One Chicago: Health First Part 4

Chapter 1272

Will's POV: While making my way outside to talk to Jay, I decided to grab us some beers considering it would probably be best that we shared one while we were talking. However, in my mind...I thought it might be a way to get him calm. Walking up to him, I smiled when I saw him sitting on the patio set we had out there. "She just sniffing around while Owen plays with her by throwing the ball?" Jay then turned his head and smiled. "Yeah. And I swear, you read my mind. Haven't had a beer in a while. Been trying to keep it out of the house since Erin can't drink any."

I nodded and agreed while moving to sit next to him. "So listen, there's actually a reason I'm out here just to be honest with you." Jay then looked at me and laughed. "Dude, if you think we are watching Owen when we just started our leaves...that is not happening." I sighed and shook my head. "It's about something else. More specifically, something that I need to apologize to you for. I just hope we can get past it." Jay then looked at me really confused. "Okay, you are going to have to explain a lot more now. Dude, speak up now." I sighed and agreed. "It's about Erin."

Jay then got worried. "She okay?" I nodded. "Calm down. I am talking about how I acted when Erin first came back." Jay then looked at me and sighed. "I've been meaning to talk to you about that." I nodded and just shook my head. "I get, I was cold to her but...I was trying to figure you guys out. Jay, you have to look it through my eyes okay? She comes back pregnant with your child and you guys get back together. You of all people know just how crushed you were when she left. I am your brother. I am always going to worry about you. I didn't want you to go through the heartbreak you went through all over again if she decided to leave again."

Jay just looked at me and I could tell that he was just taking in what I said. He then turned his head and bit his lip. "Listen, I get where you are coming from. I can see the optics. She comes back and we get back together. However...I need to ask you a few things and you need to promise me that you will be completely honest with me." I got worried when he said that. "Of course." Jay then sighed. "First question, at any point did you at all doubt that she was pregnant with our child when she came back?"

I then sighed while looking at him. "Jay, at first...yeah, I did. That's because I did the math and stuff. I didn't know you went to New York a few months ago. When you were having those problems, I thought you went to the cabin." Jay then nodded. "Okay, I can't blame you for that. But, you do believe her now right?" I nodded and looked at him. "Oh, completely. Trust me...I can just see how you guys look at each other. Reminds me when you were in love with Allie Corson." Jay laughed. "You mean my high school sweetheart?"

I nodded and smiled at him. "Ever wonder whatever happened to her?" Jay then sighed. "She ended up with this drug addict-turned-murderer. Apparently, the CPD was about to arrest him when he committed murder-suicide last year. The murder was that of Allie Corson." I was shocked when he said that. "Holy shit. Did that bother you at all knowing that your high school sweetheart was murdered here in Chicago in a murder-suicide?" Jay sighed and nodded. "I am just glad that I wasn't at the scene. Sounded pretty gory when I read the report."

I sighed when he said that. "Another thing I want to talk about. Something Erin said in there. I wanted to ask you...do you at all feel like I failed you?" Jay then turned to look at me. "Where did that come from?" I then sighed. "I asked Erin about your PTSD. I'm worried and just feel like I missed some signs. Maybe I could've helped somehow. I'm your brother and a doctor. Of all people who should've recognized that you were suffering with something...I should've been the one. I know you are a veteran and that you have seen things I haven't but...I just hope that I never made you feel like you couldn't ever reach out to me and ask for help to get through it."

Jay sighed when I said that before thinking about it. "Will, it was hard to reach out. We weren't close to start with when I came back and you were busy with medical school or residency. And it was hard to explain anyways. I didn't think you would understand some of the stuff I would've talked to you about. And I was worried about you not letting me go back if I ever had to re-enlist. Maybe it would've helped me had we talked about it but...my mindset was not there. You learn to really keep your emotions in check and not share much when you're overseas." I nodded and went to rub his back. "I understand. Just maybe give me a chance?"

Jay nodded and agreed. "However, I can just say that my world is on the up and up now. Newly married, father-to-be and now, I have Lucky. Stuff is just looking better and I plan to keep it that way for a while. I've officially retired from the military now so, you're stuck with me." I laughed and smiled when he said that. "Oh boy, I'm in trouble aren't I?" Jay smiled when I said that before coming to hug me. "Listen, we need to stick together more. We're alone in this world and we need to stick together as a family." I agreed and smiled. "So, what you doing 4th of July?"

Jay smiled when I asked that. "I'm going to the cabin alone. Olivia will be 2 months old and I plan on taking both her and Erin there so that we can get a whole lot of quiet. Also, I want to take Erin there soon. Just us and Lucky on a babymoon/honeymoon. We never really took one. By the way, I wanted to mention this...I'm sorry about the whole not inviting you guys to the wedding. We just did it on a whim and...I don't know what I was thinking." Will agreed and smiled. "Honestly, I don't think I would've came anyways. I was slammed at the time. I was either working or, I was sleeping. I was exhausted. However, I am hoping to transfer to the vaccine site we are going to set up at Gaffney."

Jay then laughed. "Wow, you are really going to try and get as much time out of the ER as possible." I sighed and nodded. "Jay, I hate to compare it to a war zone for the past year but...I was really like a war zone. We didn't know what was happening most of the time. The disease continuously evolved and we never knew exactly how to treat it. I mean, you saw New York City. That was everywhere, including here in Chicago. So, is it okay to call that a war zone?" Jay looked at me and nodded. "Yeah, it is. However, an easy war zone. You didn't have bullets and bombs flying over you head on a daily basis. I lost a lot of friends in Afghanistan. Not fun."

I sighed and agreed. "Listen, enough about this. How about we talk about some happier news? Are you feeling ready to be a dad?" Jay then sighed and turned to look at me. "Is it wrong to say that I don't feel ready?"