July 21
Key Biscayne – Miami, Florida
"Little Carlos, wake up," Carlos heard an angry Russian voice say. "You've had enough sleep."
Not wanting to argue that he had merely been trying to relax and slow his pulse down, Carlos looked up at the masked man through his swollen, bloodshot eyes. It had taken a while for him to remember how to make a lethal dose because a gun had been at his head the entire time and he only had the use of one arm even though the casts had been sawed off his left arm. Bernard, meanwhile, had stopped taking his medication and was now confined to bed sick and with simple comments about how he needed to die.
The camera was running as the masked man reached down and forced Carlos to his feet with a firm grip on his injured left arm. After Dimitri had delivered Emily's box to Bobby's office at CSI, he had returned to find Carlos alone and mixing the medicine while Bernard had been having heart attacks in bed.
Dimitri swore and dragged Carlos over to Bernard's bedside, "Please…" Bernard spoke in a faint voice, his entire body weak and sick from not taking his medication. "Carlos…I know it's all ready."
"Do eet or I vill blow your head off," Dimitri growled, pressing the gun into Carlos's skull.
Swallowing hard, Carlos lifted the needle with a shaking hand and winced as he felt Dimitri's gloved hand grip his wrist to steady it. Silently praying that God wouldn't strike him dead for taking a life, Carlos emptied the syringe into Bernard's IV line and watched as Bernard's breathing slowed considerably.
When Bernard's breathing had stopped, Carlos used his hand that was still being steadied by Dimitri to check for a pulse and found none, "He's dead," Carlos rasped weakly, watching as Dimitri stopped Bernard's watch as it sat on the older man's wrist before nausea and dizziness flooded his vision.
Dimitri swore loudly as Carlos collapsed beside the bed with the syringe still in the IV line. He silently moved away from the bed, dialed 9-1-1, and waited for someone to pick up. When an operator responded, Dimitri told them that Carlos Nieto and Bernard Marquez were at a specific address and then dropped the running cell-phone by Carlos's feet before silently fleeing to freedom.
Rehabilitation Unit - Miami-Dade University Hospital
Carmen Delko smiled as Emily and Ryan entered the common area of the rehabilitation floor, having been asked by Dr. Higgins to allow Ryan a visit with Eric as part of the healing process. She had agreed and had prepared Eric for the visit, but she also knew that he would probably not remember that.
Eric was sitting in a wheelchair near the window with his eyes closed, enjoying as the sun shone down on his loose clothes and his bandaged head. He had an oxygen tube in his nose and IV's in his arms and his chest and didn't know why he had to have them, but he trusted his parents telling him to wear them.
"Eric, you have some visitors, my son," Carmen said in a gentle voice as she walked over to him.
Eric sighed tiredly and he opened his eyes, giving Ryan and Emily a look as they approached and sat down, "Miss Wolfe, how are you?" he asked groggily, recognizing Emily immediately. "Who's…"
Figuring that Eric wouldn't recognize him because Emily had warned him, Ryan offered his hand, "Hi, Eric, I'm Ryan Wolfe," Ryan said kindly. "I'm Emily's older brother and I work at the Crime Lab."
Emily watched silently as Eric processed the information and shakily offered his left hand, barely able to return the handshake before he returned the hand to his lap, "You have a hospital bracelet," Eric spoke.
"I…I was here donating blood and marrow a few days ago and I've been so busy that I forgot to take it off," Ryan lied calmly. "The Crime Lab's busy and the bracelet…it gets me some phone numbers."
Eric chuckled quietly, "I'm glad Emily's got a brother who can help her so she doesn't have to work at that nightclub tending bar anymore," he said calmly. "She looked stressed when Calliegh and I saw her there when we went out the other night."
Emily nodded, "Yes, Ryan's been a real good help to me and my kids," she spoke softly.
Eric sighed and blinked, "I'm sorry," he spoke in a tired voice. "I'm feeling really tired."
"It's all right, Eric, get some rest," Ryan replied calmly as he stood up. "It was good to see you."
Emily smiled as she stood up, sighing when Eric drifted off in his wheelchair, "Thank you for coming, Emily and Ryan," Carmen spoke in a kind voice, gently stroking Eric's hair. "It helped Eric immensely."
Nodding, Emily led Ryan out of the unit and back to inpatient, "I've been talking to Doctor Higgins and she thinks I'm making enough progress to be out in a few days," Ryan explained as they re-entered his room and saw it cleaned up. "She thinks I can only do so much more in here and I guess I agree."
Emily nodded as Ryan silently sat on his bed and lifted his leg up on a pillow, "I'll be restarting at the lab next week according to Rick," Ryan spoke tiredly. "I had no idea that Delko didn't remember me."
"Eric doesn't remember a lot, Ryan," Emily replied softly. "And he may never get all of his…"
Ryan sighed, "Jason hasn't been found yet, has he?" he asked worriedly. "Jason was involved."
Before Emily could reply, her cell phone rang and she quickly answered it, her eyes suddenly widening.
Key Biscayne – Miami, Florida
"Horatio, Nieto's been missing for 10 days," Tripp said in a confused voice as Horatio approached the gaggle of vehicles pulled up outside of the address that Dispatch had relayed. "He might be…"
Tim scowled as he came up behind Horatio with his CSI kit, "I called Emily," he said quietly.
Nodding, Horatio drew his gun as he approached the house and Tim followed suit as they followed the armed SWAT team into the large house, "Miami-Dade Police!" Horatio shouted, waving his gun.
A retching sound suddenly filled the air and Horatio and Tim instinctively followed the sound through the house with cops at their heels. Horatio froze as they passed by the bedroom and saw Bernard lifeless in the bed with a syringe hanging from the IV line while anxious vomiting filled the air.
Frowning, Horatio and Speed entered the room with their guns drawn and Horatio's eyes widened as he saw Carlos on the floor on the other side of the bed vomiting semi-consciously while bleeding from rope cuts, covered in heavy bruises, and sweating profusely, "GET ME RESCUE!" Horatio shouted.
Quickly holstering his gun, Tim opened his CSI kit, gloved up, and quickly noticed the endless supply of stolen medication strewn throughout the room and also noticed the used vials of morphine, "H, Carlos is suffering from a morphine overdose," he said in an anxious voice as paramedics came in. "Like on the…"
"Like on the video that was sent to CSI," Horatio concluded quietly, noticing the running camera in the corner of the room that had obviously been recording for a while. "Speed, let's check that."
Horatio quickly gloved up and joined Tim at the video camera, frowning when they played back the video and saw what had happened, "We need to process the room," Horatio said calmly. "Speed…"
Tim silently began photographing everything as paramedics strapped Carlos to a backboard, "Get the Narcan started NOW!" Horatio snapped, gazing at them. "He was forcibly overdosed by morphine."
Central Park
"Grandma Yelina, why is my mommy having an operation?" Ellie asked softly, gazing up at Yelina as she walked with Yelina and David through the park to kill time while Danielle had her hysterectomy.
Yelina sighed as she stopped and sat with David and Ellie on a bench, "Your mom had a hard time when Michael and Emily had to be born and her body can't handle having any more babies," she explained softly, smiling at Ellie sadly. "Your mom is quite happy with you, John, David, Michael, and Emily."
"Is my daddy coming home from Florida soon?" Ellie asked softly. "He sounded tired on the phone when David and I got to talk to him and John last night while Mommy watched. He says he's getting better."
Yelina nodded, "Dad's gonna fly home with John and Grandpa Sully when the hospital lets him out, Ellie," David spoke in a kind voice. "He's too sick to get on the airplane, but he'll feel better soon."
Just then, Kim and Jimmy, who had been spending time with Holly, Tommy, and Kylie to keep their minds off of Carlos, came over to them, "Hi Detective Salas," Jimmy said in a kind voice.
"Any word on Danielle?" Kim asked softly, well aware that Danielle's surgery was that day.
Yelina sighed, "Not yet, but the hospital will call me," she replied calmly. "I just decided to take David and Ellie for a walk while we wait because it is very nice out and nicer than that hospital is. Michael and Emily are doing better, but they are still limited on the visitors they can have to see them."
"I've been looking for apartments for Danielle, Bosco, and the kids," Jimmy said kindly.
Yelina nodded, "Danielle mentioned it," she spoke gently. "She's very appreciative."
An anxious sob filled the air and Yelina frowned as she turned and saw a guy with an NYPD badge on his belt on the phone while Holly stood nearby crying while holding Tommy and Kylie close. Deeply concerned, Yelina got David and Ellie off the bench and went over to the playground where they were.
"Go play for a bit," Yelina spoke gently, sighing as David and Ellie went over to the playground.
Detective Flack sighed, "…Keep NYPD posted, Lieutenant Caine," he said gruffly. "Bye."
Holly trembled anxiously as Detective Flack looked at her, "Carlos is being hospitalized at Mercy Hospital in Miami and that's all I know," Detective Flack explained calmly. "He's being aggressively treated with Narcan because when he was found, he was suffering from a forced overdose of morphine among…"
"Kim, Jimmy, can Tommy and Kylie stay with you for a few days?" Holly asked, cutting Flack off. "I need to go down there and be there for my husband. I know that it might turn bad, but I need to go…"
Jimmy frowned, "A morphine overdose?" he asked in a confused voice. "I don't understand…"
Detective Flack sighed, "Mrs. Nieto, there is one more thing you need to know," he spoke, his heart heavy from being told the news by Horatio. "There is video evidence of Carlos being forced to euthanize a man named Bernard Marquez at gunpoint and he won't be charged, but it may explain his condition."
Kim's eyes widened in shock and Jimmy quietly hustled Tommy and Kylie away to the playground structure, "I need to get some crap packed and go down to Miami," Holly replied shakily. "Carlos needs me."
Miami-Dade Police Department/Crime Lab
"This was found at the door to Detective Caine's office this morning and it's addressed to you," Calliegh explained as Emily showed up and saw Robert, Natalia, and Calleigh standing at the table where a closed box sat that had To Emily Sarah Wolfe-Speedle written on it in black marker. Emily sighed heavily.
Nodding, Emily donned a pair of gloves and silently opened the box, sighing when she saw videotapes and endless documents, "I don't understand what this is," Robert said in a confused voice, frowning.
"It means that Bernard is dead, Detective Caine," Emily replied softly. "He asked Carlos to euthanize him and Bernard told me that whenever he was dead, this box would show up and I would know what…"
Natalia's cell phone suddenly went off and she excused herself, "You don't seem upset," Calliegh said.
"Bernard was a very manipulative and cruel sociopath," Emily spoke softly. "Should I be?"
Before anyone could reply, Natalia poked her head back in, "That was Horatio," she said anxiously. "He and Speedle were doing the daily search with SWAT and they got a call from a cell-number about Carlos Nieto. Carlos was found alive in Key Biscayne this morning, but he's heavily injured and he…he…"
Emily frowned, "Horatio found video evidence at the address where Carlos was," Natalia explained in a concerned voice, gazing at Emily. "Some masked man forced Carlos to euthanize Bernard at gunpoint."
"Okay," Emily replied quietly, unsurprised that Bernard had been selfish and abusive even in dying.
Callieigh gave Emily a concerned look, "If you need to go home…," she said in a worried voice.
Emily frowned as she suddenly noticed Jessop and another uniformed officer come on to the floor with a roughed up, anxious looking Jason Wolfe in cuffs, "Jessop, talk to me!" she barked commandingly as she went into the hall and glared at Jason. "Do you have any idea how much trouble you're in right now?!"
"Found him digging in a dumpster," Jessop explained calmly. "He didn't run or anything, which is weird."
Jason gazed at Emily anxiously, "I've been feeling guilty since I was the one who drove the van that shot at Uncle Ryan and that other guy!" he snapped in an anxious voice. "Uncle Bernard made me do it and he also made me drive those guys from New York around Miami cause the other van overheated!"
"You were with Officer Boscorelli, weren't you, Jason?" Robert asked as he came into the hallway.
Jason nodded, "I saw that crazy lady doctor do…" he broke into a sob. "Can…can you call my mom?"
"Detective Caine has to process you," Emily spoke calmly. "Do whatever he tells you to do."
Shaking, Jason allowed himself to be led off down the hallway while Robert followed, "I need to go call Jason's mother," Emily spoke in a shaky voice. "Just put the box in my office when you're…"
"I'll take care of it," Callieigh replied in an anxious voice, sighing as Emily left the room.
North Shore Hospital
Bosco sighed tiredly and checked his phone, grateful that it had been returned to him after being analyzed by the CSI's. Danielle had told him about her need for a hysterectomy in one of their conversations they'd had during his hospital stay and promised to call him when she was able.
It was still early and visiting hours weren't for another hour, so Bosco found himself alone with a uniformed officer outside his hospital that he didn't know. The officer was very nice and offered to get him anything he needed, but Bosco found himself suddenly wary of strangers because of Dr. Price.
Letting out a sigh, Bosco slowly used the bed controls to make himself sit up higher and his hands shook as he reached for a pitcher of water and a glass that he had been left by a nurse. Fortunately, he managed to pour himself a glass of water, put the pitcher down, and raise the glass to his lips.
As Bosco drank the water, however, his throat started to ache and he suddenly found himself struggling to breathe because he felt his throat closing up. Choking sounds filled the air as Bosco suddenly found himself remembering that he had been nearly drowned in a shower at some point during the time where he had been a prisoner of that kid and that doctor who assaulted him. He heard a loud whine.
Noise filled the room and Bosco suddenly gagged as he felt someone perform the Heimlich on him, "Officer Boscorelli," he heard an anxious voice say. "Officer Boscorelli, are you all right?"
Bosco's eyes popped open and he found himself surrounded by nurses and his police guard, "Officer Royver heard you choking and alerted us," a nurse explained calmly. "Are you all right?"
"I think I was remembering stuff," Bosco admitted quietly. "I guess I have to talk to the cops…"
Officer Royver nodded, "You can talk to me and I'll pass it along to the CSI's," he replied in a calm voice.
"I thought I was supposed to talk to the CSI's if I remembered stuff?" Bosco asked quietly.
Officer Royver sighed, "The CSI's are all busy because Carlos Nieto was found earlier and Bernard Marquez was found dead," he explained in a nervous voice. "Nieto euthanized him in self-defence."
Bosco's eyes widened in shock, "Nieto did what?!" he asked in a stunned voice, unable to believe it.
Miami-Dade Police Department/Crime Lab
Diana Wolfe stared at her son through the transparent cell, hardly able to believe that her eldest son had been involved in two very serious incidents. Jason sat on the floor of the cell in a white jumpsuit in slippers since his clothes and shoes had been taken and his face was in the knees of his jumpsuit.
"How much prison time is he going to get, Emily?" Diana asked softly as she heard footsteps.
There was a heavy silence, "That depends on if the Delkos find you responsible for Eric being shot and if the Nietos or Boscorellis want to press charges," Diana heard Ryan say calmly. "I'm not going to."
Trembling, Diana turned and was surprised to see Ryan standing there in civilian clothes with a serious looking Detective Caine and Natalia standing behind him, "I got a day pass once I heard what was going on," Ryan stated calmly. "I was supposed to start back next week, but Rick thinks I can help with this."
"What about him shooting Tony Speedle?" Diana asked in an anxious voice. "Jenny identified him."
Ryan sighed, "Speedle's parents want to talk to Jason before they make their decision because they know that Tommy was abusive to both Jenny and Jason," he explained calmly. "Very abusive."
"Jenny spent time talking with Rosa Speedle and I thought it was about Tony," Diana spoke softly.
Robert sighed, "Good luck talking with him, Ryan," he said calmly. "He won't talk to anyone."
"Maybe if I can get Jason to agree to inpatient psychiatric care and community service, maybe that might satisfy everyone," Ryan mused. "It's not fair that he should end up in prison cause of Tommy."
Robert gave Ryan a look, "I managed to get Doctor Woods to agree to come take some blood to see if there might be an explanation behind the aggressive behavior," he explained in a worried voice.
A sharp gasp suddenly filled the cell and Ryan's eyes went wide when Jason suddenly switched positions and began to vomit violently while placing a hand over his left ear as if guarding it. Alarmed, Robert quickly unlocked the cell and he and Ryan went inside, nervous to see Jason trembling violently.
"Oh, please don't give me anymore steroids," Jason heaved as he continued to puke. "Please…"
Wondering why Jason was guarding his left ear, Ryan gently moved Jason's hand and frowned when he saw a hearing aid in Jason's left ear, "Diana, when did Jason get a hearing aid?" Ryan asked worriedly.
"When he was 16," Diana replied in an anxious voice. "Tommy beat him after coming home late from school one day and warned me not to report it or else he'd kick me out and keep the kids from me. I managed to get Jason a hearing test and the beating resulted in 90% loss of hearing in his left ear."
Jason whimpered as Ryan removed the hearing aid from his ear and examined it, "It's giving off a signal," Ryan said in a concerned voice, gazing at Diana. "Did Tommy ever have access to this?"
Diana paled and nodded, deeply shaken, "I can't hear out of my left ear!" Jason gasped. "What…?"
"I'm calling Rescue," Robert said, quickly getting his cell-phone out. "Mrs. Wolfe, can you…?"
Diana quickly hurried into the cell and got on the floor next to Jason, frowning when Jason suddenly screamed and began thrashing as if trying to stretch his limbs. Ryan quickly got behind Jason, put his arms under his armpits and carefully immobilized his nephew's upper body in human restraints.
"My body's like really hurting," Jason whimpered anxiously, unable to fight out of Ryan's hold.
Ryan nodded, but didn't release his hold, "You're withdrawing from steroids and I'm not letting go until paramedics can get here and put you in restraints," he replied firmly. "I don't know what happened…"
"That doctor lady gave them to me before I was sent to drive that cop and that paramedic!" Jason howled in an anxious voice, trying to break free of Ryan. "She said they'd calm me down, but some dude named Memmo gave them to me before and said it would give me courage to shoot Jenny's boyfriend, so when Doctor Price gave them to me, they weren't effective. That's why she gave me a lot!"
Diana gasped softly and Jason started crying, panic filling him when Alexx and medics arrived with a gurney and medical supplies, "Go easy," Ryan said as he let Jason go. "He's been dosed on steroids and he's been being controlled by someone hacking into his hearing aid. He's nearly deaf in his left ear."
The paramedics quickly, but gently moved Jason to the gurney and immediately strapped him down while Ryan got to his feet, "It's okay, Jason," Ryan breathed in an anxious voice. "It's okay."
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