Chapter Text
Catch Me When I Fall – Chapter 1 (A Swing)
Will Halstead, one of the doctors that worked in Emergency Medicine for Gaffney’s Medical Center, hadn’t been the biggest fan of when the new COO, Gwen Garrett came on board. He was less of a fan when he realized what she was doing.
His own father had been brought in by the Chicago Fire Department because of a fire. He knew it was against rules, but he hadn’t cared when his dad had coded. It wasn’t like they had an available doctor at the time.
He tried to stay on the sidelines when his dad and Jay decided to argue about the apartment again. Not like it had been the first time and it didn’t matter how much he tried to warn Jay. This was not the time nor place. Not while he was in the hospital.
Will had asked Connor if he would step in since he wasn’t allowed to treat his own dad. Who still had an infection that Connor wanted to have checked out before he went to see what Dr. Choi needed.
But he watched as Pat pointed out that Jay wasn’t the doctor, Will was. It was during this that Will felt it best to step out for a moment. Knowing it would just get heated, especially by Jay. That hadn’t stopped Jay confronting him about.
“Thanks for the help back there, was really great,” Jay muttered.
“Jay, I am not going to get into between you and dad. Not while he is in the hospital. All you are doing is riling him up and I am trying to keep him stable. Just let it go, Jay,” Will told him.
“Oh, and make me the bad guy?” Jay asked before scoffing. “Just like always.”
It had been that argument before a nurse got Will’s attention when his dad had gone into V-fib. It hadn’t mattered on anything he did. Sam had confirmed it for him, that his father was braindead. There practically were no EEG wavelengths.
Jay had been furious about what Sam said after and he understood. They had waves and waves of patients. Another of the patients could use the vent that his father was on. But it wasn’t a demand as Sam looked at him.
It didn’t make it any easier to hear for Jay to practically call him useless. He had learned as a doctor years ago that loss came along with the degree and profession. It hadn’t been easy in the beginning. It certainly didn’t make it better since it was his own father. But it seemed that Jay had no problem blaming him. What else was new?
Will had turned to face out the window as he looked down at his hand. The silver ring that rest on his left finger. There was no point in trying to argue about it with Jay. He always saw it as him being right.
Then Gwen had approached him that they could keep his dad on the vent for long as possible. It didn’t make any sense why Gwen tried to appear understanding. Maybe because Jay had been there with him.
It was after that Will found out the real reason. She was trying to save her ass and prevent the hospital from taking a hit.
That fucking bypass! They were using his own father just to avoid liability. He couldn’t believe it… and that they would do that to him and to use his own family…
It had been Connor that pointed out to him to check his last surgery, as it was something he had brought up when he had spoken to Mr. Halstead before he coded. He gave Will a reassuring grip of his forearm and he looked into Will’s eyes.
It might been the first smile since his dad had brought in. “Thanks, Connor.” And he had really meant it. They hadn't really gotten on at the beginning ever since he realized that he was that Rhodes. But their working relationship had gotten a lot better. Finally able to look past the name.
Maybe the worst decision that Will could have made was to convince his own brother of this. That was when the argument started.
Jay hadn’t cared that the hospital was using their dad to avoid liability.
I don’t care that you feel betrayed,” Jay told him.
“Jay, listen to yourself. They are using him!” Will shot back.
“That’s your problem, not mine!” Jay snapped, making Will back out of the treatment room.
“Jay! He’s gone! You need to accept that!” Will tried again.
He didn’t feel the harsh shove or the punch that sent him flying into the Nurse’s station. His head colliding with the edge of the desk before crumbling to the ground.
Jay had already turned his back and was back in the treatment room.
Connor had just gotten back from doing Stella Kidd’s surgery, a firefighter with Chicago Fire Department. He had heard enough of the argument before he jumped into action.
“Will! Maggie! Monique! Get me a damn gurney!” Connor ordered.
“We don’t have any rooms,” Maggie told him.
“I don’t care. We’ll make room upstairs!” Connor snapped before feeling the back of Will’s head. That was when he felt blood.
He eased an arm under Will’s legs before lifting him, taking care of his head before placing him on the gurney.
Maybe it was the shouting that caused Jay to come back out of the room Pat was in. He felt a little guilty as he watched Connor lift his brother.
"Jay. You need to leave. Now." Connor ordered.
"He got hit by a punch. He's fine. I'm not leaving. So, what's the problem?" Jay told him.
"At this very moment, the problem is you. Now, thanks to you, I have a colleague to treat. So, you're done here."
"I'm his brother."
"That's funny. Because you sure don't act like it. Maybe next time me and my sister have an argument, I'll just punch her to serve the point. Sounds fair," Connor's voice was harsh.
"That isn't the same and you know it!"
"Is it? You tell me. How about we ask Will? Oh, yeah, he's currently unconscious because of you. So, you better hope that he comes out of this," Connor narrowed his eyes.
Connor started to push the gurney before yelling towards Maggie.
"Get him out of here or I will!"
Connor never stayed to see if Jay stood there or not as he wheeled Will upstairs. Taking the first room that was open. They must have just discharged a patient, for which he was thankful. He wasn’t above kicking them out at this moment. They could find someone in another room or in the ED.
“Come on, Will,” Connor muttered as he placed in the IV himself after he hooked Will up to the monitors. He needed to keep an eye on his vitals. So far, they were steady.
But the redheaded doctor never woke up once as Connor was checking his pupils, that was when he noticed his airway. It looked like he was clamping down as he eased a tube down Will’s throat to intubate him. Whatever injury he sustained was enough where it was causing him not to breath on his own. He was going to kill Jay when this was over with.
That was when there was a knock at the door before it was opened.
“Dr. Rhodes,” Dr. Choi walked into the room. “I was just told what happened. How is he?”
“He was clamping down on his airway but he’s not responsive. He’s going to need a CT scan on his head and maybe page Dr. Abrams…” Connor informed him. “I need a Neurosurgeon…”
“I’ll give them a call,” Ethan replied.
Connor nodded as he stared at Will’s vitals until they wheeled Will out of the room for the CT. It was after that Sam stopped by. He stayed out of the room until Sam closed the door behind him. He wasn’t the only one that wanted news about Will. Sharon Goodwin had been in the room asking about him. It was no surprise that she had been informed about Will’s condition. Though he wasn’t sure if she had been told the reason why it happened yet.
“Anything Sam?” Connor asked.
“It’s not looking good at the moment. The impact to the back of Will’s head is putting pressure on his brain. It needs surgery to remove the pressure. Medication won’t be enough I’m afraid. I should let you know there may be some memory loss.” Sam told him.
“Is he going to wake up?” Connor asked.
“That is entirely up to Will. It’s not uncommon that a TBI will leave them in a comatose state. I’ll know more after the surgery.”
Connor nodded, “let me know.”
Sam nodded before walking down the hall. They would probably be wheeling down there soon for the surgery.
Connor didn't move until Sharon came out of the room.
"How are you holding up?" She asked, her voice was gentle.
The question honestly surprised Connor, they were colleagues... and he supposed friends. He wasn't exactly sure why she was directly the question at him. Sure... he was the first doctor that had reacted. Anyone would.
"As good as I can be. We don't know if he has a concussion from the impact. Sam says he needs surgery, but he hasn't waken up once," Connor admitted.
"I know. They said you were witness to what happened," Sharon commented.
"Not completely. I just had finished the surgery for Stella. I had been able to stop the bleeding without taking out her lung. I had spoken to Will about where his dad had a bypass surgery recently. But Jay had taken a swing at Will. I don't know why... Knocked him into the Nurse's Station. He's not moved since."
"Jay?" Sharon repeated, it was a shock to hear, even for her. "Okay. I'll see what I can do. I'll check back on you later."