Episode36

**
"That's her." Pete Armstrong pointed to Cassidy from his parked vehicle as she crossed the busy intersection. If she could watch him, he could watch her.

"That's the one from surveillance? She was the one who followed me?" Lucas didn't have a chance to turn around to see who was following him at the time.

"You were a great distraction." Pete laughed, doing a little investigating about the inspector paid off. "You are a dead ringer for Cortez."

"You think?" Lucas modeled his face in the rear view mirror and gently touched his chin. "How did you come across this info anyways?"

"I did a little digging. Mr. Bridges isn't exactly the quiet type and when I found out he was putting his daughter on patrol... coincidentally, I found a new accomplice that happened to look like her dead lover." Pete considered his plan to be brilliant. As long as Lucas cooperated, he'd get away with his crimes. "I happened to see a news clipping of Cortez' death and noticed the similarities, that's why I hired you."

"I see. I'll get my share, right?" Lucas wanted a guaranteed portion of the loot. It wasn't worth his efforts if he wouldn't come out ahead.

"As long as she's on the case and you're around to distract her, you'll get some compensation for your time." Pete had a specific agenda, a set of robberies to accomplish by a given time. "I keep what I need to do a friend a favor, and you'll get the rest."

**
"Rachel, I know you're busy but I need to ask you to do something for me." Nash didn't want to burden her with his problems, but she was the only one who might understand. Nash knew Nick would talk to Rachel. Nash waited patiently by her desk, hoping she wouldn't be angry.

"Nash, if this is about Cassidy, I already said I'd talk to her." Rachel didn't want to nag Cassidy, she'd talk to her if she was willing to listen. Rachel looked up at Nash, it was obvious he was upset.

"I know, this is something else. I know you just got back and you've got a lot on your mind..." Nash was hesitent to ask. Things were different before, she wasn't involved with Harvey and had more free time to offer. He didn't want to intrude.

"What is it, Nash?" Rachel knew he was holdong back, there was something he didn't want to ask. Maybe it was personal.

"It's Nick." Nash shrugged his shoulders, "I don't know what to do. One day he's fine and the next he's living thirty some years ago." Nash was at odds. He could send his father away to a home or he could try and care for him himself, but he questionned what was best for Nick. "Maybe I'm biased, I think he'll be okay, but..."

"But things haven't been getting any better, he has his good days and his bad." Rachel knew Nash faced a difficult decision. She guessed early on that it would come to this, but Nash was too stubborn to listen. "What do you need?"

"Can you see him? I mean, just stop by or maybe have lunch with him... I know he'll talk to you." Nash paused, realizing Rachel had been right all along. "I know it's asking a lot, given what happened between us... but...I trust your opinion."

"When?" Despite what happened with Nash, Rachel liked and greatly respected Nick. She hadn't had the opportunity to see him in quite a while, this would give her a good excuse.

"Do you have time today?" Nash could clear her schedule if need be, he was grateful she said yes.

"I'll meet him at the cafe on Westmont and 3rd at 2:30, if that's okay with you?" Rachel smiled, knowing he'd be happy to agree. She didn't think Harvey would mind her absence, Rachel was doing this for Nick.

**
"Kat Bauer, to what do I owe this unexpected visit?" Louis smiled as Kat walked into his office. He hadn't intended to see Kat until he had another case for to work on.

"I quit my job, left my family and now I'm free to be with you." Kat laughed at the thought, knowing Louis would be flattered. She sat down in the chair in front of his desk. "So how did my case turn out, you give her the kid?"

"If you're referring to Mrs. Leek, yes, Bill signed the papers already." Louis knew that was the case she was referring to, it had been a while since their last collaboration.

"I still can't believe my favorite Deadhead went and got hitched... again!" Kat sighed heavily, "and to think, I could've had him for myself."

"Oh, if every woman's story was as sad as your's." Louis smirked at his remark, he knew the hell Kat had been through, but she rebounded and the change had been for the better.

"You just lost your chances, buddy." Kat chuckled, still wondering what might have been had she pursued Louis after her divorce. "Now you're somewhere behind Joe Dominguez and the SFPD Deputy Chief Martin."

"You sure made your rounds with the SFPD, didn't you?" Louis smiled, he knew her in with the police department had been Nash Bridges.

"Wouldn't you like to know?" Kat loved nothing better than to terrorize Louis with ther facts. "Bet you're sorry now."

"I guess your visit means you're staying in San Francisco, Sacramento finally kicked you out." Louis knew she was contemplating a new job and moving back to the city. Apparently, Kat made her decision.

**
"Buca's for lunch?" Harvey stood behind Rachel's chair and gently rested his hands upon her shoulders. Lunch would be a welcome reprieve from the stringent demands of the day.

"I'd love to, but I can't." Rachel didn't want to let Nash down and break her lunch with Nick. She hoped Harvey would understand.

"Okay, if I can't have lunch I'll settle for dinner." Harvey was hoping he'd get the chance to talk to her about Jerry. He had spoken with his lawyer earlier and he wanted to relay the information.

Rachel turned to face him, and shook her head. "I've got to review the Armstrong case tonight with Cassidy and Nash, I've been following up on a lead." She could see the disappointment in Harvey's eyes, "I'm sorry, was there something we had to talk about? I've got a little time before I leave."

Harvey wanted to wait, so they could talk about everything at once. Rachel had told him about Bill and Lili over lunch the day before. They had a lot to discuss. It was the fourth night that week she was working late, trying to catch up on what she missed and she was gone by the time he woke up each morning. "It can wait."

"Are you sure? I can try and schedule my lunch for later?" Rachel felt she was really letting him down by not being available. She needed more advanced notice, Nash just happened to find her first.

"I'll see you tonight, we can talk later." What Harvey meant was they'd talk if he was still awake by the time she got home. Each night she seemed to be getting home later. Harvey gave her a light kiss and walked away, she could tell he was upset. Rachel couldn't possibly guess what she was getting herself into.

**
"What's with the glum face, you're not happy to see me?" Joe smiled, wondering what had Nash so depressed.

"No, I'm happy you're back. How was your vacation, by the way?" Nash wasn't intentionally moody, but everything seemed to be crumbling around him. Cassidy had her problems, Nick was worse, the case was yet to be solved and Martin was practically breathing down his back.

"Well, since you asked, the family and I had a wonderful time in Hawaii." Joe dropped his hands to his sides and began his own version of the Hula dance.

"I can see that, you pick up that little number there?" Nash was referring to Joe's loud Hawaiian print shirt. He was accustomed to Joe's questionnable wardrobe, but this was brighter than usual.

"Yeah, I brought you one too." Joe shuffled over to his desk and retrieved a bag, which he handed to Nash. "So what's going on, you and McCabe at it again?"

"No, she's actually helping me with my problems." Nash shook his head, "Nick's not doing so great, Cassidy thinks she sees evan everywhere, the Armstrong case is still open and Martin's breathing down my back about Cassidy."

"I came back at a good time." Joe was now beginning to regret his decision not to take a few extra days off. He missed the action of the SIU.

"If I were you, I would've stayed gone." Nash needed an escape from the madness that had consumed his beloved career. his personal life was nearly as bad as his professional.

**
"Harvey's not going to get jealous, now is he?" Nick smiled as Rachel sat down across from him at the table.

"What he doesn't know won't hurt him." Rachel grinned, she intended to tell Harvey about going to see Nick sooner or later. For right now, she was worried about helping Nash.

"I always knew you were the sneaky type." Nick liked Rachel, she was different from the other women Nash had brought home over the years. "So why are you out with me instead of your beau?"

"I haven't seen you in a while, and I was wondering how you were." Rachel tried to be subtle, she guessed Nick wasn't oblivious to Nash's intent.

"You could've called, or stopped by --- you didn't need to clear your schedule for me." Nick was touched she still cared for him even after her breakup with Nash. Other than Lisa, Nash's exes usually didn't try and keep in contact with Nick.

"I thought this might better." Rachel could've called or just stopped by, and given Nash a quick opinion. She felt better seeing Nick herself, wanting to know how he was.

"Well than, I'm sure he starves you over at the SIU, so let's eat." Nick smiled, happy to share in a conversation with someone outside of his circle of family and friends. Rachel wondered if Nick would slip into one of his spells, or if today would be a goo day for him.

**
"So where is Mrs. Leek?" Antwon smiled, not sure where Rachel had been for a good part of the afternoon. He and Harvey were both ready to leave, and he wondered if something had happened between the two.

"Mrs. Leek had a meeting over lunch and a trip to City Hall." Harvey didn't anticipate seeing her until later that evening, they still had to talk.

"You never said, was Carmel better than you expected?" Antwon assumed things had gone well for them. Rachel wasn't going back to Boston, but Harvey still seemed down about something.

"Do you even have to ask?" Harvey grinned, Rachel's appearance in Carmel had been a pleasant surprise. The problem was now that she was back, he hardly saw her.

"I'm going back this weekend, if you want to join me." Antwon decided it was time for him to tell Harvey about Jessica, even if Harvey made him wait to find out about Rachel.

"Do tell." Harvey's ears perked up at the suggestion of Antwon having a significant other. He wouldn't mind going to Carmel, but the weekend might be his first chance to finally get some time with Rachel. He didn't want to risk missing out.

"Well, I met a girl after all..." As Antwon began to recount his weekend affair, Harvey's mind jumped to his own activities while in Carmel. A smile came across his face, going to Carmel had been a good decision for all of them.

**
"McCabe, were they able to link Armstrong to the robberies in Sacramento?" Nash knew Rachel had been following up on the lead while Cassidy worked the surveillance. He knew they had both put in far too many hours at the SIU lately, but he wanted Rachel's help while she was still around.

"SPD isn't much help, but they have enough evidence to tie him to each incident." The evidence against Armstrong was astounding, she wondered why they wouldn't have tried to convict him by now, or at least catch him. "What about you, Cassidy, dig anything up from surveillance?"

Cassidy shrugged her shoulders, she hadn't come across anything useful yet. The man continued to be a distraction, he looked so much like Evan. "I haven't got anything, maybe you could run surveillance tomarrow?"

"Impossible, I need her here." Nash didn't want Rachel on surveillance, he wanted her inside the barge tracking the leads. He knew their strengths and their weaknesses, and Cassidy was best left on her own for now.

"But, Nash, Rachel might be a little more effecient in getting what you need." Cassidy didn't really want to credit Rachel, but a day off from surveillance might do her good.

"Rachel's doing just fine where she is, if things don't look up soon I'll put Harvey out on surveillance with you." Nash evidently hadn't heard about what went on between Harvey and Cassidy. Rachel instinctively shot Cassidy a glare, hoping she'd know better than to try anything again. "Rachel, I want you to teach Antwon the new program Martin sent over...tomarrow's going to be a long day but I want to wrap this case up before anyone else gets killed."

**
"Lucas, you know what you're going to do tomarrow, right?" Pete couldn't help but worry that Bridges would be on to him. His plans were already taking to long, he had to finish on time. They had selected a popular bar downtown for their meeting, trying to stay inconspicuous.

"Meet up with Cassidy and make sure she stays away while you do your deed." Lucas' job was clear-cut, all he had to do way keep Cassidy away from Pete.

"That's right. Do whatever you want with her, just keep her away." Pete reall didn't care what happened to Cassidy, as long as he got his job done. He owed his friend a favor and he was going to pay it back in full.

"I'll do my best." Lucas didn't believe it would be hard. After all, Cassidy had followed him the week before. He should have no problem asking her to join him for a cup of coffee.

"I know you will, you've got a big chunk of change depending on your abilities." Pete wasn't going to pay Lucas a cent until his friend got his money. After his friend was taken care of, Lucas could have the rest.

"What if she flips out?" Lucas didn't know how stable Cassidy was after Evan's death,if being around him might set her off.

"As long as it doesn't involve me, I could care less." Cassidy was actually the least of Pete's worries, it was her father who gave him problems.

**
Rachel looked into the Deadroom, Harvey had the music on softly as he read, seated with his back towards the door. He looked lost in deep thought, the empty wine bottle was evidence of a lengthy evening. She walked in quietly and kneeled down behind Harvey, close enough to rest her hands upon his back as she whispered in his ear. "What's on your mind, Leek?"

Harvey smiled, he hadn't even heard her come in. "Oh, lots of things." Harvey found it harder and harder to concentrate as Rachel began to massage his back, kneading each muscle with her fingers. She completely broke his train of thought. He closed his book and set it aside.

"Like? You said we needed to talk, so talk." Even her tone was seductive for Harvey. Harvey relaxed and leaned back against her, resting his head onto her lap.

"Is that it, I mean, no more surprises?" When it came to Rachel, Harvey never knew what she had up her sleeve. He had learned to expect the unexpected and deal with problems as they came along.

"There haven't been any surprises." Rachel grinned, knowing all to well what a negative effect her forgotten facts could've had if Harvey wasn't the wonderful man he was.

"Right, just little things you forgot to mention." Harvey chuckled, loving Rachel's peculiar way of denying the facts. He knew she'd retaliate with a comeback.

"You're the one who insisted on marrying me before I could say anything that would change your mind." Rachel laughed at the thought of their whirlwind courtship. The circumstances under which they married were odd, but luckily they were happy.

"There's my grounds for divorce, false pretenses." Harvey turned around to kiss her. Glancing down at her bare hand, he realized he still had the rings hidden away in his drawer at home. He was waiting for the perfect moment.

"Any more complaints?" Rachel wasn't sure if they had discussed what he wanted to or not, they had a tendency to get off topic. "I'm willing to reveal some more." Rachel grinned mischeviously, thinking that was next on Harvey's mind.

"Maybe." Rachel seperated his curly locks between her fingers, waiting for him to begin. She sensed he was still upset from earlier that afternoon. "Oh, there's one more thing. How far in advance am I going to have to make appointments with my wife?"

"My schedule's pretty open from here on out." Rachel regretted not having more time to give to Harvey. He deserved much better than she could give for the time being.

"Are you sure?" Harvey didn't know how many more surprises he could take as far as Rachel was concerned. He wanted to know what was going on with her, everything about her. Harvey didn't like being in the dark.

"Even if I wasn't, I'd make time." Rachel knew she should spend more time with Harvey. After all he had to put up with from her, it was a small miracle that he was still around.

"Good, book me for every morning, lunch hour and evening." Harvey turned around and passionately kissed her again, pulling her closer this time. He decided they could talk later, he wanted to enjoy the moment together that they finally had. "I've missed you."

**
"Have you seen Rachel yet this morning?" Joe looked around over the balcony, "she left an array of files on my desk and I don't know where to begin."

"I told her to come in a little later, she's been putting in all kinds of crazy hours since she got back." Nash knew the time off now wouldn't compensate, but he was doing his best. "When she gets in, make sure she comes to see me."

"So if you two aren't together, tell me again how she is helping your problems?" Joe tried to refrain from smiling, it was hard for him to imagine Nash and Rachel in a platonic relationship.

"She's helping with Nick, and Cassidy." Nash hated to admit how much he relied on Rachel, but he needed her as much as he needed Joe or Harvey. "I asked her to talk to Cassidy about Evan."

"That's right, she was with Ben Reynolds wasn't she?" A lightbulb went off in Joe's head. If anyone could relate to what Cassidy was going though, it was Rachel.

"Bingo, you know, you're not so bad after all. " Nash smiled, Joe's presence would definitely lighten the mood around the SIU. "Her partner was Martin's prodigy, Ryan Mazza."

"Maybe that's why she and Harvey make such a good pair." Joe couldn't find many similarities between the two, he still wondered how they were together.

"I wouldn't go that far, Bubba." Nash questionned how much Rachel knew about Ryan's final case and Harvey's involvement. If she knew, he highly doubted they'd still be together.

**
"What did you want to talk about last night?" Rachel knew he was adament to discuss something. They were sidetracked for a while, but she brought it up later. Harvey started his reply but fell asleep before he could finish. She waited for Harvey to grab his coffee from the counter outside the cafe.

"I guess we sort of forgot about that." Harvey flashed a guilty grin and took a sip from his coffee. "I've done a little thinking lately."

"About?" Rachel felt bad, she had certainly given him plenty of time alone to think since she got back. She had come back to be with him, not to spend endless hours at the SIU.

"Us..." Harvey had thought a lot about them and their future. Dr. Bradley's subtle hints and suggestions urged him to start thinking ahead.

"And?" Rachel wondered if he had come to any conclusions. Neither one of them had brought up getting a divorce recently, maybe that's what he was considering.

"First and foremost, maybe we should arrange some type of living arrangement. I mean, as nice as it is to have three houses... do you think it's necessary?" Harvey smiled, wondering which one of them would give up their home. He wouldn't mind moving, but he had definitely grown attached to his house. Harvey liked having his own space.

"Hmmm...I've got to finish renovations before I can sell." Rachel knew her house would be easy to market, she just had to finish her projects before she could attempt to sell. Rachel was willing to move, but she hoped Harvey would want to keep her house.

"Meeting your son the other day got me thinking." Harvey wasn't thriled that she didn't tell him about RJ, but he was touched that she'd do something so meaningful for a friend.

"Oh, yeah, about what?" Rachel didn't even have to ask, she knew what he was thinking. She was surprised the topic of children hadn't come up sooner.

"Kids and how many I'm going to have with you." Harvey chuckled upon seeing the expression on Rachel's face. He took a seat, leaning against the front end of her car.

"What's your conclusion? Rachel knew children would play a significant role in their future. She wasn't sure if Ryan's presence would effect Harvey's ideas or not, especially now that Harvey was aiming to seek more custody of Jerry.

"I want two more kids before I'm fifty." Harvey grinned, anxious to see her reaction. He knew it was a longshot. Harvey was really hoping for them to have at least one child together.

"You're insane, that's little more than two years away." Rachel knew it was possible, but not exactly desirable. Two kids in two years didn't seem like a good idea for two people with unpredictable jobs and who got married on a whim in Vegas. It wasn't that she didn't trust Harvey to be a responsible party, but she had her doubts about their marriage.

"It could happen." Harvey knew it was more than possible,if they were lucky. He wasn't completely serious, he was just interested in what she'd say.

"And I'll get Deputy Chief Martin's job!" Rachel could tell there was a hint of sarcasm in his voice. She was relieved Harvey wasn't totally serious. They'd both be in for a reality check with their already hectic lives.

"Okay, I'll settle for two more by the time you're thirty-three." Harvey wouldn't let her off the hook that easily. She had her fun with Vincent about being pregnant, now it was his turn.

"Harvey, that's even less!" Now she knew he was trying to be funny. That demand was little better than complete madness.

"Then, I guess we better get to work." Harvey turned and kissed her, nearly dousing them both with coffee. He situated the lid on the cup, and focused again on Rachel.

Rachel's cell phone rang, interrupting the close moment. She looked at the display, recognizing the number. "Someone else thinks so too, it's Nash."

**
"I need you to go on surveillance for Armstrong." Joe handed Cassidy the file with the addresses and directions.

"Are you sure you want me to go?" Obviously, her father hadn't told Joe everything that had happened. Luckily, no one knew about what went on between her and Harvey.

"Nash said send Cassidy." Joe was merely repeating the boss' orders. He couldn't find any reason why she shouldn't. Chances are, Evan's look-a-like wouldn't be out again.

"What about Rachel?" Cassidy thought she might be better off if she had someone with her, even though Nash said Rachel was plenty busy at the SIU.

"She's upstairs with your dad." Joe knew Nash wouldn't want to be interrupted, Nick's health was a serious matter. He was hoping Rachel could talk some sense into Nash about finally putting Nick into assisted living.

"Great. And Harvey?" Cassidy remembered her Dad suggesting that Harvey come along with her. Harvey would understand, he'd see the similarities.

"He's working with the new program with Antwon." Joe was curious as to why Cassidy wanted to get out of surveillance so badly. He'd offer to go with her himself, but he had plenty to catch up on.

**
"You wanted to see me?" Rachel knew why Nash had called her. He wanted to talk about her visit with Nick. He just maintained his knack for bad timing when he interrupted her morning with Harvey.

"Yeah, take a seat." Nash looked up from his desk briefly as she sat down. He knew her news wouldn't be good. Nash trusted Rachel's instincts, they had saved him on more than one occasion. "Nick told me about your lunch, I really didn't want to talk about him with Cassidy around."

"We had a nice time... but I can see your concern." Rachel knew that was exactly what Nash didn't want to hear. She had been right all along.

"What should I do?" Nash was at odds, one way or another he'd be miserable with his decision.

"I think you know what's best. If you put Nick in assisted living, it doesn't mean you love him any less." Rachel could see why Nash was so reluctant to make a decision. With Nick's spells coming and going, things could get worse at any time.

"He won't see it that way." Nash knew that Nick still had some wits about him, putting him away would be like driving a knife through his heart.

"Nash, this isn't my field anymore --- but, I can't tell you that he'd really know what was going on in a few months time." Rachel didn't want to give Nash false hope. Nick was going downhill and everyone could see it but Nash.

"You think it's that bad?" Nash didn't want to appear ignorant or naive. He knew his father wasn't doing well, but he was afraid to face the truth.

"I don't think he'll get any better." Rachel paused, alllowing Nash to take in what she told him. "I'm telling you to get another opinion, a professional, and see what they say."

"I doubt it will be any different." Nash would have to talk to Stacy and Cassidy, he couldn't do this on his own.

**
"You again?" Lucas turned around and smiled at Cassidy, completely startling her. This meeting was all a part of Pete's plan for her. They were standing outside a streetside cafe, close to where she had been surveying Pete two weeks earlier. "You were walking behind me, a few weeks back. I always recognize a pretty face."

Cassidy forced herself to smile, this man's resemblence of Evan frightened her. But, she couldn't tear herself away. "I thought you were someone I use... someone I used to know." Cassidy stopped herself from saying someone I used to love. She still loved Evan, nothing would change that.

"Well, my name is Lucas Perez, now you know me too." He extended his hand and smiled once again. Cassidy silently cringed inside, the sight of his familiar smile destroyed her.

"Cassidy." She didn't want to say her last name right away, just in case the Bridges name would have any negative conotations for him. Everything about him was so familiar, so much like Evan.

"Well, Cassidy, I've got some time before I have to meet my friends for dinner --- care to join me inside for a drink?" Pete told him to do whatever was necessary to keep Cassidy off his trail. He'd surely keep her occupied.

Something inside told her not to say no. This was too good to be true, he was so much like Evan. She didn't want to lose her chance. "Sure, I've got a while."

**
"Have you ever considered what might happen if Connie changed her mind?" Harvey was curious to know how Rachel really felt about the situation. He hadn't gotten the chance to ask her due to their conflicting schedules. Harvey looked to Rachel from the papers he was sorting.

"Where'd that come from?" Rachel looked back at the folders before her, "how did we go from discussing Pete Armstrong's whereabouts to Connie Mazza?" Rachel knew Harvey would have some unresolved issues in regards to her son and how he was being raised.

"I was just realized we haven't really talked about it." Harvey wanted to talk about her son, but he was evidently more willing than she was. For one reason or another, this was an off-limits topic of her life. "Have you thought about it?"

"Connie changing her mind?" Rachel thought about it all the time, after Ryan first died. As time went on, she gradually accepted the idea that Connie was going to keep the baby. "I have, but it's a moot point. She's sticking by her decision to keep him."

"Really?" Harvey wasn't so sure, he sensed a tension of sorts between them in the room when he entered. He just didn't think Connie seemed assured of her role.

"Even if she did decide not to keep him, she'd probably contact Ryan's family, or maybe her own. I really can't say, we never discussed it." Connie and Rachel hadn't spoken often since RJ was born, they really didn't have a reason to. Ryan was gone, they both had to go their seperate ways.

"No?" Harvey found it a little odd that the subject was never brought up, especially with her and Ryan both having such dangerous jobs.

"I thought about, especially right after Ryan died, but then she had RJ and moved... and I don't think it's an issue now." Rachel saw no reason to think about something she knew would never happen. She would never consider bringing the issue up with Connie. "What we do have to worry about is stopping Pete Armstrong before another convenient store robbery turns into a murder."

"Right, business as usual." Harvey wanted to talk about RJ, not about the Armstrong case. He knew there had to be more to the story than what Rachel was offering to tell.

"Harvey, that's not fair. I just don't see a point in discussing something that's not going to happen." Harvey looked at her and shook his head, wondering why she wouldn't open up to him. "It's not about you, it isn't." Rachel didn't know what else she could tell him, Harvey didn't trust what she was saying. "I don't want to set myself up for another let down."

**