Chapter 9

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"Hey, Nick where'd you get that nice shiner?" Sara asked as they each stepped out of their cars and walked to the crime scene. It was about a couple miles down the road, but the Denali's couldn't go any farther. Brass, Catherine, and Grissom were a little ways ahead of them along with a dozen other patrolmen. Nick had a really bad feeling though, like this whole thing was a trap, but he stayed quiet…for now.

He smirked at Sara before looking forward once again. "Greg."

"What? He punched you?"

"He didn't mean it; I think I just startled him and he's been so used to trying to defend himself so…"

"Yeah, I couldn't blame him. When I get my hands on Conrad, he's going to wish he was dead."

"I'm with you on that one, Sara," Nick said, prodding his cheek and grimacing. "But I must say…G has a killer right hook."

Sara chuckled and Nick joined in. In a matter of time they reached the crime scene, but…there was none. There was no "older brother," no cars, no nothing; Nick was going to guess that this was a… suddenly his phone began ringing and he flipped it open in fear when he saw the caller was Greg.

"Greg?" No response. Only the sound of crinkling sheets sounded through the speaker. Maybe he misdialed…no something else was wrong. He motioned for his teammates to come over and he turned the volume up. That's when they heard it…the voice.

"Hello, Gregory; it's nice to see you again."

"Shit…this was a goddamn trap!" Nick shouted as he ran back towards the car. Conrad had Greg, Conrad had Greg, Conrad had Greg…again! That was all he could think of. This couldn't be happening; how could he be so goddamn stupid? He jumped into his car and veered into drive, not even having to look twice to see if his teammates were following in their own vehicles.

"We're coming, G, I'm not gonna let him take you again…I promise."

~+CSI+~

"Well, Greg, I must say I didn't think you'd actually escape."

Greg inhaled; he had to be brave. "Guess you underestimated me then."

"I guess I did…not going to make that mistake again, though."

Greg heaved a sigh while flicking his gaze around to see if there was anything he could use for a weapon. His luck had run out though when he escaped and lived; there was nothing he could use to defend himself. He just hoped Nick was on his way back.

"What do you say Greg, how about we go finish our little game? Because no matter what the outcome was, you were going to be killed. I was going to murder you no matter what."

"You'll never get away with this, you know that?" Greg growled, shifting on the mattress.

"Maybe, maybe not. You never know in this crap town. Tons of drug dealers, murderers, rapists and other criminals get away with shit; maybe I'll be one of those guys."

"Ha! I doubt that. When my team finds you, your own mom wouldn't be able to recognize you."

"Is that so? But don't you mean if?"

"Huh?"

"Don't you mean if your team finds you? I pretty good at hiding my tracks. The only reason those pigs found my original hideout was because of you. Maybe if I'd have killed you earlier, we wouldn't be in this situation. But anyways, enough chitchat, time to get down to business. Now," Conrad reached behind his back and started pulling something out.

Greg had a feeling of exactly what it was going to be. The next thing he knew, a gun was pointing straight at his forehead. His breathing intensified and his fear was climbing. Come on, Nick, where are you?

"If you'll come with me, we can get on our way, sound good?"

"No."

"No? Well, I'm afraid it's not much of a choice. If you don't come with me right now, I'll splatter your brains all over the wall."

Greg swallowed nervously; Conrad was right, there wasn't a choice. Well, he was going to die either way so…

He slid out of bed, his casted leg the only thing that was keeping him from collapsing, before he started limping over to Conrad. At the last minute, he grabbed an empty bedpan and tried to strike the man with it. Unexpectedly, Conrad grabbed his wrist and twisted it around his back while wrapping Greg in a chokehold.

"Ah!" Greg gasped, struggling to get out of the tight grip.

"That wasn't a really a smart move, was it Greggo?" He heard Conrad say. He felt the man released his arm from his back and place the muzzle of the gun on his temple.

"Now, we are going to walk out of here very slowly; any funny business…well, you'll know what'll happen. Understand?"

Greg didn't answer, feeling his body shake in pain and tears make their way down his face. When he heard the gun cock, he flinched and whimpered.

"Do. You. Understand?"

"Yes, yes, I understand. P-Please get that thing away from me!"

"No can do, Greggo; you might make a run for it, I gotta take precaution. Now, move."

Conrad began forcing Greg out of the room, the gun trained to his head and the tight arm around his neck. He couldn't breathe and it was bringing back unwanted memories. The strangling, the tricking, the blood, Katie's open, accusing eyes.

"You promised me; you promised that I would get out alive. You lied!"

Greg gasped as he shook his head to get back into reality.

"Nobody move!" shouted Conrad. "If anyone tries to play hero, I'll shoot you in the head! Now get down on the ground!"

Greg watched as the frightened nurses and doctors lowered themselves to the floor without hesitation. He also noticed the dead guard on the floor, an oozing bullet hole in his forehead. Oh god, what's his family gonna do? He's dead because of me! It's my fault!

He was snapped out of his guilt-ridden thoughts when a voice rang through his ears…a familiar Texan voice. Nick! He looked up and saw Nick pointing a gun at him; no, he was pointing it at Conrad…right?

"Let him go!" Nick shouted angrily. He, the rest of the team and a bunch of other police officers had burst through the hospital doors only to find all the medical staff shivering on the ground while Conrad had Greg by the neck with a gun to his head. Dammit, G!

"Let. Him. Go," he growled in a more firm voice.

"Or else what? You can't kill me; not with buddy, buddy here shielding me. You don't want to hit him, now do you?"

Nick looked straight into Greg's brown eyes, instantly seeing the fear and discomfort flashing through them. He was gasping for air, trying to pry off the constricting arm that was holding him.

"You're choking him!"

"Am I now?" He whispered as he looked down at Greg. "Oh, I'm sorry, Greggo."

"Don't call him that you son of a bitch."

"But I like that name, don't you?"

"Not any more, I don't; now just, please, let him go."

"How about…no; I'm not finished with him."

Nick steadied his gun at Conrad, desperately wanting to shoot the bastard but afraid he'd hit Greg instead. He'd never forgive himself if he killed his best friend. He was getting angrier, though; Greg was fighting to stay conscious and now, Nick just noticed, blood was seeping through the kid's gown. His stitches had been ripped.

"Now, if you pigs don't mind, me and Gregory have some unfinished business to attend to; and if you don't put the damn guns down I will blow his brains out."

Nick was hesitant, but didn't want to risk anything, so he motioned for every to drop their guns before he did the same. He watched as Greg's eyes closed…almost in disappointment. God Greg, I am so sorry. Conrad began pushing Greg closer to the door, watching everyone's every move.

"If anyone tries to follow me, to stop me or tries to shoot me, Greg here is a dead man." With that Conrad maneuvered over to the door and before leaving, he turned around and grinned.

"Nice knowing you all and cherish this moment; this'll be the last time you see Greg Sanders alive."

Nick ground his teeth in seething anger as he watched Greg and Conrad disappear in the elevator. He wanted so badly to run after them, because, frankly, he didn't want to lose his best friend again, he didn't even think he could go through that. And it wouldn't, because he wasn't gonna let it happen; he promised Greg and he planned on keeping that promise.

~+CSI+~

"Please, just let me go," Greg wheezed. He wasn't feeling good at all; he could feel warm trickling down his stomach and he could barely keep his eyes open. He was no longer walking on his own, but Conrad was nearly dragging him out.

"No can do, Greggo. You checked out a bit too early and I wasn't quite done with you." Conrad tightened his grip on Greg's neck as he pushed him towards a car. Little did he know it was Nick's Denali. He smashed the window with his gun and unlocked the door. Just as he shoved Greg into the back, he brought the butt of the gun down on Greg's temple.

"That'll shut you up for a while," Conrad growled as he slammed the door and ran around to the front to hotwire the car. He was going to get away this time and Greg Sanders' body was going to be the only thing the police found. In a couple seconds, Conrad sped away just as Nick and the rest of the team burst through the doors.

"Dammit!" Nick shouted as he punched the concrete wall. He didn't even notice the pain, because he was already hurting. His brother was gone again and…wait, was that his car Conrad stole? It was; he smiled in elation as he told Brass to cancel the BOLO.

"Why?"

"That was my car the idiot stole; we all have tracking devices installed so I'll just call Archie to get a trace."

Now everyone was filled with hope; they had a huge chance of getting Greg back alive. They just needed to be quick in case Conrad decided to go crazy…he kinda already was though.

~+CSI+~

"Come on Greg, wakey, wakey."

The CSI groaned weakly as he opened his eyes; the pain was immediate as the bright sunlight pierced his head. Guess I can count on having another concussion.

"W-What's going on? Where am I?"

"Well, you're in the place that I call home, Greg. This is my father's lake house; you like?"

"Not really," Greg coughed. The place was dust filled and it was constricting his damaged lungs.

Conrad scowled and backhanded Greg across his face. "Too bad, this is the last place you're gonna see sunlight, kid."

When Greg's vision focused, he found that he was tied to a chair in a rundown cabin. Great, another crappy place in the middle of nowhere.

"Anyways, it's time to end this." With that, Conrad pulled out a rag and shoved it into Greg's mouth. And when he pulled out knife from his weapons cupboard, all he could hear were the kid's panicked muffled screams; it was music to his ears.

"This is going to be so much fun."

~+CSI+~

"Archie, get a location yet?" Nick said anxiously as he and Grissom drove around town.

"Not yet, Nick but…oh, here we are."

Nick's heart sped up, wishing Archie could hurry; Greg's life was on the line.

"The car stopped a little ways past Temple Bar Airport. If I just zoom in a bit….aha! There's a small structure next to Lake Mead and-"

"That's where he has to be. Thanks Archie," Nick snapped his phone shut and faced Grissom.

"Lake Mead near Temple Bar."

Grissom nodded and pressed on the gas. It was time to get their crazy lab rat back home.

~+CSI+~

Greg whimpered in pain as the knife sliced through his skin for the hundredth time. He was losing consciousness, but he didn't want to pass out; he was scared that he wouldn't wake up ever again.

"Don't worry you'll be dead soon; I just want to make you suffer first," Conrad smiled as he cut another part of Greg's skin.

Greg squeezed his eyes shut as tears ran down his pale cheeks. Please, Nick hurry up and find me. I don't know if I can go through this again. He shivered when blood ran down his arm and puddled onto the floor. If Conrad didn't stop he was going to die from loss of blood.

"Don't cry Greggo, it'll be okay," Conrad said in a gravelly voice, stroking the man's hair.

Greg shied away from the touch, but he didn't get far. He was tied to a chair for god sake! His breathing hitched when the blade slid across his chest, ripped through the gown fabric and pierced his skin, blood instantly pouring from the fresh wound. His chest heaved up and down frantically as the pain grew. He was going to die; he couldn't believe he escaped only to die. Images of his friends and his mom passed through his mind. I'm so sorry, mom, this is my fault. I should've stayed in the lab.

"Well," a voice said, causing him to jump in surprise. "It's been real fun with you, Gregory, but I'm afraid your time's up."

More tears fell out of Greg's eyes, knowing that this was the end. He was never going to see his friends again, never going to be a level 3 CSI. He failed…he was a complete failure.

Suddenly, he felt the binds around his wrist loosen and, for a moment, he thought he might've blacked out and Conrad had been killed by police during that time. But it wasn't.

"Oh, did you think I was going to stab you? God no, that would leave too much of a mess. You see, we have an advantage here that we didn't have back at the barn. Do you know what that is?"

Greg remained silent, looking into the cold eyes of Patrick Conrad.

"No? Well, I guess I never showed you, but," Conrad lifted Greg off the chair, taking out the gag, making sure to keep the knife at the kid's neck and pushed him towards the window. "Water, Greg; we got water this time. And now if you'll come with me-"

Conrad stopped as he heard something; a door slam. No one should be here, this place was secluded, who could possibly…those pigs. Shit!

"Looks like your little police buddies are here, Greggo. Too bad they're a bit late." Conrad opened the back door just as someone shouted.

"Greg!"

"Nick, he-!" Greg managed to get out before Conrad slapped a hand against his mouth.

"Shut. Up. And move."

Greg tried to slow Conrad down, struggling against his hold, but he was still too weak and the cast on his leg was heavy. As they got closer and closer to the water, he began panicking; if Nick didn't get a move on, he'd be meeting a watery grave.

~+CSI+~

Nick called out for Greg and he was very surprised when he heard a response.

"Nick, he-!" It sounded like it was coming from inside the house.

He and everyone else bolted inside, hoping to find Greg somewhere, but all the rooms were clear. He swore he heard Greg's voice, but maybe he was just imagining things. Nick shook his head in frustration as he looked out the window. His eyes grew wide when he saw the scene in front of him.

"Oh, no," he whispered, pulling out his gun and bursting through the door.

Grissom frowned at Nick's sudden outburst, but when he looked outside, he knew the reason why. He, too, pulled out his gun and followed the CSI out to the back. When he got closer to the lake, the splashes and the screams grew louder; Greg was being drowned.

~+CSI+~

When his body met water, he was a bit surprised; he didn't think it'd be so cold. And then Conrad dunked his head. He barely had time to inhale before he was put under. Sharp ice water entered his lungs, but as weak as he felt, he pushed himself out of the water and tried taking in oxygen. Conrad was too quick for him though; the man roughly grabbed his hair and held him underneath. His limbs flailed as his lungs begged for air, but he knew they weren't going to get any. In a matter of seconds, he felt his body weaken, black spots appearing in his vision and his motions become sluggish. He was dying, Conrad won and he lost. His last thought was his family- both his real and work family. He hoped they could get by without him. Goodbye.

~+CSI+~

Nick almost froze when the splashing stopped and the water was still once again. No, no, no, no.

"Greg!" Without blinking, he shot five rounds off at Conrad. The man's body danced as the bullets penetrated his chest, blood spurting from each of the wounds. The man's body fell back into the water and didn't move anymore. Patrick Conrad was dead. But at that moment, Nick didn't care; he threw his gun to the ground and raced into the lake towards Greg's body.

The kid's body was floating on the surface unmoving and silent. God he'd kill himself if his best friend was dead. He grabbed the fabric of Greg's soaked gown and pulled the limp form to his chest. What he saw was heartbreaking; Greg's face was stark white, his eyes closed and a sickening blue tint on his lips. He leaned down, praying to hear a breath, but of course, there wasn't.

"Come on, man, don't do this to me… I need an ambulance, now!" Nick frantically waded out of the water, holding Greg bridal style until he reached shore. Gently, he laid him flat and put his ear to Greg's chest and a finger on his neck. Nothing; no pulse, no breathing, no anything.

"Greg, come on man, stay with me! Don't give up, buddy!" He began the basic procedure of CPR, placing two hands on top of Greg's immobile chest and starting the compressions.

"Come on, man, please don't do this," he cried and he was pretty sure the wetness on his face wasn't just the water. He moved to Greg's mouth, tilted the kid's head back and pinched his nose as he covered Greg's mouth. "Don't die on me, Greg, don't die! Greg!"

TBC

Mwahahahahaha! Sorry for the cliff hanger :) I know I'm evil. A couple chapters left so stay tuned. Next chapter will be up either Wednesday or Thursday. Reviews!