Trials and Devastation

JFK Airport, New York

It was barely dawn outside, but Horatio Caine was very much awake as he entered the terminal in JFK, but he paused near the check-in desk because his energy quickly left him. He was tired and simply wanted the trial to be over, as he was going to be putting himself through hell on the stand and just the mere thought of it was bringing the memories back. It was truly more than he wanted to handle at the moment, but he was there now and knew it was coming whether he wanted it to or not.

Stopping in his tracks, Horatio closed his eyes and took a deep breath to calm himself before he opened his eyes again. He briefly thought about the journal Emily had given him, something that was safe in his emergency pack, something that he would write in once he was safe at Stella's, and that gave him the courage to move away from the gate and into the terminal. Most of the stores were closed due to the early hour, but Horatio didn't feel like shopping or talking to anyone anyway because he knew his case had been national news and since the trial was approaching, the papers and news would be revisiting the case and anyone he might meet in public would want to give him attention that he didn't want.

Before he realized it, Horatio found himself in the luggage area with a headache and a heavy desire to throw up due to relentless anxiety. The air conditioning blowing throughout the terminal was also irritating his uncovered skin and reminding him of the cold winds he had to endure every night he spent at LaRusso Ranch. Even though he was fully clothed and wearing a trenchcoat and sunglasses in addition to that, he also felt cold and very vulnerable. He didn't like any of that.

Quickly collecting his luggage, Horatio made his way into the public area and was surprised to see Stella there waiting for him, "Stella," he greeted her quietly. "Um, how are you?"

Stella sighed quietly, "I've seen better days," she admitted softly. "How are you doing? You look…"

"I've seen better days," Horatio admitted in an equally quiet voice. "I've actually got a bit of an uneasy stomach and a headache, but I think that will go away once we leave the airport. I've not felt good since this all started and it's gotten progressively worse since the trial date was adjusted. This airport…it's strangely triggering."

Stella suddenly looked thoughtful, "It's natural to find yourself triggered by little things after surviving what you went through and you shouldn't apologize or feel ashamed about it," she replied softly. "I had the same issues when I was beaten and held hostage in my apartment by my late boyfriend. The smallest things triggered those memories for a long time afterward, but as long as we acknowledge our triggers and that they don't own us…"

Horatio nodded, his expression suddenly unreadable as his headache began to worsen, "You know what?" Stella suggested, suddenly catching on that Horatio wasn't communicating because his PTSD was making him incapable of doing so. "Let's go outside and sit for a moment. The weather's decent today."

Only when he and Stella were outside the airport did Horatio take a quiet, but deep breath, "Better?" Stella asked softly.

"Thank you," Horatio replied quietly. "The headache's starting to fade, but I might still try to get a little rest before I visit Elizabeth's grave. If you're not comfortable with it, I can go alone…"

Stella sighed, her heart filling with compassion at Horatio's pained expression, "Elizabeth was our daughter, Horatio," she replied in a gentle voice. Our daughter. I haven't been responsible in the last few years and I think part of it is I never really grieved her. We fought after her death and separated, but I don't think we really talked about visiting her again after she was buried. And then, when you were kidnapped, I started thinking about regrets. I regret that we haven't done a better job of grieving for our daughter, especially since you almost joined her. If you had died…"

Horatio sighed heavily and Stella gently embraced him, an embrace that he returned. As they pulled apart, Stella's cell-phone went off. She gave Horatio an apologetic look before answering it, "Stella Bonasera," she spoke in a nervous voice.

"Stella, is Pavel LaRusso with you?" Mac's voice suddenly filled the air. "You work for him…"

Stella frowned, "No, I'm at the airport," she replied in a confused voice. "I told you about that, Mac."

"Pavel LaRusso's apartment was trashed, Stella, and shot up," Mac replied in a stern voice. "It looks like there was either a brutal fight or a bomb went off in it. I got a call from Pavel several hours ago, but when I arrived at the apartment we have on file, he was nowhere to be found…"

Stella frowned, but said nothing, something that concerned Horatio, "Is something wrong?" he asked softly.

"Pavel LaRusso called Mac hours ago and when Mac went to his apartment, he found it trashed and shot up," Stella explained in a concerned voice. "And Pavel was nowhere to be found."

Horatio frowned, "I happen to know that Pavel and Anya LaRusso gave statements to federal authorities about their roles in my kidnapping and Jeffrey McKeen's involvement in exchange for their freedom from prison," he replied in a concerned voice. "Jeffrey McKeen may have found out about it and decided to punish them…"

"Pavel told me he sent Anya away, though," Stella replied in a concerned voice. "She's due soon and he was going to join her before your trial…"

There was a sigh, "Did I just hear Lieutenant Caine mention Jeffrey McKeen?" Mac asked worriedly.

Stella gave Horatio a concerned look, "It's all right, you can share my theory," Horatio replied softly, not willing to speak about Jeffrey McKeen again until he had to at the trial. "Do you mind if I sit down?"

"Yeah, Mac, Horatio said that Pavel and Anya LaRusso gave statements to federal agents about their involvement and McKeen's involvement…" Stella spoke in a concerned voice as she watched Horatio lean against a nearby wall. "Horatio thinks McKeen might have attacked Pavel's apartment to punish Pavel, but he didn't offer anymore theory. Mac, I think I want to get Horatio out of public so he can rest. He just got off of the plane and he's very tired."

Mac sighed, "Just let him know he's got to meet with the Victims Assistance Advocate about how things are going to go during the trial," he replied firmly. "The advocate's name is John Sullivan. He's John Boscorelli's grandfather, a retired NYPD cop, and a reserve advocate. He's stepping in for Gil Grissom. I'll text you his number and you can give it to Horatio, all right?"

Stella nodded, her eyes on Horatio as she continued listening to Mac talk.


New York Crime Lab

Not long after his call with Stella ended, Mac found himself meeting with Carlos Nieto in his office regarding the text threat Carlos had received, "Carlos, I'm sorry," Mac found himself saying in a tone of regret as he returned Carlos' phone to him. We weren't able to find the source of the call. It may have been a burner phone that called you…"

Scoffing, Carlos pocketed his phone, "I figured you wouldn't be able to help figure out who found it fun to remind me that I euthanized Bernard Marquez, but Bosco insisted that we ask," he replied in a bitter voice. "I should go. I need to get back to my wife…"

"If you get other threats, please tell someone," Mac replied apologetically. "I'm sorry…"

Carlos scoffed, "Save it," he replied coldly as he turned and walked out. "I don't wanna hear it."

Mac looked apologetic, but Carlos silently left and it was then that Mac saw Bosco in the hallway. He watched Bosco and Carlos talk to each other briefly before Carlos stormed off into the elevator. Bosco looked pissed off and concerned, but followed after him.

For a moment, Mac felt worried and then turned his attention back to his phone. The mention of 'federal agents' made him wonder if there were any agents in Miami that Pavel LaRusso had sent his family to that he was trying to get himself to. With that on his mind, Mac quickly paged Jo and Jo quickly came to his office.

"Jo, what kind of knowledge do you have on current federal agents in Miami?" Mac asked softly. "The reason I'm asking is because Lieutenant Caine and Stella mentioned that Pavel and Anya LaRusso spoke with federal agents to escape jail time and I'm wondering if there are federal agents down in Miami to watch the members of the family that are there."

Jo frowned, but she nodded, "I know of one and he's a supervisor in the Miami Bureau," she replied softly. "Do you want his number?"

"Yes," Mac replied in a firm voice, wondering what he would learn from the mysterious FBI agent.


Miami, Florida

Diana Wolfe was filled with confusion as she made her way into the hospital foyer to stretch her legs after Tommy had suddenly received a call and had also asked for a drink of juice. As she had left, she had overheard him answer a phone referring to himself as 'Special Agent Wolfe,' something that had confused her immensely because to her, he had been a famous race car driver and then had switched to maintenance work after prison and post-prison psychiatric treatment, claiming his doctors had recommended he pursue a quieter career. He had also mentioned that his phone had been taken into evidence after the bombing he was caught in, so how had he gotten a new one so quickly when he had been hospitalized since then? She loved her husband, of course, but she suddenly felt like she didn't know him as much as she felt she should. And that was the reason she needed a walk more than anything.

As Diana walked around, she suddenly noticed Emily wheel a tired looking Ryan in the main entrance and then turn off towards the emergency room. Unable to avoid being concerned, Diana followed them from a distance.

Ryan exhaled tiredly as Emily parked his wheelchair at the admit desk and looked around for an available nurse that could help them, "What if my cancer's back?" he found himself asking in a quiet, slightly nervous voice. "I can't afford to take time off work for treatment, especially now that Tommy's out of commission and I know I'd have to. I went through surgery, chemo, and radiation for the thyroid cancer and I just don't know what else my body can handle. And there's Carlos. He needs me…"

"Hey there, baby boy," Alexx Woods suddenly spoke in a concerned voice as she approached Ryan and Emily in blue scrubs and sneakers with a stethoscope around her neck. "What's wrong? You don't look well and you're in a wheelchair."

Ryan sighed tiredly, "I passed out at work yesterday when I was talking to Horatio about my past and I lied to him and said I had too much physical trauma to be able to talk about it much," he explained in a tired voice. "I…I just didn't want to worry him, Alexx. He left for New York this morning to testify in the trial they're holding for the elusive Jeffrey McKeen. They're trying him absentia and Horatio's under a lot of stress because of it. I didn't want to worry him more. And Delko's issues are…"

"Ryan, you're going to pass out again like you did this morning at breakfast," Emily spoke up in a concerned voice. "I doubt you're going to keep this from Tim anyway because James and Julliet saw you…"

Ryan sighed and rolled his eyes, "They talk about everything they see to him when he gets home from work and he just sits there and lets them, right?" he replied tiredly. "Alexx, I had cancer back in 2005 and…I'm scared. What if it's back? I'm a single parent and my brother was hurt in a bombing…"

"Let's run some tests on you, all right?" Alexx spoke in a reassuring voice. "Emily, do you want to bring him to this bed over here? I'll get a nurse and some supplies…"

As Emily wheeled Ryan over to the bed Alexx had designated for him, she saw Flack wander over to the desk wearing his temporary wardrobe, a hospital bracelet, and a bandage on his left hand, "Donald?" Emily called out in a concerned voice.

Flack froze at seeing Emily and Ryan near the hospital bed and wandered over to them, "I ended up needing overnight observation for shock and treatment for dehydration, but I'm okay now," Flack explained in a tired voice. "What's up here?"

"I had another CSI named Walter Simmons and some uniforms watch Dr. Pride last night and this morning so I could rest and help Ryan," Emily explained in a quiet voice. "She didn't talk much when I was sitting with her."

Ryan slowly got himself from the chair to the bed and immediately laid down, resting his head on the pillow, "I don't know why I'm so tired," he spoke apologetically. "Emily, can you raise the bed?"

Emily complied as Alexx returned with a nurse and a medical cart, "I hope we don't get a call today," Ryan spoke in a shaky voice. "I lied to Tim this morning saying that after I was done looking at schools with you, I was going to be visiting Tommy and bringing him and Diana some things. I lied to Horatio yesterday that I was fine. I lied to Tommy and Diana that I couldn't come visit them today because I wanted to spend time with Carlos before I went to work since all we're doing right now is processing the bombing anyway and so I'm just on call. I'm becoming a liar again like I used to be alive and I don't like it. I'm turning into Dad…he used to lie all the time…"

"No," Emily interrupted firmly, giving Ryan a look. "You're nothing like him and you never will be."

Ryan frowned at Emily, "You know," he spoke shakily, realizing that Emily knew their father was still alive. "You know about Dad…don't you? I can tell. Your eyes…"

"We're not having that discussion right now," Emily replied firmly. "Not when you're not feeling well."

Ryan sighed, "All right, baby, let's get some blood first," Alexx spoke gently. "Just relax."


Near the desk, Diana found herself feeling too stunned to move: first Tommy was keeping secrets from her and now Ryan was lying to everyone in his life because he wasn't feeling well and wanted to keep it from everyone?! What had she come home to?!

Before Diana could decide what to do, Flack came out of the area and over to the desk to call a cab because he was squeamish about blood and she immediately got in his path, recognizing him from the news reports she had seen about the bombing, "Detective Flack, I'm Diana Wolfe," she spoke anxiously. "You were in the bombing with my husband. I was wondering if we could talk for a moment?"

"Oh, Tommy Wolfe's wife?" Flack asked curiously. "Um…"

Diana sighed, "We've been separated and debating divorce to the point where we consulted lawyers, but this…bombing, it's making me wonder if we should rethink that," she explained in an uneasy voice. "Anyway, my husband somehow got a new phone and when he got a call this morning, he asked if I might want to go for a walk since I spent the night at his side. As I was walking out of the room, I heard him refer to himself as 'Special Agent Wolfe' and I wondered if you knew anything about that?"

Flack froze, the events right before and right after the bombing suddenly making sense and he also remembered that Tommy Wolfe had confessed that he was involved in the FBI right before Ryan and paramedics had arrived. He also realized, however, that Tommy's wife and siblings did not know about his FBI work and wondered if he should mention his interactions with Tommy before and after the bombing or not. The hesitation immediately caught Diana Wolfe's attention and she frowned.

"Was he with another woman when the bombing happened?" Diana asked nervously. "Why are you being so quiet? I'm a lawyer and I can tell that something is off. You're hiding something."

Ultimately deciding to satisfy both Tommy's want for confidentiality and Diana's demand for truth, Flack sighed heavily, "I was relaxing in my hotel room when I heard him talking on the phone through the wall because the motel walls were thin," he lied in a solemn voice. "He was talking on the phone to his father…"

Diana's eyes widened a little, "His father?" she replied in a confused voice. "Tommy's father is…"

"Tommy was talking about visiting him in New York," Flack interrupted softly. "I found the conversation weird, so I followed him to the bar and tried to talk to him about it, but he was upset…"

Diana frowned, "Maybe he didn't want me to hear him talking to his father so to protect me and the kids," she reasoned softly. "Tommy had a very abusive childhood and struggles with the memories to this day. He had anxiety and other emotional issues for a while that led to him getting into some trouble, but he got help and all his charges were dropped after he explained things…"

"The 'Special Agent' thing might have been him just wanting to keep the conversation private," Flack replied in a concerned voice, hating that he had to lie at all. "To protect you and your kids from any problems that might come your way from Tommy's father."

Feeling that she wasn't getting the whole story, but not wanting to press the man for further details in case her husband might end up in danger if she did press for more, Diana sighed tiredly, "Look, Detective Flack, I just care whether or not my husband was with a girl in that bar before the bomb went off," she spoke frankly. "Was he?"

"We were the only two in there before the bomb went off and when the bomb went off," Flack replied simply. "How is he doing anyway? I've either been busy getting interviewed about this whole thing or kept under observation here, so I haven't seen him since. He saved my life there. When we heard the bomb, he pushed me towards the door and took more of it himself. I'd like to thank him."

Diana took a quick glance back in Ryan's direction and saw that Ryan was now asleep on the gurney sporting a cotton ball and band-aid on his arm while Emily sat in a chair beside the bed. She then looked at Flack and nodded, "I can take you to him," she replied in a quiet voice.

It didn't take Diana and Flack long to reach the floor that Tommy was on and as they came to Tommy's room, they were surprised to see Tony Speedle standing beside Tommy's bed talking with a tired looking Tommy while looking around at the few personal things Tommy had in the room, "What are you doing in here?!" Flack asked sternly, suddenly feeling overprotective.

When Tony didn't reply immediately, Flack and Diana entered the room and Diana immediately went to Tommy's side while Flack went towards Tony, ready to fight him. Tony, however, was faster and managed to duck around Flack and bolt from the room. Cursing loudly, Flack took off after Tony, but found that he had trouble keeping up due to his bruised up body and recent dehydration.

Just as Flack thought Tony was going to get away, Detective Tripp came out of a bathroom not far from Tony, "STOP HIM!" Flack shouted, pointing at Tony. "He was in Tommy Wolfe's room!"

Tripp quickly caught Tony and put him against the wall with his hands behind his back, "You're under arrest, Slick," he spoke in a pissed off voice, quickly getting his cuffs off his belt. "You're going down to the PD for questioning. Detective Flack, do you wanna help me with this miscreant?"

"What about Tommy Wolfe and his wife?" Flack asked worriedly. "They shouldn't be left alone."

Frank sighed, "I'll put in a call to the PD and CSI and get them to investigate and I'll grab Candace to sit with them on our way out, as I know she's working today," he agreed softly. "Do you want to help me take this one to the PD? They might want to talk to you again anyway."

"Yeah," Flack replied in a concerned voice. "I need to check on my stuff."


The evidence from the bombing was the focus of the day and Walter, Natalia, and Rick were busy analyzing it while Tim worked in an empty office close by trying to see if he could locate Ryan or Calleigh because they were supposed to be at the lab that day, but they weren't, and Eric was suspended for a week unless an emergency happened.

As much as he detested that Horatio had left him in charge, Tim had chosen to take the responsibility seriously. Horatio had invited him to use his office while he was away, but Speedle had instead commandeered an empty office and set up a few chairs around the empty desk that was in there, his kit, his laptop, his phone, and everything else he might need at the lab or in the field.

Once his temporary office was set up, he had made everyone aware of where it was and then he had spent his time walking through the lab, checking on everyone as the evidence from the bombing was processed while paging his missing colleagues on his cell phone. He also checked in on Dr. Pride, who was being guarded by an officer, from time to time, but she didn't have much to say to him, so he kept his distance.

At the same time, he was also walking off his anger that nothing had come of the searches Horatio had run on Emily and Ryan's phones following the text threats and the phones had been released back to their owners. It was anger that he couldn't have anywhere but the lab because his parents would worry about him, Emily would wonder, James and Julliet would be upset by it, and Jesse would cry if he sensed his father's mood was anything but calm. Besides, Tim thought to himself as he reached the desk after doing a lap of the lab, his parents were not only helping with his three kids, they were also helping Jill Adams-Speedle prepare for her baby, which was due very soon…

"Get off me!" Tony's angry voice suddenly filled the air as the elevator doors slid open.

Tim looked towards the elevator just in time to see Tripp lead a handcuffed Tony into the lab with an angry Flack following close behind, "Tony?" Tim asked in a confused voice, frowning at his younger brother. "What are you doing here?"

"I ran into Tommy Wolfe's wife at the hospital just as I was getting released and so I asked to see how Tommy was doing, but when we got to his room, we found this guy talking to Tommy and snooping through Tommy's things," Flack cut in angrily.

Tripp sighed heavily, "Speedle, I know he's your brother, but he was already there once delivering a gift basket and books that he claimed came from your father, so why did he need to go a second time?" he asked in a confused voice. "Is someone around to process and question him? We're shorthanded…"

Before Tim could reply, Rick came hurrying out of the labs towards the elevator with his phone in hand, "Rick, do you have a moment?" Tim asked quietly. "My brother…"

"He was caught snooping in Tommy Wolfe's hospital room," Tripp explained angrily. "He might know something about the bombing."

Rick sighed, "I was on my way to run a personal errand, and I was going to use my meal break to do it, but if you need someone…" he replied in a nervous voice, not daring to look Tony in the eye because he knew Tony might reveal that he and Jill had been assigned by the FBI to keep an eye on him.

"I'm not gonna talk to some nerd masquerading as a CSI!" Tony snapped, glaring daggers at Stetler. "Come near me, nerd, and I'll knock those glasses right off your face!"

Tim frowned, "Have you checked your blood sugar lately, Tony?" he asked worriedly. "It could be low."

"I think time in a holding cell will cool him down," Rick recommended firmly, wondering if Tony was playing it up for public. "If you need me to talk to him right now, my errand can wait."

Tim sighed, "Tony can go sit in a cell until you get back," he replied softly, trying to stay calm even though he was shocked his own brother was now a suspect in the bombing case. "Do you want a lawyer, Tony?"

Tony scoffed, but said nothing, "Um, Frank, can you put him in holding up here and maybe get Doctor Loman over to check on him?" Tim asked in a concerned voice, wondering what was going on with his brother. "Tony's diabetic and he might be acting out because his sugar is off. I don't think he's connected to the bombing, but I don't want to let him go right now because he's acting unnaturally and a bit of a danger to himself. Just detain him for a while and we'll talk to him when Rick's back from his errand. Leave it off the record for now."

Nodding, Frank led Tony away and Rick quickly escaped into the elevator before Tim could speak to him again. He did not want to interview Tony Speedle, nor did he want it known that he knew Tony Speedle cause Tony and Jill Adams and their supervisor had been watching his interactions with criminals and gangs for years and he was supposed to gather information on them. It had been one of his long-term assignments from Thomas Wolfe in exchange for all of his past charges being dropped, but Rick was getting physically and mentally tired and Grissom had also told him to quit, which he desperately wanted to do. Returning to the lab and also trying to be more attentive to the things that mattered most, including the errand he needed to take care of, would hopefully get him away from Thomas, but nobody needed to know that.


Calle Ocho/Little Havana, Miami

Except for work, Calleigh had rarely left Eric's side since the fight in the lab that had culminated in Eric being suspended from work for a week by Detective Caine. While she had agreed with Detective Caine's reaction to Eric's outburst, she hadn't agreed with his lack of interest in why Eric had gotten upset. She too was confused as to why Stetler had suddenly joined the lab and why had Horatio had let him and felt like nobody but her and Eric had an issue with it. Hence, why she had decided to spend her time outside of work with Eric. She wanted to try and calm him down and understand his anger.

Now, as they walked together through the community park near Eric's house, Calleigh found herself unable to get any answers out of Eric, but also found herself not wanting to press him too much and instead enjoy his company.

Eric, meanwhile, focused on the walking he did daily as part of his therapy requirements and didn't talk much even though he wanted to. He knew he had acted inappropriately towards Rick in the lab and wanted to apologize, especially after hearing what Rick had been through, but he also wanted answers to why Stetler had transferred from IAB to the lab and why Horatio had let him.

As Eric walked in silence, his mind and gaze wandered and suddenly rested on an assisted living center across the street that Rick Stetler was walking towards carrying a bouquet of fake flowers in one hand and a book in the other, "Calleigh, is that Stetler?" he asked softly, frowning as Rick went inside the center.

Calleigh nodded, having also seen Rick enter the care home with gifts in hand, "What's he doing down here?" she asked in a confused, quiet voice. "He's supposed to be working at the lab today according to the schedule."

Unable to resist seeing what Rick was up to, Eric quickly found a place to cross the street and Calleigh followed him. When they finally got over to the care center, they got inside and saw Rick sitting at a table in the public area feeding pureed food to a white-haired man who sat in a wheelchair with a feeding apron over his shirt while a silver hair woman sat next to them crocheting what looked like a dish towel while the book and flowers sat on the edge of the table forgotten. The elderly man was wearing gray sweats, slippers, and glasses and looked like a very elderly version of Rick while the woman was wearing a long muumuu and crocs with her hair cut short,

"…Where is Mandy today, Rick?" Eric and Calleigh suddenly heard the woman ask. "I like it when you and her help me with my laundry."

"Mandy's at work, Mama," Rick lied in a patient voice, although Calleigh noted that the man looked a little sad when speaking to his mother. "I have to go to work later after you and Daddy eat lunch. Do you want something to eat, by the way?"

The man suddenly held his hand up, "I'm full, Rick," he announced proudly even though the food looked barely touched.

Nodding, Rick set the food aside and removed the apron from the man's shirt, "I'm not hungry right now, sweetie, but I will have a snack later," the woman replied gently, smiling as she continued to crochet. "I want to finish this so I can work on some socks I want to make. I'm going to make a pair for you, a pair for Mandy, and are you still seeing that nice girl, Catherine?"

"Yes, but she also works, so we don't see a lot of each other," Rick lied softly, his expression pained. "She says hi."

The man suddenly yawned and promptly coughed, prompting Rick to get up, "Daddy, I think it's time for you to rest," Rick spoke anxiously. "Let me just find a friend to sit with Mama so I can take you back to your room…"

Eric and Calleigh looked at each other briefly and silently agreed that they were going to offer help even if Rick didn't want it because he was clearly overwhelmed, "Rick," Calleigh called out, being careful be casual as she approached him because she didn't want to frighten his parents. "Hi."

Rick's eyes suddenly grew stormy, but he did his best to remain calm, "Oh, Rick, are these friends of yours?" the woman suddenly asked eagerly, smiling at Eric and Calleigh. "They look very nice."

"It's good that Rick has friends," the man spoke up, his tone suddenly gruff. "He spends too much time at that crime lab and barely has time to see that girlfriend of his. He needs to stop working so hard."

Rick sighed tiredly, but said nothing as his father suddenly grabbed Calleigh's hand and kissed it, "Richard Stetler, my dear," he spoke warmly, smiling at Calleigh. "You wear your hair like our Mandy does and that means I like you already!"

Even though she knew Amanda Stetler-LaRusso was long dead, Calleigh smiled at him, "You're very kind," she replied in a gentle, quiet voice. "My name is Calleigh."

"Mary, Calleigh can sit with you while Rick takes me for a walk," Richard spoke in a firm voice. "Rick and his friend…"

Eric sighed, "Eric," he replied softly, frowning as Rick turned a shade paler. "Do you like walks?"

"Rick, can you take me back to my room already?!" Richard suddenly interrupted irritably, glaring at Rick. "You need to do something besides being a shy little ghost in your crime lab and cutting your wrists when you get bullied by those colleagues of yours! I did not raise my son to be a wimp! It's bad enough you're a nerd with the job in the lab and those glasses and that geek Gil Grissom you're always helping with experiments! He doesn't pay you for those and you don't ask! You should ask!"

Ignoring the very shocked and worried looks that Eric and Calleigh were giving him, Rick busied himself with his father and silently began moving him out of the dining area. Eric followed alongside them and was horrified to hear Richard Stetler berate his son continually once they were out of the dining room and heading back to what appeared to be a residential area on the second floor of the building. He was even more horrified to see the former IAB Sergeant respond to the berating with quiet, apologetic answers. Once they finally reached the right room, Rick parked Richard's chair at the window so the older man could look outside. As Rick was settling the older man there, Eric looked around the room and saw a small bulletin board of photos on the far wall just above a bookshelf that contained several books, eyeglasses, and other small, harmless, sentimental looking knickknacks. The bed was a hospital bed, but it was covered with a blue crocheted Afghan along with the standard bedclothes and pillow. The room also had a plasma TV, a VHS player, a small shelf of videos below it, a door that led to the bathroom, and a simple, but very neatly kept closet that contained clothes and shoes.

Richard suddenly fell into a violent coughing spell that pulled Eric back to reality just in time to see Rick retrieve an oxygen tank and a nasal tube, "Can you please try to keep this on, Daddy?" Rick asked softly, quickly putting it back on Richard's face. "You know Mandy doesn't like it when you take it off and she tells me about it…"

"Look at how nice it is outside today," Richard suddenly commented, pointing outside. "We could have a picnic in the park later after Mandy gets off work. Do you think you could come back with her after work, Rick?"

Rick sighed and gently rubbed Richard's shoulders, "I can talk to her," he replied in a tired, but very patient voice. "Why don't you relax for a bit while I go to work? If it's too cold when I come back, we can watch a movie like we do sometimes."

Richard sighed briefly before he drifted off to sleep. Rick quickly got the Afghan from the bed, covered his father with it, and kissed the top of his head before moving out the door without acknowledging Eric. Eric followed after Rick silently until they returned to the dining room where Calleigh was sitting with Mary Stetler and smiling patiently while Mary Stetler chatted away and crocheted.

"Rick, look, Catherine managed to make it after all!" Mary called out in a pleased voice as Rick and Eric returned to the table. "Isn't that wonderful?"

Rick sighed tiredly, but nodded, "She came so late, though," Mary continued in a worried voice, frowning as she slowly got to her feet with her crochet work. "I'm going to be late for my appointment. Rick, can you take me? It's too late to take the bus and your father has the car…"

"Yes, Mama, I can take you," Rick replied in a very quiet voice, quickly moving over to her and offering his arm. "It's not a very far walk to your appointment, actually, so we can walk. It's nice enough."

Mary nodded, took Rick's arm, and cuddled against him as they walked out of the dining room together, "I like those glasses, Rick, are those new?" she asked as they left.

Eric and Calleigh exchanged a look and followed from a distance, shocked when they saw Rick take Mary into what appeared to be a locked unit of the facility on the main floor. Several moments passed before Rick came out and he immediately went outside, purposely ignoring them. Eric and Calleigh followed him outside just in time to see Rick throw up in a garbage can near the edge of the property. A sour expression suddenly filled Rick's face as he spotted Eric and Calleigh still following him, "What do you two want?" he hissed darkly. "I told Speedle I needed to run a personal errand and he said it was okay! It's not like I'm ditching work like you are, Duquesne, or suspended for a week like you are, Delko!"

"Do you do this every day?" Eric asked in a confused voice. "Visit with your parents?"

Rick scoffed, "Once a week unless I get a call from the facility, which may mean a visit more often," he hissed anxiously. "I was supposed to come on the weekend, but I got a call from the facility this morning on my cell while I was processing evidence from the bombing that my mother had gotten out of her cottage and at the desk was asking to have lunch with my father and I. I told them to set her and my father at a table in the dining room together and I would be there shortly. I secured my work and then told Speedle I needed to run an errand. She hardly ever eats anymore, but when she wants lunch with my father and I, I don't argue when I'm asked to come and I don't tell anyone when I come out here. It was so much easier to slip off unnoticed when I was in IAB because nobody gave a crap. Everyone thought I was just off making everyone's lives miserable. Now that I'm in the lab…"

"So nobody knows that you have parents in a care facility in Little Havana?" Eric pressed in a worried voice. "You didn't even tell the people you used to hang out with?"

Rick scoffed, "It was bad enough they knew about my kids," he replied darkly. "And had one held hostage in Brazil. A kid that I found out isn't even biologically mine. Lindsey belongs to the guy Catherine cheated on me with and only Lenny is my biological child. On paper, though, I am Lindsey's father and I don't care what Boa Vista's DNA testing said: I will continue to act as Lindsey's father and I made Boa Vista get rid of the results that say she and I are not biologically related. I will also support my son and my parents. I am extremely good at managing money made working in a crime lab…"

"We're not concerned about whether or not you can pay for Lindsey, Lenny, and your parents care facility," Calleigh cut in gently. "We're concerned about you spreading yourself too thin and feeling the need to keep secrets when the people in the lab look out for one another…"

Rick scoffed, "Oh, was Delko goading me into revealing my assault looking out for me?" he replied in a dark voice. "Working in a crime lab again is an adjustment, but I've learned to keep to myself and report to Speedle each day like I'm supposed to. I work, I find time for Lenny, I pay for his school and stuff, I pay for my parents' living situation, and I send money to Catherine for Lindsey. Thank God my son and I have a place to live and food to share with Robert and his family because we'd probably be on the street otherwise. Although, they're having a kid of their soon and I'm worried we'll be in the way. I'm going to have to find time to go apartment shopping, I guess."

"What about that organization Doctor Grissom runs?" Calleigh asked in a concerned voice. "Victims Assistance? Maybe…"

Rick scoffed, "That is for survivors of violent crimes and their families," he replied anxiously. "I…"

"Look, I feel bad that I goaded you into sharing that," Eric interrupted in an upset voice. "I've been regretting it ever since I did it. I just didn't understand why you came back and I was angry. I'm sorry."

A pain-filled laugh escaped Rick's lips as he gave Eric a look of disbelief, but said nothing, "You're a survivor of a very violent crime and I disrespected that and you," Eric finished softly. "I…"

Shaking his head in disbelief, as he felt that Eric's apology was a performative attempt to get his suspension lifted early, Rick began walking away towards his car that was parked down the street. Eric and Calleigh pursued him and reached him just in time to see him open the driver's side door to get into his car, which looked suspiciously like a rental.

Suddenly, Rick paused and went around to the trunk, but as he opened it, a bus suddenly came speeding by, swerved, and ripped the driver's side door off of the car before coming to a shaky stop a few feet away. Rick swore loudly and grabbed a small black backpack out of the trunk just as the bus doors opened.

Eric and Calleigh reached the scene just in time to see a severely injured Pavel LaRusso came stumbling out with his backpack on his back and a bloodstained hand pressed down on his left side. He was chalk white and covered in blood bruises and also looked very unsure about where he was at.

Immediately springing into action, Calleigh got on her phone and began calling for emergency services.

Rick, meanwhile, stared at his wrecked car in stunned silence, horrified at how close he had come to being killed.


Manhattan, New York

The sun was fully up in the sky by the time Horatio, Stella, and Horatio's luggage made it back to Stella's apartment from the airport, but Horatio found himself very much in need of a sleep.

"I appreciate you letting me stay here," Horatio spoke quietly. "A hotel would be very lonely, quiet, and…"

Stella gave him an understanding look, "It would leave you more vulnerable than you want to be right now," she finished softly, sensing he couldn't explain his feelings. "As we discussed on the phone, we can share the bed while you're here, but nothing will happen between us there unless you consent. I want you to feel safe here because you're not going to feel safe at that trial. It's going to hurt. A lot."

Horatio nodded, "Do you mind if I get a little rest?" he asked softly. "It's already been a long day."

Stella nodded and showed Horatio to the bedroom, "Do you want me to make us something to eat while you unpack and rest?" she asked softly. "I went grocery and supply shopping yesterday so you wouldn't have to go anywhere in public if you didn't want to before the trial."

Nodding, Horatio silently set his suitcases and backpack on the floor, "After I rest, I'm going to visit Elizabeth," he replied softly. "And then I'm going to review my testimony in my head until the trial. I may also have to go out and meet with whatever advocate they assign to me from Victims Assistance. I tried to argue against that, but Chief Burton and New York and Las Vegas seem to think it's necessary for me to have an advocate. It's not going to take what happened away and it's a resource that could be better used for those who in need of help in court..."

Stella frowned, "Stop," she replied in a concerned voice. "Stop acting like you don't deserve help."

Horatio exhaled as he sat on the bed, his hand trembling as he removed his sunglasses from his face and set them on his lap, "I thought I was going to die up there, Stella," he admitted in a somber voice as tears filled his eyes. "The night John Boscorelli rescued me, I had a plan in my head that that was going to be my last night on the Earth. I was tired and cold and alone and I was going to figure out a way to end it the next morning. There were plenty of things around I could have used to end it. I didn't even share this at my counselling appointment, and now I'm ashamed that I didn't. It might have helped how I'm feeling right now. I don't feel like I deserve help because I was making a plan to die…I was giving up and I just don't think the Victims Assistance system was designed to help those planning to give up."

A tear escaped Horatio's eyes and rolled down his face and Stella sat beside him on the bed, quickly taking his trembling hand in hers. The two sat there together in silence holding hands for what seemed like an eternity before Horatio sighed tiredly, "When I was finally released from the hospital, I was given a standing prescription for sleeping pills and I filled it last night," he spoke softly. "I think I'll take one so I can sleep for a bit without dreaming. Would that be all right with you?"

"You can do whatever makes you feel comfortable," Stella replied softly. "We can eat later and I can do things around the house while you sleep."

As Horatio nodded, Stella's phone suddenly went off and she got up to answer it, "Bonasera," she spoke softly, quickly pressing speaker so Horatio could hear what was going on in case it concerned him.

"Stella, it's Mac," Mac spoke grimly. "We found two sets of prints on things in Pavel's apartment, which is still being processed by the way. Pavel's prints were on a mace can and a taser and there was also a machine gun under the couch with prints on it that were not his. Those prints belonged to Jeffrey McKeen. As of last night, Jeffrey McKeen is in New York…"

Horatio suddenly couldn't hear anything else: he silently got up off of the bed, grabbed the emergency backpack off the floor that contained the journal from Emily, and locked himself in the nearby bathroom, unable and unwilling to listen to the rest of the conversation between Mac and Stella.

He had heard enough.


Jamaica Estates, Queens, New York

"You were careless. You were very, very careless, Jeffrey."

McKeen flinched at the sound of Thomas Wolfe's angry voice, but he tried to pretend like he hadn't heard it as he entered the office in the house that Thomas had picked for their meeting. He joined Thomas at the table and was swiftly greeted with a slap across the face. McKeen's eyes widened in shock as he gazed at Thomas Wolfe, who looked like an older version of both Ryan and Tommy Wolfe, but he also had greying hair and stormy eyes. Thomas was wearing a dark suit and red tie and black slip-on shoes and was seated at the table in an expensive looking disability scooter.

"The next words out of your mouth had better be 'I'm sorry,'" Thomas growled in a cold voice, glaring daggers at McKeen. "It's bad enough the men you hired in Miami to plant that bomb at that hotel made Tommy get hurt, but then you had to go attack Pavel LaRusso at his apartment last night with a machine gun that you got from some back-alley weapons dealer! There's no way I'm sending you to Miami by yourself! You'll screw it up!"

McKeen froze, but said nothing as Thomas silently opened a folder that was in front of him, "Besides, the person I got to go with you wants to go to Miami anyway to settle some unfinished business he has there," Thomas explained in an official voice. "He's a social worker, but he's also certified in weapons use."

"Why are you sending me to Miami with a social worker?!" McKeen asked in a shocked voice.

Thomas Wolfe scoffed before grabbing the folder off of the table and using his wheelchair to move away from the table, "Come with me," he replied coldly. "I'd like you to meet the social worker."

"I notice the wheelchair is new," McKeen replied in a concerned voice. "Is it getting harder to walk?"

Thomas scoffed, "My eldest son is in the hospital recovering from the bombing, but he still found time to order me a wheelchair on his second work phone that he had one of his juniors run to him," Thomas replied in a tired voice. "He made some calls and the chair showed up early this morning. I'm not getting any better and I don't have endless assistants given to me by the Bureau, so I am very grateful for this gift. Of course, I wouldn't need this thing at all if my daughter hadn't shot me…"

Sighing heavily, Thomas moved himself into a room that resembled a sitting room where an older version of Rick Stetler was seated on a plastic chair in front of a couch where a visibly pregnant Emily was sitting with a well-dressed Derek Stokes, "And how is everyone getting along in here?" Thomas asked as he smiled at them all. "Jeffrey McKeen, I believe you know Derek Stokes and Emily Yokas, but this other gentleman is someone you do not know…"

The older version of Rick Stetler suddenly rose from his chair with an amused expression on his face, "Rocky Valance," he spoke in a formal tone. "I'm a social worker and officially, I am overseeing the meeting between Derek Stokes and Emily Yokas as they discuss their child and their unborn baby. Faith Yokas-Miller was served notice last night that she has to allow Derek and Emily to meet to talk about their child under the supervision of a social worker. FBI Supervisor Wolfe has offered the use of his home for this meeting and Mister Valance was available to provide supervision…"

"My dad's a federal judge and set the whole thing up," Derek replied in a pleased voice, grinning.

McKeen frowned, deeply confused, "I don't normally question your judgment, Thomas, but I still don't understand this at all," he stated in a confused voice. "You want me to take this Rocky Valance to Miami with me why?"

"Did you know I was placed in foster care when I was a teenager?" Rocky suddenly asked in a somber voice, his happy expression gone. "My little sister and brother fed our mom and dad some lies that I was violent with them and they were believed. I was removed from the home and thrown in foster care, which is where I stayed until I was 18 years old. When I got out, I had absolutely nothing to my name, but I managed to get myself together, go to school, and build my life up from nothing. At times, though, I am still that scared, angry boy who was abandoned by my parents because his little sister and brother, Amanda and Ricky, decided to ruin his life…"

McKeen frowned at the names, as they suddenly seemed very familiar to him, as did Rocky's appearance, "My birth name is Rocky Stetler," he suddenly heard Rocky say firmly. "And I want to go to Miami to personally give my thanks to my baby brother, Ricky, for making my life a living hell with his lies."

For once in his life, Jeffrey McKeen found himself at a loss for what to say.

And then, somewhere in the distance, a phone suddenly rang.


Miami, Florida

"What's in the pack?"

Rick didn't respond, his eyes still on the bus, the car door that still lay in the street, and his now damaged car. A hand suddenly touched Rick's arm and he jumped, suddenly noticing Calleigh standing beside him, "My monitor and medicine for my Type 2 diabetes and snacks," he replied nervously. "I was getting it out of my trunk when that bus took the door off my car. I…I'm prone to hypoglycemic attacks and I could feel one coming on after I left my mother in her room. Do you need to process it? I pulled it out of the trunk as the accident happened."

Calleigh immediately looked worried, "No, but when I called the PD and said your car was involved, they said they were going to send IAB along with CSI, uniforms, and paramedics," she explained in a quiet voice. "Your breath, by the way, smells fruity…"

Nodding, Rick silently slipped across the road into the park and quickly found the park bathroom, which he locked himself in. He checked his blood sugar and found it low. Cursing quietly, Rick took a dose of his medication and made some notes on his phone about the incident so he could mention it to his doctor the next time he found time to see them. As he was cleaning up the area and putting his things back in his backpack, he heard a knock at the door.

Figuring someone wanted to use the bathroom, Rick unlocked and opened the door and was annoyed to see Tim on the other side of it, "I was arriving to the scene when I saw you run off into the park," Tim spoke quietly. "Calleigh said…"

"If you need to see the medication, it's prescribed," Rick replied coldly. "Or do you need to process the pack after all?"

Tim shook his head and Rick silently came out into the park, "Walter and Natalia are processing the bombing evidence, and Calleigh's started on the scene, so if you're okay to work, I need your help. IAB is here and wants your statement about what you were doing before the crash."

"I was running a personal errand in the area when the crash happened," Rick replied coldly, wanting to protect his parents. "Nothing illegal."

Tim raised an eyebrow, "Look, Sergeant Stetler, I'm trying to offer you a little grace before IAB talks to you, but you have to be honest with me in order for me to actually give you that grace," he replied in a slightly annoyed tone.

"I was visiting my parents at their assisted living facility," Rick replied softly. "It's nearby."

Tim nodded, silently deciding that such a revelation wasn't worth getting upset or even making a report over, and gestured for Rick to follow him back to the tape, which Rick did. By that point, uniformed police, paramedics, and city workers were there along with Tripp, Calleigh, and Walter. Rick could also see Eric in the distance, quietly talking with Pavel as Pavel lay on a gurney being examined by Dr. Loman and a paramedic, "I thought Delko was suspended?" Rick asked.

"Pavel was speaking in Russian," Tim explained softly. "Delko knows Russian and Detective Caine…"

A throat cleared and Tim and Rick turned to see Robert standing there pocketing his phone, "Detective Caine has to oversee the portion of the incident that involved an officer," Robert spoke firmly. "When I didn't see you here…"

"I was taking my diabetes medication in the bathroom that's in the park across the street," Rick explained quietly. "I was starting to feel off while I was running my errand and I probably need something to eat soon, but I'll be all right for a bit longer."

Robert nodded, "And your errand was authorized by Detective Speedle, Sergeant Stetler?" he asked sternly.

"I authorized it, yeah," Tim replied in a concerned voice. "The suspect he was going to interview at CSI needed some cooldown time in a cell and I said he could run his errand."

Robert frowned and Tim sighed, "My brother, Tony, was caught snooping in Tommy Wolfe's hospital room by Detective Trip and Detective Flack and delivered to CSI," Tim explained in a distressed voice. "Tony was hostile, threatened Sergeant Stetler, and it was decided that Tony could rest in a cell for a bit, but Detective Tripp thinks he may be associated with the bombing."

"All this crap had to happen while my uncle was away," Robert muttered darkly, sighing heavily. "All right, Rick, what was this errand you were on that ended like this?"

Rick sighed tiredly and was about to reply when Eric suddenly came over to them, "Um, Detective Caine, Pavel LaRusso is asking for you and the paramedics are also getting ready to take him, but he's speaking Russian," Eric explained in a concerned voice. "Walter and Calleigh have tried talking to him in English, but he's not responding to either of them and he keeps looking to me because I can speak Russian. I know you also know Russian and I can leave you to it if you want…"

"Did any of you page CSI Wolfe, by chance?" Robert asked sternly. "He's on duty today, right?"

Tim sighed irritably, "Ryan was staying at my house last night at Emily's insistence and she said they were going to run errands and look at schools for the kids," he replied in an annoyed voice as he pulled out his phone. "I don't know why he's not at work, but I am gonna find out. Excuse me while I call him."

As Tim moved away to make his call, Robert looked at Rick, "My parents live in a care facility in the area," Rick explained quietly. "They called this morning needing my help with my parents, so I secured my evidence, got permission, and came here, but Delko and Duquesne were in the area too and decided to spy on me. Delko tried to apologize, but I didn't want to hear it…"

"I didn't know yours and Amanda's parents were still living," Robert replied in a shocked voice.

Rick sighed, "My mother's in a dementia unit and my father's in an Extendicare unit in the same care centre, but his memory and mobility are both shaky along with his breathing," he explained grimly. "They don't know about you or your kids or my kids and they don't know that Amanda is dead. They think I'm dating Catherine and working in the lab with Grissom and that Amanda is single and working…that is, when they are lucid and having good days. I don't think they even know they're in Florida half the time."

Rick fell quiet, a tired, lost expression on his face and Eric frowned, but Robert sighed heavily, trying to process this information and deal with Pavel's sudden reappearance at the same time. Finally, after several seconds, he sighed and looked at Eric.

"Delko, please go with Pavel to the hospital and stay there until I can call Pavel's mother and sister or get there myself," Robert spoke firmly. "Rick, when Speedle gets Wolfe out here, I want you to go back to the lab and have something to eat and interview Speedle's brother. Natalia is at the lab if you need help. She's doing better, but I'd prefer she stay out of the field as much as possible during her pregnancy…"

Tim suddenly came back looking extremely concerned and annoyed, "Ryan didn't answer his phone when I called, so I asked Dispatch to keep paging him so I can focus on this scene," he explained in a concerned voice. "Whatever he and Emily are actually up to, I have no idea about, but do you think Jeffrey McKeen has something to do with Pavel LaRusso looking the way he does? That could mean trouble for Doctor Pride…"

Robert suddenly looked annoyed, "All right," he replied firmly, realizing that Tim had a point. "New plan. Rick, I will drive you back to the PD myself and you can have a snack during the drive. While you interview Speedle's brother at the lab, I need to have a very important conversation with Detective Flack. Let's get going Rick. Speedle, if Wolfe shows up here, tell him he'd better find me as soon as he gets to the lab. He and I need to have a conversation."

"That makes two of us that need to talk with Ryan," Tim replied darkly, trying Ryan's number again as Robert led Rick away. "Come on, Ryan, where are you?"


The sound of a beeper going off and a ringing cell-phone jolted Ryan from the sleep he had been in since Alexx had taken his blood. She had advised him to rest while she put a rush on his bloodwork and Ryan had chosen to take her advice rather than slip off to work and risk fainting at the lab again or passing out in the field.

Deeply irritated that he had been roused from sleep, Ryan looked over to the table where he had left his things and saw that Emily was already checking his phone, "Tim's calling," she explained, giving him a concerned look. "Do you want me to answer it?"

Ryan, however, looked worried, "Do you think the drugs McKeen and those Russians gave me when they were torturing Sofa and I did this?" he asked in a worried, groggy voice. "It was last December and I thought I had gotten it all out of my system, but maybe it did something like reactivate dormant cancer cells. Carlos is still a baby, Emily. He's already lost his mother…"

Emily quickly set the ringing phone back on the table and sat on the bed next to Ryan, unsurprised when Ryan cuddled against her and began to cry quietly for several minutes.

Eventually, Ryan quieted and sighed, "I'm probably going to get fired after today because I'm absent from work and not answering pages," he spoke tiredly. "Tim's nice, but he's probably going to be disappointed in me for blowing off work and lying to him."

Loud sirens suddenly filled the air and Ryan sighed tiredly, frowning as paramedics suddenly rushed in with a badly injured young man on a gurney. As the paramedics turned off towards a trauma room with the gurney, Alexx returned with a chart, a hospital gown, and a blanket.

Fear immediately filled Ryan's eyes, but he tried to be brave as he looked at Alexx, who could immediately tell that her former colleague was scared and trying to hide it, "We have to do some more tests, Ryan," Alexx explained gently, handing him the gown and the blanket. "And you'll need to wear these for the tests. Your blood's still being tested, but I'd like to do a physical now. The way you've been so tired makes me want to look a little deeper…"

"Um, Alexx, do you think the drugs McKeen and those Russians gave me when they were torturing Sofa and I did this?" Ryan asked in a worried, groggy voice. "It was last December and I thought I had gotten it all out of my system, but maybe it did something like reactivate dormant cancer cells. I..."

Alexx frowned, "You can tell me more about that while I'm doing a physical on you," she replied in a concerned voice. "I'll just get a nurse and come back. Change into that gown and take everything else off."

Emily got up off the bed and immediately began pulling the curtain to give Ryan privacy while he changed, but Ryan simply sat there for a moment, deep in shock about having to have more tests. Finally, after a moment, Ryan got up to undress and as he watched Alexx go, he noticed Eric walk into the ER and pause at the admit desk briefly before looking around as if he was looking for someone specific.

Suddenly, Ryan found his gaze meeting Eric's and Eric froze, his expression full of shock as he took in the hospital gown and blanket in Ryan's hands and the hospital bracelet on Ryan's wrist. As Eric began to wonder what exactly he was looking at, Emily pulled the curtain past Ryan, blocking him from view and then noticed Eric for herself. Emily was not at all surprised when Eric came over to her looking very worried, as she knew Eric cared about Ryan, but also wondered if Eric had been sent there looking for Ryan because he wasn't at work.

"Eric," Emily spoke in a nervous voice. "What are you doing here? Is the lab looking for Ryan?"

Eric frowned, "Yeah, Speed's been paging him and calling him, but Detective Caine sent me here to serve as a translator for Pavel LaRusso cause Pavel was found coming off a bus in Little Havana a bit ago and rushed here with bad injuries," he explained worriedly. "I'm still suspended for what I said to Stetler, but Detective Caine can't get here right away because he's driving Stetler to the lab. Stetler's car was wrecked by the same bus Pavel was found coming off of…"

The curtain suddenly pulled back and Ryan, who was now in the gown and sitting on the bed under the blanket while holding his clothes in his hand, stared at Eric with wide eyes, "Pavel LaRusso?" Ryan asked in a nervous voice, not even caring that Eric was there. "Eric, Pavel LaRusso was one of the people who helped Jeffrey McKeen kidnap Horatio and take him to Vegas, but Pavel himself avoided charges by testifying about his part and also gave the feds intel on McKeen's part. It's been in the news…"

A pained, anxious scream suddenly filled the emergency room and Eric quickly turned the recording device on that was on his phone as he did at the scene when he had been talking in Russian to Pavel to try and get information out of him. Just a moment later, an anxious Pavel came staggering into the main part of the ER still in his bloody clothes and holding his side and looking extremely scared. A nurse was following close behind him. Pavel immediately spotted Eric and began speaking in Russian to the point where he was crying. Eric's eyes narrowed slightly, but he nodded and responded in Russian.

"CSI Delko, can you please help us?" the nurse suddenly called out, recognizing Eric. "We were about to cut his clothes off of him to examine his wounds when he suddenly woke after passing out in the ambulance, started screaming, ripped his mask off, and came out here. We don't have a translator…"

Ryan frowned, "What's Pavel saying, Eric?" he asked uneasily. "He seems pretty scared."

"Pavel is saying 'Jeffrey McKeen attacked me at my apartment last night and I barely escaped with my life, but he is angry and not done hurting people," Eric translated. "He also says that 'I don't want to be hurt anymore. I just want my family: my mama, Anya, and Bobby. I ran away from New York on a plane to find them.'"

Crying weakly, Pavel sunk to his knees and whimpered while continuing to hold his side, "Someone needs to call New York and tell them Pavel's here," Eric spoke in a concerned voice. "They might already know about his apartment."

Pavel suddenly nodded and winced, understanding what Eric was saying, "…I called…I called ze police…from ze plane," he managed to say weakly in English. "Ze apartment…has cameras…"

The nurse, horrified by what she had heard, gently moved into Pavel's view and knelt down next to him, "I am tired," Pavel spoke softly. "I vant to rest…so very much."

Without warning, Pavel promptly passed out on the floor and as the nurse called for the trauma team, Eric shut the recording device off and looked at Ryan questioningly, "What are you doing here and in a hospital gown?" Eric asked in a concerned voice. "Speedle's been paging you and phoning you."

Just then, a mess of doctors, nurses, and Alexx arrived. Most of the crowd turned their attention on Pavel, but Alexx and one of the nurses came over to Ryan, "Eric, if you need access to a kit, mine's in my car," Ryan spoke nervously, pointing to his keys on the table. "We brought it from Tim's house this morning so Tim would think I was going to eventually show up at work. I don't think that's happening, though. I, um, have to get some further tests…"

Eric froze, "Further tests for what?" he asked in a concerned voice, suddenly feeling very protective of his friend who had already been through a lot.

"I'm not sure yet," Ryan replied simply. "I've passed out twice in the last two days, though, and I've felt really tired lately. I already lied to Horatio about it and now I've lied to Tim about it. Now that I've heard Jeffrey McKeen's still alive and attacking people, I'm more scared than I was before…"

Alexx frowned, "Isn't that the man who killed your wife and Carlos's mother, Ryan?" she asked in a concerned voice, suddenly feeling very worried for her former colleague. "What…?"

"Delko, when you're done with Pavel, can you please get someone to go check on Tommy, Nick Stokes, and Grissom?" Ryan asked in a tired voice. "They're all here and I don't feel well enough to go running all over the hospital. I can barely sit up right now. I just need to be here right now."

Eric frowned, but he nodded and took Ryan's keys with him to get Ryan's kit so he could collect Pavel's things, "Emily, why don't you get a cup of tea or something while I'm getting examined?" Ryan suggested nervously even though he really didn't want to be alone with his fear.

Emily, however, could tell that Ryan was terrified and so she shook her head, "I'm not leaving until you're ready to leave," she replied firmly, grabbing hold of his now shaking hand. "I'm here for you, Ryan."


Jamaica Estates, Queens, New York

"Who are you texting now, McKeen?" Thomas Wolfe's voice filled the air in a dark tone. "You better not be harassing Carlos Nieto again. I'll break your hand this time!"

McKeen, who had excused himself to the kitchen after Thomas had left the living room to take an emergency call from one of the many agents he oversaw, looked up from his phone in shock, "How do you even know about that?" he asked in a shocked voice. "Are you psychic?"

"No!" Thomas hissed darkly, glaring daggers at McKeen. "Carlos's phone was analyzed at the New York Crime Lab after you sent your last text to him and I got a call from Jo Danville about it! She wanted details on the situation between Bernard Marquez and Carlos Nieto that only the FBI had, as everything was turned over to the bureau chief down there due to the nature of the crimes. I told Jo that the FBI also did not have the resources to reexamine that case because of staffing and budget issues, but I did not want Tommy having to work from his sickbed! If you keep it up, though…!"

McKeen scoffed, "Bernard was my friend and he let himself be euthanized by that stupid paramedic!" he hissed angrily. "Carlos should be in jail for murder, not walking the streets of New York!"

"If you need collateral to get to Rick Stetler safely, take Carlos Nieto with you," Thomas Wolfe replied simply. "I don't care. Just don't create a ruckus that will stop Derek and Emily from doing what I need them to do during the trial."

A throat suddenly cleared as Rocky Stetler-Valence suddenly entered the room, "I couldn't help but overhear your discussion, gentlemen," he spoke in a smooth voice. "About Carlos Nieto?"

"I need collateral to get me out of New York," McKeen explained darkly. "Carlos Nieto is a paramedic who euthanized my best friend, Bernard Marquez, but nothing ever happened to Carlos. He was set free. He killed a man and got away with it…"

Thomas smirked, "The FBI is quite aware of Carlos Nieto's connection to Bernard Marquez and there is plenty of evidence that suggests he is guilty of murder and a danger to his family," he explained in an amused voice. "Perhaps social worker Rocky Valence could make Carlos aware of the fact that his past indiscretion hasn't been forgotten by the authorities and the FBI will of course support you with the appropriate documentation. Once Carlos is alone, Jeffrey, you can grab him for your little trip."

"Perhaps I could also recommend the children be placed with Danielle and Maurice Boscorelli and have no contact with Nieto pending an investigation," Rocky offered softly. "I happen to know that John Boscorelli is participating in Horatio Caine's trial and if the Boscorelli's are busy fostering Nieto's children, they won't be able to give as much attention to the trial or what you plan to do there. I'm the director of my office, so pretty much what I say goes. I think the idea would work."

Thomas Wolfe suddenly looked very pleased, "See, Jeffrey, this is why I want Rocky to go with you to Miami," he stated in an amused voice, grinning as he gestured at Rocky. "He has connections and brains that you do not have. If you just settle down and work with Rocky instead of seeing him as an adversary, you will be much more successful at capturing Rick Stetler like I want you to. I want you to go by boat at night and wait for my signal before you do anything."

Before McKeen or Rocky could reply, Thomas moved himself back into the living room and the two men followed, "Derek, Emily, I am more than happy to help you have the family that you want, but I need you to help with a little favor first," McKeen suddenly spoke in a firm voice. "Disrupt the upcoming trial. I don't care if you have to kill Caine and John Boscorelli…"

"Won't you be there yourself?" Derek asked in a confused voice. "I thought you said you were going to be…"

McKeen scoffed, hating that Derek's brain tumor and treatment medication had messed with him so badly that he was beginning to struggle cognitively, "Emily Yokas will provide the distraction that you need to do what I ask. Now then, let me explain how things are going to go down that day."

Rocky and Thomas, meanwhile, retreated to Thomas's private office to begin hammering out the resources they would need to isolate Carlos Nieto from help so that McKeen would be able to use him as collateral to escape New York without trouble. Their first action would be to contact a federal judge with their concerns and get that judge to sign off on an order that would create chaos for Carlos.

And Federal Judge Bill Stokes just happened to be in the city already.


Miami, Florida

"A biopsy?"

Alexx nodded, "I found swollen nodes in your neck, armpits, and your groin during the physical," she replied in a concerned voice as she sat on Ryan's gurney in the hospital emergency room. "I'm going to check your blood results and also get a urine sample. If the results there look weird, I'm going to schedule you for a biopsy. If I need to, I can see if I can get you in later today…"

"Should I take a walk to try and wake up a bit while I wait for the test results?" Ryan asked softly. "I'm obviously not going to work, as Eric took my keys to borrow my kit, but can I go visit my brother or Nick or Grissom for a bit? You have my cell and can call me when you have the test results…"

Alex handed him a urine sample cup, "Fill that and then you can go around visiting in a wheelchair and only if Emily takes you," she replied firmly, frowning at him. "I don't want you walking around by yourself in case you have another issue. In fact, have her take you to the bathroom and she better stay with you the whole time. If you faint again, I'm admitting you indefinitely."

Ryan nodded as Alexx quickly got him a wheelchair and Emily helped him into it before getting his pants and socks. Emily also stayed with him as he completed his urine sample in the bathroom, holding him up as he stood at the bathroom urinal as a precaution, but she closed her eyes to give him what privacy she could under the circumstances. After the cup was full and Ryan had washed his hands repeatedly due to his anxiety over the situation causing his OCD to flare up, Emily and Ryan brought the sample back to Alexx and she took it while Emily helped Ryan get his pants, socks, and shoes back on, which was difficult because his lack of energy made it hard for him to stand.

If the cancer had come back and the methamphetamines McKeen had given him were part of the reason he was sick again, Ryan thought silently, he couldn't help but be angry at the entire Las Vegas Crime Lab except for Greg because Greg was giving him and Sofia a ride to the hospital when they had been carjacked. Ryan also felt extremely sorry for John Boscorelli, as both Greg and John had suffered because Vegas had been too concerned with Clavo Cruz's diplomatic immunity to act quickly to help Ryan, Sofia, and John as quickly as they should have. Grissom, Catherine, Nick, Ecklie, and everyone else had moved at a snail's pace. Ryan suddenly winced as he remembered how McKeen had been able to taser him repeatedly, waterboard him, beat him, and also drug him with amphetamines and the entire thing had been broadcast to the lab on a live feed…

"Ryan?"

Ryan suddenly shuddered, "I was just thinking about what happened in Vegas," he replied softly, exhaling weakly. "I can't do that. It's going to make my anxiety even worse than it already is right now and I've been skipping my meds…"

Ryan's beeper suddenly went off again and before he realized what he was doing, he grabbed the beeper off of the table, swore loudly, and threw it on the floor. It shattered into a million pieces almost instantly, "Ryan!" he heard Emily shout before he felt himself suddenly being embraced from behind, a hold that was gentle, but strong enough to pin his arms at his sides. "Ryan, it's Emily. You're not in Vegas. You're at Jackson Hospital in Miami. You need to take a deep breath and say "I'm calm" before I let you go, all right? Do you understand me, Ryan?"

Tears filled Ryan's eyes as he realized that he broke his work beeper because he had allowed his mind to drift to dark memories that he had been trying to work through with Dr. Higgins and his anger from those memories had made him act out in public. He obviously needed more sessions and to also discuss his sudden health issues with his therapist if he was having PTSD attacks in public. Usually, his attacks were smaller and at home and Tommy was always there to snap him out of it, but he wasn't now. Since the bombing, Ryan had been managing his PTSD poorly by skipping meals whenever he felt anxious, including that morning's, as well as his OCD medication. Since Tommy wasn't around to remind him about eating and meds and staying calm and Jason was not capable of doing more than helping with Carlos and Emilio, Ryan felt lost. It was then that he realized he was still being pinned in place by Emily and knew she had done that to keep him from hurting himself or others while lost in his PTSD.

"I'm calm," Ryan said in a pained, highly distressed voice, sighing heavily as Emily released him and sat on the bed facing him. "And I'm sorry. I usually have Tommy around to remind me about meds and rest and meals. When I came back to Miami after Sofia's death, the PD made me meet with a social worker and a psychologist and all these recommendations were given to me that I try and live with family for a while and get their help raising Carlos, so that's why we ended up staying with Tommy. I'm just so pissed off at the crime lab in Vegas, especially when McKeen tried to kill me and Tommy at the hospital after Sofia died. There were no security guards for us even though Grissom promised there would be. We could have both been killed. I should really tell Nick and Grissom about Jeffrey McKeen attacking Pavel LaRusso in New York and Pavel escaping to Miami, but I don't know if I'm in the right frame of mind to see Nick, Grissom, or even Tommy right now. I'm actually getting a little tired again…"

Emily nodded and got up off the bed, "I argue with Tommy whenever the subject of Grissom comes up, as he thinks I spend too much time with him and have forgiven him for what happened, but I'm not sure I actually have," Ryan spoke anxiously, his expression suddenly filling with sadness as he continued sitting in the wheelchair. "And he's never asked for it. Nobody has ever asked for my forgiveness, so I haven't been sure how to process everything. Being sick and having to be in the hospital, though, is making me anxious and think about why I'm raising a kid alone. It's making me think about how I lost my wife and how I need to figure out how I feel about it because I really don't know. Or maybe I just need some rest and to learn how to take care of myself and Carlos and my job alone instead of stop being a leech and a burden on everyone. God, I'm so overwhelmed right now."

Tears filled Ryan's eyes and he shuddered before covering his eyes with his hand and proceeding to cry quietly. Unknown to her, Eric had finished collecting Pavel's clothes and evidence from Pavel using Ryan's kit and he was on his way to return Ryan's car keys when he had seen and overheard Ryan's angry breakdown. He stood there for a moment, silently watching as Emily got behind Ryan and began to gently rub his shoulders while talking to him gently. A few moments later, Emily helped Ryan out of the wheelchair and back on to the gurney, continuing to talk to him as she tucked him in and he lay facing the visitor's chair. As Ryan drifted off to sleep hugging the blanket, Emily sat in the chair and quietly watched him.

Swallowing hard, Eric silently dropped the car keys on the portable table, but Ryan didn't wake and Emily didn't notice him, so Eric quietly moved away. As Eric left the ER, he made a mental note to find someone trustworthy to talk to about Ryan's situation, as it was clear that Ryan needed support.


Miami-Dade Crime Lab

The ride back to the lab was quiet, as Rick busied himself with his diabetic-friendly snack and thinking of how he was going to try and bribe Delko and Duquesne to keep quiet about his parents to others, especially Horatio. It was bad enough that he had to tell Robert and Speedle about his parents, as he had real problems with anyone in Miami law enforcement knowing that he had a personal life at all and that he had responsibilities other than his son. His parents were not very elderly, but life had taken its toll on them and some of his activities for the FBI had been less than safe, so he was very careful about keeping as much of his life private as he could in case he faced retaliation. He would rather take the consequences alone than risk Catherine, Lindsey, Lenny, or his parents lives. Robert, meanwhile, was focused on trying to drive and also focused on trying to figure out how he could help Rick with his and Amanda's parents now that he knew they were alive, as it was obvious Rick was exhausted from shouldering that responsibility, his job, Lenny, and caring for Lindsey from a distance alone.

As they arrived at the PD, however, Rick quickly got himself and his pack out of the truck, "Rick, we need to talk," Robert spoke quickly, getting over to him before he could run away. "How can I help you with yours and Amanda's parents? I was married to Amanda and I didn't even know about them."

"Amanda didn't even know what day it was half the time because she became mentally ill in her late teens, but she got on meds as an adult because you met her and married her and got her help she needed through your NYPD insurance," Rick replied anxiously, sighing heavily. "My mother has early on-set dementia that has progressed to the point where she needs a locked unit and my father needs a wheelchair, has breathing problems, and enough cognitive struggles that make me be very careful about who I bring around them. My parents do not and will not ever have the cognitive ability to understand that you are Amanda's husband and that she is dead. They certainly won't be able to be introduced to any of the kids. I am actually extremely worried about what kind of long-term impact that Delko and Duquesne's little spy mission will have on them! They were fine in the moment, but…honestly…"

Robert sighed, "I'll have words with them about invading your privacy, but have you thought about how you're going to explain this to my uncle when he returns from New York?" he asked in a concerned voice. "You're not going to be able to lie to him or sneak off from work to do personal errands like you did today."

"I really don't know," Rick admitted in a pained voice, his expression anxious. "Maybe I'll just blow this job like I blew my position in IAB. Does Horatio even give a crap whether I'm here or not?"

Robert gave Rick a look, "Yes he does and so do I, and don't think I am keeping the information about your parents a secret from Natalia," he replied firmly. "I can understand you don't want to overwhelm your parents with new people and information, but you are clearly overwhelmed taking care of them all by yourself. We're going to figure out a way to help you without disrupting…Rick!"

Irritated that he was being treated like he couldn't handle his own life, Rick had walked off into the PD before Robert had finished speaking and didn't stop moving until he was at the holding cells in the lab searching for Tony Speedle. Once he had found Tony's cell, he gestured for the uniform guarding the door to bring Tony to an interview room and the officer reluctantly obeyed even though there was no sign of Speedle and everyone in the lab knew, thanks to community gossip, that Rick was required to work under supervision until Horatio returned from New York.

After Rick and Tony were settled at the table with the recorder running, the officer immediately went to find somebody because he wasn't sure if Rick was breaking protocol or not. Rick, meanwhile, scowled at Tony.

"You were careless, Tony," Rick spoke in a quiet voice, sighing tiredly. "It's bad enough that you and Jill came up with that gift basket idea to deliver your boss's emergency cell-phone to him, but then you went back today and got arrested. Do you mind telling me why you went back today after I told you to leave him alone once he had his emergency phone?"

Tony scoffed darkly, "I got a call from a former agent in New York named Jo Danville because a guy named Carlos Nieto, who is famous nationally for euthanizing master criminal Bernard Marquez after being tortured by Dimitri LaRusso, got a threatening message on his phone and Jo wanted me to see if any surviving associates of Marquez might have sent the threat to Nieto," he explained. "I tried to talk to my boss about it, but I was caught and arrested instead. I know you've done a lot of undercover work for Dennis Sackheim and Agent Wolfe, but…"

"Dennis Sackheim was a piece of crap with no integrity," Rick interrupted darkly. "And Agent Wolfe is not known as an active bureau chief. He is known as a former race car driver, maintenance man, owner of some casinos, and someone who was cleared of charges after having a mental breakdown. He doesn't want to tell his family or his friends that he is in the FBI...that his worthless, piece of crap father forced him into that lifestyle when he was just 18 years old."

Tony again scoffed, "You better watch how you talk about the New York bureau chief, Stetler," he hissed darkly. "If you cross him…"

"How are you even still in the service, Speedle?" Rick interrupted in an annoyed voice. "You and Jill seem to be the most incompetent FBI agents I have ever met in my life. Even worse than Sackheim! Since you're not able to report back to Jo Danville, she'll probably report to your boss and you'll get crap for blowing your assignment. You might have even blown Tommy Wolfe's cover with your stupidity. It's bad enough you fell in love with Jill Adams after she was assigned out here to work under Tommy Wolfe after she screwed up trying to find Horatio Caine. She was supposed to infiltrate Gil Grissom's pilot project and use the Vegas lab's resources to help the FBI, but her snotty attitude got her kicked out instead! And you were too distracted to be of any help! If it weren't for John Boscorelli pulling what he did…"

"Colin Jamison kidnapped him to the ranch in the first place and was asked to 'quietly retire' for a stay in a mental hospital after his role in the whole thing came out, but you're berating me and Jill for the mission failing?" Tony asked, deeply mad.

Rick scowled, "If you idiots actually cared about Colin Jamison, you would have given him leave after his girlfriend in L.A. committed suicide instead of insisting that Jesse Cardoza be his partner on some street patrol rotations," he snarled. "Do you really think I wasn't made aware of that little fact, Tony? Cardoza and I discussed it when he came back to MDPD. He also mentioned how you and the rest of the FBI overruled CSI David Hodges' recommendation that Colin be given counseling and bereavement leave! And then you and the rest of your fed friends drummed Hodges out of L.A. and into Vegas! Jesse Cardoza actually had a lot to say about how you nitwits mucked up things for a lot of people!"

"You have a lot of nerve calling me a failure, Stetler, when you couldn't even keep hold of your position in IAB or your Level 3 status in the Las Vegas Crime Lab!" Tony snapped, slamming his hands on the table as he got up. "Do you forget that we know everything about your past? And I mean everything!"

Before Rick could reply, the uniformed officer returned with Detective Caine, Flack, Natalia, and Tripp, all of whom were shocked to see Tony on his feet and screaming at Rick while Rick was silently glaring daggers at him, but still seated at the table with the recording device within reach.

"I am done taking crap from you, Stetler, when you are in our pocket!" Tony shouted angrily, slamming his hands on the table again before gazing at the gathered crowd. "Field Agent Anthony Speedle Junior, Miami Division. Nice to meet you all."

Before anyone could reply, Tony silently produced his identification from his pocket, which included a badge, "Nice to see you again, Boa Vista," he spoke before anyone could. "How's the weather?"

All eyes were suddenly on Natalia and she sighed heavily, "What Tony Speedle is saying about being in the FBI is accurate, but Sergeant Stetler's not in your pocket, Tony," she replied in a stern voice, suddenly angry on Rick's behalf. "If you and the FBI actually gave a crap about the information he got for you, you wouldn't have delayed rescuing Lindsey from Brazil!"

"Excuse me?!" Rick shouted angrily, suddenly shooting to his feet and quite ready to strangle Tony Speedle with his bare hands. "The FBI knew Lindsey was in Brazil and did nothing to help her?!"

Tony scoffed, "She's not even yours, man, so why do you care how we treated her?!" he replied coldly. "We seized those DNA results from Boa Vista's computer, so we know all about how your kids have two different fathers! We track all your requests made through the lab in case they lead us to things we need!"

Enraged, Rick lunged at Tony, ready to kill him, but he was quickly grabbed by Robert and Flack, "My boss asked us to keep an eye on you from a distance because he felt Sackheim was too aggressive with you and what he asked of you," Tony continued in a dark voice.

"Is your boss Tommy Wolfe?" Tripp asked in a confused voice. "Is that why you were in his room twice? That's impossible. If Tommy Wolfe was FBI, he'd have a badge on him and it wasn't…"

Flack suddenly paled and slightly loosened his hold on Rick in the process, "He did," he revealed in a grim voice, shocked and angry about how all of this was going down. "I found it and spoke with Tommy Wolfe right after the bombing and before paramedics arrived. He asked me to lie for him."

The elevator door suddenly opened and just as Eric came in with Pavel's things, he noticed the tense gathering in the interview room. He walked over to the interview room just in time to see Flack sigh heavily, "…Natalia, go check the evidence from the bombing right now to verify Detective Flack's story, please," Robert spoke in a firm voice, his expression unusually furious. "Don…"

Flack, however, had a pained expression on his face and he speedwalked from the room without responding, "Don!" Robert called out, sighing heavily before he glared at Tripp. "Put Field Agent Anthony Speedle Junior back in holding right now, Frank! If the FBI want him back so bad, they can come get him out of jail! Once he's in holding, get over to the hospital. I want someone on Tommy Wolfe and I want that someone to be you! See if you can talk to him about all of whatever this is about! And where is Ryan Wolfe at?! I want to talk to him about all of this, and see if he knows…"

Tony swore as Frank took him by the arm and led him out of the interview room, "Our boss is going to eat you for lunch, Stetler!" Tony shouted as he was led away. "You just made a big mistake!"

Only when the room was empty did Robert release Rick and notice Eric in the hallway with a box of evidence, "I should really order you to go talk to someone about what just happened, but you'd probably ignore me and I really don't know how I'm going to explain all this in a report yet anyway," Robert spoke in a concerned voice. "I know you and Eric have had your problems, but can you please help him with that evidence he has? It's from Pavel LaRusso. You can't process your car, but you can process Pavel's stuff…can't you?"

"I'm not sure," Rick admitted grimly. "After today, the FBI might decide I need to be held accountable for everything they gave me a pass on while I was spying for them and send me back to jail. I'm not sure…"

Robert suddenly noticed the recorder and picked it up, pressing STOP on it as he did, "You know what?" he suggested. "Let me address this personally. I might be able to use this to keep you out of trouble with the FBI providing you keep your nose clean in this department. Now, back to my question about Eric. Can you please help him with the evidence he has? I need to talk to Detective Flack, deal with this, and then go find Ryan Wolfe..."

The door suddenly opened and Eric came in, having overheard Robert's comment about Ryan, "Um, Detective Caine, I actually need to talk to you about Ryan," he spoke in an uneasy voice. "I know where he is…"

Rick frowned at the uneasiness on Eric's face, "Ryan's not back gambling or playing spy games when he's supposed to be working, is he, Delko?" he asked sternly. "Or is something wrong with his sister that Speedle doesn't know about?"

Eric shook his head, "Um, there might be something wrong with Ryan, actually," he explained in a concerned voice as he looked at Rick and Robert. "When I was at the hospital getting info and evidence from Pavel LaRusso, I also saw Ryan in the emergency room and he was being looked after by Alexx and had his sister sitting with him. He was very scared and it looked like he had some blood drawn…"

Rick suddenly swore, slammed the table with his fist, and kicked the chair closest to him over, "That bastard Jeffrey McKeen nearly killed Ryan in Vegas and he killed his wife and now Ryan's got more consequences from that to deal with!" he shouted, his face full of rage. "You both know as well as I do that the amphetamines Ryan was given by McKeen may have reactivated his dormant cancer cells! If Vegas had actually done their job and not screwed around worrying about Clavo Cruz's immunity, Ryan would have never been dosed and his wife…!"

"The news was full of information about that, I remember," Eric mused grimly. "What can I do? I…I don't want Ryan to get fired over this."

Robert sighed heavily, "You've done the right thing by telling me and Sergeant Stetler, Eric," he spoke in a gentler voice. "Ryan might get a little bit of a talking to for dishonesty, but he is not going to be fired. I will, however, have to tell my uncle about this when he gets back so Ryan can have all the support he needs. For now, Eric, can you please go get started on the Pavel LaRusso evidence? We'll talk about what this means for your current status later. Rick…"

Eric quickly left, shocked that Rick had gotten so angry in defense of Ryan, "First of all, stop smashing up the lab's furniture or I will put you on report for it," Robert spoke in a concerned voice. "Second, I want you to go to the hospital and get a status update from Ryan. Do not go looking for Nick Stokes or Gil Grissom. I don't care how badly you want to beat them up. Focus on being a support to Ryan."

Before Rick could reply, Natalia came into the room carrying an evidence bag and frowned upon noticing the broken table and displaced chair, "I found this in evidence," Natalia revealed, holding up a bag for Rick and Robert to see, a bag that contained a badge and ID identifying Thomas Wolfe Jr. as a FBI Special Agent in charge of Miami-Dade County. "Looks like he really is…"

"And I'm as good as dead once news of this whole mess gets back to Tommy's supervisor!" Rick snapped irritably, glaring at Robert and Natalia. "Just how exactly am I supposed to get back to the hospital? My rental car was wrecked by the bus Pavel LaRusso came off of, remember? It's now evidence and I'll be on the hook for it! I've already got one car stuck in evidence from what I did…!"

Robert sighed softly, "Let me find out when Speedle and the others will be back from the scene and then maybe someone can take you to see Ryan or I'll see if I can't get you a cab," he replied calmly. "Before I let you go, though, I need you to cool your jets a bit. Go help Delko with the evidence for a little bit and try to get along with him, please."

Rick silently left the room and Robert looked at Natalia worriedly, "How are you and the baby holding up, Talia?" he asked in a concerned voice, gently embracing her and resting his hands on her stomach. "I'd stay and cuddle with you a bit, but I have to go locate Donnie and make sure he's all right and then I have to deal with the mess Tony Speedle has created. I really wish my uncle was here to help…"

"I'm a bit tired, but I'm taking it easy and sitting as much as possible," Natalia replied gently, relaxing into the warmth of his body. "Do you want me to help you with the Tony Speedle situation? I still know people in the Bureau…"

Robert sighed heavily, "I'd appreciate your help, but do it discreetly," he replied in a quiet voice. "If something happens because of Tony Speedle's outburst, I don't want you or any of our kids in the line of fire. It's bad enough Rick thinks he's going to die now that this has happened. I promised Amanda I'd look after her baby brother if something ever happened to her and now I don't know if I'll be able to…"

"I'll put this back in Evidence and make some calls while I work," Natalia spoke softly, gently pulling out of the embrace because she knew if she didn't he would stand there forever and not do his job. "I love you."

Robert smiled, "Love you, Talia," he replied, feeling warm all over as she silently left.

Sighing heavily, Robert left the interview room and went to the lab's nap room, deeply relieved when he saw his friend laying on his assigned bed facing the wall. Dr. Pride was sitting on her assigned bed across the room, silently writing in her journal and also watching Flack with great concern.

"Donnie?" Robert called out in concern as he approached his friend's bed. "Donnie, you awake?"

Quiet sniffling suddenly filled the air, "I screwed up by not being honest in what Tommy Wolfe and I talked about," Flack wept. "I screwed up bad, Bobby, and Boscorelli's gonna nail me to the wall for it."

Robert silently sat on the bed beside Flack's bed, "I don't think anyone will nail you to the wall as long as long as you're honest about everything from this point forward," he spoke with an uncertainty in his voice. "I'm not sure if you were intimidated to keep quiet about that or not, but…"

Sadness filled Flack's eyes as he sat up and faced his friend, "He said he had been in it since he was 18 because of his father and he also told me to check his ID if I didn't believe him," he explained in a shaky voice. "He also said he was on his phone with his father just before coming to the bar and I can confirm that. The walls in that place were so thin that I heard them talking. All I managed to tell Lieutenant Caine is that Tommy and I were talking in the bar before the bomb went off…"

Flack suddenly winced as pain suddenly shot through his healing body, "The doctor who had me admitted overnight for observation and fluids said I'd feel it for a while even though I only got bad bruises," he replied softly. "And that's what happened back when I was trying to tell your uncle that Tommy told me things, but if I shared them, it would put Tommy in danger. Everything's sort of fuzzy after that. I barely remember being processed at the lab or getting put in here or being in the hospital. This is the first day I've really been able to think clearly. The trial's coming up in days and Dr. Pride's testimony is needed there. I've got to get her back to New York and then maybe take some time off and put myself in a psych ward for a few days. I'm really not doing very well right now and all of this…"

Compassion filled Robert's eyes and he nodded, "I'll see if I can get your stuff bumped up a bit in evidence and then get you and Dr. Pride on a late plane once it's been processed," he replied softly.

"All I need is my wallet so I have ID to get on the plane," Flack replied in a tired voice, his expression forlorn. "I don't care about the rest. Burn it for all I care once it's processed. I'm just so tired."

Nodding, Robert patted Flack on the shoulder, but Flack pulled away and laid back down with his back to him. Deeply concerned for his friend, Robert silently left the room to see if he could get his friend's wallet out of evidence quickly so the man could go home and get the help he was talking of needing.