16"That's great! Congratulations!" Hailey said into her phone while walking to her door.
"Thank you! I really can't believe it, still, but I'm going to take it in stride and go from here," Kim replied happily.
The doorbell rang again and Hailey sighed.
"Oh, do you have a guest?" Kim asked.
"It's not a guest," Hailey laughed softly, "It's just Jay." She opened the door to see Jay standing on her porch with a case of beer in his hand.
"Ah," Kim laughed knowingly, "Vanessa told me you guys have been extra close lately. Is she even there right now?"
"She's at a movie with a friend," Hailey said while Jay walked past her into the house, "And Jay and I are partners."
"Who's that?" he asked and set the beer on the front table to take off his coat.
"Yeah, okay," Kim said, "I'll leave you two to it then."
"What's that mean?" Hailey laughed. She watched Jay carry the beer into her kitchen.
"Just that you've been kinda attached since he got hurt," Kim said.
"He was shot," Hailey stated.
"And it was tragic and clearly sparked something," Kim said slowly, "Hailey, he's a great guy and you spend so much time together; it's only-"
"Look who's talking," Hailey hissed.
Jay looked up from his phone in the kitchen and raised his eyebrows.
"All it takes is one time," Kim said with a laugh, "Maybe we can be pregnant buddies!"
Hailey blushed, "I have to go." She quickly ended the call and tossed her phone on the couch.
"Who was that?" Jay asked again.
"Kim," Hailey sighed and walked in the kitchen. She grabbed one of the beers in front of Jay and as quickly as she opened it with the bottle opener Jay brought, she was drinking from it.
Jay watched her drink half the bottle, his own beer halfway to his mouth, shocked by her action.
Hailey set the bottle down and groaned, running her hand through her hair.
"You good?" Jay asked with a smirk.
Hailey looked at him…really looked at him… for the first time in weeks. Kim was right – they have been spending a lot of time together since he'd been shot. Kim was also right about Jay being a great guy. Hailey didn't know if she'd ever met someone quite like Jay. She truly felt protected and cared for when she was around him. He listened to her and didn't judge her. He was her friend.
"Yeah," Hailey cleared her throat, "Kim just made a…crude joke." She took another sip of her beer.
"Oh, now you can't say that and not tell me what the joke was," Jay laughed, "Spill."
"I shouldn't because it'd invade her privacy," Hailey shrugged and walked to the couch.
"Ah, gotcha," Jay smirked and followed her with the case of beer. He sat next to her and opened his phone. Clearing his throat, Jay read, "Man, you won't believe my life right now. What? Everything okay? I don't know, Kim and I slept together a few weeks ago and now," he looked up, "Do you know how this text ends?"
Hailey bit her lip, "Is it from Adam?"
"It's from Voight," Jay rolled his eyes.
Hailey laughed and hit him with a throw pillow.
"Yes, it's from Adam," Jay laughed.
Hailey giggled and pulled her feet up so her legs were folded under her, "She's pregnant. She actually just told me."
Jay nodded and set his phone on the coffee table, "He texted me as I was driving here."
Hailey hit him again with the pillow, "I told you not to text and drive."
Jay grabbed the pillow out of her hands and threw it into the kitchen, "Knock that off."
Hailey laughed and shoved him, "Seriously though!"
"Sorry, sorry," Jay chuckled.
Hailey turned her TV on and finished her beer, "What're we watching?"
"I want to know that joke Kim told you," Jay said and passed her another bottle.
Hailey eyed him and glanced at the bottle, "If you want something for me, you could at least open that first."
Jay rolled his eyes and opened the bottle with his shirt, "Here."
Hailey happily took the beer and sipped it. She was more than capable of opening the bottle on her own, but it was sure as hell a lot more attractive to watch Jay do it. "She-uh-said we should be pregnant buddies," she said and took another sip.
"Oh," Jay nodded. Hailey noticed him blush just slightly. "That's not funny," he mumbled and finished his beer. He grabbed another one and quickly opened it to drink more.
Hailey leaned against the couch, "What would you do?" she took a quick drink.
"What would I do if what?" Jay asked and turned to face her fully on the couch.
"If I-" her eyes widened and she coughed. She tipped the bottle back in her mouth before clearing her throat, "If you got someone pregnant at work, what would you do?"
Jay couldn't help but drink the majority of his beer in his next drink and let out a breath, "I…I don't know. What would you do?"
"I'd keep working," Hailey stated quickly.
Jay shook his head, "Yeah, figured you'd say that," he breathed.
"Excuse me?" Hailey asked.
"If you got pregnant, without a doubt you'd keep working," Jay said, "It'd drive me crazy."
"Oh, it'd drive you crazy?" Hailey repeated.
"Well, for one," Jay pointed at her with his beer, "I'd be protecting two people at least. It'd make my job harder."
Hailey scoffed, "I wouldn't have twins."
"Not something you can control," Jay laughed.
Hailey shrugged, "Can you imagine though? Not only would you be growing two people, but you'd have to push two people out of you."
Jay shook his head, "I don't know how women do it."
Hailey sipped her beer, "Honestly, same."
Jay laughed, "Back to what I was saying, though, I'd personally have an incredibly hard time with you putting yourself in danger."
"Maybe I wouldn't," Hailey defended.
"Yeah, okay," Jay chuckled, "You literally said you'd continue working. I'm sorry, did we just meet? My name's Jay and I was recently shot on the job."
"You piss me off," Hailey breathed and finished her second beer.
"Slow down," Jay said and took the bottle from her.
"Just for that, I'm having another," Hailey said and grabbed a bottle.
"Whatever," Jay sighed and looked at the TV.
Hailey opened the bottle and drank from it, "Do you want kids?" she blurted out.
"Yes," Jay said without looking at her.
Hailey slowly nodded and played with the bottle cap in her hand.
Jay glanced at her out of the corner of her eye and grabbed the cap, "You're going to cut yourself," he set it next to his on the table.
Hailey took a deep breath and leaned back so she was half laying down on the couch.
Jay looked at her and smiled a little, "You okay, Hailey?"
Hailey closed her eyes at the use of her name, it always got her, "Yeah."
"Lying's rude," Jay sang softly and set down his empty beer just to grab another.
Hailey opened one eye, "Is that a third beer? Weren't you just saying I was going too fast?"
"Do as I say, not as I do," Jay chuckled and drank his beer. He watched her close her eyes again and sighed, "Hailey."
"Jay," she stated and tried drinking her beer with her eyes closed only to miss and spill some on her shirt.
Jay laughed and helped her sit up, "Idiot."
Hailey laughed softly and opened her eyes, "I'm fine," she finally answered.
Jay nodded, "If you say so. I know you and Adam had a thing."
Hailey shook her head, "I'm fine."
That sat in silence, both slowing down as they finished their drinks.
"You'd be a good mom," Jay said quietly and at the same time Hailey breathed, "You'd be a good dad."
They both laughed and looked anywhere but at each other.
"Not like I had a good example, though," Jay said after a minute.
"That's why you'll be great," Hailey replied and didn't hesitate to set her hand on Jay's leg, "You know what kids need."
Jay looked down at her hand and smiled slightly, "Well thank you."
Hailey nodded and lightly squeezed his leg before setting her hand back in her lap.
"And you…" Jay looked up at her, "Most caring person I know." He shook his head, "If anyone would just absolutely kill it at being a mom, it's you."
Hailey blushed, "Jay."
Jay chuckled and shrugged, "It's the truth.
Hailey smiled and set her head back on the couch, "You want to stay the night?"
"Uh," Jay glanced at the empty bottles in front of him, "Yeah, it might be for the best."
Hailey nodded and walked to the hall closet. She brought back her navy comforter and a pair of Jay's sweatpants and one of his t-shirts.
"Best idea I ever had," Jay laughed and took his spare pajamas from her.
Hailey laughed as well, "We should leave spare clothes at each other's houses though. It'd be super useful if we have to run to work."
"Now you're talking," Jay chuckled and stood, "Leave an outfit on the stairs and I'll take it back to my place in the morning."
"Why do you always leave before breakfast?" Hailey asked.
Jay shrugged, "I don't want to bother you."
"You're sleeping on my couch, I'm okay with you staying for breakfast," Hailey sighed.
Jay shook his head, "It's fine, Hails. I don't mind."
Hailey smiled sadly, "Fine." She lightly squeezed his arm, "Goodnight."
"Night," Jay said while going into the half bathroom where Hailey kept a toothbrush for him.
Hailey watched the door closed and heard it lock. She closed her eyes and whispered, "Just partners." She opened her eyes and shook her head before walking up to her bedroom.
A month later, tucked away in a corner of a hospital, Hailey found herself closing her eyes against tears she was finally letting herself shed after the events of the last two hours. She sucked in a shaky breath and pressed her palms to her eyes. Someone set a hand on her head and she jerked away.
"Whoa, whoa," Jay whispered and knelt down in front of her, "It's just me, only me."
"Sorry," Hailey sniffled and wiped her face. She blinked and looked at Jay. It could have been her blurry eyes making her see things, but she could have sworn she noticed dried tears near the edge of Jay's eyes.
Jay shook his head and before she knew what was happening, his arms slipped under hers and he gently lifted her to stand, "We're leaving," he stated.
"Are we allowed?" Hailey asked.
Jay nodded and set his hand on her lower back, "Yeah, I talked to Voight. The girl's family's here so we're good to go."
"Ok," Hailey whispered and leaned into Jay.
Jay tightened his hold on her and brought her outside to his truck. He felt her shaking, so once she was in the passenger seat, he slipped off his coat and laid it on top of her before closing the door and getting in to drive.
"Thank you," Hailey said softly and wrapped his coat tightly around her. She stared out the window as Jay drove. "Hey, you missed the turn," she said and looked over at him.
"I'm taking you to my place," Jay stated.
Hailey breathed slowly and stayed quiet the rest of the drive. She didn't want to push him tonight, but she also didn't want to argue because she actually kind of liked sleeping at Jay's apartment even though tonight meant it was her turn to sleep on the couch – a compromise she'd created when Jay kept insisting she sleep in his bed and he took the couch in his own home.
Jay parked his car in front of his complex and hurried around to help Hailey out. They lightly jogged against the cold into the building.
Once in Jay's apartment, Hailey passed Jay back his coat and slipped her own off.
"Are you against sleeping in my bed with me tonight?" Jay asked quietly.
"No," Hailey answered softly.
Jay nodded and walked in his room. Hailey wasn't quite sure what just happened and stood still in the entryway. She could slightly see into Jay's room where he was turning down the covers on the bed and messing with the pillows.
Jay came back out of his room, "Hey, um, I actually have a load in the dryer and your pajamas are in there. I have these though," he held out a pair of his own sweatpants and his old sweatshirt from the police academy.
"Thanks," Hailey breathed and took the clothes.
Jay waited for a few seconds before gently guiding her to the bathroom, "You okay?"
Hailey rubbed her face, "Yeah," she said softly, "Sorry, just kind of in shock."
Jay nodded, "I understand."
Hailey took a deep breath and stepped into the bathroom. She shook her head and stared at herself in the mirror before splashing water on her face. She started crying again and splashed the water faster against her hot skin. She stopped and pressed her face into the towel hanging from the back of the door. She's of course experienced death and loss and tragedy, but there was something about the fact that it was Kim personally experiencing the loss and Adam trying to comprehend the death that really struck her. She brushed her teeth with the spare toothbrush she'd left under the sink in an attempt to feel normal again.
Once changed into Jay's clothes, she walked into his bedroom to see Jay sitting on the mattress with the covers over his legs. She turned the lights off and slipped under the blankets next to Jay.
He absentmindedly pulled her against his side and laid down. Hailey rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes.
Jay played with her hair and whispered, "Life really is not fair."
"No," Hailey replied.
"They would have been good parents," Jay continued.
Hailey nodded and squeezed her eyes tighter against more tears. Hearing Jay talk about it made her heart hurt even more.
Jay's breath hitched and he tangled his hand in her hair, "Thank you for coming over."
"Thank you f-for inviting me," Hailey breathed through her light crying.
Jay tightened his hold on her and Hailey rested her hand on his stomach. She was just about asleep when she felt Jay's lips touch the top of her head. She responded by rubbing her thumb against her shirt and let sleep overtake her.
The next morning, Hailey woke up warmer than usual. It only took her a second to realize it was because Jay's body was still pressed tightly against her. She tilted her head up to see Jay staring at the ceiling.
"Good morning," she whispered.
Jay glanced down and smiled slightly, "Good morning."
"Did you sleep okay?" Hailey asked.
Jay chuckled and shook his head, "You always ask that."
Hailey smiled, "Sorry."
"Don't be," Jay said softly.
After a minute, Hailey asked, "What would you do if you were Adam?"
"Would you judge me if I said cry?" Jay answered.
"Never," Hailey said.
Jay rubbed her back, "I don't know what the appropriate response would be. That monster's already dead."
Hailey nodded and curled slightly more against him.
"It's why I wouldn't want you to work while pregnant," Jay said under his breath, "I wouldn't be able to stand seeing you in that much pain."
Hailey closed her eyes and repeated the same mantra in her head she'd been telling herself for the past few months, he's just her partner…just her partner.
Jay sniffled and wiped his nose on the back of his hand, "You feel like donuts for breakfast?"
"Uh, sure," Hailey said and reluctantly sat up.
Jay looked at her and raised his eyebrows, "Where are you going?" He grabbed his phone off his nightstand.
"Letting you up?" Hailey questioned.
"Being sad and wanting donuts is for UberEats," Jay said and opened the app, "Lay back down."
Hailey bit back a smile and laid her back down on Jay's chest.
"Sprinkles, right?" Jay asked.
"Yeah," Hailey looked between his arms to see him scrolling through the options on his phone. For being just partners, she really could get used to mornings like this. It was in that moment that she decided if she were to get pregnant while on the job, she would do the hardest thing she imagined and would step down to desk duty…just so her and Jay wouldn't have to sadly order donuts from his bed, but could rather order donuts as a celebration for what was to come.
