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

Chapter One Hundred and Seven: A Death

As soon as the Unit arrived back at the safehouse they could tell there was something wrong.  Conor sat at the kitchen counter beside a pale looking Will while Ethan looked on worriedly.  Adam frowned getting a sick feeling as Conor looked up at their entrance.

"Hey guys," the Surgeon greeted glancing at the new arrivals, his gaze lingering on Jay, "I think Will needs a word with Jay."
"What's up?" Jay demanded moving forward quickly.
"We'll give ye some space," Ethan spoke as himself and Conor headed for the hallway motioning for the others to follow ignoring their quizzical looks.
"Will what's going on?" Jay sat down beside his sibling once they were alone not liking his silence.
"It's the ..... old man .... Jay he's .....,"
"He's what?"
"He died Jay ....... he's dead."
"But ...... I thought he was recovering," the Detective shook his head in disbelief, he had killed his own father!
"He was but what we didn't know was that he had Stage 4 lymphoma."
"So when I shot him it pushed him over the edge," Jay noted hoarsely.
"No! Jay you know Stage 4 is end stage. He was dying," Will looked at his brother carefully, "that's probably why he went after you again after all this time."
"Maybe. I'm sorry Will. I really am," the recovering man stood up and shook his head, "I don't blame you for being angry at me."
"Did you hear what I told you," Will rose and placed his hands on the smaller mans' shoulders, "this is not your fault Jay!  I'm upset he's dead but only because of you.  You won't get any closure now."
"I'm fine. Don't need closure," Jay shrugged out of the hold, "think I'm going to lie down for a bit.  I'm feeling tired."
"You believe me don't you?" the redhead checked as he watched the retreating back.
"Sure," Jay didn't look around as he headed out the door.

Reaching his bedroom without meeting the others Jay closed the door behind himself and locked it in relief. He had killed his father no matter what Will said. He had let his mother down.

Will looked up as the others walked back in.

"Did he talk to ye?"
"No," Hank replied as he took off his jacket and then retrieved a couple of six packs from the fridge for everyone to help themselves, "we stayed in the living room.  Figure he needs some time to deal with this. I am sorry for your loss Will."
"Appreciate the sentiment but after what I've learnt about that b*****d I don't need condolences."
"So what do you need?" Adam sat down beside the newly bereaved man as he passed over a bottle to him.
"Need ye to help me convince Jay this is not his fault."
"He's blaming himself?" Kevin frowned for they had been told it was the cancer which killed the man.
"He figures shooting him speeded things up."
"Did it?" Al wondered as he leant against the counter.
"If it did it wouldn't have been by much. Like I told ye he was end stage," Conor reminded pragmatically.
"But Jay is blaming himself anyway," Antonio said sadly, this whole situation just kept getting worse.
"And figuring he let his mother down," Hank spoke insightfully causing everyone to grimace knowing the validity of the statement.
"Where does this leave things?" Will looked at the Sergeant.
"There is still someone out there who was working with the old man.  He needs to be stopped."
"But he'll stop now."
"We won't make any assumptions," Al put in cautiously, "for now we stay here."
"I'm going to change my shift tomorrow so I can stay here with Will," Conor explained ignoring his friends' protest, "I want to keep an eye on Jay anyway."
"So what's happening tomorrow?" Mouse voiced looking at the Unit.
"We go to work," Hank confirmed, "and whatever Jay needs doing we do. That goes for you too Doc. You need any help with arrangements just ask."
"Thanks Hank. I appreciate it," Will got up after glancing at his watch, "I'm going to check on him.  Adam you want to come with me?"
"Yeah sure," the Detective put down his half full bottle in surprise.
"You might have a better chance of getting him to talk," Will admitted as they crossed the hallway to the stairs, "once we get him to let us in that is."
"If the door's locked maybe we should give him some space," Adam advised as they reached the landing with quick steps and the redhead tried the said barrier but shook his head.
"He needs to know this isn't on him."
"Jay!" Adam called after a moment.
"Adam I'm fine.  I'm just resting," the weary voice hurt both men outside the door.
"Just wanted to make sure you were okay.  How about you let us in for a minute?"
"Us?"
"Will is with me.  Come on you know I'm hopeless at picking locks."
"What do ye want?" Jay finally asked as they heard the key being turned.
"Just to talk," Will replied as he walked in before his brother could stop them, "you don't look like you've been resting."
"Jay listen I'm really sorry about ....," Adam began only to be interrupted.
"Don't want to hear it," Jay spoke firmly as he walked back over to the window he had been looking out of since he came upstairs.
"This is not your fault," Will walked over exchanging a glance with Adam, "he was dying Jay."
"So you said. When did it happen?"
"We got the call when ye had already left the precinct," Will offered quietly trying to find the right words to reach his brother, "it was peaceful Jay.  He wasn't in pain."
"Well that's good," Adam put in when no response was furnished.
"It's still early," Jay glanced at his watch before turning around, "so who's cooking tonight?"
"Think Conor mentioned ordering pizza," Will frowned, unsure of what was going on in his siblings' head.
"Well we better get down and make sure he gets the order right. "
"Anything that gets me out of washing up duty is fine by me," Adam forced a grin and followed his friend out after sharing a confused look with the redhead.
"There's a dishwasher.  You don't do the washing up," Will went along with the banter as they walked back downstairs to the kitchen.
"Still have to rinse the dishes," Adam complained.

It turned out Conor had indeed placed the pizza order before the trio returned but he had been wise enough to include everyones' favourite choices.  It wasn't long until everyone sat around the large table most chewing and drinking eagerly.  The talk, if not the usual light hearted fare, kept the silence from descending and if the two Haltsteads' voices were almost non existent no one commented on it.  The other men knew that sometimes what was needed in the face of death was simply companionship.  There would be time enough for talk tomorrow and the following days.  For now the gathered men waxed lyrical about the Blackhawks and berated each others' choice of filling.

"Hawaiian is definitely the best," Mouse patted his stomach in appreciation.
"You're crazy," Antonio insisted wiping his mouth with one of the paper napkins, "too much fruit."
"Nothing wrong with pineapple," Al contested.
"In a drink," Adam insisted as they heard a phone ringing.
"It's mine," Jay stood up taking out his cell and walked away from the table after pushing away his full dish, "hello?"
"Who is it?" Will frowned as he caught the expression of shock flood the younger mans' features as he nearly dropped the phone.
"What the hell?!" Conor was the closest to the Detective and moved quickly to steady him, tossing the cell to Hank hastily as he did so
"Jay talk to me," Will helped the Surgeon guide the shaken man to a chair, "what is it?"
"Damn it," Hank cursed and passed the cell to Mouse, "see if you can trace the call now!"
"Jay listen to me," the Sergeant strode over and crouched down in front of his subordinate, "it's okay.  Listen to me you know that happened a long time ago."
"What?" Conor asked softly as he accepted his stethoscope from Ethan and quickly checked his friends' breathing, he seemed to be going into shock.
"Just breathe in slowly and out," Hank kept his attention on the stricken man, "you're here with us in the safehouse.  Just listen to my voice.  You know me."
"What ......," Jay looked around after a few minutes, blinking trying to get his bearings.
"That's good," Hank patted his knee and stood up, "any luck Mouse?" he looked over to the island where Mouse sat at his laptop surrounded by the agitated members of the Unit.
"Sorry Sarge.  It was cut off."
"Who was it?" Will demanded in a low voice as he placed a hand on his brothers' back to calm him as the Surgeon continued his exam.
"It ....... Max ......," Jay croaked out with a shiver, the old dogs' howls of pain once again brought to life to assail him.
"Ah hell," Will felt the tears spring to his eyes as he saw the excruciating pain in the depths of the tortured soul before him.

tbc