DISCLAIMER: I do not own Chicago Med or any of the characters. Here it is! Next chapter will start with the more physically injuring part of the story. Hope you enjoy and reviews appreciated! (PS the season premiere was so good)
Three days had gone by and Connor Rhodes was quickly deteriorating. The lack of sleep, the absence of eating, the nonstop work brought out the deep blue bags under his eyes and the paleness of his skin.
Rhodes knew he should say something, get help, heck, get a few hours of sleep if he could. But he couldn't and he wouldn't. That wasn't the kind of person he was. He never asked for or wanted help, but was the rock everyone looked up to.
Yet, as each day went by, Rhodes continued to worsen and he knew it. People had even began to notice, especially a certain Nurse Lockwood.
Natalie and Will strode through the ER doors together bright and early to begin the work day. As they chit chatted with their coffees in their hands, commotion from deeper in the emergency room caught their attentions.
"Can't believe traumas are starting to mess with my morning schedule," Will dryly said.
Natalie and Will glanced over to take a look but immediately jumped back.
"MOVE!" was the only thing they heard.
Streaming past them was a gurney, dripping blood in its wake, and a certain trauma surgeon atop the patient's chest performing compressions and barking orders.
"Get an OR clear, now! Two breaths!" Rhodes screamed, sweating from compressions.
The crowd of people pushing the gurney disappeared around the corner, Rhodes shouting with them.
"What is that guy?" Natalie asked, Will and her walking up to Maggie at the nurses' station, "the Hulk?"
Maggie gave the disappearing gurney a suspicious side eye, "I don't know, but something is definitely going on with that boy."
"Is it just me, or does he look…different?" Natalie remarked.
"So it's not just me," Maggie half-whispered to herself.
Halstead spoke up, "What's that supposed to mean?"
Dr. Charles, close by, saw the huddled group and walked up as Maggie said, "Well he's been saying he's going home at nights, but I think he stays here and runs the night shift. That's almost a 24 hour work day!" she said, astonished.
"Who is this?" Dr. Charles quizzically asked.
"Rhodes," Halstead responded, taking a sip of his coffee.
"Huh," the psychiatrist said to himself, intrigued.
Halstead looked at his watch, also addressing Natalie as he said, "We got to go, shift starts in 5."
The two ER doctors walked down the hall.
When they were out of range, Dr. Charles asked Maggie, "Notice anything else strange about Dr. Rhodes' behavior?"
"Mmm what do you mean by strange?" she asked back.
"Any major behavioral changes you've seen? Something about his appearance that you may have noticed?" he suggested, glasses resting on the bridge of his nose.
"I mean, you know Connor…" she bleakly protested, but knew Dr. Charles was on to something.
"Maggie," he softly urged, needing to know if Dr. Rhodes was alright, "I wouldn't ask unless it was important."
She sighed, "For the past few days, he's been working day in and day out. Now before you say anything, I know he does that practically everyday, he doesn't know the line between work and rest. But this is different. It's almost as if he needs to work, to distract himself."
"Humph," Dr. Charles tried to think, "Now what about Connor himself? Anything change looks wise?"
"Okay," she leaned, voice low, and vented, "I thought it was just me, but I've noticed he looks exhausted, like he hasn't slept for days. Yet, the man's working as if his life depended on it. But, I notice things…when he thinks no ones looking, like when he does anything to keep his eyes open or shakes his head like he's clearing away bad thoughts. I don't know, it's not like him."
"This is good, Maggie," he comforted, "I'll talk to him, see what I can do."
…
40 minutes later Dr. Charles finally got Connor Rhodes to step away from his piling work for 2 minutes to speak with him.
"Dr. Charles," Rhodes came up to the psychiatrist, his figure looking strong but Dr. Charles could see through the cracks, "You were asking for me?"
"Dr. Rhodes," he smiled back at the confused Connor, who was wondering why he was here, "Let's step into my office, if we may."
Rhodes nodded and followed Dr. Charles into his office, "Close the door behind you please, Connor," Dr. Charles called before settling into his chair.
Rhodes did as he was told and awkwardly stood in the center of the room, waiting for Dr. Charles to begin.
"Sit down, sit down," Dr. Charles suggested, "make yourself at home."
"Sorry, Dr. Charles," Rhodes apologized, "but did you need me for something?"
"Well, no," the shrink began, "but I think that maybe you do."
"Excuse me?" was the confused response.
"How's the job going?" he asked, innocently.
"Good, I guess," Rhodes was becoming irritated, "What's all this about?"
Dr. Charles looked Connor over with a keen eyes. Maggie's description was low balling it. The guy looked as if he hadn't even thought about sleep in at least 48 hours. The bags under his eyes were clearly evident, but it only brought out the paleness of his skin even further. His eyes were red from lack of sleep and he looked unkept, probably from working so many shifts.
"Dr. Rhodes," he got straight to the point, "A few people in this hospital have voiced some concerns about your well being, myself included."
Rhodes put a hand to his head, "Oh gosh, has Maggie gotten into everybody's head?"
"Connor," Dr. Charles' voice was gentle, "do you mind if I ask you a few questions?"
"Dr. Charles, even though I appreciate your concern-"
"Just a few, I promise," he insisted.
Rhodes groaned before reluctantly agreeing.
"Have you noticed a change in you at all recently?" was question number 1.
"No," Connor lied.
Dr. Charles only skeptically looked at him, he knew getting Rhodes to open up wasn't going to be easy.
"Experience any headaches, nausea, or insomnia?" Question 2.
"No," was the second lie.
"I was informed you've been doing extra shifts when you've already have all your hours filled. Why is that?" Dr. Charles asked.
"Had some extra time lately, figured this would be a good way to keep up my trauma fellowship so it didn't interfere with my new cardio fellowship," Rhodes' answer was partly true.
"I see," Dr. Charles jotted down some notes.
"We done?" Rhodes impatiently inquired.
"One last question before we're done here," Dr. Charles said, "Sorry to have kept you here while you're working."
"Not a problem," Connor responded.
"How many hours of sleep did you get last night?" Dr. Charles asked.
"Around 3," was the quiet reply. This wasn't a reply.
Dr. Charles eyes widened, and nodded his head, writing it down.
Not good, but not as bad as it could have been, Dr. Charles thought to himself.
Rhodes' continuation of the sentence made Dr. Charles freeze.
Connor admitted, "In the last three days."
Dr. Charles was still, before slowly crossing out the number he had written down in his notepad.
He stood up, trying not to make too obvious what he was doing.
"So," he stalled, "What's keeping you up at night, would you say?"
"Sorry, Dr. Charles," Rhodes chuckled, tiredly, "as much as I love our little talks, I've got to get back to work."
"Yeah, yeah. Totally understand, but just one thing before you go," Dr. Charles continued to distract the sleep deprived surgeon. Just a bit longer.
"Yes?" Rhodes sighed, antsy to leave.
Got it.
Dr. Charles walked over to Rhodes, a small syringe in his hand.
"Just need to administer a small shot,"Dr. Charles said, innocently, "Protocol, you know how it is."
Rhodes nodded, confused, but held out his forearm. The contents of the needle disappeared into Connor's bloodstream.
"What is it, if you don't mind me asking?" Rhodes suspiciously questioned.
Dr. Charles led Rhodes to his couch before responding, sitting him down.
"Just a small sedative," Dr. Charles slyly said, "Every good psych has a syringe."
Rhodes at first was shocked, surprised he didn't see this coming. Yet, he immediately started feeling the effects. His already very drowsy eyes couldn't even stay open. If Dr. Charles hadn't taken him to the couch he probably would have dropped onto the floor. His movements slowing, Dr. Charles helped the woozy Rhodes lie down.
Before completely knocking out, Rhodes said, "Sneaky bastard," and was out in literally seconds.
Dr. Charles only smiled, dimming the lights and closing the door.
….