Just a small one shot that popped into my head.

It's something that I would love to see one day in one of the shows and quite frankly I am surprised that they haven't done something like this before. It's not based on anything that I've seen so no spoilers.

I don't own anyone that you recognize – if I did then this would definitely happen in the show!

It Should Have Been Me

Detective Jay Halstead tapped his foot impatiently as he waited for his brother by the nurses station in Chicago Med. Maggie was chuckling as she watched him getting more and more agitated as he kept glancing at his watch, "I thought he was on his way," he groused, "I told him what time I was picking him up – the game will be starting soon!"

"I'm sure he'll be here as soon as he can Jay. He's probably somewhere saving a life…"

Jay dropped his head slightly, a little ashamed that all he was thinking about the game while his big brother could be facing a life or death situation.

"Go wait in the staff room, at least you can get a cup of coffee," Maggie suggested, so Jay did just that.

As he was about half way down his mug of coffee, his brother Will shuffled into the room, not seeing his brother.

"Rough day?" Jay asked, suppressing a smile when he saw the older man almost jump out of his skin.

"Yeah you could say that – I broke up with Nina," he told him.

"Whoa that was NOT what I was expecting to hear you say," Jay commented, "What the hell Will?"

"I've been thinking about what you said the other night, with regards to Natalie and my feelings towards her – and I realized that I do still have deep feelings for her and that it wouldn't be fair to Nina so I told her…"

Will's head dropped as he began to take off his white coat, "How did she take it?" Jay asked cautiously.

"How do you think?"

"Well judging by your face – not well."

Will just shook his head sadly. Jay sighed deeply. He knew his big brother had done the right thing in telling Nina the truth, even if the young woman didn't believe it just now, but he hated seeing him so down, "You still up for the game?"

For a second, Jay thought he was going to decline, but he also saw the moment when he decided to go, "Yeah course I am. Be nice to spend some time with you and just forget that I've got to clear my stuff out of her apartment by the weekend."

He threw on his jacket, closed his locker then patted the younger man's shoulder as they left the staff room.

Jay lagged behind a little so that he could get a measure of how his brother was with his body language. The slump of the shoulders was all he needed to see to know how the older man was feeling, "Look Will if you'd rather not go…"

"I want to go," was all he said as he strode out of the building.

"Hey Will, for what it's worth, I think you did the right thing even though it was hard. She'll realize that you were trying to spare her more heartache later on and she might even thank you for it…but it may take a while.

Will smiled wryly, "Yeah perhaps…" then strode on ahead.

"Hey Detective Halstead!"

Both Halstead brothers turned together. A young man, in his early twenties, was walking purposefully towards them, hands in his pockets. Both brothers immediately tensed, "Do I know you?" Jay queried.

"No but you know my father…you put him in jail!" the young man yelled as he took a hand out of one of his pockets.

"GUN!"

Time seemed to stand still for Jay. He became aware of a flash, a bang, then he was on the floor. He stayed there for a moment, waiting for the flash of pain to strike his body. None seemed forthcoming, so he slowly raised his body up to see Will frantically working on the shooter's body.

"Will…" he croaked.

Will's head shot up at his voice, visibly relieved to see him talking, "What…?" Jay began.

"This guy," he said as he inclined his head towards the younger man, "Produced a gun and was about to shoot you. I managed to push you out of the way just as he pulled the trigger. It seems you both pulled a trigger at the same time which is why he is in this position. Are you ok?"

Jay got to his feet, looking all around him, waiting for pain that wasn't forthcoming, "Yeah I am…you pushed me out of the way?"

Will nodded as he started pressing on the chest of the prone gunman in an effort to get his heart restarted, "Are YOU ok?" Jay asked.

Will just nodded once more, his attention fully focused on the patient, "You better make it," Jay could hear Will mumbling, "I want to know why you came after my brother."

Presently, they were joined by Dr Ethan Choi, who immediately loaded the patient onto a gurney.

"Male, early twenties, gunshot wound to the chest, no pulse, began CPR…" Will listed as he followed Ethan and the man who had tried to kill his brother. Once inside, Ethan turned to Will, "Do you need checking over?" He asked, glancing at Jay, who immediately picked up on the message, "Yeah come on Will…" he said as he caught hold of his brother's arm. The older man wrenched his arm out of his brother's grasp, his stance determined.

"At least let's go to the… Will, what's wrong?" Jay had been watching his brother carefully so he noticed the minute change in his demeanor. Will turned slightly towards the younger man glancing down towards his outstretched hand – one that was red…

Jay frantically began to unfasten his jacket, a pit forming in his stomach, hoping against hope that what was running through his mind was just him being overdramatic. Unfortunately, as he peeled the layers of clothing, he noticed a crimson stain getting bigger and bigger. When he got to Will's blue shirt, the stain was still spreading…
"Jay I don't feel right…" was all Will managed to whisper as his legs suddenly began to give way, his brother breaking his fall.

Ethan glanced up, hearing the commotion, "Get him next door! Maggie – page Dr Rhodes!" he ordered.

Jay didn't need telling twice. He scooped his brother up in his arms and laid him on the next bed. Before he had chance to process what was going on, he felt himself being gently ushered out of the room by Maggie, who was mumbling reassurances that they would do everything they could for his brother.

Jay watched numbly as Dr Rhodes and Dr Reese worked on his brother. They were meticulous and methodical in their approach and Jay knew that his brother was in the best hands.

"Jay…" he heard. He turned to see Sharon Goodwin appear by his side, "What happened?" she asked kindly.

The young detective opened his mouth to speak, but found that no words would come out. He cleared his throat, "We were walking to the car when this guy…" he inclined his head towards the neighboring room, "Came out of nowhere shouting something about putting his father in jail – he pulled a gun – I didn't see it," Jay stopped to take a deep breath. Sharon laid a gentle hand on his arm, "Will pushed me out of the way. I must have got a shot off, but obviously Will took a bullet…it should have been me."

Suddenly the enormity of what had happened began to sink in and Jay felt his legs weaken as the adrenaline left his body. He slumped into a chair by the side of the door. Sharon stood next to him with a hand on his shoulder as she watched her doctors working to save one of their own.

Before they had a chance to say anything else, Connor came to stand by the door, taking off his gloves and throwing them away. Jay jumped to his feet staring at the doctor, trying to work out his expression, but Connor wasn't giving anything away, "He's stable Jay, but he needs to go to theatre. We believe that the bullet missed his vital organs but there is a bleed so we have to stop it. I'm certain…"

He was interrupted by shrieking alarms and Sarah's cry for him to get back in the room.

Once again Jay found himself staring helplessly as the two doctors fought to save his brother's life. He gaze was fixed on his to pale sibling. He had never known Will to be so still and that scared him.

He became vaguely aware of a voice trying to get his attention. He turned, surprised to see Erin and Voight by his side, "You ok?" Erin questioned, concern obvious in her expression.

"Erm, yeah. I'm fine. Will…" he stopped as Connor and Sarah began to wheel the bed towards him, "He's stable again but we really need to get that bleed sorted. I'm going to perform the surgery Jay – try not to worry," Connor told him kindly.

"Easier said than done…" the young detective mumbled as he ran a trembling hand over his face, "Thanks Connor."

As the head of the bed passed him, Jay managed to reach out and squeeze his brother's shoulder, "Hold on Will…please."

With that, he was gone. Jay suddenly felt alone, even though he was surrounded by the hustle and bustle of the hospital. Erin took hold of his arm and led him into the staff room, closely followed by Ethan, "The shooter didn't make it. I'm sorry, I know you would have wanted to question him," he told them sadly.

"No worries. Thanks Ethan," Erin said with a grateful smile.

Jay's head shot up, "I haven't told Nat or Nina…but I don't know who I should tell. Will had just broken up with Nina after he told her that he still had feelings for Natalie. I don't know…" Jay took out his phone, but just stared at it.

"Hey, hey," Erin said kindly, "Don't worry. I'll call them both and I'll explain to Natalie then it's up to them what they do next – here drink this," she told him as she passed him a mug of coffee.

Once Erin had left the room, Jay was left feeling smothered by the deafening silence. His mind was working overtime. His brother was fighting for his life after taking a bullet that was meant for him. What if he didn't make it? His brother's blood would be on his hands. Without warning, nausea built and he found himself throwing up in the nearest waste bin.

When he opened his eyes, he was surprised to find a glass of water in front of him, "I'm sorry," he mumbled.

"Don't worry I can soon have that cleared up," Maggie assured him, "You ok now?"

Jay nodded, "Yeah – it just all got a bit much you know?" He ran a still trembling hand through his hair, "I've been to war you know – I've seen stuff of nightmares, but this… God Maggie, he took a bullet for me."

Maggie smiled sadly, "I know and he would do it again in a heartbeat just as you would for him."

Jay smiled wryly knowing that the young woman was completely right.

"Jay! Where is he?" A voice that he was hoping he wouldn't hear that night broke the silence.

"He's in theatre at the moment Nina…"
"But he's going to be alright isn't he?" she demanded, her bottom lip quivering.

"They are doing everything that they can," Maggie finished for the exhausted detective.

Nina looked at Maggie, fear clearly etched on her features, knowing the company line when she heard it.

Before anyone could say anything else – the door opened…

So much for it being a one shot. One more chapter should do.

Please review and tell me if I've got the characters right. I realize that Jay and Will never seem to be particularly close on screen which is why we have fan fic.