Last Rites Episode 39

Thursday ** "Will I see you this evening?" Even though Nick was now in full time care, Harvey's time with Rachel was still limited because of work. Even their lunch hour visits were cut short these days. "That could be arranged." Rachel knew Harvey would have to work late as well that evening. But if he was coming home around the same time she was, Rachel had incentive to stay up. "Late dinner tonight?" Harvey grinned, "that wasn't exactly what I had in mind, but we could do that too." It really didn't matter what they did, as long as they finally had some time alone. As long as they didn't discuss work, everything would be fine. "Oh, I see what you're saying." Rachel knew exactly what Harvey meant to imply, "my place or yours?" "Yours, I haven't been around to clean recently." Harvey chuckled, knowing the last thing on their minds that evening would be whether or not he dusted and if the bed was made. They'd be lucky to get into the door. "And you're assuming I have?" Rachel laughed at the idea, she had barely been home to sleep in the past few days. Rachel pulled him in closer with his tie, "not like that matters anyways." "My thoughts exactly. There's more important things to worry about." Harvey kissed her quickly, seeing Joe and Antwon headed in their direction. "I should get going." "Your loss." Rachel saw Joe and Antwon and smiled, "you don't have to go on their account." Rachel didn't want to admit it, but she was happy Harvey was working with Joe and Antwon as opposed to Cassidy. She kissed Harvey again. "I don't want to see that!" Joe cringed at the image before him, "eeeeew!" Joe looked back at Rachel and Harvey, "there's a new rule starting today, no more PDAs at the SIU and if you disobey that rule, your punishment is subject to my discretion." Antwon looked at the two and laughed, "I guess those two will be seeking new employment, you better get those referrals ready." ** "Are we still not talking?" Nash waited as Cassidy returned to her desk from the copy machine. "What do you think?" Cassidy was tired of everyone expecting more from her just because she was the boss' daughter. She wanted equal treatment, just like any other employee. "Care to tell me again why you're so angry?" Nash couldn't figure out exactly what had set Cassidy off. Cassidy's life just wasn't going exactly as she planned. Nash was concerned not only as her father, but as her boss as well. "Figure it out yourself, you're just like the rest of them." In Cassidy's opinion, Nash was no different than Deputy Chief Martin or Rachel --- which meant that he too was out to get her. "Excuse me?" Nash didn't know what or who she was referring to. The past few days, her mood was anybody's guess. The slightest action would leave her on edge. "I'm sick of it. You know, I'm doing my job the best I can. I'm sorry if I don't meet your high standards." Cassidy envisioned that she was a failure in Nash's eyes, she wasn't his protege that he had hoped for. "I'm not happy here." "If your so unhappy, than why are you still here?" Nash couldn't imagine why she'd torture herself by staying if the SIU wasn't where she wanted to be. He didn't pressure her into taking the job, she asked for it, "Because I don't want to let you down more than I already have. I don't want to hear that  I've failed again, not only as your daughter but as an employee as well." Cassidy grabbed her purse off the chair and quickly headed towards the doors, "I've got to meet someone." "Dammit." Nash sat on the corner of her desk and shook his head in disgust, there was no easy way to win with her these days. ** "How's it looking?" He had to be sure everything was going according to plan, time was of the essence. He had a woman to get back to, and a kid as well. "Everything is looking good. I think Cassidy is about ready to quit her job." Pete couldn't believe how careless she was when she went on surveillance, he slipped past her countless times. Lucas made her all the more ignorant to her surroundings. "Who wouldn't be? Leek makes my skin crawl and her father is inconsiderate to her needs." He laughed, knowing that Leek would soon meet his match. "Anything else that I should know about?" "It just so happens that Nash's father is on his deathbed." Pete knew the situation could work greatly to their advantage if they played their cards right. "Make the best of it, one cop has a tragedy, the rest are there to help him mourn." He knew exactly when he could profit from a situation, just as he had two and a half  years earlier before he was sent to prison. He was up for parole only because he had an accomplice. "Maybe Leek will screw up again, wouldn't you love that?" Pete knew exactly why there was bad blood between the two, and Leek was going to pay for what he did. "They say lightening doesn't strike twice, but you never know." Between Cassidy and Leek, he was sure something was likely to go wrong. He looked over his shoulder as he saw the warden coming towards him, "listen, I've got to go. Keep it coming." ** "What are you doing, McCabe?" Nash laughed as he saw her moving quickly around her desk, gathering files and shoving them into her bag. Everything about the scene told him she was anxious to leave for the evening. It was a earlier than she usually left, but he'd let it slide. "Getting out of here before you can give me anymore work." Rachel looked up at him and grinned, "I've got plans." Rachel didn't want to risk missing another evening with Harvey. They both had waited long enough for an evening where they were both free. "I never would've guessed." Nash could only imagine what her plans were for the evening, something told him Harvey was involved. "Hey, did you find article on Armstrong from the Tribune a few months ago?" "It's already on your desk, Nash." Rachel dug through the stack of manila folders and handed one to Nash. "Here, I hope you don't mind." "What's this?" Nash was hesitant to open the file, not sure of what Rachel may have found.  He never knew what to expect after leaving her at the computer all day. He opened the file and perused the stats. "And why would I mind?" "Because I logged on under Cassidy's name and password to do the work. She left and I needed it to put together a more complete file in order to predict what his next move might be." Rachel knew she probably should've let Cassidy do her own work, but she didn't have the time or the patience to wait around for her. She was willing to accept the consequences. "I see." Nash decided now wasn't the time to throw an argument for company policy, that could wait. Right now, he needed the work A.S.A.P. "Did you use the program Martin gave us?" "I did, looks like he should be striking again sometime Saturday, maybe around Wells Avenue?" The new program made their job all the easier. They type in what information they have, and the computer makes predictions based on the facts. Nash smiled, "I knew I kept you around for something." He took the file and started up the stairs, relieved she produced the information he needed despite Cassidy's absence. "Go home, McCabe." "With pleasure."  Rachel logged off from her computer and pushed in her chair, hoping Nash wouldn't come back downstairs with just one more little thing. She wanted to get home before Harvey and actually make dinner as opposed to take-out yet again. ** "Got anything yet?" Harvey looked from the window towards the apartment building where Antwon was stationed. He was in the apartment just below where Armstrong had his residence. "Nada." Antwon checked the TV monitors for the camera he had set up in the hallway, "what about you and Joseph?" "No movement out here yet." They had been out there for hours, yet nothing had come there way. Harvey assumed Armstrong was tracking them as closely as they tried to track him. "Something did come across the phones earlier." Antwon had found the call to be a little suspicious, but he didn't want to make a big deal out of nothing. "Really?" Harvey was curious, this might be the best lead they'd get all day. "Someone called and left the message it's me, L, I'm meeting girl X. Later." Antwon had no idea who the caller was or where the call originated, he'd leave that up to Harvey and Joe. "Thanks, we'll track that and get back to you. Keep your eyes open." Harvey hoped the call would get them somewhere. The robberies had continued, but luckily no one else had been killed. They needed the robberies to stop as well, the call might be just what they needed to bring Armstrong in. ** "Nash Bridges." Nash was hoping that Deputy Chief Martin was finally returning his call. Nash knew he couldn't put off discussing Cassidy's future at the SIU any longer. "Mr. Bridges, this is Dr. Martin calling from Peaceful Waters." Dr. Martin hated making calls like this, he didn't enjoy being the bearer of bad news. "Oh, God...'' Nash immediately expected the worse, calls like this weren't made to be taken well. "I'm calling about your father, he's suffered another stroke." Dr. Martin knew Nick didn't have much time left at all. The disease was already far beyond control. "Is... is... is he okay?" Nash could barely utter out the words. It was time for him to face the inevitable. Nick's time was coming all too quickly. "An ambulence is taking him to Oakland General as we speak, you can meet up with him there." Dr. Martin knew Nick would be lucky to make it through the night. The disease advanced much more quickly than they had anticipated it would. "You can meet up with him there." "Thank you." Nash hung up the phone and lowered his head into his hands, he had to call Stacy and Cassidy. He needed someone there with him, he couldn't go alone. He dialed Cassidy's cell phone number. "You've reached the voicemail for Cassidy Bridges, please leave a message at the tone..." No answer, just as Nash had anticipated. "Cassidy, meet me at Oakland General as soon as you get this message." Nash didn't want to say why, but he had to get her there. He thought about calling Joe, but the guys were still on surveillance. He'd go alone. ** "Hey, beautiful." Lucas was surprised Cassidy had come by so early. She usually didn't show up till after eight or so. He'd be sure to make the best of their time. "I hate my life." Between work and her ailing grandfather, not to mention her problematic love life, Cassidy was at odds with the world. She wanted to get away. "That sounds hopeful, care to elaborate?" Lucas didn't understand Cassidy, she was a total Pandora's Box. He never to what type of personality she'd come in with.  Some days she was vicious, and others she was the sweetest girl he'd ever known. "No, are we going out or staying in?" Cassidy wasn't in much of a mood to go out, she wanted a quiet evening alone with Lucas. He'd make everything okay. "I assumed we'd go out, but we can stay in if you'd prefer." Lucas could tell she was a force to be reckoned with. He'd be fighting with fire if he went against her wishes. "How's your grandfather?" "Don't ask." Cassidy didn't want to talk about Nick, it could only make her feel worse. All she wanted to do was be with Lucas, and think of Evan and how different it would be if he were still around. "Okay, I won't." Lucas didn't want to pry, afraid he might break the one link that remained strong to keeping the cops away from Pete. If he screwed up, his life was over. ** "Where are you?" Nash anxiously began tapping his fingers against the pay phone. He needed to talk to someone and she was his last resort. Nash couldn't bare to sit and wait alone at the hospital. "I'm on my way home, why?" Rachel couldn't imagine what Nash wanted, she gave him his requested files and had called the police chief in San Francisco. "You said that over an hour ago." Nash hated to interrupt her plans, but he knew Harvey wasn't home just yet so she might have some time to spare. "I had to stop at the grocery store, is that okay?" Rachel gave a quiet laugh, but Nash was silent for a moment on the other end. She could hear Nash breathing heavily in the background, something wasn't right. "Nash, what's wrong?" "Can you get to Oakland General?" Nash didn't want to keep her for another evening but he had to have someone there with him. Joe was with Harvey and Antwon on surveillance and Cassidy wasn't answering his calls. "Nick's had another stroke and Cassidy isn't taking my calls, I know I said I didn't need you anymore --- but I do." Nash was desperate, but he felt bad about calling Rachel again. She hadn't mentioned it, but he knew a small problem was developing between her and Harvey. "I'll be there within the hour." Rachel had to get home and change and check for any messages from Connie or Louis. She knew Nash wouldn't have called unless it was important, Harvey would have to understand. "I left a voicemail for Harvey and Joe, but I haven't spoken with Cassidy since learly this afternoon." Nash couldn't believe how bad things had gotten with Cassidy in the past few weeks. Nick's health was deteriorating as quickly as Nash's relationship with Cassidy was. "Okay, I'll be there soon." Rachel really wasn't eager to spend the evening at the hospital, but assumed she could stay until Joe got there or Cassidy came to her senses. ** "Anna, baby, it's me." He couldn't believe it had been over two years since he last saw her. The calls and letters didn't do her justice. He wanted to get home to her and Jerry. "Hey, I was just thinking about you." It wasn't the truth, but that wasn't important for the time being. Anna was a little behind on the rent and she had to get ready to go out for the evening. She looked at Jerry sleeping peacefully on the floor. "All I do is think about you and the boy." His life hadn't been the same without them in it. Ever since what happened with his older son, he's treasured each moment he had with Jerry. Anna was never going to find out his connection to Harvey, never, he'd make sure of it. "How's Jerry doing?" "He's fine." Anna didn't want to bring up that he had been asking about his father and Rachel again. She knew they'd have to confront that problem with him when he got home. "You talk to Harvey yet, tell him the truth?" He wanted to make sure Harvey knew where things stood when he got out, Jerry wasn't Harvey's for the taking. He'd shoot Leek dead himself before he'd see Anna lost custody. Anna had assured each man that they were definitely the father. There wasn't a doubt in Harvey's mind that Jerry was his. The news would surely devastate him. "The truth?" Anna hadn't thought about that, a paternity test now seemed inevitable if Rachel and Harvey took her to court. He might find out as would Harvey, and someone was going to lose Jerry no matter what. Anna didn't know what to do. "Anna, I'm not going to put up with your crap once I'm out. We're going to be a family and you're going to be off the streets." In his mind, Harvey would be the one to suffer no matter what. He didn't want to see Jerry growing up without a father while he was in prison, but now that he was out he wanted Leek gone from Jerry's life. He wouldn't lose another child to him. "When do you get out?" Anna wanted to be ready for his return, still unsure of what she'd tell Jerry or Harvey. She already knew Rachel would have a field day with this information. "I want to make sure I'm home." "As soon as I get out, I'm headed for San Francisco, so meet me there." He wanted to put his plans into action. He couldn't risk not having a shot at Leek, he didn't want someone else to beat him to the job. "I don't know if I can be there with you." Turning against Harvey would be even harder if she was in San Francisco with Jerry. She didn't know which man to chose, either way the real father might be losing out. "Embarassed to be out with a former convinct in your old stompin' grounds? Or are you worried about Harvey?" He assumed her reservations had more to do with Harvey than any embarassment she might face. He knew she still had feelings for him. "I'm surprised you didn't go back to him." "Someone else was in the way." Had Rachel not been there, Anna knew Harvey would've taken her back. She blamed everything on Rachel. He wouldn't have been worth waiting for had Harvey been available. "You mean Rachel, well, neither one of them will be in the way for much longer." He didn't care what he had to do, but he would get Jerry and make sure Leek paid for what he did. The threat of prison or death didn't phase him in the least, he was out for justice. ** "Hey, your phone was ringing earlier." Harvey didn't want to answer it himself, incase the call was personal. Joe had stepped out for coffee and left his phone behind. "Why didn't you answer it?" Joe assumed there must be a reason for him not answering, maybe something had come through across the lines from Antwon or Harvey spotted Asrmstrong. "I thought it might be personal." Harvey thought it might be Inger or someone else, he was content following the T.V. monitors with the view of people walking up and down the busy street as he waited for Antwon's call. "Only you would get a dirty call at work, Inger's not that type of girl." Joe grinned from ear to ear,wondering if Harvey's stories would compare to the ones he heard through the rumour mill. He set his coffee down and strechted. "I thought you were leaving for dinner?" "Dinner?" Harvey drew a blank, he didn't recall having plans for the evening. "This afternoon you were pretty excited about something, not that I'd want to hear about what it really is, but you said you wanted to leave a little bit earlier." Joe didn't mind letting Harvey go home early since nothing much had gone on during the day. Harvey needed a life just like the rest of them did. "Oh, dinner." Harvey suddenly remembered the plans he made with Rachel over lunch, he had to get home quickly after all. He eyed Joe scrolling through the numbers on his cell phone. "I should probably get going." "This isn't a romantic call, it's Nash." Joe rolled his eyes, waiting for Nash's message to begin. "Joe, it's me, Nick's had another stroke and he doesn't have much time. I left a voicemail for Harvey, but I don't think his phone is on in the van. I'm at Oakland General with Rachel and Inger." Joe looked over towards Harvey, "there's been a small change of plans. Get Antwon on the line and tell him to bring it in." "What? What's going on?" Harvey wondered if there had been a major occurence elsewhere while they were locked away in the van. "Nick's had another stroke and Nash is at the hospital with Inger and Rachel, we should all be there with him." Joe knew crime couldn't be put on hold till they got back, but being with Nick was a more pressing concern for the time being. ** "I gotta go." Cassidy searched around the floor for the rest of her clothes, terribly worried by Nash's vague message. "What's wrong?" Lucas stumbled out of bed and stood next to her on the floor, "something happen or what?" "My grandfather had another stroke, they don't think he has long to live."  Cassidy couldn't believe she hadn't seen him more than once in the past week, she had spent all her free time with Lucas. It was a decision she would later live to regret. "You, like, want me to come with you or what?" Lucas wasn't sure if a public appearance was in his best interest or not, and he certainly wouldn't get a chance to ask Pete before they left. He'd see what Cassidy wanted. "You probably shouldn't."  Cassidy couldn't help but feel guilty about virtually ignoring Nick since Lucas came into her life. She put on her shirt and quickly fastened the buttons. "I gotta get to Oakland General." "I can drive you?" Lucas at least wanted to help in some way, he felt bad using her as he did. "I'll be fine." Cassidy didn't want to cause anymore problems with him being there. She knew her father wouldn't approve and he had enough on his mind. Cassidy couldn't imagine her life without Nick in it. This was coming on all too soon. She couldn't cope with losing Nick while she was still grieving over Evan. "I'll call you later." ** "Nash, I called Lisa and Rachel called Stacy." Inger wanted to help Nash out as much as she could. Nash had done a lot for her and Joe over the years, this was the least she could do. She went to the hospital as soon as she got Nash's message. "Stacy is taking the first flight she can get and Lisa will be on the red-eye from Paris." Rachel hadn't anticipated Nick's health detiriorating so quickly, neither had Nash. She wished she could've convinced him to call Stacy earlier, so she could've been around as well. Nash sat between the two women, shaking his head in disbelief. "Can I get you something, Nash, a coffee or a little snack?" Inger couldn't imagine herself in the situation Nash was in, if Ulla ever got so sick. For as many hassles as living with Ulla has brought, Inger didn't want to live a day without her. "Either one of you got an aspirin?" Nash's head felt as if it were being split straight down the middle. He needed sleep, but he wasn't about to leave with Nick's life depending on every breath. Inger rifled through her large purse, but came up empty handed. "Sorry, I've got Lucia's Flinstone vitamins but I don't think they'll do the job. How about you, Rachel?" Inger felt bad that there wasn't more they could do for Nash. If he was married, he'd be better taken care of. "Here," Rachel handed Nash three small pills and got up from her chair. "I'll go try Cassidy again." Rachel had never met Lisa, but she was hoping that maybe she could talk some sense into her daughter. From what little Rachel knew, Cassidy wasn't like either one of her parents. Rachel walked slowly down the corridor, only to be met by Harvey. "I guess dinner will have to wait." Harvey loosely wrapped his arms around her and kissed her lightly, "when did you get here?" "Just after five, are the other two with you?" She was of course referring to Antwon and Joe. She knew Inger planned on staying the evening at the hospital since her mother had Lucia. "Yeah, Joe went to talk to a doctor and Antwon had to call Jessica." This wasn't exactly how Harvey envisioned their evening, but Nash needed them there with him. Nick was more important. "Any news?" "I'm trying to get a hold of Cassidy, but the doctors haven't said much." Rachel assumed the doctors were quiet because there wasn't much to say, Nick's demise was immenent. "So it's just a matter of time?" The more Harvey thought about Nick, the more he thought about what Dr. Bradley had been saying lately. Time was truly of the essence. "Yeah, unfortunately it is." Rachel hated to admit it, but the end was near. Nick's death would effect everyone, no matter how they knew him. "I should probably try and get a hold of Cassidy." Harvey stepped in closer to kiss her again, out of the corner of his eye he saw Cassidy walking through the doors at the main entrance. "Speak of the devil." ** "She's not here?" Pete was worried that Cassidy might be with Lucas, he was hesitent about coming over but their discussion couldn't wait. "Nah, her grandfather is sick or something." Lucas hadn't paid much attention to what Cassidy was saying, he was still half asleep when she left. "What's up?" "Somehow, Bridges is getting smart on us." Pete wasn't happy about the turn of events, "he had three guys on surveillance today. Two were in the van and another one was in the next building." Pete knew each day was another risk, but it was also a day closer to buying the boss' freedom. "You're serious?" Lucas knew they'd both pay the price if Pete didn't get the money he needed to meet the boss' parole. Every dollar made the difference. A few more hits and they were home free. "Dead serious. I want you to listen, you need to make sure nobody knows you're working for me...not Cassidy, not anyone." Pete had to be certain that no one knew, if he blew his own cover, his boss would be sought be back in prison before he even got out. "I get it, man, settle down." Lucas knew how important his silence was. There was no way he'd tell Cassidy about Pete, he wouldn't sell him out this late in the game. "I gotta go do a little research on Inspector Leek, be sure to keep an eye out on your girlfriend." The boss wanted Pete to do a little leg work for him, he couldn't carry out his plans on his own. "You can count on me." Lucas had no intention of giving Cassidy up once he was finished working with Pete. If anything, she kept him entertained. ** "Nick, you're being difficult and I don't like it." Nash kept hoping Nick would wake up, but there hadn't been a change all evening. The doctors assumed the stroke would have permanent effects. "I really need your help now." Nash gently rubbed Nick's arm, "between you and me, the nurses here aren't bad. You should wake up and take a look. You and I could both find a woman or two." Cassidy stepped into the room, "how's Grandpa?" If it weren't for Nick, she wouldn't even be talking to her father at this point. Nick often acted as the glue that held them together. "He's Grandpa, stubborn as always." Nash wished Nick would use some of his stubbornness and persistence to pull himself out of this rut.  Nash would do anything to have more time with Nick. Cassidy gently squeezed Nick's hand, "come on Grandpa, you still have to see me down the aisle." Nash looked at Cassidy and smiled, knowing her wish probably wouldn't come true. "We should probably try and check with a doctor, see if there's been any change." ** The doctor walked slowly towards the waiting room, knowing Nash had been there all evening. After consulting Nick's chart, he knew this was for the best. He hated to bear the bad news. He approached Nash, not ready to deliver his news. Everyone knew what was about to be said, the doctor's face said it all. Harvey shot a quick glance towards Nash and then back at Rachel, assuming the worse. Cassidy looked at her father as her eyes started to well up with tears, she wished her mother was there with them. Inger and Joe walked back into the waiting room with Antwon, seeing the doctor standing before Nash. They could tell the news wasn't good from the blank expression upon Nash's face. The doctor sat down in the chair next to Nash, and then a nurse came towards them as well. "Mr. Bridges, I'm very sorry but there was nothing more that we could do for your father. His heart went out and we tried to bring him back, but it was to no avail." The doctor didn't think there was any way he could tell Nash that wouldn't completely devastate him. "Your father passed away a few minutes ago, after he went into full cardiac arrest." Nash fought the tears he could feel building up, words just couldn't come to him. No one knew what to say. In a way, Nick's death was expected. On the other hand, he never expected Nick to die so soon. Nash looked to Cassidy, "do you want to see him?" Nash knew he'd have to go in and see Nick himself, in order to know he was really gone. Cassidy shook her head, she couldn't bring herself to go. She wanted to remember Nick how he was, not how he died. "I can't go." "Can I go in?" Nash wanted a few final moments with Nick, he wished Stacy would've been there as well. "The nurse will take you back." The doctor signaled to the nurse and she stepped up towards Nash. Joe looked at Nash, "I'll go back with you." Nick had been like a second father for Joe, an important figure in his life. He too needed some sort of closure. Nash nodded his head and followed behind the nurse with Joe, he couldn't believe that this was the end. Cassidy looked towards Inger and Harvey, "I've got to get out of here." Cassidy grabbed her bag and began walking towards the doors. Harvey looked to Inger, both unsure of what they should do. "Should I go after her?" "She probably just needs some air." Inger didn't want to pressure Cassidy to stay if she didn't want to. She could tell Cassidy was uncomfortable. Inger hoped Lisa's presence would effect how things were going with Nash, especially now that Nick was gone. ** "It's getting kind of late, I'm going to head home and get to bed. Did you want me to wait?" Harvey had another long, tedious day with Joe and Antwon. No one was ready for Nick's death. It brought a new ray of reality to Harvey. They waited for a while after Nick died, no one wanted to leave Nash alone. "I'll be home soon, I'm going to talk with Inger and say goodbye to Nash. I'll meet you there." Rachel had every intention of leaving, she had no reason to stay. Rachel would've preferred to go home with Harvey, but she didn't want to leave her car overnight. "Okay, I'll see you in the morning." Harvey kissed her lightly and pulled away, not wanting to put on a passionate demonstration at such a somber time. "Just let me know when you get in." Harvey worried about her, cop or not, he was still concerned for his wife's safety. "Okay." Rachel walked back towards Inger, not sure of how long they planned to stay or what Inger was going to do. "We can meet tomarrow, if that works out better for you. Stacy and Lisa will both be in sometime tomarrow morning." It was a bit of a relief both were able to come, Nash would need all the distraction he could get. "That might be better, I'm going to take Joe home and then we can talk and get everything organized." Inger wanted to do whatever she could to help Nash, especially since Cassidy decided to give everyone the cold shoulder. "Has no one heard from Cassidy again?" "Not that I know of, I'll go ask Nash." Rachel knew how upset Nash was about losing Nick, and Cassidy's actions hadn't helped. She hoped Lisa would be able to straighten things out when she came in. "You go talk to Nash and we're going to leave, you and Harvey come by tomarrow about eleven?" Inger wanted some time to pick up the house and get everything ready before anyone came by. They already offered their house to Nash for any guests so they wouldn't need hotels."I'll see you tomarrow." Rachel waited for Inger and Joe to leave before she approached Nash, she sat down in the chair next to him. "Still no word from Cassidy?" Nash was disappointed with his daughter's behavior, with how she ran away. He thought he raised her better. "No, Inger and I both called and so did Antwon." Rachel had no idea why Cassidy was acting this way. She wasn't a very open person, but this was a bit extreme even for her. "She probably needs some time alone." "The one person I need most needs time alone, go figure." Nash shook his head as the events of the evening began to set in. "I'm worried Rachel. I don't want to smother her or come on too strong, but I'm afraid of what she could do." Nash knew Cassidy wasn't in a very good frame of mind. She shouldn't be out alone. "I could go and look for her." Rachel didn't want to go, but she knew Nash had a few more things to take care of at the hospital before he could leave. By the time she got home, Harvey would be fast asleep. "I won't put you through that." Nash hadn't expected Rachel's offer to go after Cassidy. He appreciated the thought, but it might make things even worse between them. "I'll take care of this and I'll go out and look for her." "Nash, I'll go, you've got enough to do." Nash stood up before Rachel and hugged her, it was a sight Cassidy didn't want to see. She peered from around the corner, hoping no one had seen her. Rachel picked up her purse off the next chair and walked down the long corridor. She thought of calling Harvey to let him know, but she didn't want to wake him up.  As soon as Rachel was gone, Cassidy made her exit as well, without saying a word to Nash. **

Friday ** "Cassidy?" Harvey was surprised to find her outside when he opened the door, he thought maybe Rachel had forgotten her keys. "How are you?" He didn't know what to say to her, she just lost her grandfather on top of everything else that was going on. Harvey was getting ready for work, since Nash told them all to come in at eleven. "Can you talk?" Cassidy needed to talk to someone, and certainly not her father or Rachel. Neither one of them would understand. She wasn't sure if Rachel was home  or not. "Do you want to come in?" Harvey motioned her inside, sure Rachel wouldn't mind. He wondered where Rachel was, she said she'd be home hours ago. He hadn't gotten a phone call or anything, Harvey was beginning to worry. He tried calling her several times with no anwer. "He's gone, Harvey, I can't believe he's gone." Cassidy collapsed onto the couch next to him, completely distraught. She had seen him a while before he died, but it wasn't the same. She should have been there with him. She should have been there with Nash. "I know, sweetheart, I know." Harvey loosely wrapped his arms around her shoulder, not wanting to leave any room for interpretation of his intent. He wished Rachel would come back or at least call. "I don't know what I'm going to do without him. Nash is taking this so hard." Cassidy knew her father's life wouldn't be the same without Nick in it. Even though they had their problems, Nick and Nash always managed to work something out. "Have you tried talking to Nash?" Harvey knew their problems were mainly work-related, he assumed Nick's death might bring them closer together. He wanted to call Nash and ask about Rachel, but that would have to wait. "I can't. I'm mad, I'm angry... he's hurt and upset... nothing's going to change." Cassidy knew that her problems were even worse now, without Nick around, she didn't know how to handle Nash. Her grandfather had been a great source of wisdom and influence. "Maybe you should try." Harvey didn't want to sound cold or like he didn't care, but he felt that Cassidy should be talking to her father instead of him. "Easier said than done, you're not his kid and his employee, you're just an employee." Cassidy wanted fair treatment at work, that was all. She wanted to be part of the team. Now there'd be even more tension at work, she didn't anticipate going back. "You got me there." Harvey didn't know what it was like for her, working for her father. He respected and valued Nash as a boss, but knew it would be different if he had the relationship with Nash that Cassidy did. ** "Nash?" Rachel waited for him to come to the door, she didn't want to barge in and catch him off guard. "Don't tell me you're just coming in now?" Nash looked at the clock, it was well after nine-thirty. He was hoping Cassidy would've called. "I have no idea where you're daughter is, I checked every bar she's ever mentioned, the beaches, a few cafes, local churches... I called some of her friends from school... no luck." Rachel looked everywhere, but Cassidy was no where to be found. "You should go home and get some sleep, you look worse than I do." Nash appreciated her efforts, but he knew he needed her on the clock at the SIU later as well. "Thanks, but I'll do that after work." Rachel knew she didn't have time to sleep before she went in. With Harvey and Antwon on surveillance, she was with Joe at the SIU all day. "You sure?" Nash knew Joe could handle things on his own for a while. He didn't think he'd mind the peace and quiet. "I'll go in." Rachel tried to keep her eyes ope, the lack of sleep was slowly catching up with her. "What about you?" "I've got to go to the airport, pick up my ex and my sister." Nash was grateful they were both able to come in. He was hoping he'd have at least spoken with Cassidy by the time they arrived. "You might want to check in with Harvey, I'm sure he's worried about you." Nash thought back to their conversation, where Rachel asked him if there was more to the situation than her helping him with Nick. His view hadn't changed. "I probably should." Rachel knew Harvey would be up and getting ready for work, probably ready to kill her for not calling. ** "What time is everyone coming over?" Joe knew Inger told everyone to come by their house that evening. "I told them to come by after work,  but Stacy and Lisa will probably come early with Nash." Inger thought it was great they'd be in town. They might not have time to catch up, but at least she'd get to see them. "I tried to get a hold of Caitlin, but she's too busy to call me back." Joe knew a visit from Caitlin might perk Nash up, but it was a long shot. He didn't expect her to come in. "I think Nash will have all the women he could handle." Inger laughed at the thought, Nash had a funny way of keeping in contact with a few of his exes.  Nash definitely had interesting relationships with the women in his life. "Isn't that the truth." Joe smiled, knowing his friend's fondness for women. "Listen, I've got to get going. Rachel and I are at the SIU and Antwon and Harvey are on surveillance. Call me if you need anything." ** "Care to tell me where you've been? I could guess, but either way I'm sure it had something to do with Nash." Harvey paced furiously around the room, trying not to explode. "You can start anytime, I've been worried sick about you." He was happy she finally came home, but he wanted an explanation. Rachel threw her purse and jacket down, "I've been out looking for Cassidy and then I stopped by Nash's." It was obvious Harvey had already made up his mind about what had gone on in the hours she was away. "Really?" Harvey scratched his head, the story didn't add up. Cassidy had been there less than two hours before. "That's funny, because Cassidy came by here and she said the last time she saw you, you were with Nash." "And when was that?" The last time Rachel had seen Cassidy had been a few hours before Nick died. When Cassidy left, she told no one where she was going or how she could be reached. "She was at the hospital sometime after Nick died." Harvey didn't know the specific hour, just that she was there. "Or shall I say, you were in his arms." "I can't believe her..." Rachel couldn't believe that Cassidy came by her house after being out all evening, she should've gone to Nash's. She could only imagine the ideas going throug Harvey's head. "Why? Did her visit just blow your cover?" Harvey didn't like the way the stories clashed. Cassidy knew nothing of Rachel looking for her, she said Rachel was with Nash. Rachel claims she was looking for Cassidy, then went to go see Nash.  He couldn't take it, he had to ask."You were with him, weren't you?" "Excuse me?" Rachel knew Harvey had every right to make the accusation, there would be no way she could convince him otherwise. "Harvey, it's not what you think." "Then tell me, Rachel, what the hell is it?" Harvey continued to pace around the room, unable to look her in the eye. "The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. You didn't answer your calls, you didn't come home..." Rachel bent down to check the pockets on her jacket and then her purse for the phone. She must have left it behind at the hospital. "I don't know where my phone is, and I already told you where I was." Rachel tried to think of where else her phone might be, or how to assure Harvey she hadn't been with Nash the way he thought she was. It wasn't going to be easy. "We've got to be at Inger and Joe's at after work." "Oh do we?" Harvey tried to keep himself from screaming, wanting to know what had really gone on. "I suppose I would've known that sooner had you come home and told me." "I didn't call before I left because I didn't want to wake you." Rachel wanted to be as honest as she possibly could, but she could see it wasn't winning her any points. There was no way Harvey could believe her, and no reason why he should. "You didn't want to wake me?" Harvey laughed sarcastically, "here's a news flash for you, Rachel, I wasn't asleep. I didn't sleep because I was worried something might have happened to you." "Harvey, this isn't fair." Rachel knew it would do no good to argue with him. He was mad and she had this coming for quite some time. "You know what, life isn't fair. Marriage to you has completely clarified that statement for me.  Ask any married man whose wife has gone back to their ex, and he'll tell you life isn't fair."  Harvey grabbed his jacket and keys from the coffee table, "maybe you should ask Nash where your phone is..." ** "Bridges old man died, that should be some good news." Pete wondered what the boss would think. If anything, it made his job a little easier for the next couple days. "Such a shame." He would've preferred it to be Leek who died, but he would take what he could get. He couldn't afford to be picky at this stage. "You know what that means?" "That I should make the most of my opportunity?" Pete had already rearranged his plans, he wouldn't miss making a hit while most of the SIU was attending the services for Bridges' father. "Exactly, don't screw this up." His life depended on Pete. He couldn't survive in jail for much longer. He had to be out in the world again. "Have I screwed it up yet?" Pete didn't like it when the boss doubted him, it worked against his confidence. The money was too important for him to screw up. "Not yet, but one cannot be too sure." He knew nothing was certain, but he had to hope he'd be getting out. He had to get back to Anna and Jerry, before Leek could ruin things for him. "Well, put your faith in me." Pete would be sure he made it out of prison, no matter what he had to do. He was hoping the boss would need him again sometime soon. ** "It's good to see you, Nash." Lisa gave Nash a hug, trying to balance her jacket and flight bag on her free arm. "It's good to see you too." Nash was happy that she could come in. He knew that she meant a lot to Nick, even after their divorce. "I just wish it was on better terms." Lisa was hoping she could've seen Nick one last time. Even after she moved to France, she kept in contact with Nick. "Where's our favorite daughter?" "She's back at the house, she left after Nick died and no one heard from her for quite a while." Nash was relieved Cassidy had made an appearance before Lisa got there, he'd hate to have to explain her absence. "Rachel went out to look for her." "The Rachel?" Lisa smiled, after having heard about her from Nash, Cassidy and Nick, she was anxious to meet the woman herself. "Yes, the one and only." Nash shrugged his shoulders, "I hope you don't mind, but we've got to pick up Stacy here as well." "Combining your trips?" Lisa didn't mind at all, she didn't want to make things any harder for  Nash. "Cassidy wasn't up for coming out to the airport." Nash didn't want to burden her, they were both going to have a difficult time dealing with Nick's death. "I see, sounds like she's taken on your habits for dealing with things." Lisa wished her daughter was more like herself, not afraid to open up and say how she felt. ** Antwon looked over to Harvey as they sat in the cramped surveillance van. Something was definitely wrong, Harvey was never that quiet. Antwon could tell Harvey had a bad morning, he hadn't made a request to stop by the SIU for lunch. "What's up with you and the wife?" Harvey tried to ignore Antwon's question. He didn't want to talk about it. He tried to divert his mind by focusing on the television monitor. Antwon glanced at him again, "Harvey? Anybody home?" "I don't want to talk about it." Harvey was furious, and he found it hard to keep his cool. He didn't know what he'd say to Rachel later on, or when he was around Nash. "Okay." Antwon knew if it really bothered Harvey, he'd start to talk. Harvey could never keep quiet for long. "I'll just be right over hear, waiting for you to start." "Hypothetically speaking, what would you do if you thought your significant other was seeing someone else?" Harvey didn't want to come right out with the truth, he wanted to see what Antwon thought before he said any more. "Say what?" Antwon didn't know if Harvey was making a reference to something he knew about Jessica or his own situation with Rachel. "That's what I thought." Harvey could've predicted Antwon's reaction. He thought Rachel's actions and intentions were obvious to everybody but him. "Do you know something I don't know?" Antwon thought maybe Harvey heard something from Rachel who heard something about Jessica from someone else who lived in Carmel. "I think that might be the otherway around, buddy." Harvey didn't know what to think or who to believe. Maybe he had been wrong about his relationship with Rachel all along. ** "Any calls from the boys yet?" Joe was hoping either Harvey or Antwon would've called with an update. "Nothing yet." Rachel was hoping just to hear Harvey's voice, even if it was work related. She hated how they left things that morning. She had to talk to him. "What's with you today anyways, you're unusually quiet and low-key?" Joe expected Rachel would've talked his ear off already. She hadn't said much since she got there. "Lover's quarrel?" Rachel was a little shocked Joe asked, she assumed he might have already spoken with Harvey. Either way, she knew he'd probably side with Harvey once he did know. "Something like that." "You want to talk about it or will I hear it through the rumour mill?" After Joe said it, he realized he probably shouldn't have brought the rumour mill up. The gossip hadn't always been good when it was about Rachel, especially when Nash was involved. "Either way, everyone will have a different version." Rachel appreciated Joe's willingness to listen, but she really didn't want to say anything until she spoke with Harvey. She didn't want the gossip to get out of hand. "I see." Joe knew it couldn't be good. He hoped that the drama wouldn't be playing out in his living room that evening. ** "Your dad said you were taking this pretty hard." Lisa knew Nick's death would be hard for Cassidy to accept. She knew they had grown close, especially in the years that Lisa has been away. "So is he." Cassidy knew Nash had been crying, even though he'd never voluntarily cry in front of anyone. "You can talk to him, or I about it, when you're ready." Lisa wanted Cassidy to know that even when miles seperated them, she was there for her. She often questioned her decision to move so far away. "I know." Cassidy wasn't ready to talk about Nick's death just yet. She needed time for reality to set in. His death hadn't taken its toll. "You're father says you're dating, this is good." Lisa was happy her daughter was finally moving on after Evan. Nash didn't get into the details with Lisa. "Nothing serious, just a friend." Cassidy didn't want to talk about Lucas with her mother. Though she might be a little more sympathetic than Nash, she still wouldn't understand. ** "You notice anything weird with Harvey today?" Antwon wanted to know if anyone else thought something was going on. It was all too strange how Harvey was acting. "Maybe it's the same bug that's got Rachel.'' Rachel hadn't told Joe much, but he knew there was trouble in paradise based on what little she had said. "What did she tell you?'' Antwon thought that maybe if they compared notes, maybe they'd reach some conclusion. "What did he tell you?" Rachel hadn't said enough to let Joe onto what had happened, maybe Harvey told Antwon something more concrete. "He asked me, hypothetically, what about a significant other having an affair." The fact that Joe even noticed something was wrong with Rachel led Antwon to believe there might be some merit to Harvey's statement.  "Oh." Joe already guessed where this was headed, he assumed a certain Nash Bridges might have a lot to do with the problem. "I better go play host before a war breaks out in the dining room." ** Rachel watched as Harvey stepped outside, she had to take advantage of an opportunity to speak with him alone. He had been surrounded by people all night. She wanted to speak to him before he left. Rachel followed him onto the sidewalk, he knew it was her behind him. "I don't want to talk about it, not here and not now." "We have to talk about this sometime, Harvey." Rachel didn't want to put their discussion off any longer. He had to know the truth, it wasn't at all what he thought . "I can't, not here." Harvey wanted to wait, he needed more time to cool down. He had to confront them both. Harvey wanted to be a good friend to Nash and help him get through this, but he was having a conflict of interests.  "When do you suggest we talk about it then?" Rachel didn't want to go home without having told him what happened. He had to believe her sooner or later. Harvey had to trust her. "I need to be alone for right now, Rachel and I think you need you need to take this time to decide what you really want." Harvey couldn't believe how quickly things had gotten out of hand. He questionned if things had been this bad all along and he just didn't take notice. "I'll tell you what I want, I want you to listen to me, Harvey..." Rachel knew she should't pressure Harvey into talking, but she didn't want to leave things as they were. "Not now, Rachel." Harvey thrusted his hands into his pockets and walked past her, heading back up the stairs. He didn't want to confront his crumbling relationship along with the death of a friend. **

Saturday ** "Thanks for meeting me." Harvey had to talk to someone, and he didn't want to burden Antwon. Joe was his next best choice. They decided to meet early for coffee that morning before the funeral. "Still not talking to Rachel?" Joe noticed they had been arguing they day before while they were at his house. He wondered if they had patched things up overnight. "Nope." Harvey shook his head. Harvey didn't want to talk to Rachel or discuss what had gone on. The stories just didn't synch up. Cassidy cared about Harvey, she had no reason to lie. "Nash told me about what happened." Joe heard Nash's side of the story, now he wanted to hear Harvey's. He assumed they'd be similar. He questionned that if Nash claimed he and Rachel hadn't slept together, why wasn't Harvey talking to her. "Oh he did?" Harvey could only imagine the story Nash had told Joe, doubting any similarities to the one Rachel had told him. He felt bad about Nick, but Harvey was also going through his own personal hell. "Harvey, do you really think they'd do that?" Joe knew the type of relationship Rachel had with Nash and the type she had with Harvey. The two were nothing a like. From what he saw, Rachel was clearly in love. "I'd hope not, but... the proof is telling me otherwise." For Harvey, there was too much evidence against them. The phone, Cassidy, their past...the odds were stacked against them. "The proof?'' Joe thought his investigative skills were slipping, he certainly hadn't heard of any proof that the two were together until now. "The more I think about it, the more naive I feel." Harvey shook his head and removed his beret, "I mean, Nash never keeps around the women he's dated from the SIU, why would he start with Rachel?" Joe nodded, he couldn't help but agree. He too found it a little odd that Rachel hadn't sought employment elsewhere after she and Nash broke up. "She's a good cop, he probably didn't want to lose her." "I just feel like I was set-up, like I should've seen this coming." Harvey didn't know how he could've missed the signs. Nash's perpetual fling Tamara was gone, he had to go back to Rachel. "This is the first women I've completely fallen for in years, and go figure, it's one of Nash's exes. I should've known better" ** "Nash, what are you doing here?" Rachel knew she was running late, and wondered what Nash was doing there just before the services were due to start. She opened the door and invited him in. "I can't stay long, I just wanted to come apologize now before everything started." Nash felt he owed her that much, if it wasn't for him, she and Harvey wouldn't have the problems that they did. "I'm going to do what I can to make this right." "Nash, don't worry about it." Rachel didn't want him worrying over this on top of everything else he already had to deal with. "This is something Harvey and I have to get through." Rachel knew she and Harvey had their problems, and she intended to make it her personal responsibility to put all of his fears about their relationship aside. "I feel guilty, I mean, if I hadn't asked you to help me out --- you two wouldn't be in this mess." Nash felt like he was single-handedly responsible for the destruction of their relationship. He knew from the start it would be difficult having her around the SIU after she began dating Harvey, but he didn't want to lose her as an employee or a friend. "I think it was bound to happen sooner or later, be it something with you or Anna." They both had insecurities about their former relationships, and that was something they both had to deal with before they could move on. Anna was a constant in Harvey's life because of Jerry, and Nash was still in Rachel's life because they decided to pursue a friendship after the romance had died. Rachel looked at her watch, "you should probably get going, we wouldn't want to arrive at the same time." "Right, no need to fuel the fire." Nash walked alone towards the front door, stopping to glance at a photo of Harvey and Rachel together on the coffee table. He recognized the picture, it was from Vegas. Nash had thought of one last thing. "Rachel?" "Yes?" Rachel thought he already left. It was bad enough she'd be late, she didn't need the grief about making the son of the deceased late as well. She stepped into the living room with her wet hair, still not quite fully dressed or put together. "Have you spoken with him?" Nash wondered if the two had spoken at all since the night before. From what Joe said, things weren't going too well when they left his house. "No, maybe that's for the best." Rachel couldn't believe what she was about to say, but after evaluating the situation several times, she had come to a conclusion. "If he thinks I'd do this now, he deserves someone better that's a little more trustworthy." "Rachel, you and I both know that nothing happened that night." Nash could understand why people might make assumptions, but things had gotten way too far out of hand. "But what we know and what other people think are two different things, given our past  --- we're not exactly credible." Rachel had made a decision about the SIU, she'd have to talk to Nash later. If things didn't make a quick turnaround, she'd have to find a new job. Between Harvey and Nash, Rachel didn't think she'd make it through the week. ** "You're alone, I guess that means you and Rachel still didn't patch things up." Antwon was hoping something would've changed. Harvey was in another bad mood and Antwon already knew the explanation. They walked together towards the group of people at the end of the pier. "You're good, you should get a raise, Inspector." Harvey didn't want to bring up Nash and Rachel yet again. There was no use beating a dead horse. What he needed was to talk to both of them, and Cassidy, and find out what really went on. He knew he'd have to wait. "You really think she'd do that, Harvey?" Antwon was asking because of course Harvey would know Rachel better than he did. Knowing her as a friend, Antwon didn't see her as the type to cheat on the man she loved. "I don't even know anymore, I thought I knew her." Harvey believed he figured Rachel out, and since they were married, things would change. He never really minded her friendship with Nash, as long as their marriage came first. Her not coming home put his beliefs into question. "It's a matter of trust." "You don't trust Rachel, or you don't trust Nash?" Antwon wasn't clear who Harvey didn't believe, one more so than the other, or both of them equally. "I want to trust Rachel, I do, but I know it's not often that Nash Bridges is turned down." Harvey couldn't ignore Rachel and Nash's relationship. It seemed to keep coming back to haunt him. "Why would she wait till now?" Antwon couldn't understand why Rachel would lead Harvey on so long if her intent was only to get back with Nash in the long run. "You tell me." Harvey didn't know what to think at this point. He couldn't believe this was happening to him, there had to be a change. ** Nash looked at the urn he held in his hands. "Well, Nick, I guess you won this argument. You always did have a tendency to go to extremes. If you really didn't want to go to Peaceful Waters, I'm sure we could've worked something out." Scenes from over the years slowly began to replay in Nash's head, bringing back key memories from the past. "You always did know how to get your way." Nash recalled many arguments where Nick would be determined to get the last word in. Stacy walked up slowly behind him, "and so did you." "How long have you been here?" Nash had gotten to the pier earlier than he expected, coming from Rachel's house. He thought he'd get a few minutes alone with Nick. "I just got here, I saw the 'Cuda." Stacy wished she would've been able to spend more time with her father towards the end, but she just couldn't get away from work. "Listen, Lisa's with Cassidy for now and she and I are both going to stay with you while we wrap things up." "How'd I get so lucky?" Nash smiled, "not only do I get my sister, but my ex-wife and daughter all under one roof?" Stacy smiled, "guess we should just be glad you don't have anyone new to add to the mix." "Leave it to you, Nick, you had to get in one last stab, didn't you?" Nash smiled again at Stacy as the tears began to well up in the corner of his eyes. ** "Are you going to the pier, Rachel?" Inger wasn't sure what Rachel planned to do, but she knew she wouldn't be with Harvey. They tried to be subtle with their arguments the day before, but their attempts were futile. "Yeah, but I'll probably only be at the house for a little while." Rachel didn't want to risk another run-in with Harvey at the house afterwords, she thought she should just leave well enough alone for the time being. When Harvey was ready to talk, they'd talk. She wasn't going to push the issue. "Did you want to ride with us?" Inger saw no point in taking so many different vehicles to the pier. It wasn't good for the environment. "Thank you, but I should probably drive myself." Rachel didn't want to put Inger out anymore than she already was by taking care of many of the funeral arrangements for Nash. "Still not talking to Harvey?" Inger wondered if anything had changed since the night before. Rachel's mood suggested it hadn't. "No, and he has every right to be mad." Rachel couldn't blame Harvey for being suspicious, whether she'd admit to it or not, she felt the same way everytime Anna was in town. "Maybe once everything calms down, things will get better." Inger hoped there'd be a chance for redemption with their relationship. They seemed so much in love. They reminded Inger of herself with Joe years before. "I certainly hope so." Rachel didn't know how long she could handle getting the silent treatment from Harvey. There was usually tension of some sort between her and Nash, so that was notihing new. She needed Harvey. ** Harvey tried not to glance at Rachel while the Nick's friend was reading his eulogy. Harvey noticed her distance away from Nash, thinking they were trying to be subtle.  He tried to focus, he was there for Nick, not Rachel. Harvey recognized so many of the faces around him, from his friendship with Nash and Nick over the years. It was a friendship he didn't want to lose. "Nick Bridges was a wonderful man, a loving father and grandfather, a loyal friend and an outstanding citizen of the Bay area community..." Nick's friend kept dabbing a handkerchief at his eyes, as did many others. Harvey looked towards Nash, who was was seated between Cassidy and Stacy. He wondered what they thought about Nash's relationship with Rachel.  Harvey focused again on the urn, he had to think about Nick, not what was going on. They had all lost a friend. As the eulogy came to a close, Harvey watched as the prepared to dispense Nick's ashes into the ocean. It didn't seem so final until that moment, when Nash and Stacy were instructed to release the ashes. Harvey followed somewhere behind Nash, not really letting Rachel out of the corner of his eye. He would've preferred to be there with her, not several people away from her. He couldn't do it, not with so many things left unsaid and so many questions unanswered.  As the guests began to disperse from the pier back to their cars and limos, Nash waited behind with Lisa, Stacy and Cassidy. Harvey felt the need to offer his condolences as well, as he had seen Rachel do moments before. As he approached, he carefully considered what he would say. He had to put aside their differences for the moment.  Harvey reached out and hugged Cassidy, slowly whispering in her ear "I'm sorry." Nash was next, and his message was different. The more he thought about his talk with Joe, the more Harvey considered maybe Nash and Rachel were telling the truth. Nash was a good friend, and he wouldn't take his wife. But... no one knew they were married. "Nash, I'm really sorry about Nick and what happened." For now, that would have to encompass everything he felt until they had a chance to talk later on. Harvey lacked the appropriate words. He stepped aside, allowing others to say talk with the family. He looked on towards the drive, seeing Rachel by Deputy Chief Martin and wondered what they were discussing. Martin wasn't always the most social character, Harvey hadn't expected him to come to the funeral. Harvey assumed it had something to do with the Armstrong case, it would be back to business as usual before long. ** "Rache, I don't want to play sides here. That's just not right." Antwon was torn, he didn't want to lose Harvey or Rachel as a friend by siding with the other. Antwon ran his options through his head as they walked back towards her car. "No one is asking you to, Antwon." Rachel assumed Harvey told him what happened, or at least what he thought happened the night she went out to look for Cassidy. "He's your partner, you need to trust him." "See, that's exactly what I mean." Antwon leaned against the car, unsure of what to say. "If I believe Harvey, I'll lose you as a friend and if I believe you, I won't be able to work with Harvey." Rachel fumbled with her keys, sick of rehashing the events over and over in her mind. "So don't believe anything. He doesn't want to listen to me, so it makes no difference if you believe my story or not." "What is your side of the story?" Antwon had only heard Harvey's version, and he wanted to believe Harvey was wrong. He thought he knew Rachel well enough to say sleeping with Nash would be totally out of character. "Get in." Rachel put the keys into the ignition and waited for Antwon to sit down, wondering why he was so adament about hearing her side. "Where do you want me to begin?" "I left the hospital right after Harvey, so start from there..." Antwon knew Harvey had gone home alone that evening and that Rachel had been talking to Inger when he left. By the time Antwon left, Rachel was talking to Nash. "Okay, when you left I was talking to Nash. He was pretty upset that Cassidy hadn't been around and I told him I'd go out and look for her.  He said he'd do it himself, but he had to take care of the papers and everything with the hospital. I went and I didn't want to call and wake Harvey up. I didn't find Cassidy, so I stopped by Nash's yesterday morning and then I went back home." Rachel played the events over and over again in her head, she couldn't understand how everything was so misconstrued. "By that time, Cassidy had stopped by my house to see Harvey and she told Harvey I was with Nash the night before. I didn't have my phone with me, so I didn't get any of Harvey's calls." "But you were with Nash sometime between when Harvey left and when you came back the next morning." The stories weren't making sense, they contradicted eachother. Something didn't add up. "I wasn't with him like that, I went to tell him that I hadn't found Cassidy." Rachel didn't know why she was putting so much effort into the argument, it was obvious he didn't believe her either. "You couldn't call him?" Antwon was curious as to why she went over to his house instead of calling him. It would've been much more convenient and less problematic for everyone. "I told you, I didn't have my phone." Rachel could see her attempts were futile, the only other person who knew what really went on was Nash. Their past automatically set them up for being guilty. "I had forgotten my phone at the hospital." "Oh." It was a little too coincidental that Rachel had left her phone where Nash was. Antwon really wanted Harvey to be wrong, and everything to go back to normal. It was evident that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. ** "I wanted to thank you for coming today, Harvey. It means a lot to me.'' Nash knew it took a lot for Harvey to show up at Nick's funeral. Despite their years of friendship, Nash knew it was a difficult choice after everything that had happened. Nash waited for Harvey to invite him inside, but instead Harvey stepped onto the front porch. Harvey questionned Nash's visit. Now that he thought things through, maybe the situation was different than he initially perceived it. "I'm sorry for the way I acted. I had no right to...'' Harvey considered for a moment that he had overreacted, maybe Rachel was telling the truth. "I shouldn't have acted so coldly towards you, right after losing Nick." "You have every right to, Harvey. I can't claim that I wouldn't have wanted to be with Rachel, because..." Nash felt if he explained what he thought and felt to Harvey, it might make things better. "Nash, you don't have to explain. I know the situation.'' Harvey assumed Rachel had told him everything and wanted to leave things at that. ''Yes, I do. Rachel loves you, Harvey, and she'd never hurt you like that.'' Rachel's love for Harvey was obvious, anyone could see it. Nash knew he would've been playing with fire had he made any type of advances towards Rachel. "I guess it hadn't crossed my mind that a woman could turn you down." Harvey smiled, it wasn't often that Nash Bridges was refused. He began to feel badly about not trusting Rachel, maybe he shouldn't have been so hard on her. ''I know, it's strange but she loves you and I know she does." Nash knew he'd cause a permanent rift between himself and Harvey had anything transpired with Rachel, and he definitely didn't want to lose Harvey or Rachel as a friend.  "Rachel's a good friend now, and that's all. She's too good of a woman to come between us like that. You're a lucky man, Harvey. She's your wife and I respect that.'' "What?" Harvey wasn't certain of what Nash said. Certainly Rachel wouldn't have told him, unless she had to. "How did you... she told you, right?" Harvey couldn't believe what he heard. Nash knew they were married. She told him. "That's why you didn't... I'm a fool." Harvey knew there had to be some catch, had Rachel not told him they were married, they would've slept together. Harvey walked away from Nash, ready to explode. "Harvey, wait..." Evidently, his knowledge of their marriage didn't help like he thought he would. Nash was hoping that once he told Harvey he knew they were married, everything would be okay again. "That's okay, I don't want to hear anymore. Really. I've heard enough." Harvey got to the Cruiser and waited a moment before opening the door. "Is that really what stopped you, Nash? It didn't bother you at all that I was with her? She had to tell you we were married?" "Harvey, please... let me explain." Nash could see this wasn't going to get an easier. Harvey had made up his mind, Nash was after Rachel and she wasn't about to refuse. "I don't know who to believe, Nash. I'd like to believe Rachel wouldn't sleep with you because she loved me, not just because we happen to be married." Harvey didn't know who he could trust, if anyone. "Harvey... she does.'' Nash didn't know how he could convince Harvey that Rachel loved him. Being with Rachel like that hadn't crossed his mind, he knew she was happy with Harvey. "We've been married a while, since Vegas, but we haven't told anyone besides Antwon. Go figure she'd bring it up now to stop from having sex with you." Harvey paused a moment, on the verge of tears. "You know what, you can have her and all the emotional baggage that comes with. I'm not going to compete. " Harvey got into the car and turned up the radio before driving off. ** "What's wrong with you?" Lucas was curious why he hadn't seen Cassidy much in the past couple days. She didn't even call him. Pete had no problem with her being away, but Lucas began to worry. "We buried my grandfather today." Cassidy was about to start crying, even the thought of Nick could get her started. She didn't get a chance to really say goodbye, just like she didn't get a chance to say goodbye to Evan. "I'm sorry to hear that." Lucas wondered why she hadn't told him sooner. He wanted her to trust him, he needed her to trust him. "He died Thursday night, but he wanted to be cremated so we put his ashes out in the ocean today." Cassidy had planned to stop by and see Lucas earlier, but didn't have time before the services. No one could console her at this point. "If you don't mind me asking, why aren't you with your family?" Lucas found it a little odd that she was there with him instead of being with her family at a time like this. "That's not where I want to be, I want to be here --- with you." Cassidy felt like Lucas was the only one who cared. She could talk to Lucas and not worry about him judging her. He could make everything okay. "Okay, let me call my friend and I'll clear the night." Lucas needed to call Pete and cancel their plans for the evening. It was obvious that Cassidy needed him. Besides, if he kept Cassidy out of the way and the other SIU cops were at the memorial service, Pete could get away with murder. ** "You get lost?" Joe welcomed Nash and loosely draped his arm around his shoulder. Joe knew he probably went to talk to Cassidy. "Everyone has been asking about you." "I had something to take care of." Nash wished things would've went better with Harvey, or that he had more time to try and talk things over with him. He wondereed if Rachel was there.  He needed to talk to her, to tell her he saw Harvey. "Is Rachel around?" "She came for a little while, then she left." Joe found it odd how briefly she stayed. "I figured she might have gone to see Harvey." Joe didn't know how the whole ordeal started, but even as a bystander he knew there were problems. "I doubt that." Nash knew the damage that was done might go unrepaired, and he blamed himself. "Let me know if either one of them come in, I've got to talk to Lisa and make my social rounds." Cassidy was another problem that Nash tried to put at the back of his mind for the time being. He hoped her mother could talk some sense into Cassidy. Inger walked up to Joe, loosely reaching for his hand. "How's he doing?" She knew Nash was having a difficult time dealing with Nick's death, she'd feel the same had it been Ulla that died. "About as well as can be expected. Cassidy's disappeared again, the love triangle between Nash, Rachel and Harvey has finally reached a breaking point, and I just got word from Martin that Armstrong pulled another robbery while the services were being held for Nick." Joe was surprised Nash hadn't broken down yet. He hoped Nash would take a few days off to recover. "It's been a great day for him, really." "Oh, Joe, what are we going to do?" Inger wanted to help Nash out as much as they could. She knew having the luncheon after the funeral would help, but she wanted to do more after all he's done for them over the years. "We can send him Ulla to bring some cheer." Joe smiled, trying to lighten the mood. He knew it would be a very long time before anything was even close to being normal around the SIU. ** Harvey pounded on her door until she answered. He had to see her, she had to admit what she had done herself. She looked at him, a bit surprised he had come by. "You picked a fine time to make our announcement, Rache, good way to stop Nash." "What?" Rachel didn't have any idea what he was talking about. She could assume he had spoken with Nash from the scowl upon his face. Apparently, he didn't like what Nash had said. "Don't act like you're so innocent, I know you told him we were married to get out of having sex with him. Had we only been dating still, it would've happened.'' Harvey was sure if she hadn't told Nash she married Harvey, they would've slept together again.  "Harvey, please..." She thought he knew her better, she would never hurt him like that. Being with Nash again didn't interest her in the least. "I can't ever win with you, can I?" Harvey felt like he was always losing her to something or someone else. There was a constant competition between him and the Nash, the ex. Right now, he wasn't up for the fight.  "I didn't tell him." Rachel had no idea how Nash found out. She certainly didn't tell him. For all Rachel knew, maybe it was Antwon. "Whatever, Rachel. Go, run to him like you always do." Harvey didn't like how Nash always ended up being called upon whenever Rachel had a problem or vice versa. He wanted that position, at least with her. "Harvey..." Rachel knew there was no point in arguing. Harvey took the situation for how he saw it, not for what it was worth. "Sleep with him, you've got my permission. I don't care anymore.'' Harvey was furious, nothing she could say or do would change that. He wanted to scream, to hit something. The tension was constant. He had to leave. "Don't say that." Rachel knew he still cared, he wouldn't be standing there if he didn't. Everything with Nash had gotten out of control. "What difference does it make? You don't care, and he certainly doesn't."  It didn't make sense, how could they betray him like this? Harvey wanted out, plain and simple. "If you're not willing to listen, than neither am I." Rachel grabbed her keys and stepped onto the porch, slamming the door behind her. Harvey stood there wondering what was next as she got into her car and drove off. **

Sarah