Utterly Unexpected
Chapter 6: Choice
Hello friends! I am back once again. It's been a while again, but I have written something. Some newfound inspiration has made me produce this chapter and I hope you guys like it and relate to it. I am excited to share it with you all.
Hearing those words Jay didn't know how to react. He didn't know whether he should be happy that he had been right all along or that a shock should fill his being. Whatever it was, it had to wait because Hailey was at the door now, looking at him. He managed softly, "Hi."
She looked at him a moment longer then said, "What are you doing here Halstead? You looked up my address and came all the way here?"
He couldn't quite decipher whether she was angry or shocked or upset. He said, "I just wanted to meet you because you were discharged today."
"And how did you know I was getting discharged today?" she asked him.
"Um… Sergeant Platt told me," he revealed honestly.
Why the hell was Platt telling her rookie all this, thought Hailey. She would deal with it later. She went on, "What do you want?"
"Just wanted to make sure you were okay," he admitted earnstly.
Before she could respond to that, Kyle had come up behind her and asked, "What's going on Hailey? Why don't you guys come inside?"
Hailey looked up at her husband and said, "Just give us a minute, will you?"
"Sure," Kyle said and disappeared into the apartment.
"Do you have anything else to say?" she asked her rookie.
"No Ma'am, I am just glad that you're okay and that I was right all along," he mumbled under his breath.
"What did you say?" she asked.
"Nothing," he shook his head.
"You think meddling in my personal life is going to make you a hero in my eyes?" she went on.
"I do not think that," he clarified immediately.
"Then why are you so interested to know about my personal life?" she asked him.
"I am not interested in your personal life Ma'am. I just thought you were hiding something from me, that's why the curiosity," he explained honestly.
"Well, whatever it is, you know everything now don't you," she said, looking at him.
"I don't know if I know everything but I do know that the man here is your husband and he is the same person we saw on the road the other day," Jay said.
"What about it then?" she asked, trying to understand where he was going with this.
"You're the first person I have met who is embarrassed and almost afraid to speak about their spouse," he remarked.
That hit Hailey a little deeper than she would have liked it to. She didn't let him see the blow. Jay went on, "I am sorry, I don't mean to pry or interfere, but is he an addict?"
Did her rookie just ask her if her husband was an addict? Hailey felt like smacking Jay right across the face. She said instead, "You need to leave."
"I will, once you answer my question," he said, wanting to go all the way this time.
"I don't owe you an explanation Halstead," she said, anger surfacing.
"You don't, but you don't have any right to treat your rookies the way you do either," he said boldly.
He was throwing mud at her and she was defenseless this time. There was some truth to his words. He went on, "You preach about so many things all the time, but you yourself are supporting something wrong."
"You don't know anything about Kyle and me," Hailey said loudly.
"You're right, I don't. But I do know something about you and I. And that is that you treat me like crap," he said, relieved that those words had finally reached her ears.
She stared at him blankly. Why was he bringing all this up suddenly? He continued, in the same even tone, "And I don't like it. I really don't."
Those words hit her like a ton of bricks. He meant what he said and he uttered them in such a manner that she became aware of the same and never behaved with him like that again. His voice reached her ears once again, "I know I don't have any right to speak to you like this and you'll probably hate me forever for this, but I had to say this. I had to let it out."
She looked at him directly not knowing what to say or how to react. No rookie and had ever spoken to her so directly and bluntly. As her mind was still accepting and processing the words Jay had spewn on her she heard her husband's voice once again, "What's the matter babe? All okay?"
She turned and replied automatically, "All good."
Jay looked at her and said, "I know you'll do the right thing. Because that's what you've taught me to do so far."
She didn't know he was speaking in which context but she hinted that he was talking about Kyle. She stepped out of the apartment and shut the door halfway and spoke, "Marriage is not easy."
"I am sure it's not, but doing the right thing should be," he said softly.
"You don't choose who you fall in love with," she said, looking him in the eye.
"But you do choose who you want to become," Jay said.
She smiled briefly and asked him, "Have you ever fallen in love Halstead?"
"Honestly, I don't know," he replied.
"Well, that's the difference. Love can make you do anything. Trust me. Anything," she said.
"The last thing it should do is ruin you," he said, this time his gaze going inside her apartment.
"Kyle is not a bad person," Hailey justified.
"I am not saying that. I am just saying…"
He was interrupted by her, "I know what you're saying."
"Do you love him?" he asked quietly.
"I don't know," she said looking at the floor.
"He needs help Ma'am," Jay went on.
Hailey was still staring at the floor, unable to meet her rookie's eyes. Jay continued softly, "My brother went through the same thing."
She looked up at him. Jay spoke, "He was an addict. We did everything we could to help him but sometimes family is not what one requires. Professional help is the only way."
"If only he would listen to me," Hailey said, shaking her head in dismay.
"I know a place that deals with this. My brother's there still," Jay offered.
Hailey nodded, her emotions getting the better of her now. Jay continued, "I can give you their card and contact information if you would like."
She nodded once again. Her husband's voice echoed a third time, "What's going on Hailey?"
Before she could respond, he was at the door, opening it wide. He said, "What the hell's going on Hailey?"
"Nothing, nothing Kyle. My rookie had just come to check on me," she said casually.
"Okay, then why don't you guys come inside? We can all have a beer together" he said.
Jay jumped in, "I was just leaving actually. I'll leave you two to it. Have a lovely evening."
He smiled at Kyle and his eyes and smile lingered one moment longer on Hailey then he left. Hailey looked after him for a moment then entered the apartment. Kyle spoke again, "What was all that about Hailey?"
"Look Kyle, I want to help you," she said, changing subjects altogether.
"Okay, not again. We're not talking about this again," he said, anger surfacing.
"We are," she said.
"No, we're not Hailey. I don't want to talk about all this. I just want to be with you. I just want you," he said.
"And you have me Kyle. But this version of you is not working for me anymore. I need you to be clean. I need you to understand that," she said quietly but firmly.
"Hailey, I can't do that," he said bluntly.
"Yes, you can. I am going to help you," she added.
"I don't want your help. I just want you," he said, now coming closer to her.
"Kyle, I want you to be clean. Please. Do it for me. For our future," she pleaded.
"What future? You're barely at home ever," he said, looking away.
"I am away? You're never at home, always trying to score," she said, wanting to speak her heart out today.
"That had never bothered you before," he said, looking at her.
"Is that what you think?" she said, laughing sarcastically.
"What are you doing Hailey?" he asked.
"Trying to help you get your ass out of your head!" she said loudly.
"Look Hailey, I love you. I have always loved you and probably will forever, but don't lecture me about this," he said.
"I didn't fall in love with this version of you. You know that," she tried to explain.
"But I am this now. This is me, Hailey. I cannot go back, I cannot change," he concluded.
"Then I cannot continue this anymore," she said softly.
"What are you saying?" he asked, taking another step closer to her.
"I am saying our marriage won't work if you can't change," she clarified.
"Really? Is this how much you love me?" he asked, scoffing.
"No, don't. Don't make this about me. It is about you," Hailey said firmly.
"Like I said, this is me," he said.
"Well, then I don't know what to say, other than this may be the end for us," she said, looking down, in disbelief that she had to even utter these words.
"What happened suddenly? Did that rookie of yours say something?" Kyle asked, unable to understand why she was taking such drastic steps all of a sudden.
"Kyle, it's not about my rookie. It's not about me. But it's bloody about you and you need to understand that for heaven's sake!" Hailey screamed, tired and frustrated.
He let a moment pass then said softly, "Fine, I am leaving."
He entered their room and started packing his stuff. Hailey stood immobile in the living room, hoping that some miracle would occur and Kyle would listen to her and stay back. Nothing happened. He came out with his bag over his shoulder and looked at her, "Is this what you really want?"
"Let me take you to a rehab center, Kyle. Please, let me help you," Hailey tried one last time.
"No, that's not going to happen babe. That's one thing that I cannot do," he said, searching her eyes.
"Not even for me?" she asked, now searching his eyes.
He looked at her one moment longer then turned on his heel and left without a word. That gesture was answer enough. Hailey stood still in the living room for God knows how long. She lost sense of time and space. Her mind was filled with sorrow and her heart with pain. Kyle, her high school sweetheart, had chosen drugs over her. Nothing worse existed in the world. Didn't he love her, she kept asking herself. But he was gone. And she was broken. Really heartbroken. She went to the front door and locked in quietly then picked up her phone.
"Hello," she heard her best friend's voice.
"My marriage is over," Hailey said quietly.
That's the end of the chapter. The story will take a proper turn now and we'll delve into Jay and Hailey's relationship. I am excited to write more. Do let me know what you guys think. :)