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

Chapter One Hundred and Fifteen: Recertification

After taking off his jacket and tossing it on his chair Jay headed for the kitchen in search of refreshment as Jenkins and his colleague walked out of the Sergeants' office. Al and Antonio were inside drinking coffee as they discussed the lack of progress in a case.

"Hey Jay. How's it going?" Antonio greeted as he leant against the counter.
"Fine," the younger man replied as he opened the refrigerator and searched for his bottled water as someone was always either taking it or moving it, "ye talking about the Hanson case?"
"Yeah," Al acknowledged referring to an attempted car robbery in Lincoln Park which had left one pedestrian in serious condition at Gaffney, "two weeks and we're not getting anywhere."
"That's par for the course when everyone is too scared to talk," Jay shook his head in defeat unable to find any of his drinks and shut the refrigerator.
"Well if we don't make some progress soon we probably never will," Antonio noted with a heavy sigh.
"Guys they're ready to start," Adam stuck his head around the door.
"Wonderful," Antonio grimaced and headed out with the other two close behind.

After going through the list of those present, going over a few points and asking some general questions Jenkins picked up a taser and looked at the men.

"Okay we'll start with Halstead. Jay," he instructed, crossing off the name.
"Sure," the thin man walked over to stand between the two bigger men dreading what was to come.
"You alright Detective?" Jenkins queried taking in the pale, tired complexion.
"Yeah I'm good."
"You sure?" the man looked at the young Officer properly for the first time.
"He said he's good," Hank cut in tersely, "now get it over with."
"Look if he's unwell he can skip this and get another date," Jenkins offered, ignoring his colleagues' warning look, he had already asked if everyone was medically fit, as per protocol.
"I'm right here," Jay spoke roughly, "just do it."
"Okay," Benedict placed a hand on the Detectives' arm, "you know the drill. We'll do this like we always do. Where do you want it?"
"Shoulders," Adam put in quickly, they should know by now his friend always opted for the shoulders.
"Fine," Benedict nodded as he adjusted his hold before adding assuringly, "it will be over before you know it."
"Yeah," Hank concurred puzzled by the mans' attitude towards his subordinate, although the two men made sure the men were looked after they didn't normally waste words on encouragement beforehand as it was after the tasing they really needed care and that fact was putting the Sergeant on guard.
"You might do the honours," Jenkins handed the taser to Adam, the nearest, who blanched then hastily took a solid hold on the Detectives' other arm.
"Quicker you do it the quicker it's over," Jay informed his friend in encouragement after seeing and understanding his reaction, "five seconds won't kill me."
"Course," Adam made his feet move and walked over behind the three men who stood in front of the blue mats, "ready?"
"Yeah," Jay insisted and the next thing he knew he was face down on the mat with his shoulder and back muscles convulsing in agony.

Voices overhead were talking but he couldn't decipher the words. All he knew was pain. Adam had targetted the shoulders, as expected, but the ensuing pain seemed to engulf the whole area. Five seconds seemed an eternity until the taser was turned down. Jay felt his muscles contracting painfully even after the two electrodes were removed. Hell he was going to be on vacation the next time this rolled around. Of course that was what he had promised himself last year! With that thought he acknowledged that the agony was receding and accepted the helping hands up from Jenkins and Benedict. Benedict casually tried to check his neck pulse to ensure the young man was in fact alright but he shrugged off the attention as soon as he was vertical and walked carefully over to his desk where he sank down on his swivel chair gratefully.

"You doing okay?" Benedict had followed the Detectives' path as Dan Jenkins, still by the stairs, decided on the next recipient of the electric volts and the others graciously volunteered each other as the next victim.
"Yeah," Jay looked up in surprise before adding truthfully, "that never gets any easier."
"Tell me about it! You're familiar with tasers I'm guessing?"
"We have to recertify each year," Jay stilled as he spoke.
"I meant you're familiar with the .... misuse of tasers?" the older man guessed quietly, making sure his voice didn't carry to the others.
"Don't know what you're talking about."
"You're terrified anytime we come here, I can tell, but you go through with it anyway."
"Listen I ......,"
"My son was in the Rangers," Benedict perched a hip on the edge of the desk, his back to the others, "you probably don't remember him but he knows all about one Jay Halstead."
"What?" Jay sat up straighter on his chair noting Hank looking their way, was this man a threat they had willingly allowed into the precinct?
"Hey take it easy," Benedict raised his hands up, "Sam heard a lot about you over in Afghanistan. He had heard you were after becoming a Cop and when he found out I would be visiting the 21st today he was thrilled."
"Everything alright here?" the Sergeant walked up on silent feet behind Benedict who stood up startled but then smiled.
"Sure. I was just filling Detective Halstead in on my son Sam. He was deployed with the Rangers in Afghanistan at the same time. He learnt about Halstead over there."
"Why are you bringing this up now? You've been here before," the Sergeants' suspicion was obvious and the conversation by the mats came to an abrupt halt.
"To be honest I was just asking him if he would meet my son," the man shrugged uneasily, he knew he was the cause of the sudden tension as the other Unit members approached, with a confused Jenkins looking on, but he didn't know why.

"Jay you okay?" Adam walked over and casually stood beside the seated man, a defensive position for to get to the pale man now Benedict would have to go through him first.
"Yeah. Yeah just .....,"
"Benedict was just explaining how his son knows about Jay," Hank elaborated and motioned for the now uneasy visitor to continue to his bigger audience.
"Look I don't know what's going on," the flustered man offered as he saw the formerly friendly faces now staring at him coldly, "but I was just asking Detective Halstead if he would meet my son."
"You said they served at the same time," the Sergeant reminded gruffly, "so why does your son want to meet him?"
"Well ...," Benedict hesitated as he looked at the young Detective sensing he would not want the whole reason aired in public.
"Man asked a question," Al pointed out evenly, keeping a restraining hand on Mouse who looked ready to pounce.
"What's going on?" Jenkins had finally put down his clipboard and approached to find out the source of the delay.
"Your buddy here is just about to tell us why he wants Detective Halstead to meet his son," Hank addressed Jenkins and took a step closer to the bewildered man, "now start talking!"
"Why do you want Sam to meet him?" Jenkins cut in, unwittingly taking his life in his hands as the Sergeant bristled, looking at his colleague curiously and then pausing for a moment before smiling broadly and pointing in disbelief to the puzzled man sitting behind his desk, "you mean he's the guy?"
"Yeah. He's the guy."
"START TALKING NOW!" this time Hank stepped right into Benedicts' personal space causing him to take a step back in surprise.
"He saved Sams' life," the response came from Jenkins without any consideration as to why his friend and colleague was being so reticent.
"Dan don't!" Benedict spoke just a second after his colleague began answering but it was too late.
"I ....," Jay sat back in the chair as sweat suddenly broke out all over his body, this was not good, not good at all.

tbc