78There was always something about a good workout, a feeling Hailey knew quite well. It didn't matter what her day was like because the hour she had dedicated to her gym time refreshed her mind and body. The pain from her sore muscles only drove her to finish the run or the circuit she was on, her body wanting to quit while her mind kept going.
But today was different. Every single thing she did felt off, but she had a guess as to why. The gym was small, serving a very select clientele, but she liked that. Less of a chance for her to run into someone she knows, which is better.
She was running when she spotted him in the corner by the free weights. He was new, or at least new to her. In the year she had been here, Hailey had never seen him before, and she knew most everyone. There was something about him that didn't fit in with the boxing gym turned fitness center. Where everyone here was built and dedicated to their routines, this guy looked like he had never set foot in a gym. He was fit, but not as defined as some of the other guys here. But the ease at which he moved around the equipment told Hailey that he was familiar in some way. Not to mention, he wasn't bad to look at.
The second that thought crossed her mind, her eyes met his in the mirror on the wall. Blue met green for a split second and Hailey had to step off the treadmill for a second to avoid falling face first. She swore a smirk crossed his face, but she knew she was caught. He barely gave her a chance to start back up before he stopped in front of her treadmill.
"Don't you know it's tacky to hit on a girl at the gym?" she asked, pulling one of her headphones from her ear. The cocky grin that crossed his face caused her heart to speed up, even more than it was from her run.
"Who said I was hitting on you?" he shot back. "Maybe I was coming to see if you were done."
Hailey looked around, noticing only one other treadmill open. "There's another open," she said, pointing to the open one two down from her.
He simply shrugged, looking over that way before back at her. "Maybe I did want to talk to the prettiest girl here."
"Smooth," Hailey replied, trying and failing not to smile. "I'm Hailey."
"Jay," he replied. "I would ask if you're new, but I know you're not."
"Then I'll ask the question," she said, finally remembering to turn off the treadmill. She stayed where she was, the height allowing her to become eye level with him.
"My buddy owns the place," Jay replied to her unasked question. "This isn't my first rodeo."
"How come I've never seen you before?"
Jay paused and Hailey quickly picked up on it. But he recovered rather smoothly, and something told her he wasn't willing to supply that information.
"Had to change up my routine, used to come in the mornings, but now it's nights."
"Ahh," Hailey said, finally moving to get down. "Well machine's all yours. Hopefully it does you well." She took a second to scan his body, making a show of it for him. She caught him doing the same as she walked away. While she normally would continue, she knew she wouldn't be able to do much knowing he was watching. There was something about him that intrigued her, and Hailey wouldn't lie and say she wanted to know more.
As she settled on the bench in the women's locker room, she fished out her phone, texting the one person she knew that would know something.
"Well if it isn't my favorite gym rat!"
Hailey always heard him before she saw him. It was part of his charm you could say. She rolled her eyes before standing up, finding herself engulfed in one of his hugs.
"Missed ya girl," he said, sitting down across from her and grabbing her coffee.
"Hey!" she laughed at him, pushing the other cup on the table towards him. "Drink your own."
"Well since you asked so nicely," he shot back. "What's up, Hailey?"
Adam had always been one of her closest friends. He brought her into the gym and a short-term relationship followed. It ended as quickly as it began, but she still considered her one of her best friends.
Suddenly she didn't know if she wanted to tell him about Jay. Best case scenario, he doesn't know anything. Worst case, he hates him. But regardless, he's gonna give her crap as he does with every guy she's dated since their split.
"Hailey," he pressed, knowing being quiet wasn't her thing. "What's up?"
She sighed, knowing he would eventually make her talk. "I met this guy," she began before he cut her off.
"Hailey's got a man, damn," he joked, earning him a punch to the arm. "Oww!"
"You've been hit worse," she fired back. "Anyways, there was something about him. I've never seen him before, but he said he's been around the gym. Name is Jay."
Adam looked at her and she saw recognition in his eyes.
"My height, brown hair, green eyes?" Adam asked, getting a nod in response from Hailey. "Oh, this is gonna be fun."
"Adam," she chastised.
"Relax, I know him from work."
That statement caught Hailey off guard. Adam's job was demanding as hell, and there was no way she could picture Jay doing that. He seemed to sense her internal questioning and continued.
"He got injured a few months ago. Docs just cleared him."
"How…" Hailey questioned, and he responded before she could finish.
"You don't wanna know."
Hailey nodded slowly. She knew what Adam did and as she pieced it all together, she eliminated the previous idea she had of Jay. It took a certain man to be a cop, especially in Chicago, no less.
"You gonna go out with him?" Adam asked, taking another sip of his coffee. Hailey shrugged, not committing to an answer. She always appreciated his bluntness, but this time, it was a tad too much.
"You would be good for him," he said softly, and Hailey pondered that statement over and over again.
By the time Monday rolled around, Hailey had analyzed everything Adam told her about Jay. She didn't see him at the gym on the weekend and a small part of her hoped that maybe she would today.
But before then, she needed about a gallon of coffee to get through today. In her opinion, there wasn't enough in the world to handle the 16 small children about to run through her door. At the end of the day, she loved job and her kids, but she was far from a morning person.
"Miss Upton," she heard as she set up for the morning. She smiled and rolled her eyes. No matter how many times she told the girl working the desk to call her Hailey, it still happened.
"Yes Jillian," she answered. She didn't like small talk in the mornings. She only had so much time to get ready for the day and she needed to get as organized as she could.
"There's a new child coming in today," Jillian said, looking down at the paper in her hand. "His name is Finn, dad is dropping him off."
"Thanks Jillian," Hailey replied, taking the papers from the girl. She intended to glance over the information, looking for anything important, allergies, medical conditions, but she stopped when she saw her new student's parents. Or, should she say parent.
Hailey swore fate was out to get her because a knock came at her door and she turned around to find herself face to face with a pair of green eyes she knew well.
"Good morning!" she greeted, turning into teacher mode, hoping to be professional. She bent down, allowing herself to be eye level with the little boy hiding behind his dad's legs. "I'm Miss Hailey."
The little boy hid himself further and she looked up at Jay. He smiled down at her before urging his son forward.
"Can you tell Miss Hailey your name?" he said, his voice softer than before.
"Finn," he replied, his own voice quiet. Finn wasn't like his dad personality wise and Hailey found that sweet. But he was the spitting image of his father.
"And how old are you?" she asked. Finn didn't reply, instead holding up four fingers.
"Well you're in the right place!" A small smile began to creep across his face and Hailey's earlier thoughts may be wrong. She had a feeling this little boy was his father made over.
"Why don't you go over there," she said, pointing towards the toy box in the corner, "While I talk to your dad?"
Finn nodded before walking over, allowing Hailey to stand and watch him for a moment.
"Well this is a surprise," she heard Jay say. Turning around, she saw him smiling at her, hands shoved into his pockets.
So much for checking for a ring, she thought. As soon as the thought crossed her mind, Hailey didn't realize she cared that much.
"So, you didn't know who I was at the gym?" she asked, crossing her arms to look him over. He didn't look like the other dads with kids in her class. She had never seen a guy wear jeans and a grey t-shirt as well as he did right now.
Jay laughed softly, breaking her out of her train of thought. He shrugged, causing his shirt to rise slightly, giving her a peak at the badge pinned to his belt.
"I swear I didn't," he answered, and Hailey could tell he was being honest. "I had no idea until I walked through that door."
"He will be in good hands," she said, feeling the need to assure him.
"I have no doubt about that," Jay replied. They fell into silence watching Finn play quietly in the corner.
"He's quiet at first," Jay said, his voice becoming softer like earlier. Something told Hailey that he used that voice only around his son. "Don't be alarmed if he keeps to himself."
"I get that," Hailey said honestly. She couldn't believe she revealed what she would say is a personal detail, but this man made her do, and think, a lot of things she normally would not.
"Anything else I need to know?" she asked, wanting to get back to being professional. Right now, she was a preschool teacher talking to her new student's dad. Not a woman who met a very attractive guy at her gym.
"I'll try and pick him up every day. I'm a detective, so it can vary. But unless we're on a time crunch, my boss lets me leave at 5 every day."
That explains how Adam knows him, she thought to herself.
"Anyone else who may pick him up?" she asked. Jay nodded before continuing.
"My brother and sister-in-law may. They're both doctors at Chicago Med. On rare occasions we're all working, my sister-in-law's mother may pick him up."
Hailey glanced at the paper in her hand, the finding emergency contacts listed in the middle of the page. Will and Natalie Halstead, Finn's aunt and uncle. She saw a woman listed as Natalie's mother on the paper.
"Hank Voight?" she asked out loud. Hailey knew the name, her mind making the connection when she saw the relationship listed on the form.
She was so going to kill Adam.
"My boss. It's purely as a precaution. The school knows that anyone from my unit is authorized to get him in case…" Jay trailed off. Hailey could only nod, understanding what he was trying to say without verbalizing it.
"Is Finn's mom in the picture?" she questioned. Hailey didn't consider herself an intrusive person, but she could be the best caretaker for her kids if she knew everything.
"No," Jay said, eyes and voice hardening at the word. She expected him to elaborate, but nothing else came. The sound of a phone soon interrupted them as Jay pulled one from his pocket.
"I have to go," he said. "I'll pick him up later. Finn?"
The little boy turned and ran towards his dad. Hailey couldn't help but smile at the interaction, watching as Finn lit up at the sound of his dad's voice. Jay bent down, catching Finn in his arms and hugging him tightly.
"Love you buddy," Jay whispered, kissing his forehead softly. "Be good for Miss Hailey, okay? She's a good friend."
Hailey was about to interrupt, calling him out on the little white lie, but Finn quickly turned to her, a smile stretching wide on his face.
"Really?" he asked excitedly. Gone was the shyness she witnessed earlier and in place was the cutest kid she had ever had in her class.
"Yes," Jay replied, kissing Finn once again before standing up. "I'll call if something changes."
Before he could leave the room, Hailey made a decision she had never made before in the few years she had been teaching.
"Wait," she said, stopping him in his tracks. She bent over the table beside them, grabbing a colored pencil and paper, quickly scribbling her number on it.
"Text me if you need anything," she said, handing him the paper. Jay took it, brushing his fingers against hers. The smile on his face matched the one Finn gave her minutes ago and something told Hailey she was in trouble with these two.
"Oh, I will," Jay replied, winking at her before walking out the door.
Yep, trouble for sure.
Finn's first week was eventful, to say the least. The little boy warmed up to his classmates quickly, helped by the fact he believed his dad and teacher were best friends. By Friday, Hailey would never have guessed he just joined her class.
It would take her two days to see Jay again. True to his word, he picked Finn up at the end of the day, but Hailey didn't get a chance to speak to him, having been sucked into conversation with two of the moms.
On Finn's second day, she met Natalie and quickly realized her son Owen went to the same preschool. Pick up and drop off the third day was done by Will and if she thought Jay was trouble, Will Halstead was a different story. She could see the relation.
The rest of the week was filled with Jay, along with two run-ins at the gym, including Friday night. She just got off the treadmill when he walked up to her, causing her to stop in her tracks.
"Fancy seeing you here," Jay said, earning an eye roll from Hailey.
"Are you slacking? Haven't seen you all week," she teased.
"Long case," he replied. "Took Finn to the park last night to make up for the fact he spent two days with my brother."
Jay's usually teasing manner fell as he spoke. Hailey could see right through it, the guilt and worry that he wasn't enough for Finn. She dealt with her share of single parents, but those kids usually turned out the best.
"Hey," she said softly, placing her hand on his forearm. "You're doing the best you can, and no one can fault you for that."
Jay nodded, not saying much. Hailey squeezed his arm, trying to focus his attention back to her.
"You want to know what Finn said this morning?" she asked. Jay nodded softly, and he looked scared to see the answer.
"He told me all about your trip to the park and how you let him have ice cream before dinner. His excitement was palpable."
Hailey watched a smile spread on his face, almost like he was allowing himself to feel okay.
"Do you wanna grab a drink after?" he said suddenly. She barely gave herself time to process his question before answering.
"I'd love to."
It had been two months since Finn Halstead entered her class when it happened. That Tuesday morning had been normal for Hailey, teaching and caring for her students as she always did.
Around lunch time and midday dismissal, her boss came into her room, pulling her outside. This wasn't the first time that happened, but it usually meant something happened to a student's parent.
"What's wrong?" she asked as soon as the door closed behind her.
"One of your student's mother is here, asking to pick him up," her boss, Allison, explained. "But her name isn't on their paperwork. Just wanted to see if you knew anything."
Hailey wished she could say this type of thing wasn't normal, but it sadly was. She knew that she would be interviewing by DCFS multiple times after this.
"Who is it?" she asked. Allison looked down at a sticky note in her hands.
"Finn Halstead," Allison replied, looking back at Hailey.
It was likely the only time that name sent the bad kind of chills down her spine. She remembered Jay's reaction when she asked about Finn's mom, and it wasn't a good one. Between the small dates here and there with Jay, Finn's mom was never mentioned again.
"Mom isn't in the picture, at least that's what I've been told. I'll call Detective Halstead now." Under normal circumstances, she wouldn't refer to him as detective, but she wanted Allison to know exactly what they were dealing with.
Allison nodded. "I'll keep her busy."
Hailey sighed in relief. There was a reason this was one of the best preschools in the city, and it was because of that woman. Her student's safety came first, and Hailey knew she would buy as much time as possible to figure this out.
Pulling out her phone, she immediately found Jay's number. Ironically it was her most recent call and he didn't take much time to answer.
"Halstead," he answered.
"Jay," Hailey said, trying to keep her voice calm. It failed when she heard his rapid-fire questions.
"What's wrong? Is Finn okay?"
"He's fine," she interrupted. "But we have a problem."
"Hold on," he said. She heard doors opening and closing followed by the tell-tale sound of a car starting. "Okay, what's wrong?"
"My boss just came down to my room, said there was a woman trying to pick Finn up, but she wasn't listed on paperwork. Said she was his mother."
"Do you know what she looked like?" Jay asked, his voice getting drowned out by what she assumed was his own sirens.
"No. Finn is still in the room eating lunch. My boss is keeping her busy."
"Thank god," he muttered. "Will you stay with him? Let me handle this?"
"Of course," Hailey replied. "But, Jay…"
"Come over for dinner. I'll explain."
"Okay," she sighed. From the window across the hall, she saw his truck pull up. "Good luck."
"Thanks. I'm gonna need it. And a drink later."
"I think I can help with that," she replied. He hung up without another word and Hailey stood outside for a while, watching him practically storm into the building. She supposed this was how he looked when chasing down a suspect.
Once he disappeared, she retreated back to her room. Her assistant just smiled, letting her know everything was okay. Ten minutes hadn't passed until Jillian popped in.
"Miss Upton?" the girl asked. She was never going to learn.
"You're wanted in the office with Finn Halstead."
Hailey looked to see Finn's head perk up, watching her intently. She just held a hand out, waiting for him to run over and grasp hers like he always did. He didn't, instead taking his time and keeping his head down. They were alone when they reached the hallway, and Hailey took a second to check on him. But he beat her to the punch.
"Did something happen to my daddy again?" he asked, his voice small and scared. Hailey kneeled down, holding both his hands.
"No sweetie," she said, her heart breaking for him. He was a bright boy who knew exactly what his dad did for a living. Add in the fact Jay was shot a few months back and he was probably scared out of his mind.
"Your daddy is here. He just wanted to come see you." She tried to be positive, but Finn wasn't buying it. The walk to the office was short and sure enough right outside stood the very person they both wanted to see.
"Daddy!" Finn yelled, releasing Hailey's hand and running towards him. Jay dropped down, arms out to catch his son. Even while Hailey felt like she was intruding on a private moment, she was relieved to see everything looked to be okay. She would get the full story later.
"Hey," Hailey said, stepping forward as Jay stood up, Finn still in his arms. "Everything okay?"
Jay just nodded, reaching a hand out which she grabbed without hesitation. It may not be appropriate, but she couldn't find it in her to care at the moment. He needed this as much as she did.
"I'm gonna take him for the day," he said. "Already signed him out."
"Of course," she replied, moving to drop his hand but he squeezed hers instead, not ready to lose that connection.
"But I need my backpack Daddy," Finn said, lifting his head off Jay's shoulder.
"I'll bring it later," Hailey offered before she could think it through.
"What do you mean, Miss Hailey?" Finn asked. Both Hailey and Jay laughed, knowing nothing got passed him.
"Miss Hailey is coming over for dinner tonight," Jay said, sneaking a glance her way. She supposed he was giving her a chance to back out, but there was no way she was.
"Really?" Finn asked, a smile breaking out on his face, his head whipping from his dad to his teacher.
"I'll be there," Hailey said, squeezing his hand back, gaining a smile that matched the little boy in his arms.
"He's asleep, finally," Jay said, emerging from the hallway leading to what Hailey now knew as Finn's bedroom.
"He had a rather exciting day," she replied, settling into his couch cushions, careful not to jostle the wine glass in her hand.
Jay joined her, sitting beside her with his own beer. Dinner had been quite the affair, and both of them would be lying if they denied how natural this all felt. Jay cooking while Hailey and Finn sat at the bar, all three engaged in conversation about how the Blackhawks were doing this year.
The silence that fell between them was heavy but welcome. After the day they had, the quiet in the apartment was welcomed.
"What happened today?" Hailey whispered, breaking the silence that threatened to suffocate her. Jay sighed, knowing this was coming.
"We met when I got back from Afghanistan," Jay began. "What was supposed to be a one-time thing turned into a year before she broke things off with me. I didn't see her until she showed up at work with Finn. He was a month old and didn't even have a name."
"Jay," Hailey sighed, grabbing his hand and squeezing. "I can't imagine."
"She signed away her rights, said she never wanted this. I haven't seen her again until today."
"What did she say?"
"Some bullshit about how she was ready to be a mother. I'm more concerned with how she found him, considering I never told her his name and I've changed my number since Finn was born."
"What now?" Hailey asked. As Finn's teacher, she should know in case something happens again. As Jay's…whatever she was, she wanted to help him, in whatever way she could.
"She knows she's got no right to him. And even if she took me to court, all the evidence is against her. I think she thought she could get him and then negotiate with me. It didn't take much to get her to leave."
Hailey nodded, remembering the afternoon they had. She also remembered something Finn said on their way to meet Jay.
"Finn said something earlier," Hailey began, setting her wine glass down on the coffee table. "He asked if something happened to you, again."
Jay stared ahead, almost like he was composing himself to answer her question. Hailey couldn't tell how long had passed until he spoke again.
"I was kidnapped," he said, breaking the silence. "It was a gun deal gone wrong, suspect found out I was a cop. Finn stayed with Will for three days until they found me, and I didn't look like I was nearly beaten to death."
During his story, Hailey shifted closer to him, her hands taking his bottle from his own shaking ones. His arms came to rest on his knees, shoulders hunched as he relived that ordeal from all those months ago. Hailey rested her hand on his forearm, her other going to the back of his neck where she worked to relieve the tension there.
"It shook Finn up more than I ever could have imagined. I took two months leave to be with Finn and heal. Kid barely left my side the first two weeks. I just got him back to sleeping in his room. Every day, I struggle with whether I can continue with this job, knowing I'm putting myself at risk. Every single day during those two months, I contemplated quitting, taking a job that was less risky."
"Jay," Hailey sighed. She wasn't prepared for all that, but she felt honored that Jay felt he could share such a personal part of his life with her.
"I'm all he has," he whispered. Those four words broke something inside them both, but she would be damned if she let him think that.
"No, you're not," she said, finding her voice. "That little boy in there," she stopped, pointing down the hall towards his room, "has so many people in his life that care him and love him, myself included. Don't think for one second he wouldn't be taken care of if, god forbid, something happened to you."
Hailey started to continue her speech but was stopped when his eyes met hers, something in them she had never seen before. All she could do was stare back, her eyes meeting his as the air around them shifted.
Before she could say anything else, his lips were on hers, but not in the hard and frenzied way she fantasied about. Everything about this kiss was slow and loving, the kind that can only follow after an emotionally charged discussion like the one they just had.
His hands grasped her hips and before she could process what was happening, he pulled her towards him. Her body slid across his before she settled, straddling his hips, her hands holding onto his neck for dear life before moving lower.
"Jay," she breathed out when his lips left her own and his forehead rested against hers. Within seconds, their breathing was in sync, both having to catch their breath from what just happened. Even if neither expected it, they welcomed the turn their evening took.
"I've wanted to do that for a while now," Jay confessed. "Just haven't found the right time."
"And the right time was in the middle of a rather emotional conversation?" Hailey joked, her thumbs rubbing patters into the warm skin of his torso. At some point her hands crept under his shirt and she wasn't ready to move them.
"I've never had someone completely in my corner," he admitted. "I've never wanted to burden anyone else with my problems or Finn. Being a single father is hard enough. Being a single father and a cop? I wouldn't wish that on anybody. But you…you make it easy. You make me want to open up and share what's going through my head."
"I was serious before," Hailey said, her head dropping to look anywhere but his eyes. His confession was a big one, but she needed to get this out. One of his hands found her chin, tilting it back up so she could look at him.
"About what?" he asked softly in that voice he used for Finn. Apparently, it was for her too.
"About how he has me in his life," she began before trailing off. "And I didn't mean as just his teacher."
Her unspoken statement didn't fall on deaf ears. Jay's answer was to lean in and kiss her again, but not before whispering to her.
"You're incredible."
Things between them changed that day, and then later that night. But both of them would agree that it was for the better. Despite the change in their friendship, Hailey had barely seen him. When the next week rolled around, Jay would drop Finn off, barely say hi before leaving and Natalie or Will would pick him up. It worried her, to be honest, that maybe he was rethinking their whatever it was. He must have picked up on it, because he sent Finn in one day with donuts and followed up with a text, explaining they were in the middle of a huge case.
It was once again Friday and she just sent Finn out to his dad. He wasn't gone for more than a minute before running back in.
"Miss Hailey?" she heard Finn ask. She assumed he forgot something again, as he usually did. But she gave up reminding him, choosing instead to text Jay. And maybe she used it as an excuse to see him.
"Yes, Finn," she replied, turning around to the absolute sweetest scene. There in her doorway was Finn holding a bouquet of flowers and Jay behind him, hands shoved in his pockets but wearing the most heart melting smile.
Finn's eyes went wide before turning around to Jay, attempting to whisper but failing adorably.
"What do I say again?" he asked Jay. Both of them laughed at Finn's cuteness, Hailey watching as Jay leaned down to whisper in his ear.
"Oh, right," Finn said before turning back around to face Hailey. "Would you like to go on a date with daddy?"
Hailey stood there in shock, and a little bit of awe. She couldn't believe this was really happening. A part of her wished for this but she never expected it to actually happen. When she started this job, she told herself she would never get involved with a student's parent. Now, here she was, the cutest first date proposal ever from her guys. Her guys. That's what they were to her, and while she didn't know when her mind began referring to them as that, but she didn't want to stop.
"Miss Hailey?" she heard Finn ask again. He held the flowers out further, hoping maybe it would help her decide. She looked back at Jay, still smiling at her despite the nerves she saw come off him.
"I would love to," she said, walking over to accept the flowers and a hug from Finn. As she stood up, Jay took hold of her free hand, squeezing lightly as he always did.
"I was getting nervous for a second," he admitted, a smirk forming on his face.
"Did you think I would say no?" she asked. Jay chuckled a little, his eyes moving to find Finn playing in the corner.
"I think that kid over there was more worried than I was."
His statement caught her off guard. Her eyes followed his, finding Finn oblivious to what was happening between his dad and his preschool teacher. It was then that it clicked for Hailey. This relationship wasn't just between her and Jay, but her, Jay and Finn. Two hearts would be broken if this went bad, and she wasn't including her own in that count.
"He's amazing," Hailey whispered, turning back around to Jay. She loved that little boy and she was quickly on her way to falling for his dad. But would that be such a bad thing?
"So are you," Jay replied, pulling her closer to him. "So, dinner tonight, at 7? We may have a third wheel."
Hailey laughed softly, her free hand moving around his neck. "It's a date."
Their first date was unlike anything she ever had, purely because of the fact that it was very kid approved. Since then, Finn joined them on every date and both Hailey and Jay loved it. They kept it on the down low because Hailey didn't want everyone at her school to know she was dating one of her student's parents, but the school year was almost over. They would be in the clear until then.
Or so she thought.
It had been six months since they made it official. Six months of dates with Jay, and Finn, and falling more in love with the both of them. Her weekends were spent with them, going to different parks and museums around the city during the day and snuggling with both her boys at night.
But it took six months for their world to be flipped upside down.
Like every bad day, things started off normal. Jay was working undercover and with Natalie on maternity leave and Will working doubles, he asked Hailey to keep Finn for the past few days, just until it was all over. It was the first time since his kidnapping he had gone back under, and the night before he went under, he admitted everything to Hailey before she fell asleep in his arms.
It had also been the first time she ever spent the night.
She treated Finn to donuts for breakfast before the heading to school. The entire car ride was filled with him chattering about everything, from how good the donuts were to his excitement when Hailey told him what they would be doing in class that day.
When she got to school, she noticed a black SUV parked next to her usual spot and a man leaning against the hood. Something about him made the hair on the back of her next stand up and after she was parked, she turned around, silently happy to find Finn engrossed with a game on her phone.
"Hey buddy," she said, trying to keep her voice calm. "You stay in here for a minute while I talk to my friend."
Finn nodded before looking up. That was mistake number one.
"It's Uncle Hank!" he said, spotting the man outside the car. Hailey only knew of one man named Hank, and it was the same one that looked out for her boyfriend every day.
"I'll be right back," Hailey said before getting out of the car. She met Hank between their cars, her face immediately becoming cold from the Chicago wind.
"Hailey Upton?" Hank said, his voice deep and slightly menacing.
"Let me guess, Hank Voight?" she asked. If not for her nerves, she would have found the surprise on his face comical.
"Finn's in the car," she explained, watching him glance towards her own SUV.
"Then I suppose we can hold off on introductions," he said.
"What's wrong?" Hailey asked, not wanting to get off topic. Her mind was going a mile a minute, assuming the worst had happened to Jay.
"He's alive," Hank said. "Will's taking care of him at Med."
"What happened?"
Hank sighed, clearly battling whether or not she should know.
"Please," she begged, her resolve on the edge of breaking.
"I'll let him tell you," Hank said. "He just asked me to come here and get you and Finn."
Hailey nodded, wiping away the few tears that escaped. "Okay, but I need to go tell my boss and find someone to cover my class, and Finn, oh god Finn…"
"Hailey," Hank cut her off. "I just talked to your boss. You're covered for the week. Just take care of them."
Hailey nodded again, not being able to find words. She wasn't sure she was going to be able to explain to Finn what was going on.
"Can you," she began, finding her voice again. "Can you tell Finn? I wasn't around the last time and I don't know how to tell him."
Hank just nodded before guiding her back to her car. He stopped briefly to ask Hailey to go on the side not occupied by Finn, just in case.
"Hey kiddo," Hank said, a small smile crossing his face when he saw Jay's twin.
"Hi Uncle Hank!" he said, oblivious to the tension around them.
"Listen bud, Hailey is going to take you to your dad. He's back, but he's just at Chicago Med with Uncle Will getting checked out."
Finn's head turned to Hailey, his inquisitive mind noticing her red rimmed eyes.
"Is daddy okay?" he asked. Hailey watched as his bottom lip began trembling, a sign he was minutes away from crying.
"He's okay, I promise you. I just wanted to make double and triple sure of that."
Finn nodded, seemingly satisfied with Hank's answer.
"I have to go back to the district. Will you be okay getting there?" he asked Hailey. She just nodded, not wanting to move from the backseat just yet.
"Tell Halstead I'll check in later," he said, closing Finn's door. The silence that filled the car hurt her heart and she knew they had to get to Med soon.
"Ready to go see daddy?" she asked. All she got was a nod in response, but something told her Finn wouldn't be truly okay until he saw Jay with his own eyes.
The ride to Med was shorter than normal, and maybe Hailey was going a little faster than the speed limit. She supposed she could explain it later if anyone questioned her.
For the first time since she knew him, Finn refused to walk into Med. Hailey couldn't say no and carried him through the hospital, and the way his arms and legs were wrapped around her, she supposed that he needed the comfort more than she did at the moment.
Before they knew it, she was standing outside of Jay's room. She could see Will through the glass in the door, but he didn't look to be worried, instead writing his notes. Hailey knocked slightly, watching as Will lifted his head and smiled, waving them into the room.
As she walked further in, she found Jay asleep in the hospital bed. If she didn't know any better, she would say that he was just sleeping.
"Daddy?" Finn asked, his voice quiet. Jay didn't stir right away as he usually did at the sound of Finn's voice. Hailey looked to Will, suddenly worried.
"He's sedated," Will explained. "Should be waking up anytime now."
Hailey nodded again, seeing as that was all she could do today, before settling into the other empty chair beside Jay's bed. Finn's head fell to Hailey's shoulder and he was asleep not long after. She couldn't blame him after all that happened in the past hour.
"What happened?" she asked. Will sighed before picking up his own chair and moving it around to Hailey's side.
"I don't know his version of events, only why he was brought here," Will began. "He took two shots to the chest, but he was wearing a vest and they caught it. Impact caused trouble breathing. The main concern was the concussion he sustained going down and the knife he took to the shoulder."
Will's words stunned Hailey into silence. While she was beyond thankful he was alive, she couldn't help the what if's that entered into her mind. Before her, Finn was all he had. Now he had them both, and Hailey wasn't letting him go easily.
"I, I'm falling for him Will," Hailey admitted, surprising them both at her admission. "He and Finn are easily the most important people in my life. If something happened to them, I don't…"
"Hey," Will cut her off. "He's okay, you're okay and Finn is okay. That's all that matters right now."
As if he knew they were talking about him, Jay stirred in his bed. Both Will and Hailey turned to him, Hailey a bit slower with the weight of Finn in her arms.
"Welcome back, bro," Will said, standing up to move and check one of the monitors attached to Jay. Hailey reached out for Jay's hand, which he immediately took.
"I'm okay," he whispered before his eyes landed on Finn. "How's he?"
"I think Hank helped, but he's still worried. Hasn't said a word since we left school and hasn't let me go."
Jay nodded, squeezing her hand like he always did when she was worried.
"What happened?" Hailey asked, eyes welling with tears once again. Jay just shook his head, a move that scared her a little more.
"I'll explain later. Right now, I want to lay here, looking at the most beautiful woman in the room."
"Hey!" Will mocked, earning laughs from both Hailey and Jay. Ever the comic relief.
Will's voice caused Finn to stir, making Hailey take her hand back to rub back his hair from his eyes.
"Hey buddy," she whispered, kissing his forehead softly. "Your daddy is awake."
Finn turned to Jay, tears falling as he saw his dad smiling softly at him. He quickly reached out, wanting to be in his dad's arms. Hailey shot him a look, knowing he was in pain. Jay just nodded at her, his own arms reaching out for his son. Hailey did cry as soon as Finn was settled against Jay. Will slipped out of the room at some point, leaving the small family to let out the emotions of the day.
"I love you," Jay whispered to Finn, kissing his forehead and rubbing his back. Jay's own teary eyes met Hailey's as he reached out a hand to her. She took it without hesitation, allowing him to tug her to the bed. As soon as she was tucked into his good side, he leaned down to kiss her. Hailey savored every second since an hour ago, she thought she would never get to do this again. She nearly cried again when he pulled back.
"I love you," he whispered to her. During all the times she imagined this moment, never did she think that it would happen laying in his hospital bed. But hearing those words, it was pretty perfect for her.
"I love you too."
Since Jay's undercover stint that landed him in the hospital again, everything seemed to move at a rapid pace. Hailey all but moved in with Jay and Finn in the first few weeks. She told herself it was because Finn was struggling and Jay could barely move, but by the time week three rolled around, her apartment had become a glorified storage unit.
They asked her to move in, officially, two weeks later. Jay knew her lease was up soon, and it felt right to ask her. There was a lot more he wanted to ask, but he knew she wouldn't want to commit to something more serious until Finn was no longer her student. Finn was finally asleep after the excitement of the evening, allowing Hailey and Jay time to themselves.
"I have a confession to make," he admitted after a while. They were curled up on the couch, a change from the first time they ever sat on this couch together.
"What's that?" Hailey asked. Her finger tips traced patterns into his forearm. Ever since his last undercover op, she found herself having to touch him every second they were together, almost like she had to constantly check that he was okay.
"I may have had an ulterior motive to asking you to move in."
"So, if it's not for the fact that you love me, or that I adore your son, or the sex, I can't think of another reason."
Jay laughed, pulling her so she could straddle his lap. All their heavy conversations seemed to happen like this. They needed to be face to face, be able to read each other's emotions.
"Having you around has made me realize something, or rather, a lot of somethings. I'll tell you all in due time, but I want to thank you for being there for Finn. It's been easier this time around and I know it's because of you."
"Jay," Hailey began before being cut off.
"That being said, how would you feel about having a more permanent role in his life?"
Hailey froze at his question, knowing exactly what he meant.
"I know, I know, but if there's one thing that the last few months taught me, it's that I don't have to do it on my own. I would be able to go to work and do my job knowing that if something happened to me, Finn would be okay."
Tears were streaming down Hailey's face now, but the smile that spread distracted Jay from the tears.
"Yes," she whispered, bringing his mouth to hers. She never expected this to be her life, but here she was. And if they were being honest, neither wanted it any other way.
A/N: if anyone has ideas they would like to see in this story, leave a review!
