Jay thought it was the end as soon as he heard the gunshots in the room. If something had happened to Erin, his life would be over. The time she was away, depression had taken over his body, he couldn't lose her now. Despite being on the floor, completely injured and helpless, he managed to lift his head a little only to realize that his girlfriend was still alive. However, she totally ignored his hurt body, getting out of the room, leaving him alone, helplessly trying to get up from the cold floor.

"Jay. Relax buddy." Antonio's voice broke every effort he did the last few seconds. "Come on, lay down, the ambulance is coming."

"I don't need help; I can walk outside." Sitting up, he groaned, holding his ribcage tightly, like protecting it.

Antonio rolled his eyes. His friend's stubbornness was beyond his ability of knowledge. He scanned Jay from the top to the bottom, determining that he looked terrible. His left eye was bruised, there was a cut on his head and multiple burns on his chest, hurting more and more each time something touched them. Moreover, his lips were split in half blood flowing down to his chin.

"Are you okay, Jay?" Al asked kneeling down at him too while Ruzek and Atwater examined the place near Keyes' dead body.

"I've been better." He tried to joke not being able to hold back the small whimper from the pain. "The paramedics are coming, don't worry, you're safe now," Al exclaimed watching Brett and Chili rushing a stretcher inside.

The two women ordered everyone to move back in order to treat the detective properly while he was still in a nervous statement probably looking for Erin in the small crowd that had gathered around him. Soon, he was placed on the gurney and moving till they reached the ambulance.

"We will move in a while okay?" Sylvie announced walking to the front seat of the ambo while Jay stood up and sat at the end of the rig waiting for her till she appeared in front of him.

Her T-shirt was covered in blood, her hair a little messed up and her expression ghostly pale. She was scared, yes she was and that was visible as she stopped to check up on him.

"Are you okay?"

He didn't reply right away, just stared at her.

"I am just glad that it was you that they sent in." He meant it. He really did. If Burgess went to save him, they would probably have been dead, both of them. Not that she wasn't an experienced cop but she didn't have the guts to take two men down on her own.

"I got to go wash this off." There is goes. She left him again.

Taking a deep breath and with the help of Brett who had returned to check up on him, he laid back down, being hooked up with an IV line and the leads of the portable monitor that the ambulance consisted of.

"Do you mind if I join?" Antonio suddenly made his presence to their side of the huge backyard of the mansion.

"Go ahead, Mr. I-am-trying-to-avoid-hospitals needs some company." The woman joked while he sat next to her.

Their ride was silent with the injured man either staring at the ceiling of the rig or observing the lines of the monitor which beeped steadily.

It wasn't the first time he had found himself in a hospital room, however, it was the first one that Will, his brother worked at Chicago Med. Will would have been so scared to find out that he was kidnapped, after all, they had sworn to protect each other no matter what.

"Here we are. Jay, you'll feel a small jerk from the movement of the gurney but you're gonna be good." Brett warned him just in case.

"Thanks." He replied trying to sound brave and normal despite the amount of pain and the burning sensation on his ribs and skin.

As soon as they arrived at Med, the vehicle came to a stop and its two doors were opened revealing a bunch of doctors and nurses as well as a worried Will Halstead, biting his nails. Lots of words were spread through the air, medical terms, comforting ones from by the older Halstead and a description of events by Antonio who followed them till they inserted one of the trauma rooms in the ER.

"Will go out please."

"Hey, I need stay and make sure he is alright,"

"He is in good hands, don't worry." The man above him spoke escorting Will out of the trauma slowly. "Hello detective, not expecting you so soon." He joked placing the stethoscope on Jay's chest making him wince a bit both from the cold touch of its end and also from pain. "Lungs sound clear, your rhythm is steady as far as I can listen to, although I would like to order an EKG because you were exposed to the tasers." Finishing his words, his hands pressed on Jay's ribcage, causing the young detective to let out a small whimper. "Let's make an X-Ray… Everyone clear."

"Broken ribs right?" Jay observed.

"Five of them, the rest just bruised."

"I figured… Ethan… Can you tell Will to come in please?"

"Jay, the examination is not over yet."

"Please."

Ethan could resist to fulfill the wish of his friend. Sending a nurse to call for the young doctor, Choi continued working on Jay, while two nurses cleaned his face from the blood and prepared the equipment for some stitches on his forehead.

"Jay, I'm right here." Will's panicked voice said. "Is everything alright?"

"Can you stay please?"

"Of course, brother."

"Thank you…" Suddenly the words were so difficult to be formed, the air couldn't even approach his lungs, making him gasp for it.

"His blood pressure is dropping…. Sats?"

"77."

"We have to intubate…"

"Stay strong brother…" This was his last memory before his world enveloped into darkness.

As for Antonio, almost five hours had passed in the waiting room without a word on his best friend. By now, Al was also there trying to keep him calm while processing himself the previous scenery. After the video was sent to them, after they saw what Jay had been through, nobody would be the same towards him again. Nobody could be the same ever again.

"Will." Antonio exclaimed approaching him. "How is he?"

"He's alright now. We had some complications in there due to arrhythmia and we had to intubate but we stabilize him eventually."

"What about the tube?" Al asked.

"It's been removed, he's admitted for observation but I suggest you see him tomorrow cause it's late and he needs his rest, he's been through a lot for one day."

The two men nodded.

"How are you holding up, Will?" Al inquired being aware of the fact that Will hardly slept since they took his brother.

"I am glad you found him alive… It's not gonna be an easy recovery, mainly cause it's Jay, we're talking about but he's here and I'll make sure it stays that way."

"No dad, you don't have to come, he's fine. Plus, he doesn't want to see you right now… What do you mean why, did you forget how you acted in your last meeting? Yes, I'll take care of him don't worry." The older Halstead hung up when he sensed movement coming from the bed. "Jay, can you hear me? You know where you are?"

Nodding, he blinked at the flashlight in front of his eyes. "Take that thing away…" He mumbled.

"Sorry, I had to give you a quick look before I call your doctor."

"Will, wait."

He knew that look extremely well, it was obvious he was searching for her, only her presence made him feel good. However, she was nowhere to be found and that pissed him more than anything else at the moment. "She's not here, bro, I'm sorry."

Jay nodded laying back down patiently waiting for his brother to return.

"Any pain?"

"No… what you put in me, is working.." He smiled in a ridiculous way.

"That's very good actually. Look, Jay, considering the improvement of your condition since you were admitted, I would say you are good to go in two days."

"How about tomorrow? Will is going to take care of me."

Ethan took a peek at the young doctor who rolled his eyes. "You listen to Dr. Choi, Jay."

"Please. You know how much I hate hospitals, please."

"Alright, alright. Tomorrow then, but you can be on medical leave for at least two weeks."

"Okay, thanks."

Jay was satisfied, not only he would exit the hospital one day earlier but he would also find time to relax and maybe approach Erin more now that work wasn't in their way. As soon as Ethan left, another familiar face made its appearance standing at the door hesitating to walk further inside. His gaze was a mix of worry and happiness and he looked down on the ground most of the time.

"Mouse come in." Jay exclaimed trying to sit up only to fall back down by a sharp pain on his ribs.

"Take it easy, buddy. How are you?"

"I've been better."

"I'm glad they got you out alive."

"I heard you helped in that too."

"Kinda." He smiled receiving yawning in response. "Get some rest, bud… I'll stay here all night."

With that the young detective closed his eyes, knowing that despite Erin wasn't there, he still had his brother and best friend. The girl of his dreams would join him eventually.

Hello again, how are you? Here is another chapter of this story, I hope you like it! 3 Love you all!

~The Fourth Bionic~