The streets of Chicago were quieter than usual, the hum of the city almost muted as the night settled in. Jay Halstead sat in his truck, staring at the soft glow of the streetlights reflecting off the wet pavement. It had been a long day, filled with the kind of chaos that left him physically and emotionally drained. But even after all the calls were done, the arrests made, and the paperwork filed, Jay couldn't bring himself to drive home.

Home.

He wasn't even sure what that word meant anymore. Sure, he had a place—a small apartment near the lake—but it hadn't felt like home in a while. Not since everything with Erin. Not since he'd started building walls around himself, layer by layer, like it was the only way to protect himself from the weight of the world. The job took a toll on him, and it had only gotten worse after his last case.

"I came crashing down, and I broke my heart in two…"

The words of Demi Lovato's Carefully echoed in his mind as he thought about how much had changed. He had always been the guy who could compartmentalize, who could focus on the job and keep his personal life separate. But lately, everything felt like it was blending together. He was tired—tired of always being the one to put himself on the line, tired of getting hurt.

He sighed, resting his head against the steering wheel. He needed to clear his head, to stop thinking about everything that had gone wrong, but it was impossible. The weight of it all was crushing him.

His phone buzzed on the seat next to him, pulling him from his thoughts. It was a message from Hailey Upton.

Hailey: "You okay? Haven't heard from you in a while."

Jay stared at the message for a long moment, his thumb hovering over the screen. Hailey was the one person who always seemed to know when something was off with him. She had an uncanny ability to see through the walls he built, to push past the barriers he put up.

But that scared him, too. She was different—smart, strong, and, most importantly, someone he cared about more than he wanted to admit. And that made things complicated. Every time they got close, Jay found himself pulling back, afraid that he'd let her in too much, afraid that he'd get hurt again.

Jay: "Yeah, I'm fine. Just needed some air."

He sent the message, knowing full well it wasn't the truth, but it was easier than admitting how messed up he felt. He wasn't ready to unpack everything, not yet. But even as he sent the message, he felt the familiar tug of guilt. Hailey deserved more than that. She always had.

Moments later, his phone buzzed again.

Hailey: "If you need to talk, you know where to find me."

Jay smiled despite himself. Hailey was always direct, never one to beat around the bush. It was one of the things he liked most about her. She didn't play games. She was honest, even when it was hard.

He looked out the window, the city lights blurring as his mind drifted. He couldn't keep doing this—couldn't keep running from his feelings, pushing her away. Hailey had been by his side through everything. She'd seen him at his worst, and she still stuck around. Maybe it was time to let her in.

"I love the way you love me, but you're so careful with my heart…"

The lyrics played in his head again, and this time, they felt too real. Hailey had always been careful with him, always patient, always giving him space when he needed it. But she also knew how to push when he tried to shut down, and he was grateful for that. He didn't deserve her, but for some reason, she saw something in him that made her stay.

He picked up his phone again and dialed her number. It only rang once before she picked up.

"Jay?" Her voice was soft, but there was a tension in it that told him she was worried. She always could read him like a book.

"Yeah, it's me," Jay said, trying to keep his voice steady. "You busy?"

"No," she replied quickly. "I was just about to head home. What's up?"

Jay hesitated for a second, then spoke. "Can we meet? I—" He paused, unsure how to phrase what he was feeling. "I just need to talk."

There was a brief silence on the other end, and then Hailey's voice came through, gentle but sure. "Of course. Where are you?"

Jay told her, and less than twenty minutes later, he saw Hailey's car pull up behind his truck. She got out, her hands shoved into her jacket pockets as she walked over. The cool breeze lifted her blonde hair slightly, and her eyes immediately sought his out. She could tell something was off.

Jay opened the door and got out, leaning against the side of his truck as Hailey stopped in front of him. There was no need for words—she knew him well enough to wait until he was ready to speak.

"I didn't mean to drag you out here," Jay said quietly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I just… I didn't know who else to call."

Hailey took a step closer, her voice soft but firm. "You can always call me, Jay. You know that."

He nodded, his eyes meeting hers for a brief moment before looking away. "Yeah, I know. It's just… I've been trying to figure out what's going on in my head, and I keep coming back to the same thing."

Hailey tilted her head slightly, waiting.

Jay let out a long breath. "I've been pushing you away," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "And it's not fair. To you, to me."

Hailey blinked, surprise flickering across her face, but she didn't interrupt. She just waited, her eyes never leaving his.

"I've been so scared of getting hurt again," Jay continued, his throat tightening. "After everything with Erin, after all the shit I've been through, I didn't want to let anyone in. But you've always been there, and I've been too damn scared to admit how much that means to me."

Hailey's expression softened, and she took a step closer. "Jay…"

"I care about you, Hailey," Jay said, the words tumbling out before he could stop them. "I care about you more than I've let myself admit. And I've been afraid of that. Afraid of screwing it up, afraid that if I let you in, I'll get hurt again. But I don't want to be afraid anymore."

Hailey's eyes softened as she reached out, gently placing a hand on his arm. "Jay, you don't have to be afraid with me. I'm not going anywhere."

"I love the way you love me, but you're so careful with my heart…"

He swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. "I don't want you to be careful with me, Hailey. I want you to be real. I want to let you in, but I need you to know that I'm still figuring things out."

Hailey nodded, her hand still resting on his arm. "I get it, Jay. And I'm here. We can take this one step at a time. I'm not rushing you, but I'm not walking away either."

Jay felt a wave of relief wash over him. He had been so terrified that admitting how he felt would push her away, but here she was, standing by his side like she always had.

"I don't know what's next," Jay said quietly. "But I want to try. I want to try with you."

Hailey smiled, her eyes warm and full of understanding. "That's all I've ever wanted, Jay. For you to be honest with me. We'll figure it out together."

Jay let out a breath he didn't realize he had been holding, and for the first time in what felt like forever, he felt lighter. Maybe this was what it felt like to trust someone completely, to let them in without fear of getting hurt.

"I'm not perfect," Jay said, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "You know that."

Hailey laughed softly, the sound like music in the quiet night. "Neither am I. But that's what makes this real."

Jay smiled, and for the first time in a long time, it felt like the walls he had built around himself were finally coming down. He didn't have to be perfect. He didn't have to have everything figured out. All he had to do was let her in, and that was enough.

As they stood there, the city quiet around them, Jay knew that whatever happened next, he wasn't alone. And for once, that thought didn't scare him—it gave him hope.