I am embarrassed how long it has taken it has taken me to update. First it was just writer's block, then...well...it really hasn't been a good year. Thanks so much to those still reading this story!

The smell of antiseptic was becoming distressingly familiar to Justin as he shifted uncomfortably. After he had arrested Cameron Pell, the swarm of police officers and paramedics had ushered him along to an ambulance to be checked over, along with the school children who were still milling around . It was Gray and Schenk who had dragged him to the side and into a car to the hospital. The trauma and moderate to severe second-degrees burns kept him there for almost two weeks, with visits from co-workers, therapists, and a highly-supervised journalist. While he understood and appreciated the concern, the idea of being coddled again was ... no.

At least Luther had taken care to give space beyond that necessary to maintain his guardianship. Ripley was learning the difference in hospital treatment when you stand below 5 foot. He didn't remember this many Disney character motifs on the equipment. Or toys stashed in the corner. He and John had been ushered into a side room when they arrived. Putting up a strong fascade in front of the nurses, the boy walked alongside his boss to steady himself. His ears were ringing and his balance seemed off but he managed to make all the way to the bed. John had subtly kicked a small stool over to stop Justin having to ask for help up. Ripley was so focused on his ascent that he took a moment to realise Luther had ducked out.

Just as they had arrived John received a text message from Benny warning him of their approach. He met both Benny and Schenk standing at the desk at the main emergency entrance. Schenk turned his sharp gaze on John and "Luther, I pray you have an explanation for this diversion from our running case."

"Yes, Boss, thanks for coming. I promise it has relevance to the case. I know that this will initially seem implausible but I'm sure it is linked to the recent murders. This way."

A nurse had stepped into the room to take basic stats while Luther was absent, and Ripley was relieved when the door opened and he saw Luther enter. Tugging off the hospital blanket, finger oximeter, and the temporary head dressing, he pushed himself towards the edge of the bed to jump off. However, the moment Schenk and Benny walked in, everyone but Luther froze and stared in dumb surprise. Both guests paused and blinked at the sight of the child working his way up to a panic, until Luther closed the door and moved forward to stand beside Justin.

Schenk cleared his throat awkwardly. "So...Luther, would you kindly explain?" Benny moved closer to get a better look but was halted by both Schenk and Luther gesturing for him to stop. Ripley was visibly skittish at Luther's side. Shrinking behind John, the child struggled to regulate his breathing amid the residual coughing from the smoke. John carefully shifted himself to allow Justin a physical barrier to peer around or lean against, and he rubbed his hands together nervously. "This is DC Justin Ripley. I believe his condition to be related to the current case the team is working on."

There was a brief hesitation, punctuated with a stifled cough. "Do you have evidence to support that?"

"Besides interrogating him on previous cases, private conversations, and anything else I could think of?"The boy had a white-knuckled grip on John's coat sleeve and there was an involuntary whimper when the arm moved to scrub a hand over his face. "The same mannerisms? The strong physical resemblance? I'm positive that this is Ripley, sir, however impossible it seems."

Both men slowly moved further into the room. Schenk approached the bed cautiously and Justin focused on regaining some composure under the scrutiny of his blue gaze. John shifted to sit beside him, revealing the arm cast, cuts and bandages that caused Schenk to pause and his eyes to narrow. "And just how did you come to find the DC in...like this?"

Luther glanced up at Benny. "I was sent a photo of a location by an unknown number and arrived to find Ripley abandoned and in an unconscious state. Having come around and established his identity, I took him to a hospital to have his injuries treated and run blood tests. That was three days ago." Schenk met Justin's nervous gaze and prompted "DC Ripley, do you remember anything from before then?" The boy startled at the direct question.

Steeling himself, Ripley sat up to report. "No, sir, my last recollection before...then, I was heading to my car following the arson case. And I haven't managed to remember anything more yet." His fist clenched in his lap. "We visited my flat today and someone decided to blow it up. Sir, I have no idea what has happened, please believe me!"

Benny moved forward from the corner where he had been working off his smartphone. "I can verify the fire. The initial fire service and police reports both state a improvised grenade as the start of the fire in the flat. The only damage was to DC Ripley's place. And I have the hospital records from Friday - excluding the...obvious differences, he has the same blood type and medical info on his police file." Benny shot an apologetic glance to Justin. "I checked in case there was any update on the test results."

DSU Schenk pursed his lips and closed his eyes momentarily as he hosted an internal debate. The quiet spell fell throughout the room, every man contemplating the situation at hand.

Justin started to lean more heavily against Luther only to jump in shock as the hospital blanket was unexpected draped over him. He twisted his head to catch sight of Benny backing up with his hands raised, even while Luther reached his own hand around to tug the blanket even closer. He gently nudged Justin and murmured "Just relax a bit, mate. You're too tense. You're safe at the moment, just relax."

However much Justin objected to the paternal gesture as an act of condescension, it was undeniably comforting to hide from Schenk's gaze in the folds of fabric. The muffled ringing in his left ear, a side-effect of the explosion, formed most of the quiet musings from his colleagues into a form of white noise and so Ripley slowly unwound into a dozing boy slumped against John.

Luther held up a hand to stop the conversation around him. Schenk slowly walked forward and carefully slide the edge of the blanket down enough to passively look over Justin's still-bruised face. 'John...what made you call me in? You have obviously managed to keep this secret the whole time. What caused you to involve us?"

His naturally soft voice didn't stir Justin. John growled in an equally quiet rumble. "Too dangerous, sir. I can't keep Ripley after, not if I don't know what I'm fighting."

It's short, but hopefully there is room to grow. Cheers, everyone.