Miami-Dade Crime Lab/Police Department – Miami, Florida

Natalia's hands shook as she sat in the back of one of the ambulances that had responded to the attack on the department properties. She hadn't been injured, but everyone had been evacuated from the buildings as a precaution and everyone was being talked to; she had also witnessed Detective Caine being shot and taken.

"I want all uniforms out searching for that van!" Natalia heard Horatio shout. "I know it was Dimitri LaRusso's!"

Swallowing hard, Natalia got out of the back of the ambulance and saw that tents had been set up to hold the bodies of the masked men who had been killed in the shootout. Once the shooting had started, everyone with a firearm had responded in kind and the masked men had been quickly outnumbered and swiftly taken down.

Nearly 150 employees had been in the buildings at the time and everyone was being checked over by paramedics and then sent to another tent where Anthony Speedle had set up a station with hot drinks and food to calm everyone down while the building was checked over for damage. Miraculously, nobody else had been injured in the firefight, but everyone was shaken up by the attack and worried about if Detective Caine was alive and well.

"Miss Natalia!" BJ said in an anxious voice as he came out of the relief tent and saw Natalia. "Where's my dad?"

Natalia frowned, "I heard some cops saying that my dad was shot and thrown in a van," BJ said quietly.

Swearing under her breath, Natalia led BJ over to the food tent and glared at the uniformed officers before they went inside and over to the cot where Lenny and Adam sat together, "Boa Vista, do you have a beef with us or something?" Jessop asked as he came into the tent and saw Natalia with the boys. "What's with the look?"

"BJ, stay here," Natalia replied calmly as she pulled Jessop aside. "Jessop, what's with the gossip squad?"

Jessop gave Natalia a look, "BJ overheard you guys talking about his father!" Natalia hissed furiously.

Adam suddenly started crying and BJ hugged him while Lenny looked shocked. Anthony Speedle hurried over to the cot and sat with the three boys, knowing that they were all traumatized by what had just happened.

"Tony, Jenny, keep the food warm!" Anthony ordered as he put Adam on his lap. "There, there, Adam."

Chatter filled the tent and Natalia quickly left the tent and saw that Horatio, Ryan, Calliegh, Emily, Tim, Alexx, Tripp, and Jesse were all gathered near the spot where the van had been, "…I've got uniforms looking for the van, but there could be a million black vans out there," Tripp was saying. "…Boa Vista said he was shot, right?"

"Robert wears a Kevlar vest," Natalia spoke up anxiously. "I…I think his father's been following him and that's why he asked for a safehouse for himself and the boys until Rick got back from New York. I had arranged it for today."

Horatio frowned, "I phoned Rick and left a message on his phone," he replied softly. "We have no leads."

Feeling nauseous from being woken up by gunshots and breaking glass, Ryan sighed and suddenly found himself remembering how he had been followed by Russians over the Lindsey thing, "Bernard had control over the Russian mafia including Dimitri LaRusso," he spoke in a shaky voice. "Russians were following me and I left Emily's wedding to keep my sister and everyone safe. I was scared to report it because they said they'd hurt my family if I did…"

Unable to take being scrutinized, Ryan backed up and turned away from his colleagues just as a migraine hit courtesy of the chemotherapy. Pressing a hand to his forehead, Ryan forced himself across the grass to see if he could find somewhere quiet to lie down and close his eyes until the symptoms passed as they usually did.

The flashing lights assaulted Ryan's vision and he found himself losing the contents of his stomach all over the glass pieces that were in the lawn. Flashes of the day that the Russians shot at he and Eric flashed through his mind.

Noise flooded Ryan's ears and he anxiously clamped his hands over his ears because it felt like a jackhammer being applied to his skull. He suddenly felt himself being guided carefully across the grass and towards the rest tent.

Hands gently reached up and pried Ryan's hands off of his ears as Ryan felt himself being sat on a cot, "Easy, baby boy," he heard Alexx say gently as he felt a blanket being placed over his t-shirt. "You need to get checked out."

"I was napping in the break room when I got woke up by alarms, Alexx," Ryan spoke in a shaky voice as Alexx sat down beside him. "I got up and as I approached the elevator, I was hit by this huge tunnel of exploding glass and I hit the floor. The next thing I know, I'm being pulled to my feet and hustled down the stairs by someone."

Alexx frowned, "You lost consciousness and nobody reported it?" she asked in a concerned voice.

Ryan shrugged, "Detective Caine was shot and abducted," he replied softly. "I'm not a priority since Delko…"

Alexx gave Ryan a look as he gagged, "You need to be looked at," she repeated softly. "Do you think so?"

"Here's some water, Uncle Ryan," Jason said as he suddenly hurried over. "You don't look so good."

Ryan sighed, "I called my mom and she's freaking out," Jason continued softly. "The media's hanging around."

"I have to tell them what I can about the Russians," Ryan replied weakly. "Even…even if I don't feel good."

Before Alexx or Jason could reply, Ryan slowly stood up and left the tent, unsurprised when Tripp came over to him, "I heard you might have some information," Tripp said calmly. "About who took Detective Caine…"

"Yeah," Ryan replied in a shaky voice, knowing that his information was the only reason why he was noticed at all.

Tripp frowned at Ryan's pallor, "Did paramedics check you out?" he asked worriedly. "You look half-dead."

"Horatio wants the information," Ryan replied in a weak voice. "How I'm feeling's not important."

Tripp scowled and as he looked around for Horatio, Ryan massaged his healing surgical scar, "Frank, I have thyroid cancer," Ryan snapped, irritated that he couldn't be of any help. "I doubt anyone in the lab actually cares…"

"What?" Tripp asked in a surprised voice, giving Ryan a look of pure shock. "What did you just say?"

New York Presbyterian Hospital – New York, New York

"…I don't understand why we're here if you're fine," Bosco replied in a confused voice as he followed Danielle into the Emergency Room. "We promised your dad and Yelina that we'd be back by around suppertime to go out…"

Danielle sighed, "I owe Nick my life and the lives of John, David, and Ellie, Maurice," she replied softly.

"I don't understand," Bosco said in a confused voice. "This guy…you said he's visiting from Vegas…"

Danielle gave Bosco a look, "Maurice, back when Edward was alive, I moved around a lot with the kids because he kept stalking us all over the country," she explained quietly. "Las Vegas is where we lived before New York."

"Is that Nick guy who helped you move?" Bosco asked in a confused voice. "Why is he in New York?"

Danielle shrugged and looked at the desk clerk, "Excuse me, I'm looking for a guy named Nick Grissom," she said.

"Are you family?" the clerk replied in a stern voice. "Mister Grissom's father restricted visitors to family only."

Danielle scoffed, "I'm Nicky's sister and this is my husband," she lied in a concerned voice. "Is he okay?"

The desk clerk gave Danielle a suspicious look, "Trauma One," she finally said in a disbelieving voice.

Nodding, Danielle marched through the ER and stopped outside Trauma One, sighing as she watched Grissom help Nick, who was upright on a gurney and looking tired, drink some water from a plastic cup, "That…that's the guy who helped you?" Bosco asked in a surprised voice, eyeing Nick. "What…what did you see in me over him?"

"I married you because I love you, Maurice," Danielle replied softly, gazing at Bosco. "Don't feel threatened."

Bosco sighed, but followed Danielle into the room and hung out by the wall, "Danielle Sullivan?" Nick asked softly.

"Danielle Boscorelli," Danielle replied softly, smiling at Nick. "I thought you were a CSI in Las Vegas?"

Nick sighed softly, "I had trouble after I helped you guys escape," he spoke softly. "I'm here to answer for it."

"Trouble?" Danielle asked in a confused voice, gazing at Nick worriedly. "Did Edward come looking for you?"

Nick slowly lay back on his pillow, "Edward made friends with Catherine Willows, who was working for the CSI department back then, and that's how he got my address," he explained in a tired voice, knowing he had to share his experience with Danielle and her husband. "Catherine used our friendship to get into my house and let Edward inside. I was injected with something and I woke up naked and tied to my bed. That's when they had their fun…"

Danielle was very quiet and she started to cry, realizing what Nick meant, "I'm so sorry, Nick," she spoke shakily, horrified at what Edward and Catherine had done. "Nick…you, you should stay with us when you get out…"

"I've got a room at the Plaza," Nick replied quietly. "My colleague and friend, Greg, came with me here."

Bosco sighed, "I know how you feel," he spoke softly, gazing at Nick. "I…I was assaulted just a month ago."

Nick sighed tiredly, "You and that Greg guy should come for dinner while you're in New York, then," Danielle spoke shakily, trying to keep from crying more. "We're eating pretty healthy because John got diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes last year and he wants to stay healthy because he's going to NYU this fall for Criminalistics."

Grissom looked pleased and surprised, "He's like 16," he replied quietly. "Did John take his GED after Catherine…?"

"Yeah," Danielle replied softly. "He didn't like high school much anyway, so this is better for him."

Nick looked horrified, "What did Catherine do to John?" he asked in an anxious voice.

"Another time," Grissom cut in as his cell-phone buzzed. "You need to rest, Nick."

Moving away from the gurney, Grissom answered his phone and frowned when he heard Emily on the other end explain that the MDPD buildings were shot up and that Detective Caine had been abducted, so she wasn't able to come to New York in the near future, "You don't mean LaRusso who used to work here?" Grissom asked.

Bosco's eyes widened as he heard his former partner's name, "What is it?" he asked, giving Grissom a look.

Grissom gave Bosco a look, "Make sure the NYPD knows about it in case they come this way," he said on the phone, frowning when Emily explained that her brother, Ryan, had information about the abductors.

The call ended and Grissom sighed heavily, wondering how to break the news about the chaos in Miami.

Everglades – Miami, Florida

Angry Russian flooded Robert's ears as he slowly came to, "…I told you not to drive so RECKLESSLY!" he heard his father shout in his thick Russian accent as a thick slap echoed across the room. "YOU KNOCKED HIM OUT!"

"Da, but Dimitri, he is avake now!" a voice said eagerly. "Now I can put him in zat chokey of yours."

Robert quickly realized that his hands were cuffed together and forcibly behind him while he sat in a chair in his work pants and undershirt with his vest, badge, and work shirt missing, "I do not intend to kill you yet," Dimitri said as he turned to him and gazed down at the bloody gash on his forehead and the bloodstain on his undershirt.

"What…what do you want?" Robert asked in a shaky voice, his head pounding from hitting the side of the van.

Dimitri scowled, "To punish Horatio for taking you away from me," he hissed. "And you for allowing him to."

Before Robert could reply, Dimitri lifted the chair and hurled it and Robert into the nearest wall, causing the already frail chair to smash into pieces and Bobby to fall to the ground with his arms behind him. Cracking and popping sounds filled the air, but Dimitri ignored them and Robert didn't dare cry even though he was in pain.

"We are not staying in Miami," Dimitri hissed as he yanked Robert up by his bound wrists and marched him outside of the shack where a very large, dark, metallic van waited. "I will put you in my chokey now."

Dimitri opened the back of the van revealing a manmade cage that had a small seat and walls that were filled with nails, icicles, and pieces of broken board as well as an oxygen mask on the door. A cold air wafted from it.

"Ze mask gives air cycles ven ze van eez running," Dimitri explained as he forced Robert's arms to the front. "If you do not sit a certain way, you will get sliced up and I do not want that. Be good and sit and watch ze webcams."

Robert frowned as he suddenly noticed the webcams in the upper corners, "Zat way, your dear Uncle Horatio will not miss ze fun," Dimitri said coldly as he forced Robert into the cage and forced the mask over his face. "Sleep."

As the door to the 'chokey' closed, the webcams activated and Robert suddenly felt laughing gas flood his throat.

Miami-Dade Crime Lab/Police Department – Miami, Florida

"…Hello Horatio Caine," a dark voice tinged with a Russian accent spoke. "Do you remember me?"

Horatio froze as he suddenly heard Dimitri LaRusso's voice fill his phone while he stood alone near where the van had been, "…I hacked your phone, Horatio," Dimitri said coldly. "Your precious nephew can be viewed all ze time."

Not noticing that Tripp had come over to talk to him, Horatio quickly turned the video on his phone and frowned when he saw Bobby in some sort of deathtrap cage semi-conscious with a mask over his face. There was a bleeding gash on his nephew's forehead and bad bruises were beginning to form all over his visible chest and neck. Bobby's hands were cuffed together and his breathing was slow and ragged as if he had been severely drugged.

"We will eventually go to the desert," Dimitri's voice said. "It's a warm enough place for him to die slowly."

The cameras suddenly shook, forcibly shifting Robert to one side against some of the deathtrap walls, "Ze webcams are broadcasting to every computer in your lab, so I suggest you do not turn zem off," Dimitri said. "I thought we would go visit ze city where his mother vas killed first and zen go to ze desert in Nevada…"

Tripp gave Horatio a look, but Horatio remained focused on the video and silently moved across the grass to the food tent; most people had eaten and were now going through the cleared buildings to search for their things, but Tim, Calliegh, Emily, Ryan, Natalia, BJ, Adam, Lenny, Jesse, and Alexx were all still there with Jason and Jenny getting them food while. Natalia sat with BJ, Adam, and Lenny on a cot because they trusted her implicitly; Tim and Emily were sitting on a cot together watching Ryan, who sat on a corner cot alone, tremble uncontrollably. Alexx and Callieigh were helping Jenny and Tony because they were both very scared and Anthony was phoning his wife and Tony was taking his insulin and staying close to his father, as he was rightfully scared about the situation.

Ryan had told what he knew about the Russians to Tripp and then had phoned Delko to warn him, relieved when Delko had simply listened and promised to be careful. Now, burdened with guilt over what had happened and feeling unwell from the shooting and chemo, he sat away from the others ready to pass out at any moment.

Unable to face Horatio, Ryan slowly got up and unsteadily walked across the tent with pieces of glass still in his shoes that shot sound through his whole body and worsened his migraine. Suddenly, he felt his legs give out and he fell into a pile of empty cots, "RYAN!" Horatio shouted as a loud crash sounded through the tent.

"Ryan told me he was on his way to the elevator and blown to the floor during the shooting," Alexx said in an anxious voice as she hurried over to where Ryan lay face down and unresponsive. "I think he was knocked out."

Horatio looked at Callieigh, "GO GET PARAMEDICS!" he shouted as he hurried over to Ryan. "Ryan?"

Completely spent and overwhelmed by his migraine, Ryan didn't respond, "Alexx, help me turn him," Horatio said in an anxious voice, keeping one eye on the feed. "Speed, go into the lab and check the computers!"

Tim frowned, "Robert's in a cage with a webcam that's being broadcasted throughout the lab," Horatio explained.

Nodding, Tim took off out of the tent while Emily hurried over, "What can I do?" she asked in a worried voice.

Horatio handed Emily the phone, "Keep watching this," he replied as he helped Alexx turn Ryan on his side.

Calliegh and two paramedics loaded down with gear quickly entered the tent, "Natalia, call New York!" Horatio called out, stepping back as paramedics converged on Ryan and Alexx. "They might take Bobby there first."

Angel of Mercy Hospital – New York

Catherine slept soundly in her hospital bed underneath heated blankets with IV's in her arms while pictures that Lenny had drawn for his mother lay on the blankets, their presence a comfort. Rick sat beside the bed in silence, having reamed out the hospital in Boston and revoked their right to care for Catherine any longer. He was planning to get through whatever legal crap had to be done and then he was taking Catherine to Miami for better care.

As Rick sat there, he silently saw NYPD plainclothes come down the hallway looking sick, "Rick," Mac Taylor said as he emerged from the group and entered the quiet hospital room. "There…there's been an incident in Miami."

"My son?" Rick asked in a concerned voice, his eyes full of fear. "What…what happened down there, Taylor?"

Mac sighed, "The police buildings down there were shot up by the Russians and your brother-in-law was shot and kidnapped by a Dimitri LaRusso," he replied in a quiet voice. "There's a webcam feed being broadcast…"

Rick paled, "Check your phone and see if it's been hacked," Mac said quickly. "It's happening all over the city."

Praying that Catherine wouldn't wake anytime soon, Rick got his phone out and saw that a link to a video feed had been sent to it. Shaking anxiously, Rick clicked the link and swore softly when he saw Robert's condition.

"Dimitri always was a sicko," Rick hissed in a shaking voice. "What am I supposed to do with this?"

Mac frowned, "There's reason to believe that they might try to come to New York," he replied worriedly.

New York Presbyterian Hospital – New York, New York

"We've been ordered to go back to the hotel and call in," Grissom said in an anxious voice as he marched into the hospital room and found that Nick was asleep on his side. "Nick, wake up, we need to get out of here."

Nick opened his eyes, "What?" he asked in a confused voice. "I must be hallucinating again…"

"No, Nick, there was an attack on the Miami-Dade Police Buildings and someone who used to work with NYPD was kidnapped by some manic Russians," Grissom explained in an anxious voice. "Officer Boscorelli's on medical leave, but he went in for the briefing because the kidnapped guy was his former partner. Can you walk on your own?"

Nick frowned, "What about the trial?" he asked in a confused voice. "Is Catherine involved…somehow?"

"No, Catherine's at a separate hospital undergoing treatment for injuries she got at the mental hospital in Boston," Grissom admitted as Nick slowly sat up and immediately stopped because he felt a wave of nausea. "Nick?"

Nick sighed, "Give me a minute," he replied shakily, the sensation of sitting up quickly proving too much.

Before Grissom could reply, Sully came into view because he had been briefed by Grissom over the phone and asked to lend a hand to Victims Assistance, "Who's that?" Nick asked in a confused voice. "Is…is he safe?"

"That's former NYPD cop John Sullivan and he works for Victims Assistance," Grissom replied calmly, frowning as Nick slowly got out of bed and crept over to his clothes with his eyes on Sully. "He won't hurt you like Edward did."

Sully paled, having overheard Grissom's words as he came into the room, "Crap," he said in a somber voice.

Swallowing hard, Nick focused on changing his clothes, "Sullivan?" he finally asked. "Any relation to Danielle?"

"Yeah," Sully replied calmly. "Danielle's my daughter and she mentioned you were here today."

Nick nodded, "But...she didn't mention that you knew Edward," Sully continued in a worried voice.

"Everyone who plays hero or rescuer eventually pays for it," Nick said cryptically. "Some sooner than others."

Sully sighed as he connected the dots in his mind and figured that Edward must have beat this poor guy up for helping Danielle, "It's going to become public knowledge anyway whenever I have to go to court and testify," Nick said in an annoyed voice, suddenly grabbing hold of a chair because he felt tired. "I need to sit down…"

"I ordered a wheelchair along with your discharge papers," Grissom replied. "Sit down and breathe."

Nick sat and eyed Sully suspiciously, "Danielle's at home with three of her kids and she was crying when she came in, but she wouldn't say why," Sully said, wondering what Nick was hiding. "My fiancé is with them right now."

"It wasn't her fault," Nick replied in a shaken voice. "I…I should have never opened my door when Cat knocked…"

Grissom sighed, "When I read the news about what happened to John Sullivan last year, I felt sick to my stomach and I texted Edward asking if I could do anything to save that kid," Nick spoke anxiously. "He left his number on the wall at my house in my blood and Greg took a picture and sample. It…it should be in the packet in his luggage…"

Silence filled the room and Nick found himself bolting out of the room and out of the hospital because he desperately needed some air. The sky was cloudy and it was hot, but Nick felt like he was in a closed space.

Digging through his pockets, Nick quickly found that he had some money in his wallet and spotted a rustic looking bar just down the street; he needed something strong to numb his panic and bar was the best place to do it.

Swallowing hard, Nick moved down the street and crossed over to the other side, hoping that Grissom and that Sully guy would take their time finding him. The dingy bar was quiet, but empty and Nick felt very safe there.

"Can I get you something to drink?" Rose Boscorelli asked as she came into view. "It's a bit early in the day…"

Nick sighed and planted himself at the bar, "Something strong," he replied softly. "I have money."

Rose nodded and quickly made a drink, giving Nick a look as he took the glass and quickly downed it.

Mercy Hospital – Miami, Florida

Eric sighed as he came into the quiet emergency room and saw Horatio standing outside an exam room looking worried, "H, you wanted to see me?" he asked in a worried voice. "I thought Emily talked to you already."

"She did," Horatio spoke calmly. "You also know that our buildings were shot up by the Russians, right?"

Eric nodded, "Ryan was woken up by the alarms and was evacuating the building when the shooting started and he was blown to the floor by shattering glass and knocked out," Horatio replied softly. "He sustained fairly moderate injuries and ended up collapsing in one of the tents because of his injuries and his reactions to chemotherapy."

"Chemotherapy, H?" Eric asked in a worried voice. "Chemotherapy is for people who have…cancer."

Horatio nodded, but didn't comment further, "My nephew was kidnapped by his sadistic father who just happens to be a high-up in the Russian mafia," he explained softly. "I have to go oversee that investigation, but I don't want Ryan to be alone under any circumstances. He's probably going to be spending a few days in the hospital."

"I can do that," Eric replied quietly. "My dad's going to come by later and check on how I'm doing, but I'm good."

Horatio gently patted Eric's arm, "Ryan is expecting you," he said calmly. "Thank you for your help, Eric."

Eric sighed and looked into the room, frowning when he saw Ryan unconscious in bed, lying on his side and being sustained by IV's and an oxygen mask while a man in a white lab coat silently stitched up a gash on his abdomen, "Why is Ryan on his side?" he asked as he came into the room. "I'm CSI Eric Delko. Horatio told me to…"

"I'm Doctor Montoyan and Ryan caught some glass during the shooting," Dr. Montoyan replied calmly. "He got shards in his right forearm when he lifted it to shield his eyes; a shard in his back; and a shard in his abdomen as well as some broken ribs from when he hit the floor. I've already done his back and his forearm using a local anesthetic and I'm also arranging for him to do some inpatient chemo once I can get him a bed upstairs."

Ryan suddenly stirred and gasped through the mask, "Take it easy, Ryan," Dr. Monotyan said. "Relax."

"Horatio asked me to come and sit with you," Eric spoke in a calm voice, hoping to ease Ryan's anxieties.

Ryan nodded and drifted back into a deep sleep, "That's perfectly normal," Dr. Montoyan said calmly as he finished with the stitches and got some gauze and tape. "That shootout at the police buildings was pretty serious and I'm surprised that there aren't more staff in here with injuries. Then again, one of your own was shot and snatched…"

Eric silently grabbed a chair and watched as Dr. Montoyan bandaged Ryan's abdomen, lowered his gown, replaced the blanket, and then quietly arranged a spare pillow against Ryan's back to keep him in place, "I'll come back when he's got a room upstairs," Dr. Montoyan said, quickly gathering his supplies. "Hopefully it'll be soon."

Nodding, Eric put the chair beside the bed and quietly sat, hoping he would be able to help his sick friend.

Miami-Dade Crime Lab/Police Department – Miami, Florida

Dave Benton sighed heavily, frowning at the computer as Tim entered the room with his trainee, as Jesse was eager to help any way he could, "The shaking stopped," Dave explained anxiously, pointing to the screen as he turned up the volume to reveal Robert's faint breathing. "There aren't sounds coming from the mask; they're his."

There was a creaking sound, "…Fill ze car up," a voice spoke from the outside. "Do you know of any healers?"

Robert twitched, but didn't wake, "…I do not think it is a good idea to visit Adria's grave," a voice said.

A slapping sound filled the camera and the view suddenly changed, "It seems there are multiple webcams," Dave explained as light flooded the cage and a hand came into view holding a water bottle. "What are they…?"

Tim frowned as a hand smacked Robert's face, prompting the detective to open his eyes, "Water," a voice hissed.

The mask was forced off of his face and Robert whimpered as his mouth was forced open and he was forced to drink the water, "Cannot have you dying before I am ready for you to die," a dark Russian accent hissed.

Robert gurgled as he struggled to swallow the water and ended up choking. Profanity filled the air and a fist came down hard on Robert's sternum several times before he started coughing, "Give me your gun," a voice said.

There was a silence and shots rang out, "He can have holes to breathe instead of that mask," a voice hissed.

A hand came down on Robert's bruised cheek, "If you make a sound, the mask goes back on and you can breathe whatever I choose," a dark voice said. "You have holes now like a pet in a box, but you must be quiet."

Robert didn't say anything, choosing to drift into unconsciousness instead as the door was closed. A few moments later, the shaking resumed and specks of blood now littered the walls, indicating that Robert was now bleeding.

"I'll call Horatio," Tim said in a concerned voice as he got his phone out. "He'll want to know about this."

Outside of the damaged buildings, Horatio had just gotten back from Mercy and was surprised to see Natalia on the phone with BJ, Adam, and Lenny around her, "…Yes, Sergeant Stetler, I can do that," she said. "I have a key."

Seeing Horatio, Natalia quickly ended the call, "Sergeant Stetler called and asked me to take BJ, Adam, and Lenny home and stay with them until he can either get home or until Robert's found," she explained softly. "Robert and I have been in a relationship and Sergeant Stetler knows about it; he just tells us to keep things off of the clock."

Horatio nodded, secretly pleased that his nephew had opened his heart, "That's fine," he replied calmly.

"Miss Talia, I…" Adam spoke shakily, his lip quivering as he looked up at Natalia. "I had an accident."

Natalia sighed, "It's okay, Adam," she spoke gently. "We're going to go home and you can have a warm bath."

Adam nodded, "Adam, would you like it if I came over for supper tonight?" Horatio asked gently.

"Are you gonna find my daddy?" Adam asked quietly, shaken by everything. "Please find my daddy."

Natalia sighed and took Adam's hand in her own as she led the boys to her car, leaving Horatio alone and knowing that he needed to figure out where Robert was destined so he could be there, waiting to rescue his nephew again.

Suddenly feeling the phone vibrating in his pocket, Horatio fished it out of his pocket and quickly answered it.

Downtown Bar – Manhattan, New York

"Ma, what's up?" Bosco asked as he came into his mother's bar and saw his mother lingering beside Nick, who had quickly downed several glasses of strong liquor before passing out at the counter. "Did you call the police?"

Rose sighed, "Maurice, he's dressed too nice to be a bum," she replied softly. "He…he cried a lot."

As Bosco looked at the guy's face, his eyes widened because he recognized the guy as the one who helped Danielle and who had been raped by Catherine and Edward for his trouble, "He just kept drinking and sobbing," Rose said.

Bosco sighed and gently shook Nick, "What?" Nick mumbled drunkenly. "Go away…I'm trying to get numb."

"I know why you're hurting and this isn't the way to deal with it, Nick," Bosco replied gently. "I know it hurts."

Nick sighed drunkenly, "Grissom made me come and made me dig it all up again," he spat in a slurred voice as he looked at Bosco through bloodshot eyes. "I just wanted to ignore it and the bad feelings would go away."

"Maurice, he can sleep it off in the back room," Rose said anxiously. "I don't wanna involve the police."

Bosco nodded and gently touched Nick's shoulder, "Come on, Nick, you should lie down," he said calmly.

"Screw Grissom and his wanting to do good all the time!" Nick snapped as he let Bosco help him to his feet.

Bosco calmly guided Nick into the back room and sat him on the comfy couch, "Edward was mad cause I broke his ribs and gave him a black eye for raping Danielle and then he beat her again after he found out she was pregnant," Nick slurred. "He hung around on that strip all the time and after she lost that baby, I helped her move away…"

Rose gave Bosco a look, but Bosco didn't say anything because he had never known that Danielle had lost a child to spousal violence between having Ellie and having Michael and Emily. Bosco got into the fridge and got out a vitamin water, sighing as he brought it over to Nick, who was on the verge of tears and unaware of his words.

"She was an office worker who hung out a lot with us CSI's," Nick slurred. "The job fed her and her kids and…"

Bosco uncapped the bottle and offered it to Nick, "Drink this vitamin water," he said calmly. "It'll help."

"That Sully guy is probably gonna arrest me," Nick said as he chugged the water. "That was…sweet."

Bosco frowned at the mention of Sully, "I feel sick," Nick slurred. "I…I think I drank too much…"

Before Bosco or Rose could react, Nick stumbled over to the industrial sink and began to vomit and the bell above the door suddenly jingled, "Hello?" Bosco heard a familiar voice call out. "Is anyone in here or what?"

"Oh crap," Nick groaned, recognizing the voice. "Grissom found me and he's gonna get mad about this…"

There was a silence as Grissom came into the back room followed by Sully, "Are you drunk?" Grissom asked.

Nick eyed Grissom and quickly grabbed the sink as he felt his legs giving out, "Just a little," he slurred softly.

Grissom took a whiff as he moved closer to Nick, "You smell like a brewery," he replied in a worried voice.

"I think I had at least three Zombies," Nick confessed in a drunken voice. "And a few daiquiris…I can't…"

Sully sighed as Nick hugged the wall and the sink, "I didn't mean to make Dani cry," Nick slurred sadly as he let go of the wall and promptly fell against Grissom. "It wasn't her fault what happened. It was mine for letting…"

Bosco glared at Sully and Nick started sobbing drunkenly, "Let's go back to the hotel and you can sleep," Grissom said in a calming voice, knowing he had to tread carefully because Nick was drunk. "Greg's there waiting…"

Nick sighed and nodded, relieved when Grissom helped him walk back into the bar, "How much is the bill?" Grissom asked as they all went to the counter and saw the mess of glasses sitting there. "Oh, Nicky…"

"Nearly a hundred bucks," Rose replied in a worried voice. "I cut him off after the last one, though."

Grissom reached into his jacket pocket and set a small roll of bills on the counter before guiding Nick outside, "It's cold," Nick slurred, gazing up at the gray sky as he felt himself being directed across the sidewalk. "Ugh…"

"Just get in the car and try not to throw up," Grissom said as he helped Nick into the front seat. "Relax."

Bosco sighed, "I gotta go home," he said apologetically. "I'm gonna be helping with the search soon…"

Sully nodded and Bosco walked off down the street, as the apartment wasn't far, "Rick's been texting me and demanding to be allowed to take Catherine to Florida because he thinks she needs her family and her son misses her," Sully said in a quiet voice, gazing at Grissom. "Catherine still has a few days of recovery here, but…"

"I'll talk to them after Nick's better," Grissom replied calmly. "Thanks for your help with this, Sully."

"Dani, can we talk?" Bosco asked as he walked into the living room and saw Danielle looking an I Spy book with David and Ellie while John and Yelina were cooking something in the kitchen area. "In the bedroom?"

Nodding, Danielle left the book with David and Ellie and followed Bosco into their master bedroom, closing the door behind them, "That Nick guy ran to my ma's bar and ended up wasted because he blames himself for what happened with Edward," Bosco said in a quiet voice. "He mentioned some things while under the influence…"

"Ah," Danielle replied softly, nodding. "Yes, I used to work with Nick Stokes and everyone else at the Vegas PD."

Bosco sighed, "Edward got you pregnant after Ellie," he said softly. "That Nick guy said you lost that baby…"

"Maurice, it's not something I talk about and I didn't think Nick remembered it," Danielle replied softly.

Bosco remained quiet and Danielle silently sat on the bed, "Edward thought Nick was a lover because he was hanging around my place a lot as protection detail by request of Victims Assistance," Danielle explained in a quiet voice. "Edward broke in to my micro office at the LVPD and beat me half to death even though he knew I was pregnant. John and David were at school and Ellie was at preschool, so I was alone because I thought I was safe…"

Sighing, Bosco sat on the bed and put an arm around Danielle, "I didn't think I'd ever have any more kids after I nearly bled to death losing that child," Danielle spoke softly. "Having Michael and Emily was…it was a miracle."

"Danielle, Nick had almost a hundred dollars' worth of booze in him," Bosco said quietly. "I don't think he ever talked about what happened or got any help for it until now. Now, I see why you took me to that center."

Danielle nodded, "I made another appointment, by the way," Bosco continued softly. "I need the counseling."

"Whenever you have your appointments, I'll find something to do," Danielle replied gently. "Michael and Emily will hopefully be home by the time John goes to university and David and Ellie go back to school, so I'll have plenty…"

Feeling like he needed to show Danielle he cared, Bosco gently pulled Danielle into a kiss and Danielle immediately returned it because she needed romantic reassurance. This was the first time she had shared about that painful loss and Nick Stokes had only known about it because he was there as protection detail and had kept John, David, and Ellie from bothering her while she endured the miscarrying process in the privacy of her small bedroom.

The kissing continued for several moments and then Danielle sighed as she gently stroked her husband's face, "We're good as long as we're not afraid to share our scars with each other," Bosco spoke in a gentle voice.

"I won't be afraid to share anything with you ever again, Maurice Boscorelli," Danielle whispered, hugging him.

Please read and review!