What Ryan tells Calleigh and Horatio is a real law, not something I made up.
'Nick, don't worry about Lucy. I've got it all figured out. –Ryan'
"Horatio, we've got a problem," Calleigh said as she laid out a case file on the light table. "One of the witnesses confirmed that Lucy was the one that shot the men that attacked Greg."
Horatio looked at her confused. "Ok, I already knew that," he said.
"No Horatio you don't understand, Lucy didn't just shoot that man when he was attacking Greg the witness said she shot him after he fell and was already bleeding out."
"Well it was self defense," Horatio said, "Lucy was scared."
"But it's not self defense if the man was injured and just lying on the ground wounded." Calleigh continued, "Horatio, Lucy murdered that man."
"No she didn't," Horatio snapped, "My granddaughter did no such thing."
"Horatio, listen to me!" Calleigh snapped back, "Lucy shot a defenseless man who was injured."
"The poor girl was terrified! What was she supposed to do with the man that just tried to kill her father?"
"I don't know!" Calleigh exclaimed, "All I know is this doesn't look good."
"She can't be convicted of murder," Ryan quietly said from the doorway, "She's too young."
Calleigh looked at him confused. "What do you mean?"
"According to federal law a child under the age of seven years is still considered an infant and therefore incapable of forming malice aforethought." Ryan explained, "She's unable to form Mens Rea because she doesn't have the emotional or mental capacity needed to form such aforethought."
Calleigh stared at him shocked. "How do you know this?"
"Criminal Law 352," Ryan said, "I thought about being a lawyer for awhile when I was in college but changed my mind when I failed that class."
"Yet you somehow remembered that vital information," Calleigh said with a smile. "Well I guess we need to figure out how to apply for infancy immunity for Lucy. If we don't the prosecuting attorney is going to try and charge her with murder, and I can guarantee Nick doesn't need that kind of stress right now."
Grissom walked into the hospital room. He stared at Greg's silent body. He sat in the chair by his bed and just stared at him.
"My god Greg," he muttered, "How could someone do this to you?" His question was met by silence as he sat in the empty room alone with Greg. His hand shook as he carefully held Greg's hand. His fingers traced a bruise on the back of his hand.
"I'm so sorry Greg," Grissom whispered, "I'm so sorry you have to live through this again." Grissom suddenly felt tears form in his eyes as he looked at the young CSI. "I suppose you actually told your mother this time that you're a CSI working in the field again. I'm guessing Nick's also called Rochelle by now."
Grissom leaned forward in his chair and continued to stare at Greg's hand. "Tell me Greg," he whispered, "Tell me who did this to you. Give me some sign that will help us catch this man. And don't argue with me, I'm helping Horatio with this case no matter what you say. I may have never expressed my true gratitude for you but I appreciated all the work you did for the lab and our team. I know I was hard on you but you needed it. You needed that kick in the ass to straighten you out. But damn it Greg you were one amazing scientist. When the under sheriff told me one day I had to get rid of you because you were so out there I fought for you. I told him there wasn't a better forensic tech out there that could replace you, and I was damned if I was going to let you get away. Please Greg, tell me who did this."
Grissom sat in his chair silently as Greg laid there motionless and silent. Tears slowly rolled down Grissom's cheeks as he leaned his head downward. A sudden movement in his hand caused his head to shoot up in attention.
He looked down to see Greg's right index finger twitching on his hand that was still encased in Grissom's. He leaned down to get a better look at the bruise on Greg's hand. It was an impression of something. Grissom squinted and examined it. Realization washed over him as he suddenly comprehended what it was. He pulled out his phone and dialed Horatio's number.
"Caine," Horatio answered.
"Horatio, it's Grissom, I think I just found something worth examining."
Calleigh examined the bruise on Greg's right hand under her ALS. "It appears to be a class ring," she said, "See how there's a large circle and then tiny words printed around it? I think it says Central High School, which really doesn't help because there's probably a Central High School in every city in every state in the country." Calleigh cocked her head and leaned in closer. "But I might have a name. David Fallon; probably isn't one of those in every city."
Calleigh sent the name in a text to Walter who quickly searched it. He called Calleigh when he got a hit.
"David Fallon," he read off the screen, "Guys got quite the rap sheet here. Breaking and entering, assault and battery, and he's lived in Texas, Connecticut, Montana, and now Florida. That sounds a little familiar."
"Sure does," Calleigh said as she packed up her kit, "Do we have an address for David Fallon?"
"Yes and no," Walter said, "His last listed address is a halfway house but whether he's still there we can't tell yet."
"Well how about I drop off the pictures I've taken, I pick you up, and then we head off to this halfway house."
"Sounds good to me," Walter said.
Nick watched as Greg slept in the hospital bed. He held Lucy close to his chest and held Greg's hand between his own and Lucy's. Rochelle and Robert Sanders walked in and stopped dead in their tracks at the sight of their son.
"Oh god," Rochelle muttered, "My little peanut." She sat in a chair across from Nick and Lucy. "How could this happen?"
"I'm so sorry Rochelle," Nick quietly said, "I can't help but feel that somehow this is my fault."
"No Nick, you had nothing to do with this," Rochelle said, meeting his eyes. "Yes I was shocked when Greg came out to us but when I met you I knew there was nothing wrong with my son. He just fell in love with an incredible man who would take care of him."
She smiled at Lucy and held out her arms. Nick passed her across the bed and into Rochelle's arms. She held Lucy in her arms and kissed the top of her head. "And then he said the two of you were going to adopt a beautiful little girl. I was a little disappointed that my first grandbaby wasn't going to actually be from my flesh and blood but when I met Lucy all my thoughts about family changed. Then that little girl saved my son's life. Really you saved his life Nick. If you hadn't asked him out and then asked him to marry you and then agreed to adopt this little girl my son would have died."
Rochelle Sanders looked into Nick's chocolate colored eyes. "Thank you Nick, thank you for all you've done for my son."
Nick smiled and reached out for her hand. He held it gently in his large palm. "You're welcome Rochelle, and thank you for letting me have your son."
"Aww, that's so cute," a drowsy voice muttered. Rochelle and Nick looked to see Greg's eyes just barely open. "My Mommy and Nick are having a moment."
"Greg," Nick breathlessly said. He began to reach for Greg's face, but he stopped and looked at Rochelle. She nodded at him. "Go ahead, you first," she smiled.
Nick carefully closed the distance and gently kissed Greg. "G, you're awake," he whispered.
"Yeah, medically in-in-induced comas only last for a day or sooo," Greg slurred. He looked towards Rochelle and Lucy and smiled. "Momma, you're here."
Rochelle stood and leaned over her son. "Yes peanut, I'm here," she kissed his cheek and gently set Lucy in his lap.
"Lucy b-b-baby," Greg stuttered, "How are you sweetie?"
"Daddy, I'm sorry you got hurt," Lucy whispered.
"It's ooook Lucy, it's n-n-not your fault."
The nurse walked in and smiled at Greg. "Mr. Sanders, you're awake now," she said as she began writing downs notes on Greg's chart. "How are you feeling?"
"Mah head huuurts," Greg stuttered.
"Well that's pretty expected, seeing as your skull is cracked in three different places. The swelling's finally gone down though, so that's good. For awhile there we thought we were going to have to remove part of your skull to bring the swelling down, but you pulled through alright."
"What h-h-h-happened to me?"
"Well you were beaten pretty badly, and if this little girl hadn't been there you probably would have died," the nurse explained. "You've got a few cracked ribs, some major bruising, a few bones broken in your left hand, cracked knee cap, three fractures in your skull, and one massive concussion."
"Wh-wh-why am I stuttering?" Greg inquired.
"Mr. Sanders were you not listening?" the nurse playfully asked, "You have a major concussion, you're going to have some troubles with your speech for awhile, along with some coordination problems, too."
Greg snaked his arms around Lucy's small body and held her close to his chest. "My head itches, too," he said.
"You have a few stitches," the nurse explained, "We needed to piece part of your skull back together and sew up a few gashes on your scalp."
"Do I have h-h-hairrr?"
"Not really, we shaved your head and it's going to have to stay bald for awhile."
"Awww man, I d-d-d-don't like being baaald," Greg stuttered with a smile towards Nick. "Kiss Ni-Ni-Nicky," he said with a pucker of his lips.
Nick chuckled and leaned down and gently kissed Greg. "You always were very persuasive G," he whispered.
Ryan smiled when he walked into the hospital room and saw Greg awake. "Hey Greg," he quietly said as he walked over and stood next to Nick, "How you feeling?"
"My heeead hurts," Greg stuttered. He reached out and grabbed Rochelle's hand. "Momma, thisss ish my b-b-brother!" he said excitedly.
Rochelle smiled at Ryan and looked at the same eyes on his face that her own son had. "So you're the young man my peanut has been telling me all about," she said with a smile.
"Yeah, Ryan Wolfe," he said as he held out his hand.
"It's good to finally meet you Ryan," Rochelle politely said.
"Like wise," Ryan quietly said.
"Rochelle?" Rochelle turned to see a tall man with red hair and blue eyes standing in the doorway. "Horatio," she whispered, "Oh my god, Horatio Caine."
"Rochelle Maher," Horatio whispered, "Is it really you?"
"Yes, well actually it's Rochelle Sanders now, but yes it's me."
Horatio slowly walked towards her, taking in her presence. "You look good Rochelle," he quietly said.
"Thank you Horatio," she whispered.
Nick walked into the interrogation room, David Fallon sitting at the table across from Calleigh and Frank. His face went pale and his eyes grew twice in size at the sight of Nick.
"I look just like him, don't I?" Nick asked him as he sat down next to Calleigh, "I look just like that fag you killed eight years ago in Austin, Texas. That fag that you approached and asked him if he was gay. Then when he said yes you told him you and your friends were also gay. Then you lured him back to your place, beat the shit out of him, and then dumped his body in the woods. But what you didn't know is that he didn't die. He was still alive when you dumped him out there. But I'm not that faggot. That man was my little brother. His name was Matthew, did you know that?"
David Fallon stared at him with wide eyes. "He was your brother?"
Nick slowly nodded his head. "Yeah, he was. Do you have a brother?"
Fallon hesitated but nodded his head. "Yeah, his name is also Matthew. I used to call him Matty when we were growing up."
"Huh, that's funny," Nick said, "Is your husband's name also Greg Sanders? Because I really hope not since the only Greg Sanders I know is my husband and he's currently lying in a hospital bed trying not to die." Nick leaned forward and stared at Fallon. "Do you know what it's like to almost have the one person you love more than anything in the world taken away from you? I got a call saying my husband was nearly beaten to death in a fit of pure fury and hate. Do you know what that did to me?"
"What the fuck does it matter?" Fallon asked, "Its one last fag in the world. One less fag taking away from the true citizens."
Nick leapt from his chair and grabbed Fallon by the front of his shirt. "Who the fuck do you think you are? What makes you think you have the power to decide who is and isn't a true citizen? What makes you think you're so high and mighty?"
Calleigh stood and gently grasped Nick's arm. "Don't do it Nick," she whispered, "It's not what Matthew and Greg would want."
Nick's hands shook as he released his grip on Fallon's shirt. He stepped back and stared at him. "I know we can't prove it now but I know you're the one who killed my brother. I know you're the one he spent his last hours with. You're the fucker who ruined his life. He should have been with his friends and family when he left this world, but he wasn't. He was with you."
Nick turned and started to walk from the room when Fallon spoke. "Your cunt of a daughter killed my brother. That man she killed was Matty."
Nick turned and looked at him. "Well then I guess we're even. A tooth for a tooth, a life for a life, my Matthew for your Matty."
Greg was wheeled from the hospital out to their waiting car. Nick smiled and helped him into the car. He gently kissed him and stroked his cheek. "I love you G," he whispered. Nick drove them home, holding Greg's shaking hand the whole way.
"Everything's going to be ok, Greg," Nick quietly said to him, "You're safe now. No one will ever hurt you again."
"Yo-you can't promise that Ni-Nicky," Greg stuttered, "You ca-ca-can't guarantee that no one will ever lay a violent hand on me."
"No but I can swear that I'll always protect you."
"Th-th-that's what you said last time," Greg said so quietly it was almost inaudible.
Nick held the screaming Greg protectively in his arms. Greg had been having a nightmare and Nick awoke to him screaming out in pain. There was nothing Nick could do but hold him and wait for him to fully wake up. When he did Greg's eyes adjusted to the light and he stared at Nick confused.
"Whe-whe-where did they go?"
"No where, no one's here but you and me G," Nick soothingly whispered. "I promise, no one's here, it's just us."
"Bu-bu-but they were here Nicky," Greg continued to stutter, "They were here, hitting me, kicking me, killing me."
"No G, we're all alone. No one's here, I can assure you of that."
Greg began to sob in Nick's arms. They were loud, pain filled cries that spoke of the anguish he had endured. "Why are they in my head?" he whispered, "Why won't they leave me alone?"