Disclaimer : The characters of Chicago Med / Fire and P.D do not belong to me !
Her ewe go with a slash on Chicago Med. I started reading fics about this ship, and I fell in love with them before I decided to write about them.
This is a two-part story.
Natalie isn't in it !
Chicago !
From the beginning, their relationship had been clear. It was just sex. What Will hadn't anticipated was the feelings that were born in him as they bonded, but he didn't let anything appear. He was very strong at this game. He had fallen in love once. Deeply in love. His name was Jordan, and he had been his roommate at university for four years. Their roommates had become a couple's cohabitation, but they kept it between the walls of their university room. Medical school was arduous, and they both wanted to succeed. But that didn't stop them from having a long four-year relationship, until Jordan left to do his internship in Canada. Their route was dividing, and they had broken up by mutual agreement that had not been without consequences. In the middle of his first year of internship, Will learned that Jordan had been killed in a car accident. Will had a hard time recovering, and he had taken time to heal from the loss of his first love. He had flirted here and there with no strings attached. In New York, he dated a man he had met in a café. A university professor in architecture, and it had lasted a few months before Will felt suffocated by Vincent's jealousy and possessiveness. It was only a short time before he returned to Chicago permanently. Both times, Jay had been there to help him get back on track ; but Will had decided to end serious relationships. It would be sex, or nothing.
For several weeks he had been with one of his brother's teammates. A Police Lieutenant named Adam Ruzek. There was nothing serious between them. The two men had set the record straight on the evening of their first night of debauchery. Will didn't want anything serious. Adam needed to clear his head after his fiancée returned the engagement ring. No feelings. Just sex. And nothing had changed.
Until the day Will met Dr. Connor Rhodes.
With Adam, they had stopped seeing each other as lovers for several weeks, the police lieutenant being in a relationship with a young teacher.
The first meeting between Will and Connor did not go very well. This newcomer full of arrogance, who strutted with his years of experience, and his self-assurance. It warmed Up Will to the highest point. Then things had settled down, more or less. They had become cordial with one another, for the well-being of the patients. Then there was this story of a clinical trial involving Will's patient, and he discovered that she was on placebo. He wanted to join her to tell her the truth, but Connor had stuck him in one of the hospital elevators, blocking him once the doors were closed, and then, he had immobilized Will against the walls so that he would calm down and think before throwing away his career. Face against the wall, jerky breathing, Will's rage had turned into desire. An uncontrollable desire. He knew – or at least he thought he knew – that Connor loved women, but it had been out of his control. When Connor had freed him, Will had turned around to find himself face to face with him. No matter it got weird between them, he had to do it. And he did. He grabbed him by his jacket and kissed him. What was not his surprise when he felt Connor give him back the kiss. A wild, desperate kiss. Will ended it first, and then, when he put the elevator back in motion, it was to go to the top floor to get to the roof. The cold October air was biting his cheeks and burning his lungs, but he had regained his spirits. He had made a mistake. He spent the next few weeks avoiding Connor, until Connor came knocking on his door on a Saturday night. No words were exchanged. Connor having entered, had closed the door without leaving Will's eyes. He had removed jacket, sweater and t-shirt. The message could not be clearer, and Will had broken down the barriers he had forged for weeks. That night, he and Connor spent it in bed, letting their rage and desire take over everything else. Will didn't want to fall back into the infernal spiral of a relationship, something he had said to Connor. The latter just wanted to have fun. From there was born their affair. Whenever one of them felt the need to evacuate stress, tension or other, he would text the other, with a meeting place.
It had been going on for six months, but everything had changed. Connor was bi, and Will knew it but since Dr. Charles' daughter had arrived at Gaffney, the lover couple had been walking away. That was to be expected.
Two weeks passed, and Will acted as if it didn't affect him. He had fallen, in spite of himself, in love with Connor, but there was no question of admitting it to him. He preferred to end this story before suffering again, and making Connor suffer. If the surgeon was fine with Robin, then so be it. His last relationship was really bad, and Connor didn't know the details. It was better for him to continue to remain in the dark.
In the locker room at the end of his shift, Will shook his head to regain his spirits, and he changed. With his back to the door, he heard it open, and then familiar hands sneaked over his hips.
« Hey, you ! »
« Hi ! » replied Will, hoarse voice.
He scraped his throat and did his best to swallow his turmoil.
« Are you already leaving ? » said Connor.
« Yes, I've finished my shift. » says Will.
He closed his locker and moved away from Connor's embrace so he could put on his jacket.
« Don't you want to wait five minutes ? I change and we go to Molly's. Robin hasn't been there yet. » Connor said. « And I'd like to introduce her to you. »
Will swallowed a rictus.
« I've already planned to meet Jay there. » he says. « See ya ! »
Of course, it was a shameless lie. He grabbed his backpack, but Connor stopped him before he had time to ran away.
« Wait, what's happening to you ? You're weird, those days. » Connor said.
« Listen Connor, I think it's better if we end it, what's going on with us. » says Will.
« What ? »
The surprise was painted on Connor's face.
« I need to be alone for a while so, we're done. »
Will had become a master in the art of bluffing. The only person who could know when he was lying, was Jay. Taking advantage of Connor's state of shock, he passed him and walked out of the break room just as Robin was entering.
Arriving at Molly's, Will ordered a beer and went to sit at a free table at the back of the bar. He sirized his beer when a couple of friends joined him and took their seats in front of him.
« What's that face ? » asked Kelly. « Is it going badly with your surgeon ? »
« I put an end to it. » Will taught them.
« Why ? » said Casey.
« I'll let you guess. »
Kelly Severide and Matt Casey were both Lieutenants in the Chicago Fire Department, and as a couple from the academy. When Will landed in Chicago, the three of them had befriended each other, and they knew of Will's past and his propensity to flee all forms of serious relationships, including the real ones that led him to leave New York. It only took them a few seconds to understand that Will had become attached to the surgeon.
« Are you going to sabotage all your serious relationships ? » asked Kelly.
« It wasn't a serious relationship. » Will retorted.
« Come on ! » says Casey. « You fell in love with him, and it scares you. »
« Anyway, he's spending all his time with Robin now. » Will says, shrugged. « There's no point talking about it anymore. »
« Dr. Charles's daughter ? » asked Kelly. « I'm sure nothing is happening. »
« If you say so. » muttered Will as he emptied his beer.
He signaled Gabby to bring him a second one, and he swallowed a long shave as soon as she put the bottle in front of him.
« I'm telling you. » Kelly said. « Just look at the way he looks at you. »
« And, how does he look at me ? » asked Will.
« The same way I look at Matt. » Kelly says.
« It's not the same thing. » says Will. « You've been together for years. With Connor, it's only been six months, and it's... it was, purely sexual. »
Sitting in front of the entrance, where he had a direct view of the clients who were entering, he swore between his teeth when Connor and Robin entered. Drinking a sip, he took out his phone and ordered a taxi. He put a twenty-dollar bill on the table and got up.
« I'm leaving. » he says. « See you around, guys ! »
He tried to dodge, in vain, the look of Connor who was at the bar. Their eyes crossed, and Connor was about to join him, but Will turned away and walked to the door when the Intelligence Team entered. Well, his brother's unexpected arrival was timely.
« Are you already leaving ? » asked Jay.
« Yes, I'm weary. » Will replied, as his ex-lover entered in turn. « Hi, Adam ! »
« Hey there ! »
Adam's voice was sweet and hoarse.
« No, there's no way you're flirting in front of me ! » Jay says as he walks away.
« How's it going, with the teacher ? » asked Will, smiling at his brother's attitude.
« We broke up a few weeks ago. She got a permanent job in San Diego. » told him the policeman.
« Oh, sorry for you ! » said Will.
« Thank you, but she dreamed of it. I couldn't ask her to give it up. » Adam said. « And you then, with your surgeon who is throwing me an incendiary look ? »
« Uh, it's over. » says Will. « I put an end to it. »
« Will ! » said Adam. « Why ? »
« I'd tell you another time, I'm really tired. » says Will.
He came out of Molly's, not without having left his hand lying around more than reason on Adam's shoulder. Maybe it was time for him to find someone for one night. Just one night so that he forgets everything he could feel for Connor. Maybe Adam would be...
« Can you tell me what that was ? »
Awesome... That's was all he needed. Connor following him outside to make a scene. He really needed that. Keeping calm, he turned around to face him.
« I don't know what you're talking about. » says Will.
« Oh yes, you do ! » slammed Connor. « You and Adam, and your hand on his shoulder. You think I didn't catch what you're trying to do ? »
« Again, I don't see what you're talking about at all. » Will repeated, calmer than Connor.
« You're trying to make me jealous. » Connor says.
« Why would I do that ? » says Will, sneering. « I broke up with you, and Adam is a friend. »
« A friend you slept with before me. » Connor reminded him.
« You don't have to say anything. We're not a couple, we've never been one, do you understand ? » Will said. « And I ended our arrangement because it was about time, so you should avoid making me a scene because I'm talking to a friend and going back to Robin. I'm sure she's waiting for you. »
« Oh, so that's why you broke up with me. » Connor understood better now. « You feel threatened by Robin. »
« I don't feel threatened, because if I did I wouldn't have broken up, but I would have made sure she knew you were taken. » Will replied. The taxi arrived and parked on the aisle. « And I point out to you that you have not called me once since she has been there. »
« Neither do you. » replied Connor.
« Drop it. » sighed Will. « Go find Robin. You and I are still colleagues at work, but that's the end of it. »
He climbed to the back of the cab without looking back, and gave his address to the driver. Halfway through, he sent Jay a message. Can I crash at your house tonight ? The answer didn't take long to come. Yes, of course. He gave his brother's address to the driver, fifteen minutes later, after paying for his ride, Will entered his brother's apartment. He would have drunk well until he had a blackout, but he was working the next day. He took off his shoes, jacket and sweater before putting the alarm on his phone and collapsing on the couch.
...
He was not attracted to Robin. Not once, nor by any other of the women who worked in the Chicago Med Hospital. Connor didn't talk about his private life, he had never even mentioned the fact that he was, like Will, gay. Apparently, the young man believed him to be bi. Connor knew it was a bit of his fault, and if he had been honest with him from the start, he might not be where he is. Why did Will break their arrangement ? He had no idea, but he was willing to find out. He didn't believe for a second the bogus excuse he had used for him in the hospital. Returning inside, he found Robin at the bar, and ordered a shot of whiskey that he drank right away.
« What's wrong ? » asked Robin.
« Will dumpted me. » replied Connor. « He says he needs to be alone, but I don't believe it. I rather believe that he does not like to see me with you. »
« And, did you tell him that with me you only talk about him ? » the young woman wanted to know.
« He didn't even give me time. » he says. « I think I screwed up. »
« It's up to you to sort things out, if you like him as you told me. » says Robin. « I can't help you with this. »
« Rhodes ! »
Jay Halstead, Will's younger brother and Police Lieutenant, interfered between the couple of friends.
« Can I talk to you ? »
« Of course ! »
He signalled to him to follow him outside, sheltered from indiscreet ears.
« Adam told me that Will had ended your little arrangement. » Jay says. « What did you do ? »
« Nothing but spending time with a colleague and in friendship. » says Connor. « I tried to ask him for an explanation, but all he used as bullshit was that he wanted to be alone. »
« There's really nothing going on with Dr. Charles's daughter ? » Jay asked.
« No, because I'm gay and I'm not attracted to women at all. » Connor replied. « Are you satisfied ? »
« Did you tell Will ? On the fact that you're gay, I mean. » asked the policeman again.
« No, but I didn't think it was necessary. » Connor said. « I have not once shown any interest in any woman since I arrived at Gaffney. I thought he would realize that it was getting serious between us, but he did everything to get away. »
« Yes, he shuns relationships when it gets serious. » Jay confessed.
« Why ? » asked Connor.
« It's not up to me to tell you about it. » Jay says. « Tell me one thing, Connor, how do you feel about my brother ? Don't ask question and just, answer me. »
Connor breathed a long sigh. He had not expected to have such strong feelings for his colleague and lover. Their first meeting had not been the most cordial, it had even started very badly, but that's what Connor liked. Will's temper and devotion to work had made him fall for him. Initially, he, too, was not looking for a serious relationship. Sex with Will was great and whenever one of them needed it or wanted it, all it took was a word and a meeting place, but the surgeon had been caught in a solid canvas that he couldn't get rid of. And to be honest, he didn't want to get rid of it. If only Will let him enter even a little bit into his life.
« You love him, don't you ? » asked Jay.
« Yes ! » replied Connor. « I didn't see anything coming. He's brilliant, he's a great doctor, and he's stubborn, but I love him. If I hadn't stayed at distance these last two weeks... »
« No, it has nothing to do with you » Jay said. « Believe me, I know my brother very well, and if he made the decision to break up, it was because he also loves you. »
« It doesn't make any sense. » Connor exclaimed. « Why stop everything if he has feelings for me ? »
« I'm going to talk to him, but you said it yourself, my brother is stubborn. » Jay says. « It may take a little while, but he will eventually come and talk to you. Just, don't try to insist on explanations. That would complicate things. »
« Okay ! » sighed Connor. « I'm going to give him some space, but tell him that I'm not giving up. »
...
Will woke up grommeling. His brother's couch wasn't big enough for him, and it was far from ideal for spending a whole night there.
« Are you aware that I have a guest room ? »
« Shut up, Jay ! » muttered Will.
« Get up, we have to talk. »
It took him a good ten minutes to get up from the couch, jump out of the bathroom and get dressed in his clothes from the day before. The smell of coffee drew him to the kitchen, where Jay was ready for work. The policeman waited until his brother had served himself a cup of coffee, before attacking without preamble.
« I spoke to Connor last night. »
« I'm not interested. » says Will.
« Too bad, because you're still going to listen to me. » says Jay, seriously. « You're making the biggest mistake of your entire life. »
« You think I don't know it ? » replied Will. « I should fight for Connor, tell him that I love him and that I'm willing to do anything to make it work between us, tell him about my past and tell him I'm finally ready to move forward because I think he's the right one, but I can't. »
« Of course you can. You can't make the decision for two. » Jay said. « Vincent is in New York, so stop using this as an excuse to sabotage your relationship with a guy who can be the right one. »
« He's no longer in New York ! » said Will.
« What ? »
He put his empty cup of coffee in the sink. He had kept this information to himself for two weeks, it was time for his brother to know too.
« Vincent left New York a month ago, and I didn't find out until two weeks ago. » Will told him. « A friend from college called me. He knew the real reason I left, and he has kept me informed all this time, but two weeks ago Vincent resigned from university after taking a vacation. I think... I think he found me. »
« Why are you only talking to me about it now ? » asked Jay. « I'm a cop, remember ? I could have followed his trail to make sure he stayed away from you. And how can you believe that he is looking for you ? »
« Because I didn't tell you everything. » Will confessed. With a knot in his throat, he finally confessed the truth to his brother. « If I left New York, it wasn't just because he was becoming too possessive. He threatened to kill me if I left him. »
« What ? » Jay's face decomposed. « Tell me you went to see the cops ? »
« The day after this threat, he was leaving for a conference at Stanford. I had a week to leave, so I talked to my boss, and he helped me get out. The whole clinic helped me get out. The clinic's lawyers did the right thing, and I applied for a restraining order against Vincent. Two days before he returned to New York, I was on a plane to Chicago, and I changed my life. »
Jay took a deep breath to calm down.
« Okay, here's what we're going to do. I'm going to take you to the hospital, and I'm going to let the team know. We're going to find out about him, and I swear I'm going to find him before he tries anything against you. But you, William Halstead, are going to stay in the hospital where you are safe, and I will pick you up after your shifts, me or another member of the team. Is Goodwin aware of this ? »
« And Dr. Charles. » nodded Will. « I asked them not to disclose anything to others. Maggie, Ethan, and April know I've left a man who's too stuffy, but that's it. Ah, and, Matt and Severide know it, on the other hand. »
« Great, so the only person you didn't see fit to let know was your own brother. » Jay says. « I should kick your ass. »
Half an hour later, Jay parked in front of the hospital emergency room.
« You don't get out of the hospital. Not even to eat. » Jay reminded him.
« You're exaggerating a little bit, Jay » sighed Will.
« Will, I'm serious. You don't get out of this hospital until I tell you. » Jay insisted.
Not wanting to argue with his little brother, Will conceded and got off his SUV. He greeted Maggie and went to the locker room to change. Wrapting his stethoscope around his neck, he noticed that his hands were shaking. It hadn't happened to him in a long time. When his friend from NY had told him that his ex had left college for no reason, Will felt anxiety rising. No matter how much he told himself that it had nothing to do with him, it didn't stop him from being afraid. Yes, he was afraid of Vincent. Several times, during the months when they've been 'dating', he had felt a strange discomfort. The sex had become different, sometimes a little too brutal, especially in the last few weeks. Will had distanced himself, working a little more and pretending to want to stay alone to rest, until it became dangerous. Clenched his fists and closing his eyes, Will mentally repeated to himself that everything would be fine. Calmer, he reopened his eyes and closed his locker when the door to the room opened on Connor. Will felt his heart tighten. He was madly in love with this surgeon, but it was far too risky. He went to the bathroom adjoining the lockers, and sprinkled his face with water.
« Am I the one who puts you in this state ? »
Shit ! Will dry his face with a towel and turned to Connor. Dressed in a navy blue blouse, he stood in the doorway, blocking the passage.
« No, I'm just a little tired. » Will laments.
« You think I don't know you're telling me craps ? » Connor took a step into the narrow bathroom, which had a shower, sink and closet with towels. He closed the door behind him, pushed the lock, and pushed Will to the only chair present. « I promised your brother that I would give you time, but you have to understand one thing... » He staddle Will's lap, taking him off his guard. There, he took his face in cup. « Robin is a friend. I'm not attracted to her at all because I'm gay, like you. »
« Yeah, I'll believe you. » Will replied with sarcasm.
« Believe it or not, but I didn't sleep with her, I didn't flirt with her either. » Connor continued. « All we do is work and talk. I mostly tell her about you. I don't know what you're hiding from me, Will, but whatever this is, you can tell me about it. I'm not going to run away, or let you down because I love you. »
Will looked away, unable to sustain the intensity of Connor's.
« No, don't give me hope. » says Will.
« Yet that's what I do. » Connor brought his face back to him. « When you'll be ready to talk to me, you will know where to find me. My feelings are not going to change because you have decided not to see me again. »
There, he took Will by surprise and kissed him, achieving the desired effect. In surprise, Will opened his mouth and Connor took the opportunity to slip his tongue into it. Will's hands clung to the waist of his assailant, too happy to find that exquisite and all-consuming sensation. The kiss ended.
« You didn't push me away, which means there's hope. Think about what I told you, Will. What made you break up, it can be sorted out if you decide to tell me about it. »
Connor kissed him again before getting up and leaving the room. Completely sounded, Will took his face in his hands. Damn it, his heart was bursting with joy. His whole body burned with desire and envy. Connor Rhodes was even more stubborn than he was himself. Part of Will was delighted that this man he was in love with, did not let go of the affair so easily. On the other hand, he didn't want his past to catch up with him and endanger the people he loved. And he loved Connor. intensely. He hadn't felt that since Jordan, and it terrified him. Get your act together ! He had to focus on the work, and nothing else.
21th District !
Jay climbed the stairs that led to his team's office, and he whistled a loud and distinct blow to commandeer everyone's attention, including Hank Voight, who came out of his office.
« I need help. » he says. « Will just confided to me about Vincent Gardens, his ex, and it's more serious than I thought. »
He told them everything Will had told him an hour earlier, and at the end of the story, Adam let out a dirty son of a bitch who escaped no one.
« I know we can have a more urgent case... » Jay grimaced saying that word. « ... at any time, but it's my brother.
« We're going to investigate. » Hank tells him. « Adam, contact New York for details of the complaint Will filed. Jay, Upton and you go to Will's apartment to make sure it's safe, and you stay around the hospital in surveillance mode. Kim and Kevin, you dig into the life of Vincent Gardens. I want to know everything about him. If he has a favorite dish, I want to know. Al and I are going to talk to Will's former boss over the phone. »
« Thank you boss. » says Jay.
Arriving at Will's apartment, he pulled out his key game and entered, Hailey on his heels. Gun at hand, they checked every room.
« No microphone, and the lock wasn't forced. » Hailey says.
« Let's hope it stays that way. » Jay says. « If this guy approached my brother, I would take him down without batting an eyelid. »
He prepared a spare bag for Will, who had gone to work with his clothes from the previous day.
« Do you blame him for hiding the truth from you ? » asked Hailey, as he locked the front door. »
« You'd be furious, too, if you were in my place. » Jay replied.
« Maybe. » Hailey says. « But I understand why your brother didn't want to tell you anything. And so do you. We see that all the time in our job. »
« I know ! » sighed Jay. Once in the car, he swore between his teeth. « I am his brother though, he should have been able to tell me about it. I would have done the right thing. »
« He needs you now. » Hailey says. « He needs all of us. We're going to find Gardens, and if he approaches Will, he'll understand that he's gone after the wrong guy. »
And Jay will get the message across to him. Parked near the hospital, he got out of the car with Will's bag. Hailey stayed in the SUV to keep an eye on the perimeter.
« Jay, what brings you ? » greeted Maggie.
« I come to give clothes to Will. He slept at my house last night so it will be better if he leaves with clothes that don't smell. » Jay joked.
« He's with a patient, but I can pass him the bag, if you want. » she proposed.
« Yes, here ! » said Jay, passing him the bag. « I have to talk to Goodwin and Dr. Charles. Can you warn them that I'm coming ? »
« Yes, okay ! »
Arriving in the office of Sharon Goodwin, director of the hospital, he waited for Dr. Charles to arrive before explaining the facts to them.
« I had advised him to tell you about it. » says Dr. Charles. « It must be believed that William is more astrate than he seems. »
« That's an understatement. » Jay says. « My team is conducting the investigation on its own, but until we get our hands on Vincent Gardens, we will take all the necessary precautions. Hailey and I will stay out in case he is there. There will be bearings, and one of us will pick up Will at the end of his shift. »
« I'm going to let Maggie know. She manages emergencies and no one enters or leaves without her consent. » Sharon said.
« Perfect. » Jay got up. « I'm going to see Will and let him know what we've decided as well. »
Dr. Charles walked out of the office with Jay, and the two men walked side by side.
« I wouldn't want to get involved in what's none of my business, but I heard from my daughter that your brother and Dr. Rhodes would have stopped seeing each other. » he says.
« Did Will tell you about his first love ? » asked Jay. Dr. Charles shook his head. « Jordan. They were together at university. It was the real love at first sight on both sides, but Jordan was killed in an accident after their studies, and Will struggled to recover. Since that day, he refuses to attach himself to anyone, and Connor has arrived. »
« Maybe he thinks his past with this Vincent can ruin his relationship with Connor ? » asked Dr. Charles.
« That's it. » Jay replied. « He doesn't want Connor to suffer through his fault. But I didn't tell you anything. »
« We've never had that conversation. » the psychiatrist agreed.
Back in the emergency room, Jay signaled his brother to follow him into the empty rest room. He soon informed him.
« You're still not going to stay in front of the hospital all day ? » said Will. « You said here I will be safe. »
« Listen, these are Voight's orders, okay ? » says Jay. « As long as we don't have another case, we're going to take turns to keep an eye on you. If you need a real coffee, you text me and I take care of it. Same for food. Hey... » He put his hand on Will's shoulder. « I would do everything, you hear me, everything to protect my big brother. You save lives, and I put people like Gardens behind bars. »
« Okay ! » said Will.
The two brothers exchanged an embrace. Will was beeped, and Jay returned to find Hailey in the SUV after buying two coffees from the vendor in front of the hospital.
« Nothing to report ! » she told him. She accepted the coffee. « Thank you ! »
« Sharon is going to let Maggie know so she can keep her eye open. » Jay says. « Any news from the team ? »
« Not yet ! » says Hailey. « So, do you think Will is going to get back together with Connor ? »
« I hope so ! » says Jay. « I saw in Connor's eyes last night how much he loves my brother. He knows he made a mistake in getting closer to Robin, even though it was purely platonic, but I know he's willing to do anything to get my brother back. »
« The question is : is your brother ready to pull out the stick he has in his ass and be happy ? » says Hailey.
Jay burst out laughing and looked at his girlfriend.
« You have the way to formulate your thoughts. » he amused himself.
She winked at him and turned her attention to the alley and venue in front and around the hospital.
The day was quiet. From the SUV, Jay and Hailey took stock with Kevin over the phone.
« Wait, how can't you find anything about Vincent Gardens beyond five years ? » asked Jay.
« This guy is a real ghost. We have no medical or personal history. His social security number belongs to a guy who died thirty years ago. »
« Okay, so we're dealing with a psychopath. » Hailey says. « Lovely ! »
« Kev, can you give me a copy of everything you found and bring it to me ? » asked Jay.
« Yes, I'm on my way ! »
« Jay, I got the New York Police. » Adam took over.
« I'm listening ! »
« So, Will didn't file a complaint but a restraining order was made. Vincent Gardens is forbidden to approach your brother. There is not even a specific meter. The lawyers who assisted Will that day were very clear with the police. No contact, no phone call. He got a concrete order. »
« So if we pick Vincent even in town, we can box him up for not complying with a removal order. » Hailey says. « Do we have a visual report ? »
« Kim is on the move. The Gardens file was obtained from New York University. There is even his photo and we pass it in the file of wanted persons, and criminals in priority. »
« Thank you man ! » said Jay. « Send a copy of Gardens's photo to Goodwin. She will have the hospital monitored. »
Half an hour later, as he was returning from the hospital where he had dropped off a sandwich and coffee to his brother, he went through the file that Kevin had brought them. The face that adorned the copy of a driver's license issued in the name of Vincent Gardens, made Jay want to hit someone. Night had fallen on Chicago when Jay went to wait for Will in front of the emergency room. The latter came out, followed closely by Connor.
« Jay ? » he was astonished. « What are you doing here ? »
« Do you want to talk to him about it ? » Jay said to his brother.
« Stop, there's no way I'll get him involved in all this. » replied Will, who didn't wait for his brother and joined Hailey, who got him into the SUV.
« Jay, what's going on ? » asked Connor, who was increasingly worried.
« Be careful on your way home ! » Jay tells him, without answering his request.
Sitting behind the wheel, Jay exchanged a glance with his brother through the rear-view mirror.
« You're making a mistake. » he tells her.
« I don't want anything to happen to him by my fault. » says Will.
Crossing Hailey's gaze, Jay dropped out – for now – and started the engine.
For a week, the members of the Intelligence unit took turns supervising the hospital. A case fell on their arms, but it was completed within a day. After chaining a double guard, Will was exhausted. He had two days off, and he had planned to spend them locked up at his house watching The Mentalist.
Putting on his jacket, Will took his bag and left the rest room.
« You look terrible. » Maggie tells him.
When Maggie had learned that Will had hidden from her that his ex was a dangerous psychopath (those own words), from her and from April and Ethan who were now aware, she punched him in the arm. He apologized, and made them promise not to reveal anything to Connor. The last thing he wanted was for him to be involved in all of this.
« Thank you, Maggie ! » sighed Will.
« Your taxi has arrived. » she told him. « And if you don't want Connor to see him, I advise you to hurry up. »
Will growled, and walked to the exit. It was eight o'clock in the morning, and his escort of the day consisted of Adam Ruzek and Kevin Atwater. Adam was waiting for him in front of the emergency room entrance, and Will could see Kevin's imposing figure near a metallic SUV.
« Long night ? » asked Adam.
« Endless ! » replied Will. « Take me home that I can collapse in my bed. »
« Is this a joke ? »
And here we go. Will caught Adam's gaze.
« I think you no longer have a choice. You have to tell him. » he said. « Don't hang around. »
He walked away a few steps. Will turned to Connor, who had just arrived to start his day.
« Did you get back with him ? » asked Connor.
« No ! » replied Will, tired. « Listen Connor, I've just chained a double shift, I'm exhausted, and I don't want to argue with you. »
« What is he doing there ? » insisted Connor.
« He just takes me home. » says Will. « Please don't make a scene, okay ? »
Looking towards Adam, it was there that Connor realized that the officer's crew member, Lieutenant Atwater, was near an SUV. Jealousy deserted his body and heart, and anxiety inined in him. He then remembered that earlier this week, Jay had come to pick him up after his shift. The next day it was the turn of Burgess and Olinski, and so on. Even Voight had come to pick him up, as well as Antonio, who had returned after long weeks undercover.
« What's going on, Will ? » He moved towards him and took his hand. « Please talk to me. »
« He... » Will resigned himself. « They protecting me. Maggie will tell you everything. »
He pulled out his phone and texted Maggie. Tell Connor everything.
« It's not Maggie but you, whose truth I want to hear. » Connor slammed.
« I'm going to stay at home until Monday. Pass by whenever you want, and we'll talk. » Will said. « I'm tired of lying to you. The decision is yours, on everything. »
He released his hand and found Adam. Once in the comfort of the SUV, he let out a sigh.
Connor entered the emergency room in search of Maggie, who was already waiting for him in the break room. And so she told him everything she knew.
After Kevin and Adam inspected his apartment, Will locked himself up, took a hot shower and went to bed. The curtains of his room were drawn, he still rushed under the duvet and fell asleep immediately only to wake up ten hours later. He was hungry. Pulling himself out of bed, he went around the bathroom before preparing a grilled cheese sandwich. A bottle of beer in addition, he went to collapse in front of the TV and launched the first episode of The Mentalist. He wanted to start the series for a long time, there he had two days ahead of him to watch at least the first season. At the end of the first episode, there was a knock on the door. He paused Netflix, and went to watch through the peephole. Connor. Will was only wearing a jog. Too bad. After all, Connor had seen him naked several times. Unlocking the door, he opened it and closed it once Connor had entered.
« I'm gonna kill you ! » he said between his teeth.
« Hi to you too ! » taunted Will.
He returned to sit on the couch, but did not launch the rest of his show. Instead, he turned off the screen and waited until Connor had finished taking the hundred steps between him and the TV. He eventually stops.
« Are you sure your ex is looking for you ? » he asked.
« No, but I didn't want to take the risk that you would get involved in that. » Will replied.
« You could at least have given me the opportunity to decide for myself. » Connor replied. « Will, you know everything about my life. You know how much I don't get along with my father and why. You know my mother committed suicide and why. You also know that I have never had a serious relationship before you. »
« You told me you wanted to have fun. » Will reminded him.
« Yes, that's what was originally planned. » Connor took off his jacket and put it on a chair before sitting next to Will, one leg under him. « I fell in love with you, but you kept acting as if there was nothing between us. When you kissed me, the first time, I knew you would be special. I wanted to follow you on the roof, but I left you some space. I couldn't get you out of my head. That's why I came to your house after three weeks. I couldn't take it anymore, I needed you, I needed you to stop avoiding me. I didn't think it would become as serious on my side, but it quickly became so. »
« It's the same for me, but I didn't want to get attached again. » Will confessed. « The first time, it ended badly. »
« Tell me ! » said Connor, who took his hand and intertangled their fingers.
Talking about Jordan ? At this thought, Will's heart tightened. He hadn't talked about him in a long time, and to do it now, to tell Connor about his past, their past, would be hard, but he did. The words came out one after the other. Not once did he look at Connor, who had not let go of his hand, and who listened carefully to him. Will even ended up telling him about Vincent and how it ended with him.
« I ran away. I behaved like a coward. »
« I'll stop you right away. » said Connor, who sat down on him and forced him to look at him. « You have not been cowardly. It takes courage, in any way, to get out of a toxic relationship like this. Toxic and dangerous. You did the right thing, waited for the right moment, asked for help and left. Although I admit that not telling Jay the truth was not very clever. » Will sneered briefly. « What's done is done. I know the truth now, and I decide to stay with you. If you tell me you don't love me, I would still be your friend. »
Will rolled his eyes.
« I told you that the decision was up to you. » he reminded him.
« And I want to hear you tell me. » Connor insisted.
« I love you too ! » says Will.
« Finally ! » said Connor. « I thought I was going to have to wait another six months. »
« I withdraw what I said, I hate you. » Will retorted.
« No, you adore me. » smiled Connor, who kissed him.
« Hum... Connor. » muttered Will.
Connor pulled away and took off his sweater, followed by his t-shirt to tie with Will.
« It's been three weeks, Dr. Halstead. » the surgeon reminded him. « Three... » He kissed him in the neck. « ... Long.. ». Then, behind the ear. « ... Weeks. »
« You... you don't think we should... uh, start from scratch and... » Will lost the thread of his thoughts as Connor's mouth tasted his skin. « Oh Lord ! »
« I'd take you on a real date when this whole story is over. » says Connor, whose hand was sneaking between their bodies to grab Will's sex. The latter swallowed. « I really want you. How about you ? »
Will's response was a hoarse rattle as Connor slipped his hand into his pants to take him between his fingers. Will was excited, very excited, and it would be a lie to say that he didn't feel like sleeping with this man sitting on him. He lifted his hips and lowered his pants, which made Connor smile, who let him go to get up and undress. Once naked, Will drew him back to him. Their mouths were immediately found in a long, sensual and urgent kiss.
« We have to get tested. » says Will. « It's been too long. »
« I'd do it tomorrow. » Connor says. « But if I'm not buried inside you right away, I'm going to explode. »
Without a word, Will maintained his grip around Connor, hoisted himself from the couch and led them to his room.
« You're strong, Doctor ! » minauda Connor in his ear. « Do you have other hidden talents ? »
« Maybe ! » said Will, putting him on the floor. « Beware ! »
« Oh ! »
Connor turned him to the bed, and pushed him before Will could even fight back. Connor opened the drawer of the nightstand, where the lube and condoms were located. He grabbed it, and lay down on Will to kiss him. He straightened himself on the bed, on his knees, and poured lube on two of his fingers, which he slipped between Will's buttocks in order to moisten his anus. Three weeks. Even before this misunderstanding about Robin, not a week went by without them ending up at one or the other's house to have sex. Three weeks was a very long time. Will groans when Connor inserts a finger, then a second, and a third in him, preparing him for something more imposing. Connor tore the condom packaging with his teeth, without removing his fingers from his lover. Will took the condom in his hands and, trembling under the effect of desire and impatience, he unrolled the latex along Connor's penis, covering it entirely. Grabbing the lube, he poured it on the surface of his sex and spread it with his hand. The two men were almost at the height of pleasure. At the same time, they remove hand and fingers, and Connor inserts himself into Will with a long liberating push. A familiar feeling that they had missed as much as they had. Molding his body to his like the missing piece of a puzzle, Connor tied his fingers to Will's, placing them above their heads, kissed his lover and gave a first thrust.
« Say it, Will ! » begged Connor, against his lips. « Please ! »
« Connor, I love you ! »
« I love you ! »
Will raised his knees a little more, giving more scope to the thrusts of his lover, who became more vigorous in his movements and in his kiss. They came almost simultaneously...
The next morning !
Connor woke up before Will. Unlike him, he had an eight-hour shift waiting for him. He made as little noise as possible, taking a shower and changing with the clothes he had brought to a spare bag he kept at work. Dress with his regular outfit, he put on his sneakers and joined Will, who was lying on his stomach. Sitting on the edge of the bed, Connor stroked his hair, which pulled Will out of his sleep.
« Um, it's Sunday. » he grumbled.
« Yes, but I'm working, because I didn't know if I was going to see you again or not. » Connor says. « Do you think your escort would take you to mine tonight ? »
« I can always ask, but they're going to have to inspect the place. » says Will. « Just in case. »
« Do you still have the spare keys I passed you, when we started seeing each other ? » asked Connor. Will nodded, half dozing off. « You just have to wait for me there with Jay. I finish at 7 p.m. »
« Okay ! » muttered Will. « You can let me sleep now. »
Connor laughs low. He kissed Will in the neck.
« I love you ! »
« Um, I love you too ! »
...
Hailey and Burgess were tasked with watching over Will that day, and with Voight's agreement, they drove Will to Connor's apartment, whose residence was a real fortress. Will introduced the two young women to the caretaker of the building, who showed their badges. Kim noticed that there were surveillance cameras. Once in the apartment, Will waited at the entrance until they had finished inspecting the place.
« Clear ! » Hailey said.
« This appartment is nice. » Kim says. « Tell me you tested the Italian mega shower. »
« Yes, I tested it. » Will replied, rolling his eyes. « And not just to shower, if you know what I mean. »
« Luckily Jay isn't here. » Hailey said.
« Coffee ? » proposed Will.
« With pleasure ! » agreed Kim.
Twenty minutes later, after sharing a coffee and a long discussion, Hailey received a message.
« Adam and Antonio are downstairs to take over. » she says. « We're going to go to the station to see what's new. »
« I'm not risking anything here. » Will tells them, escorting them back to the door.
« Will, you're part of the family. » Kim tells him. « We'll keep an eye on you until this Gardens garbage is stopped. »
« Okay, but go home and rest for a few hours. » he told them. « It's the doctor who's speaking. »
« Well, Doctor ! » smiled Hailey.
Will prepared dinner for Connor and him, and a smell of vegetables packed the apartment when the owner returned.
« And you can cook ? » he exclaimed. « You are the perfect man. »
« Shut up ! » replied Will calmly.
The plates were ready, vegetables and rice, which made the surgeon salivate.
« Your ex stands guard downstairs. » Connor tells him.
« I know ! » said Will. « Are you still jealous of Adam ? »
« Do you assure me that nothing more will happen between the two of you ? » asked Connor.
« I told you that I loved you, it seems clear to me ? » said Will. « Adam was only a way to decompress when I wasn't feeling good. I knew he was still in love with Kim, so there was no chance of it getting serious between us, so relax, sit down and eat, or I go home. »
Connor bit his lip when he turned his back on him to have two beers in the fridge.
« I'm close to sending everything on the floor to lie you down on the table and fuck you. » Connor tells him.
Will rolled his eyes before sitting at the table.
When Will returned to work the next day, Jay and Voight were on call for surveillance.
« We can take my car. » Connor told them.
« Not while Gardens is in nature. » Jay says. « Now that you know, and you don't seem to want to let go of my brother's side, we keep you in sight too. »
Connor had preferred not to say anything.
« Is there any news ? » asked Will, sitting in the back of the SUV.
He saw the tense exchange between Voight and Jay. The latter spoke.
« A man matching his report landed at Union Station two weeks ago. »
« What ? » cried Connor. « Is he really in Chicago ? » »
« The team is on the move. » Voight reassured them. « All patrols have his report and are ordered to call the station if they ever see him. We peel his bank accounts, his life, everything that can lead us to him. »
« With the help of Prosecutor Stone, and Ms. Goodwin's agreement, the hospital lines were wiretapped, especially those in the emergency room. » Jay explained. « We're ready, don't worry. »
With trembling hands, Will closed his locker after changing. His haunting turned out to be true. Vincent Gardens was in Chicago. Connor's arms around him, and his voice repeating to him I'm here, it's going to be okay, with gentleness and calmness, Will relaxes. His hands stopped shaking, and his heart stopped beating in his temples.
« Are you okay ? » asked Connor.
« Yes ! » Will scraped his throat. « You can always go away, you know ? »
« Not a chance. » Connor took Will's face into his hands and kissed him. « I love you, and I'm ready to face this with you. »
He kissed him.
« He can't reach you here. » Connor reminded him. « And you won't escape me so easily. »
« That's not what I want. » Will confessed.
...
21th District !
After meeting with Union Station's chief security officer and retrieving the surveillance videotapes from the past three weeks as well as the stamped train ticket archives, Kevin and Hailey had brought everything back to the office. Kevin was watching the videos and Hailey was scouring the names of passengers arriving in Chicago from New York over the past three weeks.
« I think he's changed his identity. » Hailey says. « There are no train tickets in the name of Vincent Gardens. »
« I got him ! » said Kevin.
Hailey got up from his desk and joined his teammate of the day. The videos were clear. Kevin made a close-up of the man in question. Hailey recognized him from memory. Kevin passed it into the facial recognition system. The file of criminals had yielded nothing, so he extended the search to all areas of research. It took only two minutes before there was a connection... or even several. At least a dozen.
« What the hell ? » said Kevin.
When a search notice from the Dallas Federal Office, with Gardens' photo in the name of Victor Donahue, appeared on the screen, Hailey hurried out to take out her phone and call Jay.
« Jay, Gardens is even more dangerous than we thought. »
...
Gaffney Chicago Med Hospital !
The day passed very quickly. Will took care of each patient that Maggie passed on to him, before he needed a break while test results returned from the lab.
« Dr. Halstead... » Maggie called him as he passed the metal gables that separated the emergency room from the waiting room.
« I'm just going to the vending machine, Maggie. » he reassured her, smiling.
She behaved like a mother hen with him. A mother hen and a prison guardian. She watched him closely, making sure he did not leave his sight. It was a bit of an exaggeration, but on the other hand, he was happy to see that there was concern for him. If he could go back, he would have told Jay everything, down to the last detail, when he returned to Chicago. Slipping coins into the slot of the dispenser, he chooses a chocolate protein bar. He lowered himself to retrieve it, when this voice, which he had not heard for more than two years, froze him to the bone.
« I thought you would never go out. »
Rising up without showing any sign of fear, Will found himself face-to-face with his ex-lover.
Vincent Gardens had remained the same as in their last interview. The day he had threatened Will with the worst if he were to leave him. Except that he had dyed his black hair platinum blonde, and that his green eyes were now hidden behind blue contact lenses...
What do you want ? » asked Will calmly.
« You know what I want. » replied Vincent. He was wearing a hoodie, which he had pulled up on his head to cover himself. « It took me a while to find you. You did not make it easy for me, with this complaint against me. »
« And you violated it. » the doctor remarked. « You're not supposed to be there. Why don't you go back to New York ? »
« I'm the one who dictates the rules, William ! » said Vincent deafly. He grabbed Will's wrist and tightened it. « I say when it's over. »
Gardens put his free hand in the pocket of his jacket, and pointed it at Will, who understood that he had entered the hospital armed.
« You come with me, or I swear to you that I am making a bloody slaughter. »
...
Maggie !
Behind her desk, facing the entrance to the emergency room, Maggie watched for the slightest suspicious movement. She walked out of the office to see Will better, and when the doors opened, she saw him with a man whose face was half-masked by his hood. Will wasn't moving. Oh yes ! He threw the chocolate bar into the trash can to the right of the dispenser. Will never threw chocolate away. Returning behind her desk, Maggie took her phone and called Jay, who was in a hideout outside the hospital.
...
Jay
When he hung up with Hailey, Jay made the decision to get out of the SUV and go watch his brother from the emergency room itself. Gardens was not just a narcissistic and domineering sociopath. He was also a man wanted for the murder of a student in 2002. He had barely had time to open the door when he received a call from Maggie.
« Maggie what... »
« Jay, I think he's here. »
« What ? »
« Oh no, Will comes out of the hospital. »
Jay hung up.
« Gardens, he's in the hospital. » he tells Voight.
The eyes of the two policemen turned to the emergency room. Jay's blood boiled when he saw Will come out, arms along his body and his gaze riveted towards his position. Behind the doctor, a man wearing a hooded jacket was following him closely. Voight picked up his radio and called for reinforcements. The Field Intelligence team – Antonio, Adam, Kim and Olinski – responded in return. Jay got off the SUV, drew his gun and pointed it at the man holding his brother.
« GARDENS, FREEZE ! CHICAGO P.D ! »
...
Will swallowed his fear at every step that led him along the driveway to the parking lot, where Gardens had told him they were going. Will knew he had nothing to fear. Jay and Voight were stationed right there, outside. When he saw him come out, Jay would know that something was wrong, and luckily, Maggie had seen him and warned his little brother. Looking at where Voight's unmarked SUV was parked, Will felt obvious relief when he saw his brother and Hank get out of the vehicle, weapons pointed in their direction and screaming :
« GARDENS, FREEZE ! CHICAGO P.D ! »
Before he could make a gesture to escape, Will felt Vincent's grip grabbing his blouse from behind and holding him against him. Soon the tip of a gun stuck in his ribs.
« DON'T MAKE A MOVE OR I'LL SHOOT HIM ! » he shouted. He lowered his voice to address Will. « Tell them to back off ! »
« No chance ! » replied Will. He nodded to Jay. « You see the guy there, the black hair ? »
« So what ? » said Vincent.
« He will not recoil until you are dead. He is my brother, poor asshole. » told him Will. « What ? » he said, feeling Gardens stiffening. « Have you forgotten that my brother was a cop ? »
« Shut your mouth. Brother or not, if he does not clear from my path I kill him and his friend. » Vincent spat out.
Two unmarked cars, as well as patrol cars surrounded the area. Adam and Antonio got out of one car, Olinski and Burgess got off the other, their weapons pointed at Gardens.
« I advise you to let me go if you care about your life. » Will tells him. « They won't hesitate to kill you. »
« They won't do anything at the risk of touching you. » Vincent slammed.
« Maybe ! » said Will. « But my colleagues would take care of me, and I'd rather die than follow you. »
Will couldn't explain it, but he had felt Connor's presence nearby. Maggie must have warned him, or so he hoped. Above all, he hoped that he would not make a stupid move.
« If you're still approaching, I'm killing him, is that understood ? » hissed Gardens.
« Hey, Hank. » called Will, looking at the Sergeant. « Do you need him alive ? »
« It doesn't matter as far as I'm concerned ! » replied Hank.
Will let out a smirk.
« What makes you laugh ? » asked Gardens.
« Oh, nothing. » Will replied. « I left for a good reason, and there's no way I'll follow you."
Planting his gaze in his brother's, Will tells him :
« Strike, little brother ! »
Jay nodded, and stirred his lips without uttering the slightest sound One, two, three !
Will tilted his head to the left. A shot rang out. Will felt Vincent's grip loosen at the same time as he was splashed by sheaves of blood and brains. He was carried away by gravity and landed on the ground, his heart beating in his temples to break everything. Arms grabbed him and pulled him back. He jumped for a second before crossing Connor's worried gaze.
« I'm fine, I have nothing. » he says, trying to get up.
Connor helped him there, just as Jay approached his brother.
« Will, are you okay ? » he asked, worried.
« I need a good shower, but it's okay. » Will replied. « Great shoot ! I knew you wouldn't touch me. »
« Are you sure you're not hurt ? » asked Connor, who touched his arms, torso and stomach in search of injuries.
« Yes, I'm sure ! » says Will.
Connor removed a piece of brain from Will's outfit, and dropped it to the ground.
« What composure. » said Adam, who joined them.
« I knew Hank and my brother were there. » says Will. « And I was hoping Maggie had seen me out and that she would warn Jay. »
« That's what she did. » he says. « Well, no more dating a psychopath, understood ? »
« I learned the lesson. » says Will. « Should I make a statement ? »
« Yes, but there is no hurry. » says Hank. « Go home and rest. »
« Oh, the faster it's done, the faster I could finally turn the page. » says Will. « I'm going to clean myself up and I'll join you. » he tells Jay.
Will let Connor take him back to the emergency room, where he was immediately assaulted by Maggie, who took him in her arms despite the blood smearing his face and blouse.
« Well done, the chocolate shot in the trash. » she tells him. « In the two years I've known you, I've never seen you throw it away once. »
« I was hoping you understood I had a problem. » smiles Will.
Once released, Connor took Will into the narrow bathroom of the rest room and took off the top of his blouse.
« Sit down ! » he ordered.
He wet a glove, and cleaned all traces of visible blood. He also made sure he had nothing in his ear or hair, and then kissed him with a full mouth.
« Um, it feels good. » whispered Will.
« When Maggie warned me that you were in danger, I thought I was dying. » Connor confessed. He laid his forehead against his own. « I love you, Will. »
« I love you too, Connor. » He stood up and took him in his arms. « I have to go and give my deposition. »
Coming out of the bathroom, he put on a sweater, retrieved his bag, jacket, and came out of the rest room with Connor. Jay and Hailey, who had arrived from the precinct a few minutes earlier, were waiting for him.
« Are you waiting for me at home ? » asked Connor.
« Yes ! » replied Will.
« Oh, Dr. Halstead ! » Sharon Goodwin approached the doctor and took him in her arms, much to the surprise of the person concerned. « Praise be to God, you are fine. »
« I was in good hands. » he reassured her, before walking away. « I have to go and make my statement, but I can come back to work if ... »
« No, go home, rest. » Sharon said. « If you need more time, that's not a problem. »
« Thank you, Mrs. Goodwin ! » said Will.
« I'm going to cover the E.R. » Connor says. « I'm sure Dr. Latham will understand. »
« I'm in charge of talking to him. » Sharon says.
Before leaving, Will allowed himself to be drawn into another embrace by Connor.
« Well lovebirds, when will the wedding take place ? » said Hailey's voice, who made the people present laugh.
Connor laughed, and Will rolled his eyes.
« I'm returning the question over to you, sister-in-law. » Will replied, passing in front of her and her brother.
« We'll tie the knot when we're sure we can go on a honeymoon without you getting into trouble. » Jay replied.
...
After making his deposition, Jay had taken his brother home to take some clothes and then deposited it with Connor.
« Are you planning to move in ? » asked Jay, while they were still in the car, parked in front of Connor's building.
« I don't know. » Will replied. « It's a little early, and he owes me a real date. »
« I think it's you, who owes him one. » Hay says.
« Can you shut up ? » suggested Will.
« Seriously Will, I'm happy for you. » Jay says, sincerely. « It was time for you to free yourself from all this fear that you had been feeling since Jordan's death. I suspect that your relationship with Vincent – his real name Victor – did not help. »
« You can say it. » sighed Will. « I can't believe I've been drawn into such a story. »
« Hey, you got through it, that's the most important thing. » Jay tells him. « He is dead, and you will never have to look behind you again. Don't let the events of the day shy away from you. Talk to Dr. Charles if necessary, or to Connor, to whomever you want, but don't keep anything to yourself, and live. Live your life and enjoy to the fullest what you have with Connor. »
« Do you think it can last, him and I ? » asked Will.
« If it's what you want, I'm sure it will. »
Will think back to his conversation with his brother the rest of the day. He enjoyed a long shower in Connor's splendid Italian shower, washing himself at least twice. Dressed in a jog and sweatshirt, he prepared himself a quick thing to eat before crashing into bed. He loved this bed, it was really comfortable. How many times had he and Connor collapsed there, their bodies entangled in a passionate and sometimes wild embrace ? They had made love countless times, in six months. Each time, Will felt the need to stay, to snuggle up against this warm body, against this man he had fallen in love with, but he had always refused to do so. Last night had been the first they had spent with one another, entirely. And Will loved it. There was no longer any reason to reject the obvious. If he could, Will would spend all his nights with the surgeon. In this bed.
Connor came home very late. A last-minute trauma had arrived at the end of his shift, so he had helped. It was his duty as a doctor, after all. Will would understand. Speaking of Will, Connor found him asleep in bed. He did not join him until twenty minutes later, after taking a shower and eating something. It was in his underpants that he rushed into the bed.
« You're back ! » muttered Will, without reopening his eyes.
« Yes. There was a trauma just before I left. » Connor said, stroking his forehead.
« Ok ! » Will opened his eyes. « Hi ! »
« Hi, babe ! » Connor leaned over and tenderly took his lips. « I'd like to ask you something, but it must be too late for this kind of conversation. »
« Ask anyway ! » says Will.
« Do you want to move in with me ? » asked Connor.
« Are you aware that I'm a very difficult guy to live with ? » asked Will in return, not without sketching a smile. « I am impulsive, stubborn... »
« And you react very badly when orders are given to you. » Connor concluded. « I am aware of this, and I am ready to face your dirty temper for as long as you allow me. If you're ready to face mine. »
« It's true that we're two mule heads. » will admitted.
« Yes ! » said Connor. « We're perfect for one another. »
« I wouldn't get over it if it had to go wrong. » Will confessed.
« It won't happen. » said Connor, who took his cheek in the cup of his hand. « Because I love you, and I want a future with you, and with no one else. »
« Jay will take you down if you hurt me. » Will warned.
« I am well aware of that. » Connor kissed him. « Take the time to think. I will be patient. »
Perfectly awakened, Will straightened up and returned his kiss.
« It's time for me to move forward. » he says. « And you owe me a date. Even if according to Jay, I'm the one who owes you one. »
« What if we left on a weekend ? » proposed Connor. « Just you and me. We put down our weekend, and I book us a great stay in, like, Miami ? »
« Just that ? » amused Will.
« We're going wherever you want. » Connor says. « We leave on Friday night, and we go back on Monday morning. I book us a great hotel. Two days sipping cocktails by the pool, and making love like beasts. What do you say about it ? »
« I say it's very, very tempting ! » says Will. He sighed. « We're going to have to get tested before we leave. »
« Do you agree ? » hoped Connor.
« Yes, moron ! » Will kissed him. « I agree with everything. For the weekend in Miami, and to live with you. »
More than happy, Connor threw himself on him and kissed him fully.
« I love you ! »
« I love you too. » says Will. « Thank you for not giving up, when I was ready to do it. »
« I would do anything for you, William. » Connor said. « Don't do it again. No more ex psychopath, no more secrecy, and no more flirting with Ruzek. »
Will burst out laughing, but promised him. They shared a languid kiss that leads them to take off their clothes and get lost in each other.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Comments are appreciated, but only if you liked the story !
I'll try to translate the sequel soon !