Chapter 6:

Henry could barely move, he was holding his boys jacket in his arms. He looked at Lassiter and with eyes filled with tears said, "We lost him, Oh God we lost him." Lassiter threw away all insecurities and grabbed the older man into a hug. He then told Henry, "He isn't gone yet we will find him."

He brought Henry back to the truck and sat him down then called in reinforcements. Within minutes a sea of red and blue flashing lights electrified the cold dark night. The team of people went over every inch of the crime scene. The only thing that they found was a purple match and a tire tread mark.

Henry had to reluctantly give up Shawn's jacket he had his face buried in it trying to burn Shawn's scent into his memory. Henry was dangerously close to shutting down completely when something sparked in his brain.

"Purple matches are found at The Pelican Club and that butts right up too an extended stay hotel." Henry yelled to anyone who might hear him. Lassiter and Juliet were closest and they heard what Henry said and they looked at each other and said, "Lets GO"

Henry joined Lassiter and Juliet in Lassiter's car. They sped with lights off toward the motel. They stopped at the front desk; they flashed their badge and a picture of Jack and asked if this man was a guest there?

The night manager shook his head yes and told the group. "He was in room 23, it is the farthest room from the lobby and it butts up against a wooded area." They all yelled thank you and ran out. On the way to the back of the hotel Juliet called for two ambulances and back up to meet them at the hotel.

They parked on the other side of the building where Jack's room was. They carefully walked around the building, not wanting to alert Jack to their presence. They made it to room 23 and peered through the curtains. They could see Jack backhanding an all ready unconscious Shawn.

They weren't sure if Shawn was alive or not but they could see two bullet wounds, one in his abdomen and one in his good shoulder. His face was a bloody swollen mess from all the beatings Jack must have put him through.

Henry couldn't take it any longer he busted it in the room and took Jack by surprise. He rushed Jack and knocked him to the ground and began to land punch after punch on his younger brother. Soon Jack's face was even more unrecognizable then Shawn's.

Juliet looked at Lassiter and asked, "Shouldn't you go and stop Henry?" Lassiter looked at his partner and then at his watch and replied, " I will in a minute." Juliet warned, "Jack might not be alive then." Lassiter smiled and said, "We could only hope"

Lassiter saw the lights of approaching back up and went in to the room and pulled Henry off of Jack. Henry fought Lassiter at first then Lassiter said, "Back up was here, go look after your son." Henry agreed.

Lassiter reached down to feel for a pulse on Jack when Jack reared up and punched Lassiter knocking him on his backside. Jack jumped up holding his hurt ribs and ran for the door.

Chief Vick pointing a gun at his head is what met Jack at the door. She warned him, "It would give me great pleasure to shot you between the eyes, if you do anything but lay on the ground with your hands behind your head. Jack knew he was beaten and did what the chief ordered.

Henry ran to Shawn's side he took a deep breath and reached two fingers on to his bloody neck to feel for a pulse. He felt his heart beat again when he felt the soft thump of Shawn's pulse.

He smiled and said he is alive. He sat down against the wall as Paramedics rushed in and began preparing Shawn for transport to the hospital. As soon as he was stable enough they rushed him out the door towards the hospital. They lead Paramedic knelt down to talk to Henry.

He said, "He is in pretty bad shape but I think we got him in time."

The Paramedics left with Shawn in the back. The cops took Jack into custody at the station and Vick came and sat beside Henry on the floor. She patted his knee and told him that he did good work tonight.

She smiled at the shaken man and said, "I wonder who beat the shit out of your brother?" Henry smiled back and said, "I don't know either, and it's a crying shame."

Vick got up and extended a hand to her former coworker and friend and said, "Come on lets all go see how Shawn is doing." He smiles and took the hand and got up they left along with Lassiter and Juliet to the hospital.

Juliet called Gus on the way to the hospital and filled him in on all that had happened and she told him that Jack is in custody so he is safe now too. Gus told her he was going to relieve his shadow then meet them at the hospital.

Within the hour Henry, Vick, Lassiter, Juliet and Gus were all sitting in the same waiting room that they were in a week ago. They sat quietly each one hoping and praying that Shawn would be all right and this nightmare could be over for them all.

### I promise I will wrap it up tomorrow night. My 12 year old keeps yelling at me for all the cliffhangers. ##