Saving Cayli

[Jay Carpenter]

Jay was uncharacteristically calm. Maybe it was the relief that Cayli was actually saved. Like whatever threat pounded down the door was minuscule in comparison. The door opened. He breathed. A flutter of white. Black shoes. Slender. Badges on his pocket. Stethoscope draped at the collar. A doctor. Diaz was sewn into the breast pocket of his jacket.

Jay's relief was palpable. Mid-50's with a smooth, hard face and high cheekbones. His eyes pierced like swords. When he found Jay's eyes, his expression flickered like he bit back what he was about to demand in exchange for something else. 

He tried to shoulder his way past Jay. The attempt did not go well for him. 

Jay put a hand on the man's chest. "Can I help you?" His stance was a wall this man was plain unable to breech. The doctor met Jay's gaze, clearly unaccustomed to being restricted from his own patients.

"I should ask you the same thing." He stated, setting his jaw. But the longer they looked into one another's eyes, the man seemed to relent. 

He shifted just enough to take up a less-threatening posture. 
"Cayli, are you alright? What's going on?" He called over Jay's shoulder, peering suspiciously into the room. 

Jay let the man pass.

Cayli brightened. "Nothing Dr. Diaz," she smiled at Natalie like secrets were shared between them. "My brother came to visit," she pointed. 

Jay smirked, lifting his hands in acceptance of the label. The rest of his worries were buried deep. This doctor was just a normal doctor. Nothing unusual about him. Except for the fact that he hospitalized a teenager for a cancer she obviously didn't have.

Mom and dad showed up at the door just then, peering in, watching. Jay waved them to quiet.

Dr. Diaz seemed unsure of the completion of his patient's explanation, however. He stalked around the bed, checking monitors and examining the bags slung from their poles.

A frown seemed to take him, then. Like he didn't understand what he was monitoring. He tapped out new commands on the screen, fingers flying over the prompts effortlessly. When the technology repeated the same findings, he frowned, leaned in and placed a hand on Cayli's forehead himself.

He faced them once more, but swallowed what was clearly on the tip of his tongue.

"Visiting hours aren't until 9 am." He stated, matter of fact despite the licking of lips, "you should both return later." 

Cayli shrugged without a care in the world, now. Jay, however, knew something wasn't right with this guy. He stared as the doc departed almost as swiftly as he entered.  

Jay glanced at Natalie, nodding, hoping she'd understand the request that she keep Cayli safe until he returned. Then a deft spin, and Jay chased after the doc. 

"Hold up a sec," he called, jogging briefly to catch him before he dodged into the stairwell. He glanced apologetically at Jensen as he passed.

The man didn't stop. Which was weird. 

Lines of power streaked forward. The doc tripped and caught himself on a handrail just before reaching the first step.  The metal door banged into place just after Jay slipped through. 

Diaz dusted himself off, squared his shoulders and faced Jay like he was completely not freaked out by what was going on. 
"What can I do for you, Mr. Carpenter?" 

A morbid smile tugged the corners of his mouth. "It's Lieutenant, actually." It slipped out barely before her realized what was said. Was he technically a lieutenant any more? 

The doc swallowed.