Sometimes when I close my eyes

I pretend I'm alright

But it's never enough

-Echo by Jason Walker

"Kim, you go with Halstead, keep tabs on Davis. Upton, Antonio, talk to Abby's mother again, ask her if she knew about the boyfriend."

Kim nodded, though she wondered why Haley wasn't paired up with Jay. She looked to Haley and noticed her slumped shoulders and the unhappy, downward curl of her mouth. Kim caught her eye and smiled brightly at her. Haley smiled back, her back straightened and she nodded at her. She watched Haley and Antonio leave and resolved to make plans for a girl's night.

"Kim!"

"I'm going, sarge," she hurried in the direction of the locker room, where she'd seen Jay headed almost thirty minutes ago. She entered the locker room, but it was empty, so she went in further, into the bathroom and was surprised to see him sitting on the floor beside the sink. He was looking at his shaking hands with a faraway look. He was pale, his skin ashen and obviously clammy

She stood in the doorway for a minute, a full minute, and he didn't notice her.

"Jay," she calls out softly. He startled as if she'd shouted the out the word.

"Hey, Kim. What's going on?"

"I'm your partner for the day. We'll have to talk to Davis."

He nodded, though she noticed his darkened expression. "Everything okay with Haley?"

"Yes."

"Everything okay with you?"

He scrubbed a hand over his face, a little too aggressively and didn't answer, pushing himself off the floor. "Let's go," he said curtly.

"Jay-"

"I said let's go, Kim!" He didn't exactly shout, but he did raise his voice, and that surprised her. It must have shown on her face, because his expression turned from angry to apologetic, and his eyes softened. "I'm sorry, Kim. I just don't want to talk. About anything."

"Fine," she allowed. "But this isn't over, Jay."

"We have a case, Kim," he reminded her.

"It can wait a few minutes," she snapped at him. "Now, you better listen to me. I know you're hurting right now and I am so sorry for everything bad that has happened to you, I really am."

He was rigid, expecting her to go off on him, maybe. "But?"

"But, it's affecting your work. You're distracted a lot, your temper is starting to rival Voight's and you look like you haven't slept in days," she made sure to keep her tone firm, but somewhat gentle.

"I haven't."

She gapes at him, surprised that he'd shared even that little piece of himself. And from the look on his face, he seemed surprised, too. Kim saw it as an opening.

"Let us help you. Please."

He hesitated for about thirty seconds and in that short time, she saw a world of hurt behind his eyes.

But then a wall came up and he straightened up. Her heart ached for him.

"We have a case, Kim." And then he walked away.

Thank you Mariedonovan, LittleMissBookwormBrainiac, Madisoncunningham1 and the 4 guests for your kind reviews!

I hope you all enjoyed this one.