Tolerance Book III

Chapter One Hundred: Reuniting With Jay

Hidden Loft - Unit 1809

It seemed as if he was moving in slow motion but Jay remained focused on what he needed to do. Billings had yet to move telling the Detective for now he was unconscious. Acutely aware that could change any moment Jay crouched down steadfastly pushing aside the agony flaring up and with a fumbling right hand undid the mans' belt, his left hand a useless appendage after it had been struck with a hammer. He had just fashioned a rudimentary set of handcuffs with the belt when the Killer began showing signs of returning to consciousness. Forcing himself to rise the weary Detective walked over to the door slowly.

Unit 1809

Voight and the others stood in the bedroom casting their eyes over every wall seeking some lever or access to a hidden room. Antonio found his gaze returning to the large wardrobe. In the other apartments the wardrobes were not as close to the beds. He turned as Adam returned excitedly from his mission next door.

"The second skylight should be in front of the wardrobe," the brown haired man confirmed and everyone honed in on the clothes storage space, weapons that were drawn now raised. The gruff Sergeant opened the doors quietly and Al pushed aside the clothes to reveal the wood panelling at the back. Antonio and Kevin had taken up a position either side of Adam. They were unsure of what they would find and wordlessly agreed to shield the other Detective if it was the worst case scenario. The moustached man ran his hand along a slightly bulging plank and was about to push it when instead the four planks beside it suddenly opened revealing a dishevelled but alive Jay.

"Damn!" Als' curse epitomised the state of his fellow ex-Sniper.
"Jay! Man are we glad we found you!" Adam enthusiastically walked past the two older men and automatically went to hug his best friend.
"Ruzek!" Voights' voice stalled the Detectives' steps for he was looking at his youngest Subordinates' eyes and there was no recognition.
"Kid you gave us a scare," Al spoke softly as he motioned Adam to to retreat and the others to step back which they did slowly for fear of startling the injured man, "how about you sit down out here for a minute?"
"What's wrong with him?" Adam whispered to Kevin beside him, his
initial euphoria gone as he finally got a good look at the auburn haired man as he slowly followed Als' lead and took a seat by the bed as if in a trance.
"He's probably in shock," the taller man observed, it shook him seeing the battered and bleeding man so out of it.
"Dawson get EMTs up here," Voight instructed quietly then looked at the wardrobe and walked back to it knowing Billings was inside but unsure if he was alive or dead.
"Adam?" Als' voice broke the younger man out of his stupor as the Sergeant and Antonio headed out of sight.
"Yeah?"
"Get him a shirt," the seasoned Detective knew his friend wouldn't want his hurts on display and the condominium was about to become the equivalent of grand central station as other law personnel and Forensics were on the way thanks to a call by Kevin.

Mouse had arrived after leaving the Surveillance Van at a dead run but his steps had stayed at the entrance to the bedroom. Seeing his Lieutenant so physically damaged caused his gut to twist in guilt. He should have been more forceful when arguing with him about his intentions.

Hidden Loft- Unit 1809

Voight eyed the big man on the floor briefly. His chest was rising so he was alive. Looking around the bare room he grimaced.

"Hell!" Antonio cursed, they were standing in a torture chamber and their friend had been trapped in it.
"I don't know why Halstead didn't kill him," Voight stated as he looked at the blood smeared floor and walls imagining all too easily the assaults which caused same.
"Yeah you do," Antonio countered hoarsely, their friend had endured inhumane treatment.
"Okay," the older man acknowledged, "so he's not like me but you can't tell me Billings doesn't deserve a bullet to the head."
"Nope I can't," the Detective agreed frankly, sensing the lethal desire in the older man but knowing it wasn't what Jay would want,  "but Jay left him live."
"Damn Kid," Voight grumbled with mock chagrin.
"That 'damn Kid' caught a Killer just like he set out to do."