Chapter 15- The Irresistible Offer

It was either this title or just simply calling it part two, because this is picking up right where the last chapter ended. After this there will only be two more chapters! Can't believe the end is closing in. So let's celebrate the time we have together and have some fun. Let's get into it!

"Will." The quiet voice with it's scared, sore tone is what got him up and stretching, thinking something had just fallen off of Jay, the alarms waking him up. Everything had been going so well and so far zero side effects, there was no way that could change so quickly. But as the alarms kept going and Jay's voice got a little louder, that quiet, shy voice of fear was just beginning to tickle in the back of his mind. Will went to turn the lights on some, the glow revealing what had really been going on while he peacefully snoozed the night away. With his right hand, Jay was death gripping the bed rail like he did oh so long ago. His left hand was massaging the top of his leg, the task appearing to be unsuccessful. He was so out of it yet, so not himself, yet he was so awake out of pain. Will imagined this is how he was behaving when the nerve block failed back in Dubai.

"What's wrong," Will asked when he got to the bed, feeling stupid to ask such a thing but he had to.

"It hurts, like really really bad." Will ran the pain meds through his mind, concluding they could do more and hated that they hadn't. Knowing his history of bad pain they almost should have been giving him too much instead of not enough.

"Scale of one to ten, Jay."

"It's about as bad as earlier today, but I'm sure it can get worse. So probably a high 8." Will nodded, adjusting the cannula back under Jay's nose when he noticed his brother had yanked part of it off.

"Keep that on and keep massaging," Will coaxed as he worked his way to the door. He found the calming alarms that were going off a bit humorous. Like whispering in the middle of a sinking ship, they were encouragingly reminding the world that things were bad while chaos and pandemonium reeked havoc all around. If Jay could he would've found something to throw at the chiming sound, but instead voices took the place of the noise, the ding-dings instantly going away as hands touched the very last place they should've.

"No, no no no no don't touch," Jay moaned as blankets were pulled away in an effort to inspect.

"We're not, Jay. We're just looking for right now." As Will spoke one of the nurses inserted a syringed into Jay's IV line, providing him extra boosts of pain relief. At first it didn't make a dent, Jay still panting and writhing in pain and misery. But in the time it took to remove the monitoring cuff that was squeezing Jay's leg something worked, because Jay went from supremely tense to looking around and wincing whenever hands got in the vicinity of his leg.

"What's it at now?"

"Six," Jay spoke as he licked his dry lips.

"It's not great, but at least its' better." From here Marcel stepped in, taking over the doctor role while Will perfectly went back to being the overly worried brother. Jay was still massaging his leg while the careful inspection took place on his leg. The good news was that he still had sensation throughout the leg and could feel hands and react to their fingertips. The bad news was that it all hurt so much, a burning and stabbing attack randomly and lasting for no particular amount of time.

"Now it's not entirely uncommon to have this kind of pain after this surgery. Vascular operations are not fun for anyone, especially the patient. Open procedures are some of the toughest to overcome and the pain may last for awhile."

"That's awesome," Jay spoke.

"Now, I can do another ultrasound just to make sure things still look okay. But I have to tell you that we'd have to remove the dressings and hold the wand on your leg."

"No way, nope."

"I think it's too early for him to try that," Will gently let down. He chuckled at Jay's bluntness, totally understanding where we was coming from. If the roles were reversed and he was the one in this amount of pain, no way was he letting people touch it.

"Okay, that's totally fine. I really just think this is part of the recovery process. Your stats are looking about the same as earlier so I don't see evidence where we should poke anymore, but we'll keep a close eye on things."

"What's the pain at now," Will asked?

"Still a six, but getting closer to a seven."

"Okay, normally I wouldn't like this many strong meds flowing through you this early on, but I really don't want you in pain. Let's do another boost and if that doesn't help we can do a nerve block and if that doesn't work.."

"The epidural," Jay cut in.

"Yeah, which I know you'd love that." Jay shook his head a couple times before closing his eyes and letting everything be put back as it was. Blankets were pulled up and more meds given to him via IV. The lights were turned down and Will returned to his couch bed, leaving Jay to battle alone the ever swelling pain.

"Do you want me to stay up with you?"

"No, I'm really trying to fall back to sleep."

"How long has it been bad?"

"I don't know…awhile? I don't even know what time it is."

"It's a little after 12."

"PM?!"

"AM."

"Oh, cool…whatever."

"You're sure you don't want me to stay awake for a bit till you fall asleep."

"Yes, I'll be fine Will. I've survived worse." Will could only roll his eyes before pressing himself back onto the pillows and eventually drifting back into dreamland. Meanwhile Jay was wide awake, taking in his surroundings, finding his glass box room to be anything but cozy, calming, and something you could rest in. He and Will were on full display, his every movement and health status for all on the floor to see and admire. But the one good thing about the place was that it was so warm, so quiet with the exceptions of the monitors and heart rate lightly beating into the room. The blankets were just the right amount of weight and heat, his head truly enjoying the cushion under it and how perfectly adjusted and relaxed his body was. So much was flowing through his body, the thinned blood making him loopy and exhausted with very little effort. A long blink, five minutes was all he'd give himself and then he'd be awake. His eyelids drooped, breathing longer, heavy, sleepy-like. Just…another…breath.

It was so much worse the second time around, the pain so bad Jay could barely form words. This time around Jay's body was really suffering from the consequences of a high pain tolerance, heart rate and blood pressure going haywire as his breathing tried to keep pace with the rapid heart rate. He was shaking, sweating, by all accounts looking to be in shock. His body had been through so much in a single day and yet pain was seeming to not care. This spat with pain had Will at the bed and pressing the assistance button for Jay, who was unable to open his eyes he was so under the reign of the pain. He'd blurt out a complaint or grunt every now and then, but for the most part he was quiet, motionless, just in searing hot pain.

"Just hang in there, Jay," Will encouraged as he gripped the right hand. He expected to get the life squeezed out of his hand, but to his surprise received nothing but a limp, cold hand. Will would squeeze a couple times, hoping that would get Jay back, but alas the limpness continued.

"Jay, you still with us?"

"Take it off," his brother whispered.

"Take what?"

"The thing on my leg. Take it off." Will looked in the direction Jay's finger was aimlessly pointing, sighing as he figured out it was the squeezing monitoring cuff on the residual limb.

"Jay, it has to stay on. You need it right now."

"Will, I want to rip the rest of my leg off. It's the worst pain."

"Worse then before," Marcel asked as he entered the room?

"So much worse," Will spoke for his brother, who nodded his agreement of the statement. Marcel did a once over of Jay and the tons of monitors above the bed. Jay was bad and his body could not handle another round of this exertion. It was time to toss the traditional meds out the window and bring in the big guns.

"Okay, time to make the call. Do we try the nerve block or go straight for the epidural? Jay, you're pretty much in the early stages of shock right now. Your body is fried and exhausted and cannot take another round of this." Will looked away from Marcel and towards Jay, making sure he was awake for this moment. For the first time ever, he had the power, the say in what happened to his body next. It was a welcomed change, a pleasant point right smack in the middle of terrible things.

"Which is going to be stronger and make this go away fast?"

"The epidural," both doctors responded at the same time. Well there was his assurance of what was their choice.

"Ugh…I don't want to stupid needle in my back again."

"But do you like feeling how you are now?" At that exact moment the monitoring cuff squeezed his leg again, feeling to be the tightest it had ever been. It felt like a hot butcher knife was entering and exiting his leg thousands of times at once. He didn't need anymore convincing of what was coming next.

"Fine, let's do it." Marcel had thought ahead already and had the anesthesiologist on standby, collecting all they needed and awaiting the cue to make their way to the ICU. In the timespan of giving the go-ahead and pulling the blankets down, Marcel reported that anesthesiologist was a few minutes out.

"Can we take the awful squeezing thing off," Jay asked? Will wanted to shoot back a no once again, that his leg really needed it this early in recovery, but he knew the pain was bad and that Jay couldn't rest or even fall asleep with it, the device doing a ton of harm right now. So he looked back to Marcel for guidance, letting him make that judgment since he was far more up on what to do in situations like this.

"We'll take it off right now but once the epidural kicks in and your pretty much numbed up down there we will put it back on."

"Fine with me," Jay replied as Will offered to help him sit up, in the process of sticking a hand behind his back.

"I can do it."

"Jay, let me help you." Reluctantly Jay gave in, jumping a bit at Will's hand touching him and silently reacting to the pain even that small motion caused. Will counted down before gently pushing Jay forward, his eyes closed and head down as he went from laying down to sitting up in the middle of the bed.

"Oh I'm so dizzy," Jay spoke as Will helped turn him towards the edge of the bed.

"Okay, sorry. It's just from the everything today. We'll wait a couple seconds." Keeping hands on his back for support, Will moved to the side of the bed and hugged his brother so that he could relax as the world spun all around. Jay would lean forward every couple seconds but Will always told him to lean back as he helped him do so.

"It's better," Jay announced a few moments later, looking at his world from a different height for the first time since being admitted.

"I feel like puking and everything feels like it's spasming."

"That's your body saying it's done and in need of a break." Jay could only smirk and roll his eyes, watching as Will pulled the sheets all the way down and pulled the leg cuffs off of his legs before helping him swing his legs over the side of the bed. First part of mission impossible was accomplished.

"How bad is this going to hurt?" That's when it dawned on Will that the last time this happened Jay was totally out. He wasn't there for the insertion nor was he aware of the careful watching that took place immediately after the needle went in. He was motionless and unconscious at that point, making everything a very smooth process.

"They'll give you lidocaine or something before it goes in, so at the most you'll feel pressure. Remember how it was when they took it out. It'll be very close to that."

"Except the thing creating the pressure will be in there for a long time." Will couldn't help but sigh, there was no comforting that would be effective right now.

"You're going to be fine…and pain free! Let's focus on that."

"Yeah, but it doesn't mean I'm going to be thrilled with how we get to that point."

"You're officially impossible." Will adjusted his weight between his legs then, maintaining his support of Jay as he did so. He may have brushed a leg against the residual limb by accident during the process, causing Jay to jump and freak out as a result.

"Ow! Holy cow that hurt, Will."

"Wait, you felt that?"

"It was pretty hard not to."

"Dude, that's actually a good thing. Your reflexes and sensation is really coming back nicely." Will looked down at his brother's legs, finding it so odd that he was having a weird and hard time doing so. He wasn't sure what it was about hospitals and Jay, but so far every time they were in this place he got weirded out over the off balance nature of things. It appeared Jay did as well, not wanting others to join in with him as he adjusted himself on the edge of the bed.

"At least it didn't change."

"Good point." And here entered the doer of the painful did, the anesthesiologist with an assistant who was holding a packet of fun inducing things.

"We meet again, Halstead. Heard you're in pain?" Jay nodded as Will told him to scoot towards the edge some more.

"Well let's get that fixed for you. I see you already have things set up, which is awesome. Thanks, Will."

"No problem," he joked, happy that someone was able to be lively at half past 2am.

"Okay, so I know you've done this once already but Will you're going to have him rest on your shoulder while Jay, wrap your arms around Will and keep your head locked on him. Any movement could lead to…well…things that aren't good."

"This isn't awkward at all," Jay kidded as the two of them did as was instructed, soon wrapped up in some weird looking hug that neither wanted documented for all of time. Jay flinched when the hospital gown was removed down to his waist and the procedure drape was placed over his back and moved down to where things would be happening. The two people doing the task started talking to themselves, something about placement and how far up or down would be ideal for Jay given the area of pain.

"Is there a mark or scar from where the last one was," Will suggested, trying to help get things done and over with for Jay.

"There is but you typically don't want to place it in the exact same spot, otherwise you could be doing permanent damage to a vertebrae."

"Great," Jay injected to the conversation, voice muffled by the fact his face was glued to Will's shoulder.

"Sorry."

"Just want this done and over with."

"I know," Will said, promising it would be done in no time. A couple more suggestions and feels of the spine and a location was chosen, the purple Sharpie of doom marking where things would happen and the length of space between two vertebrae.

"This is just the sterilizing solution," was told as Jay felt the cold, high smelling liquid get squirted and spread on the area they'd be working. He could hear the movement of things being put down and picked up, able to visualize the next step with great fear.

"This is the lidocaine, you'll feel some burning before things go numb. We're going to do two before we move to the next step." The 'some burning' was in reality greats balls of roaring fire spreading all over his body, Jay having no choice but to tense up and grunt out of natural reaction. Will held his brother tighter as everything stopped.

"Whoa, don't move. I know this is uncomfortable but you cannot tense up or move." Jay apologized, relaying to himself that stillness was his way through and out of all this. He fully felt the first round of lidocaine go into his back, the second round was brief moments here and there. When asked as he was poked, Jay was completely amazed at how numb he was, naively thinking he'd be fine for the main event.

"Okay, here we go." Oh how wrong he was. Despite all the pre-medicating they did, the pressure and sliding motion felt in a place he never imagined he would experience created a supremely uncomfortable and terrible moment in a very long time.

"This is really bad," he whispered to Will, who did his best to encourage that Jay was doing so well and that things were almost done. The 'almost' part freaked Jay out, just trying to imagine how big and long and just horrific this epidural was that after a couple seconds it was 'almost' done. But when the pressure was at peak levels Jay heard tape being ripped by one of the people behind him who said something about doing great.

"Is it in?"

"Yup, it's in. They're just securing the port that'll hold everything in. Just about done."

"Okay, not that you'll be in a mood to move around, but you have to lay flat for awhile and then need assistance if you have to get up. At full strength you won't be feeling from the waist down so walking alone is not allowed till this thing comes out. Do not lay on your side and don't suddenly twist."

"Fine," Jay acknowledged, somehow forgetting how in pain he was before all of this, the terrible pressure in his back somehow having magical powers to replace the one truth with another. Maybe that was the entire point of an epidural, that it wasn't medication flowing directly into his spine but instead was a mental distraction from everything. But Jay let go of this weird notion because without warning Will was sitting him up higher and away from himself.

"Pillows are lined up so let's do this in one motion."

"Do what," Jay inquired as his legs were returned to the bed and his lower half was being carefully, but quickly pushed back down to the flat surface. No further explanation was required.

"Guys that hurts a lot," Jay announced to the group, closing his eyes and breathing out loud as his now highly sensitive back reunited with pillows and bed surface.

"I know, sorry. It'll go away in a moment or two. Just do you best to relax," Will encouraged as blankets were pulled back up and the numerous medical devices and wiring and tubing were put back where they belong. He had done it, Jay had survived the epidural insertion.

"We gave you the first boost of meds before we moved so that should be kicking in in a second or two," the anesthesiologist spoke as the tubing was snaked to the pain pump next to the bed and button and meds were set up and ready to go from that point onward.

"Keep an eye on him for the next hour or so. You know what to look for." Will nodded.

"When does the pressure go away?"

"Probably later in the morning. Sleep will help a lot."

"Don't let him arch his back. Let us know if he has any complications."

"Definitely, thanks guys," Will said as the two of them left the room with all their fun tools and needles. The nurse came in a final time to check on things and see if Jay needed anything. The events of the last few minutes were enough to begin wiping him out, Will taking over the speaking duties as Jay came in and out.

"Doing okay," Will semi-yelled when it was the two of them once again.

"My back is killing me."

"I know, I'm sorry. Like they said, it'll go away with time. Just do your best to sleep. And Jay?"

"What," Jay grunted.

"You're already arching your back."

"No I'm not."

"So either you just became extremely bloated, or I'm totally correct and you need to relax." Jay managed to open his eyes long enough to realize Will was correct. Another pillow was placed under him and a final asking of pain levels and in no time Jay was back to snoozing. It was a massive victory seeing the pre-shock, severely pained, recovering from major surgery person dream under closed eyelids.

…

"Will…Will…hey Will." Will's bloodshot eyes met the smiling, welcoming face of one of Jay's ICU nurses. He immediately went to Jay, thinking yet another terrible post-surgical side effect had welcomed itself into the story of things. But to his relief Jay was asleep, looking peaceful against all that was going on.

"Hailey is outside and wanted to drop something off with you," brought Will back to the third person in the room, nodding as he quietly and cautiously rose from his bed. He was a sight to behold, comparing himself to Hailey's awake and lively person. She was bathed, properly dressed, well rested and moving on with a busy work day. Meanwhile Will was convinced the bags under his eyes had bags of their own, his entire being feeling extra achey and on the verge of a cold, but the truth was he was just that tired.

"Good morning," Hailey quietly spoke as Will opened and slid through the crack of the door. He opened his arms for a hug and she was quick to respond, the two of them just enjoying the presence of the other. They both were feeling to be in a much better place then their last hospital adventure, but both were a tad uneasy with the knowledge that Jay was even here.

"How did last night go?" Will chuckled as he pulled away, massaging his eyes as he looked back to Jay before continuing.

"He woke up at midnight with really bad pain so we upped the meds, which worked for awhile. 2am he was worse off so we had to get the epidural in, which he hated."

"I'll bet."

"So he finally started to fall asleep around 3, woke up at 4:30 in pain again so we had to increase the rate of the epidural pump. Fell asleep around 5 only to wake up at 6 with nausea. It was from all the stuff he was on but he'd been pre-medicated right with anti-nausea meds, so at first we were puzzled. But the vomiting sealed the truth that those had weaned off so he got more meds and threw up one more time before everything kicked in. He might've fallen asleep a little over an hour ago. What time is it?"

"8:10."

"Yeah, it was like 7:05 the last time I looked at a clock and he'd just passed out. So…yeah. It's been fun."

"Will, you both need to sleep today. Maybe hold off on visitors so you both can get some quality shut eye."

"No, I'll be okay. I've survived on worse and had to do a lot more. I'm far more concerned with his amount of sleep. It's the most important thing he needs, along with figuring out the pain management. He keeps saying it's worse then the amputations, which I find very hard to believe. But he keeps saying it and he'll know way more then either of us." Hailey nodded while looking at both of them with a genuinely aching heart. She hated both were having to go through this, not to mention how exhausted and at the end of things both were. They needed a break, more Will then anyone else, despite what he said. Hailey scooped up the bag she brought with her before unzipping the top in search of something.

"I brought him a couple Gatorades that he had the last time, just in case he was in the mood for them. I'm going to sit with him for awhile. You need to go eat something, shower, and sleep wherever you can comfortably rest. I'm not letting you do anything else."

"Hailey, I can handle it, seriously. You have work and life and you really don't have to do that."

"Will, Voight told me this morning to come in only if you two were okay. Right now you aren't. I'll take over. Go, go take care of yourself. I'll let you know if he needs anything or if something happens. I can handle it." Will wanted to fight her another round, but internally he was so grateful for the chance to just fall asleep and know his brother was not alone. He looked back to Jay, who was still out, a final time before nodding in submission; making Hailey swear she'd alert him the second anything changed. She promised to do so, lovingly swatting his shoulder and telling him to get out of there. She didn't move till Will was on the elevator and moving to his place of rest, soon scooping up the bag and heading towards the door. She was greeted by the sounds of a sound asleep Jay, the quiet snores and monitors humming their steady tune while the oxygen flowed constant under his nose. Hailey would also agree Jay looked peaceful, exhausted and different the following two adjectives. She managed to set the bag down on the floor and take a seat in the chair close to the bed when everything instantly changed. The once sound asleep person twitched their foot, which seemed to invoke some kind of painful stimuli as his eyes snapped open.

"Hey hey, it's okay, Jay. How are you feeling?" He blinked a couple times before moving any other part of him, it was so obvious that he was on so much medication, normalcy and total alertness wasn't going to come for some time. Hailey reached over to hold a hand and he just watched her hand connect with his, squeezing when she did before lazily moving his head up to meet hers.

"How's the pain?" Jay looked around the room, stopping at the empty couch/bed with widened eyes and a furrowed brow.

"Where's Will?" Well good morning to you to, Jay.

"He just left for a bit to go rest. I heard you both had a rough night."

"Yeah…it…wasn't the best of times." Hailey couldn't help but beam at him, resisting the urge to hug or mess with his hair. He was so beyond out of it yet doing his best to ease her worry, that was the Jay she loved.

"Is the pain any better right now?" Jay shook his head, fiddling around for the button that was attached to the epidural drip. Hailey beat him to it, placing it in his hand and reminding him all he had to do was press down. He clicked, one, twice, four times before nodding that he was finished. Hailey gingerly took it out of his hand, afraid it would go off if she messed with it.

"I'm sorry you're having such a bad time with the pain."

"It's okay…I'll…be fine." He was dropping now, head nodding before jolting back to look at her. She knew if there was anything else she wanted to get out before he was done for awhile, she had to act now.

"Hey! I brought you some Gatorade. I know you like the blue one. Do you want to try drinking some? I think it'll help with the stomach issues." That one earned her a full awake face, looking around for the very thing she was talking about.

"Are you still feeling sick? Can you handle having some of this?"

"I think…I'm going to need…more meds first." Hailey nodded, empathizing that after all these hours he was still nauseous.

"Okay, I'll go tell the nurse and I'll be right back." He gave her a valiant thumbs up, resting his head on the pillows as she snuck out of the room. A couple minutes later two people crept back through the room, Hailey sitting back in her spot as the nurse went to the left side of the bed and began pulling the sheets down and gown back up.

"I wish Will was doing this." For a split second Hailey looked, noting the two red prick marks on his hip where they'd already given him the anti-nausea meds. Poor guy, this was his third round with the stuff.

"I'm not looking," she swore to Jay upon feeling his gaze, wishing for the day he wasn't embarrassed by his appearance.

"I can't stop shivering," he told the nurse when she was done with the injection.

"I'm sorry, baby. It's the heparin and pain meds all going at the same time. Unfortunately it's going to be that way for a little bit." Yes, she was one of those nurses that called all her patients baby, in a totally sweet, caring way of course.

"Is that why I'm also cold?" She nodded again.

"It's not fun, heparin. But just remember it's preventing another round of what you just went through." Hailey was cracking the lid of the Gatorade when the nurse asked if either needed anything else, Hailey replying for Jay that they were good for right now.

"Here, it's right under your mouth," she coaxed as the nurse left the room. Jay looked down at the bottle and barely opened his mouth, feeling the liquid on his lips before engaging in swallowing. He took about three gulps before nodding that he was done.

"Just do your best to rest, alright? I'll be right here if you need anything." Before drifting off Jay had a final message, a message that had been hanging over him that he'd been dying to address all this time.

"We have to talk about the meeting when I wake up," he yawned before nestling deeper into the pillows and peacefully drifting off. Hailey couldn't help but allow a tear or two to slip out as she watched him. She had a very good idea of both what was said and what their answer was. This wasn't what any of them wanted, but it was unfortunately the cruel harsh truth of reality.

…

The heparin really did a number on Jay. If he wasn't shivering cold, he was groggy and exhausted. The pain was the thing that would keep him up, the heparin was the item that got him back to sleep. It was a swinging motion, those caring for him finding it hard to meet in the middle of the two. They just wanted him to sleep for a long time while being pain free. A task that appeared to be not that challenging was throwing everyone a curveball.

The remainder of the morning saw a Will free room. It appeared he did as was told by Hailey, taking his time to refresh and recharge himself so he could help Jay in the long run. That left Hailey operating the whole thing, there for the doctors and nurses when they needed to do blood draws or inspect incisions or perform tests. Each time it was her that woke Jay up, saying the same line every time with just as much effort and calmness.

"Hey there, sorry to wake you but they need to do something real quick." Jay was off in his own little world, coming back down to the real one in small batches of time, most of those being when Hailey asked him to do something. Those who knew them for awhile knew they were dancing around things, while those unaware just assumed. If anything, this whole wild adventure brought them even closer, just scratching the surface of what the other meant in their lives. Hailey hadn't even told Jay yet how she behaved that day it all changed. Months later she couldn't find the time or place to do it, just pushing it off out of fear for what Jay would say and if the feelings were mutual.

The miracle of the morning was that for the most part, except when interrupted, Jay slept. It appeared exhaustion could win out from pain, Jay making pained noises in his sleep but continuing to slumber on. Hailey during these moments would take on the task of pushing the button, watching until the right foot stopped it's pain dance. She was a bit nervous he would wake up in supreme nausea or a massive headache from the lack of food or beverage, but as noon drew near that wasn't the case. The other good part was that visitors seemed to get the message that Jay wasn't up for that today. In due time, that would be something he greatly welcomed. But in this pivotal first day all understood that rest and rest and more rest were all Jay needed. They all got that, except for one.

Will returned mid afternoon, looking bright and still tired, but more coherent then the last time Hailey saw him. His clothing was switched out for spare articles of clothing from his locker, hair disheveled and eyes still bloodshot. He looked just like every other worried family member on this floor, desperately trying to keep a brave face when in truth they were a nervous wreck. Fortunately for what came next, Jay was awake when Will returned, looking over and waving at Will as Hailey looked beyond him at who was in tow.

"Hey Jay, how are you holding up?" Will was leaning far into the room, both hand on the sliding glass door as he balanced between the person outside and verifying things inside the room. Hailey rose from the chair and took a seat on the bed close to Jay, the two of them staring deep into things to understand just how much of him was with them.

"Groggy, it's hard to do anything other then sleep."

"Yeah, the heparin will do that at first. So big ask, are you up for a visitor. She swears she'll keep it short and sweet."

"Who is it," Jay asked through drooping eyelids.

"Platt," Hailey announced. That one had Jay pushing to be alert. In a single blink he was wide awake, looking around and down at himself as he tried to ready himself for her presence.

"I…um…so tired…help." Will turned around to face Platt who was standing there vying for a glimpse at Jay, Will's face a little too happy for the situation.

"Would you mind terribly going and getting him a couple cans of Coke?"

"Coke? Absolutely. Does he need a straw too?"

"Sure, whatever works." The second Trudy took off on her mission Will leapt into the room, sitting the bed up higher as Hailey worked to tidy the room up.

"Dude, you have to stay awake." Will tucked the blankets in to keep body heat in one spot before untangling cords Jay had twisted in his sleep.

"Don't take that off," he spat at Jay who had the oxygen just about removed, he grunted his dislike for it as Will secured it back on his face, looking up at monitors and readouts before asking about the pain situation.

"It's like a five. But don't give me anything or I'll fall asleep. Did she say why she's here."

"Just that she wants to talk to you."

"Hailey, did you know she was coming," Jay asked? Hailey shook her head.

"We haven't talked since she sent me to find you yesterday. Oh, here she comes." Will and Hailey were extra delighted to see her on the other side of the glass door, waving and beaming and telling her to come in. It was like watching a scared puppy walk into a crowd of people. Trudy looked so nervous, her movements slow and face that of shock and fear for all that was going on with her detective. This was such a 180 from what she registered as him. He was in a hospital bed wearing a dress with tons of wires, IVs, just stuff all around him, not to mention he was in the ICU. It was so out of place, very foreign to him, she thought. But he was here and this was real and now. She handed off the Coke cans to Will who cracked one, dipped the straw in before handing it off to Jay.

"Drink it. Wake up," he teased.

"Hey Sarge," Jay tiredly greeted, which got him a nod before she sat down on the couch.

"So…how did surgery go yesterday?"

"Great, was long and scary, but good."

"Yeah, we're having issues with pain management but it's getting there."

"What about…you know.."

"-The residual limb? It's getting there, reflex is coming back and he has a good amount of sensation."

"So they didn't have to…remove anymore?" It was so apparent that she was trying to get something across without offending anyone. It was okay, her experience with all of this was far less then the other three. It was a change, an adjustment in everything that each person had to weave through.

"No, nope that part was not messed with at all." Trudy nodded her relief of that news, rubbing hands on her legs as she looked to Hailey with that inquiring, communicating stare that always got people moving.

"Will, why don't we go discuss housing arrangements for a moment." She looked over to Will and wanted to kick his legs if he could. But instead got up from her spot on the bed and headed to the door.

"Ah yeah, sure. After that will alphabetize meds or something. Make sure he drinks both," he asked Trudy as the two of them left. She swore she would, waving to them as they gradually left the area. Meanwhile poor Jay was totally lost, feeling that this was round two of his talks of never coming back. Because why not take him down while he was recovering from major surgery. In all honesty he wasn't totally sure why she was even here, still a little upset with how things were the last time he saw her. But, nevertheless, she came all this way to speak alone with him. The least he could do was hear her out.

"So, what's going on?"

"Jay, I'm here to make you an offer you can't refuse." Now he was interested. Jay's attempt to sit further up earned him a shot of pain up his entire leg. He grimaced, Trudy asked if he needed help, Jay said no and asked for things to be moved along.

"Jay…I think we both know where this is all going to end."

"Yeah, with me not working for CPD anymore."

"Well, maybe not quite that extreme. I think it's obvious to everyone that you will probably not be able to do everything you once could. Which unfortunately would put you out of Intelligence." Jay was about to accept that, opening his mouth to agree when she held a finger up.

"First, keep drinking. I told your brother I'd make sure you did. Second, maybe there is a loophole. I am planning on retiring within the next two years."

"What," Jay just about spit out?

"Yes, my time is coming to an end. I'm extremely fortunate to even be having this opportunity and ability to control that part of my career. Randall is wanting to retire around the same time and wants us to spend the rest of our years up in the woods of Wisconsin." Jay was convinced he was on a high now. Forever and ever he thought Platt would always be at the 21st, the thousand year old desk sergeant that still had all the power and fear that she did now. How odd would it be to no longer have her there.

"But, you love the job. And you're still so good at it, why leave so soon?"

"Because Jay, you do things for the people you love. As much as I love this job, my husband has a deep passion for this idea and I have to allow him that dream to come true. Will I be bored at first? Without a doubt. But I know it's the right thing to do."

"So what does this have to do with me?"

"I would like to use this time that I have left to groom my replacement and I, Trudy Platt, would like you, Jay Halstead, to be that person." This time Jay actually did spit, luckily it all went back in the Coke can. He was floored, honored, confused, scared, grateful.

"Me?! You hate me."

"Jay, I may poke fun at you, but I do not hate you. I've watched you over the years, and how much you've grown and developed into an incredible detective. I cannot think of a better person to take over my post."

"So…how would this work?"

"So for the next couple years you'd go between Intelligence and me, shadow me sometimes and then work upstairs other days. But you have to know that it'll mostly be desk duty up there. You'd also have to be put on the fast track for sergeant. It's a lot but I think you could handle it."

"What about the required patrol hours for you?"

"We could figure that out, maybe put you on crossing guard duty or something," she teased.

"What if I wanted to run Intelligence someday?"

"Well I don't see a reason why you couldn't."

"Except that I can't do all of that anymore."

"Jay, you consider Voight active? You could do it." Jay ran out of questions, went back to the shock that this was even being talked about. Just when he thought he knew his fate, another rare, crazy unknown one was planted in his lap. At least this one wasn't taking one of his limbs and he could sort of map things out. Talk about an ever crazy life.

"Your really are going to retire soon."

"Yes. Jay, right now it's just you and I who know this. I haven't even presented this to the committee. I just want to know that when I do that you are totally on board with this." Jay sipped, thought, sipped some more before yawning and asking for Trudy to put the second Coke can down on a table. He didn't know what to feel anymore, but scared and excited all at once.

"When do you want to know an answer?"

"Whenever you're ready. I'd say just sit on it right now, focus on getting out of here and on the mend at home. We can go from there." Jay nodded, watching her rise from her seat and march towards the door.

"Thanks, Sarge. Seriously I'm really honored you even thought of me."

"Jay, you can call me Trudy now. And also, this stays between us." Jay curtly nodded, watching her leave the room and roll things off like it was no big deal. She waved farewell to Will and Hailey who looked to Jay for anything and didn't give them that victory. In no time he was drifting off to sleep, wondering if all that had happened was some bigger part of a story to get him to this moment.

Guys, we only have two more chapters left! So what do you think will happen next? Does Jay take the offer? We shall find out soon. Also, a little bit of a spark will happen. Stay tuned. Thanks for reading!