Jenna's conversation with Horatio played on a loop in her head as she dressed for the night. She thought about little else all day. This operation needed to end. And he was not the only one to voice his objections with the effort. Her sergeant sensed things were getting out of hand, and her partner knew she had crossed lines. They both offered her an out, but she met up with her informant, Jace, and they returned to the house.

As she walked in, hanging onto Jace's arm, she whispered to him that this was the last night. The deal had to go down, no matter what. He gave the slightest of nods, which no one else would have been able to decipher, and began walking through the crowded room looking for their target. They found him seated at the head of a table in a small back room. "Jace!" the man said. "Why you always got that same bitch with you?"

"Don't worry about her. I'm here to make this deal already. Come on, now. We've been talking for days."

"I want a taste of her." Crow grabbed her wrist and yanked her. But Jace had a hold on her other hand and did not let go.

"She's not part of the deal."

"The hell she ain't. It's her or no deal." Both men held firm until the slightest of nods from Crow sent one of his assistants' fists square into Jace's jaw, effecting in his drop of Jenna's hand. Crow wasted no time in dragging her down the hallway and into a bedroom.

At six foot three and three hundred pounds, Crow was a repulsive creature. His long, scraggly hair wrapped in a loose ponytail that seemed some odd extension of his overgrown facial hair. There was a small ring in each earlobe and too many large chains around his neck. It took no effort on his part to toss Jenna onto the bed. His massive frame made Jenna feel smaller than usual and physically powerless. So she needed to outsmart him. Her time was limited, even without using her safe word. The calgary was listening and would barge in at any moment, but she needed a recorded confirmation of the deal or all would be lost. She also knew her partner. He would give her as much time as he could.

"You're going to sell to him, right? If I do this, you'll let him buy in? It's all he's talked about for days."

"'If you do this?' You think you have a choice? Bitch, I do what I want." He straddled her on the bed and punched her hard in the side of her head. Her vision clouded for a moment and she fought the bile that rose into her throat as he covered her mouth in a suffocating attempt at a kiss of sorts, forcing his tongue into her. She caught sight of the decay in his mouth. The odor it emitted was one of death and she stopped her nostrils from smelling as the putrid face invaded hers.

When he finished assaulting her mouth, she gasped for air and he shifted his weight to undo his buckle. She took the opportunity before it disappeared and shifted her own weight in an attempt at flipping him off her. She would have met with success with most men, but Crow was a behemoth. He grabbed her hair with one hand while continuing to free himself from his pants. With that mission accomplished, his fist slammed into the side of her head again. Jenna saw black, but willed her vision to clear and remained conscious. She heard commotion outside the bedroom door before it banged open and Jace came into focus. There was panic in his eyes, but his voice betrayed nothing. "Man, ok, you can have her. Just agree that we have a deal. You'll sell it all to me. The drugs, the names, everything, and you can have her."

"Yeah, man, whatever. It's all yours. Just get the fuck out and shut the door."

The look of relief in Jace's eyes was the last thing Jenna saw before she lost her fight with consciousness.

MMMMMMMMMM

Jenna had settled onto a bed in a cubicle of the emergency room at the insistence of the technicians who brought her there. But now, a half hour later, she reached to remove her IV so she could get up and leave, when the doctor entered the room.

"Detective Quinn, I'm Dr. Hamilton. Sorry to keep your waiting - "

"I'm leaving," she cut him off. "I'm fine."

"Well," he said, not at all threatened because of her slow movements, "while I don't recommend it, there are some people outside who will likely prevent it."

"Yeah?" she asked, "Who?"

"I think he said he was your sergeant? He was loud and kind of scary looking. I don't think I'll be the one to tell him you're leaving . . ."

Jenna looked up at the doctor for the first time since he entered the room. He appeared to be in his mid thirties and had a smile that made her swoon. Or was that her headache? She searched for a witty reply and was disappointed when, "I'm going to pass out again," crossed her lips instead.

Dr. Hamilton reached for her before she could fall and helped her lean back on the bed. He observed her for a moment then asked, "Any better?" in a doctorly tone.

"The spinning is slowing," Jenna said.

He took advantage of this opportunity to conduct a swift examination, knowing the detective would be a flight risk at any sign of recovery. Jenna wanted to protest the probing and questioning, but acquiesced. After a bit Dr. Hamilton said, "You have a slight concussion. Since you've already lost consciousness once and almost lost it again just now, I'm going to keep you here." She looked as if she might protest so he wasted no time in adding, "I won't put you in a room. It's late. Just stay here for a few hours to be monitored. I will reassess you in the morning and may discharge you then."

"Fine," Jenna said, no longer interested in moving, much less arguing.

"How's your pain right now?"

Jenna took a moment to determine the answer to that question. "It's OK."

"Call for a nurse if it worsens. That IV's giving you some relief, but we can adjust the dosage if needed." He reached out and squeezed her calf. She noticed the smile again. "I'm sorry you were hurt, Detective." His voice oozed sincerity, and she felt calm as he left.

Jenna was alone for about five minutes. Long enough for Dr. Hamilton to fill Bilson and Wilkes in on her condition, before they entered the room. Her tougher than nails boss' eyes softened as he studied the bruising that took up the whole side of her face. She watched him chew on his lip, a tic she noticed whenever someone on his team had been wronged. "How you doing, Quinn?" he asked.

"I'll be alright," she said.

Wilkes said, "Not so tough when I'm not there to hold the bad guys down, huh?"

Jenna could not help but smile at his teasing. "Yeah. What the hell took you so long anyway?"

"I was waiting for you to start yelling about Gruyere."

She closed her eyes in a long blink, unable to conjure a retort. When they opened, she found the serious face of her boss. "Crow. Do we have enough?"

"Yes," he said. "Added assault and attempted rape to the list as well. He's out of business for good."

"What about Jace? He's ok?"

Wilkes said, "Statement signed and on his way to witness protection."

"I hate that we had to do that to him."

"He's fine. On his way to a better life."

"I hope so," she said, and her eyes slowly closed. When they opened a moment later,.Horatio stood in the doorway. His presence brought her guard down even further and they all watched her eyes fill with tears and her breathing quicken.

Bilson said, "Let's go, Wilkes. She needs to rest. Quinn," he said and waited for her to look at him. "When the doc says you're clear to work, take another week. That's an order." She nodded, afraid that speaking would release the dam of tears. "You did good, kid." Bilson turned and stuck his hand out to shake Horatio's. "She's a tough cookie, Lieutenant. Take good care of her."

"I intend to," Horatio said and then her and Jenna were alone in the room.

AN: One more chapter to go! Please review!