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

Chapter Fifty-Eight: Going It Alone

The Unit returned to the well secured house two hours later to find Jay was still in his room lying down.  That piece of information had initially surprised them but Conor had explained that the Detective had a headache and then added wrily that he probably also figured the less time he spent with them the less time they had to try to convince him not to go alone the next day.  Everyone had to smile ruefully at that despite their concern. The Surgeon had gone up to check on his patient a few minutes before the Unit returned only to find the door locked.  The young man had taken to bringing the bedroom key with him everywhere in case one of the others decided to take it in his absence.  He knew them too well.

"So how is he really doing Doc?" Lance asked as he came into the kitchen and looked at the Surgeon.
"He still has the chest infection."
"How long will that take to clear up?" Jack asked as he walked in with Ethan.
"Depends," Conor said as he began taking stuff out of the refrigerator, he did not like lying to the others but he had to keep his promise.
"The antibiotics seem to be working. He's coughing isn't as bad," Kevin spoke frowning as he looked at the roster they had done up to divide the various chores which had to be done, "Doc you're not doing lunch."
"I'm not?" Conor took his head out of the freezer innocently, he had just grabbed onto a distraction so he wouldn't have to face the men.
"Nope.  Unfortunately it's Adams' turn with me."
"Hey!  There's nothing wrong with my cooking!"
"Say it often enough times and we might believe you," Mouse tossed at his friend.
"Yeah, yeah," the maligned man grumbled.
"Guys it's only salad," Ethan tried to be optimistic as Conor abandoned the refrigerator and sat down beside him and Will at the table which had already been set.
"Even Ruzek can't mess that up," Hank stated as he glanced at his watch before looking around the group, "just so everyone is on the same page if we can't convince Jay to take back up tomorrow we do it his way."
"You don't get to tell us what to do," Lance pointed out firmly, not for the first time.

"No he doesn't," a new voice joined in from the doorway.
"Thought you'd sleep another while," Hank turned to look at his subordinate not liking the bruised eyes.
"Bet you did," Jay spoke as he went over to take out some milk, he had swallowed two painkillers upstairs, "and I heard what you said.  All of it."
"Your headache worse?" Adam winced as he watched his friend walk over and sit down on the window seat in front of the closed shutters.
"It's fine.  Listen guys I know ye're worried about tomorrow, hell I'm worried about tomorrow," the pale man conceded.
"Be a fool if you weren't Kid," Al put in honestly.
"But this has been coming a long time," the Detective looked over at his brother before looking around at each of his friends, "it needs to end once and for all this time.  It's my decision.  Mine alone."
"How about if only one of us went as backup?" Antonio tried knowing it would be futile.
"No."
"Anything we can can say to convince you otherwise?" Lance asked finally.
"No so can we just leave it? I'm not going to change my mind no matter what ye say so just save yer energy."
"Besides his head isn't up for arguing and he needs to be as fit as possible tomorrow," Conor explained trying to aid his patient.
"My head's fine."
"Sure it is," Hank rolled his eyes at the obvious untruth and decided to abide by his Detectives' wishes, "so good news is Ruzek is doing lunch."
"Ah man!  Last thing I need is food poisoning."

Despite all of the loudly voiced worries everyone managed to come out of the meal unscathed.  Most of the men eventually moved into the living room to avail of the roaring fire once the late lunch was devoured leaving Jay alone with Mouse and the other three ex-Rangers.

"So does what you said earlier apply to us as well?" Jack demanded as soon as they were by themselves.
"Yeah it does."
"What exactly are you planning on doing with your old man?" Lance decided to get the answer to the question they all had been thinking about for some time.
"Arrest him."
"What if you can't?"
"It will be sorted either way tomorrow," Jay spoke around a yawn.
"How come you're so confident that tomorrow will be the end.  It could take a few days? Look what he did with the Samsons."
"He won't pull that stunt again.  He likes to keep things .......... interesting.  Boring to do the same thing twice."
"So what do you think he'll make you do?" Mouse asked softly.
"Don't know.  Whatever it is I'll make sure the Porters are safe."
"You're being remarkedly calm about this," Jack observed.
"Not much point getting worked up.  Won't help."
"Well if there's anything at all we can do you let us know," Lance insisted.
"I will guys.  Thanks for everything," Jay stood up rubbing his forehead as he headed for the door.
"Get some rest," Mark shrugged off the gratitude.

"So did he tell ye anything?" Hank demanded impatiently as soon as the four men entered the living room.
"He's gone up to his room and no," Lance reluctantly admitted, "he pretty much repeated what he's been saying since the old man called.  He'll make sure the Porters are safe and he'll end it with his father tomorrow."
"I told him no matter what happened tomorrow with our father it will be alright.  Don't give a damn if he kills him," Will offered crossly.
"You really think he'd kill him?"
"Well he's not going to unless he has to.  I told him he was worth a hundred of the old man."
"You don't have to convince us," Hank agreed then continued curiously, "what did Jay say when you told him that?"
"He agreed," Will replied then paused with a frown as he thought back on the conversation with his younger brother, "at least ...... I thought he did."
"What do you mean?"
"He didn't actually say he agreed.  I just assumed he did.  He started talking about coming up with a nickname for the old man.  Now that I think of it when he said he would make sure the brothers were safe I said and him as well but he didn't actually say anything. I ...... just assumed," Will looked stricken as the implications of what he had just said sank in.
"When we spoke to him he said he would make sure the Porters were safe," Lance was getting a sick feeling in his stomach.
"He doesn't expect to make it out alive?" Kevin uttered the question everyone was forming.
"I think he'll try to bring the old man in," Hank spoke into the momentary silence, "but if that fails he won't kill him."
"But .....," Will began as Ethan placed a hand on his shoulder.
"But I think we forgot one important thing."
"What?" Antonio asked.
"Kid loved his mother.  Ruzek .....,"
"Ah hell!" Adam didn't need to be told what was required as he stood and headed for the door at a run hoping against hope his gut was wrong.

Bursting through the unlocked door Adam cursed as he walked over and looked out the window at the torrential rains which had banished the snow to watery mush.  He should have known better than to leave his friend alone.  He knew why he had decided to leave however.  Jay would have been afraid if he was still looking as bad in the morning the others would renege on their deal.  Sighing he turned to head out when an envelope on the bedside locker caught his attention.  Walking over he found it addressed to himself.  A sense of deja vous swept over him as slow fingers revealed the missive he wasn't sure he wanted to read ....

tbc