Chicago Love ✔️

Chapter 2: Needing an Escape

Hailey knew she should've just went back to her apartment and climbed into bed. 

But she knew that'd just result in thinking about the case repeatedly in her head without a way to escape. She'd just toss and turn in the bed. She'd close her eyes, only to be shot awake moments later. How would she be ready for another day of this without a drop of sleep? 

She wished she could've gone back to the apartment, and made her way to the fridge or cabinet and cracked open a bottle of wine. However, the last bottle had disappeared when her and Kim had a heart-to-heart conversation a couple nights ago. 

She should've gone to the store to replace it, but getting off at decent times from work to get there during opening hours never seemed to happen. She could go to one of those places that carry alcohol 24/7, but that was not one of the best looks for a fine detective in Chicago. Besides, none of the cheap things tasted good - and that was an unfortunate requirement for her.

It was why she made her way regretfully to Molly's, knowing they always had all of her usual favorites and whatever she was craving available for the ordering. However, it came with a risk. What if she ran into someone she knew? She wasn't wanting to kick start any conversations tonight. What if she ran into him? She had just began to find her way after their break-up, and grown comfortable again working together without the sting of it. Was she ready to see him in one of their hang-out spots?

She makes her way through the front door, placing a smile on her face as she immediately catches the attention of (Christopher) Herrmann.

"What may I get you tonight?" He simply questions, having heard through the grapevine it was another tough day for the Intelligence Unit - or at least that was the vibe he got from Kevin, Adam and Kim earlier when they quickly stopped by. "Gotta take care of Chicago finest." 

"Something strong," she answers with confidence laced in her voice as she debated the options. Wine was always great to sip on, and perfect for when she was sad, but she didn't want to dwell on thoughts tonight. Beer always tasted great, but that was for when you were socially. There was only one thing left on the table for when you wanted to forget a case. "Jack and coke please." 

"Of course...." It didn't take long for the firefighter to whip up the drink, placing on the bar ledge before her - adding a lime on the edge with a little extra niceness.

Her eyes focus on the glass, as she picks it up, swirling it around casually, before taking a sip. She then knocks in the lime with her tongue, giving it another swirl, before following it with another sip.

Why did these cases never get easier to deal with?

She then takes out her phone with having heard it go off in her pocket, debating on shutting it off after she read the messages that had appeared. She knew she should always have it on should they get alerted of something, but an escape may be necessary that night.

"If you need someone to come over for a drink or to talk to get your mind off of things, I can come over," she reads the text message from Jay. "We can do, you know, our thing...." 

She knew he was meaning to be sweet. She knew he was meaning to be kind. She knew he was just trying to be the caring friend, which is what he wanted to remain despite their divorce. Let's face it - she wanted him to be in her life, cared about him as a friend, and knew she couldn't just shut him out. 

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Hailey's Flashback

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However, with the swirl of emotions she was feeling, it just made tonight that much harder to handle. Normally, she could turn to him easily. But now? It was all different as much as in some ways they wanted to believe nothing had changed. 

"If you need another wine drinking night, let me know," she read the next text message on her phone, this one coming from Kim.

She chuckled at the laughs they had shared a couple nights ago. She sighed at some of the more quieter feelings they had shared with each other from working on the job, to the men in their lives. Perhaps that would be a good change of pace - but she knew that would not be the therapy for the day she had at work. Besides, Kim deserved to be home with Adam and Makayla. 

"I'm always here to talk if you need to," was the last message she read, smiling a little in the tenderness being shown by her boss. 

It was rare for Hank to let that side of him shine through, making it touch you that much more when it did. Regardless of what anybody say about him, he cared about those in his unit. He considered everyone family, and it was safe to say they had grown closer during Jay's time away before he returned, with a lot of feelings being shared in missing him. It was Hank that helped her to begin the process of moving on.

Taking a deep breath, she knew she couldn't connect with him tonight with drinks. There were certain things about the case and the core that it had affected with her that she wasn't about to divulge for his ears tonight, or ever for that matter. Nope, he wasn't the therapy required.

It was why with another sip of the glass, she realized she had finished her drink and would be needing another, perhaps one that followed, to satisfy all these thoughts that were flashing through her mind right now.