Grissom was now the one who was trapped. When they were finally just feet from getting out, their hopes of escape alive were dampened once again.
"What do we do now?" Greg asked, coughing.
Catherine also started coughing. The smoke and dust was thick and they needed to get out. But they couldn't very well leave Grissom behind. The CSIs looked at one another, totally at a loss as to what to do. Going ahead without Grissom was out of the question, but some of them were in worse shape than others. It wouldn't hurt for Catherine, Greg and Sara to go outside to fresh air and safety while Warrick and Nick worked on a strategy.
"Guys, Nick and I will stay here and figure this out. You two have to get Sara out, you need to be in the fresh air and see about sending some rescue workers our way," Warrick told them.
"No way," Sara protested, "we're not leaving you guys behind. You wouldn't leave me behind, why should we leave you?"
"No time to argue this time, you guys get outside," Nick told them sternly, then softened, "just please do it for me. I don't want you guys to get hurt any further. Besides Sara and Greg both need medical attention now."
Catherine knew that Warrick and Nick would not let them stay. Frankly she wanted to get outside. She didn't want to leave, but she could feel her lungs filling with smoke and it was a horrible burning sensation.
"Come on Greg, help me with Sara," Catherine grabbed Sara under the shoulder and helped heave her to her feet.
Greg looked sadly back at the older CSIs, feeling as if this might be the last time he ever saw them, "Good luck guys."
"We'll be seeing you soon," Nick assured the young man. He only hoped his assuring words and calm voice were true. Honestly at every turn he was certain they were all going to die. He didn't think they'd make it this far. Once the trio was out of sight, Nick turned to Warrick.
"Got any bright ideas?" Warrick asked.
"No," Nick sighed.
"Me either. I don't think there's another way out," Warrick shook his head, "I didn't see one anyway."
"I didn't either, God, I hope he's not trapped like Sara was," Nick's eyes grew wide at the thought.
"We can't think like that Nicky," Warrick said, "besides, we know Grissom. He's a smart man. He's probably already found another way out and he's with the others waiting for us to come out."
Nick nodded silently, studying the rubble that was now blocking their way. It looked as if he moved any of it; it would only cause further collapse. That would only put their lives further in danger.
"Wait a second, do you hear something?" Warrick asked.
"Other than crackling of a fire, you mean?" Nick questioned.
"It sounds like everything is creaking at once. I think the whole thing's about to come down," Warrick's heart suddenly started to pound faster.
"Oh shit," Nick shouted, "man we gotta get out of here."
Warrick showed his agreement by dashing for the door. Nick was right on his tail, and silently apologizing to Grissom for abandoning him the whole way. Warrick made it out first and turned to see that Nick wasn't right behind him. Before he could turn to see what had happened, the building gave way completely. Concrete, wood, glass and metal fell in on other burning wood, concrete metal and glass with horrible loud cracks and shrieks. Warrick dove under the remains of a car for whatever protection it would give.
"Oh God, it's going down!" Catherine screamed.
"Nooooooooo," Sara moaned from her seat between them.
The three of them were seated a little way down the block, across the street against a store wall. Greg was speechless, but he felt sick with each breath of fresh air. His two best friends and his mentor were being crushed to death as he watched. He knew that he shouldn't have left them behind. If they all died, why should he, Sara and Catherine be forced to live through it? It didn't seem fair.
As the rubble settled, a cloud of dust and smoke puffed out and temporarily obscured their view of the former apartment building. A deep sense of sorrow and loss gripped the trio as they were left to their own thoughts. Up the street, a crew of firefighters and rescue workers were making their way toward them. That didn't seem to matter anymore. In their minds, they were already certain this had turned from a rescue mission to a recovery mission.
The cloud of dust and debris slowly lessened and they were able to see to the pile of rubble that was no longer burning. At least the collapse had seemed to put out the fires. That meant there was more of a chance for the bodies to be recognizable. As horrible of a thought as that was, it was better than thinking their friends might be charred beyond recognition.
Before the rescue workers reached them, a form stumbled out from the building. He was so covered in dust, they weren't sure who he was, only that he was bleeding and limping badly. Catherine jumped up, followed by Greg and they ran to the form. As soon as they got to him, they knew it was Warrick.
"Warrick, you're alive!" Catherine sobbed.
"Where's Nick and Grissom?" Greg asked softly.
"I don't know, man," Warrick lowered his eyes from Greg's intense gaze.
"You left them?" Greg was infuriated.
"No," Warrick snapped, "I couldn't do that. Nicky was right behind me, I don't know where he is. I tried to find him, but I couldn't. I wouldn't just leave him."
"Sorry," Greg sniffled, "I just. I can't. I'm not ready for…"
Now as they stood huddled together crying, the rescue workers finally reached them. Of course in their minds, this was way too late for help to be arriving. Sure they would all require medical attention, but to think that two of their own were dead, nothing seemed to matter as much. Sara was loaded onto a stretcher carried down the street to where it was clearer and an ambulance was waiting. The other three were escorted by foot because they could walk.
