It's answer time! :D

By the time Murdoch made it to the lobby, he realized an adjustment was already necessary to his plan. Since he doubted the paparazzi ever slept and he had no desire to be swarmed again, he looked to alternative means of transport.

"Henry, would it be possible to have my limo brought around front?"

"But of course, sir," Henry responded in his most obsequious tones. "It would be my pleasure to assist you in this matter."

A few minutes later he was nestled in the back of the oversized vehicle. They weren't moving for some reason. He tapped on the partition like George had done earlier that day.

Was it really the same day?, he thought, flabbergasted. It feels more like a lifetime!

This time the partition lowered with a tiny whirring noise from the motor. Through the small rear view mirror he could see part of the mans face.

"Harry?" he said, quite surprised. "What are you doing here?"

His father turned around and made a face. "My job, I thought." He grinned, "Or don't you remember hiring me for the night shift as a way to keep me off the bottle and out of the papers?"

Murdoch rubbed his temple. "Yes, yes, of course I remember."

"Well, where to son?"

Murdoch smiled, convinced this Pendrick matter would be put to rest sooner than anticipated. "Jasper's abode, please."

"Abode, eh? Well aren't you fancy?" Harry said with a sharp laugh that resembled a bark.

They started forth, the divider remaining down.

"Pretty unusual for you to be out and about so late. Something important I take it?"

"Possibly. I'm not actually sure.

Harry's eyes found his through that same rear view mirror. "And you felt more comfortable talking about it with your brother than you did with me?"

Murdoch had more or less come to forgiven his father for all of his many mistakes but that didn't mean he wanted to bear his soul to him, not even in another era.

"I'm afraid so."

Harry shrugged. "Figures. You two have been close ever since you found out the truth about my little, um, indiscretion in my youth. It's kind of freaky actually how similar you boys are considering the only common link is me!" Harry barked in laughter again.

"Yes, very...freaky."

The streets were more or less empty at this time of night and they arrived at Jasper's apartment within minutes. Murdoch hopped out and 'buzzed' up. No one answered. He went back into the limo.

"Not home, eh? Must be working a case still."

"Can you take me to his office?"

Harry nodded. On route Murdoch noticed a disturbing sight in an alleyway.

"Stop the limo!" he exclaimed, prompting Harry to slam on the brakes and Murdoch to fly face first into the seats across from him.

"Oh, sorry, Will," Harry said glancing behind him. "Forgot about the no seat belt thing. You'd think you rich types would want to-"

Rather than listen further, he dove out of the car and towards the motionless, brutalized figure.

"George!" he said shaking the younger mans shoulder. "George!"

Harry had come over to see what the fuss was all about.

"Holy fucking shit!" his father said eloquently. "Is he-"

Murdoch felt for a pulse. "No, he's not dead."

"Thank God!" said Harry.

Murdoch wondered vaguely if he even believed in Him.

"Help me get him into the limo."

George was heavier than he looked so it was with some difficulty that they accomplished this task. "Take us to the hospital."

Harry was shaking his head. "People are such animals nowadays. There's no rhyme or reason to the crap they pull."

Considering the way he had left him, Murdoch couldn't help but wonder if he was a bit to blame for this most undesirable outcome. Fervently he prayed that George would be all right.

Several strangely attired men and women came out to greet them when they pulled up to the hospital's entrance. He assumed they were doctors.

After they had secured George on a sophisticated gurney, and two of them carted him away, one of them turned to Murdoch and Harry and scolded them.

"You shouldn't have moved him. You should have called for an ambulance. You might have done him further injuries."

"I'm sorry, I was not thinking clearly."

The woman patted him on the arm and in a hardly reassuring manner said, "What's done is done."

Then they proceeded to have a conversation about who the victim was, who he and Harry were - eliciting a double take but otherwise no exclamations like other women had been prone to- and what exactly happened.

"Does he have any family we can call?"

The state of George's family life was difficult enough to grasp in his time. There was no telling what it was like now.

"I'm not sure."

"Really, Will?" said Harry. "How can you not know?"

The female attendant looked between them.

"Well, we'll look into it. In the meantime, please take a seat."

"Can I see him?"

"Once we know more about the extent of his injuries, someone will come and talk to you. But please," she said gesturing to the waiting area, "have a seat for now."

Murdoch watched as various patients walked by, all of which were wearing open backed clothing! Why was there so much nudity in this time? And what was that unsavoury smell circulating through the air?

An hour later a male physician attended to them.

"How is he faring, doctor?" he asked, standing up, glad to stretch his legs. Harry had fallen asleep and therefore did not join him.

"His injuries are numerous and substantial but thanks to the miracles of youth and modern science," the man smiled, "he should be good as new in a few weeks."

Murdoch released his pent up breath. "Very good. When can I see him?"

"That privilege is usually only designated to family, but in this case, I think we can make an exception seeing as he has none."

Murdoch was taken aback. "None? Surely you must be mistaken?"

He shook his head. "I'm afraid not. His parents are dead. Have been for years. There's no one else to contact."

"What about all of his aunts? He has at least twenty of them and they are all named after flowers."

The doctor gave him a strange look. "I don't know where you're getting your information from, sir, but he has no aunts."

"But what about his biological parents?"

"He was adopted?"

"Yes. Perhaps his biological mother would like to see him?"

"Yes, perhaps, Mr. Murdoch, but I hardly see how I can contact her." Murdoch looked puzzled. "Those records are always sealed. And even if they weren't I wouldn't. It's not my place to meddle in such affairs." There was a slight pause. "Well, come along then, sir."

Awhile later, George opened his eyes. Murdoch had been grasping his hand in prayer and felt movement slightly before this.

"What the hell happened?" George slurred, whether from the blows to his head or the high levels of alcohol in his system, Murdoch didn't know. "I feel like shit."

What was this fascination with feces all of a sudden?

"You were attacked and-"

"It was Brackenreid! That bastard!"

"Calm yourself, George," he said with a firm hand on his chest.

George glared at him through his puffy black and blue eyes. "Don't tell me you're taking his side again?"

True, Murdoch had seen first hand the results of his bosses 'chats' with suspects, and true that the Brackenreid of this time was a behemoth with animosity towards George, but still...he had a hard time believing Brackenreid would do such a thing...completely unprovoked.

"I am taking no one's side. I simply desire you to remain calm."

"Whatever," he grumbled, turning away from him.

There was silence for a little while.

Murdoch folded his hands in his lap and activated detective mode. "Now, I want you to think very carefully and tell me exactly what happened after we parted ways."

His colleague scrunched up his face in concentration. Eventually George sighed. "It's all so foggy still." Deadpanning, "But I know for a fact that Brackenreid is responsible."

"Forgive me, George, but how can you know that if you can't remember anything yet?"

"You are taking his side!" George snarled, gesticulating angrily. "I thought you were my friend!"

"I am, George, but-"

"Get out!" George yelled, jabbing towards the door. "Get the fuck out of here!"

Momentarily taken aback by such language from such a normally jovial man, Murdoch nevertheless stood his ground. He was determined to get down to the bottom of at least one mystery tonight, so he applied more pressure to the situation.

"Surely you remember something about the altercation? What was said? At what time did Brackenreid assault you? The more specifics you can provide me with now, the easier it will be to lay charges later on."

"What are you, the fucking police?" George glowered. "What's with the third degree?" Scowling further, "Why isn't my word good enough for you?" Murdoch just stared. George looked to the left as he continued. "That limey bastard attacked me in the alleyway after I refused to stay away from Emily! End of story!"

Murdoch frowned at his evasiveness. "Why are you lying to me?"

"I'm not," George said looking anywhere but at him.

"George."

"All right, fine!" There was a lengthy pause. Finally George muttered something that he didn't catch.

"Pardon me?"

"I goaded some kids into beating the crap out of me, okay!" George blurted. "You happy now?!"

"Why on earth would you do such a thing?" Murdoch asked, nonplussed.

George didn't respond.

"Do you dislike Brackenreid so much as to risk your own life for his ruin?"

George didn't respond.

"George, your behaviour of late has been very erratic. I am worried about you. What has triggered this change?"

George scoffed. "Oh yeah, my behaviour's been erratic. Yeah okay, Will."

"George, you once were a fine young man. Now you are, well..."

"An asshole?" he said turning to face him. "You think I don't know that?"

"If you are aware of your unpleasant behaviour then why-"

"I can't help it okay?!" George shouted. "I'm just so angry all the time!"

"Have you spoken with an alienist?" George gave him a funny look. "A psychiatrist."

"What the hell is a shrink gonna tell me that I don't already know? I already know I push people away as a defence mechanism to avoid being hurt again!"

"What do you mean, George. Who hurt you?" George grimaced. "George?"

"My freaking parents okay!"

"Your biological ones?"

He frowned. "How did you know about that?"

"Never mind, George. How did your biological parents hurt you?"

George laughed without mirth. "You mean besides dumping me on a fireman's doorstep when I was a baby?" Murdoch nodded. "Well I'll tell you, Will, since you seem so interested in my problems all of a sudden." Murdoch simply stared. "When my asshole adoptive parents died six years ago in a drunk driving incident, I decided to try and find my real ones. I figured they couldn't be any worse. It took forever to track them down with the few clues I had. But I finally did. Then I went to go see my dear old mum and dad." George licked his lips and swallowed hard. A fanatical light was beaming behind his quickly watering eyes. "I wasn't expecting to be embraced with open arms but I damn sure wasn't expecting what did happen! My parents were still together and had another goddamn family to boot! But apparently I was trash or something! Gave them memories of a bad time in their life, they said! Didn't want to have anything to do with me! Can you believe that crap? I'm their goddamn son! Their first born! What bastards! And it's not just my family life that's cursed! I've always had crappy luck in love too! Every time I get attached they up and leave me!"

Murdoch didn't know what to say as George turned away and started to bitterly sob. He felt George's emotional pain as keenly as if he were his own son. Eventually the heart-wrenching sounds subsided.

"All I wanted, all I've ever wanted is for someone to need me, to think I was something special. But I guess that's just too much to ask."

Gingerly Murdoch placed a hand to his shoulder. When George didn't pull away, he said, "You are special, George. I have always thought so. Time and time again you have assisted me, stood up for me...had my back. I have always been thankful to have you in my life. I thought you knew that."

"Well I didn't," he muttered, apparently embarrassed. His voice was thick with repressed emotions.

Murdoch's phone vibrated insistently, instantly shattering their sentimental discourse.

"You gonna get that?"

"It's not important."

"Shit, Will, just pick it up," George said more like his usual brusk self. "They clearly want to talk to you."

"All right." Guiltily he retrieved his phone and answered. "Hello?"

"William, you wanted to talk?"

"Yes, Jasper I did."

There was silence.

"Well?"

"Oh, right, I would like to do this in person."

"All right. Where do you want to meet?"

"Queen's Park. By the horse statue."

"Ten minutes okay with you?"

"In ten minutes?" Murdoch looked to George who was now watching him. George nodded. "Yes, ten minutes would be fine."

"Okay, see you then."

A nurse came in and scolded him for having his phone out. He quickly put it away.

Before he left he turned to George and said, "No matter what happens next, I want you to remember that you are appreciated and loved. Can you do that for me?"

George nodded, smiling slightly.

"Good," he said with a similar smile. "Try and get some rest, George."

"All right, William," said Jasper tiredly, from his sitting position at the base of the horse statue, "what's so urgent that it couldn't wait till morning?"

Murdoch sat down beside his brightly uniformed brother, feeling pretty tired himself. He had been up for almost twenty hours straight now, in increasingly bizarre situations and the effects had finally started to take their toll.

"I'm going to propose a strange request of you, Jasper. Once I do, please just humour me and don't ask questions." Jasper signalled for him to continue. "I want you tell me everything you know about the Pendrick affair...and start from the very beginning."

Jasper rubbed his forehead in a reminiscent way to himself. This signalled he was very agitated. Then he collected himself and said, "Sure, why not? It's not like it's two in the morning or anything." Murdoch just stared and Jasper sighed. "From the beginning, eh? Well in the beginning you and James Pendrick were business associates, one might even say friends."

To beginnings. JP. Wasn't that inscribed on the replica in my office?

"But a rivalry started. And not just in the boardroom." He gave him a blank look. "William, you had an affair with his wife." Murdoch raised an eyebrow. "For months." He raised the other eyebrow. "When Pendrick found out he was understandably upset. But when she told him she planned on leaving him for you, well he became enraged and he killed her."

Murdoch gulped. "Then why did Julia need to clear my name?"

Jasper gave him an annoyed look. "I wasn't finished yet. And if I can't ask questions, I would appreciate it if you would refrain from doing so as well." Murdoch nodded. "Anyway, Pendrick killed her and then he framed you. It was brilliantly done. The alibi, the crime scene, everything. And considering she was found in your place, and you were nowhere to be found, the case seemed cut and dry.

"Later you awoke in a dive bar in Mexico, half unconscious and with no apparent memory of the preceding events. Confused and disoriented, you approached the local police station...and were promptly arrested. The case was so high profile that within a day you were extradited back to Canada. When Pendrick came out with the story that she wouldn't leave him for you, you yourself were half convinced that you killed her and then fled the country, even though I told you such beliefs were nonsense.

"Since you were still apparently so confused, I insisted they check your blood for evidence of drug tampering. Nothing out of the ordinary was ever found. No matter what the tests said, I firmly believed that you were drugged but that Pendrick used a designer drug, something that would be virtually impossible to detect unless they already knew exactly what to look for. When he confessed to Sally's murder, he validated my hypothesis as well.

"But before then, things were looking pretty bleak for you. Then Julia took up the cause. She claimed to have discovered an inaccuracy in one of the key pieces of evidence against you," Jasper grimaced, "something I even managed to miss. Further investigation proved her suspicions correct and the case against you fell apart. And that's as much as I know about this matter." Jasper looked at him pointedly. "Now are you going to tell me what this is all about, William?"

"I still have the painting Sally gave me long ago and I wondered why."

Jasper closed his eyes in exasperation and pinched the bridge of his nose. "William, I believe I told you to get some rest. Clearly you have not taken my advice." Jasper glanced at him. "If you're still hung up on Sally, then you need to be a gentleman and let Julia go. It's the least you can do considering you owe her your current liberty."

"But I don't want to let her go. I love her. I always have."

Jasper looked at him strangely. "Then I simply don't understand what your dilemma is, William. If you love her as much as you claim to, what is preventing you from proposing and moving on with your life?"

Murdoch glanced away and said, "It's complicated."

Jasper clasped his hands together and stood up. "Well, if you won't confide in me, I'm going to bed. Once again, I strongly advise you to do the same."