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

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Confrontation

The following day found Adam and Antonio in the kitchen trying to be inconspicuous as  Jay found himself  facing three concerned Doctors, much to his consternation.    Will had been keeping  Ethan appraised of what was happening and upon learning what Jay had done to protect them the latter had insisted on calling to see the recovering man.  As luck would have it Conors' departure had been delayed by a phone call and so he was still at the apartment when Will arrived with Ethan.  Things had gone badly from the outset.   Already on edge over the memories stirred up and always uneasy when unwell around Doctors the sight of Ethan seemed to make him even more anxious.   Ethan did not intend to bring up the fact the other man was injured protecting him unless the Detective mentioned it.  He just wanted to drop by and let him know he was thinking of him.  Unfortunately Ethan had not mentioned this to Will.  Showing a tactlessness which he sometimes exhibited when overly invested in a patient Will brought up how Jay had protected Ethan and himself on the night of the attack.   Watching from the kitchen Adam had trouble stopping himself picking up a frying pan and hitting the older sibling over the head with it!  Amazing how unalike two brothers could be.  Antonio raised an eyebrow at him and he reluctantly released the handle of said frying pan before returning his focus to the confrontation that was about to take place.

"Don't know what you're talking about," Jay shook his head.
"It's okay Jay we know that's what you remembered at the precinct," Will pointed out blithely, unaware that this was not helping his brother.
"You're looking better than the last time I saw you," Ethan tried to change the topic slightly as he kept his distance.
"Jay why don't you just admit it?  You let them beat you so that we wouldn't be hurt didn't you?" Will asked in frustration as he advanced on his brother.
"Reckon Jay was just thinking of going for a rest," Conor hastily stepped in between the two men.
"What's wrong?" Will asked looking over the Surgeons' shoulder at his kid brother who had actually stepped back as he advanced.
"Nothing," Jay insisted, "I was just ..... going to ........ lie down for a while.  Thanks for calling Ethan."
"No problem."
"Jay why don't you talk to us?" Will persisted as his brother moved away.
"Seems like all I've  been doing is talking," Jay grumbled but kept walking.
"There's no reason to bottle things up.  We all know what happened so why not talk about it?"
"I have your milk here," Adam walked past Will sending him a glare and then nodded towards the bedroom.
"Thanks," Jay allowed the other man to walk ahead of him into the room.

"Just what the hell was that?!" Conor rounded on his friend and colleague as soon as the two men disappeared, barely managing to keep his voice low.
"What?  I just ...,"
"I'm going to ask you two things," Antonio cut in as he walked over to stand beside  Conor, "first is did you forget Jay is not your patient and second is have you actually met your brother?"
"I don't know ....," Will spluttered.
"Damn right you don't," Antonio shook his head, "you don't know him as well as an older brother should.  He never talks about his problems easily.  He never likes being singled out for attention."
"And at the moment a lot of his secrets are being exposed," Ethan continued, "which for someone like Jay must be like having his nerves scraped raw."
"But there's nothing wrong in saying he got hurt protecting us!" Will argued.
"You're right there's not," Conor nodded in concurrence, "but it obviously is something he doesn't feel comfortable talking about and you need to respect that Will."
"I was just trying to get him to act normal."
"Normal for who?" Antonio frowned sharing a look of confusion with Conor.
"I just mean it would be easier if he just said whatever it is he's thinking."
"And that's 'normal'?" Conor checked.
"Well yeah," Will shrugged.
"That's what you would do isn't it?"
"Yeah."
"Just because he doesn't deal with things like you doesn't mean he isn't 'normal'," Antonio pointed out, somehow managing to keep his anger out of his voice, "think you're being a bit narrow minded there Doc."
"Just a bit," Conor shook his head in disappointment, "I know sometimes you get so focused on a problem that you forget to consider other factors.  In this instance you're looking at Jay more as a patient than a brother so you can be detached.    I understand the need to detach yourself but you're going way beyond detachment talking to him like you just did."
"I didn't mean to upset him," Will stated with genuine contrition, "it's just ....... it's like our childhood all over again.  He's hurting and I can't help."
"Think he just needs his big brother," Antonio offered with a genuine smile as he knew the man accepted their words, "heck just tell him you're an idiot.  He'll believe you."
"Gee thanks!"

In the bedroom Adam was looking at the figure sitting forlornly on the side of the bed as he unknowingly partially repeated the conversation going on outside.

"He's being an idiot!"
"Tell me something I don't know," Jay scoffed in disgust, "he always likes to tell me what to do when I'm ........ not well."
"Guess that's an annoying thing about Doctors," Adam offered a lopsided grin, "they like to think they know what's best cause they have all that medical knowledge."
"I'm sick of it," Jay didn't see any humour in the situation as he rubbed his eyes, "hate being treated like a child."
"Look Jay I can't say I know what you're going through because I don't," Adam walked over and placed the glass of milk on the bedside table before sitting down beside the upset man, "but I can say I'm here for you whatever you need.  Whether that's talking, sneaking out to get some fresh air or just sitting here not saying anything at all."
"You know I went out?" Jay turned to look at his friend accusingly.
"Yeah.  I do," Adam spoke with complete honesty, "and before you get mad Antonio only mentioned it because he's worried about you."
"Does Voight know?" Jays' voice became even quieter.
"No!  They promised they wouldn't tell him and they didn't."
"This is getting out of hand!"
"What?"
"Ye're all here or at the precinct working on this and it's not right."
"Jay of course it's right," Adam insisted fervently, "even if we didn't know you we would work the case because there are now three  guys out there who  tried to kill a Police Officer, have access to assault rifles and have an unknown agenda."
"But this is about me," Jay argued and for the first time his friend got a glimpse of the true anguish the recovering man was in, "it can't be about me!"
"What do you mean?"
"Ye're dealing with this because of me," Jay got to his feet and began pacing the room.
"Did you hear what I just told you?  We would be on the case whether or not you were involved," Adam stood and blocked his friends'  path placing a  palm on the pounding chest, another indicator of the young mans' distress, "and we are all on this case willingly.  We all want to help you just like you would help us if the situation was reversed."
"You don't get it," Jay lowered his head.
"Then tell me," Adam urged gently with patience.
"I'm not worth it!   I don't want anyone getting hurt instead of me."
"I can't say someone won't get hurt before this is over," Adam tilted his friends' chin up so he would see the truth of his words in his eyes, "but I can say we all know the risks and we accept them."
"I'm not worth it," Jay shook his head and went over to the bed, "think I will lie down for a while."
"Sure," Adam took the implied dismissal without offence, "you need some tablets?"
"Nah I'm good," Jay lay down on his side as the other man automatically pulled the curtains closed.
"Give me a shout if you need anything," Adam said before walking out and pulling the door closed.

All eyes turned to the man who had just exited the bedroom.  Conor was the first to speak from where he sat at the kitchen counter with Antonio and Ethan.

"How is he?"
"Upset," Adam replied shaking his head, "this has got to be wrapped up soon because he's going to give himself an ulcer otherwise worrying about everyone else."
"I'll go check on him," Will went to stand up from the couch.
"No you won't.  He's sleeping," Adam spoke firmly as he walked closer to the Doctor, "I know he's your brother but you are not going to make matters worse by treating him like a damn kid."
"You don't get to tell me what to do," Will angrily got to his feet to confront the Detective.
"And there it is," Adam nodded in satisfaction as if confirming something to himself.
"What?"
"Now you know how Jay feels when you start telling him what to do," Adam elaborated, "not much fun being treated like a kid is it?"
"He's my brother it's different."
"No it's not," Adam shook his head at the tall mans' stubborness, "and you need to learn that pretty damn quickly because Jay is one of my best friends and I won't let you add to the load he's already carrying."
"Will you know he's right," Conors' quiet voice joined in as he approached the pair with two steaming mugs, "now sit down the two of ye because Jay definitely doesn't need the two of ye arguing over him."
"Okay," Will accepted the mug as he nodded in apology to the Detective, "I know I can be overbearing when I'm concerned," he conceded as he sat back down.
"Well admitting you have a problem is the first step they say," Adam winked allowing his anger to dissipate.

Will made a face at the other man resolving to apologize to his brother as soon as he emerged from his room.  He just hoped he could convince Jay that he had his best interests at heart, even if it didn't seem like it at times

tbc