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

Chapter One Hundred and Ninety-One: Collateral Damage

Headquarters was a hive of activity as the men stepped off the elevator and made their way to the Conference Room. Jay frowned. Something else must have happened.

"We have a aituation," Murphy looked up from the papers on the table before him as the group entered.
"What's going on?" Adam asked with concern.
"The Gilberts were targeted," Murphys' eyes strayed to the pale looking Detective, damn he hated his job some days, "Mr. Gilbert is in critical condition at Memorial but ...,"
"The boy and his mother?" Jay asked hoarsely.
"They didn't make it," Murphy replied gently as the younger man distractedly allowed his Sergeant to push him down onto a chair.
"Ah man ....," Adam wanted to rail against the injustice of it all but knew that would not help his friend.
"I got them killed," Jay uttered in abject desolation.
"This isn't on you Halstead," Voight quickly sought to dispel the unfounded guilt.
"The blame belongs with Wells and his accomplice," Parker put in evenly although he knew the shaken Detective would shoulder it.
"Stupid! I shouldn't have gone to the house."
"You did a good thing," Antonio insisted.
"Was it a bomb?" Jay ignored his friends' words.
"Yes," Murphy replied casting a glance at the Sergeant sitting beside his troubled subordinate, "they didn't suffer. They wouldn't have known what happened."
"You believe that?" Jay addressed his question to Burke who now sat across the table from him.
"Definitely."
"I'm going to go back to the house," Jay moved to rise but Voight stayed him with a hand on his arm, "what Sarge?"
"There's nothing there anymore."
"I know that Sarge. I just want to take another look at the scene," he didn't add that he couldn't face going to the Gilbert residence and he knew Voight would be going there.
"Ruzek and Atwater are with you," Voight stood with his youngest Detective, "we'll meet back here in two hours."
"I'd like to go with them," Burke sought permission.
"You might pick up on something," Voight nodded his approval.

When Jay didn't protest against Adam and Kevin going with him the Sergeant knew he had made the right decision. Normally the Unit split up into pairs but at the moment Jay had a lot to be dealing with so the Sergeant was taking extra precautions. As soon as the door closed behind the quartet Voight turned a steely gaze on Murphy.

"How the hell did Wells know about the house?"
"We knew since the Morgue he was keeping tabs on Halstead," Murphy reminded without rancour, he understood the desire to protect ones' team.
"Sarge?" a quiet voice captured their attention.
"You got something?" Voight had almost forgotten Mouse was working away on his laptop.
"I was able to over ride a number of the security systems in the neighbouring houses. Wells came out of the house across the street ...,"
"And?" Antonio knew by the IT Specialists' expression there was something else.
"He left just after we did."
"Damn!"
"The Kid was right," Al noted, "he sensed he was watching us."
"Any sign of Wells' accomplice?"
"Nothing on the security footage," Mouse replied as he focused on his monitor once again.

"This is escalating into something more personal against Jay," Al decided to broach the unpleasant subject in his usual fortnight fashion, "we can't let Wells get to him."
"He'll have to get through me first if he tries," Voights' tone dripped with grim determination.
"He'll have to get through all of us," Murphy readily put in, he had taken a liking to the young man and knew they all would protect him.
"Problem is though we still don't know why he's fixating on Jay," Parker looked around the table at the worried faces, "we discussed the possibility he's trying to impress Jay and prove he is more skilled than him but going after the Gilberts is upping the ante."
"So he's trying to get a reaction from Jay?" Antonio raised an eyebrow, they were nowhere near to catching Wells and his partner in crime and that did not bode well.
"It's highly likely," Parker agreed, "but as we all know there are no definites."
"What would he expect Halstead to do?" Voight questioned.
"Might expect him to go solo," Al noted before the Psychologist could reply, "we know he has some information about Jay. Going off on his own may be what the guy wants."
"Then he's going to be disappointed," Voight spoke resolutely.

------------------------

Arriving back at the smouldering remains of their temporary residence after a silent journey Jay exited the car and headed over to the Fire Chief who was still on scene. Adam and Kevin followed behind slowly Burke walked closer to the devastation trying to piece together how Jay had known about the bomb.

"He's taking this hard," Kevin commented softly to his companion.
"Got to hurt knowing they were only targeted to hurt him. They were collateral damage," Adam concluded morosely, "and a kid being involved just makes it so much worse."
"Any idea why we're here?" Kevin looked around at the Firefighters putting away their equipment and the Forensic personnel readying to assess the remains, "how the hell did he know it was a bomb?"
"You heard what he said, his instincts kicked in."
"We'd have been dead without him."
"I know," Adam knew that was small consolation in light of the Gilberts.

For his part Jay was switching between self recrimination and sheer fury. Not that either of those emotions were allowed to be seen on his calm features. He kept seeing the little boy hugging his new furry friend. It had been his carelessness that got the mother and son killed. He hadn't ventured to seek further details of the fathers' injuries because he knew 'critical' meant he was gravely injured. How could the man go on if he did survive and how could Jay face him? Sighing he dragged his attention back to what the Fire Chief was saying ...

"Like I said Detective given the size of the blast it's likely the intention was to cause maximum damage. Good thing no one was home."
"Yeah," Jay didn't bother mentioning their near miss.
"I'm going to leave a unit here for a couple of hours. PD have left a cruiser as well," fifty-four year old Mike Stanton indicated the patrol car parked ourside the large gated entrance, "whoever did this must be professional."
"Why do you say that?"
"This is one of the more secure neighbourhoods in the city. Fancy alarms, cctv and high walls tend to put amateurs off," Staunton gave his opinion before shrugging, "unfortunately though if someone is determined to cause damage they will, no matter what obstacles they have to tackle."
"That's the truth," Jay acknowledged around a cough.
"You don't look too good," Stanton glanced over the young Detectives' shoulder to where Adam and Kevin were standing, seemingly on guard, "might be an idea to take a break from here. The smoke won't help your cough."
"I'm fine," Jay forced himself not to vent his annoyance at the well meaning man, "thanks for your help."
"No problem."

Adam had heard his friend coughing and seen the look of concern the Fire Chief gave them but knew any remarks about his health would be unappreciated. He looked up at the dull skies and wondered how appropriate they were given the circumstances. There was nothing he could say or do to abolish Jays' self imposed guilt but he promised himself he would protect his friend no matter what. No one should have to deal with all the heartache and trauma his friend had faced in his life. He wondered if Jays' breaking point was approaching. He knew he couldn't have dealt with all the harsh realities Jay had experienced and dreaded the very real possibility that Wells might actually be the final straw for his friend. Glancing at Kevin he saw his worry reflected but also his determination. They would save Jay, despite himself.

tbc