Chapter 17
Greg smiled back at Cassie before walking out to Warrick to help him with the pizza and beer.
Cassie smiled and went to the fridge and got a can of soda.
"What did I miss?" Warrick whispered to Greg.
"I asked out Cassie... and she said yes.." Greg paused.
"You gonna tell Nick?"
"Yea...of course. Why? You think he'll mind?"
"Do I think Nick'll mind you dating one of the only girl relatives, besides his own sisters, that he is closest to? ummm.... No?" Warrick said sarcastically.
"C'mon man... I need some support" Greg gave Warrick a look.
"I'm just saying, I wanna see it!" He grinned and grabbed a slice of pizza.
*~*~*
"I'm taking the trash out." Cassie shouted and went outside. She walked out and to the bin, dumped the sack in it and turned back to the door. She stopped walking, thinking she heard something, "Hello?" She waited for a minute and shrugged hearing nothing as she walked to the door again.
He peered out from a bush off in the distance. *Who is that?* he thought to himself, wondering if she'd cause any trouble in his plan. *Who cares... if she gets in my way, I'll just kill her...* He ducked back into the bush trying not to make any more noise than he already had. He had been monitoring the house and the occupants for months now. But he'd never dared being this close up, for fear of being caught. He smirked to himself. *those idiots will never catch me... they're to stupid to realize what's happening right under their noses... and won't realize it until it's too late*
Sara walked back to the kitchen. "What's happening? Where's Cassie?"
"She took the garbage out..." Greg responded
"Ohh." Sara nodded, smiling as she snatched a piece of Greg's crust from him.
"I'm going to get her and let her know her pizza is gonna get cold..." Nick chuckled and walked towards the door.
"Ok, then..." Warrick started and handed out some extra pizza to Greg and Sara.
Nick opened the door and called out. "Cassie! c'mon your food's getting cold..."
"There's something out there." Cassie shouted.
Chad looked out from the bush at Nick standing there, right in his line of sight. *I could get such a good shot right now... and still have time to get away... but Nigel told me to wait... ah, the hell with him!* Chad thought and pointed his gun.
Nick felt uneasy. "Cassie! Get back in the house... " He called out to her.
"Ok Nicky." Cassie walked up sensing Nick's uneasy feeling and hugged him.
Chad heard something rustle next to him as he was about to shoot, when he fell backwards and shot upwards, towards the open sky. "Shit..."
Nick jumped at the shot and quickly pushed Cassie inside, following behind her. Cassie screamed, rushing inside. Greg and Warrick dropped their slices of pizza and ran out towards the outside door. Sara gasped and hurried to Andy's room, scooping up the small baby into her arms. Gil ran out and looked down the hall. Catherine followed behind him, grabbing onto his hand.
"Go upstairs... stay with Greg." Nick ordered Cassie and ran down the hall to find the others. Cassie nodded and ran up the stairs with Greg.
"What the hell was that?" Gil shouted.
"Is everyone ok?" Catherine asked.
Greg ran over to Cassie. "Are you ok? what happened?" He asked, holding her to him.
"There was a gun shot... a loud bang..." Cassie held on to Greg.
Nick looked out one of the windows to see if he could spot anyone outside.
"I called Brass." annouced Warrick.
"Where's Sara?" Gil asked.
Nick whiped around and ran down the hall towards Andy's room. "Sara! Andy!" Sara held Andy close to her, sitting on the floor in the corner. Nick walked over to them and hugged them. "It's ok..."
"Are you ok Sara?" Gil asked.
Sara nodded and held Andy. "Where's Cassie, she ok?"
"Yea... just a little shaken.." Nick said quietly. "She's with Greg..."
"That a good idea?" Warrick asked, half-smirking.
"Yea... if I can trust Greg enough to take care of my son... I'm sure I can trust him enough to take care of my cousin..." Nick commented as Warrick coughed.
"Warrick, not now." Gil frowned.
Nick looked at all of them. "Warrick, what did Brass say his ETA was... because we need to get outside immediately and start searching for this bastard... If we don't he's going to get away.."
"10 mintues." Warrick answered, looking from Nick to Grissom.
"I'm not waiting that long... This guy's probably already on the move." Nick reached for his gun.
"Nick! Don't dare!" Sara shouted which made Andrew start to cry.
"Sara... someone just shot at me and Cassie... They endangered everyone here, and I'm not letting him get away with it..." Nick said firmly, in a low-growl.
"Shh Andy, do you want Daddy?" Sara said softly trying to soothe Andrew, and make an attempt to change Nick's mind.
Nick leaned down and kissed Andy's forehead. "I'll be back baby.."
Sara heard the sirens outside, "Well that's gonna scare the guy away..."
Nick stood up and took his gun out, checking the barrel to see that it was fully loaded, and headed for the door. "I'm going go talk to Brass, and probably help him search the area..."
"Nick!" Sara yelled. Nick stopped and turned around. Sara handed Andrew to Nick and took the gun.
Gil went out to see Brass. "There was a shot, everyones inside..."
Brass nodded. "Alright... I'll get my boys to search the area" Brass sent the officers on a search and walked back inside. "Is everyone ok?"
"Sara's freaked, Cassie is too... Nick is fuming." Gil recounted. "You got a set of gloves?" He asked as he checked his Tahoe for his kit.
Brass patted his pocket. "as always..." He looked around and watched his officers start the search on their own. "Let's talk to them first..." Brass walked in the room and spotted Nick pacing the room with Andy in his arms. "Nick..." He walked over to him. "You gotta calm down... I got my guys searching the area..."
Nick looked up at Brass. "I don't care how many guys you have out there... they're not going to find him. I know it was Chad... and I know that as soon as he made the shot he took off."
Sara walked back in, "Nick, please calm down..." Nick handed Andy back over to Sara and let out a deep breath. Cassie walked into the room to see Nick.
"Nick... what would have happened if you went out on your own and you did find him!? He has tried to kill you and you would just make it easier for him by go after him on your own! You can't lose you head like that... you gotta think about things like this!" Brass forcefully told Nick, almost shouting at him.
"Brass." Sara growled.
"Who are you?" asked Cassie.
"This is captain Brass. LVPD." Sara said simply.
"Look I'm sorry Sara... but your boy here needs to keep his cool..." Brass said to her.
Nick gave Brass a side-long look. "Hey.. I think I can handle myself... "
"No, Brass is right. Can everyone leave us for a minute?" Sara asked. Everyone nodded and left the room without another word. Nick turned to face Sara. "How dare you..." Sara looked at Nick and then put Andy down.
"How dare I? What are you - " Nick started
"You would have ran out there guns blazing, got yourself shot and left me alone to raise our son..." Sara paused, her voice faultering.
"I - " Nick stopped. "I wouldn't have gotten shot... I wouldn't have left you..." Nick stopped, frowning. "I would have shot that bastard first before he'd have a chance" Nick added, more to himself than anything.
"Nick... how can you be so sure?" Sara looked at him.
"I can't... " Nick frowned, looking down at the floor. Sara looked at Nick and shook her head before walking away. "Sara!" Nick called after her. "Sara! Come back... I'm sorry..."
"Don't EVER do that again. You have more to worry about than just me, you have Andy." Sara said looking at Nick.
"I know.. i'm sorry..." Nick looked into Sara's eyes.
Sara kissed Nick, "Come on, Cassie looked worried."
Nick nodded and went back to pick up Andy, then followed Sara out of the room. Cassie was hugging Greg on the sofa.
Greg looked up from his place on the couch, and looked over at Sara and Nick. "Is everything ok now?"
Sara nodded. "Yeah."
*~*~*
Outisde Gil and Warrick looked around the area. They found footprints but no bullet or bullet casing.
Brass walked over by them. "Find anything?"
"Nope. Well footprints, but nothing other than that." Grissom frowned, obviously frustrated.
Brass sighed. "My guys haven't found anything yet either..."
*~*~*
Cassie looked at Nick, "I can't stay here."
"Is it because of the shooting?" Nick paused. Cassie nodded, looking down at the floor, slightly upset.
"Hey! I have a spare room at my place that you're more than welcome to use..." Greg spoke up. Warrick snorted at Greg.
"If you'd feel better there..." Sara added, looking to Nick also.
"I understand... I do... And it's probably for the best anyway..." Nick said, approving of Greg's offer. Cassie silently went to gather her stuff.
"You don't mind Greg, do you?" Sara asked. Warrick snorted again.
"I wouldn't have offered if I did." Greg smirked over at Warrick, giving him a smug look of satisfaction.
*~* (Later On That Night) *~*
Cassie walked out after settling in her room. She was wearing her pj shorts and vest top. "Hey Greg, that room is massive!"
Greg smiled, poking his head out from the kitchen. "Glad you like it"
She sat on the swivel chair. "Greg your appartment is the best. Nick used to have a place like this when he was at collage! Apart from the playstation!" She got up and looked at Greg's CD collection.
"Make yourself at home ok?" Greg kicked the fridge door shut and walked out with a sandwich.
"Yeah ok Greg." She looked at his game collection. "Ohh I had this one. I smashed it though..." Sitting down she looked through them. Cassie turned and looked back at Greg, "So whatcha wanna do?"
"You wanna watch a movie... I have plenty here..." Greg smiled. "Or we can play playstation..."
"Ohh Playstation!" Cassie smiled. "Hey Greg..."
"yea?" Greg asked, getting the games out.
"Why would my cousin tell me that I've to watch you... so you don't 'oogle' at me... do you have a girlfriend?" She asked, curiously.
"No... I don't... Nick's just protective... and If I did anything he didn't approve of, I'd end up dead.." Greg smiled
"I guess." Cassie smiled. She had Nick's smile, probably a family thing.
Greg skimmed through the games in his hand. "So, what games did you want to play? I've got plenty to choose from..."
"Britney's dance??? ohh Greg please say this isn't yours!" Cassie looked at Greg.
"no... it's my cousin's.. I was babysitting her a couple weeks ago.." Greg made-up an excuse as to why that game was in his house.
"Uh huh..." She looked and smiled, "So what can I beat you at? Racing games? fighting games?"
"Nothing... I am the Master of Every Game EVER Created!!" Greg proclaimed proudly
Cassie smiled and looked at him, "I'll play you at the Britney game... it's dancing yeah?"
"Yea... you're on..." Greg popped the game in his playstation and turned it on
"So is this the one with the dance board on the floor or do you use this?" She asked holding up the controller.
"The controller version... I don't have the floor one yet..." Greg said absent-mindedly. "I mean, my cousin doesn't have it yet.."
Cassie burst out laughing, "Wh..what!? I.." She was in a heap on the floor, she couldn't help it.
"Hey!" Greg gave her a look. "alright already...So I like the dance games... that involve Brittney Spears... it's not THAT funny" Greg shook his head and smiled at her.
"Who is Chad?" Cassie switched gears and looked at Greg seriously.
"Chad?!" Greg was a little surprised by her sudden question. "Why... why do you want to know?"
"Why do they all think he was outside Nick's with a gun?" She said as she played the game.
"I guess Nick didn't tell you..." Greg said more to himself. "I'm not sure if i should tell you, because if Nick didn't, then it was probably for the best..." Greg said, trying to get her to dismiss the question
"Grreegg... pleeaase." She turned and looked at him with her big eyes.
"ok... Chad is the guy that tried to kill Nick and ended up putting him in a coma." Greg said simply, thinking of no other way to say it. "We think he's still after Nick..."
Cassie looked at him, "Why didn't nick tell me?"
"He probably didn't want you to worry... and figured that it was safer this way..."
"I guess. Umm would you mind if I went to bed?" She smiled.
Greg stopped playing the game and looked at her. "no.. not at all..." Greg shut off the game. "if you need anything, just lemme know" Greg paused, again, "and don't tell Nick That i told you about Chad..."
Cassie smiled, "ok Greg. Good Night."
"G'night"
.... Continued in 18 ....
Greg smiled back at Cassie before walking out to Warrick to help him with the pizza and beer.
Cassie smiled and went to the fridge and got a can of soda.
"What did I miss?" Warrick whispered to Greg.
"I asked out Cassie... and she said yes.." Greg paused.
"You gonna tell Nick?"
"Yea...of course. Why? You think he'll mind?"
"Do I think Nick'll mind you dating one of the only girl relatives, besides his own sisters, that he is closest to? ummm.... No?" Warrick said sarcastically.
"C'mon man... I need some support" Greg gave Warrick a look.
"I'm just saying, I wanna see it!" He grinned and grabbed a slice of pizza.
*~*~*
"I'm taking the trash out." Cassie shouted and went outside. She walked out and to the bin, dumped the sack in it and turned back to the door. She stopped walking, thinking she heard something, "Hello?" She waited for a minute and shrugged hearing nothing as she walked to the door again.
He peered out from a bush off in the distance. *Who is that?* he thought to himself, wondering if she'd cause any trouble in his plan. *Who cares... if she gets in my way, I'll just kill her...* He ducked back into the bush trying not to make any more noise than he already had. He had been monitoring the house and the occupants for months now. But he'd never dared being this close up, for fear of being caught. He smirked to himself. *those idiots will never catch me... they're to stupid to realize what's happening right under their noses... and won't realize it until it's too late*
Sara walked back to the kitchen. "What's happening? Where's Cassie?"
"She took the garbage out..." Greg responded
"Ohh." Sara nodded, smiling as she snatched a piece of Greg's crust from him.
"I'm going to get her and let her know her pizza is gonna get cold..." Nick chuckled and walked towards the door.
"Ok, then..." Warrick started and handed out some extra pizza to Greg and Sara.
Nick opened the door and called out. "Cassie! c'mon your food's getting cold..."
"There's something out there." Cassie shouted.
Chad looked out from the bush at Nick standing there, right in his line of sight. *I could get such a good shot right now... and still have time to get away... but Nigel told me to wait... ah, the hell with him!* Chad thought and pointed his gun.
Nick felt uneasy. "Cassie! Get back in the house... " He called out to her.
"Ok Nicky." Cassie walked up sensing Nick's uneasy feeling and hugged him.
Chad heard something rustle next to him as he was about to shoot, when he fell backwards and shot upwards, towards the open sky. "Shit..."
Nick jumped at the shot and quickly pushed Cassie inside, following behind her. Cassie screamed, rushing inside. Greg and Warrick dropped their slices of pizza and ran out towards the outside door. Sara gasped and hurried to Andy's room, scooping up the small baby into her arms. Gil ran out and looked down the hall. Catherine followed behind him, grabbing onto his hand.
"Go upstairs... stay with Greg." Nick ordered Cassie and ran down the hall to find the others. Cassie nodded and ran up the stairs with Greg.
"What the hell was that?" Gil shouted.
"Is everyone ok?" Catherine asked.
Greg ran over to Cassie. "Are you ok? what happened?" He asked, holding her to him.
"There was a gun shot... a loud bang..." Cassie held on to Greg.
Nick looked out one of the windows to see if he could spot anyone outside.
"I called Brass." annouced Warrick.
"Where's Sara?" Gil asked.
Nick whiped around and ran down the hall towards Andy's room. "Sara! Andy!" Sara held Andy close to her, sitting on the floor in the corner. Nick walked over to them and hugged them. "It's ok..."
"Are you ok Sara?" Gil asked.
Sara nodded and held Andy. "Where's Cassie, she ok?"
"Yea... just a little shaken.." Nick said quietly. "She's with Greg..."
"That a good idea?" Warrick asked, half-smirking.
"Yea... if I can trust Greg enough to take care of my son... I'm sure I can trust him enough to take care of my cousin..." Nick commented as Warrick coughed.
"Warrick, not now." Gil frowned.
Nick looked at all of them. "Warrick, what did Brass say his ETA was... because we need to get outside immediately and start searching for this bastard... If we don't he's going to get away.."
"10 mintues." Warrick answered, looking from Nick to Grissom.
"I'm not waiting that long... This guy's probably already on the move." Nick reached for his gun.
"Nick! Don't dare!" Sara shouted which made Andrew start to cry.
"Sara... someone just shot at me and Cassie... They endangered everyone here, and I'm not letting him get away with it..." Nick said firmly, in a low-growl.
"Shh Andy, do you want Daddy?" Sara said softly trying to soothe Andrew, and make an attempt to change Nick's mind.
Nick leaned down and kissed Andy's forehead. "I'll be back baby.."
Sara heard the sirens outside, "Well that's gonna scare the guy away..."
Nick stood up and took his gun out, checking the barrel to see that it was fully loaded, and headed for the door. "I'm going go talk to Brass, and probably help him search the area..."
"Nick!" Sara yelled. Nick stopped and turned around. Sara handed Andrew to Nick and took the gun.
Gil went out to see Brass. "There was a shot, everyones inside..."
Brass nodded. "Alright... I'll get my boys to search the area" Brass sent the officers on a search and walked back inside. "Is everyone ok?"
"Sara's freaked, Cassie is too... Nick is fuming." Gil recounted. "You got a set of gloves?" He asked as he checked his Tahoe for his kit.
Brass patted his pocket. "as always..." He looked around and watched his officers start the search on their own. "Let's talk to them first..." Brass walked in the room and spotted Nick pacing the room with Andy in his arms. "Nick..." He walked over to him. "You gotta calm down... I got my guys searching the area..."
Nick looked up at Brass. "I don't care how many guys you have out there... they're not going to find him. I know it was Chad... and I know that as soon as he made the shot he took off."
Sara walked back in, "Nick, please calm down..." Nick handed Andy back over to Sara and let out a deep breath. Cassie walked into the room to see Nick.
"Nick... what would have happened if you went out on your own and you did find him!? He has tried to kill you and you would just make it easier for him by go after him on your own! You can't lose you head like that... you gotta think about things like this!" Brass forcefully told Nick, almost shouting at him.
"Brass." Sara growled.
"Who are you?" asked Cassie.
"This is captain Brass. LVPD." Sara said simply.
"Look I'm sorry Sara... but your boy here needs to keep his cool..." Brass said to her.
Nick gave Brass a side-long look. "Hey.. I think I can handle myself... "
"No, Brass is right. Can everyone leave us for a minute?" Sara asked. Everyone nodded and left the room without another word. Nick turned to face Sara. "How dare you..." Sara looked at Nick and then put Andy down.
"How dare I? What are you - " Nick started
"You would have ran out there guns blazing, got yourself shot and left me alone to raise our son..." Sara paused, her voice faultering.
"I - " Nick stopped. "I wouldn't have gotten shot... I wouldn't have left you..." Nick stopped, frowning. "I would have shot that bastard first before he'd have a chance" Nick added, more to himself than anything.
"Nick... how can you be so sure?" Sara looked at him.
"I can't... " Nick frowned, looking down at the floor. Sara looked at Nick and shook her head before walking away. "Sara!" Nick called after her. "Sara! Come back... I'm sorry..."
"Don't EVER do that again. You have more to worry about than just me, you have Andy." Sara said looking at Nick.
"I know.. i'm sorry..." Nick looked into Sara's eyes.
Sara kissed Nick, "Come on, Cassie looked worried."
Nick nodded and went back to pick up Andy, then followed Sara out of the room. Cassie was hugging Greg on the sofa.
Greg looked up from his place on the couch, and looked over at Sara and Nick. "Is everything ok now?"
Sara nodded. "Yeah."
*~*~*
Outisde Gil and Warrick looked around the area. They found footprints but no bullet or bullet casing.
Brass walked over by them. "Find anything?"
"Nope. Well footprints, but nothing other than that." Grissom frowned, obviously frustrated.
Brass sighed. "My guys haven't found anything yet either..."
*~*~*
Cassie looked at Nick, "I can't stay here."
"Is it because of the shooting?" Nick paused. Cassie nodded, looking down at the floor, slightly upset.
"Hey! I have a spare room at my place that you're more than welcome to use..." Greg spoke up. Warrick snorted at Greg.
"If you'd feel better there..." Sara added, looking to Nick also.
"I understand... I do... And it's probably for the best anyway..." Nick said, approving of Greg's offer. Cassie silently went to gather her stuff.
"You don't mind Greg, do you?" Sara asked. Warrick snorted again.
"I wouldn't have offered if I did." Greg smirked over at Warrick, giving him a smug look of satisfaction.
*~* (Later On That Night) *~*
Cassie walked out after settling in her room. She was wearing her pj shorts and vest top. "Hey Greg, that room is massive!"
Greg smiled, poking his head out from the kitchen. "Glad you like it"
She sat on the swivel chair. "Greg your appartment is the best. Nick used to have a place like this when he was at collage! Apart from the playstation!" She got up and looked at Greg's CD collection.
"Make yourself at home ok?" Greg kicked the fridge door shut and walked out with a sandwich.
"Yeah ok Greg." She looked at his game collection. "Ohh I had this one. I smashed it though..." Sitting down she looked through them. Cassie turned and looked back at Greg, "So whatcha wanna do?"
"You wanna watch a movie... I have plenty here..." Greg smiled. "Or we can play playstation..."
"Ohh Playstation!" Cassie smiled. "Hey Greg..."
"yea?" Greg asked, getting the games out.
"Why would my cousin tell me that I've to watch you... so you don't 'oogle' at me... do you have a girlfriend?" She asked, curiously.
"No... I don't... Nick's just protective... and If I did anything he didn't approve of, I'd end up dead.." Greg smiled
"I guess." Cassie smiled. She had Nick's smile, probably a family thing.
Greg skimmed through the games in his hand. "So, what games did you want to play? I've got plenty to choose from..."
"Britney's dance??? ohh Greg please say this isn't yours!" Cassie looked at Greg.
"no... it's my cousin's.. I was babysitting her a couple weeks ago.." Greg made-up an excuse as to why that game was in his house.
"Uh huh..." She looked and smiled, "So what can I beat you at? Racing games? fighting games?"
"Nothing... I am the Master of Every Game EVER Created!!" Greg proclaimed proudly
Cassie smiled and looked at him, "I'll play you at the Britney game... it's dancing yeah?"
"Yea... you're on..." Greg popped the game in his playstation and turned it on
"So is this the one with the dance board on the floor or do you use this?" She asked holding up the controller.
"The controller version... I don't have the floor one yet..." Greg said absent-mindedly. "I mean, my cousin doesn't have it yet.."
Cassie burst out laughing, "Wh..what!? I.." She was in a heap on the floor, she couldn't help it.
"Hey!" Greg gave her a look. "alright already...So I like the dance games... that involve Brittney Spears... it's not THAT funny" Greg shook his head and smiled at her.
"Who is Chad?" Cassie switched gears and looked at Greg seriously.
"Chad?!" Greg was a little surprised by her sudden question. "Why... why do you want to know?"
"Why do they all think he was outside Nick's with a gun?" She said as she played the game.
"I guess Nick didn't tell you..." Greg said more to himself. "I'm not sure if i should tell you, because if Nick didn't, then it was probably for the best..." Greg said, trying to get her to dismiss the question
"Grreegg... pleeaase." She turned and looked at him with her big eyes.
"ok... Chad is the guy that tried to kill Nick and ended up putting him in a coma." Greg said simply, thinking of no other way to say it. "We think he's still after Nick..."
Cassie looked at him, "Why didn't nick tell me?"
"He probably didn't want you to worry... and figured that it was safer this way..."
"I guess. Umm would you mind if I went to bed?" She smiled.
Greg stopped playing the game and looked at her. "no.. not at all..." Greg shut off the game. "if you need anything, just lemme know" Greg paused, again, "and don't tell Nick That i told you about Chad..."
Cassie smiled, "ok Greg. Good Night."
"G'night"
.... Continued in 18 ....