This is an alternate ending to the episode "Ghost." I really wanted Jay to stay, so I made it happen. Hope you enjoy.

"I just want to be alone." Hailey said with tears in her eyes threatening to spill over at any minute. Jay nodded. He knew he needed to go and give her space to grieve Garrett and decompress from the day they had, but he hated seeing his partner so broken. He wished he could glue all her pieces back together and see her smile again. Jay set his glass down on the table, then reached for Hailey. He pulled her into a slight hug and kissed her hair, hoping it wasn't too much for her.

He felt Hailey lean into his hug, and the tears finally broke free. He hugged her tighter, and she reciprocated. As she laid her head on his shoulder, she started to cry. Jay held her and stroked her hair, careful not to hurt her head where Booth had slammed it into the wall so many times. He had never seen Hailey so broken, yet so beautiful all at once. With one arm across her back and the other hand on the back of her neck, he held her so tightly he thought maybe he could mend her broken heart.

Slowly but surely, Hailey's breathing slowed and the tears stopped falling. He was afraid to let her go, thinking he might never get to hold her like this again. Hailey went limp in his arms and Jay wasn't quite sure what to make of it.

"Hailey?" Jay whispered. No response.

"Hailey?.." Jay moved her head back to where he could see her face and sure enough, she was out cold. Tears stained her expressionless face, but Jay thought she had never looked so beautiful before.

Jay cradled her in his arms while he thought of what to do. Was she passed out from the alcohol? The head wound, which was sure to be a concussion? Or was she just exhausted from the emotional day she had?

Jay decided to put her to bed. He gently picked her up and carried her into her room. He laid her down and briefly thought how he wished he could curl up next to her. Jay didn't want Hailey to be alone tonight, especially since he wasn't quite sure what made her pass out, but he also wasn't sure how she would feel about him staying.

As he turned out the light and went back to the living room, he decided to put the whiskey away and wash the cups so she wouldn't have to worry with it. Jay decided to stay the night on the couch so he could make sure she was okay throughout the night. He would never forgive himself if he left and something happened to her.

Jay made himself a bed on her couch then went to check on Hailey before getting some sleep. He checked her pulse and it was strong and steady. Like her, he thought. As he turned off the light in her room, he stared back at his sleeping partner. He silently wondered if she would ever fully open up to him and let him into her world, but tonight, he thought, was a promising step in the right direction.. and Jay was ready to see where it goes.

The end

Sorry, I'm bad at coming up with a good story ending. Hope it wasn't too bad!