Tolerance Book III

Chapter Seventy-Six: A Reckoning Deferred

HS Headquarters

After the Chicago mens' departure Murphy had sought out Parker in his office.  After explaining the recent events the Assistant Director sat down heavily opposite his friend.

"This is messy."
"Families can be."
"I know but the timing couldn't be worse.  Halstead needs his head in the game."
"He's not about to be unprofessional," the Psychologist insisted.
"Not intentionally anyway."
"No Murph," Parker shook his head in disagreement with the older mans' inference, "Jay is not the type to let personal stuff get in the way of his job ...,"
"You so sure about that?" Murphy enquired, it wasn't that he thought the young Detective would purposefully do anything to derail the investigation but he was afraid he might be preoccupied with whatever was going down with his sibling.
"You're forgetting he's a former Sniper.  That requires total concentration no matter what's going on.  Jay is clearly good at compartmentalising, that's a prerequisite for Sniper work and .....,"
"What?"
"I get the feeling he's had a lot of reasons in his life to find compartmentalising essential."
"You mean over his father?" Murphy checked, they both knew there was a lot  about the story of the young Detectives' father that they were not privy to.
"Yes," it was Parkers' turn to sigh, "but that's none of our business.  I only brought it up because I want you to understand there is no issue to worry about.  Jay will do his job."
"Yeah but at what cost to himself?  I'm beginning to wish I hadn't asked for his help on the investigation."
"I was in favour of it too," the Psychologist reminded, "truth is we need his skillset.  He may not be a fully fledged Profiler but I'd want him working on my case if I was missing."
"Me too."
"He read Billings correctly and to be honest I'm not sure I would have if I had been in his place."

O'Reillys' Bar & Grill

The meal had been a quiet affair after Jays' solemn declaration.  It seemed he had made a decision about his brother which could not be changed.  Adam struggled to keep his curiosity in check.  Did his best friend mean he didn't want anything at all to do with  Will or was he merely going to wait until after the investigation to deal with him?  Mouse sipped his coffee and wondered if this was the final straw between the siblings.  It was obvious the two men were polar opposites in character and the IT Specialist was glad Jay was his friend.  He did not envy Conor his role.  As far as Mouse was concerned the redhead had, yet again, stepped over the line and disregarded Jays' wishes.  It was a ridiculous state of affairs altogether!  Jay was a grown man fully capable of dealing with anything that came his way yet the redhead seemed locked into the notion that he had an entitlement to over ride his siblings'  feelings.  It was just too much Mouse decided and if he felt this angry and frustrated he knew what his former Lieutenant was feeling was a hundred times more powerful.  It seemed a reckoning was looming for Will had shown he would not respect the boundaries set.  For the time being however Mouse decided to take matters into his own hands.  With that in mind he rose to his feet.

"I need to head back.  The IT Technician from Quantico is due in a short while and I have some algorithms to go through."
"I'll go with you," Al stood up casually, he was no fool and recognised the prevarication as did the others with the exception of a preoccupied Jay.
"Sure," Mouse kept his surprise to himself.
"Tell Murphy we'll be back after two," Voight directed, silently giving the pair permission and plenty of time to speak to Will and Conor for he knew his men well.
"Will do," Al headed after the IT Technician throwing a wink towards his oldest friend.

Once out on the busy street Mouse eyed the older man carefully and was just about to speak when Al began talking.

"You going to see Will is a good idea but I reckon you might need back up."
"It won't ge easy," Mouse pointed out, the elder Halstead would not like their input.
"You saying we shouldn't go?" Al cut in.
"Well .... no.......... but ...,"
"Good.  Now come on before that hothead decides to cause more problems for Jay."