Mac cleared his throat. Danny and Flack looked at each other. Sheldon became suddenly more engrossed in the computer screen.
Stella rose an eyebrow, "Really, who is the boy? This information may be crucial to the case."
Another silence and then suddenly Danny yelled out, "Ow, Montanna, my foot!" Danny started hopping on one foot and Lindsay was smirking.
"Stop keeping information from us. Tell us what's happening."
"Well, quite frankly we don't know what's happening ourselves. That boy has been doin' a disappearing act on all of us. Well at least Danny and me. Didn't know Mac and Sheldon had seen him." Flack said frowning.
"What do you mean "Disappearing act". He ran away from you?" Stella asked incredulously.
"Nope, like poof! Gone! Now you see it now you don't." Danny added with several elaborate hand gestures. Flack smothered a laugh.
Stella rolled her eyes, "Mac do you have a better explanation than these two clowns." Danny and Flack made protesting noises but stopped suddenly when Lindsay looked dangerous again.
"It seems that Adam Ross is still among us but in an unexplainable way." Mac looked uncomfortable trying to explain that Adam's spirit was trying to tell them something. The regular logical and scientific mind was unused to the strangeness of the spiritual realm.
Sheldon, deciding to have mercy on Mac, cut into the conversation. "We believe that Adam Ross' spirit is appearing to us in his eleven year old form."
Lindsay busted out laughing, "You can't possibly be serious?"
"No, he's serious." Danny defended.
"As a heart attack" Flack finished.
"You guys aren't playing around with us?" Stella gave the men a penetrating look.
Sheldon shrugged helplessly and Mac sighed.
"Unfortunately I believe that's the best way it can be explained. Somehow the physical trauma caused him to enter a coma and metaphysically leave his body." Mac explained in the most scientific way he could.
"But wouldn't he be the age he is now – why is he coming to everyone as eleven years old." Lindsay asked.
"Well Adam was always a bit of a kid." Danny hypothesized.
Sheldon shook his head, "He went into a coma for a week when he was eleven. That may be a factor."
Everyone stared at Sheldon curiously.
"I don't know why. I just read his medical file." Sheldon replied sheepishly.
"Are you allowed to do that?" Flack asked.
"Technically no, but there are certain leniencies towards former surgeons of the hospital." Sheldon looked uncomfortable with the question.
"Let's all get some sleep and then we'll discuss Adam when we get back." Mac ordered feeling that the uncomfortable situation had went on long enough. Lindsay still looked skeptical and Stella was being unusually quiet.
They all filtered out leaving Stella with Mac. Stella was deep in thought staring off blankly.
"Are you alright?" Mac questioned.
Stella broke out of her reverie, "None of this makes sense. I'm not just talking about supernatural part of this story. It's everything – no clues add up correctly. Did you get any information from Adam?" She rubbed her neck which ached from stress and general tiredness.
"He seemed more interested on getting home. I would've asked him more if I didn't feel like I'd lost my mind." Mac gave shook his head with a regretful expression.
"I'm sure if he shows up again we'll see if he'll give us any information before he disappears again." Stella reassured him.
"Good, go get some sleep. See you in the morning." Mac said and made a brisk walk out the door.
Stella shut her door and dropped her keys into the bowl. She gave a deep sigh feeling relieved to be home but also wanting to get out of here as soon as possible.
She quickly walked into the bathroom, undressed and started to shower. After she was done she wrapped a towel around her and walked out into her bedroom.
Stella glanced at her bed and nearly screamed. Adam Ross was sitting on her bed swinging his legs. He looked up sharply at the noise and his eyes widened at the sight of Stella in a towel.
His hands slapped in front of his eyes, "I'm sooooo sorry. I just remembered how to get here and I came." His voice trailed off and he was breathing heavily in panic.
Stella stood their awkwardly for a moment, "Well, I'm going to get dressed. Give me a second."
She stood there a little bit longer. Adam cracked two fingers open and Stella raised an eyebrow.
"Oh!" He jumped off the bed and ran into the adjacent room which happened to be the living room.
Stella dressed and walked into the living room to find little Adam biting his fingernail and staring at some picture frames.
"Adam?" She tentatively called. Adam jumped and turned around.
She made a placating gesture with her hand, "It's okay. I'm not angry." She said and gave him a smile.
Adam took a large breath and seemed to relax. He looked at her and smiled goofily.
"You're pretty."
Stella just laughed. Of course Adam's crush would transfer to his eleven year old self.
"Thank you." She said simply and then went to make some coffee, "Is there a reason you're here?" Stella knew an opportunity when she saw one.
She pulled a filter and placed it in the machine.
"Everywhere I go is scary." His voice was quiet.
"You feel safe here?" Stella filled in the blanks. She pressed the button to start the machine and turned to see him. He was propped on a dining room chair. He gave her a shy nod.
"It's alright. I don't mind the company."
"So you remember me." He said his voice going a little high with the question. Stella laughed.
"Of course I remember you. How could I forget you?"
"Everyone else forgot me." He whispered – his eyes filling with tears. Stella rushed to the rescue.
"Hey, it's alright. They were just confused. They were expecting someone much older."
"Oh, well I can't help it." He said pouting a little.
Stella tilted her head, "What do you mean."
"This is my safe place when things get scary. I go here when nothing bad happened. Mr. Keller said it's not good to go here there, but s'not my fault." He said furrowing his eyebrows.
Stella couldn't help but think his expression was adorable. "Who's Mr. Keller?"
"My Psychiatrist." He said slowly. The words were a bit hard to get out. Stella looked surprised. She had no idea Adam saw or was seeing a psychiatrist.
"You call it going to your safe place. Do you know what Mr. Keller called this?" She asked wondering if there was a way to get the older Adam to come out.
Adam bit his lip and looked up, "Mmmm, I think it was dis-di, dis-so-cia-tive personality. Somthin' like that." He said shrugging.
Stella shook her head. That type of mental ailment could only be caused by severe trauma. Her heart ached to think of what caused this for someone as sweet as Adam.
"Well I'm glad you're here. You can stay as long as you want." Stella said deciding it was best to change the subject. Adam beamed.
"Really?! You're the nicest person in the whole wide world." He exclaimed.
Stella chuckled and shook her head. If Adam was here all the time he'd be more accessible. She needed sleep before she could coherently question him.
"Well, I'm going to get some sleep. Why don't you hang out and I'll talk to you in the morning."
Adam nodded and started at her with another goofy smile. Stella sighed. Having a little boy, in spirit form, who has a crush on you may work to her advantage but it was awkward trying to go to sleep with that thought.
Danny was waiting impatiently at the precinct.
He had slept 5 hours and then rushed out to meet Flack so they could go question their new suspect. They had put an APB on her before they had gone home for the night. Luckily a police officer had spotted her an hour ago and she had entered a house and had not left it yet.
Danny was anxious to get to her but Flack was currently taking his time filling the paperwork out.
Danny was tapping his hands on the table until suddenly a hand slapped down on them.
Danny cried out and cradled his hand to his chest.
"I swear Messer if you don't sit down and shut up I'll break it next time." Flack grumbled and went back to filling out a report.
"I think you already did." He said resentfully as he took a seat next to Flack's desk.
"We can't just barge in and question her. I have to fill this out." He muttered as he painstakingly filled out the form.
"You write too slowly. You should let me write it."
Flack glared at him, "I write legibly not slow. If I gave you this, it would look like a Tasmanian devil wrote it."
"My handwriting isn't that bad." Danny scoffed.
"Do you want me to bring Mac on the phone? I'm sure he can attest to it."
Danny was silent at that.
"Now that we have that settled. Let me finish."
A few moments later Flack stood up and picked up the paper. He folded it in half and put it in his jacket pocket.
"Ok, let's go."
Danny hopped up, "Finally!" He said in an overdramatic tone.
They approached the apartment building. It wasn't a horrible part of town but it wasn't the best. Weeds were overtaking the front porch and the building has several boarded windows.
Kids were out front playing and giggling. Flack parked and waved at the police officer across the way. Danny got out and Flack followed. They entered the building and scanned the mailboxes.
Danny tapped one of the boxes, "L. Carrington. This one is probably it. Apt. number 506."
They hurriedly took the stairs to the 5th floor and located the appropriate door with chipped gold numbers on it. Flack knocked on the door and a few moments later and elderly woman opened the door.
She gave them a kind smile, "How may I help you?"
Flack hesitated, "We're from the NYPD, and we're looking for a Brenda Carrington."
The woman sighed, "Oh what has she gotten herself into now?"
"Is she here ma'am? We really need to speak with her." Danny asked.
"Oh yes, she's here. We're having breakfast. Would you like some coffee?" The woman asked while scuffling from the door and opening it.
Flack shook his head while Danny nodded, "Sure." Flack looked at Danny and Danny shrugged as if to say "she offered."
"Oh, you boys are sweet. Brenda's in the dining room over there." The woman chuckled and walked to the kitchen.
Danny and Flack approached the dining room and were shocked to see her and a two year old boy sitting next to her.
"Brenda Carrington?" Danny asked.
Brenda nodded looking nervous. The little boy threw cheerios on the ground and giggled.
Danny and Flack pulled out their badges, "We're from the NYPD and we have some questions."
Brenda sighed, "I knew this would come back on me. This is about that 911 call. I swear I didn't do anything." She pleaded.
"We're not accusing you of anything. We just have a few questions." Flack said. The older woman came in.
"Have a seat, boys. You don't need to stand." She gave Danny a cup of coffee and gestured for them to sit down. They both took a seat.
"Brenda we have a video showing that you called 911 early in the morning a few days ago. It was regarding an attack on room 301B in the Glacier Apartment complex on 5th street. Is this correct?" Flack inquired.
Brenda shifted uncomfortably. The young boy got off his chair and started running around the table.
"Yes, sir."
"Were you aware of what was going on in the apartment?" Danny asked but his eyes followed the hyper boy.
"Not fully sir. Adam told me to leave through the fire escape when the men started banging on the door."
The boy started playing with Flack's shoelaces. Pulling on them and tying them over and over. Danny smothered a laugh. Flack tried to pull his shoe away while continuing his interrogation.
"What were you doing with Adam?" Danny asked. He was most curious on this fact. Why would Adam be with a convicted felon?
"We were having dinner. It was completely innocent." She protested.
"Ma'am what is your relationship to Adam Ross?" Danny jolted at this question and looked at Flack. What was Flack implying? Don was just staring suspiciously at the little boy currently ruining his shoelaces.
"Well, Adam is my boyfriend." She said simply. Danny nearly dropped his coffee.
A/N: Yes, I' ending it here. Partly, because I need to go to bed and partly from here the story kind of takes off. haha