Natalie Manning stood at the doorway of her apartment, her suitcase packed and ready by her side. She glanced back into the living room where her son Owen lay on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, his tiny frame sniffling and coughing. It was just a cold, Natalie reassured herself, nothing serious. But still, she hesitated.
"Are you sure about this, Will?" Natalie asked, turning to face her colleague and boyfriend, Will Halstead, who stood beside her.
Will nodded reassuringly. "I've got this, Nat. It's just a cold, and you need to go to that conference. Owen will be fine with me."
Natalie bit her lip, torn between her responsibilities as a mother and her commitment to her career. She was due to speak at the pediatric trauma conference out of town—a prestigious opportunity she couldn't pass up. But leaving Owen behind, especially when he wasn't feeling well, tugged at her heartstrings.
"You're right," Natalie finally said, steeling herself. "I trust you, Will. Just... if anything feels off with Owen, call me immediately, okay?"
"Absolutely," Will replied, giving her a reassuring smile. "We'll be fine. You go and knock 'em dead at that conference."
Natalie smiled back gratefully, leaning in to kiss Will softly on the lips. "Thank you, Will. I'll see you in a couple of days."
With one last glance at Owen, Natalie picked up her suitcase and headed out the door, leaving Will alone with his young charge.
As the door closed behind Natalie, Will turned to Owen, who was watching him with big, curious eyes. "Hey buddy," Will said gently, crouching down beside the couch. "How are you feeling?"
Owen sniffled and rubbed his nose with the back of his hand. "I don't feel good, Will," he murmured softly.
"I know, kiddo," Will replied sympathetically. "But we're going to make the best of it, okay? How about we get you set up with some cartoons and then I'll make you some soup?"
Owen nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. Will found himself marveling at the resilience of children, even when they were sick. He fetched Owen's favorite blanket and tucked it around him before putting on a cartoon on the TV. As Owen settled in to watch, Will headed to the kitchen to start on the soup.
Throughout the day, Will juggled taking care of Owen while keeping an eye on his pager for any emergencies at the hospital. He checked Owen's temperature regularly, made sure he stayed hydrated, and even managed to coax him into taking his medicine without too much fuss.
By the time evening rolled around, Owen was tucked into bed, his breathing sounding a bit clearer than earlier. Will checked on him one last time before settling down on the couch with a book, ready to keep vigil through the night if needed.
The days passed with Owen gradually improving under Will's attentive care. Despite feeling the beginnings of a tickle in his throat and a slight sniffle, Will soldiered on, determined not to let Natalie down. He kept Owen entertained with games, read him stories, and made sure he ate well, all while monitoring his own symptoms discreetly.
Late one night, after putting Owen to bed, Will finally allowed himself to acknowledge that he was feeling worse. His throat was scratchy, his head throbbed with fatigue, and a low-grade fever had settled in. He knew he was coming down with Owen's cold.
Will debated whether to call Natalie. He didn't want to worry her while she was away, nor did he want her to cut her trip short. Besides, he assured himself, it was just a cold. He could tough it out for a few more days.
But as the night wore on, Will's condition deteriorated. He tossed and turned in bed, shivering despite the blanket wrapped around him.
"Will… Will!"
Will groaned, feeling a small sticky hand slapping his cheek. Peeling his eyes open, he saw that Owen had climbed onto his bed and was sitting waiting expectantly.
"Hey buddy," Will croaked, grimacing he cleared his throat and tried again, "Morning bud! What's wrong?"
"Hungry, Will," Owen complained.
Rolling out of bed, Will did a quick inventory, his head ached, his muscles and throat were sore, his nose was decidedly blocked and he's pretty sure he's running a decent temperature. Going back to sleep seemed to be the most appealing next step, but seeing Owen sitting there waiting expectantly, he knew it wasn't an option.
Glancing at the clock, he realized it was already 10.30am, way past the time Owen normally got up.
"Sorry buddy, it's late, no wonder you're hungry." Will apologized. "If you're hungry, it probably means you're feeling better huh?"
Owen nodded excitedly, "My head and throat don't hurt anymore. Can we go play in the park after we eat?" Owen begged excitedly as he wiped his snotty nose on the long sleeve of his PJs.
Will gave a small smile, masking his own discomfort, and reached out to ruffle Owen's hair while simultaneously feeling his forehead, "We'll see buddy. I don't think you're a 100% yet, and we don't want to push it. Let's get some breakfast into you and we'll see how we go, ok?"
Owen seemed to think this over before nodding in agreement. Will sighed in relief, honestly not knowing if he could survive taking Owen to the park to play.
Just as Will had finished serving Owen his breakfast of orange juice and cereal, a knock sounded at the door. Surprised, Will peered through the peephole to see Jay Halstead and Hailey Upton standing outside.
Opening the door, Will managed a weak smile. "Hey guys, what brings you here?"
Hailey raised an eyebrow as she took in Will's flushed face and weary expression. "We were in the neighborhood and thought we'd drop by," she replied casually. "Is everything okay?"
Before Will could answer, Jay's gaze flickered over to the table where Owen was gobbling down his cereal. "Hey buddy," Jay greeted Owen warmly. "How are you feeling?"
Owen grinned up at Jay. "I'm better now! Will's been taking care of me."
Hailey glanced at Will, concern etched on her face. "You don't look so good, Will," she observed bluntly.
Will rubbed the back of his neck, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over him. "Yeah, I think I caught Owen's cold," he admitted reluctantly.
Jay exchanged a knowing look with Hailey. "You should have said something, Will," Jay said gently. "We could have helped."
Will shook his head, feeling a mixture of embarrassment and gratitude. "I didn't want to worry Natalie," he explained quietly. "She needed to focus on the conference."
Hailey stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on Will's shoulder. "Well, now that we're here, let us help," she said firmly. "You need rest, and Owen needs someone to keep up with him."
Relieved to have some support, Will nodded gratefully. Jay and Hailey took over, keeping Owen entertained while Will retreated to his bedroom to rest. Despite his discomfort, Will couldn't help but feel touched by their concern and understanding.
As Will rested in his bedroom, Jay and Hailey took charge of the household. Hailey made sure Owen was occupied with games and activities, her energy matched only by Owen's enthusiasm. Jay, meanwhile, brewed a pot of hot tea for Will and checked on him periodically.
"How are you feeling, man?" Jay asked quietly, handing Will a steaming mug of tea.
Will took a sip, grateful for the warmth spreading through his chest. "Honestly, like I've been hit by a truck," he admitted with a rueful smile. "But I'll survive."
Jay chuckled softly. "You're a tough guy, Will. But seriously, you shouldn't have pushed yourself so hard."
Will sighed, feeling a pang of guilt. "I just didn't want Natalie to worry. She needed this conference."
Jay nodded understandingly. "I get it, but you could have burdened me, you know? I'm your brother, and I don't have a conference to be at."
Will looked at Jay through fever-bright eyes as if just realizing that help had been there all along.
Meanwhile, Hailey managed to keep Owen entertained with a mix of coloring books, superhero action figures, and an impromptu dance party in the living room. Owen's laughter and energy were infectious, and Hailey found herself enjoying the unexpected role of caretaker.
As the day wore on, however, Will's condition worsened. His fever spiked, and he began to shiver uncontrollably despite being wrapped in blankets. Jay and Hailey exchanged worried glances, knowing they needed to intervene.
"Will, I think we need to get you checked out," Jay said firmly, placing a reassuring hand on Will's shoulder.
Will shook his head weakly. "I'll be fine, Jay. It's just a cold."
Hailey crouched down beside Will, her expression serious. "Will, your fever is pretty high. We need to make sure it's not something more serious."
Reluctantly, Will nodded, realizing he couldn't ignore his symptoms any longer. "Okay," he conceded quietly. "Let's go."
Jay drove Will to Med, while Hailey stayed behind with Owen. Will felt a mix of gratitude and embarrassment as he was checked into the emergency room, his colleagues hovering nearby with concern etched on their faces.
Dr. Ethan Choi, who happened to be on duty that day, took charge of Will's care, ordering tests and starting him on IV fluids and an antipyretic to hydrate him and bring down his fever. Will felt a sense of relief mixed with exhaustion as he settled into a hospital bed, finally allowing himself to rest while he was in good hands.
Back at the apartment, Hailey kept Owen occupied with a movie marathon and snacks, trying her best to maintain a sense of normalcy for the young boy. She was impressed by Owen's resilience and understanding as she explained that Will was at the hospital because he needed some extra help getting better.
After a couple of hours in the hospital, Will was discharged with instructions to rest and continue taking medication. Jay drove him back to the apartment where Hailey was tidying up with Owen's help.
As they entered the apartment, Owen rushed over with a big grin. "Will! You're back!"
Will managed a weak smile, feeling a mix of relief and lingering fatigue. "Hey buddy," he greeted Owen softly.
Jay helped Will settle onto the couch, making sure he was comfortable. "You need anything?" Jay asked, concern evident in his voice.
"Just some water, thanks," Will replied, sinking back into the cushions. He appreciated Jay's support more than he could express.
Jay fetched a glass of water and handed it to Will. "You look like you've been through the wringer," he commented lightly, trying to lighten the mood.
Will chuckled weakly. "You could say that."
They heard Hailey talking animatedly with Owen in the kitchen, the sounds of laughter drifting through the apartment. Despite everything, Will felt a sense of gratitude for his friends who had stepped in to help without hesitation.
Natalie called from the conference, checking in on Owen and Will. Jay answered the call and assured her that everything was fine, not mentioning Will's illness to prevent her from worrying unnecessarily.
As the conference came to a close, Natalie packed her things and hurried back home, anxious to see Will and Owen. She was exhausted but relieved that the conference had been productive.
When Natalie walked through the door, Owen greeted her with a hug, his excitement palpable. "Mommy, Will's back and he's feeling better!"
Natalie smiled warmly at Owen, ruffling his hair affectionately. "That's wonderful to hear, buddy."
She found Will sitting on the couch, looking tired but better than when she had left. "Hey," she said softly, approaching him.
Will smiled up at her, feeling a rush of love and relief at seeing her safe and back home. "Hey, Nat. How was the conference?"
Natalie sighed, sinking down beside him. "Long and exhausting, but informative," she replied, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. "And how about you? Owen said you've been taking good care of him."
Will chuckled softly. "Yeah, though I have to admit, I ended up catching Owen's cold."
Natalie's expression softened with concern. "Oh, Will. You should have told me."
"I didn't want you to worry and come rushing back," Will explained, squeezing her hand gently. "You needed to be there."
Natalie leaned against him, grateful for his thoughtfulness yet regretting not being there for him when he needed her. "I'm sorry I wasn't here," she murmured.
Will shook his head, his heart swelling with love for her. "You had to be there, Nat. Besdies, Jay and Hailey had everything under control."
They sat together in comfortable silence, Owen chattering happily about his adventures with Jay and Hailey. As Natalie looked around at her little family, she knew they had weathered another storm together, emerging stronger and closer than before.
In the days that followed, Will fully recovered from his cold with Natalie's attentive care. They cherished the moments together as a family, grateful for the love and support they had received from Jay, Hailey, and their extended circle of friends.
Life returned to its usual rhythm, filled with laughter, work, and the everyday joys of raising Owen. Natalie and Will continued to lean on each other, knowing that together they could face any challenge that came their way.
And so, as they moved forward together, Natalie and Will knew that their bond was strengthened not only by love but also by the unwavering support of their friends who had become family.