Chicago PD || Fan-fiction

Playing Tough Guy: Chapter 15

I was in Afghanistan. I saw and lived through things that you could never imagine. I built up the stomach for all of it, but for some reason I can't handle this.

Eventually I get myself back together enough to go inside. I search the room for Will, hoping that my brother can give me a little peace. I keep hoping that someone is going to tell me that this is all a prank. That Brooke was covered in fake blood and it was all a joke, but I know that's not going to happen.

I take a seat at the back of the ED, anxiously awaiting an update. The rest of the team besides Adam is out looking for Mendosa, I guess I could go wait in Kim's room, but I really don't want to be in the middle of all their stuff.

I let out a breath when I see Will walking towards me, I stand and meet him halfway. "How is she man?"

Will sighs, "She's hanging in there. Her small intestine ruptured, which caused parts of her small intestine and large bowel to seep into her abdominal cavity." I nod, trying to process everything he's saying. "She's lost a lot of blood, it's good you found them when you did, the majority of her blood volume was in her abdomen. She also has a moderate concussion, which is lucky considering the size of her head laceration." Will looks at me with pity. "She's in surgery right now, but I'll come get you when she's out." He claps my arm before heading back out of the ED.

I sit back down, head in my hands. I don't understand how this happened. I decide to go check on Burgess. I ask the nurse at the station for her room number and the make my way to the 3rd floor. "Hey," I say, leaning up against the doorway. Kim looks up from her gaze on Adam, who is practically passed out at the end of her bed. "How're you feeling?" I ask.

She smiles, "I'm okay I guess. How's Brooke."

"She's in surgery." I sigh out and Kim's smile fades.

"I shouldn't have let this happen to her, I could've-" I cut her off.

"Hey, this is not your fault, it's not anybodies fault but that son of a bitch Mendosa." I say as I grab her hand, "You did everything you could, you both did." I don't know if I'm trying to convince her or myself. She looks pretty beaten up too, dark bruises along her jawline and a deep cut above her eye. Her arm is also in a cast, so it must be broken. "Get some rest," I say, squeezing her hand.

"Let me know when's out of surgery." She says and I nod, making my way back out of her room and down to my perch in the ED.

The wait seems like hours, which makes me more nervous, I know a longer surgery means more complications. Finally Will re-appears, I run over to him, not wanting to wait for him to get to me. "She's out, but probably won't be awake for a while, she's in room 307." I turn to head back upstairs, but he stops me. "Jay, is there a reason that she has around seven wrongfully healed breaks and fractures? And also a severe untreated 2nd degree burn."

My heart drops into my stomach, seven? "I'll explain later man, I promise." I say before booking it to the stairs, not bothering to wait for the elevator. I need to see her.

When I reach her room, the bruised and pale body in the bed is almost unrecognizable. She doesn't look like my Brooke. I can't help but wonder if this used to be her normal, if she always had bruises all over her like this. My jaw clenches at the thought, it's taking everything in me to not go strangle that bastard with his IV. The thing keeping me in check is her, the last thing I want is for her to be afraid of me.

I keep thinking about how scared she must have been, I really hope she didn't have any episodes, as much as I hated our so called "training" I find myself praying it worked.

I pull a chair up next to her bed as quietly as I can and sit down, taking her hand in mine. I tell myself it's for her to know I'm here, but really I just need something to hold onto. To be honest, I'm terrified. I've never felt like this before. With Erin, we were friends first, we were partners, and our constant interaction and the stress of our jobs eventually turned into feelings. With Brooke it's different, it was like we just clicked. I've never once doubted her, even after learning about her PTSD.

I bring her hand to my lip and press a light kiss against it. "Hey Brooke..." I say softly, completely aware I'm talking to know one but myself. "I don't think can hear me, but I'm here." My voice trails off. "I would really appreciate it if you woke up so I could stop sitting here talking to myself." I sigh. "I really really like you, and I need you to wake up so that I can ask you on a proper date, and we can sign HR forms and get chewed out by Voight. If that's what you want."

To some extent it seems crazy that I am so into her after only knowing each other for a week, but we have been through so much already. I don't really care if it's too fast, or that she is my part. I want her.

I sit there for what feels forever, studying her features. Even in her battered state she still looks beautiful. Her dark blonde hair is matted back and one of her full lips is busted, but she is still effortlessly gorgeous. She looks peaceful, which comforting, hopefully with the amount of morphine they've given her she's not in too much pain.

Suddenly her blue eyes flutter open. I lurch forward in my seat, immediately perking up. I grip her hand a little harder, letting her know I'm here. She shuts her eyes, grimacing at the brightness of the light that she obviously wasn't prepared for. Her gaze lands on me and I smile, her eyes go wide, "Who are you?"

No. No, no, no this cannot be happening, "It's me, Jay, your partner." I say panicking.

"I don't know anyone named Jay." She says, I must look absolutely terrified because she slightly giggles, "I'm just kidding." I let out a breath before standing and pressing a kiss to her forehead, letting my lips linger for a second.

"That was not funny." I say, running the pad of my thumb across her cheek, "But I'm glad your awake." She smiles lightly, still weak from the anesthetic.

"Is Kim okay?" I nod my head, of course she's worried about anyone but her.

"She's fine, she's got a broken arm but that's it." I saying, sitting back down. I take her hand back in mine. "You really scared us." I say softly, looking straight into her beautiful blue orbs.

"That's the last time I pretend to be a hooker." She deadpans and I chuckle. "Did you guys catch him?"

I shake my head, "No, but the team is on it right now." She nods, her previous smile fading, "Well everyone but Adam, he's been on the warpath so Voight benched him." She slightly laughs, which is what I was going for.

"You look exhausted." She says and I smirk.

"Yeah, the next time you get kidnapped, can you do it in the morning so I can get a full 8 hours of sleep to prepare myself." I say, trying to keep a straight face.

Brooke rolls her eyes, "Sorry smart ass, next time I'll try to make it a little more convenient for you next time."

I laugh, "I appreciate it." Brooke smiles to the best of her ability, "There better not be a next time. I don't think I could handle it." I confess.

She just nods, "Seriously, you should go home and get some sleep. I'll be fine."

I shake my head and move my other hand on top of hers, looking her straight in the eyes, "I'm not going anywhere."

I must have fallen asleep, because the next thing I know, I'm waking up with a sharp pain in my neck. Probably from falling asleep hunched over in a plastic arm chair. I am suddenly very awake when I here soft moans coming from Brooke. Her mouth is slightly open and her face is contorted in pain. "Brooke, Brooke wake up." I say softly, shaking her arm a bit.

She shakes her head slightly, "Dad, stop." She says and I spring to my feet, "Stop, please, it hurts..." Se groans and my heart clenches. I place my hand on her cheek and she flinches before he eyes shoot open. She's breathing rapidly and looks so scared.

"Hey, it's just me." I say, wiping a fallen tear off her cheek, "You're safe." She begins to cry and I nudge her over, climbing into the tiny bed with her. I run my fingers through her hair and urge her back to sleep.

By the time she is finally asleep, I'm seething, my anger getting the best of me. I carefully get out of the bed and start my trek to the ICU. This son of a bitch is going to get what's coming to him.