Miami-Dade Memorial Hospital – Miami, Florida

"Dad needed a break, I think," Nick said in a tired voice as he sat in a wheelchair in the indoor atrium that wasn't far from his room, bored to death of being in bed. "I hope he enjoys his coffee."

Emily smiled as she sat in a chair next to Nick, "I'm glad Doctor Russell let me out of bed even if it is only for 15 minutes and in a wheelchair," Nick continued in a tired voice. "I still can't remember the attack."

"Nobody expects you to, Nick," Emily replied gently. "Just focus on getting better at the moment."

Just then, Tim came down the hallway holding three cups of hot chocolate in a cup holder that he had gotten from the cafeteria, "Hot chocolate," he said kindly, offering the first to Nick. "Want some?"

Figuring that the warm beverage would help his healing lungs, Nick nodded and raised his hand to take it, but retracted it when he saw it shaking, "Shoot," he said in a tired voice. "I thought it stopped."

"I'll help you drink some," Emily offered kindly as Tim set the cups on the nearby table. "It's okay."

Just then, an orderly in white scrubs moved down the hallway pushing a laundry cart while eyeing Nick with Emily and Tim. Suddenly, the laundry cart came to a stop and Tim felt uneasy enough to unclip his holster, grateful that he had been paying better attention to caring for his gun since he had been shot.

Without warning, a masked gunman burst out of the cart and Emily jumped up and grabbed for Nick as the gunman shot at the wheelchair. Nick tumbled out of the chair and hit the floor beside Emily, gasping in shock as the gunman reloaded and promptly shot Nick twice in the leg. Emily quickly spread her body out over Nick to protect him while Tim quickly pulled out his gun and fired repeatedly at the gunman.

As the gunman fell over dead, the orderly reached into his pocket and Tim didn't hesitate to fire at the orderly, sighing anxiously as the shot hit the orderly in the head, killing him, "…My leg," Nick gasped.

Emily quickly got off of Nick and was horrified to see that Nick had been shot twice in the leg and was not only in pain, but scared and bleeding, "HELP!" she shouted in an anxious voice. "SOMEBODY!"

Miami Behavioral Health Center

Horatio frowned as he got out of his Hummer and saw that police cars, an ambulance, and CSI Hummers were everywhere. He had been sitting with Ryan when the call had come through and had briefly woken the young CSI to explain the situation before rushing off to the scene in a hurry.

As Horatio approached the building, he was surprised to see that Grissom and Greg were there along with Calleigh, Jesse, Natalia, Eric, and Tripp, "Um, Horatio, it's Stetler," Eric said in a low voice.

"What do you mean?" Horatio asked in a confused voice as he looked at his team. "Where is he?"

Callieigh silently gestured towards the side of the building that was lined with bushes and Horatio's eyes widened as he saw Alexx trying her best to guide a badly shaking, bleeding Rick across the grass while paramedics followed behind, "What happened?" Horatio asked in a shocked voice. "I don't…"

"Security staff says that Sarah Wolfe is a patient here and she attacked Stetler and his wife," Eric replied.

Horatio's eyes widened in shock as he suddenly saw Rick slip out of Alexx's grip and hit the ground unconscious, "Don't let him go into shock!" he shouted as he tore across the grass. "Rick!"

The paramedics quickly got Stetler on a backboard and quickly put an oxygen mask over his face, "There's so much blood!" Alexx gasped in tears as they moved Rick to the ambulance.

"Horatio, dispatch just called and said there's been a shooting at Miami-Dade Hospital!" Frank shouted.

Horatio's eyes widened as he hurried back to the group, "Calleigh, go over to the hospital!" he ordered in an anxious voice. "Speed and Emily were over there with Nick Stokes and Ryan was also there…"

"Horatio, it was Nick Stokes who was shot," Frank interrupted. "Speedle popped off both shooters."

Horatio swore, "Calleigh, Natalia, get over to Miami-Dade Hospital!" he ordered sharply. "Go!"

Calleigh looked at Greg with a kind expression, "Greg, did you want to come help us?" she asked in a kind, hurried voice, knowing that the young CSI could use the case to build his confidence after learning that his coworkers weren't supportive of his new disability.

Greg looked at Grissom, who nodded, "Go," Grissom said in an anxious voice, signing as he spoke.

Nodding, Greg quickly left with Callieigh and Natalia, "Jesse, Eric, get inside and start processing!" Horatio barked as he and Tripp hurried over to the backboard where Rick lay. "What's his status?"

A screech of tires suddenly prompted Horatio to turn and his eyes widened as he saw Robert, who had gotten a frantic call from an injured Rick while at home, slowly get out of the car wearing loose dress pants, a loose shirt, sneakers, and a jacket with his badge clipped to his belt, "I thought your nephew was still on medical leave?" Tripp asked, watching as Robert paid the driver and slowly walked over.

"Rick…he called me heaving and said that he was visiting Catherine," Robert said in a tired voice as he approached his uncle and Tripp. "He said that someone stabbed her and threw him through a window after stabbing him. I'm not technically back on yet, but I figured Rick needed me, so I got a cab."

Horatio nodded and led his nephew over to the back of the open ambulance where Alexx was watching Rick lay semi-conscious, "Detective Caine," Alexx said warmly, smiling at Robert. "Are you back?"

"This is Sergeant Stetler's brother-in-law and medical contact," Horatio explained to the paramedics as he helped Robert get into the ambulance. "He'll be riding with him to the hospital, all right?"

Alexx watched as Grissom approached the ambulance, "Did you need any help here, Caine, or am I clear to go to the hospital and check on Catherine and Nick?" Grissom asked in a worried voice.

"Three of my people were over at the hospital too," Horatio replied. "I'm worried about them."

Alexx frowned, "Three?" she asked in a confused voice. "I know Timmy and Emily were there, but…"

"Ryan's back on chemo and is also there," Horatio replied, cutting Alexx off. "In Oncology."

Anxiety filled Alexx, as she was fond of all three of them, especially Ryan, as he had been struggling with cancer for a while now, "Grissom, take Alexx to the hospital in your car," Horatio ordered.

"We gotta go!" one of the paramedics shouted as the ambulance doors were pulled shut.

Miami-Dade Memorial Hospital – Miami, Florida

"Emily, are you sure you're okay?" Ryan, who had dragged the chemo machine from Oncology when he had heard the shooting, asked as he sat in a set of chairs with Emily. "The baby…it didn't get hurt?"

Emily sighed and shook her head, watching as Tim talked with an anxious looking Judge Stokes, "…I called Jillian and she's at the hotel calling all his sisters," she heard Judge Stokes say. "Is Nick…?"

Tim eyed the bodies surrounded by bullets and blood briefly before sighing, "Nick got taken to surgery after being shot twice in the left leg," he explained in a quiet voice. "Most units went into lockdown when the alarms went off, but they managed to get him into surgery. I'm sure he'll be okay, sir."

Judge Stokes nodded, "I want to talk to your department about your bravery," he said calmly as he eyed Emily, who was sitting with Ryan. "Your wife's brother…he must be on chemo? I recognize the machine."

Tim shrugged, as he had no idea what Ryan was doing with the chemo machine, "When Nick was young, Jillian had problems and she ended up having ovarian cancer," Judge Stokes explained. "She went through surgery and chemo and Nick was her little star. He would just sit with her and it would…"

"Judge Stokes, Nick will be fine," Emily said in a firm voice. "There were entrance and exit wounds."

Ryan sighed, "After the lockdown's lifted, I should go check on Tommy," he said in a tired voice.

"Just sit here and do the rest of your chemo," Emily replied softly. "You've got like two hours left."

Ryan watched as Judge Stokes and Tim moved to a set of plastic chairs to wait to give him space to rest if he needed to lie down, as they had been told to stay where they were and someone would come when there was news on Nick.

Angel of Mercy Hospital – Manhattan, New York

The sound of footsteps flooded John's ears and he opened his eyes to find his parents, Mac, and Flack in his hospital room, "John, they found David," Danielle said anxiously, seeing that John was awake.

"What?" John asked in a groggy voice, giving his mother a look. "Where was his body at?"

Danielle gave John a bewildered look, "They found David alive, John," she replied in a quiet voice.

Too tired and sore to carry on a conversation, John nodded and sighed, "I think you need something to eat," Danielle said as she took a seat beside the bed next to the portable table that held a meal tray.

"I have to take my insulin and wait," John replied groggily. "Even I know that being injured."

Danielle sighed, "I gave it to you while you were sleeping," she replied calmly. "Time to eat."

John sighed, but let his mother feed him the contents of the meal tray because he would only make a mess if he tried to feed himself, "David's in Peds ICU and on a vent because his breathing was bad when they found him," Danielle explained calmly as she fed him. "He's in a medicated coma right now."

Bosco paled, "You never mentioned that," he commented in a stunned voice. "I just saw the surgery."

"Because you're angry," Danielle replied calmly. "You don't listen well when you're angry."

Bosco sighed and nodded, "If you behave, you might be able to come home by the end of the week and back to campus next week," he finally said calmly, eyeing John. "You'll be getting rides to campus."

Quickly finishing the last of the food, John rubbed his bruised face, "Do I have to give a statement?" he asked in a confused voice. "I was knocked out pretty quickly, but if I have to talk about it…"

"No, Pavel Dimitriakov was a hostage himself," Flack said calmly. "Derek Stokes coerced him…"

Danielle scowled as John slowly sat up, "I wanna see David," John said in a pained voice, wincing as he felt intense pressure in his chest and ribs because he was moving. "I gotta see for myself…"

Bosco moved over to the bed and helped Danielle ease John back down, "You won't get far with a busted ankle," he said calmly. "Just stay in bed and I'll let you look over your school books."

Mac picked up John's bag and passed it to Bosco, who set it on the bed, "I have to go down to Headquarters and press charges on behalf of David, but your mom's going to be here," Bosco said.

"Flack will be guarding the door in case you need anything," Mac said calmly as he left with Bosco.

Once the room was quiet, John silently opened his bag and took out one of the books that Mac had let him borrow, "That Taylor guy let me borrow this from the lab," he said, showing his mom. "Forensics."

"That looks pretty cool," Danielle spoke gently, watching as John opened it. "Want me to read to you?"

John nodded and Danielle sat on the edge of the bed, taking the book from John's shaking hands because she knew he couldn't hold it, "Who's with Mikey and Emily?" he asked in a tired voice.

"Your grandpa and Yelina," Danielle replied calmly. "They need practice caring for babies."

John sighed, going quiet as he listened to his mother read to him like she used to when he was little and was having a hard time with life. It was good to have her nearby.

Miami Behavioral Health Center

"Okay, lady, you wanna tell me why you went nuts and stabbed Sergeant Stetler and his wife?" Tripp asked in an irritated voice as he sat across from the table where Sarah was now restrained in a mobile chair and guarded by a Security officer. "They weren't doing anything to make you angry."

Sarah scoffed, "Rick Stetler's been a thorn in my side ever since he started treating Ryan like a human being!" she snapped, glaring at the man. "He's always been coddling Ryan and making sure he…."

"So this is about Ryan Wolfe?" Tripp asked in a confused voice. "You stabbed a cop and his wife…?"

Sarah snarled, "Ryan thinks he has the right to be happy after breaking up my family with his lies!" she snapped loudly enough to get Eric, Jesse, and Grissom to look at her. "His father never touched him, let alone raped him and Emily! That girl always had her head in the cloud and Ryan was even worse!"

Tripp sighed and looked at the file that the Behavioral Center had provided him, "Says here that your eldest son, Tommy, got a court order to admit you here after he caught you trying to tear his oldest son's clothes off," he said in a disgusted voice. "Why did you stab a MDPD Sergeant again?"

"If I had seen Ryan, I would have stabbed him too!" Sarah snarled. "Rick Stetler was just there first!"

Deeply frustrated, Tripp went quiet, "I'm going to kill him, you know," Sarah said coldly. "Eventually."

"Lady, you're already looking at two counts of attempted homicide for what you did to Stetler and his wife," Tripp said in an annoyed voice. "You'll probably end up in the psych ward of a prison…"

Sarah smirked, "I meant I was going to kill Ryan," she replied calmly. "Like I killed his girlfriend."

Grissom's eyes widened and Jesse and Eric exchanged a look, "Excuse me?" Tripp asked coldly.

"I have rights, don't I?" Sarah asked in a cold voice. "Aren't I entitled to legal counsel?"

Tripp sighed, "Oh, by the way, tell little Carlos Nieto hello," Sarah snarled. "Bernard Marquez and I had drinks once and he gloated about how he messed with Ryan and some kid named Carlos Nieto."

"Can't talk to you more until a lawyer shows," Tripp said as he took the folder and got up.

Eric sighed as Tripp came over to the crime scene and began talking to Horatio in a low voice, presumably about the information Sarah Wolfe had given them. Horatio nodded and got out his cell-phone, "Delko, I'm not processing this by myself!" Jesse called out from behind the tape.

Miami-Dade Memorial Hospital – Miami, Florida

"Your gun worked," Callieigh observed as she came up to Tim, who was sitting alone on a row of plastic chairs guarding the scene and the bodies. "Tripp said you shot both attackers, so it must have been cleaned properly and recently."

Tim sighed, "Judge Stokes wants to talk to the department about my bravery," he replied quietly. "I don't need any medals or any pomp and circumstance crap for..."

Calleigh turned and saw that Judge Stokes was now sitting with Emily and Ryan, "I brought Natalia and one of those Vegas CSI's with me to process everything," she said calmly. "The coroner's coming."

"What Vegas CSI?" Tim asked in a confused voice, frowning when he saw Natalia and Greg.

Calleigh smiled as Tim stood up, "Greg, this is Tim Speedle," she said in a kind, clear voice as she smiled at Greg and Natalia. "Tim, this is Greg Sanders. He's a CSI from Las Vegas who I thought could help."

It was then that Tim noticed that Greg wore hearing aids, "Hi," he said in a calm, clear voice, figuring that Greg would only get mad if he were treated with kid gloves.

"It looks like a massacre," Greg commented quietly. "How much of that blood is Nicky's?"

Calleigh replied by placing her kit on the floor, "Start gathering bullets and samples," she said calmly.

Greg nodded, grabbed some gloves from Callieigh's kit, and began to help Natalia document and gather evidence, "…Ryan, you should lie down," Callieigh heard Emily say. "You look really tired."

Calleigh watched as Ryan closed his eyes, but didn't lie down, "I heard shots and I got through the lockdown by flashing my badge," he said in a faint, gravelly voice. "It's an instinct, I guess…."

A cell-phone suddenly rang and Tim quietly excused himself to answer the call, "Maybe I'd better go back to the easy chair in Oncology," Ryan said in a sleepy voice. "I could use another nap."

As Ryan stood up, Tim quickly ended his call, "H says that there was a stabbing at the Miami Behavioral Health Center and that Sergeant Stetler and Catherine Willows were stabbed," Tim said anxiously.

"I'm not in any shape to go process the scene," Ryan replied tiredly. "I need to go lie down."

Tim sighed, "Horatio's on his way over here to talk to you," he said calmly. "About your mother."

Emily frowned and Ryan looked confused, "Your mother was the one who did the stabbings and smashed a chair over Stetler's head before throwing him through a window," Tim explained.

Swallowing hard, Ryan gagged and silently moved back down the hallway feeling sick to his stomach about what he had just heard, "I'll be back in my easy chair," he said in a numb voice.

Natalia, Calleigh, and Greg looked absolutely shellshocked while Emily looked very uncomfortable, "Judge Stokes, would you like me to walk you upstairs and see if we can find anything out about Nick?" Emily finally asked in as calm a voice as she could muster. "I…I think Ryan needs time alone."

Judge Stokes looked very curious about what had just happened, but he nodded, "If you want to talk to me about what happened, I will be upstairs in the surgical waiting area," Emily said in a tight voice.

Without waiting for dismissal, Emily silently led Judge Stokes towards the elevators, "Um, Calliegh, Greg, can you handle finishing this?" Natalia asked in a concerned voice. "I need to go call Grissom."

"Tim, why don't you give me your firearm for evidence and go see if Ryan is all right?" Callieigh asked in a kind voice. "Whenever Horatio gets here, I'll send him your way. I don't think Ryan should be alone."

Nodding, Tim handed his gun over and walked down the hallway, frowning when he saw that Ryan was now lying down in the reclined chair with his eyes closed and a hand on his forehead. A blanket was draped over his body and as he entered, Tim noticed that Ryan looked pale and had been crying.

"…Vitals are stable…lacs everywhere on his head and body…the knife just barely missed the nerve…"

A dull ache filled Rick's body and he opened his eyes, frowning when he couldn't move his left arm, "Hey, Rick, take it easy," he suddenly heard a kind voice say. "Your arm was cut up pretty bad..."

Rick frowned as he turned his head and saw Robert sitting at his bedside, "Try not to move your head around too much, or you might loosen the bandages or rip the staples," Robert said gently. "Doctor Loman gave you a local anesthetic so he could stitch your arm up. That's why you can't move it."

"You're supposed to be at home taking it easy," Rick said in a faint voice. "What are you doing here?"

Robert sighed patiently, "You phoned me and told me what happened while you were lying in the bushes bleeding," he replied gently, not surprised that Rick couldn't remember making any calls. "I got a cab from Coconut Grove to the Behavioral Center and rode in the ambulance with you here."

"Bobby, that's like 100 bucks," Rick replied in a groggy voice. "I…I'll pay you back…all of it…"

Robert shrugged, "From what I was able to find out, Catherine is still in surgery," he said softly.

"Sarah…she's still angry about all those years ago," Rick mused groggily, wincing as he exhaled.

Dr. Loman sighed, "You broke some ribs when you hit the bushes," he explained, not looking up from the work it was to stitch Rick's badly cut arm. "You've also got cuts all over you, scalp lacs, major blood loss, and really, really bad stab wounds in your left forearm. She just barely missed cutting the nerve…"

"Catherine…she was doing so much better," Rick mused softly. "I had asked about bringing Lenny, but she, like a mom, said he needed to stay at school. We were just moving on from Lindsey being missing."

Robert nodded patiently, looking up when he saw Grissom and Horatio come in, "I know you're not feeling your best, Rick, but you have to give a statement," he said in a quiet voice. "Should I stay?"

Rick sighed tiredly, "If you could," he replied groggily. "Horatio, I brought this on myself…"

"No, you didn't," Grissom replied before Horatio could speak. "Sarah Wolfe's harboring anger."

Rick didn't reply, "I need a statement," Horatio said slowly. "If this isn't the best time…"

"I'm kind of stuck here with at least half the lab questioning my competency," Rick replied groggily.

Horatio frowned, "Benton disrupted the hearing questioning my competency after I shared tidbits about the undercover work I was doing to flush Bernard Marquez out for the murder of Tracy Cardoza," Rick spoke in a groggy voice. "Chief Burton suspended him, so you, Horatio, are short a lab tech."

Grissom sighed, "You should have told everything before you went to prison," he said quietly.

"And then my cover would have been blown," Rick replied groggily. "MDPD didn't even know."

Robert gave Grissom a look, "I think you and I need to have a talk, Doctor Grissom," he said sternly.

"Bobby, forget it, Bernard's dead," Rick replied groggily. "That Cardoza case…it's dead."

Grissom frowned, "Sarah Wolfe mentioned something at the Behavioral Center," he said quietly, remembering what she had said to the detective. "She mentioned killing someone else."

Rick froze and his eyes narrowed, "What?" he asked in a groggy voice. "Oh, no…not…"

Nieto Residence – Staten Island, New York

"It's good to finally be out of the hospital," Carlos said in a tired voice as he slowly entered his family home using a walker to walk while Holly carried his bag and a basket of flowers. "I'm exhausted."

Holly smiled, set the bag on the coffee table, and helped Carlos sit on the couch just as Ty, who had gotten the special duty assignment of escorting Carlos and Holly home along with Brendan, came into the house, "Thanks, honey," Carlos said in a tired voice. "Do you have to work at EMS tonight?"

"No, I work tomorrow night, though," Holly replied gently. "Do you or Ty want anything?"

Carlos sighed and offered his hand, which Holly took, "You're so good to me," he said tiredly.

Holly smiled and promptly kissed him, "I'll put your therapy schedule on the fridge," she replied.

Ty sat down in a chair, "Ty, what are you doing?" Carlos asked tiredly. "I know you're on duty."

"Hanging out with my friend," Ty replied cheerfully. "What does it look like to you?"

Carlos nodded, "I may disappoint you by falling asleep," he replied calmly. "Walking's tiring."

"How'd the adopting meeting thingy go?" Ty asked calmly. "Wasn't that a few days ago?"

Carlos gave Ty a look, "We're in the book as prospective parents and they'll do a home visit in a few days to check the environment," he said tiredly. "This place has a few guest rooms, so there's space."

Ty nodded just as Brendan came into the house looking somewhat embarrassed, "Hey, Carlos, I just got a call from downtown," Brendan said apologetically. "A lady in Miami attacked a police officer and his wife and mentioned that she knew you. I told them you had just got home from the hospital today, so they're sending someone out to talk to you. They should be here in like half an hour or so…"

Carlos frowned in confusion, "Some random woman in Miami said she knows me?" he asked softly.

"Yeah, her name is Sarah Wolfe and she told some cop in Miami that she had drinks with Bernard Marquez and they talked about how you were friends with…" Brendan paused as Carlos went rigid.

Without warning, Carlos paled and began to vomit violently all over the tile floor, "Carlos?" Holly called out as she hurried into the room and saw Brendan there and Carlos puking. "Carlos, what's wrong?"

Miami-Dade Memorial Hospital – Miami, Florida

"Ryan?" Ryan heard a quiet voice speak as he lay on the reclined chair under his blanket. "Ryan?"

Ryan sighed and opened his eyes, frowning as he saw Horatio standing above him, "I didn't feel well after hearing what my mother did," he spoke groggily. "I'm very tired and this is comfortable."

Horatio nodded and sat in the empty chair beside the bed, "When Detective Tripp was talking to your mother, she mentioned that she killed another," he replied softly. "Your girlfriend, Jessica Bonasera."

Tim, who was lingering near the door, frowned, but Ryan exhaled softly, "My girlfriend's murder is an unsolved case," he replied in a tired voice. "It was done when I was out on patrol and there was evidence collected, but I don't think it was ever solved. The evidence should still be in the locker…"

"Was she buried?" Horatio asked curiously, knowing Ryan was tired. "Did she have any family?"

Ryan blinked, "This was back when I had a gambling issue and she worked in one of the casinos I would hang out at in my spare time," he spoke softly. "This was before Emily…before Emily came to Miami and before we reunited..."

"Get some rest and don't worry about it," Horatio finished, determined to look into this for himself.

As Ryan drifted off back to sleep, Horatio got up and silently went over to where Tim was standing, "I want you to stay here and when Ryan's released, drive him home," Horatio said in a quiet voice.

"Emily's up in the surgical waiting area with Judge Stokes," Tim whispered. "Should I let her know?"

Horatio shook his head and silently left, keeping quiet as he returned to the scene where Nick Stokes was shot and found that Greg and Calleigh were almost done, "Mister Sanders," he said calmly.

Greg didn't respond and Horatio quickly put himself in view of Greg, "Oh, hi," Greg said nervously.

"Mister Sanders, I need your assistance back at my lab with an unsolved case," Horatio said calmly.

Greg's eyes widened, "The victim's name is Jessica Bonasera and since one of my CSI's has a connection to her, I need fresh eyes to look at the evidence," Horatio said calmly, eyeing Greg's hearing aids. "Are those why you couldn't hear me until I put myself in front of you? If so, I do apologize for my…"

"It's fine, Lieutenant Caine," Greg replied quietly. "Calleigh Duquesne was kind enough to ask for my help with Nick being shot, so I'm more than willing to help your lab with this unsolved case now."

Horatio smiled, "Grissom thought you might be," he replied, remembering his chat with Grissom on the ride over from the Behavioral Center. "Calleigh and Natalia can take you over to the lab right now."

"Yes, sir," Greg replied in an anxious voice, eager to do a good job. "Thank you for the opportunity."

Nodding, Horatio looked to Calleigh and Natalia, knowing that Greg needed a chance to learn that even if he had hearing difficulties, he was still very much capable of working with others and doing his job.

"…Nicolas's sisters have always been so protective of him," Judge Stokes said in a quiet voice as he showed Emily the family photo that he kept in his wallet. "Candace, Maria, Rachel, Emma, and Susannah were so busy with school and extracurricular things, but they always made time for him because he was very much a happy surprise. They all wanted to come to Miami to see him, but I said to stay home…"

Emily sighed patiently and nodded, "You've got a beautiful family, Your Honor," she replied softly.

Judge Stokes chuckled, "Detective Speedle, please, we're not in court," he replied softly. "I…"

The doors to the operating theatre suddenly opened and Dr. Russell, who had been the surgeon on call at the time of the shooting, came out in blue scrubs, "Judge Stokes," he said calmly. "Surgery's done."

"Nicolas?" Judge Stokes asked in a worried voice, frowning at Dr. Russell. "Please…he's my boy."

Dr. Russell nodded, "The bullets hit Nick's leg with such an impact that the bones below the knee all the way to the toes shattered, but screws and pins were inserted and his lower leg is in a cast and brace," he explained calmly. "The shock of the shooting, however, worsened Nick's breathing and we were forced to put him back on the vent and on some very heavy medications. He's in the Surgical ICU right now."

"At least he's alive," Judge Stokes replied in a shaken voice, cursing as Horatio came into the room.

Dr. Russell sighed, "We got the bullets out," he said as he reached into his pocket, extracted a small plastic bag containing two bullets covered in blood, and handed them to Horatio. "For evidence."

Horatio took the bag, "Detective Speedle, can you please take this to the lab?" he asked calmly.

Nodding, Emily took the bag and gave Judge Stokes a reassuring smile as she left, "I want her husband commended for his bravery in killing Nick's attackers," Judge Stokes said as Horatio sat next to him.

"I'll look into that," Horatio replied calmly, grateful that Speed had been cleaning his gun regularly.

Judge Stokes sighed, "I have this horrible feeling that this is somehow going to be tied back to Derek and I really, really don't want to have to make Nick face that reality," he said softly. "However, I'll have to."

"Well, let's just take this whole situation with Nick one step at a time, all right?" Horatio replied encouragingly. "Doing things in anger can only cause regret later on."

Nieto Residence – Staten Island, New York

"How's the floor?" Carlos asked in a groggy voice, gazing up at Ty as he lay in bed upright, his healing back supported by pillows with a glass of gingerale in hand. "I'm so embarrassed about puking."

Ty sighed as he sat on the edge of the bed, "It gives Brendan something to do," he replied kindly.

Carlos sighed, "I don't know what it's going to take to put that whole nightmare involving Bernard Marquez behind me," he said in an anxious, quiet voice. "It's bad enough I euthanized him, but to be the topic of a conversation that he and Ryan Wolfe's mother had; it's chilling and scares me to death."

There was a silence as Carlos heard the door open and Holly talking quietly to someone, "Ty, can you grab my walker for me?" he asked in a groggy voice even though he didn't feel like getting up.

Before Ty could reply, there were footsteps and Holly came into the bedroom with Mac, who had insisted on handling the situation personally, "Is the gingerale helping your stomach?" Holly asked, frightened that mere mention of the Bernard Marquez thing had prompted Carlos to get sick.

Ty got off of the bed and settled himself on a chair in the corner, "Sarah Wolfe mentioned that she and Bernard Marquez had drinks at one point in time and that the topic of your old group home came up," Mac explained as he sat on the ottoman near the bed. "Bernard bragged about what he did to you…"

Ty's eyes narrowed in confusion, but he didn't say anything, "I…I don't want to really talk about that, thanks," Carlos replied in an uncomfortable voice. "It was a very, very long time ago and Bernard is…"

"If Sarah Wolfe was angry enough to stab a Miami police officer and his wife, she might be angry enough to plan something against you and/or your family," Mac said somberly. "She seemed rather psychotic to Detective Tripp and he relayed the information to Lieutenant Caine. Lieutenant Caine phoned NYPD with his concerns..."

Carlos's eyes widened in shock and anger, "You have got to be kidding," he said darkly. "I just got out of the hospital after almost getting killed by Dimitri LaRusso and you're telling me I'm in danger again?"

"It might be a good idea if you and your family could perhaps pack some things and stay somewhere else for a few days until NYPD can sort this out," Mac said quietly. "We're working on it with Miami, but I'd rather you be safe."

Having overheard Mac's words, Brendan came into the room, "You guys can stay with Grace and I," he said in a kind voice, smiling at Carlos. "We have only one floor, a few empty rooms, and Grace is a paramedic if you need anything. One of us or Holly can run Tommy and Kylie to school in the morning and you can rest and do rehab…"

Carlos sighed heavily, closing his eyes because he didn't know how to react except for hating his inability to keep the past away. Holly sat down on the edge of the bed, taking his hands in hers and sighing as he opened his eyes.

"Okay," Carlos finally replied in a quiet voice, gazing at Brendan with fear in his eyes. "We'll stay with you and Grace til this mess gets sorted out. If someone could please get me my walker so I can help Holly pack stuff…"

Holly gently kissed his hands, "I'll get stuff together for the kids and us," she promised softly. "Shut your eyes for a little bit and I'll wake you when it's time to go to Brendan's. You just look so tired and sleep might help you."

Too tired to argue with her, Carlos silently closed his eyes as several pairs of footsteps left their master bedroom.

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