Thank you everyone for the lovely reviews. I'm happy you are enjoying it. This is my first fanfic and quite honestly my first time writing any story. I don't really know where I'm taking this so we'll find out together. So on with the show.
Hailey and Will walk into Trauma 1. April was checking Jay's IV after administering the morphine. It didn't take long to take effect. Jay's eyes were closed, head tilted towards the curtains' opening where they walked through. April gives them both a nod as she walks out.
Will and Hailey both looked at Jay. He was bare-chested, bruises all too clear on white complexion, scars from bullet wounds, one faded, one more recent. Both a reminder that life as you know it can change in a second.
Will looks at the screens. His pad chirps a notification. Choi had sent him Jay's chart as a courtesy. He smiles and flips through it; then back at the screens. He looks up and sees Hailey. She's looking at Jay, deep in thought. She takes in the light and dark bruises. Her eyes wander from the bullet wounds to his face.
"He's just snoozing." Will whispers to Hailey. "He wasn't given much morphine but enough to relax him. His body wants rest. He may be listening to us but I doubt it." Looking at is respiration. He points, "It's too rhythmic." Hailey just smiles and nods.
April walks in with a heated blanket and a suture tray. She covers Jay with the blanket. She whispers to Will, "Small comforts. We'll put a gown on him after, give him a break for now. It's going to be a bit CT is backed up. Choi's with another patient, he wants to know if you'll do his sutures."
Will looks up and quickly nods looking at the tray. April whispers, "Call if you need anything." "Thanks."
Hailey looks at Will, says "I should go. Jay needs his rest.
Will ignores what she says. "You want to know a secret?" He's arranging the tray, opening up the pad he'll use to put over Jay's head so just the wound is visible.
Hailey looks up and raises her eyebrows toward Will.
Will walks over towards her and motions to Jay's left side. He is facing both of them.
Will removes Jay's watch. "Hold that for him?" He whispers, Hailey nods. "Take his wrist," He demonstrates with his fingers underneath Jay's wrist and his thumb where his watch was. Will removes his hand. Hailey gives him the 'Really?' look. "Go ahead, it'll be alright."
Hailey walks closer to Jay's left side and hovers over his wrist before placing her fingers underneath his wrist and places her thumb where his watch was. She looks up at Will with a 'What now?' look.
Will walks around and retrieves the suture kit, getting it in place. "Now rub the back of his wrist." Hailey raises her eyebrows, questioning. "Go ahead," Will encourages. Hailey gently rubs the back of Jay's wrist. Jay's breathing changes just a bit, picks up ever so slightly.
"Jay?" Will starts. "Mmm" is his response. "Going to get you fixed up here. You need some sutures. You know the drill. A little pinch of lidocaine and then some pressure. Piece of cake." Another "Mmm" from Jay. Will smiles as he puts his gloves on. Hailey stops rubbing Jay's wrist.
While Will is lifting the suturing pad over Jay's head he says,"Putting this pad over the side of your head, You don't need to see this." Jay's eyes are closed and doesn't respond. Will looks at the screen. His breathing has evened out. He looks to Hailey and nods towards her hand holding Jay's wrist. She starts to rub the back of his wrist and his breathing picks up like before.
"You ready Jay?" Another "Mmm". Hailey continues to rub his wrist. Will starts the process; removes the gauze- the bleeding has stopped, rinses out the cut and pats dry.
He injects some lidocaine, Jay responds with an angry grunt. "I know just a few pinches." Hailey instinctively rubs Jay's wrist with a little more pressure. Not sure who's she trying to comfort him or herself.
Will says to Jay as he's suturing, "You're getting spoiled here. April doesn't bring just anyone a heated blanket."
"I'm the good brother." Jay responds very sleepy.
"Oh is that so?"
"Mmm"
Hailey smiles at the brothers exchange.
"Your partner's here, Jay." Will continues.
"Hailey?" A very sleepy whisper.
"Yeah Jay." She answers.
"Red shoes." He slurs.
"Red shoes?" She repeats.
"Mmm, what I remember."
Will looks up questioning as he's finishing up.
"OK Jay." Hailey says.
The nurse from CT walks in and looks at Will, then down at her chart. "Jay Halstead?"
"Yes." Will responds. He's all done as he removes the pad and pats the sutures."Looks good." He says to himself.
Hailey let's go of Jay's wrist and steps back. The nurse checks Jay's wrist band and says, "Should take about 45 minutes and then he'll be back."
"Thank you" They both say.
Jay is wheeled out of the room.
Hailey looks at Will with a questioning look. She fidgets with Jay's watch.
"Something our Mother used to do. Don't tell him I told you." Will says as he puts a finger to his lips "Shh"
Hailey smiles but it quickly fades.
"What's wrong?" Will questions while removing his gloves.
A quick "Nothing" and then "I'm fine."
"Come on."
Hailey looks at Will somewhat defeated. "It's just…(She huffs). Jay doesn't complain, especially about pain."
Will gives a crooked smile. "Broken scapula, the great equalizer. Jay's as tough as they come but THAT injury. Another level."
Hailey nods her understanding. Her phone alerts and she says, "I got to go. Adam and Kev are in the waiting room. They got something. Keep me updated?"
"Will do."