Chapter 121

Nimah was outside their apartment stretching and looking for her playlist to accompany her on her morning jog. She has no idea what made her decide to take a jog this morning, she can't even remember when last she did. Getting the volume on full blast she put in her earphones and headed down the road.

Jogging around the block so she can make it back in time for work, she took the route that leads into a neighborhood. With an absent mind she started springing on the sidewalk not paying mind to cars that passed or those in driveways, keeping her eyes on the ground instead of in front of her, until she heard breaks and fell to the ground with a loud thud, laying there groaning too afraid to move but she knew for certain something hurt badly.

"Are you okay? I am so sorry. Let me help you." A distraught lady jumped out from behind the wheel and rushed the edge of the sidewalk, not bothering to check the damage to the trunk of the car.

"I am so sorry, I didn't check my mirrors, I just backed out because I'm late for work." She explained frantically, as Nimah got up slowly holding her leg.

"I, should've….paid more attention." She breathed holding her left leg, certain that it's broken, not sure how that happened.

"Please, let me get you to the hospital. If you want to file charges it's fine." The woman rambled but Nimah shook her head.

"I'm not dying. I think I just have a broken leg." She answered looking down seeing bone stick out of the skin, which seemed to make the woman more paranoid. In the meantime some bystanders and curious neighbors came out of their houses to see what the early commotion was all about.

A male and another younger female came out of the lady's house and walked over to them.

"What happened, Veronica?" The man asked rushing over to the back of the car.

"I backed out and hit her. I'm sorry I didn't get your name?" Veronica said as they helped her up.

"Nimah. Nimah Amin." She said hopping on her right leg, extending her hand towards Veronica, who introduced her husband as Marco and their daughter Samantha.

"Okay Miss Amin. Let me help you in so you can get that leg checked out." Marco suggested trying to help Nimah into the car.

"No, I can call someone to come get me. You really don't have to d…"

"Yes we do, it's the least we can do." Veronica said nodding her head in Marco's direction, and Nimah figured it would be no use arguing with these two, and agreed to them taking her to hospital.

Once she was there they treated her and attended to her leg, which was now in a cast from her ankle to just below her knee, while Marco and Veronica are outside in the waiting area. They told her they're not leaving until they know she is fine, and to transport her back home in case no one can come to get her. They waited outside until the nurse and the doctor left who showed her the x-rays of where the fractures were, and called Veronica and Marco into the room.

"Are you going to be okay?" Veronica asked concerned, and Nimah nodded. "Fit as a fiddle, will just be riding on those two bad boys for a few weeks." She said pointing to the crutches in the corner, and Veronica started apologizing again.

"Accidents happen, it's okay." Nimah smiled squeezing her hand. "And it could've been worse I got off with a broken leg, and you're not the only one to blame for this, I should've been more alert."

"Do you want to call someone?" Marco asked and Nimah told them the nurses already called Clive to let him know what happened, and that he'd be over as soon as he can. They don't have to worry about it anymore.

"I'd like to wait here until Clive gets here, and apologize to him as well." Veronica said and Marco showed Nimah to let it go, because his wife will be apologizing forever, she had a little heart. They all sat down in the room, until Clive showed up and thanked Veronica and Marco for bringing his wife to hospital and that he doesn't blame either one of them. As the four of them walked out of the hospital sliding doors. Well three of them walked the fourth one hopped on her two crutches.

Meanwhile back at home Alex was beyond bored with herself and couldn't wait to get back to work, but there was no way she was going to mention it to Ryan or her mom because there is no way they would allow her. Sitting down at the kitchen counter with a cup of tea she looks though the party themes the girls brought over the previous day. In her mind her daughter turning one was a blessing but there was no way she was about to give Phoebe a big party, she won't even remember it.

Sita walks into the kitchen in her gown, peeking over her daughter's shoulder. "How is your party planning going?" Sita asks her daughter but the sigh she got in return answered her question. "I don't want a big thing, like a few kids, ten probably and their parents and family." Alex shrugged, while her mother looked at her with her hands on her hips shaking her head.

"Go big or go home, Alex." Sita said pouring some coffee into a mug.

"No Ma, I don't even remember my first birthday, what will make little miss remember hers?"

"Maybe Phoebe's different." Sita answered taking a sip from her coffee, taking over the notepad and pages from Alex. "There is no way my first grandchild will have a few kids over and a small little party when it's her first birthday." Sita answered taking over the planning from Alex, as she starts making the list.

"Kids from day care, oh and the whole FBI family." Alex told her mother who was busy making a shopping list on cake ingredients, not even sure if she heard that those are the people who need to be on the guest list. "Oh and the kids' parents." She added thinking out loud.

"Ma? Did you hear what I just said?" Alex asked and Sita nodded not even bothering to look up, showing Alex with a motion of her hand that she needs to leave her alone.

"Ma, seriously do not make a big deal out of this."

"Yeah yeah, I heard you." Sita said still not looking up at her daughter as her list of ingredients continued to grow.

At work the news of Nimah's injury spread rapidly amongst the coworkers, until they were all calm again when they found out that she will be fine, but will be off work for about a week. And when she gets back won't be allowed out on cases but rather having the duty of filing, forms and paperwork. Before they had the chance to lounge around and not do any work, Maranda entered downstairs with a file in hand. Looking through the crowds, spotting Ryan and Caleb sitting on a couch at reception, huddling the two of them into an empty office.

"Sorry for cutting your breakfast short gentleman." She said once they were inside and closed the door behind them. "What I'm about to say may sound sexist but I can assure you that it is not my intention to sound this way, because I believe in female liberation myself."

Neither one of the two knew how to react to that statement or what she meant by it, but waited for her to continue explaining. "I drove past a day care center today, the same one that there were rumors about in the neighborhood. At first I didn't think anything of it, but my gut tells me that something is up." She stops and looks at them to see if they're still following.

"One of the mothers are here and went to the police department about her child not being interested in everyday activities, and constantly complained about not wanting to go to daycare. Police said they can't do anything about it, so we'll have to turn over some stones."

"Here's what I have. " She handed over the file with some notes in it. "I was going to give it to Natalie and Shelby but I feel motherly instincts will kick in and they might overreact and get too emotionally involved, which I hope will not be the case for the two of you." She looked them in the eye and they nodded browsing through the files.

Anxious to see which daycare it is that has to come under the microscope, breathing a breath of relief when it wasn't the one their kids attended. Familiarizing themselves with the basic information of the case and getting a search warrant the two of them headed out. When they got there Liam was waiting in the car for them, making sure to keep them in check in case their fatherly instincts kicked in as well.

"Guys, leave your service weapon in the car. Also, try and be as gentle as you possibly can. We do not want to scare the little ones." Liam instructed as they pulled up in front of the daycare. Before they made it to the front, to enter, one of the other staff members came out around the back and ushered them towards the back, leading them into the kitchen and closing the door behind them.

"Are you guys the FBI?" She asked rubbing he hands together nervously.

"Yes, we are." Liam said showing them their badges.

"Okay." The woman nodded. "A few days ago I've noticed something strange with the toddlers. I didn't want to say anything until I knew for sure what it was and that my suspicions were right." She continued. "I saw Melinda, the owner of the place giving them medicine every four hours, when they're not sick, and we're not allowed to give the kids medication without the consent of the parents. I caught her in the deed, giving them dosages of cough syrup that would make them drowsy keeping, for as long as they are here."

"Have you confronted Melinda about this? And how sure are you that it is the medicine that they're not allowed to get?" Caleb asked and the woman walked over to a cabinet, showing them three empty bottles of cough drops designed for kids.

"I asked her why she did it, and she told me to keep quiet or I'll lose my job. I need the income, I told one of my colleagues about it." The woman said.

"Do you have any proof besides these?" Ryan asked pointing towards the medicine bottles and the woman nodded. "We have cameras in all the rooms but they haven't been checked in a while." The woman said and they ran through the footage of the past two weeks hoping they would get some concrete proof. Looking through it they found what they were looking for, and started searching the building for Melinda, the owner who were busy painting her nails. The age group she is watching sleeping peacefully.

"Melinda Thompson?" Liam asked and she turned around looking up at the three men.

"Yes? How can I help you?" She asked standing up from the recliner she was sitting in.

"FBI, can you come with us please, we just want to ask you a few questions." He said again.

"Not until you tell me what this is all about.'" The woman insisted.

Ryan turned around and walked over to her, "maybe about the fact that you've been giving the children medication when they're not sick, keeping them in a constant state of drowsiness while they're here."

Melinda got up from the chair walking to stand in front of Ryan, "that's a serious accusation to make when you don't have proof young man."

"Trust me, I've got enough." He said and Liam intervened putting a hand on Ryan's shoulder and he stepped back.

"Ma'am it would be best if you just come with us." Liam said and she walked with him, looking at Eleanor, the woman who showed them the footage. "If I were you I'd start looking for other jobs." Melinda said as they escorted her out. Ryan and Caleb stayed and called the parents of all the kids, informing them on what happened and that they can come get them as soon as they can.

"This makes me question faith in humanity all the time. I mean these parents trusts the care givers and having them to something like this, is mind boggling." Caleb said once he and Ryan sat down. "I mean who knows what medical difficulties could these kids have later in life due to this?"

"Medical difficulties." Ryan mumbled and Caleb looks at him weirdly. "We need to call in medical help." He clarified and they called the nearest hospital, to send some ambulances their way to check the children. Once the medical staff showed up and most of the kids were taken home by their parents, Caleb and Ryan left and headed to the office.

Alex jumped up when her phone rang, as she was in the middle of watching a TV series while Phoebe fell asleep on her lap.

"Hey" she greeted surprised to see her husband's name pop up on the screen.

"Hey, what are you guys doing?" He asked, making his wife even more suspicious.

"What's going on? This is not something you usually do." Alex said turning down the volume on the TV and getting up from the couch, laying Phoebe's head down on one of the pillows walking over to the kitchen not to disturb her sleeping daughter.

"Is Phoebe okay?" He asked not answering her question.

"Yeah, she's sleeping. Ryan what is going on?" Alex asked again running a hand through her hair.

"We just came back from a bad case. I thought Phoebe went to day care and that you and your mom would be out shopping for Saturday." Ryan informed when he thought about the list of things they still need to get in order for Phoebe's birthday.

"No, I wanted to take her and spend the rest of the day cleaning the house but my mom offered to watch her."

"Okay." He nodded even though she couldn't see him. "I'll see you guys in a little while." He said and Alex looked at the time on her phone when she ended the call, about an hour left before he comes home.

Soon her phone buzzed again and the girls were planning on going over to Nimah's for dinner. Each one make a dish and take it to her and Clive's apartment to see how she is doing after her little accident earlier in the day. They called Clive who said it's fine, and that he shouldn't tell Nimah about it. Deciding on the good faithful mac n cheese, she went ahead and boiled the pasta, glancing at the list Sita put on the fridge and the shopping they'd have to do the next day.

Phoebe woke up just before 5PM and made her way down the couch, picking up a ball that laid on the floor and walked around the house throwing it on the floor, walking to where it stopped so she can repeat the action again. The ball landed close to the front door, and she made her way there just as Ryan opened the door, almost bumping her over when the door opened since he didn't expect her to be standing there.

"Hey! Why are you playing behind the door?" He asked picking her up.

"Dada." She said smiling while looking up at him.

"What did you just say?" Ryan asked looking at his daughter expectedly.

"Dada." She answered again and he pulled her into a tight hug until she became fidgety and put her back down so she can continue her ball game.

"When did Phoebe start saying meaningful words?" Ryan asked walking over to his wife who was standing behind the stove, kissing her neck. "I wish I knew, just so you know she called me Mama a few nights ago, so do not think you're special." Alex said looking up at him.

"I wasn't there to witness it, so for all I know you could be making it up." He shrugged opening the fridge looking for nothing in particular. "Oh we're having dinner at Nimah them, I hope you don't mind." She turned around to look at him and he nodded, since she confirmed the plans without checking it with him first. "Yeah it's fine." He answered and Alex looked at him, making him feel uncomfortable.

"What?"

"You gonna tell me what's bothering you?" Alex requested and he shook his head.

"I'm sure that will be a dinner conversation tonight, so I don't want to spoil it for you. Some day care drama." He said, and headed upstairs to take a shower before they left to Nimah's, leaving Alex to wait at least another hour until she finds out what this is all about. She cannot wait for Monday so she can get back to work and catch up on all the things she's been missing.

Hey guys! I'm back and hoping to update as frequently as I possibly can. Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy

Lovies-S