Overnight at the hospital:
Hailey was hesitant when the orders came down that they would be working the march. But they were ready, well she thought they were, if anything was to happen. She was wrong. But it was going so smooth. People were preaching a positive change and she was hopeful that it could really happen. How could it not? So many people were here marching peacefully. But it was too good to be true and true to form, it only takes a handful to ruin the day.
How did it change so quickly? After running so many scenarios through her head her mind said enough. She settled in a chair next to Jay's bed. He was sleeping soundly. His body finally getting the rest it needed.
Hailey was sleeping in the chair next to Jay's bed; someone, probably Will, put a blanket over her during the night when she was woken by someone mumbling. She was awake in an instant. Alert to Jay's condition. He was dreaming, face in a slight frown but she couldn't understand what he was saying.
She was just about to touch his forearm when she heard, "Hailey." It was just a whisper. She stopped and stared. "Wait." Jay's breathing picked up slightly and his right hand twitched. He continued a few mumbled words she couldn't understand, then "Don't Hailey!" His voice a stronger whisper. "Stay back."
He's dreaming of the attack. He doesn't want her coming to him. He must have heard her calling for him. Jay was becoming more animated in his dream, his right arm started to rise off the bed then suddenly he brought both his arms over his face. His right arm compiled but his left only partially moved before he screamed.
Jay's eyes flew open instantly. His dream is quickly forgotten. "AAHHHH!" His eyes screwed shut. He tries to turn to his left as his left arm falls to his side, grabbing toward his left shoulder.
Hailey pushes the call button and Jay's continues to writhe in pain. He hasn't noticed that she is in the room.
"Help is on the way, Jay." Hailey hopes it sounds stronger than she feels right now.
He holds his breath and looks at her. His eyes wide and then a grimace, grunting out the breath he was holding as he rolls onto his back. The night nurse rushes in to Jay's side, looking at the monitors. "What happened?" She questions Hailey.
"He was dreaming and moved suddenly."
The nurse turns her attention to Jay, "Mr. Halstead?"
"Yeah." He replies painfully, opening his eyes slightly still trying to control the pain.
"Where's it hurting? How's the pain?"
Jay hovers his right hand over his chest and motions his finger up and down his left side. "Bad."
Before she could respond Will enters the room. She relays the information to him.
Jay upon seeing his brother "I'm alright Will." clearly still in pain, breathing heavy, "I'm alright."
"Sure." Will starts to check over Jay. He brings his stethoscope to Jay's chest. Jay quickly grabs Will's wrist.
"Stop it Will!"
"Just STOP!" He growls at Will. Head pops up looking hard at Will.
Will is stunned by Jay's reaction and stares back at him, searching his eyes. Is he here with us? Is he having an episode? Head injury?
Softly "Jay."
Jay softens, head falls back to the pillow, breathing still filled with pain and closes his eyes. He let's go of Will's wrist.
"Jay" Will whispers again. "You know where you are?"
"In a hospital looking at your ugly mug." looking at Will.
Will takes this opportunity to shine a light in his eyes for responsiveness. Surprisingly Jay complies. But when he reached to put his stethoscope on Jay's chest.
"No." The adrenaline of the dream fading but the pain of the sudden movement still present.
"A quick listen." He doesn't wait for a response and listens to Jay's pained breathing.
Will turns to the nurse and orders another sedative-pain cocktail. The nurse leaves the room.
"I'm giving you something stronger Jay. I know you don't want it but .."
"No Will."
"You're in pain." Will is getting irritated with Jay's behavior.
"I said, No."
Will puts his hands on his hips and says "Fine." He turns to Hailey who has watched all this play out, "If he gets worse, you call me."
Hailey nods. Will gives Jay one last look, shakes his head and walks out.
"It would help, you know."
"You too Hailey?" He opens his eyes looking toward her.
"You're in pain Jay." She tries to reason.
"I hate this. I hate being here."
Silence falls between them. Hailey walks up to his bed.
"Why didn't you want me to help you?"
Jay looks up with surprise.
"You were talking in your dream."
He looks away. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Oh we're going to talk about it." Jay may be able to give his brother crap but she's not having it. "I'm in a hospital, at your bedside, you start saying my name in your dream. We're talking about it!"
"Hailey there's nothing to talk about."
She just stares at him, face stern.
Jay looks at Hailey, his breathing finally getting under control and closes his eyes in defeat. He blows out a breath, slowly looks at her "Like I said before, I couldn't defend myself."
"You're going to have to give me more than that."
Jay looks down to the bed, "I was on the ground. It felt like I was being hit from every direction. I was disoriented." He looks at her. "If you got involved….."
Hailey puts her hand on his forearm reassuringly.
"It wasn't just me. Adam and Kevin were right there."
Jay nods and moves to get more comfortable. He grunts in pain at the movement.
"How 'bout those pain meds?"
"I'm good, lets me know I'm alive." He looks up with a slight smile.
Hailey shakes her head in disbelief and eyes the blanket on his bed. She picks it up and covers him with it. Jay watches her movements. Then she pulls the chair to the bedside and adjusts her own blanket. She is quiet and lets out a breath.
"So I guess 'Our thing' extends to hospitals." Jay says
"I guess so. But I have to be honest, I'd rather be anywhere else and with different circumstances."
"Thanks for staying." Jay says with sincerity.
Hailey smiles, "You should get some rest."