Author: Nicksfriend

Rating:k

Spoilers: Stalker. It drives me crazy when they do something to our sweet Texan and then they allow no resolution. Drives me crazy!

Disclaimer: They do not belong to me...that is for sure.

Author's note:This is my third CSI fic. Please be gentle.

I love this episode and it is the epi that got me hooked as a CSI addict.

Nick took this moment to awaken, his eyes still heavy. He managed to take in the sounds around him and he knew that he was in a bad situation, the crazy bitch had a new player, He was able to glance down to his feet and there he saw the man who had taken him from the hospital room, lying dead. Well, with that big of a hole in one's head dead is the only thing he could be.

He listened as the male voice spoke of using another bomb, 'had he used one earlier?' He thought to himself as he continued to assess the situation.

"Daddy, we need to hurry." as she pushed herself forward to see what her father had in the box." We need to get Nicky home."

That statement gave him shivers and he knew that he had to think, how could he get out of this situation without anybody else getting hurt?

Nick took the opportunity to look over to the side of the road, an embankment and on the other, asphalt. He looked forward and noticed the cop cars and then he could see in the rear view mirror, more cop cars, okay, it was time to act. He reached down and quietly undid the seatbelt that was holding him tightly in position and placed his right hand on the door handle,"I hope he don't have the child lock on', he thought to himself but the handle lifted and the door opened, he quickly threw himself out of the vehicle, hitting the hard asphalt stunned him for a second then he started rolling until rolled down the embankment.

Janet noticed that her Nicky was gone and started to go out the door after him but her father grabbed her, "Let him go Janet!" He then pushed the car into drive and took off with metal hitting asphalt, driving towards the police cars.

An order to fire on the vehicle came across the officer's radio and they did, within seconds the suburban exploded, fire and asphalt everywhere along the interstate highway.

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Brass felt nervous but he kept his cool, no more mistakes, no more underestimating the crazy duo, he was not going to lose Nick. He would not lose any more cops. Suddenly he saw the back seat door open and a man with a gown rolled out, it was Nick and he kept rolling away from the vehicle down the steep embankment.

Brass saw the opportunity to end the standoff and when he saw the vehicle start towards his officers he gave the order,"Fire on the vehicle, Stokes is clear!"

The vehicle exploded with a mighty force, metal, glass and asphalt and fire were now littering the interstate.

Brass radioed for fire assistance and ran towards the embankment where Nicky had rolled. Sara, Warrick and Grissom right behind him.

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They watched as the vehicle started to move, someone had jumped out, it was Nick and he rolled down an embankment, out of the way so that Brass could act, Grissom smiled, "Way to go Nicky, always thinking."

Warrick wanted to take off after his friend but knew that he had to wait for an all clear when suddenly he heard Brass on the cell phone give orders to take out the vehicle, an explosion that rocked the ground where he stood, was now throwing glass, metal and asphalt in all directions, missing him and the team of officers, their distance giving them safety.

Grissom and Warrick simultaneously saw Brass take off in a dead run for the embankment, they took off behind them, Sara abandoned her car and followed.

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"Nicky!" Brass shouted as he looked down and saw nothing. His officers coming to his assistance.

"I saw him roll down here, we need to get medic." he ordered as he started making his way down the slope, careful not to fall himself.

Warrick was soon by his side as was Sara, each taking turns as yelling for their friend.

"Where the hell is he, I saw him exit the car." Brass was getting worried that he might have imagined it but suddenly he saw what they were looking for, "Nick!" he yelled as he approached Nick's still body.

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"Don't move him!" Sara yelled, her thinking was with that big of a fall that he might of reinjured himself.

"I'm fine." He took that moment to roll over, fear and emotion overcoming him. Tears rolled from his eyes.

Brass bent down and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder, "It's good. It's good."

Nick nodded his head and looked up at his friends, Grissom joining them.

"Been one hell of a week." His statement made them smile, he was acting like himself after all that he had been through he seemed to be able to still smile.

Paramedics soon joined him and after assessing his new wounds which was a bruised shoulder and a few asphalt burns they loaded him into the ambulance. Sara would ride with him back to the emergency room at Desert Palm.

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Grissom, Brass,Sara, Catherine and Warrick sat waiting patiently for word on Nick, the doctor was reassessing him and running tests in the emergency room. Catherine rubbed at her stitches, wishing away a throbbing headache.

Gregg had been admitted for observation due to shock. He was sleeping in a room down the hallway, the hospital still considered closed until the garage was secured and the area where the catwalk once was was blocked off and the smoke and soot were cleared from the building.

Warrick's head throbbed from the hard bump with the light in the car earlier. He sit in his chair trying to rub away the pain

Grissom and Brass would need to be seen soon, their cuts and bruises needed a few stitches and some antiseptic cream, probably even an antibiotic.

Dr Grayson walked out into the emergency room waiting area, again to see Mr Stokes friends.

Catherine stood and the others followed suit, "How is Nick?" she asked nervous for her friend.

"I would say he doing better than most of you." Taking in their beat up appearances. "You guys might want to see a doctor too." A little concerned about the cuts and bruises that covered their heads, arms and face.

They all smiled and looked at each other, "We promise we will, as soon as we know that Nick is fine." Grissom responded.

"He is actually doing great physically. His abdominal binder probably kept him from ripping out his stitches or causing any further damage with the cracked ribs, the other cuts and abrasions will heal,and his shoulder is bruised but nothing is broken. He should have a good recovery. I will want to transport him to LV General within the hour."

"LV General? Why can't he stay here?" Catherine asked knowing it would not be a good move for Nick, he needed to be close to his friends.

"Well, we are basically closed and LV General is accepting our patients." Dr Grayson explained.

Brass took this moment to ask the big question that he had been wanting to ask since he arrived,"If we get him a private duty nurse can I take him home?"

The doctor gave him a questioning look,"Are you sure you want that responsibility, it would entail him coming to the hospital at least every other day for check-ups and the nurse would have to be around the clock."

Brass looked at the others, each nodding in agreement,"Yeah, I think together we can manage it."

Dr Grayson nodded, "Okay but tomorrow morning, it's too late tonight but I'll make arrangements with home health." He shook his head at the protective crowd and headed back into the ER.

"Can we see him?" Grissom asked loud enough for the doctor to hear him.

Dr Grayson turned and motioned them all to come back, they followed happily, they wanted to see their friend.

Behind the white curtain lay Nick with intravenous fluids hooked back up and his drains back in place. His eyes were open, he was in deep thought as they entered. He looked up at the group before him and grimaced, "You guys look like hell."

"Still not as bad as you look Nicky." Brass replied.

He nodded, and took in their beaten appearance, their sad faces told a story but he was not ready to go there, he did not know what they knew yet and he was not ready to talk about the ordeal.

"Listen, instead of staying here I have offered to take you home with me Nicky, I will give you your old room back.", he smiled at the man in the bed.

"I don't want to put you out." he responded,hoping that he could just be alone.

"What the matter Stokes, afraid I might bring my cards?" Sara asked jokingly as she came to the head of the bed, reached down and gave him a kiss to the forehead.

"You are wicked Sara Sidle." he blushed again at the sweet gesture of his friend,"But I will win the next game." He chided back their eyes meeting, a smile crossed her face.

"Okay Nicky, I need to get home and clean that bathroom, I think we still have some vomit on the floor." Brass walked towards the door and waved.

Nicky waved back, his attention going towards Catherine and the row of stitches to her forehead,"You okay?" his voice soft and full of regret that she was injured.

"Nicky, I've had bigger cuts shaving my legs." she smiled and repeated the same kind gesture that Sara had given, the kiss more on the cheek this time, again causing him to blush.

He just nodded a thanks to his friend."Thanks." he whispered

She gave him a smile and a small nod of the head, "It's okay Nicky."

Suddenly he realized that someone was missing, "Where's Gregg."The last time he had seen him was right before he passed out.

"Down the hall taking a nap." Warrick responded.

"And that is what you should be doing too Mr Stokes." the nurse taking that moment to interrupt the get together.

They all started to walk away, Grissom lagging behind as Nick waved to his friends.

"Listen Nick, I am sorry." He sat down in the chair beside the stretcher. The nurse seeing that he needed to be alone held a finger, reminding him that he only had a minute to finish up with her patient.

"About not listening, for walking out that day. You were right, it was about you, and Jane Galloway. I should have been listening instead of talking."

Nick shrugged, "It's all over now. She's gone."

Grissom nodded, "She is gone Nick, she can never hurt you again."

Nick smiled and nodded in agreement and closed his eyes, hoping that the nightmares would stay at bay.

Grissom stood and walked quietly out of the room, looking back and taking another look at someone whom he almost lost and hoping that he would never make the same mistake again.

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I might write one more chapter if the feedback comes...everybody needs a little encouragement, otherwise I am off to finish 'In God's Hands'