Chapter 1
Grissom unlocked the door to their jungle hideaway with a smile.
They had been settled here now for just over a year. After Sara fell pregnant barely a month after Grissom had arrived in Costa Rica, they decided it best to settle into a permanent home, something more comfortable than a tent in the wilderness.
Their house was situated at the southern tip of the Nicoya Peninsula above the world famous bohemian beach town of Montezuma. The two story open concept house made of concrete and native hardwoods was set on a private hilltop and boasted fabulous one hundred and eighty degrees of ocean views and cooling breezes in the front, a river and springs with natural swimming pool and waterfall in the back. Sara fell in love with it the moment she saw it and adored the fact that you could hear the surf most days. But what she liked about it the most was the privacy, their nearest neighbour a good twenty minutes away, well, apart from the wildlife of course.
They had married in a small private ceremony six months before the birth of their son, Alexander James Grissom and both now found a happiness they never thought was possible. The contentment they found with each other and their new life was unbound and with the help of their nanny, Maria, they could still even work but they only ventured out into the jungle a few days a week, giving as much time to their son as possible...
"After you, my dear," Grissom gestured his hand for Sara to enter in front of him.
With a cheerful snort Sara entered the house but didn't get too far before Grissom's hands were around her waist and her body was pinned to the outside of the still open door.
Sniggering Sara worked her hands up his back. "You know you should at least wait until we send Maria home."
A content smile graced Grissom's lips before his head tipped forward and his mouth laid a soft kiss on his wife's.
"Do you enjoy your evening?" He asked.
"Very much." Sara smiled working one of her hands to his front to play with the open second button hole of his shirt. "The walk along the beech topped it off nicely."
"Oh?" Grissom captured Sara's eyes in his own. "The evening has been topped off already?"
"Well..." Sara wriggled her eye brows in a suggestive manner. "Maybe not completely."
"I hope not," Grissom grinned snaking his hands down to Sara's rear before giving it a gentle squeeze.
"Come on," Sara chuckled; pulling free from his grasp, she tugged him inside before closing the door.
Hand in hand they entered the house.
"Why is it so dark in here?" Sara asked before flicking on a light switch.
"I don't know," Grissom began, a frown forming on his brow. "Maria?" He called.
Their response – nothing but silence.
Grissom and Sara exchanged worried glances.
"Let's try upstairs," Sara suggested. "She's probably just watching over Alex, you know what she's like."
Grissom agreed with a nod and they quickly headed up the stairs but when they reached the nursery it was empty.
They looked at each other, worry encasing both their faces.
"Maria?!" Grissom shouted louder this time before rushing onto the landing.
They checked the bedroom, nothing. The spare room, nothing.
Quickly heading back downstairs the couple found their blissful evening had quickly turned into one of unexpected panic.
"Surely she wouldn't have gone out anywhere at this time." Sara said quickly as they checked the kitchen. It was empty.
"No," Grissom agreed, fighting to stay calm. "She would never take Alex from the house without us."
Suddenly through the semi darkness of the house Grissom noticed a light coming from his study.
"Over there," He nodded quickly and with a tug of his wife's hand they dashed to the study.
The couple walked through the door to the study and Grissom's eyebrow quirked in curiosity. Why was his desk lamp on? As he reached out to shut off the light his high back, leather chair spun around and Grissom froze, staring dumbly at the man who sat snuggly within it.
"Good evening, Dr. Grissom." His mouth twisted into a sneer as he looked up at Grissom.
Sara held her hand to her mouth in disbelief and Grissom felt his pupils dilate; unable to totally take in what was looking right back at him.
"Mc…keen….?" He just about managed to whisper.
Propping his feet up onto the desk in front of him Jeffery Mckeen just grinned before two towering men stepped out of the shadows and blocked the exit from the room.
Grissom and Sara looked at each other but before they could react the two men grabbed their arms and moved them closer to the desk. Both scientists struggled against the restraining hands but calmed a little when McKean spoke.
"I would suggest the two of you refrain from struggling, it would be such a shame to have to incapacitate you before we have a chance to chat." Mckeen looked to his aids before back to the anxious couple. "Jose and Rico can be quite brutal if you upset them."
"What is going on Mckeen?" Grissom gritted his teeth. "Are you not supposed to be serving a life sentence? What the hell do you want?"
"Ah…" Mckeen sat up and leaned forwards. "The questions…" He grinned again. "What? Who? When? And I'm sure why? The story of your life huh Gil?"
Grissom attempted to struggle again, he knew something was very, very wrong but when his persistence caused a shriek of pain from Sara he stilled with wide eyes.
"You struggle," Mckeen advised, "she pays for it, so please…continue."
Grissom didn't move as he observed Sara's eyes well with pain, her right arm been forcefully twisted and held behind her back.
"What, do you want?" He snarled back to Mckeen.
"Hmmm," Mckeen flicked through some papers on the desk. "What do I want? Let me see, a little pay back." Suddenly slamming his hands down on the desk he jumped from the chair. "That's what I want you piece of shit!"
Grissom swallowed hard but felt the grip of his capture loosen on his arms.
"How dare you ask me what I want?" Mckeen spat. "Sitting pretty here in your cozy little life, while I rot in a hell hole, all, because of you." He looked at Sara and smirked. "With your pretty little bitch and…" Looking back to Grissom his eyes darkened, "a newborn….."
Mckeen had his son, Grissom knew it and his heart clenched with fear at the thought of what this animal had done to his baby boy. Suddenly the adrenaline surged through his body and he drove his elbow back into the ribs of the man that was holding him. Jose groaned, not expecting Grissom's sudden attack. The former CSI whirled around, grabbed his jacket and pushed all of his weight against him, driving him back into one of the bookcases against the wall. He fell to the floor under a pile of disheveled books.
Sara thought quickly stomped on Rico's foot, her heel digging right into the bone with a crunch. He let go of her arms as he yelped out in pain. Sara made a break for the door but Rico recovered quickly and reached out and grabbed her hair, yanking her whole body back to him.
"Get back here you bitch!" He growled as she fell back into him and he twisted her arms back behind her.
Grissom saw the Rico grab Sara's hair and made a lunge for him but Jose grabbed Grissom's ankle and pulled his feet out from under him. Grissom fell hard on the floor and rolled over just in time to see Jose to jump on him, his heavy weight crushing Grissom into the hard wood.
As the thought of his wife and son's safety spiraled through his brain Grissom found an unfamiliar strength and pushed up on Jose, rolling them over. He straddled the man's waist and drilled his fist down into his face. As he drew back his fist to punch the man again a deafening gunshot resounded in the room and everyone froze instantly.
"That's enough, Grissom!" McKeen shouted as he pulled Sara from Rico's grip and held the hot barrel of his side arm to her temple.
With a heavy swallow Grissom immediately, but slowly, did as requested and pulled himself from the man below him, his eyes fixed on the gun held at his wife's head.
Jose, angry and embarrassed jumped to his feet. Pulling out his own sidearm and without warning, he hit Grissom in the back of the head with it as hard as he could. Sara cried out his name when he dropped to the floor with a heavy thud and failed to move.
"Shut up!" McKeen growled, "Or I swear I will kill him right now!"
Silencing quickly Sara fought to hold in the sob that was creeping up her throat. All she could do was watch as her husband lay lifeless on the floor.
CSICSICSICSICSICSICSICSI
Pain pierced through Grissom's head as he tried to focus his eyes. Then thoughts of Sara flooded his mind and the last thing he remembered was McKeen holding his gun to her head. His eyes darted around the room in desperation but he quickly found her sitting beside him, tied to her own chair with her mouth bound with tape, just like his.
Sara looked at him and he could see relief wash over her face. When Grissom was satisfied that she was unharmed he looked back at the desk where McKeen sat with his feet propped up on the wooden finish.
McKeen noticed Grissom was awake and sneered.
"Finally decided to join us again, huh, Gil?" He ignored the glare that the scientist leveled on him. "Jose, Rico, it's time."
The two men had been using Grissom's chess table to entertain themselves but now stood and took their places behind the two prisoners. Rico stepped behind Sara and rested his sidearm on her shoulder. Jose was not as laid back as his brother. He was still furious at being attacked by his captive and caressed the side of Grissom's face with his handgun. Grissom tried not to react to the feel of the cold steel against his flesh, no matter how difficult it was, but what frightened him even more, was the way that McKeen was looking at his wife.
Sara's breasts jutted out between the ropes that tied her to the chair and McKeen watched her with lustful eyes before a grin formed on his lips. Grissom growled at the former Undersheriff and McKeen leaned forward and backhanded him hard across the face for his effort.
"You see, that's your problem, Gil, you could never see a slut for a slut."
Grissom struggled against his restraints as he held his glare on McKeen.
"You won't get out of that, you self-righteous son-of-a-bitch!" Mckeen laughed, his demeanor changing quickly as he brought himself eye level with Grissom.
"Do you realize how much suffering you've cause by your little 'crusade of the righteous?' Do you realize what you cost me?!" McKean forced himself to calm a little as he stood back up. "What you cost yourself? Brown would still be alive right now if you hadn't poisoned him with your ideals."
McKean spat the word as if it had a bitter taste in his mouth. He paced angrily before his captives and as they watched him their fear grew at what he would do to them. They were afraid for each other more than themselves, and afraid for their son.
"You thought that getting rid of me would solve all of your problems and that you could just escape with your little whore! Didn't you? Well you can not rid yourself of Jeffrey McKean so easily!" McKeen's face grew a darker shade of crimson, which stood in contrast to his white hair. He turned back to face Grissom.
"So did you think that you could just replace Brown and continue with your little set up and leave me to rot in a jail cell? Did you think that you could plant your seed in that bitches belly and live happily ever after leaving Vegas behind you because you had finally had enough? Well," He grinned, "I'll see that that doesn't happen."
Grissom struggled anew at the thought of what this monster had done to his son. Sara struggled too, but eased a little when Rico grabbed her hair and roughly yanked her head back. Grissom looked over at her and when McKean laughed Grissom remembered his words.
'You struggle, she pays for it.'
Forcing himself to calm down Grissom stopped fighting his restraints, and Rico let go of Sara's hair. McKeen straightened himself, brushing off his coat to neaten his appearance.
"You see, Gil, unlike you, I'm a fair man. I like to give people a fighting chance. Brown had a chance, but because your poison flowed too deeply through his veins, he couldn't see that. But as I said, I'm reasonable and I'm going to give you an opportunity to redeem yourself and save that little shit baby of yours."
Sitting back on the desk Mckeen considered his captives for a moment. "You're a smart man, Gil, so I'm sure that you know that part of every crusade is purification. A long journey can make a man see many things about himself, especially if that man is forced to suffer during that journey. You like games, don't you, Gil? At least I remember you playing games when my career was on the line. Well, we're going to play another game. You get to run a gauntlet," McKeen smiled cheerfully, "Through the jungle and all its wonders. I have a map for you to follow and some goals for you to reach and the object of the game is very simple. Get to every point on the map within the time limit or that cute little boy of yours will lose something… every time you fail."
Grissom felt panic grow within him as he heard Sara sob, he so desperately tried not to struggle in his chair.
"Oh… one more thing: I have always dreamed of going on a big game hunt. I guess the game doesn't get any bigger than you. Does it, Gil? You had better be a fast runner, because I'm a good shot."
Nodding to Rico, Mckeen finished his rant and the thug moved quickly on command. Untying Sara he swiftly cuffed her hands tightly behind her back before pushing her into McKeen's arms. Now Grissom did struggle as he watched McKeen's hands move over his wife. McKeen grinned as his hand skimmed over her right breast and Sara felt her stomach turn.
"I didn't realize she was so soft, Gil." Mckeen teased. "So very soft."
Gritting his teeth, hard, Grissom couldn't object any more before both Jose and Rico untied the ropes that incarcerated him in the chair and yanked him to his feet.
Once Grissom was free from his bindings he lunged for McKeen. But he didn't account for the fast movement affecting his already aching head and he was overtaken by a moment of dizziness. It was enough time for Jose and Rico to grab his arms and tightly cuff them behind his back. McKean laughed at his attempt and he increased the roughness of his hands on Sara's body who tried her best not to show weakness and cry out. She almost managed it until a sharp whimper escaped her taped mouth.
Grissom looked up at his wife and struggled to hold back the tears that burned his eyes.
McKeen grasped onto Sara's arm firmly and pulled her towards the door. Jose and Rico kept a strong hold on Grissom and followed McKean out of the house.
As they stepped outside the noise of chopper blades slicing through the air could be heard and the sound grew louder by the second. Suddenly the lights of the helicopter illuminated the people on the ground as it hovered above them. The wind caused by the whipping blades kicked up dust and they all squinted as it landed. Grissom and Sara were quickly forced to board and their abductors quickly followed. McKeen and his two men sat on the benches while they pushed Grissom and Sara onto their knees, forcing them to bend over so that they were almost folded in half.
As the chopper lifted off the ground Jose and Rico propped their heavy legs on Grissom's back and McKeen teased Sara by constantly lifting his legs on and off of her back. Grissom had to force himself not to try and fight back. He wanted to beat them until they told him where his son was, but he couldn't bear the thought of them hurting Sara again. He knew he was outnumbered and didn't stand a chance. He turned his head to look at her and saw the tears in her eyes that she was doing her upmost to fight. The wind whipped through her hair, blowing several strands into her face. He hoped she could see the love he held for her in his eyes and when she nodded her head he was relieved.
CSICSICSICSICSICSICSI
After what felt like hours Jose and Rico removed their legs from Grissom's back and while Jose grabbed the back of Grissom's neck and pushed his face into the floor, Rico un-cuffed his hands. McKeen did the same to Sara but cuffed one of her wrists to Grissom's. Jose and Rico maintained a grip on each of Grissom's arms as Mckeen repeated the action with Sara and they dragged the couple to one of the open doors.
"Here you go, Gil," McKean yelled to be heard over the whirling blades. He held up a black bag for both of them to see, "This should give you nice start, but you better fetch it!"
McKean tossed the bag out of the door and Grissom watched as it fell through the night and noted hearing a loud splash – they were above water…
Grissom looked at his tormentor in disbelief then his glance fell to Sara. She shook her head, but the decision was made.
Jose and Rico stepped behind the couple and kicked them both in the back. Neither one had time to react as they were launched out of the chopper and into the darkness below.
They hit the cold water simultaneously and sank into its depths. Grissom gathered his bearings quickly and kicked hard, grabbing Sara's hand that was cuffed to his; he looked for an escape through bleary eyes. Pulling Sara with him, he managed to breach the surface of the water. Ripping the tape from his mouth he gasped for air. Sara quickly did the same. They silently watched the helicopter disappear as they treaded the dark water.
"We need that bag." Grissom gasped and Sara agreed.
They both took a deep breath and dove under the water. It was an almost futile search, they knew it, but just as they were running out of air and needed to surface Grissom grasped the bag between his fingers and tugged on Sara's hand.
As they kicked hard and shot back up to the surface Sara felt her leg jolt. She had become snagged on something and was suddenly yanked back down into the waters murky depths. Grissom had just broken the water's edge when he felt Sara stop and tug on his arm. He pulled but she didn't come, then he knew she was trapped…..
A/N: We both hope you are enjoying the story so far, we are plotting away to keep you on the edge :) You know what to do if you want more, hit that little button and let us know your thoughts!