Tolerance Book III

Chapter One Hundred and Eight: Bonds

Under the moonless sky Adam stopped and  turned to face the IT Specialist once the pair were well away from the cabin.

"What happened? We were supposed to convince him not to go ziplining!"
"I know," Mouse conceded as he shifted uncomfortably, "but I saw the hurt in his eyes when he figured we were going to do just that and ....,"
"What?"
"I realized we were going to do what Will has done on  numerous occasions.  Ignore Jays' feelings."
"But ....,"
"LT is a grown man who's earned the right to do what he wants when he wants and he has more than earned our unconditional support."
"I always support Jay," Adam countered, "we all do."
"Think he needs to see it in action," the former Ranger suggested evenly.
"You really think he's testing us?"
"Not intentionally," Mouse hastily replied, "but on some level he's looking for complete trust from us.  I'm thinking whatever about Will he needs to know he has us."
"We do trust him.  He knows that."
"Right now he's second guessing everything around him," the IT Specialist spoke with a rare confidence, "the Billings case has messed him up.  He's trying to get back on an even keel."
"And ziplining will do that?" Adam asked sceptically but with a reluctant air of acceptance.
"Just be glad Antonio didn't suggest whitewater rafting," Mouse teased, relieved the Detective seemed to be on board.
"Hell there's plenty of time for that," Adam grumbled with mock chagrin before confirming, "guess we're going ziplining then."
"Guess so."

Cabin

Sitting by the woodstove gratefully soaking up the heat the recovering man wondered why the idea of being able to zipline was so important to him.  He had done the activity once years ago during his stint in the military but it wasn't something he ever thought of  pursuing as a recreational past- time.  He realized it wasn't the experience itself which appealed but the chance to engage in an enjoyable activity with his friends far from their day jobs where only darkness seemed to prevail on many days.  He was seeking a few hours of doing what people normally did on vacation, spend time with friends having simple fun and revelling in the camaraderie.  Of course other less physical activities could have been jointly pursued also but he needed to know the others still regarded him as competent rather than someone who needed to be handled with kid gloves.  That might help dispel the shadow of the recent investigation.

Sierra Peak

After a filling breakfast the following morning with
much teasing about who should go first when they got to the mountain top the group gathered two hours later at the summit of the aptly named Sierra Peak,  the uppermost part of the  mountain closest to the meandering river.  The hike had been a leisurely one.  No one was interested in pushing themselves, they were on vacation after all.   Voight and Al stood back from the others as dares were made alongside outrageous bets. Only one voice had been conspicuously absent, the injured mans. The Sergeant eyed his oldest friend and spoke quietly ensuring his words did not carry to the others.

"You sure this is the right thing to do?"
"As I said last night the Kid is obviously trying to simply enjoy basic things," the former Sniper reminded then added seriously, "sometimes when you're surrounded by darkness just hanging out with family can be a lifeline."
"We could have played cards," Voight argued sardonically, he readily accepted  the reference to the Unit as a family.
"True but backing him on this is a show of our faith and trust.  He's been shaken up, not that he'd admit it.  He needs to know we see the same man we always have."

Over by the edge of the large rocky  surface Adam was arguing lightheartedly with Antonio about the Italian-Americans' refusal to join in the activity.

"You really don't want to try it?"
"I like my fun with two feet on the ground," Antonio noted with a wickedly unrepentant grin, he knew the other man couldn't back out now as it would have been seen as not supporting their injured friend.
"Whoever thought up this activity in the first place needs their head examined," Adam groused.
"So you going first?" Kevin asked as he approached the pair and held out a harness.
"Oh no.  I'll let you do the honours."
"Don't mind if I do," Kevin smiled then turned back to Mouse, "you owe me twenty bucks."
"Left my wallet in my room," the IT Specialist observed in mock regret.
"Don't worry I'll remind you later," Kevin stated as he began putting the harness on.