Much to the surprise of the three Captives it turned out King was mot planning on leaving the cubicle in the normal manner. Within a surprisingly short time Jay found himself struggling to move along an air conditioning shaft. His body was still announcing its' displeasure over the effort expanded in climbing up into the shaft. Conors' protests on the younger mans' behalf had been silenced with another wave of the gun. No one doubted Kings' willingness to use same. Before the Detective had ascended out of sight he had shared a brief look with Conor and his brother. He hoped he had managed to convey his regret for their involvement. King had left nothing to chance and had instructed Will to tie up Conor with a rope he provided and then durected Jay to restrain his sibling. After checking the handiwork to ensure the pair would not easily escape he had eyed Will with mock concern as he assured him his brother would be quite safe as he applied duct tape to ensure the duos' silence. It had taken all of the redheads' willpower not to react. Beside him the Surgeon had been impressed by his friends' refusal to be goaded for he also had to fight to remain passive. It pained him greatly as he had watched Jay struggling silently in discomfort as he followed Kings' instructions.
What a difference ten minutes could make, Conor thought a short while later as expletives filled the air and Will and himself stood rubbing their now freed wrists to urge the circulation back. Voight stood slightly back from the others, a look of immeasurable regret fleeting across his featured before he spoke one word to cut through the multiple voices.
"Where?"
"Up," the Surgeon knew what was being asked and gestured to the ceiling above them.
"The air conditioning shaft?" Adam asked unnecessarily as Mouse headed off hriskly to retrieve the drawing plans.
"Yeah," Will sighed heavily.
"How the hell did Jay get up there with his injuries?" Murphy scratched his head.
"Think King got a kick out of watching him suffer," Conor admitted before adding the unpleasant detail, "he's wearing a vest with dynamite .....,"
"What?!" Mouse exclaimed, he had just returned and wordlessly passed the plans to Voight who opened them out on the gurney for inspection.
"Did King give any indication of where they might be going?" Antonio enquired as he struggled to dampen down his concern.
"No."
"They won't get far with Jays' injuries," Kevin offered in an effort to relieve the tension.
"King won't let that slow them down ...," Al argued succinctly.
".... and neither will Jay," Voight concurred as he eyed the ceiling speculatively them examined the Floor Pan to work out where King would make his exit.
Unbeknownst to his friends and colleagues Jay was already outside of the main hospital building a few minutes later, a testament to his companions' thorough planning. King had clearly studied the hospitals' layout for he had not faltered once in his directions as they made their way along the meandering tunnels of steel aluminum. The cool night air was a suitable companiom to the chilling scenario he now faced. They had emerged at the outermost reach of the sprawling complex and the area was was devoid of people. That in itself provided some glimmer of hope to the young man, he had no problem with King or himself being in danger but he doubted the obsessed man intended to go out without an audience. Although the investigation had been one of their longest the Unit still only possessed a minimal amount of information about its' quarry yet one facet learned was the insatiable need for grandiose acts. No, King would not let the final showdown take place in such an isolated location. Armed with that certainty Jay pushed his throbbing body parts to the back of his mind and set about moving things along.
"Pretty lame for you isn't it?" Jay gestured to their surroundings dismissively.
"You wanted fireworks?" King checked his watch.
"Waiting for something?"
"If I was you I'd he worrying about that vest blowing up ....,"
"You're not me."
"You like being so great at things?"
"What?" Jay didn't even try to hide his confusion at the abrupt and unexpected question.
"Come on, I've done my research. You weren't just a good Sniper you were the best of the best ...,"
"Not sure where you got that information from but I never took note of such matters," Jay spoke with absolute honesty, it was never something he considered worthy of pride over, "killing people wasn't a game for me to win accolades. It was my job, nothing else."
"You're just like me."
"You've killed people for a 'game'," the Detective countered evenly, "we have nothing in common."
"That's where I disagree," the older man shook his head emphatically and turned his head as a cab approached before retrieving something from his knapsack, "now put this on before the cab pulls up."
"What about this?" Jay motioned to his lethal vest even as he took the offered black chunky jumper.
"Guess we'll live dangerously, now do it!"
"Okay, okay ..... so where are we going?"
"You'll find out soon enough."
Something in the way his companion spoke forewarned him of a looming danger but as he carefully pulled the jumper down over his shoulders and chest car, and the car came to a stop a few feet away, it struck him that being so compliant might not be the best option. He had just decided to change tactics when his head seemed to explode from within and blackness stole his consciousness ....
House
Three hours later Jay became aware of his surroundings. Although his brain cells still seemed to be only half powered he was immediately on alert as he tried to gather his bearings before opening his eyes. Listening carefully he couldn't hear anyone in the close vicinity so slowly he forced his eyelids up and the bare light overhead caused a groan to escape unbidden as the headache he had acknowledged upon waking intensified momentarily. Hell, he chided himself mentally, he should be used to concussions by now. In fact he could probably give lectures on them! Willing the excruciating pain to recede he took some deep breaths, relieved his reaction hadn't been noted or at least hadn't warranted a visit. He needed time to get his equilibrium back. Sitting up extra slowly he realized the vest had been removed and he now wore only the chunky jumper King had given him. He didn't like the idea the man had taken off his own top and the vest while he was insensate but there was nothing he could do about that now. Being out of control was a throwback to his tumultuous childhood days when his old man had complete autonomy over him. It angered and sickened Jay all at once that feelings of vulnerability had been resurrected by King. Such emotions however could not be dealt with now so, as he was well practised at, he locked them away in the back of his mind. For now he had more pressing matters to deal with. Not least of which was finding out where he was and what exactly King had planned.
-------------------------------
Bucktown
The Unit arrived back at the temporary office space with the two New Yorkers and Will and Conor in tow. It hadn't taken long to find out King was in the wind with Jay. After thanking Sharon Goodwin for her help and promising to keep her posted Voight had reluctantly decided to retreat to work out their next steps. The two SUVs had been silent for the journey from the hospital but now it was time to talk things through. Sitting around the bright kitchen the group half heartedly drank coffees and sodas, even Adam for once showed no interest in the fridge contents.
"He'll be okay," Als' quiet assurance was the first to break the silence.
"You don't know that!" Will scoffed angrily, his brother could die and he couldn't do anything about it.
"I know if anyone can get through this it's Jay," the seasoned Detective explained evenly, he fully understood the redheads'concern, "he's the most resourceful person I've ever met, not to mention tenacious ...,"
"Don't forget stubborn," Antonio put in with a rueful half smile, "and resilient."
"He's all that and much more," Voight concurred gruffly before eying the elder Halstead sibling candidly, "and we won't accept any outcome other than him coming back to us."
"I believe you," Will acknowledged the heartfelt words, "but we all saw the cctv footage. At the very least he has another concussion."
"No point in worrying about the 'what ifs'," Parker decided to speak up even though he too shared grave doubts about the young Detectives' safe return, "it won't help the situation."
"So what the hell does King have planned for Jay?" Adam looked at the others hoping someone had an idea.
"It's bound to be something big," Kevin scratched his chin thoughtfully, "he doesn't do things on a small scale.
"What are you checking?" Antonio looked over to where Mouse had his full focus on the cctv footage on the laptop in front of him, it hadn't gone unnoticed the IT Specialist had been watching the footage over and over again.
"He didn't hear you," Adam explained as he tapped the preoccupied man beside him, "Antonio was talking to you. He wants to know what you find so interesting ..,"
"Huh? Oh ......," Mouse moved his gaze away from the screen to find all eyes on him, "well ...... it's just I think I know what they were talking about ... part of the time anyway."
"And?" Voight prompted.
"King spoke about Snipers and how good Jay was."
"How do you know that?" Adam couldn't hide his scepticism.
"I've been learning how to lip read," Mouse shrugged, "thought it might come in handy sometime."
"What else did they talk about?" Murphy checked.
"Can't really make it out," the wiry man admitted apologetically, he had only started learning after all, "they were talking too fast for me."
"Hey you gave us something we didn't have," Antinio consoled the ex-Ranger, ""maybe he wants Jay to see he's a better Sniper than him."
"We know he admires Jay," Parker nodded in agreement, "despite everything deep down he wants to impress him."
"He can't seriously think killing all those people would impress Jay?" Will argued in disbelief.
"No one is saying King is thinking rationally," Murphy put in before his fellow New Yorker could respond, "in his mind everything he's done has been justified .... that's why he's a loony toon ....,"
"John!" Parker eyed his old friend in exasperation.
"Alright, alright," the Assistant Director put up a hand in surrender, "that's why he's ...... got mental problems."
"Whatever he has he needs to be stopped before he can carry out whatever plan he has in mind," Voight observed grimly, "no more people are going to die because King's a ... loony toon."
Parker rolled his eyes at the description, recognising the Sergeants' attempt at easing the tension and, if the resulting chuckles were any measure, noting he had succeeded in doing so. He just wished King wasn't still such an unknown quantity. It seemed like they were fighting the Invisible Man at times and that did not engender hope. As he looked around the kitchen however he realized hope could be found in the men around him. They wouldn't let King win no more than he would ....
tbc
Authors' Note
I understand the story disappeared for a time. When I was initially notified I could see it on my page but this morning it had disappeared for me also! I uninstalled and reinstalled Wattpad app and the story is back Thank God. Going to publish Chapter 75 now in case it disappears again!
Well it's only 11:36 here in Ireland but I'm off to find a big bottle of wine and take up drinking after that fright!