When Mac and Rayne got to the area where the others were, he looked at them. "We all thought we'd sit on the ground. Make it equal playing field for Rayne since she can't," Hawkes explained. He then looked at Mac who looked annoyed. "I'll help. You hold the chair stable," he instructed. As Mac held the chair steady, he watched as Hawkes carefully placed his arms under Rayne's. "Now grip my arms," he instructed gently and he smirked as he saw Rayne do it. "Good girl. Now I'm going to lift as you scoot off the seat. When you feel like you're going to fall, don't let go. Trust that I have you," he assured. She nodded and as he watched her scoot he gripped her tighter and slowly helped her sit and he smiled softly at her as she let out a sound of pain. "You're doing good," he promised and as she sat down he sighed in relief.
"How bad's the legs?" Flack wanted to know as he had seen Rayne be able to pull herself from seat to seat, but not stand on it yet for a long period of time. She shook her head and he winced at that. "Did they say when you'd be back on your feet?"
"Have to see what the physiotherapist says later today," she answered and Mac nodded at that knowing that she did have to speak to them today. "Are we any further in the murder case? With who killed my friends while we were all missing?"
"We have a lead, but so far nothing concrete. When we have a good enough idea that we need you to ID, Mac will let you know," Flack answered looking at her. She nodded and he then noted how she was sitting with her leg bent. "So you can bend but not stand?"
"No weight bearing motions yet," she answered. She then noted that Peyton hadn't come to sit with them yet and she glanced back at the car to see Peyton on the phone. "She's hiding something," she noted and Mac for once couldn't deny it. Peyton hadn't joined them yet and hadn't even said anything much.
"Well I do have news. Sad news for the team and for me as well now. I got transferred to New Orleans and I leave in a month. So I won't have much time to really be around," Stella informed looking at her. She then looked at Mac. "But when your legs heal, you'll have to come see the city. It's lively."
"Understatement," Mac answered and then looked to Stella. "We'll all miss you. We'll have to do a few things here in New York before you leave. So let me know days you can do some things. You're a part of our team and someone I do want Rayne to say she knew." Stella nodded and she then looked to Rayne who once again was glancing at Peyton. "Forget about her for now," Mac advised and she nodded looking away from the car.
"Sorry we're late," Lindsay greeted walking over with a child toddling and a baby in her arms. "We just ran behind schedule," she apologized and everyone had to chuckle at that. As she saw Rayne she sat down and put her hand out. "You must be Rayne. I've heard a lot from Flack and Mac about you. I'm Lindsay."
"Pleasure. I've heard just about the same amount on you from Flack," she answered. Flack knew it wasn't true but also knew she was trying to get out of a very awkward first meeting. He then got a phone call and answered it as Lindsay's daughter walked over.
"Hi," she greeted looking to Rayne. "Lucy."
"Her name's Lucy," Lindsay chuckled and Rayne nodded smiling at the girl and shaking the offered hand. "Lucy how about you go play sweetie?"
"You too?" She pointed at Rayne, who had the decency to blush as she had no idea how to tell the kid she couldn't walk at the moment. She was about to try before she heard a chuckle and saw Mac chuckling away at the toddler.
"Rayne can't stand up right now Lucy. She's in a lot of pain," Mac answered. Lucy looked at her confused and Mac got an idea. "How about when she's able to move as fast as she can, we'll come back to do something?" Lucy nodded and ran off with Danny. "Sorry you didn't get to talk to Danny yet."
"I'll get my chance," she answered. Hawkes noticed the way Rayne was moving and he knew she was desperate to go and join Lucy and play like a normal kid. After the team kept discussing many different things, Mac looked to Hawkes.
"If you aren't busy Sheldon, could you join me and Rayne at the appointment?" Hawkes nodded standing up and helping Rayne to her feet and let her reach back for the wheelchair and as she slipped in, Mac walked with her to the car and Sheldon got onto his bike and Mac looked at him.
"I can bike," he assured and then watched as Mac pulled something from the trunk before placing Rayne into the car so he could put the wheelchair away. As he secured her wheelchair and then attached Hawkes's bike to the car, he climbed into the driver side and saw Peyton was finally off the phone.
"Busy calls Peyton?" Mac was worried now as Rayne had a right to be concerned. They had spent over an hour and a half at the park but Peyton hadn't sat with them at all. She would have enjoyed the time they all spent together normally.
"Yeah," she responded before they arrived at the physiotherapist office, which made Sheldon hop out and grab Rayne's wheelchair and then help her back into it. When they wheeled into the office, Peyton noticed how close Hawkes, Mac and Rayne were already and she sat with them quietly. "So did you meet everyone?"
"Not Danny," Rayne answered before they saw the woman come out for her. Hawkes pushed her chair into the consultation room and sat with her and Mac.
"So let's start with the obvious. We got records from Dr Hunter. You were shot correct?" Rayne nodded knowing that story like the back of her hand. She would have the scars to prove it for life. Mentally and physically the bullets were with her.
"Well can you even stand?"
"Not for very long," Rayne answered honestly looking at the woman. "It's a chore and a half just to hold myself up to transfer from chair to chair," she informed looking at her. Mac could tell that Rayne was clearly not happy with this woman.
"Well we'll fix that. But we need to start with you standing for a while at a time," she began looking to Mac. "I'll be about an hour with Rayne," she began looking at him and he nodded at that before standing and walking over to her.
"I'll be back when she's done. Sheldon will stay and help as he is a doctor so he can help out. I better hear you were behaving. I have to go get groceries for dinner tonight," he answered and Peyton stood up as well but Mac knew what was about to come out.
"Can't Peyton stay?"
"That call I got was asking me to come tomorrow. So I have to go finish packing," Peyton explained. Mac walked out with Peyton and as they were driving back she looked at him and he was focused on the road. "You didn't seem too concerned about the trip."
"You promised to come back. I'm keeping my eye on that. Not just for me now Peyton. But for Rayne. She needs a chance to have a normal life. She knows we both were there when we made the choice. So if you don't come back she'll be devastated."
"I'll be back," she promised as Mac dropped her off at the apartment. "We'll have a nice dinner tonight and have a movie night." When Mac drove to the grocery store he saw all the Easter baskets and realized it was Easter weekend. So he knew what to do. Rayne wouldn't be able to do an egg hunt but he and his team could try to put a smile on her face since it would be a quiet month.
Meanwhile, at the physiotherapists office, Hawkes had just helped Rayne stand up. "It's okay if you don't get anywhere today Rayne. Let's just focus on you standing up," the physiotherapist promised her. Hawkes looked at Rayne and saw her eyes were clenched shut in pain.
"Remember Rayne," Hawkes gently reminded and she opened her one eye. "What did I tell you about that firefighter?" She nodded but as she stood for another 30 seconds she shook her head and fell back into the chair.
"That was a good first try Rayne," the physiotherapist answered looking at her. "I'll be back in a minute with something," she assured and Rayne glared through the fringe of her bangs. As Hawkes saw her leave, he looked to Rayne.
"I couldn't," she warned.
"I know, but you gave up near the end. I know you can last much longer," he warned her. She looked at him and he chuckled. 'You don't give yourself the credit you should be. Mac and I both know you can do a lot. But you need to keep focused."
"I heard them. New school," she answered and Hawkes almost fell backwards in shock at the fact that she brought up the topic of a new school out of nowhere. "Nobody will like me anyways so what's the point?" He looked at her and flicked her forehead. "OW!"
"There's a point. Mac. He cares and he won't give up on you. Neither will I," Hawkes answered before the woman came back with a little set of bars. Hawkes helped her stand up and as she grabbed the bars, Hawkes looked at her. "Walking training?" The Physiotherapist nodded and Hawkes stood at the end of it. "Just try to take a step."
"I can't," she answered and Hawkes looked at her and she looked at him. "I'm telling the truth Hawkes. I can't."
He looked again and then chuckled sadly. "You just have to try. That's what these are here for," he answered grabbing the bars. "So you don't fall," he promised. She took a step and closed her eyes in pain and he smiled sadly. "Push your foot flat down." As she did it she let out a small cry of pain. When she reached Hawkes, he took pity and let her pull herself into her chair.
"You need to come back every other day and we will be doing this," her physiotherapist warned her. As Hawkes wheeled her out of the room, he looked to see her face was tear stained and he smiled softly.
"That was good. I'm proud of you," Hawkes promised looking at her. She tilted her head and he chuckled. "You were in severe pain walking, but you still made it across once. That's an achievement," he explained looking at her.
"It hurts like hell."
"Don't let Mac hear you say that," he advised. As Hawkes wheeled her outside he saw Mac arriving. "Just a few steps and then it's over for the day," he promised. As she climbed into the car, Hawkes sat up front with Mac while Rayne curled on herself. "She had a painful one today. I promised she wouldn't have to do much more. But the physiotherapist gave her exercises she has to do tonight."
"There's more?" Hawkes chuckled as he knew Rayne hadn't fallen asleep. He nodded showing her a piece of paper. "I don't have to see her tomorrow though."
"But you need to do the exercises she's asking," Mac warned with a tone that left no room for argument. "She's trying to help you get back onto your feet. So you won't make it difficult for her, do you understand me?" She nodded and he sighed in relief. "Get some rest. We have to make a few stops and Hawkes will be in the car. So it's okay to get a nap in." She nodded and as she fell asleep he looked at Hawkes. "Thank you for staying with her."
"She needed it. Do you really think Peyton is just going for work?" Mac nodded and then looked at Sheldon. "You're just hoping that she comes back after the trip." Mac nodded looking at Sheldon. "Well with or without Peyton, she has a family."
"I know she does but she's going to want her mother figure of some sort. I don't expect her to call me dad, but you get the picture." Sheldon nodded before he got a call.
"Yeah she's with us. No don't worry. She's safe and sound and fast asleep," he assured. As Sheldon hung up, Mac looked at him. "That was Flack. He thinks they might have eyes on the person that Rayne sketched so he wanted to make sure she was safe."
"She'll always be safe with us," Mac answered before pulling into the garage and as he opened the passenger door, he grabbed a quilt and picked Rayne up who opened her eyes and looked around. "You're okay Rayne. We're home."
"Where's?" Mac shushed her knowing what she was going to ask and as he shushed her he walked into the apartment and laid her down on her bed and tucked her in. "Da-," she began before yawning and Mac smiled knowing what she was going to say but she yawned to stop herself.
"It's alright Rayne. Daddy's here," he whispered as he watched her eyes close and he made sure she was securely tucked in and gently closed the door to her room. As he went into the kitchen he began on dinner as Peyton walked in with Sheldon. "We should probably spend as much time as we can with Rayne tonight."
"We'll put on some movies," Peyton answered looking at him. "A late night."
When Mac went to go check on Rayne he saw that she was awake and seemed to be alright but she was staring out into space. "What's going through that head of your's?"
"Immense pain." Mac nodded knowing she would be in pain. He helped her into her wheelchair and then walked over to the living room with her and watched as she pulled herself up and she bit her lip before shakily reaching over for the couch and plopping on it.
"Did she just?"
"She got a couple steps in today and stood for about 45 seconds," Hawkes explained.
Before much else could be said though, Rayne saw the news was on and turned it up. "This just in, the former illegal orphanage owner Ryan Ducatti just escaped prison today after awaiting trial for the kidnapping of 8 missing girls, the only one alive of the bunch being Rayne Drop," the anchorwoman responded. Mac and Rayne were now watching intently. "Detective Don Flack has more."
"Hearing of Mr Ducatti's escape is nothing short of concerning. When the NYPD discovered the orphanage during a medical emergency that was initiated by the discovery of Miss Drop outside the New York Crime Lab we were able to trace him to his home and where there were illegal children. We discovered that 5 girls were murdered and then Rayne survived. We should consider the man armed and dangerous and nobody should approach him. If you see him, call it in to the New York Police Department immediately." Mac turned off the TV but saw Rayne shaking.
"He's going to come here."
"He won't find you and even if he did, he wouldn't get away with it." She looked at him and Mac held his gun looking at her and she clicked her tongue. "Nothing will hurt you. Not anymore," he promised. Shortly after, they all watched the news continue, but Rayne was now on high alert.
As promised, after dinner, Peyton had started a movie night. Sheldon agreed to come back the next day to help Rayne with her exercises. Peyton had turned on the third movie and smiled as she saw Rayne and Mac were both close to falling asleep. "She's had a long day," Peyton noted.
"A day that it would have been nice if you could have been a part of," Mac answered. "So what time are you going to the airport?" Peyton revealed the ticket showing early in the morning. "Well let's enjoy a little time together as well."
"Well we have movies," Peyton answered and Mac smiled as they sat together and just enjoyed their company. Mac hoped that Rayne was wrong about her feelings with Peyton and that she'd come back as he wanted more moments like these as a family.
When morning came, all of the members of Mac's home were awake by 5:30 and eating so then they could get Peyton to the airport. "You'll come back, right" Mac knew that question was going to be asked by Rayne even if he got that assurance from her the night prior. It was Rayne's own way to make sure.
"As soon as I can," she promised.
When they were driving, Peyton smiled at Rayne. "We'll both miss you. So you take care of yourself while you're in London. We don't want to have anything happen to you," Mac warned her and it made Peyton smile before she went over to Rayne's chair and she had a tear in her eye.
"Are you crying?" She nodded and Peyton smiled hugging her. "You have to do me a big favor. Can you do that?" She nodded looking at Peyton expectantly. Peyton wiped away Rayne's tears smiling. "You have to look out for him," she began pointing to Mac. "He wants me to look out for myself, but I know him. So do me a big favor. Protect him," she responded. Rayne nodded and Peyton chuckled as she heard her flight. "I'll call you guys when I land."
As Mac wheeled Rayne back to the car after they were certain Peyton was gone, he helped her into her seat and noticed that he was right. In the short time, they had known her, Rayne had been impacted by them. So she had to be protected by the both of them.