Jay had really just wanted a quiet day... But as the undertow pulled him along, he wondered how this day could have gone so terribly wrong so quickly.
Dislaimer: This fanfiction is just for fun. No money made, no Copyright infringement is intended. All characters belong to their respective owners.
Diese Fanfiction-Geschichte wurde lediglich zur Unterhaltung geschrieben und es werden keine materiellen Vorteile durch sie erlangt. Mit ihrer Veröffentlichung im Netz werden keine Verletzungen der Copyrights beabsichtigt.
/
Rain of bad luck
/
As the undertow continued to pull him along, Jay wondered how this day could have gone so terribly wrong so quickly.
After the conclusion of the last case, which had kept them busy late into the evening, they had even been able to lie in a little longer that morning and they had started the day slowly. Hailey and he had treated themselves to a hearty breakfast and they had enjoyed every minute at home.
He loved their new apartment. It was their shared retreat, their cozy nest. Hailey had gone to incredible lengths to make their four walls cozy. Jay loved their new, exceedingly comfortable couch that was wide enough for the two of them to fall asleep huddled close in front of the TV. He hadn't even wanted to get up from the couch that morning. With a cup of coffee in his hand, he could have just sunk into the cushions and looked out the window with Hailey in his arms all day long.
There was really nothing pulling them outside at the moment either. It was just after Thanksgiving. It had been pouring rain for two days, it was storming, and it had gotten cold. Jay wondered when the rain would turn to snow and wrap Chicago in a thick, white blanket for the first time this year. For the moment, however, the weather was showing only its worst side.
Despite their reluctance to leave their nest, they had left on time to grab a coffee at their current favorite store before work. As Jay had parked the car around the corner, he and Hailey had observed an argument between two teenagers across the street.
It had become clear to them very quickly that it was serious. One of the two boys suddenly pulled out a gun and the two began wrestling with each other. After sending a message to dispatch, Hailey and he had jumped out of the car to run over to the two.
/
Before they could identify themselves as Police Officers, a shot was fired. The boy who had drawn the gun sank to the ground, hit, while the other ran away after a second of shock. The situation would not have gotten out of control if the boy lying on the ground had not raised the gun again and pointed it at the fleeing man once more.
A second shot rang out and hit the other boy, who stumbled briefly. But then he kept running. Hailey ran to the teenager lying on the ground and disarmed him, demanding that he should drop his pistol. He complied and Hailey kicked it out of reach with her foot.
"Are you okay?", Jay asked her agitatedly. He didn't want to leave her alone if the situation was still dangerous.
"I´ve got him. You go after the other guy. Be careful!", Hailey shouted to him with conviction, as she leaned down and pressed her hand to the teenager's bullet wound.
A moment later, she radioed for an ambulance. For a moment Jay hesitated, but he knew his partner had the situation under control. Then he took up the pursuit and went after the second boy. He had seen the path he had taken.
He was running through the pouring rain toward a construction site where the youth had taken refuge in a tangle of construction vehicles, piles of rubble, and half-finished structures. Jay looked down at the muddy ground and spotted fresh footprints, but they were slowly being washed away by the rain. So he had quickly identified the direction in which he had to continue running.
His gun in one hand and the radio in the other, he ran along a half-demolished wall and took the corner. He was focused on what lay ahead, searching the area in front of him with his eyes, expecting the boy to appear around the next corner at any moment. When nothing moved in front of him, he moved on. Not, however, without leaving the end of the wall out of sight.
As he took the next step forward, he felt himself suddenly step into the void. Trying to catch himself, he raised his arm and braced himself against the wall. In the process, the radio fell out of his hand and landed in the mud. As he slipped on the wet stones and toppled forward, he saw the gaping round hole in front of him. In the next moment he was already plummeting downward, slithering along sharp-edged stones as he fell, and before he really realized what had happened, he landed in ice-cold water.
He immediately went under and instinctively struggled to get back up and find his footing somewhere. As his head broke through the surface of the water for a moment, a deafening, thunderous noise surrounded him. He gasped for air, then a strong current caught him and immediately jerked him to the left as his airway tightened for a moment from the cold and shock. His chest ached. He managed one more stinging breath before his bulletproof vest and clothing inevitably pulled him down. He went under as he continued to drift.
Then he realized what had happened. The construction site had apparently forgotten to cover a sewage or rain manhole. Or the boy had opened it... He had fallen into it, and because of the masses of water raining down from the sky, the sewer had turned into a raging underground river.
In panic, he now also let go of his weapon and tried to find a foothold somewhere. The stones he felt now and then under his fingertips were slippery, slimy and washed away. He did not succeed in holding on. Then he realized that he had to get rid of the Kevlar vest if he was to have any chance of getting back up. With practiced moves, he pulled the Velcro straps open as fast as he could. He felt himself running out of air. All at once, there was absolute darkness surrounding him.
Then, unprepared, he crashed into a wall and was pushed against it by the force of the water before being whirled around and jerked to the right. Due to the persistent rain, the channels were full to bursting. He finally managed to get the vest off and began to fight the current to move back up. If the direction he suspected was up at all...
It seemed like an eternity until his head penetrated the surface for a moment. He gasped for air. His relief lasted only a short time before a wave coming from the side swept him along again and, after a few short and desperate breaths, he went under again and was pushed down.
Again he crashed into a canal wall and this time he felt his shoulder collide with a stone sticking out. A dull pain spread. But he also realized now that he had to manage to grab just such a stone to somehow get his situation under control.
With his arms he rowed around himself, while at the same time he tried to get back up. Colorful lights flickered in front of his inner eye and his lungs screamed for oxygen.
For a brief moment he came back up and he inhaled, but then his head hit something hard. A memory of his past flashed before his mind's eye. Why just now, he didn't know... After a second of pain, his muscles went limp all at once. He could no longer move and he only felt himself sinking further down. Shortly after, he finally lost consciousness, while the cold water continued to pull him on...
/
"What have you two done now?"
Mom came running up to Will and Jay as they approached the cabin that belonged to their grandfather. Their family had decided to get out of town for a bit for Thanksgiving weekend. The cabin in Wisconsin was one of their favorite getaways. And as usual, the two brothers had spent most of the day hanging out outside.
Now, however, Will had his arms wrapped around Jay's shoulders and they were stumbling, completely soaked and shivering with cold, toward the wooden steps that led back across the deck to the kitchen and into the living area of the house.
"I ... fell in the water." Jay said, shivering, as her mother sank to her knees in front of them, her warm hands sliding over his cheeks and his wet hair before turning to Will.
"You always have to be careful," she said with concern as she looked Jay in the eye. "Are you okay?"
"Jay's foot got stuck between the rocks in the riverbed," Will now informed her. "We both fell in when I tried to pull his leg out. Sorry, Mom."
She smiled with relief. "The main thing is that you are okay. Hurry inside, into the warm! We'll get you changed and then I'll make you some tea and soup."
She put her arms around them and led them inside, where their father was sitting on the couch, waiting for dinner. When he saw his sons, he rose and came toward them.
"Now look at this! Wet to the bone. They're ruining my floor here!" he groaned angrily. "Can't you be careful?"
Jay stopped, shaking, and looked up at his father as Will pushed past him and headed for the bathroom.
"I'm sorry, Dad," Jay said. "It was an accident."
"What did I tell you about fishing, mhm? Don't go too deep in the water. And where's the fishing stuff?"
"We're not, really. We weren't deep in the water," Jay tried to placate him.
"Where's the fishing stuff?" he repeated impatiently.
"It... Will's stuff is still down by the river. And my-"
"Yours drifted away, didn't it? You think they give that stuff away for free? Damn it Jay, that was a gift from your grandfather!"
"I know," he returned, lowering his head.
"Stop it already, Pat," his mother intervened. "Can't you see that the boy is half frozen to death and that he's sorry? Why aren´t you glad that our sons came home safe and sound and that they didn't drown?!"
Dad turned and looked toward the bathroom, where Will stood in the doorway, anxiously watching the scene.
"Yes, our fine sons..." Dad said sarcastically. "A coward and a good-for-nothing!"
"Patrick!", Mom pushed Jay past his father and he took the chance. He quickly approached Will, who took his arm and pulled him along. He could just hear his parents starting to argue. "You shouldn't talk about them like that. How are they supposed to learn anything from you if you always treat them like that? You could have gone to the river with them. But no, you sit here and drink..."
Jay quickly slipped into the bathroom and Will closed the door behind them, largely blocking out the discussion between their parents.
"He hates us, Will.", Jay said quietly as tears began to run down his cheeks.
"Oh nonsense!" his older brother pushed him further into the room and together they settled on the floor. "Don't listen to Dad! It was an accident, like you said. We didn't do anything wrong."
Jay pulled up his runny nose and glared at Will. "Why does he always yell at us?"
Will was silent at first. Apparently, he didn't have an answer for their father's behavior either. He began peeling Jay out of his soaked jacket.
"Come help me," he urged him. "Tomorrow we'll get the rest of the fishing stuff back and then he'll calm down. We'll just share it in the future."
"I wish Dad wasn't here," Jay blurted out, still shaking as he pulled off his shoes and socks. "I wish we were staying with Mom by ourselves. Like Josh and Maggie."
"Don't say that. We're lucky we still have a Dad. And tomorrow will be better, you'll see," Will tried to soothe him.
But Jay didn't believe him...
/
With pain all over his body, Jay regained consciousness. He wanted so badly to breathe, but he couldn't. Something was blocking his airway and before he could think clearly, he felt a violent pressure in his chest. Then finally his body reacted and he reflexively vomited a gush of water. He coughed - and at the same time tried to get air into his burning lungs. Then he threw up again. Again, water gushed from his mouth before he sank down, trembling and completely exhausted.
A violent coughing fit followed, during which his upper body seemed to cramp. It hurt unbelievably. Gradually, however, he managed to take in more and more air. He had closed his eyes and everything was trying to pull him back into a deep sleep. But it was cold and he realized that he had to stay awake. He couldn't fall back asleep. There was a roaring in his ears and he heard his own frantic heartbeat and rattling breath.
Each breath cost him all the strength he could muster at the moment. Again a coughing fit seized him and his head seemed to want to explode at that moment. His neck ached, his eyes throbbed with pain. He felt dizzy. Only slowly did these perceptions subside and he realized that there was a loud roaring not only in his ears, but also in his immediate surroundings.
He remembered what had happened. He winced and forced himself to open his eyes. He frowned as a sharp pain greeted him in response. He was surrounded by a dull twilight. His hands seemed to be caught somewhere. He tried to pull them to him and he pushed himself up a little. Immediately he regretted his rash action, for a sharp, stabbing pain drove through his shoulder, which he had bumped earlier. His right ankle exploded burning hot as he put weight on it and as he moved. All at once his head throbbed so much that he felt nauseous.
Unconsciously he groaned, squeezed his eyes shut again and paused for a moment. When he dared to open them again, he could see his surroundings a little more clearly and his gaze first fell on bars that were right next to his face. Only then did he realize his situation. The water, that still washed around the lower half of his body, had pressed him against a grating in the channel. His right leg and hands had become entangled in piled up debris while the water kept him pressed against the metal. His upper body had been pushed up by the pile of trash and that had probably saved his life.
Shivering, Jay let his eyes continue to roam over the dimly lit surroundings. He was in a room that probably served as a collection point for some smaller sewers. It was dome-shaped and appeared to date from the time when the Chicago River had been diverted due to pollution in the city more than 100 years ago. Far above him he discerned a grate through which some of the hazy daylight shone in. But the sky outside was so cloudy that not much light reached the bottom. More and more raindrops fell down to him. Below him roared the water that was piped in here from four canals and then probably flowed on into the Illinois River.
He was on a brick ledge that protruded from the wall not far above the roaring water surface. Behind Jay, the grate blocked the way. It was probably another overflow channel, and he feared it wouldn't be too long before the water overflowed that channel, too, if the rain didn't stop.
The first thing he did was pull his uninjured arm toward him. He managed with some difficulty to free himself from the washed up garbage by squeezing his hand through what felt like a clothesline and slippery seaweed. He didn't even want to think about what might have accumulated here and what he was lying on.
When his arm was finally free, he first reached into the pocket of his jeans. His fingers found his cell phone and he breathed a sigh of relief. It was waterproof, according to the manufacturer. Maybe he could call for help. Quickly he pulled it out and he tried to activate it. A moment later it lit up and his heart leapt. He unlocked it and opened the call function. As if automatically, his fingers found the redial and Hailey's number was displayed. But after the initial hope, he realized that he had no reception down here. The call wasn't going through.
"No, come on!" he groaned, and he tried again.
Nothing. He put his head back, which sent new pains into his skull, but he just had to look at the grate above him. He wondered if he could get through with a call or a text if he made it up there. He lifted the device up a bit and looked at the display, but nothing changed. He realized that he had to get free and do something. No one would be able to find him down here.
He looked around again, trying to make out something behind the bars he had been pressed against. He squinted his eyes and realized that there was a box on the wall, behind the grate. He remembered that the people from the fire station, searching for a missing child, had raised an alarm with the water company through one of these boxes. The grate had been automatically opened by the control center at that time and they had been able to continue searching.
So that was another way he could draw attention to himself. He had to get to that box. However, he could only do that if he got to his feet. He knew it would hurt, but he had no choice. He put the cell phone back in his pocket, braced his left foot and hand against the bars, and leaned back.
His right side was still buried in the debris, and when he put traction on his extremities, the pain of his injuries immediately flared up again. He groaned softly, then gritted his teeth. His shoulder was probably bruised and his ankle broken, but he didn't let up. He knew he would drown if he did not manage to free himself. By now, the water had reached the middle of his body and continued to flow into the channel behind him, which was blocked off by the grate.
Finally, after what seemed like endless seconds, something slipped and his arm moved. Jay leaned back even further to pull it out. Something cut into his skin, his shoulder protested the movement, but suddenly the resistance disappeared and he slumped backwards all at once. His upper body landed in the water and he straightened up, snorting.
His hands were free! Shaking with pain, exertion and cold, he stared at his arm, which had been cut lengthwise at the side by something sharp and was bleeding, but he didn't care. He barely felt the cut. The most important thing was that he could continue to get up and move. Again, he braced himself against the bars and he tried to move his foot. The pain in his ankle flared up again, but Jay twisted and squirmed as much as he could. He had to strain to keep his head still above water as he moved.
"Come on!" he pressed out between clenched teeth as he now used his arms as well to push himself along.
He came dangerously close to the end of the brick ledge, but very slowly he kept moving. He felt the garbage that surrounded his leg and had wedged it in move. How the garbage compacted and shifted. He just had to find the right angle to free himself. Finally, he turned onto his stomach, dove back into the water briefly, and pushed forward with his free leg. As he did so, he reached forward, grasped the ledge and pulled as hard as he could. The pain in his shoulder took over almost all of his thinking at that moment. But then finally, he came free.
For a moment, he slid forward a bit through the water as the resistance was gone. He almost slid over the ledge, but then the suction pushed him backward again, against the grate. Jay searched for footing and straightened up again. As he pushed through the surface of the water, he coughed again. His shoulder was throbbing now with each of his rapid heartbeats, and he didn't dare move his ankle again at that moment. But he was just incredibly relieved to be free.
For a few seconds he allowed himself to catch his breath. He could hardly feel the cold by now and the trembling had subsided as well. From excitement and exertion, he felt more like he was glowing. What remained, was the pain.
The cut on his arm continued to bleed. He didn't know if it just looked so bad because his blood was mixing with the water, but it was clear that it probably wouldn't stop on its own. So he decided he couldn't rest too long. He wrapped the fabric of his torn sweater sleeve around the wound and started moving. Putting weight on his left side, he pulled himself up and came to a stop. He was careful not to put weight on his right foot and pressed against the grate as the water continued to wash around his legs.
He reached out with his left hand and grabbed the box that was placed there at about head height. His fingers just barely reached the lever that would open the box. But then he realized that the metal flap could not be moved. The damn box was locked! A thick lock had been run through a bracket on the lever on the far side, and so there was no way for him to open the box from his position.
"No!" he groaned in disbelief. Again he tried to pull the flap open, but it would not move.
Desperately he looked around for something he could use to hit against the lock, but there was nothing. Nothing that would help him. Now Jay cursed himself for letting go of his gun and losing it. He might have been able to open the lock with a well-aimed shot, or set off an alarm at the waterworks by firing at the electronics. But now? Now he didn't know what else to do.
Exhausted, he leaned back and looked down at the roaring water, which continued to rise. Then his eyes wandered to the opening far above him, in the dome. So he had no choice. He had to get up there. But would he make it with his injuries? The opening was directly above the raging water that would pull him further into flooded canals if he fell into it. But apparently this was his only way out.
He moved a little to the left and he tried to put weight on his leg. A sharp pain went all the way up his shin, but he had no choice. He had to climb to make it to the top. Slowly, he pushed himself further through the water, to the edge of the ledge he was on.
A more narrow brick ledge led from the bigger ledge to the opposite wall, from where an old, rusted metal ladder led up along the wall. It went up to where the walls met in a dome shape in the middle. There was a small footbridge between them. If he could make it onto the walkway, he could reach the cover grate of the shaft above and hopefully pull himself up. Maybe he'd have cell phone reception once he got up there, too...
Jay looked at the brick walls and the ladder. All of this was already quite old, had been exposed to the elements all these years and was possibly unstable. He had to be extremely careful and always test how far he could move forward. Now he began to tremble again, this time with tension.
He pressed his back against the wall behind him and first placed his injured foot on the narrow edge that offered his foot just enough space. As he shifted his entire body weight onto it, he realized it wasn't possible that way. The pain was too much and he couldn't switch feet to move forward.
"Ahhh, damn it!" he cursed and stepped back.
If he turned around, then he could start with his left foot and maybe cling to the wall. Yes, that was the way to do it. So he tried again, switched sides, and put his left foot on the edge. With his fingers he sought hold in the joints between the bricks, and so he managed to pull himself further to the left without having to put his full weight on his injured leg.
He paused. Yes, that's how it would work, even if his shoulder rebelled and it was twice as strenuous this way. He pushed on and he made it a good distance before one of the bricks suddenly broke from its moorings and gave way beneath him. Shock went through his limbs and Jay feared slipping.
He didn't know if it was the fear of the dreaded fall into the water, but again, all at once, a memory flashed into his mind as vividly and clearly as he had rarely experienced it.
/
It was still very early in the morning. The sun was just beginning to rise. Jay had not gotten much sleep that night. He had tossed and turned in his bed after his mother had put him and Will to sleep with many soothing words.
Jay had woken up again shortly after. He had heard his parents argue many times before, but this time he was tormented by the fact that they were fighting just because of him. Because he had fallen into the water and dragged Will into it, too. It had all been his fault.
Sometime during the night he had decided to make it up to him. As quietly as he could, he got out of bed and got dressed. He wanted to get to the river before anyone else. He was going to get Will's fishing gear. Maybe his own stuff had washed up on the river bank by now. He would be back before breakfast and hopefully his dad would be in a better mood by then.
He had put on his thickest clothes, for it was bitterly cold that morning. As he crept through the kitchen to the patio door, he noticed that his dad had apparently been asleep on the couch, because just then he rolled over to the side and mumbled something in his sleep. Jay froze for a moment and waited for his father's breathing to settle down. Then he stretched, opened the sliding door, and slipped outside. He closed it behind him and walked across the wooden deck down the few steps that led into the garden overgrown with wild grasses. He took the small path that led down to the river and to the private dock. Then he turned left and quickened his steps. It was a good distance down the river before he would reach their favorite spot.
The cold air blew into Jay's face and for that moment he actually enjoyed the fact that he was out on his own and that he had a mission. His plan felt good and he was even sure that today would be a better day if he succeeded. So Will was going to be right. Today would be better.
After a few minutes, Jay reached their fishing spot and luckily Will's things were still in place exactly as they had left them the day before. Jay looked around and then squinted his eyes. The rising sun glistened on the water and blinded him, but then he could see quite clearly that the box with his fishing gear was caught in some brush on the opposite side of the river. So it wasn't lost at all!
Jay smiled and walked a little closer to the water. He didn't have his waterproof shoes on. They were drying with all his other stuff in the cabin at the moment. But if he hadn't gotten sick from the cold water yesterday, then it wouldn't be so bad today if he got wet again. He could warm up in the house immediately.
He thought about it. Had he ever crossed the river to the other side at this place? How deep was it here and how strong was the current? What if his foot got caught again? Hesitantly, he took a step into the water and he sucked in the air as the cold and wet crept through his shoe. He wondered if he'd better get Will? Just in case?
He turned his head to look back at the cabin. And it was only at that moment that he saw his father was on his way to him. Jay's eyes snapped open. He had almost reached him, and his dad looked incredibly angry as he stomped toward him. For a moment, Jay considered running away. But where to?
By then his dad had reached him and he grabbed him by the back of his jacket collar. With one movement, he pulled him back before turning him to face him. His dad's heavy and strong hands settled on his shoulders and held him tight.
"What the hell were you up to?" his father shouted.
Jay was speechless and just looked at him with eyes widened in fear.
"Were you just going to go into the river by yourself? How many times have I told you that's too dangerous?"
Jay was still staring at him before he finally got something out.
"My tackle box..." he pointed to the other side of the river with a shaking hand.
His father followed his hint and now spotted the box himself. His grip around Jay's shoulders loosened a bit, while his face contorted thoughtfully.
"You were going to get it?" he asked him, calmer now.
Jay nodded. "And Will's stuff..."
His dad was silent for a moment. "Is this about yesterday?"
Pat let go of him and straightened up. Jay realized that his dad was obviously really thinking about what had happened.
"I'm not a good-for-nothing, Dad. And neither is Will." now he looked him firmly in the eye. "It was an accident and he helped me. And if you want, I'll get the tackle box back. Then there's no reason to be angry anymore."
"I wasn't angry because of the tackle box but because you put yourselves in danger," his father countered. "And just now you almost did the exact same thing again! It's too dangerous, you hear me?"
"But... I'm being careful."
"You're a kid and you have no idea about what's dangerous and what's not!" now his dad was getting angry again. "If I hadn't woken up when you pushed open the patio door, they'd probably be fishing you out of the river next in town. Do you understand?"
Jay didn't believe him, but he nodded anyway so as not to irritate him further.
"I forbid you to come here again with Will or to go into the water. From now on you stay at the house, you can fish from the dock. Now come with me."
Surprised, Jay stopped as his father started to move. This was their favorite spot. His dad turned to him when he realized he wasn't following.
"Come on." he urged him again.
"Why do you have to ruin everything for us?" exclaimed Jay now. "Even this Thanksgiving!"
He felt his father's behavior was nothing but unfair. Anger rose in him and he waited to see what would happen now. He expected his dad to get angry again and force him to go back with him. But he was surprised. His dad slowly approached again and squatted down.
"I'm not doing this to ruin anything. I just want to keep an eye on you guys from now on so you don't do anything dangerous. I know I'm being hard on you. But that's the only way you'll learn. That's exactly how I learned it from my father, and it won't hurt you either. You're not made of sugar, after all.", he grinned slightly and nudged Jay. "When you're older, you'll understand."
Right now, Jay didn't understand much of what his dad was explaining to him. But he sensed that he did indeed care. When the latter stood up and held out a hand to him, he took it. His dad pulled him with him, back to the house. This was the first time in a long time that Jay felt something like security being so close to him.
/
Jay shook his head slightly, trying to block out the images in his mind's eye. Emotions overtook him and tears pushed their way up. What the hell was wrong with him? Where did these memories suddenly come from?
He buried his fingers in the joints and searched for a firm footing, landing on his injured leg and groaning. He pushed himself back and finally came to a halt with his left leg as well.
Out of breath and with his heart pounding, he paused. He waited for the worst of the pain to subside. It took him a moment until his fear allowed him to move again. He turned his head and saw that a good piece of the ledge had broken away. New tears welled up in his eyes. He wouldn't make it to the next wall, and he had no guarantee that the rest of the bricks would hold. So it was becoming more and more likely that he would die down here.
Without moving from the spot, he looked back up. Salvation was so close and yet so far. He knew he had to get back to the bigger ledge. There, at least, he could hold out until the water completely overflowed the channel. Maybe it would stop raining? The water would recede and maybe he would have a chance after all. Maybe they would find him...
If he wanted to go back, he would have to put weight on his injured foot, that much was clear to him. While he was still hesitating and wondering if he would make it, the dim light above him was blocked by something. It was now almost completely dark around him. He looked up and saw that apparently a car had been parked over the grate.
"Hello?" he called out as loud as he could, while continuing to cling tightly. "I'm down here! Help!"
He listened, waiting to see if anyone would come up or respond, but nothing happened. He closed his eyes and cursed inwardly. Whoever had parked the car up there, he couldn't hear him.
"Help!" his voice was hoarse and he had to cough.
Jay wondered where in the city he was. In a busy place where someone else might hear him? Or in the middle of nowhere, where just by chance someone had parked their car.
"Hello? Down here!" he tried again but he already knew it was futile. "Damn."
Once again he took a breath, then he began to make his way back to the ledge and to the grate. Fortunately, the stones held and he made it. He stepped onto the bigger ledge and held onto the grate. The water washed around his legs and he wondered if it had gotten higher by now. He felt dizzy again. Then all at once his leg buckled and he slid to the ground. Roughly, he landed on his butt.
Yes, the water had gotten higher. He stretched his neck and pulled himself back up as best he could with his uninjured arm. So this was it... if it kept raining like this, he would drown here. He longed to be able to talk to Hailey one more time. He physically felt a sting to his heart just thinking about loosing her. Then he remembered that he still had his cell phone. He had no reception, but maybe he could record something for her. He pulled it out and turned it back on, even though it was wet.
It lit up briefly, but then water dripped from the case and the display went black. He tried again, but it would not turn back on. He turned it over and discovered a large crack in the case through which the water must have entered. It must have happened when he had just slipped...
„No!".
None of this could be true! He stared in horror at the useless device. A deep sadness gripped him as he realized that he couldn't even say goodbye. No, it simply could not come so far... Still holding on to the grate, he moved closer to the pile of garbage. What if there was something hidden in it that he could use to get to the control box? Something sharp and metallic had injured his arm.
Only now did he remember the wound and he raised his arm. He had no idea how much blood he had lost in the meantime, since his arm had kept landing in the water. He had been feeling strange for a while, but that could just as easily have been from the cold or the blow to his head.
He decided not to waste any more time. He leaned his back against the grate to have as firm a footing as possible on the slippery surface. Then he began to search in the garbage with his uninjured arm. It was disgusting to bury his hand in this mountain of unknown, slippery stuff, but he had no choice. His fingers groped for something sturdy and long enough to reach the control box.
It took a while, then he touched the sharp surface that had probably hurt him. He flinched, but then he ran his fingers further down and there he could actually close his fingers around it. Carefully, he then tried to pull the object out further.
The mass in the pile was tough and resistant, but gradually Jay was able to loosen the object and finally pull it out carefully. When it finally emerged in the dim light, he realized that it was a rusted and battered bicycle handlebar that had broken off on one side due to the rust, turning it into a razor sharp object.
"Great..." Jay muttered and he wondered how long it had been since his last Tetanus shot.
Then he turned the handlebar, wondering if he could use them to smash the lock on the switch box. He moved closer and turned around, while by now the water was almost up to his waist. He stretched his uninjured left arm together with the handlebar through the grate and reached the box effortlessly. The problem was hitting the lever and the lock with the necessary force and power. Jay was right-handed.
Although his shoulder hurt, he held on with his right arm so as not to lose his footing. Then he lashed out with his left and let the bike handlebar slam into the box. He landed a bit next to the lever. However, he immediately tried again and now he hit. The lock rattled and rocked, but it held. Jay tried again. Again, no success. He proceeded to bang the end of the handlebar against the bracket and the lever. Over and over he worked the material until he began to feel the strength in his arm diminish and his breath leave him.
"Come on!" with the strength of desperation he pushed against it once more, and at last... finally the riveted spot on the lever gave way and it broke off.
With that, the lock fell to the side and hung uselessly in the air on the remaining metal. But the flap was open! He dropped the bike handlebar and breathed a sigh of relief. Jay didn't hesitate to bring his fingers to the bottom of the box and pull the metal flap open. It swung to the left, blocking his view of the inside for a moment, but then he moved a little to the right and then he could see the various buttons inside. There was a larger, red button. He stretched to reach it. And then finally... he pressed it.
Relieved, he let himself sink a little further against the grate. He waited, trying to catch his breath. There was no indication or sign that his action had done any good, but he had to believe it, He had hope again.
His heart had been pounding wildly at first and he was excited. But the minutes passed and while he stood there waiting for something to happen, he began to shiver again. It was about damn time he got out of this water... He couldn't sit down anymore because the water had risen too high by now. He noticed how he was getting tired and for a moment his eyes fell shut.
/
"Pat! Jay! Where did you go at this hour?" his mother was waiting for him and his father when they returned to the house. "I was getting worried."
Standing in the open patio doorway, Will pushed past her and came toward them. Then he walked beside Jay, as if to support him by his mere presence.
"I had to reiterate to our little guy how dangerous the river can be," his Dad replied. "He was trying to cross the river to get his fishing stuff from the other side."
He let go of Jay's hand and once again placed himself in front of his sons.
"From now on, I want you to stay here at the house, do you understand? I don't want anything to happen to you. You can go in the backyard and on the dock. But not down in the water. It's too dangerous this time of year. Will, you watch your little brother."
For a change, he was calm and matter-of-fact. Will nodded and their dad ran a hand through his red hair.
"Okay, let's get some breakfast."
He went up and pulled their Mom inside with him to the kitchen, grasping her waist. She laughed softly and when Will and Jay stepped inside together, the parents were in each other's arms.
"I'm sorry about yesterday," Dad just said to her.
After that, their Mom made the best, richest breakfast Jay had eaten in a long time. While they all sat at the table, his parents kissed.
Jay wished that his Dad would always be the way he was that morning...
/
When the grate behind him moved all at once, Jay startled again. He stumbled backwards as the barrier swung open, sending him and all the debris into the sewer pipe. Jay caught himself and held on as the automatic mechanism caused the grate to retract all the way to the wall and lock into place.
In disbelief, Jay looked around. They had opened the grate... Did that mean they had understood his call for help?
Shortly after, he heard noises coming from the tube to his right. A little further away, light also fell into the darkness. Someone had opened a cover and now Jay recognized metal struts in the wall leading up there. A ladder.
He considered letting go and walking to the ladder, but only seconds later the outline of a person appeared in the backlight, lowering himself into the water.
"Fire Department! Call out!" someone shouted, then the glow of a bright flashlight blinded him.
Jay couldn't see the face, but he recognized the voice.
"Severide!" he exclaimed with relief, and a smile broke out on his face.
"Stay where you are, I'm coming to get you!" was all the Firefighter called out to him.
Jay continued to hold onto the grate and waited until Kelly had waded through the water to join him.
"Good to see you, Halstead." his counterpart greeted him, and Jay felt all at once dazed with delight. "Hey, are you hurt?"
Jay just looked at him and blinked as he tried to get a clear thought. All of a sudden, everything was so incredibly difficult. All he wanted to do was get out of here...
Before he could say anything, Severide already sent a message over his radio.
"Halstead is alive, but his condition worries me a bit. I need a basket. Cruz, I need you here."
"No. I can walk. I'm fine," Jay said, and he let go of the bars.
He slumped against Kelly, who had the presence of mind to hold him upright.
"Listen to me, man. I'm roped, you're not. So please, hold on to the bars again. And you're injured. So let us do our job, okay? We'll get you out."
Jay obeyed and allowed Kelly to continue holding him. He felt ashamed that he was apparently no longer able to climb up the ladder by himself. Then his eyes fell shut again.
/
The next time he opened them, raindrops were falling on his face and Cruz was in the process of pulling the basket, in which they had strapped him tightly, out of the canal opening. Severide popped up over the top of his head.
"Wasn't so bad, was it?" he commented, and then Jay felt himself being lifted up along with the basket.
He realized they had put him on a gurney and the next second the face of Sylvie Brett loomed over him. He was suddenly wearing a C-Spine Collar around his neck, a thint that he loathed with a passion. He became uneasy. Slowly he realized there was no escaping hospitalization and they were about to take him to Med.
Sylvie shone a light into his eyes and he squinted them shut as the light sent a stabbing pain through his head. Then his eyes fell shut again...
He didn't know how much time had passed, but when he looked at Sylvie again, she was saying something to someone nearby.
He winced as he was given an IV for Saline. Why was he never spared this, anyway? He suddenly felt like he was being tortured, and he watched with growing panic the moves Sylvie made next. He hated being at her mercy like this.
Then, however, Jays panic suddenly stopped and he calmed down. His gaze had fallen on someone to his left, and although he hated the position he was in, he smiled. Next to the gurney, all of a sudden, there was Hailey. His Hailey, looking at him with big, worried eyes.
/
Jay couldn't really remember the ride to the hospital later. All he knew was that Hailey had been by his side. When Dr. Marcel appeared next to his gurney, he suddenly became more alert.
"Jay, we're going to take good care of you," the doctor said, and Jay could have sworn he saw Will for a moment, too. "Let's see what we're dealing with, okay?"
He was hoisted onto a bed. Again, someone shone a light in his eyes and they palpated his abdomen. X-rays were taken and he answered questions. But all in all, it was all a big mess in his head and all he wanted, was to see Hailey again. After a few minutes, his bed was rolled out and now Will actually showed up.
"I´m coming with you for a CT," his brother said.
"Where's Hailey?" asked Jay.
"She's waiting for you. Everything's going to be fine, okay?"
"What's wrong?"
"You had a seizure when they brought you up from the canal. You were given strong medication. Don't you remember that?"
Jay shook his head slightly.
"Okay...," Will sounded concerned. "We'll take a closer look now. You'll be fine."
/
A few hours later, Jay was feeling much better. He was in a separate room by now and Hailey had been with him the whole time. He had the feeling that she had been watching over him with a wary eye.
Hailey had told him that the teenager who had been shot and whom Jay had been chasing, had eventually called in help for him. He had seen Jay fall into the hole.
The boy had merely wanted to stand up for a friend who was being recruited by a gang. In doing so, he had gotten into the argument with the young dealer Hailey had arrested. Jay knew he would thank the young man once he was back on his feet.
First Responders had been searching for him for more than two hours, and in the process, the water company had run a check on all the messages that had been reported by the system from the time he had disappeared due to the flooding. But in the end, he himself had given the message saving him by pressing the button in the control box at the right time. The employees of the water supplier were able to recognize the manual triggering of the system and they had opened the grate in response. According to the utility manager, it was bordering on a miracle that Jay was still alive.
Jay had not been aware that the blow to his head had been more dangerous than it had seemed. Now he knew why the memories of the past had been so vivid. He was still struggling to get a grip on his emotions.
Dr. Marcel and Will entered the room and Hailey made room.
"Good news," Dr. Marcel opened. "Your shoulder won't need surgery and your foot will be fine. The intracranial pressure on your brain has decreased. Once again, you got away without surgery. In the future, though, you should watch where you step."
Dr. Marcel grinned, and Jay grimaced. "So when can I get out of here?"
"Typical..." commented Will, and he rolled his eyes. "At least give us another 24 hours to keep monitoring you. After that, we'll decide."
"And at least a couple more weeks of physical therapy," Dr. Marcel added.
"That means desk work," he said, disappointed.
"First, though, you're going to be on sick leave for a few days," Hailey intervened now. "And I'll make sure you get some rest."
He opened his mouth to say something, but when she shook her head with her arms folded in front of her body, signifying that there was no other way out at all, he remained silent. He didn't miss the grins Will and Marcel exchanged.
"Apparently Jay has finally met his match," Will whispered and he left the room with his brother looking reproachfully after him.
Hailey laughed softly while Dr. Marcel also left the room. She then flashed Jay a broad smile as she stepped back up to the bedside.
"What do you say? I can take a few more days of my vacation and then we stay home together until you're feeling better?"
Jay could hardly believe that this was exactly what he had wanted this morning. At home, on the couch with Hailey in his arms - only under different circumstances, of course. He could have happily done without the injuries.
"Sounds good to me," he replied, and he returned her smile. "If you can stand it with me?"
She frowned. "Don't worry. The question is much more, can you last that long with me? Greek women can be very caring..."
He looked at her questioningly. "And that means?"
"Food... I'm going to cook an incredible amount of food and stuff it inside you. Because that's how I'll show you how much I love you."
Jay's eyes filled with tears as he thought about how his mom had always done the same. Whenever he felt bad, she would surprise him with his favorite food or sneak him some candy.
He hadn't experienced anything like this in so long, that Hailey's care, along with the memories, now honestly moved him. Despite his tears, he laughed softly and closed his eyes as she leaned over him and kissed him.
"I love you too." he said after their kiss, as he looked at her.
Slowly he got the feeling that he might actually enjoy the next few days.
- END -