After a thorough search of what Gil assumed was Nick's house, he was beginning to lose hope. The video feed that had been connected to Nick's TV had switched off and no matter which buttons he pressed, he just couldn't get it to work again. He paced up and down, thinking about what he knew and understood in this dream of his. He felt connected to the dream Nick as much as he felt connected to the one he worked with every day. Nick was the one who succeeded the most in making him smile, making him think, making him appreciate the small things. His kidnapping had scared Grissom. He'd proven how vulnerable they all were out on the field. And then Walter Gordon
had asked him what Nick meant to him... And Grissom had come to the conclusion that Nick was what he wasn't. He was everything that made no sense, everything that he appreciated. It was something that Grissom had yet to understand, because his emotions made no sense to him. It wasn't an attraction and yet it was. He hadn't been this confused since high school. Perhaps his dream would help him find a way to aid Nick in waking up.
He continued to mull over his thoughts. Nick was being attacked by people who'd left an impact on him. He was somehow here and Grissom could feel that it was up to him to rescue Nick. He had to find a way to get to him.
Then it clicked. He'd found Nick by entering the corridor. Maybe that was his way out as well? Without pausing he ran past the door he'd battered, back down the corridor and straight back into darkness.
'Okay.' he thought, 'What now? It's almost like I was led to him last time. Is it the same thing again? '
He marched forward and kept going. He had a promise to keep.
888
Upon returning to the hospital, Catherine discovered a scene that made her heart warm. The infamous Gil Grissom, slumped over in his chair, his head resting on Nick's arm as the two of them slept peacefully, completely unaware of their surroundings. Had she known of the true terror they were both going through she would be desperately shaking them awake and screaming at the nurses to do something. But Catherine Willows was unaware of their torment, so she watched as Greg whipped out his camera phone to snap some shots for future blackmailing and hogged the comfiest chair in the room. The others filed in quietly, smirking at Greg's antics and sat down in the remaining seats and waited for either one of them to wake up.
888
Grissom was reflecting over everything he knew about his predicament. Taking into account what he'd witnessed and what Nick had told him, he continued to ponder as he walked at a brick pace. He
hadn't heard or seen anything as of yet, although he'd been at it for a while now. It could have just as easily been a few minutes as it could have been a few hours. The darkness affected his sight and his internal clock. And quite possibly his self-confidence. Everything just seemed so strange.
He thought some more about how Nick had explained his escape from Nigel by wishing himself into partial freedom and landing in his house. Grissom knew that wishing himself awake was pointless, since he'd been doing it from the beginning. Perhaps wishing worked only within the walls of his subconscious? Maybe he should try it to find Nick?
He stopped himself. First off, he was dreaming. The Nick he was helping was merely a frightened copy of the man he knew. Next, he could stumble across a terrified Catherine who'd lost her daughter and needed his help. Nick probably had nothing to do with this dream. So why did he feel such a desire to aid him? Dream-Nick was an open book and Grissom felt that he was finally permitted to take a peak at the fragile soul.
And that's how he made his decision. He wouldn't call him Dream-Nick anymore. Screw reality and impossibilities. Nick needed help to wake up and escape from Nigel. That's it. No more hesitating.
He threw himself into a sprint and pressed on running ahead. He started to wish he was fitter and faster and was surprised when his strides became longer and quicker. Perhaps wishing worked after all.
Still running, he risked closing his eyes and willed himself to find Nick. He opened his eyes and looked about. Still nothing. He came to a halt, closed them again and focused all his conscious thoughts on Nick. He tried to recall Nick's muscular build in his embrace from when they'd hugged earlier, the smell of his aftershave and...
He lurched forward and found himself nose to nose with the one person he'd been looking for. A cry of surprise came from behind him and reacting on pure instinct, he rolled off Nick and swiped out at Nigel's legs, causing the man to collapse backwards. He turned back to Nick who had sat and was now staring at him in awe. But his expression changed.
"Look out!" But a little too late. A blunt object collided with the back of Grissom's skull and his head bounced once on the wooden floor. For a moment, all he could see were stars and his blood roared in his ears. He shook his head and blinked to clear his gaze. His eyes finally landed on Nick who had tackled Crane back to the ground and now sat on top of him, his hands tight around the smaller man's neck. By the door stood Warrick, immobile, taking in the scene before him in a calm manner that didn't suit him. This Warrick was definitely a figment of someone's imagination. The way he held himself was wrong and even his skin complexion looked bizarre.
"Nick." Grissom removed his hand from the back of his head and checked for blood. He hoped he wouldn't get a concussion from that blow. "Nick, let Nigel go."
The younger man was wiping tears from his face. "You came, Griss. You really came."
Nigel's lips were turning blue. "Nick you need to let him go. Strangling him to death won't solve anything."
Nick looked confused. "But he was going to kill you. Us both."
"Tell me," he assessed Nick's face carefully, "did you kill the babysitter?"
Nick jolted and sat up, Crane temporarily forgotten. "No. But she didn't deserve it."
"And neither does Nigel. You're better than all of this Nick. The real Nigel wouldn't be capable of all of this and is probably still in a psychiatric hospital. Deep down I know that you know that. Let him go."
Nick deflated as all the fight went out of him. He released his hold but didn't move off Crane as the latter gasped for breath. When he didn't try to escape, Nick turned on Warrick.
"What the fuck was that all about?" Grissom guessed he was upset, since his accent seemed more pronounced.
Warrick smirked. "I had to help him a bit or you would've had the upper hand from the beginning." He turned to Grissom. "What are you doing here? We agreed you'd help later."
Grissom looked confused. "Are you talking to me. Because we've just met. Ecklie sent me here. Told me I'm the only person Nick trusts." He noticed how Nick turned Scarlet but continued. "Does this mean there's another me running around somewhere? Actually, don't answer that. Nothing can surprise me anymore anyhow."
Warrick nodded. "It's a very rare occurrence, but people can share dreams if they're extremely close. You're sharing Nick's dream."
"That makes no sense whatsoever. And why is everyone so convinced that this is Nick's dream? Also, I really have doubts about your theories."
Warrick waved him off."Doesn't matter what you believe. What should concern you is helping Nick." He walked over to where Crane was still sprawled out and helped him up. "Get ready for your next task Nick." was his final warning before he and Crane walked away.
