Chicago Love ✔️

Chapter 68: The Silos

After the announcement at the office, Kim wanted to treat Hailey out to a night on the town as a token of goodbye before watching her leave Chicago with Alex. The simple gesture turned into Kim, Hailey, Trudy, and Erin meeting up for drinks at Molly's that night.

While the girls were having their fun, Jay did not want to see Alex left with nothing to do so he got him to tag along for some pool, drinks, and conversation. Let's face it - the friends hadn't seen much of each other over the past several months and that needed to change. Besides, it was a good way to lead into what he and Hank had spoken about at the district after the announcement.

"I want you to know that I did not mean to be so blunt to you and Hailey earlier," Jay apologises as they leave the bar later on that night. He had purposely gone to a different spot than Molly's to not want to interfere with the girls and their fun. He also knew this spot he had chosen was closer and better for what he had planned. "It's just that even with everything that happened, she means a lot to me and that will not change. I still care about her a lot. She still means a lot to me. I don't want anything to happen to her and I worry about her. That's why I wanted to make sure she was doing the right thing. She's been through a lot, and she doesn't deserve anymore of it." 

"I won't hur-" Alex goes to start, only to watch a finger come up in his view as they sat at a stop light together. It was clear Jay was not done with his apology yet and wanted to get his words out. 

"I know you won't hurt her as you told me those words perfectly and clearly back at the district." Jay takes a deep breath, thinking back to the years they were together. He remembered the emotional toll he watched her go through at times. He remembered the things she told him that she swore to never to tell anyone else. He also remembered the panic and pain she suffered when the FBI was coming down her neck. "I know that you are a great guy, and wouldn't hurt anyone on purpose. You're my friend, we spent weeks together living at your house, and I read every thing that I could on you in your file for that so I should know that better than anyone. It's just that Hailey has been through a lot through her life. She went through her parents fighting when she was a child. She went through a rape murder case while undercover. She put everything on the line for this job at times. I wanted to make sure she was doing the right thing for herself, her career, and her feelings in knowing all of this. I wanted to make sure she wouldn't regret it later." 

Jay takes a deep breath as they turn the corner, knowing where they were headed. He hadn't been there in several years. He hadn't stepped foot on these sacred grounds since returning to Chicago. He hadn't wanted to think about the pain they had brought all of them at times, whether it was from Kevin Bingham's murder, or from Roy Walton's murder. He definitely did not want to think about this place's connection to Benjamin Watts.

He drives to the end of the long stone driveway, passing between a pair of buildings before they are before more stone and a field. He did not need to look left or right to know the corn silos that were not far from their location. He did not want to look at either of those, knowing just how close in relation to both bodies had been previously buried on these grounds.

His eyes focused forward, as he turned off the headlights to the truck, reaching for the key in the ignition. He could already feel the confusion of his passenger, but knew it was a necessary step and send off with how much his heart still cared about Hailey. Hank had planted the idea, and he was very easily ready to go along with it. 

A Dodge Durango SRT pulls up not long thereafter the movement, headlights focused on the pair in the truck as Jay finally takes his eyes off the view ahead of him to look over at Alex. 

"Let's take a step outside of the truck," he simply states, only causing more confusion to form on the face beside his. Alex had already found himself in one life or death situation courtesy of being with Jay in Chicago before. He was not about to find himself in yet another one, but nothing felt comfortable about this at all. "Trust me. It will be okay. Just like you said you wouldn't hurt Hailey, I won't hurt or get you hurt on purpose. I still kick myself in the ass for what happened with Derek. That should not have happened. There are 20 million ways that should not have happened how it did." 

Alex did not get a chance to respond to Jay in hearing the door handle to his door unclick, catching his attention right away. He was ready to strike with a punch in response, and try to get away - even if probably not possible - until he saw a couple recognisable facial features. 

"Hank?" He questions as he looks between the sergeant and detective, confusion still laced there from earlier. Why would Hank be there? 

"Step out of the truck, please," Hank states directly, as he has one eye on Alex, another on Jay as the pair are trying to read what each other are thinking. It was obviously not going all to how they had planned it before arriving here. "Please listen to the instruction. You are going to have to trust me."