How I got there?


Jessica pulled the IV bag out of the freezer. She dropped it into the large pot of boiling water. She didn't really know if the blood would thaw in time but she had a lot of work to do still.

She hauled the eight bags of blood from the Miami University cadaver lab into her guest bathroom. She pulled on a paper mask and goggles and grabbed the five bleach bottles. The smell nearly knocked her on her ass as she opened each bottle. She recapped them and decided to hold off on that part for the time being.

Jessica retrieved the IV bag from her stove, now completely thawed and somewhat coagulated. She shrugged and grabbed a knife from the drawer. She figured it would just throw off the TOD the lab would propose.

She walked into the guest bathroom and sat in the tub, the nylon track suit she was wearing making a swishing sound. She held the bag tight and dragged the knife across the plastic membrane. Blood spattered onto the white tile and dripped down the wall. She dropped the knife to the floor and climbed out.

Jessica then plugged up the tub and poured half the bleach into the bath. She coughed and gasped, the air polluted and burning her throat. She dumped blood into the tub and some of it into the bottles of bleach. She shook them and dumped them in, hoping the ammonia would do its job.

Her eyes began to burn and she tried to work faster. The bleach began to leak through her gloves and she could feel her skin burning already. She jammed the lid onto the last bottle and shook it vigorously. The cap flew off and the bleach came showering down onto her. She screamed and clawed at her face.

Jessica dropped everything and kicked off her shoes. She ran through her condo and into her bathroom upstairs. She tore her clothes off and turned on the cold water. She stood under the water's spray for almost an hour, but the burning never stopped. She poured baking soda on herself and hoped it would neutralize the pain. She scrubbed with her body wash and shampoo vigorously.

After almost two hours the pain finally stopped. She climbed from the shower and walked over to the sink on shaky legs. She looked at her reflection and almost didn't recognize herself. Red bubbly patches of skin swirled around her face and neck and onto her chest. Her right eye was almost swollen shut and the burn swiped into her mouth and onto her tongue. Her hands were covered in red burns and they extended up her arms. She needed a doctor but she couldn't ruin her plan.

Her phone vibrated and she picked it up just in time to see Sami's number flashing. She brought the phone to her lips and answered in German.

"I know, I'm late," she said, "I had a little problem. I'm almost done though."

"What happened? Are you alright? You don't sound well Jess." Sami said.

"I'll be fine, just call Nate and ask him if there's anything I can do for a chemical burn without seeing a doctor."

"Chemical burn? Oh no Jess, you didn't spill did you?"

"I did, I've been showering for two hours to get it off. We're way behind schedule now. Just take the body and meet me outside Ryan's apartment in an hour. Don't speak to anyone and don't let anyone see you."

Jessica hung up her phone and walked into her bedroom. She pulled on new clothes and grabbed her bag. She stuffed the bloody and bleach covered clothes into a trash bag and stuffed them into the large black duffle bag. She clambered downstairs, now feeling pressed for time.

She nearly vomited when she walked into the guest bathroom, the smell of bleach and blood almost too much. She crammed the IV bags and bleach bottles into the bag, crushing them to make more room. She pulled her shoes back on and trend through the blood. She paused for a moment and then pushed herself to walk across her lovely white carpeting.

She rode the elevator down. Her hand ran across the burns on her face. She knew Henry would notice. She pulled her cabbie hat down farther and turned up the collar on her jacket. She held her head low and briskly walked through the lobby, not wanting to draw attention by running. Henry was leaving and she ignored him.

She took a taxi to Ryan's apartment complex. She ran through the place, finding the fake watch and ring she had stored in the downstairs bathroom. She rubbed her allergy cream across her burns, figuring it was all she could do for now. She gathered her suitcases she had hid there and hauled them to the front door. Her phone buzzed twice and then stopped. She looked to see the missed call from Sami. She gathered her things and walked outside.

Sami waited in a black Porsche in the parking lot. She flashed her headlights twice and Jessica walked over to her. Sami looked at Jessica's charred face and grimace.

"You had more than a little accident there, Chicka," she said. "Nate said the best you can do is just keep using your allergy stuff and keep it moisturized."

"Well that's all I can do right now," Jessica said, "I can't go to a hospital. Dead people don't need doctors."

"Speaking of dead people where are we taking this girl?"

"Club 191, no doubt that's where Eric's taken Ryan, its Eric's favorite bar."

"Are we burning first or second?"

"Let's burn first, I can't take the smell of this stuff much longer."

They pulled up to Hobart Street, the part of town with the highest homeless population. They found an empty burn barrel. Jessica dropped the entire duffle bag into the can and poured gas from Sami's gas can on top. She lit a match and dropped it in. They watched it burn until there was nothing left.

The sun was starting to rise and they knew they didn't have much time.

"We're so behind," Jessica said anxiously, "We're going to get caught."

"Oh well, I'd rather get caught then have you be in pain." Sami commented, staring at Jessica's burns.

"Let's just hurry, day shift starts in less than two hours."

"Do you really think they'll respond to the call?"

"Of course, Frank's on duty today for homicide. When he hears where the scene's at he'll call an all hands on deck."

"Do you think Ryan will be there?"

Jessica sighed and stared out the window as they pulled up in the alley. "He'll be there, I just hope he doesn't compromise anything."

Jessica dropped the small pipe bomb into the dumpster and dumped the dead body in on top as Sami set up the trip wire. She used fish line knowing it would be almost impossible to see. Jessica pulled out the disposable cell phone she had bought and took a picture of the dumpster.

"Who are you going to send it to?" Sami asked as they drove away.

"I'm thinking Eric," Jessica answered, "I can't send it to Ryan. He's going to be in enough pain already. I'm not sending it until tomorrow though. They're going to have enough evidence already to pull a double but I told Horatio not to let them do that. I need as much time as possible to let this play out."

"Now what?" Sami asked.

"Now we go get our front row seats."

They drove back to the City View Condominiums, parking behind the building where police cruisers were already showing up. They watched as two Hummers pulled up. Horatio climbed from one and looked around. He glanced at the Porsche and tugged at his right earlobe as he looked away.

"He knows we're here," Jessica said.

"What's he going to do?" Sami inquired.

"His job to comfort Ryan," Jessica said as her voice shook, "He's going to go ballistic."

Eric's car pulled up and parked behind the building. Eric, Jesse, and Ryan climbed out and walked towards the building.

"That bitch," Jessica muttered.

"What?" Sami inquired.

"Ryan stole my red aviators from my locker. No wonder I couldn't find them before I left."

Several minutes later Horatio came back outside practically carrying Ryan. Ryan was sobbing uncontrollably. He turned away from Horatio and vomited in the street. Horatio knelt by his side and held him in his arms. He tugged at his right earlobe again and Jessica watched them confused.

"He's told Ryan something," Jessica said.

"What is it?" Sami asked.

Jessica shook her head. "I don't know, but he wants me to know he's told him something."

Jessica phone vibrated and she found a text from Horatio.
'Please let me tell him, Bug. He's in pain, he needs to know.'
'No, we can't risk him knowing.'
'You're being selfish.'
'I don't care what you think, its better this way.'

Sami and Jessica strolled along the boardwalk, looking out at the unsuspecting people. Jessica hadn't been reported missing yet so they figured no one would recognize her.

"Are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital?" Sami asked, "Your burns look irritated."

"I told you I can't risk it," Jessica said annoyed, pulling her hat down farther.

"What about Alexx? You know she would keep your cover."

"No, the less people who know the better off I am." Jessica saw a patrol car driving towards them. "Come on, we need to leave. He's probably only on duty but we can't risk it."

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere else," Jessica said, "We're going to hide somewhere no one would think to look."

"Where's that?"

"Out in the open. Now come on!" Jessica hurried off and Sami jogged to catch up to her. Jessica watched as Officer Davidson drove by. She smiled and waved to him and he kindly returned the gesture.

"If we're hiding why are you waving?" Sami inquired.

"Because he wouldn't expect me to wave if I was really Jessica Caine."

"Touché, you're good."

It was a long night for them. Jessica paced and worried about Ryan. Horatio had promised to keep her up to date, but he hadn't called or texted her. Jessica was worried something had happened to Ryan. Finally at eight the following morning she received a text from Horatio.

'Sorry to keep you waiting Bug, but Ryan was a mess last night. The poor guy was crying all night and was only able to sleep when I held him in my bed.'

'So you cuddled with Ryan all night?'

'In a way I guess you could say that. He seems better today but he's still shaken up. Please let me tell him.'

'No Horatio, he can't know yet. I'm sending Eric the picture. Make sure when the body gets to the lab you take Ryan to the morgue. He'll know as soon as he looks at her feet.'

'Alright, I'm trusting you Jessica.'

Sami drove the rented Porsche through the streets towards Club 191.

"Do you really think a Porsche was the best idea?" Jessica asked.

"Why not?" Sami asked.

"Well it's not very indiscrete; someone's going to notice us."

"Well if that happens then I guess its game over for you."

"Shut your face and drive."

They sat and watched from the street as a bronze Hummer pulled up. Eric and Jesse leapt from the car and ran towards the dumpster, screaming Jessica's name.

"Oh no," Jessica said, "Jesse wasn't supposed to come along!"

"So what, big deal," Sami said, "The more the merrier."

"No, you don't understand, Sami. Jesse could ruin everything!"

The bomb exploded and Jessica watched in horror as Jesse Cardoza was flung backwards and hit his head. She unbuckled her seatbelt but Sami locked the doors and sped off in the opposite direction.

"What the hell Sami?! What did you do that for?!" Jessica exclaimed.

"You were about to reveal yourself," Sami said.

"Yeah because one of my closest friends was injured!"

"Leave him, he'll be fine," Sami muttered. "Besides, I need to change. I can't be late to my appointment."


Jessica sat behind the wheel of the rented Porsche, waiting for Sami in the MDPD parking lot. She had just dropped off the check at Ryan's apartment manager's, paying for an additional four weeks of the lease. A small black dog crawled into her lap and snorted happily. Jessica smiled and scratched behind her ear.

Sami slid into the passenger seat. She smiled at the sight of the dog and gently petted it.

"I see you went shopping," Sami smirked.

"Indeed I did," Jessica smiled in return.

"Where are you taking her?"

"Ryan's place, eventually," Jessica explained. "How is he?"

"Broke to pieces," Sami sighed. "That boy is so messed up right now. He needs you, again."

"Well he'll just have to wait," Jessica quietly said.

"What are you going to name her?" Sami asked after several minutes of silence.

Jessica smiled and scratched behind the ear of the small black dog. "I like the name Lucy."


She had disguised her voice, and the best Jessica could tell Ryan hadn't recognized her. He couldn't see her eye, that's why he didn't know. The heavy make up made her burned face itch. She couldn't wait to get it off.

She sat in the passenger seat and watched as he ran after the car. Tears were running down his face as he tried to catch her. Sami pressed down on the peddle when they reached the road. He was gone almost instantly.

Jessica looked out the window as tears poured down her face. She suddenly began sobbing as she finally felt the pain she had caused Ryan.