March 1

New York, New York

"Dad, John and David came downstairs and invited me to go play basketball with them," Tommy called across the apartment to Carlos, who was sitting at the table marking Tommy's latest batch of schoolwork. "They just want to go to the little basketball court that's near Central Park."

Carlos nodded, "Since Kylie and your mom are upstairs with Danielle, Ellie, Michael, and Emily, I guess that's all right," he replied, not mentioning that Danielle and Holly were discussing FDNY stuff and also adoption paperwork. "If David has an attack, I want you guys to come straight back here."

Tommy nodded, "John wants to be back by the time Uncle Maurice finishes chemo anyway," he replied.

Pleased that his father was letting him go and enjoy the nice weather, Tommy grabbed his jacket and left the apartment. John and David, who was holding a basketball that his father had bought him, were standing outside next to the doorman. A large box with squiggly writing sat at the doorman's feet.

"Someone in a car with tinted windows dropped this here," the doorman explained worriedly. "I…"

The box itself was cardboard and had a few small holes poked in it, but tape kept it firmly shut, "This looks really weird," John spoke anxiously. "From what I can read, it's addressed to Uncle Carlos."

"My dad can't carry that, so why don't we open it and carry whatever it is inside?" Tommy suggested.

Nodding, John silently got the small knife out of his pocket that his parents made him carry whenever he went out in case he had to defend himself. He slowly opened the box and froze when he saw Ryan's battered, bleeding body lying in the box with his hands and feet bound by black duct tape.

The doorman swore loudly and got his phone out to call 9-1-1 while John pocketed the knife and quickly checked if the guy was breathing, "He's not breathing," he said anxiously. "I'll start doing CPR."

"John, that guy looks really familiar," David spoke softly. "I think I saw him in Miami…"

As John administered CPR, Ryan suddenly lurched and gagged before gasping, but he didn't wake up, "David, go inside and get Uncle Carlos and then phone upstairs to Mom and Aunt Holly," he spoke in an anxious voice, quickly getting his phone out. "I have to take a picture of this guy as evidence."

Tommy watched as John took several pictures of Ryan with his phone before putting it away and getting his knife out again just as sirens filled the air, "Tommy, open the box a little wider," John said anxiously.

Nodding, Tommy pried the box open further, "The doorman's freaked out and he moved inside to use the phone," he commented anxiously, watching as John cut the duct tape. "Who is this poor guy?"

Suddenly, Carlos hurried outside and froze when he saw the unconscious person in the box, "Ryan?!" he breathed in an anxious voice, horrified at the sight of his friend in such shape. "Oh…oh man!"

"Dad, the guy wasn't breathing and John gave him CPR," Tommy breathed anxiously. "You know him?"

As a CSI vehicle and an ambulance pulled up, Carlos nodded, "We were in the foster care system together for a little while when we were kids and we were best friends," he explained anxiously.

Ryan's body trembled as John finished cutting the duct tape, "What happened?" Mac asked as he got out of his vehicle and quickly went for his kit in the backseat. "9-1-1 said there's a body here."

"It's a living person," Tommy replied anxiously. "He wasn't breathing, but John helped him breathe."

Mac looked pleased as paramedics converged on Ryan, "We'll have to discuss that at a later time," he commented calmly as Danielle came out of the building. "Mrs. Boscorelli, I take it you heard?"

"David's upstairs with Holly and the babies," Danielle spoke softly. "He told me about it, yes."

Carlos sighed heavily, "His name's Ryan Wolfe and he's a cop in Miami," he spoke anxiously.

Mac looked concerned, "If he's missing, why didn't Miami report it?" he asked coldly.

Suddenly, Ryan let out a faint whimper, but didn't wake, "No, please," he mumbled weakly, his weak body reacting negatively to the touch of the paramedics. "Please…no more drugs…no touching."

Carlos cringed and turned pale enough that he wobbled, prompting Tommy to hold him close, "Officer Wolfe, it's okay," John called out anxiously as he knelt down next to the box and touched Ryan's hand.

Mac and Danielle watched as Ryan unconsciously turned his head towards John's voice and stopped struggling against the paramedics, allowing them to help him. Soon enough, Ryan had been stabilized and was on a gurney with a mask over his face, "We're gonna take him to Angel of Mercy," one of the paramedics said, looking at Mac and Danielle. "Danielle, are you coming back? We miss you at work."

Danielle shrugged and watched as Ryan was loaded into the ambulance, "Hey, there's a note in the box," Tommy spoke, peering into the box. "The box was addressed to you, Dad, but it was big."

Carlos frowned, "It…what?!" he asked in a confused voice. "The box was addressed to me?"

Mac opened his kit and donned gloves before reaching into the box and taking the note out, "Dear Carlos, this is your present for killing Bernard in the summer," he read, his eyes wide with shock.

As the paramedics prepared to leave with Ryan, Carlos turned white and passed out in Tommy's arms.

Las Vegas, Nevada

"I think you're making a smart choice in taking a medical sabbatical from the lab, Greg," Grissom spoke thoughtfully as he sat at his desk facing Greg, who was seated on the couch with his arm in a cast and loose clothes covering his healing, bandaged body. "We're shorthanded right now, but you need time."

Greg sighed heavily, "I know," he spoke in a tired voice. "Doctor Stokes agrees with you."

"I think it's nice that Jenny invited you to go on the train with her to Miami and stay with her family so you can heal up," Grissom spoke gently. "And I'm sorry that your mother didn't call you back."

Greg shrugged, "It's been tense between us since I lost some of my hearing," he replied tiredly.

Before Grissom could reply, Nick came into the office dressed for work looking somber, "Hey, Gris," Nick spoke softly. "I, uh, got clearance to come back to work and I saw Derek and my parents off…"

"I'm sure Derek's recovery will go nicely in Texas," Grissom spoke softly. "Do you think so?"

Nick sighed softly, "My parents got guardianship of Derek so they can help him and Derek's fine with that because being sick messed with him so badly," he replied in a quiet voice. "Are there any cases?"

"I'd rather you just take it slow today," Grissom spoke calmly. "Can you go check on Sara in the lounge?"

Nodding, Nick silently made his way to the lounge and frowned when he saw Sara leaning on a chair with one hand on the chair and one hand on her back, "Hey," he said softly. "Are you all right?"

"I…I think my water broke," Sara spoke in a pained voice. "I had back pain almost all night."

Nick's eyes widened in shock, "GRISSOM!" he shouted anxiously. "GRISSOM, GET IN HERE!"

Footsteps filled the air as Grissom and Greg hurried into the room, "Sara's water broke," Nick breathed.

Grissom's eyes widened, "I knew I should have taken you to the hospital when you were complaining of back pains last night!" he replied anxiously. "You must have been dilating all night and now we need…"

Sara suddenly screamed, "I feel like I have to push, Gil," she breathed. "I think I'm having a baby…"

Swearing loudly, Grissom helped Sara on to the break table and helped her get into position, "I can see the head," he said in an anxious voice as he checked Sara. "Nick, can you call your sister, please?"

As Nick whipped out his cell to call Candace, Sara screamed, "I have to push!" she whimpered.

"Nick, go coach Sara," Grissom directed anxiously. "Greg take Nick's phone and keep trying his sister."

Nick handed his phone to Greg and Grissom prepared to deliver the first of his two children, as he had studied the topic in his many nights of reading in preparing to be a father, "Okay, push on the next contraction," Grissom directed as he took his jacket off. "I can put the baby into this when it's out."

A contraction hit and Sara screamed as she pushed for what seemed like an eternity until a loud cry broke through the air, "I've got the baby," Grissom said anxiously. "You can relax now, Sara."

Sara exhaled, "Can I get off this table?" she breathed in a tired voice. "It's uncomfortable."

"Wait til Nick's sister comes and says you can," Grissom spoke calmly. "Did you want to see our son?"

Sara groaned, "Gil, please, at least let me lay on something soft," she spoke softly. "Our son?"

"Yes, a beautiful little boy," Grissom replied as Sara slowly sat up with Nick's help. "He's big."

Sara eyed the crying bundle in Grissom's arms and sighed, "He's beautiful," she replied softly.

Miami, Florida

"Either Ryan isn't in Miami anymore or he's just very hard to find. We hit all the houses Boa Vista gave us, but no luck," Emily heard a voice say as she walked down the hallway to her office. "Sorry, Horatio."

Why is Tripp apologizing to Horatio? Emily thought bitterly. I'm the one who has a missing brother.

As Emily neared her office, she saw a manila envelope with her name on it leaning against the locked door. Figuring it was more paperwork from the city in regards to the opening of her new family center in the spring, Emily picked it up and opened it. What she found, however, made her feel nauseous.

Pictures of a badly beaten Ryan filled the envelope and not only was Ray in some of the pictures, Erica Sikes was also in some of the pictures and she was kissing an unconscious Ryan and biting his neck among other things that were much too heinous to look at for long. Loud swearing escaped Emily's lips.

"What are you being so loud for?" Emily suddenly heard a voice call out. "And profanity?"

Emily trembled and sighed as Tripp and Horatio came down the hallway, "This," she breathed, holding out the envelope before she vomited all over it. "I'm so disgusted by this I could be very sick."

Horatio silently took the envelope and frowned as he studied the contents, "I recognize Erica Sikes because she's written creepy love letters to Ryan," Emily spoke coldly. "And now look what she's…"

Emily's cell-phone suddenly went off, prompting her to move away, "Frank, would you please arrange for Erica Sikes to be picked up by police and brought in?" Horatio asked in a stern, cold voice.

As Frank nodded and left, Horatio looked at Emily, who was looking confused and shocked while still on the phone, "...He's in New York?" Emily said in a shocked voice. "How on earth did he get up there?"

Horatio frowned as Emily ended the call, "Ryan's in New York and he's barely alive," she explained in a trembling voice, gazing at Horatio. "Danielle Boscorelli phoned me and said her son recognized him…"

"New York?" Horatio asked in a concerned voice, frowning. "That…that doesn't make any sense."

Emily sighed, "Ray is in those photos, so why don't you ask him how it happened?" she asked coldly. "I came early to do some work, but I need to now go phone Tim and Tommy and tell them what's…"

"I don't know where Ray currently is," Horatio replied in a concerned voice. "But I will find him."

Nodding, Emily turned and silently went into her office to make calls, leaving Horatio alone.

Las Vegas, Nevada

"I'm glad you found that old army cot in storage," Sara spoke in a tired voice as she lay down, resting her back on a pillow that they had found with the cot. "Nick, when is your sister supposed to get here?"

Nick shrugged, "Grissom, what on earth is going on in this lab?" he suddenly heard a stern voice ask.

"Sara went into labor," Grissom replied simply as he and Ecklie came into the room. "Sara, Doc Robbins got in and he's cleaning our son up. He also said that he'll come and help Nick's sister if you want."

Ecklie looked both amused and frightened, "Let me guess, the first one was born on the break table," he finally said, eyeing the mess on the table. "Oh, Nick, I need to have a private word with you."

Nick frowned, "What about?" he asked softly. "I told Candace I'd meet her when she got here."

Ecklie looked visibly uncomfortable, "Warrick's asking to meet with you," he replied in a quiet voice.

"Why?" Nick replied in an uneasy voice, suddenly feeling nauseous. "I…I already have to testify."

Grissom looked confused, "What's this about, Conrad?" he asked in a confused voice.

"Warrick wouldn't say," Ecklie replied in a frustrated voice. "He just wants to talk to Nick."

Nick shook his head and sat down on the lounge couch, "No," he replied in a soft voice.

Ecklie nodded, "Please tell me you at least called paramedics for Sara, Gil," he spoke anxiously.

"Greg said he would go do it," Grissom replied in a calm voice. "He's been gone a while."

Sara sighed softly, "Go make sure he's all right," she spoke softly. "We're perfectly fine."

Nodding, Grissom wandered through the hallways and was surprised to find Doc Robbins standing beside a sink, holding the neborn boy and watching as Greg gently cleaned his small body with his good arm, "…You're doing fine," Doc Robbins said in an encouraging voice. "You're very good around children and I think your girlfriend would agree."

Greg chuckled nervously, "We've gotten very close, I admit," he replied softly as the baby cooed.

Grissom cleared his throat and Greg looked at him, "Uh hi, Grissom," he spoke nervously.

The baby cooed, "I called paramedics and I saw Doc Robbins washing your son," Greg explained softly.

Grissom nodded, "I take it things are going well with Jenny?" he asked in an intrigued voice.

"I'm going to stay with her family," Greg spoke quietly. "I had Christmas dinner with them."

Doc Robbins smiled, "He's all clean," he commented softly. "I found a clean towel for him."

Greg nodded and watched as Doc Robbins gently wrapped the baby in the clean towel before passing him back to Grissom, "Here's your son," Doc Robbins said calmly. "How is Sara holding up?"

"She's currently resting while she waits for the other one," Grissom spoke calmly. "We're…"

Footsteps echoed through the hallway, "I think Jenny and Doctor Stokes are here," Greg spoke quietly. "I…I should go get my stuff out of the locker room. I couldn't pack a lot because of my arm."

Grissom smiled at Doc Robbins and made his way back to the lounge with his newborn son secured in a towel. Jenny was sitting in a chair beside Sara looking intrigued and a little bit scared while a calm looking Candace examined Sara using a blanket to give her a little comfort and some privacy.

"Where's Nick?" Grissom asked in a concerned voice. "Did Ecklie send him out on a call?"

Candace sighed softly, "Nick went for a walk," she replied softly. "Sara, you're dilated to about 8."

Jenny sighed, "I'm glad I'm having just the one right now, to be honest," she spoke softly.

Grissom nodded, "Do…do I have to claim Derek as the father or do I have to communicate with him at all once the baby is born?" Jenny asked, suddenly looking worried. "I don't want him in my life."

"No, you don't have to talk to him at all if you don't want to," Grissom spoke quietly. "And he's also been told that he's not allowed to contact you personally. Derek's parents are allowed to, though."

Jenny nodded, but looked concerned, "I just don't want them deciding to suddenly seek custody later down the line," she replied softly. "Jillian taught me a lot about being a mom and I should be grateful…"

"Everyone who is a first time mother is scared," Candace spoke gently. "You learn as you go."

Jenny nodded, "My family's excited that I'm coming home," she spoke softly, a yawn in her voice.

Angel of Mercy Hospital – Manhattan, New York

"Mom, is that guy gonna be okay?" David asked softly as he walked over to Danielle, who was standing outside of the room where Carlos was resting with Tommy at his side. "That Officer Wolfe guy?"

Danielle sighed softly, "David, I honestly don't know," she replied gently, hugging him. "John got him breathing again, but who knows how long Officer Wolfe was in that box or how badly he was hurt."

"Why did I have to come to the hospital, though?" David asked softly. "I didn't do anything."

Danielle gently guided David over to a nearby row of chairs and sat him down, "The police want to talk to you after they get Officer Wolfe's clothes and other things," she explained softly. "And we need to wait until Aunt Holly gets here so we can take Tommy home. John should be back from the cafeteria…"

Suddenly, John came down the hallway chewing a muffin, "John got all shaky after Uncle Carlos fainted, so why didn't he go in an ambulance?" David asked in a confused voice. "He wasn't feeling well."

"Mom, Aunt Holly called Grandpa and Dad's upset about the whole thing," John said as he approached.

Danielle scoffed, "And I think someone from the Crime Lab is getting Officer Wolfe's things from the doctors," John spoke quietly. "They took Officer Wolfe up to the ICU pretty fast. I don't know…"

"Why did Uncle Carlos faint and why did the note say he killed someone?" David interrupted.

John eyed David warily, "It was at that same time that Dad got kidnapped and talking about the whole thing still freaks him out, so don't mention it in front of him," he spoke sternly. "Or Uncle Carlos."

"Did Uncle Carlos really kill someone?" David asked softly. "That note said he did."

A throat cleared and John cringed as Tommy came into view, "The newspapers said Bernard Marquez asked my dad to euthanize him, but there's more to the story," Tommy spoke quietly, remembering what his father had told him. "Bernard Marquez had my father tortured until he agreed to do it."

David nodded, but went very quiet, "Dad's going to be here a while," Tommy spoke softly.

"Tommy, your parents would never forgive me if I left you here by yourself," Danielle replied firmly.

Tommy nodded, "Good job on saving that guy, buddy," he said softly, looking at John. "Heroic."

"I just did what any decent person would do," John replied softly. "He was tortured just like I was."

David went pale and tears filled his eyes, prompting him to wheeze slightly as he tried to keep the crying quiet, "David, use your inhaler," John spoke anxiously. "I'm sorry, buddy, I shouldn't have brought it up."

There was a quiet whimper as David used his inhaler and then leaned against his mother, "Mom, I wanna go home," he spoke in a quiet voice. "That guy in the box freaked me out and I feel sick."

John was about to open his mouth when he saw Stella, who was carrying a large bag, and Flack come into the ER by way of the elevators that led to the rest of the hospital, "I heard you were a hero again," Flack commented, a worried expression on his face. "Mac said you brought a guy back to life."

"Yes, sir, I did," John replied uncertainly. "I know I damaged evidence, but Officer Wolfe was tortured."

Stella looked surprised, "You're worried about evidence?" she asked softly. "John, you saved his life."

"And you were right," Flack spoke calmly. "Officer Wolfe was tortured and Stella also ran a kit…"

John went very quiet at the mention of a kit, "Mac and Lindsay are at the lab with the evidence from where you found him," Flack explained calmly, noticing John's somber expression. "What can you…?"

"I'll come over to the temporary lab later on," John spoke quietly. "Not in front of my little brother."

Flack nodded, "Do you need to talk to my dad about the note, sir?" Tommy asked nervously.

"No, we'll be researching the case from Miami to see who could have sent your dad Officer Wolfe in a box with the note," Flack explained calmly. "From what I heard, he doesn't talk about it much at all."

Tommy shrugged, "Not really," he admitted softly. "Kylie doesn't talk about her experience either."

Stella and Flack exchanged a look, "She might not remember it," John spoke quietly, unable to look his friend in the eye simply because he had seen a bit of what Kylie and Ellie had endured. "I was forcibly injected with heroin during that whole thing in Miami and I'm only just starting to remember things…"

Flack's eyes went wide and Stella looked surprised, "Look, I'll be more than happy to come to the lab once I can break away," John spoke quickly, seeing David and Tommy's wide eyes. "All right?"

"I called Ryan Wolfe's sister and let her know what was going on," Danielle spoke up, seeing that John was becoming very uncomfortable. "We met in Miami a long time ago and traded numbers."

John silently hugged himself and tugged at the straps on his diabetes bag, "Mom, I can take David home if you need to stay with Tommy til his mom comes," he spoke quietly, scared that Stella and Flack would tell Mac about his experience with torture and drugs and it would be enough to end the co-op.

Danielle studied John briefly and nodded before reaching into her pocket and getting her wallet, "Take a cab, will you?" she asked kindly, handing him a small wad of cash to get a cab. "Your grandma should be back from her walk with Nicolas by now and I'm sure Michael and Emily need attention. I want you to stay there until me or your dad gets home. You can go to the lab only when someone can go with you."

David nodded eagerly, got up, and left with John before Tommy, Stella, or Flack could say a word.

Coconut Grove – Miami, Florida

Thoroughly exhausted, Robert sighed heavily and opened his eyes. A quick peek at his alarm clock told him that it was Saturday morning and that he had the weekend off after not only working his shifts at the lab, but also taking some other shifts. With Calleigh recovering and Ryan still missing, there was a shortage of CSI's and so he, Eric, and a nightshifter named Walter Simmons had been helping Horatio, Tim, Natalia, and Jesse by working extra. Natalia and Robert had worked opposite shifts on occasion so at least one of them could be there for the boys, but there were times they had to stay at Speedles.

The house was much quieter since Rick, Catherine, Lenny, and Lindsey had moved out at Catherine's insistence, Robert thought as he got up and put a robe on over his pajamas. He silently made his way downstairs and frowned at the sight of BJ asleep on the couch in nothing but his summer pajamas.

"BJ?" Robert asked in a quiet, but clear voice. "BJ, son, what are you doing sleeping downstairs?"

BJ stirred, but didn't get up, "Bad dream," he replied groggily. "Do you have to work today?"

"I have Saturday and Sunday off," Robert replied in a kind voice. "Wanna talk about the bad dream?"

BJ nodded and Robert sat down, "Aunt Catherine was having a meltdown and she turned into Mom," he explained in a groggy voice. "I didn't wanna wake Adam up and upset him, so I came downstairs."

Robert sighed softly, "When are you and Natalia gonna get married?" BJ asked. "She's really nice."

"With Ryan missing and Calleigh injured, we both have to work more than we're used to because there aren't enough people to cover the shifts," Robert explained. "I think Natalia is working today."

BJ nodded and yawned, "I'm not mad at Aunt Catherine anymore, Dad," he spoke softly. "She's ill."

"She's struggling with Lindsey returning," Robert replied softly, quickly covering BJ with the afghan from the top of the couch that his Uncle Horatio had found at his mother's. "That's why they moved away."

BJ sighed softly, "Get some more sleep," Robert spoke as the phone rang. "It's still early."

As BJ went back to sleep, Robert got up and went into the kitchen, sighing as he answered the phone.

"Hello, Robert Caine speaking," Robert spoke calmly, hoping that work wasn't calling him in.

There was a sigh, "Detective Caine, I know we are not on the best of terms, but I could use some parental advice," Catherine's tired voice spoke. "Could we get together and talk privately at a coffee shop?"

Robert paused and then frowned as he heard a crash on the other end, "Lindsey, that was not funny!" he heard Catherine say in a stern voice. "Clean up that mess and then go sit in your room!"

Bad words filled the air, "Lindsey, please do what you are told," Robert heard Rick say softly.

Footsteps filled the air and a door closed, "When and where?" Robert asked in a soft voice.

"Maybe in a couple of days when the kids are at school and Rick is at work?" Catherine suggested.

Robert sighed, "Sure," he replied, sensing that all was not well. "Are you guys okay over there?"

"Not really; that's why I need advice," Catherine spoke softly. "Lindsey, go to your room!"

There was a click and Robert sighed softly as he dialed Natalia's cell, hoping to gain a little insight and also share Catherine's difficulties with someone he trusted implicitly, "Hello?" a voice said softly.

"Talia, hey," Robert spoke in a calm, soothing voice. "I wanted to catch you before you went to work."

Miami-Dade Crime Lab/Police Department

"Why exactly am I here this early on a Saturday morning?" Erica Sikes asked coldly, glaring across the table at where Horatio, Tripp, and Emily sat. "I don't usually work today, so this is a waste of time."

Emily scoffed, but didn't say anything and Horatio dumped the envelope out on the table, prompting Erica to jump back, "Indulging in a little police sodomy, sexual assault, and pornography, Miss Sikes?" Horatio asked in a cold voice, glaring at her. "I want to know where Ryan was when this happened."

"Some crappy neighborhood," Erica scoffed. "Why do you even care since he's brain damaged?"

Emily swore and shot to her feet, "He was tortured!" she shouted. "Whatever happened to him has left its mark, but that does not mean you get to treat him like a porn plaything and a common tramp!"

Tripp's eyes widened in shock at Emily's outburst, "Who invited you to see Ryan?" Tripp asked coldly.

Erica gave Emily a look, "I know you used to work at a bar and I saw the video that Bernard made of you, so you might be a bigger tramp than your brother," she spoke smugly. "I don't talk to tramps."

Deeply shaken by Erica's knowledge of her past, as Ray must have told her, Emily silently rose and left the room, "Oh, by the way, Maxine Valera and Dan Cooper say hello from their probation," Erica crooned, a smirk on their face. "There was no evidence to keep them in jail for very long."

"Frank, book her," Horatio spoke coldly as he got up. "Charge her with everything I said."

Erica scoffed as Horatio left the room and went down to the lounge where Emily and Tim were talking, "…Tommy can't go because Jenny's supposed to be on her way home today," Emily was saying. "I think we should go and see what we can do. The kids are young enough that school isn't an issue…"

"If I can get the time off, sure," Tim replied softly. "Tommy's pretty upset about the whole thing."

Horatio cleared his throat, "We're…short on personnel right now," he spoke in a quiet voice. "I know you want to go to New York to see Ryan, but we're very shorthanded and IAB is already furious…"

"It's Ray who's responsible for Ryan ending up in New York," Emily spoke coldly. "The photos…"

Horatio sighed and Tim frowned, "There is still so much about the situation that is unknown," he replied in a concerned voice. "I can't spare Tim this weekend because Robert is exhausted from overtime."

"I'm surprised at you, Horatio," Emily replied softly. "Ryan is a colleague of yours and he's been through endless nightmares, but all you can worry about is being short-handed? Don't you care about him?"

Tim looked taken aback by Emily's anger, as did Horatio, "I'm taking the rest of the day to go home and see how quickly I can get to New York," Emily spoke in a cold voice. "Tim, can you get the bus home?"

Before Tim or Horatio could reply, Emily took the keys from Tim and left the Crime Lab in a huff.

Manhattan, New York

"Mac, we have Officer Wolfe's clothes, shoes, and personal effects," Stella called out as she and Flack entered the temporary lab and saw Mac and Lindsay hard at work with the box and note.

Mac looked up from his worktable, "Prints all over the box and the note," he replied calmly.

"Mac, I'm concerned about this whole co-op thing we've got going with NYU," Stella spoke in a concerned voice. "Maybe we should actually screen kids before we offer them opportunities."

Mac frowned and quietly set his work aside, "Give the stuff over to Lindsay and then get in my office right now," he spoke in a militaristic tone, his expression serious. "I think we need to have a chat."

Exchanging a look, Flack and Stella left the evidence with Lindsay and then joined Mac in his office, "Shut the door and sit down," Mac spoke in a serious voice as he sat behind his desk. "We need to talk."

Flack and Stella sat down, "I did screen John quite thoroughly and quite privately so not to make him feel self-conscious," Mac explained sternly. "I talked with his parents and they shared details about his past and the fact that he was abused by his now dead birth father quite severely during different parts of his life by different methods including forcible injection of heroin. I'm quite aware of his past and that does not define who he is now, nor does it make me question his competency as a future CSI."

Neither said a word and Mac sighed, "While you were on your way over here, I got an angry call from John's mother and also one from his grandmother about what went down at the hospital," he continued sternly. "You two had no right to judge John for his past when you two don't exactly have clean reputations. Stella, that whole undercover business for your sister almost got you fired from NYPD…"

Stella's eyes widened, "And Flack, you ignored multiple requests from NYPD and the FBI to formally discuss what happened at the Crime Lab and you could have been arrested for contempt, but I stuck my neck out to make sure you kept your job," Mac snapped. "Each of us have our own dark pasts."

"I've been nervous since the whole thing at the lab," Flack spoke softly. "He…he did a lot."

Mac sighed, but Stella didn't look convinced, "Stella, if we weren't short a person due to Danny's medical leave, I'd suspend you," he spoke sternly. "Don, John did what he thought would help."

"Do not bring up the crap I went through to try and find my sister's killer," Stella hissed angrily.

As Mac and Stella argued, Flack silently got up and slipped out of the room as he fished his phone out of his pocket. He silently dialed the Boscorelli's number, as he felt bad and wanted to sincerely apologize.

"Hello?" Yelina's voice filled the phone. "This is Yelina Sullivan. Who is calling, please?"

Flack sighed, "This is Detective Flack," he replied softly. "I was hoping to apologize."

"Oh, John just left to go see if his father is done chemo and drive him home," Yelina spoke pleasantly. "I'm sure you can catch them at Angel of Mercy. Danielle brought David home just a bit ago…"

Sighing, Flack silently left the temporary lab while continuing to talk with Yelina on the phone.

Las Vegas, Nevada

"PUSH!" Nick heard his sister command as he came back into the Crime Lab after taking a walk to calm down about Warrick wanting to see him. "I know it hurts, Sara, but you have to hang in there!"

By now, a crowd of lab techs including Hodges and Archie were crowded around the doorway to the break room, all of them watching as Candace, flanked by two paramedics, worked on delivering Sara's second baby. Greg and Jenny were sitting on the couch while Grissom silently stood beside Sara with his arms holding their newborn son in what looked like a camping blanket. Sara was close to tears.

"Just one more push should do it," Candace encouraged gently. "You can do it, Sara…"

"What are y'all doing?!" Nick snapped at the lab techs. "This isn't a show, people! Get back to work!"

The lab techs scattered and Nick entered the break lounge just as Sara pushed again, "You have a girl," Candace announced softly amidst the quiet cries. "I'm going to turn all of you over to the paramedics."

"Gil, can you please go find me some ice?" Sara breathed softly. "Just ice small enough to chew?"

Grissom nodded and passed his son to one of the paramedics before leaving, unaware that Nick was following him, "How do you feel now that you have kids?" Nick asked as they went into a lab room.

"Is this about my kids or about something else?" Grissom asked as he popped open the fridge and began collecting ice into a plastic cup that was in a nearby cup holder. "You're being awfully vague, Nick."

Nick hesitated, "I've been thinking about Parker," he admitted softly. "Ever since I found out about him."

Grissom looked thoughtful, "I'd like to meet him and do a DNA test," Nick spoke shakily. "To see if…"

"I can call Adrienne, his grandmother, and arrange it," Grissom replied calmly. "They'll come out here."

Nick nodded, too shaken to say anything as Grissom smiled, patted him on the back, and left the room to get the ice to Sara before she bit his head off. As he returned to the lounge, he saw that Sara was now on the gurney and Candace was helping the paramedics, but Jenny was crying in Greg's arms.

"I…we…can we take a walk, Greg?" Jenny asked softly. "This was beautiful, but I need some air."

Greg nodded and the two quickly left the room, going outside so they wouldn't bother anyone, "You're worried about Derek wanting to see his daughter, aren't you?" he asked softly, sensing her unease.

Jenny nodded, but didn't say anything, "If you had a husband and the husband adopted her, Derek wouldn't have a legal claim to the baby," Greg spoke anxiously. "What if we got married?"

"Greg…" Jenny spoke, her expression shocked as she stared at him. "Are you proposing to me?"

Manhattan, New York

After checking with Oncology and finding out from Sully that Officer Boscorelli had another hour before his chemotherapy was done and John could drive them home, Flack silently went to the ICU to check on their visitor from Miami. The floor was quiet and nobody was around, so Flack moved down the hallway.

The sound of quiet beeping filled Flack's ear and he turned towards the sound, deeply surprised when he saw John sitting in a Critical Care room beside the bed where Ryan Wolfe lay in bed unconscious, intubated, and hooked to a ventilator. The room was a private and sparsely decorated.

Ryan's face was bruised, pale, and his head had a bandage around it; his arms were littered with bruises, bandages, and IV lines and while one hand was sporting a blue cast from fingers to wrist, the other hand had a pulse-ox clip on it that was attached to a vitals machine. Bandages and a central line were on Ryan's chest along with electrodes that were attached to other machines just above the gown and blankets that were covering him from his waist to his feet. Flack was horrified at the whole scene.

"…I'm sorry that this happened to you, Officer Wolfe," Flack heard John say in a quiet voice. "I don't know you or your family very well, but if you're anything like your counselor sister, I can't imagine why anyone would want to hurt you. I'm hoping you'll wake up and get better really, really soon."

Flack paused, wondering how John was so calm after suffering through torture himself, "My name's John Boscorelli and I'm the one who found you taped up in a box outside my apartment building when I was going to play basketball with my brother and best friend," John spoke softly. "I'm actually a CSI Trainee at the New York Crime Lab and my mom's a paramedic, so I learned CPR when I was young…"

While John continued to speak, Flack silently moved out of the doorway and took a seat in a row of chairs that was out of sight, but close enough to hear John speak, "…I know that my mom called your sister about where you are and I hope your family is coming to visit you," Flack heard John speak. "My Uncle Carlos said you know him from when you guys were kids and if your family can't come or if your Crime Lab doesn't look for you, I'm sure Uncle Carlos would let you stay with his family for a while…"

There was a sigh and silence long enough that Flack became concerned and peeked into the room, surprised when he saw Sully come into the room, "Your dad woke and asked me to check on you, kiddo," Sully said calmly, his expression somber as he looked at Ryan. "I knew Officer Wolfe."

"You did, Grandpa?" John asked softly, unaware Flack was listening. "I didn't know that."

Sully sighed, "A long, long time ago," he replied softly. "Did someone explain his condition to you?"

Flack watched as John nodded, "Officer Wolfe doesn't have family here, so I thought I'd come talk to him while I wait for Dad to be done his chemo," John replied. "I needed time to reflect and think about what I've been through because Detective Bonasara and Detective Flack seemed upset about it…"

"Don't worry about them," Sully replied sternly. "Detective Taylor thinks you're worth investing time in."

Flack flinched, as he had never intended to have such an effect on John; he had simply been shocked by John's past. Deeply filled with intense guilt, Flack was determined to make things right with John.

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