,Diana cuffed both of the unconscious man's hands to the bed, with a little smile. It took an effort to make herself ensure they were not too tight. Honestly if she had thought he would feel them it might have been even more difficult not to make them uncomfortable. After nine and half hours of delicate surgery Dennison was still alive, albeit just barely. Ignoring the machine breathing for him she studied the man with a look as hard as steel and razor sharp. One of the bullets they pulled out of his chest was probably hers… for one brief moment she almost wished it pierced his heart, destroying the monster that caused her friend such pain and pointed a gun at her boss, but then again that would have ended his pain instantly and Neal deserved more justice than that.

"Is that really necessary, Agent Berrigan" the doctor's voice was polite but it quivered with suppressed anger. Clearly the she thought Diana was being cruel.

"He is a suspect in my custody. The hand cuffs are protocol." She controlled her temper… after all the young woman trying to stare her down, was just being a good doctor.

"A suspect that is unlikely to make it to trial… but I suppose you don't care." Dr. Coleman snapped "He's a criminal and that's all you people see. The sum total of his suspected crimes and not a person right? Do you know anything about him… any of his struggles… of course not? There are no shades of grey in your world." Diana almost laughed in her face at the irony of her naive view of the situation. The doctor continued her tirade "He's just a criminal. After a man breaks the law his life ceases to matter doesn't it. I know your type."

"I'm sure you do Dr. Coleman." Diana turned her gaze to the window to resist the urge to lash out at the deluded woman. The soft grey light of dawn was just beginning to creep through the cityscape outside. "If you'll excuse me. I need to update my boss." She pushed passed the zealous woman who seemed intent on enlightening her on human rights.

Four doors down Diana stopped and straightened her weary shoulders. Pushing the door open enough to see Kevin's pale form in the bed and Neal sleeping restlessly in the recliner her eyes found Peter.

"Boss" Diana whispered loudly. He startled, glanced around quickly, then hurried out of the room closing the door softly. "Dennison is still hanging on… Dr. Coleman had some issues with me restraining him."

"Is he going to make it?"

"I don't know." She shrugged "They say it's too soon to tell. His injuries were pretty nasty. He is unconscious and will probably be for several days." She shot a glance at the doctor hovering nearby.

"Thank you Diana, have you arranged a guard detail?"

"Not yet boss." she smiled "it's only five am, but I'll take care of it." she took a breath "How's Kevin?"

"Hanging on." He sighed and glanced back at the room. "Still unresponsive."

"How's Caffrey holding up?"

"As well as he can be… Better than I would be if it was my brother." He frowned "He was up till almost three… and had four nightmares since."

"He's been through h*** boss. Now this…"

"I know that." Peter frowned "I wish there was something I could do. He's going to set his own recovery back… his lungs are still weak, if he gets sick…"

"He's tougher than he looks." She grinned gently.

"He'd like us all to think so." he sighed "he doesn't deserve this."

"Since he's not in the safe house any more…" she pulled the anklet out of her pocket. "Do you want to…?"

"Yeah" Peter sighed and glanced into the room again. "He's not going anywhere but."

"Yeah." She sighed and glanced at the door. "Do you want me too…?"

"No I'll do it after he wakes up." He took the device and slid it in his pocket

"Boss, once I set up the guard detail on Dennison… I have another case I would like to work on if that's ok."

"I understand." He smiled sadly "I'd rather be anywhere but here myself… what's the case?"

"It's a cold case." She shot another glance at the room "An old human trafficking case…" Peter's face lit with sudden comprehension

"The stork kidnappings?"

"It's something I can do for them. Instead of sitting around here." She shifted awkwardly.

"I think its a good idea… but Diana get some rest first.

"Excuse me." Dr. Coleman broke in abruptly "Did I hear correctly? You plan to place a guard detail as well as the restraints on Mr. Dennison. That is absolutely ridiculous. I understand he is a suspect in a crime but as his doctor I have to protest. All of this could seriously affect his chances of recovery. Must I remind all of you that criminals are people too?" Diana suppressed a grin when her boss spun to face the woman, his face set in a look of cold fury.

"There are criminals and there are monsters Dr. Coleman. Dennison will be restrained as my people see fit. I'm afraid he won't get much sympathy from any of my team. If you can't tolerate that I suggest you assign him another doctor."

"That is terrible…sickening. Makes me wonder who the real monsters are." She retorted.

"You have no idea the situation." He glared at her

"The world is not all black and white!" she bit the words off harshly. Peter actually laughed at that.

"My world hasn't been black and white for a long time Dr. Coleman." He growled "But you'll have to forgive me if I can't dredge up to much concern for that man down the hall, but my best friend is tearing himself apart right now hoping his brother survives thanks to your patient."

"And of course your friend matters more because he's an FBI agent" Dr. Coleman almost shouted bitterly. "I get it that Mr. Dennison's life doesn't matter to you because he may have committed a crime but it matters to me!"

"Could you keep your voice down, doctor?" Peter clipped. "Neal is finally resting and I'd rather you not wake him."

"Of course you don't want me to disturb the "good" man who's not even injured, but let's torture the less than respectable one even though he's fighting for his life, right? You people are so self-righteous it makes me sick." she turned abruptly on her heal and stalked away.

)()()()()()()()()()()()()()()(

Katherine Harris nervously looked up as Diana entered the room. After nearly two weeks held without bail at a women's correctional facility she looked nervous. The agent sighed she hadn't had the time to properly interrogate the older woman before the situation with Ridgemont and Dennison demanded her attention… but she had time now, and the investigation was on the books.

"Ms. Harris, you understand we have you on nearly forty kidnapping charges, four counts of homicide, human trafficking and adoption fraud. Unless you cooperate with me you will never walk out of prison, is that clear."

"Yes." The woman swallowed hard.

"You were very young when you started working with Richards. I want to believe you didn't kill those babies. That maybe you didn't even participate in the actual kidnappings, but I promise you even an accessary conviction on all of the charges, you will be ninety before you can even hope for parole. Your daughter is ten years old now… she will be married with grand children before you have any chance of freedom."

"Did you just bring me here to taunt me Agent Berrigan?"

"No." Diana studied her for a few seconds. "I think you still have a way to contact Steven Richards… assuming you do, I want to offer you a deal."

"What sort of deal?"

"If your information leads to Richard's capture we will drop the murder and kidnapping charges… leaving you with adoption fraud and accessary to human trafficking… three to five years. You could be free in time to see your daughter's eighth grade promotion." Katherine swallowed again, tears in her eyes.

"I honestly haven't had any contact with him in ten years." She said softly. "I have an email he said he would keep if I changed my mind but I don't know if it will still work."

"If I get you a computer, you will try to make contact?"

"Yeah I will."

"Good." She studied the older woman "Now I need the names of the families you sold the babies too… all of them. And you need to remember which baby went to which family."

"That's a lot of names, agent Berrigan."

"It's a lot of families who deserve answers."

"I'll give it my best, but I can't guarantee I can recall them all."

)()()()()()()()()()()()()()(

"I'm going to get some lunch." Peter announced into the silence Neal looked up and smiled

"It is about that time isn't it?"

"You want me to get you anything?"

"No thanks." The younger man shook his head. "I'm not hungry… maybe some coffee."

"I can do that."

"Peter..." he hesitated, embarrassed "I'm sorry about falling apart last night. I'm usually stronger than that."

"Neal, what happened last night doesn't make you weak… or broken, you know that right?"

"Breaking down like that…" he didn't look up

"Is not breaking. It's more like a pressure valve. It lets some of the pain out so you don't break. So you can continue to be strong. Painting over your pain… that can lead to… well… really breaking."

"You don't really believe that?" he shook his head in disbelief.

"I do." Peter sighed and the younger man felt his eyes burning into the top of his head, "Right now… Neal you have had six months that would have killed a lot of men, you have more than earned the right to a few tears."

"Still I know how you feel about people crying."

"Not my favorite thing, that's true, but you don't expect me to know what to say so…"

"You didn't tell me to cowboy up." He looked up finally, with a small teasing smile

"Yeah… well" the older man returned the smile with a helpless shrug. "I figured even John Wayne would have cried if he had been through your last few months."

"Thanks… I think."

"Now I'm going to go find that food and your coffee .You want to come with me?"

"I think I'll stay here, if you don't mind." He looked at his brother and bit his lip. He swallowed, not voicing the nagging thought that if he left, Kevin wouldn't be here when he returned.

"Ok." Peter stood up, stretching stiff joints. "I'll be back soon." Neal felt his eyes on him again as he hesitated. Then the door creaked a bit before the soft click of the latch closing made Neal jump. For a horrible moment he was back in the cold dark room knowing Ridgemont was coming. Then reality settled. He wondered if he would tense at the sound of a door opening or closing for the rest of his life. He gently flexed his arms careful not to pull too much at the still healing burns. He pushed his chair back to the bed and squeezed his brother's hand. No response. Twenty hours… the doctors expected him to wake up within twelve unless there were complications, but he still hadn't stirred. Neal blinked at the tears that tried to escape. One break down was enough, even if it didn't make him weak. He needed to be strong again…he may have earned some tears but he'd save the rest for when he was alone.

Neal made a valiant effort to read the magazine the nurse this morning had graciously brought him. Time crept by, the steady ticking of the clock on the wall keeping rhythm with his heart beat.

Kevin stirred.

Neal's eyes jerked up from the page. No… the other man was still as limp and motionless as ever. He sighed, just his imagination, except… eyelids twitched back a quarter of an inch to reveal glimpse of blue.

"Kevin?" his hand trembled as he gripped the slack hand. "Are you awake?"

"M'ybe" the whisper muffled by the mask over his face.

"Shh… you don't have to talk." The cracked eyes drowsily found Neal's face and pale lips flicked slightly upward in recognition.

"Neal?"

"Yeah. I'm here. You're-" his voice cracked. "You'll be ok."

"S-sorry"

"It's ok. You just get better, ok?"

"Deal" Kevin whispered as he drifted back off. Neal drew a slow breath and closed his own eyes to contain his tears. He desperately hoped this was a sign of good things to come.

)()()()()()()()()()()()()()()()(

"He actually let me see him cry last night. Well this morning actually. I don't think I've ever seen him really cry like that...and you know I don't know what to do with tears. "

"Oh hon" she sighed "I hope you were supportive." Elizabeth kept one eye on the small boy climbing the waiting room chairs as she squeezed her husband's hand.

"I tried to be, it was strange… but I didn't say anything thoughtless."

"That's good."

"I didn't say much of anything, really."

"Honey." She frowned gently at him.

"What could I say Elle. I promised him I would protect Kevin, obviously I didn't."

"He's angry?" she flinched at that thought.

"I wish he was… anger I would know what to do with. He alternates between trying to act like everything is normal and staring blankly into space…" he shook his head "he's not blaming me… he's blaming himself, I know he is."

"Why?"

"The sting was his idea."

"He wanted to send his brother to face Ridgemont."

"He wanted to send himself."

"Of course he did."

"He agreed to Kevin going…reluctantly, after we all vetoed his original plan."

"Good for you."

"Hon, he told me he destroys everyone who gets too close to him."

"That's not true… I can see why he feels that way but…"

"I know."

"See if he will come out and see Will for a few minutes."

To her pleasant surprise her husband returned only a brief moment later with his friend. Before any of them had a chance to say a word William spotted his uncle.

"EAL!" the tiny ball of energy flung his body into Neal's lap. "I tought you went away… I tought you went where my mommy went! And I misseded you so much." His small arms encircled the man's neck desperately. "Why does you chair have wheels? Is it fun? Are your owies all better… do you still have banbaids? I went to lib wid a really grumpy man…until I broked his chair. He turned purple and this thing in his head was going in and out. I didn't really break it … I was going to put it back together, but he got mad before I did. Then I libbed wid a really nice family and they had a cat and a dog and the cat sleeped on the dog's head." the words tumbled out so quickly they were barely comprehensible as the boy vibrated in his lap. Neal managed to hug the bouncing squirming body for a moment.

"Have you been good for Elizabeth?" The woman in question arched an eyebrow and smiled

"Uh-huh…mostly. Wizbet says you are my uncle cause you are my daddy's bruder but…" the child looked at him clearly confused "But Eal I don't hab a daddy."

"Yes you do." Neal stroked the soft curls "hopefully you will get to meet him really soon."

"But I like you…" the little boy pouted "I want to lib wid you."

"Well whether you live with me or not, you are stuck with me for good buddy, I promise." Will's smile lit up the room as he snuggled closer to his uncle.

)()()()()()()()()()()()()()()(

"I need you to call the Marshals." Neal's voice broke the silence in the car. Convinced to go to dinner with them by his small nephew, he had stared quietly out at the darkness since they left the restaurant.

"Why?" Peter frowned… if his friend had some hare brained idea, he needed to know now.

"I want to give them a message… for my mother."

"You want to contact your mother… now?"

"Yeah… all of this… the way our lives fell apart, the way she fell apart, it all started when my brother was taken. She should know he's still alive."

"Ok," the older man hesitated "But right now… Before we know he'll be… ok?"

"Yes, right now." Neal dropped his head "He was always important even though she never said his name." His unspoken grief whispered into the words, an echo of a lost lonely child. "I can give him back to her… maybe that will be worth something."

The agent scowled. He heard the words his friend didn't say far too clearly, the old, old ache that seeped from a splintered heart.

"Neal…" he looked at his friend quietly "You were important too."

"No Peter," he smiled too brightly "I was there."

In that moment he could picture Neal as a boy… Like William, a ball of irrepressible energy, with an irresistible smile and a mountain of mischievous curiosity. A brilliant young mind who without a doubt felt the competition he was locked in for his mother's love, without ever even knowing who he was competing against. He felt himself constantly compared to a son who would never… could never do wrong. Held up and found wanting against a boy who in his mother's grieving mind would have been a perfect son. Helplessly seeking approval that he could not win in this competition with the ghost in her heart. Neal brought home straight A's, Nick's report card would have been better, Neal scored the highest in his class on the state tests… Nick would have scored higher. He took first prize in track, Nick would have out run him. Neal painted master pieces at twelve, Nick would have done it at eight.

For one brief moment Peter didn't want to send his friend's message, didn't want to give the woman her favored son back, but instead he sighed.

"What do you want them to tell her?"

"Tell her Danny says Nick IS real… and he's still alive." He was quiet for several seconds "her name was Amanda Brooks, when I was a kid. She was Melissa Bennett when they processed her in. If she wants to speak to him …" he swallowed

"I'll give them the message… no promises but I'll give it to them. IF she wants to call she can make contact through me."

"Thanks."

)()()()()()()()()()()()()()(

Diana checked Ms. Harris's email at least once an hour… she had her doubts about whether Richards would return the contact, but she desperately hoped he would. The message sent to him was brief.

I understand now. You were right. Want back in. New York

Ms. Harris was quite certain that was all it would take to merit a response. Apparently she was right, Diana decided when a reply finally came through.

Tuesday. 3 pm. You know the place.

Disbelief shot through the agent. She was going to nail this guy. After thirty years, blind justice was finally going to catch up with him. She just needed an address and in less than a week the nightmare a lifetime long would finally be over.