In the soft glow of the early morning light, Ashley stirred gently in their cozy apartment.
She turned to see Jay still peacefully asleep beside her, his chest rising and falling with each breath. A tender smile spread across her face as she watched him, feeling a wave of affection.
Quietly, she reached out and brushed a few strands of hair from his forehead. "Jay," she whispered softly, her voice barely above a murmur. "It's time to wake up."
Jay's eyes fluttered open, and he blinked a few times, adjusting to the light.
When he saw Ashley's smiling face, a gentle smile of his own appeared.
Without a word, he reached out his arms, inviting her into a warm embrace. Ashley snuggled closer, feeling the warmth and comfort of his arms around her.
"Good morning," Jay said softly, his voice still thick with sleep.
"Good morning," Ashley replied, her heart full of love and contentment.
Jay held Ashley close for a few moments, savoring the warmth of their embrace.
As he slowly woke up, a thought crossed his mind. "Hey, Ash," he murmured, his voice still soft, "What time are our flights back to Chicago?"
Ashley pulled back slightly to look at him, her eyes meeting his. "Let me check," she said, reaching for her phone on the bedside table.
She quickly navigated to their flight details. "Our flight is at 2:30 PM," she informed him. "We should probably start getting ready soon."
Jay nodded, a sleepy smile still on his face. "Alright, sounds good. But let's enjoy a few more minutes like this," he said, pulling her back into his arms.
Ashley chuckled softly, resting her head on his chest. "I wouldn't have it any other way," she whispered.
After a few more minutes of cuddling, Jay reluctantly got out of bed and headed to the bathroom to get ready.
Ashley watched him as he stood in front of the mirror, carefully gelling his hair. She smiled at his concentration, but her attention was soon drawn to his phone on the bedside table.
The screen lit up with a few missed call notifications from someone named Erin.
Curiosity piqued, Ashley picked up the phone and walked over to Jay.
"Hey, Jay," she said, holding up the phone, "you've got a few missed calls from someone named Erin. Who's that?"
Jay's expression shifted as he glanced at the phone, a hint of sadness crossing his face.
"Erin… she's my ex-girlfriend from Chicago," he said quietly, turning back to the mirror. "We haven't talked in a while."
Ashley noticed the tears forming in Jay's eyes and felt a pang of concern.
She gently placed a hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?" she asked softly.
Jay took a deep breath, trying to steady himself. "Yeah, it's just… seeing her name brings back a lot of memories. I didn't expect to hear from her."
Ashley squeezed his shoulder reassuringly. "Do you want to talk about it?"
Jay shook his head slightly. "Not right now. I'll call her back later and see what's going on. Thanks for understanding, Ash."
Ashley nodded, giving him a comforting smile. "Of course. I'm here for you, no matter what."
Jay turned to face her, his eyes filled with gratitude. "I know. Thank you."
Jay picked up the towel and began to dry his hair, but his hands were trembling slightly. The memories stirred by Erin's name seemed to weigh heavily on him. He rubbed the towel through his hair with more force than necessary, his frustration evident.
Ashley watched him for a moment before stepping closer. "Here, let me help," she offered gently, taking the towel from his hands.
Jay sighed and let her take over, closing his eyes as she carefully dried his hair. "Thanks, Ash," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.
Ashley worked in silence for a few moments, her touch soothing. "You know, it's okay to feel overwhelmed," she said softly. "You don't have to handle everything on your own."
Jay opened his eyes and looked at her, a mixture of gratitude and vulnerability in his gaze. "I know. It's just… I thought I had moved on, but seeing her name brought everything back."
Ashley nodded, understanding. "It's normal. Healing isn't always a straight path. Sometimes, things resurface when we least expect them."
Jay took a deep breath, feeling a bit more at ease. "You're right. Thanks for being here for me."
"Always," Ashley replied with a warm smile, finishing up with his hair.
Jay arrived at the 21st District, the familiar hustle and bustle of the station greeting him as he walked in. He made his way over to the desk where Sergeant Trudy Platt was stationed, her sharp eyes immediately catching the glint of the engagement ring on his finger.
Platt raised an eyebrow, a smirk playing on her lips. "Well, well, well, look who decided to get himself hitched," she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Who's the lucky lady?"
Jay chuckled, shaking his head. "Nice to see you too, Sarge," he replied, trying to keep the mood light. "It's Ashley. We got engaged a few weeks ago."
Platt's expression softened slightly, though she maintained her tough exterior. "Ashley, huh? She must be something special to put up with you," she said, a hint of genuine warmth in her voice. "Congratulations, Jay. Just don't screw it up."
Jay nodded, appreciating the sentiment behind her words. "Thanks, Platt. I'll do my best."
Platt gave him a nod, her usual stern demeanor returning. "Alright, get to work. We've got a busy day ahead."
As Jay made his way through the station, he was greeted by the familiar faces of his unit. One by one, they noticed him and came over, offering hugs and warm greetings.
"Jay! It's good to see you, man," Adam said, pulling him into a tight hug. "Congrats on the engagement!"
Kevin followed suit, giving Jay a hearty pat on the back. "Yeah, man, congrats! Ashley's a great girl."
Jay smiled, feeling the support from his friends. "Thanks, guys. It means a lot."
Kim approached next, her eyes catching the ring on Jay's finger. She gave him a knowing smile. "I see you're wearing your brother's ring," she said softly, referring to the ring Jay had inherited from his late brother, Will.
Jay nodded, his expression turning a bit more serious. "Yeah, it felt right. It's like having a part of him with me."
Kim reached out and squeezed his hand. "He'd be proud of you, Jay. And Ashley's lucky to have you."
Jay felt a lump in his throat but managed to smile. "Thanks, Kim. That means a lot."
Ashley shyly walked upstairs, her eyes scanning the bustling station for Jay. As she made her way through the crowd, a few of the men noticed her and couldn't resist making some playful comments.
"Hey there, beautiful," Adam called out with a grin. "You must be lost. Need any help finding your way?"
Kevin joined in, giving her a charming smile. "Yeah, we can show you around. This place can be a maze."
Ashley rolled her eyes, a smirk forming on her lips. "Oh, thanks, boys. But I think I'll manage. I'm looking for someone who actually knows what they're doing."
The men laughed, appreciating her quick wit. Just then, Jay appeared, his eyes lighting up as he saw Ashley. He walked over and wrapped an arm around her waist, inhaling her familiar scent.
"Isn't she amazing?" Jay said, looking at his colleagues with a proud smile. "Just like me."
Ashley playfully nudged him. "Oh, please. You're lucky I put up with you."
Ashley reached into her bag and pulled out a neatly packed lunch, handing it to Jay with a smile. "Here you go, Jay. I made your favorite."
Jay's eyes lit up as he took the lunch, his excitement almost childlike. "Yes! You're the best, Ash!" he exclaimed, hugging her tightly.
The unit watched the interaction with amused expressions. Adam couldn't resist making a comment.
"Look at him, like a kid on Christmas morning," he said, shaking his head with a grin.
Kevin chuckled. "Yeah, who knew Jay could get this excited over lunch?"
Kim joined in, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "Ashley, you must have some magic touch. I've never seen him this happy."
Jay playfully stuck his tongue out at his colleagues. "Hey, don't be jealous. Not everyone gets a homemade lunch from the best fiancée ever."
Ashley laughed, enjoying the lighthearted teasing. "Well, I do try my best."
Jay opened the lunch box, his eyes widening at the sight of his favorite meal. "Seriously, Ash, you're amazing," he said, taking a bite and savoring the taste.
Ashley was in the break-room, sipping her coffee and enjoying a moment of quiet. Meanwhile, Jay got up from his desk, but his movements were unsteady. The unit noticed immediately.
"Hey, Jay, you alright?" Adam called out, concern evident in his voice.
Kevin frowned, watching Jay closely. "You look like you just ran a marathon, man."
Jay tried to brush it off with a weak smile. "I'm fine, just a bit tired," he said, though his voice lacked its usual confidence.
He made his way to the break-room, each step feeling heavier than the last.
As he entered, Ashley looked up and immediately noticed something was off.
"Jay, what's wrong?" she asked, setting her coffee down and standing up.
Jay's facade crumbled, and tears welled up in his eyes. "I feel like I'm gonna collapse," he admitted, his voice breaking.
Ashley quickly moved to his side, guiding him to a chair. "Sit down, Jay. Take a deep breath," she said softly, her concern palpable.
Jay sat down, his hands trembling. "It's just… everything's hitting me all at once. Erin's call, the engagement, work… I don't know how to handle it all."
Ashley knelt beside him, holding his hands. "It's okay, Jay. You're not alone in this. We'll get through it together," she reassured him, her voice steady and comforting.
The unit, having followed Jay to the breakroom, stood at the doorway, their expressions a mix of concern and support. Adam stepped forward. "Jay, we're here for you, man. Whatever you need."
Kevin nodded in agreement. "Yeah, you're not in this alone. We've got your back."
Jay looked around at his friends and fiancée, feeling a wave of gratitude. "Thanks, everyone. I just… I need a moment."
Ashley squeezed his hands gently. "Take all the time you need. We're here for you, no matter what."
Later that evening, Jay and Ashley were cozied up on the couch, watching a movie. Ashley was wearing her favorite jumper, the one Jay always loved to cuddle in. The soft fabric and familiar scent brought him a sense of comfort and peace.
The unit, having finished their tasks for the day, walked by and couldn't help but notice the couple. They paused, taking in the heartwarming scene.
"Look at them," Adam said with a smile. "That's some serious couple goals right there."
Kevin nodded, his expression softening. "Yeah, it's nice to see Jay so relaxed. He looks like he could use the rest."
Kim added, "He does look exhausted, but at least he's got Ashley to take care of him."
Ashley, sensing the unit's presence, looked up and gave them a warm smile. She then turned her attention back to Jay, who was starting to doze off. She leaned in and kissed his head softly, her lips lingering for a moment.
Jay stirred slightly, a contented smile forming on his lips. "Thanks, Ash," he murmured, his voice filled with gratitude and love.
Ashley whispered back, "Always, Jay. Just rest now."
The unit exchanged knowing glances, their hearts warmed by the tender moment. They quietly moved away, giving the couple their space.