Little Havana, Miami

It was late when Tim finally arrived back at the home he shared with his parents, wife, and children courtesy of an officer escort who had also offered to collect his car from the scene because Calleigh had advised him not to drive again until he was calmer. He and Emily had sold their home and moved in with his parents a while ago because it was clear that James and Julliet's special needs were increasing to the point where they needed the help with both them and Jesse and Anthony and Rosa were quite willing and happy to have them there. Now, however, Tim found himself especially grateful that he was back living with his parents because it meant he wasn't alone with his anger. He was anything but calm. He was pissed senseless.

"Timothy?" Tim suddenly heard his father call out in a concerned voice. "Timothy, is that you?"

Tim froze as his father, Anthony, suddenly came into the front room wearing pajamas and slippers under a long housecoat, "Timothy, the news…I was watching the late news," Anthony spoke in a nervous voice. "James and Julliet were awake and they saw it, but your mother is sleeping with them tonight to keep them calm. They are upset, but they only understand their mother cannot come home tonight. I, however, want to know what happened…"

"Delko got in a fight with Emily and she decided to walk away from it without her car and she got snatched off the street," Tim replied darkly, still supremely pissed at Eric's role in the whole situation. "I got told to come home and rest for now, but my mind…there's no way in hell I'll be able to sleep."

Anthony looked grim, but Tim ignored him and instead made a beeline for a small package that he kept on a high shelf so James and Julliet wouldn't play with it. He silently made his way into the kitchen, turned the light on, and sat at the table before he took his duty gun and backup weapon off and set them on the table. As Tim began disassembling his weapons and thoroughly cleaning the pieces, Anthony wandered into the kitchen and paused at seeing what Tim was doing.

Tim knew his father was watching him, but he continued working, "I wanna make sure that when we find Jeffrey McKeen, I'm ready to shoot him for daring to hurt my wife and kill my brother," Tim finally spoke in a firm voice. "You can go to bed if you want, Dad. I'm gonna be up for a while. This thing's filthy."

Anthony, however, didn't leave the kitchen and instead began to prepare a pot of coffee for himself and his only living son. He was filled with grief over the loss of Anthony Jr., but Emily's sudden abduction by the very violent Jeffrey McKeen had worsened things considerably. Jill had heard the report and had wanted to help, as she was in the FBI, but Anthony had convinced her to rest at their house because she had just barely given birth, lost her husband, and expressed hope that the MDPD were on top of the situation with both Tony's death and Emily's abduction. Rosa, meanwhile, had busied herself taking care of BJ, Maggie, and Adam LaRusso-Caine, Lenny Stetler, James, Julliet, and Jesse to keep her mind from grieving over Tony because she didn't want to believe her youngest was dead and they were now all asleep, but there was a pallor of sorrow over the house because not only had James and Julliet caught sight of the news, all the other kids had too and everyone was now worried sick. Rosa, however, had managed to get everyone to bed calm and relaxed and she was hoping they stayed that way.

Grief, anger, and sorrow were the only things on the Speedle men's minds as they worked in the kitchen together. After a few moments of silence, the phone in the kitchen suddenly rang. Anthony quickly answered it, listened in silence for a few moments, and then had brought the cordless over to Tim sporting a reluctant expression on his face, "It's Lieutenant Caine," he explained softly.

Sighing tiredly, Tim took the phone and had a feeling he would need to reassemble his newly cleaned weapons in a hurry because Horatio would need him to come into handle a case.

Coconut Grove, Miami

"This guest room, I think, will be perfect for you, because it has a small adjoining bathroom," Natalia spoke gently as she led John, who was walking with his hands in his pockets to help him stay awake, into a guest room close to the elevator. "As Bobby was filling out your release paperwork, Nick Stokes mentioned some things and how a private bathroom would be better for you…"

Swallowing hard, John nodded, "Yes ma'am," he spoke nervously, his expression suddenly pained. "I hope…I hope it didn't freak Lieutenant Caine out to hear that. Only a few people in my life know about... I had to tell Grissom and Doctor Langston in the one-on-one interviews for the pilot project cause those things were about being unafraid to show vulnerability and honesty. Not even Caira knows about that or my adoptive dad. They both know Edward hurt me when I was young, but the details. How in the hell am I gonna be a cop if I can't even use a locker room at a police precinct without feeling like I'm drowning? When I did the co-op at the New York Crime Lab, I'd find ways to avoid needing to use it. God, I'm such a terrible…"

"No, you're not," Natalia replied in a concerned voice, quickly cutting off John's negative self-talk. "You're not a terrible person for having triggers. What's important is that you opened up about it. You're talking. And there are people in Miami who can help you, who can talk to you…"

John sighed, "I overheard on the radios in the truck that Doctor Speedle got snatched by Jeffrey McKeen," he spoke grimly. "I…I don't know anyone else here…"

"I spoke with an on-call therapist while I was waiting for you to get discharged and if you want, I can arrange for someone to come over to the house so you don't have to go anywhere for a while," Natalia offered softly. "For now, though, I think you should get some rest. Do you need a bottle of water so you can take your antibiotics before bed?"

John nodded, "Yes, please, Mrs. Caine," he replied softly, determined to be respectful to his hosts. "Thank you."

As Natalia left the room to get John a bottle of water he could keep with him during the night if he needed, she noticed him immediately lift his shirt to check his wounds in the bedroom mirror before standing there, silently examining both his current wounds and old scars with a haunted, pained expression on his face. She quickly made her way downstairs and promptly found Robert on the cordless phone while surrounded by John's bags. He looked shocked and worried about something.

"…Look, just treat him and make him comfortable," Robert spoke in a firm voice. "I'll be right there."

Sighing softly, Robert ended the call and looked at Natalia worriedly, "I just got a call from Jackson Memorial Hospital," he explained softly. "Apparently, Rick's there after being knocked unconscious by his father during a visit at the Garden Estates Retirement Castle. I'm Rick's emergency contact and they called me even though Uncle Horatio and Ryan Wolfe are already there. I…I have to go. Just stay in the house, take it easy, and if an emergency crops up with John…"

"We'll be fine," Natalia replied reassuringly, frowning. "I'm going to give him some water so he can take his antibiotics and then I'll make sure he goes to bed. Did you say Rick was knocked out by his father?!"

Robert sighed grimly, "Uncle Horatio, Ryan, and a security camera in Richard Stetler's room all witnessed it," he replied firmly. "Something has to be done. I gotta go. I love you."

Nodding, Natalia kissed her husband goodbye and silently took the smaller of the two suitcases upstairs along with the water to John's temporary room. John was now laying in bed with pillows propped up behind his back and looking pained, "I brought you some water," she spoke softly.

"Thanks," John replied softly, frowning when Natalia got his antibiotics and half a painkiller out of the prescription bottles in his backpack. "You don't need to…"

Natalia gave John a look, so John took the offered medicine in silence, "Thank you, ma'am," he finally replied after drinking some water to swallow them. "Um…I really appreciate all this."

"Get some rest," Natalia replied gently, smiling reassuringly at him. "I'll be nearby if you need anything, all right?"

John quickly dozed off and Natalia sighed heavily as she left to go lock up the house for the night.

Jackson Hospital – Miami, Florida

"...Patient was involved in a violent assault at Garden Estates Retirement Home at approximately 2230 hours…"

Blurry figures greeted Rick as he came to and he immediately panicked, unable to see anyone who was talking around him. He tried to speak, but only muffled sounds came out and as his panic level rose, he suddenly felt someone grab his hand and he jerked it away in a panic. Alarms blared loudly without warning and Rick immediately tried to get up, but he found himself restrained and his head immobilized, "Wait…he can't see!" a voice suddenly yelled. "He doesn't know what's happening!"

A pair of what appeared to be blurry white things suddenly came near Rick and the alarms continued to blare, "I've got his glasses," Rick suddenly heard a voice say. "It's okay, Rick. I've got your glasses."

Almost immediately, Rick saw his vision correct and he was confused to see himself surrounded by what appeared to be medical staff in trauma gear and a concerned looking Ryan, who was standing just in his view in gown and goggles, "Rick, listen to me, you're in the emergency room at Jackson Memorial," Ryan spoke anxiously. "You were knocked against a wall by your dad and out cold. If you don't calm down, they're gonna sedate you and I know you don't want that…"

Pain suddenly shot across Rick's face as he felt sudden pressure on his face from the glasses and he whimpered, "They gotta come off again and you gotta move," another voice spoke. "They're causing him pain. Go near his feet. We gotta check his face for injuries."

"Rick, they gotta check your face," Ryan explained apologetically. "I gotta take your glasses and go near your feet, but I'll squeeze your foot so you know I'm there. I'm sorry. And Eric's gotta take pictures and do evidence collection and they're gonna x-ray your neck and head really quickly…"

A clicking sound filled the room as Rick's world quickly went blurry again, but just as he was about to resume panic, he felt a gentle squeeze on his foot, "Good God," Rick suddenly heard a Texan drawl say in a pained tone. "Jessop, did you get a statement from Horatio yet?"

"Hi, Sergeant Stetler, it's Doctor Woods," Rick suddenly heard Alexx speak gently above the chaos. "I'm gonna do a physical exam on you now, starting with your face. Just make a noise if something hurts, okay?"

As Alexx began her physical exam, Ryan did his best not to puke as he thought about how the roles were now very much reversed for him and Rick. When Thomas Wolfe Sr. had been caught abusing him years ago, Ryan reflected, Rick and his training officer, John Sullivan, had been the one to take statements from both Ryan and Emily about the abuse. Rick had also been the one to accompany him to the hospital for the exam and Sully and Rick had then removed him to Boston to live with Uncle Ron til he was 18. Ryan had stayed in Boston for college and PTSD recovery, but then had moved to Florida with his Uncle Ron, wanting to get as far away from New York as he could without fleeing the United States. Eventually, when he had joined the MDPD as a Patrol officer, he had reconnected with Rick…

"…Excuse me, Ryan?" Alexx suddenly spoke up softly. "We need to do full-body x-rays. You need to step-out for a moment, okay honey?"

As Ryan released Rick's foot to leave, however, Rick's blood pressure suddenly spiked, "Ryan, honey, maybe you'd better stay in the room and we'll get you a lead vest," Alexx spoke anxiously. "Just stand back for a moment while we take the x-rays…"

Nodding, Ryan stood back and while he was waiting for his vest, he looked outside the room and noticed Horatio speaking with Frank Tripp and Officer Jessop while behind them, uniformed, armed officers were moving through the ER looking very serious. Before he could ask what was happening, Alexx put him in a vest and x-rays were taken on Rick. When the x-rays were done, the tech took the machine away and Ryan removed his vest before going back to Rick's feet. At the same time, Jessop came into the trauma room, "Wolfe, you need to give your statement about what happened and I also need to get one for the report," Jessop spoke apologetically, working to keep his voice low as he spoke. "I was called off the search for your nephew to come to this, by the way, but uniforms are searching for him, as is Duquesne. Everyone's been warned not to threaten Jason with weapons if they see him due to his mental health issues his father mentioned to Duquesne. Uniforms are also searching for your sister and they've even dispatched a couple people to Speedles for safety."

Eric flinched at the mention of Emily, but he quietly finished photographing Rick's injuries without speaking to Ryan. After Rick had been knocked out, Horatio had made the difficult decision to allow Eric to process Rick because Calleigh had already collected evidence from the Jason Wolfe runaway case, had sent the evidence to the lab for processing and was now working the Emily Speedle abduction case with Walter, Ryan was a witness to Rick's assault and couldn't work his own family's cases, Tim had been sent home for the night because he wasn't in the right frame of mind to work after his wife had been abducted by McKeen, Natalia was taking care of John Boscorelli, and Jesse was still on leave in New York. Horatio knew he would need to allow IAB to discipline Eric if they chose, but CSI was stretched thin with Rick hurt and everyone else busy and they really couldn't afford to lose anyone else.

When Eric had arrived at the hospital with only the knowledge that an assault victim needed processing, he had been shocked and pained to learn that the victim was Rick Stetler and that the aggressor had been Richard Stetler, Rick's father.

Horatio had warned him that Ryan was also there as a witness and support and that a fight better not take place and Eric had promised to behave, even expressing regret that he hadn't personally filed a report against Richard Stetler himself when he had witnessed the man verbally abusing Rick before. Horatio had gently told him to not blame himself and to simply get to work, as they were going to right the situation right then and now because Richard Stetler was now under arrest for assault and battery and whatever family violence related offense that Horatio could manage to charge him with, but he was also receiving medical treatment due to collapsing at the scene. Eric had expressed concern that Rick might not give a statement against his own father, but Horatio had simply said there was witness and video evidence and a statement from Rick was welcome, but not necessary to charge Richard Stetler. Eric had then gone to Ryan and quietly apologized for his fight with Emily, but Ryan had simply said they would discuss it later, as the focus needed to be on Rick at the moment.

"…Would you like me to wipe your eye for you?" Eric suddenly Alexx ask softly. "It might hurt."

Eric grabbed his kit and moved to the head of the bed just in time to see tears fill Rick's eyes and the sergeant unsuccessfully try to blink them away, which was the only way he could express any sort of emotion or feeling at the moment because he couldn't speak or move. He was immobilized by the backboard and collar and silenced by the oxygen mask and he was helpless and hurting. As much as he didn't like Stetler and was uncomfortable with having the former IAB sergeant on the CSI team, Eric couldn't help but feel compassion and sadness for the man because nobody deserved to be abused.

"It's okay," Eric spoke softly, pausing as Rick's gaze suddenly focused on him. "I…I need to process you now. Is that okay?"

Rick's gaze switched to the ceiling and he went very still, "He's giving you permission by tuning you out," Ryan spoke up, seeing what Rick was doing. "I would still be gentle, though, and explain to him what you're doing as you do it so he can get that you're not trying to hurt him further. The tuning out…it's a tactic that I…I'm familiar with."

"I'll keep it in mind," Eric replied softly, saddened to realize that Ryan was speaking from personal experience and that Ryan's experience was why Horatio had asked Ryan to come be of help to Rick.

"…His left cheekbone is broken, he cut his forehead from falling into some sort of glass, he sustained heavy bruising on his neck and back, he got a concussion and skull fracture from hitting the wall, and he broke three ribs when he fell, but there were no fractures in his neck or back. I do, however, want to admit him for a couple of days observation and to make sure he gets rest. There's so much in the news right now about Jeffrey McKeen and so much crime that he might be tempted to work…"

Pain shot through Rick's body without warning, forcing him to wake with a start. The first thing he realized was that he was no longer laying flat and immobilized by the neck collar or backboard: he was instead laying on a raised gurney with a pillow under his head and an oxygen tube was on his face instead of the mask that had kept him from speaking. He could hear voices around him, but it hurt him to move and see who exactly the voices belonged to, so he stayed still and replayed the protocol that Grissom had taught him to use when interviewing victims of crime who were within the Victims Assistance system, as he trusted it more than he trusted the Miami CSI's to actually help him without passing judgment. The one thing that Gil had emphasized to him over and over was to make sure all victims knew that they had a right to an advocate who could help them through the process of recovery.

"Hey, look who's awake," Ryan's voice suddenly filled the air. "How are you feeling?"

Rick exhaled softly, his anxiety quickly creeping up because he knew if he answered that question it would lead to more questions about the attack and potentially pressing charges on his father, "I want an Victims Assistance Advocate…please," he spoke shakily, spitting the words out before he lost his nerve.

Eric, who was at the foot of the bed bagging up the evidence he had collected, suddenly froze, "What does that mean?" he asked in a confused voice, frowning. "You just asked him how he was feeling."

"It means no further questions of any kind are allowed until an advocate is in the room with him as he requested," Ryan replied firmly, not at all surprised that Rick had decided on needing help because the situation was proving too overwhelming. "I need to go make a call."

Before Eric could reply, Ryan left the room and was relieved to see Horatio waiting out in the hallway, "H, I need to go make a call to the Victims Assistance Network," Ryan explained in a concerned voice. "Rick's awake, but the first thing out of his mouth was a request for an advocate, which means nobody can ask him anything until he has the advocate present. It's one of the strictest rules of Victims Assistance, one of many that I learned when I joined up. I know Rick used to work with Grissom, so maybe he taught him the rules at one point…"

"Doctor Grissom is currently under observation in the emergency room in a room across from the nurse's station," Horatio explained quietly. "I can show you where he is if you wish to approach him."

Nodding, Ryan silently allowed Horatio to lead him to Grissom. Back in the trauma room, meanwhile, Rick silently found himself looking at the digital clock above the door and thinking about how he had missed leaving Lindsey a phone message, he had missed sending a daily email to Catherine, and he had missed spending the evening with Lenny due to the incident with his father and he hoped he would be forgiven for his negligence. It was now well past midnight, so the day was long over and he was tired.

"Oh my God, Rick," Rick suddenly heard Grissom say in a concerned voice. "What happened?"

Rick sighed tiredly and winced as he moved his head to look at Grissom, "Hi," he spoke groggily. "Um, I was visiting my father at his care home and he wanted to see my mama and I told him he couldn't, but not why, and it…it got violent. I see a ton of uniforms out there. Horatio probably arrested my father…am I right?"

Grissom nodded, having been briefed on the situation after Horatio and Ryan had gotten him out of bed, "And he probably collapsed or something from how much energy he spent knocking me into the wall cause he can't breathe half the time and won't wear his oxygen and he's always tired cause of it," Rick spoke shakily, wincing as he spoke. "He's always tired and acts like he never sleeps, and he's always hungry and thirsty, but I know he eats and drinks even when I don't visit. There's one LPN per shift and barely enough health aides at that facility, Gil, but it's what I can afford. I'm on my own with Daddy a lot of the time when I'm there with him and it can be stressful and rough depending on his mood, so I am thankful Lenny doesn't know and not even Catherine knows…"

Grissom raised an eyebrow, "And through all of this, who is providing support to you?" he asked in a gentle, but concerned-firm tone that Rick knew well. "Even caregivers need caregivers, Rick…"

While Grissom and Rick continued their conversation, which Eric was recording as part of evidence collection and he knew that Rick was aware of it, Ryan had slipped out of the room and moved over to the exam room, which was being guarded by Jessop, where Richard Stetler was being held under police guard.

In that area of the ER, Horatio and Dr. Stokes were talking while Dr. Stokes made notes on a chart, "H, I think Richard Stetler needs to be tested for diabetes and lung diseases," Ryan spoke in a concerned voice. "It's not going to change the charges he's facing, but Rick made some comments about his father's health that make me wonder if he's diabetic and the oxygen makes me wonder…"

"I'll add a blood sugar test to the blood tests I'm ordering," Dr. Stokes replied softly, making a note on the chart. "Richard's awake and he's confused about where he is. He's wanting to see Rick."

Horatio scoffed, "That is not happening," he spoke firmly. "Rick is currently talking to a Victims Assistance advocate and charges are being pressed. Even if it doesn't go to court, I can get Richard Stetler put into a secure facility based on what I witnessed and the video evidence the care home is sending to the lab…"

"H?" Tim's voice suddenly filled the air.

Horatio and Dr. Stokes turned to see Tim come into the ER dragging his kit and wearing his badge and what looked like a newly cleaned gun on his belt, "Speed, I'm sorry to have to pull you into the field when your wife is missing and your brother was killed, but I got word from a nurse that Detective Flack is out of surgery and being moved to a room sometime in the early hours," Horatio explained in a concerned voice. "I need someone to talk to him and see what he can remember about his experience. Frank is already upstairs waiting for news, but I need CSI on that situation and everyone else is busy and Rick was attacked tonight…"

Tim's eyes widened, "Is that why you left the Jason Wolfe and scene and the scene where McKeen took Emily?" he asked in a concerned voice. "Did McKeen go after Stetler too?"

"No, Rick's father assaulted him and Ryan and I were witnesses to the incident," Horatio explained grimly. "Ryan is going to go sit with Rick and Eric is collecting evidence until he can talk to IAB…"

Tim frowned, "IAB?" he asked quietly. "Why is IAB going after Delko?"

Horatio looked surprised, "Tommy Wolfe made a statement to police that right before Emily got abducted by Jeffrey McKeen, she and Eric had a verbal altercation in which Eric told Emily she was not fit to drive and so Emily threw her keys on the couch and said she would walk to a nearby transit hub," he explained in a concerned voice. "She was abducted on her way there and Eric supported Tommy's statement, adding he was following her to apologize when he witnessed her getting taken and recorded Emily talking to Carlos Nieto and McKeen. Eric said he saw a gun pointed at Emily before a smoke bomb went off and I suspect that gun may have been intended for Carlos. There is also the matter of your missing nephew, Jason, who ran away due to suspected mental health issues just before Emily was abducted…"

Tim sighed heavily, his expression full of concern as he processed this. He himself had noticed the issues with Jason's mental health and, suspecting that Jason had some sort of unaddressed disability, had tried to get his social worker mother to talk to Tommy Wolfe, but Tommy had gently rejected Rosa's help, saying it was his responsibility to manage his family and it was easier for him to do now that Jenny was off and married and being cared for by Greg Sanders. Now, it was much too late…

"Speed?" Horatio pressed worriedly, seeing that Tim was lost in thought. "You okay?"

Sighing heavily, Tim nodded, "When Emily and I would get together with Ryan and Carlos and Tommy and his family, I would notice behaviors in Jason that made me wonder if there was some sort of mental illness, depression, or disability and I tried to get my mom, who is a social worker, to talk to Tommy about it, but he didn't want to talk to her," he replied grimly. "I was debating about whether or not to approach Ryan about it cause I knew he'd actually listen, but I think he's not well again and that's why Emily was even over at Ryan and Tommy's today. She thinks she's making my life easier when she doesn't tell me about troubles affecting her family, but I notice more than she realizes even though I've been busy being temporary Supervisor of day shift. She's too scared of bothering me too much, but I wish she wasn't scared of bothering me. I am never bothered by her and I never will be. I didn't touch your office, by the way, when I was Supervisor. I don't like offices."

Horatio nodded, his expression concerned, "I, um, noticed your firearm's been cleaned recently, Speed," he observed softly. "I'm guessing you didn't go to bed when you got home?"

"My dad was up too and he made me drink some coffee before I left," Tim replied softly. "I want my gun to be able to do its job properly if we find Jeffrey McKeen. That bastard is going to pay for taking my wife and hurting her. I know he's hurting her just because of who she was. I've had my own scuffles with Bernard in the past and I hated him…"

Horatio nodded and Tim sighed, "Well, I'd better go find Detective Tripp and get up to speed on Detective Flack," Tim spoke softly. "Before I go, is Stetler okay?"

"He will be," Horatio replied in a soft voice, making a mental note to reach out to Catherine to see if she could provide any insight on Rick's past that would help with his recovery.

As Tim was walking off to the elevators to go upstairs, his phone suddenly went off and he answered it in earshot of Horatio in case it was something about Emily. Before he could say hello, however, his mother began frantically explaining that Lenny had run off and she didn't know where he was, but the front door was open, Lenny's shoes were missing, and he had been up going to the bathroom when Horatio had called. Tim mentally cursed at himself for having the phone on speaker, which he had done because the call had been hard to hear because of all the hospital noises in the background.

"Mom, just don't touch anything and make sure everyone else stays asleep," Tim spoke in an anxious voice, now feeling pissed off at himself that he didn't make sure he wasn't being eavesdropped on. "I'll get a uniform on it and I'll get someone over to the house…"

Tim swore as he ended the call, "H, my mom just called and told me that Lenny Stetler got his shoes on and took off out the front door without anyone noticing," he explained in a concerned voice. "He might have overheard us talking about Rick on the phone. My mom's freaking out…"

Horatio's eyes widened, "Bobby's on his way over here from Coconut Grove, so I'll radio him and I'll also get a uniform looking," he spoke anxiously. "He's terrified about losing his father and feels the need to go find him without thinking about the consequences. It's quite the lack of impulse control…"

"I don't think it's a good idea to tell Rick his kid ran off," Tim observed worriedly. "It might upset him more than he already is…"

Horatio nodded, "I'll call Bobby," he spoke in a worried voice. "Go get Jessop and tell him to see if he can't get a picture of Lenny to take with him on his search. Rick doesn't keep them at work."

"You're losing weight," Grissom observed in a concerned voice as he sat beside Rick's gurney, watching as nurses and Alexx tended to Rick's injuries. "Are you eating enough?"

Rick scoffed and winced as he felt someone set his fractured cheekbone, "I pay for half of Lindsey's schooling, all of Lenny's schooling, my parents retirement home, insurance on a beater car…"

A pained expression suddenly filled Rick's face, "Aw, God, now I have to shell out for a funeral and a plot a decent cemetery cause Mama's not getting buried in a swamp," he spoke shakily, wincing as tears filled his eyes and rolled down his injured face. "I'm getting a headache just thinking about it…"

Eric, who was ready to leave, suddenly paused as Rick began crying, which paused the blood pressure monitor to spike, "The guy who killed Mama literally shot her without any warning after he heard me call for her and then pointed the gun at me!" Rick breathed heavily. "He paused and then didn't shoot! Why in the hell did he shoot Mama and not me, Gil?!"

Grissom, however, wasn't listening because he had noticed Ryan looking outside the room as if something disturbing had suddenly caught his attention, not knowing that Ryan was watching Tim talk with Jessop and Tim kept making gestures to the trauma room. A moment later, Tim walked off and Jessop came into the room, whispered something to Eric, and then Eric began rummaging through the evidence box looking for something. Ryan quickly moved over to them and a moment later, Eric fished a bag out and dumped it, revealing a worn wallet.

Immediately feeling that something was very wrong, Rick ceased shedding tears, gazed at the trio with narrowed eyes and watched as Eric removed a photo from the wallet and handed it to Jessop, "What…what are you stealing from my wallet, Delko?" Rick asked darkly. "Is that a photo?"

Ryan gave Eric a look, but Eric sighed heavily, "It's a recent photo of Lenny and Officer Jessop needs to take it," Eric explained grimly. "Speedle came to do another assignment, and he got a call from his mother that Lenny ran off from the Speedle household after he overheard him and Horatio talking about you…"

"Why was Lenny staying the night at Rosa Speedle's?!" Rick asked in as angry a tone as he could manage. "Why was Bobby not taking care of him? We have an agreement that's been in place ever since Lenny moved out here that Lenny is not to spend the night anywhere off family property without my permission because of what he went through with Jeffrey McKeen when Sam Braun was babysitting him! I should have been told what was going on! Get me a phone right now or I am getting off this gurney and going to find my son!"

Grissom immediately put a hand on Rick's arm to keep him down, "Let Doctor Woods and the nurses do their work," he spoke softly. "You're not even dressed."

Eric handed the photo to Jessop, who immediately went outside and nearly ran into Horatio, who had heard Rick's weak yelling and was coming to see what the yelling was about. As Horatio entered the room, the nurses redressed Rick in his gown and covered him up to the waist with a blanket, having taped his ribs, "Bobby…he probably went off his meds to try for a kid with Natalia," Rick realized softly. "I warned him when those came up in his sample and we talked…I warned him that he better not go off them for any reason. That's why he forgot what he discussed. He's been off his meds…"

"He just went back on them tonight, Rick," Horatio replied in a concerned voice. "And I just found out about them."

Rick's eyes went wide, "I put a note on his file about the meds because he and I talked when they came up in a urine sample and you didn't read my note?" he asked darkly. "You just let Delko and Duquesne bully him out of the lab? God, Horatio…I put that note there specifically for you so you could give him more support! In our talk, Bobby said he was trying his best, but he didn't feel he was good enough! I was on my way out anyway, so I recommended Bobby as a replacement even though I had my worries about him and I also recommended Emily Speedle as his deputy, but Delko's complaints…"

Horatio looked grim and pained, deeply embarrassed, as did Eric and Ryan, "IAB's not my show anymore, so you're going to have to just hope Bobby does well leading it and your neglect doesn't come back to bite you someday," Rick spoke softly, sighing heavily. "I'm getting another headache, so…so I might try to sleep a little even though I don't want to cause Lenny's missing. My body's giving out."

"Well, it's about one a.m., so that might explain it," Horatio spoke softly. "Listen, Rick, I've been told they want to keep you for observation for a couple days and I'm inclined to let them. I also don't want you visiting your father again until this is sorted out. He's under arrest, being seen to medically, and his room at the care center is now a crime scene…"

Rick exhaled weakly, but said nothing, closed his eyes, and proceeded to massage his forehead with his hand despite the fact that a nurse was trying to put an IV in it, "I think my blood sugar's low," he muttered shakily. "I left my dinner tray for Gil when I went to deal with Daddy."

"You can't skip meals, Rick," Grissom spoke firmly. "You're a diabetic. I wondered why I had so much food…"

Exhaling softly, Rick didn't respond and instead remained as he was and Ryan eyed the blood pressure machine worriedly, noting that Rick's blood pressure was rising rapidly, "Alexx…" he spoke in a concerned voice, quickly gesturing at the monitor.

Alexx quickly caught on to Ryan's warning and looked at Horatio and Eric, "Sergeant Stetler needs to rest now while his transfer upstairs is arranged," she spoke firmly. "And I mean rest. In quiet. Doctor Grissom can stay if he wants cause he's an advocate, but you two need to go…"

"Ryan, you sound beat, kiddo," Rick spoke groggily, not opening his eyes. "And your sister's missing along with your nephew…"

Ryan sighed softly, "I'll take guard duty since Jessop went to search for Lenny, but I'm not going home," he replied firmly. "Just try and sleep and I promise I'll tell you if I hear anything…"

Before Rick could argue, Ryan left the room and was followed by Eric and Horatio. Grissom, meanwhile, remained where he was and found himself deeply relieved that he could at least be of help to someone and that someone wanted what he was capable of offering while struggling with cancer.

Sara, meanwhile, hadn't reached out to him much except to ask that he come back to Vegas and help her raise their children and also pay attention to Greg and maybe give a little time and energy to her if he felt up to it. She had also said that they could address his cancer as a family and that he hadn't needed to run away, but Grissom didn't consider what he had done running away. He had considered him disappearing to Miami for treatment not adding to Sara's burdens when she already had a great deal going on between work and their twins. And then time, a lot of time, had passed and he had missed Gregory and Danielle's first birthday. He had felt regret, but he hadn't known how to express it to Sara without subjecting himself to more of the same pleadings from her he didn't have energy for. Nick, meanwhile, had kept in touch with Sara, and he had tried to bring up her concerns during their meetings, but Grissom had not wanted to hear them, so Nick had shut the conversation down more often than not. His recent health scare where he spent time in the ICU intubated and sedated was a warning, Grissom knew, that he had to actually think about things that he didn't have energy to address.

Sighing grimly, Grissom slouched in his chair, folded in his arms, and silently watched Rick sleep.

The streets were quiet, but the quiet brought Robert no comfort as he silently drove through the streets of Miami towards Jackson Memorial Hospital. He was full of grief for his former partner's current health situation, John's circumstances, and Rick's situation, and also kicking himself for being so stupid about his meds that he had neglected himself and his responsibilities, including his children and nephew. He had barely gotten behind the wheel when he had remembered that he had promised to ask Rick's permission if he was going to get Lenny to spend the night anywhere else beside home and he hadn't done that before sending the boy to Speedles with his cousins due to the events of the day.

Robert knew Rick was probably pissed at him and he intended to apologize to Rick when he met Rick at the hospital and also make Natalia aware of their private arrangement regarding Lenny so that such a thing wouldn't happen again. As Robert came to stop at a traffic light, the radio in the truck suddenly crackled to life and Robert paused, "All available units, this is an Amber Alert for Lenny Stetler…"

Wide-eyed, Robert quickly activated his siren and blew through the light while listening to the rest of the Amber Alert that explained that Lenny had run off from Rosa and Anthony Speedle's house in Little Havana between midnight and one a.m. and there was no clue as to where he could be, but his father was aware of the situation. Pissed off at all the crime in the city that day, Robert continued driving at an accelerated speed through the street with his high beams on in case he spotted anything en route.

Suddenly, he noticed Jessop coming from the other direction and he honked his horn, causing Jessop to stop, "Any sign?" Robert called out in a concerned voice. "I just heard the Amber Alert…"

"No, I've got a picture of him from Stetler's wallet, though," Jessop replied anxiously. "Wanna look together? We might have a better chance of finding him if we work together…"

The sound of crunching gravel suddenly filled the air, prompting Jessop to shine his patrol light down a nearby alley where the sound was coming from and frown when he saw a figure at the far end of it, "I see something!" he called out, frowning when the figure suddenly took a step back. "A runner…"

"Lenny was raped by Jeffrey McKeen in Miami and Vegas, but the court threw the Miami case out cause they thought Rick's claim was a lot of crap," Robert explained grimly as he quickly grabbed his own keys and flashlight and got out of his truck. "If Lenny doesn't recognize you, he's not going to come to you because he's not able to trust people he doesn't know anymore even if they're cops, paramedics... We have to approach him together."

Jessop nodded and ran side-by-side with Robert down the alley towards the figure, but the figure continued backing away in fear, "Lenny?!" Robert called out anxiously. "Lenny, it's Uncle Bobby and Officer Jessop!"

The figure, however, continued backing away and suddenly went down. Officer Jessop quickly shone his light on the figure and Robert was shocked to find that it was Lenny laying on the ground wearing sneakers, dark flannel sleep pants, and a loose sweatshirt that was covered in dirt while his hands were also dirty and scraped up. He was hugging himself and was in the middle of a violent panic attack to the point where his eyes were closed and he wasn't hearing his name being called.

"Lenny, it's Uncle Bobby!" Robert called out, quickly gloving up. "Jessop, you better call it in. God knows what he might have gotten into or who he might have met. We can't take any chances."

As Jessop reached for his radio, however, Lenny started sobbing, "No," he spoke shakily. "Don't…call…"

Not caring that he might catch hell from the CSI's later for compromising evidence in a case, as his nephew's safety was more important to him, Robert gently leaned down and gently scooped the panicking Lenny into his arms, "I've got you, Lenny," he spoke gently, holding him close. "Jessop, provide cover. Lenny, I've got you, okay?"

Lenny didn't respond, but Robert could hear him breathing, so he quickly moved back towards his truck with him while Jessop quickly followed, providing cover as he had been instructed to do.

Detective Flack was still heavily asleep when Tim and Tripp entered the man's hospital room, but neither Miami officer was relieved by that. They were instead horrified to see a cast on Flack's left leg, which was on a pillow and mostly covered by a blanket that covered him from the waist down, a blanket that was also covering the gown and catheter he was sporting on his body over bandages. His arms, which were resting on the bed, were scarred by bad whip-like cuts, heavily bruises, and also covered in IV lines, as were his hands, tubes were in his chest, and there was a central line on his heavily bruised chest and an oxygen tube in his nose. His neck had strangle marks on it, his face also sported bruises, a nasty pistol whip scar, a bandage was wrapped around his forehead, and machines surrounded one side of the bed like a small army designed to protect and sustain him.

"I swear to God, Speedle, when we find Jeffrey McKeen, he's gonna pay for this and for Emily and for Carlos Nieto and for everyone else he's hurt," Tripp spoke firmly, horrified by the mess that Flack was. "Um, speaking of Carlos Nieto, while I was waiting for you, I got an update on him from Calleigh…he's still alive. A camera on scene put Carlos in the car with McKeen when McKeen snatched Emily and the camera showed McKeen trying to make Carlos hold a gun on Emily, but Carlos ended up dropping it on the street due to shaky hands…"

A weak sigh filled the air, "Methamphetamines," Flack's groggy voice suddenly filled the air. "Carlos was injected with them every day. More than once a day."

Tim quickly turned his recorder on, set it on the portable table, and moved to Flack's bedside, sighing quietly when he saw that Flack was awake and looking pained due to overhearing the conversation, "Hi Detective Flack, my name is Detective Tim Speedle and I'm a Crime Scene Investigator," Tim spoke as gently as he could considering the day's events. "This is Detective Frank Tripp, my partner. Can you repeat what you said about the methamphetamines?"

"McKeen gave Carlos needles of methamphetamines multiple times a day…every day we were together on the boat from New York…to give him energy…for their time together," Flack spoke shakily. "I…I can't even say it. McKeen raped Carlos repeatedly. There…I said it. Don't make me say it again. I'll throw up. I…I had to talk Carlos out of blowing his brains out even though McKeen had told him to do it. I can't believe McKeen made him hold a gun on a cop. Carlos's brain…it's…it's so cooked that he…he probably doesn't even know what's going on and how McKeen is using him…"

Tim sighed as tears came to Flack's eyes, "Why…why don't you take a deep breath and start from the beginning?" Tim suggested softly. "Whatever you can tell us about your experience might help us find Carlos and also find my wife. McKeen took her earlier tonight and he…"

Flack's eyes widened in shock, but then he sighed weakly, pained over the missing Carlos and Emily, as he considered both to be good people who cared about him, "I'll do my best to help," he replied in a groggy voice. "Could you…could you sit, though? It's hard to look up so high. It hurts."

Tripp quickly found chairs for Tim and himself and they sat together at Flack's bedside. Almost immediately, Flack's right hand began to shake as he began to reflect on his horrifying experience, but Tim gently took it in his own and gave it a gentle squeeze, knowing that Emily would do exactly that very thing if she were there to offer comfort and counsel to Flack.

"Just start from the beginning and we'll go as slow as you need to," Tim spoke softly. "Okay?"

Flack exhaled softly, considerably calmer because of Tim's gesture, "Okay," he replied groggily.

"…Rick, it's late and I know you're tired and in pain, but I need you to wake up," Rick heard Gil's soft voice speak into his ear. "It's important."

Sighing irritably, Rick stirred, immediately realized he was still in the trauma room, and looked towards Gil's voice, "What's the problem?" he asked groggily, his voice weak due to dry throat. "Do they need a statement? My throat's so dry I can barely talk."

A pained sniffle suddenly filled the air and Rick turned towards the noise, frowning when he saw Lenny sitting in a wheelchair near him looking a mess and crying while staring at the floor. Ignoring the pain he was in, Rick forced himself out of bed, swung his legs over the side of the gurney so he would be sitting on the edge of it, and immediately realized that someone had put scrub pants on him while he had been sleeping so he wouldn't be exposed, "Lenny," he spoke shakily. "Lenny, it's Dad."

Continuing to cry, Lenny looked up at Rick nervously and frowned at his state, but Rick gave him a once-over, "Lenny, what happened?" he spoke in a concerned voice. "I heard you ran away from Speedles. Did someone do this to you?"

"I heard Detective Speedle talk about you being hurt and I got scared," Lenny explained nervously. "I wanted to be with you cause I didn't like being over at Speedles. It was too noisy and everyone was sad. They were watching the news a lot and crying. It got worse around suppertime when Detective Speedle's mom told James and Julliet that their mom couldn't come home cause she got taken by a bad man cause both of those kids had a huge meltdown and threw up and had to go to bed early. Tony Speedle's wife was yelling a lot and wanted to leave, but she wasn't allowed and Maggie was also getting sick and crying about the bad man, so BJ put her to bed early by himself. Adam just sort of didn't talk to anyone. It's so weird over there. I just wanted you. I didn't know where Jackson Hospital was, but I wanted to find it. I didn't wanna call Uncle Bobby cause he told me to stay there no matter what when he left me there, but I just wanted to go…"

Rick sighed, "Lenny, I'm sorry you were scared, but you cannot just go wandering outside alone at night," he explained groggily, giving his son a tired look. "Mrs. Speedle was very worried and officers were out looking for you. How…how did you get here, anyway? And you didn't answer my question."

"I saw one young kid sitting on a bench near a baseball stadium, but he didn't touch me cause I got scared and ran away from him when I saw him," Lenny replied softly. "He looked kind of like Officer Wolfe, but younger. He was muttering something about wanting to shut the voices in his head up however he had to and was holding his head. I don't think he saw me…"

Ryan, who had silently lingered near the door with a recorder in hand so Lenny could talk to Rick unbothered, suddenly froze at the mention of Jason, "Nobody touched me," Lenny spoke shakily. "I…I just got really cold and really scared cause Officer Jessop came at me with a flashlight, but Uncle Bobby…he picked me up and carried me to his truck. When we got here, he put me in a wheelchair and put me in here and left to talk to a doctor. I panicked really bad when I was outside, I think. I couldn't breathe and I was crying…"

"Show me your wrists," Rick spoke softly, sighing. "I just wanna make sure you're okay there."

Lenny complied and Rick was relieved to see that his son's wrists only had old, healing scars on them, not fresh ones, "Okay," Rick spoke tiredly, wincing as pain shot through his body. "Here's what's gonna happen. I have to stay in the hospital, but you're gonna stay with me and Uncle Bobby or Aunt Natalia's gonna bring you whatever you need. My cell's getting taken, but you've got yours…"

"What happened to you, Dad?" Lenny asked softly, frowning at him. "Did you get hurt at work?"

Grissom and Ryan suddenly paused, as did Alexx, who was about to call to check on Rick's transfer upstairs, "Um, no," Rick spoke shakily, sighing heavily as he gazed at his son. "Not every father is as kind and loving to their son as I am to you. My father…he's…he's still alive, but he's not someone I'm going to allow you to meet because…because he's not a very kind person. He…has a problem with anger…and he used to be in the military, so he's very strong, and…"

"Rick?"

Exhaling softly, Rick covered his mouth and closed his eyes to try and compose himself because he knew Bobby's voice and wondered how much Amanda's brother had heard him say. All of a sudden, however, Rick felt himself being gently embraced, "I'm sorry," Robert's voice whispered in his ear. "I screwed up and forgot our arrangement. I was off my meds to try and have a kid with Natalia and it was selfish, but I went back on them tonight and I'm going to be seeing Doctor Marsh weekly again. If you don't want us watching Lenny anymore or if you want to move out with him, I'll give you money for a place. I screwed up. I screwed up bad, Rick…"

"Look, Bobby, everyone makes mistakes and Lenny is safe," Rick replied softly. "You should, though, check on your own kids cause Lenny said they heard about Emily's abduction by McKeen and Tony Speedle's death and…I think your kids might be having reactions to things that happened to them. I trust you with Lenny, but you are overwhelming yourself by keeping our arrangement from Natalia and I want you to share it with her so this sort of thing doesn't happen again. I know you've got problems trusting, especially after Delko and Duquesne bullied you out of the lab and spread rumors about you being tied in with Russian scum to the point where nobody in the lab would talk to you and where Maxine Valera tried to molest Adam, but Natalia…she's not going to hurt you or let you down…"

Ryan raised an eyebrow at overhearing that, as he hadn't known that Robert had actually been traumatized by bullying from the lab and that he had taken it with him and had mostly kept it inside of himself, not even sharing it with his own wife. He had heard rumors from the techs, but nobody had actually confirmed anything and he hadn't wanted to ask Robert personally and bother him, "…Maybe that's something you can address with Doctor Marsh in your next session, hmm?" Rick finished softly.

Nodding, Robert released Rick, "And maybe you can get some rest now," Robert spoke firmly. "I'll come back later after I take the kids home and check on John Boscorelli. He's staying with us right now to recover from injuries he received during a shooting that happened at Uncle Horatio's trial. My former partner, Maurice Boscorelli, took the worst of it, according to John…"

"Lenny's going to stay with me for the day so you can spend time with your kids," Rick spoke softly as Alexx got on the phone. "He's going to need someone to bring him clean clothes and schoolwork. We're fine, Bobby. All right?"

Overexhausted, Rick slowly laid back down and closed his eyes, "Gil, Ryan, when Lenny is ready to clean up or if he needs to go anywhere, I want one of you to go with him and he is not to be left alone at any time," he spoke shakily. "Am I clear on that? I don't care if medical staff try to kick you out. You stay with him."

"Can someone check Rick's sugar?" Gil called out in an annoyed voice. "He's awfully pale."

Alexx finished her call and promptly came over to Rick with a blood glucose monitor, "He's going upstairs soon," she replied gently, quickly placing it on Rick's trembling finger. "I can get Lenny some scrubs and a surgical coat til someone can bring him some clothes."

Rick mumbled something unintelligible and then sighed sleepily, not even making a noise as Alexx removed the monitor from his finger, "Get an IV of dextrose and an IV of fluids started," she ordered the nurses before looking at Lenny, who hadn't moved from the chair. "Hi, Lenny, I'm Doctor Woods. Are you okay if I look you over?"

"Um, can I stay with my dad and can Uncle Gil stay too?" Lenny asked softly. "Please?"

Suddenly feeling a headache/light-headedness combo coming on as well as a wave of heavy fatigue and nausea, Ryan set his recorder down on a counter and quietly excused himself to a quiet side hallway. He sat on the floor, rested his head against the wall, and closed his eyes before he took a couple of deep breaths in an attempt to relieve his symptoms. He knew the chemo treatment was catching up with him, but he had to push through it. A lot of people were depending on him to be helpful and he couldn't let them down even if he didn't feel well.

Exhaling anxiously, as sitting against the wall wasn't helping, Ryan laid down flat on the tile floor and silently hugged himself while trying to alleviate his symptoms. He knew he had pushed himself too far after Emily had been taken and he had done it out of grief, but was now most certainly paying for that.

Just as quickly, Ryan suddenly felt himself slowly passing out and he didn't want to, but he also knew he hadn't taken care of himself like he should have and so he was powerless to revive himself if he did pass out, "Officer Wolfe?" he suddenly heard a concerned voice call out. "Hey! I need some help over here! Someone get a gurney!"

"Ryan?" Ryan suddenly heard Horatio call out in an alarmed tone as he felt someone take hold of his face and gently pat his cheeks. "Ryan, speak to me!"

Ryan whimpered, unable to push his body anymore even to respond to Horatio. He suddenly felt himself being gently lifted from the floor and laid on something soft, "…He had a chemotherapy session earlier today…" he heard Horatio explain in a concerned voice. "He was resting, but…"

I was resting, but then Emily got snatched by Jeffrey McKeen and I worked to hide my grief even though I knew it was a bad idea. Ryan thought as he suddenly felt his nausea increase tenfold before feeling himself vomit violently. Anxious talking suddenly filled the air and he felt himself being rolled.

The last thing that Ryan felt before darkness completely claimed him was someone wiping his face.

"That's helping," Carlos spoke in a weak voice, exhaling as he felt Emily continue to pat him down with the soaked rag. "I don't feel as warm anymore…or as shaky."

Emily nodded as Carlos suddenly winced, "I…I'm getting pain…in my back and I'm feeling sick," he spoke weakly as the pain took hold of him. "I…I'm not sure what's wrong…"

"Maybe some more water will help with the nausea," Emily spoke softly. "You have to stay hydrated anyway. Ready?"

Carlos nodded and drank when Emily held the bottle up to his lips and jerked away when a quarter of the bottle was gone, "You need to drink too," he spoke weakly. "You…you gotta…keep your strength…"

"Yes, Mrs. Marquez, you should drink some water," Rocky's cool voice suddenly filled the air as footsteps approached Emily and Carlos. "We don't want you dying just yet."

Emily looked up and saw Rocky towering over her with a ski mask on his face and a water bottle in his hand, one that he offered to Emily. He smirked when she didn't take it and promptly dumped it in her lap, "I didn't poison it," he hissed darkly. "If you want to test it, though, to make sure, you can make Carlos drink it. He's effectively lost his life in New York anyway and has nothing to go back to even if he survives the methamphetamines cooking his body and brain to mashed potatoes. He has nothing."

"Are you…are you even a social worker?" Carlos asked in a weak voice. "Or was that a show?"

Rocky grinned feverishly from behind his mask, "I do hope Bernard was entertained from wherever he is," he replied in an amused voice. "I've been stalking you and your life ever since you killed him. I've been feeding rumors to the media, the media have been creating a frenzy in New York that caused FDNY to turn their back on you socially and financially because they believe you to be dangerous. I also got the FBI and an esteemed federal judge to collaborate with DCFS to get your kids taken away from you and a no-contact order to be established between you and them due to the danger that you pose to them. I even got you arrested in front of your wife and kids! You have absolutely nothing to live for, so I have no idea why you listened to Detective Flack and didn't blow your brains out on the boat when Jeffrey told you to! You're disgracing Bernard's memory by letting yourself stay alive!"

"That's enough!" Emily shouted angrily, disgusted by Rocky's words. "Why don't you shut up?!"

Scowling, Rocky marched over to Emily and grabbed her around the neck with a gloved hand, "Why don't I shut you up first?!" he asked sharply. "You're noisier than that brat you had with Bernard. What was her name? Jenna, I think. She cried a lot when she took her last breaths…just like you will, I'm sure."

Emily froze at the mention of Jenna, but before she could react, Carlos's hand suddenly came down over her mouth, and although Carlos's hold over her mouth was weak, it effectively prevented her from speaking further.

Rocky immediately chuckled at that, "Wow," Rocky hooted. "You sure know how to make your women behave, Nieto. Maybe you are useful for something after all. I'll be back later to talk to you about something we need you to do for us, Marquez, so cool down and don't cause problems."

Smirking at Emily, Rocky released his chokehold on her and walked off. Carlos removed his hand from her mouth, "He's ready to kill," Carlos explained shakily. "And…and I don't want him to kill you. I…I don't want him to kill anyone, but I don't want you to die…you…you saved my life."

Emily was silent for a moment before nodding and looking at the bottle of water in her lap, "If…if you're not sure, don't drink it," Carlos spoke shakily. "Test…test it on me first."

"Take a nap," Emily replied firmly, sighing heavily. "Take a nap and I promise I will consider it."

Nodding, Carlos closed his eyes and as he slouched and rested his head on a lower part of the wall in an attempt to ease his sudden pain, Emily used her good hand to get the water bottle Rocky gifted her away from them and took a water bottle from the pile of supplies she had gathered. Instead of taking a drink, however, she dumped some water on the rag she had been using and put it back on Carlos's face to make sure his fever didn't flare up again while he slept.

Unknown to her, McKeen watched from the shadows, silently recording every word that was said.

Jackson Hospital, Miami

Detective Flack had talked very fast, unable to take a breath until what he could remember of his experience was out of his system. What he hadn't expressed, however, was his immense guilt over the fact that he hadn't fought harder to stay with Carlos. Now that he was awake, he was worried for Carlos's life now that the man was on his own, traumatized, and very much suicidal and he was left with his worries, staring off into space while Detective Speedle and Detective Tripp talked with each other because he didn't know where else to look. No one had come for him or called about him, so he had nothing with him or nobody to talk to…

"Detective Flack?"

Flack blinked at hearing himself be addressed and he quickly looked towards the voice, confused when he saw Tim and Frank looking at him worriedly, "Is there anyone we can call for you?" Frank repeated softly. "You're a cop from New York who's been all over the news. I'm sure someone misses you."

Shame filled Flack's face, "I was about to be fired by NYPD for struggling with booze and depression, but my boss, Sergeant Boscorell, was fighting with the brass to keep me on the job," he revealed grimly. "I burned a lot of bridges. Not even Mac or Danny wanted to talk to me much. John even stopped looking up to me. Heck, even Bobby kept his distance. I…I hurt everyone who actually gave a crap about me. I had actually planned on checking myself into an in-patient rehab in secret and using all my savings to do it after I remanded Doctor Pride, but then I was kidnapped. Nobody was gonna miss me while I was in rehab getting myself taken care of, so I'm not sure they do now."

Tim frowned, his expression troubled by Flack's words, but Frank looked thoughtful, "Um, Detective Flack, since you're gonna be in here a while, do you mind if I drop some books with you so you have something to pass the time?" Frank asked in a kind voice, sad that Flack was outright despairing. "I can't imagine you'll wanna watch TV right now…"

Flack shrugged, "If you want to, sure," he replied softly as he suddenly began to feel tired. "I'm kinda feeling sleepy right now, though. The antibiotics and pain meds…must be…they must be working."

"I'm going to stay with you a while," Tim spoke softly. "We're gonna try to get a rotation of officers watching your room cause your abductor is still unaccounted for and we want you to be safe, but I'll stay for now…"

Frank got up and quickly headed towards the door, "I'll take the next shift," he promised, fully intending to get some essential supplies and some AA support materials for Detective Flack and also intending to give Bobby Caine the third degree for neglecting his best friend in his time of need.

"It's late and…I remember Emily writing me once or twice cause we used to work together and she told me you two had a baby and you also have two other kids," Flack spoke in a sleepy voice, frowning voice. "I asked her what to do when my girlfriend was killed…"

Tim nodded and Flack exhaled softly before closing his eyes to decompress, "Do…do you think I could talk to her while I'm here?" Flack asked softly, keeping his eyes closed. "She…she's working as a counselor for MDPD, right? She told me in her letters."

Tim suddenly swallowed hard, not sure what to say to that question because he didn't want to lie, but he also didn't want to tell Detective Flack that Emily had been snatched off the street by Jeffrey McKeen because he was friends with her late ex-husband. Unfortunately for him, Flack also noticed the lack of an answer and opened his eyes again. He studied Tim for several minutes before frowning.

"McKeen's got her," Flack realized grimly. "I can tell by the sadness in your eyes. Why did McKeen…?"

Tim sighed heavily, electing for truth, "My wife…she had a very violent ex-husband named Bernard Marquez who had a lot of criminal friends, including Jeffrey McKeen," he explained grimly. "Her ex is dead, but his friends are not and he saw her walking on the street…"

Flack's eyes suddenly narrowed, "Do you think that's why Carlos was snatched?" he asked softly. "I…I thought it was a weird situation, but I asked those uniforms if they needed help escorting Carlos out because he looked terrified and I felt uneasy. When I got outside and got a better look at the uniforms, I knew they were fake. I did not know I was gonna get taken too. Do you think McKeen wanted to snatch Carlos for Bernard Marquez…like to honor him? I heard McKeen tell Carlos about Bernard more than once. I know for sure that it wasn't McKeen who put me in the trunk. That I know. The guy was about six feet tall…wore a mask and gloves at all times…and didn't have any emotions."

Tim frowned, but continued listening quietly, "And there were Russians, but they disappeared…they disappeared after we got off the boat at some weird cabin," he spoke shakily. "There were at least three…"

Tim's frown deepened as Flack began to really fight hard to stay awake and continue recalling details, an activity that was affecting the readings on the machines, "Hey, um, Detective Flack, why don't you try to rest now?" he suggested softly. "You're fighting sleep and those machines aren't exactly happy about the fact that you are pushing yourself…"

"I want your wife, my friend, to be okay," Flack replied tiredly, sighing. "If I can't help…"

Tim sighed, "You are being helpful, but you need to rest now or you won't be able to be helpful to anyone in the future because your body won't let you," he spoke gently. "What you went through…it's not something you're going to forget tomorrow and trying to deal with it all at once is only going to make recovering from it harder for you. Before Emily and I got married, she was my therapist after I got shot on duty a while ago and she told me to treat the physical and mental recovery of trauma separately because they are separate and need separate attention and respect. You're not respecting your body's need to rest and recover because your mind just wants to deal with things as fast as it can even if your body can't handle that. I think that's the right way to interpret that. I'm not sure. I'm not a therapist. I'm a detective…"

Nodding, Flack closed his eyes to sleep. Tim, meanwhile, turned off the recorder and stored it in his shirt pocket before he got his phone out and began scrolling through his contacts. He wasn't pleased that nobody from New York seemed to care that Detective Flack was there and that Flack was sadly aware of it. He was also pissed that Detective Caine, who claimed that Flack was his best friend, was basically ignoring the man in favor of other things. Tim knew that he needed to take action because he couldn't stand by and simply let Detective Flack be left uncared about when he could be helped.

Messer Residence – New York, New York

"Danny, the phone's for you," Lindsay Messer-Monroe spoke in a concerned voice as she shook her sleeping husband. "There's a guy on the phone who says his name is Tim Speedle…"

Quickly waking up, Danny frowned at her as he took his cell phone, "Tim Speedle?" he asked softly. "I haven't heard that name since I went to this youth group my dad and adopted mom made me go to when I was a teen because they wanted me to stay away from the Tanglewood Boys. A Rosa Speedle was running the group with some funding she got from the city cause she was a social worker and wanted to do something for troubled kids. Her son, Tim, came with her to the program. He might have been among the people I worked with when I was lent to Miami for a bit, but I don't remember…"

"Danny, answer the phone," Lindsay replied in a concerned voice. "Tim says he's got news on Detective Flack. I'm gonna go call Mac on the house phone."

Danny took the cell as Lindsay got out of bed and went to the living room to get the cordless, "Messer," he spoke in a tired voice as he pressed the Speaker button and also activated the emergency tape recorder he kept on the side of the bed for emergencies. "Tim Speedle, is it?"

"Detective Flack is at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami thinking nobody cares about him," Tim spoke in an annoyed, but quiet voice. "You saw the footage on the news where Detective Flack talked Carlos Nieto down from blowing his brains out, right?! That footage aired all over the freaking country! I can't believe NYPD doesn't care about Detective Flack after that! He's all alone down here and going through hell!"

Danny frowned at the phone, "I can't stay on the phone long cause I don't want Detective Flack to wake up," Tim's voice continued coldly before Danny could reply. "It took long enough for him to be able to go to sleep cause he was too anxious. He's been through a traumatic experience and people who go through those usually do better if they have family or friends who actually give a crap about them and sit at their bedside and tell them that they're cared about. Detective Flack…he thinks he's alone and nobody cares about him. Nobody is showing him any different…"

There was a pause and Danny suddenly heard Flack cough, whimper, and say his throat was dry. A few moments later, he could hear a nurse in the room, water being poured, and the nurse gently coaching Flack to drink slowly. There was soft breathing a few moments later, followed a sigh, "I should go," Tim spoke in a tired voice. "I don't have any energy to keep talking to a brick wall."

Before Danny could reply, the call ended and Danny stared at the phone, debating whether or not he should hop a plane to check on his friend. Chief Sinclair had ordered them all to keep their distance from Flack, as Sergeant Boscorelli had been ordered to fire the man, but Mac had instead asked Flack to get Dr. Pride from Miami for the trial and Boscorelli had backed him up, hoping to buy Flack more time. Sinclair, Danny knew, had been pissed off with Mac for that, but had allowed it to happen because Dr. Pride was a key part of Jeffrey McKeen's trial and her safe delivery to New York was everything, as she could then face her other charges in Vegas. That, however, was before the kidnapping and shooting had happened and now even Chief Sinclair was freaked out for Flack's safety because nobody understood why Flack had been kidnapped alongside Carlos Nieto. Then, the shooting had happened and Chief Sinclair was paying daily visits to the office for information on both cases. He had been incredibly mad about Adam's discovery of the video, but he was also confused as to why Flack would talk Carlos out of suicide and then break the gun that would possibly help him escape…

Carlos Nieto's name had been absolute mud in New York since he had euthanized Bernard Marquez at gunpoint in Florida, Danny knew, and the media had only been making things worse since the news had broken about DCFS seizing his kids and his arrest. FDNY was saying nothing to defend Carlos and that disgusted Danny, as at least Sinclair and Mac were trying to look into where Flack was…

Sighing anxiously, Danny quickly made a decision. He got out of bed, grabbed a small suitcase from the closet, and began to fill it with clothes and other personal things as Lindsay came into the room with the phone, "Mac wants to talk to you," she spoke in a worried voice. "He wants to tell Sinclair…"

"Oh, to hell with Sinclair and all those other top brass who are just sitting on their hands up here doing nothing while Donnie is laying in a hospital bed in Miami!" Danny yelled angrily. "He's my friend! He is my friend, Lindsay, and I'm going to Miami! I know Mac has to stay and talk to Judge Stokes about that psycho's death cause Sinclair actually wants him to deal with that personally, but I don't have to be here for that!

Lindsay held the phone to Danny's ear, forcing him to stop what he was doing, "Danny, what are you doing?" Mac asked in a concerned voice. "Sinclair told us all to be careful and stay in town…"

"To hell with my job and Sinclair's orders, Mac!" Danny yelled angrily. "Are you just going to sit there and do nothing?! Flack is our friend!"

The doorbell suddenly rang and Danny let out a string of angry curses as he went to the door. He opened it to find Mac standing on the step in his suit, "I got a call from a Detective Frank Tripp," Mac explained softly. "He told me Don is starting to talk about what happened…in pieces…and gave a statement, but he's not doing well. Some detective named Speedle is babysitting him for now…"

"Detective Speedle just reamed me out over the phone and said I didn't give a crap," Danny admitted grimly.

Mac's eyes narrowed before he sighed, "Give the guy some grace, Danny," he replied softly. "A few hours ago, a psychologist/cop named Emily Speedle was abducted off the street by Jeffrey McKeen and there's also talk that a drugged-out Carlos Nieto was also in the car holding a gun to Emily Speedle…"

"If he's still alive, Carlos could be in a lot of trouble for that," Lindsay observed worriedly, frowning. "Even if he was drugged, people's opinion…"

Mac sighed grimly, "Being drugged might get Carlos sentenced to a mental health facility instead of jail due to being in a state of reduced capacity and being under duress, but I'm going to speaking to Miami about that after I talk to Judge Stokes about this letter," he spoke darkly. "I've been digging through DCFS in New York since Carlos's arrest and nobody has ever heard of Rocky Valence even though he claimed to be the director of the New York department according to the recording on Tommy Nieto's phone. This is looking more and more like Carlos is the target of some sick prank…"

Danny frowned, "Do you think McKeen was connected to the guy Carlos euthanized?" he asked softly. "Maybe McKeen and this Valence guy somehow got together and set all this up…"

Mac looked thoughtful, "That…that could be a possibility, but we'd need to talk to Flack to see if he knew who his other captors were," he spoke grimly. "We know there were at least five and all we have on camera is McKeen and a lot of voices, including Russians."

"Danny, you need to go," Lindsay spoke anxiously. "And I'm going with you. I understand that Flack's probably had to experience and see a lot of horrifying things…and he's probably struggling to deal with it all. Mac, do you mind?"

Mac shrugged, knowing that Lindsay's experience with her murdered friends would be a great help to the situation, "I can't give you very long cause Sinclair will scream if I do," he replied firmly. "Do what you can in a few days."

Lindsay and Danny both hugged Mac, "In the meantime, I'll get Carlos Nieto's wife up to speed and try to talk to Judge Stokes and DCFS about what we've found and maybe get them to open a legitimate investigation into Carlos if they won't drop it," Mac spoke firmly. "Be safe down there, both of you."

As Mac left, Lindsay took over packing and Danny called his parents to arrange a babysitter for Lucy.

Miami, Florida

"…Thanks for the surgical scrubs and coat, Doctor Woods," Tim heard a soft voice speak as he continued his vigil at the sleeping Flack's bedside. "Um, is my dad gonna be okay?"

Tim frowned as Alexx and two nurses suddenly came into the room pushing a gurney containing what appeared to be a battered, unconscious Rick Stetler while a subdued Lenny, who was wearing dark blue scrubs, a surgical coat, and sneakers, followed them and then hung back while Alexx and the nurses settled Rick in a space near the door.

After a moment, Alexx moved back and noticed Tim, "Timmy, what are you doing here?" she asked curiously. "I thought you'd be home with your kids waiting for news…"

"I am not getting any sleep tonight and I don't want to with my wife missing," Tim replied softly, sighing heavily. "Besides, someone needs to protect Detective Flack. New York sure as hell isn't here doing it."

Alexx sighed grimly, "I'll see if I can't get you a coffee to help you stay awake, all right Timmy?" he spoke softly before she looked at Lenny. "Your dad's settled now. Did you want a cot?"

"Um, Uncle Gil wanted one when he got up here after his tests," Lenny spoke softly. "I'm okay."

Nodding, Alexx left with the nurses and Lenny silently pushed the bedrail down, climbed up on the bed next to his father, and cuddled up against him before closing his eyes. Concerned that Lenny would get cold where he was, Tim got up, found an extra blanket in the closet, and gently covered Lenny and Rick with it before returning to his chair at Flack's bedside. Rick exhaled softly, but didn't respond except to put a protective arm around Lenny and Lenny burrowed under the blanket, but didn't wake up. Even though he was grieving and mad over all that had happened recently, the sight of Rick caring for his son even though he wasn't well made him smile a bit because that made him feel a bit of hope.

"…I'm really not pleased that you dragged Ryan out in the middle of the night to run some welfare check that ended with Rick Stetler getting assaulted by his own father. Now, I have to report it…"

"…Do you, Special Agent Wolfe? You don't necessarily have to tattle to your father every time Rick does something. You could just let him recover in peace…"

A scoff filled the air as Ryan slowly came to and realized that he was laying flat. Figuring that he was still on the floor where he had passed out, he tried to move his arm to lift himself, but he suddenly heard a rattle and realized that his hand was handcuffed to something. His mind immediately flashed back to December 2006 when he was held against a wall with his hands cuffed together above his head in the torture chamber in Vegas. Although his memories had been lost at the time, Ryan suddenly remembered that McKeen and Russians had waterboarded him, tased him, and mocked him relentlessly for two days straight and he let out a loud, horrified scream and closed his eyes while trying to break free of the cuff.

Voices suddenly filled the air, but Ryan couldn't make out what they were saying or their tone because he was focusing all of his energy trying to break free of the cuff to the point where he was beginning to feel pain and light-headedness. Someone suddenly grabbed him, "I swear to God, McKeen, you killed Sofia already and there's no way in hell you're going to kill me too!" Ryan yelled as loud as he could.

The cuff was suddenly removed and Ryan felt himself being grabbed, but he tensed and began to hyperventilate, "Ryan!" he suddenly heard Horatio shout.

Recognizing Horatio's voice, Ryan slowly opened his eyes again and was shocked to see Horatio and Dr. Stokes standing over him with two nurses, all of them looking extremely concerned, "I only put that cuff on him to make sure he wasn't gonna go anywhere while he was so sick!" he heard Tommy breathe anxiously. "What…what in the heck…?!"

"Horatio…Lenny…he…he said he saw some young kid who looks like me at the bench near the baseball stadium in the area…" Ryan breathed anxiously, cringing as he suddenly felt nausea engulf his body. "Oh God, I'm gonna throw up…"

Before anyone could react, Ryan vomited on the floor beside the bed and broke into a massive coughing fit and Horatio looked at Tommy, who looked alarmed at what Ryan had just said, "Special Agent Wolfe, I know you want to go looking for Jason, but I need you to stay here with Ryan…"

Tommy, however, was not listening. He was watching as Dr. Stokes and the nurses put Ryan on oxygen and gave him an IV, "He gave little bits of stuff to Vegas PD about his kidnapping and then Sam Braun tried to kill him in his hospital room and it's like his mind fractured on everything to do with that," Tommy spoke in a quiet, pained voice. "He talked a bit about it to Emily, but after Sofia was buried, he got in some sort of fight with Grissom and shut that part of himself off. Emily literally told me that Ryan tried seeing some sort of therapist in Vegas, but it didn't work and he suddenly resigned and went home…"

"I…I'm afraid it's my fault Ryan stopped seeing the therapist and resigned," Grissom spoke up grimly, having overheard the conversation when he was on his way back to the elevators after getting a blood test out of concern for his health. "I saw him dining with her once and shared my concerns with my co-workers and supervisor, but the sheriff at the time also had video footage of them together. The therapist used to be a dominatrix who ran a fetish club before she left that business and got her Master's Degree in Psychology. I knew Ryan was seeing her …"

Tommy swore, "I think you are completely clueless about the world around you and the people in that world!" he hissed angrily, fury in his face. "When Ryan got back from Vegas with Carlos, he was a mess! He struggled to eat, he struggled to sleep, and he couldn't even think about going back to his apartment without freaking out because it was too hard for him to be there without thinking about Sofia! My wife and I and Emily and Tim all got together and talked about what we could do for him because his mental health wasn't good and he needed help, but we didn't wanna put him away. He didn't deserve to be put away because you and the rest of you Vegas idiots broke him and got his wife killed! I don't know why in the hell he comes to visit you all the time, but he really doesn't deserve to have what is left of his kind heart shattered by your stupidity! Stay away from Ryan! I mean it!"

"I'm not the one who handcuffed him to the bed and caused him to almost assault two nurses and Doctor Stokes!" Grissom argued angrily, quickly tiring of Tommy's aggression. "Besides, Ryan is a mentally capable adult and you cannot tell him what he can do or who he can see!"

Tommy's eyes widened, "He's a vulnerable adult who's still recovering from the trauma of a hellish experience at the hands of Jeffrey McKeen and Russians that almost killed him, killed his wife, and injured a CSI Trainee!" he replied in a dark voice. "The FBI darn near pulled your lab's funds over that fiasco and we would have if you hadn't decided to retire! It was bad enough that your little pilot project went to hell and Horatio Caine almost died because you allowed a mentally unstable sociopath in, one who was personally involved in Caine's kidnapping…!"

"Gentlemen," Horatio suddenly spoke up in a firm voice, glaring at Grissom and Tommy because he was personally offended and horrified by the details and intensity involved in their argument. "This is a hospital. This is hardly an appropriate place or time for such an intense discussion…"

A weak gasp suddenly filled the air and Horatio looked back towards the bed just in time to see Ryan wake and gaze at Dr. Stokes and the nurses with a deeply confused expression on his face, "What…what happened?" Ryan asked groggily, deeply confused as to why Dr. Stokes and two nurses were standing over him with oxygen and other medical supplies. "What…I don't…why do I feel so tired and shaky?"

Tommy suddenly got a concerned look on his face, "Not again," he spoke in an anxious whisper.

Having overheard Tommy's comment, Horatio turned to face him, "…I don't want you to worry about that now, okay?" Dr. Stokes replied gently, deeply disturbed by the argument between Tommy and Grissom. "Now, Lieutenant Caine said you had chemotherapy?"

"I…I got diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma yesterday," Ryan spoke groggily. "Started chemo on that same day…I'm so tired. I remember being in the room with Lenny Stetler and Rick and just not feeling good. I went into the hallway and sat down for a minute to relax. Everything's…fuzzy after that…"

Grissom looked horrified and suddenly left the area without saying a word, realizing that the drugs Ryan had been tortured with by McKeen was probably responsible for his illness now. He was tired and pained, but he needed to go sit in the room with Rick and Lenny to make sure nobody was going to bother them until Rick was ready to talk about his experiences with his father. He needed to work and was quite capable of being helpful to people…no matter what Tommy Wolfe thought of him.

Dr. Stokes, meanwhile, nodded at Ryan's words quickly realizing that he didn't have any memories about what had happened minutes ago, most likely due to his past trauma in Vegas, and telling him the truth might cause him further harm, "Well, Ryan, you passed out there and I found you," she explained gently. "You probably overdid it today and got a little dehydrated, but we'll check you out as a precaution. I just want you to rest here a while and we'll take good care of you, all right?"

"Are you going to look into that stuff Ryan was spouting about the kid near the baseball stadium in case that's Jason?" Tommy asked softly, frowning at Horatio as they moved away from the bed where Ryan was. "I would offer to help, but what happened…it's freaked me out a bit. Before he was working doubles, there were times Ryan got nightmares where he'd end up waking the whole house with his screaming and then not remember having a nightmare. He finally decided to start doing doubles because he sensed something was wrong and felt like he needed to spend less time at home, but I didn't want anyone telling him what was happening in case he thought he might need to be put away in a mental hospital like our mother was. I'm really pissed MDPD took him off doubles, as I do not know what I'm going to do…"

Horatio frowned, not willing to say that it was him who had told Ryan to quit working double shifts because he was concerned for the young CSI's health, "Ryan goes to a therapist as often as he can, but I do not think he's telling her about…what we just saw…because he's scared she'll put him on PTSD meds or recommend hospitalization and that will mean he'll lose his ability to work and support his and Sofia's kid," Tommy explained shakily, fighting the urge to cry. "I'm sorry…This…this is a lot."

"Special Agent Wolfe, I want you to stay with Ryan for now and I will personally look into the information he got about Jason," Horatio promised softly, deeply pained over Ryan's struggle. "I'll let you know if I find anything, all right? Hang in there."

Tommy quickly composed himself, masked his anxiety, and then silently made his way over to Ryan as the nurses prepared to take blood from Ryan's arm, "Hey there, buddy," Tommy spoke gently, planting a sad smile on his face as he lingered beside the bed. "I got a call from Lieutenant Caine that you passed out…"

"I guess I overdid it today, but I was just trying to help Horatio with Rick," Ryan spoke shakily, sighing groggily and wincing as he felt a needle in his arm. "Rick…he got in a bit of trouble…"

Tommy sighed gently, "And you just had a bit of chemotherapy today," he replied in a kind, but concerned voice. "You're going to stay here and behave yourself while Doctor Stokes and these nice nurses take care of you and then I'm going to make sure you go home and go to bed for the next couple of days. Dad put me on paid leave indefinitely, so even when Jason's found, I'll have time to take proper care of you…"

Ryan blinked, "I…I'm so tired, Tommy," he spoke groggily as a wave of exhaustion suddenly passed through his body. "Doctor Stokes, would it be all right if I went to sleep for a bit? I…"

As Ryan began to cough weakly, his throat suddenly hurting from speaking, Dr. Stokes quickly put the mask back over his face, "Just wear this while you sleep," she spoke gently. "I'll get you a blanket."

Dr. Stokes moved away from the bed and motioned for Tommy to follow her, "If you need help getting your brother outpatient help to address his untreated trauma and he or you don't want it known to the police department, let me know," she spoke softly. "You don't have to tell him what happened right away, but you should because he does need to address it…"

"I'm going to break it to him gently once we're at home and he's resting," Tommy replied softly. "Ryan already senses something is off with himself because that's why he was working doubles. I…I don't want to involve doctors cause our mother…she was in a behavioral centre and died there when it was bombed. He hasn't spoken of it publicly since the funeral, but he keeps a journal full of letters to his son that he writes in a lot and I read it one day when he left it in the living room. He tells Carlos about his Grandma Wolfe in some of the letters and expresses relief that he didn't get to meet her and worries that he won't be good at raising a child alone because the things he went through might turn him into his mother, a soulless shell who spent her golden years so locked in her own broken mind that she had to be kept away from normal society. He's also written about how he misses her, but he can't talk about it openly cause he blames himself for her death…"

Dr. Stokes frowned, "I feel bad about the handcuff," Tommy continued softly, his expression grim. "I just didn't want him getting hurt. I had no idea…"

"I think there are ways that Ryan's trauma can be addressed that don't require hospitalization," Dr. Stokes spoke gently, giving Tommy a reassuring look. "For now, though, let's just focus on addressing Ryan's physical issues, all right? Do you need a chair so you can sit with him while he rests?"

Nodding, Tommy returned to Ryan's side and Dr. Stokes left to get Tommy a chair and Ryan a blanket.

Coconut Grove, Miami

The house was quiet when Robert led the sleepy BJ, Maggie, and Adam inside after picking them up from Speedles. Maggie and Adam had slept in their carseats during the drive, but BJ had stayed awake and Robert had enjoyed a quiet, but insightful conversation with his oldest son about how he felt about everything that had happened. The conversation had ended with Robert promising BJ that he, Maggie, and Adam did not have to attend school the next day. BJ had also asked about Lenny, as Lenny was his best friend, but Robert had avoided the question, promising that they would share a cocoa at home and talk man to man about it. The rest of the ride had been done in silence.

"Maggie, honey, can you take Adam up to his room?" Robert asked gently as he closed and locked the door. "Your Mommy Natalia is…"

Soft footsteps suddenly filled the air as Natalia came into the foyer from the kitchen wearing a robe over her pajamas and slippers on her feet and a tired smile on her face as she held a mug in her hand, "I'm actually awake," she spoke softly. "I was drinking some tea for early morning sickness…"

Maggie and Adam immediately ran to Natalia and gently hugged her legs, but BJ wandered into the kitchen without offering a hello and Robert gave Natalia a suspicious look before sighing, "Right , Maggie, Adam, bed," he spoke firmly. "Please? You can both stay home from school tomorrow. Be quiet when you go upstairs, please. Uncle Bosco's son, John, is visiting us from New York for a while and he's probably sleeping…"

Nodding, Maggie and Adam went upstairs in silence after kissing Robert and Natalia good night, "Early morning sickness, Talia?" Robert asked softly, giving her a look. "Really?"

Natalia scoffed, "I'm pregnant and it's believable," she replied softly. "Anyway, I am up because John is awake and although he's staying in his room, I don't want to go to sleep in case he needs anything. I caught him checking out his injuries and scars earlier and…I'm concerned about him. I talked with Doctor Marsh at the hospital and she's willing to come here to talk to him if he's needing to talk. She gave me her card…"

Robert nodded and sighed, "Um, BJ is in the kitchen and I promised him hot chocolate cause he wants to know where Lenny is…" he spoke nervously. "Can you distract him while I check on John?"

Natalia nodded and Robert hurried upstairs, sighing when he finally found the guest room where John was sitting up in bed looking like he was having a panic attack and was literally drowning in a mess of sweat while the smell of vomit filled the room. Exhaling softly, Robert sat on the bed and gently embraced John, "It's Uncle Bobby, John," he whispered softly, recalling that John used to address him as that in Bed-Stuy after they and Bosco had established a relationship of trust. "Can you take a breath for me?"

John shakily exhaled and sniffled, "It's just so much," he spoke shakily. "Havin' to be there for everyone. When I talked to my mom, she didn't sound happy that I was here. Caira was worried that I was here when I talked to her. I bet David and Ellie and Emily and Mikey and Tommy and Kylie and Grandpa Sully and Grandma Yelina and Ray Junior are wonderin' where I am too. I bet my dad will wonder where I am. I can't go back, though. Every time I think about it, I think of that godawful father of Nick's, that Judge Stokes' guy, screaming in my face like he wanted to hit me and openly supporting my rapist…saying it was my fault Derek was dead and threatening me…saying I was going to pay and never be allowed to forget…"

"You gotta take care of yourself and not worry about doing anything but that right now," Robert replied softly. "C'mon, you need dry clothes and some water…and your monitor. I don't want you to get sick."

John nodded and Robert released him from the hug before helping him out of bed. John sat on the bed while Robert fetched him some dry clothes from his suitcase, "If you gotta stay here a while, that's okay," Robert spoke softly. "You don't need to feel pressured to rush getting better."

Shrugging, John stood and allowed Robert to change him into dry socks, dry sweats, a dry shirt, and a dry hooded jacket. Robert also checked the bandages to make sure they were dry and was gentle about checking them, something John appreciated. Once he was in his dry clothes, John immediately got back in bed and allowed Robert to check his blood sugar, "It's normal, but you have to be careful," Robert spoke softly as he sat on the bed beside John. "I want you to stop worrying about all the stuff that is going on with your family and just take care of you right now. You've been so helpful to your mom for a long time, John, even before Bosco became your dad, but it's catching up with you. You're battling caregiver burnout in addition to all the crap you've gone through. I really do think you were struggling with it when you went to Vegas, but you masked it well and Vegas didn't give you anyone to talk to about it. They just expected you to get to work and then you were put in two very bad situations where you almost got killed and they didn't give you any help for the trauma associated with that. They just shoved some awards and the national officer's exam at you. I'm not saying you didn't deserve all that, as you did a lot of exemplary work and you did deserve a thank you, but you also should have gotten some counselling…"

John frowned at Robert, "How do you even know what I was struggling with before Vegas?" he asked confused voice. "You weren't in New York then and I didn't talk to anyone. I tried to get into a walk-in, but the waitlists in New York are a nightmare and I was trying to be there for everyone…"

Robert sighed, "Your dad was there and he noticed things," he explained quietly. "He even asked me if he should let you go to Vegas cause you weren't yourself, but he also wondered if you needed to get away from caregiving and focus on yourself. We and your mom expected Grissom and that lab to take care of you and that…I really am disappointed in how much he had a hand in letting you and Ryan Wolfe down. If it weren't for the rest of the people in that lab being good supports, I might have sued them over what happened. Your dad wanted to…"

"Emily's deaf and needs hearing aids and signing classes, Mikey's got some sort of disability and does play therapy to learn skills, David's asthma meds cost money, and Ellie goes to afterschool therapy cause she was kidnapped, molested, and in that creepy mansion when she was six, so Dad's got no money for a lawyer cause he's paying for all that, rent, and food," John replied with a scoff. "Mom got put on paid leave for delivering Monte Nieto at his home, but even with that and what Grandma Yelina contributes from teaching part-time, our family is barely making it. Grandpa does work for Victims Assistance, but I guess he doesn't get paid for that and retirement pay is so little. Caira…she's tried to find work, but everyone knows who her brother is and she can't get hired anywhere because her brother is associated with Lieutenant Caine's kidnapping and they think she's trouble, so she is gonna do more schooling and barely leaves the apartment cause she's so anxious. I thought I could help by working, but I can't get assigned anywhere and even working in that diner…I had to quit after a few shifts cause walking home alone at night was freaking me out and I couldn't call anyone to come get me cause everyone was busy watching everyone else. I thought I could handle it. I should be used to it because I used to hang out with Tommy and Smartie in the park in Bed-Stuy all the time after dark and talk and play marbles and we'd end up getting caught by you and my dad…"

"You were with friends in Bed-Stuy and your dad and I were nearby," Robert replied gently. "Walking alone at night in Manhattan is different and it can even be intimidating for people my age and older to do that. When I lived in New York with my first wife, Amanda, and our three kids, I barely went to Manhattan at all even during the day because I didn't like it. It was very intimidating to me. I've gone there a few times with Natalia and our kids for important reasons since then, but I still don't like it. I used to live in Manhattan with my mother when I was younger. She was a single mom and did a lot of cleaning a rental association, so she got a free apartment in exchange and we lived there together until she was brutally murdered by my father. I sort of developed this need to care for people to the point of neglecting myself until my uncle, who adopted me, put a stop to that and made me see a psychologist and also get involved with activities that focused on self-care. Now, I can't make you do anything because you are almost 19 and of sound mind, but I would highly recommend you talk to someone and get involved in some activities that don't involve worrying about your family…"

John sighed softly, "Um, Lieutenant Caine said people down here only have to be 19 to apply for MDPD, right?" he spoke softly. "I lied to my parents about wanting to get my Master's degree. My dad…he's trying to keep Detective Flack from getting fired and it's costing both of us. I want to work in a Crime Lab because…it's weird, but it makes me feel human to help victims of crimes because I've been there and I don't like how I've felt and I want others who have been in my shoes to be able to get justice where I didn't. I don't want other people to feel that helplessness I've felt while in the system as a victim. God, it's so weird to feel good about wanting to work in a lab cause of that. I didn't even tell Grissom or Doctor Langston that during my interview. I…I thought they'd call me weird and kick me out. They seemed to be looking for even the littlest excuses to kick people out…"

Robert, however, looked thoughtful and shook his head, "No, John, why you want to become a cop and work in a lab is completely reasonable," he replied gently. "I became a cop because I was so determined to bring help to others that I couldn't bring to my mother. I'm completely supportive of your goal and I think it's a good idea to try to take the MDPD test when you turn 19, but in the meantime, you need to recover both physically and mentally. As I said, you can stay here as long as you need and Natalia…she knows of a therapist who can talk to you about stuff. She can come here so you don't have to go anywhere. Am I right in guessing the idea of going lots of places in Miami makes you anxious right now? You seemed a little anxious even coming here…"

"Did someone tear down Devil's Mansion yet?" John asked nervously, exhaling weakly, swearing as tears came to his eyes. "I'm sorry. I can't forget that…like, ever. I…I actually wrote letters to Miami-Dade County and also to the city council asking them if they could tear that place down because it was a danger to little kids and a torture chamber, but I never sent them. I've kept them in my journal that's in my diabetes bag. Nobody ever looks in there cause I take care of managing my own medication…"

Robert sighed, finally understanding the situation, "I think Doctor Emily Speedle was working on it, as she was left the property by Bernard Marquez, but she…she was kidnapped by Jeffrey McKeen last night," he explained grimly. "I don't want you to think you need to be involved in helping find her, though, John. It's being handled. I want you to rest and not try to go anywhere. I'm gonna take your shoes with me so you're not tempted…"

"You can trust me," John replied softly as he suddenly began to feel tired and let out a small yawn. "I…I'd just rather have control of my things. I won't go anywhere. I'm actually beginning to feel like I should sleep. I'm not going to go anywhere, Uncle Bobby. I promise."

Robert raised an eyebrow as he contemplated whether or not to trust John, who was known for running off and trying to help people out of dangerous situations while putting himself at risk, but nodded and stood up so John could lie down, "All right," he spoke gently. "I'll trust you."

Sighing softly, Robert gently helped John into bed and tucked him in, "Thank you," John spoke in a sleepy voice as he closed his eyes. "For trusting me."

"Of course," Robert replied gently. "Get some sleep. I'll come back up in a while to check on you."

As Robert made his way downstairs to talk to BJ like he had promised, there was a loud knock at the door. Deeply annoyed, Robert went to answer it and found himself face-to-face with a very annoyed, tired looking Frank Tripp, "I've been trying to call you for hours," Frank spoke in an annoyed voice as he came in the house. "Did you turn your phone off?"

"I feel like I've had my brain turned off recently and it just got switched back on," Robert replied in a pained voice, sighing heavily as he realized he'd have to come clean about his meds to Frank. "Ever since I moved down here, I've been on meds for trauma and abuse related depression, nightmares, PTSD, and anxiety because of what I've been through in New York, but I went off of them several months ago to try and have a baby with Natalia…"

Frank frowned, his frustration suddenly replaced by concern, "Did IAB know about all this?" he asked in a concerned voice. "Did Horatio?"

"The meds came up in a random urine test and I had a chat with Rick and Chief Burton about them, but I didn't tell my uncle until last night," Robert explained grimly. "They don't affect my ability to do my job, but I've been struggling because I've been off them. I ended up going back on them last night and getting an emergency counseling appointment with my therapist to do so. I'm not quite back to normal yet, but I'm already feeling better than I have been in months…"

Frank sighed tiredly and Robert immediately felt ashamed, "Look, Frank, I'm sorry for keeping it hidden," he stated softly, unable to look the man in the eye. "If you don't wanna trust me anymore…"

"I'm not mad at you," Frank replied with a sigh. "Truth is, kid, I've been worried about you for months cause you turned into this lifeless robot that I didn't recognize, but I didn't know how to say anything to you about it. I'm just glad you got your crap straightened out. Let's just be more honest with each other in the future, yeah? You've become like a surrogate son to me and I don't want anything bad to happen to you…"

Robert nodded, deeply touched that Frank thought so highly of him, "Anyway, I came down here to let you know that your friend, Detective Flack, is in a regular room at Jackson Memorial and he's pretty depressed and anxious about everything," Frank explained in a worried tone. "He also thinks nobody, including you, cares about him. Speedle's sitting with him right now."

"I meant to go check on Donnie after Jessop and I found Lenny running around Little Havana trying to get to Rick, but Rick made me promise to get my kids and come home," Robert spoke grimly. "Uncle Horatio has Rick's father under arrest for abuse-related offenses and also getting seen to medically and Rick is not going to want to give any statement against his father when they ask for one. It's so bad, Frank. I should have been on top of Rick's situation with his father, but he didn't tell anyone. Amanda used to tell me that Rick kept himself as an island a lot so he wouldn't hurt others. Anyway, I am going to go check on Donnie. I just got John Boscorelli to go to sleep for what I hope is a nice, long rest and I have to check on BJ and Natalia…"

There was a sigh as BJ came into the foyer, "Um, Dad, I was kinda eavesdropping, and did Uncle Rick's dad hit him?" he asked softly, his expression uneasy. "When Lenny first moved here, he used to tell me that his dad used to come home at weird hours…like at lunch…with weird bruises, but wouldn't talk about them. Lenny said his dad would just get some ice and take a nap on the couch and cry softly. Lenny used to come home from school for lunch a lot without telling anyone and he'd see his dad and the bruises, but Uncle Rick didn't really notice him…"

"Yeah, Uncle Rick's dad hit him," Robert replied softly, giving BJ a sad look. "And your Uncle Rick was hit badly enough by his dad last night that he has to spend some time in the hospital. Lenny's staying with him, so that's why he's not here either."

Shaken by that, as he too remembered being abused by his biological mother and knew how much it hurt him, BJ started crying and promptly hugged Robert, who gently embraced him back. Frank suddenly looked pissed, as he had no idea that a colleague of his was being abused by a violent parent and even if it was Rick Stetler, he was still a colleague and he obviously needed support. Alerted by BJ's crying, Natalia hurried into the foyer and was surprised to see Frank there, "Hi Frank," she spoke worriedly. "What…?"

BJ immediately embraced Natalia while continuing to cry, "I'm glad you're my mom now and love me," he sobbed in Natalia's arms.

Natalia gently embraced BJ and gently kissed the top of his head, quickly catching on that he had overheard talk about Rick being beaten on by his father and was now remembering his biological mother's abuse. They had talked about it at length, as everyone was still getting used to their blended family, but this…

"Hey, why don't I make you some Sleepy Tea and then I'll tuck you in with a story from one of those comic book thingies you like?" Natalia suggested softly. "You can stay home from school today."

BJ nodded and continued to hold tight to Natalia as they went back to the kitchen together, "Does Donnie need anything?" Robert asked, deciding not to comment on what they had just witnessed so to allow his oldest son a little dignity. "I can come right now if you like and I have extra hygiene supplies and stuff around I can give him. He probably has nothing right now but his bad experiences. Half of his stuff was still in evidence from the bombing and he only took his wallet and phone to take Doctor Pride back to New York, but it's probably back in Evidence by now…"

"Show me what you have," Frank replied with a sigh, relieved that his friend was so eager to be of help.

New York Presbyterian Hospital, Manhattan New York

The sight of Maurice being moved into a regular hospital room without a tube down his throat warmed Danielle's heart because it meant that she was one step closer to getting her husband back. When the nurses had finally gone, leaving the two of them alone together, Danielle silently went to her husband's bedside, sat in a chair that had been dropped there, and took his hand in her own.

A groggy groan suddenly escaped from Bosco's mouth, "I…I know that hand," he spoke groggily, smiling at feeling his wife's touch. "Hey there, Danni…"

Danielle sighed, "Hey there, Maurice," she replied gently, smiling when he turned his head towards her and opened his eyes a tiny bit. "How are you feeling?"

Bosco was silent for several minutes as he processed being awake and he suddenly frowned, realizing that he couldn't feel anything below his legs, "Danni, my legs, are they there?" he asked groggily. "I…I can't feel them…"

Danielle frowned, but she nodded, "Your legs are still there, honey," she replied in as composed a voice as she could manage while continuing to look him in the eye. "Do you want me to get a nurse?"

Panic surged through Bosco, but he shook his head as tiredness threatened to take him back under, "I…I need you to be with me," he pled groggily, his expression suddenly full of fear. "I'm scared…"

Nodding, Danielle pushed the gurney rail down, climbed up on the bed, and laid down next to her anxious husband, keeping hold of his hand the entire time, "I love you, Danni," Bosco whispered groggily, suddenly drifting back to sleep because his anxiety had tired him out quickly. "Thank you."

"I love you too, Maurice," Danielle whispered softly, sighing as she lay at her sleeping husband's side.

Baseball Stadium – Little Havana, Miami

"Calleigh?"

Calleigh frowned as Horatio approached her with his kit in hand after parking his Hummer at the curb. She immediately shone her flashlight on the bench Horatio had phoned her about while he had been driving from the hospital to the place Ryan had told him about. On the bench lay a black hooded jacket. Horatio immediately gloved up and examined it, frowning when he found a tag sewn into it saying that it was the property of Jason Anthony Wolfe.

"I also found dirt footprints headed into the baseball stadium and the door appears to be busted open," Calleigh spoke grimly, shining her light on the sidewalk where there were dirty footprints headed in the direction of the stadium. "You mentioned that Ryan gave you this information. Why isn't he here?"

Horatio sighed grimly, "Ryan…he had a session of chemotherapy yesterday and took sick after I asked him to help me with a situation involving Rick and his father, so Ryan is at the hospital being seen to and Tommy Wolfe is staying with his brother," he replied grimly. "When you get a moment, maybe you could check on Ryan…"

Horrified that Ryan had gotten cancer yet again, Calleigh nodded, "In the meantime, let's collect that sweater and follow these shoeprints," Horatio spoke in an uneasy voice. "Did you photograph it?"

Calleigh nodded and Horatio collected the sweater with his gloved hands and popped it into an evidence bag. He then quickly scanned the bench and found handprints on the seat, prompting him to quickly dust and lift before storing the prints properly, "Jason Wolfe was obviously here," Horatio commented in a concerned voice as they followed the dirty footprints and processed each one as they walked. "Whether he's in the stadium or not…"

Loud, pain-filled whimpering suddenly filled the air from inside the stadium and Horatio immediately bolted towards the noise with his kit, getting his recorder activated as he entered the stadium in case it was Jason and he said something important. As he reached the gate to the field, Calleigh joined him with her kit. They immediately saw a figure in sweats, a t-shirt, and sneakers thrashing violently in the middle of the field with his face in the dirt and his hands behind his head as if he were being arrested. Pained screams were coming from his mouth as if he were experiencing nothing less than torture.

"Jason?" Horatio called out in an alarmed voice as he and Calleigh hurried towards him. "Jason!"

Loud sobs suddenly filled the air and Jason suddenly went still as Horatio and Calleigh approached him, "Please don't tell the social worker I had problems!" Jason sobbed into the dirt. "I don't want him to hurt me again! It hurt really bad last time! I couldn't walk right for days! Mister Valence doesn't like it when I misbehave in here, so I'm just trying to keep quiet while I'm in the exercise yard cause he's always watching me and he's warned me…"

"Jason thinks he's still in jail, Horatio," Calleigh realized with horror. "Who's Mister Valence?"

Horatio, meanwhile, knelt next to Jason, "Jason, who is Mister Valence?" he asked softly, wondering if there was a connection between the Carlos Nieto situation and the situation with Jason Wolfe.

"The prison social worker, Rocky Valence," Jason breathed through tears. "Are…are you a cop?"

Horatio suddenly looked disgusted, as he had learned from the news reports about Carlos Nieto that Rocky Valence had been the social worker who took Carlos's kids away from him through an arrest and an order signed by the FBI and Federal Judge Bill Stokes. Just as Horatio was trying to figure out what to say that wouldn't trigger more panic in Jason, he noticed that everything had gone very quiet.

Jason was unconscious and barely breathing, Horatio frantically realized. Probably from anxiety over Rocky Valence and whatever other mental and physical issues he was struggling with.

Cursing, Horatio got his radio out and quickly called for Rescue to get to their location immediately, as they had located Jason Wolfe and he was in bad mental and physical shape, "Calleigh, get a hold of the NYPD immediately!" he shouted as he began CPR on the unconscious young man. "Tell them we have more information about Rocky Valence that they're gonna wanna hear! Jason, wake up! Come on!"

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