Part 3

MED Waiting room

Ruzek POV

When I looked at the clock above the door, it was exactly 6 minutes later then the last time I checked. 93 minutes since Rhodes arrived with Jay from the other hospital. I don't think I have ever been so uncomfortable, anxious, angry and sad; a real shit cocktail of emotions that make me want to puke. As I look around at the rest of the team, I can see they're all feeling the same thing. I don't think any of us has gone a minute without moving in some way, shape or form. We're all too antsy. Even Al and Voight can't sit still and that right there should tell you how fucked up this situation is. I feel my eyes gravitating to the clock again and I stop myself. Knowing how long we've been sitting here isn't going to help anything.

I can't keep my thoughts from wandering back to when they finally brought Jay into Med. Something had happened after we left University but I don't know what. I'm sure we'll find out soon enough. All I know, is that Jay was unconscious, in restraints and had another cut on his face that he didn't have before. My head goes back and forth between what happened with Flen and what happened since we left for Med. And when I wasn't thinking about that, I was being an asshole and thinking about how "this" - the whole, "was Jay raped" thing, would effect Jay, the team, effect Jay and Erin, effect me and Jay, blah, blah, blah. I was worried about how "this" would change everything. God, I'm such an asshole. I wanted to think about something, anything so I wouldn't have to think about what "this" really was.

We were at 127 minutes when Rhodes finally walked into the waiting room.

"He's going to be okay guys. Nothing has really changed from what they said at University. We did another CT scan to be sure. He does have a severe concussion but confirmation of that doesn't really change anything. He's going to be here a couple of days."

We take in this information. Everyone silent, no one wanting to ask the question but everyone wanting to know the answer. Finally Voight asks what we all want to know. "What about the rape kit, Rhodes?"

"That's where we ran into some problems. We haven't been able to do one. Jay was still pretty out of it and became combative at University when it was suggested, hence the restraints." He sighs, frustrated and sad about the situation. "He's still in the ED and sedated. Will's with him right now and Dr. Charles is standing by. They are going to talk to him together. As you all know, time is a factor, and even though it should be done as soon as possible, we still have time to work with. I'll let you know when we have more information."

We are all quiet, lost in our own thoughts. Voight is the first to speak and I have to tell you I have never been so grateful to hear his gruff, angry voice. "We're all going back to the precinct and get to work on this. No arguments. Antonio, Al, I want you back at the scene. Will's here with Jay, so he won't be alone. I'll let Rhodes know we're leaving and to call us when we can see Jay."

I have to say, and I might be continuing my streak as an asshole but I'm glad he's having us leave. As much as I want to be here to support Jay, I just don't know how to do that right now. I need to get my shit together.

Flen's Accomplice POV

It really was quite comical how they thought they could protect Jay Halstead from us. It just made the game more of a challenge and with a challenge, it became more fun, more creative and therefore more pain, emotional and physical, for Detective Jay Halstead. Intelligence was forcing us to stretch beyond the limits of our imagination. It made them complicit, in a way, to the trauma the young Detective was going through; which made the revenge that much sweeter. So, here I stand, taking in the form of the physically fit man, who had been reduced to a pile of physical rubble, which was oh so lovely, to be sure, but it was the mental anguish that went with it that healed their own inner wounds - wounds for which Detective Jay Halstead was to blame.

He liked to talk with Flen about their plan and imagine the CPD's elite Intelligence Unit's frustration in trying to figure out who was behind the torture of the "heart" and "moral compass" of their precious unit. It was really quite enjoyable. Even if neither of them came out of this alive, they were making their last days on earth count. Revenge, sweet, sweet revenge - nothing beats that.

Now, where was he…Oh, yes…he leans over Jay, his smile growing as he studies Jay's bruised face, a work of art, he has to admit. He feels challenged to outdo Flen's handiwork. With an excited sigh he leans back and pulls on his gloves, never taking his eyes off Jay. Now that it's his turn with Jay, his excitement is palpable. He grabs the injection port of the IV line and inserts the needle but doesn't push down on the plunger - yet.

He leans into Jay again and gives his cheek a few light slaps and waits. It takes a moment before Jay's eyes start to flutter and finally open. He blinks trying to focus and is confused, then afraid, when he is finally able to see the stranger leaning over him. He opens his mouth to call out when a hand is slapped over it. "No talking, Jay Halstead." The stranger smiles, "Do you remember me?" Jay's eyes don't leave the strange face above him. "Probably not. That's okay. It's not necessary for our fun." Jay tries to struggle and get away but in his weakened state and pain riddled body he can barely move. This causes his assailant to laugh. "You ready?" Jay's eyes widen in fear as the guy leans down, smiles and bites Jay's neck just as he pushes the plunger. He stays in that position until he feels Jay's struggling body weaken and slip into unconsciousness. He stands up and looks at Jay, then takes a peak out the door, it's clear. He takes in the room then gets to work arranging the scene.

He starts by punching Jay in the ribs, hearing a satisfying "crack" at the impact. The lack of struggle is surprisingly gratifying. "How'd that feel asshole?" He continues by punching Jay a couple times in the face, opening up the cut above his eyebrow. The blood starts to drip down Jay's face as the assailant picks up the pace arranging the scene. He quickly cuts off Jay's T-shirt, exposing the taser burns and bruising on his chest, and discards it on the floor. He cuts the bandages off Jay's damaged wrists and uses the oxygen tubing coiled above Jay's bed to tie them together, then above his head. He flings the covers off so they are barely hanging on the bed. He looks at Jay again, so far so good. He is humming under his breath as he unties the draw string of the blue scrubs that jay is wearing and pulls the waist open as loose as it will go. He tugs the scrubs down a couple of inches so they sit low on his hips. Then as an after thought, takes his knife and cuts the waist band of the scrubs over his left hip, drawing blood as he does. He likes this accidental injury, even more so when he sees how much it is bleeding. He checks the door again, all clear. He looks at Jay's body for a few seconds admiring his handiwork - arms tied above his head, naked torso, scrub pants low on hips - cut on the hip bleeding profusely, cut above eye with blood running down his peacefully unconscious face. But it feels like it's missing something…what else he can do...then a grin spreads over his face...

ANTONIO POV

Al and I are in the lobby waiting for Voight. We weren't able to get any new information from Flen's apartment. The CSI's will run prints and check for DNA. Since Voight took the pictures and computer right off the bat, there wasn't really anything else to do there. We tell Voight all of this when he gets there and he updates us on Jay.

"Will and Dr. Charles talked to Jay and he agreed to the rape kit. Will's worried about him, which is to be expected, but REALLY worried about him. He said he's never seen Jay like this before. Where in the past, Jay would normally try to joke or be sarcastic to ease everyone else's mind, Jay is barely talking and he won't look anyone in the eye."

Al chimes in, "Shit…" And that's all he says, because what else can you say. Jay's like a son to Al, this is tearing us all up and we are all dealing with in it our own ways.

Voight continues, "He asked to be sedated when they ran the kit and he didn't want anyone he knew to do it. Rhodes worked something out. He said he really trusts the Nurse Practitioner that did it and Will seemed relieved at the choice. Dr. Charles also spoke very highly of her, so that was one thing that went our way. They moved him to a private room about an hour ago and Platt has people covering the door round the clock."

We're walking down the hall, continuing the discussion we started in the elevator, about how to approach Jay with the questions we need to ask about his abduction, when we notice the guard isn't by Jay's door. The discussion forgotten, we run to Jay's room and are stopped in our tracks by what we see. Voight springs into action first, checking for a pulse while I finally get it together and cut his arms loose. I take in Jay's body, the blood on his face, on his hip and the heart painted on his chest in blood. I look over at Voight. His own eyes leave Jay's body and meet mine. I'm sure his rage filled eyes mirror my own. I look around the room then, checking for anything else out of place...besides Jay's tattered T-shirt laying on the floor.

"Hank…"

We both follow Al's line of sight to see what he's looking at. A toe tag hangs from Jay's injured foot with one word written on it, "Soon". With a huff Voight jumps on the coms and tells the team to get the hell down here, not answering questions just repeating the order with more swearing. Al sprints out of the room saying something about "nurse's station, security and lock down." I call Will and ask him to come up to the room ASAP in as calm of voice I can so he doesn't freak out too bad. Then I pick up the covers from Jay's bed and cover him up. I get lost in the rage that I feel towards Flen and the sadness I feel for my friend. This whole situation is so fucked up. I can't imagine what this is going to do to Jay's psyche. How does a person recover from this kind of bullshit. I adjust the blanket over Jay, tucking him in like a child. It's the only thing I can think of to make him feel safe. It's the only thing I can do in the moment to make ME feel like I'm helping him.

I come back to reality, hearing Voight in the hall talking to Platt. "Who the hell did you have on Halstead's door?"

"Why what happened?"

"TRUDY! Who the hell did you have on Halstead's door!"

"Baker. Baker relieved Roman a little over an hour ago."

"Get Roman back down here and get a hold of Baker."

"Got it, Hank."

Hank turns to me, "Stay on Jay's door. Call security and after they have this place locked down, have them start looking for Bakers body. I'm going to head off Will at the nurses station. I want to talk to him before he gets to the room."

"Bakers body?"

"Baker's good police. He comes from a long line of good police, if he's not at this door then he's either injured or dead and given these assholes I'm thinking dead. "

"Fuck! Copy that Sarge."