A/N: And here's part 2. Possible TW, as it does contain mentions of assault, though if you watched the actual "Ghosts" episode, then you know Booth did not actually assault Hailey in that way...though he did a number on her regardless. Anyway, so obviously you guys know what happened in Hailey's re-telling of the story to Jay in the episode...just replace Garrett with Jay, and you've got my version of the events that took place on that unfortunate NYE. Dive in, folks. PS: I guess the title is a nod to "Chicago Fire"'s 8x06 episode "What Went Wrong" – so obviously that coincidence in word choice goes to their credit...not mine. Okay, *now* you can proceed.

"So, I just wanted to talk business for a second, if you don't mind," she said to him as they made their way back towards the other end of the building. The music was a dull echo to Hailey's ears now, but that made her rapid heartbeat all the more overwhelming.

"Hope your boyfriend doesn't mind me stealing you away," Booth said, making a failed attempt at a wink.

Hailey dryly chuckled. "Ha, no he's cool with it. He wanted me to "spread my wings" or whatever that saying is," she said, taking a seat on an empty lounger. She slowly leaned back, casually crossing her legs, her heels just touching the hardwood floor.

"Alright, I'll bite," Booth said, drawing out his words a little. Hailey didn't know if that was his attempt at being quote-un-quote smooth, or if he was just that wasted. Either way, it wasn't working; but for the sake of their operation, she'd pretend that it was. "What is it you had in mind?"

"Well, since you seemed so satisfied with our work earlier, Ryan and I thought that maybe we could strike up a deal of some kind...for a price." She clicked her tongue against her cheek, the sound seeming much louder given the otherwise deafening silence in the room.

"I'm listening," Booth said, leaning in closer.

Hailey could smell the beer on his breath but continued talking anyway. "Well, if you could help us network, then we could cut you in on some premium product."

"What's the catch?"

Hailey let a small smile play on her lips, and she shook her head like she couldn't believe him. "What is it with you and catches?"

"I just like to know what I'm getting into."

"What? You don't trust us?"

"I like you, Kelly, don't get me wrong, but your boyfriend doesn't seem too keen on doing business with me."

"Oh, don't worry about him. Like he said before, I keep him in line," she gave a chuckle for good measure, but it came off a little awkward. Fitting, Hailey considered, since she wasn't 100% confident with where this conversation was going. Why wouldn't he take the deal?

"Come on Ronnie, what can I say to convince you this is the best move?" She heard herself ask. Well, she thought it was her, but she couldn't be sure as she felt like she was a fly on the wall of her own life as the scene played out in front of her.

She moved a little bit closer to him, balling her hand into a fist to refrain from tugging her dress back down as she felt it ride up her legs. She purposefully leaned forward a little bit more, opening her mouth to ask if he would "oh so graciously" reconsider.

Before she got a word out, her lips were attacked by Booth's, his mustache scratching her face. She wrenched her face away from his instantly. "Woah, woah, woah…" she said, pushing at his chest. "Ron, that's not what this is."

"Oh come on Kelly, why else would you have brought me back here?" He whispered, moving closer to her with every word he spoke.

"To talk business," Hailey reiterated, moving away from him as far as she could to the other end of the couch.

"I think we're done talking," he said, lunging at her. His weight was crushing her legs, so she was pinned down to the couch. Thankfully, she still could move her hands, so she smacked him across the face.

"Get off me!" She yelled at him. She tried to push him off again, but he got aggressive, grabbing her arms and holding her down.

"No!" She said when she felt his lips against her skin again. "Stop," she tried, as his hands slinked under her dress.

"You want this," he growled in her ear.

"You son of a bitch," she spat, and when he tried to cover her mouth, she bit him.

That was when the hits kept coming – literally. She tried to block her face with her hands, but he got two good punches into the side of her face that made her feel like her head was split open. Course maybe that was from being thrown down to the hardwood floor amongst the tussle, she didn't know for sure.

She only felt like she was in real trouble when he hit her straight in the face, and she felt her vision go blurry as he caught her in the eye. She wasn't particularly a religious person, but in that moment she prayed that someone could hear her screaming over the bustle that went on outside.

She could feel her head grow heavy, and her neck wasn't strong enough to hold it up anymore. The edges had blurred, and everything was foggy to her now, including her hearing, as her ears felt like they had been stuffed with cotton.

She could've sworn she heard another voice in the room, belonging to another person…a different person. But who? She wasn't 100% sure as she felt herself start to succumb to the blackness.

She heard scuffling, and a distinct curse from Booth's mouth. Then nothing…silence, well, except for the pulse that was pounding in her ears.

She sucked in a ragged breath as her whole face hurt, but she felt a warmth on her hand as she felt someone else try and grab it. She wretched it away out of panic, until she smelled mint. And she knew it was Jay. Thank god. She tried to keep her eyes open, but she felt so weak.

"Jesus Christ, Hailey….hold on, okay? We're gonna get you some help, alright? Stay with me, Hailey…"

She must've been dreaming, because she felt like she was floating. It was only when she heard muffled music that she realized she was being carried out of the lounge. The cold air hit her face, stinging the blood that had started to dry on her cuts.

"Hm," she mumbled as she was set upright. A seat, Hailey thought. A car. No, a truck. Jay's truck. That much she knew to be true.

"Will! We're coming to Med right now. Get a room open, have the staff on standby, alright?" Jay yelled into his cell phone at his brother.

The older Halstead relayed his okay as well as Jay's info the rest of the Med staff. Jay sped through all the lights, weaved through the throngs of cars out on the streets, thanking God that his siren was in his glove box for cases like this.

What felt like the longest ride of his life was only about 8 minutes. He threw the truck in park and hurried around to the passenger side.

Hailey felt light on her feet again, as Jay carried her into the main bay of the hospital. Maggie was waiting for them with a gurney. He saw Will at the end of the hall, due to his standout ginger locks.

"She uh, god, I don't know, she's been attacked. Please, just do whatever you can," Jay said. "She's been in and out of consciousness. I don't know how bad it is…." He felt the lump in his throat begin to form.

He barely registered Maggie's words of "Don't worry, we got her, Jay. We got her." The same thing happened when Will had to hold him back from the initial intake room where Hailey was being assessed. "Jay, just give them some space," Will reasoned with his younger brother.

Jay could hear himself speak, saying something that sounded emotional, but he couldn't tell you exactly what. Everything felt like it was being twisted around and spit back out to mean something different. He couldn't think straight. All he saw was red. And he didn't just mean the blood on Hailey's face.

He wanted to kill Booth. No, scratch that. He would kill Booth. With that in mind, he raced from the hospital, despite Will's calls for him to stop.

He got out his phone as he raced outside, calling the only person he could think of at this point that would know where Booth was.

"Hello?" Garrett answered.

"Garrett, where the hell is he?"

"Who?"

"What do you mean, who?! Your boss, Ronald Booth, you jackass!"

"Hey man, what–"

"Forget it, just forget it."

He let out a frustrated scream into the cool night air, seeing his breath take off in hazard lines. He gripped his phone so hard with his hand he wondered if he could shatter it. His blood was still boiling when he could feel his brother's presence behind him.

"Will, not now."

"Hey," Will warned, looking at Jay with a look only an older brother could give to a younger sibling. "They stabilized her, she's alright. She's asking for you."

"What?"

"Hailey. She's asking for you." Will said softly, guiding Jay back towards Gaffney's front doors.

Jay nodded at his brother, but couldn't find actual words yet. She's okay. Thank god.

When he came to a stop outside what he assumed to be her room, he was suddenly nervous. What if she was mad at him? He should've done more….been there. Gone back with her. Anything to prevent this.

"Hey, it's okay," Will tried to reassure him. He motioned for him to go inside, so slowly, Jay obeyed.

All his doubt was washed away when he saw her smile – well, as much as she could with how badly her face was beat up.

"Jay," she said, albeit raspier than normal because she was injured and exhausted. "Hi."

He swore he'd never liked the sound of his own better than in that moment. "Hailey," he sighed, looking at her for a second, just to appreciate the hugely impactful fact that she was actually here.

He took a few steps closer to her, trying to decide what in the world he was supposed to do now. They weren't actually a couple, and even though that was the best kiss he'd had in forever, he didn't think it was appropriate to try for another. Should he hug her? Take her hand? What? He didn't know – this was all new territory for him.

He decided to start with an apology. "Hailey, I'm sorry. I should've had your back. I should've been there for you. I–"

"Hey," she whispered, reaching for his hand. He sat down in the chair next to her bed so she could fully take it in hers. "You have nothing to be sorry for."

Jay knew there was no point in arguing with her. He'd never get very far anyway. She kept her wits about her, and was always one-upping him with snappy comebacks, so he'd save the banter for when she was feeling better.

The idiotic part of his brain decided what would come out of his mouth next apparently, because out came a mood-killer of a question. "Booth…he didn't…did he?" He couldn't bring himself to say the word rape out loud, for fear he'd really lose it and go off Booth himself.

"No," she answered quickly but adamantly. "He didn't."

She looked down, but when he caught her eyes again, he saw that hers were brimming with tears.

"Hail–" he began to say her name, but she cut him off.

"Thank you," she whispered. "For saving me…again." A small smile was shown on her lips, but it faded fast as he gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "I uh, I'd hate to think what would've happened if you hadn't of gotten there when you did. So, thank you. I'm sorry you're always the one rescuing me…" she barely got out that last part, as a sob choked her throat.

"Hailey, don't you say that. Don't you ever say that. I'd always help you, and I'm sorry I wasn't there to protect you. I– I don't know what I would've done if something worse happened. I'm…I'm so glad you're safe, you're here. You're gonna be okay. I promise." He stood up, still holding her hand. He leaned over her bed frame, trying to give her a hug. She shifted in his grasp, yanking the bar down so he could actually sit next to her.

"Here," she whispered against his ear. "Stay, please?"

He pulled back and looked into her eyes. They were still wet with tears, but he saw the genuine hope there…that he'd stay with her. He'd do anything for her, and he wanted to make sure she knew that.

"Of course. Whatever you need." He slowly sat on the edge of the bed next to her, retaking her hand. She moved over as much as the annoying monitor cord attached to her would allow. He got comfortable enough on the bed, and she leaned back into him, settling her head on his chest.

"I just need you, Jay." She said wistfully, her eyes growing heavy with sleep this time. She tapped her hand on his chest, humming a tiny bit as she got comfortable. She could hear his heartbeat in her ears, and it was oddly grounding. To really know that he was there…really there next to her. She'd never felt so safe in her life. And it was all thanks to him. She wanted him to know that.

"Thank you, for being here." She said, looking up at him. He stared down at her, green blending into blue, and the two communicated with their eyes like they'd grown accustomed to doing over the last 7 days. Or probably 8 now, as neither had any idea what time it was.

Hailey let herself break eye contact with him, leaning her head back down all the way. She could feel the muscles in his chest move as he shifted against her, presumably to lay back himself.

That was how Will Halstead found the two when he came back to check on them. Together. The only place he figured they'd end up. He smiled, poking Natalie's shoulder as she walked by doing her rounds. She snuck a quick peek, smiling just as wide as Will was at the sight.

What a way to start the year.