Chapter 20
Catherine walked back into the lab with a tray of extra-strong double-double coffees. She carried the hot beverages down the hall to Grissom's office, knocking lightly on the door before opening it and walking in. Grissom looked at the photo again. He was stumbed, looking up he smiled as the coffee smell hit him.
"Hey you... this should help a little bit..." Catherine smiled at him setting his coffee in front of him.
"Thanks Cath..." He took the coffee and cradled it in his hands. "Where did Lynsey run off to?"
"She's probably in the breakroom with a movie we brought from home..." Catherine smiled.
"When are you going over to check on Nick and Sara?" Grissom asked as he sipped the warm coffee. He picked the photo up again.
"I'm gonna run over there after I finish delivering these coffees..."
"Ok, check in with me." He smiled.
"Will do..." She flashed a smile at him, and left the office.
Griss grinned and went back to the photo, "Come on show me something different."
Brass walked past Catherine and nodded to her and then walked into Grissom's office. "Got anything new?"
"Well Jim, There's a photo of Nick's Face scratched out and I have no idea what he's gonna do next..."
Brass frowned. "I dunno if he'd try anything so soon, but this is a friend of Nigel's so who knows what he's liable to do..."
"What does our friend Nigel say?"
"nothing.. " Brass raised an eyebrow. "well Chad's intentions are clear... and more than likely he'll try to go through with them... So What can we do to intervene? to prevent it?"
"We need to get Nick and Sara to go to a safe house or something."
"But if he's constantly watching them, and they don't show up around the house, won't he know somethings up?"
"I don't know Jim... I just wanna catch the son of a bitch." Grissom groaned. "Cath's away to check on them."
Brass layed a hand on his shoulder. "We all want this guy to go down, but we have to be careful... After all, we're dealing with someone's life on the line..."
"I just want him to slip up..." Grissom moaned and rubbed his forehead.
"He will... and when he does, we'll be there to take him down."
"I hope so..."
"Just keep looking... I'm sure something will come to you." Brass nodded before he turned around and headed back out of the office.. "I'll talk to you later"
"Bye Jim."
*~*
Catherine walked up the steps with Lynsey and knocked on Sara and Nick's door
Sara answered the door. "Cath! Hi, what a surprise, "Hey Lyns!"She smiled at the young girl, then turned and called down the hallway. "Nick, Cath's here!" She smiled and let them in. "He's putting Andy down."
Catherine smiled at her. "Hey... How's everything?"
"Wonderful." Sara grinned as she thought of earlier that morning. "Lynsey you want a cookie?"
Lynsey nodded and ran to the kitchen with Sara. Sara held the cookie jar to her. She picked one then waited for Sara to pour her some juice. "Thanks Sara."
"Your welcome, You want anything Cath?" Sara shouted.
"no.. I'm fine.." Catherine said as she walked down the hall
Nick put Andy down and walked back out. "Hey Cath!" He smiled at her
"Uncle Nick!" Lynsey shouted and ran cookie in hand to see Nick.
"Hey Lyns!" Nick scooped the girl into his arms and lifted her up into the air.
"Where's Andy?" Lynsey asked, munching on her cookie.
Sara smiled at Nick and Lynsey. "Hun, you want anything?" she asked as she started to make a sandwich.
"He's asleep..." Nick turned to Sara. "No thanks.. I'm fine..."
"Awww!" Lynsey pouted, "Can I watch TV? You have ALL the channels."
"Sure... of course you can..." Nick smiled and let her down.
"Yay!" Lynsey ran to the TV and turned on the cartoon channels.
Nick walked back out to the kitchen where Sara and Catherine were. "So Cath... I take it you're here to check in on us, make sure we're not doing anything naughty?" Nick smirked. "How's everything at CSI?"
Sara smiled, "Cath you want a sandwich?"
"Uh, why not... " Catherine said to Sara and then turned back to Nick. "Grissom's still not getting anywhere with the photo yet... but i'm sure something will turn up"
"What picture?" Sara frowned and ate the sandwich.
Catherine looked up at Sara. "Picture??" She scolded herself inwardly for every mentioning it
"Yeah picture, what do you mean?" Sara frowned.
"ummm... it's nothing... forget i said anything about it... ok?" Cath said pleadingly, then turning her attention to her sandwich
Sara looked at Nick. "Catherine... Can i assume that this has something to do with us? Something that you guy want to keep from us?" Nick looked at her.
"ok... it does concern you, but I'm not at liberty to delve out any information, even to you guys. I have to leave that up to Grissom. I'm sorry..." Catherine said solemnly
"Cath!" Sara scolded.
"Maybe I should call him..." Nick frowned and reached for the cordless phone and dialled the crime lab. "yes... I'd like to speak with Gil Grissom. This is Nick Stokes... Yes, I'll hold..." He glanced over at Catherine.
~"Gil Grissom."~
"Griss... What's this I hear about a photo? one that concerns me? I think I have a right to know..."
~"What? Huh? Photo? Is Cath there?" Grissom rubbed his temple.~
"yes... she is." Nick answered, still waiting for his answer
~"Can I talk to her?"~
"One minute.." Nick looked over at Cath and handed her the phone.
"hello? Gil?"
~"What did you say?" Grissom fumed.~
"I - I just mentioned a picture that you were working on, that had to do with them. I'm sorry, it just slipped out..." Catherine apologized
~"It's ok. Tell them and I'll talk to Nick and Sara tonight..."~
"Ok... I'll see you soon..." Catherine said.
~"Bye."~
Sara went to check on Andy. She kissed his forehead and then went back to hug Nick.
Catherine glanced back from Nick to Sara. "OK... I think you guys should have a seat." She paused. "About the picture... Gil received it in an envelope earlier tonight. No Name, No Address. It's a picture of you three, that was taken recently. The thing that worried us was that Nick's face was scratched out of it. Grissom's working on it now for any trace evidence or DNA, but nothing's turned up so far..."
"What!? Why didn't you tell us?" Sara looked at Nick and grabbed his hand.
"It only started earlier today, and we wanted to wait until the time was right..." Catherine said
"The time!? When... we had a right to know!" She looked at them, "Andy!" She got up and ran to his room.
Nick frowned "So.. what do we do now?" He was tired of all the games and the worry, and it showed on his face. Nick seemed to look ten years older and he seemed paler than before.
"I don't know, Nick... I wish I did, but I don't. Grissom will talk to you guys tonight... maybe he's come up with something..."
Sara walked back with Andy in her arms. "This is going to far..." She wiped the tears off her cheek.
"I'm tired of playing games... I just want this to be over with... And it's not going to end until one of us is dead or behind bars...." Nick shook his head.
"We can't stay here..." Sara looked at Nick with pleeding eyes. "Nick take us somewhere..."
Nick walked over to Sara and grasped her shoulders, looking into her eyes. "Sara... I don't know how this is going to work, but maybe... Maybe you and Andy should go away, to your parents house or something.... all I know is that If I'm with you, I'm putting you and Andy in danger, and I don't want anything bad to happen to you..." Nick blinked the tears away.
"No Nick I want to be with you... I can't leave you now..." She placed Andy in his carrier. "Ohh nick." She hugged Nick.
Nick kissed the top of her head and hugged her tightly. "Pack your bags... just in case. We should talk to Grisom first before we do anything..."
Catherine walked into the living room to get Lynsey. "Come on hun... We have to leave now ok? Mommy's got to get back to work...."
*~*
Catherine walked down the halls towards Grissom's office, knocking on the door lightly. "Hey..."
"Catherine, hi, how did Nick and Sara take the news?" He asked looking up.
"Not so good... I mean, how would you react?" Cath frowned and closed the door behind her before taking a seat opposite of Grissom. "Nick's.... well, Nick's not going to be able to keep going through this... He's tired and worn out... I'm worried about him Gil..." Cath frowned again. "And Sara's out of her mind... She knows the risks, and the danger that's coming again... Gil, what are we going to do. They are our friends... we have to do something to protect them..."
"I don't know what to do... I just don't know!" Grissom growled and threw the papers down on the desk.
Catherine bit her lower-lip. "It's not fair..." She whispered to herself.
"What if they..." Grissom started
"What?" Cath looked up in interest
"Grissom!" Greg shouted cutting him off.
Catherine turned around in her seat. "I think you're wanted..."
"I got it! We got it.... me and Warrick... we found a print and trace have something too!" Greg grinned breathlessly.
Catherine looked between Greg and Grissom. "I'll go get Sara and Nick..."
Warrrick ran down the corridor, "Look, we have a lead!"
"What do you have?" Greg asked as he walked towards his DNA lab to retrieve the lab report on the print they had found. He returned, triumphant, with the sheet, handing it to Grissom.
"Trace just back, get this there was horse crap on the back of the picture, which means..."
"Stables!" Greg exclaimed.
"He must have scratched the photo while it was lying on a surface with horse crap on it!" Grissom grinned. "At least it narrows the number of places he could have been."
"I'll check the computer for a list of Stables in Clark County..." Greg smiled and was off agin
"Warrick go check them out with Greg and Brass. Catherine go tell Sara and Nick." Grissom ordered then walked down the corridor.
"Where are you going?" Cath called after him
"To talk have a chat..." He called and wandered away.
Cath raised and eyebrow and walked in the opposite direction to tell Nick and Sara the news.
Sara sat when Nick clinging onto his hand as Andy slept. She looked at Nick, he looked so drained, so different, so tired. She wanted to hold him and promise everything was ok and this was all a dream, but she couldn't.
Catherine walked in the room, taking a seat in front of them. "The guys have a lead." She smiled at them. "It's not much, but it narrows downt he field quite a bit..."
"Where to?" Sara asked.
"The stables... there had been traces of horse maneure on the back of the photo..." She smirked
Nick couldn't help but chuckle. It felt good and seemed to lighten the mood.
"What you laughing at babe?" Sara asked looking at him.
"It's just funny... I mean, talk about your shitty situation... " Nick smiled.
"Anyway... Greg, Warrick And Brass are off to check out the stables. And Grissom's... Somewhere..."
"What can we do?" Sara asked.
"Just hang out here for a while I guess... not much else TO do..." Nick surmised.
"Nick maybe we should get a hotel room or something, you're tired." Sara looked concerned at him.
"I agree with Sara.... you should get some rest..." Catherine shared in Sara's concern towards Nick.
"I don't think I'll be able to sleep much, but ok...." Nick nodded.
"Good, come on, I think someone else needs to be settled as well. I'll need to go back to the house, I've forgotten some of Andy's things."
"alright.." Nick turned back to Catherine. "We'll talk to you tomorrow.. and we'll have our cell's on all night if you need to reach us..."
"Bye Cath." Sara smiled and took Andy's carrier and bag, then followed Nick.
Nick opened the Tahoe door for Sara and climbed into the driver's seat.
"you ok to drive?" Sara asked rubing his hand.
"Yea... I think so..." Nick tried to stifle a yawn. "Maybe you should drive..." He smiled at her
"Ok." She moved into the drivers seat as Nick walked round to the pasenger side. "To the house then where?"
"uhh... a motel? probably Morris Motels? Good rooms at a good price..." Nick commented.
"Ok babe." She smiled and drove up the drive to their home. "I should have left some lights on..."
Nick got out of the Tahoe and got Andy before walking up to Sara. "Just watch your step.... you have the keys?" Nick asked.
"Yeah," She unlocked the door and turned on the hallway light. She walked into the living room and turned on the lights so the house was fully lit. "I'm going to get his stuff."
Nick held Andy in his arms and walked up to his and Sara's room to grab his own bag. He walked back out and headed to Andrew's room.
Sara walked down to Andy's room and grabbed his overnight bag and took what was needed.
"You got everything?" Nick asked, poking his head in.
"Almost babe..." Sara called, "Just need to find his Texas Ted..."
Nick chuckled and walked into the room with Andy. "I think it's in his play pen..."
"Ok." she went to his play pen and picked it up. It was Andy's favourite teddy. She put it in the bag,"what else do I need for overnight."
"Just the essentials.. and you have those... " Nick smiled.
"Ok lets go..." She smiled.
Nick flicked off the lights and walked out to the front door, leaving one lamp on in the living room.
Sara grabbed the bag. She shivered slightly, "I feel I have forgotten something..."
"Well, if it's anything important we can run by later and get it... " Nick kissed her forehead. "Don't worry..."
"ok hunny."
Nick locked the door and strapped Andy into his car seat before getting intot eh passengers side.
Sara kissed Nick's cheek. "Ohh I know what I've forgotten, I'll be two seconds!"
.... Continued in 21 ....
Catherine walked back into the lab with a tray of extra-strong double-double coffees. She carried the hot beverages down the hall to Grissom's office, knocking lightly on the door before opening it and walking in. Grissom looked at the photo again. He was stumbed, looking up he smiled as the coffee smell hit him.
"Hey you... this should help a little bit..." Catherine smiled at him setting his coffee in front of him.
"Thanks Cath..." He took the coffee and cradled it in his hands. "Where did Lynsey run off to?"
"She's probably in the breakroom with a movie we brought from home..." Catherine smiled.
"When are you going over to check on Nick and Sara?" Grissom asked as he sipped the warm coffee. He picked the photo up again.
"I'm gonna run over there after I finish delivering these coffees..."
"Ok, check in with me." He smiled.
"Will do..." She flashed a smile at him, and left the office.
Griss grinned and went back to the photo, "Come on show me something different."
Brass walked past Catherine and nodded to her and then walked into Grissom's office. "Got anything new?"
"Well Jim, There's a photo of Nick's Face scratched out and I have no idea what he's gonna do next..."
Brass frowned. "I dunno if he'd try anything so soon, but this is a friend of Nigel's so who knows what he's liable to do..."
"What does our friend Nigel say?"
"nothing.. " Brass raised an eyebrow. "well Chad's intentions are clear... and more than likely he'll try to go through with them... So What can we do to intervene? to prevent it?"
"We need to get Nick and Sara to go to a safe house or something."
"But if he's constantly watching them, and they don't show up around the house, won't he know somethings up?"
"I don't know Jim... I just wanna catch the son of a bitch." Grissom groaned. "Cath's away to check on them."
Brass layed a hand on his shoulder. "We all want this guy to go down, but we have to be careful... After all, we're dealing with someone's life on the line..."
"I just want him to slip up..." Grissom moaned and rubbed his forehead.
"He will... and when he does, we'll be there to take him down."
"I hope so..."
"Just keep looking... I'm sure something will come to you." Brass nodded before he turned around and headed back out of the office.. "I'll talk to you later"
"Bye Jim."
*~*
Catherine walked up the steps with Lynsey and knocked on Sara and Nick's door
Sara answered the door. "Cath! Hi, what a surprise, "Hey Lyns!"She smiled at the young girl, then turned and called down the hallway. "Nick, Cath's here!" She smiled and let them in. "He's putting Andy down."
Catherine smiled at her. "Hey... How's everything?"
"Wonderful." Sara grinned as she thought of earlier that morning. "Lynsey you want a cookie?"
Lynsey nodded and ran to the kitchen with Sara. Sara held the cookie jar to her. She picked one then waited for Sara to pour her some juice. "Thanks Sara."
"Your welcome, You want anything Cath?" Sara shouted.
"no.. I'm fine.." Catherine said as she walked down the hall
Nick put Andy down and walked back out. "Hey Cath!" He smiled at her
"Uncle Nick!" Lynsey shouted and ran cookie in hand to see Nick.
"Hey Lyns!" Nick scooped the girl into his arms and lifted her up into the air.
"Where's Andy?" Lynsey asked, munching on her cookie.
Sara smiled at Nick and Lynsey. "Hun, you want anything?" she asked as she started to make a sandwich.
"He's asleep..." Nick turned to Sara. "No thanks.. I'm fine..."
"Awww!" Lynsey pouted, "Can I watch TV? You have ALL the channels."
"Sure... of course you can..." Nick smiled and let her down.
"Yay!" Lynsey ran to the TV and turned on the cartoon channels.
Nick walked back out to the kitchen where Sara and Catherine were. "So Cath... I take it you're here to check in on us, make sure we're not doing anything naughty?" Nick smirked. "How's everything at CSI?"
Sara smiled, "Cath you want a sandwich?"
"Uh, why not... " Catherine said to Sara and then turned back to Nick. "Grissom's still not getting anywhere with the photo yet... but i'm sure something will turn up"
"What picture?" Sara frowned and ate the sandwich.
Catherine looked up at Sara. "Picture??" She scolded herself inwardly for every mentioning it
"Yeah picture, what do you mean?" Sara frowned.
"ummm... it's nothing... forget i said anything about it... ok?" Cath said pleadingly, then turning her attention to her sandwich
Sara looked at Nick. "Catherine... Can i assume that this has something to do with us? Something that you guy want to keep from us?" Nick looked at her.
"ok... it does concern you, but I'm not at liberty to delve out any information, even to you guys. I have to leave that up to Grissom. I'm sorry..." Catherine said solemnly
"Cath!" Sara scolded.
"Maybe I should call him..." Nick frowned and reached for the cordless phone and dialled the crime lab. "yes... I'd like to speak with Gil Grissom. This is Nick Stokes... Yes, I'll hold..." He glanced over at Catherine.
~"Gil Grissom."~
"Griss... What's this I hear about a photo? one that concerns me? I think I have a right to know..."
~"What? Huh? Photo? Is Cath there?" Grissom rubbed his temple.~
"yes... she is." Nick answered, still waiting for his answer
~"Can I talk to her?"~
"One minute.." Nick looked over at Cath and handed her the phone.
"hello? Gil?"
~"What did you say?" Grissom fumed.~
"I - I just mentioned a picture that you were working on, that had to do with them. I'm sorry, it just slipped out..." Catherine apologized
~"It's ok. Tell them and I'll talk to Nick and Sara tonight..."~
"Ok... I'll see you soon..." Catherine said.
~"Bye."~
Sara went to check on Andy. She kissed his forehead and then went back to hug Nick.
Catherine glanced back from Nick to Sara. "OK... I think you guys should have a seat." She paused. "About the picture... Gil received it in an envelope earlier tonight. No Name, No Address. It's a picture of you three, that was taken recently. The thing that worried us was that Nick's face was scratched out of it. Grissom's working on it now for any trace evidence or DNA, but nothing's turned up so far..."
"What!? Why didn't you tell us?" Sara looked at Nick and grabbed his hand.
"It only started earlier today, and we wanted to wait until the time was right..." Catherine said
"The time!? When... we had a right to know!" She looked at them, "Andy!" She got up and ran to his room.
Nick frowned "So.. what do we do now?" He was tired of all the games and the worry, and it showed on his face. Nick seemed to look ten years older and he seemed paler than before.
"I don't know, Nick... I wish I did, but I don't. Grissom will talk to you guys tonight... maybe he's come up with something..."
Sara walked back with Andy in her arms. "This is going to far..." She wiped the tears off her cheek.
"I'm tired of playing games... I just want this to be over with... And it's not going to end until one of us is dead or behind bars...." Nick shook his head.
"We can't stay here..." Sara looked at Nick with pleeding eyes. "Nick take us somewhere..."
Nick walked over to Sara and grasped her shoulders, looking into her eyes. "Sara... I don't know how this is going to work, but maybe... Maybe you and Andy should go away, to your parents house or something.... all I know is that If I'm with you, I'm putting you and Andy in danger, and I don't want anything bad to happen to you..." Nick blinked the tears away.
"No Nick I want to be with you... I can't leave you now..." She placed Andy in his carrier. "Ohh nick." She hugged Nick.
Nick kissed the top of her head and hugged her tightly. "Pack your bags... just in case. We should talk to Grisom first before we do anything..."
Catherine walked into the living room to get Lynsey. "Come on hun... We have to leave now ok? Mommy's got to get back to work...."
*~*
Catherine walked down the halls towards Grissom's office, knocking on the door lightly. "Hey..."
"Catherine, hi, how did Nick and Sara take the news?" He asked looking up.
"Not so good... I mean, how would you react?" Cath frowned and closed the door behind her before taking a seat opposite of Grissom. "Nick's.... well, Nick's not going to be able to keep going through this... He's tired and worn out... I'm worried about him Gil..." Cath frowned again. "And Sara's out of her mind... She knows the risks, and the danger that's coming again... Gil, what are we going to do. They are our friends... we have to do something to protect them..."
"I don't know what to do... I just don't know!" Grissom growled and threw the papers down on the desk.
Catherine bit her lower-lip. "It's not fair..." She whispered to herself.
"What if they..." Grissom started
"What?" Cath looked up in interest
"Grissom!" Greg shouted cutting him off.
Catherine turned around in her seat. "I think you're wanted..."
"I got it! We got it.... me and Warrick... we found a print and trace have something too!" Greg grinned breathlessly.
Catherine looked between Greg and Grissom. "I'll go get Sara and Nick..."
Warrrick ran down the corridor, "Look, we have a lead!"
"What do you have?" Greg asked as he walked towards his DNA lab to retrieve the lab report on the print they had found. He returned, triumphant, with the sheet, handing it to Grissom.
"Trace just back, get this there was horse crap on the back of the picture, which means..."
"Stables!" Greg exclaimed.
"He must have scratched the photo while it was lying on a surface with horse crap on it!" Grissom grinned. "At least it narrows the number of places he could have been."
"I'll check the computer for a list of Stables in Clark County..." Greg smiled and was off agin
"Warrick go check them out with Greg and Brass. Catherine go tell Sara and Nick." Grissom ordered then walked down the corridor.
"Where are you going?" Cath called after him
"To talk have a chat..." He called and wandered away.
Cath raised and eyebrow and walked in the opposite direction to tell Nick and Sara the news.
Sara sat when Nick clinging onto his hand as Andy slept. She looked at Nick, he looked so drained, so different, so tired. She wanted to hold him and promise everything was ok and this was all a dream, but she couldn't.
Catherine walked in the room, taking a seat in front of them. "The guys have a lead." She smiled at them. "It's not much, but it narrows downt he field quite a bit..."
"Where to?" Sara asked.
"The stables... there had been traces of horse maneure on the back of the photo..." She smirked
Nick couldn't help but chuckle. It felt good and seemed to lighten the mood.
"What you laughing at babe?" Sara asked looking at him.
"It's just funny... I mean, talk about your shitty situation... " Nick smiled.
"Anyway... Greg, Warrick And Brass are off to check out the stables. And Grissom's... Somewhere..."
"What can we do?" Sara asked.
"Just hang out here for a while I guess... not much else TO do..." Nick surmised.
"Nick maybe we should get a hotel room or something, you're tired." Sara looked concerned at him.
"I agree with Sara.... you should get some rest..." Catherine shared in Sara's concern towards Nick.
"I don't think I'll be able to sleep much, but ok...." Nick nodded.
"Good, come on, I think someone else needs to be settled as well. I'll need to go back to the house, I've forgotten some of Andy's things."
"alright.." Nick turned back to Catherine. "We'll talk to you tomorrow.. and we'll have our cell's on all night if you need to reach us..."
"Bye Cath." Sara smiled and took Andy's carrier and bag, then followed Nick.
Nick opened the Tahoe door for Sara and climbed into the driver's seat.
"you ok to drive?" Sara asked rubing his hand.
"Yea... I think so..." Nick tried to stifle a yawn. "Maybe you should drive..." He smiled at her
"Ok." She moved into the drivers seat as Nick walked round to the pasenger side. "To the house then where?"
"uhh... a motel? probably Morris Motels? Good rooms at a good price..." Nick commented.
"Ok babe." She smiled and drove up the drive to their home. "I should have left some lights on..."
Nick got out of the Tahoe and got Andy before walking up to Sara. "Just watch your step.... you have the keys?" Nick asked.
"Yeah," She unlocked the door and turned on the hallway light. She walked into the living room and turned on the lights so the house was fully lit. "I'm going to get his stuff."
Nick held Andy in his arms and walked up to his and Sara's room to grab his own bag. He walked back out and headed to Andrew's room.
Sara walked down to Andy's room and grabbed his overnight bag and took what was needed.
"You got everything?" Nick asked, poking his head in.
"Almost babe..." Sara called, "Just need to find his Texas Ted..."
Nick chuckled and walked into the room with Andy. "I think it's in his play pen..."
"Ok." she went to his play pen and picked it up. It was Andy's favourite teddy. She put it in the bag,"what else do I need for overnight."
"Just the essentials.. and you have those... " Nick smiled.
"Ok lets go..." She smiled.
Nick flicked off the lights and walked out to the front door, leaving one lamp on in the living room.
Sara grabbed the bag. She shivered slightly, "I feel I have forgotten something..."
"Well, if it's anything important we can run by later and get it... " Nick kissed her forehead. "Don't worry..."
"ok hunny."
Nick locked the door and strapped Andy into his car seat before getting intot eh passengers side.
Sara kissed Nick's cheek. "Ohh I know what I've forgotten, I'll be two seconds!"
.... Continued in 21 ....