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

Chapter Sixty-Four: Unjustified Regret

Adam urged his friend to slow down as they headed for the entrance with Will calling after him.

"Conor wanted to talk to you before he released you."
"He spoke to me," Jay insisted as he kept moving.
"He needs to talk to you again. You need to slow down," Adam cautioned blocking the way forward as he saw Conor approaching over the injured mans' shoulder.
"Hey Jay I need a word," the Surgeon quickly approached placing a hand on the uninjured shoulder before looking around, "let's go back to the cubicle."
"Need some ...... air," the pale man shrugged out of the hold and made short work of reaching the exit, his friends and brother trailing behind worriedly.
"Just take some deep breaths," Conor coached as he guided the Detective over to a bench and guided him to sit before crouching down in front of him, "you're okay. Just concentrate on your breathing."
"It's okay Jay," Adam assured softly as he sat down beside the stricken looking man and placed a comforting hand on his back when the other leaned forward resting his elbows on his knees.
"Not ........ okay," Jay shook his head in denial even as he struggled to take deep breaths to force the dizziness which had invaded his body to retreat, "never ....... going to be okay again."
"Tell me what's going on," Conor once again checked his patients' breathing, "are you in pain besides your shoulder and arm?"
"Nah. I'm good ....... sorry."
"Nothing to be sorry for Jay," Conor spoke as he pulled down the black shirt and put away the stethoscope, "how about we take this back inside?"
"No!"
"Whoa man it's okay," Adam looked at the black haired man and then the unusually silent redhead before returning his attention to the object of their concern, "no one is going to force you to do anything you don't want to do."
"I ....... I want to go to the precinct," Jay wiped the sweat from his brow distractedly as he straightened up, "need to be there."
"Jay the old man is in surgery at the moment," Adam explained patiently knowing his friend wasn't thinking straight, "he's going to be in hospital for a couple of days at least. There are going to be uniformed officers on him at all times as well as two of us. We won't be able to do the interview for a while but I give you my word you'll be there. Sarge understands this is important to you okay and you know he doesn't go back on his word."

"Is he .....,"
"He's going to be okay Jay," Will finally spoke knowing the question his sibling struggled to ask and motioned for Conor to move out of the way so he could take his place, "I've spoken to his Surgeon.  He's a good guy.  He doesn't expect any complications."
"You sure?"
"I'm sure.  Kid you did what you had to do."
"Should have just tackled him."
"What did happen?" Conor asked curiously.
"I ....... I cheated."
"What do you mean?" Adam asked even as he frowned wondering if he should close down the discussion as his friend had yet to be debriefed.
"I cheated," Jay repeated quietly and looked at his tightly clasped hands, "we ....... were playing a game .......,"
"A game?" Conor mouthed to Will who was still crouched down in front of his sibling.
"Tell us Jay," Will forced the instruction out in a hoarse voice.
"I shot him".
"What game?" Adam pushed.
"Doesn't matter."
"You're going to have to tell us during the debriefing anyway."
"Russian Roulette."
"Ah man!"
"How could you cheat at Russian Roulette?" Conor wondered aloud.
"I shot him."
"So you knew the round was in the chamber?" Will raised an eyebrow cynically.
"Yeah," Jay answered matter of factly as he shrugged his good shoulder.
"How could you tell?" Adam looked at his friend.
"Just could."
"They teach you that in the Rangers?" Will asked in surprise.
"No."
"You got yourself out of there without killing anyone," Conor offered, "that wasn't cheating.  That was resourcefulness."
"I'm going home," Jay suddenly terminated the conversation and stood up, his brother following suit.
"I'll go with you," the elder sibling stated firmly, "my shift is over."
"Okay Doc," Adam spoke before any argument could ensue, "let's go."
"Before ye leave I need a quick word with Jay," Conor looked at the trio.
"Sure," Adam led Will several feet away giving the two men privacy.

"You know your chest infection needs monitoring.  The last thing you need is bronchitis. I'll drop your prescription off later.  The thing is once that shot I gave you and the antibiotics begin to kick in you're going to start coughing again.  Which is what you need to do but it's going to hurt because of your shoulder."
"I know Doc," Jay spoke with a voice of weary experience for he knew all too well that his damaged shoulder tissues were connected to his neck which in turn was connected to his head which moved when one coughed causing a pain inducing chain reaction.
"You've been sick before when you had this injury?" Conor guessed sadly.
"That all Doc?"
"For now," the black haired man hadn't expected an answer, "and listen I know Will said it already but you didn't do anything wrong."
"Sure Doc," the Detective spoke without conviction as he put a hand up to the black sling, "and thanks for finding this.  Don't feel so conspicuous with a black one."
"I figured that," Conor grinned, "now go home and go easy on Will.  He's been worried about you."
"Can't say I noticed!"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Hank and Antonio arrived at Jays' apartment several hours later and were informed that the young Detective had finally given into exhaustion forty-five minutes earlier and was lying down.  Initially the Sergeant had not been happy when Adam informed him of their destination but after considering the matter, as his subordinate updated him while the Surgeon was talking to Jay, he had agreed.  He had insisted however that Adam take a detour to delay arrival at the apartment so it could be checked out by the Bomb Squad. The Detective had thought that was a bit extreme but had decided wisely not to share that view with his Sergeant.  The reason behind the older mans' caution of course was that they did not know if there was someone else helping Halstead Senior.  Since the brutal attack at Med there was one question constantly looming over the investigation - the source of the assault rifles.  No leads had been found much to everyones' consternation and therefore they couldn't rule out an accomplice.  Will stood in the kitchen entrance.

"Does Jay have to go down to the precinct to give his Statement?"
"No.  He can do it here," Hank explained readily, "how is he doing Doc?"
"Well according to him he's 'fine'."
"Good thing he's not a Doctor," Antonio scoffed shaking his head at the mans' reticence but admiring it also.
"So?" Hank urged the redhead to give him a proper answer.
"Well apart from the dislocated shoulder his chest infection is after getting worse.  He's lost weight since the attack and really needs time to build himself back up to full strength."
"Doc this still isn't over.  We don't know if there is someone else out there who is helping the old man."
"But Jay needs rest."
"And he needs to wrap this up.  As much as possible anyway," Hank stated seriously, "you know that more than anyone."
"I do.  It's just he's rundown.  This is taking too much out of him."
"I won't argue with you about that but you know as well as I do he isn't going to let that stop him."
"We'll be with him all the time," Antonio offered a solemn assurance.
"I know that," Will admitted candidly, "in fact that has been the only reason I haven't strapped him to a bed."
"Doc do yourself a favour and don't let Jay hear you saying that," Adam warned as he took a sip of coffee.
"Saying what?" Jay asked innocently around a yawn as he walked out of his room barefoot, dressed only in low hung faded jeans and an open shirt around his shoulders, in deference to his shoulder no doubt.
"Nothing," Adam replied after he stopped choking on the liquid that had gone down the wrong way, "you want something to eat?"
"I'll get some cereal."
"Sit down I'll get it," Will directed pointing to the empty space on the couch beside Antonio.
"I can get it," the younger sibling glared as he pushed past the redhead, "and you even think of strapping me to a bed big brother you better run for the hills."
"Ah hell!"

tbc