"Good morning," Kalinda said when she met Hank at the doorway of her apartment the next day.

"Morning, beautiful," Hank said. Talking like that still felt odd to him after so many years without a partner. He knew he had to get used to it though, to consistently show Kalinda how he felt about her. The compliment made her smile before they kissed each other.

She did look beautiful too, Hank thought, even dressed in blue jeans and a plain black pullover, ready for work. The usual hairstyle was there to bug him. He told himself he was going to have to get over that soon, and instead relish the times when he got to let her hair down. He had told himself that before, yet so far it wasn't working.

"How was your evening? Would you like some coffee?" she asked as they went into the apartment. The latter question was fairly redundant, since the reason she had given for inviting him over was for a coffee before work.

"Yes, please. And it was nothing special. Started putting some prep into the private detective service, then had a drink with Erin when she got home. She had a nice time with the new friend she's made. How about your night?"

Kalinda busied herself fixing the coffee. "It was enjoyable. It became something of a send-off for Hailey since it's her last day today. She's a nice person. Shame to see her go."

In that moment, Hank felt bad. Hailey was a good person, and a good cop. She had been treated badly by Jay, and, he had to admit, by him too. Anna's death had blown their relationship apart because he hadn't been able to get over it. After a moment of contemplation, he unloaded exactly what he was thinking onto Kalinda. By the time he was done, they were on the couch drinking their coffees. Kalinda had a reassuring hand on his leg.

"You shouldn't let her go without having a conversation, Hank. It's one that needs to be had, for both of you. Otherwise you'll part ways with both of you carrying a lot of negative energy."

Hank was aware that she strongly believed in karma. He figured 'negative energy' was a similar concept. Who knew, maybe she was right? Trying to clear the air with Hailey before she left might be a good idea.

"I'm going to take that advice," he decided.

"That's good. An ability to listen to other people is something I greatly admire."

The way you talk is something I greatly admire, Hank thought. He could never get enough of it. Rather than say anything, he leaned in for another kiss. It became a long, passionate one.

"If only there was time to head for the bedroom," Kalinda breathed when it was over.

"How about tonight?"

"Yes, you can come over tonight."

"Sweeten the deal by wearing some leather for me?" he asked hopefully.

Kalinda clearly liked being made to feel sexy. "I think I can do that. I've got some things you've not seen me wear yet, and I could bring out those long gloves again."

Hank could remember those. She had slept next to him wearing them, and had given him an early morning hand job with them on. The prospect of more of that was a turn on. "I'll hold you to that."

"You can hold me however you want as long as you fuck me."

Hank was rendered speechless. Dirty talk in Kalinda's incredibly well-spoken accent was truly something else.

"What, you didn't think I could talk like that?" she asked, having fun.

"Oh, I didn't doubt it. I'm sure you can be very dirty when you want to. That posh accent of yours is a good cover."

Kalinda burst out laughing, and her laugh made Hank laugh also.

An opportunity presented itself to Hank early in the afternoon. He had just ordered the team to deploy to execute a search warrant on their current case.

"Hailey, why don't you stay behind," he said before she made it halfway across the bullpen.

Hailey didn't look thrilled about the order, but she obeyed it, stopping next to Kalinda's desk.

"Join me in my office?" he said, this time making it a request rather than an order.

Seeming to soften slightly, Hailey nodded. She followed him in there and closed the door.

"Have a seat," Hank said, taking his own behind the desk.

Hailey did so, and waited to hear what he had to say.

"I regret the way things have gone between us," Hank said after a moment. He meant it.

"Me too," she said. Getting emotional, or at least showing it, wasn't something she did often. Now, her facade cracked. "I had to shoot Anna Avalos, Hank. She shot you. There was no choice for me make. Anyone else on this team would have done the same thing. It happened to be me that day. You're wrong to blame me. Wrong," she choked out, tears in her eyes.

Hank felt ashamed because deep down he knew she was right. If Anna hadn't been Anna, and had shot one of his officers, he would have put her down without hesitation. Hailey had reacted as she had been trained. She had been doing her job.

"You're right," he managed to say. Just being able to do that immediately lifted a weight off his shoulders. He felt it almost physically. "Anna was very important to me. She didn't deserve to, or need to die. It broke me. I've not said that anybody. It broke me for some time. I've only started to get over it the past few weeks. Even so, every time I look at you I see Anna hitting the ground with those bullet wounds in her. It makes me relive that ambulance ride, where she was trying to cling to life. It makes me relive the moment I was told she had died. That's on me, not you. But that's what being around you makes me feel."

Hailey wiped a tear off her cheek. "The honesty means a lot. You've never spoken to me like that before. You're wrong to blame me, but I do get it. Believe me, I do. Despite what's happened, it would mean a lot if we could part ways on good terms. I guess that's not going to happen."

Hank thought about that, and took a deep breath. "We can do that. We can do it because I don't blame you, not now. As you said, anyone else on this team would have taken those shots, including me. I don't blame you. And I wish you nothing but the best in your next position. They'll be lucky to have you."

Hailey took in a long, shaky breath. This was an important, healing conversation for both of them. "I wish you the best too. It's bullshit how you've been forced out of here. Your private detective agency will be a big success though, without a doubt."

"Thank you," he said quietly. It meant a lot.

"There's something I can't help asking. Am I right in thinking you're taking Kim with you?"

There was no point in lying. She had clearly picked up on something. An excellent detective being and excellent detective. "I am. Would you please keep that to yourself?"

"Of course. What a get that is for you. Kim's one of the best I've worked with, no exaggeration."

Hank nodded his agreement. They talked for a few more minutes. When the conversation came to an end, so too, effectively, did Hailey's time with Intelligence.

"Keep in touch," Hank said as a way to start concluding the chat.

"I will. Had some good times here, and did a lot of good work."

And we did some shady things together too, Hank thought. Thankfully, he didn't doubt that she would keep those things to herself. "We did. A lot to be proud of."

"I guess... that's it then," Hailey said before getting up. Hank rose too, and they shook hands.

"I meant what I said. Keep in touch."

"And I meant it when I said I will. Good luck."

"You too."

After she left the office, Hank sat back down and closed his eyes for a few seconds. He wasn't going to tear up – that wasn't something he did. But he did feel sad that Hailey was leaving. He did feel better too though, that the air had been cleared and they were both able to move on without carrying the baggage regarding Anna's death and everything that had followed it. He realised that what had just happened was yet one more way that Kalinda had helped him heal.

A/N: With that, we say goodbye to Hailey. Hank was able to talk things over with her and ensure they parted ways with a lot less baggage, as his healing process continues.

Next time, we'll learn who has been selected to replace Hank in charge of Intelligence. Who do you think it might be?