Hailey left Dr. Charles office after her first appointment. It wasn't easy talking about your problems, trying to make sense of who you are and understanding that there's a reason for everything you do. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly as she leaned against the wall of the hallway around the corner.
Dr. Rhodes noticed her as he came around the hallway. He didn't know much about her, he had only met her that one time on the train and in the hospital after, but he felt like he knew her. He had read her file and knew what she went through, knew she had a history with drugs and family problems, and he knew her brother. So, he stopped, just to make sure she was okay.
"Hailey," he said as he approached her. "Everything okay?"
"Hey, Dr. Rhodes." She smiled, trying to pull it together as she shrugged. "I'm just having a moment."
He frowned. "What are you doing here?"
"Talking to Dr. Charles," she said slowly, watching his reaction. "You know, because I have some issues. You don't have to play dumb, you read my file, you're a doctor, I'm sure you figured it out."
He nodded as he crossed his arms and leaned against the wall beside her. "I only know your medical history, it doesn't always tell the whole story."
"It's pretty much what it looks like."
"Did he help?" He asked. "He's pretty good at what he does."
"I think so, he's trying to anyway." She said. "It's just that in order to get help and feel better, you need to go through all the reasons that brought you here and that's hard. It's really hard."
"It is, but it's hard for everyone." He said. "There's no shame or judgement in it and you'll get there."
"I spent a lot of time trying to convince Jay and Will that I didn't have a problem and that I wasn't addicted, because that's what I believed. Jay, he believed me, because I think it was easier for him. He blames himself, but Will," she shook her head. "He knew, even before I did."
"Sometimes, some people aren't addicted to the drug, but the high." He said. "And those people are usually trying to escape something, but it's those people that can figure it out."
"Well, I certainly hope you're right." She sighed. "Do you know where my brother is?"
"I think we can track him down," he grinned. "Come on."
Hailey followed him down to the Emergency Room. They got stopped a few times, people asking him questions and his advice on certain patients. Once they were downstairs she glanced around the room, quickly scanning for him. It was busy, it was always busy, but it wasn't as crazy as it had been other times she was there.
Will was standing at the nurse's station. He was finishing up some paperwork and he didn't notice her at first. He was frowning, and she suddenly wondered if this was a bad time, or if he'd be okay with her coming down here to see him. He nodded with a small smile as he handed the chart to a nurse and looked up, spotting her before she could change her mind. He headed over to her rather quickly, still frowning slightly.
"Hey, what's wrong?" He asked when he got to her, placing his hands on his hips and looking down at her. "Are you okay, why are you here?"
"I'm fine," she said. She couldn't blame him for being worried considering the last three times she showed up when he was working she wasn't okay. "I was just upstairs talking to Dr. Charles."
"Oh, yeah?" He relaxed and nodded toward an empty meeting room. He ushered her into it gently, and closed the door behind them. "How'd that go?"
"Good, I mean it wasn't easy, but it's a start."
"Yes, it is." He nodded. "Hailey, I'm proud of you for doing this for yourself."
She nodded, frowning slightly before she hugged him, wrapping her arms tightly around his waist and burying her head in his chest. "Thank you," she mumbled.
He frowned heavily as he held her. "For what?" He asked.
"Not giving up on me," she said.
Will closed his eyes for a moment and dropped his chin to rest on the top of her head. "I will never give up on you," he said. "It'll be okay, Hails."
OOOOO
Hailey woke up in the middle of the night. She was alone in the apartment. Will was working overnight and Jay was working late. She wasn't sure if she was just hearing things, startled from the nightmares that had been plaguing her dreams, or if someone was actually trying to get into the apartment. She wished Scott was there in that moment, she was never afraid when he was around.
She thought about calling him, or Will, or Jay, anyone that would make her feel safe, but she had a hard time asking for help. She didn't want to bother anyone, especially if she didn't have anything to be scared of. But then she heard the banging again, this time while awake, and this time it was clear and followed by a voice that she recognized all too well.
She jumped out of her bed, locking her bedroom door and grabbing her phone as she hid in the closet. She sunk down to the floor as the banging continued and called the first person she could think of. It was late, but she knew there was no way he wouldn't answer her call.
"Hey," Jay said with a frown when he answered the call, confused at why she was calling him so late. He immediately looked at Erin who was sharing his confused look.
"Jay, he's here." She said. "You need to come home."
"Who's there?" He asked and then he heard it, muffled yelling and banging and he was on his feet, grabbing his coat and heading for the stairs. "Hailey, what's going on? Who's there?"
"It's Dad," she said. "He's going to get in and I'm scared, Jay. Please come home."
"I'm on my way, Hails." He said, with Erin right behind him. "Don't open the door, where are you?"
"In my closet." She said.
"Good," he nodded. "Is your door locked?"
"Yeah, but what if he gets in somehow?" She said. "Does he have a key? I don't have the chain on because you and Will aren't home. Could he tell someone he's our Dad and get in? Jay, what do I do?"
Jay was trying to stay calm, but the fear in her voice and her pleas worried him as he raced home. "Don't do anything, I'll be there soon." He said. "Stay in the closet, he won't get in."
"Don't hang up," she said. "I'm scared, Jay."
Jay hit the steering wheel in frustration, wishing he could get to her faster. "I'm not hanging up, I'm almost there." He said as he glanced at Erin in the passenger seat. "Erin is with me, she'll call Will and get him there."
Erin nodded and made the call as they raced through the streets. She knew he probably wouldn't answer his cell, so she called the hospital and requested him, stating it was a family emergency. "Will, it's Erin," she said. "I'm with Jay, headed to your apartment. If you can, you need to meet us there."
"What's going on?" He asked.
"Your Dad is there, trying to get in and Hailey is scared and upset." She said. "Hank and Antonio are behind us, but she might need to see you."
"I'm leaving right now," he said.
Jay heard a sudden crash on the other end of the phone, more yelling and he was instant worried as he finally stopped at the front of the apartment. "Hailey, talk to me," he said. "What's going on?"
"He's inside," she whispered.
"I'm inside too, I'm coming to you, don't worry."
The line went dead as Jay raced up the stairs with Erin behind him. There were some neighbours at their doors, curiously peeking out and wondering what was going on. As he came to the door, he noticed the whole by the handle where his Dad must of punched through and unlocked the door.
He was inside the apartment, yelling out for Hailey. It was obvious he was drunk, Jay was careful as he approached him. He wasn't sure why he was here, or what he wanted, or what he was capable of doing, but in the moment all he remembered was what he did to Hailey.
"What are you doing here, Dad?" Jay asked.
"Where is she?" He said. "I know she's here."
"She's not here, anymore." Jay lied. "She lives with her boyfriend."
"You're lying," he yelled. "Will told me she was living with you. It's time for her to come home now."
"Why? So you can throw her down the stairs again?" Jay glared at him. "Yeah, I know about that and everything else too. You need to get some help, Dad."
"Who's that?" He asked, pointing at Erin as he stumbled around. "That's your girl? Hold onto her, sometimes they leave, like your Mother."
"Mom died, she didn't leave." He said.
"Mr. Halstead?" Jay turned, realizing the hallway was now very crowded. "My name is Dr. Charles, I work at Chicago Med with your son, Will. I think I can help you."
"I don't need a shrink, I just need to talk to my daughter." He said.
"I understand you want to, but Hailey is not ready to talk to you." He said. "This isn't the right time and if you let me, and these fellow officers, help you, we might be able to arrange something for later."
He looked around and knew there wasn't much else he could do to fight it. There were too many people and with a nod from Will, he left the apartment with Dr. Charles, Hank and Antonio. Will followed them downstairs to make sure nothing else happened. They would take him to the hospital, no one was pressing charges, but he couldn't just go home alone in his state.
Jay knocked softly on the bedroom door once everyone had left the apartment. "Hails, he's gone." He called and heard the door click and open slowly. The second he saw her, he pulled her into his arms and held her tightly.
"Why did he want to see me so bad?" She asked. "He hasn't reached out at all."
"I don't know, but I'll make sure you're safe from now on."
Will opened the door, coming into the apartment and noticed that Hailey immediately drew back. She was scared, not of him, but of their Dad. She was jumpy, and the brother realized it was worse than they thought. "Dr. Charles is going to hold him, see if they can get him to sober up and get some help."
"That's good," Jay said, still holding Hailey to his chest.
"Are you okay?" Will asked as he put his hand on her back. "Did he hurt you?"
Hailey shook her head. "I stayed in my room."
"Okay," Will nodded as he glanced at Jay. "We'll make sure he doesn't come by again like that."
Hailey nodded, the tears falling again as Jay stepped away to talk to Erin. "I was so scared."
"I know, sweetheart." He said as he took Jay's place comforting her. "We're not going to let him hurt you."
"Do you have to go back to work?" She mumbled. "I don't want to be alone."
"No, I'm staying with you," he said.
"I'm staying too." Jay said and glanced at Erin. "Erin too, we can talk about everything tomorrow once things have settled down."
"I don't know if I can sleep." Hailey said.
"Come on, you can stay with me," Will said.