Chapter Text
Doctor Charles may have nicknamed Connor ‘Rambo’ the day he rolled into the ED on that stretcher over three years ago, but the truth was: Connor was just a regular - talented - surgeon next to Conrad Hawkins. The newcomer and acting Chief of Emergency had walked into Med as if he owned the place, wearing cargo pants and only half a scrub rather than the usual suits preferred by chiefs of departments. Ethan pegged him as a vet as soon as he saw him and Will was inclined to agree. The question was: why would Gwen Garrett choose to appoint a man that seemed even more reckless than the already established staff to alleviate the ED’s financial situation? It made no sense to Will. Which was what he was saying to Connor when Hawkins joined them at the counter of the nurses’ station:
“Rhodes and Halstead, right?” the man said, holding out his hand. Will took it. “Wouldn’t happen to have a brother who served? A ranger?”
Will’s eyebrows flew up as he studied the almost stranger in front of him.
“As a matter of fact,” he answered, not without hesitation.
A bigger smile stretched Hawkins’ face as he kept his attention on Will while he shook Connor’s hand, who looked more curious than offended.
“Small World,” Hawkins said. “Jay, right?”
“Yeah,” Will replied. He was frowning ever so slightly. “You served with him?”
“Nah. Was a Marine. Only met him in passing.” Hawkins shrugged before a med student called his name and he started walking backward towards a consulting room: “But I never forget a pretty face.”
He winked at Will before he turned around and disappeared behind the curtain while Will stood half-frozen where he stood. He hadn’t seen that one coming. Not that Jay talked much about his time in Afghanistan nor that there was necessarily more to the story than the fact Hawkins thought Jay was… hot or something. After all, Will was aware Jay was good looking and his brother probably had his fair share of admirers. He just didn’t expect an ex-Marine to be so open about something like this.
“I have to be here when you tell Jay about this,” Connor commented.
Which brought Will back to the moment at hand but didn’t spare him from jumping slightly when Maggie appeared next to him:
“So do I,” his friend said. She looked absolutely fascinated and definitely excited when she added, looking at Connor: “This is the best thing that has happened since you rolled in on that stretcher and Will got all flustered.”