ACT FOUR

FADE IN:

INT. CSI - BALLISTICS LAB - DAY [4]

Calleigh empties the bullets from the envelopes and carefully cleans them. She puts one under a microscope and pulls up a photograph of another one on a computer.

She uses another screen to bring them up side by side, and then turns her bullet until she has a perfect striation match. She goes back to the first screen and pulls up the file on the picture. A gun and serial number that link to Samuel Yates.

CALLEIGH
You killed her therapist. That's
one dirty little secret down.

INT. RYAN'S APARTMENT - CLOSET - DAY [4]

The board has been replaced on the window.

Ryan, Alicia, and Jake are asleep. Alicia is curled up next to Ryan who has his arm around her. Alicia is snuggled between Ryan and Jake, and both dog and child have their heads on his lap.

Delko walks in and kneels. He smiles, and then reaches out and gives Ryan's cheek a light slap. Ryan opens his eyes, glaring a little at Delko, who only chuckles softly.

DELKO
Amanda.

She wakes up, staring at Delko. Jake gets up and walks out, stretching, then turns and whines a little.

DELKO (CONT'D)
Hi there. I've come back with more questions.
Will you talk to me this time?

ALICIA
What questions?

Ryan starts to scoot out and she grabs his arm.

RYAN
Jake needs to potty and wants fed.
I'll make us a couple sandwiches
and be right back, okay?

She slowly lets him go. Jake dashes out of the room ahead of Ryan.

INT. RYAN'S APARTMENT - LIVING ROOM - DAY [3]

In the living room he finds Guerro. He's sitting on the edge of the couch with his phone pressed to his ear. He's scratching Jake with the other hand.

RYAN
Guess we should have called for CSI
after all.

GUERRO
Yeah.

RYAN
Eric's in there with her. I'll be
right back.

Ryan puts a leash on Jake and they leave.

Anthony lowers the phone, looking at the bank statement he has on his phone. It shows a recent deposit of $50,000. He clears it and dials a number.

He walks to a window, pulling the curtain back a little. Ryan disappears through the front gates. Two uniformed officers are chatting right outside the door. Anthony turns, watching the hall.

GUERRO
It's me. I verified the transfer.
Here's the address she's at.

He moves over to a stack of bills and reads off Ryan's address.

INT. CSI - HALLWAY - DAY [4]

Horatio turns a corner, almost running into CYNTHIA Wells. She holds up a folder.

CYNTHIA
The adoption papers are forged.

She hands over the folder. Cynthia leans over his arm as she points out what she's talking about.

CYNTHIA (CONT'D)
They made some classic errors.
There's hesitation marks in the
strokes here. And then the J in
Jericho leans the wrong way for
both Heidi and Darien's signature.

She steps back as she continues.

CYNTHIA (CONT'D)
I contacted the adoption agency
that this allegedly came from and
asked them about their paper. They
said their adoption papers have a
watermark in the middle, and their
paper is 90% cotton and 10% wood pulp.
These adoption papers have no
watermark and are 90% recycled wood
pulp and 10% new wood pulp.

HORATIO
Thank you, Ms. Wells. This will help.

She beams as she walks away. Horatio takes his phone off his belt, flipping it open.

CALLEIGH
Horatio.

He turns to her.

CALLEIGH (CONT'D)
The gun used to kill the Hutchins
family was the same one used to kill
Heidi Jericho and belongs to. Samuel Yates.

Horatio dials a number.

HORATIO
They're trying to cover up what
really happened ten years ago.
(to phone)
Frank, I need you to arrest Samuel
and Betty Yates for murder and kidnapping.

EXT. YATES HOME - NIGHT [4]

Police move in on the residence. TRIPP and an officer stop at the door. He knocks but no one answers. He opens the door and police swarm the place.

Samuel and Betty have left, taking only a bag of clothes and Samuel's gun. Police quickly yell out clear as they discover this. Tripp wanders back to the living room.

TRIPP
(to officer)
They knew we were onto them. Go put
out an APB.

The officer leaves.

TRIPP (CONT'D)
(to other officers)
Look for anything that might tell
us where they went.

Tripp walks into the living room, looking around. He sees a notepad fallen between the couch and end table. He pulls it out and stares at the blank page. Then he tilts it at a 90-degree angle.

CSI VIEW

Writing from the previous page has embossed the pages under it, leaving behind a faint impression of what was written.

BACK TO SCENE

Tripp hunts down a pencil and lightly rubs the pad with the tip. The last thing written on the pad was Ryan's address. Trip makes a call.

TRIPP (CONT'D)
Horatio, I found a pad of paper
with the address 1346 122nd Avenue,
number 104. Does that sound familiar?

HORATIO (On PHONE)
That's Ryan's apartment. Get there immediately!

Tripp drops the pad, running for the door.

INT. RYAN'S APARTMENT - BEDROOM - NIGHT [2]

Alicia is asleep in the closet, wrapped around Jake. Ryan isn't in the room. Jake opens his eyes when Ryan comes in with a laundry basket of clothes.

He starts folding and putting clothes away. After hanging some shirts he crouches down to pet Jake. The dog wags his tail but doesn't get up.

RYAN
You're a pretty good babysitter,
know that?

Jake wags his tail. Ryan chuckles, patting his head. He goes back to his clothes.

Outside a gun goes off, freezing Ryan. More gunfire breaks the silence. Ryan walks to the end of the hall, watching the officers leave the couch and go to the window. Bullets shatter the window and pierce the door.

Ryan jumps back, then runs to the closet. He grabs Jake's collar and Alicia's arm, waking her as he pulls her. She starts to fight him until she hears the gunfire. Ryan lets her go to grab his sidearm that sits on top of the dresser.

RYAN (CONT'D)
Bathroom. Go.

ALICIA
What's going--

RYAN
NOW AMANDA!

She hurries in and he's right behind her.

RYAN (CONT'D)
Get in the tub and lay down.

She obeys. Ryan pulls an unwilling Jake into the tub and pushes him down next to her. He points his finger in the dog's face.

RYAN (CONT'D)
Protect. You protect.

Ryan turns, looking for cover. He doesn't really have options in the small bathroom. Something hits the door and it sets Jake off barking. The noise makes Alicia start crying.

Several gunshots are heard over the noise. A bullet flies through the door, shattering the medicine cabinet mirror.

HORATIO (O.S.)
(distant)
DROP THE WEAPON NOW!

The door is slammed open and Samuel charges in, his gun aimed at Ryan. Ryan puts himself between Samuel and the tub, and trains his pistol on the man. He can see Horatio, Delko, and officers are in the bedroom behind Samuel.

SAMUEL
Alicia, come to me.

RYAN
You don't have to listen to him,
Amanda. He can't tell you what to
do anymore.

SAMUEL
SHUT UP!

Jake stops barking and starts growling.

RYAN
Protect, Jake. Protect.

SAMUEL
You will come to me right now,
Alicia, or I will tan you.

HORATIO
You can't do that anymore, Samuel.
Alicia isn't your daughter. She never
was. Put down the weapon and tell
me where Betty is.

Samuel turns some, but only so he can see both rooms. He cocks his gun. Ryan's finger brushes the trigger, prepared to pull it.

RYAN
It's a stalemate, Samuel. You can't
win, and you aren't taking Alicia.

SAMUEL
She's my daughter!

HORATIO
You forged the adoption papers. She
was never your daughter.

Samuel's finger taps the trigger. He's getting nervous and that's a danger to everyone. In the tub Jake stumbles over Alicia as he stands. He knocks over bottles and they crash into the tub. It startles Samuel and he fires.

Ryan drops a second too late. The bullet grazes his temple. He tries to stop his fall, loses his balance and falls forward. He hits the bleeding wound on the edge of the toilet. The he sinks to the floor, dropping his gun. Blood is running down his face.

He looks up at a blurry face above him, only able to make out the gun aimed at him. A dog leaps over him.

RYAN
(whisper)
Jake.

As his consciousness fades, he hears someone scream and Jake snarling and growling. A gun goes off. Jake yelps.

HORATIO
DROP YOUR WEAPON!

DELKO
ON THE FLOOR! GET ON THE FLOOR NOW!

FADE TO WHITE.

INT. RYAN'S APARTMENT - BATHROOM - MOMENTS LATER

Flashes of white and people talking are all Ryan senses at first.

PARAMEDIC
The wound isn't deep. A mild concussion,
he doesn't need to go to the hospital.

HORATIO
Thank you.

Ryan opens his eyes, seeing Horatio in front of him. His vision hasn't cleared yet; the edges are still blurry but it that's quickly clearing.

He watches the paramedic leave the bathroom. Ryan starts to move and looks down. Jake is lying on his lap. Ryan puts his hand on the dog's neck.

RYAN
Off, Jake.

He hears someone sniffle and turns his head. Calleigh is sitting next to him, leaning over the edge of the tub as she cries.

RYAN (CONT'D)
Where's Alicia? Is she...

Ryan pushes against Jake, trying to move.

RYAN (CONT'D)
Jake, get off buddy. I need up.

CALLEIGH
Alicia's fine. She's with the
social worker.

RYAN
If she's safe, why are you crying?
Jake, get off.

Calleigh looks at him, then down at Jake.

Ryan's smile fades. He looks down at Jake. Ryan puts his hand on the dog's shoulder.

RYAN (CONT'D)
Jake?

He looks at his leg, now seeing the blood that covers his legs and the floor under Jake.

RYAN (CONT'D)
Jake?

Ryan shakes the dog's shoulder. An anxiety attack sets in.

RYAN (CONT'D)
Come on, Jake-o. Move. Wag your
tail. Get up.

He shakes his dog again

RYAN (CONT'D)
Jake!

He jumps when Horatio lays his hand over Ryan's.

HORATIO
Take a deep breath, Ryan. Long,
deep breathes.

Ryan starts to shake his head.

HORATIO (CONT'D)
Yes you can. You can. Take a
looooong deep breath.

Ryan imitates the voice.

HORATIO (CONT'D)
And another.

Ryan obeys.

HORATIO (CONT'D)
Good. Good. I think you might have
chosen the wrong law enforcement
career path, Ryan.

The comment works to force Ryan to focus on something else.

RYAN
What?

HORATIO
Jake did what a good K-9 partner
would do. Samuel was going to shoot
you and he protected you. He attacked
Samuel and brought him down for us,
even after he was shot. And when we
had Samuel restrained -- with a
little help -- he came back to you.

Ryan looks at Calleigh.

INT. RYAN'S APARTMENT - BATHROOM - DAY (RE-ENACTMENT)

Horatio, Delko, and officers have tackled Samuel. Calleigh comes into the scene, watching. She turns and stares. Alicia is being lifted out of the tub by April, who rushes her out of the chaos. Ryan is slumped by the toilet, being tended by a paramedic.

Jake is shot in the stomach and bleeding heavily. Despite his mortal injury, the German Sheppard is trying to crawl to Ryan. The sight makes Calleigh cry even before she rushes in to scoop him into her arms.

CALLEIGH
It's okay. I have you. I have you,
honey. I'll take you to him.

Horatio leaves the chaos and comes to the bathroom door. He watches Calleigh lay the dog on Ryan's lap, right in the paramedic's way. The paramedic doesn't say anything.

Calleigh bursts into tears when Jake tries to sit up so he can be even closer to Ryan. She moves closer, helping him. Jake lays his head on Ryan's shoulder, a dog hug. Calleigh puts Ryan's arm around Jake seconds before the dog dies.

FLASH TO:

INT. MIAMI PD LOCKER ROOM - DAY [3]

Guerro comes out of the shower and goes to his locker.

HORATIO (O.S.)
Officer Guerro.

He turns, finding Horatio and Ryan standing at the end of the lockers. Ryan's rage is on his sleeve. Horatio is the only thing keeping Ryan in check.

GUERRO
Hey. What's up?

HORATIO
We were tying up some loose ends on
the Alicia Yates case today and we
came across a very interesting discovery.

Horatio takes a piece of paper out of his jacket, looking at it.

HORATIO (CONT'D)
Over the course of six months,
you've received two very large
deposits from the Yates, both
during investigations into them
kidnapping Alicia. But during the
second one, Officer...

Horatio folds the paper, looking at him. Anthony glances back when two officers and Calleigh come around the other end of the lockers.

HORATIO (CONT'D)
You called the Yates while you were
at Ryan's apartment. And you weren't
dispatched to the scene.

GUERRO
I told Samuel to take the money
back. And what's wrong with
checking on a friend?

Horatio smiles. He paces the information to give his CSI a sense of vengeful justice.

HORATIO
You, Anthony, are about as dirty as
they come. You've been accused of
trafficking drugs. Frequently money
seized during your investigations
comes up short somewhere during
transport. Your bank records are
questionable, to say the least.

GUERRO
I have never sold drugs to anyone,
I can explain every bit of that
missing money. And what right do
you have looking at my bank account?

HORATIO
You've become a person of interest
in a kidnapping and murder case,
and if you had passed the exam
without cheating, you'd know that
we have every right.

Anthony stares at Ryan.

GUERRO
You swore...

RYAN
That was before you helped to keep
a little girl in an abusive home and
got my dog killed.

GUERRO
Don't think I'll keep any secrets
about you.

RYAN
There aren't any secrets you know
that IA doesn't already know.

Horatio walks up to Anthony, holding out his hand.

HORATIO
Your badge, gun, and security card, Anthony.

Anthony doesn't hand them over.

HORATIO (CONT'D)
Anthony Guerro. Your badge, gun,
and security card. Now.

Anthony slaps the items into Horatio's hand.

GUERRO
All because a stupid dog was shot?

HORATIO
That dog was more of an officer
than you ever were. Gentlemen,
remove Mister Guerro from the
premises and see that he leaves.

Anthony starts toward Ryan but Horatio moves to the side to block him.

HORATIO (CONT'D)
You should use the other exit. None
of us here could prevent you from
having a nasty fall.

Anthony looks at Horatio, then Ryan. The fall would come in the form of Ryan's fists, and everyone in the room would look the other way.

He turns and leaves with the officers. Horatio looks back at Ryan. He looks a little lost. He looks at Calleigh. She stares at nothing. Solving this case hasn't made any of them feel satisfied.

HORATIO (CONT'D)
Ryan?

Ryan focuses on him.

HORATIO (CONT'D)
Take the day off. I'll come by
after work to help you get moved.

Ryan turns and leaves. Horatio glances at Calleigh when she walks up to him. She smiles, taking Anthony's things from him.

CALLEIGH
I'll take these downstairs. Come
find Eric and me after work. We'll
help too.

Horatio smiles, watching her leave. He's left alone in the locker room. With a long breath, he heads out to solve another crime.

FADE OUT.

END OF EPISODE