When Mac and Rebecca arrived back at the house, both Stella and Sid were waiting for them. Stella and Mac shared a brief kiss and before Stella could say something to Rebecca she brushed past both her and Sid to get to her room. "Don't be too hard on her. Today's session was not easy on her at all. For either Rebecca Conrad-Taylor," he began closing the door. "Or for Rebecca Manx. I know she was acting for some pieces, but there were some parts that I think the real Rebecca came through. We talked about 9/11, mini golf, her condition. What triggered the most was 9/11. Her eyes were full of tears yet not a sound escaped," Mac explained.

"Considering that Rebecca is 23," Sid began looking in thought and he was doing the math. "Do we know when Rebecca's birthday is?" Sid was trying to guesstimate how old Rebecca was when 9/11 occurred since she would have been old enough to remember if it seemed to cause a reaction.

"She's a fall baby. October 17," Mac answered knowing that number off by heart since on her big 21, he had met her when a murder victim was in the same bar as her and she was a witness. Granted they waited until the alcohol was out of her system. He remembered the day just because of how he learned she aspired to work at the Crime Lab and she took the advice he gave her to get there. That was another reason he was always watching over Rebecca. He got her to continue her journey to join the Crime Lab and so he felt responsible for helping her develop that career even farther.

"Rebecca was almost 8 years old. She was old enough to remember the news about the towers coming down," Sid answered and Mac looked at him. "But for her to not be able to think about the towers without tears, then it means she lost someone."

"We know she lost her Marine father, but I don't think just her father," Stella answered honestly looking in the direction of the hall. "She lost someone she was close to. Meaning me and Hawkes have to keep digging and figuring it out."

"Be careful. We can't let her know," Mac warned. Stella nodded and went to her computer while Sid and Mac walked over to Rebecca's room. Knocking, they walked in and Mac noted that the door opened. He walked in and glanced to see Rebecca on the bed and she was curled in a ball facing away from the door. "Rebecca?" He noticed she didn't move and he walked over to see her eyes were closed and tears were in her eyes. Sid helped Mac carefully adjust Rebecca's body so they could put the blankets over her and Mac closed the door softly to see Stella pulling up records. "What do you guys have?"

"Rebecca hasn't told us everything about her. She lost her father, her mother and her brother. Her brother was a firefighter. He died in the towers. Her mother was killed the same day but not in the towers. Our labs found her body. Her death was suicide. Intentional Drug Overdose." Mac covered his mouth and realized why Rebecca was so intent to get the man driving others to suicide. She saw too many suicides and wasn't watching another one.

"Does it say where she went?"

"Lived with her aunt until she was 13 and then ran away. Lived in a public house for children for most of her life. Met Mac and Flack numerous times. Flack always intervened in her fights. Finally convinced her to hold her cool. If it weren't for our team she might not have developed into who she was."

"I don't think so. I think Rebecca developed into the woman she is based on experience. She may have a temper, but that's expected. What really made her grow up was watching those around her die," Mac responded looking at Stella. "She had a reason to fight." Mac knew he had seen the clear signs in Rebecca's eyes.

"Seems she has a personal motivation," Sid began looking at the files they had. "We need to capture this man before he does something that potentially unhinges her," Sid began and they both nodded knowing it was true. She already ran the risk of unhinging due to what she was doing. She was faking mental health but from what they could see about her personal records, she had already had the perfect blossom for him to work with. Inner issues that probably never were dealt with. He then looked over to Mac. "She may act all headstrong, bratty, rash and impulsive, but I've seen otherwise."

"We all have. We see that when we interact with her. Although she gets a little snappy with the suspects, it's because she knows it'll trigger enough of a reaction that we get what we need from them." Stella looked at Mac and he nodded at her. "She's still growing into her role, but she has come a long ways from when I met the 21 year old Forensic Science Graduate. She wants to make sure the evidence lines up with stories and has an explanation." Everyone knew they wouldn't get any farther with the data and agreed it was time to just abandon the data purge until Rebecca was once again gone. When the morning arrived, Mac walked over and shook Rebecca's shoulder.

"How'd I get under my covers?" Mac didn't answer her on that and helped her up as she looked confused. "Mac, what happened after the appointment? Most of it's a blank right after." He knew now something wasn't right if she didn't remember getting up in the middle of the night. He had went to get a glass of water and had watched Rebecca eat.

"You don't recall waking up and eating something?" She shook her head and he chuckled at that. "You were asleep when me and Sid came to check on you after the appointment and then in the middle of the night you were eating a plate Stella put aside for you."

"I have no memory of that."

"That's concerning. We'll see what happens when Rebecca Conrad-Taylor's next appointment is over," he answered. As they walked out to the main room, Stella saw her face. "She had no memory of waking up." Stella looked at her concerned and she shrugged. "This is serious."

"Maybe but I could have just been completely out of it. Those topics were very depressing and no offence my brain whenever it's a topic that's depressing, focuses on main parts and tries to isolate emotion," she responded.

Mac snickered at that knowing he had to amend her on one little statement. "Mini golf is not depressing."

"No but the whole 9/11 incident was," she answered. Mac nodded knowing that was true. He had to admit that Stella had asked him a fair question when he began the whole undercover operation and used Rebecca's first name but gave her Claire's name for the rest. It reopened a wound that he never thought he'd touch again. "We'll see what happens today," she answered standing up and as she was about to do something she grabbed her phone as it rang. "Rebecca," she greeted.

"Hey," Flack greeted and she smiled at that. "Give the phone over to Mac. We tried his cellphone and he's not answering." She glared at Mac and handed it over to him. Once Mac assured it was him Flack chuckled. "They did it. We have something that will make it look like it happened."

Mac winced looking at Rebecca who for show was arguing with Stella and Stella was easily playing along. "Alright have Hawkes bring it over in 2 hours," he answered before hanging up. "Flack didn't want you hearing this as we haven't discussed what the heck Colic does."

"Fill me in," Rebecca answered as she grabbed her coffee cup from Stella and quickly threw a dash of cream into it. "We found weird marks on the other two victims derrieres, the parents blushed at the mere mention of it," she listed.

"Yeah they blushed because they knew how it wound up there. Remember what you said the marks on the derriere looked like they were from?" She nodded knowing she had mentioned spanking as the main belief as the shape was almost like a handprint. "It was. Seems Dr Colic is more disgusting than even I thought would be possible for a doctor. He makes the parents of his patients do that to their children as a form of discipline otherwise he doesn't take them. I don't want to actually have to so I asked Hawkes and the others at the lab to try and make something that would appear like I was doing it to you. If we don't agree to this, then the whole mission is a flop and you know it."

"So the undercover op really rides on me agreeing," she answered covering her eyes. Mac tried to grab one of her hands and she tightened up and he waited for her to relax her arm and he pulled again so then at least one of her eyes was looking at him.

"I know it's not what we were expecting, but I can promise you I would never abuse any trust you have in me. But I would never force you to do this either. Nobody would blame you if you backed out of the mission at this point."

"No. We got in and we can't lose the one lead we have. We'll continue," she answered as she straightened up. She looked at Mac who looked confused. "You said it yourself. You'd never abuse the trust I have in you. I know it's a part of the mission. I can't let Colic get away," she assured.

"Thank you," Mac answered looking at her. "You have no idea how proud I am of you. The progress you've made in the short amount of time you've been with the lab," he answered. He then heard a knock and opened the door to see Hawkes. "You should probably warn her what's going on with that stuff."

"So spanking lotion huh?" He snickered as she walked out and looked at him. "You have no idea how creepy it sounds getting it on a text," she answered revealing her messages between Flack. "So who was the unfortunate guinea pig of your's?"

"Adam. You be grateful I didn't sell you out to Flack as he helped as well," Hawkes began and Rebecca snapped her fingers pointing at him. "Don't worry. Secret's safe. For now. Don't tick off Danny though or he will out you. I was nice."

"I'll make note of your generosity," she promised. He chuckled and then handed it to Mac. "So how exactly does the goop work?"

"So it works pretty well on contact," he began and she looked at him. "Relax. Made with herbs," he assured and she sighed in relief. She looked at him expectantly and he chuckled at that. "So Mac does have to physically apply it as we need it to look like he is going through with what Colic wants."

"Stella I'd go to the store," Mac began and she nodded leaving before looking at the two of them. "We have two options. Do it over a cold hard table or do it the way Colic thinks I'm doing it. Your choice," he answered and she looked hesitant and in thought.

"Give me a minute with her," Hawkes advised and as Mac went into the kitchen Hawkes looked at her. "Now you talk to me. I know more than what Mac and Stella do." She looked at him shocked and he nodded at her looking serious. "I haven't reported your mental health records. But I will if it comes down to playing dirty. I care about you. So do Mac and Stella. They always look out for you."

"I know they do. It's not that I don't trust them," she answered. He waited and she took a breath before looking at him. "I don't care about the Flack finding out thing more than this. If I tell you, you keep your yap shut."

"I'm all ears and the walls don't have ears," he promised her and she nodded taking a breath and opening her bag to reveal a picture of her father and that was when Hawkes saw it. The photo was different than the one that Rebecca displayed with pride on her desk. "He looks angry here."

"That man on my desk? He's the image of my father. Nobody would believe he was this," she answered. She took a breath before continuing. "My dad loved us. Don't get me wrong. He was a great man. He just had his moments. So there's just some brief stints in his anger that trigger me. It's why I work so hard."

"Did he hurt you?"

"NO!" Hawkes knew he struck a nerve immediately when she jumped onto her dad's defense. "He's a Marine Hawkes. His code is to protect lives and kill the murderers. Not harm the innocents that are waiting for him on the other side."

"Maybe so, but it's okay if you were scared of him." She looked straight and then took the offered coffee cup. "Is your hesitation to Mac doing it the fact that he maybe did it to you too? But not out of love and to discipline, but in anger?"

"He had a good heart and good intentions," she answered. "I'm not scared of Mac doing it." He looked at her and she sighed. "I'm scared that if I let myself fall, that when I open my eyes it'll all be black." He knew what she was getting at.

"Well it won't be. If you fall, this time, there's light. Me, Mac, the team? We'll all be on that side alright?" She nodded and he smiled in relief. "Now let's get this stuff on as we have under 4 hours before your appointment," he answered and Mac looked at them.

"I trust you," she answered and Mac thought about it.

"I'll do it as if I actually was. So over the knee and on your bed," he warned her. She nodded and as they walked to her room, Hawkes turned respectfully away until Mac had her over his knee and settled. "Alright how?"

"Please tell me the plastic glove works," she muttered. Hawkes snickered as Mac slipped on a glove and Hawkes bit his cheek knowing how nervous Rebecca really was. She didn't tell him the truth but he could piece together the reason she was defending him.

"Alright so put a little on the spots you would actually be doing it," he began calmly looking away. After a minute he heard Mac make a sound. "Then put a small bit on the glove and actually swat gently where you'd actually," he began and then winced as he heard it. Once Mac let her up and she fixed her pants she winced in pain. "Bad?"

"Stings but not as bad as what it could be," she answered. Mac went to go wash his hands and as he returned gently hugged her to his side. "I'm okay," she assured as he saw her eyes were watering again. Hawkes knew now she had to talk about whatever it was that was bubbling underneath her skin.

"Let's get Colic over with. With driving time we should probably hit the road," Mac answered and he watched as Rebecca grabbed her leather jacket and smirked looking at Stella. "What's your head thinking up? Don't make this worse."

"We only let Colic hear about how I hate Stella, right?" Mac felt the light go off in his head and she smirked. "Let's see how he reacts to mine and Stella's not so stellar relationship," she answered and as they walked down to the back room of the garage, Flack helped her wire up.

"Remember. Jacket stays on. No matter how warm," he warned.

"I'm wearing long sleeves next time," she warned and he chuckled at that knowing why she was saying that. As they all got prepared and drove over, Mac and Stella got out with Rebecca and she quickly twisted away from Stella since people were watching them.

Mac did the same as he usually did with her and as she went to move, he pushed her back with the palm of his hand and noted her leg was bouncing even faster. Colic walked out and Stella went to help Rebecca up when she didn't even hesitate to shove Stella down. "Rebecca," Mac grabbed her arms and pinned them down and internally was snickering as both Stella and Rebecca were good at fights. So Stella would never go down like that. He waited a few more seconds before making her stand to face him. "One more outburst like that and you're grounded for the next 2 months," he warned her and as she snarled at him and he grabbed her jaw firmly. "Am I understood?"

"Yes," she answered bored before he marched her towards Colic's office and Stella sat in a chair pretending to be a little sore. Rebecca hadn't even put much force on her so then all Stella had to do was fall. Back with Rebecca, as she sat she winced and jolted off her seat. She hadn't had a chance to see what the new stuff felt like sitting on a hard chair.

"Keep up the behavior you're giving Stella and we'll have to repeat that," Mac warned her and Colic looked at him. "She got a little out of control last night. Her adoptive brother Sheldon who we all call Hawkes brought her back in from a group of drug dealers. I wasn't lettings my daughter destroy her life," Mac explained and Colic looked to be enjoying it.

"I trust you detective Taylor but as my personal protocol," he began and Mac nodded. He bit his lip and nodded at Rebecca who gripped the edges of her sleeves and as Colic looked for the proof, he was about to lay a hand on Rebecca.

"I trust you're going to use gloves. Seeing as you're a doctor," Mac began casually. He wasn't looking as he couldn't imagine what Rebecca was thinking. When he glanced up to make sure he watched carefully before seeing she was allowed to stand up.

"I see you have adhered to what I have asked you to," he began and Mac nodded looking too calm knowing he and Rebecca only just managed to sneak it on. As she stood up, Rebecca yanked her dress as far down as she could get it. "I'll be about an hour with your daughter. You can come back for her then."

"Behave Rebecca Claire," Mac warned and he then closed the door. He knew Rebecca was now all alone and he couldn't even listen in. He walked back to the lab where Jo was waiting. "She's in and now the real challenge begins. Getting the proof on the psychiatrist. Do we have anything that can make this mission end faster?"

"No. That's still the only link. Rebecca's mission will be our only chance," Lindsay admitted looking at him sadly. "How's she holding up?" Mac shrugged and everyone all felt the tenseness of the room begin to weigh in. That was a trait of Rebecca that everyone was so familiar with. She didn't tell anyone what was wrong in her own heart. She thought she could do everything. But she was the youngest and didn't need to. They all had done their share.

"We don't know. She began to show off to Colic that in her role, she hates me," Stella began. She then watched as Hawkes came out of Rebecca's office with a picture of her dad. "Hey that belongs on Rebecca's desk." Hawkes nodded and then motioned for them to follow.

"Rebecca is acting too strange. Ever since the first meeting with Colic. She revealed to me her father wasn't who was in the picture on her desk. He was more bitter. Angry. But she didn't say what happened in his anger. She never outright said that he hurt her. But if we all think about it, what gender is she more uptight in front of? No matter how carefree we are?"

"The males," Jo answered instantly and Mac looked at her. "Whenever you're around, she's tense. She even during a clue analysis has her legs tightly ensnared within the legs. Almost as if she's afraid you'll move her." Mac looked across the street and saw the office and frowned.

"There's one adult here she doesn't act all odd around," Lindsay noted and Mac looked at her shocked. She tilted her head in Adam's direction and Mac smirked. "Oh yeah. It's obvious. At least if you work with her as often as me and Flack do."

"Oh yeah," Flack answered knowing what Lindsay was hinting.

"What are you two getting at?" Hawkes and Danny were not even close to figuring it out.

"You'll see when the mission is over," Mac answered as he saw the time was ending. "I have to go get Rebecca. Stella, you should stay here for a bit. Flack, you're with me." He nodded knowing why too. They had to unwire her once they got back to the apartment.

When they watched her walk out of the appointment she climbed into the back and sat quietly. "Wow. That's the quietest you've been," Flack answered looking at her and she nodded before watching the scenery as they drove back. When they got to the apartment, Flack helped unwire her. "Did he say anything?"

"Not enough to snag him. We still have more work to do." Flack watched as she closed her eyes and leaned her head against the window. "He said something about an assignment?" Mac looked at her and she chuckled darkly. "I'm half asleep. Not out of it."

"Yeah just a journal entry." She glanced at him and he chuckled. "9/11," he informed and she nodded. "I'm sorry. I know it's not easy on you to talk about ... well that."

"It's for the mission," she dismissed