hey! at the risk of having y'all hate me for this chapter (MWAAHAAH), i have updated ch13. please do leave your thoughts in the reviews and thank you for all your encouragement! enjoy xx - belle

The sound of the floorboard creaking wakes me up. I instantly grab my gun, slipping out of the bed as soundlessly as possible. I cock my gun, my heart beating wildly. Who the hell is in my apartment at such an odd hour?

I make my way behind my bedroom door, barely making a sound. I don't want to alert the intruder that I am awake. Or that I know they're in my apartment.

My door creaks open, slowly. I hold my breath, worried that the intruder will hear my uneven breathing.

I wait for them to enter my room, before I press the muzzle of my gun to the back of their head.

"Hands where I can see them!" I order, careful not to let them hear the quiver in my voice.

Raising his hands, I hear the familiar voice – a voice that comforts me more than I care to admit.

"Hailey, it's just me."

I nearly collapse...I almost shot him.

"Jay!" I say softly as I quickly replace the safety on my gun. I toss it onto my bed as he turns to face me.

My hand reaches for the light switch as he finally envelops me into his strong, secure, muscular arms. I can feel his heart beating against his ribcage. I breathe in his familiar scent, the scent that is embedded into my mind. Forever.

"I almost shot you," I whisper shaken up as I recall pressing the gun to his head.

"You didn't," he reminds me, his thumb stroking my cheek. I notice then that his eyes land on my neck and he clenches his jaw.

I press a comforting hand to his rock-hard chest, giving him the smallest of smiles, hoping it reassures him.

"Jay, I'm okay," I tell him. "I-I've been through worse."

His eyes fill with pain when I mention it. I almost wish I hadn't. But I can't hide anything from him. He's my partner and my soul mate. Sooner or later, he would find out the truth.

I suddenly remember Will. Shit.

"Jay. About Will...I have a feeling Marco's bluffing," I say.

Jay clenches his jaw again. "I don't deserve to be a cop if I can't save my own brother, Hailey."

My heart tightens at his words. He means it. That's how much he's hurting right now. I kick myself for not realizing exactly how deeply he's hurting.

"I'll do everything I can to get Marco to tell me where he's holding Will," I promise, looking straight into Jay's eyes.

"Be careful, okay? I can't lose you too," he says softly, eyes worried as he gazes at me. I see him glance again at my bruised neck and I step closer to him, pressing my lips to his.

"I'll be okay," I assure him. "Don't worry about me."

"You know I always will, Hailey. You're not just my partner now."

I smile understandingly. But I let it fade as I say very solemnly. "Jay. I need you to be careful, too. Booth can do anything. He's already had Marco hurt you, but he could do worse. So please, I'm begging you, please be careful."

"I'll be okay. But, I promise, I'll be careful," he vows softly. He presses a kiss to the top of my head.

I close my eyes as I let him hold me, my arms wrapped tightly around his waist and lower back. I try not to keep my grip too tight though, remembering his wound is still sore and fresh.

Almost instinctively, I let my hand crawl underneath his t-shirt, feeling the bandage still covering the wound. My eyes betray me as tears run down my cheeks. Damn tear ducts, I think to myself.

Despite hoping that Jay won't notice that I've suddenly started crying, it doesn't work in my favour. He notices almost instantly. And he knows exactly what's caused it.

"Hails."

Even though I still have one hand underneath his t-shirt, resting against the toned, muscled panes of his stomach, my other hand fists the collar of his t-shirt at his voice. I almost came close to never hearing that voice again.

I hate that I can't stop the tears from falling. I hate it so much.

"Hey, look at me," he says gently.

I don't want him to see the tears in my eyes but I realise there's no point hiding it. He already knows I'm crying. What's going to change if he sees my puffy eyes?

I look up at him.

"I'm still here, Hails," he reminds me. "I'm alive."

"I know. I couldn't be more thankful that you're here with me," I respond, feeling my voice catch in my throat.

I'm about to say more when I hear knocking on my door. Marco. SHIT.

He can't see Jay here.

"Quick. Hide," I whisper to him before I close my door and head to the front door.

I open the door.

Marco steps inside without even asking permission. I hold myself back from putting him in his place.

Insolent bastard, I say to myself.

Marco paces my hallway. I close the door, wondering why he seems so jittery.

"Marco, what's wrong?" I ask, pretending I even care.

"You said the police are onto me, Kelly...I need your help," he replies. "Please. Help me."

"Okay. First, relax. They won't find you here," I tell him. "Second, you need to cooperate with me if you want my help."

"What –what do you need me to do?" he gulps. I keep myself from laughing at how helpless he looks. I don't even feel sorry for the son of a bitch.

"Tell me where you're hiding the cop's brother," I say. "If you do that, I can save him. I can get him to the station and turn myself in. Okay? I'll say, I was behind the kidnapping."

"And why would they believe you if you're sleeping with the cop brother?" Marco asks.

"That's exactly why I'm sleeping with him. He won't want to charge me," I smirk.

Marco's eyes brighten with realisation. "You have him wrapped around your little finger, huh? You're a genius Kelly."

"Yeah I am," I agree.

There's a moment of long silence as Marco contemplates my words. Contemplates everything, it seems.

"Marco. If you've injured him badly, I need to save him now," I break the silence.

"He's -."

Bullets suddenly break through my front door, hitting Marco straight in the chest. And me.