"Jay! What the hell is this?" Hailey questions, still overcoming the shock of being face to face with her ex-husband for the first time in nearly three years.
He looks almost the same, aside from a few more wrinkles here and there that somehow make him look even more distinguished, and his hair a little more grown out than he used to keep it. It was one of her favorite things to tease him about, that somehow no matter what haircut he got, it always looked the same. She knew it was because he hated that if his hair got too long it had a tendency to curl, and he couldn't be bothered dealing with that. She also loved to mess with him over his diet and how he sometimes preferred healthy things to sweets and she can't help but notice that seems to be the case still. He certainly didn't lose muscle mass just because he's in a different decade age bracket than when she last saw him. They had always joked about turning forty and how quickly their thirties were going, and she feels a slight twinge of pain at the memory of not getting to tease him about hitting that milestone last year. There were a lot of things they thought they'd get to do together that never happened, and she's still unsettled with reckoning her feelings for that. And now, here he is, right in front of her, as if the past few years didn't exist.
He steps closer to her, looking like he's about to put his hands on her upper arms to ground her as a muscle memory, but then he realizes what he's doing at the last second and stops. Now they're both just awkwardly facing each other toe to toe.
"I'm sorry, I know you must have so many questions, but first I have to remind you that my name is, 'Wes,' not Jay. Nobody here knows that I'm Jay Halstead aside from the highest superior that put me in this assignment. I'm undercover, Hailey, and have been for about a year now…"
She looks at him lost, until the recognition triggers on her face. "That text message you sent me last year… that was about this, wasn't it?"
"Yeah. This was meant to be a long-term assignment. No end date. I didn't know when I'd be coming back State-side, or if I would be. If I'd ever be Jay again, to be honest. There wasn't much left for me as him anyway." He shrugs and looks at her sadly. She wants to chime in, but figures it's best not to interrupt him.
"When I got back from Bolivia, it had been a couple of months since our divorced was finalized. I figured you didn't want to see me, or I didn't want to set you back again. Maybe I was just scared myself. I couldn't show up and have you reject me, it would be like losing you all over again –"
"- Jay, I mean Wes…" she cuts in now, before her anger can get triggered further.
"Please, let me finish. This way it can at least make sense why you're here. I knew from the little bit I talked to the rest of the team, mainly Ruz, that you had been trying to do better. You were jogging again, you were connecting with that loan-out detective. I didn't want to set you back at all, again. I already hated myself for what I put you through when I left. I spoke to Trudy briefly, and she said I should come. But I just couldn't. I told you that you were the love of my life, and you were… you still are… but then I broke my promise and left you because of how broken I was. I couldn't forgive myself for breaking you too, so it was my punishment to myself. Accepting losing you. It's why I signed the divorce papers to begin with." He notices the tears welling in her eyes through the ones blurring his, but he treks on.
"Anyway, so I went to Los Angeles. My major in Bolivia was working on a task force with local PD to navigate the cartel there, so I was with LAPD for about six months. That was when we got intel that one of the drug lords I had just put away, Jozef Remiáš, had been working with Czonka to keep the teenagers he was using on his jobs hooked on drugs. With the information I had working so long on the Jozef case, I was a valuable asset to try to take down Czonka as well. The caveat though was that Jay Halstead was likely compromised, and didn't have international jurisdiction like government entities would. So the FBI and my old major came up with this plan; go deep undercover as SSA Mitchell, and I could help get Czonka under an alias where he'd be none the wiser. They figured the role was perfect for me because not only of how motivated I was, but because they knew I didn't care about being Jay anymore. Being Jay cost me the job I loved. Being Jay cost me the one person I had loved more than anything. It was a win-win. Other than Will, there wasn't much left for me in the U.S. anymore. And it gave me an opportunity to try to be the leader I had always wanted to be, before black and white started merging. You know almost the rest from there. We caught Czonka, we were getting ready to bury him at the trial, until he escaped. Now he wants revenge. All of that is true. But I specifically requested you, not only because I know there's no one better, there's not…. But I also fear that Czonka figured out who I am. And if he figured out that, it means he knows who Halstead loved. And there's no chance in hell I'll let him or his goons touch a hair on your head…"
He finally finishes and then waits for a long while, giving her a chance to process everything he just said. There's a million emotions going through her head right now. The most prevalent one is still that Jay is here, standing right in front of her, and acting like the Jay she knew, the one who loved her so much and just wanted to protect her from everything bad in the world… even if he was going by a different name now. She doesn't know what to make of it all, but she knows she's here to do this job, so they have to make this work. Hailey's heart still races as Jay's words hang in the air, a mixture of shock and a familiar warmth flooding through her. She hadn't expected to see him like this, not after all the hurt, not after the divorce. But hearing him say her name, and seeing the vulnerability in his eyes began to thaw the icy wall she had built around her heart. Finally, she manages a response.
"You should have told me," She says, her voice trembling. "I could have helped."
He stepped even closer, a pleading look on his face. "Like I said, I didn't want to drag you back into my mess. You've worked so hard to move on. I thought it was better this way… But I was wrong."
They stood in silence for a moment, both grappling with the weight of their shared past. The memories surged—laughter and banter, late-night conversations over a drink, the excitement of their first kiss in a crowded darkened bar. But then, the shadows of pain crept in, and Hailey felt a wave of conflicting emotions wash over her.
"Why didn't you reach out sooner?" she asked, her frustration boiling to the surface. "You sent that text, and then… nothing!" She states again, as if he didn't already try to explain.
"Hailey, I'm not lying, I truly didn't know how. I was still trying to find myself. I didn't want to disrupt your new life, but seeing you now… I can't stand the thought of you being in danger because of me."
She looked away, trying to gather her thoughts. The truth was, she had longed for closure, for a chance to see him again and understand why he had left. But now that he was here, everything felt so tangled.
"Czonka is dangerous, Jay. I can't just walk back into your life and pretend everything's fine…" she said, her resolve beginning to waver.
"I know that. But we can handle this together. We always have. At least we did, until my Bolivia move." His eyes held hers, a familiar spark igniting the space between them. "I've missed you, Hailey. More than you can imagine. And I never stopped caring! You have to believe that if nothing else."
Her heart ached at his admission. The warmth of his presence was intoxicating, and she could feel the old feelings rushing back—feelings she thought she had buried. Feelings she usually only allowed to creep in laying alone at night.
"Maybe we can figure this out after Czonka is caught," she proposed, her voice steadier now. "But we need to focus on the job first. It's too risky to— "
"Hailey," he interrupted gently, "We can take this one step at a time, I'm not naïve enough that I think you'll drop everything and forgive me, but you're still the best partner I ever had, and ever will have. So I do need you to know I want you in my life again, not just for this case. I don't want to lose you a second time. Not as Jay. Not as Wes. I'm not that broken man who left anymore. I've fought for every inch of my life back, to be better for you, and I'll fight for us again too if you'll let me. Let's get through this, together, and then maybe we can figure out where we stand if that's okay?"
Tears prick the corners of her eyes again as she searches his face, seeing the sincerity in his expression. The fight in her begins to wither under the weight of their shared history. She felt the walls she had built start to crumble, the longing she had suppressed for so long surging to the forefront
With a determined nod, she replied, "Okay. Together."
He smiles genuinely, for the first time in a while. They're no where near good, he knows that… but now, he can't help feel that they will be again. It gives him hope. A feeling he hadn't felt in a while. And he's satisfied with the first step taken.
"Okay." He states brightly to her.
She takes a step back from him, realizing that being so close in his space is spiraling her emotions even further and she knows the severity of the reasons she was brought here. Not just to come face to face with the only man she ever loved. But to get an evil, vengeful criminal back behind bars.
"Alright, so, first things first, how do we play this? I assume your team only knows you as 'Wes,' and to Wes that means I should be a mystery, right? Like they don't know you're Jay and that we were married for fuck's sake... Do we just act and pretend like we don't know each other around them?" the anxiety rising in her voice, wondering if she can hold all the emotions and memories they share together in when around others. Or even when alone, for that matter.
He reads her panic instantly and tries to calm her down. "Hey, you were – are—one of the best undercover officers I ever knew. You can do this! We can do this. But yes, you're right, my team only knows me as Wes Mitchell. They don't know anything about Hailey Upton aside from you coming highly recommended to assist us. Maybe we can come up with a small connection if it's easier, like a mutual friend? I could say you knew my old partner in LA who got killed by Czonka's guy's, so this is personal for you too? I guess I didn't think it through too much beyond getting you here, and making sure you were safe, but I think we'll be alright."
"Yeah, okay, maybe that can work. We obviously can't say it was through OA Zidan, the partner I had when I did the FBI stint in New York because he'd definitely put two and two together. But with your old partner gone…" she stops, the words he says finally hitting her and she gets emotional again thinking about how he suffered another loss in his life. She still had many reasons to be angry with him, but she'd never deny that Jay's life hadn't been easy, neither of theirs had. "I'm so sorry, I had no idea!"
His jaw twitches slightly, as she clocks it, but he covers quickly. "Thank you. It's alright. I didn't know Mike for too long, but he was a good guy. Good police. But yeah, he won't be around to attest a fake story of knowing him. We'll run with that."
"Yeah. I guess then the hardest part will be trying to remember to always call you, 'Wes,' now. And not show the years we were partnered and married… piece of cake." She smiles slightly, the first since she stepped into the room with him.
"Well, you did say you had trusted me from the day you met me and that you'd follow me blind…" he smirks, slightly teasing her.
"Yeah, I guess even as us we did have an almost instant connection. Maybe it won't be that hard."
"Exactly… and any of the residual divorced anger you feel, you can channel that into not liking Wes' unconventional ways. One of my team members, Smitty, hates it. So she'll relate easily." He winks at her.
Hailey laughs effortlessly now. "Well I guess as Jay or Wes, you always make the best impressions with certain cases? Some things never change… even if I ended up falling into the pattern too."
"Voight does that to you, or the things we dealt with in those cases did anyway. But, here we are now!"
"Yeah, here we are…"
She whispers. The air hanging heavily between them at the enormity of all the things their former job cost them. But that was in the past, and the past was gone. No one knew it better than them. It was time to step forward anew. And that's what they would do. Together.
After they get that all settled, hanging back in that deserted office for nearly another hour, aligning stories and mildly catching up, the next thing on the agenda is to meet with his team. They exit the headquarters together and hop into Wes' car to go across town to the Fly Team's base. When they arrive there's a bunch of analysts busy at their computers, all trying to scour whereabouts of Czonka's possible location. Wes waves to them and quickly introduces Hailey before leading her into another room where agents Cameron Vo, Andre Raines, Amanda Tate, and Europol assist, Megan 'Smitty' Garretson wait for them.
"Guys, this is Special Agent Hailey Uptonfrom the D.C. bureau that I told you about. She'll be here assisting us for as long as it takes to get that bastard. She comes highly recommended, as I've mentioned, and holds a special meaning to me because she worked with my old partner, Mike, on a case once upon a time. Hailey, this is the team…" Wes tries to hide biting his tongue because he realizes he called her Hailey instead of Upton upon apparently first getting to know each other, but judging from their faces no one seems to clock it.
They all shake hands and make personal introductions.
"Great to have you on the team for a bit!" Cam says to her.
"Yes, it's always nice to learn more from seasoned agents. Wes has already taught us all a lot." Andre chimes in.
Hailey fights a smile, having no doubt her former husband probably had a lot to teach them. He was always one of the best to learn from. "Happy to be here. Thanks for having me!"
"Alright. Now that intros are done, any further news on Czonka? I've already filled Hailey in on what we know." Wes asks.
Amanda leaned forward, tapping her tablet. "We've traced several communications linked to Czonka. It looks like he's been active in the area, using encrypted channels. But we still haven't pinpointed his exact location."
Smitty, who had been quietly analyzing data, spoke up. "We found a few teenagers who fit the profile of his recruits. They've been seen near the last few robbery sites from before he was jailed, but we're struggling to connect the dots."
Hailey stepped in, her old detective instincts kicking in. "Do we have any known associates of Czonka in the area? Anyone he might be using as a front?"
Andre nodded, scrolling through his notes. "There's a local shop owner who has ties to the underground scene. We suspect he's been supplying Czonka with intel and possibly hiding some of the stolen goods, maybe giving him a place to lay low at one of his shops."
Wes touched his chin thoughtfully. "If we can get to that shop owner, it might lead us straight to Czonka or at least give us more leads on his network."
"Agreed," Hailey replied, scanning the room. "But we need to approach this carefully. If Czonka catches wind that we're onto him, he'll disappear, and we can't afford that. Nor can we let him get too close to Wes or you guys if he is seeking vengeance." She tries to state calmly, not wanting to let on she wants Jay… Wes… no where near taking the risk. Knowing for certain that while he may have changed his name, she's sure danger has a niche for finding him!
"Let's set up surveillance on the shop," Cam suggested. "We can rotate shifts to ensure someone's always watching."
"Good idea," Amanda added. "I can coordinate with the local precinct to get some uniforms involved. They can help keep a low profile."
"Yeah, that's smart and probably our best play at this. Cam and Andre, and Smitty and Amanda, you guys can pair up with one of the uniforms. I'll take shifts with Upton to cover all the rest… if that's okay with her?" Wes faces Hailey now, sharing a look that they used to have so often where they could easily understand and read the other's mind. He wants to give her the out if she doesn't want to so closely work with him, but he can also still read her that she won't trust his life in another's hands. Just like him with her.
She nods back and simply says, "Sure, sounds good!" Only needing to reply for the other's sake and their own cover as they've already communicated silently.
"Okay, let's get to it then. Cam and Andre, you're up first. Amanda, contact the locals for two undercovers and we'll get all set. Let's get this bastard, again!" Wes commands and everyone breaks away, seeing to their tasks, leaving him and Hailey.
He guides her to his office and closes the door. He catches her smirk when she notices the putting green in the corner.
"Your game get any better in other countries?" She asks.
"Barely." He chuckles at her teasing. "I still want to throw my clubs half the time. But it's good for clearing the head."
"I'm sure. You know, I tried it a couple times after you left. It wasn't the same. But it helped me to better understand why you enjoy it so much."
He stares at her, not knowing what to say. She'd come with him sometimes on their occasional weekend off to play one of his favorite courses in Chicago. But he knew she just tried it for him, she'd much rather spend the day at the shooting range. Hearing that she tried to continue without him equally heals and breaks his heart all over again. He has to find a way to fix things between them before she leaves to go back to the U.S. But he'll keep that thought to himself again for now.
"Yeah!? I appreciate that!... Anyway, what did you think of the team?"he tries to quickly change the subject before he shows how emotional he's feeling.
"They all seem great. Competent. I always knew you'd make a great leader." She states proudly.
"Well, I don't know about all that. They're good. They make it easy. They were a big help to me in catching Csonka the first time!"
"That's great. I'm glad you're adapting so well to this new life." She deadpans.
"Hailey —" he hates her thinking his life with her wasn't great, he hateshimselffor making her think that. Because him running had nothing to do with her, but he wishes he could have been the bigger man and stayed BECAUSE of her. Because none of this world matters without having her.
"No, sorry. I didn't mean it like it sounded. ….Well, maybe a little." She half shrugs. "But I'm happy for you, I really am. You seem more again like the guy I once knew. The guy who went to therapy after I nearly forced him a few months after meeting. He was the best guy I knew!"
"Thanks, Hailey. That means a lot coming from you. I swear to you I'm going to make you feel that way again about me!"
She gives him a small smile. "Yeah, well, let's just take one thing at a time like we said. Focus on Csonka and making this work in front of your team."
He smiles back and nods in agreement. Baby steps. He can do that. That's how their relationship developed in the first place. He's just content to know she's staying and agreeing to help. And hopeful for the first time in years that maybe he will get another chance with her.
The days merged together as the team took turns with their surveillance. Wes and Hailey were so busy that they hadn't gotten to spend any personal time together yet, but they did get time alone in the undercover van or even in the office working the case a lot. They fell into their old patterns, spending years together as partners, and were pleasantly surprised to see that they still worked cohesively together. It was if no time had past and they were two Chicago detectives really was a seamless transition, so much so that it even garnered them questioning looks from his team when they weren't looking. That's how well they still meshed.
It was a little over a week since Hailey got there that they had their first overnight on surveillance together, and were struggling to stay awake by just talking about surface level stuff. They were trying to keep things professional, and easier to maintain their cover, as well as not wanting to set off all the uncharted emotions within them… but it wasn't fun conversation when you were trying to stay awake at 3am in a cramped van. Especially with the fun they used to have in these scenarios back in Chicago. What first was the banter between good friends, then the more intimate talks of romantic partners, and even one outing where Voight would have arrested them for indecent exposure himself. That was their favorite night, but they knew it was so risky that they only succumbed to it that one time. It had been worth it though and they'd both be lying if that night hadn't crossed their minds a time or two in this van over the past week. They obviously weren't going to bring that subject up, but they had to think of something more interesting to keep their mind's occupied.
Wes cuts the ice first. "So, what's your favorite part about living in DC? Have you developed any new hobbies?"
"Ha, not so much. Don't really get the time to. But I do like it a lot there. It doesn't get nearly as cold in the winter as it does in Chicago, but it still has all four seasons, which is nice."
"Yeah, same here. It's kind of mind blowing to be on the same seasonal schedule across the world. It still snows here, but I haven't seen one of those crazy blizzards like we used to get back home."
"Where your breath freezes the second you walk outside? The worst!" she adds.
Wes laughs, remembering exactly how much Hailey hated the cold. "Yeah, it could be brutal. But we found some innovative ways to keep warm!" he can't help but smirk.
She tries to hold back her own and settles on shaking her head instead. "How about you? You liking Budapest?"
"Language barrier has definitely been hard to adapt to sometimes, but so many people do speak English. And there's not much Amazon Prime out here, so that's another adjustment. But yeah, it's beautiful and the food is good! The Danube River is gorgeous! I'm biased so it's not quite like walking Riverwalk, but it's the second longest river in Europe I think. Views are always awesome, and it's great to run along!"
"Yeah, the view from my hotel looks amazing. I haven't gotten a chance to see it up close yet, but I'm sure it's as awesome as you say." She tells him.
"We'll have to try and go there one night when we're not on surveillance duty. There's a great restaurant along a section of it that you'd love!"
He says it so excitedly that there's no way she could turn it down. "Yeah, that sounds good!"
"Good." He smiles at her, internally ecstatic he got her to agree. "Sooo, not to be that ex-husband, but have you or are you seeing anyone? I swear I'm just asking as a friend, and concerned citizen." He jokes.
She rolls her eyes at him, but grins. "No, just too busy. Which my therapist would probably say is my excuse for just not being too interested." She shrugs and they both laugh. "I briefly tried online dating."
Jay raises his brow. "Oh yeah!? How'd that go?"
"Matched with a guy who told me he used to live in a gated community. Did some research, found out he had been in jail…"
Jay lets out a loud belly laugh at her exasperation of the whole ordeal. "NO!?"
"Oh yeah. Needless to say, I'm good. Any horror stories from you?"
"I can't match that. Life's been kind of crazy since coming back from Bolivia, so I don't have much time for the dating scene either even if I was interested, which, I'm not…" He lets the last part hang, both of them knowing full well his implied meaning behind it. She blushes and tries to downplay.
"Yeah. It's probably hard here with the language barrier and all anyway."
"Probably." He nods, appeasing her.
"So, do you get to speak to Will at all? Does he know?" referring to Jay Halstead's brother.
"I do through burner phone calls sometimes. He does know. Wasn't too happy, as you can imagine, but he's gotten more supportive as the months have gone on. Him and Natalie seem to really be enjoying Seattle."
"That's good. We still chat from time to time through text. I haven't talked to him since this assignment though – Just envisioning how he'd react to hearing I was coming here may have blown your cover before you could."
They both laugh, wondering what the eldest Halstead would say to her if he knew she was here. He'd probably group text them somehow and give unasked for advice about second chances and insinuating they needed some sense knocked into them. But it would be with their best interests at heart, and he'd likely be right… but there's too much at stake to think of that right now.
"He did always have a soft spot for you. That idiot is smart with certain things." He grins.
"Yeah. I miss him too, but I'm glad they're happy out there. Maybe leaving Chicago is what we all needed!"
"Maybe…" Wes agrees, even though he wants to say what was best for him was her, and he somehow managed to screw that up too. But he doesn't want to sour this friendship of theirs they're slowly starting to build back up. He's just happy getting to talk to her like this again. Especially when a year ago he wasn't certain if he'd ever get to see her again, or if she even wanted to see him. But being with her like this again makes him remember that their bond was always too solid to be broken forever. They'd always find a way, because they were soul mates, even if from here on out it stayed strictly platonic. He'll take her in his life anyway he can.
Their conversation gets paused when they see movement in the shop they're monitoring, so they put their focus back on work. It seems the employees are arriving to start the process of getting ready to open for the day. Somehow the past couple of hours had flown by. But that's how it always was for them at their best. The rest of the world stilled and it was only them.
The days soon turned into weeks. The team logged hours of surveillance and had multiple failed tips on Csonka's whereabouts. Wes and Hailey continued to grow closer, like they were in the earlier days in their Chicago partnership. It was evident to everyone how well they meshed and how easy they were around each other, but wisely, no one commented. Wes' team was just glad to have such a skilled agent helping them with this, and seeing their leader seem a little lighter than he had been this past year, despite the circumstances. He had always been carefree, but they could tell he was still very guarded and didn't easily let people in. It was different with Hailey Upton though. He was different. And their two head's combined were better than one, because where one lacked at something, the other excelled. Despite not catching Csonka yet, there was hope in the air.
And the hope seemed to be working because a breakthrough came on a random Wednesday when Amanda had received a tip from a local informant. "Czonka's been spotted in Portugal," she announced, her voice crackling through the comms. "A shopkeeper in Alfama claims he sold him supplies last week. We need to act fast!"
The team all grabbed their to-go bags that they kept ready in case an instance like this arose, and Smitty called in a favor to England to get use of one of the private jets so they could get there as quick as possible. By dusk they were already on Portugal's coast.
The sun hung low in the sky as the Fly Team's van rumbled down the narrow streets of Lisbon. The vibrant colors of the city flashed by, but Wes sat in the passenger seat, his eyes trained on the winding roads ahead. The adrenaline coursing through him was palpable; they were close, so close to nabbing Czonka. And with that, him losing out on Hailey's reason for being here. But he couldn't spend time dwelling on that right now.
He exchanged glances with her, determination sparking between them, and a hint of recognition they were both thinking the same. But this could be the break they'd been waiting for. After hours of surveillance at the shop, they'd finally traced a lead to an apartment just a few blocks away from where he was last seen.
"Wes, are you sure about this?" Hailey asked, glancing at him as they parked a short distance from the target location. She knew that if Csonka caught wind of him, revenge would be at the forefront of his mind of it wasn't already. Wes' focus was unwavering, but she could see the tension in his jaw.
"We have to check it out," Wes replied, his voice steady but edged with urgency. "If he's really here, we can't let this slip through our fingers again. I have to keep this team, you, safe."
They moved quickly, strategizing in low tones as they approached the dilapidated building that looked as if it had seen better days. Cam and Andre would cover the back entrance while Wes and Hailey took the front. Smitty and Amanda would remain in the van, ready to back them up at a moment's notice.
Hailey felt a familiar mix of excitement and anxiety, her instincts kicking into high gear. "Let's do this!" she said, determination in her voice. It had been a long time since she had him as her partner like this, but there was still no one else in the field she'd follow blind.
As they entered the building, the eerie silence wrapped around them. The apartment was littered with remnants of what looked like a hurried departure—empty bottles, scattered papers, and the faint smell of smoke lingering in the air. They fanned out, scanning for any sign of Czonka.
"Clear," Wes called, peering into a bedroom while Hailey moved toward a small kitchen. But her heart sank as she turned over a chair, revealing nothing but more debris.
"Nothing here," she said, frustration and anxiety creeping into her voice.
Just then, Wes emerged from the bedroom, his expression tight. "He was here. Looks like he left in a hurry..."
"What do you mean?" Hailey asked, moving closer. "How could we have spooked him?"
"His things are still here," Wes replied, gesturing to an open drawer, clothes spilling out. "But the window is ajar. Either someone tipped him off or he must have heard us coming. Fuck!"
"Damn it," Hailey muttered, kicking a piece of furniture in frustration. They had been so close. "We need to check the building. He couldn't have gotten far."
They moved swiftly through the corridors, checking each floor, their hopes dwindling with every empty room. It felt like a cruel game of cat and mouse, and the realization settled like a weight in Wes' chest: they might lose him again.
As they reached the staircase leading to the rooftop, Wes glanced back at her. "You think he's up there?"
"Only one way to find out," she replied, steeling herself. They climbed the stairs, each step echoing with the weight of their mission. The weight of what would be next for them.
Bursting onto the rooftop, the late afternoon sun bathed them in golden light. The city sprawled out below, but Czonka was nowhere in sight. Wes cursed under his breath, scanning every possible escape route, every alleyway that might have offered him a quick getaway. "You guys got anything out back?" he radios to Andre and Cam. Wes and Hailey hear their resounding "No's" as a response.
"We missed him!" Wes said quietly, disappointment etched on his face. But also feeling a slight guilt because he knew this meant he got to hang onto Hailey a little longer.
"Maybe he slipped out the other side," Hailey suggested, but doubt crept into her voice. It felt increasingly unlikely.
"Let's regroup with the others," Wes said, his shoulders slumping slightly. "We'll canvass the area, see if anyone spotted him."
They descended the stairs, the weight of their mission settling heavily upon them. Back in the van, Smitty and Amanda were awaiting updates, their expressions revealing they already knew the grim news.
"Nothing?" Amanda asked, her voice laced with concern.
"Nothing," Wes confirmed, slumping into his seat. "He got away."
Cam and Andre returned to the front, their faces looking just as grim as they plowed into the vehicle. Silence fell over the van as they realized they'd be returning empty-handed, the air thick with frustration. This felt like it could have been the one, but Csonka's elusiveness outsmarted them again. A couple minutes into the drive, Smitty came out with another update.
"I have good news and bad news… Bad news is the jet had to leave, apparently there was a major arms bust they had to get agents to in Croatia. Good news is the bureau will comp our return flights, even first class, we just have to book them ourselves."
A heavy round of sighs made their response as they returned to their hotel weary and defeated. "Alright, we did great, the best we could. We were with it on the intel, Csonka was just a hair quicker than us. We'll get him next time. How about we take the night and day and regroup. No sense rushing back to Budapest this late anyway. We'll start fresh again on Friday." Wes tells his team and Hailey.
"Works for me. That king size bed is calling my name. I can sleep until Friday!" Cam replied and they all nodded their heads in agreement as they made their way into the lobby.
Before they reach the elevators fully, Wes grabs Hailey's arm. "You tired or you feel like blowing off some steam?" He asks, willing to bet money on that she still doesn't sleep as much as she should.
"Sure. I could use a drink and some food… never been to Portugal before!"
"We came once on a case last year. You'll love the food! I know the perfect place, right off the beach. Will be nice to have someone to eat with at it this time." He smiles at her as they make their way out to the hotel shuttle bus.
She does that thing where she tilts her head while looking at him, as if she's studying him. It used to unnerve him, how well she could read him sometimes when they first met, but he's missed it so much these past few years. "You don't go out with the team ever?"
"Ah, we do, sometimes. But they all have their own lives, and I come with my list of skeletons in the closet, obviously, so I tend to keep my distance sometimes. Who wants to drink with their boss anyway, right?" he shrugs.
"They seem to really like and respect you, you should let them in sometimes!" she gives him a small, encouraging smile.
"Yeah, maybe. But you're here right now, and that's what matters in this moment. My favorite Bartoli's date!" he gives her a wink as they find their seats on the bus.
"We are a long way from Bartoli's, but you were always my favorite dinner date too."
"Good, I'm glad to still be on the list!"
He smiles back at her and they settle in to watch the sights from the window. It's well past dark out now, but it's still pretty to view. Very different than the U.S, somehow it just feels more personal. It's not a far drive, but long enough for them both to notice how their bodies are touching from thighs to arms to shoulder blades. Wes could shift slightly into the aisle to give them a little more space, but he doesn't want to and he kind of feels like she's enjoying their close proximity too. By the time the shuttle gets them to the street the restaurant is on, both of their hearts are racing. As they make their way down the cobble street, the smell of ocean air surrounding them, he has to close his fists tightly to not reach out and grab her hand. What makes it even more bittersweet is that they had always talked about doing a belated honeymoon in Europe one day since they didn't get to take one when they had first got married; it's like the world is messing with him right now. Hailey is feeling it too — the irony of them finally being here now, divorced. When they finally get to the restaurant and sit, the first thing they do is ask for a bottle of wine. Secretly drowning their sorrows and celebrating being around each other again seems like the best option.
They sip their wine and order some appetizers, just happy to be sharing a meal like this again. If they close their eyes, they can almost pretend the past few years didn't happen. That they were still two happily married people blissfully in love and enjoying a nice vacation.
"I still can't get over you in the dress clothes…" Wes says in the middle of one of their conversation pauses.
"What do you mean? I haven't even wore a blazer since I first arrived here." She chucks a tiny piece of bread at him.
"I know, I know. It's just funny because when you did that FBI stint years ago, Platt was teasing me how they like to keep good people and 'make them wear nice suits' as she put it." He makes quotation marks with his fingers. "But I tried not to panic so I said, 'well Hailey doesn't like nice suits!' And now here you are, back at a job making you wear nice suits, and I'm the one still in button downs."
He chuckles and they both start cracking up.
"Well, you weren't wrong. I do hate those damn suits! I was happy to see your team was more casual." She laughs and gulps down more wine.
"But you wear them so well!" He smirks, and she knows he's teasing her, but also knows he means it.
"Nice line… can we talk more about how much Platt loved to bust your balls, Chuckles?"
"Pretty sure I wasn't alone in that… But she's a wise one. She knew I had feelings for you back then!"
"Was it the puppy dog eyes you'd give me that gave it away?" She teases him now as he chucks the piece of bread back at her.
"Oh, you're one to talk!"
"Fine, FINE. She knew both of us had feelings for the other and were too scared to rip the Band-Aid!" Hailey concurs.
"She was right a lot. Our stubborn asses should have listened more, at least mine!"
"Well I won't argue about your stubborn ass."
She grins into her wine as their meals arrive. Arroz de mariscofor her and Porco preto for him, but they already had a plan in place to split them so they could try both. The first bites have them moaning through their chewing.
"I told you this place was good!" Wes smiles, it half getting hidden while wiping his mouth with his napkin.
"You weren't wrong. This might be the best meal I've ever had… the company is okay too, I guess."
He rolls his eyes at her as he picks up more pork with his fork and puts it to her mouth. "Here, try this!"
"Oh my God!"
"Mhmm."
"Between here and the croissants and coffee in Budapest, I may have to become European." She states.
He knows she's kidding, but he gets butterflies in his stomach just thinking about it.What if he could get her to stay? Or even go back with her?
His thoughts are interrupted when the restaurant owner comes over and tells them they have to try their famous shots. He has two Ginjinhas already in hand so they couldn't say no if they wanted to. They cheers each other and swallow them down.
"Oh, that's dangerous!" Hailey says of the cherry cordial.
Wes licks the sweet taste off his lips, while not always the biggest fan, he can't deny that he really enjoyed this.
"Delicioso, obrigado!" He tells the owner who has a satisfied smile. "We should order more with dessert!"
"Definitely." Hailey says, letting the man walk away, before commenting on Wes' Portuguese. "You speak Portuguese now? What else aren't you telling me,Wesley Mitchell?" She raises her brow.
He laughs. "No, no. I just learned how to say a couple of generic things last time I was here. Like, 'thank you.' I am still illiterate in all else except English. Although I did manage to pick up a little more Spanish while in Bolivia. I'm like 12th grade level now instead of 11th."
This cracks her up and makes him pleased to see her having such a good time and being at ease around him again. They finish their meals and working heavily on their second bottle of wine already, enjoying taking a night not to think about work or the anguish of their past. By the time dessert arrives, it's clear they're well past tipsy, and they have two more shots coming.
"We should go for a stroll on the beach before heading back. I know you're dying to!" Wes suggests.
Hailey's face shows excitement like a school girl. "I am… but isn't it getting kind of late?"
"So what? You suddenly have a curfew, Upton?"
"NOO!" She retorts mockingly. "But how late will the shuttle come back for us? Somehow I doubt we can just order a quick Uber here."
"I may have tipped the desk clerk incredibly well when you were saying good night to Smitty. The driver should be swinging back soon and he's just going to wait until we're ready." He grins at her.
She laughs in return, feeling lighthearted. "Gonna add this to your list of 'I know a guy?'"
"Maybe!" He smirks and then raises his shot glass for her to do the same. "Bottoms up!"
They clink their glasses and finish sharing the dessert, their stomachs full, but happy, and their heads a little giddy off the alcohol and environment. He would not have believed a year ago he'd be here with Hailey, but he thanks his lucky stars for getting this chance again, circumstances be damned!
[A/N: I've taken a lot of liberties with this story, specifically with timelines slightly and names of official things, but I guess not any more than a show that's based off American FEDERAL agents having jurisdiction in Europe, lol. So we'll suspend realities all around for fictional magic! Hope you've enjoyed this chunk, gratifying conclusion to come soon!]