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

Chapter Seventeen: A Time to Think

Turning to look at the speaker the Detective noted two other figures emerging from the darkness.

"So what do you have to say for yourself?" Lance asked moving closer to his friend, seeing the pain etched in his face.
"Ah ...... nice night for a walk?" Jay tried.
"Heck you just lost me twenty bucks," Jack groaned handing over a twenty dollar note to the grinning Mark, "I figured you couldn't escape."
"I had more faith in you," Mark stated smugly.
"So come on," Lance laid an arm across the smaller mans' shoulders, "let's get you back before your friends find out."
"Hey man I'm not going back!"
"Look Jay they seem like good guys.  Why not trust them?  Not to mention your brother," Lance moved to stand in front of his friend, "you never struck me as being an idiot.  Why start now?"
"I need ......,"
"Need what?" Jack asked as he shivered in the freezing chill.
"I just want ..... time to think.  Need to be by myself."
"They won't give you space?" Mark frowned.
"They will .... but ........ it's on their terms," Jay sighed tiredly not sure if it was the after effects of the escape or the topic which was tiring him the most.
"Tell you what.  There's a nice 24hr diner around the block. We'll buy you breakfast," Lance offered.
"But ...,"
"They have great pancakes," Mark enthused and grabbed his friends' arm to get him moving, "l'll even pay for you."
"Sure with my money," Jack groused in mock indignation as he moved slightly ahead.
"You can pay for us all," Lance decided as he walked along behind.

As they walked Jay realized they were keeping him protected.  Mark was on the outside shielding him with Jack and Lance watching the point and rear respectively.  He should have known his friends would be on watch.  If he had been feeling well he would have.

Ten minutes later the men sat in a cubicle at the back of the nearly empty diner.  Jay once again found himself being protected as he sat opposite Jack and Lance who had a clear view of the entrance.  Upon entering Mark had disappeared into the Restroom and Jay knew he had checked the place out thoroughly.  Jay had been casually ushered into the inside of the cubicle by the wall.  He had to give it to them.  They weren't taking any chances and he appreciated their efforts.  After their orders had been delivered Jay asked the question which had been on his mind since first meeting them.

"Ye been watching the place the whole time?"
"Yeah," Lance replied honestly as he sprinkled a genorous amount of sugar over the strawberry pancakes before him.
"Voight know?" Jay wondered as he retrieved the pill bottle from his pocket and poured three tablets into his hand.
"No.  He doesn't strike us as the type who lets others set the agenda," Jack offered.
"Good call," Jay agreed as he quickly downed the tablets with a gulp of milk.
"Besides we asked if we could visit but he wouldn't tell us where you moved to."
"Do I want to know how ye found out?"
"No.  Now eat up," Mark motioned to the plain pancakes on the plate in front of the injured man, "you're a growing boy.  Besides those pills work better with food."
"I know," Jay ducked his head in embarrassment.
"Nothing wrong with needing painkillers man," Lance insisted, "hell time or two I'd have gone out of my mind without them."
"Me too," Jack nodded easily unsure why the other man seemed embarrassed.
"So where were you heading?" Mark gestured to the knapsack which now rested on the table by the wall.
"A hotel."
"Which one?" Lance checked.
"Hadn't really decided," Jay confessed as he finally picked up his fork and tried some food.
"Look we know why you want to get away but surely having your Unit helping you is a major asset," Lance looked across the table.
"It is ..... I just ..... ,"
"Just what?"
"Don't want anyone getting hurt over me."
"So you want to blow the meeting in the morning?" Jack asked curiously as he began his second pancake greedily.
"What meeting?"
"Voight phoned and asked us to meet him at the apartment at ten," Mark frowned, "you didn't know?"
"No."
"Why wouldn't they tell you?" Lance demanded angrily.
"Guys it's okay," Jay looked at his companions, "I wasn't well yesterday.  Spent most of it asleep so he just didn't get a chance."
"He's going to give us the address in the morning," Jack said wrily.
"Okay," Lance seemed mollified, "so what do you want to do?"
"How do you mean?"
"He means do you want to go AWOL or do you want to go back?" Mark spoke seriously and the younger man knew they would support whatever decision he made.
"Not sure," Jay pushed his plate away unable to eat anymore.
"Here have my milk," Jack pushed his glass over, "you don't need to be getting sick with broken ribs."
"Thanks," the tired man accepted the full glass gratefully.
"Just think on it a while," Mark suggested, "they won't miss you for another bit hopefully."
"Yeah, you're right," Jay nodded in assent.

Antonio was half way through his second shift when he found out Jay was missing. Waking Al the two men completed a thorough search of the apartment block in the hope their friend had simply decided to take a stroll.  After the futile search the two men discussed their options knowing that Voight would explode when he was informed.

"Hell he was so sick yesterday I wasn't sure if he would be up to the meeting this morning," Antonio rubbed a hand down his face.
"Kid is used to dealing with his problems himself," Al reminded.
"Well at least we know he went of his own accord."
"I'd have phoned Voight before now if he hadn't."
"Well as senior Officer it's your duty to make the call."
"He disappeared on your watch," Al contested without rancour knowing in the end both of them would share the blame.

Luckily for the two men Jay returned at ten after seven, looking tired but without any new injuries.

"Damn Jay I thought you liked me," Antonio chided as he smiled in relief and quickly took the knapsack and put it away in the wardrobe, making a mental note to unpack and hide it later.
"Feeling hemmed in?" Al looked at the former Lieutenant.
"Guess," Jay shrugged as he took off his jacket and let Antonio pass him by as he walked out of the bedroom.
"You want breakfast?  I'm cooking," Antonio checked.
"Nah I'm good.  Listen guys I'm sorry ....... didn't want to get ye in trouble.  I just wanted some fresh air.  Needed some time to myself."
"I never heard you moving around," Antonio complained, "you could have killed yourself you know."
"I didn't," Jay was nonplussed.
"Don't go out that way again Kid," Al instructed patiently, "Antonio is after gaining ten years."
"Hell he already looked old," Jay smiled but his friends noted it didn't reach his eyes, "think I'll lie down for a while.  Want to head down to the precinct after."
"About that.  Voight is meeting us here at ten with your buddies," Antonio explained, "you want to push it back an hour or so?  Shouldn't be a problem."
"No.  Ten is fine," Jay feigned ignorance, "why does he want to talk to them again anyway? Thought he'd pretty much covered everything with them."
"I didn't ask," Antonio stated honestly not wanting to upset the man any more than necessary before he rested.
"Okay.  Talk later," Jay closed the door and lay down on the bed without bothering to undress.

As he fell into an exhausted sleep the young man hoped he dreamt without nightmares.

tbc