| Rebound Episode 16 |
| ** Richard Daniels sat outside Joe's house in his car, watching as Inger and Lucia came outside. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed. ''Lieutenant Dominguez,'' Joe waited for someone to reply. ''Hello?" Joe looked over to Nash across his desk. "Good morning, Joe. You're wife and daughter are looking lovely today. Too bad you didn't kiss them good-bye.'' Daniels laughed into the phone, ''maybe they'll be here when you get back, maybe they won't'.'' ''Stay away from them, you hear me?" Joe didn't know how much more he could take from Daniels. The case was really getting to him now. Daniels had gone too far. "That all depends on you, Lieutenant.'' Daniels plotted his every move based on what Joe did in retaliation for his previous acts. ''The ball is in your court." ''Get the hell off my property," Joe didn't know exactly where Daniels was, but he was too close to Inger and Lucia for Joe's comfort. ''Like I said, Lieutenant, the ball is in your court --- but the match will be mine." Daniels turned off the phone and drove away, waiting for Joe and the rest of the SIU team to make their next move. It was nearly time for a final showdown. "What did he say?" Nash looked over to Joe curiously, hoping Daniels would've said something to give himself away. ''He said the ball was in my court, but he'd ultimately win the match.'' Joe was worried about what was yet to come, there was no way to predict what Daniels was capable of doing. "In other words, he's running out of ideas and he wants us to give him some." Nash thought a minute, "let's get back to the SIU and see what we can do." Nash wasn't about to allow Daniels to ruin Joe's life. ** "Rachel, you're just who I'm looking for." Nash caught up with Rachel and draped his arm loosely around her shoulders. "I've got an idea, if Daniels doesn't show himself soon," Nash paused a moment, knowing what he was going to get himself into. "It's a last resort.'' "What is it?" Rachel could tell by Nash's reservations about the idea that she probably wouldn't like it. "Daniels is after Lucia and Inger now, but he hasn't given up on you that I know of." Nash really didn't want to pull Rachel back into the case like this, but he was running out of options. "Because of what happened at the school?" Rachel knew that she had made a life-long enemy of Daniels after the school incident. She hated to admit it, but she was afraid of what could happen to her if he got hold of her again. "Yes. You ruined his plan, more or less.'' Nash knew he was risking a lot by putting Rachel in, but she was the exact type of bait they needed to lure Daniels in. "So you want to use me to lure Daniels in, to set him up?" Rachel was already on to Nash's idea, and she really didn't like it. Risking her life once was bad enough, but twice was insanity. "Like I said, it's a last resort. We're getting desperate." Nash hated to ask Rachel to do this, but it was to ensure the safety of everyone. ** Daniels sat in his car, looking through Rachel's personal files from the SIU and Oakland General. Getting the files hadn't been a problem for him, all he had to do is ask the right person. He compared notes on the files, finding one interesting fact that stood out. "Inspector McCabe, I wonder what you'd think if I told Bill Chamberlain who you really are?" Daniels laughed, "I've got you now. You and Bill Chamberlain.'' ** ''Don't tell me you're actually taking a lunch break?" Harvey smiled as he watched Rachel gather up papers after shutting down her computer. ''I've got a meeting today.'' Harvey knew there wasn't a conference or any type of meeting at the SIU, so he figured it must be personal. He had an idea of who it might be with. ''With Scott?" Harvey guessed that's who she was meeting with, she had been trying to find him for the past few days. ''Yeah, I've got to see him sooner or later.'' Rachel had procrastinated all week, not wanting to tell him. She had nothing holding her back, it wasn't like Scott could take her to court now. "As soon as I get back, I'll follow up on today's sightings." Rachel knew she had plenty of work to keep her busy, but her visit to Scott couldn't be put off again. She had waited long enough. "Take your time, we've got all night." Harvey anticipated it was going to be a late night at the SIU. He didn't mind knowing that Rachel would be there as well to keep him company. "Like you had any other plans." Rachel laughed, knowing he had more of a social life than she did. "You might never find out." Harvey grinned from ear to ear, leading Rachel to wonder what he had up his sleeve. With Harvey, one never could tell what he'd think of next. Rachel grabbed Harvey's vest and pulled him in closer. "I could get it out of you." Harvey certainly hadn't been expected Rachel to do that, especially since they were in the view of others. Harvey fought the urge to kiss Rachel as the distance between them decreased. He resisted the temptation knowing Nash could be anywhere, and he wasn't sure they were ready to go that public yet. She glanced at her watch, "I should probably get going." The thought of spur of the moment romance had died, she was back to reality. "You're making the right decision, you know, by telling him." Harvey looked at Rachel as she slowly put her jacket on. He was happy she was finally going to tell Scott the truth, but worried about how Scott might react. "I hope so," she paused a moment, "maybe he has changed." Rachel wasn't hoping for a miracle, only a small show of compassion in regards to her decision. "Maybe." Harvey watched as she turned to walk towards the doors, he gets up from his desk to tell her one last thing. "Rachel?" She glances back, " yeah?" Harvey apprahces her and puts his arms gently around her. "I just wanted to tell you good luck." Rachel was a little surprised by Harvey's gesture, but smiled warmly at him in return. "Thanks, I need it." She runs her hand gently against his face and heads to the door. Rachel has put this off as long as she possibly could, its now time to go and confront her demons. ** "Joe, tell me what's going on with Richard?" Inger looked at Joe, her eyes full of concern. He had come home during his lunch break to check on Inger, this wasn't customary but he made himself feel better lately by doing so. ''Inger, I told you, we've got everything under control." Joe was trying his best to convince himself everything was under control. "No, Joe. If everything was okay, you wouldn't be like this. Joe, what's wrong?" Inger couldn't understand why Joe was keeping something from her. If there was a chance something could happen to her or Lucia, she had a right to know. ''I told you, I'll take care of this. I don't want you and Lucia to have to worry about Daniels. Just, just... be careful. Okay?" Joe couldn't bare the thought of anything happening to Inger or Lucia, Daniels would have to pay for the pain he has inflicted on them. ** "I'm here to see Dr. Scott Gray." Rachel waited nervously for a reply as she tapped her fingers on the counter. Her visits to Oakland General were becoming all too frequent these days. "Are you a patient?" the nurse asks her curiously, not recognizing her face. "No, an old..." Rachel stops herself before she can take that comment any further, "an old friend." She waits a moment, "from med school." "Oh, I see. He's not in, he's out of town." The nurse was surprised by Rachel's reply, normally Scott's old friends from med school knew what he was up to. This was a little odd. "Do you know when he'll be back?" Yet another delay in having to tell Scott the truth. Rachel didn't know whether she should be thrilled or angry at having to wait. "Right now he's overseas, than its back to the East Coast for a conference." The nurse checks Rachel's blank expression, "if it's important, I can pass on the message?" "I'd prefer to leave it myself." Rachel considered her options for a second, deciding this could wait no longer. "I really need to talk to him." "Hold on..." The nurse knew this was a message that couldn't wait and this woman had to contact Dr. Gray. Rachel waited anxiously for the nurst to return to the front station. "Here, this is his voicemail and address." "Thank you... very much." Rachel glanced down at the information and forced herself to smile back at the kind nurse. ** "I've got an idea, Joe." Joe looked up curiously at Nash's suggestion. He was willing to do just about anything to rid San Francisco of Daniels. "We use Rachel, as bait to get him in." "Nash, as much as I want to see this guy locked up forever --- do you really think we should do that?" Joe didn't want Rachel to have to suffer any more because of Daniels' personal vendetta against him. "What else can we do?" Nash had no other suggestions or ideas, this seemed to be the only way. "How can we do it, without jeopardizing her life again?" Joe didn't see a logical way about it, it seemed a constant threat. "I'm working on that.'' Nash paused, "this case is gonna end." ** "How did it go with Scott today?'' Harvey looked at Rachel across the table, surrounded by folders and boxes from their Chinese carry-out. He wanted to ask her earlier, but she seemed determine to dive into her work. "It didn't." Rachel really didn't want to get into it, there was nothing to tell. Scott wasn't there and now she'd have to wait to tell him. The secret she had kept for years would eat away at her till than. "It didn't go well?" Harvey wasn't sure what she had implied, he figured if it went that badly Rachel would've said something earlier. "He wasn't there, at Oakland General." Rachel didn't want to tell Harvey that she was glad she didn't have to confront Scott face to face just yet, but that's how she felt. Rachel wasn't as afraid of how he'd react as much as how he wouldn't. ''So you're going back tomarrow?" Harvey was hoping Rachel wasn't going to take this as a sign that she shouldn't tell Scott, this was something she shouldn't put off any longer. "No. He's out of town.'' Rachel was planning to write him when she got home that evening, her problem was putting her feelings and thoughts from five years ago into words that would mean something. She didn't know if the letter would make things better or worse when the day for him to confront her finally came. "Did you leave a message?" Harvey wondered if Rachel had just walked away, deciding to leave things as they were since he wasn't around. "I have his number, and his address." Rachel didn't intend to use them at first, but Harvey's influence was definately rubbing off on her. She knew she had to tell Scott. "So you're going to contact him afterall?" Harvey was hoping this had been her plan. "Yeah," she paused a minute,"I'll give him a call tonight." She turned back to the filed mounted in front of her, desperate to change the subject. "Will this ever end?" "This is only the beginning, the longer you're a cop --- the worse the cases get." As much as Harvey loved his job, he knew that the crimes got worse every year. ** "Bridges?" Nash answered the phone, barely awake. "I wonder what Inspector McCabe would think if I told Bill Chamberlain who she really was." Daniels knew he had a scored a point against Rachel, knowing she'd do anything to keep the information away from Chamberlain. "Don't you even think about it." Nash knew that Daniels wasn't going to let an opportunity like this get away. "Stay away from Rachel and her daughter." "So she is her daughter. Well, let's hope Cecilia doesn't take after her mother and sleep with the bosses to get ahead later in life.'' Daniels wanted to egg Nash on, provoke a reaction. This game had gone on too long. He wanted a final match. "You bas..." Nash stopped himself, knowing that's exactly how Daniels wanted him to react. It was apparent they'd have to use their last resort, it was going to be Rachel. "What? Not going to defend your former lover, or is she still?" Daniels noticed how Nash stopped himself, but that wasn't enough. "My personal life is none of your business. Stay away from Rachel." Nash hung up the phone, not wanting to hear anymore. He dialed Rachel's number, just after four A.M. and waited for her to pick up the phone. "Rachel?" "Nash, do you have any idea what time it is?" Rachel looked at her clock, annoyed by Nash's untimely call. "I know, be glad I didn't come over instead.'' Nash would've preferred to make such an announcement in person but didn't trust himself not to stay for other reasons. Rachel was a cop and could defend herself, but he still felt the need to protect her. "What's up?" She knew Nash would have a good reason for calling, he knew better than to interrupt her sleep. Rachel worried something had happened to Nick. ''Daniels knows about Cecilia, he's threatening to tell Chamberlain.'' Nash hated to drag Rachel's daughter back into the situation, what she had already been through was bad enough. "Nash, you promised me this wouldn't happen. What am I going to do?" Rachel wasn't prepared for this, not to have her own daughter being used against her. "Listen, Chamberlain won't find out as long as we use you to get Daniels in.'' He didn't know exactly how they could do it, but whatever they did had to work. ** "Rache, not to be a nag but your lease is up in this week." Rachel's landlord Michael stood before her as she opened the front door of the apartments to leave early that morning. "Not that I'd kick you to the curb, but I don't know when you're coming and going anymore." "Thanks for the reminder." Michael often reminded Rachel about rent and her lease agreements, somehow he knew she'd probably forget. It wasn't that she was careless, just busy. With everything that had happened in the last month, the lease was the last thing on Rachel's mind. "I could extend it a few weeks if you need a little more time to decide what you're going to do?" Michael knew Rachel was a good tenant and wouldn't intentionally ignore her lease agreement. She had been there almost five years, having moved in after dropping out of med school when she became a cop. "That would be great." Rachel hadn't even thought about what she was going to do next. She had considered moving out for a while, but then everything with Nash changed and that was no longer an option. Things were going well with Harvey, but it was far too soon to agree on any type of living arrangement. Rachel knew she'd have to do something soon, though her time was limited. ''I can fax you a lease agreement to the SIU?" Michael knew she practically lived there anyways, she was hardly ever at home. He couldn't understand why she had stayed at the apartments as long as she had, considering she could afford to live better. "I've got to run now, leave the lease in my mailbox and I'll see what I can do." Rachel didn't have the time to look for a new house or apartment. Her lunch break would be her only opportunity. ** ''Harvey, I want you to come with me this morning. We're going to scope out the area by Joe's." Nash didn't want Joe out there himself, not knowing what he might do if he was provoked. "Should I have Antwon track the calls?" Harvey couldn't understand why Nash was bringing him along instead of Antwon. He knew he was better suited with the technology end of this case. "See what he can do. Joe, stay here with McCabe and Antwon. Rachel's going to sort all the files and finish plotting the sightings.'' Nash knew Joe wouldn't be happy staying at the SIU, but there was no way he could risk having Joe out there with them. Nash didn't want to tell them exactly what they were going to do, Rachel had a right to her privacy about her daughter. ** "Inspector McCabe?" Daniels waited for her to reply. He figured he'd call her on her cell phone instead of at the SIU, catch her by surprise. ''Hello?" Rachel hadn't recognized his voice right away, but the sound of him breathing gave his identity away. She motioned to Nash across the room that Daniels was on the phone. ''I believe we have something to discuss, a matter to negotiate, if you will.'' This was better than he thought, he can expose Joe for having an affair with Rachel and ruin his marriage to Inger and he could devastate Bill Chamberlain with the truth about Cecilia's mother. ''What do you want from me?" Rachel didn't know what she had done other than prevented him from blowing up the school, she had no reason to be so involved. "Let's meet, we'll make a little deal. You don't show, I call Bill Chamberlain and all your little secrets will be revealed.'' Daniels had it all planned out, once Rachel came to meet him, she was his and there wasn't anything Bridges could do about it. "Where?" Rachel was willing to do just about anything to keep him from telling Bill and to get him off the streets. "So you'll come, ahh... nothing like a mother's love. I knew you'd come around.'' He paused for a minute, ''the cafe on the corner of Fullerton and Marks, at two-thirty." The area was not highly populated and taking Rachel with him wouldn't be hard. ''You tell anyone else, and you can kiss your daughter good-bye. Wouldn't you love to explain that to Bill?" Daniels knew he could get to Rachel by using her child. "I'll be there." Rachel hung up the phone. "The cafe on the corner of Fullerton and Marks, at two-thirty." Nash looked at Rachel, the concern was written all over her face. "Rachel, everything is going to be fine." ''Nash, I can't afford to screw this up.'' Rachel was worried, her daughter's life was too great to risk and only hoped Nash could understand. ** ''78342 Magnolia?" The address didn't register in Antwon's head as his eyes scanned Rachel's computer screen, "who are you hunting down now?'' ''No one, yet.'' Rachel smiled, knowing Antwon was referring to her blind date that she met online a few months back. ''Checking out a new place?" It seemed the only other option, Rachel always had an explanation for what she was doing. ''Trying to. I really don't have the time to be doing this.'' Rachel knew she should probably be trying to get the case file in order during her lunch, but this couldn't wait either. ''I told the real estate agent my price range and said find me what you can.'' Antwon knew that Rachel probably wasn't as concerned about price as he was, but he thought he could offer her a little friendly advice. He gazed at the screen, seeing several selections before one caught his eye. ''Check that one, it's over by Harvey.'' Rachel turned around and shot Antwon a look, "very funny. I'm not moving to be closer to him, I'm moving because my lease is up.'' ''Uh huh.'' Antwon chuckled, Rachel was a terrible liar. He could now see that Rachel was just as interested in Harvey as he was in her. "And you just happen to be browsing in his area?" ''I happen to like the location." Rachel did love the neighborhood where Harvey lived, everyone seemed so friendly and outgoing. Other than Michael her landlord, Rachel hardly ever spoke to anyone in her apartment complex. "Sure, all people from the East Coast love quaint little hippie communities.'' Rachel smiled, knowing Antwon was right to some degree. Antwon couldn't imagine Rachel's life on the East Coast, she seemed to fit in so well in San Francisco. ''Rachel... we've got him cornered. Let's move.'' Joe stood by the doors and motioned them to come quickly. Daniels was in their control and they couldn't miss their opportunity. Antwon ran towards the door immediately as Rachel shut her computer down and grabbed her purse. ** Harvey watched as Rachel walked towards the cafe, knowing how much she must hate doing this. She wasn't exuding the confidence she normally did, this time she was rightfully afraid. Harvey didn't know if he could handle being in the same position, where his child's life was threatened. He called Nash, who was stationed a block away. ''She's walking in. Is Antwon ready with the radio?" "He's ready to go. Do you have a clear view?" Nash didn't want to miss a thing, or be a second too late. Joe stood next to him nervously, worried about leaving their fate in the hands of one officer. ''Yeah. She's inside.'' Harvey turned on his radio, waiting for the conversation between Rachel and Daniels to begin. He wanted to make sure their approach was perfectly timed. Harvey waited inside the cafe, sitting several tables over from Rachel and Daniels. ''So what do you want?" Rachel was ready to end this case, no matter what it took. This had become far too personal. ''Well, well, well... aren't we abrubt." Harvey watched in disgust as Daniels moved his chair closer to Rachel's. "What are you offering for my disappearance?" "Depends on what you want." Rachel didn't know how far Daniels was planning to take his request. "Let's go somewhere else and see what we can work out." Daniels got up and pushed in his chair. Rachel knew exactly what he had in mind. She stood up slowly, shooting a worried glance over to Harvey. "Where are we going?" Rachel didn't know what to do, Nash hadn't prepared her for this. She knew she couldn't give up yet. ''Let's put it this way, you either come with me now and shut up or you never see your little girl or Dominguez' daughter again.'' Daniels wanted his intent to be crystal clear. He wasn't going to let them get away with ruining his plan. Harvey motioned to Ronnie who was standing just outside, in regular dress that it was time to call Nash and the guys. Rachel began to walk towards the door with Daniels, '' a nice little trade off, you for your daughter and Lucia. I'm sure Dominguez and Chamberlain will appreciate the gesture. Too bad you won't be around to thank.'' Harvey got up as he watched them leave, he called Nash immediately. "Send back-up, now!" Harvey tried to keep a good distance behind Rachel and Daniels, as they walked towards a blue car parked on the street. He noticed the tight grip Daniels had on Rachel, he wasn't going to let her get away. Daniels let Rachel into the car and got in himself, waiting a moment before starting the ignition, "so I guess you and the boss man are done, I mean, he didn't try and save you on your mercy mission." Each minute dragged on as Rachel waited for Nash and back-up to come. Daniels started the car and drove down the street, only to find himself surrounded by squad cars. "You bit..." He wanted to strangle Rachel, she had told the cops and now she'd have to pay. Daniels had to get away from there quickly, he didn't have time to deal with her. Daniels got out of the car and ran, only to find himself being stopped by Antwon. "Richard Daniels, you're under arrest..." Nash began to read him his rights, as Rachel got out of the car and walked towards Harvey. ** "I'm just happy it's finally over." Antwon enjoyed his work, but the duration of the Daniels' case bored him. He wanted to move on to something new and exciting. "You and me both, brother." Harvey smiled, happy to know Daniels was locked up and not getting out any time soon. "Things any better with Rachel?" Antwon had been curious, but hadn't had the opportunity to ask Harvey since they all had been so involved with the case. "You could say that." Harvey couldn't help but grin, hoping that since the Daniels' case was officially closed and Rachel was done with Scott, they could finally get a chance to be together. "Wait a minute.... did you two...?" Antwon didn't think things were that serious between Harvey and Rachel, but he had to ask. Harvey's grin had to mean something. "You and your dirty mind...can't a guy just be happy?" Harvey laughed at the thought, wondering what was next for him and Rachel. He knew a relationship between them would be hard to be secretive about at the SIU. "Yeah, happy in love.'' Antwon was pleased to see Harvey so happy, he hadn't been so cheerful in quite a while. "Call it what you will." Harvey didn't want to jinx their relationship by being overly hopeful, but he couldn't help being optimistic. "But I'm thoroughly enjoying it." ** "Looks like you've got some hefty charges against you, I don't think you'll be going anywhere soon." Nash looked at Daniels sitting in his cell. "It won't be long before I'm out, I'll claim insanity.'' Richard had it all planned out, he'd claim temporary insanity and get off with a slap on the wrist. He had to seek revenge. "You think it's that easy?" Nash knew it could be done, but he was confident that they had enough evidence against Daniels to put him away for a long time. "I know it. You ain't got nothing on me, Bridges. You or Dominguez. " Richard knew he could plant some story about Dominguez and Rachel that could make things very difficult for them to hold a stable case, "or that female cop." "You mean the one you tried to kill?" Nash was worried about Rachel's safety if Daniels ever was released, he needed assurance that would never happen. ''She got in the way." Rachel prevented him from seeking revenge on the people who ruined his life, she wasn't going to live that down. "You know what, I've heard enough. Ronnie, get this jerk out of hear and book him at County." Nash got up from his chair, "you better hope if you ever get that I don't hear about it." Nash walked away from Daniels' cell, "we'll just have to see about that." ** "Still no word back from Scott?" Harvey looked at Rachel as they walked towards the parking lot together. This had become a nightly custom for them, he had to know she was alright every evening before he could go home. "No," she paused for a moment, "I really don't expect to hear back from him soon." Rachel didn't want to tell Harvey that she never expected Scott to reply, not wanting to make him feel guilty for dragging up her past. Rachel fumbled with her keys to unlock the door, Scott had been on her mind all day. "Maybe he wants to wait until he comes home?" Harvey thought this might be something Scott would want to discuss in person. If he were in Scott's shoes, he would've been on the next plane home. "Maybe," Rachel knew Scott was never one for discussion. She wanted to tell Harvey it was more likely that Scott didn't care than him wanting to wait to talk to her in person. "Are you sure you don't want to join me for dinner?" Harvey knew Rachel needed some type of distraction from everything that was going on in her life. Food was always excellent bribery to get Rachel to talk. "Yeah, I really should just get home." She would've preferred to go out with Harvey, but she didn't want to bring him down. Rachel knew Harvey was worried about her and she wanted to talk to him, she just didn't know what to say. "I'll see you tomarrow." "Bright and early." Harvey acted on impulse and pulled Rachel in for a kiss, something he had waited all day to do. She wasn't expecting the kiss, but it was a welcome reprive to everything else that had come her way lately. "I'll see you tomarrow, call me if you need anything." Harvey walked to his own car with a smile, knowing that things with Rachel were certainly heading in a promising direction. ** |
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