Chicago Love ✔️

Chapter 9: Smiles Upon Smiles

Hailey makes her way up the stairs after scanning her hand print and unlocking the gate to Intelligence, ready to get to work for the day. 

There was something that felt good about the day. Maybe it was knowing the case was behind her. Or maybe it was because of the company from last night. Maybe it was because of the conversation with said company that morning. Maybe it was because there were talks of spending more time with that very person once again. 

"Hailey with a smile on her face for paperwork?" Hailey hears Hank as he walks by her en route to his office, doing a doubletake as he takes another glance back at his detective. It was very odd that any of them in Intelligence were smiling when it came to the thought of doing paperwork all day. It was even more odd when it dealt with a case they hadn't enjoyed dealing with. He began to wonder what was up with his detective. "I'm not going to complain or say something is wrong here, because it is nice to see. I'm glad you are doing much better today than you were yesterday." 

"You have no idea sir," she comments, almost regretting the words as soon as they slipped from her mouth. She knew that'd create curiosity by the sets of eyes that were watching her interaction with their superior right now. Did she really want to talk about what happened with Alex with other people right now? She could already hear Kim's contagious laughter and gawking, and also begging to check him out herself. She could already hear Adam's nerves in a quick hook-up creating instant feelings, and worry about what the future held. Truthfully, she didn't want to think about that as long distance relationship did not have the perfect ring to it, but neither did leaving Chicago. How was she supposed to get this necessary time with Alex? "I guess you could say that I am glad we are putting this case in the rearview mirror." 

"I don't think you are the only one glad about that...." It was no secret none of them in the unit liked it when young children were harmed in the process, which was the case in what they had dealt with here. The sooner they put it behind them, the sooner they could all move forward and focus on the next case that landed on their desk.

"So, are you going to tell me the reason why you're smiling?" Kim questions as soon as Hank goes inside his office, and closes the door. It was obvious her partner had been wanting to ask that as soon as the initial smile broke, followed by the comment. Normally they saved this conversation for the locker room or coffee afterwards. It seemed odd to be hearing this question still sitting at her desk. 

"I may have a special reason for this smile," she answers, only causing the smile to widen that much more. She hadn't wanted to say anything, but she couldn't help it as she thought about those beautiful eyes, those tender lips, and a body that could hold her any day of the week. There had to be something else she could say to ease the want for information and curiosity by her partner. There was no way she could reveal it was just a hook-up just yet. "I met up with a friend last night and we had a great conversation together. It was a nice change of pace after these past couple of weeks." 

"Do I know this person that you met up with?" Hailey thought over the best way to answer the question. Kim had met Alex when they dealt with the original Chicago gang case. She also crossed paths with him when he was kidnapped alongside Jay afterwards. However, it was just a couple quick conversations that met nothing. How would that equate to the answer? 

"I think you know of him, but probably don't know him that well." Kim couldn't help but feel her mind begin to surf through the catalogue of men that surrounded their daily lives. She thought of the various officers that worked at the 21st district, to the doctors they met in their endless trips to Chicago Med. She had hoped one of them would have jumped off the page in having a connection to Hailey right now. "Go ahead and think of every man that you can, but you probably aren't going to think of him. Truth be told, I probably wouldn't had thought he would heal my feelings the way he did normally. However, crossing paths at Molly's and a random conversation just brewed more than I thought." 

"So he was at Molly's last night?" Adam chimes in, having overheard the conversation and gotten curious himself. Leave it to the one night that he does not stop by the bar that Hailey crosses paths with someone that has gotten them all curious. After all, this was a smile he had not seen on her face in months. It was certainly a great change in pace. "I guess I'll have to ask Herman and Gabby who was there because I hope this person sticks around. It's nice to see you back smiling and feeling great, Hailey. I've missed seeing that smile on your face. Actually, I think everybody here in Intelligence has missed seeing that smile on your face."

"Are you seriously going to ask Herman and Gabby?" Hailey wonders, which brought forth a new bucket of nerves for her. She could only wonder what the pair may say in response should Adam ask them the question. She actually wondered what they remembered from the night, and would share.

"I'm not your favourite detective for nothing, am I? Besides, like Hank says, we have to take care of each other in this family of ours. Consider me the annoying big brother that wants to protect his sister." Hailey laughs as she could think of many times where it felt like the opposite in all the trouble that Adam seemingly continually found himself in. However, she couldn't focus on that. Did she really want him going to Gabby and Herman about Alex? Did she really want Adam knowing it was Alex that she met with last night? 

"Team, we got to roll out..." Hank's call from the office catches all of their attention instead. So much for that quiet day of paperwork as they were being called upon to head into the field. "Jay and Erin stumbled upon a bomb threat on their way in."