What should have been some of the happiest moments with his daughter now became a nightmare with Izzy gone. Jason now had to plan a funeral instead of living a happy life with his partner and their new baby girl. The team helped him with the arrangements so that he didn't have to do it all by himself. The funeral was a blur for him as he figured it was for Benny as well. He couldn't take his eyes off Izzy's casket. Jason closed his eyes and held his week-old daughter that much closer to him. He heard the people express sympathy, but it didn't register. He was now a single father and he would have to do everything on his own. The team was so helpful, watching the baby so he could get some sleep, making sure both ate. But after a while Jason felt like it was too much of a burden on his team and pushed them away.
3 weeks later, Miss Sophia Rose was nearing a month old. Jason would call in to TAC everyday after he fed and changed Sophia. It had become his new normal or his normal at least for now.
Jason needed something to celebrate. After all the heartache he had experienced in the last month, he decided to throw Sophia a one-month birthday party. Jason had just put Sophia down for a nap and was putting up streamers in the living room when everything began to change. His chest felt tight and he had a hard time breathing. His mind instantly went back to when he had his heart attack on the courthouse steps. He stumbled into the kitchen and found his bottle of nitro and took a couple. After waiting a few minutes with no luck, he took a few more, than a few more. His world was becoming fuzzy and he knew he needed to call 911. But the only thing on his mind at the moment was his baby girl. He stumbled into Sophia's nursery and found his baby girl sound asleep.
"Daddy loves you Princess." Jason said before collapsing to the floor. The last thing he saw was his daughter before he closed his eyes.
It was already 11 o'clock and Jason still had not called into TAC.
"Has Bull texted you? Told you he was going to be late calling in?" Marissa asked Benny, her nerves getting the best of her.
"No. I haven't heard from him since last night. He said he was giving Sophia a one-month birthday party." Benny smiled.
"Benny, I don't like this. This isn't like Bull." Marissa paced.
Benny placed his hands-on Marissa's shoulders to stop her ranting.
"Here, I'll tell ya what. We'll go into Bull's office and call him together and if he doesn't answer then we will go by and check on him."
Marissa nodded and followed Benny into Jason's office.
Anxiety and panic rose when the call went to voicemail.
"I am sure he had a long night with Sophia and is just taking a nap." Benny said walking out to get his coat.
Marissa had a bad feeling though. It was the same kind of feeling she had when Jason had his heart attack two years prior. She knew something wasn't right.
On the way over to Jason's apartment in a cab, both Benny and Marissa kept calling Jason's cell phone hoping for an answer. When they reached the apartment door, Benny knocked.
"Hey Bull, it's Benny and Marissa. We need to talk about a case." Benny yelled.
They waited a moment, but no one came to the door. A tiny scream could be heard on the other side of the door.
"Screw it, he can fire me if he wants but we are going in." Marissa said as she pulled out Jason's spare key and unlocked the door.
"How do you have a key?" Benny asked.
"Now is not the time to be asking such questions. Come on." Marissa pushed the door open.
"I'll look in the kitchen and living room if you want to take the bedrooms. He may be in the shower." Benny suggested.
Marissa nodded. Marissa went upstairs and as she got closer to the nursery, she could hear Sophia crying.
'That's odd. Jason wouldn't let his daughter just lay and cry like that.' Marissa thought.
As she walked into the nursery, she found Jason lying on the floor next to Sophia's crib.
"Benny, up here!" Marissa yelled.
Benny rushed up the stairs and into the nursery to find Marissa looking at Jason in horror. He dropped to his knees and felt for a pulse.
"Damnit Bull." Benny said when he couldn't find one and started CPR. "Marissa, call 911."
Marissa did as she was told. After getting off the phone with 911, she took Sophia, changed her and tried to calm the small baby. Marissa knew in her heart everything Benny was doing was in vain. She knew the tiny baby she was holding was now an orphan.
Paramedics came rushing in and pushed Benny out of the way. He stood by Marissa and watched in horror.
"Please you have to save him. He has a newborn and they just lost the mother…my sister a few weeks ago. We can't lose him too." Benny pleaded.
Sadly, there was nothing paramedics could do, Jason had been gone too long.
Marissa knew on that day everyone's lives had changed. She knew from that moment on that the baby she was holding would always be a Bull, but she would raise her with the help of Uncle Benny.