The kitchen from loralai's room was only a few steps away and yet Will felt like he had ran a marathon to get there. Before he managed to get in the room Connor stepped out, blocking his way. "She's alive" he said before Will even had time to ask. He knew the situation was delicate and he dudn't wanna make it harder than it already was.

"There's a but, isn't there?" Asked Jay, standing behind Will who has afraid to ask that question himself.

Connor shook his head, calming Will's heart. "Nothing too serious." He explained with a very comforting smile. "She just lost a lot of blood and she might have trouble moving for a while because of the injuries so I would suggest she stays in the hospital for a couple of days." Will nodded, agreeing with him and happy to hear she would stay here. At least he could make sure nothing would happen to her "other than that she should be fine."

"Is she asleep now?" Wondered Will, looking behind Connor at her laying figure. She looked so peaceful despite the bruises, like this was the first time she had slept in weeks.

"Yes..she'll be unconscious for the next couple of hours but you can go in if you want."

Jay let out a sigh of relief like a huge weight had been taken off him and patted his brother on the shoulder. "Thank you Connor." He said and as soon as Connor left the Halstead brothers emtered the room. Will stood on the right side of the bed and jay on the other. He was terrified of touching her, he thought that she would collapse in pieces if he did so he kept his hands on the side of the bed, away from her fragile skin. Jay hid his hands in his pockets while he examined the bruises on her neck, his eyes slowly moved away to her scratched hands, it looked like she had been in a fight. "I told you she would ok" he said to Will, trying to fill the silence with hopeful words.
Will shook his head and sat down on the chair next to the bed. He rubbed his neck and then his face with his hand "we have to find out who did this." He said

"We will!" Promised Jay. He sounded so sure and confident but his brother knew him well and he could see under his brave act. Nonetheless he made no comment on it, he swiftly changed the subject on something lighter.

"Can you call her parents? I don't have their phone numbers anymore. We have to let them know."

"Yes! Of course!" Jay paused, taking a moment "Will I have to ask if you know anything about this—"

"Last time I talked to her was when we broke up." He answered "it's been many years Jay."

Jay nodded "ok well I will go back to the station, see if they have anything. I'll send a couple of cops just in case anyone shows up. You think you'll be ok alone until then?"

"Sure but keep me updated."

Jay gave his brother a half smile before exiting the room. On his way out he saw Maggie on her usual spot and he walked over to her, calling her name. She raised her head immediately from whatever she was doing and stood up. "Do me a favor and keep an eye on him while I'm gone."

Maggie shot him a smile reaching for his hand behind the desk "who's keeping an eye on you?" She asked. Jay's eyes fell but he quickly reminded himself that this was no time to show emotion or break apart. He had to focus on finding the person behind the shooting and that would keep his mind occupied so he'd be ok for now. He gave her the i-will-be-fine look and she let go, motioning for him to go on.

—

It had been three hours since she was brought in her room and she was still asleep. Will decided to go grab a cup of coffee while he waited, his brain was so tired he couldn't think straight about anything. On the doctor's lounge he met April who was eating her quick lunch. She was quick to ask the basics, how, why, if he's ok and the answer was pretty much the same to all the questions except one.

"Who is she?" She Asked, while Will poured his coffee. There was a long pause, suddenly the answer was not so easy to give. There were many names he could give to their relationship— ex girlfriend, girlfriend, friend, best friend— but none seemed right at the time because she wasn't his friend anymore and she certainly wasn't his girlfriend. He could have gone with ex girlfriend but that didn't sum it up rightly because she was more than that, it seemed like he would be undermining her with that term. He turned around, holding his cup and looked at April, biting his lip. His eyes spoke a thousand words but only two words came out his lips "old friend"

April's gaze softened, giving Will the impression that she had actually broken the riddle of the two words, like she had used that term herself for someone that was important to her.
"I have to go back" he said quickly, before the converstation could get bigger and dismissing himself.

Coming out of the lounge he took a deep breath, giving himself some strength before going back to Loralai. When he made the turn to her room, he noticed a male figure standing next to her bed from the glass doors. he went in immediately fearing for the worst but all he heard when he entered was laughter— her laugh. He looked at her and she looked at him, for the first time today he felt like he could breath.

"Dr. Halstead, I was just about to call for you!" Said Dr. Rhodes. Will glanced at him quickly before looking back at Loralai. They were both silent, which was very odd because usually when they were together at least one of them was rambling. "She woke up a minute ago and she already wants to go home." Joked Connor. Will scoffed, shaking his head, of course she wanted to go home already.

"Is that coffee?" She Asked, her voice reaching his ears like it was the first time he heard her speak. He was taken back to the first time they met on the bus stop. That was the exact same question she did to him then. It was early in the morning almost 4 years ago and as always she was running late to her job, she had no time to get coffee for herself so she asked Will for his own cup, despite the fact that he was a stranger. He found it crazy then, that a girl would ask a stranger for coffee but Later on Will realized that she was as addicted to coffee as she was to danger. Again he wasn't surprised first thing she did after waking up was to ask to leave and to ask for coffee.

He left his cup on the table and while smiling for the first time today he walked over to her. He was so happy his heart was about to beat out of his chest. He reached for her arm and leaned in to kiss the top of her head. He had been so worried, seeing her like this, seeing her smile, was a breath of fresh air. "I was so worried" he said, whispering. Loralai looked deep in his caramel eyes, she placed her hand on his cheek, stroking it gently and smiled weakly.

"I'm sorry." She whispered back. Her hand dropped from his face to his arm, giving him a light squeeze of comfort.
Will looked back at Connor "thank you" He said. Two simple words meant so much. Dr. Rhodes nodded to both of them, smiling. "Don't mention it." He replied "I'll come back later to check up on you." He added and left them alone.
They both gazed back at each other. It felt like yesterday when they were together, like the 4 years gone were only 4 seconds and nothing had changed. There was this sweet silence between them that fell like a calming summer evening breeze. A silence long needed after a terrible storm. Loralai stroked his arm up and down, trying to calm him and Will pushed her hair away from her cheeks, stroking her cheekbone with his thumb.

"I know this is a beautiful moment and all and I hate to ruin it because it's really emotional" she started, already making Will chuckle "but I really want that coffee."

Will laughed, nodding his head and She laughed with him. "I'm afraid you can't have that" He said "the only thing you are allowed to have for now is water."

"Why?!"
"What do you mean why?! You just woke up from surgery!"
"Ugh" she groaned, hitting her hands against the mattress and looking away from him "being shot sucks!"
Will scoffed "why? Because you can't have coffee."
"Yes" she answered, smiling, looking back at him "amongst other tiny reasons" she added, her voice trailing off. Will's smile faded away, this wasn't something he could fully joke about yet. He held her hand gently and started playing with her fingers.

"You really scared me today." He said, looking down.
"I know. I'm sorry" she cleared her throat "I really scared myself too... if it wasn't for jay—"
"Don't." He warned, looking back up. He didn't even wanna think the consequences. "He is looking into it right now, he'll be here later so you have to tell him everything."

"I will, don't worry."
"That's kinda hard Lori.. I haven't seen you for almost 4 years and suddenly you come in the hospital shot and bruised."

"Best kind of reunion." She whispered "isn't it? Old friend?"
Old friend. So that's really all they were? Old friends.