Timeline: Early season seven
Completed: Oct. 28, 2019
It is the annual barbeque between the second shift at Firehouse 51, the intelligence unit of the 21st District, and the day shift of Gaffney Chicago Medical Center's emergency department. This year, there are many changes to who are a part of the barbeque, each domain having changes in their personnel. In Firehouse 51, there was the loss of Otis in the mattress factory fire to the new candidate, Blake Gallo. Antonio, of the Intelligence Unit, moving to Puerto Rico and the arrival of Vanessa Rojas. The changes from the Med family being, Ava committing suicide in the hospital and Connor leaving Chicago after the death of his father and Ava, and Dr. Crockett Marcel moving to the day shift from the night shift of the ED.
Being one of the few times that the different teams are able to intermingle with each other, not on the job, it is something that they all enjoy. The veterans of this barbeque are excited to see how the rookies will interact with people outside of who they work with.
The girls of the group seemed to have made their own circle on blankets, while the guys break off into their different groups.
Being the nice day that it is, there are bees flying around. There is one that seems to like Sylvie Brett, she tries swatting it away from herself, "Brett, leave it alone," Stella Kidd tells her, "It won't bother you if you don't bother it." Sylvie stops swatting at it but keeping an eye on the bug at the same time.
While the girls are in their circle, most of the guys are playing a game of pick-up football. After playing for close to an hour, the guys start to get hungry, so they stop in favor of starting the burgers and dogs.
Everyone brought something with them and Severide took the job of manning the grill for the burgers and dogs. Having the nice weather that the city has decided to gift them with, there are bugs everywhere, trying to land on food and people alike, the food only attracting more of them.
"Food's done," announces Severide. They all start a line to get their food, before mingling back into their own groups.
Jay is sitting with Hailey, Vanessa, Kim, Atwater, and Adam when a bee starts flying around them. Jay is keeping an eye on the bee, not wanting to get stung, as it is flying closer and closer to him. Adam notices and decides to tease him, "Jay, if you leave it alone, it will leave you alone, don't be so paranoid," he says with a laugh. The others laugh at the joke, while Jay only rolls his eyes.
The bee is still flying around the group, landing on its victim, Jay. Jay feels a pinch on his upper arm.
He can feel his face flushing and his throat is becoming scratchy. Hailey notices that her partner is flushed, "Get a bit too much sun?" she jokes, assuming that he got burnt, she hands him a bottle of water when she hears him trying to clear his throat.
Jay tries to take a drink but has trouble swallowing. He coughs, the air easily leaving his lungs, but struggles to get air back into them, causing him to cough more. He can feel his throat starting to close, causing his to wheeze. Being next to him, Hailey can hear the wheezing, "Are you alright?" she asks
Shaking his head, no he looks at her with fear in his eyes. Hearing her partner struggling to breathe, looking at Kim, she orders her, "Get Will now. Something's not right." Kim leaves worried for her friend, while Hailey tries to keep him calm, trying to understand what is happening at the same time.
"Hailey, he's fine," Adam says, not liking that Hailey is so concerned for Jay.
"Adam," Hailey hissed at her ex-boyfriend.
"Will!" Kim exclaims when finding the older Halstead. "Something's wrong with Jay," is all she needs to say before he rushes over to his brother.
"Jay," he tries, not receiving an answer. He turns to his brother's partner, "Hailey, what happened?"
"I don't know. He was flushed so I gave him some water, but that didn't help. He started coughing and that turned into wheezing. He's really struggling to breathe," Hailey tells the worried older brother, worried herself.
Hearing this, Will looks his brother over, noticing that his arm has hives on it. "Jay, did you get stung? Where's your epi-pen?"
"Epi-pen?" Hailey questions, not knowing that Jay was allergic to anything
"Ba-" is all he can get out. Will rushes to Jay's bag in search of the device. Finding it, Will rushes back, uncapping the device before jamming it into Jay's thigh. Jay takes in a deep breath of air when the medicine starts to kick in. Will grabs his brother while telling someone to call an ambulance.
"Got it," Hailey tells Will, already dialing 911.
"911. What's your emergency?" the operator asks.
"This is Detective Hailey Upton, badge number 55055, of Intelligence- 21st district, off duty. I need an ambulance at Lincoln Park. My partner, also off duty, is suffering from an anaphylactic reaction."
"Okay, Detective Upton. What's your partner's name?"
"Jay Halstead, he's 35."
"And you said that he was experiencing an anaphylactic reaction? Do you know what triggered it, and does he have a history of it?"
"Yes, I don't know. His brother gave him an epi-pen and asked if he got stung. I'd assume there was a history of it, possibly to insect bites."
"Can you put his brother on?"
Hailey looks over at Jay and sees Sylvie and Emily checking Jay over while waiting for the ambulance, Will never leaving his side. "Will," she calls the attention of the older brother, "Dispatch wants to speak with you."
He motions for Hailey to hand him the phone, "Hello, this is Doctor Will Halstead, Detective Halstead's brother."
"Doctor Halstead, Detective Upton didn't have all the information. Do you know what caused your brother to have an anaphylactic reaction and does he have a history of this?"
"There are hives on his arm, so I think it was a bee sting. He has a couple of triggers for an anaphylactic reaction. He does have a history of it, it started when he was maybe five. He also has a history of biphasic reactions. I've administered one epi-pen, 0.3 mg, but he's still struggling quite a bit, I may need to administer the second one."
"Okay, the ambulance is three minutes out, have someone flag the ambulance."
"Hailey, go to the entrance and flag own the ambulance," Will orders her, attention never wavering from his brother. Hailey runs off to the entrance of the park. Will focusing on his brother can hear Jay's struggles starting to worsen again, so he injects the second epi-pen into Jay's other thigh.
Jay is still struggling to catch his breath but seems to be having an easier time taking in air, gripping onto Will like a lifeline. Will, talking to Jay in an attempt to keep him calm until Hailey returns with the paramedics.
Waiting for what seems like forever, but was actually only minutes, Hailey returns with the paramedics. "What do we have?" the first paramedic asks.
"Allergic reaction causing anaphylaxis, I think it was a bee sting," Will informs the paramedic relieved, that his brother is getting help. "I gave him his epi-pen, .3 mg; it helped for a while, then he started to struggle again, so I gave him the second shot- same dosage. He's also allergic to latex," Will warns the paramedics.
While Will was filling in the first paramedic, the second one was getting Jay on the stretcher, getting a set of vitals and placing an oxygen mask over his face. "We're ready to move, who's riding with him?"
"I am," Will answers immediately.
"What's your relationship to him?"
"Brother."
"Okay, we're taking him to East Mercy."
"No. Take him to Med," Will argues.
"East Mercy is closer."
"He's stable, and I trust Med more, I'm a doctor there."
"No we'r-" the second paramedic is cut off by the first.
"We can go to Med." Loading Jay into the ambulance, Will climbs into the back with him before driving off to Med. The intelligence unit packs their thing before heading to Med. Everyone else also decides to call it a day before heading home, not going to the hospital because they don't want to crowd Jay.
Arriving at Med, they unload Jay, bring him into a treatment room with Will following closely behind. "What do we have?" asked the doctor assigned to his case.
"Anaphylactic reaction to an insect bite," answers the paramedic.
The doctor nods then notices Will. "Doctor Halstead, what are you doing here?"
"He's my brother."
"Okay, then can you tell me what bit him, specifically to cause this reaction."
"Probably a bee. He's also allergic to penicillin and he has a history of biphasic reactions."
"Good to know," the doctor speaks out loud, before turning to the nurse, "Hang a line of antihistamines and transfer the oxygen."
"Okay, Detective Halstead. Because you have a history of biphasic reactions, I'm going to admit you for at least twenty-four hours of observation. If nothing happens, you'll be released before tomorrow night. We'll move you once we have a room ready."
"Thanks," Will speaks for both of them as the doctor leaves.
Will looks over at his brother to see his eyes are getting heavy, "It's okay, Jay. You can sleep." Jay turns on his side to face his brother, being careful of the oxygen mask and oximeter on his finger, before drifting to sleep.
Will watches his brother sleep, peacefully, color slowly returning to normal, while filling out the paperwork that was left with them to be filled out.
After about a half an hour, two orderlies com to move Jay to his room. Jay wakes up briefly when he feels the be move, but quickly goes back to sleep when he hears Will assure him it's okay.
After getting the information about Jay's new room, Will is mobbed by the intelligence unit.
"How is he?"
"Is he going to be okay?"
"What happened?"
"Where is he?"
Everyone throws their questions at Will at once. Will is touched by the concern that they have for his brother's well-being. He tries to answer all their questions in one go, "He's going to be okay. They just moved him to a room, he's being held for at least twenty-four hours for observation. He was sleeping when they moved him, having an anaphylactic reaction usually makes him tried and knocks him out for a couple of hours after an attack. I think he was stung by a bee. When I got to him at the park, he had hives on his arm."
"Has this happened before?" Hailey asked.
"Unfortunately, yes it has."
Hailey turns to Adam, "You were teasing him," she scolds her ex, while whacking his arm. "Can we see him?" Hailey asks Will now turning her attention back to him.
"Yes, but don't wake him."
Stepping into the room, they are all quiet, not wanting to be kicked out by the older Halstead.
After seeing that their friend and co-worker is okay, the intelligence unit minus Hailey leaves.
"How long are they keeping him for?" she asks him.
"For at least twenty-four hours."
"Is this normal. I mean do they normally keep someone after this type of reaction?"
"Most of the time, they will keep someone until the allergen is out of their system, but in Jay's case, he has a history of biphasic reactions, a second reaction with no exposure to the allergen. This can happen an hour to seventy-two hours after the initial attack."
Hailey nods, taking in the information that she'd probably never get out of her stubborn partner, "Is he allergic to anything else that would cause this?"
"He hasn't said anything?" Hailey only gives him a look that says what do you think? "Bees, tree nuts, penicillin, he's allergic to latex, but he hasn't had any anaphylactic reactions to it."
"What do I do if he has a reaction?"
"Give him his epi-pen, then call 911 and tell them it's an anaphylactic reaction"
"How do I give the epi-pen?"
"Here," Will grabs the new box of the two-pack of epi-pens Jay got after using his. Opening the box, he grabs the grey training one, "They come in packs of two. This grey one is a training one. It's labeled, it has no medicine or needle. The yellow ones are the real ones. Do not use them as the practice, they have the needle and epinephrine. Hold in in your hand in a fist. Take off the cap, it is a safety release, it won't work if the cap is still on. Blue to the sky, orange to the thigh. Then jab it into his thigh, the needle can go through clothing, even jeans, so don't work about that. Hold it for three seconds, and then release. Never put your hand near the orange part. Massage the spot for ten seconds. If he needs a second one after five minutes, you can give it to him, but after that, a medical professional should judge."
"How do I know if he needs the epi-pen?"
"It depends on the person, if you notice something isn't right with him, ask if he needs it, then ask if he needs help administering it."
The two talk quietly, trying not to wake the sleeping detective. After a while, Jay starts to stir, "Will," he croaks through the mask. He calls his brother, knowing that he is always there. Will stands over the bed as soon as he hears his name," Hey, Bud. How you feeling?"
"Tired."
"How's your breathing?"
"Okay."
"Hey, Jay," Hailey speaks softly.
"Hailey? What are you doing here?"
"You're my partner. Where else would I be?"
"The barbeque."
"We left. The rest of the unit was here to check on you earlier." Noticing that he is half with her, she tells him, "It's okay, go to sleep." For once Jay listens and does what he's told.
The two watch over the sleeping body in the bed.
A nurse comes in with Jay's dinner, leaving it on the tray after Will promises to wake Jay to get him to eat.
"Jay, wake up." Jay mummers incoherently, before sighing and going back to sleep. "Jay, you have to eat," Will tries again, this time shaking Jay.
"No. Don't feel good." This statement alarms Will, as his brother is the last on to admit that he's unwell.
Hailey gets a good look at his face, as he is on his side, facing her, "Will," She calls the attention of the older brother, "I think he has a fever, he looks flushed." Will places his hand on Jay's forehead, his brother leaning into the touch. He then checks the sting site, frowning at what he sees. The site is red, hot to the touch, and looks infected. "Will presses on the call button.
"He has a fever, I think the sting site is infected," he tells the nurse when she walks into the room. Looking at it, the nurse agrees and pages the doctor to come in.
Looking at the site, the doctor agrees, telling the nurse to put him on an antibiotic. "He's allergic to penicillin," Will reminds them, not wanting Jay to have another reaction.
"Because of this setback, we're going to have to keep him until his fever breaks, if it doesn't before the initial twenty-four hours." Will agrees, knowing that Jay won't be happy.
They let Jay sleep, in an attempt to sleep the fever off.
The next day, Will wakes up to see Jay still asleep but looking better. Feeling his brother for a fever, he is happy when he notices that Jay is not as warm as the previous night; he still has a fever, but it is defiantly lower.
Being the ever light –sleeper that he is, Jay stirs at the touch. "Will?"
"It's okay, go back to sleep."
"Can I still go home today?"
"If your fever is gone."
Jay goes to answer when he can feel his throat starting to close again. "Will," he gasps.
Knowing what is happening, Will quickly hits the emergency call button, "He's having a biphasic reaction," he tells the nurse when she comes into the room.
A doctor rushes in, with Will telling him the same thing, "Push epi," the doctor orders.
Once the commotion dies down, Jay falls back to sleep, oxygen mask still in place.
When Hailey visits later that day, the oxygen mask on Jay has been replaced with a nasal cannula. "You look better," she says, noticing the change of oxygen support and the normal coloring in his face.
"I feel better like I don't need to be here anymore," Jay hints.
"Sorry, Jay. Will already told me you're staying until tomorrow afternoon."
"Hailey-"
"They're taking you off of the oxygen tomorrow morning and if you do okay without it, they'll release you."
"Fine."
"Hey, look on the bright side. Your fever is gone, you'll be done with the antibiotics by late tonight."
"I guess."
"So, were you ever going to tell me that you had several severe allergies?"
"It wasn't important."
"Jay," she scolds, "If Will wasn't there… we didn't know what was wrong. We could have lost you. I'm not losing my partner to a bee. Do you understand me?"
Jay has the decency to look ashamed, "Yes." Hailey stares him down, to be sure he isn't lying to her, before continuing normal conversation.
The next morning, Jay is taken off of the oxygen to see how he holds up on his own. His numbers stay in the mid-nineties, pleasing his doctor and brother. Jay leaves with the punishment of medical leave for three more days and then a week of desk duty starting the day he goes back to work. Hailey takes a late lunch that day, so she can give Jay a ride home from the hospital. She takes Jay back to his apartment, making sure he has the epi-pens and gets him settled before going back to work.
A week later, Jay walks back into the precinct, epi-pens in his bag. Entering the intelligence bullpen, he is greeted by his co-worker, glad to see him back at work. The team fills him in on their current case, and Jay gets to work, doing everything he can to compensate for being restricted to desk duty. He's definitely walking away the next time he sees a bee.