Slightly shorter, but I want to keep you (and me) guessing.

Thanks for the feedback, I'm glad you're enjoying it. I've never written a story before in which I have no idea what will happen. It's exciting.

Altercation

He knew something was wrong from the moment he walked into the lab.

'Nick.' Warwick shouted as he walked down the corridor. 'I was just about to call you. Brass just arrested Mr Thompson.'

'What? Why?'

'He came here looking for you, ranting about evidence after we took his car. Sara heard him and tried to calm him down; they talked for a minute than he started to get really angry and throwing things. He threw a mug at the wall, it shattered and cut Sara's forehead.'

Nick was horrified, Sara had been hurt. This guy, who had already attacked him, had now injured Sara and he could have prevented it. If he had pressed charges, or had let Brass pick him up earlier…' His train of thought was broken by Warrick.

'Nick, she's fine. It didn't even need stitches, she's in the break room.' Nick nodded and went to find her.

'Sara…are you alright?'

Sara saw the worry and guilt plastered all over Nick's face, but she was still shacking and wasn't in the mood to make him feel better right now.

'Still don't think he's capable?' He didn't get chance to answer before Brass came in followed by Warrick.

'I knew we should have arrested him when he assaulted you.' He said looking at Nick.

'He did what?' Warrick exclaimed and Brass looked over at Nick

'You didn't tell them?'

'Tell us what?'

'He attacked Nick during the interview. He managed to talk him down, but not before he tried to put Nick through the wall. I knew he was bad news, we should have arrested him then.'

'You should have told us.' Sara spat the words towards Nick. 'I wouldn't have approached him alone if I knew he was dangerous. Anything could have happened.'

Nick had no answer, she was right. How could he have misjudged someone so badly? He really thought Mr Thompson was just reacting badly to the news of his son's, he never thought…

'Guy's' Greg interrupted the uncomfortable silence that had descended up on the room. 'I processed the items you took off Mr Thompson and I found something. One of the keys had mud on it, so I checked it against the impression and soil from the area around the missing key, and it's a match. We've found the front door key.'

'I think this has gone on long enough.' Said Brass 'I'm arresting him for the kidnapping on the evidence we have, let's just hope he feels like telling us what he did with his son.'

Warrick and Brass left to conduct the interview, leaving Sara and Nick alone.

'I'm sorry you got hurt, I should have told you.'

'Yes, you should. Nick what's going on, why can't you see this guy's bad news?'

Nick couldn't answer, it was a feeling, all he knew is this man was fiercely protective of his kids and Nick couldn't believe he would hurt them physically. He had seen onlyheartache and painin his eyes when he had Nick pinned to the wall in the interview room, but now he had lashed out and hurt Sara, what if he had done that with William? He should know by now there is no such thing as a 'type' people were capable of anything.

Sara, frustrated by his lack of response, stormed out of the room.

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It was almost an hour later when Warrick put his head around the door. Nick was watching the tapes from the security camera where Dan worked.

'I told you he didn't have time to get to the house between rounds, let alone kidnap William and get back.'

'How's it going?'

'Were taking a break. He's still denying everything, forcefully. Catherine called in, she's still out checking possible locations. Are you alright?'

'Fine.' He said looking back at the screen and Warrick left him to it.

Ten minutes later, another voice broke his concentration.

'I hear you made an arrest.' Grissom said as he moved behind Nick, who just nodded his agreement. 'You don't seem too sure.'

'I don't think he did it.' Nick said still looking at the screen.

'Based on what evidence?'

'Everything we have, it could be explained. Something's not right…' Nick knew the response he would receive but he had to say it. 'I have a feeling he wouldn't hurt his kids.'

'He hurt you, and Sara.' Nick cringed, he knew Grissom was right but still he couldn't stop, he knew something was wrong he just had to prove it.

'I am well aware of that…' Grissom heard the remorse in his voice, knowing he felt responsible for Sara. '…but I can't let this go Gris, I know I'm right.'

'You have a couple of hours left on your shift, after that why don't you get some sleep. I want your report at the start of your next shift. The case stays open till then.' Nick turned but Grissom had already left.

It took Nick some time to realise that Grissom had given him eighteen hours to find another explanation. Eighteen hours to find William and the evidence to prove his father was innocent.

Grissom trusted him.

He looked back at the screen and smiled. He had just found what he had been looking for.

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Several phone calls later and Nick found himself in the security room of the warehouse where Dan worked.

'Is there something wrong?' Asked the dayshift manager as Nick started to take pictures.

'This screw had been opened recently without the correct tools, you see the marks on the screw head and in the plastic, the remnants are still on the floor.' The manager looked closely before agreeing. Nick took fingerprints and more photos.

'I'm going to send one of our techs down here to examine this, I don't want anyone else coming in here before they arrive.'

'Sure.'

Nick called the lab and arranged a visit, leaving an officer there to guard the site.

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Back in the lab, Grissom found his trust in Nick pushed to the limit.

'Jim' He greeted as Brass burst into his office.

'What's going on Gil? I've just received a call from a very upset family member who said Nick has been harassing Mrs Thompson while her son is still missing and now I learn he has appropriated one of my offices to secure a warehouse where that family member works. Why is Nick still investigating this?'

'He's working the case.'

'We have arrested the father, or have you forgotten he attacked two of your team.'

'No, I haven't forgotten. Nick has a theory and I intend to let him see it through.'

'Let me get this straight, Nick has a feeling and you're letting him follow it. You.'

'Nick has a theory, and the evidence we have in this case is weak, I am letting Nick follow his instincts. I believe he has insight on this case that we do not, and I trust his judgement.'

Brass was in shock. He stood with his mouth open trying to believe that the man who had a firm belief in science and an unwavering stance when it came to following evidence had just said he is letting Nick following his gut.

'Why?'

'That's between Nick and I. Now unless there's anything else?'

'I hope you know what you're doing, Nick could get himself into real trouble if you're wrong.'

'Then we had better watch his back.' He knew Brass had a soft spot for Nick, he would let Nick get away with following his instincts far more than Grissom did when he had been in charge. Brass agreed and left.

Grissom hoped Nick would finish this quickly. He didn't think Ecklie would be as easy to plicate.

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Nick was technically off duty. He knew he should get some sleep, but now wasn't the time.

'Mr Creed.'

'Who's asking?'

'My name's Nick Stokes, I work with the crime lab…' Nick sighed as the large man in front of him turned his back and leant against the bar. 'Mr Creed, I just need to ask you a couple of questions. I have a missing child and I think you can help me find him.'

'How?' Came the gruff voice, but he didn't turn back.

'You're car appeared on the security footage of a warehouse for Global Industries, I just need to know the date and time you were last there.'

'That's all, you don't care why I was there?' He finally turned to face him.

'No, I just need a date and time.' Nick could see the looks he was beginning to receive. This was not the kind of bar police walked into alone. He was suddenly glad he was off duty and had taken off his visible CSI identification.

'Sixteenth at around ten.'

Nick was writing the information down when he heard a shout from behind. It took him a moment to realise it was not directed at him, however it didn't stop him getting caught in the middle when all hell broke loose.

Nick did his best to avoid the fists flying in every direction, but one found its target. It was only a glancing blow, but enough to split his lip and send him crashing into a table. He heard sirens in the distance as he righted himself. He desperately wanted to stop the fight, but he was one man and there were at least twenty people now involved, he decided to wait for backup.

He stood against the wall with his badge in hand as the police invaded the bar. He watched as they tried to pull the warring factions apart, but they were not giving in easily.

Just as things were dying down one of them pulled a knife on a young office, he was too busy cuffing someone else to notice. Nick pulled his gun, glad he hadn't left that in the car, and pointed it at the assailants head.

'CSI, I'm armed, put the knife down.' The officer turned to see the man with the knife aimed at his throat. 'Put it down now.' Nick said in the strongest voice he could muster. Several more pieces were drawn in his direction. Seeing he was outnumbered, the man dropped the knife and several officers pounced upon him. Nick shakily returned his piece to the holster.

He was then dragged off to outside by the commanding officer, along with the young man he had just saved.

'Thank you, Mr…'

'Stokes, call me Nick.'

'You're a CSI?'

'Ye, I was just following a lead.'

'On your own?'

'I…well…it's not exactly official.'

'You working on the missing kid case?'

'William Thompson, yes.' Nick was worried, he was off duty, investigating a case, involved in a brawl and pulled his weapon. This could get him and Grissom into trouble.

'You get what you needed?'

'Ye.'

'Go, we'll clear this up.' Nick was dumfounded. He wasn't one to break the rules, but he knew if he got caught up in this, he would be stuck in red-tape for weeks and off the Thompson case permanently.

'You just saved one of my guys, and you're on a case. I know how these things work. Go and we'll take care of the report, you were not here.'

'Thanks.'

'You need anything Nick you give us a call, we owe you one.'