Chapter 9: Halstead Hug
Will was currently sitting in an old school diner booth, viewing the people pass on the street. Seeing Hailey's text that she was worried about Jay, he had wasted no time in setting up a Halstead brothers lunch. He was glad that Jay had a partner that had his back the way Hailey did. Will knew that Jay had always struck lucky in partners - apart from that asshole when he was in patrol - but he could tell that Jay truly trusted Hailey. Hell, she probably knew some things that no one else knew. Will would be lying if he said that he didn't notice the way they looked at each other too… Will watched the large truck pull up and a few seconds later, the detective walked in - the head to toe black complimenting the red and white diner.
"Hey Man" he greeted as he stood up, hugging Jay.
"Hey." Jay said sitting down, "Why the lunch?"
"Got the night shift tonight, why not?" he replied, trying to sound casual.
"Uh huh." Jay said unconvinced, starting to peruse the menu.
"Soo- You okay?" Will dragged out.
"Yeah. I'm good. I'm thinking the monte cristo with fries" he flashed a smile but Will knew better.
"Jay -"
"Mads texted this morning. Asked if we wanted to meet up this weekend'. I'm free both days. You?"
"Wha- Hold on. She knows I'm back? How'd she take it?"
"Not the question. So, you free or not?"
"Yeah. I'm free Saturday." he answered promptly, wanting to know Madeline's reaction.
"Cool. Saturday it is then" Jay said, shooting a text.
"So? What did she say?" the doctor asked again, worried about the outcome.
"She didn't say anything, didn't get to tell her" he said, his lips curving at the screen.
"Wha- Jay, you sure this is a good idea? Maybe you should see her first" Will rambled.
"No, we're gonna go see her Saturday Will" Jay stated matter of factly.
"Jay. Think about this, do we wanna throw surpri-"
"Will. It's been 5 years. I think she'd want to see us together. If you don't wanna come then fine." Jay said curtly but Will was unphased. He knew how much pressure Jay was putting on himself for this to go right.
"No no, of course I'm coming little brother. So you're thinking the monte cristo huh?"
-O-O-O-O-
- That Saturday -
"You sure this is the place?" Will said getting out of the truck, 15 minutes early as usual as it was going anywhere with Jay.
They found themselves on a tucked away street in Lincoln Park, in front of what looked to be a house - a two story with tiled roofs and a charming small arched wooden door.
"Only one way to find out," Jay said, leading the way.
They were greeted with the aroma of coffee and the warmth that enveloped the atmosphere - different shades of wood and plants hugged the walls as glass pendants like jewels, lit the space. There was a sense of calm even as the chatter filled the popular coffee shop. The brothers parted to try and find a spot but came back almost instantly.
"You find any?" Jay nodded towards Will.
"Nope, you?" Will asked, popping the p.
"Mmm" Jay shook his head. "Check upstairs?" he said, already walking towards the staircase - decorated with various frames and artworks - but stopped at the hand painted 'reserved' sign hung on the post.
"Huh. Guess we'll just wait ti-"
"You must be Jay" the two brothers jumped at the sudden voice.
Will held back a chuckle as they turned around and the detective faced the older woman whom he guessed to be in her late 70's. Jay in his signature all black and the woman in full technicolor - A monochrome striped jacket over a stark white shirt and green patterned trousers, adorned with a chunky resin necklace and a multitude of multicolored bracelets. She was of a petite stature with short brown hair, smile lines showing on her golden olive skin.
"Uhh yes?" Jay said confused, not knowing how she knew his name.
"Oh, I got ahead of myself" she laughed, the pink lipstick complimenting the twinkle in her eyes. "I'm Rosa, I own this little place. You gentlemen wanting to head upstairs?"
"Sorry. We're supposed to meet up with our sister and were hoping for seats up there but" Jay said, indicating towards the sign.
"Well, a good thing that it's reserved for you. Follow me" she winked and the brothers raised their eyebrows before doing so.
-O-O-O-O-
They took in the room when they reached the landing. A couple of petite tables with mismatched chairs were dotted around while two leather armchairs in front of the fireplace centered the space. Flames danced within in the intricate mahogany mantel, flanked by shelves overflowing with books. Their eyes travelled to the far end of the room - a mixture of emerald and gold illuminated with natural light.
"That's her favourite spot right there. She was just so excited, I insisted on reserving it. Such a sweet girl." Rosa smiled moving further, inviting them to follow. "I thought she only mentioned meeting you. Although my memory is getting a bit awry these days" she laughed looking up at Jay.
"You thought right, we're surprising her" Jay winked, charming Rosa.
Will chuckled before following with his introduction "I'm Will. Madeline's other brother. It's nice to meet you"
"Ahhh, the New York doctor. Visiting?" she asked, gesturing to them for their coats.
"Uh- No, here to stay." he said, kicking himself as he was reminded yet again of the missed time between him and his baby sister.
"A full reunion - how lovely! She'll be ecstatic, she always missed you two." her smile broadened before continuing, "Madeline said that you'd order a regular and what can I get you?" looking to Jay then Will while hanging their coats.
"A cappuccino please" the older brother smiled.
"Alright. Well, I'll leave you two to it. Family's a special thing, there's never a wrong time to reconnect. I hope that surprise goes well!" she encouraged before walking away.
They sat on the emerald velvet banquette along the window, framed from the room by gold silk curtains. As they waited, only the faint cracklings of the fire were heard, the layers of fabric absorbing the carrying chatter. The brothers couldn't help but notice a familiarity, a sense of home in this treasure of a place they had just come to discover.
-O-O-O-O-
"And here I was thinking I would be early" a light laughter pulled the brothers out of their thoughts.
Will saw how Jay's features lit up in an instant.
"Maddie! There she is" he beamed, getting out of the seat as Madeline walked towards the booth. Jay hesitated for a second but enveloped his sister in a bear hug as soon as she crashed into him.
"I really really missed you" she mumbled into his chest
"I really really missed you too," Jay said softly, kissing the top of her head.
They stayed like this for a while, not wanting to let go - tears sprung in both their eyes, Madeline feeling fully protected for the first time in years.
"So you got here okay?" she asked when Jay loosened his arms.
"Uh yeah. We did." he said, the corner of his lips curling.
"We?" Madeline said confused, Will still hidden by the curtain.
Will took this opportunity to make his way to them, taking in his sister for the first time in half a decade. "Hi Maddie" he breathed out, his eyes creasing.
A sharp inhale filled the room as Madeline's eyes widened. She stood there, frozen, only her eyelashes fluttering as she blinked in disbelief. "Will?" she choked out as if she was imagining him.
"Yeah Maddie. It's me" he shared a rueful smile.
"Uh- Wha- You're-" she struggled to speak against her quickening breaths, overcome with emotion. Her heartbeat filled her body like thunder, so loud she couldn't even think.
Guilt consumed Jay as he watched the light strip away behind his older brother's eyes. I shouldn't have made him come, he cursed himself What was I thinking?
"I- I'm sorry Maddie. I shouldn't have- I-I'll go" Will struggled to choke back the tears. He kicked himself for even feeling … he couldn't even put a word to it. I mean what was he expecting? For her to just jump into his arms like when she was 5? After what happened the last time? The doctor rushed to put his coat on but stopped at the gush of air from the arms crashing around his waist.
"Y- You're here" she cried into him, "Y-You came back."
The two brothers stared at each other in confusion, Will's arms limp at his sides. Jay, what's happening?! I dunno man, do something!
"Maddie?" Will spoke gently, trying to loosen away from her grip so that he could see her face, but she clung on tighter.
"D-Don't let go. Not yet" her voice muffled against his shirt.
His heart clenched as he wrapped his arms tightly around her. After a while, her grip loosened and she blinked up at him.
"You okay?" he asked softly.
"Yeah" she smiled wiping her eyes with her sleeve. "Sorry about your shirt"
"All good. You sure you're okay? I can go." Will searched her face, looking for confirmation.
She scrunched her nose in confusion, hanging up her periwinkle wool coat "You jus-"
"Alrigghttt. I got a regular, a cappuccino, your usual and … I just interrupted something didn't I?" The brothers turned around to find a 20 something barista paused at the landing - he had white skin, brown side parted hair and blue plaids. College student? Probably goes to DePaul Jay thought.
"All good." Madeline laughed before raising her eyebrows and smirking "Wait is that?"
"Mmhh Rosa's tres leches. You know what she always says - celebration calls for cake" the barista said, placing Madeline's order where Will had sat.
"You guys, Rosa's tres leches is heavenly" she beamed before helping Nic when she noticed him pausing where to place the others. "Nic, these are my brothers Jay and Will. Jay and Will meet Nic, the barista extraordinaire"
They all exchanged smiles and small talk as the siblings made their way to the banquette - Madeline where Nic had placed her latte and Jay by the windows while Will pulled up a chair and sat opposite him.
The brothers didn't fail to catch how this 'Nic' touched their little sister's arm or how he winked at her before he left.
-O-O-O-O-
Gotta give it to this guy for not crumbling under Jay's stare. That thing is deadly Will amused.
"Soo that's Nic huh?" He teased. "He's friendly," Jay added.
"Mmhh and a coffee maker genius" Madeline smiled at her napkin which displayed a doodle of a robot holding a steaming mug. The brothers raised their eyebrows when she looked up from adding flowers around it. "What? It's just a thing we do"
"Uh huh sure. My barista draws me things all the time" Will teased again.
"And winks at me too" Jay muttered.
"Stooop. You guys are just salty cause you don't have a coffee place" she pouted rolling her eyes.
Will chuckled, finding her expression just as adorable as when she was 6."So you come here a lot huh?" he asked.
"Yeah it's like my special hiding place. Reminds me of home …" They caught the faraway look in her eyes before she shook them off. Jay watched as she fiddled with a charm on her bracelet, debating in her head. "What is it Mads?" he asked softly.
"Um- When do you have to go back?" she shared a rueful smile looking at Will.
"Never. I moved back here 3 years ago"
"Wait, you're here? And staying?" she shook her head, doing a double take.
"Uh yeah that's the plan" Will gulped, waiting to scope her reaction.
"This is- Wha- I mean- I didn't think you'd-"
"Maddie you okay?" Will tried to catch her face.
They watched as she breathed out deeply "Yeah" - when she looked up, her features were filled with light "You came home"
"Yeah, I did" Will chuckled, releasing a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"So? What do you do? D'you have a practice? You're still a surgeon right?" she asked with the same curiosity as she had done with Jay.
"Mads, you'll be happy to know that our brother here got bored of the breast implants. Isn't that right?" Jay amused.
"Shut the fu-" Will breathed out before clearing his throat.
"Ooo Will! Language" Jay tutted "Come on man pay up"
"You guys, I'm old enough," Madeline laughed.
"Nope, never," he grinned, handing a dollar bill to Madeline. "And yeah, I'm now an ER doc at Chicago Med"
"Chicago Med like Gaffneys?" she tilted her head.
"Yeah…?"
"That's- Okay, this is gonna sound random but do you know Dr Rhodes? He's a surgeon too"
The two brothers choked on their coffees at the mention.
"Y-Yeah. Will works with him" Jay coughed out, Will yet to recover.
"What do you think of him?" the brothers noticed the slight nervousness through her nonchalant tone.
"Connor? He's a good guy. One of the best surgeons in the city" Will said.
"Woahh. High praise for someone that you called - what was it? a little arrogant?" Jay raised his brow.
"What? Will, Connors not like that" she said, jokingly pushing his arm.
"Yeah Yeah I know that now." Will rolled his eyes before going back to investigate, needing to put his mind at ease. "Hang on, how do you know him?" Was she Connor's patient? What happened? Why is Maddie needing a cardiothoracic surgeon of all things? When? How had he not noticed? Why the hell didn't Connor tell him?
"Well not really. You guys probably know him more - we met at this charity thing. He's really nice, we had dinner last week" Madeline chattered not noticing their change in expression.
"H- Mads, What?" Jay tensed. They only really knew each other through the ED and the occasional drink at Molly's but unlike Will, Jay had liked Connor from the beginning. But him having dinner with his sister? She's only 19! The red started to build up in his body and he looked to Will, Are you hearing this? Jay, man. Calm down, just see where this goes. Jay rolled his eyes at the response but quickly tuned back into Madeline's light chatter.
"... place we went to, I can't remember the name but they have like the best tacos. And you know what we did? Ordered every single one off the menu cause they all looked soo good. All 12! Worth it though and I don't know how but they tasted even better the next day." she laughed showing them her phone.
The screen showing a laughing Connor in a little restaurant, their table filled with tacos. Neither of them had ever seen him look more joyous. Jay shot a look to Will See man what did I tell you? So? Jay c'mon man, he just took her out for tacos. Jay wasn't even surprised at Will's response. Docs, always seeing the benefit of the doubt.
Needing proof Jay asked, "You just go out for dinner?"
"Yeah. Or for coffee… or brunch. Honestly I think he's just worried that I'm not eating enough or something" she joked. "Not that I'm complaining though. He knows really cool places. Oh and you know what he's surprisingly good at?"
"What?" Will chuckled although Jay caught the nervousness building behind his eyes.
"Shopping!" she chuckled.
"H-He took you shopping?" Jay reiterated, more to prove a point to Will.
"Mmhh. I was stressed out cause I needed a dress for this gala but I don't really like shopping so" she shrugged, flicking through her phone. "I already picked it out but do you guys want to see?"
The brothers agreed in unison and their eyes creased as they flicked through, their sister looking graceful in numerous gowns. They paused as they got to a video, wanting to get permission.
"Oh yeah. I deleted the other ones after I showed Charlie but that's the one I'm gonna wear."
-O-O-O-O-
"What number's this one?" they instantly recognised Connor's voice. The camera was pointed towards a doorway where blush metallic wallpaper peeked out towards the champagne coloured space.
"Umm I think number 8?" Madeline's voice carried from the connecting room. The space seemed quiet, light music playing in the background. A private fitting room? So this is what shopping with The Connor Rhodes is like …
"Here we go …" she announced in an intricate lilac knee length gown, embroidered with dainty flower motifs, the shimmering beads complimenting her eyes. "What do you think?" she bit her lip.
"Honey, you look beautiful," a smile was evident in his voice.
"Connor, you say that about every dress" she huffed, still in the doorway.
"Well because it's true" He chuckled. "But more importantly, how does it feel?"
"Ummm flowy…" she said as she glided around before going to sit on a french style chair. "Passes the sit test" she shrugged.
"Okayy but how do you feel?" he coaxed.
"I like it. I think- I think it feels the best out of all the other ones" She smiled timidly.
"Yeah? That's good, do you want to try on more?"
"Mmm, No" she shook her head. The brothers noticed a look they didn't recognise.
"You sure? We can come back a different day" They observed as Madeline sat there, her mind forcing her somewhere else - an all too familiar look to Will.
"Maddie? Honey what's wrong?" She blinked slightly and flashed a smile "Nothing. I'm fine" They saw her contemplating to share before continuing "It's just uh- I feel good in this- but that's good right? And you know what Ashley told me? This gown, it's called 'The Moonlit Meadow' isn't that perfect?" They couldn't quite place the look that flashed briefly as it got masked over by her smile.
"Uhh- yeah." Will recognised Connor holding back as he switched to a lighter tone, "Very on theme. So this the one?"
"Yep. It's the one. Oh! Just a sec, Ashley already found me the perfect shoes and clutch too" she said, disappearing back into the pink room. She came back out a few seconds later with a matching clutch and strappy silver heels.
"Real pretty. What'd you say? We do a show?" Connor encouraged.
"Only because there's no one here and I want Charlie to see the look" she laughed before starting to glide across the room, her cheeks flushing.
"Yeahhh! Nice!"
As she jokingly twirled, they noticed that the wall at the far end of the room looked out of place - Jay identified that it was covered in tissue paper, hints of a mirror peaking through.
-O-O-O-O-
If the girl in the video was anyone other than his sister then Jay might have said that Connor was a sweet guy. But this was Madeline. He took some breaths trying to control the bubbling anger - The way things went down with Robin was harsh and we all heard Connor's reputation but man his baby sister?! The hell is he doing hiding it from Will? The nerve of this guy. I mean they work with each other. Calling her honey my ass. And who's this Charlie prick?
Man this is not good. Will thought, wincing at Jays quiet but glaring eyes. Jays ready to bulldoze in "Maddie-" Will started calmly but was taken over by Jay
"Mads, this isn't right" he said through a clenched jaw.
"What isn't?" Madeline had a genuine look of confusion. "Wh-Why are you mad? We just went shopping"
The rage he had that was about to be spilled over was reigned back as soon as he saw her puppy eyes. "Mads- You're 19 and he's a little older than Will. And he's calling you Hon-"
Light filled the room as Madeline bursted into laughter "Oh my- you don't think-" she wheezed.
At the realization, Will relaxed and joined.
"Wha- Will, this isn't funny." Jay shook his head.
"It is though. Y-you don't honestly think- t-that C-Connor and I are- " she wheezed through her laughing fit, now crashing on the banquette.
"So you two aren't together? There's nothing going on?" Jay asked, needing the confirmation.
"No!" she laughed "Obviously! Connor's not like that! And if I was, I would have never shown you the video"
Will saw Jay visibly relax and chuckle, "Mads, don't do that to me again. Because I was gonna go over there and-"
"Nope. No thanks. Don't need to hear" she joked, "And full disclosure so you can fully chill, we started this because he's been helping me with some maths stuff for class. He's a really good teacher"
"Sorry what? You have to take maths at college?" Jay feigned disgust.
"Aww look at that. Our little going to college" Will beamed, "So? C'mon what's your major? Where'd you go?"
"PoliSci and French minor. Love it so far" she beamed. "And It's their online course but Northwestern." she smiled timidly.
"Wha- Maddie! Come'ere!" the two brothers beamed, hugging Madeline as they sandwiched her in between. "This is amazing Mads. You know that right?" Jay said, ruffling her hair. "Yeah Maddie, super proud" Will grinned. "And Jay told me you're training to be a ballerina?"
"Mmhh. At Joffrey's. I'm in their studio company program"
"That sounds great but hang on cause I wanna know what that means" Jay said, already scrolling through his phone.
"Oh, it's just another name for their trainees" she brushed off but they instantly recognised that there was more.
"Mads, it says that it's a scholarship program" Jay coaxed.
"Yeah, but it's really not a big deal" she blushed.
"Sorry, what's that?" Jay smirked, enveloping her.
"No big deal? Maddie, are you kidding? It's the biggest deal" Will joined in.
"Stoppp, you're squishing me!" Madeline squirmed.
"No way you're getting out of this Halstead hug" Will grinned, tightening his arms.
As they laughed, the same warmth filled their minds.
I'm home
A/N - Hi, long time no see! I'm so sorry that it's taken me so long to update. I've had this chapter in the works for a while and I'm still not fully happy with it but decided to post it anyway. I'm sorry of it's not very good. Thank you so much for reading and I have some ideas for the next chapter so hopefully the next update won't be as long of a wait :) A really special shoutout and thank you to Elvira 25, Lauren, nonna99 and Tessa for your continued support and such lovely comments! You guys encouraged me to keep going! As always, the characters belong to Dick Wolf and are from the One Chicago universe he created.