Two Days Later (February 16)

The Everglades, Florida

A cold breeze brushed across Calleigh's face, prompting her to wake and realize that she was lying in a bed while a note sat on the bedside table. Pain shot through her body and face as she slowly sat up, gazed around at the dusty furniture, and then focused her attention on the scraggly writing.

Calleigh,

Derek didn't hurt you, but the other goons thought roughing you up would be amusing to do before they all left. I'm sorry that I couldn't help you, but I just couldn't. By the time you read this, we'll be long gone.

Warrick

Swallowing hard, Calleigh felt her pockets and was surprised to find that her phone was still in her pocket, "Please let it be on," she said in a weak, anxious voice, her hand shaking as she got it out.

Seeing that the phone still had a charge, Calleigh dialed 9-1-1 and tried to block out the pain that was shooting through her battered body and face, "I…I need help," she said softly as Dispatch answered.

Angel of Mercy Hospital – New York

"She's grown, but doesn't look very healthy," Catherine spoke in an anxious voice as she, Rick, and Lenny lingered outside of the room where Lindsey was asleep in bed. "I wonder what…"

Rick sighed, "We are going to let Detective Emily Speedle talk to Lindsey when we return to Miami because she has training in psychology and we don't," he replied calmly. "Are you ready to see her?"

"I can't believe Grissom took off back to Vegas yesterday," Catherine replied anxiously. "He…"

Lenny gave his mother a worried look and Catherine sighed, "I think you had better wait out here with Lenny and I will go see Lindsey first," Rick spoke firmly. "Your anxiety will only make things harder."

Catherine scowled, but Rick silently went into the room and sat in a chair beside the bed, "Hey there, little princess, how are you?" Rick asked gently, not touching Lindsey because she might get scared.

Lindsey stirred, opened her eyes, and smiled when she saw her father, "Daddy!" she whispered, wincing as she reached for him because it put a strain on her healing ribs. "I knew you would come to get me!."

Quickly seeing that Lindsey was hurting from straining, Rick sat on the bed and put an arm around her, "Try not to strain your injuries," Rick spoke softly, smiling when Lindsey cuddled close to him. "Your mom and Lenny are here too; do you want me to tell them to come in here and say hello?"

Nodding, Lindsey watched as Catherine and Lenny came in, "Lindsey!" Lenny said in an excited voice.

Catherine, however, smiled and sat in the chair beside the bed, her eyes glistening with tears as she stared at the daughter she hadn't seen in years and had given up on ever seeing alive again.

Miami, Florida

"This is a nice place," Horatio commented as he stood in the front foyer of the community center and family restaurant in Calle Ocho that Emily had created out of Club Cruz. "Very nice indoor playground."

Emily nodded, "Families deserve a place they can come and spend time with their kids without worrying about safety," she explained in a tired voice. "Calleigh being carjacked really scared a lot of people."

"The entire department is on alert," Horatio replied quietly. "I know that it frightened your kids."

Emily sighed, "The sound of gunshots did, yes," she said softly. "As if they had heard them before."

"Do you think they might have heard gunshots when Bernard held them hostage?" Horatio asked softly.

Swallowing hard, Emily silently folded her arms and looked at the floor, "Mama, puppy!" she suddenly heard excited voices squeal as the front doors opened. "Look at the cool brown puppy, Mama!"

Emily turned and looked surprised to see Tim come in holding a leash that had a brown puppy wearing a blue collar and sporting curly fur at the other end while James and Julliet walked on either side of him, "It's a therapy puppy," Tim explained at Emily's confused look. "What happened yesterday made my mom realize that the kids need something to make them feel safe and she pulled some strings…"

"What happened yesterday, Speed?" Horatio asked in a worried voice. "Is this why you called in?"

Tim sighed, "Julliet went and hid under the table and ended up having an accident and James ran and hid under the bed," he explained in a wary voice. "They cried for hours and we all tried to help them."

Emily sighed and watched the puppy toddle over to her, "It's a family therapy dog," Tim explained.

Nodding, Emily silently took a seat on a bench in the foyer, "What's it's name?" she asked kindly.

"We dunno yet, Mommy," Julliet spoke softly, petting the puppy. "What should we name it?"

Emily suddenly looked nervous, "Hey, James, Julliet, can you come and give Mommy a hug?" she asked softly, deeply shaken by Horatio's comment about Bernard. "I really missed you guys today."

Always eager to hug their mother, James and Julliet went and sat next to her, smiling as they cuddled close to her, "When is the baby gonna come out?" James asked quietly. "I wanna play with it."

"Oh, James, I know you guys do, but the baby's not gonna come until the summer," Emily replied in a tired voice, grateful for her children. "I think Grandpa and Uncle Tony made lunch for you two."

Suddenly, Horatio's phone went off, "Excuse me," he said anxiously. "I'll take this outside."

As Horatio left, Anthony came out of the kitchen carrying a tray that held paper plates filled with grilled cheese sandwiches and baby carrots, "Are my little grandkids hungry?" he asked in a kind voice.

"Grampa, look at the puppy," James said, ignoring the food. "It's gonna make us feel safe."

Anthony smiled at the puppy, "Is that what Grandma picked for you?" he asked in a kind voice.

Just then, the puppy whimpered, "Oh, he needs to go out," Tim said calmly. "I'll take him."

James looked like he wanted to follow, but Anthony put the food on a table nearby, "Go and eat," Emily spoke in a kind voice. "Papi Speedle, Tommy's at his classes this morning, so that's why he's not here."

Anthony nodded just as Horatio came back inside looking solemn, "Calleigh's alive," Horatio spoke softly as he approached Tim and Emily. "She phoned from a place in the Everglades and she's injured and alone. Eric wanted to respond, but I sent him back to the lab and sent Robert, Natalia, and Jesse."

"Because Delko's too close to her?" Tim asked quietly. "And how he'd react to seeing her hurt?"

Horatio nodded, "Will you let me know when Calleigh is taken to the hospital?" Emily asked softly.

Horatio looked surprised, as he was well aware of the trouble that Calleigh had caused Emily and her family due to her untreated PTSD, "Lieutenant, it is my job as the department psychologist to see to the psychological needs of the department. Officer Duquesne has been through something traumatic…"

Las Vegas, Nevada

The Crime Lab was quiet, as it was early morning and most the shift was out on cases, but Greg was there and silently working on a special welcome-home project for Jenny. He had pulled in a lot of overtime since being back on the payroll, but nobody seemed to mind since he was very skilled.

As Greg worked, Nick came into the break room after being unable to rest at his house and deciding to come in and work on paperwork, "Hey there, Greggo," Nick said in a kind voice. "Top secret project?"

"I can't work on it while Ecklie's here and if I work on it when Hodges or the other techs are here, they'll tell on me," Greg replied in an anxious voice. "Besides, I want it all ready for when Jenny comes back…"

Nick nodded, smiling as he approached and saw that the 'secret project' was an album of times Greg and Jenny had spent time together and it was coming along well, "I know she'll want to go back to Florida once Derek's found, so I thought I'd make her something to remember me by," Greg explained.

"I got a few photos for you while I was In Texas and I thought they could go in your project," Nick offered as he reached into his jacket and got a photo envelope out. "Jenny said you'd like em."

Greg smiled as footsteps echoed down the hallway, "Crap, someone's in early," he said anxiously, quickly packing his supplies into a duffel bag he kept hidden in his locker. "I should get to work."

Quickly stashing the supplies in his locker, Greg followed Nick out to the front to see who was there and both of them were surprised to see Warrick lingering at the desk looking extremely, thin, battered, and mentally out of it, "Warrick, man, what happened?" Nick asked in a concerned voice. "Are you all right?"

Warrick sighed heavily, but didn't say anything and coughed as Diego came into the foyer holding a gun, "What's the hold-up, Brown?" Diego hissed in an accented voice. "Stokes isn't doing that well."

Nick frowned at the mention of his brother, "You catch more flies with honey," Warrick said slowly.

"Oh, come on!" Diego hissed coldly, waving the gun. "I told you to get Nick Stokes and come out!"

Before Warrick could reply, a masked man came in and began firing and Nick swiftly got his firearm out, but Diego quickly disarmed him. Greg responded by bodyslamming Diego into the nearest wall and quickly hitting the crisis alarm that had been installed since the shooting several months ago.

The masked gunman swore and both him and Diego swiftly beat Greg into unconsciousness and ripped the keys from the pocket of his jeans, "You'd better look after your brother or this skinny wimp dies," Diego hissed as Greg was picked up from the floor. "I think we'll take this cargo out to the desert."

Nick and Warrick moved to stop them, but Diego belted Warrick in the stomach hard with his gun, "Tick-tock, Stokes," Diego hissed as he and the masked man dragged Greg out. "Time's slipping by."

Warrick gasped as he slumped to the floor with a hand on his bruised stomach, "It's a surface wound," he finally managed to say. "Your brother…he's sick. That's why I didn't escape when I could have…"

Nick frowned, "They kidnapped Calleigh and left her in some shack," Warrick breathed anxiously.

Warrick cringed as he slowly got to his feet with a hand on his stomach, "Greg's gonna die if you don't deal with your brother," he breathed as he staggered outside with Nick at his heels and gestured to a car with dirty windows that was parked nearby and running. "Derek's sitting in the back with his supplies…"

Nick's eyes widened as Warrick pulled out a gun, "Warrick," he said anxiously. "What are you doing?"

Warrick sighed as sirens could be heard in the distance, "Go," he hissed. "Or you might get hurt."

Stunned that Warrick seemed to be against him, Nick got into the car and Warrick got behind the wheel just as several police cars and CSI Hummers pulled up, having been alerted by the signal to the crisis alarm. Grissom, Sara, Brass, and other lab techs and CSI's watched in horror as Warrick floored it and sped off away from the Crime Lab with Nick as a hostage. What was Warrick doing? Sara wondered.

The Everglades, Florida

"…Calleigh?"

The feel of latex prompted Calleigh, who was sore from being beaten and still groggy from whatever she had been given, to slowly wake and gaze at Natalia before seeing Robert and Jesse in the background along with uniformed police officers and heavily equipped paramedics. "Can…can you sit up?"

Calleigh sighed groggily, wincing as she slowly sat up, "Everywhere hurts," she whispered softly.

Natalia nodded, sighing when Calleigh doubled over in pain, "The paramedics want to look at you," Robert spoke softly as he approached the bed. "They are female, given the situation."

Calleigh nodded, but didn't say anything as the paramedics approached her with supplies and a gurney, "There's…there's something you should know," she spoke shakily. "Derek…he's really, really ill…"

Natalia frowned, but moved so paramedics could help Calleigh, "He had medication and diabetes needles on him," Calleigh managed to say as she was moved to the gurney. "He didn't hurt me…"

It was then that Jesse noticed the note on the bedside table and collected it with a gloved hand, "Looks like that Warrick guy that Ryan was friends with was involved in hurting you," he said in a quiet voice.

Tears filled Calleigh's eyes, "Don't give her anything for pain because it's very obvious that there are drugs already in her system," Robert spoke firmly, gazing at the paramedics. "Just put her on oxygen."

Natalia and Jesse gave Robert surprised looks, but Robert ignored both of them and silently got to work taking pictures of Calleigh's visible injuries and the scene itself. Once he had taken photos of Calleigh's injuries, he spoke softly to the paramedics and then allowed them to take Calleigh out of the room.

"Natalia, Jesse, I think someone should go to the hospital and take photos of the other injuries and get Calleigh's clothing," Robert spoke quietly. "I know I'm the new guy, but I'd rather not be here."

Instead of asking questions or getting angry, Natalia nodded, "Okay," she replied in a gentle voice.

Nodding, Robert silently gathered his CSI kit and left, "He's usually not like that at crime scenes," Jesse commented in a concerned voice. "We're all affected by this, but we have to still do our jobs…"

"I don't think we need to be questioning Detective Caine's ability to do his job right now," Natalia spoke firmly, wondering if seeing Calleigh had triggered memories in Robert. "We're fine with what we have."

Jesse nodded, but his mind was on how the mess reminded him of when his wife was murdered.

Angel of Mercy Hospital – New York, New York

The sight of John asleep in bed prompted Mac to smile as he came into the quiet hospital room and saw that Yelina was also there, "Detective Taylor, hello," Yelina said warmly. "It's very good to see you."

Mac smiled, "Most of the Crime Lab has been by in the last couple of days, but I heard that Detective Flack wasn't allowed?" Yelina asked in a confused voice. "Is he in trouble over what happened?"

"Flack's on leave during the investigation, but nobody ever said he wasn't allowed to visit," Mac replied, deeply concerned about Flack because he had been in hiding since the whole hostage situation.

Yelina nodded, but didn't say anything because she wondered why Flack hadn't come by despite John wondering if he was all right, "Is John up for a discussion?" Mac asked in a quiet, concerned voice.

"John's a bit tired from his visit to Detective Messer earlier, but I think he'd be okay to talk," Yelina replied as she gently nudged John's arm. "John, Detective Taylor is here to speak with you."

John stirred and gazed at Mac tiredly, "Hello, sir," he spoke softly. "How are you doing?"

"I should be asking you that," Mac replied in a kind voice. "You're looking a little better."

John nodded and sighed, choosing not to comment, "Is Detective Flack okay?" he finally asked softly. "I've seen Detective Messer cause he's come to visit, but I haven't seen Detective Flack at all."

Mac suddenly felt concerned, "I'm sure he is," he replied reassuringly, making a mental note to go by Flack's place after he was done at the hospital. "Once you're well enough, the NYPD and the FBI want to talk to you about what happened. It's standard procedure and you do have the right to say no…"

"Sir, talking about things makes them better," John replied quietly. "I'll go ahead with it."

Yelina looked impressed and Mac nodded, "When I get information about when the meetings are happening, I'll be sure to visit you and your parents," Mac said. "I'm sure you'll want them there."

John nodded and sighed, clearly ready for a rest, "The news has been reporting on it a lot," he spoke in a quiet voice. "I haven't seen any reporters here, though, and I'm sure they know I'm here right now."

"Your father threatened to shoot their cameras if they bothered you before you were ready to talk," Yelina explained, a slight hint of amusement in her voice. "Even with cancer, he is still a good shot."

Mac couldn't help but grin and chuckle at that, deeply relieved that John had very good parents.

Calle Ocho – Miami, Florida

Silence greeted Horatio as he stood at Ryan's apartment door, concerned as to why the young CSI wasn't responding to the knocking. He knew Ryan had heard about Calleigh's abduction and hadn't been seen or heard from since. Both Tim and Emily were worried and wanted to go visit him, but Horatio had promised to check things out himself because he too was worried about the slowly recovering Ryan.

Quiet sniffling filled the apartment, followed by sounds of retching and Horatio frowned before trying the doorknob, "Who's there?" he heard a quiet voice ask as there was movement. "Hello?"

Horatio sighed as the door opened and Ryan stood there in sleep pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and messy hair while slippers were on his feet, "Horatio?" Ryan asked groggily. "What are you doing here?"

"Nobody has heard from you since you found out about Calleigh and we are all concerned," Horatio explained in a quiet, concerned voice. "You look as if you haven't slept or eaten in a few days."

Ryan sighed, "I just feel bad that I couldn't help with any information," he replied groggily. "I had detectives and officers over here because they thought I'd know where Calleigh might be and who might have her. I told them I can't remember anything, but they said I was hindering their investigation on purpose because Calleigh wrote negative reports about me. My resignation letter's on my computer."

Horatio frowned, "I don't think a resignation is necessary, but what do you mean you had police over here questioning you about Calleigh?" he asked quietly. "And how come you didn't say anything?"

"Calleigh's missing and it's not about me," Ryan spoke shakily. "I was friends with Warrick and the PD doesn't trust me right now because of that. I don't know who I can ask for help with my anxiety…"

Horatio nodded, frowning as he noticed that Ryan's normally neat apartment was a mess and that Ryan didn't look well, "Mister Wolfe, have you had any chemo sessions recently?" he asked gently.

"Yesterday," Ryan spoke shakily. "Right after Calleigh went missing, cops showed up at my door and asked if I had information because she was missing and I've just been a bit of a mess since then."

Horatio sighed, as he had been informed that police had been over to Ryan's and hadn't agreed with that decision, but he had been overruled, "I'm not feeling up to company," Ryan spoke shakily. "Just tell Tim and Emily that I'm alive and they won't worry. I just need to hide until Calleigh's found…."

"Calleigh was found at a house in the Everglades, Ryan," Horatio spoke quietly. "She is alive."

Ryan frowned, but didn't say anything, "I sent Jesse, Robert, and Natalia out there to process Calleigh and the scene," Horatio spoke quietly. "Since you had chemo yesterday, you should get some rest."

Sighing, Ryan retreated from the doorway and Horatio watched as he sat on a makeshift bed that was on the couch just as his phone went off, "Ryan Wolfe," Ryan said, taking the phone off of the table.

"…Ryan…" Greg's faint voice came through the phone. "I'm…I'm in a trunk somewhere…"

Horatio frowned, "Greg?" Ryan asked in a concerned voice. "You're still in Las Vegas, right?"

"…Some guys threw me in a trunk and Warrick has a gun to Nick," Greg spoke anxiously. "Ryan, please, Warrick said that Derek is sick and I don't know why I was taken, but I was beat up and…oh…no…."

There was cursing, "Oh, ho!" a voice hissed. "He called Ryan Wolfe in Miami, Diego!"

"…Dump him in the desert…" a voice hissed. "We're near a station named Shakey's, I think, so we can fill up on the way out. We'll tear out of here and leave that whiny Derek to the mercy of his brother…."

Ryan's eyes widened as a shot suddenly went off, "HE TOOK OFF WITH THE GUN!" a voice shouted.

There was a soft thump, swearing, and the squealing of tires, "Greg?!" Ryan spoke anxiously.

"…I have to run," Greg's voice spoke breathlessly. "I have a phone and a gun…I'm alone…"

Ryan swallowed hard as he heard footsteps, "Stay on the phone, Greg!" he said anxiously. "Okay?"

Silently horrified over what was happening, Horatio got his cell-phone out and called Las Vegas.

Nevada

"…Warrick, man, what are you doing?" Nick said in an anxious voice as he looked at his friend briefly while driving down a road that was far from the freeway. "Why are you holding me hostage?"

There was faint coughing from the back, "Pull over," Warrick spoke anxiously. "Now."

Deeply confused, Nick pulled over and turned around, shocked when he saw Derek laying in the backseat with his eyes closed and his hands rubbing his pale face, "He's diabetic and bad blood sugar triggers mental illness in him," Warrick spoke quietly. "Those guys saw him as a liability."

"Warrick, you're wanted in two states," Nick pled softly. "Dude, you gotta go turn yourself in."

Warrick frowned, but said nothing, "Where are we?" Nick asked as he silently looked Derek over.

Just then, Derek whimpered and it was then that Nick noticed a bloodstain on Derek's sweatshirt, "I shot him so those guys would let me go," Warrick spoke softly. "It's not a bad wound. The hospital will…"

"Screw you, man," Derek mumbled in a weak voice. "Why don't you just get out and leave me to die?"

Nick frowned, got out of the front seat, and opened the back door, "Let me see," he spoke gently.

"Nicky?" Derek spoke in a groggy, pained voice. "Oh, Nicky, I can't believe they got you too."

Warrick suddenly lunged at Nick, but Nick was ready for him and quickly slammed Warrick into the side of the car, sending his colleague to the ground unconscious, "I'll take you somewhere safe," Nick promised as he closed the door and got back behind the wheel. "Just hang in there, okay Derek?"

"…The cops are gonna shoot me like that guy did," Derek spoke weakly. "I'm so, so sorry…"

Swallowing hard, Nick continued to drive into the unknown, hoping he could get Derek some help.

Angel of Mercy Hospital – Manhattan, New York

"I don't wanna stay in the hospital," Lindsey said in a quiet voice as she sat in bed after being held by both her parents and Lenny. "Daddy said we live in Miami with Uncle Bobby. Is he nice?"

Catherine sighed; she didn't know if Robert would let them live with him and his sons because he was going to be getting married in the spring. She also could feel Lindsey's reluctance to spend more time with her than absolutely necessary, but Lenny had said he was hungry and had wanted Rick to take him to get him and Lindsey some food, "I don't know," she finally replied softly. "It depends on a lot…"

"Can you ask Miss Stella or Mister Carlos when I can go home?" Lindsey asked softly. "Please?"

Catherine looked towards the window and saw that Stella was talking with a dark-haired woman that was dressed like most FBI agents would dress. All of a sudden, Stella came into the hospital room and the dark-haired woman walked off, "How are you doing, Lindsey?" she asked in a kind voice.

"I wanna go home with my family," Lindsey replied quietly. "I don't like being here."

Stella smiled, "When you're allowed to fly, you can go home," she replied gently.

Catherine's phone suddenly went off and she answered it, "Catherine," she said in a calm voice.

"Catherine, some guys took Greg and Nick," Grissom spoke anxiously. "I need you at the lab."

Catherine frowned, "Gil, I'm in New York with Lindsey," she replied firmly. "I can't get there."

"We think that Dennis Sackheim's friends got tired of Derek Stokes and beat him up before they made Nick take care of him, but Warrick made them take off," Grissom spoke solemnly. "The security footage showed Nick and Greg being taken in separate vehicles. I could really use your help out here."

Catherine sighed, "I can't just leave Lindsey, Rick, and Lenny, Gil," she replied firmly. "I can't."

Miami, Florida

Anxious chatter filled the emergency room as doctors and nurses worked on Calleigh in a trauma room while Robert stood in the hallway, silently watching the process. He couldn't help but think back to his own abduction and the kidnapping of his daughter; he could still remember how uncomfortable his 'prison' had been and he wondered if his daughter had gone through something much worse.

Sighing softly, Robert turned away and found himself studying a bulletin board that held different fliers explaining what resources the hospital had. He was particularly interested in a list that outlined the counseling services and knew that he needed to look into individual counseling for himself later.

"Detective Caine, here are Calleigh Duquesne's clothes," a gentle voice suddenly said.

Robert turned and saw a nurse in pink scrubs standing there with a bag containing Calleigh's clothes and personal effects, "Oh, thank you," he replied in a calm voice. "Can you tell me how she is?"

"Miss Duquesne actually wishes to speak with you," the nurse spoke in a quiet voice.

Nodding, Robert followed the nurse into the trauma room and saw that the doctors and nurses seemed to be preparing to move Calleigh, who was on the gurney covered by a gown and blanket, "Hi," Calleigh spoke in a weak voice, gazing at Robert through tired eyes. "I heard you followed me here?"

"Yes, ma'am, I did," Robert replied in a quiet, respectful voice. "How are you feeling?"

Calleigh sighed weakly, "Do you have your kit with you?" she asked in a faint voice.

Robert nodded silently, "You need to take pictures of my injuries while they are still fresh," Calleigh spoke in a weak voice, her eyes filled with sorrow. "One of the nurses collected a rape kit and…"

"I can call another CSI to come do this if you're uncomfortable," Robert spoke in a kind voice.

Calleigh sighed again, "Detective Caine, I don't remember what happened, but I know that I trust you and I'd like you to do it because I know you'll keep your wits," she spoke weakly. "Please, do it for me."

Deeply gratified that Calleigh trusted him, Robert gloved up, opened his kit, and silently went about taking photos of all of her injuries and processing her. When he was finished, he repacked the kit and silently stepped back, "I'm having surgery," Calleigh spoke in a tired voice. "Thank you for doing that."

Robert nodded, "Can you please call my dad and tell Eric I'm okay?" Calleigh spoke, her voice fading.

"Okay, Detective, it's time to go," one of the doctors said. "Calleigh needs surgery."

Nodding, Robert silently took his kit from the room and didn't stop walking until he was behind the wheel of his truck with the kit stored in the backseat. He silently buckled up and began to drive.

Soon enough, Robert was back at the MDPD properties and was shocked to see Eric pacing the hallway near the lab foyer, "How's Calleigh?" Eric asked anxiously. "Horatio wouldn't let me take the call."

"Calleigh told me to tell you that she is okay," Robert replied softly. "She's getting very good care."

Eric scowled, "She was missing for two days," he snapped. "You and I both know that she isn't."

"Eric, I need to log these things into evidence and you need to go do something to calm down," Robert spoke in a fatherly voice that he reserved for when his boys were naughty. "My uncle didn't want you responding to the situation with Calleigh because you would let your emotions get in the way."

Eric paused and nodded, as he knew his colleague was right, "I've got to log this evidence," Robert spoke calmly, shocked that he was reprimanding a superior. "Get a snack from the lounge and take a breath."

Without waiting for a response, Robert carried the evidence to a processing room and silently got to work unpacking and logging it. Once that was done, he laid it out neatly for Tim to process when he came in for his shift, as Tim worked Trace and appreciated when his things were ready for him.

Sighing, Robert silently went to the AV Lab and uploaded the photos he took of Calleigh's injuries; it was still early enough that the techs weren't in yet and the evidence needed to be given top priority.

Tears filled Robert's eyes as the photos uploaded and he couldn't help but have a quiet cry over the memories that the images triggered. He had lost so much and the reminders were never very far away.

Las Vegas, Nevada

"Ryan Wolfe," Ryan said, taking the phone off of the table.

"…Ryan…" Greg's faint voice came through the phone. "I'm…I'm in a trunk somewhere…"

Horatio frowned, "Greg?" Ryan asked in a concerned voice. "You're still in Las Vegas, right?"

"…Some guys threw me in a trunk and Warrick has a gun to Nick," Greg spoke anxiously. "Ryan, please, Warrick said that Derek is sick and I don't know why I was taken, but I was beat up and…oh…no…."

There was cursing, "Oh, ho!" a voice hissed. "He called Ryan Wolfe in Miami, Diego!"

"…Dump him in the desert…" a voice hissed. "We're near a station named Shakey's, I think, so we can fill up on the way out. We'll tear out of here and leave that whiny Derek to the mercy of his brother…."

Ryan's eyes widened as a shot suddenly went off, "HE TOOK OFF WITH THE GUN!" a voice shouted.

There was a soft thump, swearing, and the squealing of tires, "Greg?!" Ryan spoke anxiously.

"…I have to run," Greg's voice spoke breathlessly. "I have a phone and a gun…I'm alone…"

Ryan swallowed hard as he heard footsteps, "Stay on the phone, Greg!" he said anxiously. "Okay?"

Sara frowned and glanced at Grissom, who was silently listening to the recording along with Brass, Sofia, Hodges, Archie, Wendy, and several other techs and CSI's who had been pulled into work, "That's all we were able to get," Horatio's voice came over Grissom's speaker. "Ryan hasn't gotten off the phone."

"Shakey's is a fair jump from here," Brass mused softly. "If they took Greg there and there was a shot…"

Sara sighed heavily, her hands resting on her large stomach, "They might take Greg's hearing aids just to put him at a disadvantage," she spoke softly just as Ecklie came into the room. "If Greg is there…"

"There is a warrant out for Warrick Brown's arrest as of now," Ecklie snapped. "If he's found, he is to be arrested, processed, and treated as a suspect. I saw what the outside camera's recorded, Gil."

Grissom nodded, his expression grim, "Is Catherine coming?" Ecklie asked in a stern voice.

"She, Rick, and Lenny are up in New York with Lindsey," Grissom replied in a worried voice.

Ecklie sighed, but nodded, "Greg called Ryan Wolfe for help," Grissom continued anxiously.

"I honestly can't remember anyone named Diego or anyone else, H," Ryan's voice spoke softly.

Ecklie frowned and everyone else in the office went quiet, all of them quickly remembering that Ryan had suffered permanent damage at the hands of those who now had Greg, "I'd like to talk to Ryan privately for a moment, if I may," Sofia spoke up softly, feeling bad that Ryan felt guilty over Greg.

"Sara, I'm going out to the part of the desert that's near Shakey's station," Grissom spoke as the group left the office to let Sofia talk to Ryan privately. "I want you to stay here and see if you can find out where Nick and Derek might be going with the footage we have. It's not much, but can you try?"

Sara nodded, too shaken by the audio of Greg pleading for help to offer any sort of reply.

The sight of a seedy looking motel, a tiny service station, and a large store that had food and a pharmacy prompted Nick to feel slight relief. He and Derek were in the middle of nowhere and it wasn't ideal, but he knew that Derek needed help and didn't fully trust that Warrick or the LVPD would treat him fairly.

"Nicky…" Derek spoke from the backseat in a weak voice. "Nicky…please…I'm so sick…please."

Nick sighed as he pulled up to the motel and made sure Derek was comfortable before he turned the car off and went inside. There was a wiry man at the desk watching a small TV while writing in a ledger who looked up at him, deeply confused, "Whaddya want?" he asked in a thick accent. "A room?"

"Your best room," Nick replied as he pulled out a wad of cash. "I also want some privacy."

The man grinned and chuckled impishly, but pushed a book towards Nick, "Sign here," he said.

Not wanting to give himself or Derek away to a person he didn't know or trust, Nick signed himself in as Nicolas Parker, "Room 15," the man said, handing Nick a key. "We don't serve breakfast, you know."

Shrugging, Nick silently left the office and returned to the car, quickly moving it to Room 15, "Insulin," Derek spoke in a weak voice, struggling to wake up. "Nicky, please, if you're not killing me…I need it."

Nick frowned, quickly realizing that Derek was diabetic and had probably stolen things to buy medicine for himself, "I got us a room and I want you to rest in bed while I get it," he said gently. "Okay?"

Derek mumbled incoherently as Nick helped him out of the car and got them both into the hotel room, "Take the bed closest to the bathroom," Nick said gently, helping Derek into bed. "Just relax for me."

Anxious to help now that he knew how to help, Nick hurried outside and emptied the car of all the medical supplies and stashed them in the room before locking Derek in and jogging down to the store to get food and supplies from the pharmacy. The store was quiet and the lack of shoppers allowed Nick to get a cart and fill it with food, clean clothes from the clothing section for both of them, and toiletries, first aid supplies, pain medicine, and diabetic supplies from the pharmacy section to get Derek healthy.

Once he was satisfied with the amount of supplies he had, Nick pushed his cart up to the counter and saw a bored looking clerk manning the till. He silently got his credit card out and ran it through, nodding curtly to the clerk as he was handed his receipt to sign. With a sigh, he silently signed the receipt.

Nick quietly gathered his purchases and hightailed it back to the motel before the clerk read the name on the receipt and figured out who he was. Once he enclosed himself back inside the room, he heard water running and saw that Derek had managed to get to the bathroom and was sitting on the toilet.

"I got supplies," Nick spoke quietly, worried about how pale and shaky Derek seemed. "What's up?"

Derek sighed and mumbled something about feeling grungy, but it was obvious to Nick that a low blood sugar was the real issue, "How about you have something to eat and then I help you have a bath?" Nick suggested, deeply concerned because Derek's eyes were closed. "This place has a little kitchen."

"How…how much?" Derek managed to say. "I don't like stealing, but I have to pay you back."

Nick sighed, "How about I get you into some clean clothes and back to bed?" he asked gently.

Derek reluctantly allowed Nick to undress him and examine the wound that Warrick had left with a gun, "Warrick doesn't seem to have done any major damage that I can see, but I'm not a doctor," Nick spoke.

"My ribs hurt," Derek spoke in a faint voice, shivering as he sat there with his eyes closed from fatigue.

Sighing, Nick went into the other room and as he was gathering clothes and first aid supplies, he silently got his phone out of his pocket. He fired off a quick text to Grissom saying he was all right, but at a motel in the middle of nowhere with Derek, who was sick due to diabetes and seriously injured.

Not expecting a reply, Nick put the phone back in his pocket and returned to the bathroom with the supplies. He gently cleaned the gunshot wound and bandaged it, wondering where the bullet got to because it was a through and through. Derek let out a hiss of pain, but didn't try to stop him.

Nick gently cleaned the other wounds and then dressed Derek in a clean pair of underwear, clean sweats, and a clean sweatshirt. He then helped his brother get back into the bed near the bathroom.

Derek mumbled incoherently, but relaxed enough that Nick took the groceries over to the kitchenette and quickly put some chicken on the stove in a pan he found in one of the cupboards. He then quietly put a salad together and some peanut butter sandwiches; it wasn't ideal, but it would be enough.

As the chicken cooked, Nick silently felt his phone buzz in his pocket. Quickly turning around to make sure that Derek was still asleep, Nick quietly got the phone out of his pocket and ended up smiling.

Nick, I got your message and Derek being diabetic might explain a lot of the things he's done, but we'll worry about that later. Do what you can to keep your brother alive and I'll talk to Ecklie and your parents about arranging possible leniency for Derek based on the circumstances. I'll have Archie ping your phone and we'll arrange a way to come assess the situation without harming either of you. Just hang in there and do what you can to make the best of the situation with what you have. – Grissom

Sighing anxiously, Nick put the phone away and silently hoped that help would come very soon.

Please read and review!