Lagunitas brew got released this week."

"Yea, sounds great, we can come back here tomorrow and work it off!" he jokes.

She scoffs , "Yeaaa… maybe you can, I'm actually getting in a good workout today!" and with that she walks fully away. Jay chuckles to himself as he makes his way over to the elliptical machine.

He's glad that nothing is awkward between them, that's the last thing he'd ever want. As he climbs the fake stairs, he looks on longingly from afar, watching Hailey at the ropes. She probably could kick half their asses if she really wanted to. He can't help but think how much fun that would be in the bedroom. He shakes his head, trying to get that image out of his head, at the gym of all places. The dirty thoughts have invaded his head even more these past few months as his feelings for her keep growing stronger. He knows he has to figure things out or confess soon, it's eating him alive. He raises the speed of the machine and tries to work off and metaphorically run from his thoughts.

They finally decide to call it a day at the gym an hour later after they did one of their last workouts together. He buys them both a protein drink before they head outside and start walking their separate ways to their cars.

"So want me to pick you up around 8 tonight?" he asks her.

"Sounds good. Or I can pick you up? I do owe you!" she replies.

"I've been waiting for those words to be said!" he teases and starts backing away before she almost hits his arm.

"But yea, that works… I'll even be ready and dressed for you by the time you arrive!"

"Well, that'll be a first… see ya, Jay!"

He chuckles as he watches her walk away, feeling pretty excited for whatever tonight may hold. Maybe he'll get them both drunk this time.

Hailey knocks on Jay's apartment promptly at 8. He's shockingly dressed and ready to go as promised. She can't get over how good he looks in his button-down shirt. Man, she's gotta get a hold of herself. She had a lot of time to think today after their gym session. She's incredibly grateful that he didn't bring up Wednesday night at all these past few days because as drunk as she was, she DID remember, and she was rightfully mortified. What was she thinking almost kissing him!? Despite the fact that her and Adam have been broken up for almost two months now, and the reasoning was thanks to Jay, he's still her partner and she knows she's playing with fire. She finds herself caring about it less and less though, which surprises her, but it doesn't much matter considering Jay made it pretty clear the other night it was a bad idea.

She knows he always means well, especially when it comes to her, so she's not upset or angry. If anything, she's appreciative of a guy who didn't want to take advantage of her in a vulnerable state… she wonders if Adam had been the same way, if she would have gotten herself into that whole mess still. Not that she has any ill-will towards him either; they both needed the comfort of someone else those few months they were together. She's really at a loss on what to do with her Jay situation now though considering she's lost her distraction from it. And the fact that they've been spending even more time together since the break-up isn't helping… but he went out with that dumb bitch last night so maybe their hangouts will be ending soon. Ooh Hailey, jealousy is not a good look on you, she thinks right before she hears Jay pull her from her thoughts again.

"Earth to Hailey? Come in Detective Upton!?" Jay says waving his hand in front of her face in his doorway.

"What? Oh sorry, I totally spaced out there for a minute!"

He quickly looks concerned before he turns teasing. "It's the button I left open on my shirt, isn't it? See, the gym makes me sexier after all!"

She turns her head in disgust and starts walking away. "Oh shutup, you wish! C'mon, lets go so we can grab a spot at the bar!"

He locks his door behind them and starts following her.

"You look nice too, Hailey! I mean, not as nice as this, but…" he says trying to rile her up again and keep the mood light.

"Yea, yea…"

The ride over to Molly's is a relatively quiet one, but not awkward. For once, Chicago is finally starting to warm up and they're enjoying the scenic sundown with the windows open. It's enough to clear both their heads and ease any jitters either of them may have.

When they arrive at Molly's they sit in their usual corner spot at the bar, waving to a couple of acquaintances along the way. Hermann is the bartender and he beams when he sees them.

"Well, well, if it isn't my two favorite detectives! What can I get you guys?"

"Hey Hermann! I'd love to try the new Lagunitas if you still have some." Hailey replies.

"I'll have the same." Jay seconds.

"Excellent choice, coming right up. It's been selling like hotcakes! Chicagoans love their hometown beers!"

"Thanks Hermann!" Hailey says as he comes back over with their beers. They clink their glasses together as Hermann walks away to serve others and take a sip.

"Wow, this is really good!" Jay says looking impressed.

"Yea it is… you may have to drive again!" she says and laughs at Jay's shocked reaction. "I'm kidding!"

"I was gonna say… that would become quite the habit if so… not that I don't thoroughly enjoy seeing you as a carefree drunk!"

She rolls her eyes at him and does her best to change the subject. "So that case this week was pretty crazy huh? "

"Yea. I'm just glad we wrapped it before the week ended. I was in no mood for more OT."

"Seriously…" she says painstakingly agreeing.

They make small talk for the next hour, completely trying to avoid conversations that are inevitable. As much as she doesn't want to know, she knows she needs to know how his date went last night. She's fairly certain he didn't hookup with her yet at least, considering he made it to the gym.

"Soo… how'd your double date go? It was last night right?" she says while picking at the wrapping on her bottle, trying to feign how curious she really was. He suddenly bursts out laughing and she looks at him genuinely confused.

"Oh, it was atrocious!"

"Oh?" she replies a little too excitedly.

"Yea, it was pretty much over before it started. We all barely made it through the meal. Apparently the girl Will was trying to set me up with is extremely political, as well as politically-correct… and Will, of course, made some off-colored remark that just set this girl OFF! Her and her friend decided to leave before we even got the check. Needless to say, we won't be seeing those girls again!" They both burst out laughing, Jay reliving it and Hailey imagining it.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" she says between the laughter tears.

"No you're not!" he smiles back.

"Yea, you're right! That's too funny to be sorry about."

"I feel sorry for Will, he's the one who wanted to go… but he brought it on himself."

"Well, if it's any consolation… the girl probably didn't deserve you!" she realizes how that sounds and finishes, "…or Will either!"

Jay turns his body on the stool to fully face her and leans his arm on the back of her stool, staring at her teasingly.

"Why Hailey, if I didn't know any better, I'd think you were jealous…"

She playfully pushes him. "Yea right, Jay, in your dreams!"

It's then that Hermann comes back over to check on them and gives a knowing look.

"See, I told Adam you guys would eventually work it out on your own!"

Jay turns and gives Hermann a bewildered look, while Hailey looks away absolutely horrified.

"What do you mean, Hermann? Work what out?" Jay asks.

Hermann looks at Hailey and realizes his mistake. "Oh, fffffuu…" he mumbles shaking his head. "Man, Cindy is always telling me my big mouth is what makes people not want to have a normal bartender/patron confidential relationship with me like they do with Stella… I'm just gonna go check on my table over there and give you two a minute!"

"Hailey, do you know what he's talking about?" he asks her, still trying to figure it out.

"Jay… can we just drop it, please!" she pleads with him.

"I just don't understand what Adam would be doing talking about us to Hermann."

She stares into her beer bottle and sucks in a breath.

"I may not have been entirely honest with you on why Adam and I broke up…"

"What do you mean?"

"Adam broke up with me because he thought I had feelings for you, that I wanted to be with you, and he thought you felt the same way…"

Jay looks taken aback. "Do you Hailey… have feelings for me?" he asks quietly.

"Jay…." She warns trying to get out of it, but finally gives in, it's all been boiling down to this anyway…

"Yes…" she whispers and he gives her the same look he did when she told him she'd follow him blind. "But it doesn't matter, we're partners, and I get if you don't feel the same…"

"Hailey…"

"No, I can't do this here… I have to go…" she says abruptly, holding back tears before she hops down from the stool and runs outside.

She manages to almost make it to her car before Jay catches up to her, cornering her along the building wall. She has to get away before she completely breaks down. She tries to break out of his arms holding her. This is soo not how she wanted it to go down, but she was the one who told Kim that the world worked in mysterious ways. Idiot.

"Hailey! Can you stop fighting and just let me talk for one second!?"

She looks up at him through the tears and braces herself for whatever he has to say.

"If you weren't so busy trying to fight having feelings for me by being with Adam, you'd have realized that I have feelings for you too. It broke me seeing you with him! And I was so happy once you told me it was over… but I figured you deserved time." he finally gets off what's been on his chest for months now.

She looks up at him shocked, not fully believing it, but elation quickly setting in.

"You do?" she manages to gasp out.

"God Upton, do you always have to be so stubborn!?" his voice sounds scruff when he says it, right before he crashes his lips onto hers.

It takes her a second to process that Jay is finally kissing her, but she responds in kind soon enough. They've both been waiting and dreaming of this moment for so long and it's been entirely worth it. She clings strongly to his neck, pulling him even closer as she runs her hands through his hair, earning her a groan from Jay. He presses her hard in to the wall and it crosses both of their minds that they need to leave soon before one of their coworkers has to arrest them for public indecency. Jay breaks away and they're both almost out of breath. They take a moment to just stare into the others eyes like they always do; this time fully knowing the loaded emotions that lie behind them.

"Soo Detective… you wanna come swap stories in the back of my van?" he asks her with a huge grin.

She beams up at him, fully realizing the throwback he's bringing back up and wanting to play along.

"I don't know, I could get fired… I'd much rather swap stories in your bed for the first time…"

They giggle with each other, positively enjoying themselves and realizing that everything has been leading them to this moment… if any two people were ever fated to be, it was them… while the road was long and winding, the ride was certainly worth it…

[A/N: Since we had a conclusion to the Upzek story line this week, it's only appropriate that I give a proper conclusion to our Upstead loves as well... at least in this story. It's brought me such joy to see how much this story has resonated with you, as I didn't know how far I could take a mulit-chapter. Fortunately, I've made the time again to dedicate to writing, and it means so much to me that you've followed along thus far. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all of your kind reviews and likes... I hope you enjoy this epilogue. I'm certain now it's the end, but I also know to never write anything off the table (no pun intended :p) Until next time, I hope this makes you as happy reading it as it made me writing it!]