UPSTEAD ONE SHOT(S)

Truth

Gist: Hailey tells Jay she lied about seeing her Dad at the hospital.

Jay and Hailey sat contentally on Jay's sofa after a rough day at work, sharing a bowl of pretzels and watching NCIS:LA. They hadn't really spoken much at all since they got in from work, both of them shattered from chasing a gang group all day long. All they needed was to be in each others arm's, and some junk food.

When Kensi opened up to Deeks about her father, and the tricky upbringing she had after he passed away, Hailey began fidgeting in her place. Jay still was under the influence that Hailey HAD visited her father in hospital, even though she hadn't. She felt terrible for lying to her rock. She knew she could tell him anything without being judged, but the dark part in her that held memories and her feelings about her father, was still closed off with an iron bar. Jay picked up on his girlfriend's uneasiness, so squeezed her arm supportively; as if to say it's okay.
As the episode went on and more the more Kensi opened up to Deeks about her past, the more the guilt swirled within Hailey. She couldn't keep it in any longer, she needed to tell Jay for her own sanity.

"Jay" Hailey spoke up, swiveling around to face her boyfriend. "Yeh?" Jay questioned, muting the TV so his concentration was fully on Hailey. "I gotta tell you something" Hailey sighed, vulnerability and fear swimming in her eyes. "Ofcourse" Jay nodded, setting himself in full listening mode. He knew it was hard for Hailey to open up, especially about something deeply personal. He had a feeling where the conversation was going, because of her body language during the show, so he made sure to listen extra carefully. "I...I didn't talk to my Dad. I couldn't. I went to the window of his room, and it all came back. I'm sorry, please don't be mad" Hailey's eyes stung as tears ripped into her sockets. She knew Jay would never be mad at her, yet she still feared it because of her childhood. "I'd never be mad at you, Hails. And, I know you didn't go talk to your Dad" Jay answered, pulling a wet strand of Hair off Hailey's cheek. "What?" Hailey exhaled, confused to how Jay figured out and to why he didn't confront her about it. "Hailey, I can see right through you. I've always seen right through your protective lies- just like you have mine" Jay explained, cupping Hailey's tiny hand in his. "W....why didn't you say anything then?" Hailey asked. "Because I knew you'd tell me when you were ready. It's part of the thing" Jay replied, giving his girlfriend a warm smile. He was right though, it was the part of their thing. When the other one wasn't ready to open up fully, or at all, the other waited patiently for the day they did open up. Yet, they were also at peace that the other may never be ready to open up; and that was okay. "You're amazing, Jay" Hailey sighed, a weight lifted off her shoulder with how calm Jay was, and the way he understood her so well. "Come here" Jay opened his arm up as a signal for Hailey to tuck herself under it, to which she did. She felt safe in Jay's arms. Safe and loved, a foreign feeling to her until she met Jay. "You know, I could never be truly mad you. Don't ever fear to tell me anything, I'm always here for you" Jay whispered, kissing the top of her fourhead. "Yeh. Same for you" Hailey agreed, wanting to be just as much as a rock for Jay as he was for her.