Notes:
Writers block is frustrating. Please enjoy and remember to leave a comment if you do. Thank you all for your support so far!
Chapter 6: Halstead Healing
"Hey Cass… I see you've met my brother" I say nervously upon entering the room. She didn't respond her cold death glare fixated on her latest victim, my brother. "I thought I was the idiot for yelling at an attending… didn't take you long to follow in my foot steps" laughing nervously I place my hand on her shoulder. Like flipping a switch Cassie's face softens and she looks at me with
apologetic eyes. You can see she almost regrets how she reacted and without even saying anything she lets me know that she has my back. I pull her into a hug kissing her cheek in a gesture of love. We stand there together for a couple of minutes in silence allowing Cassie to relax.
It was Will who broke the silence, I turn to look at him when I observe his red eyes and tear stained cheeks. The feeling of guilt sunk into my stomach, I had never taken the time to think about why Will cut off communication, I was so caught up in my own world I never considered he would be hurting too. I'm not quite willing to forgive him yet but maybe I should hear him out. I guide Cassie to sit in a chair that I pull out from the table and then do the same for myself. Now sitting opposite Will with Natalie resting a hand on his thigh I ask the question "Why?"
The question lingers in the air, Will looks at me with his guilt-ridden face and draws in a shaky breath. "I was young, immature and kind of embarrassed to have my younger sister already in med school. I wanted to fit in and my ego couldn't handle you being a genius. It was stupid, I know, there is no excuse for my behavior. When mum died, I cut everyone off, I didn't have the energy to help anyone else, so I threw myself into my work and partying" he pauses for a second, trying to prevent another bout of tears that were threatening to break loose. "You look so much like her, mum, it's uncanny, even more now too. I couldn't bring myself to face you because every time I saw your face light up my phone it was a reminder that… that she was gone" a tear rolled down his face and I took a deep breath in an attempt to suppress my own emotions. "When I did move back to Chicago I thought I had stuffed our relationship so bad that you would never want to see me again. You and Jay hadn't spoken for a few years and I wasn't sure I would be able to fix things with Jay. I took the coward's rout and just ignored the issue, you were in Boston and I was selfish"
I couldn't control it any more, the tears streamed down my face. Will approached me and wrapped his arms around me, rubbing my hands in circles around my back. As he guides me to the couch I see Natalie and Cassie step out of the lounge to give us some privacy. I am still not happy with what he did, but I want to mend our relationship. He still cares, he was an idiot, but he still loves me which means we still have a chance.