Detective Bobby Goren stepped up to the door and glanced in. Inside was his mother, Frances Goren. A beautiful woman with startling white hair. She was staring vacantly up at the ceiling.

Sighing, Bobby slowly opened the door. He took a chair next to her bed.

"H-hi, Mom."

Lost in the darkness,
Silence surrounds you.
Once there was morning,
Now endless night.

Frances blinked and turned slowly to face Bobby. "B… Bobby?"

He nodded. "Yeah, it's me. I'm here." He took her hand. "Are you okay?"

Frances sighed. "A man was here earlier, Bobby. He… he said he knew me, that he knew you."

Bobby nodded. "I know… they called me and told me what happened."

Frances bit her lip. "He… he said you were in trouble, Bobby. He said you were doing something bad… hurting someone! I… I told him you wouldn't!" She paused for a moment. "I… I told him to get out, that I didn't know him, and he was a liar..." A tear rolled down her cheek. "He kept insisting he was some old friend's son… but I didn't know him."

"You didn't, Mom. You were right," Bobby assured her. "He lied."

"Bobby, why did he come here? Are you in trouble?" she demanded.

"No," Bobby assured her. "He… was just a cruel man. He works for someone we're investigating right now."

Frances's eyes filled with concern. "Be careful, Bobby… be careful."

If I could reach you,
I'd guide you and teach you
To walk from the darkness
Back into the light.

Bobby stayed with his mother until she drifted off to sleep. He gave her a peck on her cheek, and left. As he passed the front desk, he spoke with the secretary.

He said, "I want you to call me if anyone tries to visit her for the next two weeks, all right? No exceptions. No one sees her except for her doctors and me unless I give the okay."

The secretary nodded. "Of course, Mr. Goren. I am really sorry about this." Bobby simply shrugged off her apology and headed out to his car.

Deep in your silence,
Please try to hear me;
I'll keep you near me
Till night passes by.

Alex Eames was heading home from 1 PP. She sighed, glancing at her clock that told her that it had been three hours since her partner had rushed out to visit his mother. She had (naively?) hoped her partner would call and let her know that his mother was okay. She knew Bobby was very protective of and worried about his mother.

Deciding to be bold, Eames dialed Bobby's cell phone. After three rings, she heard her partner's voice.

"Hey."

"Hey," Eames said gently. There was a pause. "Um, everything okay?"

Another pause. "No. He… he played her, upset her," Bobby answered.

"Anything I can do?" Eames asked.

"No," Bobby said, more sharply than he meant. There was a tense pause. "Look, I should probably go. I'll see you tomorrow, Eames."

"Okay, see you…" Eames said, and she heard Bobby's line click off. She closed her phone and shook her head. Her damn stubborn partner.

I will find the answer.
I'll never desert you –
I promise you this –
Till the day that I die.