Episode42

Part 1

**
"Hurry doctor, there's a code blue in room two-twelve." The nurse ran as quickly as she could back to the patient's bedside, the doctor wasn't far behind.

Dr. Monroe looked at the elderly woman and checked her vitals, "where's her chart?"

The nurse looked at the end of the bed, the chart was missing from the rack. "It's gone."

"Go get the defibralator and quick." Without the chart, Dr. Monroe had no idea of whether or not the woman was a DNR. As far as he was concerned, they'd do everything they could to save her.

The nurse left the room momentarily and came back, pushing the defibralator cart ahead of her. "300, doctor?"

"Yes. " The doctor knew they didn't have much time, the woman had already been down for almost five minutes. He charged the defibralator and placed the paddles onto the womans chest, to no avail.

"Again?" The nurse had no idea how long they'd try, this episode was similar to the rest of them. She was certain that the woman wasn't going to make it.

The doctor checked the machines that were keeping the woman alive, he knew it was hopeless. "No." As the woman flatlined, he thought of something. "Who was in here earlier?"

"Well, her friend Martin stopped in and so did Nurse Parker." Nothing out of the oridinary had gone on from what she had seen. "I only came in because I had to change her IV."

"Do me a favor, tell Rose at the desk to get Nash Bridges down here." Dr. Monroe didn't like the circumstances, the woman had been in reasonably good health. There was definitely foul play involved. The home couldn't bare to have another wrongful death suit, especially with Nurse Parker.

**
"Rachel, it's me, Louis." Louis knew he'd probably be calling at a bad time. There hardly ever was a moment when she wasn't busy doing something else.

"What can I do for you?" Rachel had been expecting his call to come earlier in the week. She knew Connie was going to put her through hell in one way or another. Rachel could only hope that RJ wouldn't get hurt in the middle.

"Can you be in court, next week on Thursday?" Louis knew it was short notice, but it was the best he could do. There was a lot to get taken care of but not much time to do it.

"Next week?" Rachel knew she had to go, but it would be hard to fit everything in with the Parker case and having Jerry at home.

"Our options were Monday and Thursday, I assumed Thursday would be best." Louis didn't want to speak for Rachel, but he needed time to prepare himself for the court date as well.

"She really wants to get this over with, huh?" Rachel couldn't believe how determined Connie was to get rid of RJ. Rachel could only hope that Harvey understood what she was going through.

"Unfortunately, yes. The judge would like to know when you can take RJ." Louis knew that Connie must've pulled a lot of strings to get the custody agreement taken to court so quickly. At least Rachel and Harvey were willing to be flexible. Kat walked up towards Rachel's desk, seeing she was intensely involved in her conversation. She decided to wait and not interrupt.

"I really do have to talk to Harvey about that." Even though RJ was her son, Rachel didn't feel as if she was in a position to make that type of decision on her own. Harvey deserved to have some say in what was going to happen regarding the custody agreement. "I'll call you later on."

"I'll be waiting." Louis hung up the phone. He had no doubts about Rachel's potential as a mother, but it was Connie's reasoning for giving RJ up that had him worried.

"You okay?" Kat didn't want to pry, but Rachel hadn't been herself all morning.

"I'll be fine." Rachel didn't want to get into detail with her problems, that was the last thing Kat needed to worry about. "Ready to go?" Rachel stood up and pushed her chair in, grabbing her purse off the back.

"Nothing like a visit to the morgue to brighten one's day." Kat smiled and walked ahead of Rachel towards the doors, there was work to be done.

**
"Harvey, you look well tanned and rested." Dr. Bradley smiled as Harvey sat down before him. He wished that his news was better, but he had already waited long enough with the tests.

"A belated honeymoon of sorts." Harvey grinned at the thought, the trip couldn't have come at a better time for them. Something about the appointment wasn't right, Dr. Bradley usually didn't call him at work.

"Everything else been going okay?" Dr. Bradley was extremely concerned about the amount of stress in Harvey's life, which could be a considerable factor in worsening his condition.

"Yeah." With the exception of Anna being in town, things couldn't have been better at home or at work. Harvey knew he wasn't there to make small talk and had better things to do back at the SIU. "So what's up?"

"I had a colleague of mine look at the EKG and EEG results from your tests, and he noticed some irregularities." Dr. Bradley had seen the irregularities himself, but he didn't feel it was anything to get Harvey worried over just yet. He wanted to be certain. "What I think..." Dr. Bradley paused as he felt Harvey's eyes upon him, "what I think is..."

Harvey couldn't stand the silence or his procrastination. He wanted to know what was going on. "Are you trying to tell me that I'm a walking time bomb or what?"

"Harvey, settle down, let's not jump to conclusions here." The last thing Dr. Bradley needed was for Harvey to overreact and throw himself into cardiac arrest. "What I think we should do is run these tests again, now that you've had some time to heal and see how everything looks."

"And then we'll know if I'm a walking time bomb." Harvey didn't want to play the waiting game, in his mind this had already gone on long enough. "How soon can I get this over with?"

"There should be somebody in the lab on Saturday morning, if you're available." Dr. Bradley knew that time was of the essence for Harvey. The sooner they knew something, the better off he'd be.

"Saturday morning, that's fine." As far as Harvey could recall, they didn't have any plans for Saturday morning. He had told Nash he'd put in a few hours at the SIU, but he could go in when he was finished at the lab.

**
"Anything new on Parker?" Joe had been at City Hall all morning and hadn't heard the latest updates. The look on Nash's face told him that the day hadn't gone well.

"Another victim was found this morning, McCabe and Bauer are already at Hidden Lake." Nash had sent them out immediately after receiving the call. "By the time they got there, Parker was already long gone.

"Why does he split if no one has any proof?" Joe found it odd why Parker kept leaving if there was no proof against him, he was incriminating himself even further.

"His presence has been the problem, after he's there, people die." Nash had a good idea about what was going on, and he didn't know if he could be completely unbiased about the issue.

"You saying it's euthanasia?" Joe had considered euthanasia as an option earlier, "or just someone who holds a grudge against the bedridden elderly?"

"I think there's someone else involved, another nurse." Nash had met Parker earlier, he didn't seem the type to kill. But then again, killers don't allows meet the stereotype.

"Really?" Joe thought all along that this had been a one-man show. He didn't anticipate getting any more leads pointing in a different direction.

"If all else fails, I'll send McCabe and Bauer in undercover. Rachel knows enough about the meds to be aware if there's something being slipped into the IV's and Kat's a former social worker, she knows all about the PR that these places would pull just to stay open." Nash already had a clear plan in mind, as long as Parker didn't leave the home, they'd be able to get the job done.

"What if it really is Parker?" Joe wasn't sure what Nash meant to imply, if they were giving up completely on Parker or just looking to explore other options.

"We'll see what the women say when they've get back, but I've got a hunch." The whole situation was too bizarre. Death was natural for the elderly, but this death was definitely induced.

**
Antwon smiled as Harvey walked towards his desk, wondering where he had been all morning. Harvey sat down, but Antwon didn't take his eyes off of him. Harvey looked at him and shook his head, trying to concentrate on the pictures before him. Antwon just kept smiling. "What?"

"What yourself." Antwon was anxious to find out why Harvey had been so late that morning, he had been getting there early lately. Antwon stepped up to Harvey's desk to get a better look, " uh huh, no lipstick, no hickies...but you do smell like Pleasures, Harvey Leek."

"What?" Harvey shooed Antwon away, somehow he always had just one thing on his mind. Antwon definitely needed a full-time girlfirend. "Don't you have something better to be doing than bugging me?"

"Did somebody get lucky before work?" Antwon couldn't help but smile, Rachel was no where in sight.

"Ye... no...," Harvey spun his chair around and looked over to see Rachel's empty desk, she wasn't there when he needed her. He'd have to endure Antwon's curiousity.

"Whatever you say isn't convincing because she's not here to help you out, you dog." Antwon chuckled as he picked up the photo's from Harvey's desk, he knew it was time to get to work. "Are these from Hidden Lake?"

"Yeah, someone from Bayside shot them a couple months ago... when four women died within a two-week time frame." The similarities between the cases were endless, but there was no evidence to pin the murders onto anyone.

"Was it Parker?" Antwon assumed that's who all the fingers were pointing two, but once again the lack of evidence wasn't going to help close the case.

"Could've been, but there's always the chance somebody else did the killing and Parker will be the one to do the time." Harvey knew it was quite possible that somebody else was involved. Parker didn't seem like a murderer, but he could be wrong.

"So we've got a serial killer preying upon the elderly?" No matter who was guilty, Antwon was certain it was someone from Hidden Lakes that was doing the killing.

"That or a true "angel of death." Harvey didn't want to be skeptical, but he couldn't help but wonder what was going on behind the scenes at Hidden Lakes. "When I went to check the place out, I don't know, something just wasn't right."

**
"Can I go to Daddy's again tonight?" Jerry was looking forward to spending another evening with his Dad and Rachel. He didn't want to be around Steve any more than he had to be. He didn't like that Anna called Steve his dad, he wasn't. Harvey was his dad.

"I don't know, Jerry." Anna knew that Steve didn't like letting Jerry go to Harvey's so often. She couldn't move too fast, she couldn't cut Harvey off from Jerry until she was certain. "Maybe you should stay here with your new Daddy and I."

Jerry pulled himself away from Anna, not liking her response at all. "No, you promised."

"I said maybe." Anna hated when Jerry did this, whenever he brought up things that she had said just to quiet him down. "You haven't been a good boy today."

"Yes, I have." Jerry tried to fight back his tears, he had been a good boy, he hadn't done anything wrong. "I wanna see Daddy and Rachel."

"How many times do I have to tell you, Jerry, your Daddy and Rachel don't have time for you." Anna watched as his eyes filled with tears and he lowered his head to try and hide. "There going to have their own kids and they won't want you around anymore."

"That's not true." Nothing Anna could say could convince Jerry that Harvey and Rachel didn't want him around. He reached his arms out to her for a hug, "don't say that, Momma."

"Jerry, you're going to have to learn." Anna knew what she'd have to do to prevent Rachel from getting to her son, he had to learn to hate her. Rachel had Harvey, she wasn't going to get Jerry too.

"But Rachel is a good mom." Rachel had never done anything to hurt him or put him in danger, he had always been well cared for and he never had to worry when he was with her and his Dad.

Jerry didn't call her his mom, but he said mom in the same sentence with Rachel's name and Anna was enraged. It was nearly the same."How can she be a good Mom, Jerry, when she doesn't even want her own kids?"

"She takes care of me." Jerry didn't know how to explain his feelings towards Rachel. He knew she wasn't his mother, but she was definitely capable of treating him well in his mother's absence.

"Once they have kids of their own, you won't have Jerry and Rachel any more, Jerry, and you'll be stuck with me and your new Daddy." Anna could see the devastation in his eyes, just as she had hoped for. Anna wiped the tears from Jerry's face, "you can go there now, but it won't last, buddy."

**
"Are you joining me in Boston this weekend?" Rachel was certain that Harvey probably needed another getaway from Anna and the SIU. Since she had come back to town, she hadn't let Harvey get two words in about keeping Jerry in San Francisco. "My mother is very anxious to meet you."

"That's this weekend?" Harvey completely forgot that she mentioned it earlier in the week. He already told Anna that he'd keep Jerry and he made his appointment at the lab.

"I'm sorry, I probably should've reminded you earlier..." Rachel knew she brought it up to him, but with Jerry around, things had been kind of hectic at home lately. She definitely remembered warning him about her mother.

"I'd love to, babe, but we've got Jerry this weekend." Harvey wished that Anna would've left Jerry and gone back to Seattle, but he knew it wasn't going to be that easy to get rid of her this time. Harvey felt bad about forgetting about the trip. "You're still going, right?" Harvey didn't want her to feel as if she had to spend all of her time with him and his son, she deserved the same personal space she alotted him.

"I was thinking we could all go." Rachel had every intention of bringing Jerry with them to Boston, she could't think of a reason why they wouldn't. She wasn't thrilled that Anna was still in town, but she thought things might be a little better if they could at least get away for the weekend.

"You want to bring Jerry, to Boston?" Harvey didn't think Rachel would've considered bringing Jerry up there, just because it was where she went for time alone with her daughter and to get away.

"Why wouldn't I?" Rachel couldn't understand why he'd think differently. If anything, having Jerry with them in Boston would be better for Lili to get to know him.

"I don't know, I guess I just thought since we've had him a few times this week that you might want a few days to yourself." Harvey had intended to have a little more time alone with Rachel after they got back from Aruba, Anna's early visit had been a surprise.

Rachel kissed him, "nice thought, but I think it's time for me to find out about full-time parenting." Rachel knew exactly what Harvey was trying to do, give her a break from his kid.

''I don't know, Rache, maybe a trip isn't such a good idea this weekend.'' Harvey was happy she didn't mind having Jerry around, but he didn't know what he could do about work. He'd already promised to put in some extra hours that weekend. Harvey also knew Anna would go ballistic if she found out Jerry was going to be alone with Rachel.

"If you didn't want to meet my mother, you could've just said so." Rachel grinned, assuming that meeting with her mother had probably slipped his mind as well. He seemed to be preoccupied than ever since they got back.

"I wish it was as simple as that." Harvey smiled, he was actually looking forward to meeting Rachel's parents. He didn't want to put it off, but he knew his appointment was as priority.

Rachel knew this was coming. She just wasn't sure how to deal with Anna's interference yet again. "Is it because of Anna of work?"

"Both, this time." Harvey hated having to back out at this point, he did give her his word he'd accompany her on the next trip. But, that was then. Nash needed him around the SIU and Anna was destined to be a royal-pain.

Rachel dreaded calling her mother and cancelling, but she wasn't going to pressure Harvey into going. Rachel rolled her eyes and smiled, "I wish I had that excuse to avoid my parents. ."

**
"Cassidy, please, you're going to have to tell your father what is going on sometime." Lisa was convinced that Cassidy was making the wrong decision about not wanting to go back to San Francisco. She knew Nash was often difficult to get along with, but was certain he'd make exceptions for his own daughter.

"Mom, I've screwed up enough lately, this would just be the icing on the cake." Cassidy didn't want to give her father further ammunition against her. She had dug herself into a hole she wouldn't be getting out of anytime soon.

"Maybe there's something your father can do, sometimes his job has certain benefits." Lisa was hoping that Nash would be able to find some further information on Lucas, something that they could use to track him down. Cassidy definitely needed someone, but Lisa knew she had to get back to France.

"Why can't you stay?" Cassidy didn't understand why she had to take her problem back to Nash, she needed her mother. Now was one of the rare times where she needed her parents to be in the same place at the same time.

"Cassidy, I've been here for weeks. My life is on the otherside of the Atlantic." Lisa was trying as best she could to be fair, but she knew Cassidy would take her message the wrong way. "I love you, Cassidy, but unless you are willing to move to France and start over there, I really have to go back."

"Maybe I should." Right now, Cassidy wanted to get as far away from San Francisco and the SIU as she possbily could. She needed a fresh start. Her father had her badge and gun and she was ready to move on.

"You'd still have to talk to your father." Lisa wasn't going to let Cassidy do anything without first speaking with Nash, he had a right to know what was going on with her."You can't stay here in Napa forever."

"I'm an adult, Mom." Cassidy didn't want to further involve Nash in her problems, he had enough to deal with at the SIU without worrying about her as well.

"He's your father and he loves you, Cassidy. He's not your boss anymore, it's not like he can fire you for this." Lisa was trying to rationalize why Cassidy was so reluctant to go back to San Francisco, she had always been closer with her father than she ever was with her.

"I don't want to tell him anything until I know for sure, maybe until I've made my decision." Cassidy was certain she'd disappoint Nash either way. Putting the moves on Harvey and sleeping with Lucas had been bad enough, but this was even worse.

**
"What do you want to do for dinner, Buca's?" Harvey hadn't planned on cooking himself, and he didn't think Rachel would want to cook again. With Jerry there and them both working, a nice, early dinner was out of the question.

"Jerry wants to make lasagna." Jerry had made his request earlier that morning. He wanted to help Rachel make lasagna for dinner, like they had done when Lili was there. Rachel didn't mind, even though it meant there'd be more work for her.

"Buca's has lasagna?" Harvey didn't want Rachel to feel as if she had to comply with his son's every whim. If he did it, that was another story. "You can tell him no once in a while, Rache."

"Harvey, I really don't mind." Rachel didn't see why Harvey was so concerned over the time she spent with his son. She had to adapt herself to a life with children, now was the perfect way to start.

"I appreciate the kindness towards Jerry, but it really isn't necessary to go out of your way." Harvey couldn't help but feel bad about the amount of her time that Jerry took up. She still had her own life and problems to worry about. "We're both here past hours, you don't have to do this."

Rachel walked up to Harvey and looked at him directly, "you're absolutely right, I don't have to do it --- but I want to." Rachel wanted to prove to Harvey that she cared for Jerry, having him around was nearly as important for her as it was for him.

"Why are you so good to me?" Harvey couldn't help but wonder, he was certain he hadn't done anything extraordiary to merit this kind of treatment.

Rachel stopped to turn around and smile, "ask me that again once Ryan and Lili are around, you might be singing a different tune." Harvey chuckled, he knew their lives would be totally different. Their time was already hectic enough with just one kid.

**
"Tell me about what the two of you found over at Hidden Lake." Nash was eager to find out if there had been anything out of the ordinary that would suggest foul play. Something wasn't adding up.

"Well, most of the residents were a little upset about losing a friend, but other than that, it looked like your typical day at the rest home." Kat didn't intend to sound sarcastic, but she didn't see anything that went on there that would've been uncommon.

Nash was a little discourage, he had hoped she'd find something there that stuck out. Maybe he'd have better luck with Rachel. "Did Rachel pick up on anything?" Nash knew he wouldn't get a chance to talk with Rachel himself before she left for the evening, so he'd have to rely on Kat's interpretation for them both.

"Not really, I mean, the obvious is that these new murders seem to be following the same pattern as the ones that took place a few months back. All of the victims have been women in their eighties, usually in decent health despite some life threatening condition, and they've all died in the morning." Kat's statement had been verbatim from the police reports they had filled out earlier that day. It didn't make sense how the person who was doing the killing kept getting away. "Point blank, I don't think it's Parker."

"Oh no?" Nash was relieved to hear that he wasn't the only one thinking that there was somebody else involved in the killing spree at Hidden Lake. "What's your guess?"

"Definitely an inside job, it's just a matter of how and why." Kat was certain that finding out who was responsible for the deaths wouldn't be easy. With all the medicine and equipment the residents and staff had access to, their options would be endless.

"Maybe another patient?" Nash knew he was pulling at straws, but they were desperate for a solution. "I interviewed several of the doctors and nurses, and for the most part they all came off clean,"

"Could be, maybe McCabe and I should go back down tomarrow and interview a few of the residents, see what they have to say about who knows who and all." Kat had a feeling that the other residents could be their key to finding out what was going on at Hidden Lake.

**
"Where's Harvey?" Anna wasn't happy to leave Jerry alone with Rachel. There was just something about her that she didn't trust. She quickly scanned the living room, Harvey was nowhere in sight. Jerry stood quietly by her side, afraid to move too far out of her range.

"He's still at work." Rachel had agreed to come home earlier so she could get dinner started with Jerry. She knew there was going to be a problem. "Jerry, why
don't you put your stuff upstairs and wash up?" Jerry dutifully stepped away from Anna and headed towards the stairs. Rachel needed a few minutes alone to talk with Anna.

Anna didn't like how Rachel just ordered Jerry around from the minute he walked through the door. "What, my kid isn't clean enough for you?"

"Anna, that's not it at all." Rachel didn't know how Anna had reached that conclusion, but that certainly wasn't what she meant to imply. Rachel definitely wasn't going to ask her about Boston.

"Then what the hell is it? Unlike you, I know how to raise a kid." Anna didn't know who Rachel thought she was, but she certainly wasn't a mother. She gave up her own kids and was now trying to compensate by taking somebody else's.

"I asked him to wash his hands because he was going to help me with dinner." Rachel knew that much about kids, handwashing was a frequent necessity. "I didn't say a word about how you are raising him."

"You didn't have to, you've got it all written across your face with that smug grin when he walked through the door." Anna saw the way that Jerry looked at Rachel and felt her heart ripping in two. Slowly but surely, she was being replaced by somebody else. Anna wasn't going to let Rachel take her son, she already had Harvey.

"I'm ready, Rachie." Jerry ran down the stairs and stood next to Rachel, waiting for his next set of instructions. He never got the chance to spend time with Anna like he did with Rachel and his Dad. They made time for him.

"Come give Mom a kiss." Anna pulled Jerry in towards her and he give her a quick kiss on the cheek. Anna carefully whispered in his ear, "be sure you tell me if anything happens that isn't right." Jerry nodded his head, not quite sure of what Anna had meant.

"Go in the kitchen, I've got something for you." Rachel didn't think Jerry should be around for Anna's closing remarks, whatever they might be. Jerry scurried off to the kitchen, anxious to see his surprise. Rachel thought for a moment, maybe Anna was right.

Anna waited for Jerry to be out of sight before she began, "your little game isn't going to work, Rachel. Harvey's going to see through you one of these days, and your going to have hell to pay for using Jerry to get to him."

**
"So, how is it working with Rachel?" Nash was curious to see how things were working out between the two, especially since Kat had been so hesitant due to her job for Louis.

"She's cute, Nash, and she does her job well." Kat had guessed that something had gone on between Nash and Rachel, but she wasn't sure just when it would've happened. Rachel seemed pretty happy with her marriage to Harvey.

"I know." Nash looked up and smiled, realizing he probably gave away his true feelings for her. Those feelings didn't matter now, she was married. He had to move on. "She's a good cop."

"Am I sensing a past?" Kat couldn't refrain from asking. Nash was never very subtle, especially when it came to women.

"A brief one." Nash didn't know how open he could be about his relationship with Rachel, or what Kat might already know from her investigation. Nash questionned Kat's sudden interest in his personal life. "This is getting a little personal, don't you think?"

"In other words, you're not happy with how things ended between the two of you." Kat could tell he was holding back, Nash was never good at lying to her about his relationships. "How long did it last?"

"It was over before it really got started." Nash knew their romance had been doomed from the beginning. They weren't looking for the same things, she wanted more than he was ready to give.

"And let me guess, she ran to Harvey for consolation?" Kat wasn't so sure of the sequence with the romance, if there had been another man between Nash and Harvey.

"Aren't these questions that you two could discuss on your next stake out?" It wasn't that Nash felt uncomfortable discussing his relationship with Kat, but he didn't want to come across too strong. There was already more than enough suspicious minds around the SIU. "For the record, it was a mutual break up and then she dated someone else... Harvey wasn't until later."

"I see," Kat nodded her head, knowing there had to be more to the story than Nash was willing to share. "But you didn't anticipate losing her to Harvey?"

"That's besides the point." Nash shook his head, wondering what he had gotten himself into by bringing Kat back into the fold. "Now, are you planning on staying here all night or are you going to go home?"

Kat smiled and moved in closer towards Nash, "you tell me."

**
Harvey gently bumped Rachel's elbow with his own as they sat at the table, trying to distract her. When she caught notice, he tried to be subtle with his question so Jerry wouldn't pick up on it. "Is it just me or does Jerry seem too quiet tonight?"

"He does." Rachel had noticed it too, Jerry was never that quiet during their visits. "He's been that way since Anna dropped him off."

Harvey watched as Rachel moved the food around her plate, she obviously wasn't interested in eating. Maybe Anna's appearance had effected them both because Rachel wasn't quite herself either. He'd have to wait until later to ask her, right now they had to worry about Jerry. "Something is definitely wrong, because the boy loves food."

Rachel took that as her cue to try and initiate a conversation with Jerry, she guessed it had everything to do with Anna and what she whispered to Jerry before she left. Jerry looked up at his father and Rachel, trying to imagine how what his mother said could ever be true. Rachel began, "hey, Jerry..."

Jerry couldn't take it any longer, he had to ask. He didn't want to believe that Rachel and Harvey could ever not want him. He didn't mean to interrupt, but he had to know what was going on. "Are you going to not want me?"

Harvey looked at Rachel momentarily, wondering how on earth Jerry had jumped to such a radical conclusion, and then focused back on his son. "What?"

"When you have another baby, do I have to go away?" Jerry didn't want to lose having his time with Harvey and Rachel, he certainly didn't want to live with Anna and Steve.

Rachel tried not to lose her temper, the only way that Jerry would've ever thought of that was if someone had told him to. She was certain Anna was behind his questions. She glimpsed at Harvey quickly, "Jerry, when your Dad and I have another baby or my kids are around, it doesn't mean we won't want you here too."

"But... but... you want me just to make Daddy happy." Jerry didn't want to believe that about Rachel, but he didn't think Anna was a liar.

Harvey shook his head, certain that wasn't what Rachel was doing at all. He had no idea how his son had gone from loving them one minute to doubting them as parents the next. Someone had to have told him. "Jerry, it isn't like that at all."

"I want you because it makes me happy to have you around, too. We both like having you here and we wouldn't change it for anything, Jerry." Rachel was certain that Harvey was in full agreement with what she had said. She didn't want to ambush and accuse Anna in front of Jerry, but she felt she was responsible for giving Jerry these ideas.

"But you didn't want your kids?" It didn't make any sense to Jerry why she'd want him around if she didn't want her own kids. Maybe his mother was right to some extent.

Rachel looked at Harvey, hearing Jerry say it had brought her to the ultimate low. She didn't know how to make him believe that what Anna had said wasn't true. She doubted there was any quick repair for the damage. They both had some serious explaining to do.

**

Part 2

**
"Can you tell Cassidy I called?" Nash was worried about her, he had never gone so long without hearing from her before. He didn't know what was keeping her away, Nick's death or her leaving the SIU.

"I will, Nash, I'll have her call you when she gets in." Lisa was nervous about Cassidy's appointment, she had dreaded going in. Lisa knew she might have to stay in the U.S. after all.

"Thanks, I'll talk to you again soon." Nash was happy he and Lisa still got along reasonably well, it made things easier when problems came up with Cassidy. He just didn't like that she was always more than an ocean away.

Lisa hung up the phone as she heard Cassidy come in, "that was your father who just called, he's worried about you." Cassidy looked at her mother, the her eyes were proof that she had been crying. Lisa knew why. "So how did the appointment go?"

Cassidy slumped down onto the couch next to her mother, "what do you think?" This wasn't the news she had been hoping for, her life was already in ruins with Nick's death, her relationship with Lucas and her fiasco of a career ending at the SIU.

Lisa shook her head, this definitely meant she had to reconsider leaving. Cassidy needed her now. "I think we should go back to San Francisco tomarrow and talk with your Dad." Lisa knew that she and Nash would have no say over what Cassidy decided to do, but she felt Cassidy should know she had the support of both her parents.

"I need more time to think about what I'm going to do." Cassidy wasn't sure what she wanted anymore. Hours before, all she wanted was to start over and get out of San Francisco, now she had to decide something definite about her future.

"I understand, sweetheart, but I think we need to go back." Lisa didn't want to deal with Cassidy's problems on her own, she needed Nash's help. Now would've been a great time for them to be a family.

**
"You're awful quiet tonight too." Harvey was a little alarmed by the silence after dinner. The house was normally quieter after Jerry went to bed, but this was too quiet. Harvey sat down on the couch next to Rachel, trying to distract her. He knew their discussion with Jerry over dinner had gotten to her. "Rache?"

"Yeah?" Rachel looked up from the files fanned out before her, but Harvey knew he didn't have her full attention. Something was bothering her, and it had nothing to do with him having a Ben and Jerry's carton and spoon in his hand.

"You gonna talk to me or do I have to guess?" Harvey wasn't up for mind games, Jerry had completely warn him out. He assumed the problem came from one of two places, either it was Anna or Connie.

"It's nothing, really." Rachel didn't want to involve Harvey any more than she had to. Harvey had enough problems of his own with Anna, he didn't have to take on hers as well. She didn't want to burden him with her insecurities.

"I might believe you, but your face is telling a different story." Harvey could tell she was upset, no matter what she told him. Her face was the perfect point of reference, her eyes were undoubtedly very expressive. "I know it's not work that's keeping you so quiet."

Rachel closed the files that were open on the coffee table and turned towards Harvey. She eyed the Ben and Jerry's in his hand and shook her head, "you shouldn't be eating that, you know."

"And you shouldn't be lying about what's going on." Harvey grinned as he opened the container and shoved the spoon inside. He brought a spoonful to his mouth, "this is really good."

"Harvey, hand it over." It wasn't purely out of health concern for him that she wanted the ice cream, but also because it looked like an ideal treat for her good behavior with Anna. Truthfully, Rachel was on the verge of a small breakdown. Anna was finally getting to her.

"Forget it, not till you tell me what went on today that's got you in such a mood." Harvey turned his back towards her and devoured another spoonful while he waited for her response.

"Harvey, she's driving me nuts." Rachel didn't want to burden Harvey further, but it was obvious that Anna wasn't going to give up any time soon.

"Does she have a name?" Harvey could make a pretty accurate guess as to who she was referring to, but he wasn't sure. Harvey hoped that the tension between the two would've died down by now, but Anna clearly hadn't accepted his marriage to Rachel.

"Anna." Rachel didn't want to talk badly about Anna while Jerry was still awake, therefor provoking her silence. Jerry shouldn't have to hear that kind of talk about his mother. Rachel promised herself she wouldn't let Anna get to her, but she had about as much as she could stand. "Anna is driving me nuts."

"I see. Anything in particular?" Harvey knew all too well that Anna had a way to make people crazy. He had hoped Rachel could ignore her, but he wasn't expecting a miracle.

"Maybe she's right." Rachel hadn't ever really doubted herself as a parent until Anna said something to shake her confidence. She didn't know what she was doing, that was the truth.

"Right about what?" Harvey wasn't sure he followed what Rachel was saying. He knew Anna had obviously made some type of comment to get her going.

"Me." Rachel cursed herself for bringing this up with Harvey; he had other, more important, things to worry about than acting as a referee between herself and Anna.

"What about you?" Obviously, Anna had let Rachel have it. He knew Anna's comments could be fiery, but this one had struck a little too close to home. Harvey knew they had to have a little talk before Rachel got back.

"That I don't know what I'm doing, when it comes to kids." Up till then, Rachel felt that she was finally starting to get the hang of parenting, that she wasn't the worst possible mother for her kids. Then, Anna opened her mouth. "Look at my life, Harvey. I didn't get married till after 30, I dropped out of med school, I gave both of my children up, I became a cop to alienate my parents, and all I've gained is a tin badge...that's not a hell of a lot to show for thirty-one years."

**
"Anna, are you going to tell Harvey about Jerry or not?" Steve was quickly losing his patience with Anna, he couldn't risk staying in San Francisco much longer. Just the sight of Harvey Leek made him ill.

"I'll tell him when I'm ready to tell him." Anna wasn't ready to sever her ties to Harvey just yet, after all, they still needed the paternity test. "What do you have against him anyways?"

Steve paced around the room, ready to explode. There was no way Anna could ever find out what had happened between him and Harvey, then he'd lose her for sure. "Let's just say, he screwed things up real bad for me."

"Oh yeah?" His explanation wasn't good enough. Anna wasn't happy about Harvey being with Rachel, but she didn't want to make him miserable. "What did he do?"

"Anna, this is none of your concern. Me and Harvey got a past that you don't want to get into." Steve didn't want to chance losing Jerry, he meant too much to him. He wasn't about to let Harvey Leek take another soon away from him.

"Harvey is Jerry's father, I can't just rip him out of his life..." Anna didn't want to use Jerry herself or allow Steve to use him to hurt Harvey. There had to be another way.

"Why do you keep saying he's his father? I'm Jerry's father!" Steve walked away from Anna, wanting so badly to hit her. He had to take out his frustrations somehow.
The not knowing was more than he could take.

"I don't know who his father was, after you went to jail... Harvey was there and you weren't." That was the only explanation that she had, Jerry needed a father and Harvey was the only good option. "Jerry needed a father so I gave him one."

"Where's he at?" Steve was surprised that Jerry wasn't there by the time he got back to the hotel. He had waited all day to see his son.

"He's with Harvey and Rachel for the next few days." Anna didn't want him to be around Rachel, but that was part of the deal when he spent time with Harvey. At least with Harvey around, she'd know Rachel would be treating him well.

"This better be the last time I ever hear you say that." Steve couldn't believe how she just left Jerry with him for days on end, then cried wolf whenever Jerry would talk about wanting to be with Rachel instead of her. "Jerry's got his parents, and that's us. I want that test."

Anna reached out to Steve and wrapped her arms around him, "I know, and I will talk to Harvey tomarrow night. Rachel will be gone so I can have his full attention."

"Don't you dare lay a finger on him, Anna, or you'll be sorry." Steve forced her hands away from him, "you're not a hooker anymore so don't be prostituting yourself to get what you want."

**
"What are you up to, little man?" Harvey watched as Jerry circled around the hallway. He was already dressed and full of energy. Harvey assumed Rachel was already up since she was absent from the bed.

"Waitin' for breakfast." Jerry continued his run up and down the hallway. He was already excited about the days ahead. He loved being at home with his dad and Rachel, even though they worked they made time for him.

"Really?" Harvey guessed Rachel was up to something in the kitchen, she wasn't normally the early riser. "It's not cereal with berries, is it?" Harvey knew that was Jerry's first request in the mornings they spent with Rachel, that she make his cereal with berries.

"No, silly." Jerry reached for Harvey's hand and pulled him towards the kitchen. Harvey glanced at the clock, noting they still had another hour till they had to be at work. "Rachel's making wafflies."

"Wafflies?" Harvey couldn't help but chuckle at his son's invented word.

"Uh huh, with berries." Jerry shook his head as they entered the kitchen, "see?" Jerry pointed towards Rachel working diligently at the waffle iron. Jerry went up to her and tugged on her shirt, "are they ready yet?"

"Not yet, sweetheart, another minute or so." Rachel didn't mind the nagging as long as Jerry could ignore her inexperience with the waffle iron. Jerry charged out of the kitchen, leaving Rachel and Harvey alone. If Rachel was still upset about Anna's comment from the night before,she hid it well.

Harvey wrapped his arms around her waist, "this is a sight I could get used to." He checked quickly for Jerry, and once the coast was clear, he started to kiss her neck. Harvey knew she was nervous about Jerry coming in.

"You're being a distraction." Rachel tried to concentrate on the waffles but she knew it would be an impossible feat as long as Harvey was around. "I'm trying to make your son's waffles and you're interested in..."

"Other things." Harvey grinned as he pinned Rachel against the counter to steal another kiss. Rachel saw Jerry tip-toe back into the kitchen, and pulled herself away.

"Are they done yet?" Jerry was hungry and ready to eat. He sat himself down at the table and patiently waited for Rachel to set the waffle before him. Harvey stood in the corner and smiled, happy Rachel and Jerry got along so well. Upon receiving his plate, Jerry looked up and grinned, ''at least she cooks, Dad."

"Right, that's why he keeps me around." Rachel looked back at Harvey, "I've got to meet Kat a little early, did you want me to wait for you tonight or take a cab to the airport?" She and Kat wanted to get a jump start on their gig at Hidden Lake that morning, they still had a lot of work to do.

Harvey didn't plan on having at late night at the SIU, and he didn't want to miss seeing Rachel off. He could see she had regained some of her confidence after the night before, but she still wasn't sure of herself. Maybe the trip to Boston with Jerry would bolster Rachel's spirits."I'll be here to take you myself.''

**
"Any more clues?" Joe knew that Nash was already exhausted from the Hidden Lake investigation. Their clues were still few and far between and they had little or no evidence to go on.

"I've got Kat and Rachel going back there today to interview some of the residents and Harve and 'Twon are going down to the coroner's to check out all the death reports." Nash kept thinking that they were missing some integral piece of information, there had to be some type of explanation for these deaths.

"Has Parker made a statement yet?" Joe was wondering if Nurse Parker had said anything in his own defense. The odds were stacking against him and unless anyone else came forward, he didn't have much time.

"Nope, that's your job." Nash had thought of a plan that just might work, and Joe had the perfect means of carrying it out.

"What?" Joe didn't follow Nash, obviously he had missed something.

"I need you to take Ulla down to Hidden Lake and look at a room, Nurse Parker is going to give you a tour." Nash would've done the job himself, but the hospital staff already knew him and after all, Ulla was Joe's mother in law.

Joe looked at Nash, mortified, and shook his head, "there's no way, man." Joe knew neither Inger nor Ulla would allow him to do this. Joe was going to have hell to pay when he got home.

"I've already spoken to Inger, all you've got to do is pick Ulla up and you're good to go." Nash grinned at the scowl on Joe's face, hopefully, his trip with Ulla would prove to be beneficial for the case.

**
Kat looked over to Rachel as she drove, there was still so much about her that was a mystery. Even though she knew more about her than everyone else, she still had a few questions, especially about Harvey and Jerry. She'd have to be subtle. Their drive to Hidden Lake was just long enough for a good conversation. "So how is married life, McCabe?"

Rachel turned towards her and smiled, "wonderful." She didn't feel the need to burden Kat with her problems with Anna.

"And this is after how long?" Kat smiled, she knew Harvey and Rachel had gotten married sometime during the spring but she wasn't sure just when.

"Around three months, give or take a few weeks." Rachel knew they had been married over three months, but she didn't think Kat was getting specific. Rachel was still curious about Kat and Harvey's relationship, or what Kat had implied as a relationship, years ago. She didn't know how to bring it up.

"How long, if you don't mind me asking, have you known Harvey?" Kat couldn't help but be surprised at the news that Harvey had married again, especially since he did it so spontaneously. She was certain that after Bonnie, Harvey would be a bachelor for life.

"I've known Harvey a little less than a year." Rachel knew by the facts, their marriage seemed as if it were strictly done upon impulse, but she wasn't going to lie. "I came to the SIU last October."

Kat couldn't stand the confusion any longer, the facts Rachel was giving didn't match up with the information Kat had found out for Louis. Certainly Kat wouldn't have overlooked Rachel having had a child with Harvey. If Rachel had only known Harvey for a year, that meant Jerry wasn't her son. She needed clarification, but she didn't want to seem too informed. "I'm confused, who is that little guy who was sitting at your desk the other day?"

"That would be Jerry." Rachel wasn't sure why Kat hadn't brought this up earlier, she definitely was more interested in getting to know her partner than Cassidy was.

"Does he belong to you and Harvey? Or..." Kat couldn't find an easy way around the subject, she had to come out and ask. It just didn't make sense, unless there was another significant other for Harvey between Bonnie and Rachel.

"He belongs to Harvey." Rachel grinned, knowing Anna would certainly grimace
at the thought of someone implying that Jerry might be Rachel's son. She'd offer to pay just to see the look upon Anna's face. "And someone else." Kat smiled as Rachel rolled her eyes at the mention of the other woman. Rachel saw no reason not to tell her about her own kids, they'd soon be a significant part of her life. "I've got two kids of my own."

"I see." Kat smiled, reassured that she hadn't done a faulty investigation and missed something as pertinent as another child. "I've got thr..." Kat stopped herself momentarily, she wasn't going to go there. "I've got two myself."

**
"You're back." Nash smiled as he watched Lisa coming up the stairs. He was happy to see that she and Cassidy had come back to San Francisco, though Cassidy was no where in sight.

"Do you have time to talk?" Lisa wanted to warn him about meeting with Cassidy later on, he had to know to be careful with what he said.

Nash checked his watch, "sure, have a seat." Lisa sat down in the chairs in front of Nash's desk, helplessly wondering how Nash would react to Cassidy's news later on. "What's up?"

"I came to talk to you about Cassidy." Lisa wanted to be blunt and to the point without giving Cassidy's problem away, that was for Cassidy to tell, not her.

Nash knew his ex-wife well enough that he was certain she wasn't there to make pointless small talk about their daughter, there had to be some specific reason. "What about Cassidy?"

"Nash, your opinion of her means a lot to Cassidy, and she's worried that she has disappointed you, in more ways than one." Lisa didn't know if Nash would view Cassidy's announcement as another disappointment or not. He needed to be prepared for a shock.

"I've been a little worried about her lately, she hasn't seemed the same since Nick died and she quit her job here." Nash knew it would be difficult being Cassidy's boss and her father. "And then there was the Lucas thing."

"I know, she told me about that." Lisa didn't want to tell Nash that Lucas was a huge part of Cassidy's problem, but there was no denying that he'd play a continued part in Cassidy's life.

"She's still not over Evan. " Nash shook his head, he he knew there was more to it than that. "I know that I wasn't as supportive as I could've been, maybe even should've been... but... "

"Nash, she needs both of us to get through this now, trust me." Lisa didn't know any other way to tell Nash, but it was apparent that she was going to stay in San Francisco this time.

**
"Daddy, what are you doing home?" Jerry was pleasantly surprised to see his father back home so early in the day. He hoped Harvey didn't have to go back to work.

"I came to see you.'' Harvey had a little extra time on his hands and decided to stop at home for lunch with Jerry. He knew Rachel was working through lunch herself, so he'd have to catch up with her later on. He had an important matter to discuss with his son.

"Where's Rachie?" Jerry wasn't sure why Harvey had come home without her, they had left together earlier that morning when Mrs. Mason came in.

''She's still at work.'' Harvey knew Jerry was going to be disappointed about her absence that weekend, so he wanted to ask Jerry about Boston himself. "Where's Mrs. Mason?"

"Gettin' my sandwich.'' Jerry was hoping that since Harvey was home, he'd get a better lunch than peanut butter and jelly.

''Than I guess you can't eat this?" Harvey pretended to through the paperbag he had in hand into the garbage as they walked towards the kitchen table.

''She can eat the sandwich.'' Jerry's eyes met with the older woman's as they walked in. Mrs. Mason was another plus to staying with his Dad and Rachel, there was always someone there to take care of him.

"Mrs. Mason, can we have a few?" Harvey knew she wouldn't object to giving them a few minutes alone, it could allow her at least a few moments rest. He had to talk to Jerry, and see what he wanted to do about the weekend.

"Certainly, I'll have a bite to eat before we head to the park later on." Mrs. Mason took her own sandwich from the refrigerator and left the kitchen. Harvey pulled out the brown bag to reveal Jerry's favorite fast food meal, toy and all.

"For me?" Jerry's eyes lit up with excitement as he quickly scanned the food and grabbed the toy from the pile before him.

"Jerry, I've got a question for you?" Harvey couldn't help but grin as Jerry looked towards him with his cheeks stuffed with food.

"Uh huh." Jerry knew it was something important if Dad had brought him lunch and came home to talk with him. Jerry swallowed hard and looked back to Harvey attentively.

''It looks like I'm going to have a lot of work to do this weekend, and I won't be able to spend so much time with you.'' Harvey hated when work and prior obligations kept him away from Jerry, but he hoped that he'd be able to at least see Jerry more often once he got the chance to talk with Anna.

"Oh.'' Jerry wasn't thrilled with the news, he was hoping they'd get the chance to go somewhere all together again, like when they went camping. ''And Rachie?"

"She's going to Boston to see Lili." Harvey watched as Jerry's eyes changed, expessing his feelings about the arrangement for the weekend. Jerry knew what was coming.

"I don't wanna go with Mom.'' Jerry would've preferred to stay with Mrs. Mason all weekend instead of going to see his mother. He didn't want to see Steve.

"Okay.'' Harvey was curious about why Jerry was so reluctant about going back to Anna these days, he'd have to find that out while Rachel was gone. But he couldn't do it while Jerry was there either. "Do you want to go to Boston instead, it would just be you and Rachel?" Harvey expected Jerry to be a little hesitent about travelling without him, but he was wrong. A large smile appeared across Jerry's face at the suggestion, and Harvey had his answer.

**
"What if they try and keep him, Anna?" Steve saw this as a very real possibility. Harvey and Rachel were the type of people who'd try something like that, just to keep Jerry away from the likes of Anna.

"They won't, I can guarantee that." Anna knew that what she had told Jerry the day before would affect how things went that evening. There was no doubt in her mind that Harvey would want to talk to her about what Jerry said.

"That's why we have to have this test, so we can find out who Jerry's real father is and get on with our lives." Steve couldn't stand being left in limbo. He didn't like having to play the waiting game. The more time he spent with Jerry, the more he realized that he was losing his son to Harvey.

"I know, Steve, I am waiting until Jerry is ready to take the test." Anna didn't want to make Jerry take the test right away. She was still trying to decide about Steve, to see if he was worth losing her only connection to Harvey for. "There's a real chance that he is Harvey's son, then what are you going to do?"

"Anna, he is my son." Steve was completely assured that the boy was his and that this was all just another one of Anna's little head games that she liked to play.

"I'll talk to Harvey today, the Wicked Witch is leaving for Boston so I'll have a chance." Anna wasn't about to discuss Jerry's paternity with Rachel around, knowing that she'd jump on the chance to prove her to be a liar.

Steve had to accept the truth that Jerry might not be his by blood, but he was still his son. "Even if Jerry isn't mine, I want to keep him. I don't want Harvey Leek raising that boy."

"Harvey's a good father." Anna couldn't argue that, he didn't have the best choice in wives but he was a good father to Jerry.

"But a terrible cop out to ruin lives." Steve hadn't realized what he said until he felt Anna's eyes practically piercing his skin with her stare. He couldn't say any more.

**
"So what do I get out of this change?" Harvey approached Rachel outside the barge and wrapped his arms tightly around her waist. He couldn't wait to tell her about Jerry.

"Change?" Rachel wasn't sure what Harvey was referring to. As far as she knew, she hadn't done anything out of the oridary.

"I'm getting a little concerned, I mean, the native New Yorker I married certainly didn't spend all her free time cooking, reading story books or laying out her significant other's clothes for work the next day?" Harvey couldn't have been happier with the way things were working out between the two of them. He was worried for a while, but Rachel continued to prove him wrong.

"Is that a complaint?" Rachel wasn't sure what she should be doing. He was the one who had marital experience, not her. She didn't have time for a complete discussion, she had to get in and help Kat with their search for Parker. "I could go back to my old ways."

"Not at all, I happen to like the side I see of you at home." Harvey smiled when he did a mental comparison of Rachel at home and at work. There was quite a difference between the tough-as-nails crimefighter and the woman he went home with every night. "In fact, I happen to like everything I see of you, no matter where we are." Harvey pulled her in closer for a kiss, quite thorough and lengthy.

Rachel stepped back and smiled, "okay, something's going on.'' Harvey was being too obvious with his affection, there had to be a reason.

"Do I really have to explain showing my wife a little affection?" Harvey pretended to be offended and moved further away.

"Affection like that, at the workplace, yes, it has to be explained." Rachel walked up in front of him and tugged at his lapels. "Out with it, Leek." Harvey reached into his pocket and pulled out the envelope with the plane ticket he had bought for Jerry not long before. He took a quick glimpse to make sure it was right and handed it to her. ''What's this?"

Harvey smiled, "Jerry's better off spending time with you this weekend than at home waiting for me. Now, unless you've changed your mind, he's all yours." Harvey decided it didn't matter what Anna wanted this time, Jerry could use the trip and being with Rachel would do him no harm.

"Really?" Rachel was honestly surprised, she hadn't expected Harvey to change his mind, knowing he'd have to answer to Anna. "You're serious?"

"Completely. Jerry's acting as my good will ambassador to your mother.'' Harvey pulled her in for another lengthy kiss, unaware of the audience that was now standing before them. He didn't care, Harvey intended to enjoy every minute that was offered of marital bliss.

"Now that's just disgusting." Kat smiled as she passed the two on her way back inside the barge. "Get a room, you two." She had to admit, Harvey was at least ten-times happier than he had been with Bonnie. You could see his happiness in everything about him.

"You're just jealous." Rachel grinned as she stepped away from Harvey to join Kat inside. She wondered how long Kat had been out there waiting for her to come in.

"You know it, McCabe." Kat laughed sarcastically and smiled at Rachel, "you're still young, one day you'll learn.''

**
"Your dad and I are going to take you out to dinner this evening." Lisa figured that would be the easiest way for Cassidy to approach Nash. And with both parents there, there was no way Cassidy could get out of going.

"Mom, I'd prefer to talk to Dad on my own." Cassidy wanted her mother's help but she didn't know how to ask for it, she had always gone to Nash first.

"I know, Cassidy, but for right now, I think that we should go to dinner and make some plans for the future... and then you can tell him in your own way." Lisa knew that this wasn't going to be an easy announcement for Cassidy to make, especially with Nash's opinion meaning so much to her. "You just have to decide what your next move is, if you want a transfer, to go back to school..."

"The choice was so easy before." After leaving the SIU, she intended to use her time in Napa to sort out her options and make some major career and life changing decisions. Everything had changed overnight.

"I know this is difficult, Cassidy, but you have to let your father and I help you as best we can." Lisa tried to convince herself that her staying in San Francisco was the best option, she had to do it for Cassidy.

"I wish Nick was here." Cassidy felt that if Nick was still around, he would've been able to give her the advice she needed.

"So do I." Lisa was assured that Nick would've been the one person that Cassidy would be completely open with and totally trust.

**