Chapter 1 -

"Baghdad" Was thrown through the speaker on a busy Thursday evening, doctor William Halstead flew across the floor, he threw on his white coat and blue latex gloves.

"What do we have?!" Screamed Will, in hopes that everyone will calm down and allow him to help his patient.

The smallest of the two paramedics, Sylvie Brett, emerged from the crowd. "Female, late 20s, was rescued from a burning house. She was conscious when we got to her, but lost consciousness on route to here. BP 90/60, heart rate is 48bpm and carbon dioxide is at 40%, we bagged her at the scene."

"Alright, I need someone to take blood, a ventilator, a CBC, a ct scan, and a chest x-ray." As the nurses and doctors responding to this call were getting on with their jobs, the crowd outside the doors was growing restless. Citizens banging on the clear door to get answers and people blocking the walkway for other staff preventing them from work. "I want everyone who is not a nurse or a doctor out into the reception area, NOW!" With that being said all bystanders were rushed into the open reception area by the security men.

A chaotic 45 minutes later the burn patient was stabilized and was being prepped for their surgery for skin grafting. Leaving the room, Will lets out a breath he had been holding before the patient was wheeled in. Removing his gloves, Will thanks the nursing staff for their help and cooperation, when he notices an imparticular nurse. A petite brunette with hazel eyes removing her protective gown and latex gloves, her blue scrubs looking rather large on her figure with a white undershirt rolled up to her elbows.

Purple and blue bruises litter her boney arms, in shapes of fingers, as if someone had grabbed her. Seconds later, the brunette's head whips up, clutching her rolled-up undershirt sleeves and she yanks the fabric down her arms. Looking left and right wondering if anyone had seen anything she disposed of her used protective gear and hurried off to the nurse's staff room.

Placing his paperwork down onto the closest work desk, he walks in her direction intending to find out more, when a beep occurs in his ear. Looking down as his pager was calling him, searching around for a phone, he knew he would have to investigate later.

The following Sunday after a gruesome call shift ending in the death of a child, Will Halstead finds himself waiting for his brother at an empty barstool in mollies. Nursing a beer, WIll sighs in relief when the door to the pub is pulled open revealing his younger brother of two years Detective Jay Halstead.

Spotting his older brother in the corner of the room, he stalks over to the bar ordering himself his usual before retreating in the same direction as the redhead.

"Hey, brother!" Shouted Jay, raising his voice over the other patrons, to get his greeting across. After giving and receiving a brotherly hug, the detective sits himself across from the doctor. " You alright bro, seem kind…." his sentence trailing off.

"Huh?" Snapping his head up, meeting the concerned gaze of his younger brother. "Me? oh, yh, yh. All good here, just ya know lost a kid. Rough." Raising his glass and downing the remaining half.

"Aw man im sorry, I know what you mean." Shaking his head as he sips his drink.

Remembering the whole reason he asked his younger brother here, Will snapped his head up and pulled out his phone. Goin through his recent photos, he found the one he took last call shift of one of the nurse's records. Will knew he could trust his brother, knowing this was not only rude but illegal, he also trusts that he will keep it to himself.

"Hey, Jay, you deal with abusive relationships all the time right" When Will received a questioning nod from Jay he showed him the phone. "Well um, before you start I know this is wrong but, but hear me out. This nurse works with me sometimes. She's always wearing long-sleeved scrub shirts, undershirt, or a coat. She never shows her arms and I mean never, don't you think that's….. Weird." Will rambled.

"Look, Will, maybe she's cold or doesn't like her arms. Women have many insecurities, maybe she doesn't like anyone seeing them." Jay reasoned.

"Nah man, just last call shift I saw her arms, for the first time. Bro, they were covered in bruises!" Will exclaimed. " Jay these bruises were like handprints, I swear, I didn't get a close look or get to talk to her cuz she ran. That's something right, to look into."

Taking the phone from the doctor's grasp he analyses the file photo, even he has to admit she's the most gorgeous person he's seen. Her auburn/brunette hair, her fair skin, and round hazel eyes. Small groves in her cheeks clearly showing him where her dimples would be, her perfect button nose and freckle face, Jays never saw anyone like it. After his last break up, the detective decided dating was not in his cards, choosing to focus all his attention on his job.

Realizing that Will was still looking at him with an expecting gaze, he dragged his eyes up to meet the gaze of his brothers. "Brother, i..i..i.. Don't know what to tell you. Maybe she really is cold, or she fell. A picture of her face doesn't exactly tell me I need to investigate. You can't go around making accusations, I mean, Will have you ever spoken to her?"

Releasing a tired sigh, Will ran his hand over his face, nodding slowly. "Yeah I mean, no, but I saw them, the bruises. I just have a bad feeling."

"Look, maybe start a conversation with her, see where that goes. I haven't seen her around here before, maybe invite her out and we can meet." Rising from the table Jay sets down a few notes. Noticing the concerned look of his brother. "Ok, give me a name and I'll see what I can do"

"Erin. Erin Lindsay"