Chapter 22
Warrick made his way up the stairs and through the open door saw Nick's head lowering into solid ground from a kitchen window. 'I must be hallucinating.' He started to walk into the kitchen and saw Brass sitting in one of the chairs at the table. "Hey, Brass, where's Nick and Grissom?" Jim Brass looked at the man and whispered, "They're outside," Warrick didn't respond, he left the kitchen in a flash and went over to the spot where he saw Nick's head 'disappear' He saw the opened trap door, and thought the same thing that Brass did when the latter saw the misplaced grass, "What a bitch." He to made his way down the steps just in time to see the cement door shut close.
Catherine immediately jumped to her feet and rushed over to Nick. "You let it close. Now we can't get out." Grissom was so surprised to see Catherine here, of all people. HE thought that she was at home, getting mad at him. "Catherine, it's a door. What's the big deal?" Catherine turned on Grissom, her fury at her boss did not lessen any. She was still royally pissed off at the fact that he made her leave that interrogation room and actually took her off the case. "Gris, back off! This door opens only from one side." Nick took a shaky step backwards and leaned against the door. "Oh, shoot, Catherine, I'm soo sorry." Catherine turned to face Nick and seeing what he had done gathered his arm and forcefully jerked him away from the door. "Hey, I know you're mad, but it was an accident, I'm sorry." Nick was massaging his shoulder standing at a distance from Catherine. She gave no explanation but Grissom noticed. "Nicky, look." He pointed at the door and Nick fell silent. Everyone stared at the bloody streaks on the surface. Grissom finally moved, "Catherine," he gathered the woman's hands and started expecting them. But she snatched them away, "That's not MY blood." Grissom looked up questioningly and Catherine explained. "It's Sara's." Grissom made a funny noise in his throat and tears sparkled in his eyes. "Sara..." Catherine lowered her gaze and shuffled her feet to the bed. Nick and Grissom started following but when Catherine noticed this she stopped mid-stride. "And where's Warrick?" Nick answered, "He's outside, he should come to our rescue soon. And Mrs. Fields, don't worry about her. She.." Catherine unprofessionally cut him off. "I don't give a damn about that bitch," she seethed, Nick swallowed hard, "And if Warrick is here somewhere, you stay by the door. If he comes in we don't need that damn thing shutting on us again." Nick looked hurt, he wanted to see the bed too, instead he had to be guard. "But," Catherine shot a threatening glare his way and the young man shut up.
As Catherine and Grissom proceeded to the bed, Warrick appeared. He lightly walked in and as soon as he did, Nick the guard, took the door with both hands. "Hey, War. Step away from the door please." Doing what he was asked to, Warrick took a few steps to the side. "Now," Nick explained, "This door only opens from the outside, if we let it shut we are locked in here till we rot. Got it? You have to hold it so that it will not close on us, ok?" Nick shifted to give Warrick some room and the latter assumed Nick's former position, holding the door. "If you shut the door, you will kill all of us. No pressure pal." Warrick weakly chuckled and looked on as Nick went to join Catherine and Grissom. "I have been here about a day, maybe. I found Lindsey up against the wall, she was bleeding badly from her head. And I was so preoccupied I didn't noticed as that wench went and closed the door, so I was locked in. I went over and noticed the blood, that's when I ran over here and sat by Sara a few seconds. Then, I carried Lindsey over to the bed and I've been here ever since." Grissom looked on in awe. Here was Sara, beaten up, badly bruised, and hallucinating. The noise volume increased considerably as the CSI's talked, and even though to normal people it would've been inaudible whispering, to a person who has heard nothing but silence for days it was like being under a waterfall. Sara started moaning and turning and in turn woke up Lindsey. Catherine immediately gathered her child in her protective arms and held her. Softly rocking back and forth, lulling her back to sleep. Grissom on the other hand, slowly knelt down by the bed and looked at his little sweetheart. "Lindsey....no....go....away....Catherine I'm....sorry....didn't mean.....angry...so...sorry.....please...help....Grissom...." he froze and Nick joined him on the floor, "No..help...Grissom....save.....me.....please......help.....someone.....Lindsey......honey......Grissom......please.......somebody help.......please...somebody...help..please.....Grissom......save me........no.....go away......leave us....alone...Grissom........help.....Catherine.......sorry...." Grissom was blushing, but no one seemed to notice. And Nick was getting teary, his little sister had not called for him. Warrick, on the other hand, was getting agitated. "Hey, anyone. People??? Can I see Sara please???" Catherine slowly walked over, burdened with her child, and propped the door open. Letting the man go over to the bed to take a look. "Oh man, poor Sara." Warrick could not belive what he saw. Grissom slowly stood up, "Hey, Warrick. Could you do me a favor? We are going to need another ambulance." Warrick solemnly nodded and ran past Catherine and up the stairs. Grissom went back on his knees and gathered Sara's hand in his own. "Sara, I'm here now. Sara. . . we're here now. No one is going to hurt you and Lindsey is safe. She is safe." His thumb slowly and soothingly stroked her hand. Nick put out his hand to relieve Sara's face from her tangled hair but withdrew it when he saw the nasty, infected gash. "I guess we better not move her. She might be deeply hurt." Grissom let go of Sara's hand and the mumbles from the delirious woman increased considerably. The two men stood up and headed over towards Catherine near the doorway. "So," Nick started. Catherine tore her gaze away from the sleeping form of the child in her arms and opened her mouth, "Well, I'm just glad that they're alive." Grissom nodded, he understood. He felt the same way, "How is Lindsey? Is she hurt?" Catherine's eyes filled with tears, "She's.....she's ok, I think. She's not hurt as bad as Sara, not at all." A solitary tear slipped down the woman's face and Grissom and Nick looked on with compassion. Suddenly, footsteps were heard and Warrick appeared, all out of breath. "The ambulance should be here in about a minute, and the second and third shortly after that..." he noticed Catherine's bend head and put a finger under her chin. "Hey, Cath. Everything will be ok. Don't worry about it, the ambulance is on its way, and the culprit is caught and will be hospitalized." Catherine's head jerked upwards but she made no comment about the hospitalization. She let out a loud sigh as her arms registered numbness from Lindsey's body. Warrick noticed and softly prying her hands away took Lindsey into his strong arms. Catherine did not object, she just sniffled a little. "Oh, come here." Warrick shifted Lindsey into a comfortable position and used a free hand to gather Catherine in a hug. Nick and Grissom both turned around to give the people some privacy and returned their attention back to Sara. "Wow, she took quite a beating, didn't she?" Grissom nodded to Nick's statement. "Yea, she probably did everything that she could to protect Lindsey." He proudly smiled and fixated his gaze upon the brunette. Finally, he sat down on the bed beside Sara and gathered her hand in his. Softly talking to her, "Don't worry Sara, everything will be all right. We are here now. I'm here. I won't let anything else happen to you, I promise." Grissom was suddenly in his own little world and Nick was suddenly all alone.
Nick wasn't solitary for long though, a few moments later, the familiar sirens were heard above ground and then many footsteps resounded against the cement walls as paramedics filed in. Grissom was pried away from the bed, Lindsey was taken away from Warrick, Nick was pushed out of the way, and the four CSI's were forced to leave and go up the stairs to wait by the ambulances. A couple of people tenderly lifted Sara upon a gurney and started the difficult way up the stairs. And Lindsey was put on a stretcher also and followed Sara. The paramedics emerged and made their way towards the white cars. There was three parked outside, with a couple of squad cars here and there. One of the ambulances was already making its way to the hospital, carrying Mrs. Fields. Brass was talking to a police officer and the four friends were awaiting Lindsey and Sara. The doctor that was in charge announced as soon as they were in hearing range, "One person can go with each victim." Warrick and Nick stepped back together and Warrick motioned for the other to follow him. They made their way to the Captain and watched as an officer walked away. "Hey Brass, we're gonna follow them to the hospital ok? Have one of the officers get the Tahoe and we'll take Catherine's car. Probably won't be back here for a while, and Gris might want his car back." Brass was confused, "Catherine's car? But," Warrick smiled, "Don't worry about it." So, saying his goodbyes, Warrick led Nick into the woods where the car was hidden. Nick laughed out loud. "How did we not guess???" Warrick nodded and the two men started de-camouflaging the vehicle. Warrick climbed into the driver's seat and Nick went in beside him in the passenger seat. The keys were already in the ignition because Catherine was ready for a fast exit. Warrick shook his head knowingly and maneuvered the car out of the thicket. He came onto the road just in time to see the two ambulances disappear around the curve. "Hang on!" he threw the words carelessly at Nick and floored the gas pedal.
Warrick made his way up the stairs and through the open door saw Nick's head lowering into solid ground from a kitchen window. 'I must be hallucinating.' He started to walk into the kitchen and saw Brass sitting in one of the chairs at the table. "Hey, Brass, where's Nick and Grissom?" Jim Brass looked at the man and whispered, "They're outside," Warrick didn't respond, he left the kitchen in a flash and went over to the spot where he saw Nick's head 'disappear' He saw the opened trap door, and thought the same thing that Brass did when the latter saw the misplaced grass, "What a bitch." He to made his way down the steps just in time to see the cement door shut close.
Catherine immediately jumped to her feet and rushed over to Nick. "You let it close. Now we can't get out." Grissom was so surprised to see Catherine here, of all people. HE thought that she was at home, getting mad at him. "Catherine, it's a door. What's the big deal?" Catherine turned on Grissom, her fury at her boss did not lessen any. She was still royally pissed off at the fact that he made her leave that interrogation room and actually took her off the case. "Gris, back off! This door opens only from one side." Nick took a shaky step backwards and leaned against the door. "Oh, shoot, Catherine, I'm soo sorry." Catherine turned to face Nick and seeing what he had done gathered his arm and forcefully jerked him away from the door. "Hey, I know you're mad, but it was an accident, I'm sorry." Nick was massaging his shoulder standing at a distance from Catherine. She gave no explanation but Grissom noticed. "Nicky, look." He pointed at the door and Nick fell silent. Everyone stared at the bloody streaks on the surface. Grissom finally moved, "Catherine," he gathered the woman's hands and started expecting them. But she snatched them away, "That's not MY blood." Grissom looked up questioningly and Catherine explained. "It's Sara's." Grissom made a funny noise in his throat and tears sparkled in his eyes. "Sara..." Catherine lowered her gaze and shuffled her feet to the bed. Nick and Grissom started following but when Catherine noticed this she stopped mid-stride. "And where's Warrick?" Nick answered, "He's outside, he should come to our rescue soon. And Mrs. Fields, don't worry about her. She.." Catherine unprofessionally cut him off. "I don't give a damn about that bitch," she seethed, Nick swallowed hard, "And if Warrick is here somewhere, you stay by the door. If he comes in we don't need that damn thing shutting on us again." Nick looked hurt, he wanted to see the bed too, instead he had to be guard. "But," Catherine shot a threatening glare his way and the young man shut up.
As Catherine and Grissom proceeded to the bed, Warrick appeared. He lightly walked in and as soon as he did, Nick the guard, took the door with both hands. "Hey, War. Step away from the door please." Doing what he was asked to, Warrick took a few steps to the side. "Now," Nick explained, "This door only opens from the outside, if we let it shut we are locked in here till we rot. Got it? You have to hold it so that it will not close on us, ok?" Nick shifted to give Warrick some room and the latter assumed Nick's former position, holding the door. "If you shut the door, you will kill all of us. No pressure pal." Warrick weakly chuckled and looked on as Nick went to join Catherine and Grissom. "I have been here about a day, maybe. I found Lindsey up against the wall, she was bleeding badly from her head. And I was so preoccupied I didn't noticed as that wench went and closed the door, so I was locked in. I went over and noticed the blood, that's when I ran over here and sat by Sara a few seconds. Then, I carried Lindsey over to the bed and I've been here ever since." Grissom looked on in awe. Here was Sara, beaten up, badly bruised, and hallucinating. The noise volume increased considerably as the CSI's talked, and even though to normal people it would've been inaudible whispering, to a person who has heard nothing but silence for days it was like being under a waterfall. Sara started moaning and turning and in turn woke up Lindsey. Catherine immediately gathered her child in her protective arms and held her. Softly rocking back and forth, lulling her back to sleep. Grissom on the other hand, slowly knelt down by the bed and looked at his little sweetheart. "Lindsey....no....go....away....Catherine I'm....sorry....didn't mean.....angry...so...sorry.....please...help....Grissom...." he froze and Nick joined him on the floor, "No..help...Grissom....save.....me.....please......help.....someone.....Lindsey......honey......Grissom......please.......somebody help.......please...somebody...help..please.....Grissom......save me........no.....go away......leave us....alone...Grissom........help.....Catherine.......sorry...." Grissom was blushing, but no one seemed to notice. And Nick was getting teary, his little sister had not called for him. Warrick, on the other hand, was getting agitated. "Hey, anyone. People??? Can I see Sara please???" Catherine slowly walked over, burdened with her child, and propped the door open. Letting the man go over to the bed to take a look. "Oh man, poor Sara." Warrick could not belive what he saw. Grissom slowly stood up, "Hey, Warrick. Could you do me a favor? We are going to need another ambulance." Warrick solemnly nodded and ran past Catherine and up the stairs. Grissom went back on his knees and gathered Sara's hand in his own. "Sara, I'm here now. Sara. . . we're here now. No one is going to hurt you and Lindsey is safe. She is safe." His thumb slowly and soothingly stroked her hand. Nick put out his hand to relieve Sara's face from her tangled hair but withdrew it when he saw the nasty, infected gash. "I guess we better not move her. She might be deeply hurt." Grissom let go of Sara's hand and the mumbles from the delirious woman increased considerably. The two men stood up and headed over towards Catherine near the doorway. "So," Nick started. Catherine tore her gaze away from the sleeping form of the child in her arms and opened her mouth, "Well, I'm just glad that they're alive." Grissom nodded, he understood. He felt the same way, "How is Lindsey? Is she hurt?" Catherine's eyes filled with tears, "She's.....she's ok, I think. She's not hurt as bad as Sara, not at all." A solitary tear slipped down the woman's face and Grissom and Nick looked on with compassion. Suddenly, footsteps were heard and Warrick appeared, all out of breath. "The ambulance should be here in about a minute, and the second and third shortly after that..." he noticed Catherine's bend head and put a finger under her chin. "Hey, Cath. Everything will be ok. Don't worry about it, the ambulance is on its way, and the culprit is caught and will be hospitalized." Catherine's head jerked upwards but she made no comment about the hospitalization. She let out a loud sigh as her arms registered numbness from Lindsey's body. Warrick noticed and softly prying her hands away took Lindsey into his strong arms. Catherine did not object, she just sniffled a little. "Oh, come here." Warrick shifted Lindsey into a comfortable position and used a free hand to gather Catherine in a hug. Nick and Grissom both turned around to give the people some privacy and returned their attention back to Sara. "Wow, she took quite a beating, didn't she?" Grissom nodded to Nick's statement. "Yea, she probably did everything that she could to protect Lindsey." He proudly smiled and fixated his gaze upon the brunette. Finally, he sat down on the bed beside Sara and gathered her hand in his. Softly talking to her, "Don't worry Sara, everything will be all right. We are here now. I'm here. I won't let anything else happen to you, I promise." Grissom was suddenly in his own little world and Nick was suddenly all alone.
Nick wasn't solitary for long though, a few moments later, the familiar sirens were heard above ground and then many footsteps resounded against the cement walls as paramedics filed in. Grissom was pried away from the bed, Lindsey was taken away from Warrick, Nick was pushed out of the way, and the four CSI's were forced to leave and go up the stairs to wait by the ambulances. A couple of people tenderly lifted Sara upon a gurney and started the difficult way up the stairs. And Lindsey was put on a stretcher also and followed Sara. The paramedics emerged and made their way towards the white cars. There was three parked outside, with a couple of squad cars here and there. One of the ambulances was already making its way to the hospital, carrying Mrs. Fields. Brass was talking to a police officer and the four friends were awaiting Lindsey and Sara. The doctor that was in charge announced as soon as they were in hearing range, "One person can go with each victim." Warrick and Nick stepped back together and Warrick motioned for the other to follow him. They made their way to the Captain and watched as an officer walked away. "Hey Brass, we're gonna follow them to the hospital ok? Have one of the officers get the Tahoe and we'll take Catherine's car. Probably won't be back here for a while, and Gris might want his car back." Brass was confused, "Catherine's car? But," Warrick smiled, "Don't worry about it." So, saying his goodbyes, Warrick led Nick into the woods where the car was hidden. Nick laughed out loud. "How did we not guess???" Warrick nodded and the two men started de-camouflaging the vehicle. Warrick climbed into the driver's seat and Nick went in beside him in the passenger seat. The keys were already in the ignition because Catherine was ready for a fast exit. Warrick shook his head knowingly and maneuvered the car out of the thicket. He came onto the road just in time to see the two ambulances disappear around the curve. "Hang on!" he threw the words carelessly at Nick and floored the gas pedal.