The automatic door at Chicago Med was open once again, revealing the entrance of Jay Halstead in the room, wearing his usual black clothes that highlighted even more the badge that were hanging on his neck. As soon as he walked in Maggie's eyes looked for his and he came to her encounter.
"The girl in being prep for surgery, Will's with her. Goodwin is waiting for you in her office." Maggie says pointing to the direction he was supposed to go. "Thank you." He said, giving the desk a small slap and making his way further into the ED.
On his way he stopped in front of a room where nurses were making her job, connecting wires and checking vitals as his brother was talking to a young girl, explaing to her what was being made. Will lifted his head and notice Jay looking at them, he stopped talking only for a moment and nodded at his brother. The girl, Nina as she was being called now, also started to look at Jay before her eyes went back to Will.
"That's my brother. He's gonna to help you." Will said at her with a small smile on his face.
Jay symbolized at Will that he was leaving, saying "Goodwin" as he made his way to the elevator.
He knocked on the door and made his way into Goodwin's office. Natalie and Dr. Charles were there too, and the silence suddenly filled the room as all eyes were in him now.
"Hello, Detective" said Goodwin with a small breath.
He nodded politely at the three of them.
"Well, Intelligence were able to identify the girl as Nina Wheeler. Her parents filled a missing person report 10 years ago, when she was 8, big case at the time. Unfortunately, no one could find her. So the police just gave up…" He said the last part with some kind of shame.
There was a heavy feeling in the room that no one could really point their fingers in.
"Well, her injures match if years of abuse…My God…Why someone would do it?"
Jay thought about telling the circumstances in which the girl was taken, but decided that right now was better not to. Natalie had Owen and didn't deserve to have this in her conscience.
"Ever since she arrived in the hospital, she created a bound with Will, she sees him as some kind of protector –" Dr. Charles were interrupted by the knock on the door, that showed Will walking into the room.
"Sorry to interrupt. She just got into surgery…" He started.
"Will, as we were saying, she created a bound with you and it's really important for you to keep it. There's not breaking that bound now, understood?" Dr. Charles said serious looking at Will.
"I have no Psych training, what if I do something wrong and she just...I don't know…" Was the answer the ED doctor gave, mostly to everyone in room.
"Will, we understand, but Nina spent the last 10 years in a environment with little to no control over anything in her life. We need to break that pattern by letting her know that she's in control here. Whatever she wants, she gets." The psychiatrist said and everyone person in the room nodded. "We'll have to work together on this."
"Okay." Said Will.
"I already got in contact with the family, they are on their way here." Said Jay looking a Goodwin. "We are still trying to find whoever did this, but 'til now nothing."
"Once she's out of surgery and feels up to talk, you can go in and take her testimony" Goodwin answer him "When this story gets out, the press gonna fill this hospital, so if you could keep us updated that will be great."
"Sure, didn't even have to ask." Jay said with a reassuring smile.
"For now, I think is it. Let's brace ourselves for what is coming."
They left the room, Will close to Jay.
"Hey, you good?" Jay asked his brother when they were in the hallway.
"Yeah. Just...What if I say or do something that makes her freak? Huh? What if she snaps? I'm worry."
"Nah, you've been my therapist for years now, you gonna be fine."
Will just smiled at him.
Hours passed while Nina was in surgery. Will was enjoying a few minutes in the break room, without being able to relax. His thoughts kept going to what this girl had to go through during 10 years of her life. The kicks, the punches, the sexual abuse...His thoughts were interrupted when Maggie walked into the room.
"Dr. Halstead your patient is out of surgery" She said in a soft voice.
"Maggie, today I'm gonna be the whole shift with her, ok? Just ask someone to cover me, please?"
"Already did that. Don't worry."
He thanked her and got up texting Jay informing him that the girl was going to awake any minute.
Will arrived in the ICU and saw two guards were in front of a room, he introduced himself to the guards and made his way him, sitting in a chair next to the girl. She was still asleep but could wake up at any moment.
Few minutes later, Mrs. Goodwin appeared with a sobbing lady and a really worried man. The woman had short hair, brown, her eyes were red and puffy, she was holding the hand of a bald sir, blue eyes the were also puffy, but he was trying to hold on the best he could. Seeing the scene, Will got up and went to their encounter.
"It's her. Oh Charlie, it's her." The sobbing lady said, between a mix of sobs and laughs, holding what seems to be the father. Will couldn't help but smile a little. At least they had their kid back.
"Dr. Halstead, they are Mrs. and Mr. Wheeler, Jane and Charlie, this is is Dr. Will Halstead he was responsible for taking care of your daughter when she arrived." Mrs. Goodwin introduced them. Jane kept crying but looked at Will and said thank you to the doctor, the man, Mr. Wheeler, shook his hand and said "thank you so much" to the doctor.
After a few moments and medical terms, they made their way to room where Nina was already waking up.
Will came closer, not knowing how she would react. It has been 10 years since she saw those people, maybe she didn't remember them, maybe she blamed them. He couldn't know, so he made his way to the right side of the bed and watched as she came back into the world.
"Hey Nina. How are you feeling?" He asked.
The mom let out a huge sob, making Nina scared as she looked at Will in panic.
"Nina, your parents are here. They came to see you."
She didn't answer at first and Will and Nina could feel the parents and Goodwin stare at them, suffocating them.
"I would've known you anywhere. You didn't change anything. Still my perfect baby girl." Her mom said, not holding herself back any longer, reaching for her daughter's hand.
Nina jumped and let out a scream and fast as possible Will started to reassure her that it was fine, nobody would hurt her.
"I think we might give Nina some time. She just woke up. We can come back in a few minutes…" Mrs. Goodwin said, as Will thanked her with his eyes. He truly understood what the couple had been through and felt so sorry for them.
They all left the room, leaving Nina and Will alone again.
"Better?" Will said.
She nodded her head.
"I think it's not a good time to tell you that my brother is coming to ask you a few questions. But I can send him away with you want."
"That's okay." She said with hoarse voice.
"Sure?"
She just nodded and looked at the TV in her room.
"You want to watch some TV?"
She nodded.
Will made his way to grab the remote and started to change channels.
"Do you like anything in particular?"
"Movies. I like movies."
"Me too."
He put on a movie and they both sat in there in silence 'til Jay came into the room. Will got up of his chair and introduced them.
"Nina, this is my brother's Jay. Jay this's Nina."
Jay gave her a condescending smile.
"Do you mind if I ask you some questions?"
She looked at Will, waiting for his approval. "Only if you feel up to it." He said slightly touching her shoulder, and she took a deep breath and nodded.
"We need your help to grab him, ok? So anything you can tell me, gonna help. Ok? Even if it seems insignificant to you. So…" He looked at Will. "Can you tell me his name?"
Will felt like filter. Every question and answer in that room were being directed at him, and he had to give his approval, show that it was good, that they wouldn't break, to both Jay and Nina.
"Joseph. Joseph Ingles." She said to Jay but looking at Will. Jay took note of that.
"That's great. Excellent. Can you tell me anything about where you were living? If it was a house, maybe a apartment…"
"It was a house. Two stores. With a basement." She said not really looking at anyone this time. Jay looked at Will.
"How about roads? Could you hear cars?"
Tears started to roll down Nina's face. "He didn't- He didn't let me go outside."
"We can stop if you want to." Jay said at her.
She nodded at Will, making tears fall even faster on her face.
"Yeah. Let's take a break." Will said.
"You were great Nina. Amazing. Ok? Thank you for your help." Jay said as he left the room.
Jay left the room, on his way out he stopped for a moment a few feets away from the door. He couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching him, or at least the place he was in. He hovered around the perimeter and asked for back up.
