Disclaimer: I own nothing, it's all the property of CBS and Anthony Zuiker

AN: Well, here it is (finally)! The first chapter of the alternate ending. Again I can only apologise for the length of time that it has taken for this chapter to materialise, whoever said that university students had a lot of free time lied! Hopefully now the second semester has started and I'm doing one less module, I should have more time to write. Thanks to everyone who is still following the story, and if anyone still wants the first how ever many chapters it is, please email me and ask for it and I shall send you a copy. Hope you enjoy the chapter, and as always, reviews are gratefully received!

Catch Me If I Fall: Caught

Nick heaved a sigh of relief as the paramedics burst through the door.

"Look, Greg, they're here! Hold on, you have to hold on!"

When Greg made no response, Nick looked down and was horrified to find Greg's eyes closed and his mouth slack.

"Greg? Greg!" cried Nick.

But there was no reply. The paramedics rushed over, and immediately began working on him. They attached wires to his chest, put a tube down his throat, and started numerous IV lines.

"Sir, please, you need to let him go." One of them said to Nick.

Nick reluctantly relinquished his hold on the unmoving figure, worry etched onto his face.

The paramedics were still working furiously on Greg, sticking needles and tubes into him, pumping on an air bag, desperately trying to keep him alive despite all the odds.

And the odds were stacked against them. You didn't have to be a statistician or a gambler to work that one out. Greg had been tortured and then left to die; it was only through pure strength of will that he had held on for as long as he had.

The room was silent apart from the occasional mutterings from the paramedics and the rustle of plastic as they unwrapped what they needed. Nick could feel tears staining his cheeks and on looking round, saw that he wasn't the only one. Even the Grissom, who kept his emotions closely guarded, had tears in his eyes as he watched the paramedics desperately trying to save his lab tech. One part of his brain was begging Greg to hold on, at the paramedics to help him, but another part, the scientific part, was telling him that there was no way in hell that Greg should still be alive.

As if proving science wrong, the paramedics started to carefully load Greg onto a stretcher, ever mindful of the horrific injuries that their patient had. As soon as he was strapped down, they immediately rushed him out of the room, trailed by the CSI team and Brass.

"We're going to take him to Desert Springs, as that's closest." The paramedic told the team over his shoulder, "I'm afraid I cant let any of you ride with him, as we're going to need all the room we can get so that we can work on him. He's stable for the minute, but I don't think I have to impress on you how serious and life threatening his injuries are."

The CSIs nodded grimly. They knew only too well how bad Greg's injuries were, most of the corpses that they were forced to deal with on a daily basis were less mutilated. Not only that, they had seen Smiths work before and knew what he was capable of inflicting on his victims. More than one of the CSIs silently cursed Jamie Smith, and knew that it wouldn't be for the last time.

As Greg was loaded into the ambulance and driven away, sirens blaring, the CSIs looked at each other for a moment, unable to completely comprehend what had, and was still, taking place.

"God," murmured Catherine, more in shock than prayer.

This seemed to break the spell, and Brass immediately took control, giving orders to police personnel left, right and centre, all the while pushing the CSI team towards their cars.

"Right, Grissom, you drive one car, I'll take the other."

Grissom made no protest at this, aware that although none of them were really in a fit state to drive, Brass and himself were probably the best for the job. He cast a worried eye over Nick as he got into the car, knowing that the younger CSI blamed himself for what had happened. He also knew that nothing would change that unless Greg himself could tell Nick that he wasn't to blame. Grissom sighed as started the engine, put on the siren and pulled out of the car park, closely followed by Brass.

The ride there was silent apart from the wailing of the siren, everyone lost in their own thoughts, the mood strained and worried. As they turned in at the hospital Nick broke the silence.

"W-what if he…" he started brokenly.

Warrick immediately cut him off.

"Uh-uh man, don't be going there. He's lasted this long, so he's fighting," he said, with more conviction than he felt.

Nick merely nodded, not completely convinced by Warricks words, but willing to gain some reassurance from them.

As Grissom and Brass pulled up outside the hospital, the team members quickly jumped out and raced into the hospital entrance, Nick and Warrick at the front.

"Can I help you?" a frazzled looking nurse asked.

"We're with the crime lab, here about Greg Sanders?" Warrick half told, half questioned her.

The nurse's face immediately sobered, and she nodded.

"Right, well he's still in the trauma room and the doctors are still working on him. If you want to take a seat, I'll see that someone comes and gives you more information as it becomes available."

The assembled group nodded, moved over to the chairs, and settled in to wait.