I'm back! With everything that's going on in the world right now, I found I had a lot of time on my hands and decided to try to finish this story. The rest of it is planned out, but I'm not sure if there is still any interest in it. So I guess this new chapter is going to be the test to see if there is anyone out there who wants it finished. If you do and you're reading, please leave a review to let me know. Thank you!

"There was a dead man at your feet, Crane had you at gunpoint, and…" Cavanaugh approached the witness stand and looked Nick in the eyes. "You thought he was going to kill you."

"Yes." Nick's voice was barely a whisper now.

"No further questions."

"I was surprised you called, Nick."

The CSI cleared his throat and leaned forward in the chair, trying to sound as businesslike as possible. "I , uh…I'm sorry I missed a few appointments."

"You didn't return my calls either," Dr. Stanton pointed out.

Nick sighed. "I know. I'm sorry." His apology was mostly a formality. He knew the department psychologist wasn't really upset with him. He couldn't be. That was his job, right? To understand when someone gets so fucked up in the head that they forgo societal conventions like politeness?

"So? What can I do for you?"

"The trial is about over. Crane…he isn't going to testify. They aren't calling any witnesses. So…closing arguments tomorrow."

"Did you want to hear him testify?"

"No." He shook his head. "He'd just pitch a bunch of lies anyway."

The doctor leaned back in his chair. "I thought I might have heard from you before now. You did okay? During the trial?"

Nick shrugged. "As good as I could, I guess. I got pretty…it was tough…sometimes, you know? That defense attorney…she's a piece of work."

"Are you feeling any effects outside of the courtroom? Are you sleeping?"

"Yeah." He nodded. It wasn't a lie. He was sleeping at least for a few hours a night, albeit upright in a chair in the living room. "I just want it over with…get it behind me."

Stanton nodded. "I'll ask again then. What brings you here today?"

"I just uh…" Nick looked around the room, avoiding eye contact as his hands fidgeted in his lap. "I don't know how this is gonna go down…you know? And uh…" Now he looked the doctor in the eye. "I just…wanna be ready. Either way. I'm kind of…" He hesitated and then practically choked on the word. "Scared…about how I'm gonna feel…what I'm gonna do…after."

The doctor waited, and when Nick did not elaborate he asked, "What are your options? Afterward?"

Nick gave a small, humorless laugh. "I'm not thinking of offing myself if that's what you mean."

"I'm just waiting to hear what you mean, Nick."

"Yeah." He cleared his throat again. "I just...if he goes to prison, then I guess I have to figure out how to get back to normal...whatever that is. But I've done it before. I've been through things before. I always figure it out." He made eye contact with Stanton, but only for a moment. He knew the man could tell he wasn't as confident about the past as he was trying to make it seem. But that was okay. It was the future he was worried about. It was the future he needed help with now.

"And if he's not convicted? If he walks free?"

"Well...I think he'll do it again."

"Stalk someone?" asked Stanton. "Or kill someone?"

"Yes. Both." Nick was tapping the fingers of his right hand on the arm of the chair. He suddenly realized it and stopped abruptly. "But I can't stop him. Right? I can't worry about that. I did what I could. If they put him back out on the street...that's not my fault, right?".

"Of course not. But are you afraid he'll fixate on you again? Stalk you? Or try to kill you?"

Startled by the man's words, Nick looked up. "Man, you don't hold back, do you?"

"Isn't that a possibility? Don't tell me you haven't thought about it."

"I have. Of course I have. So what if I can't get past it? What if I never stop checking every damn lock in the house every hour I'm in there? What if I can never trust anyone I meet again? What if I can't come home from work and always get my gun out before going in? And if I do see him?" His eyes were a mixture of both fear and exhilaration as he leaned forward. "What if I kill him?" he whispered.

The courtroom had been mostly full throughout the trial, but this morning it was packed without a seat to spare. Warrick and Catherine had both made arrangements at the lab so that they could be here with Nick. Whatever the outcome, he was going to need their support, whether he wanted it or not.

"I told you guys you didn't have to come," he said. "They're just going to rehash what they've already said. And the jury probably won't have a verdict today...at least I hope not." He knew that quick verdicts were never a good sign for the prosecution.

"Stop it already," Catherine admonished him. "You know us better than that."

Warrick grinned. "Yeah, besides...somebody has to buy us lunch when this is over."

Nick just shook his head. "Keep dreaming." And then, "But seriously, guys...thanks."

Catherine smiled and took his hand as the bailiff called the court to order.

"Mr. Cavanaugh," Judge Perry addressed the prosecutor. "Are you ready with your closing argument?"

"Yes, Your Honor." Scott Cavanaugh walked over to the front of the jury box empty-handed. He had nothing to show them and he did not want to distract them from what he was going to say. He wanted their full attention. "Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, I first want to thank you for your time and attention during this trial. I know you've been presented with a lot of facts...and a lot of theories." At this point he glanced toward the defense table where Crane and his attorney, Sharon Forte sat watching. Addressing the jury again he said, "And some of it hasn't been pleasant to hear, I know. But you play a very important part here in bringing justice for the victims, Jane Galloway and Morris Pearson. And I know you'll do the right thing and convict the defendant, Nigel Crane, on both counts of murder."

The D.A. stepped away from the jury for a moment, pausing to give them time to consider what he had said before he continued. "You've heard testimony from three people in this trial...Crime Scene Investigators Catherine Willows, Warrick Brown, and Nick Stokes. All three have presented evidence to prove that Nigel Crane was the one responsible for these deaths. CSI Stokes, in particular, provided riveting first-hand testimony about Mr. Pearson's murder which occurred in his own home. He also gave details about Mr. Crane's state of mind and incriminating statements that he made about the murders, all while holding him at gunpoint." He looked over at Crane and Forte, then back at the jury. "The defense has presented several theories about the way things could have happened. But ladies and gentlemen, if we're going to go down that road, a lot of things could have happened. But only one thing did happen. Nigel Crane murdered Jane Galloway and Morris Pearson. He installed Ms. Galloway's cable and then snuck back into her house and spied on her from her attic. He also installed CSI Stokes' cable, and then became obsessed with him, fixated on the idea that he and CSI Stokes were friends, even though that was the only time they had met, and according to CSI Stokes only spoke briefly while Mr. Crane was in the house. Mr. Crane then decided that he was finished with Ms. Galloway and...his words, as spoken to CSI Stokes...she would "get in the way" of his friendship with CSI Stokes. And to keep that from happening, he murdered her. He suffocated her in her own home and then dyed her hair red and posed her to emulate a photo of a friend of CSI Stokes, telling him this was a 'gift' for him."

Nick shifted in his seat, growing increasingly uncomfortable at the D.A.'s words that were making it sound like it was his fault...that Crane killed this woman because of him. Of course, he already felt that way, but hearing someone else voice it was devastating.

"He had been watching CSI Stokes...following him...had been in his home without his knowledge. And when the CSIs came to his house to question him about Jane Galloway's murder, he attacked CSI Stokes, sending him out a second story window, causing him to suffer several injuries. And then, when Morris Pearson came to CSI Stokes' house to warn him that something bad was about to happen...Mr. Crane struck again. Mr. Pearson went into the attic where he was confronted by Mr. Crane, attacked, and killed. CSI Stokes saw Mr. Pearson's body fall to the floor. He saw Mr. Crane come down after it, saying that Mr. Pearson was "snooping around" up there. And then Mr. Crane locked the door and held CSI Stokes at gunpoint while he admitted to taking his clothing and wearing it, killing Jane Galloway and posing her body as a 'gift', and took offense to CSI Stokes not remembering him. And then, after terrorizing CSI Stokes at gunpoint and after murdering Mr. Pearson, he decided to take his own life right then and there."

Pausing for affect and not caring at all if it appeared that way, Cavanaugh sought Nick out in the room and looked at him for a full minute, letting the jury anticipate what was coming next. Turning his attention back to them, he continued, "But despite all of this...despite being injured by Mr. Crane earlier in the day, CSI Stokes' training took over, and he did his best to keep Mr. Crane from committing suicide. Facing what he was sure would be his own death, he still tried to keep his assailant from killing himself. We can't know what might have happened if the Las Vegas Police Department hadn't shown up when they did. But what we do know is that Mr. Crane was arrested and is alive today to stand trial for these two murders. Ladies and gentlemen, I ask you to consider the testimonies of the CSIs and consider the theories the defense has put before you and ask yourselves...which is more believable? Who has reason to distract you and speculate on what happened? And who has no reason whatsoever to do so? Ladies and gentlemen, please...do what you came here to do. Discuss the case. Review the evidence. And find Nigel Crane guilty of two counts of murder."

The D.A. took his time returning to the prosecution's table, again allowing the jury another moment to consider everything he had said. He wanted them to remember it, and that would be difficult based on what he was afraid the defense was about to say.

"Ms. Forte?" asked the judge.

Sharon Forte rose from her seat and gave Crane a reassuring smile and placed her hand on his arm before proceeding to the jury.

In the gallery, Nick felt a pang of nausea at the sight, while Catherine rolled her eyes and Warrick choked back a cough that drew the attention of the judge. A moment of eye contact was all it took for the CSI to settle back into his seat and remain quiet.

"Ladies and gentlemen, like the prosecution I also appreciate your time and commitment to this case. But unlike them, I think the lack of evidence produced here and the myriad of other possibilities will lead you to find my client, Nigel Crane, innocent of these charges. The defense is not required to prove innocence. Rather, the burden to prove guilt is on the prosecution, and they have failed to do so." She glanced over at the D.A.

"Jane Galloway was found dead in her apartment from apparent suffocation. I won't even go into the details of how the investigators think that happened, because it doesn't matter how it happened. It matters who did it. But the prosecution offered absolutely no evidence to connect this crime to Mr. Crane...nor to anyone, actually. They found no hair, no DNA, no fingerprints. Nothing. Their one clue was that someone had apparently gained access to the house and was able to rig the attic window so that they could re-enter. Well then...who was in the house and could have done that? Probably more people than we know, but the ones that we're aware of include Ms. Galloway's disgruntled ex-boyfriend, the one she had a restraining order against. And several service men...cable, gas, carpet installers, and the water company. Mr. Crane was the cable installer, but what of the others? There was no mention of any of them by name...no testimony as to how or why they were not considered suspects when Mr. Crane was. They say Mr. Crane became the suspect because of what happened when CSIs Stokes and Brown went to his home to question him. But..."

She took her time, knowing the small cliffhanger had the jury's attention. "Mr. Brown testified that he never saw Mr. Crane while they were at the house. And CSI Stokes...the one who fell out of the window...testified that he had never seen Mr. Crane before, didn't know what he looked like, but that he assumed the person he says attacked him was Mr. Crane. Assumed. Regardless, even if it was Mr. Crane in the house...wouldn't he have been surprised to find someone inside without his knowledge? Wouldn't he have reason to defend himself and his property against an intruder?"

Nick's hands were clenched in his lap as he listened to her. Fell out of the window? What the hell?

"And need I add," Forte continued, "that the CSIs were in the house illegally. There was no legal reason for them to have entered without Mr. Crane's knowledge and permission. At this point, he was just one of many workers who were being questioned about Ms. Galloway's murder. Ms. Willows testified that some surveillance equipment was found in Ms. Galloway's attic but admitted there were no fingerprints, no receipts...nothing at all to tie the equipment to Mr. Crane. In fact, the only reason the CSIs found the equipment at all was because of a tip they received from Morris Pearson...the second victim...a so-called psychic. Funny, isn't it, how he knew they should look up there? And how the night of the murder Mr. Pearson checked himself into the Monaco hotel and into the room next to Ms. Galloway and called her room several times. And when she got frightened and checked out, who checked out right after her? Mr. Pearson did. Then Ms. Galloway ends up dead a few hours later. And yet, Mr. Pearson was never considered a suspect." She shook her head and laughed slightly.

"And then...Mr. Pearson shows up at Mr. Stokes' house in the middle of the night claiming to have more psychic information. And Mr. Stokes lets him in...a stranger...in the middle of the night...only hours after he had been attacked by another stranger. Now, this next part, ladies and gentlemen, is where we have to rely on Mr. Stokes' testimony as to what happened. But remember...he had suffered a concussion and was under the influence of medication with side effects that included drowsiness, confusion, blurred vision, and abnormal nervous system function affecting mental alertness. So, let's remember that, shall we, when relying on Mr. Stokes to be the sole witness as to what happened during all of the chaos at his home that night."

Nick was shifting in his seat, even as Catherine put her hand over his. I should have known better. I shouldn't have even considered that she might not make this sound as bad as she made my testimony sound.

"Now besides Mr. Pearson, somehow Mr. Crane ended up in the house as well. Did Mr. Stokes let him in? Was he already there when Mr. Pearson showed up? It's hard to say. Some of the things that Mr. Stokes testified to would indicate that he and Mr. Crane had a relationship...a friendship. He also, against medical advice, declined to have someone stay with him that night. Was it because he knew he was going to have company? But let's assume that Mr. Crane mysteriously appeared from the attic as Mr. Stokes said. Mr. Pearson was already up there. But...how did he know how to get into the attic? Had he been there before? Had he been the one to collect those items that Mr. Stokes claimed were proof of Mr. Crane stalking him? Regardless, the so-called psychic came crashing through the ceiling and landed dead on the floor. The coroner's report said that Mr. Pearson died from a broken neck but that there was no way to tell if the break happened before or after the fall. So again, there is no proof that he was even murdered. None." She made sure at this point to look each juror directly in the eye before continuing.

"Mr. Stokes says that he was afraid Mr. Crane was going to kill him, yet Mr. Crane brought no weapon to the house with him. We know that Mr. Stokes was the only one there with access to a weapon, and that was the gun that Mr. Crane picked up. But why? To kill Mr. Stokes? No, ladies and gentlemen...by Mr. Stokes' own testimony, my client wanted the gun in order to kill himself. After feeling rejected and dismissed by Mr. Stokes, he didn't want to live anymore. And Mr. Stokes? What did he do? He tried to stop him. Why? Because he did care about him? Because he did have a relationship with him?"

Forte now walked slowly back and forth in front of the jury box. "Finally, there was the letter. The glowing accommodation that was sent to the Las Vegas Police Department, praising CSI Stokes and getting a feature article written about him in their internal newsletter. The prosecution tried to use this as part of their proof that Mr. Crane was obsessed with Mr. Stokes...stalking him prior to either of the murders. But I ask you, if that were so...why would Mr. Crane sign his own name to the letter? Why would he do that if he was a stalker? Why would he do that if he was then going to commit murder? Simply put, he wouldn't. And simply put, he did not commit these murders. The prosecution gave you absolutely no evidence connecting Mr. Crane to Jane Galloway's murder. None. And they admitted there were several other people who could have had access to her house, but none of them were even considered suspects, including Mr. Pearson who told them previously unknown details about items in her home and who was in an adjacent hotel room to her...and phoned her...the night she was killed. And as for his death, he went into CSI Stokes' attic and fell through the floor, breaking his neck. There was no evidence whatsoever that the fatal injury was caused by anyone, and definitely not specifically Mr. Crane. No evidence, ladies and gentlemen. No evidence to tie either murder to my client, and plenty of other suspects."

And with that, she said to the judge, "That is all I have to say, Your Honor."

"Thank you, Ms. Forte." Judge Perry then read the instructions to the jury and they left to begin deliberation. "Court is adjourned."

And there you have it...for now. I know it's been such a long time since this was first published, and I know CSI has been off the air for awhile now, but I hope there are a few people still interested in the story. I'll admit, I had to read through it again to get myself reacquainted, and it took a bit of time. I hope you might do the same if you don't remember much of it. Regardless, the response to this chapter will tell me whether or not I should bother finishing. But if there is a good response then I promise I will provide regular updates again until it's done. Thank you again for reading! Please review and let me know you're interested.