Jay Halstead was not one to willingly admit defeat, but when a particularly nasty cold struck him down like a rogue wave crashing over a ship, even he had to surrender. It started with a scratchy throat that quickly escalated to a full-blown cough, congestion, and an overall feeling of exhaustion that even coffee couldn't chase away. Yet, amidst the misery of his illness, there was a silver lining in the form of Will Halstead, his brother and resident doctor at Chicago Med.
Will had always been the caregiver in their family, the one who made sure everyone was taken care of, whether they liked it or not. Jay found himself on the receiving end of Will's doctoring skills this time, as his older brother barged into his apartment with bags of groceries, medication, and a stern expression that brooked no argument.
"You are staying home, Jay," Will declared, handing him a cup of hot tea laced with honey and lemon. "No arguments. I'll call in favors with Voight if I have to, but you're not setting foot out of this apartment until you're better."
Jay grumbled but didn't protest too much. Will had that effect on him - authoritative yet caring, like a parent scolding a child for not wearing a coat in winter. So, Jay reluctantly took his medicine, drank his tea, and resigned himself to binge-watching old movies while his partner, Hailey Upton, checked in on him via text every few hours.
Days passed, and true to Will's predictions, Jay began to feel better. His cough subsided, his congestion cleared, and his energy started to return. However, unbeknownst to both Jay and Will, the cold had other plans. Will, in his selfless act of nursing his brother back to health, had inadvertently exposed himself to Jay's germs, and they were not the forgiving type.
At first, Will brushed off the occasional sniffle and slight fatigue as the result of long shifts at the hospital. He popped a few cold pills, drank more orange juice than he thought possible, and soldiered on through patient consultations. But as the days stretched into a week, Will's condition worsened rather than improved.
His chest felt tight, his sinuses throbbed incessantly, and every time he blew his nose, the tissue came away with a startlingly green tint. It was a sight he'd seen countless times in patients but experiencing it firsthand was an entirely different ordeal. Still, Will was determined not to let it affect his work or his responsibilities.
Despite his efforts to soldier on, Will couldn't hide the toll the cold was taking on him from those closest to him. Natalie Manning, his colleague and friend at Med, noticed the dark circles under his eyes and the way he rubbed his temples while ordering labs for his patient. She cornered him one afternoon in the break room, a concerned look etched on her face.
"Will, you look like you've been hit by a truck," Natalie said bluntly, handing him a cup of herbal tea. "And don't even try to tell me it's just a minor cold. I've seen enough green snot around here to know better."
Will chuckled weakly, accepting the tea gratefully. "Yeah, I caught Jay's cold. Thought I could tough it out, but..." He trailed off, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over him.
Natalie placed a hand on his shoulder, her expression softening. "I'm writing you a script for antibiotics, go fill it then you need to go home, Will. Rest. Let your body fight this off properly."
Will hesitated, torn between his dedication to his patients and the undeniable need to listen to his friend's advice. "I... I guess you're right," he admitted reluctantly. "But I can't just leave mid-shift. I'll ask Ethan if someone can cover my shift tomorrow."
Will Halstead sat at the nurses' station, feeling every ounce of exhaustion seep into his bones. Natalie's words echoed in his mind as he rubbed his temples, trying to push away the throbbing headache that had become his constant companion. He knew he couldn't keep pushing himself like this, not when his body clearly needed rest and recovery.
After a particularly draining consultation with a patient, Will made a decision. He excused himself from the team meeting, promising to catch up on the details later, and retreated to the doctor's lounge. With a sigh, he pulled out his phone and sent a text to Jay.
Will: Hey Jay, hate to cancel on you, but I'm feeling worse than I thought. Going to head home and crash. Let's reschedule dinner, okay? Don't come round, I'll be fine. Thanks for understanding.
Sending the message, Will gathered his things and made his way out of Chicago Med. The journey home seemed longer than usual, his steps heavier as fatigue weighed him down. Once inside his apartment, he wasted no time in shedding his coat and sinking onto the couch with a sigh of relief.
Will retrieved the antibiotics Natalie had prescribed - Clarithromycin - from his bag. He glanced at the dosage instructions and swallowed the first pill with a gulp of water. The relief was almost immediate; he felt a wave of gratitude for Natalie's care and a twinge of guilt for not listening to her sooner.
Will then allowed himself to relax for the first time in days. He closed his eyes, sinking into the cushions, and let the warmth of his apartment and the quiet solitude wash over him. For once, he didn't feel the urge to check his phone or worry about his patients.
Several hours later, Will woke with a start, coughing harshly and reaching for a tissue to stifle a series of sneezes. His throat felt raw, and his nose was felt ridiculously full. His sinuses throbbed in time with his heart beat. He groaned, feeling frustration creep in at the setback in his recovery.
Trying to ignore the discomfort, Will attempted to settle back into sleep, but the persistent cough and congestion kept him awake. He tossed and turned, his mind racing with thoughts of patients, unfinished paperwork, and the dinner plans he'd canceled with Jay. Frustrated and desperate for rest, he finally gave in and stumbled to the kitchen.
With a resigned sigh, Will rummaged through his medicine cabinet for some NyQuil. To his dismay, the box of NyQuil held nothing but an empty blister pack. Chucking the useless box into the trash, Will continued his search for anything that would alleviate his symptoms. Finally, his hands closed around a box of Benadryl. He knew it wasn't ideal to mix medications, but at this point, he needed relief from the symptoms that plagued him. He swallowed a couple of pills and washed them down with a glass of water, hoping they would bring him the peace and sleep he desperately needed.
Deciding that he might as well head to bed, Will propped himself up with extra pillows, hoping the elevation would ease his breathing. He closed his eyes, willing himself to relax and let the medication do its work. Slowly, the coughing subsided, and the congestion seemed to lessen.
Half an hour later, Will woke with a start, his heart pounding wildly in his chest. His vision blurred momentarily, causing a wave of dizziness that left him disoriented and alarmed. He knew he shouldn't be feeling this awful, especially after taking medication to help him sleep.
Fear gripped him as he sat up in bed, his mind racing through possible explanations for his sudden symptoms. Then, something clicked in his foggy brain - a realization that sent a shiver down his spine. He reached for his phone, fingers trembling as he typed in the names of the medications he had taken into a drug interaction tracker.
Clarithromycin. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl). Fluoxetine.
The results confirmed his worst suspicions: these medications, when combined, had the potential to cause QT prolongation - a dangerous condition where the heart rhythm becomes irregular and can lead to fainting or even sudden cardiac arrest.
Panic surged through Will as he realized the severity of his situation. He needed to get to the hospital immediately, but he was in no condition to drive. Desperate and feeling increasingly weak, he dialed Jay's number, praying that his brother would answer.
It rang several times before Jay finally picked up, his voice laced with concern. "Will? You alright?"
"Jay," Will managed, his voice shaky. "I... I think I'm having a bad reaction to the medication. I need to get to the hospital."
There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, then Jay's voice came through, strong and reassuring. "I'm on my way. Just hang tight, okay? Don't move."
Will nodded weakly, even though Jay couldn't see him. "Hurry," he pleaded, his heart racing with fear.
"I'm coming," Jay promised, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
As Will waited for Jay to arrive, he focused on taking slow, steady breaths, trying to calm his racing heart. He knew he had made a mistake in not paying closer attention to the potential interactions of his medications. Now, he could only hope that he had caught it in time to get the medical help he needed.
Minutes felt like hours as Will waited anxiously, his mind racing with thoughts of what could happen if he didn't get treatment soon. He chastised himself for not being more careful, for not listening to his own instincts about his health.
Finally, he heard the familiar sound of Jay's car pulling up outside. Relief flooded through him as Jay rushed into the apartment, his expression a mix of worry and determination.
"Will, let's go," Jay said urgently, helping his brother to his feet and guiding him towards the door.
Will leaned heavily on Jay as they made their way down the stairs and into the car. He felt a wave of gratitude for his brother's swift response and unwavering support in his time of need.
At Chicago Med's emergency room entrance, Jay helped Will out of the car and into the bustling hospital corridors. They were met by a familiar face - Dr. Connor Rhodes, who happened to be on duty that night.
Connor's brow furrowed with concern as he quickly assessed Will's condition. "What happened?" he asked, guiding Will into a nearby examination room with Jay following closely behind.
Will explained haltingly, his voice still hoarse from the earlier panic. "Took a bad combination of drugs, should have known better."
"What symptoms are you having?" Connor asked
"Palpitations and blurred vision" Will supplied.
"I don't see anything in your history other than the Clarithromycin Natalie prescribed today. What else did you take?" Connor queried.
"Took some Benadryl. I'm also on Fluoxetine, Dr Charles started me on it a month ago but he had some samples in his office so I haven't filled the prescription yet. Plugged the drugs into UptoDate, QT prolongation"
Connor nodded, his expression serious as he reviewed Will's chart and monitored his vitals. "Good call on recognizing the symptoms. Let's get an EKG and blood work done to confirm."
Within minutes, the medical team was in action, performing tests to assess Will's cardiac function and monitor any signs of irregular heart rhythm. Connor remained by Will's side, offering reassurance and expert care as they waited for the results.
As they waited, Jay hovered nearby, his worry palpable despite his efforts to appear composed. He appreciated Connor's calm demeanor and the thoroughness of the medical team, knowing that Will was in good hands.
After what felt like an eternity of tense waiting, the results came back confirming the presence of QT prolongation, likely triggered by the combination of medications Will had taken. Connor discussed the next steps with Will, including adjustments to his treatment plan and close monitoring overnight.
"Thank you, Connor," Will said sincerely, his voice filled with gratitude as he settled back into the hospital bed, feeling the effects of the scare beginning to ebb away.
Connor nodded with a small smile. "Glad we caught it early. You're going to be fine, Will."
With Jay by his side and Connor overseeing his care, Will felt a profound sense of relief. He knew he had been lucky to recognize the danger and act swiftly, and he vowed to be more cautious with medications in the future.
As the medical team continued to monitor his condition throughout the night, Will drifted into a restless sleep, his thoughts filled with gratitude for Jay's quick response and the expert care of Dr. Connor Rhodes.
In the days that followed, Will focused on his recovery, supported by his family and colleagues at Chicago Med. He made a full recovery from the medication interaction scare, and the experience served as a powerful reminder of the importance of vigilance and self-care in his demanding profession.
And as he returned to work with renewed determination, Will knew that he had gained not only a deeper appreciation for his health but also a stronger bond with his brother and the colleagues who had stood by him in his time of need.