Blue Skies
A/N: So here I am right before the Crossover Event begins quickly editing a new chapter. This a brief update prior to the drama that seems to keep on coming ; ). Also someone's perspective is important for this chapter. Thank you as always for your favorites, follows, and reviews. Read away and as always please leave a review!
Disclaimer: I own nothing from Chicago PD.
Chapter 13
Under the Bluest Sky
Erin was on her knees with an organized chaotic scene unfolding around her. Gripping her stomach she felt another wave of nausea hit her. This time she couldn't keep herself from throwing up on the ground below her.
"Erin get on your feet and move with me" she heard Antonio whispered in her ear.
He helped her forcefully to her feet and led her quickly through the firefighters, patrolmen, media, and EMS on the scene. She could hear him call for Burgess as she struggled to keep up. The pain in her abdomen was getting worse.
Antonio opened the door to Voight's SUV and helped her into the back seat. He angrily instructed Burgess to watch over Erin and if she moved to disable her at all cost. It took every ounce of her energy to protest.
"What can you do right now Erin?"
She refused to waver even though she knew there was nothing that she could do. All she could do was wait with the rest of the team.
"Erin stay here" Antonio said walking away.
Erin and Burgess sat looking at the warehouse engulfed in flames in silence. As they watched multiple firehouses attempt to put out the now four alarm fire they both fully realized the possible outcomes.
"I'm sorry I haven't been around lately. I've had a lot going on."
"It's no problem" Burgess said sympathetically.
"I can't believe all of this is happening" Erin said trying to somehow regain her composure.
"Do you pray Erin?"
Erin gazed for a moment at the building as tried to collect her thoughts. "Sometimes."
Kim reached her hand around the seat and put a reassuring hand on Erin's. "Erin are you sure you don't need medical attention? You feel cold and even clammy."
"I'm fine. I have had a lot of nausea for the past few days. I am pretty sure it's associated with that. Can you find me some water somewhere?"
Burgess looked at her guardedly.
"I'm not going anywhere…. I promise" Erin said with a groan.
It was obvious that Burgess did not trust Erin at the moment as she radioed for some water. When an EMT brought the water over, she quickly guzzled it. Understanding that today was a special circumstance she tried to not come off as agitated or ungrateful for her coworker and friend's presence. She just needed to know something…anything.
"Come on close your eyes for a moment. You don't have to say anything if you don't want to" Burgess said before starting a prayer.
Erin couldn't concentrate no matter how she tried. It was like her heart was pounding so hard. Simple things such as focusing on Burgess's words and recognizing the differences between the people walking by the SUV were becoming harder to do.
Looking off in the crowd of people she could see someone walking towards them and the closer they got the more her stomach turned in knots. A sudden taste of metal in her mouth made her feel nauseated.
"Hey, Erin" a familiar voice said. She looked up in bewilderment as she could feel herself unable to speak.
"Erin, look at me… Erin, look at me."
Erin attempted to focus her eyes and that's when she saw his face. She could feel the corners of her mouth turn up to form a smile. He was there and he was standing in front of her.
"Erin, I need you to hang on for me" she could hear him say. "Hold on for me."
She never released that blood was filling her mouth and that her body had gone into shock. Her last thought was that of peace because Erin envisioned what she need to see. She needed to see him.
Her unresponsiveness sent the already chaotic scene into a tailspin as Mills aggressively check her pulse and airway. Her fiancé was yelling for her to hang on and Voight was uncharacteristically shaken.
Erin came to as she was being wheeled on a stretcher through the halls of Chicago Med. She looked around bewildered pulling at the lines and cords running from her body.
"What's happening" she kept repeating over and over. Nurses were trying to hold her down but panic had sunk in and they could not get her to reason with them.
"Stop" she heard a familiar voice call out.
Her vision was failing her and everything would blur and come back in to focus. When she felt his hand on hers she felt some of the tension leave her body.
"Erin I need you to calm down. Everyone is here to help you."
"What's happening "she asked again.
"Honey, the reason why you were sick the way you were was because you're pregnant. Unfortunately the fetus implanted in one of your tubes. You have some eternal bleeding going on and the doctor here says emergency surgery is needed. That's where your headed kid."
She was trying to process quickly in her brain what was happening. They were telling her they had to get her into surgery but she was still holding onto to Voight's hand. Tears were welling in her eyes when everything started to dull out of focus. The anesthesia had taken over.
Erin's surgery to remove the implanted fetus and save her right fallopian tube was successful. Due to the internal bleeding she had lost a lot of blood during the procedure and needed a transfusion. Voight waited at her bedside night and day since the surgery. She still hadn't awakened hours after her emergency surgery. Her attending physician contributed it the emotional and physical trauma her body had experienced. . Voight waited at her bedside with concern etched on his face and grief on his heart for a baby that never had a chance.
Antonio was exhausted it was day three of the search and the fire had long been put out. Squads and Crews from across Chicago were helping to remove debris from the badly damaged warehouse. Every time someone yelled "Body" a pit formed in his stomach.
Each minute his hope and his faith were becoming more fragile and broken. Taking a sip of water he looked back down at his hands. They were dirty, bruised, and nicked.
"Hey Antonio, how are you doing?"
"I'm hanging in there" Antonio said looking at his sister.
"Casey said they are close to the area you last saw Halstead. He's smart ….if he had time I'm sure he protected himself the best he could."
Antonio nodded his head in response because everything she just said was true. Jay was the first one to always put himself on the line for The Team and the people of Chicago.
"The sky has never been so blue today. We will find him" he finally said.
Giving his sister a reassuring half smile he started back walking towards where he left the Squad from 51. As he approached he heard someone yell out "I have a visual".
"Halstead " "Halstead"
Running towards where Severide was now standing, he got down on the ground to get a closer look through the small opening. He could see Jay with his back against a partially destroyed wall. Slumped over to the side he never responded to his name being called.
"How soon can you get to him" Antonio yelled out anxiously.
"We need to make sure the surrounding structure can hold up" Severide responded. "Once we do that we can go in."
Dawson ran up to her brother to calm him. "They will get him out of there it may just take some time."
"He made sure there was a plan to make sure Erin was safe. I will do everything in my power to get him out. Let's just hope he's still breathing " Severide answered.
Antonio watched as Rescue Squad 3 sprang into action to ensure the structure of the buildings remains. Walking off to the side Antonio made his first telephone call to Voight.
"Go head for Voight"
"They found him Voight"
"Is he alive?"
"I don't know yet. I got to make visual but he made it to a pocket. He is unresponsive."
He listened as Voight talked and gave directives.
"How's Lindsay?"
"Same her doctor is here. Let me know when you have more."
Making his next calls to members of Intelligence, he waited impatiently on the sidelines as large machinery was brought in. As the rest of intelligence arrived they stood and watched together.
"All this waiting is driving me crazy" Atwater finally said.
"If Halstead survives this he will be a legend" Ruzek said.
"If Ruzek…Seriously"
"Sorry man" Ruzek said holding his hands up and walking away from Antonio.
Several hours passed before Antonio and the team saw the yellow backboard emerge from the ground with Jay strapped to it.
"Let's go" Antonio said running towards the ambo.
Although they were moving fast, it felt like everything was moving in slow motion. As they approached Antonio could see that Jay was ashen and pale.
"Is he breathing" Antonio asked Mills.
"Barely, his body temperature is low we are going to have to get him out of here quickly."
We will meet you at Chicago Med Bro" Antonio said reaching out and touching Jay's hand. It was ice cold.
They waited, paced, and ate tons of junk food waiting to hear anything from the doctors. Antonio notified Jay's brother Will who said he would notify their father and hope to head to Chicago tomorrow. He couldn't understand it…if it were Gabby or any of his other siblings he would be there or headed that way at a moment's notice.
They all stood at attention when Dr. Arata entered the room. The tension in the room was almost unbearable as they all feared the worst but hoped for the best. All Antonio could think about is that Jay's family should be here but they were there all of them.
"Has the Detectives family arrived yet" Dr. Arata questioned.
"No disrespect Dr. Arata but we are Detective Halstead's Family. If there were any other family. Trust me they would be here right now" Antonio stated firmly.
Dr. Arata nodded before beginning. "We just successfully repaired his right lung that had collapsed and reset two ribs also on the right portion of his body. When he arrived his body was in shock due to hypothermia. Scans showed some pressure on the brain we drilled a small hole in his skull to relieve some of the pressure and begin drainage. We decided that it was in his best interest to place him a medically induced coma to assist with the healing process. At this time, I cannot tell you what his long term prognosis is. He will be sent up to ICU for close monitoring for the next couple of days. Those days will be critical and very telling."
"Thank you Dr. Arata." Antonio looked at the team who all of sudden looked to him as to what was next. "I know this has been a long day. I am going to take a walk and come back. You are welcome to stay or go home. Either way I will keep you posted."
Quickly leaving the waiting room Antonio made his way down the hall and down a flight of stairs. He quickly opened the door leading to the Chapel. Lighting one candle for his family, another for Jay, and the last for Lindsay he sat quietly reflecting on everything from life to death.
His vibrating phone brought him out of his trance. Looking down at his phone, Voight said that he got an update from Olinksky regarding Jay. He went on to say that Erin was about the same and he was going home to take a shower and get some rest in his bed tonight. Putting his phone back in his pocket he exited the Chapel
Find himself wandering for a bit, he took the opportunity to check on Erin for himself as he checked in at the Nurse's Station. Entering her room Erin appeared to be resting comfortably. He looked around the room and noticed the IV running from her right hand and the slow mundane beeps of the machines attached to her by various wires. Reaching out he gave her hand a little squeeze.
"Hey there Lindsay. I got something to tell you" he said taking a pause.
"Today of all days when I was losing hope. The sky was finally clear of all the smoke from the warehouse and the sky was the bluest it has been in a while. I have to tell you something deep down told me that toady would be the day. Guess what Erin….it was. 51 found him and that Jay I tell you is a survivor. He had emergency surgery today but he is alive. Dr. Arata said the next few days are critical but tonight we can all celebrate that he is alive."
Laying her hand back down gently on the bed, he sat back and watched her for a moment. His exhaustion was setting in and he closed his eyes for what he thought was a moment. Antonio didn't notice when a nurse came in for her rounds and was checking Erin's IV fluids and her vitals. The room door closing behind the nurse however did wake him. As he looked over at Erin he saw what he thought was her finger moving.
When she suddenly lurched forward and began coughing violently he quickly hit the code blue button. When Erin opened her eyes she looked wildly around the room. As he tried to calm her the attending nurse and doctor rushed into the room. Erin looked at him confused and just as startled as he was.
He tried to tell her it was okay and to relax while the doctor looked her over. After excusing his self-briefly from the room, he came back in to find Erin looking at the wall in front of her.
"Hey Lindsay. You gave us a pretty big scare there. What all do you remember?"
Erin turned her head and looked at him silently at first. He could tell that her throat was dry and gave her some sips of the water that was now next to her bed.
"I remember being in pain, I remember the warehouse, I remember sitting in the SUV, and I remember seeing him…" she said with her voice trailing at the end.
"Seeing who Lindsay?"
"I must have been passing out or something but I thought I saw Jay" she said quietly as if she was embarrassed.
"You were going into shock baby girl. It appears you got here in the nick of time that day."
"That day?" she asked.
"Yeah, it's two almost three days later. Hey I have some good news though…"
He could tell she was still groggy and confused because it looked like it hadn't registered that she had been unconscious for two days.
"51 found Jay and he is alive Erin."
Erin was try to conceive and come to terms with what Antonio had just said.
"He's alive" she whispered.
Antonio nodded in response. As the tears came rolling from her eyes he got up from the chair and sat on the edge of the bed. Putting his arms around her she let it all go and cried deeply into his chest.