There's No Time...

Part 5.

Hailey groaned, rolling onto the slightly warm side of the bed she thought was occupied by her colleague. "J..Jay?" She questioned, reaching out.

But the painful feeling of waking up alone crept over her, she sighed and rubbed her banging head.

The events of last night came back, and although her whole body was thumping, it was definitely worth it.

She looked over at the alarm clock on her bedside, groaning, as she realised she'd have to get up and face the world.

She gripped onto her blankets, internally begging that her mattress would swallow her whole, but after a short five minutes, she realised it wouldn't.

Her closed fist opened, understanding she wasn't able to put the dreadful day ahead of her off any longer.

She jumped up from her messy bed, sighing as she stumbled through her bedroom. She usually kept it clean but a lack of free time lately caused it to become a deserted wasteland.

She took the light grey towel from the top of the dresser as she made her way to the bathroom.

She turned the dial on the shower, and waited for a moment, thinking back to last night. A warmth in her chest caused a small smile to erupt - Jay Halstead.

She undressed slowly, looking down at her shoulders, seeing all of the marks last night left. She let out a light chuckle, then stepped into the shower, closing the glass panel behind her.

---

Hailey got dressed, a towel tightly wrapped around her golden hair.
She chose a pale blue flannel and dark grey jeans.

Looking into the small mirror on her dresser, she unwrapped the towel and started to brush through her hair.

She couldn't stop her mind from wandering, but now the guilt was starting to set in. Not only was Jay Erin's husband, but she also spent a night with his son, that was the issue.

Hailey hoped it wouldn't affect her career, but she knew that probably wouldn't be the case. One of them would make it difficult.

She got her phone from the bedside, her eyes locking on something else. She smiled, reading. "See you at work" She knew who it was from, yet as her finger ran over the blue ink, she took the words in. "-J.H" it still shocked her.

---

Hailey sleepily walked through her apartment, "hey Hailey" Brett smiled. "Morning Sylvie, Luke." Hailey smiled back, looking at the two people scrawled across the couch. "Fun night?" Luke asked, a smirk falling on his face. Sylvie laughed, "One of two this week!" Brett laughed, continuing her boyfriend's joke. "Haha.. very funny." The detective grinned, her cheeks turning pink with embarrassment. Lucas chucked his hands up playfully. "Don't shoot officer!" He pleaded. She laughed at his foolery, as she turnt and walked to the front door. "Bye Sylvie, bye dick for brains!" She looked back as she spoke, then waved. Before making her way out of the door.

Hailey set off for work, driving steadily. She heard sirens wailing behind her, and as she checked her back mirror she sighed, holding herself from shouting curse words to the cops behind her.

They were seriously pulling her over... so, she pulled over by the side of the road and waited as the lower-ranking police officers did the same.

She readied her badge and licence, rolled her window down looked out.

"Hello, ma'am, do you know why we pulled you over?" The redhead officer's look reeked of disappointment, as he looked through the open car window.

"Hit me!" She suggested smugly, and both of the patrolmen looked at each other.

The detective realised that she probably just sounded suspicious, or high. Hoping they didn't assume that as well, she sat up a little straighter, and looked at the redhead as he replied.

"Your rear tail light is out." He then replied, his face stern, as he looked Hailey in the eyes - probably checking her pupils to see if they were diluted.

Knowing she wasn't high, and assuming the alcohol from last night wasn't affecting her, she didn't mind him looking as he wouldn't find much.

"Oh? I'll take that to the garage before work." She replied.

"Can you step outside the vehicle please." He demanded, opening the car door and stepping backwards, as she got out.

Hailey watched as the other officer got a breathalyser out, he handed it to her, before simply saying "Blow."

"Yeah yeah I know the drill. Hailey Upton c-" she got cut off. "Stop talking and blow." He said again.

She took a deep inhale, letting it out forcefully into the machine. "Stop." The man warned, taking it out of her hand, and looking at the little numbers plastered across one side.

"Mam you need to come down to the station." The redhead replied with a huff. "21st District by any chance?"
Hailey then asked, the man nodded slightly. "Alright.. thanks for the ride to work." She continued awkwardly, tossing them her badge.

"Funnily enough, I don't care if you're the queen of flaming England, your alcohol levels are too high for you to be on the road."

"I drank last night but my judgement isn't impaired. See..." Hailey sighed, stepping forward in a straight line. "C'mon." The man replied he wasn't even listening.

Begrudgingly she walked, fear coursing through her body. She plotted how to get herself out of this situation.

On the ride to the district, she thought hard. How did she get herself into this situation... she usually drove the cars, yet this time, she sat in the back, locked behind a cage. What the hell happened?

---

In the district, Trudy sat behind her desk, she watched as Hailey was escorted through the doors. She assumed they were talking about a case, maybe something her patrol men found that had been passed on to intelligence.

"Morning detective, officers" she greeted.

Hailey mouthed "Help me." As one officer started talking. "Pulled over for a broken tail light - blew high."

"What'd she blow?" Trudy sighed, and they continued their convocation, Hailey explained she drank last night. But her judgement wasn't impaired.
Luckily, Trudy got her out of it and sent one of her men to get the detective's car. So she wasn't late.

For the first time, Hailey could breathe. "Thank you so much, Trudy... I'm so sorry.." she sighed. Trudy nodded towards the gate.

Hailey went up to the gate and scanned herself in. She quickly walked up the stairs, and into the unit. She was definitely late.

"Nice of you to join us." Voight grovelled. Before catching her up.
She noticed that both Jay and Lucas were looking at her. She didn't meet either of their gazes, she just joined the crowd.

They stood around the whiteboard, Voight explaining their new case.
He started telling people who they'd be working with. Although there were usually no changes, it was reassuring to know he'd say each time.

Hailey begged it would be Kim. Just two badass cops.
She begged it would be Spencer. She could get to know her more.

Hailey begged it would be anyone but Jay, anyone but Lucas. She hoped she would get lucky.

But no.

"Upton, you and Halstead." Voight pointed to Jay.