"You and Jay were right, the thing that broke the glass was a bottle of Warm Vanilla Sugar perfume and I think I've found the suspect in the jewelry store robbery homicide," Flack said into his cell phone.

"Really, was it a woman or a man?" Sheldon asked.

"It was a man who bought it for his girlfriend. I'm bringing him in now, you and Jaylin wanna talk to him?"

"Yeah, we do. I'll tell Jaylin, see you when you get here."

"See you."

"Hey Jaylin," Hawkes called into the hall from the layout room he was working in.

"What is it? I just dropped off the prints.

"Flack found the suspect he thinks. A guy bought the perfume for his girlfriend. He's bringing him in now."

"That's good, we can get his prints and see if they match any of the ones we collected," she said through a yawn.

"Long night?" he teased.

"You know we had girls' night," she replied.

"Yeah I know. How'd it go?"

"Ah ah, you know the rule." "What happens at girl's night, stays at girl's night," they said together.

"I know, but you can't blame a guy for being curious, now can you?"

"Nope, you can't," she said with a smile.

"So how'd it go?" he asked.

"It was a fun night well mostly, anyway," she murmured.

"What part wasn't fun?" Sheldon asked picking up on his girlfriends tone.

"Tom," Jaylin said acidly.

"What about him?"

"He called Tay and from what I could tell he was bugging her about when she'd be home. I think he accused her of spending more time with us than him. I'm not sure anyone else saw but when he called she frowned but then put on a fake smile for our benefit. I can't help but get a slimy feeling when I think of him."

"I'm sure it's nothing, but if it is, Taylor's a capable woman and she'll find her way out of it," he reassured her.

"I hope so, Shell, I sure hope so." -----------------

"Where were you at 1:30 this afternoon Mr. Wattson?" Flack asked as they sat in the interrogation room. Jack Wattson was of average height and build and appeared to be like any other person shopping for gifts, but the detectives knew otherwise.

"Shopping for my girlfriend's birthday."

"Where all did you go shopping?" Jay interjected.

"I went to Bath and Body Works, Hallmark and the candy store for some chocolates," he answered easily.

"So you never set foot in McDill's Jewelers?" Hawkes questioned. The suspect shook his head but they could see the slight widening of his eyes. Scanning the floor by his feet Jaylin noted the shopping bags next to him.

"Mind if I have a look at what you bought? I'm a woman after all. I can tell you if I think your girlfriend will like her gifts," she suggested casually.

"Sure, thanks," he replied sliding the bags over to her. Giving a cursory glance into the Hallmark one and the candy store one she nodded approvingly. Then she reached for the Bath and Body Works one and looked into it. She smile when she saw the intact bottle of lotion and some shards of glass that used to be a bottle of perfume.

"Are you sure you weren't in the jewelry store, Mr. Wattson?" she prodded.

"Yes, I'm sure," he answered getting irritated.

"Well I have evidence that states otherwise," she answered smoothly.

"What evidence?" he cried indignantly.

"Shards of glass from a perfume bottle?" Sheldon asked noticing the contents of the bag from his spot next to Jaylin.

"That's exactly what it is," Jay responded. Jack's eyes widened and he started to sweat.

"See here's what I think happened," Flack said conversationally. "You went into the jewelry store wanting to get something for your girlfriend but when you realized you couldn't afford anything in the store you decided to take something so you broke the glass with the bottle of perfume on the diamond case with and stole whatever you could reach. Then you did the same on the case of gold necklaces but what you hadn't counted on was the appearance of the owner and you shot him before running out," Flack concluded.

"I didn't mean to shoot him, I just wanted to give her something nice for her birthday," he cried.

"All you'll be giving her is a phone call from prison to bale your sorry ass out, and I doubt she'll be willing to do that,"
Flack remarked as he slapped cuffs on the suspect and lead him from the room.

"Another case solved," Jaylin said with a smile.

"MMM hmm," Hawkes agreed. "Whatcha doing tonight?"

"I'm babysitting Abbey so her parents can go out on a date." A smile crossed her face when she thought of her six-month-old niece.

"Want some company?" Sheldon whispered in her ear.

"Sure I'd love some," she responded.

"Great, then I'll be there around 7:00."

"Sounds good," Jay agreed leaning in for a quick kiss before they headed off to write up their reports for this case.

---------

The excited squeals of her niece greeted Jaylin as she rang the doorbell of her sister and her boyfriends' apartment. The door was opened by a frazzled Natalie.

"Hey there, Nat," Jay greeted taking in her sister's haggard look. Her hair was wild and her eyes looked tearful.

"Hey," she sniffled.

"What's wrong?"

"Jack and I got into a huge fight and he stormed off."

"What was the fight about?" Jaylin asked walking into the cluttered apartment and making a beeline for the baby laying on a blanket on the floor.

"I got mad cause he brought over a couple of his friends and they were drinking and being loud. They woke up Abbey and it took me forever to get her to sleep in the first place," Natalie complained.

"I'm sure things will work out," Jay reassured her younger sister as she picked up the baby and tickled her. Natalie was about to respond when the door burst open and Jack Wilson stormed in brandishing a gun. Moving on instinct Jaylin placed the baby in her playpen and drew her gun. She could hear Natalie scream.

"Jack, put the gun down," she instructed in her most level voice.

"No, this bitch will pay for kicking my friends out. This is my place to!" he snarled swinging the gun wildly around. He was slurring his words a clear sign he was drunk.

"If you put the gun down we can talk about this," Jaylin negotiated. Jack gave a derisive snort as he grabbed for Natalie pulling her against him and shoving the gun against her temple.

"Put your gun down and kick it away," he ordered. Jaylin stood firm.

"I can't do that."

"Put it down or I shoot her!" Hesitating for a second the CSI did what her sister's boyfriend demanded when she saw his finger tighten on the trigger.

"I'm just going to put my gun on the floor and kick it away, okay? I won't do anything else," she said calmly so as not to startle him. As she lowered her weapon to the floor she glanced at her watch. It was 6:45 still 15 minutes before Sheldon was due to arrive. She was thankful for her back-up weapon that Jack wasn't aware of. If only she could get to it without arousing his suspicions. Deciding the only way to distract him was to keep him talking she did that as she unobtrusively sent a text blindly on her cell phone. She was never so thankful that she'd memorized where Flack's and Sheldon's numbers were in her phone and she knew Mac was the first number in her phone.

"We have a 10-43 at 1909 7th Street. Three hostages one is a baby one hostage taker. Hurry!" That was the only word she'd give them to alert them to the fact that she was one of the hostages.

"I'm sure Nat didn't mean to kick your friends out. She was just upset that Abbey had been woken from her nap.

"Yeah well she had no right," he growled as he moved the gun from her baby sister's temple then slammed it against her head so hard she crumpled to the ground unconscious. She let out a loud cry as she fell. The cry startled the baby and she began to cry. Moving quickly Jaylin headed for the frightened infant.

"Move another step and I'll blow your head off," he snarled. Abbey continued to cry. Her cries were getting louder. Jaylin froze and held up her hands.

"I just want to check on Abbey." Jack glared from her to the unconscious Natalie on the floor then he switched his gaze to his baby daughter and leveled his gun on her.

"Shut up!" he shouted.

"I can get her quiet if you'll let me go to her," Jaylin pleaded.

"I said no!" he bellowed lifting the gun higher. Abbey's cries intensified and Jaylin could feel tears gathering in her own eyes. "I'll shut you up once and for all you worthless little brat! Then I'll go after your mother!" Jack yelled squeezing the trigger.

"Nooooooooo!" Jaylin shouted as the bullet was fired. Diving she managed to get in the path of the bullet before it reached the tiny baby. A cry of pain escaped her lips as she was slammed into the floor. The bullet tore into her shoulder. Giving a high-pitched laugh Jack turned the gun on her and fired once again. Another agonized cry came from the Colorado native's lips as the bullet hit her leg.

"Look at me," Jack demanded glaring at the fallen CSI. Forcing her eyes open she met his glittering gaze. Smiling evilly he picked up her gun and pointed it at her sister.

"How would you feel if your own gun were to kill your own sister?"

"No," Jaylin whimpered. The pain was almost unbearable but she couldn't make her eyes close.

"Say goodbye," he cackled as he fired a shot from Jaylin's gun hitting Natalie in the arm.

"Natalie!" Jaylin shouted trying to crawl to her sister. Laughing evilly Jack dropped her gun just out of her reach. Dragging herself as fast as she could she grasped the butt of it with her shaking hands. Lifting it she managed to get off a shot shooting him in the leg.

"You bitch!" he yelled grabbing his leg and falling to the floor. Firing one more shot she was satisfied when the bullet tore through his knee. Collapsing on to her back she let the darkness claim her. The last thing she heard were the angry screams of Jack Wilson and the terified crying of the baby.

------------

Flack had just gotten off shift when his cell phone buzzed, indicating a message. Pulling it out of his pocket he clicked on it and quickly read it. His eyes widened when he read the code and the message that followed it.

"Shit!" he shouted as he flipped on his lights and sirens before reaching for his radio.

"I have a 10-43 at 1909 7th Street. A CSI is one of the hostages. All units report to 1909 7th Street immediately!"

"10-4," the dispatcher responded. Simultaneously Mac and Sheldon reached for their phones when they buzzed.

"Jaylin!" Sheldon shouted as he ran from his lab to the front door of the lab. Mac met him about half way.

"Do you know what's going on?" he asked as he sent a text to the rest of the team to get to 1909 7th Street ASAP.

"She was going over to her sister's place to babysit Abbey so Natalie and Jack could go out on a date. I told her I'd meet her a little after 7:00 when I got off shift," Sheldon explained all in a rush. Nodding Mack jumped into the drivers' seat of the NYPD vehicle and Sheldon hurriedly climbed into the passengers' seat. Reaching for his phone he started to dial Jaylin's number.

"What are you doing?" Mack barked.

"Calling Jay," Sheldon responded.

"Hawkes, you know that isn't protocol. What if you call her and it angers the hostage taker even more. She was able to send us that text because he or she wasn't aware of her still having her phone. If you call her you could be giving her or her niece or her sister a death sentence. Sighing Sheldon sank into his seat. He knew Mac was right.

"I know but this is so hard," Sheldon admitted.

"I know, but I need to know you can remain objective on this. Can you handle this situation, sheldon? If you can't I'll remove you from this case."

"I can handle this case, Mac," the former M.E responded drawing in a shaky breath. "I just want her to be okay," he whispered.

"I do to, Sheldon, I do to." ------

The flashing lights from the numerous cop cars and black SUV's gave the neighborhood an eerie glow.

"What do we have Flack?" Mack asked as he and Sheldon ran up to the homicide detective. The rest of the team appeared behind them.

"Jaylin sent me a text so I called for back-up and headed over here. We evacuated the building and are taking witness statements. The next door neighbor said she heard gun shots two or three minutes ago then nothing else since. I'm ready to storm the apartment. My officers have tried calling the land line but no one is answering."

"Have you tried CSI Nichol's cell phone?" Mac asked in his most CSI boss voice.

"Yes, no answer," Flack answered.

"Detective Flack!" called one of his officers.

"What is it?"

"I looked in the window and no one is moving but I see a lot of blood.

"I agree," Angell said as she walked back around the front of the building.

"Okay, we go in on my count," Flack instructed. Nodding the team and other officers took their positions surrounding the apartment.

"NYPD!" Flack yelled as he kicked in the door. "Jesus!" he cried momentarily paralyzed by the sight in front of him. Natalie was lying on the floor with a pool of blood surrounding her. She appeared to be coming around. Jaylin was a few feet from her sister one hand on her gun one hand reaching out for her sister. Jack wilson was yelling on the floor and the baby was screaming her head off from the playpen. Moving aside he allowed the rest of the team to enter the crime scene. Assessing the situation Mac spoke.

"Adam, go with Angell and continue taking witness statements. Lindsay, go check on the baby. Sheldon, you and I will tend to Jaylin, Stella, check on Natalie. Danny you and Flack deal with the suspect," Mac commanded. Everyone nodded and did what they were told. Kneeling on either side of the fallen CSI both men apraised her injuries.

"Neither bullet appears to be fatal. One appears to have hit her shoulder and one hit her leg just below her knee," Sheldon reported.

"Jaylin, can you hear me? It's Mac." The young woman made no response.

"Jay, can you hear me, Sweet Girl?" Jaylin's eyes fluttered.

"MMM, Sweet Stuff?" she mumbled in confusion.

"Yeah, I'm here, Mac is to."

"Nat…? Abbey…?" Jaylin gasped out.

"They're both okay," Mac soothed. "What do you remember?" While Mac had been talking he'd started to apply pressure to her leg wound while Sheldon applied pressure to her shoulder wound.

"He stormed in here drunk and angry. He was holding his gun to Natalie's head. He said he'd shoot her if I didn't kick my gun away so I did. He got mad and hit her against the head with the gun. This scared Abbey and she started to cry. I tried to go to her but he threatened to blow my head off. She cried louder making him agitated. I told him I could make her quiet if he'd let me go to her. He refused and raised the gun to shoot. I couldn't let him shoot her so I dove in front of the playpen just as he fired and took the bullet. Then h-h-he grabbed my gun and shot Abbey with it then dropped it just out of my reach. I managed to grab it and shoot him twice before I blacked out." Tears slid down her face and she started to shake.

"She's going into shock! Where are those paramedics?" Sheldon called.

"Right here," called a medic as they walked into the room.

"Natalie Christine Nichols, bullet wound to the arm and was hit on the head with the butt of a gun. Lost consciousness but is now conscious," Stella informed the medic. Nodding he lifted the young woman onto the stretcher and made his way out of the apartment.

"Jack Owen Wilson shot twice in the leg," Danny said.

"What have we here?" asked the female medic as she approached Lindsay and the now calm infant.

"She's just scared, not a scratch on her."

"C-call Tay," Jaylin choked out. "Abbey's d-d-doctor."

"Shh, don't talk, sweetheart. We'll call Taylor and have her look at Abbey. You just rest," Sheldon soothed. The other medic made his way over to the small group and after assessing the situation he placed two pressure bandages on the wounds before lifting the injured CSI on to the stretcher.

"Go with her, Shell, we'll meet you there," Mac instructed. "Lindsay, you and Danny process the scene. Stella, you go with the baby to the hospital. I'll have Adam join you there when he's done with witness statements," Mac said.

"What will you be doing?" Stella asked.

"I'm staying with the damn SOB who did this."

"Keep us posted, please," Danny requested.

"I will, now let's get to work," Mac said turning and heading out of the apartment. ------

"Someone call for a peds consult?" Taylor called across the ER of Manhattan General.

"I did, a six month old in room three. She was involved in a shooting. She appears to be unharmed but the officers want her to be checked out anyway." Nodding at the information the nurse gave her Taylor made her way to the room after grabbing the chart.

"Hi, my name is Dr. Madison, I'll be looking after the baby," she greeted as she walked into the room. "Now what seems to be the pro---" she broke off when she looked up catching sight of Stella holding a sleeping Abbey Nichols. "Stel, Abbey?"

"Yeah," Stella answered.

"What the hell happened?" Taylor asked as she walked over and began examining the baby.

"There was a hostage situation that turned violent. Apparently Jay was at her sister's to babysit so her and Jack could go out on a date. They'd gotten into a fight and he stormed into the apartment with a gun. The long and short of it is that he attempted to shoot Abbey but Jay took the bullet. Then he took her gun and shot Natalie with it this was after he'd knocked her unconscious. Jaylin was able to reach her gun after he threw it down and she shot him twice. She sent Sheldon, Mac, and Flack a text alerting them to the hostage situation," Stella concluded.

"Will she be okay?"

"Hawkes seems to think so. He said both bullets weren't fatal. She was shot once in her shoulder and once in the leg," answered the greek CSI.

"Well Abbey appears to be unharmed so I don't see any reason to admit her. Tell Sheldon I'll be up to see Jay as soon as I can, will you?"

"Of course I will. I'm sure she's going to be fine, Jay's strong, she's a fighter," Stella assured the other woman.

"I just hope everyone comes out of this okay in the end," Taylor commented.

"They will with all of our support," Stella replied as she cuddled the infant and gave Taylor a quick hug.

TBC?

A/n, please read and review.