I'd just like to wish my good friend CSIMiamilove a very happy birthday today, I hope you had a great day!

Flashback. New York 1996:

"Good work, Kelly," Collins said as he placed the recording into the pocket of his overcoat as they sat in his car. "Looks like your work here is done."

"What happens now?"

"We put you in to witness protection and you keep your head down."

"This is it though; you're going to bring the Malucci's down, aren't you?"

"In time, the first thing we need to do is get you out of sight. When the shit hits the fan it isn't going to take long for the brothers to realise that it was you who betrayed them." Collins leant forward and turned the key in the ignition, "Let's get you out of here and into hiding."

"Wait," he said as he held a hand up. "I can't just leave; I need to collect some things before I go."

"We don't have time for this, whatever it is you can buy another one when we've got you out of the city."

"No, I have to go back and get them," he replied firmly, standing his ground. "I'm not going anywhere until I've got them." He crossed his arms over his chest to emphasise his point.

Collins glared at him, "Fine. We'll go past your place, you'll have ten minutes or I'm leaving without you."

True to his word the taciturn FBI agent took him back to his apartment, he ran up the stairs two at a time and bustled in to the darkness of his living room, scrabbling around until he'd found what he was looking for. He ran a finger over the creased and worn photos before slipping them into his jacket; he took one last look around the apartment before leaving and locking the door behind him. His life in New York would soon be over but he wanted to commit to memory as much as he could before he was forced to leave.

Collins pulled the car up outside a distinctly expensive four star hotel in Manhattan, "Welcome to your new home, Kelly."

He looked at the high-rise building and its opulent surroundings in some surprise, "You're putting me up here?"

The FBI agent tutted, "If I had a choice you'd be staying in a hostel, the government is paying for your accommodation so you better appreciate it." Collins handed him a baseball cap, "Here, put this on before you get out of the car."

He gave the other man a disgusted look as he turned the hat around in his hands, "You expect me to wear a Nets hat, are you kidding me?" he exclaimed, affronted that Collins would make him wear such a monstrosity.

"Really, Mr Kelly. There are more important things to worry about than your NBA affiliations. The whole point of the exercise is so that you don't get noticed."

He couldn't argue with his point. He huffed as he pulled the hat on roughly and followed Collins in to the hotel.

Following the agent out of the lift on the 15th floor he could already see a number of sombre-looking FBI operatives standing guard throughout the hallway. None of them paid him any attention as he walked past them. Collins showed him into a room and closed the door behind him.

He took in the luxurious interior of the room as he threw the hat off, "Nice place," he said as he sat down on the bed.

"I hope you enjoy it, Kelly. You won't be leaving this room until the Malucci's are in custody."

"You're kidding me, right?" he ran a hand over his face and felt the three-day old stubble on his chin. "I'm just supposed to sit here and wait?"

Collins walked towards the window and glanced out, "That's the general idea."

"How long are you going to keep me here?" He knew he sounded more than a little petulant but he was desperate for the undercover operation to be over so that he could move on with what was left of his life.

"You're lucky you're not spending your time in a prison cell along with the rest of your associates. Do not look a gift horse in the face, Mr Kelly."

"We had a deal, Collins. I did what you asked; you've got to get me out of here before they find me." He tried to keep the sliver of fear he was feeling from his voice.

"Sit tight and wait for word from me. You are not to leave this room, are we clear?"

The agent pinned him with a stern look, "Fine. Just get it done and then get me out of here."

Before leaving Collins demanded he hand over his wallet, keys, gun and watch but would not tell him what he wanted them for, leaving him puzzled as to what the sneaky agent would do with them.

After spending five days in a hotel room he was starting to go more than a little crazy at being cooped up. Sitting still was not in his nature and pacing the perimeter of the room soon began to lose its appeal. He hankered for the freedom to go out jogging to let off steam but each time he tried to sneak out of the room he would find himself face to face with at least two fearsome-looking FBI agents. He couldn't complain about the room service, they had fed him well. Three square meals a day had been something of a rarity during his undercover mission, many days he had gone without eating much at all. On the first day of his hotel imprisonment they had brought him steak and chips, he hadn't realised just how hungry he was until he devoured the whole plate of food like a starved man. Anything he asked for was delivered to his room quickly but still he was denied the one thing he longed for the most. Freedom.

He lay on the bed, head propped up by a multitude of pillows reading a crime novel. The phone rang beside the bed and made him jump, placing the book down he answered it, "Hello?"

"Kelly, turn on the TV, Channel 6." It was Collins and from the tone of the voice it was an order, not a request.

With the cordless phone in one hand he walked over to the television remote and turned the 40" screen on. He sat back on the bed as he watched the news report:

"The remains of a body were found under the Brooklyn Bridge early Tuesday morning by passers-by. In a press release by the NYPD the identity of the body is believed to be that of John Kelly, a former detective at the 15th precinct in Manhattan.

Kelly was dismissed from the NYPD for his association with the Malucci crime family in 1994. It's believed that the former police officer became an integral part of the organisation and that his death may be linked to a recent turf dispute with a rival group.

The body was found badly burnt and mutilated but the NYPD are confident that the remains are that of John Kelly who is believed to have been missing for the past 5 days. Cause of death is yet to be determined and the police are still trying to ascertain which group is responsible for the death of the former detective. We'll bring you more information as we get it."

"They think you're dead, Kelly." Agent Collins stern voice brought him back to reality with a bump.

"Who was that?"

"Just a poor, recently deceased male who matched your description."

"You did that to the body?" he asked, still shocked.

"He was dead already, I'm sure he didn't feel it," Collins deadpanned. "The only way you'll get out of this alive is if everyone thinks you're dead. We had to make the body unrecognisable but give the police enough clues to think it was you."

"What happens now, won't the Malucci's want to know what happened?"

"That's why it's important you keep out of sight. It won't be long now before we bring them in and send them away for good."