A/Nl: Wow! Thank you to everyone who read/reviewed/alerted the last chapter, it really means a lot! The positive feedback you reviewers gave was great, thank you all! :)

Just to clarify, anything in italics is not happening at present, but happened at the time of the attacks.

Disclaimer: don't own CSI, never will :(

Beads of sweat glistened upon the young man's brow, each perfectly formed and glittering in the dim lights. His lips hung slightly parted, revealing rows of pearly white teeth, a soft murmur escaping them every now and then. His fists clenched and unclenched, slender fingers closing around the crisp white sheets adorning the bed.

"How can you live with yourself?"

The young man groaned, hot, blinding pain coursing through his body with each slight movement.

"You CSI's are dead to me. Hear me? Dead."

His vision blurred with salty crystals, breathing laboured as he struggled to draw sweet air into his burning lungs.

"My daughter is dead because of you. Now it's time you were too."

A light hand upon his forearm calmed the young man's erratic heart, slowing his train of wild thought and dream to a halt and opening his glistening eyes to the vibrant world around him.

"Greggo? You alright?" A thick Texan drawl met his ears, the sound beautifully tuneful in comparison to his own deathly screams of raw pain laced with pure terror of that night.

"Nicky? Why'd you come back?" Greg breathed, voice a bare whisper, tones threading through the incessant beeping of the various machines clustered around his bed. Nick gave a soft smile, even teeth stark white in his perfectly tanned face.

"I came back for you guys. I need to find out who did this to you."

Shallow breathing.

"I know what you're going to ask me. I'm sorry, Nick, but I can't remember much."

Fingers trembling.

"It's ok, G. I know this is going to be difficult for you, but anything you can remember, you need to tell me."

Palms sweating.

"I will. I promise."

Desperate reasoning.

"Thanks. Get better soon, G. We need you on the team. We're nothing without our hyperactive lab rat turned serious CSI."

Holistic staring.

"I'll try."

Bullet racing.

Bang.

A pair of beautifully tragic eyes stared out from behind a curtain of blonde tresses, thick eyelashes guarding a flawed soul.

"Nicky, I'm sorry. I can't remember much. J-Just-"

"Breathe a word and you won't see the light of tomorrow."

"Don't worry, Catherine. Just, if you can remember anything, let me know, ok?"

"I want revenge. Nothing will stand in my way."

"I promise, the first thing I remember will be relayed back to you."

"I've been through hell. It's time you paid."

"Don't strain yourself to remember things you can't. Give it some time," Nick spoke softly, gentle accent finely littered with catches of deep emotion. Catherine nodded, gaze fixed on her slender fingers entwined with the bed sheets, a lone tear rolling down her bruised cheek. Nick's fingertips gently brushed the droplet away as he rose to his feet, gazing down upon his pained coworker. "Don't cry, Cat. You're the strongest woman I know, you inspire me. I know you'll never give up." Catherine allowed the slightest smile to tug at the corner of her velvet lips, giving a small nod as Nick squeezed her shoulder reassuringly and left the room. A short burst of pain in her arm hailed Catherine's attention, and she stared at the tiny prick in her creamy skin, eyes clouded with bewilderment at the origin of the slight cut.

A sharp prick on her arm.

Nick sighed, rubbing the back of his neck with his hand, back muscles rippling as he walked through the sterile labyrinth. Catching sight of his boss at the end of the corridor, he quickened the pace slightly, noting Grissom's slightly irritated posture.

"So, Griss, how are Warrick and Sara?" Grissom glanced up at Nick, eyes aflame with anger and slight passion, before turning on his heel and leading Nick towards the car park.

"I'll tell you on the way to the scene." Grissom's tone was harsh and clipped, as though the situation had deeply affected him emotionally. Nick could only follow Grissom towards the imposing black SUV parked in the most isolated area of the car park. Nick slipped into the passenger seat, watching as Grissom slammed the door, pushed the keys into the ignition and threw the car into gear. The strong, forceful movements were uncharacteristic for the generally subdued entomologist, and Nick looked over at the man, concern flooding his brain.

"You ok, Grissom?"

"No, I'm not ok. These idiots could've killed them, and after everything that's happened I can't afford to lose, or come close to losing, anyone else!" Grissom was gripping the steering wheel so tightly, his knuckles had turned a dangerous shade of white, threatening to burst out of his skin. "We're all a family now, and I hate seeing anyone hurt," The man admitted through clenched teeth, eyes fixed on the stretch of road ahead. "Seeing Sara and Warrick lying there, looking so vulnerable bound in those sheets, unable to recall anything about the accidents, makes me feel sick. Makes me realise how much I care about my team." Nick nodded empathetically, images of both Greg and Catherine invading his mind, previously strong souls and bodies having fallen victim to sick, wannabe killers.

"We'll find them, Griss. They won't get away with this."

"I sure hope we get them, Nick."

"We will. For their sake, we have to." Greg's beautifully pained eyes, hidden behind boyishly thick lashes, gazing out from his bruised face was enough to encourage Nick to pursue the person who had committed such a foul deed, never mind the raw, bloody cuts encircling Catherine's slight wrists. Nick sneaked a glance across at Grissom, whose eyes were blazing with such fire that Nick was slightly afraid of his boss' capabilites, and registered a touch of scarred love within those bright orbs. Grissom was willing to fight for Sara, and of course the rest of his badly broken team, just as Nick was willing to give anything for his closest friends.

"Even if we die trying."

Thanks for reading! :)

thebestoftimes11 x