Mercy Part 2

Today, tt was the day. The day he waited since that damn time he first saw his brother bleeding out in the ED. The day Jay was finally coming home. During his stay in the hospital, the young doctor would stay by his side day and night, listening to his complaints, feed him, giving him small sips of water, and help him walk in the hallways of the ICU. He felt blessed that his brother pulled through. Now it was time for a greater adventure. Jay's recovery. As far as the young detective's attitude was concerned staying at home, getting proper sleep and eating well was gonna be a feat.

Hailey promised to bring him home as soon as he was released while Will took the time to redecorated his apartment so Jay would be comfortable. The small table in front of the couch was removed and placed in the storage room and every single one his plants were out of the house so Jay wouldn't stumble in any of it.

When he finished cleaning, there was a knock at the door meaning the arrival of his brother. Excited as he was, he opened the door seeing a smiley Hailey Upton and an irritated Jay Halstead.

"What happened? Come in." He chuckled.

"Marcel says I am gonna be on medical leave for at least two weeks."

"If I were your doctor, you would be out for longer so be thankful." He replied watching his brother slowly walking towards the living room, stumbling upon reaching the last step to the couch. Fortunately, he followed from behind and caught him in time. "Take it, easy man, take it easy." Helping him set to the sofa and removing the sling from Jay's shoulder, he brought a pillow so the young man could rest it on it. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah, I am sorry…" Jay exclaimed looking at the turned-off TV screen in front of him.

"Hey.., It's okay… You just got out of the hospital. Hailey, can you bring him a glass of water?"

Nodding, she walked all the way to the kitchen to assist her injured friend.

Will took a peek at his brother. He looked so delicate like a single move would tear all his bones apart. His head was brushed up against the back of the couch, his eyes closed, breathing heavily in order for nausea to go away

"You okay?"

"I can't settle myself. The back of my head hurts whenever I touch something, my shoulder is killing me."

"But they gave you Morphine before you leave the hospital."

"It doesn't work…" Jay mumbled sighing in despair.

A couple of minutes later, Hailey made her appearance in front of them, handing her partner the glass of water.

"Voight needs me at the office." She announced pretending to look at the phone so she could give some alone time to the two brothers. In an instant, she disappeared from the house.

Despite being January, the weather was warm enough and the sun was shining brightly, dropping his rays inside the living room of Will Halstead. The older man considered it a sign of Absolution, Lord taking all their sins away. He turned his body to his left fully facing Jay who seemed to stare into nothing. Will was aware that Jay still felt guilty about Marcus' death. Although he never compromised with the fact that his brother had freed Marcus' wife, the woman who tried to kill him.

"Do you want anything to eat?" He asked kicking all the bad memories out of his mind.

Jay shook his head not eyeing him.

"You have to."

"I just want to go to bed," Jay admitted in a hoarse voice.

Picking him up gently, they marched to Will's bedroom in a steady slow rhythm. As the young detective hit the pillow, his eyes closed and fell into a deep sleep.

Will sat next to him, observing his body from the head to the toes. The scratches and the bruises on his face were still visible along with the multiple gauzes under his grey T-shirt. Jay was lucky. Extremely lucky. Not only they managed to repair his artery but no internal organs were damaged from the shooting. The sleeping form of Jay looked nothing like the bloody mess that appeared in front of him days ago. He was glad.

The afternoon turned into night with the sun leaving its place for the moon to light the city of Chicago. Will opened his eyes after feeling a hand pushing his shoulder. Rubbing them, he looked at a fully awake Jay who seemed to be in pain.

"Are you okay buddy?" He asked standing up.

"Can you bring me a painkiller?"

"You have to eat something first."

"No… just get me something please. I can't take it."

Those were the magic words that triggered him to take action. See, Jay never admitted his pain.

After five minutes, Will appeared in his view, holding a plate with cheerios in it on his one hand and two painkillers on the other.

"I told you, I am not hungry."

"As a doctor I suggest that you eat before you take any meds. Don't make me feed you like when we were kids."

Despite his protests, Jay grabbed the plate from this brother's hand and started eating slowly. When he finished, the two pills immediately went down his throat.

"Better?" Will asked.

The young detective nodded. "Hey, Will, I didn't want to have this conversation back at Med cause we were never alone but I want to apologize for everything I put you through the last few days."

Will raised an eyebrow. He never complained about taking care of his brother, the fact that Jay survived the shooting made him so happy, he didn't mind about anything else in the world.

"You took a leave so you can keep an eye on me, you haven't slept in days, you cried. I can see the redness in your eyes and it's all my fault."

"Hey man…" He patted his shoulder gently. "It was an accident alright? You have done the same for me tons of times."

"I am scared…" The tears in his eyes were visible now.

"I am here for you. I will always be! Get some sleep now, you need all the rest you can get." Will told him noticing his heavy eyelids. "I love you, little brother."

The morning came in what felt a couple of minutes as the older Halstead opened his eyes only to meet with an empty bed. His stomach tied into knots as he stood up and searched the apartment without finding his brother till he reached the living room and noticed a body on the floor.

"Jay, Jay can you hear me? Come on bro, open your eyes." Checking his pulse, he grabbed his phone in order to call 911 when a hand stopped him. "Jay… Thank God…" He whispered, ripping the light blue t-shirt he had put on him before they go to bed, checking the wound for ripped stitches. Right after, he ran to his medical bag on the bedroom, grabbing the pressure cuff and stethoscope. "Your blood pressure is low, I am calling 911."

"Don't…" Jay said trying to sit up.

"Stay down… We have to get to Med to give you fluids."

"Can't you just give me some water?"

"No man, it won't help. Sorry."

"No hospital… Please." Jay begged, his voice broken and painful.

The doctor considered his options for a moment. On the one hand, rushing him to Med, seemed the most proper option, on the other hand, Jay would fall into depression if he found himself in a hospital bed again. So he came up with a solution that would be comfortable for both of them.

Twenty minutes after his call, there was a knock on the door. The man standing there, marched it facing Jay laid on the couch his arm resting on a pillow and his head elevated on three pillows. His gaze was stuck on a TV show. The man approached leaving his bag on the floor and kneeling down by the injured boy's side.

"Hey, Jay."

He didn't reply.

"He's pissed because I called you," Will exclaimed standing some inches away from the two men with his arms crossed.

"I am not pissed Crockett, just tired of people treating me like a kid."

"I heard you collapsed earlier this morning. Do you mind if I check you out a little bit?"

Glaring at him, he nodded causing a burst of a laugh to his brother. Will remember the times that his brother would get sick and have the same expression towards the doctor. Always.

"So what did you do before passing out?"

"I got up, wore my sling, and came to the living room to watch some TV. Then everything went dark."

Checking his breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure once again, Marcel searched through his bag for the IV bag and equipment he had brought with him. Putting the tourniquet around his arms, he felt for a vain so he could connect the IV line. "You should be fine in an hour or so. I have to go now guys, duty calls." Marcel smiled and disappeared leaving the two brothers alone.

The liquid in the bag ran thought Jay's veins in a steady flow making the young man regain his strength. All this time, there was nothing they could do, so the two people in the room stared at the TV none of them really paying attention to it. As the documentary they were "watching" ended, Will stood up from the floor where he settled in order to keep an eye on his brother.

"Can we go for a walk, later?" Jay shyly asked lowering his head.

Will wasn't sure if he heard correctly. "What did you say?"

"Can we visit the guys at the district?"

He rolled his eyes. "Two hours ago, I found you on the floor unconscious and now you want to leave the house?"

Jay nodded cracking an innocent smile.

"No way."

"Oh come."

"I said, no way. What if you pass out in the district? What if one your stitches rips open and you bleed out till we reach Med… There are so many risks... Plus your wound could be infected." Will explained angrily.

Jay's smile was erased turning into a sad expression. He was tired of not being able to move by himself, to participate in the action and cases that his team was evolved in. He wanted to drive his car and save people not being on that damn couch with his older brother acting like his mom. "Alright…" He mumbled closing his eyes for a moment.

When they opened again, there was an unusual emptiness in the living room. Will's bag and jacket weren't there and no footsteps could be heard from anywhere near the other rooms. The vain catheter from palm had been removed allowing him to move freely. His legs were not so jelly anymore as in the morning and they could walk in bigger steps. Checking his bedroom first, found nothing rather a tidy bed. He moved to the bathroom and kitchen but nothing. Either Will was pissed off and had left or… There was no other explanation. When he returned the window was closed. How did that happen? Millions of thoughts crossed his mind as he grabbed his undercover gun from Will's room where his rush sack was placed.

"Surprise." Lots of voices screamed in unison.

Hailey, Adam, Kim, Kevin, Vanessa, and Platt were holding a big banner with the message "Get Well Soon, Jay" written on it. Next to them stood Will giggling and further Voight holding a small box.

"Where's your sling?" The doctor asked interrupting the commotion.

"I don't know." Jay simply replied hugging his friends carefully.

Will rolled his eyes and helped him wear it while the younger Halstead turned to his boss.

"I brought you some donuts."

"Thanks. You did all this?" He pointed at Will.

"Since there were no cases and you wanted so badly to see your team, I thought maybe I would invite them in here."

Tears of joy formed in his eyes but he didn't cry as he never let the sensitive part of himself to show up in the outside world. As he was about to ask them if they wanted any drink or food, Voight's phone rang.

"It's Crawford, they found three murdered women. They need us."

Just like that, the apartment emptied again with the two brothers staring outside in the bright blue sky.

"Sorry about that," Will said regretfully.

"Are you kidding me? These were the greatest few minutes of my life. Thank you, Will. I appreciate it."

From that moment Will knew… Jay would be a pain in the a*s during the whole recovery process but there was nothing that could tear them apart. Ever again.

Hello guys! First of all, I wanna thank Ling Er for suggesting this idea! Secondly, if you want to see more "deleted" scenes, you can write in the comments. Last but not least, I wanna thank you all for your favorites and follows! I hope you are safe and I love you! 3

~The Fourth Bionic~