They stayed for a couple minutes until Jay calmed down. Once he released his grip on her, Hailey guided him to the living room and grabbed him a glass of water. Jay sat motionlessly, but his eyes followed Hailey's every movement. Hailey thrust the glass to Jay's hands, which were shaking.

"Is it the therapy?" asked Hailey. Jay nodded. "You wanna talk about it?" asked Hailey gently.

"We talked about the airport situation in the therapy," said Jay. "Not just talked, I was brought back to the moment, and to the nightmare."

"I'm sorry," said Hailey.

"It was so real, I have to see by myself that you didn't get shot in the head," said Jay.

"It's okay," Hailey rubbed Jay's shoulder. "Anytime you need to make sure I'm still alive."

"I'll put bubble wrap on you, I need you alive," said Jay.

"That sounds like a hostage situation," Hailey pointed out. Jay smirked. "You finished your therapy session like that? It's a good thing you could drive."

"Had panic attack there, I cried buckets. Once I was done, the session was finished, and I was on my way here. It came back, I mean, the memories… I had to stop because I got another attack," said Jay. Hailey was scared he was about to get another panic attack, so she kept her hand on his shoulder.

"Is there something I can do?" asked Hailey.

"Yeah… be here," said Jay. His hands were shaking and he was very pale, reminding Hailey of the day he was shot. Hailey's heart broke for him when she saw a tear fell from Jay's eye.

"I'm here," said Hailey. She instinctively pulled Jay to lean on her. Both were having a de ja vu moment from the day Jay got shot, and he cried to Hailey's shoulder. Since then, this had becoming somewhat familiar to them. While the circumstances differ, they remained the same.

"It was very real. In my dreams, at least. I saw you got shot multiple times already," said Jay. Hailey cringed. With their job, the risk of getting shot, getting blown up is always present. "Sorry I barged in," said Jay sheepishly after a while.

"At least you knocked," said Hailey sarcastically, but smiled after.

"Yeah, I'll just let myself in next time," said Jay. Hailey glared at him.

"You're feeling better?" asked Hailey.

"After seeing you don't have bullet hole in your head, yeah," said Jay. Hailey went to the kitchen to grab two mugs of tea.

"Hey, how's your cold?" asked Jay.

"I slept all day, I'll be in tomorrow," said Hailey. She gave Jay a mug of tea and sipped one herself. Her congested nose had cleared up a bit, and her head was feeling better than yesterday. Her stomach chose the right moment to rumble, and they both snickered.

"You haven't eaten yet?"

"No, I haven't. The Thai place around the corner doesn't deliver, I don't feel like going. I prefer sleeping," said Hailey.

"You could've just ask," grunted Jay, and before Hailey could say anything, he was out the door. He came back 15 minutes later, letting himself in. Hailey was asleep on the couch. Jay poured the soup in a bowl and plopped on the couch near her legs.

"You shouldn't make it a habit, it is called an emergency key for a reason," chastised Hailey lightly. Telling the truth, she didn't mind not having to wake up to open the door.

"You're sick, it's an emergency," Jay shrugged. "Thai noodle soup." He handed Hailey the bowl.

"Thanks," said Hailey.

"Narcotics Aaron didn't bring you food?" teased Jay. He pulled out his own dinner of Drunken Noodle.

"No, and you make his name sounds like a criminal," Hailey rolled her eyes. "It was just two dates that didn't go anywhere, stop making him sound like my boyfriend."

"Why?" Jay blurted out. "Sorry, I mean… I'm sorry it didn't turn out well."

"It's okay, it's not like I was expecting anything out of it. I think Amy is more disappointed than I am," Hailey shrugged. They ate in silence.

"Have you ever met someone, you connected with that person, but police loyalty wise, you're in different places?" asked Hailey suddenly.

"You mean?"

"Let's see… like, for example… if you and Voight dated, I think you would be in different places, wouldn't you? You're more by-the-book cop while him… anything to get the job done."

"First of all, why it has to be me and Sarge as example? Can't you use yourself as example? Second, I dated his daughter, all-but-blood. Erin and Voight are very similar cops. Look how it ended up," Jay shrugged.

"God, sorry, I didn't think of that," apologise Hailey quickly. Jay waved her off.

"Is Narcotics Aaron like that?" asked Jay.

"I got that vibe. We were talking about some things that happened in the past, you know, as open as can be without jeopardising secrecy of the job. And he mentioned an operation which I wouldn't do. It was… somewhat illegal? He meant well, but… I just couldn't accept the way it was done. I'm not saying I never did something borderline illegal or off-the-book. I worked for Voight for God's sake. But Aaron… he ordered it. His idea, his action. So there it was: two dates. Next I'll just date a teacher and not someone who has anything to do with law enforcement," said Hailey.

"Really?" asked Jay.

"I don't know, but I think when you date a cop, that becomes an issue. When you just date a usual citizen, you don't bother to think about that."

"You mean when I date a drug dealer?" asked Jay sarcastically. Hailey gasped.

"Sorry, I didn't mean…" Hailey stammered.

"No, it's okay. I was messing with you," Jay smirked. They finished eating in silence. Jay insisted to clean up and walked back to the living room with two cans of beer, passing one to her.

"I'll pass," Hailey put the can on the table. "Hey, can I ask you something?"

"Yeah?"

"Was it only in my head or were you really avoiding me after the park bombing?" asked Hailey. Jay looked anywhere but her eyes, making Hailey knew the answer immediately. "Why?"

"It's… It's complicated," said Jay.

"Don't take this the wrong way, but I don't want to overstay my welcome. I slowly became used to crashing on the couch here, having you around so I don't have nightmare, and I don't want to make it a habit. I don't want you interpreting this romantically," Jay laid everything out.

"I pondered about what happened. I didn't notice at first, you held back from socialising. I thought I did something wrong," Hailey frowned. "And I didn't think that way, don't worry…"

"Also, it's not a proper thing to do, to spend that much time with you when you're dating Narcotics Aaron," smirked Jay. Hailey rolled her eyes at the name.

"He's a guy I went on two dates with. You're my partner, and you need help. It's different," said Hailey.

"Remind me to treat you to a nice meal once the therapy, and the nightmares, are over?"

"Should I take that romantically?" teased Hailey, smirking while raising her eyebrows. "Kidding, Jay. I know we're both not looking for that right now. At least I'm not, so you don't have to worry I overthink this. I'm simply helping you, nothing more."

"First of all, simple help is taking a file from the top shelf; your help is huge and I'll be forever thankful. Secondly, as if I can be in a relationship with someone if I keep getting nightmares," murmured Jay. "Maybe when this is over, when the time is right, who knows, but now…"

"Or find someone who can accept that," blurted Hailey, leading to an awkward silence. They decided to leave it at that; neither wanted to continue the conversation. Hailey yawned at the right time and tried to suppress it.

"Sorry, the cold medicine must suck my energy," grinned Hailey.

"It's called cold medicine to make you rest," said Jay.

"I'm bored to death, I'll come in tomorrow," said Hailey. Jay shrugged.

"Don't force yourself. Just rest, it's not like we have an active case," said Jay.

"We don't?" asked Hailey.

"Nope," Jay shook his head. It's always strange when they don't have any case. Surely someone had to do some crimes somewhere…

"I'll go, you need to rest," said Jay.

"You sure you're okay?" asked Hailey. An hour ago he was crying uncontrollably.

"I think so."

"Alright, good night," Hailey walked him to the door.

"Thanks."

"Anytime," smiled Hailey.


Hailey woke up in the middle of the night because her nose was congested. She went to the kitchen to brew some tea. While passing the living room, she frowned when she saw Jay sleeping on the couch. She could swear Jay went home and not crashing on her couch; she sent him out the door. As she walked towards him, she noticed tear track on his face; a telltale sign of a nightmare. Her heart sank realising how uncomfortable his sleep was. Half annoyed because he let himself in; but also touched as he went to her place for comfort; she brewed the tea and sat beside him, stroking his shoulder and back until Jay started to relax.


A short one to celebrate day 1 of filming Season 7! Might be the shortest chapter I've ever written.