Hi guys! Are you okay? I hope so! Thanks for all the reviews.I know the last chapter had a lack of whump (sorry for that). I also know that some days ago I posted chapter 9 but about an hour later or so, I realized that it was incomplete. One day the internet in my house turned off and I was obligated to write a part in the paper (like the old times rsrs) and of course, I can't help but being an idiot and forget about that damn part. Sorry for all the mess! Anyways, what about we go to the chapter? Let's go!
Jay had been raped. For Kim, this seems illusional, out of reality. After some minutes of crying copiously buried in Adam's chest, she sat down on a chair. Dried tears are all over her face and new waves are coming. A mixture of anger and sadness is messing with her mind and her stomach. The computer is just near her but she doesn't have the strength to close the source of their biggest nightmare. She and Jay weren't as close as she is with Adam or Kevin because of their intimacy, however, she considers him as a brother. A brother that the police gave. A brother that life gave without requesting. A brother that left without authorization. She never realized how much he meant to her until now. How much he meant to the whole team until now. Each of them has a function in the team and Jay's is to be glue. He is magnificent in uniting the team as one and exploring in the best way their skills. No one noticed but in a blink of an eye, he's already broken your walls down and installed himself inside your heart and the urge to keep him safe is giant. How will they recover? She looks around the room. Except for Hank, Will, and Mouse, everyone is here. Physically here, mentally somewhere else. Her other worry is Erin. She takes things too seriously especially after Nadia, she can't let her drown in Jay's absence. If that happens again for the second time because of him, Jay will take the blame. They had just witnessed him pass through the cruelest crime, him hearing fake and maleficent words, worst, he is still at the hands of that monster and just tends to continue. Jay is strong, fearless, honest, a fighter but he is a human being. He has limits. The human body can take some pain before it shuts down. How much does someone take before breaking down? Is it enough time to find him? There has to be because giving him up it's not optional.
"Hey, Kim" in the first moment, she thought she was dreaming or hallucinating from the high quantity of morphine in her system to take the bullets out with Jay talking to her. But his hand on hers caught her attention that he was there in reality. "I know I am not the one you expect and want to be here, Adam is who you want, but I make him go eat, sleep and bathe properly. He's smelling awful. Lucky you can't feel it. It's okay for you if I stay for a while?" She is incapable of replying as she hears the drag of a chair towards the bed followed by a firm squeeze on her right hand. "I hilariously and shamelessly almost fell down the stairs to report the team when Trudy told me you took a shot. You scared the shit out of us yesterday. In particular, you scared him. Don't do it ever again, it's an order. In addition to Adam being uncontrollable, unsensible, and annoying without you being the one putting sense into him, I don't want to lose more loved ones. I lost soldiers, I lost my mom, we lost Julie and Jim so soon. I feel guilty for all those dead and you being hurt right now so I'm sorry. I know, I have nothing to be sorry for as I wasn't ever there and it's part of the job, etc...but...we could have imagined that there would be an ambush and warn everyone. Perhaps all this is me being not used to seeing other people in the hospital fighting to live rather than me. I prefer me being your place" he whispers the last phrase, gives a sad laugh and continues "so do me another favor and continue living. You are a fighter so continue fighting for your life. I can imagine you kicking ass in Intelligence. You make me proud, girl. We need you. I love you, sister." He gives an even stronger squeeze on her hand and gets up as Ruzek's low voice enters the room. The urge to reply to Jay is enormous just losing to the drugs pushing her into the dream world.
Jay had been raped. If not for Alvin holding her, Trudy would surely pass out as soon as the mysterious monster entered inside Jay. Inside her adorable Chuckles. Correction: inside her adorable Detective Chuckles. She is the farthest on the group and from the computer to inhibit her in destroying it. Despite her wish, she didn't have the energy for it right now. The energy she had was sucked by the video. Close her eyes it's impossible as those unwanted scenes repeat all over again. How many curse words she threw during the video are uncountable and more than enough to clean her mouth with soap. She had seen horrifying crimes that kept her awake for years but none of them could be compared to how much this one hit her. It's her handsome detective, her protégé, her son she never had, her family. She is one of the oldest cops in District 21, had seen and had been inspired by extraordinary cops and their heroic attitudes. Jay is one of them. He is a veteran and served their country overseas, is a cop to protect his hometown and the citizens, and had willingly offered himself as bait to catch the man responsible for his murderer attempt due to the price under his head. That's when the former Ranger had entered her heart deeply. Not so long ago he got kidnapped and tortured in his most fragile state towards his partner's and love interest's quittance; still, he didn't give up the CI's name to self-conserve. As she had work to do she didn't see the video with the team but, once Jay was saved at the hospital, she ordered Mouse to watch the videotape and quickly regret it. He is essential for her so, even if it's necessary to walk barefoot in hell, they'll rescue him.
She hears Jay's heavy and quickly walking down the Intelligence's stairs. On a normal and stable day, she would jokingly apprehend him to not scare and put away victims and criminals in the front entrance. However, today is an unusual and unstable day, especially when one of the calmest detectives is about to explode with anger, guilt, and sadness over the shooting that nearly killed him, his partner, and wounded Maddy, the friendly bartender, a mere victim of the side effect. Any line could be the trigger and she didn't want to be one of the ex-Ranger at all. For a second she preferred to be quiet and let things go but the curiosity take control and before she could stop, the question comes out:
"Jay, come here for a second." He stops in place, his annoying facial expression showing he didn't want to get interrupted wherever he was doing while approaching her balcony. "The district is becoming more chaotic than it was and I'm sure you mustn't get out of the district. What's happening upstairs?"
"We found a way to catch Shostak. And that includes me. My house arrest is over."
"What way?" His 'you know what I mean' look was enough to connect the pieces of the puzzle. "You are baiting yourself to catch your hitman! It's too dangerous! Are you out of your mind?"
"Sarge…" he says as walks around the balcony until he stops by her side, "this bloody revenge started when I killed Jacob Bembenek. I'm the reason why a sixteen years old girl and a seventh years old woman were dead, my partner was almost killed and my best friend is hospitalized for a shot directed at me. I know the risk I'm running into putting my life on the line, going straight to a man contracted to kill me slowly and painfully. Unfortunately, I also know it's me who has to end and it's the only way. The team will be there if things go south but if the worst happens, know that I died proud and happy for doing what I love the most: protecting people and with a loved family by my side. That includes the most sarcastic Sergeant that I love. You. Thanks for everything. See you." ending the monologue, he turns around and continues his way downstairs, leaving behind a speechless and tearful woman. From that day forward, Jay is buried deeply in the most special place in her heart.
Jay had been raped. Alvin's armor and stoic face, which prevail indestructible most of the time, showed the opposite. He is quiet and as controlled as he can be on the corner, lost in thoughts as his necessity of a punching bag to discharge the anger that, along with the blood, runs through his veins. As he grew, he wasn't stimulated to show his true emotion and intensified in the Army and Police. Instead, both departments taught him the acknowledgment to recognize and inhibit shit before it happened. He considered himself blessed for it until now. Is it too much to ask for ignorance to never being the first to realize the kid's naked chained form on the ground? Is it too much to ask for ignorance to never imagine what was about to come before the video? Is it too much to ask for ignorance to know for instinct why just Hank is back? Ignorance, once in a lifetime, is a blessing. That psycho man is making his mind lead him to his breaking point. Sending the video to his team, to his family, is to do the same thing with them. However, Jay is a fighter, stubborn as hell, has an enormous sense of justice, and is one of the few that has the guts to face Voight. The gut he had when both were about to drown a chained Pulpo in the river and he stopped. The gut he had facing that kid with a shotgun and protecting him from the team and the SWAT. The gut he had to put his life on the line for an unfair price on his head. The gut he had in not giving the CI's names even being beaten and shocked like an animal. Is his gut capable of keeping him alive until his rescue?
Two hours have already passed. An hour analyzing Rodiger's murderer case - that Alvin didn't and wasn't going to question how Jay had got the file by the way - and the last one talking about memories while drinking on Jay's sofa. He finished telling a story about his Army days and both stayed quiet until Jay broke the silence.
"Do you feel survivor's guilt?" is one of the most feared and haunting questions.
"Who doesn't feel survivor's guilt is the real question I guess." He replies sincerely. "What is yours?"
"Which of them?" He smiles sadly. "We were in a team of 6, led by Lieutenant Jake Watson and I was one of the youngest second in command. One day, they called the whole team and said I was going to be trained and promoted earlier than expected to lead our unit because he had received a call from Michelle, his wife, she said she was pregnant. 2 months. He was for his third tour overseas, he successfully convinced the Commander to retire and come back home early. He was so delighted, he always wanted to be a father. We were so happy for everyone getting what we wanted. A day before his departure, we did our last vigilance together. For training, I was supposed to go on the first humvee but he pleaded to let him go on it for the last time. I let him." His voice fails. "We were attacked. A bomb was thrown inside the first humvee and it exploded completely. My humvee had a side effect, flipped and we passed out. It was chaos. Hours later...when I woke up...I knew I was badly injured…my head was bleeding and pain everywhere on my body...but I felt a strange weight on my lap...don't ask me how but while in the explosion, Jake's head was cut off and was on my lap...I still see sharply this scene...every day I blame myself that should have denied his request...he deserved to be alive and be a father...I took this privilege from him. Everyone died on the first humvee. The ones on mine survived the explosion but committed suicide months later. I'm the only alive" Jay's eyes have tears when he finishes and Alvin was left speechless.
"I'm sorry! Don't blame yourself. You are making them proud I swear." He says as sincerely as he can. "Cheers for their memory!" He raises his bottle in his direction.
"Cheers!"
Jay had been raped. Kevin is sitting on the floor just below the hole made when he punched the wall (he's already convicted that he will have to pay for the repair) repeating for the hundredth time all the prayers he has learned his entire life. The pain in his heart is as tearing as the Keyes' video. He has a biological brother and sister. He knows the feeling of overprotection of the younger ones. Jay is more than capable of handling himself out there, kicking some ass, and can come back home bruised and disturbing the hell out of everyone but still keep his smile, sarcasm, and gentleness. For the second time in less than a year, he saw him suffering through a screen. He can't even imagine what is on Jay's head at this exact moment. He believes in this man and his words. He prays for all the gods, goddesses, or divinity above known to help Jay. To let him know they are furious but not on him. To let him know Hank isn't dead like that disturbed man told. To let him know all those dirty words thrown by that man are fake. To let him know they don't hate or blame him. Even less they are leaving him behind. How could they leave him? For what reason could they hate him? They have made a long journey; solved difficult and heartbreaking cases, faced mad criminals who dare to try and break them like Pulpo, Adrian Gish, and Gregory Yates, grieved for Jules', Jim's, and Nadia's terrible deaths and still, they are together. They still have more to face and do together in the police and personal lives, both include Jay. They aren't leaving him.
Justice. The ten years old girl's mother can have justice for her daughter's killer. Why would someone, inside a jail, order to shoot in the head and kill a little girl in his relatively calm old neighborhood just to silence and inhibit a man from going to prison, pay for his crimes? He sees himself in the locker room's mirror and the shallow bruise on his cheek for the kind of fight with Ruzek. Relief. Proud. He is feeling relief to be able to give closure to the family's soon and unfair loss and proud for his team agreeing and helping solve the case, with a touch of a personal closeness that shouldn't be a regular company.
"Great job today, men!" Jay appears from behind and gives him a sweet punch, taking his mind away from his thoughts, and goes to his locker.
"Oh...yeah...uh...thanks"
"I'm sorry for the girl. I'm sorry that it happened in your old neighborhood, your community."
"She just had 10 years. It's unfair. It's devastating. She hasn't lived yet and now will never live."
"Yes, it's unfair and devastating." He appears by his side. "But I'm sure wherever she is, she is happy, proud, and thankfully someone gave everything to solve the case. Even blood." He says, pointing to the cheek's bruise. "She is happy it was you." He looks straight at him and gives his hand to punch.
"Thanks, bro. I needed it."
"No problem. That's why we are partners and friends. Also, you need a drink. Let's raise a glass for her and your amazing action. See you at Molly's, having an NFL game." He was about to go when he stopped, calling him again. "And...uh...maybe we don't say it aloud and frequently but we are proud to have you upstairs. At least I'm, bro." With that, he goes away permanently.
Jay had been raped. After Alvin and Hank, Adam considers Jay his mentor. Alvin is because he brought him to Intelligence and is his partner, Hank for the simple fact of being his boss and Jay for how much he helped him. He helped him when he first killed someone on that house raid even after he had been an ass when he asked how he was. Later, when he witnessed Felicia's tragic death, they had a deep conversation. It's impressive they are almost the same age and the former Ranger had been through a lot of terrible experiences. While he was enjoying the end of college and the beginning of his adult years in a nightclub surrounded by gorgeous girls, the other was on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean serving the United States. When he finally decided to adjust his life to be a cop, Jay had passed through a rough phase dealing with his demons and PTSD and was in the Police Academy to become the competent and extraordinary cop he is. They just know this part of him, the Jay he was before it's only known by Will and maybe Mouse but he supposes he isn't the same as before. Despite his traumas, he is happy, gentle, honest, loyal, a born protector, don't give a damn about getting credits for what he has done to the common good, has a tremendous morality and ethics in how to do the job yet doesn't break the law, a big heart to push himself, his health and his necessities behind to help the others no matter what, how, when and where. He makes them better cops. He makes them better persons. This is certainly the worst moment of his life. This is certainly the worst moment of their life. No one is going to rest and be fine until he is back home. That's a promise.
No matter how much he concentrates on deleting while drinking, the detailed scene of Felicia falling from the fancy hotel's roof is over repeating. He can feel the warm breeze hitting him. He can listen to the busy street, cars passing by and people talking. He can scent everything, from the slight smell of sewage to the most exaggerated sweet perfume. Suddenly, screams, the characteristic glass breaking sound, and the colliding sound, Felicia's lifeless body colliding to the roof of a parked car, his feet moving him upstairs as he inhales and exhales heavily. His name is being called but, when a hand landed on his shoulder, he unconsciously tried to hit it out violently.
"Hey man, it's me!"
"Jay? Have I hit you?"
"No."
"You are a horrible liar. You don't double in pain for no reason! Sorry. I'm not thinking straight as you can see."
"It's ok." He sits down on the nearest chair and asks for the same drink as his. "Are you being haunted by today's happenings?" Nod. "I get you."
"How do you deal? How do you forget them?"
"Most of the time, I simply ignore it." He sighs. "But...you will never forget. For forever, you are going to rewatch her death multiple times. You are going to think of many alternatives about what you could do differently to save her. They mark you, doesn't mean they define you. With time and help, what you have to do is cohabit, don't let those things change you for the worse, and move on. Everyone advises searching for a therapist and it's the best, but I'm always free if you want to talk."
"Have you gone to a therapist?"
"Do what I said but not what I do."
"I imagined. Thanks, Halstead."
"No problem." The waiter brings Jay's beer and he, smirking playfully, says. "Can we have another round and these snacks? Put on his count please."
"Wait, what? I don't remember giving you such intimacy. You picked the most expensive snacks! What the hell?" He asks, incredulous. Jay is having fun with him and the situation, faking discontent.
"First of all, you invited me not so long ago to come here but I was busy and denied. But here I am in this very nice and comfortable place with my lovely work partner and friend and" he stands up and searches in his pockets "damn, I forgot my wallet. You are paying"
"Mark my words: I hate you, Jay Halstead!"
"Words hurt, especially lies."
"Stop being dramatic, actor." Jay couldn't handle it anymore and started laughing. "Unbelievable!" He starts laughing too.
Jay had been raped. Mouse returns to the reception after getting sick two times in the bathroom to find a tearing team. The silence is an embarrassing noise. He quickly closes and puts inside his bag the computer (the object beforehand his source of magic is now the source of their sickness) before he throws up for the third time in minus an hour, receiving a thankful glare from Burgess (who is sitting near but didn't have energy and mental sanity to hide beforehand - he comprehends totally) and relief sighs from everyone. Well, he was thinking he had seen all the tragedy and uglinesses in Afghanistan, his home negatively shocked him. Jay can't prevent himself from getting in trouble. Images of him staying behind without hesitating to get captured to gain time for the rest to escape overseas return to his head as the day he was proud to be in his unit. Images of him being beaten by Keyes' man returns to his head. The new video returns to his head. His hands start to sweat, his head spiraling and the urge to breathe properly and freely is tremendous. Shit, today is certainly the worst day, time, place, and circumstance for his PTSD to take action. Jay needs them. They need Jay. Nevertheless, is Jay going to go back all his advance after this experience? He had known Jay in the Ranger Academy and the actual. The two extremes are completely different; fortunately, little by little some characteristics of the oldest are resurfacing in the actual, other characteristics he still has and has exponential growth in the actual. That's why he knows Jay isn't worried about himself, but worrying about the team's conditions, especially Erin's. He made him promise after Keyes' case if something happens to him, he needs to look after her. Jay being Jay. And he's not going to let him down, either in his promise or not finding him.
His first whole day working on Intelligence has finished. His first whole day since he was deployed without any trigger, nightmares, voices, bad thoughts, or haunt has finished and he never had felt so good and alive. He was a normal civilian and no longer a soldier. He was back Gregory Gerwitz before the war and no longer the specialized technology soldier better-known for Mouse. For the first time since the departure, he didn't have a PTSD episode right in the middle of his new team or together with victims or criminals, it would be embarrassing. It is a great feeling. He missed it.
"Thank you Jay for the opportunity." He feels his friend's silent presence on the door.
"You were the one who helped me out first. It's the minimum I have to do to retribute. We passed incredible and terrible experiences together overseas and we are the only survivors from a six-member team."
"I see, feel, and hear that explosion every single moment like it was yesterday."
"Both." The simple and harsh answer is enough for him to understand that the other man doesn't want to talk about it.
"Can you remember three days earlier?"
"You, me, Kris, Alex, Ed, and Dermot playing on the lieutenant's chair and we got punished by having to run in underwear in the hell of a cold night? I remember! I don't regret having teased him."
"Both." They open a beer and, after cheering, drink while remembering their Army's time.
Jay had been raped. Antonio's mind is divided between staying playing the right detective and friend shoulder to the shattered team or playing the cowboy traveling insanely around the city in search of his injured friend and the captor. Playing in his style or Voight's style. The last time he felt indecisive was when Diego was abducted. The last time he felt indecisive, he crossed the line, typically in Voight's style. That time he swore to never cross again. His detective part, however, is saying he should rewatch the video to analyze certain aspects such as the deteriorated walls from the small cellar, the sun's position, facial recognition on the still unknown kidnapper, or any lead that could, somehow, help search where the former Ranger was being kept. Typically in his style. The way Jay wants to be found. The way that demands time. The time they don't have. He realizes the reason why only Voight was set free. It's revolting. It's horrendous. It's Jay being himself. Who has been in a war. Who dated his sister and got shot trying to protect her and the bar from Arthur. Who tried to do justice to the eight-year-old boy whose family he knew and wrongly and unacceptably be doubted that he was Lonnie Rodiger's murderer. Who has become bait despite everyone's disapproval and the ultimate risk of dying slowly and painfully at the hands of an assassin hired for that purpose. Who kept his mouth shut about the CIs and their co-workers while being brutally beaten and shocked. Who he brought to the unit. Who he is proud of. He isn't Jules. He isn't Jim. He isn't Nadia. Moreover, just like Burgess and Mouse are, he has to look after Erin. Jay would want her well-being. She is already taking unnecessary guilt. They are finding him alive.
For a second, he doubted if he should have come by surprise. He doubted if he should have come in the first place. By surprise is just making it worse. He knocked on the door and called Jay's name for the third time, identifying himself and, hopelessly, waiting for him to open the door. Probably Jay is sleeping comfortably on his bed, or is eating a delicious meal, or is ignoring another person bothering the hell out of him and his guilty consciousness needs to see him bruised and alive to relax. Besides, Keyes didn't give a damn about accommodating his guest, instead, using the same as his and his henchmen's punchbag him time to sleep and to eat adequately and always bothered him enough for years.
"Jay, you win ok? I'm letting you finally be alone. I'm pleading with you to, whenever, wherever and whatever you want, call me. If you just want to talk to somebody or just with you need a silent company, I'm at your disposal. I'm sorry for putting you there, your kidnapping is my fault so I understand completely you want to ignore me for eternity. I need to know you are ok. That's it. Just say inside there, don't even need to open the door, that you are ok." He vents sadly.
"I'm ok but you aren't as you are talking with an empty apartment." He looks surprised on his right side. In front of the neighbor's door, Jay is standing there with four supermarket plastic bags in his only good hand. His right hand is on a sling holding closely and firmly to his ribcage, he is clearly in pain, and climbing four rounds of stairs didn't help at all from the broken ribs, bruises, and taser burns underneath his gray shirt. What saddened and angered him was his face. The giant cut in the right side from his hairline to his forehead, two small cuts on the eyebrow, and the bottom lip, two black giant bruises, one on his swollen eye and the other just above it. His condition is worse than he first thought.
"Oh, Jay…" he lowly whispers. "Give me these bags. You shouldn't carry weight, kid" He felt like Voight and Olinsky calling him 'kid'.
"Do you want to come in?" He hesitantly gives and walks to the door slowly, unlocking the door and giving space to the friend to enter. "You can put these on the balcony over there. Make yourself at home. And do me a favor. Don't blame yourself for what happened."
"Hell! It's my fault. I made the call, it was my CI, I should have pretended they had known you were a cop, and now look at you...I saw the video...they beat and shocked you...you screamed in agony...I'm truly sorry Jay."
"I know what they did, Antonio. I have already passed torture before, I got it. It's our job: sometimes things go south and we have to move on. I'm sorry for screaming."
"Are you kidding me? I saw the video...we saw the video...they beaten and shocked you like you were nothing but an animal and still, you didn't give what they wanted...you are a hero, a savior for millions of CIs and cops from the whole department, Jay, if it wasn't for you staying quiet, they would be dead now...we would be dead now. I'm proud of you. We own you, Jay. Thank you."
"Come here." He hugs him as tight as his bruised body and pain permits him to do so "thanks for sending rescue. Love you, bro."
"Love you too."
Jay had been raped. Shakiness. Numbness. Paralyzed. Breathless. Erin feels she has received a punch in the stomach and a knife straight to her heart. Sitting on the floor, she closes her eyes and is imagining Jay in the bullpen next to her, smiling her favorite smile of his, being her badass partner, kicking some criminal's ass and arresting and bringing justice to the beloved city, teasing Adam and Kevin about their sports teams or for a whatever reason or him turning pale and tremendously shy when jokes about marriage are thrown at them and the boss' death glare too. Inside their apartment, they share their darkest secrets and demons and unhealed mental and physical scars, their vulnerable side, their soft hilarious lovebird's side, and their intimate moments between the bedroom's four walls. This memory quickly fades away, replaced by that sickening tape, and, for a single terrifying moment, she finds herself back in New York in front of Nadia's dead body on the beach. She finds herself standing up above Jay's body, in the same position and conditions as her. The nightmare repeating itself. She feels Antonio's, Kim's, and Mouse's concerned eyes on her and the motive behind it. He isn't Nadia. Jay isn't finishing like Nadia. She failed once with her best friend, she failed in walking out on him as a partner and he entered in trouble but, this time, she isn't failing with her boyfriend. She let down many people in her lifetime. A lot of people, including Hank, her father figure and the person she looks up to, give up on her. Except for Jay. He never had given up on her. No matter how far she pushes him, he comes back determined and stubbornly to her. She thinks she doesn't deserve him and his big heart, patience, love, and kindness but she loves the way he does to make her feel special, important, and loved. She owns him one. So, it's time to get him back. They are getting him back.
A date. Not a normal date. It's a special one. Their official first date when she is calling her boyfriend and him calling his girlfriend, walking with hands together, no more hiding and faking feelings. Don't give a damn about Voight's opinions towards them, they finally had his blessing. He asks her out but doesn't tell her what they will do or where he was taking her. Erin is preparing herself like never before, starting 4 hours ago. She is using her best makeup learned during a girl's night talk, a sophisticated high bun with loose strands, a shining tight red dress to her knees, and red high heels. Her best outfit to Jay. He is about to arrive at 9 pm so she has 30 minutes left. She checks her clothes and readjusts the final point on the makeup on the mirror until she hears the ring bell. Time is over. He arrives. Usual. She picks her bag and, after taking a deep breath, opens the door. She is impressed by his outfit. He is using a black suit, black social shoes, black pants, and a green skirt that highlights his green shirt. In his hands, a chocolate box and a sunflowers' bouquet. Her favorite flower. Chocolate from her favorite store. He knows her so well.
"Wow, you're extraordinary, stunning, you...Jesus, girl you are gorgeous!" She laughs and blushes to see him shocked and speechless, his eyes widen and travel gracefully and respectfully her entire body and his mouth wide open.
"You're not bad yourself." Even wanting to praise him, she has to keep her dignity and composure intact, teasing him in the process.
"Thank you." He smiles and looks at her. "Oh...these are for you!" He gives her the presents.
"Thank you. I love it!"
"What about we get going?" He gives her his arm, they make their way out of the building and to the car, he opens the passenger door.
"Jay Halstead, what a gentleman!"
"Always for my girl." He goes to the driver's seat and after a 40 minutes drive, they stop in front of a park. "We arrived." They entered the park. More people were there having a picnic in the center.
"Where are we sitting?" She searches for their towel in the middle of the agglomeration but Jay continues walking through a glade and there it is, isolated from everyone, a single big towel with various types of food and drink by candle lights. Simple but amazing. "Oh, Jay. It's fantastic. I love it. I love you."
"We can have food and have fun at the same time, my girl!" He says between kisses in her mouth as she wraps her arms around his neck and his goes to her hips.
"Oh boy, we will!"
Suddenly, she hears the door opening and lifts her head enough from her position on the floor to see who has entered.
That's the correction of the chapter I posted earlier. I hope it was worth the wait. The parts in italic are memories of them with Jay in different moments and situations and the normal parts are what they are feeling at the exact moment. I'm focusing right now on My lover rescue hero. I hope we are updating! See you!