Factories

Nick flattened out the large map and cleared his throat. Inside, his heart was fluttering with potential excitement. He waited for a nod from Grissom before starting.

"Okay," he said. He pointed to an area along the Nevada and Arizona border. "This area has tons of old factories, some still operational and some just abandoned. Lots of titanium dioxide there too, so I think there's a good chance that's where they are."

Warrick, Catherine and Sara all nodded but Grissom didn't react. He looked to Brass, who picked things up.

"Arizona PD is already searching," he said. "And I've convinced them to let us search as well, with a local authority present." Nick's face lit up at that.

"Okay," Grissom said, "I assume Nick is ready to go. Catherine and I will go with him and Brass."

"I'm not going?" Warrick asked. Sara looked like she had the same question in mind. Grissom shook his head.

"I need you two on another case. 419, downtown," he said. He turned to Brass. "Let's go."

Nick was the first one out the door.

Lane circled Kostya like a hungry shark, but the Russian didn't flinch where he sat. He could see the fire in the Brit's eyes, though. It made Kostya want to laugh.

Lane never could just let something go. He was one of those people that if you were on good terms, you were fine. But if there was ever a problem, Lane would never forget it, even if he was as much at fault. It was a shortcoming of the man, but Kostya doubted Lane cared.

Suddenly Lane kicked Kostya in the side. It wasn't directed to his leg, but it still made Kostya cringe. He swung his leg back again for another kick when Kostya defended himself. He caught Lane's foot with both hands and yanked Lane off his feet.

The Brit landed with a thud, and Kostya stumbled to stand. He wasn't going to just lie down and take a beating. Lane understood the movement, and his eyes took on a malicious gleam.

"All right," he said. "If that's how you want it." Lane charged at the Russian, running into him like a linebacker. Kostya gripped Lane's shoulders, and as both men fell, he twisted Lane off of him.

They were both back on their feet in a second, though Kostya was less stable. His leg ached and he knew this wasn't good for him. That didn't matter now.

Lane took a different stance and spun around, his leg extended. Kostya saw the kick and ducked. As Lane turned past him, Kostya hit his open side. Lane barely stumbled. He spun back and struck out with a fist.

Kostya saw that a bit too late. It caught him in the jaw. For a second, he lost his vision, but it flashed back quickly. He readied himself for Lane's second attack.

It would have been easier for him if his leg allowed more weight. Maybe it was foolish for him to get into this at all. Lane was an accomplished fighter, but normally Kostya could outsmart him. Injury, though, guaranteed Lane a victory. As Lane leapt and kicked out again, Kostya thought he should have thought about that earlier.

Jill slid to a stop outside another warehouse. She'd already hid inside of one for awhile so she could catch her breath, but Ethan came close to finding her. Now she tried another warehouse door, but it was locked.

Ethan was nearby. She could hear his footsteps, even though she thought she was outrunning him. She pulled on the door again, but it didn't give.

She moved around the building, but stopped again as she saw a ladder going up the side of the warehouse. Jill didn't hesitate any longer. She quickly scrambled up the ladder, up to the roof.

Her heart thundered in her ears, and it annoyed her. She tried to listen for Ethan, but her own pulse drowned out any noise he made.

It was beyond dark now, and Jill shivered as she lay flat against the roof. Why did it have to be so darn hot during the day and then freezing at night? It made her wonder why she ever lived in a desert state. She crossed her arms over her chest and tried to trap her warmth.

Kostya. She hoped he was okay. Part of her feared that despite the history between him and Lane, the British man might kill him. She shut her eyes. Thinking like that wouldn't help. She just had to get away, and get help. The sooner she was safe, the sooner Kostya might be as well.

Something light hit the roof, and Jill started at that. She stared at the surface, trying to discern what it was. A pebble lay not far from her. Jill's muscles tightened, ready for flight as she listened to the night.

Ethan. It had to be Ethan. Jill crept to an edge of the roof, moving stealthily now. She slowly peered down.

Nothing was there.

Suddenly her body started shaking. Claustrophobia ate at her as she suddenly felt closed in, trapped. She whirled around to the other side of the roof. Still nothing. Her heart pounded again, ignoring the need to hear and survive.

Another pebble hit close to her and Jill froze. She stared at it, and then she sensed it.

She was being watched. She turned her head to look behind her.

There, standing on the roof of the building behind her, was Ethan. The outline of his body barely stood out against the night sky, but Jill could see his eyes, and his teeth almost glowing as he grinned at his prey.

Jill scrambled for the edge of the roof to the ladder, and barely kept herself from falling as she made it to the ground in a few seconds. She started running again, away from the building where Ethan had been.

She cut a corner and ran hard behind one warehouse. Frantically she searched for a door or a place covered where she could hide. A door was slightly open, coasted. Jill took it.

The warehouse wasn't empty like the others. It was crowded with old, unused machinery. Some of it towered to the top of the building. Jill gulped. It was eerie.

Knowing she didn't have time for fear, she scurried around the machines. One spread out into a conveyer belt. Jill slid beneath it and pressed her body against one end that met up with another machine.

She waited and prayed.

Something rattled and banged shut, but it didn't sound like the door. Jill's eyes darted towards that area, but it was too dark to tell.

She held her breath.

A loud clanging made her jump and almost hit her head on the conveyer belt. Whatever it was, it fell at the other end of the warehouse. It must have been heavy, and metallic, judging by the noise.

Who cares what is it! It had to be Ethan. Jill curled herself up more, and sunk deeper against the machine. Everywhere her eyes darted, she could see his bright eyes taunting her. She closed her eyes and focused on being silent.

Something landed heavily right above her on the conveyer. Jill screamed, unable to pretend she wasn't scared. Suddenly the same thing jumped and landed by her. It was Ethan. He grabbed her by the arm and pulled her out from under the belt.

Jill pulled back, trying to get away, but his hold was tight. He dragged her close to him and then swung something at her head.

Jill felt the impact and promptly lost consciousness.

Lane tried to catch his breath. Kostya was unconscious and bloodied on the floor. For a brief moment, he almost felt sorry. Lane shunned that emotion and grabbed Kostya by a wrist. He dragged the Russian slowly, a bit worn out from his exertions.

He used rope this time, tying it so tightly behind his back that he knew Kostya wouldn't be able to escape. Lane left him on the ground. He glanced at his watch.

It'd been awhile now, too long for his tastes. Where was Ethan? Where was Jill?

That girl had caused too many problems. He didn't have time for anymore. She'd have to make things work, get into Kannell Corp's system. He could risk being traced. Before anyone could make it to them, Lane could escape. All he needed was the access. Once he had that, he would have the money for the next job, and additional resources from a contact who had set this one up.

He heard the scraping of gravel outside the warehouse and quickly drew his gun. He aimed steadily at the door.

Ethan came in, carrying Jill in his arms. The girl was obviously out. She dangled almost lifelessly in the younger man's arms.

"Is she alive?" Lane asked, a hint of panic in his voice. Ethan nodded and dumped her on the floor. "What took you so long?"

Ethan grinned for a moment before becoming stone-faced again. "Just a game of hide and seek." Lane almost laughed at that, but instead pointed to the rope. Ethan began to tie her up.

Ethan glanced at Kostya as he tied up Jill. The Russian's face sported some bruises and a gash along his eyebrow. Blood leaked from the leg wound, and combined to a single picture, Kostya looked nothing like the intimidating renegade he normally was. Lane wasn't concerned though. Not about that at least.

The younger British man stood and went to the computer. Lane watched him.

"What are you doing?" he asked. Ethan turned the laptop on.

"We're not getting anywhere," he said. "The girl can only help so much. We need to get this or find another job." He glanced at Lane directly. "Do you know of anyone else who could hack in? Or can your contact get us access another way?"

Getting access all over again would be another full-fledged job, but Ethan was right. There wasn't much hope in any other way. Lane frankly didn't want to go to those lengths, for several reasons. He wasn't eager to call his contact back and give away that the job had failed.

He shook his head. "Wake her up," Lane said. "She must know something."

Ethan almost sighed, but seemed to hide it in Lane's presence. He shook Jill.

"Jill," he said. "Jill!" He shouted it closer to her ear and shook her harder. The girl stirred a bit. "Wake up!"

The first string in the industrial area that they hit turned up nothing. Nick scowled as Brass drove the CSIs further into Arizona. Ahead of them, a patrolman led the way in his cruiser.

The next string of warehouse seemed as the first—empty and dusty and old. Even so, they turned off the main roads to look.

Nick felt a rush go through his body as he saw a vehicle in the distance.

"Aren't these all supposed to be abandoned?" Nick asked.

Catherine frowned in the seat next to him. "According to the info we have," she said. "But then who is that?"

"Don't get your hopes up too much, Nick," Grissom said from the front seat. "Just because the area isn't functional, doesn't mean it's empty."

Nick squinted his eyes as he looked ahead. The headlights only showed so much, but . . .

"That car fits the description that electronics guy gave us," he said. His pulse rose and Nick subconsciously put his hand on the butt of his gun.

"I think he's right," Brass muttered, looking ahead as well. He picked up his radio to call the other car. "Officer Rodriguez, this could be them."

Lights flashed briefly into the warehouse windows, making Lane jump to his feet. Jill glanced at the windows in time to see another flash of lights.

Someone's here! She sat up straight.

"Cops!" Ethan hissed. He grabbed his gun and clicked off the safety. Lane signaled to him, and the younger man took off to the outer door. He jammed it shut. Lane stepped up on the crates to peer out the window.

He swore as soon as he looked out. Lane bounded off the crates in two hops and stormed towards Jill. She shrank from him and closer to Kostya, who was still unconscious. But it didn't do any good. Lane grabbed her and put the gun to her head.

"Ethan! Shoot out that window!" he demanded. The younger Brit fired three shots, and outside Jill could hear someone scream in surprise.

"Hold your fire!" someone else yelled outside. Lane grinned.

"Yes, hold your fire, or Jill's dead!" Lane shouted. The cold steel buried into her skin—Lane pressed the gun so hard to her head that she tried not to whimper.

"Lane, please," she whispered. The response she got was Lane gripping her arm hard enough to leave bruises.

"Leave her alone," someone said. Jill gasped. It was Kostya. He hadn't moved much, but his eyes were wide open especially as he saw Lane threaten her.

Lane spat off something in Russian to the man. Kostya's eyes flickered to her. Jill swallowed and stared at his dark eyes.

a/n: hmm.. . . In the interest of having a new chapter up, I'll stop it there. Enjoy!