Disclaimers: I don't own any of the characters; they are the property of the creators and producers of CSI.
~*~
The trunk was empty.
He slammed his fist against the top of the truck, his face red with anger, his breathing intensified and his heart sinking. The others looked at their distressed colleague, knowing the pain and anger that brewed within him.
Sara heard the loud thud overhead, she could feel the presence of someone, the person was close, but she didn't know what to do. 'I'm right here,' she thought. Once again, she struggled to get herself free, to make some noise, to attract attention. Her energy was running low, and she knew that if she wanted to get out of her "coffin" she would have to fight. With all the strength she could muster, she lifted her head heavily, hitting it against the top lid.
'BANG' 'BANG'
Everyone stood still; Nick turned his head towards the empty trunk,
"Did you hear that?" He questioned, moving his head closer towards the trunk. All listened once more,
'BANG' 'BANG'
"Warrick, help me with this," Nick requested. Warrick jumped on top of the pick-up truck and attempted to help Nick with what seemed as the bottom of the trunk. Grissom looked over to the direction of the box, concerned and raising an eyebrow. Catherine ran off to call Brass.
'Oh God, please hear me,' Sara screamed. She tried to scream, but the dryness in her throat and the tightness of the cloth around her mouth made it difficult. It was at this time that her eyes began to close, the slight appearance of light fading, and her body weakening. Her head drooped, feeling energy drain from her body, and she was ready to rest.
Strong arms and hands were pulling against the metal bottom of the trunk, listening for the continuous thumping below them. The noise stopped,
"Sara! Hold on, we're here," Warrick yelled.
"Sara! Stay with us…I'm here," Nick added. He grunted, as frustration took over his actions, muscles flexing to free the metal lid open. Finally, after one great pull, the lid gave way. Inside was the beaten and crumpled body of Sara. The bloody retrains around her hands and legs, the cloth tied around her mouth, and the bruises that littered her face. Her shirt was soaking with blood; it was visible that she had suffered a cut on her side.
Nick's eyes widened, terror in his eyes, with one swift move he moved forward to check Sara's vitals. She was all right – a faint pulse remained.
"I need a medic!" he exclaimed. Warrick stepped aside, letting Nick care for Sara, he understood Nick's position, and he simply looked at Grissom, who with Catherine stared at the semi-lifeless body of Sara.
Nick didn't know what to do, 'Oh God, the blood,' his mind screamed. He tucked his arm around Sara's head and slightly lifted her, yet revealing another bruise. His heart ached; the sight paralyzed him,
"Sara-" he whispered. But before he could finish, the paramedics swooped in and pushed Nick aside. Nick hesitantly moved, only letting go of her hand when Grissom had motioned him to move away, in order to make some room for the paramedics to help Sara.
Never once did he take his eyes away from her, he was afraid that if he did, then something horrible would happen. The pain that masked his face was piercing; on one hand, he wanted to kill Mark Wallis, but on the other, he just wanted to hold Sara.
~*~
Nightingale Hospital
Kingman, Arizona
All four CSIs sat in the waiting room, minutes passing, without knowledge about Sara's condition. Warrick sat with his legs crossed; Grissom sat uneasily as he stared out into the hallway. Catherine was sitting beside Grissom, her elbow resting on the back of the chair, she turned her body towards Grissom, she too stared into the empty hallway. Nick was pacing, stopping by the door every time, and looking up at the clock above the doorway. Many people rushed in and out of room, stretchers entering and exiting the ER; the minutes ticked slowly. The pale green paint color on the walls made them all feel sick, the smell of the medicines gagging and the feel of the rooms, cold.
"Mr. Grissom," the doctor wondered. The man wore a green surgical scrub, with a mask resting around his neck.
"I'm Dr. Wiserman, I was wondering if I could have a word with you," he asked, motioning Grissom out the door. But Grissom plainly stayed put,
"I think it would be best if we all hear what you have to say," he answered.
He glanced over at Nick, and then searching Catherine's eyes for support; she leaned her body forward, signaling Grissom of her support.
"I don't usually do this, but since her family is not here; and assuming that you have notified them of her condition, I guess I can tell you what has happened," the doctor stated.
Nick's heart was thumping violently; his breathing was more laborious as he leaned against the wall. Warrick also sat up in anticipation, his eyes squinting, ready to comprehend the doctor's words.
"The good news is, she's stabilized," the doctor half-smiled. Nick could feel a huge 'but' coming.
"But she suffered a lot of injury. Her hands have been severely cut by the friction of the restrains that the kidnapper used," he continued, glancing over at the horrified faces of those in the room. He was most concerned for the man who was leaning against the wall. He saw the man's body tremble, and almost fall. He hesitated to continue, but knew that they all needed to know.
"As well, she also gained a large laceration on her side, and she lost a lot of blood. Her current health is deteriorating," he paused. His mind was thinking of the right words to phrase the next news he was to tell.
"She's fallen in to a deep coma," he simply stated.
The room's hopes had toppled, the smell, the horrible paint color and the noise had drifted away; this moment solely focused on the words that had made its way out of the doctor's lips. Catherine reached for Grissom's hand, and once he felt her hand's warmth he gladly held it, he too needed support. Warrick had buried his head between his hands and if someone were to listen closely, you could almost hear a faint sob. Then there was Nick, the melancholy pretense that had occupied the young Texan's face had now completely turned into an emotional road map. With bitter sadness and tears that took over the brown eyes that usually beamed with positively. His radiant smile now turned into a heavy frown. He clutched the rail beside him, holding on tightly.
Moments passed, and the doctor could feel the room's sudden melancholy mood, he felt the need to redeem the sadness of losing hope,
"As I said, she's stable now, and I can't do anything more for her here. It's against policy, but if you'd like I could order a transfer to a hospital in Las Vegas, so she could be with her family," the doctor finally said.
It made Warrick look up at the generous doctor, knowing that he was going beyond the bounds of his duty. He glanced at Grissom; he knew that it was his choice to make.
Grissom caught the attention of everyone in the room, and finally he formulated a sentence.
"Thank you," he said.
The doctor simply smiled and shook hands with Grissom; leaving the four of them to dwell on the news.
~*~
Orange, pink, blue, and yellow; the streaks of color seized the sky. Nick drove the Tahoe rapidly through the highway, his mind focused on one thing; Mark Wallis. 'That little son of a-" he cursed. He had just left the hospital, knowing that in several hours, Sara would be arriving in Las Vegas. He also knew that in a couple of hours, Mark Wallis might lawyer up, giving the authorities little time to interrogate him. Nick was adamant about questioning the kidnapper. He had questions about Traci, this game he's played and about Sara; he was going to put him away. Nobody did that to anybody he loved; Mark Wallis was going to pay - he'll make sure of it.
*---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*
A/N – the end's almost here, and although this chapter is really short and less intense, please wait for the next chapters. i'm really sorry for not updating sooner, but i hope the wait was worth it. i've absolutely love all of you, and i would like to thank all of you who have reviewed and have given me great advise. again, keep reading, keep questioning, and keep reviewing. i promise to post something soon.
~*~
The trunk was empty.
He slammed his fist against the top of the truck, his face red with anger, his breathing intensified and his heart sinking. The others looked at their distressed colleague, knowing the pain and anger that brewed within him.
Sara heard the loud thud overhead, she could feel the presence of someone, the person was close, but she didn't know what to do. 'I'm right here,' she thought. Once again, she struggled to get herself free, to make some noise, to attract attention. Her energy was running low, and she knew that if she wanted to get out of her "coffin" she would have to fight. With all the strength she could muster, she lifted her head heavily, hitting it against the top lid.
'BANG' 'BANG'
Everyone stood still; Nick turned his head towards the empty trunk,
"Did you hear that?" He questioned, moving his head closer towards the trunk. All listened once more,
'BANG' 'BANG'
"Warrick, help me with this," Nick requested. Warrick jumped on top of the pick-up truck and attempted to help Nick with what seemed as the bottom of the trunk. Grissom looked over to the direction of the box, concerned and raising an eyebrow. Catherine ran off to call Brass.
'Oh God, please hear me,' Sara screamed. She tried to scream, but the dryness in her throat and the tightness of the cloth around her mouth made it difficult. It was at this time that her eyes began to close, the slight appearance of light fading, and her body weakening. Her head drooped, feeling energy drain from her body, and she was ready to rest.
Strong arms and hands were pulling against the metal bottom of the trunk, listening for the continuous thumping below them. The noise stopped,
"Sara! Hold on, we're here," Warrick yelled.
"Sara! Stay with us…I'm here," Nick added. He grunted, as frustration took over his actions, muscles flexing to free the metal lid open. Finally, after one great pull, the lid gave way. Inside was the beaten and crumpled body of Sara. The bloody retrains around her hands and legs, the cloth tied around her mouth, and the bruises that littered her face. Her shirt was soaking with blood; it was visible that she had suffered a cut on her side.
Nick's eyes widened, terror in his eyes, with one swift move he moved forward to check Sara's vitals. She was all right – a faint pulse remained.
"I need a medic!" he exclaimed. Warrick stepped aside, letting Nick care for Sara, he understood Nick's position, and he simply looked at Grissom, who with Catherine stared at the semi-lifeless body of Sara.
Nick didn't know what to do, 'Oh God, the blood,' his mind screamed. He tucked his arm around Sara's head and slightly lifted her, yet revealing another bruise. His heart ached; the sight paralyzed him,
"Sara-" he whispered. But before he could finish, the paramedics swooped in and pushed Nick aside. Nick hesitantly moved, only letting go of her hand when Grissom had motioned him to move away, in order to make some room for the paramedics to help Sara.
Never once did he take his eyes away from her, he was afraid that if he did, then something horrible would happen. The pain that masked his face was piercing; on one hand, he wanted to kill Mark Wallis, but on the other, he just wanted to hold Sara.
~*~
Nightingale Hospital
Kingman, Arizona
All four CSIs sat in the waiting room, minutes passing, without knowledge about Sara's condition. Warrick sat with his legs crossed; Grissom sat uneasily as he stared out into the hallway. Catherine was sitting beside Grissom, her elbow resting on the back of the chair, she turned her body towards Grissom, she too stared into the empty hallway. Nick was pacing, stopping by the door every time, and looking up at the clock above the doorway. Many people rushed in and out of room, stretchers entering and exiting the ER; the minutes ticked slowly. The pale green paint color on the walls made them all feel sick, the smell of the medicines gagging and the feel of the rooms, cold.
"Mr. Grissom," the doctor wondered. The man wore a green surgical scrub, with a mask resting around his neck.
"I'm Dr. Wiserman, I was wondering if I could have a word with you," he asked, motioning Grissom out the door. But Grissom plainly stayed put,
"I think it would be best if we all hear what you have to say," he answered.
He glanced over at Nick, and then searching Catherine's eyes for support; she leaned her body forward, signaling Grissom of her support.
"I don't usually do this, but since her family is not here; and assuming that you have notified them of her condition, I guess I can tell you what has happened," the doctor stated.
Nick's heart was thumping violently; his breathing was more laborious as he leaned against the wall. Warrick also sat up in anticipation, his eyes squinting, ready to comprehend the doctor's words.
"The good news is, she's stabilized," the doctor half-smiled. Nick could feel a huge 'but' coming.
"But she suffered a lot of injury. Her hands have been severely cut by the friction of the restrains that the kidnapper used," he continued, glancing over at the horrified faces of those in the room. He was most concerned for the man who was leaning against the wall. He saw the man's body tremble, and almost fall. He hesitated to continue, but knew that they all needed to know.
"As well, she also gained a large laceration on her side, and she lost a lot of blood. Her current health is deteriorating," he paused. His mind was thinking of the right words to phrase the next news he was to tell.
"She's fallen in to a deep coma," he simply stated.
The room's hopes had toppled, the smell, the horrible paint color and the noise had drifted away; this moment solely focused on the words that had made its way out of the doctor's lips. Catherine reached for Grissom's hand, and once he felt her hand's warmth he gladly held it, he too needed support. Warrick had buried his head between his hands and if someone were to listen closely, you could almost hear a faint sob. Then there was Nick, the melancholy pretense that had occupied the young Texan's face had now completely turned into an emotional road map. With bitter sadness and tears that took over the brown eyes that usually beamed with positively. His radiant smile now turned into a heavy frown. He clutched the rail beside him, holding on tightly.
Moments passed, and the doctor could feel the room's sudden melancholy mood, he felt the need to redeem the sadness of losing hope,
"As I said, she's stable now, and I can't do anything more for her here. It's against policy, but if you'd like I could order a transfer to a hospital in Las Vegas, so she could be with her family," the doctor finally said.
It made Warrick look up at the generous doctor, knowing that he was going beyond the bounds of his duty. He glanced at Grissom; he knew that it was his choice to make.
Grissom caught the attention of everyone in the room, and finally he formulated a sentence.
"Thank you," he said.
The doctor simply smiled and shook hands with Grissom; leaving the four of them to dwell on the news.
~*~
Orange, pink, blue, and yellow; the streaks of color seized the sky. Nick drove the Tahoe rapidly through the highway, his mind focused on one thing; Mark Wallis. 'That little son of a-" he cursed. He had just left the hospital, knowing that in several hours, Sara would be arriving in Las Vegas. He also knew that in a couple of hours, Mark Wallis might lawyer up, giving the authorities little time to interrogate him. Nick was adamant about questioning the kidnapper. He had questions about Traci, this game he's played and about Sara; he was going to put him away. Nobody did that to anybody he loved; Mark Wallis was going to pay - he'll make sure of it.
*---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*
A/N – the end's almost here, and although this chapter is really short and less intense, please wait for the next chapters. i'm really sorry for not updating sooner, but i hope the wait was worth it. i've absolutely love all of you, and i would like to thank all of you who have reviewed and have given me great advise. again, keep reading, keep questioning, and keep reviewing. i promise to post something soon.