Chapter 6- When The Party's Over

She yawned as discretely as she could, using the hand that was clutched to her takeout bag as a shield, doing her very best to both hold off on the yawn while also trying to not make it so loud that other residents in the apartments didn't hear her. But it was all in vain, Hailey quickly letting that battle go as the code to their front door, her front door, alerted that she'd successfully punched everything in correctly. The bright chime and immediate unlatching of the lock buzzed as things were sprung free long enough to allow her to open the front door, lazily walk through, and let the door to slam extra loud behind her. She forewent any ideas of trying to keep the neighbors asleep. It was pointless by now, seeing as it was the middle of the day on a regular workday. Everyone else was out and about, at work or running errands or having a life and a day. Hailey on the other hand wasn't having a day, did not have any life plans, and was not at work once again. Voight had told her to take some time off, that she needed to get her head back on straight and process that Jay had left. She made it about two solid workdays before breaking down in the bullpen late one night, revealing to Voight and Trudy who were the last ones out of the building that day, that she hadn't slept, barely eaten, was truly clinging to any form of sane life. Shortly after he left she talked herself into thinking that all would be well, that if she threw herself into work that all would be well. Jay was gone, he wasn't coming back anytime soon. But that was fine at the time. She missed him but would absolutely function just as well as if he were still with her. Oh how wrong her miscalculated conclusions were. She missed him more than she ever imagined, didn't realize how much he kept the world in balance. Sans her anchor, her person, her reason for sanity, she was just aimlessly floating out there in the dark abyss of life, at that moment late in the bullpen she felt like she'd begun the process of sinking to the bottom of the ocean. She was so hopeless, lost, very much in a deep funk.

"Hailey, I don't think it's best that you are by yourself. Come stay with me," Trudy offered, watching her detective remained double over, the snot and tears almost flowing down her face and hands, her lap getting messed up by the second. She went to put her hands on Hailey's shoulder and was met with a quick head shake, she actually pushed the woman away before kicking the tears and emotions up that much more. As Trudy cradled her in her arms, looked to Voight for some kind of plan or word or some form of assistance. He just quietly nodded, looking around before speaking.

"Hailey, why don't you come stay with me. I've got plenty of room. But being by yourself isn't best for right now." Hailey was very appreciative for their kind gestures and willingness to let her crash with them, but she was never one to rely on others for strength and rest and refocusing. It had been just her and her thoughts throughout all of life, this latest hardship was just another bump in the road. Who was she kidding, this was the hardest 'bump' she'd ever faced in her life. This was her husband leaving her, suddenly and with no real plan of where they went from there. She almost would've rather he'd cheated or died. Because at least then there was an incident and aftermath. But this, this was a leap into nothing with no end point or guess on how it would impact them. For the next eight months at least she was in limbo, in a holding pattern, which truly and completely sucked to no end.

"I'll be fine," she eventually found the words to say, opening her eyes and looking at the people that were still with her, still holding her as she completely let go of her reputation and control of herself.

"Hailey," Trudy and Voight almost spoke in unison, but she insisted further on.

"I will be fine. I just needed a little cry session that's all." But being back in reality on this day, as she plopped herself down on the couch for the millionth time since Jay's departure and looked around the apartment, perhaps she should've thought a little longer about the offer. She couldn't help but wonder how her life was getting better since she was sentenced to being here for the foreseeable future. The longer her eyes carried her around the apartment, the more destruction and disfunction she saw. The dishes in the sink, the takeout bags that were stacking up instead of being tossed in the trash can, which the spoken of trash can was overflowing with takeout containers and tableware; the laundry all over the place, the fact she hadn't even turned lights on that day, none of this painted a very good picture of someone that was improving. Instead she couldn't help but see herself spiraling more and more out of control and into a deeper and darker depression. There were times she didn't even care what she looked like, her eating habits had grown more unhealthy and spaced out then ever, most days work escaped her mind, not caring that they were down her greatly relied on brains and power. But she really honestly didn't care, that was her great conclusion that very moment. Instead of choosing to make a change, perhaps clean up the apartment and shower and fuel herself properly and wholly, Hailey instead threw herself down flat on the couch, closing her eyes and groaning in heartache and annoyance and frustration for how messed up her life had become. Two weeks ago she was on top of the world, concerned about her husband and their relationship, but at least he was here and they were doing their thing together. Now…she had no idea when the bottom was going to be hit.

Ignoring the food that was growing cold in the takeout container that she'd slammed on the coffee table in front of the couch, Hailey rolled her side, bringing herself closer to the back of the furniture as she closed her eyes. She couldn't bring herself to eat right now, just wanted to sleep, to doze off and not come back for awhile…if ever. She seriously was losing the fight right about now. Which honestly wasn't the best frame of mind to be in when life came knocking on her door in the form of a phone call. But quite honestly, was anyone perfectly ready in all aspects of life when things decided to go belly up and dangerous? Life often piles on when you least expect it or think it cannot get worse. As Hailey got more situated in her resting spot on the couch, having slept there so many times she was convinced her body outline was cementing into the cushion and back pillows. She hadn't really moved from this spot since he'd left; not even dared to sleep in their bed. That one was going to take so much more time, a step she did not see coming anytime soon. But anyway, back to life trying its very best to bring her into the next chapter of things, Hailey heard the buzzing of her phone ringing as she scrunched further down and into the couch, so much as grunting for it to shut up as she was trying to doze off. It buzzed and buzzed, she just kept her eyes closed and willed the phone to stop making so much noise. For all she knew it was a scam likely call. No one was calling her these days for anything important, those stopped coming when she stopped answering. She just didn't have it in her to keep people up to date on the demolition of her life happenings. When the phone stopped she exhaled a sigh of relief, pleased that things were quiet to her liking once more; sleep was going to happen at last. So when the phone went off again she cursed under her breath, moaned and groaned as she rolled over, slammed her hand on the coffee table several times before locating the buzzing device and pulled it towards her. Opening her eyes revealed a blurry world, Hailey using her non-phone hand to rub her eyes and read the caller ID a couple times. At first she saw 'unknown,' but the second glance revealed an international phone number. Call it fate or life demanding she answer, but without knowing who it was or what this random phone call entailed, Hailey hit the green button, rolling back onto her side as she answered.

"This is Hailey," she grogged, her voice sounding like she was getting over a bad cold more than anything else. Honestly it was because she hadn't spoken all day and things were very stiff.

"Is this Hailey…Upton," the unfamiliar voice asked on the other end? That one made Hailey open her eyes, still not getting up or moving much, but how this international caller knew her first and last name perked her interest.

"Yes, who is this?" She could hear voices in the back, things beeping or just commotion behind the caller. At the time she didn't put it all together as hospital sounds or people frantically moving Jay from one diagnostic spot to another, but she just had that sense that this wasn't a prank call.

"This is Tyson Bradford, I'm the medic assigned to your husband's team here in Bolivia." That one got Hailey moving, she hadn't sat up that fast in so long. Her ascent to sitting straight up made her vision black out for a couple seconds, her head spin and tingling sensations break out all over. She'd heard the name Bradford several times through her brief talks with Jay, but to get a first name and for him to be speaking to her in such a blunt and informative and straight manner, she knew something was coming next, some massive bomb and life stopping news was about to slam into her shores. The detective in her was only but awakening.

"Yes, I know who you are. Jay has told me all about you," she responded in a mildly sarcastic way. If he was an enemy of Jay's, then he wasn't on Hailey's good graces either. Bradford chose to ignore the slight slap coming his way. Knowing what he knew and how quickly they had to keep things going, there wasn't time to get in a spat with the wife.

"Hailey, I hate to just come out and say this but we really don't have a ton of time. Your husband has suffered a neurological event this morning." All air escaped Hailey's lungs, she quite seriously felt frozen in time. Part of her was in such shock that she didn't believe him, waiting for the laughter and punch line to arrive. It never did.

"I'm sorry, what did you say? Can you repeat that," she demanded over the phone. Perhaps hearing it twice would make it seem more real.

"Jay Halstead, your husband, has suffered a neurological event. We are getting ready to perform a cerebral arteriogram to learn more. But that's all I can say for right now." Hailey finally gasped, exhaled, felt the shaking and shivering and cold air sweep over her person. This wasn't a joke, there was no laughter, this most certainly wasn't a dream. Jay Halstead, 4200 miles away from her in a country she didn't have immediate access to, was in massive, life threatening trouble. She wasn't fully aware of the danger and peril he was in right then, but the fact they weren't fully sure what was going on didn't bode well for her psyche in the least.

"Hailey? Are you with me," Bradford asked over the line, realizing that he just kept hearing deep breathing and gasps and a couple chokes on emotions but zero words coming his way.

"What…happened," she finally spit out just as they were pushing Jay into the room where they'd be performing the arteriogram. He had a sickening good hunch about what exactly was going on with Jay. Well, he was solid on one aspect of the situation, but needed this test for the whole picture. But he'd seen this before, he walked this journey enough to know what all it was. At this point he was trying to rule his stupid idea out. But deep down he knew there was no escaping this thing. He knew, he just knew what was coming next.

"He involuntarily collapsed this morning. They were about to take off on a mission and he passed out."

"Is he awake?"

"No, he's in a coma right now."

"Oh God," groaned in a very emotional way on the other end, Bradford nodding as he closed his eyes, taking but a second to rest up against a wall as he heard the first of many tears crying in Chicago. This news delivering task never got easier.

"Hailey," he spoke up after her crying settled down but a hair.

"I will call you back when I have more information."

"How soon will that be," Hailey croaked over the line, her voice too shaky and messed up to be any form of calm and collected. For all she knew Jay was dying and she wasn't there to save him, to be with him, to try and stop what was happening. She'd never felt further away from him in her life. Forget the last few days and weeks. She'd willingly go back to that life if it meant he got to life. Amazing how quickly one's perspectives changed.

"Soon. We're just getting set up for the test. I will call you as soon as I get more." And without warning or a goodbye Bradford hung up, putting the phone in his pocket as he pushed the radiology doors open. Jay was still connected to the ventilator, but was now on a more solid procedure table, resembling an operating table more than anything. The massive X-ray machine that would be instrumental in diagnosing things was being pushed to just above his head. Blankets were coming off and the hospital gown rolled up to his chest as a designated prep area around his groin was draped and in the process of being prepped and sterilized. As Bradford put on the gown, gloves, mask, and everything needed for his protection and sanitary measures, things were marked on Jay for where the arteriogram's catheter would be inserted.

"Let's go, scalpel to me," Bradford confidently commanded. He think twice about it, still was on his autopilot mode. He had to save Jay. He was not about to let the demons of his past creep in and ruin this whole thing now. He knew exactly what would be greeting him on the other end of this test. As scared shitless as he was, he did his very best to bottle it up. Him being scared was not going to help Jay in the least. There would be a time for the emotions to be let out, but now was not the time. The first cut was made, the first of many steps in saving Jay's life were underway. Internally he was willing Jay to hang in there.

On the Chicago side of this story, Hailey was now fully upright on the couch, phone having dropped on the floor as she stared out into nothing. She was the definition of disbelief, denial, distraught. She could not move, she could barely breathe, there was no thought or word that was coming to mind. Jay, her whole world, her anchor, her life partner and refuge she sought time and time again was in danger, in serious medical peril, and was currently in a coma fighting for his life as a strange person that despised him not even a full day ago raced to just figure out what was going on. Hailey didn't even know where to begin processing things, had no plan or course of action to fall back onto. She wasn't sure if she needed to race to the airport and get down there ASAP. Or was she just supposed to sit back and wait by the phone like a goody two-shoes doting wife, she truly was asking herself because she was in no man's land. She'd never been in this situation and never wanted to find herself here again. She finally found the ability to look around at the apartment, to find some kind of word or motivation to get up off her ass and do something. The last thing Jay needed was for her to be here, doing this, living the way she was. Why it took Jay to be on the brink of death for her to finally see that and truly understand what living for his honor meant. Jay would never stand for her to be this way, to live like he'd been suddenly killed or ripped from her and promised to never return. As her eyes kept scanning the room, their apartment, all she saw was destruction, dysfunction, something that she was not proud of or even willing to share with Jay. Her eyes took her to a picture over the fireplace, it wasn't a super monumental occasion or even decent sized frame and photograph. But in the photo they were both smiling, both so happy, so alive and at peace with life. In that moment she didn't recall who took the photo or what the occasion was all about, but how that day trickled down to what their lives were like right now made no sense. But the scariest part of all was that she swore, in her very emotional and demolished state, that she could hear him talking to her. It was like he was on her left, coaxing her off the couch, out of the apartment, willing her to just move.

"Hailey, you need to get up," his voice told her over and over again. At first she shook her head, too petrified to move, afraid that the second she put herself into action that that's when things would really hit home. Jay was dying and there was nothing in her person that could change that. So what else was she to do but scream. It started out as a quiet, tearful cry, but in three seconds it was a full on yell. Her voice was shaking, not used to being that loud or vocal in days, but she did not care. Part of her expected the police to show up at her door, that the yelling and shouting of words would make people on the other side of their walls assume something dreadful was happening in this apartment, which they wouldn't be that far off on. But she didn't care in the least. Her husband was not here, and in this correct predicament of stuff it didn't look like he'd be coming back ever again.

"Hailey, get up," she heard him yell this time, in a tone he'd never used on her in his life, but one she'd seen plenty of times while on the job. He was frustrated, over the pity session, wanted her to get moving.

"Bring me home," was what got her up, ceased her screaming instantly. It felt like the lights had been turned back on in her life.

"I'm so scared, Jay," she spoke to the empty apartment, realizing that she was indeed losing it now. She was talking to a ghost, a person that was not here and could most definitely not here her. But still, just to say his name brought comfort but for a couple seconds.

"Bring me home," she heard once more, his voice so incredibly crystal clear in her mind, the sound dancing and tickling her ears. She could feel his breath on her neck, smell his person and feel his arms wrapping around her. Again, some may say she was losing it, but when you're at these levels of heartbreak and desperation and shock, life has a funny way of making you cope with things. No longer was he upset, instead it was like giving her a life mission. She had to get up, she had to get out of this fucking depressing apartment. She had to bring him home.

The tears immediately stopped, the pity party came to a fast close. Hailey wiped under her eyes, blew her nose into a half used napkin that was on the coffee table. Hailey of old was downloading back to reality with every step toward the front door and good grief did it feel good. She was feeling more alive, more mission driven then she had in weeks, she could've sworn to have felt a smirk and cheerier complexion break out on her face. As fast as she could she slipped her sneakers on, grabbed a random jeans jacket out of the closet next to the front door. Looking in the mirror by the front door startled her for a second. The sunken, dark circles under her eyes, the lack of color on her face, not to mention she hadn't brushed her hair or teeth at all that morning. Hailey pulled her knot riddled hair into a ball on top of her head and made the fastest messy bun out of it. Tapping her cheeks a couple times she did her very best to smile back at the person in the mirror, it wasn't making things better. Sighing she turned away from the mirror, grabbed her car keys and opened the door before she could talk herself out of this. She had to do something. Whether it was destination the airport or elsewhere, she had to get out of here, get moving, and bring Jay home. Whether it was in a pine box or on a plane seat, she was going to get her husband home if it was the very last thing she did. Then the tears, the emotions, could arrive.

She practically ran to the car, which felt weird and her legs were tight as she unlocked the Jeep and climbed in. She took a quick inventory of the vehicle, having not been in it in days, weeks, she wanted to make sure all was well and as she remembered it. Her glance around drew her to a coffee cup in the passenger seat cupholder, startling herself at the remembrance of him. She now saw him in the seat, quietly staring out the window while occasionally removing the cup and pulling it to his lips before returning it to the holder. Hailey shook her head, she couldn't keep doing this. Part of her wanted to leave the cup where it was out of memory for Jay, but then she reminded herself that it was just a cup and that she needed to toss the trash out. She sighed, taking the cup in her hand and exiting the car, jogging up and down the sidewalk a little ways before finding a trash can and dumping the cup in there. She was back to the car in no time at all, this time climbing back into her driver's seat and starting the engine up. The radio came on way too loud for her liking, Hailey jumping in startled surprised before reaching for the volume and turning it all the way down. 80s rock music was blasting its' way into the day, making her chuckle and roll her eyes as she put the car in drive.

"Oh Jay," she concluded aloud, even when he wasn't there he was still going to make a mark on her day. For the first few minutes she just drove around in circles, seriously. She just kept turning left, kept looking out at the world and a couple times catching herself on the lookout for Jay in a house window, a sidewalk, standing in line at one of the many coffee shops around them.

"You've got to cut it out," she scolded herself when she caught herself peering deep into a store window for the twentieth time in two minutes, pulling the car over before letting go of the steering wheel. She cupped her head in her hands, telling herself she could not cry, she was not allowed to lose it. Jay needed her, needed her in her best frame of mind, needed the capable and incredible person he married. That made her look back up at the world, take in the day and understand that she had to make decisions today, do things for him, be that qualified family member he trusted her to be. Family member is what put her next act into action. There was only one other person that could be more qualified to assist with this day. She felt quite terrible that she hadn't reached out already. Checking her mirrors to make sure no one was coming her way, Hailey put the car back in drive and floored it. Along the way she'd check her phone, making sure she hadn't missed a call or text message from Bolivia, sighing each time a blank lock screen was revealed.

"Come on, come on people," she gritted through her teeth a few times, tapping her foot on the pedal as red lights took too long to turn green. She needed to get there, to gain her ally and assistant in all of this. Part of her thought to call, but then she considered the weight of the news and how little she knew. Furthermore she wanted to be there with him when the call from Bolivia arrived. She may have been driving well over the speed limit when those lights did finally go her way.

"Oh good grief, Will. Why do you never answer your phone," she spoke to the person who wasn't answering her calls. She was in the process of pulling up to his apartment, which for some reason she thought would be the best place to start looking for him. The hospital was not the first place she decided to look, which to some may be odd since he's probably there more than anywhere else. But let's remember she's in a very fragile mental state. Luckily the street was quiet, once again more of those Chicago natives out and about doing work or other life events, so finding a parking spot was easy and a quick maneuver to make. Once she was squarely in a spot Hailey didn't waste any time, grabbing her phone and making sure the volume was all the way up as she got out of the car. A quiet and gentle breeze kicked at her feet as she walked from the car to the sidewalk, pulling her jeans jacket a little closer to her person as she picked up her walking pace. It was a glorious fall afternoon in the city. The sun hadn't decided to poke out from under the morning's fog and dense cloud cover yet, the weatherman swearing that sunlight would return to the city before the day was over. But honestly Hailey didn't need sun in her life right now, the overcast day just painted this treacherous and horrible day rather perfectly. The bright red, yellow, and orange leaves that used to be on the trees were being plucked away from their branches whenever the wind desired for them to let go, leaving more on the ground than those still clinging for life on the tree. As Hailey's shoed feet crunched and kicked leaves out of her way she couldn't help but see the resemblance to Jay's situation to that of the world around her. Everything was changing, everything was dying and trying to hold on to times gone by, her spine chilling shiver was either from realizing things or feeling the wind pick up a little more. Hailey wasn't sure which it was but didn't really want to dig further and try to find out. She couldn't let herself go there, couldn't bring herself back to that mind tailspin. She had to help Jay, she had to bring him home, she kept reminding herself of that as she got to the apartment building's front door.

"Thanks," she greeted the doorman with, who was so kind to hold the front door open for her as she picked up her pace so that he wasn't standing there long. Either he knew who she was or her friendly face didn't say she was about to break in and steal things, but Hailey was grateful she didn't have to stand outside and wait for a code to be texted to her from Will. The doorman nodded and smiled as she walked by, continuing her solid and steady walk to the elevators. She had to act like she owned the place, or knew where she was going. That trick was something Jay taught her and had served both of them very well. But it seemed the doorman had an eye for residents, somehow knew all the regulars. Because just as she was hitting the elevator button to go up, he gestured a comment her way.

"Who are you here to see," he asked, his voice startling her enough to make her smirk in embarrassment and turn to face him.

"Oh, Will Halstead. I'm his sister-in-law."

"Oh, that's nice," he replied, still scanning her as she turned back towards the elevator, willing it to get there that much faster. She wasn't one for small talk and feared if she did start talking she'd get to the very big news, which she worried would make her freak out and break down. She was not ready for that, especially to do it in front of a complete stranger. But mercifully, she was saved by the elevator bell, inching closer to the door as they opened for her. She was on the car and selecting his floor before the doors were fully open, making sure she hit the seventh floor button two or three times in an effort to speed things up.

"Have a nice day," the doorman bid her farewell with, Hailey could only nod and wave with a quick hand before the doors closed and she raced up the building. A nice day, if only the guy knew the truth of everything. The doors opened before long, that being Hailey's starting gun to take off in a sprint.

"Will, WILL," she pounded on the door when she slammed into the hard, metal surface. She was quite over his unwillingness to answer his phone, gritted her teeth and pounding that much harder when his cheery voicemail began playing on her phone. How could he be so impossible to get a hold of. It's not like his brother was in massive trouble or anything. Hailey kept her pounding up, kept her yelling of his name going, even after she realized he was not coming to that door. Either he was so completely out to the world or he wasn't there, but her slamming of the door was almost therapeutic. It felt nice to hit something, let out the tension and heartache and anger at everything right then. Lord only knew how much she needed that in the coming hours and days.

"Hey," shouted at her from all the way down at the other end of the hallway. Hailey did a full one eighty on her heels before she even realized, her face pale with shock but also blushing with embarrassment over the commotion she was making. She kind of forgot that other people lived around Will, a lot of them hospital staff. She'd most likely just awoken a very angry night shift person trying to get some shut eye before having to go back to the hospital.

"I…ummm…I'm…looking for Will Halstead," she finally let out, watching as the still angry female who yelled at her just stare, neither saying anything. She wondered if Hailey knew how hard it was to sleep during the daytime, to change one's circadian rhythm. So to have that disturbed needed to be for a very good reason.

"Do you know where he is," Hailey asked on, voice a little scared but remembering why she was doing all of this.

"It's important I speak to him."

"Important to wake everyone else up?!" The bite was strong with that one. Hailey hung her head a little as the woman spat at her, but before long looked back up at her and nodded.

"I'm sorry, but yes it's very important." That seemed to quell things a little, left her still fuming but adjusting her body so it wasn't looking to be on the verge of pouncing Hailey.

"He's working," was all that came back. She still wasn't pleased with things, but saw the emotions welling up in Hailey's eyes, even from that far away, not to mention the dejection her body seemed to be dripping in. She never asked the specifics, but figured whatever it was would be difficult news to deliver.

"Thank you," was all Hailey could let out before she ran off in the direction of the stairs. She didn't care if she got another run in, she couldn't face anymore people or talk to them and hear their pity remarks come her way. She held the tears off till she made it to the car, not slowing down as she pulled her seatbelt over her person and clicked the thing into place before she got moving. She did let herself cry it out on the twenty minute ride over to Med. There was no one else to see her cry, apart from fellow drivers that looked her way during red lights, but right then she didn't care. She knew that once she got out of that car she had to be brave, had to be strong willed, so best to just let it all out now. She did arrive at the hospital in no time at all, thankful that traffic didn't hold her up this time. She parked in a normal emergency department spot, not caring if she had to pay the large parking ticket later on. Nothing mattered more than getting to Will and filling him in on Jay. She walked past the waiting room, ignored the people that told her she had to wait or wasn't allowed in the back. Again, nothing on planet earth was going to stop her from doing what she intended to. She found him outside a patient's room, pausing in place for a couple seconds as she watched him work. He wasn't freaking out, in fact he looked rather content and very focused on what he was doing. It was such a shame she was about to end all of that.

"Hailey," he spoke up, feeling someone staring at him before turning to look at who it was.

"Will, I need to speak to you," was all she could get out before she cupped her hands over her mouth, slowly shook her head, and gasped for air as Will put the iPad down and walked over to her. Everyone else around Will seemed to know what was about to happen, what Hailey had in store for him, because they picked up right where he left off, allowing him that quiet family time. He and Hailey walked into the doctor's lounge where he guided her to a couch, making sure the door was locked before going in search of a tissue box.

"It's about Jay," she eventually spoke up, once he'd handed her a tissue and she nodded while grabbing it from his hand.

"I figured," he worriedly spoke. The two of them sat on that couch, looked at each other, both seeming to understand what could potentially play out in a very short amount of time. Hailey took a breath, gathered herself together enough to where she could sit higher up on the couch, and let it all unravel and ruin Will's day. At last, her sidekick was brought into the chapters of this story.

"That's all he said? A neurological event. He didn't give any kind of specifics," Will finally spoke with once Hailey had finished her rambling of everything. She could only nod, both of them having been rather quiet after she let things out. It was a lot of take in, even more to process, just a very heavy burden to carry and tell someone else. Surprisingly, Will wasn't crying or freaking out, instead he was very silent, very somber as the two of them sat on the couch. Hailey had fallen back against the couch, twirling her lips with both her teeth and fingers, watching Will internally process things. It wasn't a pretty sight and something she really hated to have done to him. But he needed to know and he was going to find out soon enough.

"Yeah, that's all he said," Hailey spoke up. Will nodded, blinking a few times as a way to bring himself back to the world. Jay was in trouble, in very serious and most likely fatal trouble. Now he too was wondering if they needed to race to the airport and get down there. But then the logistics of it all and knowing how difficult that trip would be made him reconsider.

"He didn't say when he'd call back?" More head shakes from Hailey, more silence filled the doctor's lounge. Someone must've told the staff about the two of them in the room. Usually this room was occupied, with people coming and going almost constantly rare was it for the room to be this silent and quiet for this long. Will was half surprised that no one was banging on the door or texting him to come back to work. It was amazing how fast news, rumors, any kind of information echoed throughout the floors and hallways of this hospital.

"What's a cerebral arteriogram," Hailey finally spoke up, dying to get filled in on what all was happening to Jay. In the coming hours a days a lot of information was going to be flying her way. By the time this whole thing was all said and done she'd essentially be completing a crash course on neurological injuries and treatment. But being here, at the proverbial starting point of it all, she was completely clueless on everything. So she knew she'd have to rely heavily on Will and all his years of medical expertise.

"It's a diagnostic procedure used to help visualize blood vessels and veins in the brain," Will began with, rising from his spot on the couch and heading to the makeshift coffee bar on the other side of the room. Hailey didn't follow, instead grabbing a throw pillow from off the couch and cradling it in her arms like it was a comfort stuffed animal.

"Well what specifically is it used for?" Will nodded, speaking as he was in search of a coffee mug or two.

"A special dye is injected into a catheter and it travels up to the brain. They typically use it if they're looking for an aneurysm, narrowing of the blood vessels, blockages, or just trying to see the structure of his blood vessels in his brain."

"So what do you think it is?"

"Do you want some coffee," he asked, holding up a mug and waiting for her reply.

"I'm good," she spoke, squeezing the pillow a little tighter. She was beyond understanding how Will could talk about stuff like this and not get queasy, especially when it's in relation to his own brother.

"Hailey, you need something," Will spoke up, turning around to face her, giving a quick scan as a way of telling her that he saw what was going on. Instead Hailey shook her head, insisting that all was fine. She tucked a stray hair behind her ear as Will shrugged and went back to his coffee making task.

"I don't know. This could just be the guy being super thorough. But whatever it is it hasn't ruptured yet," Will continued on, Hailey watching him stir one filled mug with a wooden stick as he slid another k-cup into the machine. So much for listening to her wishes.

"How do you know that?"

"Because if it had ruptured it then they wouldn't be running tests. He'd either be in surgery…or worse."

"Don't say that Will," Hailey spoke under her breath, Will sighing as he grabbed the two coffee mugs, walking back to the couch and offering her one.

"Drink, now. You cannot be making big decisions on an empty tank."

"Who says I'm running on an empty tank?" Will sighed, rolling his eyes as he pulled a mug to his lips and swallowed.

"Well for one, you look like you haven't slept in a week. Two you are clearly in pajamas pants," he pointed out with his mug filled hand. Hailey pulled the pant leg of her fleece night pants down a little in concession.

"And three, I know that not having Jay around has been really hard on you."

"Who told you," she inquired, about ready to storm out of the hospital and right to the district if any of them ratted her out.

"No one. I know that if I'm struggling with it and am not around him 24/7, then you must be a complete wreck." Hailey sighed, putting off her riot plans for now. The two of them were quiet for about a minute or so, each sipping coffee and wishing for the phone to ring. Hailey went from dreading the thing going off to now just wanting something, anything about Jay. It's amazing how quickly things shift in a crisis.

"So where do they inject this stuff," Hailey finally spoke into the room, dying for small talk over the silence. Honestly that part was the most difficult one out of the whole ordeal, which is a little shocking when all is said and done.

"In a catheter, usually in the groin." That one made Hailey squirm inside, close her eyes and hold things for a second as she let that thought, that feeling live in her mind and escape.

"Hey, you asked," Will reminded.

"I know. I just…don't want to think about that." Will just rolled his eyes, that was just for diagnosing. Wait until she learned about Jay's treatment, if he made it that far.

"You said his name was Tyson Bradford?" Hailey nodded, grateful that he was changing the subject.

"Why does that name sound familiar," Will spoke to absolutely no one, a mere thought escaping his mouth.

"I don't know," Hailey spoke into her cup. She just about spit her gulp of coffee down when her phone finally, at last, lit up with a phone call. It was showtime.

"This is Hailey," she did her best to speak as she put the phone on speaker. The commotion and beeping and talking behind Bradford was still there, Hailey taking that as a good sign. So long as there was noise there was life. At least that's what Hailey was hoping for. The fact the last call was over an hour ago didn't sit well, but doing her best she went on.

"I have Will Halstead with me, that's Jay's brother. He's an ER doctor here in Chicago," she explained, could hear the internal eye roll coming from Bradford as she spoke. She knew there was nothing doctor's hated more than having family member who were also in the medical field. It created a never ending pissing contest and constant questions about everything they did.

"Hi Tyson," Will greeted over the line. What they didn't see was Bradford twitch at the sound of his own name. He'd hadn't been referred to as Tyson in so long. It brought him back to that former life he'd done so very well of escaping from.

"What's the situation," Will asked for the group. He could hear things moving, people talking to Bradford, picking up the sounds of a heart monitor sounding to be just next to the phone. It wasn't singing a pretty song, allowing that dread and tension build up in his person. If only they knew that was the very beginning of it all.

"Will, do you have a computer around you? Since we do have another medical person in this situation I want you to see what I'm about to tell you." Will was immediate to respond, in no time at all he was rattling off his email, the hospital's digital medical chart software, soon getting Bradford to send him the entire package of Jay's MRI, EKG readings, and the gold standard cerebral arteriogram. Hailey just sat back in silence, both shocked at how under control Will was and rather impressed at his medical knowledge. Between the two doctors on the line Hailey was lost listening to them speak a language foreign to her. So many acronyms, too many giant words and numbers that she just waited till Will mentioned her name to even attempt speaking. She followed Will to the computer in the lounge, grabbing a small stool and pushing it up to his seat as he logged into the hospital system, letting Bradford know things were incoming just then. Nothing was there and then everything. One might've been hearing tension building music, heard the orchestra build and build and expected the gong of the climax to bang into that little room and floor their senses with shocked fear and emotions. But instead all Hailey got out of Will was a quick and quiet gasp, him moving the cursor around before zooming in via inching his head closer and closer to the screen.

"I've got it," he announced to the doctor on the other end, the two of them silent as they just watched and gasped and gaped at the true splendor that was the nightmare wrecking havoc on Jay's brain. Hailey just saw the cutout of a head. She noted the profile of a face and assumed the large, oval-like shaped blob that the two men were fascinated with was Jay's brain. But everything else was a complete and total mystery to her. Only when Will nudged her shoulder and pointed towards the screen did she fully reengage with the situation. Which in just a second she was going to wish she hadn't.

"He's got multiple subdural hematomas," Will announced, phone in his right hand as he pointed to the screens, his fingers dancing along several dark spots perfectly documented on the MRI scan. Hailey swallowed deep, not sure what he was talking about but assuming it wasn't good. Multiple anything wasn't a diagnosis that anyone wanted.

"What's a hematoma," she asked.

"Bleeding on the brain," both Will and Bradford spoke at the exact same time, a serious echo verbally slapping Hailey in the face. Her eyes went wide as she started to shake her head. Will was quick to brush a hand on her shoulder. Now was not the time to panic or lose it. She needed to see this, know this, because she was about to play a very significant role in the story. She was gong to be the pivot, the final call in what was coming next. She nodded, collected herself before looking to Will to move along.

"So what's causing the bleeding," she nervously asked, looking at Will the whole time. Will sighed, moved to the second section of the downloaded package as Bradford continued to inform.

"Well, he's got an aneurysm that's in the process of rupturing."

"Oh God," Hailey let out. She couldn't help it, this was too much to just grin and bear. Will motioned with his finger to the ominous large black circle that seemed to be deep in Jay's brain. Hailey saw it, noted the size and the sheer fear that was racing inside of her. Rare was it to see the thing that was going to kill your husband. Right then Hailey really wished she hadn't.

"Luckily it's a slow bleed. The MRI had me freaked out at first. But seeing it on the arteriogram revealed that it's huge, it is going to be hard to get, but it's not fully ruptured…yet," Bradford informed. Will meanwhile had jumped to the arteriogram portion of the download, both he and Hailey watched the images dance and snake up through the scans, the dark dye revealing the structures in Jay's head perfectly and profoundly against the stark white backdrop of the scan. Hailey was seriously shivering now.

"So can you fix it," she asked, wanting very much for the scary movie in front of her to stop playing. She looked down in her lap as Bradford talked.

"Well, that's not all he's got going on." Now Hailey couldn't look away from the screen, eyes huge as she saw the next part of the arteriogram. The dye went in, and then it just stopped, almost like a whole section of Jay's blood vessels were missing. She watched it over and over again, very lost on what it all meant, but also making note of the very large cluster of dark squiggly lines that seemed to be preventing the dye from going into the rest of the blood vessels.

"What is that," she asked, wanting for one of them to answer.

"That is a DAVF, or a dural arteriovenous fistula. It's incredibly rare and it usually doesn't happen to people until later in life. Like 50s and 60s. Has he ever hit his head or been in multiple fights or anything that would be a blow to the head?" Will just snorted, Hailey rolled her eyes before collapsing her head into her hands, speaking through her hands as she answered.

"Oh yeah, many times." They could hear Bradford sigh deep on the other end, snapping his fingers before speaking up.

"Well then that would explain it."

"Hey Bradford, I'm going to get our head of the hospital on a call with us right now along with our chief neurosurgeon," Will interrupted, frantically texting people and getting things figured out as Bradford kept speaking. Hailey was losing hope in Jay ever making it back home alive as things just kept snowballing.

"So like I said, this is an incredibly rare diagnosis, but one that is common with people who have suffered significant head trauma. I know he served in the Army for some time and I'm sure he had a few run ins when he was a police officer, so any of those factors could explain how he developed DAVF. In basic terms its an abnormality of the blood vessels. They are shaped and twisted in an unusual way so that over time the blood flow is constricted. You can go years without any issues or symptoms. But when that narrowing turns into a block or rupture, it can lead to what happened today."

"Can you treat it," Hailey asked, just wanting the history lesson to be over. She couldn't wait any longer. She wanted a plan, an idea, someway to get Jay back to them. The lack of anything was really starting to piss her off.

"Not here," was all Bradford was able to say before Hailey lost it. Hot tears fell down her face as she hid herself in her hands, forehead touching her thighs as Will rubbed her back, speaking up for her as he brought the requested people into the situation.

"Tyson I have Dr. Abrams on the line along with Sharon Goodwin." The two people gave quick greetings, not wanting to take time away from planning and getting something into gear.

"Do we need to be flying down there," Will asked on behalf of everyone. If need be he was ready to take the next flight out of town.

"No, you guys are going to have a hard time getting here and plus it'll just delay everything."

"So what do you want us to do," Will asked, patting Hailey's back as she settled down but a little. She still didn't lift her head, or move any part of her. Jay was on the verge of being dead and there was nothing to slow that down.

"I need to know how far you want me to go with this? We can try and find another hospital in the area or a neighboring country and do our very best to fix this."

"Bradford, this is Abrams. I'm looking at the scans now, you're going to need another set of hands with this. You need to get both the aneurysm and DAVF out of there now. Waiting on one will only make the other one worse."

"Well if you can transport yourself down here in the next hour that would be amazing," Bradford was quick to shoot back. Silence filled the line for a little bit. Those not freaking out and crying were thinking, mulling it all over, trying to solve the world's most dangerous medical problem.

"I can get the DAVF out of there. I've done it before," Bradford finally announced to the group. That one got Hailey out of her sob session, slowly allowing her to rise and look back to the screens in front of them.

"You've done it before," Sharon spoke up, her voice very inquisitive to what the mystery man on the other line was referring to.

"I'm originally based out of San Diego. Back there I specialized in brain abnormalities and treated a few of these during my time there." "So why did you leave," Hailey asked for the group.

"Because…I wanted a change of pace," he lied. This wasn't the time or place to tell the truth. He was fully aware that they'd likely know before too long, but in this moment the past did not care. He had to get them on board with him handling this.

"But I haven't clipped an aneurysm in forever. Plus like you said, I really need a second pair of hands to help." Silence took over the call once again, no one doing anything for another minute or so. It was Will who got the lightbulb going off above his head.

"How long is the flight to Chicago," he calmly and quietly asked? He looked over to Hailey who was dumbstruck at the question, mind already down the road on what he was asking. She could only stare out him with huge eyes and an open mouth.

"You're wanting to put your brother on a flight to Chicago and hope and pray things hold for twelve hours," Bradford snidely spoke up. He figured since this guy was related to Jay, he'd be a little insane. But this one was a new one, a plan he did not see coming.

"Need I remind you he's actively bleeding in his brain and in a coma."

"Don't you guys have a plane or someway to get people out of the area and to the States?" Now Bradford was the quiet one, sounding to be running before stopping and speaking to someone off the call. Hailey continued to look at Will, almost shaking her head or asking him to back off the idea, but instead it continued to come together.

"If you can patch the fistula and aneurysm it should hold for the flight over," Abrams remarked, sounding a little surprised and theorizing, but the more he talked the more it sounded like a legitimate plan.

"Can you repair the aneurysm and other thing at the same time if he was here," Hailey finally spoke up.

"Yes," Abrams answered rather quickly and confidently. Hailey perked up even more, finding herself so shocked that she was almost getting giddy over brain surgery. But here they were, what insane adventures life took them on sometimes.

"Okay so Eric our chief of station said there is a plane we can be transported to at the embassy. He is working to get things lined up on their end but we could get him out of here in a couple hours."

"And I can get you emergency clearance to operate once you land," Sharon chimed in.

"I'm assuming you don't have a license in the state of Illinois?"

"No ma'am. I do not," Bradford was quick to respond.

"But to answer the question yes, I can patch the fistula and aneurysm here using the same arteriogram catheter. But you have to understand we're taking a huge gamble here. Twelve hours is really pushing it and if that thing bursts while were airborne…" He knew he didn't need to finish that, they all understood the severity and risks they were about to ask of Jay, of Bradford, of everyone playing a role in this. And even then, if they did manage to land and everything held he was now looking at two major brain surgeries in a sense. Certainly, they'd be happening at the same time. But regardless it would take a huge toll on Jay's body. Will looked to Hailey while the rest of them stopped talking. This was where her role became detrimental.

"What's it going to be," he asked, all of them quite literally holding their breath as she thought, willed, was dying for Jay, for life, to give her something, anything in the form of a sign.

"Bring me home," echoed in the far corners of her mind. It was him, a very faint whisper from earlier, but that was what she took and ran with. She knew she had no other choice. Jay wanted to be home. Even if it meant pushing him to the point of no return, at least he'd be dying on his home turf.

"Bring him home," she announced, nodding as she adjusted in her little seat. Never had she been more nervous and guilty in her life. Will nodded, patted her shoulder in support, while everything got rolling.

"Okay, I will head back in there and get things patched. We will text the second we're taking off. Stay by the phone." And before anyone could answer Bradford, he hung up. It was understandable, he was now the one holding Jay's life in his hands. Sharon talked to Will about getting and OR lined up and transport from the airport to Med in place before he left the line. Abrams only wished everyone well and good luck before it went back to just Hailey and Will were left to deal with the reality of the coming hours, days, months even. They knew there was no other better option. But still, to make that call was never going to be easy or one they were fully behind.

"We're gunna get him here," Will reassured as he pulled Hailey in for a hug. All she could hear was the choir-like humming and eerie opening chords of When The Party's Over. It all fit. In many ways, the party was indeed over. And as the song sang, Hailey may have learned to lose Jay…but there was no way in hell could she afford to let him go altogether. The fight, and flight, for Jay's life was upon them.