The Past Never Stays Hidden – Chapter 1 (Moving Back)
It hadn't been a spur of the moment when Will Halstead decided to quit his job as a Plastic Surgeon in New York. Though most people that had known him over the years would have assumed he was actually fired.
New York just wasn't for him. It was not something he wanted to do all his life. Giving these rich men's wives the breast implants that they were paying money for. It wasn't why he decided to be a doctor.
He had worked there for years and even gone to school there in New York. Right there at Columbia University. Since he had gotten in at Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. It was one of the oldest and most celebrated medical institutions in the country. But it wasn't the reason why Will chose to go to school there. It was out of Chicago and out of Illinois. Even worked at the hospital as a medical student. That had been before he had gone to Sudan, which in his opinion, was much better than anything he did as a plastic surgeon.
But that had ended years ago and there he was, working back in New York, different hospital, of course. He hadn't stepped back into Chicago since then, not since he was eighteen. Jay had left him for the Army.
Jay…
He couldn't count the number of times that his older brother had driven from Chicago to see him. If you took a flight, it would only take about two hours. Driving… that was closer to a thirteen-hour drive. He couldn't believe Jay had done it on the weekends he had off, which could have been spent drinking at some bar or hooking with whoever he was interested in at the time.
But instead, he would spend it to see him. Which Will would do the same when he had time put in. Though for now, it might be indefinitely that he would be back in Chicago. Because there was really only one place that he could think of being at. Seeing that his older brother worked for the Chicago Police Department in Intelligence. Working for Sergeant Hank Voight, whose name was legendary even in New York. He couldn't imagine what it would be like working for him.
Sometimes he wondered if New York might have been a little better if they had someone like him working there instead of Chicago. But he kept on packing his stuff together, which wasn't all that much to start with. It certainly made moving a lot easier.
Though his plan to call Jay to meet up didn't go quite according to his plans. Wanting to surprise his older brother a bit, getting to almost start a fight wasn't on his list. But he had wanted to stop by Molly's, not to drink anything there. But he knew that the firefighters owned it. And there was always the off chance of Jay being there.
He had run into Tommy, not one of his favorite people in Chicago. So, maybe there was some luck there that an officer decided to run interference and call Jay.
It didn't mean it didn't take him by surprise when he saw his brother.
"Jay!"
"Thought you said you be here next week," Jay asked.
Right… Will had forgotten that he had scheduled that over a month or so ago. Well… plans changed. It all had been rather unexpected and there wasn't much you could get past him.
"Decided to move it up a bit. Surprise my big brother and all," Will grinned at him.
Jay matched his grin, "so, how long you in town for."
"Haven't quite decided," Will shrugged. It was the truth. He could pick another city or state for all he knew. Just long as it wasn't New York right now. So, Chicago was currently a safe option for right now. At least until he figured out what he decided to do. Providing he decided if he was going to try to get a job here or not.
"Never thought I would see you in a bar," Jay commented.
Will tried to give a careless shrug but he didn't think he was that successful given his brother's look. "It's just Molly's and I was hoping I may catch you here. Should have known you be at work."
Jay frowned but didn't press the issue. He was very aware that his younger brother wouldn't ever drink beer at a bar. Not even a shot. Which is why it made him suspicious.
"You sure it's not you that needs a beer?" Will asked him.
Jay rolled his eyes, "I'm still working, Will. But you don't have some medical thing you have to get to or something?"
"Took a break. I am allowed to do that, you know." Will commented.
"You got fired," Jay guessed. It all started to make sense now.
Will shrugged, he knew that he actually didn't. He wasn't sure why he didn't tell Jay that. Maybe it kind of hurt that Jay thought that much of him. Besides, he really didn't want to talk about work or New York. But he knew that Jay would eventually. There was only so much you could do to avoid that conversation.
"Well, I would love to babysit you all day, Will. But I got to head back. Stop by the district later?" Jay replied.
Will rolled his eyes before nodding. But not before giving him a hug. He had missed his older brother.
Jay had slightly stiffened up before he returned the hug full force. Though he wasn't about to admit that he had missed seeing his younger brother. Seeing that his last visit had been several months ago.
It would be a few hours before he made his way to the district at the 21st. Though he hadn't been expecting for the Sergeant at the desk to ask him to check for an injury on her neck. It was almost too good to pass the opportunity. He heard too many stories of Jay's complaints, but it wasn't like he worked with her as much as their officers on patrol.
He was sure that Jay would hear about it later. But the hot coffee was a godsend when Jay placed it in his hands. It had been a long day and a long drive back to Chicago.
They were in the breakroom in Intelligence, and he had already seen the curious eyes. Will knew that they worked with his brother but never really been formally introduced to any of them. Not even to Sergeant Voight.
"How's New York?" Jay asked, diverting his attention back to him.
"Good. Just needed a bit of a breather, that's all."
"Breather? It's never been just a breather with you, Will. What's going on?" Jay asked, concerned.
"Nothing is going on, Jay," Will denied.
"Will, tell me the real reason you're here," Jay asked.
"Can't I just visit my older brother? You know I do take vacation every now and then." – Will
"Will…" Jay crossed his arms.
Will sighed, "can we not talk about this right now."
Jay straightened up at that.
"You alright, bro?"
Will shrugged, "of course, why wouldn't I be? Just taking a little break."
"Okay… where you staying?" Jay changed the subject.
"Your place?"
Jay raised an eyebrow at that. "Not dad's?" He had to ask to make sure, that was probably the last place Will needed to be staying at.
"You already know the answer to that. Jay, please don't fight me on this. Just once," Will begged him.
"Okay," Jay agreed before digging out his keys. He handed him one of the keys to his apartment.
"Thanks," Will nodded.
"We'll get something to eat later, and I'll give you money for a cab. We're pretty deep in a case right now so it might be a while," Jay told him.
"Jay," Will protested.
"Will, just take the money for the cab," Jay replied, shoving the cash into Will's hand.
Whatever Will was going to say, or protest was cut off by someone entering the room.
"You going to introduce your friend, Jay?" Lindsey used that moment to walk into the break room.
"Lindsey, this is my brother Will," Jay introduced.
"Nice to meet you," Will said but not before giving his brother a look.
A look that Jay was avoiding, not even giving him any eye contact at that moment. Bingo. Looks like she was the one that Jay was seeing at the moment. Jay never said as much when he visited or on the phone. But it was clear as day.
"How long are you staying?" Erin asked.
"Working that part out," Will allowed.
"Well, before you go. We should all hang out some time," she said.
Will nodded, though he felt a bit apprehensive about it. He knew that the officers for CPD liked to frequent Molly's and he wasn't one for that scene. Which is why he wasn't surprised that he took Jay off guard catching him there hours ago.
"I'll catch you later, Jay," Will walked past the pair of them to head back downstairs.