Greg stood and watched the Fire Chief gradually walk over to him, seeing the look on the older man's face made his stomach drop to the floor like a stone whatever he had to say wasn't going to be good.

"Sgt the fires out now and area's safe but I'm sorry to have to tell you we found a body in the trunk, there's extensive damage so obviously we are unable to tell whether it's Officer Lane's wife or not and we also have no indication as to whether their daughter was with her"

"We phoned her pre-school Izzy wasn't dropped off this morning we were hoping the the best but are assuming the worse" Greg replied trying to keep it together the best he could.

"Well we will work our way through the wreakage but bearing in mind where the device was placed its going to be hard I'm sure you can understand?" the Fire Chief confirmed what Greg already knew identification was going to be difficult.

"But we did find this"

As Greg looked down he saw the Chief was holding out an evidence bag with what looked like the remains of a credit card inside.

Taking the bag and holding it up to have a closer look Greg's breath caught in his throat and he briefly closed his eyes as he recognised it as the charred remains of a driving license with the surname partially visable... "Lane".

"Oh god I was hoping Eddie was wrong" Greg's voice broke with the realisation that his best friend's wife of 20 years was gone.

Hearing his name being called over the radio the Fire Chief started to turn away but stopped his voice bringing Greg back into the moment.

"I'm sorry for your officers loss Sgt and if I get any more information I will let you know straight away but the ME will as you know deal with this from now on"

Nodding his thanks Greg turned and looked at his team who all with the exception of Eddie and Wordy were standing over by the SUV's, the pain all to evident on each and everyone of their faces, as if sensing his scrutiny they looked up and hesitantly walked over.

"Boss"? was the only word spoken in a quiet whisper but asked a hundred questions.

"It's not good guys...they found a body"...Greg stopped trying to compose himself before he continued, "And what looks like Sophie's driving license".

"Does Eddie know?" asked Spike his voice trembling with emotion.

"No Spike"... pausing and rubbed his hand over his face still not sure how he was going to break the news to his best friend. "No... I'm gonna talk to him now...does anyone know where is he?"

Sam pointed to the SUV parked furthest away "We managed to finally get him into the back of the truck...Wordy stayed with him to make sure he didn't do anything stupid."

"Good...good...right...OK guys you can't do any more here so for now go home"

Looking at their Sgt in shock Jules stepped forward to tell him in no uncertain terms that the team weren't going anywhere "Ed's gonna need our help" her voice close to tears "Ed's got to let us help him".

"I know...I know Jules but right now Eddie doesn't even know which way is up and all of you are grieving too so just for now do what I asked and when the times comes we'll all help him and Clark through this" watching them slowly accept what he was saying he continued "so like I say for now go home and I'll call you all later ok?"

Knowing it was futile to argue the team all nodded.

"You know where we are if you need us boss" Sam replied a tinge of anger in his voice.

Giving a small strained smile of thanks he watched as his team head off.

Eddie sat in the back of the SUV his head lent back against the seat rest his faced stained with tears the first initial outbreak of sorrow was now replaced with numbness and shock, disbelief that this was actually happening and it wasn't some bad dream that he would soon wake up from, staring into the empty space before him the only sound in the truck was his ragged uneven breathing.

All of a sudden the silence was broken as the door of the SUV opened and Greg slipped in and sat next to him.

Looking at Wordy in the front seat Greg desperately searched for the words that would in some strange way soften the deverstating blow he was about to deliver but when he looked at his friend's grief strickend face the only word he could form was "Sorry"

With one single word Ed's heart shattered, closing his eyes as a single tear slipped down his cheek his chin quivered "Sophie was in the car"? he asked his voice soft and raw.

"It looks like it buddy" Greg replied forcing the words past the lump in his throat "They found her driving license"

"Izzy?"

"They're not sure...it's gonna take a little time but they're working as quick as they can but the school confirmed Sophie didn't drop her off this morning" Greg solemly replied his heart going out to his friend.

Shaking his head Eddie spoke his usually warm voice now totally detached and as cold as ice "Never should have married her, but being the selfish bastard I am I went and did it anyway, I signed a marriage certificate she signed a death warrant."

Exchanging glances Wordy voiced what both Greg and him were thinking "Oh Eddie you know that's not true...you guys are good together."

"Were good together Wordy" Eddie bitterly replied "But all I ever gave her was heartache...she was so far out of my reach I was amazed she even looked at me let alone agreed to go out with me and now she's paid the ultimate price along with my youngest child"

Panic started to creep into Ed's voice "I always thought it would be me...always knew I'd pay for my sins but never like this...never like this" and in that swift moment Eddie was at the edge.

His heart rate sky rocketed, the palms of his hands were covered in sweat, all of a sudden he couldn't breath as the sides of the SUV started to close in on him he needed to escape, grabbing the door handle he pulled only for door remained locked.

Continuing to frantically pull on the handle glaring at Wordy Eddie snarled "Open the damn door Wordy or god help me!" the panic attack now in full force.

Grabbing Eddie's hands Greg tried drastically to calm him down "Eddie stop...you need to"...only to be cut off.

"Don't Greg...just don't!" Ed all but screamed pulling his hands away and pushing himself as far away from his team commander as the seat would possibly allow.

Greg raised his hands in a gesture of surrender "Eddie I know your hurting I can't even imagine and I understand your lashing out but we can't let you leave in this state we're here to help you"

"Help" Ed laughed his voice now bordering on hysteria "Help... seriously... Greg I'm beyond help don't you understand that?"... "I should have told her what was going on and I didn't" with all his emotions spent, slumping forward Eddie continued with the last of what little energy he had left..."I lied to her and that's on me no one else but me, and I've gotta live with that".

Seeing that Eddie was slowly shutting down Greg placed his arm around his shoulder "We did what we thought was best Eddie".

Letting out an exhausted sigh the despair now so strong he didn't know what to do with it Eddie shrugging off Greg's arm and turned and looked out the window.

"Well you know what Greg my best wasn't anywhere near good enough and now I've got to explain to my son that I'm the reason his mother and sister are never coming home again".

Withdrawing back Greg knew that in this moment in time and given Eddie's fragile emotional state there was going to be no reasoning with him and as Wordy went to speak he held up his hand to stop him.

"Wordy not now...lets just get Eddie home we can talk later"

Turning back in his seat and turning the key in the ignition Wordy placed the SUV in drive and headed in the direction of Eddie's home.

After a journey of 40 minutes made in total silence Wordy pulled the black SUV up outside the house, turned off the engine and looked in the rear view mirror as Eddie made no move to get out of the vehicle.

Gently coaxing Greg quietly spoke "Hey let's get you inside buddy Clark will be home soon"

Without even acknowledging Greg's words his body on autopilot Eddie opened the door and mechanically walked towards the house Greg and Wordy close behind.

With his hand trembling uncontrollably Eddie placed his key in the lock only to have the door slightly swing open, without even thinking kicking the door wide his glock in his hand he went in leaving Greg and Wordy no option but to follow.

Operating on fear and anger Eddie started down the hallway shouting at the top of his voice "SRU...SRU!" clearing the living room and with Wordy heading off up the stairs he continued down the hallway to the kitchen.

Seeing movement Eddie entered the kitchen gun raised only to stop dead in his tracks.