In my mind this is what should have happened after the event in 6x02, after Jay and Will got back from their father's place and Hailey went to grab a drink with Adam.

Hailey put her gun and badge on her nightstand and sat on her bed. She felt better after crying in the car and went to Molly's with Adam, but only allowed herself a drink because she did want to be the cop who drowns her sorrow in alcohol. Adam drove her back to the scene because her car was there. She did not wait to drive away as fast as possible; she was not mentally ready to be where her partner was shot. When she accepted the job and got paired up with Halstead, she was relieved. He is a good cop, he could watch his own back as well as hers. However, grief had won, and he went off the rail was something she did not expect. Luckily he was able to pull through, and helped himself by going to therapy. After Erin's departure and Camilla's fiasco, she thought he had learnt his lesson.

She took a shower and realised that she still had dried blood on her hands, under her nails. She scrubbed herself clean, feeling sick that she had her partner's blood on her. This shouldn't have happened, she thought. Jay was lucky to be sensible enough to wear vest under his shirt; she knew that when she pushed him away from Juan Mendoza. However in the split seconds she saw him lying on the pavement, she really thought that she had lost another partner. She did not realise that she was crying under the shower until she heard her own sobs. Once the full blown cry started, she could not stop. She sat under the shower, hugging her legs, and let out the tears.

She had just stepped out of bathroom when her phone rang. She picked it up, did not spare a second to see the caller. If it was a call to another crime scene she might throw her phone at the wall though; after the stressful day of being Jay's punching bag and him getting shot, she just wanted to sleep.

"…Hailey? Hailey, you there?" she heard. Apparently she did not say anything after pressing the answer button.

"Yeah?" she stammered.

"I was wondering if you're up for a drink," said Jay tentatively.

"Aren't you at Med?" asked Hailey.

"No, Will took me to his place."

"Alright, Molly's?" asked Hailey. As tired as she was, she did not intent to turn Jay down. She had tried to be there for him since his dad passed away, she should be there when he needed her.

"Actually, do you mind picking me up from Will and Nat's? My car's at the district," said Jay. Hailey heard remorse and regret in his voice.

"I'll be there in 20," Hailey said after looking at the time. It's past rush hour, and Natalie's place is across the city near Med. She disconnected the call, threw on jeans and hoodie, and left her place. In no time she arrived near Natalie's apartment and called Jay. He did not pick up, so she buzzed the front door.

"Hey, Hailey," Will answered through the intercom.

"Hey Will, I'm picking Jay up," said Hailey.

"Come on up," said Will, and Hailey went to the second floor where Natalie's apartment is. She had only been here once before. Will opened the door when she knocked.

"Will, I'm sorry for your loss," said Hailey, giving Will a hug.

"Thanks, Hailey," said Will. He pointed to the couch where Jay was asleep, then stepped out of the apartment and closed the door behind him. "I heard Jay gave you a hard time, sorry for that."

"It's okay. I'm here to pick him up actually."

"Thanks for being there for him. He hasn't talked to me, as stubborn as he is. And got himself shot… I almost had to bury him as well as my old man." Hailey saw glint of tears in Will's eyes. She pulled him into a hug.

"But you don't, okay? You still have each other," said Hailey. "Isn't he supposed to be at Med?"

"It was a clean through and through, he was allowed to go home, and hopefully there won't be any infection. I don't think it's good for him to be there, I mean, last he was at Med, we pulled the plug on our dad," said Will. Hailey nodded. "He is under painkiller, make sure he eats and no alcohol, okay?" asked Will. Hailey nodded. He opened the door, and walked to the couch.

"Hey, Jay. Hailey's here," he grabbed Jay's shoulder cautiously. Jay opened his eyes and yawned. Fatigue was clear on his face, as well as regret and pain. Hailey immediately felt sorry for him. Jay stood up, using Will's arm to hoist himself up. He cringed and held his stomach where the bullet entered his body a few hours earlier.

"You okay?" asked Hailey. Jay just nodded, avoiding her eyes. Although she had forgiven him, he has not. He now felt regret that in his moment of weakness, he had called her.

"Call me if you need anything, okay? If you got a fever from infection, or anything," said Will.

"I'll see you tomorrow," whispered Jay. They hugged, Hailey noticed, a little bit too long, as if trying to draw strength from each other, and Jay nodded to Hailey. Hailey waved to Will, then followed Jay out the door. They went to her car.

"So?" asked Hailey.

"I have tequila," said Jay, still avoiding her eyes.

"Have you had dinner?" asked Hailey. Jay shook his head. Hailey just realised she had not eaten anything since breakfast. She drove to his place, being careful to avoid any potholes to make him more comfortable. They maintained their silence throughout the ride, both immersed in their own thoughts. Before they realised it, they arrived at his place. He fell to the couch; Hailey invited herself into his kitchen to rummage his fridge. She found some leftover pizza and threw them into the microwave. Not her favourite, but she felt really hungry and could not wait half an hour for pizza delivery to arrive. She offered Jay the pizza.

"Don't really feel like eating," said Jay. It's the truth; he had not eaten since morning, and still was not hungry. Actually he was feeling a little bit nauseous, probably the effect of painkillers.

"Try," insisted Hailey. Jay smirked at her bossy tone and grabbed the plate. Hailey started some tea as she took a slice. A minute later, Hailey came with two mugs of tea, as if she knew that he was feeling sick. It was then that Jay caught a clear look at his partner. Her eyes were red and swollen, as if she had been crying. He felt pang in his stomach, it was clear that it was because of him. He yelled at her, he hurt her while she only tried to be there for him. Yet here she is now, she did not even question him when he called her out of the blue, asking her to have a drink. He could not stand another minute watching his brother play the happy family with Natalie and Owen, the only family he has left now that his father was dead.

"You done with that?" asked Hailey, looking at the half slice of pizza Jay didn't eat. She wisely did not comment that Jay only finished half slice of pizza. Jay was secretly relieved; he did not think he could manage another bite.

"I think so." Jay looked down at his feet, and then finally made eye contact with Hailey. "I'm sorry," he whispered after a few seconds. He quickly averted his eyes; he could not look at the eyes which were filled by the pain he inflicted.

Hailey was shocked. She thought he apologised earlier, through the unspoken sorry in the ambulance. Her heart broke knowing he still felt guilty to even look at her in the eyes. She touched his arm, which he pulled away quickly.

"It's okay," she said earnestly. She really understood. They had hurt each other before; they had butted heads on previous cases. This is the most personal among other cases they have had though, more than Camilla or Booth cases. Jay shook his head.

"No, it's not okay. I shouldn't say… many things to you," said Jay. He was on the verge of tears. Hailey knelt down in front of him because he avoided looking at her at any cost.

"Jay, look at me," she used her forceful tone. "It's not okay, but what's done is done, what's said is said. I've forgiven you, you should forgive yourself," she said once she caught his eyes. Finally locking eyes with her, Jay couldn't hold himself anymore. His tears sprang from his eyes, and before he realised it, his body was wrecked with sobs. Hailey took him into her arms, nestling his head on the crook of her neck, letting him cry for his dad, for his hurtful words to her and Will, for him being shot. "It's okay, let it all out. Sssh, you're safe, you're not alone," she whispered over and over again while he clung at her and staining her hoodie with his tears. She cried herself, for his mourning partner, for his pain and near brush with death.

After a while, his cries died down. He sniffled, still clinging to her. She waited until he was ready to let go, her hand is still rubbing his back.

"Gosh, sorry Hailey… I did not expect that," said Jay while wiping his eyes.

"I understand, not that it's a problem though. After everything, you can use a shoulder to cry on," she said, sitting back beside Jay, her hand still on his back. "You feel better?"

"A bit. The wound hurts though," Jay touched his wounded stomach.

"Anything you need for that?" asked Hailey. Jay shook his head while contemplating his next words.

"I know I'm probably the last person you wanted to see, but thanks for picking me up without asking, despite me being an ass throughout the day. I really am sorry, I was an ass. I didn't think straight," said Jay, now looking at her. He saw her glossy eyes, and he squeezed her hand. She squeezed back.

"It's alright, I understand," said Hailey, starting to get frustrated that she could not convince him that she had forgiven him.

"May I ask something?" asked Jay. Hailey raised her brows, allowing him to ask her anything. "Did I make you cry?" asked Jay, half whispering. He didn't want to hear the answer, but he needed to. Hailey let out a deep breath.

"Would you feel better if I say I didn't forgive you?" Hailey asked.

"What?"

"I said it's okay, but you insisted on apologising. It's okay, really. I was hurt, I admit. Yes, I cried a lot today. Yes, it was partially because of what you said, but mostly because I thought you were dead. But you just lost your dad, and I understand that you wanted to catch Daniel. So, all in all, we're good. If you feel better apologising a thousand times, go ahead. But I've forgiven you before you even said sorry," said Hailey, on the verge of tearing up again, mostly because her heart ached for him.

Jay couldn't believe it. He thought when Erin left that he would never have another partner who understands him, but Hailey had exceeded everything he asked for in a partner. She is harsh and unapologetic at times, they sure argue, but her heart was made from pure gold. She watches his back all the time, however hard he made it to be on certain days. She is a better partner than Erin, he dared to admit, since Erin would push him back if he pushed hard enough. But Hailey stays. She swallowed her pain and pulled him from hell. He does not deserve a partner like her. Hell, no one deserves a partner like her.

"Thanks, I guess. I owe you, though," said Jay. He pulled her into a hug, making a silent promise to be a better partner to her. Hailey hugged him back, relieving the simple but important fact that he was alive, however broken he was at that moment.

"And I didn't ask when you asked me to pick you up because I know you wouldn't ask if you didn't really need it. What kinda partner would I be if I didn't have your back?" asked Hailey, flashing her dimple.

"Yeah, I felt suffocated there. Will acted like things were normal at home, I mean, sure, Owen was there, and they didn't want to confuse him, but I didn't feel like playing house there. He wanted me to stay there, to keep an eye on me, but…" Jay raised his shoulders. Hailey stayed silent. She got up and grabbed a tequila bottle, poured herself a drink and gulped it, then sat back on the couch bringing a beer from the fridge, pointed the tea to Jay when he silently asked for a drink. Jay snickered but obeyed, he wasn't sure he could handle drinking though, maybe it's the painkiller, or the hole in his stomach, or the full-blown crying, and he felt even worse than before. Hailey seemed to notice that.

"Slow sips," said Hailey, helped Jay grab the mug from the table. Jay complied. The last thing he wanted right now is to be sick. Even the thought of that made his wound ached.

"We went to my dad's place," said Jay after a few minutes of comfortable silent. Hailey looked at him, he kept his sight ahead. "From the hospital, we went there to grab a few things. And I, I looked through his things, and I found my graduation picture, from the academy. He didn't come, but he saved the picture; along with few other articles about me. Bastard did care," said Jay. He looked at her and whispered, "He was proud of me." Hailey put her hand on his back, encouraged him to continue if he needed to. "Last thing I said to him, though… I called him a thankless old prick." Tears fell from Jay's eyes. Hailey looked at him, didn't say anything, but touched his arm with sympathy. Jay avoided her eyes and rubbed his face tiredly.

Jay decided it was time to end the pity party and grabbed the TV remote. He turned on the TV to a repeat of Blackhawks game. They watched in silence, drinking their beer and tea. Jay was fighting sleep. The painkiller, combined with relief after having the talk with Hailey, made him fight a losing battle. He settled his head on his partner's shoulder, knowing that she had no intention to leave after the drinks she had. Any other day, this is considered crossing boundaries they set between them. However, today, boundaries be damned, he knew Hailey understood his need of comfort. He smiled when Hailey pulled him closer, letting him lean on her. Feeling safer and better than he had been feeling all day, he drifted to sleep.

Hailey was surprised when Jay put his head on his shoulder. He had a long day, and long days ahead of him. He had to plan and attend memorial service, funeral, and fighting his own demons. The least Hailey could do was to be there for him, as she always had. If Jay needed a shoulder to lean on, she would give hers. For now, she was satisfied knowing that he was alive and well, at least physically. She put her arm around Jay, grabbed a blanket from behind the couch, being careful not to startle him, and draped it over them. She turned off the TV, leaned back on the couch, and closed her eyes as sleep caught on with her.