Lynsey didn't think, she was to afraid it was her mom. She ran back to the door.
Catherine looked out to Lynsey, she was running back, *Ohh God,* She thought, thankful it wasn't Lynsey. She hugged Lynsey... if it wasn't then, she turned her head.
Sara was slumped over in Gil's arms. blood soaked the two, it wasn't until Gil looked up at Nick, they knew...
It was Sara.
Nick face drained of all color and everything around him seemed to stop. *sara...* He got up, forgetting about Ecklie and Nigel, and ran towards Sara.
Ecklie looked shocked, he just done it to scare off Nick. *Ahh well.* he thought and walked to wipe the blood off his face.
Gil held Sara in his arms, gently shaking her. "Sara? Sara hun... you ok? C'mon sis... talk to me..."
"Gil?" Sara slurred, "I'm sleepy."
Ecklie looked at Nigel, "Guess I done it for you!"
Catherine looked over and started to cry with Lynsey in her arms.
Gil shook his head and frowned, biting back tears. "Sara... Sara listen to me... don't go to sleep... hang on to my voice... you have to stay awake...."
Nigel smiled satisfied that Sara would be out of the picture in no time, then all he'd have to do, is just handle Nick.
"But I'm tired, I need sleep Gil." Sara said closing her eyes.
Catherine hugged Lynsey and took her over the other side of the room.
"No! Sara... Stay awake.... what about Nick? What about your future with him... you have to stay awake for him.... " Gil pleaded with her.
Ecklie snorted and closed the door, "Serves you right, it's your fault Nicky... if you
hadn't planned to escape, Sara wouldn't be shot!!"
"With the pool and the BBQ and a little boy and girl with a baby on the way." Sara smiled.
Nick frowned, knowing in his heart what Ecklie was saying was true. He sank down into one of the chairs with his head in his hands.
"That's right Sara... c'mon.... just stay awake... " Gil said to Sara, holding her tightly in his arms.
"Where's Nick?" She asked frowning.
"Shut up Ecklie thats not true and you know it!" Catherine snapped at him. "Nick go over to Sara... she wants you too."
Nick nodded and walked over to Sara, feeling consumed with guilt. "Sara?"
"Hi hunny, I'm sleepy again," She smiled. "I love you."
"Then go to sleep Sara..." Ecklie laughed.
"Sara.... I know you're sleepy, but you can't go to sleep yet...ok? I love you too much to let you go... Sara... I'm so sorry.... I didn't mean for this to happen... I'd take your place if I could...."
"I know," Sara winced, "It hurts..."
Ecklie walked to the window.
"I know, baby... but just hold on ok?" Nick said, brushing away a few strands of hair.
Nigel walked up by Nick, close enough to whisper in his ear. "Nicky? Look what you did... do you really think she's goona want to be with you after this? that is, if she lives..." Nigel sneered. "You killed her, Nick..."
Nick closed his eyes tightly and stood up, walking away from Sara and the rest of them, to a corner of the room. He leaned against the wall and sunk down to the floor. Sara watched Nick walked away, tears formed at her eyes. Nick folded his arms, resting them on his knees, and laying his head on his knees. He closed himself off from everyone else. he wished more than anything to take Sara's place, to be the one that was shot, dying. If Sara did die... he wouldn't be able to live without her... He couldn't go on....
Ecklie ran back in and grabbed Lynsey, "You silly little bitch!"
He shook her violently, "Why did you do that Lynsey? Huh? You were being an angel AND YOU CALLED THE COPS!?" Ecklie lost his cool and hit Lynsey.
Catherine screamed at Ecklie, "Lynsey! LET GO OF HER!" She pulled at Ecklie's arm just being elbowed in the face by him.
Gil shot his head up and laid Sara on the ground gently before standing up and jumping Ecklie from behind.
Ecklie aimed his gun at Sara again, "One more move Gil." He spat up at Gil
"Ecklie! I swear to God...." Gil gritted through his teeth.
Nick looked up slowly seeing the events take place before him, but felt empty and numb.
"Nigel close the curtains..." Nigel did as he was told and watched Ecklie. Ecklie started to laugh. He whispered to Nigel, "look at Sara...Do you wanna tell Nicky?"
"I'll let you do the honors, if you'd like... and I'll be there to console him..." Nigel smiled, looking over at Nick in the corner.
"Hey Nicky!" Ecklie shouted over.
Nick looked over at Ecklie slowly.
"I think your girlfriends DEAD gorgous!" Ecklie laughed.
Lynsey screamed, "MOMMY! SARA!" She pointed, still sore from Ecklie's grasp.
"Pipe down angel, we're not finished yet!!" Ecklie shouted.
Catherine frowned looking at Sara, "Oh no, Gil!" Her skin was pale and she had her eyes closed.
Gil looked over at Sara and went wide-eyed. He ran over to her side and checked for a pulse.
He sighed a little, she was still alive, but barely. If she didn't get immediate medical attention.... *No, I won't think like that... I can't* Gil thought to himself.
The police siren's were now loud, right outside. Ecklie frowned at Lynsey.
Nick closed his eyes and felt like the world was coming crashing down around him. If Sara died... what would he do? He couldn't live with himself... and certainly couldn't live around his friends, knowing he caused Sara's death. Nick heard the sirens outside and felt a renewed hope that maybe everything would be ok. He looked up from his little corner and made his way over to Sara.
Nigel frowned, he couldn't let Nick go. If he couldn't have Nick, no one would. Nigel looked over at Ecklie, asking him for help with his eyes. Everthing seemed to be falling apart, and he wouldn't go back to jail again. He wouldn't let Nick slip through his fingers again.
"Tell you what!" Ecklie started, "We'll give two of you up, but we get to pick who!"
"what are you talking about Ecklie... the cops are here.... it's over...." Gil said.
"Mr Grissom call Mr Brass on his cell, I'm sure he's dying to hear from us... no wait... thats Sara!" Ecklie sniggered. Ecklie walked over to Lynsey again, "Gil I mean it... or I WILL hurt Lynsey..."
"Fine, fine..." Gil reached for the phone and dialled Brass' number. "What do you want me to say?" he asked Ecklie.
"I'll do it..." Ecklie smiled.
"Brass here." Jim answered his cell.
Ecklie took the cell, "Captain Brass!"
"Ecklie?! you son-of-a-..."
"Nice to hear from you too! How's Jan Sanders doing by the way?" Ecklie smiled to himself.
"What the Hell?! Listen here you sick bastard... " Brass started again.
"Yak yak yak.... Anyways I have a dying Sara on my hands and a crying child."
"What?!"
"Yeah boo hoo etc... Anyway... I will release two people if I get transport for me and three others!" Ecklie smiled. "Well two and a half..." He winked at Lynsey.
"I want all of them released or we will use force!" brass yelled into the phone
"Listen I shot one what makes you think I won't shoot them all?"
"Ok.. let's make a deal then... i'll get you the transport... if you promise no one else gets hurt and we still have contact with the others..."
"Contact through THIS cell and I moderate... no tracking on the transport or I will shoot, any sniper attempt made I or my friend will shoot the rest... understand."
"Ok... ok..." Brass agreed. He couldn't risk the lives of his friends.
"Ya know Brass, you're not bad... it better be here in an hour and 25 mins... Sara will probably be dead by then however! Ahh well, we could ALWAYS take her with us, waste of a hostage... but hey it's fun watching Nicky and big tough Gil Grissom crumble!" Ecklie smiled at Nigel and nodded.
Brass gritted his teeth. "ok.. the transport will be there... "
Ecklie hung up. "So how is going with?" Ecklie smiled. "Well I think Nigel has his heart set on you Nick. Catherine or Gil though..."
"I'll go!" Catherine said hugging Lynsey who was in tears.
Ecklie smiled, "Hear that Grissom, she wants to be with me!"
Catherine glared at Ecklie, "In your dreams..."
"Cath... stay with Lynsey.... I'll go..."
Ecklie frowned, "Ummm, Lynsey's going..."
"Then I'll go with her..." Catherine said.
"Listen Ecklie... Let Cath, Sara and Lynsey go... " Gil reasoned.
Ecklie laughed, "Ummmm NO! "I'm thinking you and Sara. No wait... Lynsey would like to go free?"
Lynsey looked at the man who scared her so much, "I want to stay with uncle Gil."
"No hunny, you go with Sara, ok..." Catherine smiled at Lynsey, "I'll be ok with uncle Gil."
"NO!" Lynsey shouted.
Ecklie shook his head, "RIGHT! We're taking Nick, Catherine and Lynsey. No debate!"
"Lynsey... listen go with Sara.... please hunny..." Gil pleaded with Lynsey
"Ok, I'll go with Sara."
"Thank-you hun..." Gil smiled a little at her.
"Sorry sweetheart... I've made my mind up!" Ecklie grinned at Gil, "I'll take good care of your family..." He said in a sickly sweet voice.
"I'll go with mommy then." Lynsey cuddled into her.
Catherine looked over at Nick. She frowned.
Lynsey grabbed the little plush dog, she walked over to Nick. "Nick?"
Nick looked up at the little girl in front of him. "yea?"
She handed him Strokes, "Take him and when Sara wakes up, she'll know you have him..." She smiled.
Nick felt his eyes water and took the plush puppy tenderly and held it in his arms. gently laying it on his lap.
"Sara will be ok, My unlce Gil will take car of her." She smiled.
Nick hung his head and frowned. He wouldn't know if Sara would be alright for sure and he doubted it. Lynsey walked away.
Catherine looked out to Lynsey, she was running back, *Ohh God,* She thought, thankful it wasn't Lynsey. She hugged Lynsey... if it wasn't then, she turned her head.
Sara was slumped over in Gil's arms. blood soaked the two, it wasn't until Gil looked up at Nick, they knew...
It was Sara.
Nick face drained of all color and everything around him seemed to stop. *sara...* He got up, forgetting about Ecklie and Nigel, and ran towards Sara.
Ecklie looked shocked, he just done it to scare off Nick. *Ahh well.* he thought and walked to wipe the blood off his face.
Gil held Sara in his arms, gently shaking her. "Sara? Sara hun... you ok? C'mon sis... talk to me..."
"Gil?" Sara slurred, "I'm sleepy."
Ecklie looked at Nigel, "Guess I done it for you!"
Catherine looked over and started to cry with Lynsey in her arms.
Gil shook his head and frowned, biting back tears. "Sara... Sara listen to me... don't go to sleep... hang on to my voice... you have to stay awake...."
Nigel smiled satisfied that Sara would be out of the picture in no time, then all he'd have to do, is just handle Nick.
"But I'm tired, I need sleep Gil." Sara said closing her eyes.
Catherine hugged Lynsey and took her over the other side of the room.
"No! Sara... Stay awake.... what about Nick? What about your future with him... you have to stay awake for him.... " Gil pleaded with her.
Ecklie snorted and closed the door, "Serves you right, it's your fault Nicky... if you
hadn't planned to escape, Sara wouldn't be shot!!"
"With the pool and the BBQ and a little boy and girl with a baby on the way." Sara smiled.
Nick frowned, knowing in his heart what Ecklie was saying was true. He sank down into one of the chairs with his head in his hands.
"That's right Sara... c'mon.... just stay awake... " Gil said to Sara, holding her tightly in his arms.
"Where's Nick?" She asked frowning.
"Shut up Ecklie thats not true and you know it!" Catherine snapped at him. "Nick go over to Sara... she wants you too."
Nick nodded and walked over to Sara, feeling consumed with guilt. "Sara?"
"Hi hunny, I'm sleepy again," She smiled. "I love you."
"Then go to sleep Sara..." Ecklie laughed.
"Sara.... I know you're sleepy, but you can't go to sleep yet...ok? I love you too much to let you go... Sara... I'm so sorry.... I didn't mean for this to happen... I'd take your place if I could...."
"I know," Sara winced, "It hurts..."
Ecklie walked to the window.
"I know, baby... but just hold on ok?" Nick said, brushing away a few strands of hair.
Nigel walked up by Nick, close enough to whisper in his ear. "Nicky? Look what you did... do you really think she's goona want to be with you after this? that is, if she lives..." Nigel sneered. "You killed her, Nick..."
Nick closed his eyes tightly and stood up, walking away from Sara and the rest of them, to a corner of the room. He leaned against the wall and sunk down to the floor. Sara watched Nick walked away, tears formed at her eyes. Nick folded his arms, resting them on his knees, and laying his head on his knees. He closed himself off from everyone else. he wished more than anything to take Sara's place, to be the one that was shot, dying. If Sara did die... he wouldn't be able to live without her... He couldn't go on....
Ecklie ran back in and grabbed Lynsey, "You silly little bitch!"
He shook her violently, "Why did you do that Lynsey? Huh? You were being an angel AND YOU CALLED THE COPS!?" Ecklie lost his cool and hit Lynsey.
Catherine screamed at Ecklie, "Lynsey! LET GO OF HER!" She pulled at Ecklie's arm just being elbowed in the face by him.
Gil shot his head up and laid Sara on the ground gently before standing up and jumping Ecklie from behind.
Ecklie aimed his gun at Sara again, "One more move Gil." He spat up at Gil
"Ecklie! I swear to God...." Gil gritted through his teeth.
Nick looked up slowly seeing the events take place before him, but felt empty and numb.
"Nigel close the curtains..." Nigel did as he was told and watched Ecklie. Ecklie started to laugh. He whispered to Nigel, "look at Sara...Do you wanna tell Nicky?"
"I'll let you do the honors, if you'd like... and I'll be there to console him..." Nigel smiled, looking over at Nick in the corner.
"Hey Nicky!" Ecklie shouted over.
Nick looked over at Ecklie slowly.
"I think your girlfriends DEAD gorgous!" Ecklie laughed.
Lynsey screamed, "MOMMY! SARA!" She pointed, still sore from Ecklie's grasp.
"Pipe down angel, we're not finished yet!!" Ecklie shouted.
Catherine frowned looking at Sara, "Oh no, Gil!" Her skin was pale and she had her eyes closed.
Gil looked over at Sara and went wide-eyed. He ran over to her side and checked for a pulse.
He sighed a little, she was still alive, but barely. If she didn't get immediate medical attention.... *No, I won't think like that... I can't* Gil thought to himself.
The police siren's were now loud, right outside. Ecklie frowned at Lynsey.
Nick closed his eyes and felt like the world was coming crashing down around him. If Sara died... what would he do? He couldn't live with himself... and certainly couldn't live around his friends, knowing he caused Sara's death. Nick heard the sirens outside and felt a renewed hope that maybe everything would be ok. He looked up from his little corner and made his way over to Sara.
Nigel frowned, he couldn't let Nick go. If he couldn't have Nick, no one would. Nigel looked over at Ecklie, asking him for help with his eyes. Everthing seemed to be falling apart, and he wouldn't go back to jail again. He wouldn't let Nick slip through his fingers again.
"Tell you what!" Ecklie started, "We'll give two of you up, but we get to pick who!"
"what are you talking about Ecklie... the cops are here.... it's over...." Gil said.
"Mr Grissom call Mr Brass on his cell, I'm sure he's dying to hear from us... no wait... thats Sara!" Ecklie sniggered. Ecklie walked over to Lynsey again, "Gil I mean it... or I WILL hurt Lynsey..."
"Fine, fine..." Gil reached for the phone and dialled Brass' number. "What do you want me to say?" he asked Ecklie.
"I'll do it..." Ecklie smiled.
"Brass here." Jim answered his cell.
Ecklie took the cell, "Captain Brass!"
"Ecklie?! you son-of-a-..."
"Nice to hear from you too! How's Jan Sanders doing by the way?" Ecklie smiled to himself.
"What the Hell?! Listen here you sick bastard... " Brass started again.
"Yak yak yak.... Anyways I have a dying Sara on my hands and a crying child."
"What?!"
"Yeah boo hoo etc... Anyway... I will release two people if I get transport for me and three others!" Ecklie smiled. "Well two and a half..." He winked at Lynsey.
"I want all of them released or we will use force!" brass yelled into the phone
"Listen I shot one what makes you think I won't shoot them all?"
"Ok.. let's make a deal then... i'll get you the transport... if you promise no one else gets hurt and we still have contact with the others..."
"Contact through THIS cell and I moderate... no tracking on the transport or I will shoot, any sniper attempt made I or my friend will shoot the rest... understand."
"Ok... ok..." Brass agreed. He couldn't risk the lives of his friends.
"Ya know Brass, you're not bad... it better be here in an hour and 25 mins... Sara will probably be dead by then however! Ahh well, we could ALWAYS take her with us, waste of a hostage... but hey it's fun watching Nicky and big tough Gil Grissom crumble!" Ecklie smiled at Nigel and nodded.
Brass gritted his teeth. "ok.. the transport will be there... "
Ecklie hung up. "So how is going with?" Ecklie smiled. "Well I think Nigel has his heart set on you Nick. Catherine or Gil though..."
"I'll go!" Catherine said hugging Lynsey who was in tears.
Ecklie smiled, "Hear that Grissom, she wants to be with me!"
Catherine glared at Ecklie, "In your dreams..."
"Cath... stay with Lynsey.... I'll go..."
Ecklie frowned, "Ummm, Lynsey's going..."
"Then I'll go with her..." Catherine said.
"Listen Ecklie... Let Cath, Sara and Lynsey go... " Gil reasoned.
Ecklie laughed, "Ummmm NO! "I'm thinking you and Sara. No wait... Lynsey would like to go free?"
Lynsey looked at the man who scared her so much, "I want to stay with uncle Gil."
"No hunny, you go with Sara, ok..." Catherine smiled at Lynsey, "I'll be ok with uncle Gil."
"NO!" Lynsey shouted.
Ecklie shook his head, "RIGHT! We're taking Nick, Catherine and Lynsey. No debate!"
"Lynsey... listen go with Sara.... please hunny..." Gil pleaded with Lynsey
"Ok, I'll go with Sara."
"Thank-you hun..." Gil smiled a little at her.
"Sorry sweetheart... I've made my mind up!" Ecklie grinned at Gil, "I'll take good care of your family..." He said in a sickly sweet voice.
"I'll go with mommy then." Lynsey cuddled into her.
Catherine looked over at Nick. She frowned.
Lynsey grabbed the little plush dog, she walked over to Nick. "Nick?"
Nick looked up at the little girl in front of him. "yea?"
She handed him Strokes, "Take him and when Sara wakes up, she'll know you have him..." She smiled.
Nick felt his eyes water and took the plush puppy tenderly and held it in his arms. gently laying it on his lap.
"Sara will be ok, My unlce Gil will take car of her." She smiled.
Nick hung his head and frowned. He wouldn't know if Sara would be alright for sure and he doubted it. Lynsey walked away.
