Tolerance Book III

Chapter Ninety-One: Brief Respite

Parkers' Apartment

Feeling decidedly better after spending longer than usual in the shower revelling in the hot droplets and quickly shaving Jay donned fresh clothes, grateful Al had packed boxers and socks as well.  It felt good to be clean and he found he was ready to face whatever the rest of the day held.  Obviously the few hours of sleep had been needed not that he would admit it he thought ruefully to himself.  Walking along the short hallway he heard familiar voices and found Adam standing at the oven as Parker sat at the black marbled kitchen counter on one of three black leather high stools.

"Hey how are you feeling?" the Psychologist asked with a smile, glad to see the dark circles under the other mans' eyes weren't as pronounced.
"Good thanks," Jay replied nodding to Adam with a grin, " you're really making an omelette?"
"Of course," Adam confirmed as he expertly flipped the said item over on the pan as if he was an old hand at cooking before adding with false smugness, "and as promised it's a cheese omelette.  I don't do plain."
"Wish I had time to try it," Parker stated in disappointment as he rose after checking his watch, "yesterday was a one off.  Murphy expects me back in the office bright bright and early as usual today."
"What?" Jay frowned in confusion.
"He's got to go to work," Adam explained wondering why his friend was looking baffled.
"But it's .....,"
"Jay it's quarter before seven," Parker caught on, "you've been asleep most of yesterday and all night."
"I .... I thought it was only a few hours."
"You obviously needed the rest," Parker pointed out gently, "there's no harm in that."
"Damn," Jay sank down on a stool feeling his earlier good mood evaporating like the showers' mist, how could he have slept that long?!
"Why not make yourself useful," Adam directed wanting to distract his clearly unhappy friend, "set the ware out while I finish this."
"I'll leave you to it," Parker snagged his briefcase from its' shelf  beside the door.
"Peter?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks for ..," Jay gestured to their surroundings, unsure how to adequately express his gratitude for the sanctuary.
"No problem," Parker smiled then headed out.

"What the hell Adam?! How could you let me sleep that long?!"
the green eyed man demanded once the pair were alone.
"Like the Doc said you needed it."
"Voight must be fit to bust."
"Jay who do you think insisted you take it easy for a bit?" Adam frowned as he made short work of halving the thick egg and cheese concoction, the auburn haired man clearly had forgotten the conversation at Headquarters which given his exhaustion wasn't surprising.
"Voight?"
"Exactly," Adam agreed then eyed the bare counter top, "unless you want to explain to the Doc why you messed up his kitchen we need plates."
"Yes Mom," Jay chided as he rose and retrieved two plates from a glass doored cupboard then searched for the cutlery.

Half an hour later Jay wiped his mouth with a paper napkin and rubbed his stomach appreciatively.

"Didn't know you had it in you."
"You know I cook the odd time," Adam reminded around a mouthful.
"Well I enjoyed it," Jay stated then sighed heavily as he shoved his plate away and picked up his glass of milk, "so what have I missed?"
"You weren't asleep for a year!" Adam chided.
"No but I was out of the loop for a long time," Jay was astute and  knew from his eyes his friend was privy to details he wasn't.
"Sarge wants to brief you in .....,"
"Adam."
"Damn."

Homeland Security Headquarters

Parkers' arrival at work was greeted by a barrage of questions from the Chicago men, all wanting an update on their friend.  Raising his hands for quiet the Psychologist looked at the concerned faces.

"Jay is looking much better.  He slept through the night."
"He needed it," Kevin nodded.
"Did he ask you any questions about the case?" Voight checked curiously.
"No but to be honest he'd just woken up when I left," the younger man explained ruefully, "and he was surprised to find it was a new day."
"He wasn't happy," Antonio guessed.
"No he wasn't.  I took off before he grilled me."
"Well by the time he arrives he'll know Thompson is dead" Al put in confidently.
"How can you be so sure?" Murphy had just come out of his office to hear the tailend of the discussion.
"Adam won't be able to convince him to wait for the briefing," Voight noted, "Al told Adam about Thompsons' death but not anything else.  I'll talk to Halstead when he gets here."
"So you're happy enough with him being back here this morning?" the Assistant Director checked, posing the question openly  since there were no other LEOs in the open plan area at present thanks to a mandatory hour long Health & Safety lecture.
"He won't stay away," the Sergeant shrugged, he knew his youngest Detective too well.
"Well at least then I can find out what plan you have in mind," Murphy stated sending a pointed look towards Voight, he was not going to remain patient for long more.