Author's Note: Wow. Just wow. They killed Manstead. Forever. I'm still in shock. And mad. Oh so mad.
I don't have much else about the real Chicago Med.
Enjoy the new chapter. I'll be keeping Manstead alive...
This is probably a long awaited chapter. As always, don't forget to click that cute little button at the bottom of the screen and leave me some love!


I ain't made for a rivalry I could never take the world alone
I know that in my weakness I am strong, but
It's your love that brings me home

Brother, let me be your shelter
Never leave you all alone
I can be the one you call
When you're low
Brother, let me be your fortress
When the night winds are driving on
Be the one to light the way
Bring you home...

~NEEDTOBREATHE~ Brother


" Ugh…" Jay's gravely voice echoed throughout the otherwise silent ICU room causing Will to drop his phone to the ground.

" Jay. Can you hear me?" stammered Will, clearly in shock as he looked at his brother.

" Mhmm." Jay did his best to nod his head yes.
" Do you know who I am?"

" Pain...in...the...ass." Will smirked at Jay's wit. He reached down for his phone only to find that the screen had been shattered when it was dropped. Unable to text, he managed to press the home button and voice dialed Crockett's phone. After a few moments, the call was answered by an OR nurse.

" Mary. It's Dr. Halstead. I need you to put Dr. Marcel on speakerphone."

" Marcel."

" Where are you right now?"

" I've currently got a gentleman's liver in my hands. What's going on?"

" Jay's awake."

" Mary. Page Dr. Lanik STAT. Will, I'll get there as soon as I can. This moron tried robbing a bank then waved his gun at the police." The call went dead. Will placed his damaged phone on the counter then turned back to his brother who had since closed his eyes.

" Jay. Come on man. I need you to open your eyes. Stay with me," he ordered.

" Where...am I?"

" You're at Gaffney. In the ICU," clarified Will.

" What happened?" asked Jay, his eyes half open.

" There was an armed robbery at a gas station. You took two to the chest," explained Will as he listened to Jay's heart and lungs with his stethoscope that had been in his back pocket.

" Hailey?"

" She's fine. How are you feeling?"

" Like shit," replied Jay as Crockett hurried into the room.


" That was quick."

" I was in the Hybrid OR. Lanik's patient died before he could get him upstairs so he was just around the corner," replied Marcel, glancing at the tablet he had just grabbed.

Good to have you back with us Detective. You gave us all a scare," declared Crockett, reaching for his stethoscope.

" I already listened. His heart and breath sounds are improving from his earlier vitals. Nothing to indicate pneumonia," said Will.

" Did you do a neuro exam?"

" We didn't get that far," he explained as Crockett grabbed a penlight from his pocket. The bright light clearly annoyed Jay, but revealed he had equal and reactive pupils.

" When can I get out...of here?" Jay asked, feeling irritated.

" Not quite yet. Your reflexes are good, but you sustained some pretty traumatic injuries." Jay sighed, closing his eyes.

" I'd argue...but I'm too tired."

" That's a first," remarked Will. Jay raised his hands, extending both middle fingers.

" It looks like his chest tube output has come to almost a complete stop."

" Take it out," groaned Jay.

" One step at a time. Let me run some tests first and then we'll talk. Why don't we speak outside Will?"

" I'll be right back," Will promised, grabbing his phone before filing out behind Crockett.


" As promising as this is, having Jay awake, he's still not out of the woods yet. I'm still concerned with the blood loss along with his oxygen levels. There's obviously a high risk for him developing pneumonia or blood clots from being bedridden and on the vent for so long. I'm going to order a chest x-ray, a full lab work up, and Abrams is probably going to want to order an MRI for protocol since Jay was in a coma to check for any signs of brain damage," Crockett explained, typing on the tablet he was still carrying.

I'm assuming you'll be staying with him for awhile? I need to get back downstairs. They've got their hands full."

" Yeah. If you see Natalie, can you send her up? I busted my phone."

" Sure thing."

" Thanks," replied Will, going back into Jay's room.

" Back so...soon?"

" You should be resting," Will argued, docking Crockett's tablet before sitting back down.

" Can you call...the 21st? Let them know…" asked Jay with a yawn, his eyes growing heavy.

" Only if you can promise me that you'll get some rest."

" Mmmk." Just a few seconds later the room was filled with the sounds of Jay's snores.


Some time later, Will made his way back up to the ICU, carrying his tablet with him. He did his best to slide the door to Jay's room open as quietly as possible, but when he turned around, he found his brother looking at him.

" Did you call?"

" I talked with Platt a few hours ago. She said the unit is on a stakeout, but she sent a message to Voight with orders to call as soon as he was able to."

Speaking of," commented Will, pulling Jay's phone out of a pocket.

" Halstead. Voight. Yes. I'm right here with him actually. He's doing good so far. Talk to him? Maybe a little later. I actually came upstairs to pull his chest tube. I'll call you back later when it's a better time. I will. Thanks." He pressed the end button and pocketed the phone before sanitizing his hands and pulling on a pair of gloves.

" I'm supposed to tell you to not worry about work and that if you try to leave early Voight will come to restrain you himself."

" He can try. What are you doing? I...thought doctors couldn't do...procedures on their own family," uttered Jay, watching as Will brought over a tray of the necessary supplies.

" Theoretically I'm not supposed to. I was downstairs ordering a new phone when your x-ray results popped up, showing that both lungs are properly inflated. That means that the chest tube can come out. If you want to wait on Marcel, it could be awhile. He just took the victim of a nasty car crash into the OR. You're looking at possibly waiting 2-3 hours minimum."

" Never mind. Just take this thing out of me. The sooner it all comes out...the sooner I get to leave," reasoned Jay.

" I figured that would be your response," Will said, quickly clipping the stitches that held the chest tube into place.

When I count to three, I need you to hold your breath so that I can pull the tube out. It's going to feel really weird at first, almost like a vacuum. Once it's out though, that feeling should disappear." Jay slowly nodded yes, eager for the tube to be removed.

" Ready? 1...2...and 3." Will quickly pulled the tubing out, focusing next on applying a bandage over the incision. So it came as a shock to him when Jay's right hand flew up, essentially backhanding his younger brother across his face.

" What the hell was that for?" asked a sputtering Will as he disposed of everything.

" Weird feeling...my ass. Shit hurt!"

" Whimp."

" Call it instinct then?" croaked Jay, attempting to crack a wry smile.

" Remind me to NEVER practice any sort of medicine on you. EVER AGAIN!" declared Will who could already feel his raw cheek starting to swell. Out of nowhere, Jay's phone began ringing, momentarily making him forget about his face. When he checked the screen, a notification popped up on the screen, signaling that Connor was trying to FaceTime him.


" Finally. I was wondering what happened when you stopped answering texts."

" I dropped my phone out of shock when Jay woke up."

" Natalie updated me and gave me Jay's number. What the hell happened to your face?"

" This jackass backhanded me just now when I pulled his chest tube," explained Will, panning the phone towards Jay.

" Seriously?" asked Connor with a laugh.

" It's not funny."

" It kind of is. Nice one Jay."

" Thanks Rhodes."

" See if I ever hide you in the ED and give your Morphine again when you tear up your knee," Will shot back.

" I told you. I sold the motorcycle. You should go put some ice on that cheek before it gets ugly," suggested Connor.

" I'll show you ugly…" joked Will before hanging up.

" Rhodes is back? With a motorcycle?" asked a confused Jay.

" It's a long story. I'll tell you tomorrow."

" Promise?" Jay asked wearily.

" Yes. Not to change the subject, but do you remember anything from when you were in the coma?" questioned Will.


" Not really. Should I?" Will grabbed Jay's phone once again, this time typing out a message to Natalie.

" You're going to be an uncle." he replied, opening up a text message Natalie had just sent, showing Jay one of the ultrasound pictures.

" How long have I been out?"

" A week tomorrow. Why?"

" You guys got married...when?" Jay asked groggily, his pain medication starting to kick in, making him extra drowsy.

" A week and a half ago." The room fell quiet and for a moment Will thought his older brother had fallen asleep.

" When?"

" Maggie's wedding," answered the younger Halstead sheepishly.

" Wow. Just wow."

" And on that note, I'm going to leave you to get some much needed sleep. I'll check in on you during my shift tomorrow." Will backed out of the room, suddenly in a hurry to get back down to the ED and grab an ice pack before heading home with Natalie.