Chapter 11

"Grissom?" Greg questioned seeing the confused look on Nick's face.

"Yeah, he told us to get there as soon as we could and hung up." Nick informed Greg.

"Let's go then." Greg grabbed his kit and followed Nick to his car.

"This is going to be a hard scene to process." Nick told Greg with a serious look.

"I know, of course it will be, I mean, Catherine and Sara are the victims and they're two of our good friends, but at least they're alive right?" Greg pointed out.

"Yeah." Nick nodded glad Greg was staying on the positive side of things. But really, he didn't know what they should be prepared for. Warrick sounded pretty out of it as did Grissom, how much damage did Ryan Whittle cause and where the hell was he?

"I guess no matter how hard it is, we just keep telling ourselves they're alive, and we have to concentrate because that's the only way we're going to make him pay, and we will make him pay." Greg continued, very aggressively accenting the last few words of the sentence. Nick knew Greg was just as furious as he was, but he sure knew how to handle the anger. He figured neither Greg's nor his anger compare to what Warrick and Grissom were experiencing. Deny it if they must, but everyone could tell that Grissom was completely in love with Sara, Warrick likewise Catherine. "So Warrick and Grissom are taking it pretty hard?" Greg more or less stated.

"Yeah, but you know they're in love with those girls in a more than friendly way." Nick shook his head.

"They're just too ignorant to admit it." Greg finished the thought.

"Exactly, but maybe after this, they'll realize that life's too short and they have to tell those girls how they feel." Nick adopted Greg's hopeful thinking.

"Yeah, maybe." Greg shrugged as they pulled up to the scene. There were police cars everywhere, they saw Brass giving out orders, but couldn't make out Grissom or Warrick amidst the mess. They got out of the car and walked towards the scene. First dodging reporters and their questions then police officers until they made it to the hole. They descended and the sight knocked the wind right out of Nick, evidently doing the same to Greg as he could see out of the corner of his eye. There was blood everywhere, large amounts of it too.

"How… they're…" Greg stuttered.

"Lots of blood, I know." Grissom nodded calmly from a dark corner, making both Nick and Greg jump. "Sorry." He shrugged, standing up and walking towards them. Nick shook his head. Grissom looked fine now, completely under control. Did this really not affect him at all?

"But they're okay right?" Greg needed confirmation after seeing all the blood loss.

"Got to them just in time." Grissom nodded.

"Lucky." Nick added in. Grissom and Greg nodded they're agreement.

"They gave us quite the scare." Grissom stated before getting back to work. Nick and Greg grabbed their kits and started taking samples of the blood.

"Who's going to collect evidence off the girls?" Greg asked after minutes of silent work.

"Catherine's in surgery, Sara will be going in the morning." Grissom told them. "Someone should go get evidence from Sara before she has her surgery, I don't know if she'll be awake or not, I haven't heard anything on her condition. We can get whatever evidence, if any, is left off of Catherine in the morning."

"Where's Warrick?" Nick asked, hoping if Grissom wasn't going to admit he was in love with Sara, or admit he cared about this more than any other job, at least Warrick would.

"Couldn't tell you." Grissom shrugged. Nick and Greg exchanged glances of mixed emotions. Confusion, doubt, and anger. Not only were they angrier than hell with Ryan Whittle, but they were also angry with Grissom for pretending not to care, Why did he have to be such a jerk about his feelings?

"I'm gonna call him and see where he's at…" Nick mumbled before climbing out of the hole.

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Warrick got out of his car and walked up Catherine's driveway. He hadn't even made it onto the porch by the time Lindsay was in his arms. Her eyes were red and puffy and he could tell she'd been crying almost the entire time her mother had been missing. He held her tightly to let her know everything would be okay, and soon, tears were escaping his eyes as well. They stood there, Lindsay wrapped up in Warrick's arms, crying into his shoulder, and Warrick letting tears fall into Lindsay's hair, for a few minutes before they silently got into Warrick's car. The peaceful silence was broken by the ringing of Warrick's cell phone.

"Yeah," He answered.

"Hey Warrick, its Nick." Nick's voice filled his ear, "I was just wondering where you were…"

"Oh sorry…" Warrick started, "Lindsay and I are on our way to the hospital. We want to be there when Cath wakes up."

"Sure." Nick understood and was silently cheering in his head. Warrick was finally acting on his feelings, now if only Grissom would… "We've got everything under control, but would you mind getting evidence off Sara when you're there? That way we can stay here…"

"Sure, see you." Warrick nodded before shutting the phone. "You know Lindsay," He started. He needed to prepare her for what she'd see when she saw her Mom. "You're Mom got hurt pretty bad, and she's in surgery now, and she'll be fine, but she won't look like she normally does, okay sweetie?"

"I know." Lindsay nodded. She knew Warrick was just looking out for her, but she knew what to except. Her mom would have wires and wouldn't look like herself at all. "She just needs us to be there for her, we just need to let her know we love her."

"Yeah, we just need to let her know we love her." Warrick repeated with a smile. He was planning to do just that.

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"Warrick has Lindsay; they're on their way to the hospital now. He's going to get what he can from Sara." Nick told Grissom and Greg when he returned from his call.

"I didn't even think of that." Grissom mentally kicked himself. How had he been so selfish thinking about how only he felt? How could he have forgotten about Lindsay? She was probably worried sick about her mother, she could have become parentless today for god sakes! He needed to get to that hospital; he wasn't getting any work done really anyways. He had said the words out loud, but he had to tell her how he felt, and soon. "I'm going to the hospital." Grissom announced before heading off. Nick and Greg exchanged glances again. Grissom was acting very strange. First, Warrick tells them that Grissom's pretty upset, then they get here, and he's perfectly unfazed and fine, and now he's running to the hospital?

"Let's just hope everything works out in the end." Nick shrugged as they continued to collect the evidence.

"Well, Ryan Whittle was definitely not a newbie to this." Greg observed. "He hardly left any evidence…"

"Except what he left purposely. He's so certain we'll never catch him he left us a confession on tape."

"Talk about conceded." Greg rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, well let's burst his bubble." Nick shook his head.

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"We're here to see Catherine Willows." Warrick told the receptionist.

"Yes, she's in surgery right now." The receptionist told them knowingly.

"I know." Warrick nodded, trying his best not to get frustrated, "But which waiting room should we go to?"

"Oh, let me see…" The woman started to think. 'Great, we got the slowest receptionist known to man.' Warrick thought. "Here I'll show you." She finally came up with an idea. She got out of her chair, and led Warrick and Lindsay down hallways and through doors until they reached a tiny waiting room. They looked around figuring they'd be getting all to familiar with this space in the next day or so. It was white like most hospitals, with two navy blue strips lining the walls. It had that oh so pleasant hospital smell, several navy blue chairs and a couch, plus two vending machines. A small table with a stack of very boring magazines sat against one wall. Warrick and Lindsay made themselves comfortable.

"I was really scared, you know?" Lindsay whispered to Warrick. They had settled on the couch. Warrick was leaning against the arm and Lindsay was leaning against Warrick.

"Yeah, me too." Warrick nodded. He was glad Lindsay felt comfortable with him and would so easily tell him things.

"I don't know what would have happened to me if she wouldn't have made it." Lindsay continued, tears now sliding down her cheeks.

"Its okay, it's okay." Warrick tried to calm her down. "She made it, she'll be fine. Nothing's going to happen to you, alright? You know that we wouldn't let anything happen to you ever."

"Okay." Lindsay sniffled. "When will Mom be out of surgery?"

"I'm not sure, it depends." Warrick answered.

"On what?" Warrick had to keep from chuckling. Lindsay was so curious, so innocent.

"Well, just how smoothly everything goes, and the extent of her injuries." Warrick explained. "Just try and get some rest." He felt Lindsay nod against his shoulder, and listened as her breathing regulated into a sleeping pattern. He was completely lost in thought, and before long, he fell asleep as well.

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After Grissom finally got the receptionist to show him where Warrick and Lindsay were waiting and she led him down through the halls, getting lost on more than one occasion he shook his head at the sight he saw. Both Lindsay and Warrick were sound asleep, Lindsay using Warrick as a pillow, and Warrick had his arm around Lindsay. If he hadn't known them, he would not have had a second thought about labeling them father and daughter. He knew it would make Catherine happier than anything to see this, and was glad he had brought his kit, just in case there was a chance Warrick forgot in the heat of the moment, or was too busy with Lindsay, or just hadn't got around to collecting evidence from Sara yet. He pulled out the camera and snapped a few pictures. Luckily, the flash didn't wake either of the two sleepers up, and he decided to go looking for Sara. He went up an elevator so he wouldn't have to go back to the receptionist on that floor to get directions to Sara's room.

"Excuse me, miss?" He asked one of the nurses.

"How can I help you?" She asked with a friendly smile.

"I'm looking for a Sara Sidle?"

"Ms. Sidle isn't allowed any visitors at this time sir, I'm sorry." The nurse looked like she sincerely meant it. Luckily, he had a badge which did come in useful at times like these.

"I'm with the crime lab." He smiled, showing her his proof.

"Oh, sorry Mr. Grissom, right this way." Her smile showed a bit of embarrassment now.

"Alright, thanks." He nodded at the woman as she walked away. He looked in the window. She was still unconscious, but she looked a bit better if you ignored the wires going in and out of her body in various places. A bit of her usual colour had been restored to her face and she looked less limp, but that could be because she was in the hospital bed… He pushed open the door and went inside. He didn't think he'd get much evidence off of her really, her clothes, yes, but she didn't have her clothes with her, obviously. "Hey Sara, you had me really worried there for a while, you know?" He told her with a smile. "I have to admit… after I heard that tape, I began having my doubts, but I shouldn't have. You and Catherine are the two strongest women I've ever met, you know that?" He let a small chuckle escape his lips. "Oh, and by the way, I loved your poem." He saw her move the slightest bit and he grabbed onto her hand. "Sara? Honey, wake up!" He whispered to her. She moved her head, and he knew he should call the doctor, but he needed to talk to her first. "Sara?"

"Grissom?" She asked, her voice a cracked whisper.

"It's okay honey, it's all over now." He told her, embracing her in a hug before putting a finger over her lips to tell her not to try talking again and going to get the doctor.

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A/N: Not so much cliff hangers anymore, but there's still some excitement I hope! How does everyone like it? Review and tell me, please! I thrive on feedback haha lots of positive feedback means faster updates, but right now, I should get off to bed, school tomorrow, ugh! But, last week of school before summer holidays, and by the way, I am either just going to keep going through here in this story, or writing a sequel, is there one you prefer? I guess there isn't much difference, haha anyone have any opinions on whether or not I should just go PART TWO: or start a whole new story? Haha, k, Ttyl. BTW, Part two is going to be happy and Christmassy! Is anyone even interested in that?