Author's note: Holy cow. The last scene of the finale. I drank half a bottle of wine through that episode my nerves were so shot! I knew I had to write a story about what happens after the credits rolled. In this story Maggie does NOT have breast cancer, and Phillip is going to just go bye bye like he should. That would be too much to try and fit into one story! To my fellow Manstead lovers, this one is for you. Kaci...you might want tissues.

Run
Is this to be our fate
Hide
Freedom is ours as long as we escape
We walk in the shadows
We do
Find out what we all know
Our time is near

This is the way it ends
Don't tell me it's meaningless
There'll be no compromise
We fall in we too shall rise
You held me and taught me how
I think I am ready now
If this is the way it ends
This is the way it's meant to be

~Landon Pigg~ The Way It Ends~

Will Halstead walked out into the parking garage, feeling both uneasy and nervous. Knowing that Tim Burke was out of prison and after him made Will want to vomit. There was no convincing him though to leave the Chicago area. He was bound and determined to win Natalie back. Will had lived in denial for weeks, trying to convince himself that they weren't in love with each other and soulmates. It killed him to deny the feelings he had for Natalie. When Agent Lee had told him that he should seriously think about relocating, Will knew that wasn't an option. He didn't care how badly Tim wanted him dead. Leaving would damage any hopes he had of getting back together with Natalie. Will pulled out his keys, unlocking his sedan so he could get inside. Jay had insisted that Will stay with him until they found Tim Burke and dealt with him. Will had no problem with that. Knowing Tim was back on the street was nerve wracking. He pulled on his seatbelt and started the car. Before he could back out of his spot, he spied a vehicle coming up the ramp to the level he was parked at. Will's heart pounded, not knowing who was in the car. So it was quite a surprise when he turned and found Natalie standing at his passenger window, knocking so he could let her in.

" Natalie...what are you?"

" Agent Lee told me what was going on. Will, I am so sorry…" Will opened his mouth to respond, but was blinded by the headlights hurtling at an absurd speed towards his car. Before either they knew was what happening, the other car smashed into Will's vehicle, causing Natalie to be thrown out of the car and Will's head smashing into the driver's side door. His head exploded with pain as he tried to see straight. Fear overcame him as Tim Burke shakily got out of his own car, collapsing to the ground as he did so. Paying no attention to the man, Will turned, his stomach sinking as he watched a seriously injured Natalie trying to find safety.
" Natalie!" he screamed, pulling off his seatbelt and crawling out of the car so he could reach her. Will gently held her in his arms, carefully turning her so that he could cradle her head. For mere seconds, Natalie locked eyes with Will. As her world faded to black, all that she could think of was that she knew she was safe with the man she loved.

" NATALIE!"

Connor Rhodes didn't normally park his car in the hospital's parking garage. His Porsche was normally parked in his assigned spot downstairs, but he had wanted to avoid Ava at all costs today. After the exchange he and Ava had just had, Connor found himself sitting in the driver's seat, seething in rage. He was still trying to make sense of her cryptic words- had Ava killed his father? The sound of a loud crash nearby caught his attention. Connor climbed back out of his car, trying to determine where the noise was coming from and what had happened. He could hear car alarms blaring, but there was no mistaking Will's screams above them.

" Natalie. Natalie! Someone! Please! Help!" Connor bolted for the stairs knowing that both of his friends were in need of help.

What he wasn't prepared for was what he saw as he burst out of the stairwell. Will was cradling a unconscious Natalie who clearly had a serious head injury. Will's face was covered in blood as well.

" What in the hell happened?" asked Connor.

" Tim Burke...his car. Natalie was in my passenger seat. He hit my car and she was ejected," Will said blankly, staring into Natalie's closed eyes.

" Will. Listen to me. It's obvious you're in shock, but I need you to help me. Can you do that?" Will nodded.

I need you to stabilize her neck while I call for help." Will reluctantly let go of Natalie, carefully laying her onto the concrete. He cradled her head and neck, trying to make sense of what he was feeling.

Meanwhile Connor called the first person he could think of.

" Mags. Please tell me you're still in the ED."

" I am…" she said slowly.

" I'm up on level 10 of the parking garage. I need you two bring me two c-collars, two backboards, two gurneys, and some more hands."

" Are you drunk?"

" Someone rammed into Will's car at a high speed. Natalie was sitting in the passenger seat with the door open and was ejected."

" Shit. Let me page Abrams, Lanik, and Sharon. We'll be up there asap," she replied, hanging up the phone.

" Rhodes. My phone. I need to call Jay." Connor rushed over to Will's mangled car, grabbing both his cellphone and medical bag. After dialing Jay's number and putting it on speaker phone, Connor withdrew a stethoscope from Will's bag.

" Will. Please tell me you've talked to Ingrid," questioned a worried Jay.

" Tim Burke found me. He t-boned my car. Natalie. Natalie is hurt really badly."

" She has a pulse and a slow, but steady heartbeat," Connor announced in the background.

" Rhodes...is what he's saying true?"

" He's not lying," spoke Connor as he felt along Natalie's chest wall, looking for injuries.

" Slow down. Both of you. What exactly is going on?"

" Tim Burke hit my car. Natalie was with me. The door...the door was open...she…" Will's words drifted off, a blank stare falling over his eyes.

" Will. Come on man. I need you to stay with me," Connor ordered.

" I'll be right there," said Jay, hanging up.

" Will! Come on man. I need you to talk with me. Stay with me," pleaded Connor. He watched in horror as Will's eyes grew heavier.

" DO NOT PASS OUT ON ME! Natalie needs you. Do you hear me? NATALIE NEEDS YOU!" Will gently shook his head, doing his best to stay awake.

Talk to me," Connor once again ordered as the elevator doors opened behind them. True to her word, Maggie had not only brought the requested medical supplies but Dr. Lanik, Dr. Abrams, and Sharon Goodwin with her.

" What in the world happened?" asked a very alarmed Goodwin.

" That bastard...purposefully hit my fucking car. I think...he's dead. Thank god," Will said angrily. Beside him, Sam Abrams slide a collar around Natalie's neck. Will stood, stumbling back towards the cars for the pure purpose of kicking Tim's head in.

" Halstead...are you with me?" asked Lanik, watching as Will turned, his eyes nearly closed. With no warning, he slumped to the ground, unconscious.

" Lockwood! Get over here!" Maggie rushed over to help Lanik stabilize Will's neck and gently slide him onto a backboard before securing him to the gurney.

" We'll take him down first," announced Lanik.

" I'll make sure Baghdad and the hybrid OR are ready for you," Maggie said, pushing Will's gurney towards the elevator.

" Thanks Maggie!" Connor shouted as Sam continued his assessment.

" Do you have a proper neurological set up downstairs?" he asked.

" He can. Tell me what you need and I'll make it happen," replied Sharon.