Disclaimer: I don't CSI NY.

Summary: Informing the family doesn't compare to the grief of everyone finding out about the family out after.

Robert Edforns looked over the copies of the papers his private detective had collected. He didn't worry about the illegal way he had gotten them; the lowest man had been cut out and was now sunk at the bottom of the Hudson. "Birth certificate for Claire Conrad, it was a boy," he noted, going through the others. He came across the adoption papers.

Kevin entered as he was going through the marriage papers. "Anything good?" he asked, holding a bottle of water.

"If we can make a direct connection to Mac Taylor and Reed Garrett, we should be able to get the evidence he processed out."

"How much of the evidence did he process?"

"About seven of the pieces. There is thirty overall."

"That makes it go from a full out conviction to a possibility of a hung jury. Pretty good," he said, "So what's the connection?"

"Let's let the PI figure that one out." He set the papers down and gave into a glass of scotch.

====/=================

Reed refused to go back to his apartment. He wanted to stay with Mac until they had whoever broke into his apartment. He didn't want to go to the hospital after the medic said he didn't see any sign of a concussion. So Mac took him back to the lab, where he took two aspirin and slept on the couch.

Mac was in the conference room with Gerrard sitting in one of the chairs. He chose to stand as he was addressing the attorney prosecuting the case. "Stella Bonasera will be replacing me as the lead in this case. All the evidence that I have processed will be retried," Mac reported.

"What is the reason for this change?" the attorney asked.

"It's something that shouldn't be brought up," Gerrard filled in.

"As much as I would like to say you don't have to tell me, I do need to know if it affects this case."

"Three hours ago, Detective Taylor's apartment was broken into. Several papers were discovered that would lead into providing a link between him and the victims," Gerrard gave.

"What is this possible link? Are they relatives?"

"Reed Garrett is the biological son of my late wife," Mac shortly explained.

The attorney pinched the bridge between the eyes. "I won't reveal the details unless it comes to that. I'll just state that you had a personal connection to the case. Is that all?"

Both men nodded and the attorney left the room. "What are you going to do?" Gerrard asked.

"Stella's already moving ahead. I'll go over her case and if I'm not needed, then I'll take on another case."

"I meant about him."

"He's going to stay at his apartment. I'll stay with Flack."

====/===================

"I don't get why you can't still be on the case," Reed said.

"We don't want to give the defense a reason for a mistrial. We can't try him again," Mac replied. He was driving to Reed's department. He only had three hours left on his shift and Gerrard didn't want to, as he put it 'see his ass for twenty-four hours.' Mac was going to get Reed settled, then at a safe time, go over to Flack's to get an hour of shuteye before going off into his schedule like normal.

Several students were heading out the other way when they walked up. "Hey, Impulse, want to join us? We're going to the game," one of the guys asked.

"No thanks Cyborg. I'm going to stay in," he replied.

"Come on, Impulse," another guy whined.

"No, Aquaman, I don't feel like it today. Maybe next week," he said. Both guys moaned but went and joined the group.

"Impulse?" Mac asked.

"The guys really liked the Smallville episode Justice. They named each other Vic and AC, Cyborg and Aquaman. They saw me and said I looked so much like Bart Allen, aka Impulse, that's what they nicknamed me." Reed opened the door and closed it after Mac came in.

"I thought you had a TV." Reed pulled aside a checkered blanket to show a small TV. On top was a circular wooden board.

"I was trying to impress a girl. It didn't work out so well." Mac laughed and they both sat on the couch while watching a movie on TV.

====/====================

"No," Reed moaned. Mac was on the verge of falling asleep when he heard Reed talking. He looked over to him and saw Reed had turned the arm of the couch into a pillow. He must have fallen asleep awhile ago. Now, he was moving in his sleep and dangerously close to hitting Mac.

Mac moved in front of Reed. "Reed, Reed, wake up," he whispered, shaking his shoulder. Reed woke and would have jumped forward if Mac hadn't kept him in place.

Reed collapsed on himself. "I see them. I see them and they're blaming me for their deaths. Brian says if I wasn't going to write the article, Eddie wouldn't have had the need to kill him. Mom and Dad blame me for having them be out on the road that night." He held his head in his hands while he shed more tears. Mac sat back on the couch and pull Reed into a hug, rubbing his arm while he let out the rest of his emotions. "Thanks, Mac."

"For what?"

"For being there. I'm acting like a kid and you have to deal with me..."

"Didn't you know? College is now an extension on your childhood," Mac weakly joked. Reed let out a short laugh. "You're not acting like a kid. You're acting like anyone else that has to deal with losing people close to them." Reed freed his other arm for a moment to put it around Mac's shoulders, creating an awkward complete hug.

They sat like that for a couple of minutes before Reed said, "I don't know about you, but I feel like something to eat."

Mac smiled. "Yeah, lets order some pizza." Reed went over to grab the phone when there was a knock at the door. "That was quick."

"Yeah, must be the next psychic delivery system. 30 seconds or your pizza's free." Reed went over to the door.

A man not older than himself was standing at the door. "Reed Garrett?"

"Yeah," Reed hesitated, looking back to Mac. He got up and moved over to Reed.

"You've been served. I need your signature on the dotted line." He handed over a stack of papers that were folded. A clipboard with a stringed pen and several sheets were shoved into his face. He then noticed the other person. "Detective Taylor. What a day, I thought I was going to have to go across town for this. You have also been served. I also need your signature." Mac signed the papers and they both waited for the man to leave.

Reed read his first, backing up against the wall and sliding down it with each reading. "Reed, what is it?"

He looked up at Mac. "He wants us to testify. Kevin Edforns wants us to testify."

(Reading over the chapter.)

(Getting annoyed.) You're taking too long.

How am I taking too long?

You are.

Right. (Stealing my bag of Pixy Stixs.)

Forbidden territory. Unhand the pixy stixs.

I wonder what would happen if these disappeared.

Wanna disappear with them?

(Throws the bag back at me.) You're scary.

Thank you. (Read please. Review pretty please.)