Chapter 6: ...It Takes a Kid
Thursday, May 10th, 1:45 PM, CSI Lab, Outside
Ryan walked over to Stella and Lindsay. Lindsay had been crying profusely. Danny really did mean a lot to her, Ryan realized. Stella looked up as Ryan approached.
"Apparently about ten people are trapped inside still. They're organizing rescue teams now." Ryan said. Stella nodded and glanced at Lindsay.
Lindsay sniffed and nodded. "Thanks." She mumbled. Ryan nodded and looked towards the rubble. He frowned and could've sworn that something was moving amongst the rubble. He went over to look. Someone's arm was twitching slightly above the rubble. He raised his eyebrows and called over to the emergency crews.
"I found someone! He's alive!" Ryan yelled. Several paramedics and firemen ran over. The firemen began to dig at the rubble with pick-axes, and the paramedics talked calmly to the person, whoever it might've been. A few minutes later the torn body of a CSI was dug up. It wasn't Danny. Ryan sighed heavily and scanned the rubble for any other signs of movement. There were none. Lindsay had been watching hopefully, but she had gone back to crying now.
Ryan let his gaze linger on Lindsay. Maybe, with Danny out of the way... He thought, but quickly dismissed it. Danny was too much of a fighter, and Lindsay loved him too much. Ryan sighed again and trudged back towards Stella and Lindsay.
--2:02 PM, The Hospital, Mac's Room--
Mac frowned as Flack entered his room. "What's up, Flack?"
"I don't know if you heard..."
"Yeah. CSI got bombed."
"Yeah. Danny is trapped in the rubble."
"Danny...?"
"Yeah. Lindsay made it out though." Mac nodded slightly and let his mind drift towards thoughts of Danny. What would Mac do if he had to replace Danny? Mac had especially chosen Danny, above all the other candidates.
"That's good. Any idea when they'll be sending in the rescue teams?"
"I'm not sure. Soon, though."
"I wish I could be down there, Flack. First me, then Danny. Who's next?"
"Wait a second..." Flack said.
"What?"
"Lindsay and Danny were talking about Ryan being up to something...What if this is it? What if he's trying to get rid of all of us?"
"It sounds like something Ryan would think of, but what are we going to do? First a kid shoots me, and then a bomb injures Danny. What could be next, Flack? I need you to think. Talk to Stella, Lindsay, and even get Hawkes involved on this."
"Yes sir."
"Flack?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
--2:41 PM, Lindsay's Apartment--
Lindsay collapsed on her couch, thoroughly exhausted. Stella, Flack, and Hawkes sat as well, looking at Flack.
"Well, I talked to Mac."
"How is he?" Stella asked.
"He's fine, but he worries about Ryan. He thinks Ryan might be up to something." Lindsay looked up at this. Maybe Danny and Lindsay were getting somewhere now.
"What about it?" Hawkes said.
"Well, Mac and I think that Ryan may be trying to take each of us out, one by one. And, as he showed in the bombing, we think he doesn't care if innocent people lose their lives in the process."
"There's no proof that Ryan planted the bomb." Stella said, still unconvinced.
"I know, but Mac, Lindsay, Danny, and I, are all convinced that Ryan is up to something. Maybe he didn't plant the bomb, but maybe he had someone else do it. There's endless possibilities, and Mac is calling on us to figure out what, before someone else is taken out."
"You make it sound so simple." Hawkes said.
"I have to, or else no one would rally to the cause."
"I'm in." Hawkes said in reply.
"I've been trying to figure it out for a while, and I guess this is the next step." Lindsay said.
"For Mac." Stella finally agreed.
"For Mac." Flack agreed.
--3:12 PM, Ryan's Apartment--
Ryan tapped on his laptop for a few moments, thinking. Everyone had left to go do something, leaving Ryan alone. He decided to return to his apartment and catch up on some recent news and watch a little TV, and maybe get a drink before returning to the CSI Lab.
He smirked. If only they knew what was in store for them soon. Soon, he, Ryan Carter, not Mac Taylor, a weak justice-bringer, would be in charge of CSI:NY. He was counting on the fact that the team didn't put two and two together though. For the time being.
He heard footsteps outside his apartment, and he peered out the eye-hole. Stella walked past, trying to look casual. Ryan frowned and almost opened the door when Hawkes walked past, going the opposite direction.
"What're you up to...?" Ryan murmured. Flack walked past, evidently following Stella. Ryan wasn't a stupid man, quite the opposite. He spotted an attempt to split up and leave an area when he seen it. So, they had figured out something. But what?
--4:22 PM, The Hospital, Mac's Room--
Mac sighed as he stared at the ceiling. It was unsettling, watching the rescue efforts on the TV, which were going badly and only going to be hampered by the impending storm. A soft knock came on the door. "Come in." He called quietly. Lindsay stepped in and came over to sit next to Mac.
"Hey, Lindsay. What's up?"
"I'm just nervous, for Danny."
"I am too. And being in this bed doesn't help. At least you can go do something to help get your mind off of things."
"I guess."
"So, how are things going?"
"Stella finally agreed with us."
"That's good. You'll need her help."
"Yeah. We're all going to need it for the next few days. If your theory is right, then we'll probably all be in our own rooms unless we do something."
"Maybe. We'll just have to hope that you guys can figure everything out before it's too late, and then we'll have too much time to figure it out."
Lindsay nodded and grabbed Mac's hand tightly. He reached over and put his other hand on hers.
"You can do it, kiddo."
"What did you say?" Lindsay asked, something dawning on her.
"I said, 'You can do it, kiddo.'"
"That's it! We'll use the kids to get to Ryan! No doubt they'll be employed by him again, to try and permanently take you out. Even with one gone."
"Alright. Tell the others, and have a talk with those kids."
"Will do, Mac." Lindsay got up excitedly and hurried out of the room. Mac grinned. She always had been bright.
"Good luck, kiddo." Mac whispered to the empty room.