NOTE:Okay, so this was a little later than usual and that was mostly because I had several things over the weekend that got in my way. I had a personal obligation on Saturday and then my daughter is in band and there was a Band Spectacular on Sunday afternoon. She is also in Choir and Honor Choir which required my attendance last night at a concert. She also has the lead in the school musical and that requires her butt ferried back and forth to rehearsals. This has put a crimp in my writing time. Now, band and choir concerts are done, but rehearsals continue. I've also been running around doing Christmas shopping, so things have been a bit crazy for me. Usual stuff applies this week...no beta, typos and all that.

Some of you may have read the little piece Nico Does a Bad Bad Thing and if you did and enjoyed it, or found it thought provoking, which was the intention, then thank you. If you have not read it, feel free, but be warned; it is darker than what you find here. It is not THIS NICO...well, it is but it is Nico of the past in a situation of the past. Heavy adult themes. Most people viewed it that way and if they had negative thoughts they left them constructively, or chose to not leave negative feedback. I'm fine with disagreeable words, but not personal attacks. Please, don't ever use personal attacks in any reviews on this site, not just on my stories.

LONG NOTE: Writing is personal enough as it is. It's hard to put what you write out there for people to read. If you feel something because of what you read that only means the writer did their job well. If you can see it, taste it, feel it-then the words have become more than words. The writer has painted a picture and set a scene. That is what writing is about. When that happens, when the words move from the page and become more than words and when those words invoke feeling, passion, disgust and possibly even hate, well then this is a good thing. I know that is why I read and that is the experience I want when I pick up a book.

I want to be transported to feel something else, to see and experience something that isn't here, to be someone else or to see what it was like for them. That is the entire reason for reading isn't it? Just because you didn't like the experience doesn't mean that the writer was wrong. It just means you didn't like the story, or the style. Okay, sometimes a book just sucks. I get it...and in some cases I couldn't agree more and if that was the case, bring it. I've said time and time again...if you have an issue with something about my story, the characterization, the pacing, some element, bring it up, show me, tell me and that way I can fix it. But don't just throw something at me because you were uncomfortable about it.

Don't tell me I need help and if you want to tell me that, have the balls to sign your review.

I wrote a story about 2 consenting adults, fiction...I didn't hurt people, I didn't threaten people. People who need help, there are plenty and as a Nurse Practitioner, I deal with them everyday. I help them and when I can't help them anymore, I try to find more help for them. There was a man in Connecticut...he needed help and didn't get it and now 20 kids are dead. Lets worry about the people who really need it. Psychiatric care in this country is horrible and we should be ashamed. (I'll step off my soap box now)

Put Me Back Together

Lindsay was smiling at the story Nico was telling her about TK and Razor handcuffed to the goalpost all because of a lost playbook and some well deserved payback. She was almost feeling normal as she leaned against Nico's shoulder and listened to him. It really didn't matter what he said. She just wanted to hear him talk to her, his voice was soothing and the scent of the tea as she held it in her hands and felt the heat of it across her face reminded her of better times. She sighed.

"You should have seen their faces when I pulled the hoods off and they realized they were on the field." He leaned against her and added conspiratorially, "though, if you tell TK you know he'll be embarrassed and try to save face, so you might want to keep that between us." He caught her eye and winked.

She nodded. "Got it…" she swallowed a sip of tea and glanced at the door when it opened. Dani poked her head around the door. "Mom, where's…"

Ray pushed past Dani. "Lindsay." He stopped dead as soon as he entered the room and saw Nico sitting against his daughter. He turned to Dani and then glared at his daughter and his face went red. His hand rose. "What the fuck Danielle? Lindsay?" He took two steps toward the foot of the bed. "What the hell are you doing in my daughter's bed?" He looked at his ex-wife. "She's barely dressed Danielle, what the hell is wrong with you?"

Nico stayed where he was, only because Lindsay stiffened suddenly and wrapped both her arms around his right upper one. He leaned a bit closer to her. "Shh, it's okay Linds." He glanced at Dani. They needed to calm Ray down. Anger, high emotion wasn't good for Lindsay right now. She didn't respond well to it. "Ray, please calm down. I'm not hurting her and trust me I only want the best for your daughter and I'm here because she wants me here."

He looked at his daughter and then he looked away with a snort. "She doesn't know what she wants or what is good for her. She's a damn kid." He turned to look at Dani. "I can't believe this Dani…this is what you let happen? This…" He continued yelling, his hands flying through the air as he turned to Dani. "This is what happens when you work with people like him…and that Terrence King. God, what the hell are you letting these kids do Dani?"

Lindsay saw the look on his face and she felt ashamed. Tears ran down her face and she looked to her mother as she pressed her face against Nico's chest.

He automatically pulled her closer and pressed kisses to the top of her head as he gently rubbed her back to ease her. He whispered in her hair and glared at Ray.

Lindsay started rocking and crying. "Oh god…this is all my fault." She lifted her head. "Stop it!" She screamed and put her hands over her ears.

Startled, Ray stopped in the middle of a rant and looked at his daughter finally. He actually looked at her. He saw her face, her pain, her hurt, her confusion and her saw clinging to the man beside her. Why was she doing that? Why was she crying and why the hell was he screaming at everyone?

"Oh fuck me…" He was an idiot and he knew it. He was so angry and he couldn't be angry at the right people, so he was being angry at the wrong ones. He stood there and thought about what his daughter had been through. "I'm so sorry Lindsay…sorry you were hurt…" he shook his head and wiped his eyes when he realized he was crying. "Oh god, you're my baby and they should never have touched you." He bit out the last words. "Fucking trash." His eyes were filled with hate at the men who touched her. He looked at Nico. "Thank you for hurting him and helping her." He stepped toward the empty side of the bed. "Oh baby, I'm sorry…I'm just so angry for them hurting you. I'm not angry at you…I love you."

Lindsay sobbed and then she let go of Nico and launched herself at her father. "Daddy…" She turned her head against his chest and cried. "Don't hate me. I'm sorry they did it. I fought him. I didn't want him to touch me. I hurt him…please don't be ashamed of me."

He was confused and he stroked her hair as he looked to Dani for guidance. He saw Careles move to her and pull her into his arms and he looked away. He took a breath. "I'm not ashamed of you Linds. Why would I be? I love you, always." He wrapped his arms around her and tucked her head against his shoulder.

Lindsay nodded and snuggled against him. She pressed her head under his chin and breathed in. Nausea immediately swept over her and panic overwhelmed her. The world went black around her and she tried to push it away. She took another breath and it was stronger now…the scent of HIM. She closed her eyes and shook her head. "No nononono, no, no…" She pushed away. Now the scents of metal and grease joined the others and when she pushed he pulled and his voice was there too. "Get off me. Get off me. No, not again. No…" She started getting more violent as he fought back. "He'll come for me." Her eyes were open now, but she only saw dark and Lewis and that smell; HIS smell.

"Hey, what's wrong? Where are you going? What's going on? Lindsay, what the hell?" Ray fought with his daughter as she was suddenly wild against him and she was scratching and punching at him. "Dani, what the hell is she doing?" He grabbed her arms and pressed them down to her side as he pushed her to the bed.

Dani grabbed Ray's arm. "Let go of her."

He shook his head. "Dani, I can't. She's going to hurt herself." She was still fighting him and she thrashed and her bad foot hit the side rail and she grunted in pain. "See." He was trying to hold her down even harder now and all it did was make her fight harder.

Nico grabbed Ray and physically pulled him off Lindsay. "Let go." He knew something had physically triggered her reaction. "She's responding to you. Let go, she'll calm down." He dragged Ray to the corner of the room and shoved him into a chair. "Sit the fuck down and stay there." He returned to the bed and picked up his coat from the floor.

"Like you know anything…overpaid security guard." He glared, but he didn't move because his daughter was calming down and he cursed because she was repeating that overpaid security guard's name over and over.

Lindsay started sobbing and turned her head away, toward the wall. She'd let him do it…wait for Nico, it worked last time. She went limp and fought the nausea down. She nodded her head up and down. "Nico will come…Nico will come…Nico will come…"

Dani was whispering to her daughter, tears on her face trying to get her to respond and all she would do is repeat the same thing over and over and then Nico tucked his coat over her shoulders and turned her head toward it.

"Hey Linds, you and me need to tease TK about that playbook, remember?" He tucked her hair behind her ear. "We can't let him think he can get away with that shit, now can we?"

She shook her head slowly and pressed her face into the coat. She inhaled and then sobbed. She blinked and then looked around the room in a panic before hugging the coat to her chest. She wiped her eyes with the back of a hand. "Oh god…he was here. I could smell him and hear him." She looked at Dani and then Nico and then she looked around the room. "Where's dad?"

Ray stood up. "I'm over here." He moved toward the bed. "What the hell happened, Linds?"

She shook her head and buried her nose against Nico's coat. "I don't know." She shrugged. "I know I was hugging you and then I had the overwhelming feeling he was here. Like on top of me. I could smell him and then, it was like he was here and I was there." She bit her lip and swallowed back the fear. She reached for Dani's hand. "Mom, it was so real."

Dani looked to Nico. "Oh baby, it was a flashback and they do feel real." She squeezed her hand and then kissed her daughter's hair. "I'm sorry you experienced that."

Nico glanced to Ray. "Something triggered it. She's been sensitive to scents…I know it was the biggest thing for me after the service." He closed his eyes. "There's still a scent I can't get out of my head." He opened his eyes. "Are you wearing a new cologne or aftershave…anything?"

He frowned. "Carla got me a new aftershave, I think that's what she packed for me, so it's probably what I used this morning." He looked down at his daughter and felt even more helpless than before. Then he looked at Nico. "Are you sure?"

He shook his head. "No but," he looked to Lindsay, "Linds, will you let your dad get closer and see if it's how he smells? If it's his aftershave it would be his face and neck where it's strongest."

She swallowed and looked at Nico. "I…I don't know if I can." She shook her head. "I don't want to go through that again."

He took her hand. "You won't have to. I'm here, your mom's here and, of course" he held up the hem of his coat, "my coat is on standby." He winked.

She looked at Dani and then her dad. "Okay." She leaned forward and waited.

Ray didn't hesitate he walked toward the bed and bent down to hug his daughter and he pulled her into his arms. "God Lindsay I love you baby." His voice cracked and he pulled her tight and kissed her temple.

Lindsay didn't hug him, she was afraid. She didn't really breathe at first. She just sat there, slightly panicked. Then she took a shallow breath through her nose by his cheek and it was there. She pulled back with a gasp. "It's him…it's him…" She shoved at Ray's shoulder.

Ray was confused again at first and he didn't immediately let go.

Dani stood behind him and pulled at his shoulder. "Dammit Ray, let go of her."

He realized it was happening again and let go with a sigh and stepped back to watch his daughter snuggle into another man's coat and it was making him angry. He ground his teeth together. "All I really want to do is comfort my daughter and I can't." His voice was petulant.

Dani glared at him. "You can Ray, just go shower and put on some clean clothes. Don't use any of that aftershave. Toss it in the trash. Use your old stuff."

He rolled his eyes. "The stuff you used to buy me? Why do you think Carla bought me a new brand?"

"Oh for fucksake, get over it. This is about your daughter." She crossed her arms and hissed under her breath. "Go home, shower, don't wear any. I don't care, but come back when you aren't wearing any of whatever is, eau de rapist these days." She glared at him.

He opened his mouth to say something when there was a knock on the door.

Lindsay sat up. "Thank god…" She smiled when Nico, who was in the chair beside her, hid his laugh behind a cough. "This is why they're divorced. I see it now." She looked at her parents who were glaring at each other and then she glanced to the door. "Come in."

The door opened and Ben Carson and a female detective walked in. He nodded to Nico. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but the nurse said that Miss Santino was awake." He turned to Dani and motioned to his partner. "This is Detective Sheila Roberts, she'll be working with me on this case. She was at the scene yesterday, but I don't think you met her."

Dani shook her head. "It was overwhelming."

Shelia nodded. "Yea, it was. I was in on picking up the Harper boys mostly." She looked at Ray. "Are you Lindsay's father?"

Ray nodded and crossed his arms over his chest. "Yes and I'm wondering why no one called me."

Ben glanced to Nico and narrowed his eyes. "We did Mr. Santino, you should probably check with your girlfriend," he glanced at a notepad, "Miss Carla Rossini. We spoke with her several times and she told us you were in Colorado on business and that she would contact you."

Sheila added. "She was supposed to get back with us with your hotel name and number, but she never did." She motioned to Nico. "Mr. Careles tracked you down for us and by that time, he'd already arranged for your flight home. You should thank him. I'm not sure how he did that. That plane was the only one that left the airport. It's been closed again."

Dani narrowed her eyes at him.

Nico shrugged. "Ex-navy pilot, owed me a favor." He cleared his throat. "Okay, well I'm sure you aren't here to discuss my ninja like travel agency skills."

Ben bit back his laugh. "Um no, but we need to ask Lindsay a couple questions." He looked to Dani and then Ray. "Will that be okay?"

Dani nodded.

Ray stepped forward. "What kind of questions? Does she need a lawyer?"

Nico rolled his eyes.

Dani spoke up. "Raymond, she's not under arrest. They need information about what happened to prosecute." She glared at him.

He looked deflated. "Oh, then I guess it's okay." He crossed his arms. "Maybe I should go shower and then come back Dani."

She nodded at him. "We'll be here for a couple days. I think they're moving her to the rehab floor tomorrow."

"Okay. I'll call you later then." He looked at his daughter. "Lindsay. I'll be back after I take a shower sweetheart."

She nodded. "Okay dad." She smiled. "I'm sorry and I do love you."

"I know pumpkin. I'm not mad at you." He rubbed a hand over his jaw. "You want anything? Some of those caramels from that shop you like?"

Her face brightened and she nodded. "Yea, the dark chocolate ones with the white chocolate swirls on top. I'd like that a lot daddy."

He smiled, happy he thought of it. "Good, I'll get them."

"I'll be here later. Maybe you can go home for the night then and I'll stay with her so you can sleep?"

"That's thoughtful Ray, but let's see how she does first." She raised her brow. "Make sure she doesn't freak out first, okay?" She reached out and squeezed his hand. "Hey, thanks for thinking of the candy Ray, that's the first real smile all day."

He smiled and wiped his hand over his face. "God this is all fucked up, but thanks Dani. I appreciate it and we'll wait to figure out what to do about tonight, okay? I get it." He looked at his daughter and raised his hand. "Be back in a bit baby."

Lindsay waved and then Ray was gone.

Detective Roberts stepped toward Lindsay's bed. "Miss Santino are you feeling any better?" She smiled down at her.

Lindsay shrugged. "I'm okay." She looked at Dani and pulled Nico's coat back around her. "Better than I was."

"Good, that's good. I have a couple questions. Just a few things to clear up." She glanced at Nico. "Can you tell us who was driving the vehicle at the school or who grabbed you?"

Lindsay gasped and shook her head. Her brows drew together in thought. "When I woke up I struggled to remember that. His name is Ken and he dated Libby for a while. I don't remember his last name." She looked at her mom. "He was mean to her and she broke up with him, remember we talked about him because he hit her?"

Dani nodded. She did remember that conversation because it had opened up a good dialogue with both Lindsay and Ray Jay about abusive behavior and teens.

Ben cleared his throat. "Does he go to school with you? In your grade?"

Lindsay shook her head. "No, he's over at Saint Francis Prep and he's a senior."

Ben motioned Nico toward the door and then spoke quietly just outside it. "Did you tell Lindsay about the videos?"

Nico leaned against the wall and sighed deeply as he crossed his arms. "No and honestly we didn't even talk to Ray about it." He looked at the detective. "I assume there's a reason you're asking me this."

The detective nodded at him. "I think this Ken is in the videos."

"Shit." He looked into the room. He didn't want to know, but he probably needed to know. "Do I want to know what's on it?"

Ben sighed. "I doubt it." He rubbed his jaw. "It's him and Tyler on the video. Looks like it was for a private buyer, personal order so pretty specific on what he asked for."

"You're being vague."

"Nic, let it go. You're too close to this, trust me." He looked Nico in the eyes. "When I said I doubt it, I meant no." He shoved his hands in the pockets of his slacks. "Look, I'm pretty damn sure there was video of the Pittman girl wasn't there?"

Nico's eyebrows rose, but he didn't answer.

"Yea, which is why you were involved with the Harper case before…this AJ guy, he was tracking down her video for you before the FBI got it. I know you Careles. I know how you work. Black ops even on this side of things, it's okay, I'm not gonna tell anyone. I mean who's gonna believe me anyway. There's not a trace of it or you in the system is there?" He paused. "But, my question to you is, did you see her video?"

Nico gave him a steady glare and again he didn't answer.

"You didn't because I know you. You wouldn't, couldn't. You won't because you love her and this girl…" he nodded toward the room, "you love her mother so there's no way you're going to watch that video and me telling you what's on it that's almost just as bad. So, listen to me when I say it's bad and that's all you need to know."

He sighed and nodded. "So, what do I tell her mother?" His head fell forward with a sigh. He was tired.

The detective shrugged. "What I just told you. That you don't know, that we won't let you see it, that you'd rather not watch it, some combination of those? Take your pick, any of them are true, but it might help if we asked Lindsay specifics about things. We might be able to get her to remember something."

Nico's head shot up. "She's unstable right now Ben."

"I know, but the memories are freshest. You know how things work."

He pressed his eyes shut. "Shit, shit…I don't think it's a good idea and you'll need Dani's permission."

Ben nodded. "I know."

He opened his eyes. "She won't agree to it. Not right now anyway."

"You sure?"

"You can ask, but yea, I'm pretty sure." Damn, he was tired.

He nodded and turned back to the room. Nico stood there for a second and then moved toward the small vending area. He checked the clock and groaned when it read eleven. He needed coffee. He was fumbling in his pockets when a heavy hand landed on his shoulder.

"That stuff tastes like liquid shit boss." A ceramic travel mug was suddenly thrust under his nose. "Good thing I brought an extra from home don't ya think?"

"Xeno, you are a fucking life saver right now." Nico smiled and turned to face the larger man.

"Figured you and Dr. D might need a little caffeine and carbs." He held up a plain brown bag and a matching mug. "Well, maybe I should say Ronnie figured you might, that and I was supposed to tell you to take a nap."

Nico sipped his coffee and then snorted. "Of course she did." He took the bag from Xeno and nodded back down the hall. "Thanks though…you made this?" He held up the coffee and when Xeno nodded he raised his eyebrow. "It's really good."

"French press is the only way to make it. I don't use a drip machine, takes a little longer, but it's worth it." The big man shrugged.

Nico chuckled, who would have thought.

They entered Lindsay's room and Nico immediately saw that Dani was on the defensive. Ben had obviously brought up discussing things privately with Lindsay.

"Dani, Xeno brought you some coffee and it looks like some bagels." He said, pretending he had no idea what was being discussed.

She glared at him and then stomped toward him. When she was right in front of him she hissed. "Why would you think that's a good idea?"

Nico gently took her arm. He glanced to Xeno. "Why don't you say hi to Lindsay and the detectives Xeno. See if she would like a bagel. The nurse says she can eat if she feels up to it. I'm gonna talk to Dani for a few minutes."

Xeno winked and moved to the bed.

He pulled Dani to the doorway, where a few minutes ago he'd had a discussion with Ben. "Dani, I told him I didn't think it was a good idea and that you would say no."

She opened her mouth and then shut it. "Oh…" she looked confused, "He said you it was a good idea."

Nico ground his teeth together. "Of course he did." He sipped his coffee because it helped to settle him. "Classic divide and conquer. He lied to you Dani. I think Lindsay's too fragile right now and I definitely don't think it's a good idea for them to go delving anything like that with her right now. I think she needs to rest and relax. She may never get close to remembering."

Dani leaned against him suddenly relieved. She pressed her head into his chest. "Oh god I thought I was going to have to fight this battle on my own." She was thankful when his arm went around her. She looked up at him. "I don't think it's a good idea for her to know, not right now. She needs time Nico." She hated that there were tears again.

He kissed her hair. "She does Dani and I told him that and let's go back and tell him together."

She nodded and they headed back into the room.

Dani moved quickly back to Lindsay's bedside and she noticed that Xeno had pretty much insinuated himself between the bed and the detectives. He stood there with his arms crossed facing them acting as a wall without looking like he was trying to. She smiled and shot Nico an appreciative look. "Detective Carson, I think my daughter would like to rest for a bit. Why don't you come back tomorrow?"

Ben looked at Dani and then to Nico.

Nico moved to the opposite side of the bed and faced off against the man. "I think that's a good idea Ben. We can talk about this later."

Ben looked at his partner and sighed. "I think that you should…"

Xeno took a step forward. "Detective, you heard Dr. Santino and I think Nico was pretty straight forward too." He took another step forward. "Miss Santino needs her rest, she's been through a lot." He stopped his forward progress, but only because another step would put him in physical contract with the female detective.

Sheila looked to Ben and then she gave a resigned sigh. "Okay, we'll check back in tomorrow and see if she remembers anything new. If you do think of anything, you have our number."

Dani nodded. She didn't, but she figured Nico did. "Yes, we'll contact you right away if Lindsay remembers anything."

She nodded and then left the room.

Ben glanced to Nico and then shook his head. He nodded to Dani and then Lindsay and with a curt nod to Xeno, he was gone as well.

Xeno smiled and turned back to Lindsay, Nico and Dani. "I like it when people get Xenophobic." He winked at Lindsay.

Dani snorted and shook her head.

Lindsay giggled. "He keeps using that word…I do not think it means what he thinks it means."

"It's incon-thsee-vable…" Nico added.

Lindsay started giggling again while Dani and Xeno stared at the two of them like they were crazy.

Nico shook his head and looked at Dani as if she was missing something obvious. "Princess Bride…really?"

Dani shook her head. "Sorry, no idea what the two of you are laughing about."

"Oh, the three of us are going to watch it one night soon." He picked up the second coffee cup from the table and handed it to Dani. "Here, don't let Xeno's coffee go to waste and you need it."

She took the cup and sipped. Her eyes went wide as she looked at the large man. "You made this?"

He blushed and nodded. "Yes ma'am."

"It's almost better than Nico's." She smiled at him and squeezed his forearm. "Thank you."

He ducked his head. "No problem, brought bagels too and I just wanted to make sure things were okay and I'm gonna go sit outside now boss. If you need me that's where I'll be."

Nico raise an eyebrow, but nodded. He wondered what Xeno was getting at, but he knew Ronnie had asked him to come over. He also knew he wouldn't leave the hospital without a security presence. He figured Ronnie knew that too. He was tired and he needed to sleep, even if it was just for a few hours. Knowing Xeno was here would make it easier for him to leave.

He sighed and sat in the recliner Dani had been in last night. He tried to get comfortable in it, but it wasn't much better than the chair he'd been up in all night. He set his coffee on the small window sill and closed his eyes.

He didn't think he'd had his eyes shut more than two minutes when the nurse disturbed him.

"Excuse me, can I ask you to step into the hall so I can examine my patient?"

He sat up and stretched with a nod. "Of course." He smiled at Lindsay and then moved to the hall. He found Xeno in the small waiting area reading a three year old copy of Sports Illustrated. He tapped the cover, emblazoned with a smiling, sweating TK. "I remember all the damn work that article caused me." He dropped down next to his friend. "I would have made Terrence disappear if I could have back then." His head rested on the wall behind him and he closed his eyes again. "What time is it?"

"Twelve twenty boss, you should go take a shower and I mean that in the nicest way possible."

Nico chuckled and rolled his head toward the large man. "Are you saying I smell?"

"Not at all, I'm saying you reek, like an over-ripe garlic bulb in my grandmother's pantry." He looked at his boss. "Go shower, I'll watch over them, whaddya think I'm here for anyway?"

"I'll talk to Dani. Make sure she's okay with it."

Later…

Dani practically had to force Nico out the door. She told him he could use her house, but he told her he wanted to check on Onyx. He'd called a cab and reluctantly he left. She felt better knowing Xeno was just outside their door even though the people responsible were in police custody.

Lindsay was napping now, but she had hobbled to the bathroom with help. She was weak, but she was getting up and it made Dani feel hopeful. Dani looked up from her magazine around two thirty in the afternoon to see Ronnie and Ray Jay at the door. She was surprised at the tears in her eyes at the sight of her son.

She stood and pulled him into her arms. "Ray Jay." She hugged him and kissed him and then didn't let him go for a long few seconds.

"Mom…it's okay." He pulled back and wiped his damp eyes. "You good? Linds okay?"

She nodded. "Yea, we're doing okay and she's getting on good." She smiled at him. "You?"

He shrugged. "I'm okay…I guess." He glanced at his sister. "She want to see me?"

"Why don't you go say hi and find out." She slapped his ass and shoved him forward. "I think she'd be happy to see you actually." She smiled encouragingly.

He looked at the floor uncertainly and then nodded and moved toward the bed with a sigh.

Ronnie smiled and held up a small bag. "I hope you don't mind, but I asked Ray Jay if I could grab you some clean clothes and some stuff from your bathroom. I thought you might want to shower and change. I didn't figure you'd leave."

Dani didn't hesitate to wrap her arms around the taller woman. "I don't mind. You're a lifesaver and I don't know what I'd do without you and Nico and even Xeno…all of you are so much more than just a bunch of security people. Are you guys always like this?" She hugged the other woman tight.

Ronnie hugged her back. "When you do this job long enough you learn a few things. People get hurt and you know what it's like to sit in a hospital waiting for days. You wish people would bring you clothes and coffee. You wish people would ask if you need a break. So, if you care, you do it. I care about the boss, we all do…we're like a family and he cares about you so we're gonna care about you too." She pulled back and looked at Dani. "It's the way it is." She shrugged and then turned to look at Lindsay and Ray Jay.

Ray Jay was standing beside Lindsay's bed and he was watching her sleep. He wasn't touching her and he didn't say anything to her. He wasn't sure what to say. He felt like this was his fault. He wanted to leave and he wouldn't be here if it weren't for Ronnie. She'd shown up at the door and told him to get ready. She hadn't taken no for an answer and then she took him out for lunch.

He'd sat across from her in the diner and watched her and after she ordered them both BLTs she'd sat back in the booth and asked him how he felt.

"Like I want to throw up." He looked over at the bodyguard and then out the window. He wanted to go back home and crawl back into his bed. He wanted to pretend none of this happened, that his sister was still sleeping and that she just hadn't woken up yet. "I feel like this is just a bad dream and I'll wake up soon."

Ronnie shook her head at him. "I know kid, but it's not. Your sister's at the hospital and she'll want to see you. To know you're okay and that you still love her. She'll need to know that you don't think she's dirty or wrong." She leveled her gaze at Ray Jay. "She feels that way. She feels used, dirty and like she did something wrong. Up here," she pointed to her head, "she knows it's wrong to feel that way, but it doesn't keep her from feeling it and I know you feel like it's your fault, but she doesn't." She cocked her head to the side. "Not yet anyway…she might be pissed at you at some point, but right now she'll be happy to see you .She has a lot to process and she needs her family and the familiar."

He stared at her. "Are you sure?"

She nodded at him. "Just be there kid. Just be her big brother, her hero and when she gets pissed at you and blames you; then you tell her how sorry you are and mean it. Right now, be strong." She looked up and smiled when the waitress set their plates down. "Since the food is here, now we eat."

That had been it, so here he was standing beside his sister's bed trying to figure out how to be here for her when he kept thinking he might need someone to be there for him. He was about to walk back into the hall when she whimpered and grimaced in her sleep.

Ray Jay immediately brushed the hair off her forehead. "Shh Linds…it's cool." He remembered how she'd clung onto Nico's coat, so he pulled it from where it was by the side rail and draped it over her shoulder. She grabbed his hand.

"Nico? Mom?" Her eyes opened and she smiled when she saw her brother. She leaned up and wrapped her arms around him. "Ray Jay you're here. I wasn't sure if you were a dream or not last night either." She hugged him and cried into his shoulder. "Mom said you called Nico when I wasn't at Libby's. You knew something was wrong…you thought to ask Juliette…they found me because of you Ray Jay. Thank you…thank you…thank you." She pulled back and looked at him when he wasn't hugging her. "What's wrong?"

He stared at her, still not sure what to do. He still felt horrible. "Linds, I'm just so sorry…I wish none of this happened." He turned his face away because he didn't want her to see his tears.

She put a hand on his shoulder and pulled him down to sit beside her. "Remember when you'd let me watch scary movies even after mom told you not to and I'd have bad dreams? You remember what you used to do?" She waited for him to smile and nod.

He remembered and sank into the bed beside her and slid his arm around her. "Yea," he looked over to where their mother was watching them. He saw tears in her eyes. He pulled his sister against his chest and then the coat over her. "I would let you crawl into my bed and hold you like this. And make you promise not to tell mom."

She nodded. "I'd blackmail you with those movies. Half the time I just wanted to sleep in your room. It was way cooler with all the Star Wars stuff. All I had was Barbie and princess stuff. Like I said, most of the time I wasn't even scared and there was no way I wasn't going to tell mom you let me watch Night of the Living Dead or Friday the 13th. Are you kidding me, she would have killed me and you and we never would have been able to have cable anymore. And besides, in bed was the only time you ever let me play with the light saber."

He snorted. "Because I thought it would keep you quiet." He gave her a funny look. "You said most of the time, so part of the time you were scared?"

She nodded against his chest. "Yes, sometimes I did have bad dreams and I could have gone to mom and dad's room, but I liked your room. You kept the bad guys away. You were my big brother and like I said you had that cool light saber." She poked his side.

He hugged her. "You know, I think I still have that in the closet." He sat there. "I'm sorry Linds. I'm so sorry that you got hurt and I couldn't keep the bad guys away."

"You still managed to get the good guys there in time." She pulled the coat up. "Nico got there because you had the right idea. It could have been worse…I had the bad dream, but I got to wake up from it. I'm not stuck in the middle of it." She wiped her tears. "It sucks, but it could be worse."

Ray Jay closed his eyes. He didn't want to think about it. He looked over at his mother and he saw the pain on her face, her hand pressed to her lips, but he she was smiling at him…at them.

"Ray Jay…Lindsay…" Then Dani was suddenly beside the bed and then she was hugging her kids. There wasn't anything else in the world she wanted to do at that moment. "I love you both so much."

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Nico rolled over and tucked a down pillow under his arm as he curled onto his side. He opened one eye and looked at the simple clock on the nightstand. It was five and he'd slept four hours. He yawned and stretched. He felt much better and he wasn't surprised when claws dug into his side as Onyx climbed over him and settled in front of him. The cat's tail was up and he turned in a circle and then settled down in a ball on top of the down pillow purring.

He smiled and scratched the cat before rolling onto his back and tucking an arm under his head. He sighed heavily and closed his eyes again as he rubbed the cat behind his ears. "Is it good to have me home?" The cat purred, but otherwise ignored him. "Well, it's good to be here, but I need to get moving buddy." He stroked the cat and let his tail pull through his fingers. He repeated the stroke a few more times. "Dani needs me more than you right now." He opened one eye and raised an eyebrow at his friend. "You're an ornery survivor. I'll open you some tuna before I leave, the good kind, I promise."

He picked the cat from the pillow and nuzzled him against his cheek and then set him down. Onyx purred loudly and stretched, arched his back and gave his owner a serious look as Nico sat up.

Nico got up from his bed and moved to his closet. He'd showered and shaved before he'd climbed into bed, so he didn't bother doing either again. He pulled a pair of dark jeans on and then he chose a dark t-shirt and pulled a simple sweater over that. He slid a belt through his belt loops as he left the closet. Ten minutes later he ready to leave. He had his keys, wallet, money clip and phone. Before he left he dialed his phone.

"AJ, tell me what you know." He stared out the window in his living room with one hand in his pocket. He hoped for good news, but he figured there wasn't going to be much.

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "I've shut a bunch of sites down and I'm working on more. I haven't found the original buyer yet boss. He's smart. Probably a hacker, but if he's not then he at least knows computers. I've watched the video and my advice if you haven't is; don't. I think he was directing it from off screen, maybe from the phone. I don't think he was there in person, but he was calling the shots."

"I haven't watched and got the same advice from the cops." He surveyed the skyline. It wasn't dark yet, it never seemed to get dark in the city. "I didn't watch Juliette's, I couldn't and I don't think I want to see this one either. It's just that I want to know how bad they hurt her." He closed his eyes. "She was innocent AJ…it wasn't like with Juliette. I mean she was far from a good girl when she got involved with these assholes. She'd probably done everything they did to her and then some. I'm not saying it's good, or right, but it makes a difference." He opened his eyes and watched the street. He saw taxis and buses and people go about their lives. Normal lives and normal people and nothing unusual, but the people he cared about were hurting and he couldn't stop it.

"I know boss, but you seeing it won't make it better." He said something muffled and laughed. "Hang on a sec." There was more laughing and muffled talking and then he was back. "Alley just wanted to show me a picture she took of her sisters. Thanks for this by the way…this vacation, the girls are loving it and so is Mary. I know I'm working, but I'd rather be doing this on the beach than in a dark basement. It doesn't feel as dirty."

Nico felt horrible. He'd sent AJ there because of what he'd had to do to help with Juliette and now he was up to his eyeballs in it again. "I'm sorry about all this AJ. I know you hate dealing with shit like this, but you're the best I know." He pulled his hand from his pocket and shoved it through his hair. "I wish I didn't have to ask you."

"Boss, if I were in your position I'd ask me too. I'd want the best I knew on this and I'm the best I know." He laughed. "I'm not being cocky about that. If I don't know the answer, I can find the guy, or girl who does and I want this scum off the street. I don't want to have to worry about it for my family."

"Why don't you take another week AJ. I'll take care of rearranging the flights, expense is all mine of course. I can't promise any change in the work, but you can enjoy yourselves for another week?"

There was a pause on the other end of the line. "Really? I mean I'd have to check with Mary and call the schools, but the girls have been doing their work online and are caught up, so I doubt it would be an issue, but I appreciate it. This past week has been great and we were saying it would be great if we could stay longer. Let me run it by everyone and I'll get back with you, but I'm sure we'll be cool with it."

Nico smiled. "Good. I just want you to know how much I appreciate all the work you're doing on this. I know it's hard on you. I can't imagine what it's like having girls and then seeing all that…" He stopped because he couldn't go on. He had seen what Lewis had been doing to Lindsay and it had been enough. Really, he could imagine. It was killing him.

"They aren't mine Nico. I thank god every night that they aren't mine. I feel guilty sometimes that mine are safe and sound and some other little girl was hurt or is being hurt, but that's why I keep doing this. That's why I watch the damn videos over and over. They make me sick, but I watch so I can find something that might help. Like I did so we could find Dr. Dani's girl. If I can help stop one guy or save one girl then I made a difference."

Nico nodded. "It makes sense when you put it that way and thanks for doing it. You let me know about another week and I'll make it happen. Tell Mary thank you and hug your girls tight AJ."

"Every damn night boss…every damn night." He hung up.

Nico dropped his hand to his side and turned from the window. It was time to head back to the hospital, but he was going to pick up some real food for everyone first. He scrolled through his contacts and hit send when he found the one he wanted. He picked up a shorter version of the wool coat he'd left with Lindsay on the way out the door and placed a to-go order as he headed down the hall. It would be ready by the time he got there.

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Lindsay was shoving her hospital food around her plate. It just wasn't appetizing and she really didn't have much of an appetite. She sighed and pushed her pudding cup to Ray Jay. "It's butterscotch, you want it?"

He frowned at her. "Really? It's like the only edible thing there and you're not eating it?" He picked up the cup and peeled the foil from the top. He licked it off and then pulled the spoon from her tray. "Those potatoes look worse than the school cafeteria's."

Her nose wrinkled. "They are." She glanced toward the bathroom where their mother just exited. She'd showered and had dried her hair with the small hair dryer attached to the wall in the bathroom.

Dani was clean, her clothes were clean and she looked better, but she had no makeup on. She paused as she pulled her hair up in a ponytail. "What's wrong with the food Linds?"

"It's nasty." She pouted. "You feel better?"

Dani smiled and nodded and then sat on the edge of her daughter's bed. "I'm fine, but the shower felt great and I don't smell now." She winked. "Maybe there's something in the café downstairs worth eating? I'll go check, or maybe Ray Jay can run out and get us something?"

"Or maybe, Nico can deliver?" Nico added from the doorway holding up three large plastic bags.

Ray Jay was up like a bullet and pulling the bags from his hands. "I smell Chinese." He smiled as he returned to Lindsay's bedside and set the bags down. He was pulling take out containers from the bags and setting them down even as his mother cleared Lindsay's tray from the small table. "Oh hells yea, you are a lifesaver. I was wasting away in here."

Nico rolled his eyes.

Dani smiled and set the tray on the small counter by the door. She smiled up at the man who was still standing there. "Thank you." She slid her arms around him. "We were just discussing our food options, but you must have psychic powers." She stood on her tiptoes and pulled his head down for a kiss.

He didn't resist. His arms went around her easily as he bent his head. "No, I just figured you would be hungry." He brushed her lips lightly and looked over at the kids. "Hospital food is never a good thing." He smiled and kissed her again. This time his lips lingered, but he didn't deepen it. He pulled back with a small sigh. "I miss you." He said quietly.

Dani shivered at his loaded words and she looked up at him from under her lashes. "I miss you too." She let her head rest against his chest and stayed there for a few seconds while he held her. "Did you eat yet?" She asked watching the kids open the containers to check what was in them.

"No, I was planning on eating with you." He pulled back and moved toward the bed. He smiled at Lindsay and then bent to kiss her forehead. "How are you feeling?"

She smiled and shrugged. "My foot hurts. I won't take anything stronger than the ibuprofen so it really hurts and I keep seeing stuff I don't want to see when I close my eyes." She looked away for a second and then back at Nico. "I guess I'm okay. Mom says all that's normal. I'm angry and sad and I don't really know how I should feel."

"I wish I could tell you how to feel Linds, but I don't know either." He took her hand and squeezed. "I'm used to fixing things and I don't know how to fix this."

She looked up at him, her lip quivered until she caught it between her teeth. She looked at Ray Jay and then her mother who slid under Nico's arm. Lindsay thought she looked like she belonged there beside this man. He was good for her mother. She thought he was good for Ray Jay too. Hell, he'd been good for her. Without Nico, she wouldn't be sitting where she was right now. She took a shaky breath and tried to stop the tears. "You already started fixing it. You stopped them Nico and you're helping mom and Ray Jay…all of you…" she looked at them again, "…you're all helping put me back together."

Dani pressed into Nico's side with a small sob. Her daughter was so strong. So much stronger than she ever thought possible and she was so proud of her. "I love you Linds…"

Ray stood at the door and watched. He held a box of chocolates in his hand and wondered how he was going to compete with the man who saved his daughter's life.