Chapter Ten:

Encounters.

Grissom's heart shattered as he saw Sara, shaking as the man held her around the neck. He saw Cath and Greg in the chairs but after he realized they were fine he moved his eyes back to Sara. She was holding on to the mans arm with both hands as the man pointed the gun at her fore head.

With his gun still pointed at her temple the man bellowed his warning.

"Drop your guns. Do it now or I'll pull the trigger." He glared at Brass and then turned back to Sara. "I will pull the trigger Sara. I will."

Gil could only watch as his fiance cringed away from the gun, a silent tear rolling down her cheek. She looked up to stare straight into his eyes, apologetic... scared... sad. He couldn't hold back his emotions any more as his breath hitched.

"Drop your guns! Do you want her to die Grissom? What about you Brass? Drop them... Now." The man repeated as he loaded the gun with his back finger.

That did it. Grissom dropped his weapon, letting it fall to the floor. Brass did the same although reluctant.

Meanwhile, Catherine was filled with worry. For Sara, for Gil, Brass, Greg and anyone else who was here. Why was this happening?

But her fears were heightened when she saw Nick run down the stairs. The look on his face was beyond words. She looked him in the eyes, warning him not to do anything stupid.

"Put your gun down Nicky." The man said darkly.

Cath watched as he slowly put it on the ground, stepped back and gave her a wary look.

"Okay, listen up. I might choose not to kill Sara right now, but only if you cooperate. Got it?" Gil and the others gave a slow nod.

"Sit down where you are and don't move. Brass radio your men and tell them to get out. Don't do anything stupid Jim. Or Sara will pay for your mistake."

Brass sat down with Nick and Gil and told his men to get out. There was nothing else he could do.

XXX

Sara was still cold to the bone. Her hands were shaking as they held on to the man's arm. She looked at Grissom's big blue eyes mouthing that it was okay. He seemed to get the message but so did Joe.

"Don't look at him. Don't you dare Sidle. Keep your eyes on the floor understood?" He yelled in her ear.

She nodded and whispered "Mmmhmm." Looking down at the floor. The incident at the mental hospital was happening all over again.

XXX

Sofia couldn't believe her eyes as she looked down the basement stairs on her way out of the house. Gil, Brass and Nick were sitting on the floor with their guns on the 5 feet away from them.

Oh shit. He's got a gun. Or a hostage. Crap. She thought as she made her silent retreat out of the house.

Once outside she looked around briefly looking for any cops. There weren't any so she walked in the other direction as the rest of the CSIs.

Directly ignoring orders, she snuck around the side of the house. She bent down as she slowly looked into the basement window.

The first thing she could see was Grissom's face. He looked absolutely scared to death. She followed his gaze and she held her breath, not moving.

There in the center of the room, beside Greg and Cath, who were tied to chairs, was a man holding a gun to Sara's head.