Over the course of the three weeks since the boys' trip to Wisconsin, Jay had been acting strangely. He was more irritable than usual, snapping at Hailey for little things and isolating himself from his family.

Hailey had tried talking to him about it, but he brushed her off, saying he was just stressed from work.

But Hailey knew something was wrong. He seemed to be spiraling downward, drinking more often and spending less time with Zoey. He even stopped going to the gym and training, which was his usual stress reliever.

It was a Saturday morning, and Hailey was folding laundry while Zoey played with her toys on the living room floor. Jay was nowhere to be found, probably still in bed nursing a hangover, she thought.

Just then, the front door opened, and Jay walked in, looking haggard. He had dark bags under his eyes, and his hair was a mess as if he hadn't showered in days.

Hailey looked up from her laundry pile, concern etched on her face. "Hey, where were you?" she asked gently.

Jay didn't respond at first, just stumbled over to the couch and collapsed onto it. He buried his face in his hands, mumbling something incoherent.

Hailey set down the laundry she was folding and came over to sit beside him. She placed a hand on his back, rubbing soothing circles between his shoulder blades.

"Jay," she said softly, "What's going on? Talk to me."

He looked up at her, his eyes red-rimmed and haunted. "it's my dad," he mumbled, his voice hoarse.

Hailey's heart sank. Jay's father had been an abusive alcoholic, and Jay had cut off all contact with him after he'd been hospitalized as a teen. To hear him mention his dad now.

"What happened?" she asked quietly, her hand continuing to rub his back.

Jay sniffled. "He's on life support and Will's in a damn conference with Nat, and I'm the one who has to pull the plug,"

"Oh, Jay," Hailey whispered, wrapping her arms around him and pulling him close.

He buried his face in her shoulder, shuddering with silent sobs. Hailey held him tight, stroking his hair and whispering soothing words in his ear.

"It'll be okay," she murmured, rocking him back and forth. "I'm here, I'm here."

Hailey was lounging on the couch, holding a sleeping Zoey in her arms. The TV was on low volume, playing some children's show.

Jay walked in, looking exhausted and defeated. He flopped onto the couch next to Hailey, burying his face in his hands.

Hailey looked at him with concern. She could tell by his body language that the visit to the hospital hadn't gone well.

"Zo, go to bed now, please."

"No," she said, sticking out her lower lip.

Hailey sighed, knowing she had a stubborn little kid on her hands. She looked at Jay, who hadn't moved from his position with his head in his hands.

"Zoe, I need to talk to dada, go to bed now, please," Hailey said, stroking Zoey's blonde hair.

Zoey let out a loud whine, but eventually reluctantly hopped off the couch and toddled into her bedroom, her bunny clutched in one hand.

Once Zoey was out of sight, Hailey turned back to Jay. He was still hunched over with his head in his hands, his shoulders trembling slightly.

Hailey reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey," she said softly. "You okay?"

Jay sniffled, resting his chin on his hands.

"I turned off the life support…"

Hailey moved closer to him, wrapping her arm around his shoulders.

"Oh, Jay," she whispered, squeezing his shoulder. "I'm so sorry."

Jay bristled.

"I'm not, he was a bastard and he only cares about himself and my brother…"

"I know," Hailey said, running her fingers through his hair soothingly. "I know you had a complicated relationship with him. But that doesn't mean this isn't hard for you."

Jay covered his face with his hands and let out a few choked sobs.

Hailey pulled him closer, letting him lean against her chest. She held him tight, letting him cry and release the emotions he'd been bottling up.

"Let it out," she whispered, her hand rubbing his back softly.

Jay let himself keel over Hailey's lap and sobbed the angry tears into her lap.

Hailey continued to hold him, stroking his hair and murmuring comforting words.

"It's okay," she whispered, "I've got you. Let it out, baby, let it out."

She let him cry until his sobs subsided, his tears dampening the fabric of her pants.