Utterly Unexpected

Chapter 5: Secrets of the Heart

Hello friends! It's been a really long time since I have posted something new. Over a year already, I believe. However, I am getting back to writing for the moment and genuinely wish to explore and continue my stories. It has always been a joy to create these stories and share them with all of you. I hope all of you like this chapter and are eager to read more. It feels great to be back honestly.

There was a long silence before the first words were spoken. In that deafening silence Jay knew he was done for. He had asked her a question from which there was no going back. She was looking at him furiously, wondering how this rookie had the audacity to ask her such a question. He waited with bated breath. Hailey spoke finally, "Get out."

He heard her but didn't really move. He opened his mouth to say something but was interrupted by her immediately, "Get out before I call security."

Jay looked at her for another moment then turned on his heel and went out of the room quietly. The moment he was out of sight, Hailey let herself go. The tears that she had been holding off so bravely spilled out of her eyes immediately. She hated herself in this moment. She hated any form of weakness. Her rookie had touched her weakest spot and she couldn't do a damn thing about it. He was going to pay for this.

Outside, Jay settled on one of the waiting area chairs, still shaking a little from the encounter with his TO. He had maintained a straight face in the room, but his feathers were ruffled and he was genuinely afraid of what would come next. He didn't notice the figure passing by him until Hailey's room door opened. Vanessa entered the room with a bag of food. It was his cue to leave.

"Hey! What's up Hai-", Vanessa had to cut short her sentence seeing her best friend's face.

"What happened?" she asked.

"He knows," is the only thing Hailey could say.

"Who knows? And what?" Vanessa enquired, setting the bag of food on the bedside table.

"My rookie," Hailey went on flatly.

"What does he know?" Vanessa continued, clearly not following.

"About Kyle. He knows about Kyle," Hailey stated directly, looking at her friend now.

Vanessa let a moment pass. She looked at Hailey and knew what her best friend was going through. History could not repeat itself. She asked quietly, "How?"

"He did a background search. He's always been the curious type and that has come biting me in the ass," Hailey said, shaking her head.

"Look Hailey, it's not as bad as it seems maybe," Vanessa tried.

"Vanessa, you know what happened," Hailey said, looking her friend in the eye.

"I know, bu-", Vanessa was interrupted.

"If he finds out we're all screwed. All of us. Me, you, Kevin, Trudy and God knows how many other people," Hailey went on.

"You're overreacting Hailey. Stop thinking so far ahead. He probably doesn't know anything," Vanessa said.

"But he's capable of finding out everything. That much I know," Hailey said, aware that she was fully right about this.

Vanessa sighed then changed subjects, "We'll deal with it if and when it comes up. Right now, you just focus on getting better. I got you dinner."

Hailey nodded and they dropped the matter. For now. After dinner both friends chatted for a while then Vanessa left. Before she stepped out, Hailey told her quietly, "Find out where Kyle is. I need to talk to him."

"Hailey… Are you sure about that?" Vanessa asked.

"Yeah, I need to talk to him," Hailey reiterated.

"Hailey, you know how things are. Do you really think any good will come out of it?" Vanessa tried to convince her friend.

"I don't know, but I need to see him Vanessa. I can't help myself, you know that," Hailey said, looking at her friend directly.

Vanessa knew her friend's situation and nodded slightly, "Fine, I'll try to get a hold of him. What do you want me to tell him?"

"That his wife's been shot," Hailey said with the straightest face ever.

Vanessa looked at her for a moment then stepped out. She knew everything and she knew Hailey was going through hell because of all this.

The following morning Jay was utterly surprised that he had a new TO until Hailey was back. He had been so sure that she would have thrown him out of the programme after yesterday's conversation. He had no idea what was going on, but he considered himself lucky. His new TO was relatively lenient and didn't terrorise him like Hailey had. He learnt new techniques every day and encountered various types of situations in each call that they received. This is what he always wanted to do, to be able to serve the city and police the streets with utmost dedication.

For days on end, he didn't contact Hailey nor did he go to meet her at the hospital. He didn't want to cause further damage to the situation that was already out of hand, to say the very least. However, as he was clocking out of his shift today Trudy called him for a brief moment. He went to her front desk and asked politely, "Yes, Sergeant Platt?"

"I just thought of letting you know that your TO's being discharged today. You might want to meet her, you know, to be in her good books," Trudy said, staring at him.

"Yeah," Jay managed.

"I am telling you for your own good," Trudy went on, shrugging her shoulders.

"Thanks for letting me know Sergeant Platt," he said and walked off.

Only he knew the repercussions of meeting her. Rather than being in her good books he would be thrown out of any book that ever existed for her. But maybe Sergeant Platt was right. Jay had to face her one day or another. Today might just be that day.

It was past 9:30 when he parked outside her apartment. It was dark and quiet. He took the elevator to the third floor and stood outside her door for a long moment before knocking. He had no idea what to expect but he sensed that this conversation could either be their last ever or it could be the beginning of something new. He was inclined to believe the former. He knocked hesitatingly and held his breath. In a moment he heard footsteps and he could feel his heart racing. The door opened and a man was standing in front of him. He appeared vaguely familiar but Jay couldn't quite make out who he was. The man asked him, "Yes, how can I help you?"

"Uh, I have come to meet Hailey Upton. I don't know if this is the right address though," Jay went on, wondering if he had made a mistake.

"This is her apartment. I'm sorry, who are you?" the man asked.

"I am actually her rookie or was, I don't know," Jay said, smiling slightly.

"Oh, okay. She's right here. Let me just call her," the man said and turned to call Hailey.

"And who are you? I am sorry, I didn't catch your name," Jay asked.

"I am Kyle, Hailey's husband," he answered.

Well, the chapter ends on that note. I apologise in advance if my writing seems a little rusty. As I mentioned earlier, I am getting back to writing and it might take a while for me to get into full gear. Please feel free to share your thoughts and comments. Like always they would mean a lot to me, and I'll know whether you guys still remember me or not!