Disclaimer: I obviously do not own CSI: NY. I just own my car, my laptop and my crazy muse who seems to want to write 4 different stories at a time. I also do own any characters that you do not recognize. You can borrow them if you ask permission first!

A/N: Here's the next chappie!! Thanks to all who reviewed. As always, please R&R. My muse loves the attention. :D The chapter title comes from the band, Puddle of Mudd. Many thanks to Aphina and Axellia, who without, this story would suck!

Chapter 50.

Blurry

When Cory awoke, she looked around the hospital room. She vaguely remembered Danny kissing her good-bye before he left for work. Blinking her eyes, she struggled to remember something from the previous three days. She shook her head as she realized that the only thing that kept popping into her mind was a picture of Cruz lying in his own blood.

She looked up as a knock interrupted her meandering thoughts. She glanced at Angell as she entered the room. "Hi, Jess," she said softly.

"Cory. How are you?" Angell asked with concern in her eyes.

"I'm fine," Cory said automatically. "How's Cruz?"

Angell smiled, a light coming to her eyes. "He's getting better. The doctors are pleased with his progress." Angell sat down. "I'm actually taking a small break from sitting with him to come visit you."

"He's here?"

Angell nodded. "Yeah. Couple of floors up."

Cory looked around and then pressed the call button for the nurse. One appeared almost immediately. She looked at the friendly brunette. "Can I go and visit another patient?"

The nurse nodded. "Of course. Let me get you a wheelchair." The nurse left the room and soon was back with a wheelchair, which Cory gingerly got into. Angell grabbed the handles and began to push her towards Cruz's room.

Cory studied the people in the hallway as they moved by them, dreading seeing Cruz, knowing that she was responsible for putting him in this place. Nervousness settled in her chest for the reaction that she would get when she saw him.

As Angell paused in front of the door, she stared down at her hands. Seconds later, Angell pushed her into the room and she saw Cruz sitting up in the bed, his shoulder bandaged.

Ovidio looked up as they entered the room and straightened a bit. "Agent Reid."

Cory looked at him, hearing no accusation in his voice. She smiled. "You got shot for me. I think you can call me Cory now, Ovidio."

Cruz nodded. "Cory. How are you?"

"By the looks of it, better than you. How's the shoulder and how'd you get made?" Cory replied.

Cruz smiled and nodded to Angell, who left the room, closing the door quietly behind her. Quietly, he began to her of his time undercover.

Cory sat impatiently in her hospital room, waiting for the doctor to sign her release papers. Danny had brought her a change of clothes that morning before he left for work. He had left her alone with the admonishment that he hoped that she could stay out of trouble long enough for him to come back and pick her up. She had laughed at the sally and promised that she would try.

She stared at the TV, not really seeing the screen, but trying to put the fragments of her memory back in some semblance of order. She clearly remembered being with Cruz and then waking up chained to a bed, but things after that were very fuzzy. Why do I think that if I can remember something I can find Mom?

Danny had told her the day before about her mother going to meet Montoya in Paris, to give them more time to find her and she felt a lance of regret shoot through her at their last conversation. Why didn't I give her a chance to explain? Damn my temper!

Sighing, she watched as the doctor walked into the room. "Well, Ms. Reid, I am clearing you for discharge. I do want you to rest for the next forty-eight to seventy-two hours, so do not go back to work until Monday the 10th." He looked at her intently, obviously warned about her stubbornness when it came to going back to work.

Reluctantly, Cory nodded. "Fine. May I at least go shopping? I really need to start my Christmas shopping."

"As long as you are not speed shopping and you're taking it easy, that's fine. Just don't overdo it."

"I understand," Cory said, with her mind whirling about what she could do from home. She smiled as a nurse walked into the room, with Danny trailing behind her.

When they arrived home, Danny refused to let Cory walk. He carried her up to their apartment and set her carefully on the couch, like she was going to break.

Cory glanced at him. "Danny? I'm not made of glass. I'm fine," she stated softly.

Danny flushed a little. "I know, bella, but I just got you back. I'm…" he trailed off as emotion overwhelmed him.

Cory tugged on his hand, drawing him down on the couch with her, and drew him into a hug. "I know, sweetheart. I'm sorry that I worried you. I never suspected that Montoya was in Dallas, much less that he would try to kidnap me!" She sighed in contentment as Danny's arms wrapped around her. "So," she said into his chest. "What did I miss?"

Danny sighed in contentment as he rested his chin on top of her head. "Not much. Stella played mediator between Mac and the Feds. We stopped bombs from blowing up the subway and your Mom risked her life for you." Danny paused. "I'm sorry that we lost her, bella. Lydia had Interpol tracking her, but they lost her in Paris."

Cory shook her head. "I'll find her. Montoya has finally pushed me to my limit. I will stop at nothing to get her back and put him behind bars," she said with conviction.

Danny squeezed her lightly. "I know you will." Danny paused when his stomach rumbled.

Cory laughed. "Hungry, chere?"

Danny flushed a bit. "Yeah, I haven't eaten since breakfast. Why don't I fix us dinner?"

Cory nodded her assent. "Okay. Listen, I want to go shopping this weekend with the girls. Do you know what Stella and Lindsay are working?"

Danny turned before he entered the kitchen. "Both are off on Sunday."

"Good. I need to do my Christmas shopping," Cory said while grabbing her phone to call them.

Sunday, Cory was checking her email while waiting for Taylor, Lydia, Stella and Lindsay to arrive. They had decided to meet at her place at noon to go shopping. Just as her buzzer sounded, Cory saw an email pop up. Walking quickly to the door, she let the girls in and hurried back to her laptop to read the email. It was from Alistair.

"Cory,

I have a possible lead on your mother. Montoya bought a yacht in Nice. We're trying to track it right now. I'll email you if we get any more info.

Alistair."

Cory bit her lip as she read the email, wanting to respond, but knowing that she shouldn't even be logged on to the FBI database. Finally, just as the door opened, she decided to send her reply.

"Hey Cory. What are you doing?" Lydia asked from behind her.

Cory looked up, a guilty expression on her face. "Um. Responding to an email," she temporized.

Lydia looked at her boss and friend, seeing the look of guilt on her face. "Sure," she said with a smirk. "Who from?"

"Fine," Cory said with a huff. "It was from Alistair. They have a possible lead on my mom. Montoya bought a yacht in Nice."

Lydia smiled. "Good. Maybe he can help us track her down since they are the ones that lost her in the first place!" She closed Cory's laptop with a snap. "Come on. Let's go shopping."

Cory allowed herself to be pulled off the couch and out the door.

Several hours later, she sat in a small café, exhausted. "Stella? You are a maniac! I don't think I've ever power shopped like this before."

Stella smiled and the other girls laughed. "What can I say? It's a gift," she said, smirking. "But, do you or do you not feel better?"

Cory nodded. "Yeah, I do. Thank y'all so much. I needed this. Now I have all my shopping done, except for y'all." She looked at Taylor, who was peering around her. "Ghost?"

Taylor nodded her head. "Nope. I do think I know that guy over there, though."

They all turned around and it was Lydia who recognized him first. "Matt!" she yelled, waving her arm slightly.

The man turned around and smiled as he walked over. "Hi. I didn't expect to see you guys here."

Lindsay smiled as she raised her eyebrow. "Neither did we. How's New York's newest hero doing?" she asked.

"It was just a day at the office. Did you find anything out about the C4?"

Stella looked at them. "Nope. No talking shop today. We are all actually off work. You can ask us tomorrow, Matt."

Matt laughed as he turned at the sound of his name. "Okay. I gotta go anyway. I'll swing by the lab tomorrow for those results," he said over his shoulder as he walked away.

Cory looked on in interest as he greeted a short blonde. "Hey Lydia? Isn't that Cassie?"

Lydia looked around her. "Yup," she said grinning. "I thought the two of them hit it off when they were diffusing the bombs."

Cory giggled. "I hope that Matt knows what a ride she'll take him on." She paused when she saw the confusion on Taylor, Stella and Lindsay's faces. "Cassie's a little on the wild side. She'll lead him on a merry chase."

The table broke out in laughter just as the food was delivered. Cory took a bite of her Chicken Alfredo and sighed. "God, this is sinful. It's worth every calorie, though."

The other women murmured their agreement and quickly they finished eating. Stella looked around the table. "Anyone else ready to shop some more?" she said with a glint in her eye. She pouted at the groans. "Come on. It's just one stop and it's to Georgie," she finished in a sing song voice.

Lindsay's eyes lit up. "Georgie? Really! Good, I so need a formal dress for the Policeman's Ball that I'll actually fit into! My clothes are starting to get tight," she said with a frown.

Cory laughed. "Well, you are pregnant and clothes are bound to do that. But I'm in. I need a dress for the ball. I want to knock Danny's socks off."

"All right, then. Let's go. He's expecting us at four, so that leaves us an hour to get there." The women stood up and the women left the café and prepared to put themselves into Georgie's more than capable hands.

AN: Up next, much needed fluff!! Btw. I am posting a new story (called Poisoned Pen). It it actually following the canon of show for once (gasp). I hope that it will only be around 10 chapters, but anything can happen with my muse!

MauradingKnight - I added your names, but I'm with you, I love McKenzie. I may never name someone that since I know someone with that name, but stranger things have happened! btw...Look for a lot of premonitions coming up. (:p)

CSI junkie - I'm glad that she makes it interesting. I'll give you a hint, you've already met the bad guy. He actually gets revealed in a couple of chapters. I promise, I'm trying to write Mac and Stella, but they are the most difficult for me to write!

Evans12 - Thanks! I did get your list and added the names to the ever expanding list of names that people are giving me.

Soccer-Bitch - Let's see, I was awoke by thunderstorms (in February!!) and we hit a high of 79. When I left work at 7, it was in the forties. Isn't Texas great? On the bright side, since I've been sick with the flu since last Wednedsay, I haven't had to fill my car up (which I know is cheaper here than there!), so something good came out of being sick. And may I say, HOLY COW at the sheer number of names you gave me! Wow. They all went on my list and at some point, I really choose a sex and a name, but not quite! Thanks!

Aphina - Any news from C yet? I miss her. I like the focus on all of the different couples. I know that's were I'm lacking. I swear, in the sequel, I'm going to bring the focus back a little. It's really hard to write 8 people at the same time! Then when you add in Tay and Marty, Matt and Cassie...I'm overwhelmed! Alexis does get a bit of relief here, but only a bit. I predict hard times ahead for her!