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

Chapter Forty-Five: Meeting a Nemesis

The night before Adam didn't waste any time in bringing his horde down to the precinct. Although the team had only disbanded for the night at ten a few calls assured everyone was back at the 21st by the time he arrived. Going through exactly how he received the delivery the Detective handed a disc to Mouse explaining he had obtained the CCTV footage of his apartment building and that Jay was not in disguise any more. This confused the Unit and they tossed theories around until Hank spoke for the first time and brought silence.

"He's ready to meet the old man."
"Why give us the rifles and evidence if he wants to deal with this alone?" Antonio asked as he picked up the small plastic bag which contained strands of hair.
"The rifles are now out of harms' way," Adam offered, "and forensics will hopefully be able to get a DNA match on the other two guys."
"True but Antonio brought up a good point," Al put in as he looked at the weapons, "he's given us these because ...,"
"He doesn't think he'll make it," Antonio finished then cursed at the realization.
"No need for a disguise any more when you're going into the lions' den."
"Ah hell!" Adam kicked the nearest desk in frustration.
"Look forensics will throw up some leads once they test these," Hank spoke purposefully, "for now let's start from scratch because this time it's Jay we're after. Find him and we'll find the other three."
"We've spoken to all his friends," Kevin put in, "Will and Mouse gave us the names of every friend they could think of."
"Talk to them again," Hank headed for his office and signalled for Adam and Antonio to follow him into his office, "and I don't care how late it is."

After closing the door Hank leant back against his desk and looked at the two standing Detectives.

"So either of ye think Jay has a death wish?"
"What the hell?!" Adam raised his voice angrily.
"What about you?" Hank looked at Antonio carefully.
"No."
"So he's willingly placing himself in danger to protect the people he cares about."
"We know he is," Adam stated fervently, not sure what his Sergeant was getting at.
"What's this about?" Antonio demanded.
"I've been thinking about the old man threatening Will and probably his mother to get him to stay quiet about what was going on when he was growing up."
"You mean stay quiet about what was being 'done' to him," Adam corrected morosely.
"Yeah," Hank agreed sadly, "if Jay doesn't expect to survive this it's because he's afraid his old man is going to threaten someone he cares about to get him to do something that he doesn't think he'll be able to do."
"We need to get Will and Conor back in protective custody. Tonight. And Lance, Jack and Mark as well," Antonio pointed out.
"And Ethan just to be on the safe side. He was there when Jay was found. He also has a military past which he shares with Jay. I want ye to talk to them. Convince them this is for Jays' benefit."
"They won't like it," Adam muttered.
"Tough! This needs to get sorted once and for all. I'm sick of that Kid being out there by himself!"
"We hear you Boss," Antonio nodded and opened the door with the other Detective following.

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If Jay had known the following morning as he spoke to his father that the Unit and Will and Conor were safe it would not have provided any relief. Although he knew Will and his friends had worked out that the old man had threatened Will, and probably his mother, to ensure his silence they were still missing bits of information. Like how Jay knew that his father would have no problem hurting anyone at all, even a stranger. And just as Jay knew this his father knew his son would put his life on the line to save a stranger just as he would to save someone he loved. Sitting opposite his father who appeared to be alone Jay wondered what his future held and knew it was nothing good.

"So you finally found the nerve to face me," the older man stated smugly as he crossed his arms and looked across at his son with a sneer.
"What do you want?" Jay wasn't interested in word play.
"Well now it seems to me you need a reminder of who's in charge."
"What do you want?" Jay refused to be baited as he casually took a sip of soda as if he didn't have a care in the world.
"You took something from me and I want it back."
"Rifles are already out of my hands."
"You had no right!" the elder Halstead slammed an open palm on the table making the pizza dish bounce and causing several people to look their way.
"I'm sure they'd enjoy a show old man," Jay spoke mildly, "but how about you cut to the chase. What do you want?"
"I want you to pay."
"For what?"
"Being born!"
"Well hell why didn't you just say so? Cause in case you haven't noticed I've paid for it all my life with a monster like you for a father," the words though spoken softly dripped with sarcasm, "so now either tell me what you want or I end it here."
"Real funny!"
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Jay asked disinterestedly as he glanced at his watch.
"You have another appointment?"
"None of your business," Jay went to stand up, calling his fathers' bluff.
"Sit down I have something to say to you."
"Go on."
"You haven't asked where my companions are?"
"Not interested."
"What if I said they are outside in the car park waiting for us."
"You expect me to just get in a car with you?"
"You saying you won't?"
"Okay," Jay rose and looked at his father, "one way or another this ends now."
"Knew you'd see it my way."

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The three visiting ex-Rangers had agreed to come down to the precinct but had not agreed to anything else. Will, Conor and Ethan were all approached at the end of their shift and had agreed to go down to the 21st after Adam and Antonio explained the up to date position briefly. Now gathered in the closed garage down by the cage the men spoke in small groups waiting for the Sergeant to speak.

"Look I know this is a big ask but I need ye to stay in protective custody for now," Hank looked at the visitors seriously, "Jay has obviously decided to meet his father and going on past experience it's likely one of you might be used to get him to do something."
"He gave ye the weapons so surely he can't be made to take part in ...... something?"
"He did but we still don't know why they had them to begin with," Antonio explained patiently knowing this situation was hard for everyone, "or if they have access to more."
"Damn."
"Exactly," Al agreed looking around at the gathered men before he continued, "whatever this is Jay doesn't think he's going to make it out."
"What?!" it was the first Will had heard of this.
"Just let them talk," Conor suggested calmly although inside he was very worried about the young man.
"Doc we figure he didn't wear a disguise when he left the stuff at Adams' place because he's not hiding anymore," Hank put in gently, "he's taking the fight to the source."
"Doc we all knew this was going to happen," Adam added, "the only surprise is it's taken him this long."
"But that's just it! Don't ye see?" Will demanded impatiently in frustration.
"What?" Kevin asked.
"The fact that it's taken him this long means he hasn't been well enough all along."
"Which means the dip in Lake Michigan made him sick," Lance continued then looked at the Sergeant, "ye're sure that's how he got away?"
"Yes. Everywhere else was covered by surveillance cameras."
"But he must be feeling better now if he's ready to meet the old man," Jack put in hopefully.
"He probably is," Will shook his head, "problem is, as ye've learnt, Jay has a high level of tolerance and looking at him on the CCTV footage from Union Station it's clear he's still sick, regardless of whether or not he thinks he can deal with our father."
"What exactly are we talking?" Antonio asked.
"He'd be lucky not to develop pneumonia after the swim. Or a chest infection. He might develop bronchitis," Ethan supplied to save Will.
"And he's clearly not eating properly," Conor added.
"Jay has beaten the odds before," Mark stated adamantly where he stood next to Mouse, "don't write him off just yet. I wouldn't."
"No one is writing him off!" Adam insisted raising his voice.
"No one would ever write Jay off," Hank concurred, "we just got to hope this winds up sooner rather than later. In the meantime we concentrate on tracking Jay leaving no stone unturned."
"And what do we do?" Lance asked gravely.
"Think of Jay and accept protection. The less targets the old man has the easier it will be for Jay."

If only the gruff Sergeant had known how wrong his words were.

tbc