The Secrets We Keep

October 4-draft

Jay POV*

Amira and I hop out the car and rush into the ED to get out the cold. "Amira?" I hear a ginger headed doctor say. "Dr. Red" I here Amira say." Dr. Red. Hey Will, you know Amira" I say. "Was her dad's doctor." He says. "What are you two doing here?" He asks as he high fives Amira. "Rowan's sick" I say. "Oh, do you need anything I have a 12 hour shift tonight if you guys want to go home" he says. "No we're fine" I say before he's getting pulled away onto a case.

We walk up to the nurses station on the pediatric floor. "Hi what can I do for you" an older nurse says. "My daughter Rowan Halstead is here" I say as she checks the computer. "She was just moved to room 507, here's your visitors pass" she say handing us both a sticker. We walk down the hallway passing by scared parents and doctors. "Is Jaykes gonna be okay?" Amira asks. "I don't know, I really hope she is" I say say I opening the door to 507.

Hailey POV*

After Jay left they came back with the X-rays and the doctor was right. Rowan has RSV, they took her to surgery to put in a tube to drain the fluid from her lungs. I tried to text and call Jay, but my phone died. Hearing the door open pulled me away from my thoughts. I quickly wipe my tears away before turning to face them. "Hey Amira how was school" I ask. "good" she say hesitantly. "Did you bring her lovey?" I say. "Yeah,here" Jay say handing it to me. I gently places the giraffe lovey next to Jaykes sleeping body. "What happened? When left you were in the NICU and-" Jay says. I take his hand pull him out into the hallway, I shut the door before talking.

"After you left she went downhill. Her vitals got low and the fluid buildup in her lungs got worse. S-she stopped breathing. The doctors took her to surgery and she just got back." I say feeling the warm tears trickle down my face. "Hey she gonna be fine" Jay say trying to comfort me, he wipes my tears with his hand. "They said I couldn't hold her. It's just so scary, there's so many tubes and wires all around her. I know they're there to help her, but just want my baby back" I say holding my hands over my eyes. Jay pulls me close and says "I want her back to but we have to be patient". "Where are the boys" I ask. "They're with Platt for the next few days. They'll be fine they love her" he says. "The doctor said Jaykes will be here for observation next couple days, Amira still has to take the bus." I say. "I can call Mrs.Hayes to see if she can stay with them for the night" he says.

After talking and crying together we walk back in the room. We walk in and see Amira holding Jaykes hand. "I thought you were doing homework" I say walking up beside her. "I needed a break, look she grabbed my finger" she says smiling. "I see" Jay says. "When does all this stuff come off?" She asks. "We have to wait till she gets better for the tubes to come out." I say.

We sit in Rowan room for another hour before the doctors knock come in. "Hi Mrs. Halstead oh and who is this young lady" Dr Mei-Ling says. "This is Amira our other daughter" I say. "We reviewed the X-rays from post surgery and Rowan is looking good. Now it's just a waiting game to see when she'll wake up" she says. "So how long do you think the tubes will stay in" I ask. "Going by my other RSV patients, I'd say anywhere from a couple hours to a few days every baby is different but I'm hopeful" she says.

Jay POV*

Another hour goes by and she still hasn't woken up yet. "Hey I just got a text from Mrs. Hayes she said Amira could stay either them for as long as we need." I whisper in Haileys ear. "Okay. Can you take her" she asks never taking her eyes off Rue. "Yeah. You stay and I'll bring food." I say. "I'm not hungry, but thanks" she says. "You say that now" I say as Hailey smiles. "Come on Amira we're leaving" I say motioning for her to get up. "Where are we going?" She asks. "To Ezras house , your going stay there for the night, is that okay?" I ask as she nods her head.

We get home around six and I fix her dinner to eat while I pack clothes for the boys. I hear foot steps coming upstairs while I'm folding some clothes. "Hey Jay how long am I staying there?" She asks. "Just for one night, why you don't want to go?" I ask. "No I want to go" she says walking away.

When I finish packing the boys bag and Amira finishes pack her stuff we walk five houses down to the Hayes house. I ring the door bell when we get there, it doesn't take them long to open the door. "Hey your here. I'm sorry about your sister" Ezra says opening the door. "Be good and do want Mrs.Hayes tells you" I say hugging her. "Bye Jay" she says going upstairs with Ezra. "Would you like to come in?" Mrs.Hayes asks. "I would but I have to go drop the boys stuff off at our friends house, then go back to the hospital." I says. "Okay well be alright here and if you need something my phones on" she says. "I'm sorry it's just, this is the first time she hasn't spent the night at our house since we got her back, but um" I say. "Go be with your other daughter I got this one"Mrs. Hayes says slowly shutting the door.

I get to Trudy and Mouch's  house and the let me in. "Halstead how's Ro?" She asks letting me in. "She um had surgery-". "Surgery last time we talk you said she was on that machine" she interrupts. "She was when I left to get the boys but Hailey said she ... stoped breathing and they took her for surgery to get the fluid out her lungs, now she's on a ventilator to help her breathe" I say. "Oh Jay I'm so sorry,I hope she gets better" Platt says. "Dad, Jay" the boys run to me.  "Is Ro-Ro okay" Ry says. " she will be" I tell them. "Hey I brought you both some clothes" I say motioning to the bag in my hand. "We're not going home" Auggie says. "I want mommy" Ry says as Trudy leaves the room to give us privacy. "Mommy's at the hospital with Jaykes we have to stay there overnight and you can't stay home by yourself so Mrs. Trudy is gonna watch you just for tonight you'll be home tomorrow,Okay." I say. "Okay" they say. I had Trudy their bag and tell them Goodbye before leaving the house.