The next morning, Kim stumbles out of bed, her movements hurried. She yanks on her jeans, her mind racing. Jay, still half-asleep, rubs his eyes and watches her.

"What's the rush?" he mumbles.

Kim avoids his gaze, her voice breathless. "No time to explain. We'll talk later."

And with that, she bolts out of the room, leaving Jay bewildered and wondering how to navigate the tangled web of their feelings—especially when it involves more than just partnership.

Kim bursts into the bustling bullpen, her hair slightly disheveled, and Jay Halstead follows close behind. The unit glances up from their desks, smirks playing on their lips. Ruzek leans over to Atwater.

"Look at Halstead," Ruzek whispers. "He's got that 'I just rolled out of bed' vibe."

Atwater chuckles. "And the scruffy beard? Definitely a new look for him."

Voight raises an eyebrow. "Halstead, you forget to shave this morning?"

Jay rubs the back of his neck, looking sheepish. "Uh, yeah. Overslept."

Kim rolls her eyes. "He's a mess, Voight. Clearly, I'm the responsible one here."

Voight grunts. "You two are a pair, that's for sure."

Jay's fingers close around Kim's wrist as he pushes her gently against the locker room wall.

The air between them crackles with tension, and he leans in, his lips brushing her ear. "Unbreatheable jeans and blazer, huh?" he murmurs. "I guess we'll have to fix that."

Kim's cheeks flush, and she glances down at her professional attire. "Yeah, maybe when I'm not drowning in paperwork."

Jay smirks, his eyes dancing. "Deal. But just so you know, I've been waiting for this moment since the day we became partners."

Molly's Bar hums with the familiar energy of the Intelligence Unit. Kim Burgess and Jay Halstead sit side by side, nursing their beers. The amber liquid glints in the dim light, and their laughter mingles with the clinking of glasses.

Ruzek leans over from the neighboring booth. "Burgess, Halstead, sharing a drink? What's the occasion?"

Kim rolls her eyes. "Just unwinding after a long day, Adam."

Atwater grins. "More like 'unwinding together.'"

Voight raises an eyebrow. "Enough chatter. Finish your drinks. We've got work tomorrow."

Kim and Jay exchange a glance, their fingers brushing against each other.

Jay's phone buzzes, and he glances down to see a message from Kim. His lips curve into a smile as he reads her flirty words, the kiss emoji making his heart skip a beat.

And with that, Jay tucks his phone away, anticipation building.

Jay steps into Kim's apartment, the door closing behind him.

The dim light spills across the worn carpet, and he glances at Kim, her expression a mix of relief and uncertainty.

"I had to get you out of there," he whispers, his fingers brushing against hers.

Kim nods, her eyes searching his. "Thank you."

And in that quiet moment, they're lips click.