Welcome home
So I'm back with another piece for the Challenge me Daily. I apologise, but I simply had to take a step back for a while. I am very excited about this piece!
I still have a stack of prompts to get through, and I will be working through them as best I can. I plan to do a few of the prompts in between the now two Upstead WIPS I have going on. I really really want to post those soon so fingers crossed!!
A very big thank you to @ameliagiovanna0 for this prompt! I hope you enjoy it friend!
Fandom: One Chicago
Pairing: Upstead
Words: 1159
It felt good being back at the district. The prospect of seeing the team again was what kept her going those few months in New York. Trudy had already been busy behind the front desk when she walked into the district.
“Well, well, it’s the eagerly awaited return of Goldilocks,” her desk sergeant greeted.
Hailey smiled, because she had so missed the sharp tongue and quick wit of Trudy Platt. New York had nothing on her desk sergeant.
“You still remember the code or do I have to hold your hand and take you up myself?”
“I think I remember it just fine, Sarge,” Hailey laughed making her way towards the gate.
“Hey, Hailey,” Trudy called sounding serious for a moment. “It’s good to have you back.”
“It’s good to be back.” She had said that with all the sincerity she had.
The gate buzzed and she let herself in, climbing the stairs to Intelligence. It was quiet, the bullpen empty, and looking almost like she remembered it. Her desk, pushed up against Jay’s was largely untouched but she did notice a number of new files and a new collection of pens already at her disposal. There was such familiarity and a sense of home within these walls. New York had been great but it was no Chicago. The FBI proved to be an interesting challenge but there was nothing that would beat working in Intelligence with the people she had been lucky enough to call friends. And of course, her partner.
When she had left, things between her and Jay were largely undecided but all she had done in the past few months she’d been away was miss him. There was something in the way they clicked that made them such a good team. Their partnership had come through a lot and Hailey was just a little worried that her time away would undo all that. She would have worried on that a little more had Jay not called a few days in advance to make sure she was getting on that plane. She had wondered what the distance would to do their closeness. What sort of strain might develop in the hours between them. But after her first week in New York, Hailey realised she didn’t have much to worry about between her and Jay. The distance did not damper whatever is was they shared. They had been in near constant contact from the moment she left Chicago. They were now treading that very dangerous new line and Hailey wondered how far they would go this time.
Deciding to seek out her partner because she was now too impatient to wait any further, Hailey left the bullpen. The locker room was the most obvious choice and that was her first stop. It was quiet too, but not empty. She spotted his gym bag on the bench and beside that his watch and phone.
She heard a shuffle and then he was emerging from around the corner. He was shirtless and Hailey felt like a fool for not realising it was because his shirt was currently resting atop the gym bag. Jay was - as he always had been - in fine form. His pants rested low on his waist and that smirk of his played on his lips.
“Detective,” he greeted with a cheeky smile.
“Detective,” she replied her lips twitching in response.
They didn’t say anything simply taking each other in. Skype and FaceTime only did some much and it was not nearly enough. He seemed taller somehow even as he leaned against the cold steel of the locker. His eyes, raking over her form, slowly and appreciatively. Hailey was reminded of that new line they seemed to be treading.
“So Upton,” Jay said trying very hard to sound ridiculously serious, “are you staying for good this time?”
Hailey could hear the nervousness in his voice despite him doing his best to say otherwise “I am.”
He simply grinned at her. Hailey found herself reciprocating very easily.
“Isn’t this the part where you tell me how much you missed me and how great it is to see me and that I’m looking great too?” Jay teased, breaking the silence.
Hailey laughed. “I think you say that to yourself enough. You don’t need me to repeat it.”
“But I like hearing you say it.”
Hailey guffawed. “When have I ever said those things?”
“Hey! You did say you missed me,” Jay pointed out mockingly glaring at her.
Hailey rolled her eyes. She wanted to deny that, but she very distinctly remembered that conversation. And the words that had come out of her mouth.
“What was it again?” Jay continued teasingly and Hailey bit down on her lip to stop herself from grinning. It was nice to see this side of Jay in person and not just over the phone. “Oh yes,” he said, snapping her from her thoughts. “You missed the wind … and me.”
He looked far to smug for her to try and deny anything. “Fine I did say that,” she acquiesced. “But I never said you those other things.”
Jay shrugged coming forward and Hailey laughed. Her partner hadn’t really changed and that they were able to tease each other regardless of whatever unspoken thing was between them was confirmation enough that she had made the right choice coming back to Chicago.
“There’s still plenty of time for that,” he winked.
Hailey flushed. “I’m going to go reclaim by desk ... you uh wanna change? Or is this the new CPD dress code?”
Jay grinned. “I’m tempted but I don’t think the others would appreciate that.”
Hailey shrugged playing for as much nonchalance as she could. “Their loss,” she said and this time she winked before backing out of the locker room.
“Hails,” He called and she turned back to him. “Welcome home.”
She smiled sincerely, quickly turning to leave as Jay reached for the rest of his clothes. She thought to sneak one last look at him before she left the locker room and flushed when he caught her. He raised a brow, cheekily and she rolled her eyes, walking out, Jay’s soft chuckles following her as she made her way back to her desk.
Jay joined her sometime later, and she was already settled in; her desk in relative order and a cup of coffee at her side. He spotted that first and eyed her closely as he sat down.
“Someone’s been using my mine,” she said. “So I hope you don’t mind sharing.” She raised his mug – blue with the word Rangers on it – to her lips and Jay tracked every movement of that oh so carefully.
“No, I don’t mind,” he said softly. “Besides I think it’s my fault.”
“Oh?”
He shrugged. “I’ve been using your mug.” Hailey raised a brow in surprise but Jay was unfazed. He simply smiled at her. “What can I say? I missed you, Hailey.”