Happy Monday. I know this is not the usual update date, but I want to complete this fic by the premier. So, a new update will come this Wednesday, then next Monday, and the final chapter will be published on the premier date. Does that sound good? Thanks for the reviews on the last chapter. It's been a long summer journey, and I'm glad I've been able to take you guys along with me.

Hailey

Everything hurts – I feel as if an elephant is squatting on my chest. I'm able to breathe, just enough, but it hurts. I push through the fog in my head, fighting to open my eyes, but blinking hurts too. In fact, the more I drift towards consciousness, the more other aches and pains make themselves known. I can't remember the last time I felt this horrible.

I open my mouth, try to utter a word, a syllable even, but all that comes out is a guttural moan, as the vast throbbing spreads all over my body.

I hear muffled beeps and I sense that something terribly wrong has happened to me. This realization has panic rising in my throat like an electric shock. My chest constricts painfully, and my breath starts coming in sharp, raw gasps. It's a dreadful feeling. I can feel beads of sweat forming on my skin, which is simultaneously littered with tiny goosebumps. I can't move, except for my fingers. I wiggle them, feeling folds of fabric beneath them. I attempt to grip fistfuls of it, but something grabs hold of my hand.

Hey, hey… I'm here, Babe."

Jay's deep voice penetrates through the haze, gentle and warm. I try to focus on it, but he sounds distant as if he is speaking through a dense mist. I force my eyes open, but I can't stand the glare of the blinding lights above. I grunt again, frustrated, but the light is starting to dim—or my eyes are adjusting.

Hailey, don't try to talk right now. They just removed a tube from your throat.

I hear more beeping and try to move my head, but the pain is excruciating. My heart starts to pummel my chest, and I can feel the veins in my neck throbbing. Despite everything, my consciousness begins lapsing. But then Jay's soft, warm lips brush against my forehead. A touch so comforting, so familiar, so all-protecting, it keeps me grounded for a moment.

Hailey, you need to slow your breathing down, okay? Can you do it for me, huh?

His gentle voice reins me in and I try to push out a single word out past my lips, "Yes." Though I think it came out too horse to be intelligible.

I close my eyes as I strain to find the edge of consciousness so I can slow down my breathing. I'm foggy and drained. I try to focus on the fact that Jay is here and he would never let anything happen to me. If he is here, I know I'm safe. The panic trapped in my chest wanes when I feel his thumb tracing softly over my cheek, feeling his warm breath against my skin.

You're safe. Everything is okay. I'm going to be right here. I'm not going anywhere.

Safe.

I pry my eyes again and this time Jay's soft gaze comes slightly into focus, and I clock the worry in his eyes. I squeeze the hand that's still holding mine, letting him know I see him. I feel him.

There is almost a break in his voice when he says, "I've missed you. Really, really, missed you."

I squeeze his hand again. I missed you too, I think and wonder how long I have been away.

My head is still fuzzy and my eyelids are heavy as lead. I try to hold on, but I can't. The pain is overwhelming. I want to ask what happened, but the next thing I know, the light disappears and I'm out.

x

I know I'm regaining consciousness again, a telltale sign? Pain. My chest is aching, my head, my throat – everything is crushingly sore. I try to open my eyes, but it's still blurry. I groan, frustrated that my vision isn't clear. I concentrate on raising my hand. It takes every effort I can muster, but I reach up and rub my eyes, wincing as a sharp pain travels through my skull. A face bends over, obscuring my vision.

"Stop rubbing your eyes, hon. I'm sure it's painful with all that bruising."

A woman's voice travels into my ears and I try to focus on it. I zone on the figure standing in front of me until the set of blurs resolves into the kind face of a nurse, clad in blue scrubs. I'm in a hospital. Something terrible really did happen to me. As I continue to come around, the beeping machines beside me become more obvious, and suddenly, it sounds very loud in here. I look back at the nurse, who is now smiling down at me.

"Hi, there," she beams.

One blink.

Then another.

"Whaa… what?" I ask, wincing as the words feels like a blade on my throat.

"You're in the hospital, dear. You've been out for a few days, actually. Do you remember what happened?"

I close my eyes, wracking my brain. I let out a wry sigh, wishing she'd just tell me. But then it all comes crushing back, like a cupboard full of tin pots clattering to the floor. My breath catches in my throat and my heart begins to thump loudly against my ribs. The machines beep all around me, the steady rhythm from before picking up the pace. Tears spring to my eyes.

"Hailey? You with me?" the nurse prompts. "Do you remember what happened?" she repeats the question.

"Yes," I croak. "I-I remember some."

"Good. You okay?"

"Yeah," I lie, despite the fast beeping contradicting my claim.

"Any pain?"

"My whole left side – just a throb, and my left arm doesn't feel like my arm."

She smiles and pats my hand. "I promise it's yours, and I will give you something to ease the pain."

I nod, rubbing my throat. "Could I have some water?"

She hands me a cup and I sip at it. It relieves my throat instantly. I swallow half the cup, then hand it back to her. I try lifting my head off the pillow, but let it fall back again when the room whirls around.

"You're not there yet, hon," she says. "Try not to exert yourself. I've paged the doctor and he will be in shortly."

I nod. "Has a tall guy been here? Short, dark hair, blue-green eyes…His name is Jay," I say tentatively. "I-I think I saw him."

The nurse chuckles, "He's been here, alright." She walks somewhere behind me and adds, "His brother took him to the cafeteria for his obligatory dinner. It's the only time he leaves the room."

I nod and stare around as she checks on me and updates my chart. Then a young man comes in a minute later, wearing scrubs. I'm guessing he's the doctor, though I don't recognize him.

"Ah, Dr. Henry. She's up," the nurse says.

The doctor comes in and stops by my bed, looking down at me. "Hi there, Hailey, how are you feeling?"

"Like I've been hit by a train," I admit.

He laughs softly and begins checking my vitals. "Do you remember what happened?"

I nod as he shines a light in my eyes. "I think have a good idea."

"You remember that you were shot?"

The memories are foggy, but the image of Booth pointing a gun at me is terrifyingly easy to summon. The precise moment he pulled the trigger, though, is unclear.

"I think so."

"The bullet traveled from your lower abdomen and perforated your left lung…"

I immediately feel the large bandage covering my left side. When I press on it, it sends waves of pain all the way down to my toes.

"… But your lung has re-inflated and so far it looks like you'll make a full recovery. Other than that, you have some fading bumps and bruises, a few fractured ribs… We had you intubated for a few days, so that's why your throat probably feels…"

The amount of information the doctor is relaying is overwhelming, and the vivid imagery it elicits is throwing my mind into a spin. But then, I hear Jay's voice call my name, and for whatever reason, it is my undoing. Tears finally unleash from the back of my eyes. My attention darts to the door, finding him standing there, filling the frame. His face is haggard, stubble covering his cheeks and chin, and the look in his eyes is nothing short of worn-out.

"She's awake. Vitals look good," the doctor informs him. "We'll run some labs and schedule an MRI to check how that lung is coming along, but she's on the mend," he adds. Dr. Henry turns back to me. "Glad you're back, Hailey," he says and leaves with the nurse in tow.

"Hey, you," Jay says and walks over, leans down, and circles his arms around me, pulling me very carefully into him in a way that makes me feel like I'm coming home. His face nuzzles into my neck as his body engulfs me. It is slightly painful, but his touch is full of affection, and relief, and so much more. I can't even begin to fathom what went through his head for the last few days.

"You feeling okay?" he says, pulling back and cupping my chin in one of his hands, staring at me like I'm his entire world.

"Sore," I tell him, and he smiles down at me, his hands carefully running over me as if he's scared I'll disappear. I swallow and I take a shaky breath. "You found me," I tell him, breathing through the pain of my own memories. "I know you were there. I heard your voice."

Jay nods, stiffly, but he does nod. "We got a call. Tyler, Booth's nephew, he gave us your location," he says, his voice tortured as if the memory is still too raw.

"Oh," I say, my chest clenching. "W-Where is he?"

"He's being held on distro charges. But the state's attorney is cutting him a deal for cooperating."

"Booth?" I ask through gritted teeth, though I think I know the answer.

Jay's jaw ticks. "Dead."

I nod and a silent moment passes between us.

"I thought I lost you," Jay whispers.

I take his hand and press it over my heart. "I'm here."

"I'm so sorry, Hailey. I should've come sooner, I should've—"

"Don't," I say, reaching up and cupping his jaw. "I went off-book. It's on me."

"But—"

"No," I shake my head. "This is not on you."

I smile at him, so grateful he is in my life. So damned grateful. He leans down, brushing his lips across mine. Like a question. I kiss him back softly. Gentle tugs and nips, a welcomed warmth pours through me, chasing away the lingering shock. When he pulls back, I run my hand over his stubble. I don't think I've ever seen it this long.

"I like it," I whisper to him.

"It itches," he complains. "But I'll keep a permanent five-o-clock shadow if you'll stay awake." One of his hands strokes the hair away from my face, while the other grabs my hand on his face and brings it to his lips.

"I'm so glad you're okay."

I smile. "Me too."

"I should probably tell everyone the good news."

"Yeah. I don't want them worried."

Jay leans down again and captures my lips with his. This kiss lingers a little longer, a little hungrier as if he is trying to etch it in his memory for safe-keeping. He pulls back and fishes for his phone in his pocket. He makes a call and I sit back and take it all in.

I slowly take inventory, moving my hands, my feet, performing a system check of sorts. My left side hurts like someone stabbed me with a hot poker, my chest aches with every breath, and my head is pounding, but other than that and some pretty serious weakness, I feel… okay? I think.

"Yeah, she's awake," I hear Jay say on the phone. "Yes, right now."

He pulls the phone away from his ear, and I hear a high-pitched shriek that could only come from Kim.

"No, we don't have a discharge date yet."

I watch Jay speak into the phone, sneaking glances back at me with a tired smile on his face. Under the fluorescent lights, I can clearly see the dark circles under his eyes and he also looks a little pale. I'm pretty sure he hasn't spent any time at home since I've been here, which doesn't surprise me. I know it's what I would've done.

When he is done, he approaches the bed and takes my hand, kissing my fingers one at a time. A very disarming move, I'd say.

"You only called Kim?" I ask.

"I figured she'd do a faster job of filling everyone in."

I nod and pat the empty spot next to me. Jay sits on the edge, attempting but failing to stifle a yawn. The many sleepless nights are catching up with him. The corner of his mouth quirks up briefly as if he knows exactly what I'm thinking.

"I'm not that tired," he states.

"When was the last time you went home?"

"I've been home," he says casually.

"When was the last time you slept in your bed?"

He chuckles, he knows I got him. "Fine. I haven't really been home." He looks down at our intertwined hands before he adds, "I didn't want you to be alone, especially not here."

Our eye meets and he gives me a sweet grin, and that in itself is like a kiss I can feel down to my toes. He meant what he said – he is not going anywhere. I press my palm against his cheek, and he leans into my touch.

"How about you go home tonight, huh?" I offer, tilting my head so I can look him in the eye. "Take a long shower. Get a good night's rest?"

He takes my hand from his cheek and kisses my palm. "I want to stay."

"I know, but you need to sleep." I squeeze his hand. "I feel okay."

I look at him for a long moment and then he nods. "But I'm coming back first thing tomorrow morning,"

He leans forward, kissing my lips softly then pulls back to look at me.

"No need to rush. I'm also not going anywhere," I toss his word back at him.

He kisses me once more, his mouth lingering, tasting before he pulls away, brushing his lips over my forehead.

"You try to rest too, okay?" he says, stroking my cheek, pushing back a strand of my hair.

I nod, feeling worn out myself. Perhaps the pain meds are taking effect now.

Jay captures my lips yet again before he leaves.

I lay back and try to let sleep take me, but it seems the nurses are trying to keep me awake all night. They come in every two hours to check my vitals and the IV drips hanging above my head. And when I finally can get some shut-eye, pain, and horrible thoughts, followed by backlash and nightmares from everything that happened, come in gigantic waves. It isn't until they up my pain meds once again that I'm able to finally fall into a dreamless sleep.

x

The next morning, they wake me up bright and early to run tests. I'm exhausted and my body aches in so many places I can't pinpoint just one. I feel like a thousand ice-cold needles are simultaneously piercing my skin. When they wheel me back to my room, I'm welcomed by Kim's bright smile. I can see her hold back her excitement until the last nurse leaves the room.

"I'm so happy to see you!" she exclaims, once it's just us.

"Thank you for coming," I say, extending a hand to her.

She takes my hands and gives a light squeeze. "We all wanted to come, but we didn't want to overwhelm you. But you should expect everyone to stop by in the next couple of days."

"Tell them to come. It will be nice to have the distraction."

Kim nods and looks around the room, taking in the monitors and beeping machines. "How are you feeling?"

"Like I've been shot," I tell her. "But they got good pain meds."

Kim laughs. "We are all just really glad you're on the mend."

"Yeah, me too."

"I'm surprised Jay isn't here," she says. "He's become sort of a permanent fixture, like one of those IV poles."

I smile softly, though my heart grows heavy. "I made him go home last night. He's probably catching up on his sleep."

"He might sleep for a week straight then," she says, though I know she's only half-joking. I force another smile on my lips, despite the growing pang in my heart.

"I've never seen him so tightly wound. We were afraid he'd snap. The whole not knowing where you were, then finding you clinging to life was grueling, and not just for him. For all of us." Kim shakes her head wearily. "But that's all in the past now," she adds quickly.

Despite my better sense, curiosity makes me ask, "How did it go down, Kim? Jay wasn't forthcoming with details yesterday and my memory is still slightly foggy."

"Probably because the bastard drugged you."

I glance up at Kim with a jolt, suddenly remembering the needle. The question stalls in my throat. My stomach turns and my hands fly to either side of my face. "Did he…?"

"Hey, hey…No," Kim says placing a hand over my leg. "He didn't assault you," she says. "Booth did beat you up pretty bad."

"Yeah, that I remember," I say, releasing a shaky breath. "The last thing I recall is being dragged by him. I remember seeing the flashing police lights and hearing Jay's voice, then it's all blank from there."

Kim takes a deep breath as if mentally preparing to recount the events.

"We spent the whole 24 hours you were missing chasing leads, but they obviously didn't pan out. Then we got a call from Booth's nephew, giving us your location. When we got there, I think Booth got spooked and dragged you out of this dilapidated warehouse to the edge of a small cliff. Jay tried to talk him down, but he wasn't having it. He pulled out a gun and shot you and you fell into the water."

I frown, searching deep inside my cloudy mind for these memories. "I don't remember swimming?"

"That's because you didn't. Jay jumped in to get you. He pulled you out, started doing CPR…" Kim shakes her head as if to rid the images forming in her mind. "We all thought the worse. But Jay got you back and you were airlifted here," she adds.

"I was airlifted? I guess I can't say I've never been in a helicopter before."

Kim smiles. "So what have the doctors told you?"

"Bullet perforated my lung, but no structural damage. They did a bunch of tests this morning, but so far everything came back normal. I'm hoping I get to leave here soon."

"You will," she says, giving my leg a light squeeze. "But you went through something awful, Hailey, give your body and mind time to heal."

I nod. "Don't worry, I'm sure Jay will be watching over me like a hawk for the next few weeks. Maybe years."

Kim laughs. "That's not a bad thing."

"No, it's not."

We talk a bit more and she sits with me while I attempt to eat breakfast. I can only manage a few bites before I begin feeling sick. Kim sticks around until Jay arrives, popping his head inside the doorway to my room, which has become his signature move now.

"Hey you," I say.

"Hey," he says, taking a few steps inside.

He looks rested. There's a healthy flush in his cheeks, an ease to the tilt of his head, a calmness to his breathing, and I note with relief, a real smile on his face. The first true, unrestrained one I clock since I woke up.

"You look better," Kim notes. "The power of a goodnight's rest."

"Thank you…?" he says.

"Well, I'm glad you're because I have to go." Kim leans in and carefully wraps her arms around me. "We are all really glad you're okay."

"Thanks, Kim."

"Now get better soon because I don't want to be left alone with the boys for much longer. Also, we still have those spa vouches to claim."

I laugh. "Save them."

"See ya, Hailey."

"Bye, Kim," Jay waves.

Kim leaves and Jay takes the last few steps towards the bed. Cupping my face in his hands, he bends to brush his lips over mine. His mouth moves slowly, feather-light and ticklish, familiar and comforting. When he raises his head to look down at me, a million different things swirl in the depths of his eyes – love, gratefulness, longing, just to name a few. And, just as I can read his face, I'm sure he can see every emotion rippling on mine, and his face falls slightly.

"Rough night?"

I nod. "I hate hospitals."

"Oh, Hailey."

Wordlessly, he perches himself on the edge of the bed and carefully wraps his arms around my waist. I lean into him and he starts to run his fingers through my hair. The slight twinge of pain pulsating at my side is overshadowed by the heady relief that rushes through me as I cling to him; it is like fitting a long-missing piece of myself back where it belongs.

"Is that all that's bothering you?" he asks softly.

I close my eyes against the calming touch of his fingers raking through my hair. "I'm all right. Just… achy all over… I want to go home."

"Well, I talked to Will and they ran a few tests on you this morning, and everything looks really good," he says. "He thinks you might be able to go home in a few days."

I sigh. "I guess that's something to look forward to."

"Yeah… How're the ribs?"

"Sore," I tell him and he tries to pull away, but I hold him in place. "No, this helps."

"Okay," he says and I feel his lips on my hair. "Tell me the moment it stops helping."

"Mhmm," I hum my response. "Looks like you slept alright last night."

"Yeah. I crashed the second my head hit the pillow," he says.

After a silent moment, I say, "Kim told me what happened, about how I nearly drowned."

His body turns tense against mine and his hand stills in my hair. "Scariest few minutes of my life," he whispers. "I-I couldn't find you. And when I did you were…" He swallows hard and doesn't finish his sentence.

"Dead?" I try, and his whole body flinches. I place my hand on his thigh. "I'm here because of you."

He turns to me, a soft, pained look in his eyes. I tilt my chin up as he leans down to kiss me. His lips press mine apart and our tongues meet, warmth spreads across mine – he tastes like coffee and mint. His muscles are still tense, his body tight, but his lips are soft and tender. This kiss is slow and deep at the same time, like he wants to engulf me but is afraid I'll break if he tried.

"I love you," I whisper against his lips, "I love you so much."

Jay makes a low sound of contentment in his throat. He pulls away, his eyes glittering. "I love you, too," he replies.

He watches me closely. Then his hand is back to trailing through my hair, glancing off my cheek with the gentlest of touches.

"How about you close your eyes for a bit, huh? I will make sure the nurses don't bother you." He takes my hand that's on his thigh and brings it up to his lips, kissing it. "I will be right here."

Letting out a low exhale, I nod and snuggle back into him. My ribs and side only protest a little as I fold into him. I let my lips rest against him so that every inhale allows me his scent, which has always been home to me. The combination of his warmth, the steady beat of his heart, and the soothing touch of his fingers stroking my hair anesthetize me in the best way. But it isn't until he presses the softest kiss to my temple that I'm out. The frightful dreams from the previous night don't come, and I'm finally able to sleep.

Thank you for reading. Reviews? Wednesday will see Hailey continue to recover with Jay's help. Cheers, D.