Tolerance Book I (Chicago PD/Med FF) by Frances51163

One Hundred and Eighty-Eight: Consequences

Jay knew his friends were talking to him but struggled to make out the words. A hand on his chest stalled his attempt to sit up.

"Halstead you stay where you are," Voight looked down at the young man worriedly taking in the glassy eyes and shivering frame, "you've earned a trip to the hospital and I'm not listening to any arguments."
"Sarge I don't think he's really with us," Adam noted as he placed a gentle hand on his friends' cool forehead.
"Good," the Sergeant scoffed, "he"ll be less trouble."
"Sounds like you're afraid of him," Al decided to lighten the atmosphere as two Paramedics approached at a run.
"Might be at that," Voight grinned lopsidedly as he patted the chest beneath his hand before getting up to make room for the First Responders.

"I think I've gone bald," Antonio made a show of checking his scalp.
"Hell that would be an improvement," Kevin chided although his focus, like everyone elses, was on the prone man.
"I didn't think he was going to make it," Burke spoke in awe as Pannini and Jackson nodded in agreement.
"Jay doesn't know how to quit," Mouse stated proudly.
"Obviously."
"So who gets to make the call?" Antonio asked gravely causing the New Yorkers to frown.
"Well I'm going with Jay," Adam had just walked over after giving up his post beside the now unconscious man.
"Me too," Kevin hastily added.
"Atwater I want you and Al to stay here," Voight cut in before eyeing Adam thoughtfully, "Ruzek you'll have plenty of time while Halstead is being assessed to make the call."
"But Sarge ...,"
"What call?" Burke demanded.
"Jays' brother made us promise to keep him posted if Jay got hurt or became ill," Al explained.
"Anyone would think he was a trouble magnet."
"See these grey hairs?" Voight questioned as he tapped his crown.
"Yeah."
"These were black before I met Jay," the Sergeant didn't wait for a response as he headed over to the ambulance with Adam on his heels.

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When Jay woke two hours later he found himself in a cubicle with Adam by his side. He had a vague recollection of coming around in Radiology but nothing else came to mind. He hated being so out of control, one of the main reasons he hated hospitals. He didn't like people seeing him when he was insensate.

"Hey man I thought you were going to sleep all day!" Adam rose to his feet as soon as he saw the open eyes.
"How long ..... have I been here?" Jay was surprised at the hoarseness in his throat.
"Here," Adam retrieved a plastic cup with a straw, "some water will help."
"Thanks," Jay sipped the liquid gratefully.
"So you want to know what injuries you have?" Adam checked as he put the cup back on the table.
"Is everyone alright?!" Jay sat up suddenly and lost what little colour he had as pain made itself known in various parts of his abused body.
"Everyone's fine man," Adam reassured as he guided his friend back down, "you were the only one who got hurt."
"Thank God," the immense relief was nearly overwhelming, deep down he had feared his plan wouldn't work.
"One of these days you're going to have to learn to start worrying about yourself instead of others," Adam admonished lightly as he sat on the side of the stretcher, he had made sure the guard rails were not raised knowing his friend would react badly to them.
"Guess Voight is pretty mad."
"That would be an understatement."
"Ah hell," Jay rubbed his aching forehead.
"You gave us quite a scare."
"Sorry."
"So I'll give you a rundown of your injuries ...," Adam began but was cut off.
"I'm fine," Jay closed his eyes tiredly.
"You have a funny definition of 'fine'," a familiar gruff voice entered the conversation.
"Sarge," Jay automatically tried to rise but Adam knew him too well and kept a firm hand on his chest to keep him in place.
"Stay where you are Kid," Voight directed as he took Adams' abandoned seat and eyed his injured subordinate assessingly, "you look like hell."
"I'm fine."
"Sure you are," Adam agreed with an evil grin, "even if you have a concussion, multiple contusions all over your body from flying debris and being battered against the wooden post. Not to mention you have thirty stitches in your side where a ten inch piece of metal stabbed you."
"Thanks Dr. Ruzek!" Jay tried to glare at his friend but exhaustion was nagging at him.
"Get some sleep Kid," Voight got up and placed a hand on the nearest shoulder, "we'll talk later."
"Ah hell."

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By the following afternoon Jay, much to his relief, had been released. Gaining his freedom from 'medical clutches' as he called the Doctors, was not without conditions however.  His Doctor, Dr. Glen Thorne, had warned him to watch for signs of fever and told him to return to the hospital if he developed a cough or experienced respiratory problems. The genial fifty-five year old Doctor had been bemused when Voight had insisted on sitting in as he appraised his patient of possible warning signs to look for.  It had been obvious that the young Detective did not want his Sergeant present but it was also clear that the older man was not willing to
be left out of the conversation.  Now as Jay sat at the kitchen table with Al and Adam he hoped he would escape his detour into the Hudson without any longlasting repercussions.  The main concern Dr. Thorne had was the possibility of pneumonia.  In addition the water he had been submerged in was not exactly known to be clean. Dr. Thorne had given the Chicago men a brief history of the River. Up until 1986 150 million gallons of raw sewage was pumped into the waters named after Henry Hudson.  Although the River had undergone a cleanup process past contamination was raising issues. Rubbing his aching head the young man decided there was no point in contemplating the what ifs.  He would deal with whatever consequences he had to.  Turning to Al he asked the question that had been nagging him.

"Was there a second explosion?"
"Can't say for certain. They brought up what was left of the ambulance.  No sign of a second device."
"But ye'd have heard it," Jay argued.
"Not necessarily," Adam put in, "not if it went off at the same time as the one you saw on the stretcher.  There could have been another device but what was left might have been carried away on the current.  Did you know the River actually flows in two directions?"
"Can't say that I did," Jay shrugged disinterestedly, he had more important things on his mind.
"It's weird," Adam shook his head before continuing, "you reckon Wells expected you to survive?"
"I don't know," the younger man replied, truth was he had expected to die when he drove into the water but he figured his friends wouldn't appreciate that reasoning so wisely kept it to himself.
"That ambo could have exploded at the hospital if your instincts hadn't kicked in," Al offered, "Burke said it would have done serious damage."
"So you reckon Wells and his accomplice expected Jay to die?" Adam scratched his chin.
"Might have expected more than just me to be in the firing line," Jay put in around a yawn, "ye were there as well."
"So when did you decide to take a tour of the Hudson up close and personal? Al eyed his young friend assessingly.
"Figured the water would be the best way to contain the blast," the tired Detective began to shrug but then stopped, his body was sore all over from the punishment it had undergone aa a result of the explosion.
"You knew you were probably going to die," Al noted softly, "you took a hell of a risk."
"I agree," Voight joined the conversation as he entered the kitchen followed by Antonio, Kevin, Mouse and Burke who all carried takeout bags, "you could have been killed."
"Seemed like a good idea at the time," Jay rose and headed for the refrigerator to retrieve a cheese sandwich he had made earlier.
"I thought you were a goner," Burke confessed at his side as he took out some beers and water, "damn glad you made it though."
"Me too," Jay grinned cheekily.
"Next time it might be an idea to avoid taking a swim though."
"I'll try to remember that."

tbc