While the trio in L.A. was talking to Agent Green, Jim's cell rang. It was his ex, Ellie's mother.

Jim, I heard from Ellie…" she began.

"When…where is she?"

"She's in Vegas. She…Jim…." She paused between sobs. "Mike is there Jim," she whispered.

"Mike?" His mind was reeling. "O'Toole is here?"

"Yeah," she managed to respond. "He found her and… he told her about him and me…that she isn't…that he is…"

"Damn!" Jim swore, his heart was breaking on several levels.

"Jim…she got tangled up with him in Los Angeles….some sort of deal that went bad, she said. She said she took off and headed for Vegas, trying to get to you. But he followed her and now she's scared. And she's scared about how you will react. And Jim….she said Vince was there too."

"Vince is dead, Nancy. My guess is that O'Toole killed him. He was probably trying to help Ellie."

"Oh my god, she's in real danger isn't she?"

"Yeah Nancy, she is. I don't think O'Toole cares one bit that he was the sperm donor. I thought the kidnapper was using me to get to her. Now I think he's using her to get to me. He wants payback." Jim was feeling sick. Mike O'Toole had his son and had control over Ellie.

"Jim, I told her to call you…I begged her. If she does….be careful."

"I know…I'll tread softly, for her sake and for Jeb's."

"Call me when you know anything?"

"Yeah….and if she calls you again, tell her to call me. Tell her…" he thought of what Nancy could say to convince her. "Tell her that I said she's my kid, no matter what. Tell her I love her."

There was a pause as the words rested between the two parents. "I really screwed things up, didn't I Jim? Ellie should have been yours in everyway."

"She is Nancy…she's mine in everyway that counts."

Sofia had followed the conversation from Jim's end and had put it together. "You think Mike O'Toole has Jeb?" she asked as he closed his phone.

"That's how it sounds."

"Oh my god," she cried out.

Jim held her, trying to reassure her but finding it difficult because he was so upset himself. Finally his nerves calmed a little and Sofia was settling down too. "Honey, I need to call Vega."

She nodded and released her tight hold on him. "Yeah…he needs to know."

As Jim filled Sam Vega in on the latest news, Sofia went to the bathroom to splash water on her face and to try to gain more composure. She knew she needed to pull it together. She needed her wits about her as things were getting very complicated for Jim. It might come down to him having to choose between his children and she knew the choice would tear him apart. She knew how much he loved Jeb. And she knew how much he loved and still hoped for salvation for Ellie. There was not doubt in her heart that he would die rather than let Jeb be hurt. And if it actually came to a choice, Jim would reason that Ellie had made her choices and that his job was to protect Jeb. As surely as she knew that, she knew that the decision would destroy him. She had to pull herself together to support him; before she was Jeb's mother, she was Jim's wife. As afraid as she was for Jeb, she knew her first priority was Jim.

Vega called the Newark PD and had a photo of O'Toole faxed to him. An APB went out immediately. Hundreds of pairs of eyes were on the look out for the kidnapper of Captain Jim Brass's son. One of their own had been attacked and they would each do their part.

He had also been in touch with Grissom and Brown, who were already on their way back to Vegas. Now it was a matter of finding this O'Toole person, quickly.

Three hours later they caught a break. A clerk at an off strip, flea bag motel shared his concern about the guests in Room 218 with the waitress at the coffee shop around the corner. She, in turn shared the concerns with Officer Wilder, a handsome young man with whom she wanted to chat. Romeo called it in immediately. Vega called Jim.

Jim and Sofia headed for the motel, where they planned to meet Vega. Jim's cell rang while they were en route. "Brass," he barked into the phone.

"Dad?"

"Ellie? Where are you? Are you okay?"

"Um…yeah Dad. I'm okay. Mom said she told you…everything."

"Yeah..where are you?"

I…I have the baby. We're at the Twilight Inn, Room 218."

"I'm on my way. Is…is he there?"

"Yeah..but…" He could hear her tears. "I…ssh..shot him, Daddy. There's blood everywhere."

"Okay honey. Detective Vega is on his way there with the swat team. If he gets there before me, let him in, okay baby?"

"Oo…okay Daddy."

"Honey, it's going to be okay. I think I know what happened….but we'll talk. You're okay?"

"Yeah…and so is your baby. But the woman….she's dead."

"Oh my god…."

"She wasn't your wife, was she." Ellie's voice was flat. Jim was afraid she was goin into shock.

"No honey. O'Toole mistook her for Sofia. But she was Maria, a nurse that was hired to help me while I recovered."

You were hurt?"

"I was but I'm okay now. We'll talk about that…about everything later. Right now, just …take Jeb and go outside onto the balcony. Watch for Vega or for me to get there, okay honey?"

"Yeah…okay. You'll be here soon?"

"Almost there baby."

Vega arrived just ahead of Jim and Sofia. He found Ellie on the balcony, holding Jeb tightly. An officer stood next to Ellie as Vega entered the room. While Vega was checking inside the room, Jim and Sofia wheeled into the parking lot. Both were out of the car as soon as it stopped.

Jeb started crying and calling for his Mommy and Daddy as soon s he saw them. Ellie handed the boy to Jim, who hugged him and then handed him to Sofia. Then Jim did something that totally surprised Ellie; he hugged her. He hadn't hugged her that tightly in years, as if he might squeeze her to death. "You're okay…you're sure?" He asked.

"Yeah Dad," she said between her tears. "I'm sorry…I…" she looked from him to Jeb and then at Sofia. Her gaze travelled back to Jim. "I really didn't mean for this to happen."

Sofia's hand reached the back of Jim's shoulder. It ran down his arm and clutched his hand. He turned from his daughter to look at his wife. The gentleness, the understanding that he found in her eyes held his attention. Now that Jeb was in her arms, the fear and anger were gone. "Give me the keys to the car. I'll take Jeb home. You go with Ellie to the PD. Help her through it."

The sincerity in her bright blue eyes almost made his heart stop. He reminded himself to breath as he was caught in that moment of absolute clarity and understanding. She knew that Ellie needed him; but more than that, she knew that he needed to be there for Ellie. And she was encouraging him to go. "I don't want to leave you and Jeb alone…" he began to protest.

"Fine, I'll call someone to come over. But you need to go see about Ellie. She's your child too."

Ellie saw the look between her father and his wife. She saw the understanding. And she saw the acceptance. The only acceptance that she ever witnessed between her parents was the acceptance of failure when they finally split up. But she realized that with this woman he had found someone who knew and understood him and loved him anyway….or because of who he was. She knew that she was witnessing something very special.

Slowly Jim reached in his pocket and handed Sofia the keys. Very quietly and tenderly he told her that he wouldn't be too long.

"You take as long as you need," insisted Sofia. "Jeb and I will be waiting for you when you get home."

He took the toddler in his arms once again and held him tightly. Then he told Ellie that he'd be right back. She watched as her father walked his wife and son to the car, joy emanating from his every pore.

While Jim was putting Jeb in the car, a tired and unshaven pair of CSIs drove in. Grissom and Brown climbed out of their car and walked over to Jim's car. "Hey….you got him back," smiled Warrick.

"Yeah," replied Sofia.

Gil watched, happy to see that at least it was a happy ending for Jeb. He knew that the police and FBI both wanted to talk to Ellie and there was likely some prison in her future; which meant, of course, that his friend Jim would be in a prison of his own.

The three men stood in the lot and watched as the car pulled away. Jim turned to the other two and thanked them. While it had been Ellie who had broken the case open for them, the information they were able to gather in L.A. had provided valuable clues.

"Catherine's on her way over with Greg and Nick to process the scene. Warrick and I are headed for some showers and time in the sack. But if you need anything Jim…" Gil left the rest hanging.

Jim looked somberly up at his daughter, still watching from the balcony. "What I need now, you guys can't provide. But…I really appreciate all that you did. A guy couldn't ask for better friends."

As the two weary travelers drove out of the lot, Jim headed back to Ellie. Vega suggested that Jim and Ellie head to PD and he'd be there as soon as Catherine got to the scene. "Officer Metcalf can drive you," he offered.

Back at the station, Jim decided they could wait in his office. "Oh," he said as he pulled out his cell phone. "Call your mother."

As he heard Ellie talking to Nancy, Jim's eyes travelled to the photos on his desk of Ellie as a small girl. A memory of the day they were at the park and she fell off the monkey bars flashed through his mind. He remembered washing off her scrapes at the water fountain. If only helping her could be so easy now. Sighing, he flipped through his rolodex until he found the number he was looking for. Dialing, he asked to speak to Warren Atkins. "Yeah, Warren. Jim Brass. Ah, I'm down at PD with my daughter and she's got some serious legal issues. Can you help?"

Jim talked a minute or two longer with the lawyer before hanging up. By then Ellie had finished her call too. Looking across the desk from her chair, the tears began to roll down her face. "Dad….I've been so stupid….I kept pushing you away, thinking you didn't love me…"

He felt the tears in his own eyes as they welled up. "I've always loved you Ellie, since the day you were born. You looked up at me through those tiny little eyes and stole my heart and you've had a piece of it ever since."

They sat quietly as they waited for what was to come.

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