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

Chapter Nine: Dark Secret Revealed

As soon as he had forced down most of the sandwich prepared by Conor Jay told Adam and Kevin he was ready to go to the 21st.

"You sure you're up to it?" Kevin checked noting the pinched features and the bruised skin around his eyes, a testament to the constant pain he was in.
"Told Voight I'd be in," Jay looked back at the four men worriedly watching him, "and stop looking at me like that!"
"Like what?" Ruzek demanded frowning.
"Like I'm going to keel over any minute," Jay replied crossly but there was no real heat behind the words.
"Well I'll head off," Conor decided to get out of the firing line and walked over to stand in front of the Detective, "you need anything at all you call me. I'll see you later."
"No Doc you won't. Like you said if I need you I can call," Jay offered a hand in gratitude and grimaced as the action woke up the pain in his shoulder, "Will you're going with him."
"Like hell I am!"
"Like whatever," Jay spoke tiredly as his sibling walked over to join his colleague, "you have a job to do and if you say ... you're booked off you're still not coming. I have work ..... to do," the pale man glanced at Adam for help knowing he would be the easiest of the two Detectives on guard to persuade, "we have two major ongoing cases which need attention. Besides the guys here will be with me."
"Maybe ye're suffocating him," Adam suggested from the doorway of the kitchen sensing his friends' need for aid, "besides Voight won't let him do much."
"Adam!" Jay shot him a look of betrayal.
"Sorry it's already been decided," Will explained firmly hating the ambush his brother was going to walk into down at the precinct and determined to be there through it all.
"Guys," Kevin walked out of the kitchen where he had disappeared to when his phone rang, "Voight wants us down at the precinct now."
"Talk later Jay," Conor headed out the door after sharing a look with Will.
"So come on guys we gotta get moving too," Kevin urged as he also headed for the door.
"Damn," Jay shook his head looking at his brother, "okay you can come but if I want you to leave you leave."
"Come on it's not a good idea to keep Voight waiting," Adam broke the standoff not giving Will a chance to reply.

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"About time," Voight commented lightly as he watched Jay lead the procession slowly up the stairs.

The younger man hated the way every step up seemed to jar his injuries but most of all he hated feeling vulnerable. He concentrated on each step and did not raise his head until he climbed the last one. Glad to have finally made it he looked up and froze. Standing just behind Voight stood Lance, Jack and Mark. He glared at his boss not appreciating being kept out of the loop.
"Your friends here have been working with a Sketch Artist," Hank said unfazed, "sit down Halstead," he gestured to Antonios' desk which was nearest.
"Why didn't you tell me they were called in?" Jay tried to hide his relief as he sat down.
"It's standard procedure," Al said as himself and Antonio came out of the corridor which held the interview rooms, "figured you knew that."

"So what do ye have?" Will decided to get the hard part over and pointed to the sketch in Als' hand as he walked over to lean against the wall behind his brother.
"It was dark but we all got a glance of the guy who walked up to Jay," Lance spoke contritely looking over at his former Lieutenant, "there was something familiar about him though I can't figure it out."
"I don't ...," Jay began to lie to claim he could not remember who the man was but Voight stepped in and took the sketch walking over casually to stand beside the two brothers.
"How was he familiar?" the older man asked apparently innocently as he stood level with Jay with the sketch facing the others in the room.
"Look it will come back ...," Jay began only to be interrupted.
"Ah man!" Jack was the first to realize just why the man seemed familiar.
"Damn!" Lance, Kevin and Antonio all cursed together.
"Your father?" Adam asked in disbelief as he looked at his now shaking friend.
"No!" Jay couldn't believe this was happening, his thoughts swirling around in his mind as he tried to think of the words necessary to deflect the men from their assumption.
"Jay?" Will walked forward and noted the beads of sweat which had broken out on the other mans' forehead.
"Tell ..... them it's ..... not ...," the distressed man pleaded brokenly as his concussed brain refused to yield up any suitable words.
"Everyone here is your friend," Will spoke softly glancing at the men who had retreated a couple of steps back to give the injured man some space, "reckon it's time we dealt with this once and for all."
"But ....,"
"Kid your brother is right," Hank quietly approached the brothers and crouched down to look into Jays' eyes, "the shame is on him not you and one thing I have learnt from you is that you don't run from a fight."
"He's right," Lance concurred readily.
"Ye don't understand."
"Then tell us," Al urged gently.
"I can take anything he gives me. It doesn't matter."
"Like hell it doesn't matter!" Antonio exploded.
"He could have killed you this time Jay," Will sadly reminded.
"And there were three others with him," Al added.
"So Kid you want to deal with him or not 'cause you have us backing you this time," Voight saw the nods from everyone in the room, "but if you say you want to leave it that's fine too."
"But we'd be happier if you dealt with it now," Mark explained honestly.
"I can't ask ..,"
"You didn't have to," Al spoke for everyone instinctively.
"What do you say?" Will checked mentally crossing his fingers.
"Okay," Jay answered after meeting the gaze of every man in the room, "guess it's time."

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Although he was glad his sibling had agreed to deal with their father he was dreading the questioning he was going through. It was ten before five and it was almost time to head to the new apartment, that had been a battle also. His brother was definitely stubborn he scoffed to himself. Heck he was too but he was never going to admit it. They had spent most of the time in Voights' office surprisingly. The gruff man insisting Jay sit in his chair for some bit of comfort. The three visitors had left two hours ago with a promise to return the next day. Jay had spoken to them privately to thank them for their help. Each man had quickly reassured him that they were glad to be able to do something. Al and Antonio were back at Gaffney checking if there were any witnesses on the off chance a visitor to the hospital had seen the attack. Voight had told Jay that he didn't need to know everything about the abuse he had suffered growing up but that whatever he divulged might give them an insight into the man. Jay had simply stated he had some broken bones but didn't elaborate and his superior didn't press the issue. So now the Sergeant was winding down, hopefully anyway Will thought to himself as he looked out the window at the raindrops cascading down outside.

"From what both of ye have said his rage was focussed solely on Jay. Any idea why?" Voight wondered.
"No idea," Will turned his gaze back to the room.
"Jay?" Voight had caught a flicker of something in the tired mans' expression.
"Do you know why?" Will felt his stomach drop as he looked at his brother closely, how many other ways had he let him down?
"No."
"Jay whatever it is just tell us," Will begged.
"I don't know if it has anything to do with .... what happened .... but ..... they weren't planning on a second child."
"How do you know that?"
"Heard Mom talking to him about it one time. He was angry."
"How old were you?" Voight asked before the redhead could.
"Guess about 9 or 10."
"Come on Jay it's time you got some rest," Will resisted the urge to question his brother further and was glad when Voight stood signalling an end to the questions, for a while anyway.

Jay was silent all the way to their temporary residence. Will was relieved Adam and Kevin left him to his thoughts, knowing the day had taken a lot out of him. He hoped this particular nightmare would be over soon because his brother was looking ragged. This time, he promised himself, he would be there for Jay. This time he would act like the older brother he always should have been.

tbc