Adam had decided to bide his time before confronting Summers about the earlier conversation. Sitting in the dark main bedroom across from Petrocellis' residence he decided to broach the subject. It was important that everyone was on the same page, especially for Jays' sake. Putting down his binoculars he turned to look at the thin, brown haired man sitting on the opposite side of the large bay window.

"You want to tell me why ye discounted the military angle?"
"It's not that we discounted it," Summers insisted, "it just didn't tie in with anything we know about Petrocelli."
"But Hillman and Mouse have been trying to track down any military connection that he would target. You saying Hillman isn't really pushing himself?"
"Hey that's not what I'm saying!"
"It better not be," Adam glanced out the window as Jay drove up and reversed into the large driveway like he had been doing it all his life, "that guy down there needs us all to watch his back.  This is your territory not ours."
"I know that. Hell he's obviously one of the good guys if he insists on working when he's clearly unwell," Summers pointed out as he picked up his headset as the four men headed inside the large house and lights were turned on.
"Preaching to the choir," Adam sighed as he watched his friend walk over and look out the front room window, he looked unwell but there was also something else in his features, "let's see what we can find out?"

Jay stood looking out the window glad his friends were close by even if unreachable.  The mind played tricks sometimes when one was undercover.  That was something else he hated about the job.  To be good as a UC you had to immerse yourself totally in the character that had been created for you.  If you didn't it could prove fatal.  This wasn't a job one could do half heartedly.  Right now he reminded himself that Jay Sullivan needed to walk a fine line between standing up to Brown and respecting Petrocelli.  He turned, holding his right side, as Jimmy and Paul walked into the room each carrying a tray piled high with sandwiches and deposited them on the oval oak table in front of the couch. Jimmy immediately sank down into the plush cushions and nabbed a chicken sandwich. Paul shook his head resignedly as if dealing with a child then turned to Jay.

"He has no manners."
"Or patience," the Detective chided as he walked away from the window purposefully leaving the curtains open to give himself some semblance of proximity to his friends and colleagues.
"You want a beer?" Paul checked as he headed back out.
"Nah I'm good," Jay sat down in the nearest armchair deciding to give the food a pass and confided, "didn't think I'd be here right now."
"Neither did we," Jimmy explained around a mouthful of bread and chicken, "the Boss usually sides with Brown."
"And takes care of the problem himself?" Jay was glad he had a chance to let the others know what he suspected.
"He likes to take care of things himself," Jimmy shrugged his shoulders as he reached for another sandwich, "I'm guessing he thought of killing you right?"
"Well the handgun in his desk was a bit of a surprise.  I assumed Brown did the dirty work."
"Nah, the Boss likes to control things.  Brown is his second in charge but he can't do anything without Petrocellis' approval.  Well not usually anyway," the big man paused in his eating as Paul returned carrying three beers and handed them out, ignoring Jays' protest, "things have changed lately though.  The Boss isn't acting the same as usual."
"You can say that again," Paul could guess the topic of the conversation as he sipped some beer before picking up a sandwich with relish, "we thought you were a goner for sure."
"How do you mean the Boss isn't acting the same as usual?" Jay queried twirling the unopened bottle in his hand as he leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees in an attempt to alleviate the pain in his side, he hoped it was simply the healing ribs because anything else could prove problematic.
"He's just been different," Paul concluded nonplussed, "usually he would never have let Brown go back to Chicago to deal with a meeting by himself."
"Well if his change in attitude is responsible for me still being here I can't complain," the young Detective knew he had to pull back from any further questioning considering he was supposed to be naive in this criminal underworld.
"I'll drink to that," Jimmy approved holding up his half finished beer with Paul before eyeing the pale man, "when do you go back to the hospital?"
"What do you mean?"
"Don't you need to get those ribs checked?" Paul asked casually.
"They're fine," Jay looked at the sceptical men, "never needed mollycoddling and I don't aim to start now."
"A broken rib hurts like hell," Jimmy put down his beer, "you have three. Boss wants to make sure you're okay so we'll get you checked out tomorrow."
"Don't I get a say?" Jay asked unhappily as he slowly rose to his feet and placed the full bottle on the table.
"Nope," Paul smiled cheerfully, "come on Kid don't fight us on this okay? Besides you won't be much use to the Boss if you collapse."
"I give up," Jay shook his head in defeat as he walked towards the door before turning back, "does this mean he needs my skills soon?"
"He didn't say," Jimmy stood up and walked over to the door, "get some sleep Kid."
"Yeah and let me beat Jimmy for a change," Paul suggested with a wink as he picked up a deck of cards he had retrieved from his pocket earlier.
"Guess ye need a break from beating me," Jay headed out and closed the door.
"What do you think?" Jimmy asked quietly as he returned to the couch.
"I think he's in pain," Paul opined as he began dealing out the cards, "and I don't like it. He's a good Kid.  I don't know how he'll react when he finds out what the Boss wants him to do."
"Hell neither of us saw this coming."
"No but it had to happen sooner or later."
"Yeah," Jimmy sighed as he picked up his five cards, "let's just play cards. Tomorrow we can worry about things again."

Across the road Adam glanced at Summers in silence. The way the two men spoke of his friend it was obvious they actually cared about him.

"What do you make of that?"
"Halstead's good," Summers complimented as he scratched his chin, "those two like him. Hell he's one of their own in their eyes.  He must be one hell of a UC to instill that much trust in just over a month."
"Told you he's great at the job but what to do reckon about what Petrocelli wants him to do?"
"Could be anything.  We'll have to keep close tabs on things here and in the warehouse.  I'd be happier if they hadn't mentioned about Petrocelli changing the way he acts.  Makes him more unpredictable."
"I hear you," Adam sighed as he picked up the binoculars and caught a glimpse of his friend just before he pulled the curtains closed in his room, "we're going to have to try to meet him tomorrow. I want to make sure he's okay to go on."
"Surely if he couldn't do the job he'd let us know," Summers arched a brow in confusion.
"You would like to think so but ....,"
"What?"
"Sometimes Jay gets too focussed on the job and forgets about himself."
"Moretti or Voight won't leave him in if he's unfit."
"Have you seen him? He looks like death warmed up.  Broken ribs take weeks to heal not to mention his other health problems."
"But you didn't kick up a fuss before."
"Maybe that's about to change," Adam spoke as he took out his cell and dialled a familiar number.

tbc