Chapter 12

Day 9

Peter and his mom met with Sheldon at a Starbucks that wasn't too far from the hospital. In all honesty, Peter was trying his best to look like it didn't faze him but he had actually never been in one before. For his family, this was an expense just a bit too far and they always just drank what they could make at home. Sheldon paid for their drinks and he was sipping hot chocolate that had two marshmallows drifting in the rich drink.

It was heavenly and a new experience that he promised himself that he would never take for granted.

"Thanks for meeting me, Peter." Sheldon said after he had greeted his mom and they had all settled. He gave a small nod, glancing at his mom who gave him an encouraging look. Sheldon had a small notebook out, sitting open in front of him next to his coffee.

"We've been looking for JJ but so far had no luck finding him. We just want to make sure that his safe. Your mom said earlier that you're looking at letting JJ stay with you. I think that might be a great idea, Peter. Looking out for your friend is a good thing to do."

Peter felt tension release when he heard that it would actually be okay. He had been a little afraid even if his mom said yes that the government would still take JJ away. It was one of the reasons you didn't snitch. Being in a place you know was better than going somewhere else where you didn't know the rules. Or the people.

"Okay." He smiled shyly at Sheldon. "Thanks."

"Good. Hey, can you maybe give me a few likely places where you think JJ would hang out when he wasn't home?"

Peter took a deep breath. It was obvious now that his mom had told them that it wasn't the first time that JJ had run away. Usually, his friend would return home after a few days and only after his mom promised him, she would get clean.

It lasted about a week before the need of her addiction overrode all promises and she was back to doing what she did to get high.

But for that week at least, JJ would speak about the possibility of his mom getting off drugs. Of hope.

"He liked hanging out by the bus station." He said. "JJ says that it is open with possibilities, you know. Getting on a bus and just getting away from it all. Starting new somewhere else."

"Okay. Does he find a place to sleep there?"

"Sometimes." Peter said. "There is this little alleyway, you know. Hidden away. He told me about it once. That he could get some rest without anyone bothering you or asking you to leave. Most of the guards don't know about it."

Sheldon's eyes widened a little but he scribbled into his little notebook. Peter wondered what was going on. If he had said something wrong and suddenly, he wondered if he was causing JJ to get into more trouble.

"He's not bad, you know." He says, stumbling over his words. "His mom just kinda…" he looks at his own mom, who had told him to always be careful about what you said about others especially when they struggle. "…she tries." He said in the end.

"It's okay, Peter." Sheldon placated the boy. "We all want the same thing here, okay. For JJ to be in a safe place and I think that you and your family would be that place. Let's find him okay. Make sure he's okay and then we'll help you guys get things sorted so he can live with you. Does that sound like a plan?"

Peter nodded. It did.

"Good. Does JJ go to any particular soup kitchens or charities?"

"Nah. He usually finds food behind some of the restaurants. They sometimes throw out great food." He shrugs. "JJ says if you're quick enough, the food is still good."

"Okay. Thanks, Peter. Can you give me a list of those places please."

Peter had to think about it. It's been a while since he's gone with JJ to go dumpster diving. But he remembered a few and gave the names and where they are to Sheldon. His mom said nothing to his revelation and he wondered if he'd be in trouble later.

Sheldon reached across the table, offering his hand and Peter shook it. He felt decidedly grown up by this action for some reason.

"Thank you, Peter. I'll try my best to bring your friend back to you, okay."

He nodded, finishing his hot chocolate as Sheldon left. His mom was quiet next to him for a bit.

"Peter." She finally said softly and he looked up at her.

"How many times did JJ not have food at home?"

He shrugged. "I don't know."

She gave a small sigh and then seemed to settle her shoulders into something that was familiar to Peter. He knew his mom had come to a decision. One that wasn't easily going to be changed when she got like this.

Like the time when they had no food and she had marched all of them down to Mr Hardeep's grocery store and had them all clean, wash and sort out the backroom and got groceries as payment.

"Mom?"

She rose and pulled her bag over her shoulder, she set off as Peter scrambled to follow.

"Where are we going?"

"JJ will need a bed and we will need to sort out his clothes. I'll have a talk to his mom about the new living arrangements."

"What?"

She turned to him. "That boy is not going hungry ever again, Peter. You hear me. Never, while he's living in our house."

Sheldon stepped into the meeting room at the lab. Stella was already seated at the small table with Flack, Danny and Lindsy present as well. As he turned, Adam rushed in, his arms loaded with a laptop, a file folder with what looked like photographic paper slipping out.

"Sorry…" He apologised as he dumped what he had on the table.

"It's okay, Adam." Stella tried to placate the younger man. "Sheldon just got here."

"Okay. Uhm, let me just…" he mumbled as he looked for the cable to plug his pc into the big screen that was bolted into the wall on the other end of the room. A login screen appeared and Adam was quick to type in his credentials. He was sitting down now and passed along the photos in his shoulder. Hunching down, he moved his mouse.

Sheldon's concern increased when he looked at the photos. There were three of them. Flack swore under his breath and Stella took a deep breath. Danny and Lindsy looked as concerned as what he felt.

"Here we go. Going over the footage over the last 3 days, I found Joe and Derrick. They dressed in the same clothes as the cleaning company employees that do the bathrooms in and around the station. Both had hats which made the facial recognition software provide a low probability curve. I changed algorithms late yesterday and I finally got a hit this morning."

He took a breath as they watched the two men enter the walk-in cupboard. Adam fast-forwarded the footage.

"They stayed approximately 30 minutes. I guess the tools they used were in the backpacks they carried. They wore gloves – which wouldn't have looked out of place working in bathrooms either. Uhm…here."

He paused the video. Coming out of the door was Joe and Derrick. And in between them, with Joe's hand curled around an arm, tight enough to leave bruises were JJ.

"Dammit." Danny's voice broke the stillness as they all understood the implication of what they were seeing.

"How far could you track them?" Stella asked.

"To the parking garage at 350 W 43rd Street. They left in Lauren's car." He switched tabs, going to another page.

On the video they could clearly see Joe and Derrick in the front of the sedan at the entrance of the parking garage as they were leaving.

"Where's the boy?" Lindsy asked. Flack was reaching for his phone.

"I'll put out an Amber alert. Adam, send me a photo of JJ."

Sheldon watched as Flack left, already on his phone as he exited the room.

"Do we know what level they parked?" Danny asked.

"Uh…no. Sorry."

"Okay." Danny gave Lindsy a look as Flack re-entered the room.

"Amber alert is out."

"Can we get a canvas going at the parking garage?" Stella asked Flack. "Also, the most likely routes they would've taken between the garage and the station. Sheldon knew what Stella was saying.

The chances of JJ still being alive was highly unlikely. But they've seen miracles before and he wasn't about to discount it.

JJ was a survivor.

He was certain the boy would've put up a fight. Maybe try and make a run for it.

"I've got a list from Peter where JJ would dumpster dive."

"Okay, split the list in two. You and I will take one and let Danny and Lindsy take the other. Maybe we'll get lucky and there's cameras."

Mac was tired and annoyed. He hadn't done much since waking up earlier but had breakfast and then had a nurse help him get out of bed to go to the bathroom. The short walk alone had felt like he had run a marathon. He had to take a breather, while sitting on the shower stool as he took deep, gulping breaths that hurt while the nurse talked him through his minor panic attack when it had felt like he couldn't breathe.

It was disconcerting. Normally stoic and proud of his ability to look at the facts without attaching emotion behind it, he couldn't understand where the fear and panic had come from. His wound hurt and if he closed his eyes, he could still see Joe's face as he told Mac that it wasn't personal before pulling the trigger.

He shivered and pulled the blankets that covered his body higher as he settled in bed.

The shock of the impact as the bullet slammed through his body vibrated through his muscles in memory. He gave a soft sigh, trying his best to ignore his memories and grunted as he reached over and grabbed the remote, switching on the TV. He flipped through a few channels and finally settled on a baseball channel.

Somewhere around the second innings he fell asleep. Lulled to sleep by the white noise of the tv and the rustle of moment in the hallway of people passing by and nurses going about their business of doing their job.

He woke later to find Stella sitting on a chair by the window, reading a file. His TV was still on what looked like a different minor league game. He didn't recognize any of the two teams playing.

"Hey."

She looked up and gave him a small smile. "Hey. Good nap?"

"Not much else to do." He said in the end as he raised the bed. "How's the investigation going?"

Stella gave him a look he was familiar with. "Mac, you know I can't…"

"Yes, sorry. Force of habit…"

"Heard you went for a small walk this morning." She said instead as she closed the file on her lap.

"Emphasis on small." He sighed. "The nurse promised it would get better as my lung injury heals. They have a physiotherapist booked for tomorrow morning. Barring any complications I would be able to go home within the next five days."

Stella's eyebrows rose. "Wow. They don't wait around anymore, do they?"

He shook his head. "My sats are good. The biggest risk is pneumonia and infection and they're giving me the good stuff currently." He said as he raised his arm where the IV line was attached.

"How are you doing otherwise?" She asked softly.

Mac looked away from her. He was uncomfortable. This morning felt a lifetime ago. And that reminded him of waking up in the hollow next to the stream. Of the feeling of not being able to breath. Of suffocating in his own blood.

"Mac!"

He opened his eyes. Stella was standing next to his bed, her hand a steady presence on his head. Her hair a veil around her face as she leaned over him.

"I'm okay." He finally said.

"You sure?"

He nodded. "The boy?"

Stella straightened and reached for his water and poured him a glass. She helped him to take a sip. He was grateful as he tucked his hands under the covers, pulling the blanket up. There was an obvious tremor that he wanted to hide. He took a deep, strengthening breath, trying to get his swirling thoughts back into control.

"What do you remember?" She asked.

"I gave your number to him. He called, right?"

She nodded. It was an obvious conclusion Mac could make.

"He was there, wasn't he?" Mac said in the end. His breathing was easier. "Where you found me."

"You were unconscious for most of it." Stella said.

"He saved my life."

She could only nod. Mac knew how close he had come to dying.

"I'd like to thank him."

"I think we can arrange something." Stella said, giving him a small smile. Her phone buzzed and she stepped to the chair she'd been sitting in. She gave a quick look before gathering her jacket, bag and the file.

"Sorry, duty calls. Flack said he'll be by tonight. Do you need anything?"

"Coffee?"

She laughed. "I don't think your doctor would appreciate it."

"One of my forensic books. I've got one by my bedside table."

Stella leaned over and kissed him on the forehead. "Enjoy your baseball." She said and Mac watched her leave. He settled, turning his attention to the game, well aware that his current recovery was very much dependent on him resting and looking after his body.

He was also very determined that Joe and Derrick weren't going to escape the clutches of his team. He knew how good his team was. He wasn't going to jeopardise their investigation by doing anything stupid.

He thought about the energy he had expanded just walking to the bathroom. His own physical limitations.

He leaned over and reached into his drawer, taking his phone out. He scrolled through the numbers in his phone book and considered Joe's choices and what he had come to know of the man in the past few days he had been in his company.

Considered what he knew of the dynamic between Joe and Derrick. Their relationship. The obvious barely constrained toleration they had for each other. He remembers their arguments over him. The money. The way forward.

More than what he had shared in his initial witness statement.

It was coming back now. With remembering the sense of the boy that sat at his side, a steady hand on his shoulder keeping him grounded even in his delirium and unconscious state. He couldn't quantify what he had experienced. Only knowing that he needed to hold on to life.

He finally found a number he had been looking for. It didn't take long before his call was answered.

"Hey, it's me…"