I dont really know where I'll head with this story yet. I started it a fair while ago and thought I'd give it another go. I dont know how realistic some of the scenarios are so please forgive me for any liberties I have taken with fact. As always, I dont own the rights to any of the CSI characters or concepts. Any comments or feedback is greatly welcomed. Many thanks in advance. And thanks to all those who commented on my last attempt at fanfic.
Chapter One
In hindsight, Nick should have just taken the goddamn day off sick.
He'd been battling a nasty chest cold for nearly a week now with little sign of improvement but, instead of resting up at home, had dragged himself into work.
Since they had lost Warrick, the lab had been seriously understaffed with experienced investigators and Nick felt duty bound to continue turning up at work even when his body was screaming at him to sleep.
But then, everyone was in the same boat. Grissom had looked like death warmed up for weeks. Nick would put money on him not having slept since Warricks death. Catherine was exhausted from work and stressed with worry about Lindsay. Even Brass looked worn out lately. Its no wonder they had all been sick.
Nick had been the last one to succumb, had fought it long and hard until he couldn't fight it any longer, and had been hit harder than all the others.
Catherine had seen him arrive for his shift, had laid a hand gently across his forehead and whistled low at the heat radiating from him. "You should be home in bed." she stated matter-of-factly.
Instead he had taken a couple of Tylenol and gone to the break room to wait for assignments to be doled out by Grissom.
He made himself a strong cup of coffee and was having a quick lie down on the sofa when Grissom came in and cast Nick a quick appraising look. He cocked an eyebrow up at him in an unsaid question which Nick waved off and dismissed with a quick "I'm fine." before sitting up and reaching for the offered assignment slip.
"I've got a 419 for you out in Toiyabe," Grissom started, "You're with me and Catherine." Nick nodded mutely at him, dully thinking he would have really preferred to be a little closer to Vegas tonight. Grissom kept his eye on him a moment longer before asking more quietly "Are you sure you're up for this?"
Nick gave a small smile and looked back up at Grissom saying again "I'll be fine Gris."
"Yeah? Well you look like hell."
Nick chuckled and pushed himself to his feet. "I'll go find Catherine."
Nick loved Catherine to bits - particularly when she offered to drive.
He relaxed back in the back passenger seat with a long sigh and closed his eyes.
Catherine glanced between the road and Nick, concern evident in her eyes when he started coughing.
"For Gods sake, Nicky," she finally said, "What are you doing? I should drive you home and put you to bed."
Nick rubbed a hand across his face and gave her a wan smile.
"I'll be fine, Cath." he said, "I'm startin' to feel a little better already now the drugs are kickin' in."
Catherine didn't look placated but continued to drive.
They headed out of the city and into the hills surrounding Vegas. Catherine and Grissom talked quietly in the front, letting Nick doze in the back.
He lay his head against the cool glass of the window and gazed out at the scenery with tired eyes.
They climbed further and further into the hills, away from civilisation and into the national park. The bitumen road gave way to a gravel one.
It never ceased to amaze Nick how beautiful this area was and yet how so many people would pass through Vegas without ever experiencing anything other than the casinos and the Strip.
He closed his eyes and felt the vibrations of the car which lulled him deeper and deeper into sleep.
The screaming of brakes and metal tearing at metal brought Nick back to consciousness immediately. Allbeit not for very long. He felt the car lurching and rolling. He heard Grissom shout out in warning.
He heard Catherine screaming and heard a male voice screaming out as well. In some deep recess of his brain he realised it was his own voice.
Then everything went dark.
