Erin patiently rested her hand on Jess' shoulder and told her to stay still. Jess mumbled something incoherent and tried to stand.
"Not yet, Jess," Erin said. "You need to rest."
Jess pushed at Erin, her face shining with a sheen of sweat. She twisted uncomfortably, the bed springs squeaking at the movement.
"I know," Erin soothed. She held the glass of water for Jess, waiting until she took a drink.
"You're pretty good at this," Kim said to Erin when Jess settled back against her pillows, the bedspread fisted in her hands.
"Yeah, well, you grow up with Bunny Fletcher and you get some practice," Erin said wryly.
Kim stood from the desk chair she was sitting in and looked at the pictures on the bulletin board. She nudged a trash bag under the desk with her toe. It was filled with something heavy. She opened it to find medals, ribbons, and trophies.
"That's an interesting decorating choice," she said, lifting out a first place medal for the 400 meter run.
"Jay said she used to run track. He thought she was going to get a scholarship."
Kim put the medal back and closed the bag. "But she enlisted."
Erin nodded. She looked over at Jess. She lowered her voice. "She followed in Jay's footsteps."
Kim joined Erin on the edge of the bed and looked down at Jess.
"Did you know she and Ruzek…?" Erin asked.
"Nope," Kim said. "But it's fine," she reassured Erin. "Adam and I were just…caught up in each other." Her eyes were liquid with compassion for Jess. "I just hope Adam doesn't break her heart. He doesn't have a great track record with commitment. And Jess isn't going to be able to handle Adam Ruzek's signature move."
Erin lifted an eyebrow.
"Breaking off engagements." Kim's lips thinned. "If he leads this girl on and bails on her, so help me, I will castrate him."
"I think Jay will do it for you," Erin said.
Jess groaned. "Here sweetie," Erin said, trying to help her get comfortable.
#
Jay pulled up in front of his dad's house. He let his head fall forward and shoved his hands into his hair. He breathed in and out, counting to ten. He didn't feel any better when he reached ten.
He opened the door and made his way wearily up the short walk. A perfunctory knock and he let himself in.
Pat Halstead glanced up from the game he was watching. "You here for the party upstairs?" he asked, taking a swig from his beer bottle.
"I'm here to see how your daughter is doing coming down from her high," Jay retorted.
Pat paused, emotion passing over his face too briefly for Jay to name what it was. He turned back to the television. "The Cubs are ahead. Might win the playoffs."
With heavy steps, Jay climbed the stairs for the second time that day. This time he didn't have his gun drawn. He didn't have adrenaline urging him forward this time. Instead, he had a pretty good idea of what he'd find.
He knocked on the doorframe to Jess' room.
Will looked up from where he sat next to her on the bed, holding a wet washcloth to her forehead.
Burgess was on the phone. "Sure thing, Sargeant." She hung up and looked at Erin. "I'm going to head in and what info we did get plugged into the computer. We'll try to ID the shooters with what Jess was able to give us and get more when she's able."
Burgess leaned down to Jess. "I have to head to the precinct. You did good, Jess. You're strong."
Jess smiled wanly. "Thanks for everything, Kim," she said, her voice hoarse.
Burgess gave her a smile and rested her hand on Jess' messy curls. "Feel better."
Jess closed her eyes and let her head fall back against the pillows.
"Hey, Jay," Burgess said to him on her way out of the room.
"Thanks, Burgess," Jay said quietly.
"Yeah, sure. Anytime," she said sincerely. She gave Erin a wave and headed out.
Jess let out a miserable groan and struggled to sit up. Will quickly moved to help her up and Erin grabbed a basin from the desk. She held it on Jess' lap and gathered her hair back.
Jess retched and vomited into the basin. Jay winced and looked away.
When Jess finished, Erin took the basin to the bathroom to rinse it. She whispered a hello to Jay on her way past. Will handed Jess a glass of water, setting it back on the nightstand when she was done.
Jess fell back against the pillows. "I'm sorry, Will," she said.
"It'll be ok, kid," Will said. He smoothed her hair back.
Erin came back in and set the basin on the floor by Will. She came to Jay's side.
"Hey," she said, a world of understanding under the word.
"How is she?" Jay asked, sticking to a business-like tone. It was easier.
"She's coming down hard," Erin said honestly, raising a shoulder. "But Will said she's doing alright. He wants her to go in to Med tomorrow for labs and IV fluids if she doesn't stop vomiting."
"Did she tell you anything?" Jay asked.
Erin glanced at Jess and moved out into the hall. Jay followed, pulling the door closed behind them.
"She met up with Danny, her dealer. But they met a couple blocks past 34th. It's outside Danny's territory. He crossed over onto King Territory."
"So this was a turf war?" Jay asked.
"It looks like it." Erin's dimples showed as she pressed her lips together.
"What?"
Erin lowered her voice, even though Jess couldn't hear them through the door. "They may have seen Jess. Voight wants a car parked outside until we know for sure."
"I'll bring her to my place," Jay said.
Erin didn't look surprised. "I don't think you should move her right now."
Jay ignored her and pushed into the room. "Let's get her out to my car," he said to Will.
Will looked between Jay and Erin. "What's going on?"
Jay picked up Jess' duffel and handed it to Erin. He went to Jess.
"Jess," he said. He knelt down next to the bed.
She opened her eyes, squinting against the dim light from her nightstand. She turned away from him toward Will. "I told you I didn't want Jay here," she said. She tried to push out of bed.
"Jess, he's here to help. Just like we all are," Will said, helping her stand so she didn't collapse.
"I don't want him here," she insisted. She turned to Jay, her face pale, hair in limp strings around her face. "I don't want you here."
Jay tried not to let the words sting. He could deal with that later. He needed to get her to his place. It was more secure.
"Let's go, Jess. We need to go back to my place."
Jess shook her head, then weaved on her feet. She clamped her lips together.
"Are you going to be sick?" Will asked.
Jess took a slow breath in through her nose. "I'm fine."
Jay went to the window and brushed back a curtain, keeping to the side of the window. He didn't see anything suspicious. A marked patrol car was just pulling up.
"We need to get going," he said. "It's my place or Med," he said. He wasn't arguing with Jess. There wasn't time.
Jess looked to Will. He didn't offer any help beyond holding her up.
"I need my bag," she said reluctantly. Jay grabbed the messenger bag. Not giving Jess a chance to change her mind, he came to her side so he and Will framed her in. With shuffling steps she let them lead her down the stairs.
#
Jess took a slow breath, wishing Jay's apartment would stop spinning. She let Jay and Will lead her to the couch. She sank into the cushions, relieved to stop moving. Erin set her messenger bag and army duffel on the coffee table.
"I'll get some water," Will said.
Jay checked that Jess was settled. "Do you need anything?" he asked.
Jess didn't answer. She was pretty sure Jay couldn't—or wouldn't—give her what she needed.
Jay unzipped her duffel.
"Hey," she protested, moving too quickly, the room spinning faster and tilting.
Jay spared her a glance, then started taking her clothing out of the bag. He set aside her jeans, sweatshirts, tees. A knife fell out of a rolled up pair of pajama pants. Jay picked it up and set it aside. He added a half empty bottle of vodka to that without comment.
He put her clothes back in the bag and zipped it. Pulling her messenger bag closer, he opened it. Her wallet, phone, and chapstick were rifled through until he found a pill bottle.
Jay handed the knife to Will. "You can keep this for Jess at your place." He picked up the vodka and pills and headed to the bathroom.
Jess clenched her jaw and refused to look at Will or Erin as she heard the toilet flush, her alcohol and drugs gone.
Jay came back empty handed. "We'll get you through this. You don't need that anymore."
Jess let out a humorless laugh. "You have no idea. The perfect older brother who served his country bravely and came home no problem. And then went on to save Chicago from criminals." Her voice hardened. "You have no idea what it's like to not sleep. To not
want to go to sleep because of what you're going to relive."
"Jess," Jay said.
"Save it," Jess snapped. She pressed her lips together tightly. Too much. She shouldn't have moved. The nausea rose and she let Erin rush her to the bathroom before she threw up in her perfect brother's perfect living room.
She was getting out of here as soon as she could.