Three Days Later

Warehouse District – Atlantic City

"…We get you out of Rikers, yes?" Pavel asked coldly as he came into the room where Derek Stokes was resting after faking coughing blood enough to get sent to the hospital only to escape with Pavel's help. "You feel good?"

Derek nodded, "I'm great," he replied coldly as he sat up and frowned, seeing a kid lying on a bed fully clothed and handcuffed to the bedrail. "Pavel, who's that kid and why is he here? I didn't think the mob used kids anymore."

"Zat is a dirty sot," Pavel scoffed. "He is David Boscorelli and he is a leetle boy from Manhattan zat you vanted."

Derek eyed Pavel suspiciously, "What are you going to do with him?" he asked in a confused voice. "Hurt him?"

"Really, Derek Stokes, I may be ze leader of ze Russian mob here because I was promoted after Chevchenko's death, but I do not hurt or kill the young ones," Pavel replied coldly. "Killing young ones is bad for business."

David coughed as he suddenly woke up, "Where…am…I?" he asked in a shaky voice. "It…it's hard to breathe."

"Hello, little one," Pavel said calmly as he walked over to David's bed. "My name is Pavel Dimitriakov."

David frowned, "I want my mom and dad," he replied weakly. "Why am I handcuffed to this bed?"

Pavel suddenly scowled at Derek, "You are a dirty man," he hissed as shouting could suddenly be heard. "I have been a preesoner een zees room and I vatched you sreaten zat innocent leetle boy for your own pleasure."

The door suddenly burst open and Pavel promptly collapsed, faking anxious sobs as police swarmed the room, "He…he forced me to vatch as he planned to hurt zees leetle boy!" Pavel cried, pointing at Derek. "I'm just a poor kid trying to do my best to surwiwe and my English is shaky. He said he was going to have bad fun veth ze kid!"

"Sir, it's all right," one of the officers said in a reassuring voice as he helped Pavel up. "Are you injured?"

Pavel continued to sniffle, sob, and shake as the officer led him to the door, "Let's go outside, sir," the officer said calmly, figuring that this poor immigrant had been taken hostage by the other guy. "It's all right…calm down…"

One of the officers looked at David, who had been so weak since he had been snatched that he barely knew what was happening, "Get on the radio to NYPD, now!" he ordered sternly. "That's the missing David Boscorelli!"

Noise filled the room and David coughed as he felt his hands being unlocked from the bed, "…I heard the Russian guy call him Derek," he breathed in a faint voice. "The Russian guy…tried to calm me down from being scared…"

The officer nodded and bundled David up in the blanket before lifting him from the bed and hurrying him out of the room to safety, "That's Derek Stokes!" he shouted as he left. "The guy who escaped from Riker's in New York!"

Realizing that Pavel had set him up to take the fall for child abduction, Derek silently stood and raised his hands.

Miami-Dade Memorial Hospital – Miami, Florida

"Doctor!" Dr. Russell and Horatio heard an anxious voice call out from Nick's hospital room. "Doctor!"

Concerned, Horatio and Dr. Russell came into the room and saw Judge Stokes, who had rarely left the room since Nick had been extubated, sitting on the bed holding a semi-hysterical, sobbing Nick in his arms, "I don't understand what happened," Judge Stokes said anxiously. "Nick suddenly woke up sobbing and he won't calm down."

"…I heard Derek in my head," Nick whimpered through his sobs. "He said he had to do it…so he could get high."

Horatio frowned curiously, "I heard Derek say he was sorry, but I wasn't worth him losing what he knew and loved," Nick sobbed in an anxious voice. "I couldn't see anything, but that's how I came to know I was worthless!"

"Pancho, you are not worthless," Judge Stokes replied, kissing Nick's head as his sobs continued. "Shh."

Nick slowly quieted, but he continued to cry in his father's arms, "…Horatio?" a gentle voice suddenly asked.

Horatio turned and was very surprised to see Emily, who he knew had just been released from the hospital a day before, come into the room with Tim. Nick looked up and suddenly relaxed, recognizing both Emily and Tim.

"You…you came to visit when I couldn't remember who I was," Nick spoke shakily. "Emily Speedle, right?"

Emily nodded and walked over to the bed, "Yes," she replied gently. "Are you having a hard day, Nick?"

"Y-Yeah," Nick replied shakily, tears on his face. "I…I could really use someone to talk to right now…"

Emily nodded and Judge Stokes got up to leave, but Nick clung to him, "Please, Dad, stay," Nick pled softly.

Judge Stokes nodded and continued to hold Nick, watching as Emily got a chair and brought it over to the bed.

Not wanting to disrupt Emily's work, Tim silently moved out into the hallway and Horatio followed, "Speed, are you sure Emily should be working so soon after getting out of the hospital?" Horatio asked quietly. "I heard…"

"Emily was declared healthy and not exposed to anything," Tim replied calmly. "She wants to help Nick."

Horatio nodded and Tim sighed, "We're just a little overwhelmed right now with what we did learn and she needs the distraction," Tim continued softly. "H, Emily's like six weeks pregnant and we just found out."

Silence filled the hallway and Horatio offered a smile, "Congratulations," he said kindly. "I mean it."

"We…we just thought it wouldn't be possible because of the abuse and the chemo," Tim spoke shakily.

Before Horatio could reply, he suddenly noticed Ryan at the far end of the hallway in another unit of the hospital talking with a nurse, "Speed, I thought Ryan was working today?" he asked in a confused voice.

"I thought he was too since Cardoza's meeting with IAB," Tim replied calmly. "Why's he down there?"

Horatio silently walked down the hallway as the nurse led Ryan through a set of double doors. The colors of the walls changed and he quickly realized that he was in the Oncology unit and that Ryan wasn't visiting anyone; he was there for himself.

Unable to help his curiosity, Horatio went up to the double doors and saw that Ryan was sitting in an easy chair with his sleeve rolled up, watching as the nurse hooked him to a chemotherapy machine. Once the nurse had rested Ryan's arm on the arm of the chair, she silently covered him with a blanket and said a few words.

Wondering why Ryan was suddenly back on chemo even though it was supposed to have been suspended for another week, Horatio entered the room, "Horatio?" Ryan asked in a quiet, confused voice. "Hi."

"I thought you were supposed to be off chemo for another week?" Horatio asked in a concerned voice.

Ryan swallowed and coughed, "The tumor grew a bit since I've been off it and it's messing with my ability to speak and swallow, so my doctor put me back on it and I'll have to take IV supplements afterwards," he replied softly. "They want to do another three weeks of chemo to shrink it and then some surgery to get the tumor out…"

Horatio nodded, "I know I was supposed to be working today, but I'm gossiped about so much at the lab anyway, it doesn't matter," Ryan replied softly. "There are those who think I should be fired cause I'm not up to par…"

"I believe IAB is dealing with those people," Horatio spoke calmly as he took a seat next to the easy chair.

Ryan sighed sleepily, telling Horatio that their conversation would be short, "How about I sit here and you rest for a while?" Horatio suggested gently. "The lab is closed today due to the IAB hearing, so I have time."

"Did they find David Boscorelli yet?" Ryan asked as he fought to stay awake. "It's all over the news."

Horatio sighed and got his phone out, "I can try and find out," he promised gently. "Get some rest."

Nodding, Ryan closed his eyes and coughed a few times to clear his throat before falling asleep.

Miami-Dade Crime Lab/Police Department

Grissom had to be present at the IAB hearing because Jesse Cardoza was a client of Victims Assistance and Greg knew this; he also knew that everyone would be at the hearing and that the computers would be unattended.

It hadn't taken Greg long to find an accessible computer and he had quickly looked up sign language tutorials on the Google search engine. The hearing aids would help him be able to function in public, but there had still been a permanent loss and he had to figure out a way to make up for that. He knew that Grissom knew sign language, but it was bad enough that the Las Vegas Crime Lab was now working to accommodate the hearing loss simply because Grissom had gone to bat for him with Ecklie; he didn't want to continue to show his weaknesses.

Greg sighed as he quickly found a page that featured sign language for beginners and began working on learning the hand symbols for letters of the alphabet and numbers. As he silently tried to learn and memorize the symbols, he was unaware that someone had come down the hallway and was watching his movements curiously.

"Hi there, can I help you with something?" Calleigh asked in a kind, soft voice, giving Greg a smile.

Because Calleigh's voice was soft, however, Greg didn't hear her and Calleigh silently entered the room, tapping him on the shoulder, "I don't seem to know you," Calleigh said calmly. "Why are you on a lab computer?"

"Um, I'm waiting for Grissom to get done in the IAB meeting and I'm a lab tech back at home, so I know how computers work and I was just trying to learn this because it…" Greg spoke anxiously, his fear level high.

It was then that Calleigh saw the hearing aid in one of Greg's ears, "Did you lose some of your hearing?" she asked in a kind, clear voice, giving him a smile because she genuinely felt bad for him having to lose something like that.

"In the shooting at the Las Vegas Crime Lab, some glass got in my ears and that caused permanent damage," Greg replied quietly, looking at Callieigh. "With the hearing aids, I only have a 15 percent loss, but when I don't have them in, I have a 25 percent loss. The people in my lab aren't happy about it, but Grissom pulled strings…"

Calleigh looked at the diagrams on the computer and then looked back at Greg, "It might be easier for you to learn from people then from diagrams," she replied calmly. "Maybe Grissom knows someone who can teach you."

"He's already put in a request to my lab to ask for disability accommodations even though the lab's still being rebuilt after the shooting and if I show any more need for help, I might be fired," Greg replied nervously. "I can't…"

Calleigh sighed softly and sat down next to Greg, "Would you like me to put you in touch with a social worker who can maybe help you find someone to work with while you're here?" she asked in a kind voice. "I can."

"Am I under arrest for using the computer?" Greg asked in a worried voice. "I…I wasn't hurting anything."

Calleigh shook her head, "I'm not going to tell on you for using the computer for something that you feel you need to learn," she replied gently. "I just feel like you might learn sign language from an actual person who knows it."

"I…I just needed something to do," Greg replied anxiously. "Ever since the news about that David Boscorelli kid from New York, I've been afraid to be alone. His mom used to work for the lab in Vegas and we were friends…"

Calleigh nodded, "I babysat for Danielle's kids once or twice while she worked in the lab on days and Ellie was just little then, so I don't think she remembers, but John and David were super active," Greg spoke sadly, tears filling his eyes. "Grissom freaked when he saw the news about David's abduction, but I just felt so broken up because it told me that even little kids aren't safe in this world. I thought about calling Danielle, but what would I say?"

"Do you wanna get a cup of coffee with me in the break room?" Calleigh asked kindly. "It might help your nerves."

Greg thought for a moment and nodded as he got up, "That would be nice," he replied kindly. "Thank you."

Pediatrics Floor - Angel of Mercy Hospital – Manhattan, New York

Pain rocketed through John's body and head as he slowly woke and eyed his casted ankle, which had been broken by the Russian thugs along with a few of his ribs and his nose. He also sported bandages on his head where the Russian had cut him while he was unconscious. When he had finally woken up, it was a full 12 hours later, and he had been told that David had been kidnapped. He was now in the Pediatrics Unit and recovering from a massive blood sugar drop that had happened because of the beating and simmering with anger against Emily Yokas.

As John thought of David, tears filled his eyes and he felt himself crying and only worsening his pain, "…Why was I even her friend in the first place?" John said in an anxious voice. "She used me and made them take my…"

Footsteps entered the room, "I thought you might want your backpack and stuff back," a voice said.

John didn't reply because he hurt and he knew he was no smarter or better than when he was when his mom, his brother, and little sister first came back to New York, "I hope…I hope Doc looks after David," he finally said.

Mac sighed and silently set the bag on the chair, as it was very clear his young protégé wasn't in any shape or mood to do schoolwork. He had spoken to the university on John's behalf after the attack and the university was very understanding and willing to make whatever accommodations were needed while John recovered.

Fully expecting a lecture from a nurse for being negative, John looked up and was surprised to see Mac standing at his bedside, "My mom's at the apartment with Mikey and Emily and my dad's working while Ellie's at school," he said in a tired voice. "Grandpa and Yelina are off doing wedding stuff; they still want to do it…"

"Emily Yokas was escorted to secure holding screaming bloody murder last night," Mac said calmly.

John nodded and winced, quickly feeling his bruised face, "How long's it been since you had any pain meds?" Mac asked, immediately seeing the problem. "You know, a press of that button on your bed would give you some."

"That stuff makes me sleepy and I've got assignments," John lied softly, not wanting to sleep endlessly.

Mac sighed patiently and sat in the chair that was beside the bed, "I've already talked to NYU and they're absolutely freaked out about the whole thing just like the rest of the city is," he replied calmly. "They say to just rest and they'll make whatever accommodations they need to for you. I brought you some light reading."

John frowned as Mac set a bag on the bed and took out a few forensics books, "These are on loan from the lab," Mac said calmly as he set the books on the portable table. "Use your pain button and read these when you're…"

Nodding, John silently picked up the pain mechanism and pressed the button, sighing as he felt the pain medication course through his body and relieve intense pressure. He suddenly heard a cell-phone go off.

"Get some sleep and I'm going to answer this," John heard Mac say in a calm voice as his eyes slowly closed.

Mac got up and silently moved into the hallway before answering his cell, "Taylor," he said in a stern voice.

A voice on the phone spoke quickly and Mac frowned, "What?" he asked as he heard what the officer had to say.

IAB Conference Room – Miami-Dade Police Department

Murmuring filled the conference room as Rick came in and sat down, angry because Catherine had been getting threatening letters from people who thought she was involved in Nick Stokes's abduction and in the kidnapping of David Boscorelli. The good news was, however, that all of the threatening letters had been sent via the lab's email and were easy to trace. Not everyone knew how to access the lab email and that had only made things easier.

Chief Burton gave Rick a look, "Sergeant?" he asked quietly. "I expected you to be earlier…"

"Someone sent threatening emails to my wife and I had to go over to the center and calm her down so she'd be good to visit with Lenny later," Rick replied in a low voice. "We're going to try a visit between them after school."

Grissom frowned as he watched Rick and the chief talking, as he knew something was up because Stetler was rarely late and it was only with good reason when he was. Next to him, Jesse sighed softly because he was both tired and sore, but wasn't allowed to take pain meds until afterwards because his mind needed to be clear.

"What's going on?" Dave Benton, who was still angry at being suspended after his arrest by Stetler following the fight with Cardoza in the lab bathroom, snapped as he sat in a chair by the door with a uniform at his side.

Rick scowled and pulled a folder out of his jacket, "Did Dan Cooper give you access to the lab email so you could harass my wife, you idiot?" he asked in a harsh voice. "Cooper's in prison, but I know you two were buddies."

Dave Benton froze, stunned speechless, "You're not the only guy who's good with computers," Rick snapped.

"You're a former prisoner, so why should I take this crap from you?" Dave Benton snapped irritably.

Grissom cleared his throat, "Sergeant Stetler was undercover for Victims Assistance to flush out Bernard Marquez and his associates to the police," he said calmly. "Please tell me how this has any relevance to today's meeting?"

Eric, who had been called to the hearing as a witness, frowned and exchanged a look with Alexx, who had also been called as a witness, "How is Stetler even trustworthy after being in jail?" Dave Benton hissed darkly.

Rick sighed, "I'll briefly recount my undercover experience if it will shut you and the rest of this very small, irritating crowd up," he replied in a tense voice. "I was approached by Victims Assistance shortly after Emily Wolfe saved Jesse Cardoza from being killed and ended up moving to Miami to be near her brother. Victims Assistance knew that Bernard killed Cardoza's wife, but they didn't have enough to nail him, so they asked me to make friends with Marquez by pretending that I was tired of being a good cop. My marriage was in shambles by that point, our kids had been taken, and Catherine was in Vegas, so I had no reason to not go undercover. It was painful."

"Rick, you don't have to keep talking," Grissom spoke calmly. "I know you're still recovering from that."

Rick scoffed, "I had no idea that Bernard was also threatening Ryan until Ryan told me," he snapped. "I worked that case in New York long before Victims Assistance became a thing, Gil, so don't start coddling me."

Grissom sighed, "Ahem!" Chief Burton said in a stern voice. "This is about AV Tech Benton assaulting Detective Cardoza in the men's bathroom at the Crime Lab and also about the threatening emails Benton sent…"

"I don't care!" Dave Benton snapped angrily. "I'm not sitting through a hearing involving Stetler!"

Angry beyond belief, Rick dropped the folder on the table, got up, and silently stormed out of the conference room before he lost his temper. Chief Burton sighed and glared at Benton menacingly, frustrated over the anger.

"Consider yourself suspended indefinitely, Benton," Chief Burton said calmly. "This hearing is adjourned."

Shocked that Rick's harshness had been an act and that he had actually been trying to lure a murderer to justice, Eric and Alexx quickly got up and left the room while Jesse sat there, stunned speechless at what he heard.

Grissom sighed and frowned as his phone vibrated. Picking it up, he saw that Sara had texted him and everyone.

Ecklie says the lab is closed because of upgrades needed to accommodate someone with a disability who can't use the equipment already there. Why is the lab taking on that kind of a burden when there are plenty of able bodied people who can do the scenes and work the lab? I'm so sick of having time off because of annoying interruptions.

Quickly noticing that Sara had sent the text to everyone on staff including Greg, Grissom paled and quickly got up to go see where the younger man had gotten to. A quick walk of the hallway found Grissom standing outside of the break room, watching as Greg and some smiling blonde lady talked while Greg silently checked his phone.

Greg's relaxed expression suddenly faded as he stared at the text, unaware that Grissom was watching him.

IAB Office

"…I hope it's all right that I pull Lenny from school early and come over lunch," Rick said in a calm voice as he sat at his desk with the phone to his ear as he removed his tie with his free hand. "It's a bit of a slow day today."

Rick smiled as he heard Catherine reply that Lenny needed to finish the school day, but he could come spend lunch wither and that she was making progress in her healing, "All right, I'll come for lunch," he said calmly. "Love you."

The phone clicked and Rick sighed, as Catherine was still working on being able to express emotions verbally and might not be able to tell him her love for a while. As he got up and grabbed his jacket, however, a knock sounded.

"I'm about to leave!" Rick replied, frowning as the door opened and Alexx and Eric poked their heads in.

Alexx frowned, "If you're here to ask questions about my personal business, save it," Rick snapped.

"You walked out in the middle of an IAB hearing," Eric mused in a confused voice. "Why?"

Rick scoffed and silently left the office, unwilling to discuss his outburst or departure from the hearing because Catherine was expecting him and he needed her. He also needed to get away from everyone's prying eyes.

The sight of Greg silently practicing signing the letters of the alphabet with his back to the door stunned Grissom as he came into the break room and saw Callieigh sitting on the couch, silently watching him. Calleigh felt genuinely bad for the young CSI when he had gotten a text that indicated his colleagues were less than supportive of him as he was now; from the conversation that they had had, it was obvious Greg was a bit of an ignored genius at work.

Wanting to help his young colleague deal with his obvious anger over Sara's text, Grissom silently went over to the table and sat down where Greg could see him, "Do you want me to teach you how to sign?" he asked as he signed out each word slowly enough so Greg could perhaps pick up on it. "I know the text from Sara hurt your feelings."

Calleigh smiled, pleased that at least Grissom appeared to care about Greg's hearing loss, "People are angry about the lab being closed because of what Ecklie's doing for me," Greg spoke quietly. "Does he know it's for me?"

"Yes," Grissom replied as he signed everything out, hoping it would help Greg pick up a few words. "He says he's sorry that nobody noticed it sooner and that when you come back, he hopes everyone will be supportive."

Greg scoffed, "Hope's a big over expectation," he replied softly. "They're obviously not okay with it."

Grissom gave Greg a reassuring smile, "The lab will be closed for a while yet, so why don't I teach you some sign language while we're down here in Miami?" he suggested, signing the words. "You know Nick will be supportive. Did you want to go see him?"

"I feel bad that I haven't seen him since I left him his Woobie," Greg mused softly. "I guess I should visit him."

Grissom nodded and Greg sighed, "I'd like to learn sign language if you can teach me," he replied quietly.

As Grissom began to teach Greg sign language, Calleigh's cell-phone rang and she excused herself so that she wouldn't disrupt what was proving to be a very interesting lesson; she hoped she could come back and watch.

Angel of Mercy Hospital – Manhattan, New York

Having broken every speed limit in New York to get from Bed-Stuy to Manhattan, Bosco swerved his squad car into a parking spot and raced into the ER, "Where is he?!" he said in an anxious voice, looking around for David.

"Officer Boscorelli, David was airlifted here and is upstairs in surgery," Flack said as he came down the hall, having come straight from Headquarters after getting the call. "He was found in the Warehouse District. His mother's with up there because she got the call first and she left your two youngest with her father and his fiancé at home."

Bosco nodded, "Derek Stokes apparently took him hostage and made some poor Russian immigrant from one of the factories watch as he expressed his desire to hurt David," Flack said calmly. "Findings are pending."

"I want Emily Yokas punished for this," Bosco seethed. "She let that jagoff snatch David from the park!"

Flack sighed, but silently led Bosco through the hospital and up to the Surgery Unit where Danielle was lingering in the observation theater, silently watching as surgeons worked on David, who was covered in drapes, intubated, and on a ventilator, "Why is Danielle watching this?" Bosco asked in an upset voice. "It's killing her to see it."

"Danielle's a paramedic," Flack replied calmly. "She's probably seen worse stuff than this before."

Bosco scoffed, "Mac's sitting with John, I think," Flack continued. "Mac made John press his pain button."

"Chief Morris told me to take today off," Bosco said calmly. "The media's hounding him with questions…"

Flack sighed and Bosco watched as Danielle rubbed her eyes tiredly, but continued watching the surgery.

Miami Behavioral Health Center – Miami, Florida

Sarah Wolfe sat quietly at a corner table, engrossed in one of many hand crafts that she had made to pass the time ever since her eldest son, Tommy, had hospitalized her. Nobody visited her and she felt angry at all three of her children because they owed her for her not killing them when she wanted to. Since Tommy had admitted her through a court order declaring her incompetent, Sarah knew she would probably spend her life in that hole.

Even with the medications she was on, Sarah harbored a deep, deep hate for John Sullivan Sr. and Rick Stetler, as they had been the ones who had intervened after Emily had killed Thomas for sexually abusing her and Ryan; however, Sarah knew that Emily and Ryan had always hated their father. Life hadn't been kind to her at all, especially since her adult grandchildren were also keeping their distance and not even writing her anymore.

As Sarah sat there stewing, she suddenly saw Rick Stetler walk into the atrium with Catherine on his arm and she watched as the two of them sat together on a couch. Disgust filled Sarah as she watched Rick put an arm around Catherine and held her close as the two of them talked quietly; to her, Rick Stetler didn't deserve happiness.

Setting her crafts aside, Sarah got up and walked over to the kitchenette in the home-like area that the center was filled with. There was no supervision because everyone had gone to lunch, but they trusted the minimum security patients to behave themselves and interact peacefully with each other. Peaceful interaction, however, wasn't what Sarah had in mind as she silently selected a few knives from the block in the kitchen and went to the atrium.

Rick's eyes widened in shock as he saw Sarah, but before he could speak, Sarah pulled out the knives and stabbed Catherine in the abdomen with one, "Happiness is not for you," Sarah hissed darkly. "You don't deserve it."

As Catherine lay there injured, Rick got up and as he reached for the remaining knives, Sarah grunted and promptly stabbed him in the forearm, laughing manically as she cut him down to the wrist. Determined to never hit a woman, Rick stood motionless in shock, "Sarah, please," he said in an anxious voice. "Give me the knife…"

"You took my husband and turned my family against me," Sarah hissed as she lunged at Rick again and missed.

Infuriated, Sarah lifted a chair from nearby and smashed it over Rick's head, sending the IAB sergeant to the floor unconscious, "You did this and you will pay for your mistakes because everyone has to!" she screeched.

Filled with adrenaline, Sarah grunted and lifted the unconscious Rick from the floor, wheezing as she pulled back and hurled him through the nearest plate glass window into a pile of bushes outside. The breaking off glass, however, triggered a security alarm and Security promptly rushed into the room and saw the mess.

Sarah tried to lung at the guards, but they quickly disarmed her and put her in handcuffs, "Call for ambulances!" one of the guards exclaimed seeing Catherine on the floor and an injured, unconscious guy in the bushes!"

"HE DESERVED WHAT HE GOT!" Sarah screeched as she was dragged out of the atrium. "HE ASKED FOR THIS!"

The Head of Security's eyes widened as he realized it was intentional, "GET MDPD HERE NOW!" he barked.

Sunny Isles Beach

Ivan Sarnoff smiled as he sat on a Skype call with Pavel Dimitriakov, who had been released to go wherever he wanted after giving a false statement about Derek Stokes to NYPD. Pavel had quietly retreated back to his Brooklyn home and was very pleased that the police had bought his story about being a hostage to the evil Derek Stokes.

"No wonder Chevchenko left you in charge when he knew Sullivan was going to kill him," Ivan said in awe.

Pavel smirked as he sat in his comfortable chair, taking sips from a large mug of very black coffee that was spiked with just a hint of vodka, "My youthful appearance and poor background make da police leave me to my business," he replied in an amused voice that was filled with his Russian accent. "To zem, I am just a poor Russian immigrant."

"You're more dangerous than me, Pavel," Ivan replied in a Russian accent that was filled with amusement.

Pavel's eyes glistened with mischief, "Derek was quite ze talker and said zat his brozzer survived ze attack and eez een Miami," he replied in a dark voice. "Derek said he vas going to keel Neeck, but he eez not man enough…"

"I will deal with the problem personally," Ivan replied in a reassuring voice. "I take it the police cleared you?"

Pavel nodded and smirked, "I own ze best feesh market in ze entire spot of Brookleen and nobody sees me as anyseeing but a fish seller," he replied in an amused voice. "Eet makes for a good cover from ze police."

Ivan let out a roar of laughter as he swilled his tea that was spiked with rum, his eyes twinkling with pure amusement as he watched Pavel place an apron over the clothes he had been wearing for the past three days while spending his time as a fake hostage, "The news vill cruceefy Derek Stokes," he said in a pleased voice.

"As will those working to nail him for the torture of Nick Stokes," Ivan said happily, raising his glass. "To success."

Smirking, Pavel picked up his drink and raised it in amusement, "To ze plan vorkeeng," he replied brightly.

This is the end of the story, ladies and gentlemen. However, watch for the continuation of these storylines in the sequel The Distances We All Go. Please read and review!