Nick could feel Grissom's arms tight around him, holding him until he fought no longer, using the energy instead to fight against himself – the urge to leap out and pound that sick bastard's face in more than he already had. Grissom was in pain, grunting as he tried to hold on to his frustrated and violent colleague, wincing as the stitches pulled and his bones crushed together. He felt Nick's struggling subside and released his arms, standing back in case anger overtook his friend. Nick looked at him, one pained, terrible look, before racing out of the lab, out of the PD and away from the sick bastard that had hurt him so. Grissom watched his friend run with tears in his eyes, watched him sprint as fast as he could to the very place that housed the person that was hurting the most because of this. Grissom let out a low growl and felt a comforting touch on his shoulder, the light pressure that Sofia offered bleeding into his strength, calming him. He turned to her, ashamed of his battered and bruised state, ashamed of the river of hot, salty tears that were streaming from his eyes in torrents. She looked at him, a curious crooked smile on her face that told him he shouldn't be ashamed. He sniffed quietly and smiled, taking her hand tightly in his own, squeezing softly. She looked shaken, and so, so vulnerable that he couldn't help but wrap her in his arms. She rested her head on his shoulder like it was the most natural thing in the world, breathing slowly and heavily like someone just awakening from a deep sleep and sighed softly, her breath tickling the skin of his neck like a feather. Grissom felt her heart beating and sighed, tightening his embrace fractionally. He didn't want to lose her; never did he want to hear her heartbeat splutter and fade.

'You should go after Nick.' She told him, her voice a little more than a whisper.

'I want to stay here… to see what happens to Hodges.' He spat the name like a curse, venom tingeing the last words.

'Or with me?' There was the faintest trace of a smile on her lips as she said this and he felt a ghost of a smile flicker across his face.

'Or with you.' He agreed.

oOo

Nick's hands were trembling as he tried to maintain a constant thought, but they kept coming back to Hodges, even as he tried to focus on anything else. Maybe driving whilst doing this was not the best idea, but he needed to see Catherine, needed to explain everything to her, wanted to be with her as she cried and broke down. His mind was racing, barely letting him concentrate on the road ahead and he was unsurprised when flashing lights flared in front of him, dazzling him. He turned the steering wheel slightly so that he was back driving straight towards Desert Palm hospital, to Catherine. The longer he was away from her, the more he shook and the more his anger threatened to engulf him. After a tense drive, he pulled up outside the hospital, mentally preparing himself for the place he hadn't wanted to visit after being hospitalised just over a year ago after being kidnapped. The mere thought of it sent cold tingles down his spine as he remembered the awful claustrophobia and warm air that threatened his ability to breathe. Still shivering, he clambered out of his SUV and walked briskly to the sliding doors of the hospital, outlined by harsh fluorescent lighting that made even the healthiest person look pale and sickly – especially if a healthy person had been reminiscing on memories that caused cold sweat to break out all over their body and violent tremors to erupt, with no sign of stopping. He shrugged his jacket tighter around himself and steeled himself as he walked inside, the waves of stale, air-conditioned air weaving their way around him like a clammy embrace. The receptionist gave him a wry grin and raised her hand in acknowledgement, recognising him from his frequent visits to the hospital. He nodded once and paced hurriedly down the corridors towards her room, to where Catherine was, to where he should be. The moment he entered, he saw Catherine, sobbing silently, shoulders shaking and heart breaking.

'Cath?' His voice was quiet, softly melting around her.

'H-H-Hey.' Her voice trembled and shook as she tried to keep her emotions in control.

'I got him for you… I got the bastard.' She looked up at him and gave him a slight grin that only just lifted the corners of her mouth.

'You did?'

'Of course. He hurt you baby, and if he hurt you, he hurt me.' Tears overflowed and dripped down her face.

'Nick… I want to be discharged… help me prove that I'm okay?'

oOo

Hodges opened his eyes, blinking as he rubbed the side of his face gingerly with his hand.

'I guess I deserved that.' He smirked and sat up, watching Grissom detach himself from Sofia and stalk up to him, growling softly from between his teeth and trembling with fury.

'Damn right you did. But there's still one thing I don't get… Why did you write, or…' He trailed off and shuddered, thinking macabre thoughts. 'Engrave… "Got You" on Kaitlin's forehead. And why the mask?'

'That's two things.' Hodges gave a twisted smile. 'But I'll answer.'

'I'm waiting.' Grissom clenched his fists and set his jaw angrily.

'Now then… "Got You"… well, I wanted Catherine's attention, strived for it for so long… that now I finally have it of course. And the mask? Well, thought I'd play with you for a while, just to get you going you know?' Grissom made to punch the analyst, but felt a restraining hand on his arm.

'Grissom don't. He's not worth it.' Sofia's gentle voice filtered into his mind, soothing him slightly as he made to control his anger.

'He killed them Sofia, killed my best friend's children.' She reached a hand round and softly stroked his face.

'I know… but you can't do anything about it now.' Grissom trembled again.

'That's what makes me so angry…' Sofia walked round in front of him and stared into his eyes, her hand gently caressing his cheek.

'Relax…' She whispered, placing a gentle kiss on his lips. 'It's over.'

oOo

Greg sighed and stretched, opening his eyes as he awoke in Sara's bed, her sleeping quietly next to him. He grinned softly and slipped out of the bed, sneaking down to her kitchen, hunger gnawing his insides. He slid into the kitchen, opening her cupboards, looking for something to satisfy his sweet tooth. He looked up and realised he'd been staring at it all along. A cupcake sat on the shelf, one of two in a packet.

'Cupcake… sounds good.' He smirked.

Reviews and you can have the cupcake? Please? We got none for the last chapter :'(