AN: Thanks for the reviews, the nightmare is almost over. Here is your next chapter.

Chapter 26: Rescue

Aiden walked into the warehouse and headed for the small room on the right side, in the back of the building where it had two doors. He stands in the doorway so he is looking straight ahead at Grissom. He had his head slumped to the side, his hands were tied and his eyes were closed with a bruised face including a right black eye. He walks up to Grissom and checks his pulse then smiles, his last dosage of drugs was doing its job his heart beat was slowing down. He looks down at him and said. "I'm sorry but it's time we part. I want you to know that it wasn't personal."

Then he gets a little mad and said in a bitter tone "I just needed for her to know how it feels to lose somebody she loves and I hit the jackpot when it was both of you." Then he laughs. "I can tell it's working now that Thomas is gone and her thinking that your gone too. I know they will eventually find out that the third body isn't you, but instead that little greedy ex-con. He got what he deserved though so I'm not complaining, it worked out fine because it got her hoping and now when they find your body she will be crushed. Just like I was when I got to the hospital and found out my brother was dead."

He runs his hand down his bearded face acted like Grissom had asked him a question and said. "You want to know how I did this?" He smiles as he was standing with his back toward the door then replied. "It's only you and you won't be alive to say anything so ok. I'll tell you."

He cleared his throat and started talking, like he was telling a story. "It took me awhile to find the perfect woman who needed my financial help and when I found Mia I knew it was the right choice. She was very beautiful but she had a greedy side to her and when I offered her money to do this job she jumped at the chance." He laughed again and continued. "She followed Thomas, Sara and that beautiful little girl for months taking pictures of their little moments."
He shakes his hand and spoke again in a little dreamy voice. "I would have loved to see your reaction on those pictures it was probably priceless." Then He cleared his throat again and continued. "Anyway after Mia started dating Thomas and months of her relaying all the information I could use against you three that little slut wanted to leave and get out of her job and I couldn't allow that so I killed her but I think it worked perfectly."

He smirks then continued "Your going to love this part. I grabbed a few hairs from an old hairbrush of Thomas's that was in a box of her stuff, I planted it on her to make it seem like he did it then I buried her were I knew a few teenagers loved to do scavenger hunts and all I had to do was wait."

"But in that waiting period I noticed Thomas was getting involved with another woman and I knew he would be more vulnerable if I took her, I tried to restrain myself from doing that but I just couldn't pass up the opportunity to increase the chances of him doing what I expected him to do and to make it seem like this was all about him to make them go sniffing in a different direction. So I had to take her. Then when Mia's body was discovered along with that flash drive with the pictures on it and the note that I typed he would be so distraught, and just my luck I was right, he went to the bar but I knew I had one shot at this, I had him drugged then took him to make it seem like he skipped town.

"Then Your precious Sara." He stopped for a few seconds to laugh again then continued. "Man she is a loyal one isn't she? To bad it wasn't your day to get her loyalty when she defends him, which make you more insecure than you already had been when you saw the pictures of the altered dates. I take you when you feeling your lowest and here we are now. Your final moments." He pulls out a knife out of his hoodie, looked down at it, looked back at Grissom and said.
"And now that Thomas is dead, it's your turn. I just hate that your last thought would be who would she be crying over more, you or him?" He brings the knife up to Grissom's cheek and runs it downward but not hard enough to draw blood, he moved Grissom's head so it was straight and as he was moving the knife to his neck he said on more thing. "So any last words?"

An answer was heard but not from Grissom's voice. "Yeah how about put your hands up you bustard."

Aiden moved quickly behind Grissom and puts the knife to his neck from behind and said. "Well Ms. Sidle I see you figured it out and joined the party.
Really, good job. I guess I shouldn't have underestimated you since you did figure out it was me but I believe you are too late because the longer we talk and I just stand here wasting your time this man's life will be fading away." He stops for a second then before Sara could talk he speaks again. "And before he does I am sure everybody would like to know if you came here for the attempted rescue or for the revenge of your lover?"

Sara shook her head while pointing her gun at him and replied. "You are wrong so many levels there." He raises an eyebrow and she continued. "One, there isn't going to be much talking. Two, Thomas isn't my lover and Three..."

She stopped and a third voice came from the side door. "It can't be revenge when somebody didn't die."

Aiden gasped, looked at the Thomas, who was holding his gun at him, and he shouted. "No! They said you died. Everything was working out." He looks at Sara with anger and replied. "My plan was perfect and you ruined it." He shakes his head and said. "Well no matter least you will be without one man." As he was about to slide the knife along Grissom's neck Thomas's gun goes off and the bullet hits Aiden in the left arm, making him drop the knife in pain and he started cussing.

Then Sara and Thomas went straight into action.

They ran to the middle of the room, Thomas slid the knife away and handcuffed Aiden while he was still in a cussing and yelling fit.

Sara untied Grissom's hands and said. "I'm here baby it's ok." She puts her hand on his pulse point and it was very faint, she looks at Thomas and said. "He's barely alive." Thomas nodded and they switched places since he was stronger and they would have to get him to the vehicle as quickly as possible.

Thomas lifted an unconscious Grissom up off the chair and got him inside the vehicle as fast as he could and it was all done in silence except for Aiden's angry talking, that they were trying to ignore.

Thomas shuts the back door looks at Sara and said. "Go, I'll call PD and I'll met you at the hospital."

She squeezed his hand and said. "Thank you."

Thomas nodded and replied. "Your welcome." Sara nodded, moved Aiden close to Thomas and he took a good grip of his arm so Sara could let go then she got into the vehicle and drove away as fast and as safety as possible.

When they were alone Aiden stopped his cussing, looked at Thomas then spoke with a smirk "Too bad I was to busy with my plan or else I could've had a little fun with that beautiful woman of yours."

Thomas glares at Aiden while making his hand into a fist and he wanted to punch him so much for not only that comment but for everything he had done.
He just didn't think Aiden was worth risking his career so he grabs him by the shirt instead, turns him to his side, pushes him against the wall of the building then uses his force to hold him there so Aiden feels the pain in his injured arm and while he cusses again Thomas leans closer to his ear and said with a threatening voice. "Your so lucky I want you to suffer in prison or else I wouldn't have shot you in the arm, you are going down for everything."

Aiden chuckles through the pain and said. "Everything? Hardly, what do you really have on me?"

Thomas smiled and said. "More than you think. I guess you were never taught to keep your mouth shut." Before Aiden responds Thomas turns him so his back was toward the wall now and he said. "Stay right there." Then he pulled out his phone and as he was dialing a number he continued. "Or better yet I dare you to run so it would give me an excuse to shot you again." But Aiden just stood there knowing he would. Thomas brought the phone up to his ear and when Brass answered in a not so calm voice he spoke while looking at Aiden. "The trash is ready to be picked up."

Sara was in Grissom's hospital room, holding his hand tightly like she was afraid if she let go then he would disappear again. She took in his appearance and winced at the bruises to his face and especially his black eye. He may have not looked his greatest right now but she was just thankful they got here in time, he was fading to fast for her comfort. She probably broke a lot of laws to get him here but whatever it took, she thought.

She leans down to kiss his right hand and said. "I'm here baby and your going to be just fine. We will talk and clear up any misunderstandings and start our lives together, just don't give up on us." She kissed his hand again while she sniffled.

Her moment was interrupted when there was a knock on the door, she turned and said. "Come in."

The door opened and DB walks in and stands in the doorway. He looks at the bed and asked. "How is he?"

She looks back at her man and replied. "A few bruises, an almost overdose and dehydration, but other than that." She looks back at DB and finished with a relieved sigh. "He is expected to make a full recovery. He just needs rest right now."

"That's good to hear, we have Aiden and the officer that helped in custody. Thomas also mentioned you have something for the case?"

She nodded, squeezed Grissom's hand before releasing it, stood up, walked over to DB, pulled out her phone, went to her videos and hit play. DB smiled as he heard Aiden confess to everything he did. When the video ended they looked at each other then DB puts his hand on her shoulder and said. "Good job."
Sara nodded and handed him the phone so they could get a copy of the video.

As DB was taking it he said. "Sara, why didn't you tell Brass were you were going?"

She winced as she heard his tone and then replied. "I had to deal with him myself. He made it very personal for me, going after the people I care about." Then she stops and smirks a little. "Besides I didn't go alone."

DB tried not to smile but his lips turned up a little for a few seconds then he losses it and said. "About your discipline?" She winced for the third time in a span of a 5 minutes and he continued. "It was going to be a two day suspension but in the light of everything and it working out, it will now be a week paid vacation, use it wisely."

"Thank you." DB nodded and Sara continued. "About Nick, he shoul..."

DB puts his hand up and said. "He gets a few days paid vacation."

"You are just a big softie aren't you?"

"Like I said I'm just glad everything worked out."

They look at the hospital bed and Sara replied. "Me too."

DB looked at back at Sara and said. "I want to get his account on everything when he is feeling better so we have a stronger case."

Sara nodded and there was knock on the side of the door frame, she looked over and saw Thomas standing there.

They smile at each other then Thomas speaks. "Sorry to interrupt but I have somebody here who really wanted to see you."

Sara's smile was already getting bigger by the time Thomas moved out-of-the-way.

Isabella's face lights up and said. "Mommy!"

Sara bends down, holds out her arms and Isabella runs to her mom and immediately wraps her arms around her neck. Sara holds her tight while closing her eyes, it felt like she hadn't seen her in years. She stands up with Isabella in her arms and the little girl wraps her legs around her mother, it also felt like years for her too.

While they were having their reunion, DB walks over to the door toward Thomas speaks. "I want to talk to Aubrey soon about the accounts on what happened."

Thomas nodded and replied. "Ok I'll let her know."

DB nodded looked back at mother and daughter then said. "I'll see you two later."

Both Sara and Isabella look at him and Sara nods while Isabella speaks. "Bye Uncle DB."

DB smiles and replied. "Bye cutie pie." Isabella smiles back then DB walks out the door patting Thomas's shoulder on the way out, feeling really relieved that everything worked out.

When it was just the four of them Thomas cleared his throat and said. "I'll let you guys continue with your reunion."

Sara put Isabella down and she ran back to him then he picks her up and while she wraps her arms around his neck she speaks. "Thank you uncle Thomas. I love you."

He kissed her forehead and said. "I love you too princess, you help your mom get your dad better ok?" She nodded with a smile and after she kissed him on the cheek he sets her down.

Isabella looks at the bed then looks at her mother a little scared at how her dad looked.

Sara gives her a small smile while walking up to her then puts her hand on her daughter's cheek and said. "It's not as bad as it looks, he is just sleeping right now. It's ok to go talk to him." Isabella nodded and took quiet steps toward the bed as if she was afraid to wake him up then she sits down in the chair Sara was sitting in before, looked at her father then took his hand like her mother did and started talking to him quietly.

Sara and Thomas looked at each other with another smile then She started to have relieved tears in her eyes. He puts his hand up to her cheek to wipe them away then brings her in his arms and said. "Everything is ok now. He is back, he will recover, you'll talk and you will all heal from this. Brighter days are coming your way."

Sara nodded, pulled back and said. "For you and Aubrey too."

"I hope so, I don't want to come between her and her family, I know how important her mother and sister are to her."

Sara shook her head and replied. "Before you know it they will both fall in love with you. You were just meeting under an intense situation, wait till everything settles down and it will all work out I'm sure of it."

He crosses his arms over his chest and said with a smirk. "You seem to think very highly of yourself."

She smiles when she realized she used those exact words when they first met. "Nope just very confident."

Thomas smiles bigger and replied. "Really? How confident?"

She steps closer to him and whispered. "So confident that by the end of their visit..." She paused and then continued with a smirk. "They will at least tolerate you."

She pulls back and he raises an eyebrow then replied. "Just tolerate me? you just said they will fall in love with me?"

"Well yes but you see Rome wasn't built-in a day." She smirks again, he shakes his head with a smile and a small chuckle.

When they calmed down he puts his hand on her shoulder and said. "Thank you Sara. I'll see you guys later."

"You're welcome and ok." After another hug he pulls back and walks out of the room.

Sara watched him walk out then she walked to the chair her daughter was in, picked her up, sat down and sat Isabella down on her lap, they both took his hand this time and Sara speaks. "We are here honey and we aren't going anywhere. Love you."

Isabella speaks too. "I Love you too daddy." Sara kissed her daughter's head and with the two most important people near her she knew in time they were going to be just fine.

AN: More to come. Next Chapter: Can Thomas convince Aubrey's family that he is the right man for her? Also Grissom wakes up. Please review.