Chapter 6 by Kristen

This chapter is rated M for a few curse words towards the end.

Warrick Brown had been arguing on his cell phone for the past few minutes. He had been hanging out with Nick the last few hours when he received the dreaded call. He paced outside on the sidewalk where he could get some privacy. He had been dating Tina for almost a month now. It was the most time he had invested with a woman in almost a year, but not nearly enough to say it was a totally dedicated and serious relationship. It still had this kinetic spark, a deep burning fire, but it lacked depth and a full fledged commitment.

"I said we'll talk about this later," he growled into the speaker before his ears were greeted with a click that signaled the end of the call.

He stared at his cell and shook his head as he stuffed it back into his jeans. He rubbed at his chin wearily. Tina just didn't understand. If she couldn't take the time to realize what he was going through and support him, then maybe she wasn't the right woman for him. Warrick worked his jaw back and forth and stomped back over to the townhouse. He would deal with this later.

He opened the door and walked back inside casually as if he just hadn't had a blow out with his girl. His partner lounged on his sofa and glanced up at him as he sulked into a love seat. Nick looked at him thoughtfully and gave him a head nod to ask what was going on.

Warrick grunted. "Nothin' man. Just my woman being a bit disagreeable."

Nick chuckled. "Not planning on going to any more fighting events?"

Warrick rolled his eyes. "Nah. You know how women are."

Now Nick really laughed. "Yeah, I do. But not too much lately."

Warrick cocked his head. "You kiddin me, man. I think you could have your choice of women back at the lab. Being famous and all."

It was meant to lighten up the mood, but Nick quickly looked away. It wasn't until he was out of the hospital and had his in depth conversation with Greg, before he realized how the entire lab had been so dedicated to finding him. When he was trapped in his little hell, it never occurred to him that everyone else had been tortured to every second of his struggles. Every painful moment that he experienced had been transmitted in loving detail to his coworkers. Nick had been made into a freak show spectacle at some mad carnival. The bastard had made sure that even with facing the prospect of death, that everyone in his world would be made to share with it. What kind of dignity would have back at his place of work?

The mastermind behind his ordeal had undoubtedly relished in his suffering. The kidnapper had made sure that every one of his friends had been traumatized by his plight. In the end, they had all been victims. Nick vowed that he wouldn't let that man have the last laugh.

"Whatcha thinkin?" Warrick asked, after it was obvious that his partner had drifted off into his own little world.

Nick shook his head. "I'm not. I won't waste my time dwelling on it, bro."

The criminalist fixed his eyes on the other man. His posture stiffened, as he gathered his resolve. "I'm not going to let it run my life."

Warrick didn't really think that his partner had come to terms with what he went though quite yet. But he wasn't going to push him to talk about it...not right now. The CSI studied his partner. Nick seemed relaxed enough sitting there in a dark blue pair of sweat pants and an old A&M T-shirt. The only physical reminders of his trauma were the bite marks along his face and neck. The rest of his devoured skin was concealed by clothing and the carefully taped gauze that adorned his arms.

The partners had done very little since Nick's visit to the lake. The two criminalists watched the world championship of poker on ESPN for several hours in between repeats of Pardon the Interruption. Nick wanted to lose himself in sports for a while. He squirmed in his seat constantly. His chest started to prickle and his lower legs were a mass of irritation. Every patch of skin itched like crazy and his forearms actually burned. Nick was starting to get anxious as his temperature rose and he started to break out into a sweat.

Warrick noticed how much Nick fidgeted around. "Why don't you try to relax?"

Nick just glared at him, and the other CSI grimaced at his poor sense of advice. "Have you taken you medication for the bites?"

"Yeah, man, its not helping." Nick hated the whine in his tone, but the itch was becoming quite bothersome.

He got up and stalked over to his kitchen counter. Nick took some Advil to try to reduce his slight fever and combat the swelling. After swallowing the pills, he started to walk back and fourth in the small area.

"You think pacing is going to help?"

Nick let out a long sigh. "Damn it."

He didn't know where to put his hands as his flesh seemed to crawl with agitation. The Texan let out a groan and rested his forehead against the wall. He tried to calm down, but he was slightly worn out from his trip to the lake. It was harder for him to relax in his annoyed state. His mind was overly stressed out from his emotional talk with Greg from earlier and his body was physically exhausted.

Warrick strolled over to him. "Nick."

His partner looked up.

Warrick inhaled a long breath. "Why don't you try out those herbs Gris gave you. They couldn't hurt."

Nick growled. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

"When am I wrong?" Warrick asked, his voice mocking a slightly annoyed tone.

Nick rolled his eyes as he snatched the container and strode into his bathroom.

The criminalist peeled away his T-shirt and threw it to the floor. He sat down on the seat of his toilet and systematically pulled away the tape, hissing when it pulled on the hair of his forearms. He unwrapped the cotton gauze reveling the swelled and irritated skin. Nick grumbled to himself, atleast the pain from some of the blisters had subsided.

Nick turned on the facet and started running the warm water. It took a few minutes for the tub to fill and Nick poured the herbs so they would have time to mix in. He pulled off his sweatpants and stripped off his boxers. Nick gingerly lowered his body in the soothing fluid as he pulled the shower curtain around.

The criminalist sighed deeply when the water hit his skin. His sore flesh was enveloped in a wave of moisture and easing liquid. Nick closed his eyes as he settled into the tub and rested his head against the tile behind him. After several minutes his tense muscles relaxed and his desire to scratch his skin raw was slowly erased.

Nick smiled as his flesh soaked in some of the healing properties of the water. He adjusted his position slightly, since his tub wasn't very big. His arm hit the wall when he tried to get comfortable and then his foot stubbed the facet.

He cursed, just as he banged his knee to one side.

The thing was too cramped. The CSI stared at the tiled walls surrounding him. Nick felt his heart start to pound in his chest. His breathing rapidly increased, as he gazed transfixed at the inner closure of the tub. His body barely fit inside and he started to feel closed in. Nick quickly swung open the shower curtain to reveal more of the room.

Air. He wanted more air.

He wasn't trapped by all sides. There was no Plexiglas above his head with dirt all around him. However, the steam that rose form the water suddenly made him feel intensely hot. It wasn't the dry heat from inside the box, but the combination of the tight space with the lack of cool air caused his throat to close up on him.

Nick sat straight up in the tub and placed his hand to his chest as his breath continued to get caught. He started to wheeze, as the panic engulfed the rest of him. Nick's blood pressure sky rocketed as he franticly crawled his way out of the enclosed area. He desperately clung to the grip on the wall above his soap dish. With his fight and flight response, he pulled himself up and nearly tumbled out of it. His foot slipped on the floor and he came crashing down. His knees shook so bad Nick had trouble getting to his feet.

He had to escape this room and now!

The frightened man grappled with the towel bar, his hand missing it several times. His fingers brushed lightly against it and hit the light switch on accident, plunging the bathroom into darkness. Nick found himself back on the floor as a strangled scream escaped his lips.

Warrick channeled surfed for quite a while, not really finding anything of interest to watch. He fiddled with the remote and found the settings used for all of Nick's favorites. Curious, Warrick starting rummaging through Nick's highlighted list, a small smile tugging around his features. Discovery Channel, A&E, Animal Planet, TLC, ESPN Alternative, ESPN, Speed Channel, Out Door Channel. Warrick shook his had good naturally.

"Only you, man." He muttered to himself.

Not being that bowled over by his partner's choice of entertainment, he put on of the music channels and settled on some lite jazz. The criminalist was tired. He did not get a lot of real sleep at his place. Warrick had bee too wired and mentally exhausted for any serious rest. He decided after tonight he would the gym and pound away at a punching bag. Maybe a lot of physical exercise would exert all his energy and let him fall asleep without any more dreaded nightmares.

He was about to get up to heat up one of the pizzas that Sara had purchased when he thought he heard a thud. Warrick turned his attention to the bathroom and concentrated on the noise. He wasn't about to go bounding in when his buddy taking a bath. He started walking closer when he his ears perked up at the sound of a muffled scream.

Warrick sprinted towards the closed door. "Nick?" He called out his name, uncertain what was transpiring behind the walls.

"Warrick!"

There was no mistaking that frightened voice.

Taking a deep breath, Warrick opened the door. The CSI squinted his eyes when he realized the bathroom was dark. He searched out a light switch and flicked it on.

Warrick's mind didn't quite register with the sight in front of him. His instincts kicked in before his ability to analyze, and he swiftly grabbed a towel and draped it around Nick's waist. The other man was shivering and was frozen still in fear. What alarmed Warrick the most besides the obvious breakdown was the fact that Nick was on the verge of hyperventilating.

"Come on, man let me help you up." He encouraged as he grabbed his partner's arm.

Nick could barely got his body to obey his commands. His partner had snagged his arm and was trying to help him stand. Despite feeling like some basket case, Nick was able to get his feet moving and had the presence of mind to clutch the towel around his waist, as he was lead shakily into the hallway.

Nick still felt like his heart had jumped into his throat and was beginning to feel slightly lightheaded. He couldn't catch his breath and his rubbery legs were about to collapse from his weight.

Warrick felt his friend slipping and slung his arm around his shoulders and literally slung Nick over to his sofa before he fell flat on his face.

"Put your head between your knees." Warrick commanded, as he wrestled with his own frantic breathing.

Nick took one rapid shuddering breath after another. He kept his head low and concentrated on trying to calm down.

Warrick stayed crouched in front of him going through all the steps in trying to help victims of a panic attacks.

"Its all right buddy. Everything's fine. " Warrick muttered.

Nick felt his pulse slow down, his chest felt like it was caught less in a vise grip. He wrapped one arm around his middle while the other one still kept himself covered up. After several minutes the rise and fall of his chest slowed a bit. Nick lifted his head slowly, testing to see if he still felt faint.

Nick leaned back against the soft plushness of his sofa and held his face in his left hand.

Warrick let out a slow exhale as he mind flooded with relief. He sat down hard on the floor and put his hand on Nick's knee.

"Um...do ya...I mean..do you have something you want to take?" Warrick looked into brown eyes, hoping that his best friend didn't take his statement the wrong way.

Nick occupied his mind by adjusting the towel around his waist. His cheeks burned slightly as the realization of what happened finally hit him.

"I--well. Yeah. I've got this script," he stuttered.

"Where is it?"

Nick swallowed. "I think somewhere on the counter," he said hoarsely.

Warrick busied himself with collecting the medication. His own hands shook slightly. He squeezed his eyes shut and grit his teeth hard. 'Goddamn that Gordon bastard for doing this.' He screamed in his mind. The CSI needed so badly to let go of his rage, but he would store it away for another time.

He looked at the bottle. Nick's physician explained to him the need for this prescription. Warrick tapped a single pill into his palm. He grabbed a glass of water and gave both items to his partner.

Nick took them quickly, before he allowed himself to think about what he was doing.

'No, he wasn't going to carry this with him all the time. He had to get past it...had to let it go.'

Nick sat numbly on his sofa as the adrenaline rush from his anxiety attack slowly faded. He didn't look up, couldn't face the stricken look of his best friend.

"Could you find my sweats." He asked, his voice cracking.

Warrick blinked several times. "Um, yeah...Sorry."

He entered the bathroom found the pants and grabbed his discarded T-shirt. He brought them back over. Warrick turned around as Nick slipped them back on and sunk back into the couch heavily.

Nick stared at his floor, his raw emotions bubbling to the surface. "First I can't sleep in my own bed last night...now..." Nick's voice trailed off.

Warrick looked down on him. He didn't have words to express how sick he felt inside. Helpless..he was so damn un-useful.

Nick ran his hand through his hair. He felt the volatile rage of his situation boil over. He bolted off the sofa with his hands holding each side of his face.

He breathed hard through his nostrils and let out a long and painful scream. Then he screamed some more.

Warrick flinched at the outburst. It was bound to happen. 'Let is all out, Nicky,' he thought to himself.

Nick pounded on his wall several times, but not hard enough to damage anything. It felt good to release his pent up rage. He placed each hand on the interior and turned his head towards his partner. "I was fine. Then the walls started closing in... then I couldn't breath." Nick bit his lip. "I held it together for 24 hours, Rick, and I can't even deal with being home."

Warrick stood next to him. "You had the guts and the will power and the determination to survive, Nick. However, all that's going to effect you later...you're human, man. I mean...Jesus, Nick...you went though Hell. You were fucking tortured, dude."

Nick shook his head. "What else am I going to freak out about, huh?" Nick stared at his partner willing him to give him some answers. "I mean am I going get the shakes from a stupid fan? Or I know...I'll freeze up whenever I enter the lab.. place's full of Plexiglas. Is there going to be a betting pool on that one?"

Warrick seemed frazzled. "One step at a time...that's what its going to take."

His partner looked up. "I found out about the feed..." Nick said in a low voice, his tone almost unidentifiable.

Warrick too a deep breath and let it out slowly. He walked past Nick as he reasoned out what he was going to say. His partner stood there lost in thought, it was obvious from his posture how mortified he was about the situation.

"Greg, told you?" He asked, his tone hostile towards the ex-lab tech.

Nick straightened to his full height and stalked over. "At least he didn't lie to me about it."

Warrick didn't flinch, but he was slightly hurt by the hidden accusation. "I was going to tell you when you ...when it seemed...

Ah Hell, Nick! I don't know when!"

Warrick brushed past him, with the CSI's eyes on his every movement ..."I mean what's the appropriate time to tell you partner, by the way, after you were abducted, we watched you fight for your life." Warrick turned around his face an angry sea of emotions. "It was so God damn awful..." he whispered.

Nick stared at his friend; all of his self doubt and maybe even a bit of self hatred, melted at the admittance. Nick had tried to forget about his moments in the box...it was easier if he just let it go. But every little thing he did, every freak out, every breakdown was shared with his closet friends.

He felt violently ill as he conjured up terrible fresh memories that he still battled to hide deep down. That damn light had haunted him last night. What Greg told him still played out in his head. He gulped at what all his friends had been put though.

He started pacing again, shaking his head. "He left my fucking gun in there with me, man."

"I know." Warrick said so quietly he wasn't even sure if it was really spoken out loud.

Nick turned slowly around, and faced a very haunted person. Warrick looked like a slight wind might knock him down, his partner had never seen him seem so...so fallible. The CSI started processing the last bits of conversation, then he paled slightly.

"You saw me take out the light."

His mouth was suddenly dry, his vocal cords didn't seem to work. "Yeah."

"I almost...I-I..." Nick felt his fingers treble with the imaginary weight of his Glock. Nick curled his hand into a fist, to keep it still. "The fan went out...I-I didn't want to die slowly.. we've all...seen... what..I mean... how horrible suffocation is."

"Eating my gun was one of the only options I had." Nick said his voice overly thick. His thoughts buzzed slightly by the anti anxiety medication.

Warrick swallowed. "You didn't man. You--you held on." Warrick shook his head. "Don't know if I'd lasted as long."

This was all wrong. Nick felt like he was going backwards. He was just supposed to stop thinking about it. Go on, push things forward. He looked at his partner. "I just want this all to go away."

Warrick put his hand on his shoulder. "Its going to take time." Warrick's face grew intense. "I'm here man. We're all going to be there for you. Nicky... you'll...we'll... get past this... I promise."

Nick felt the pounding of his heart slow steadily. His meds were relaxing him. Before he lost himself in an artificial comfort zone he gulped back another small breakdown. He had lost it too many times in front of Warrick. He wasn't going to do it anymore.

There was a slight twitch in his face and grabbed Warrick's shoulder. "Thanks, Warrick," he said, forcing the words out before they were cut off from his constricting throat.

Warrick kept himself together just a bit longer. He lifted his head, and stood up straight. "You're welcome dude. You're my brother, man."

Nick let out a long breath. He was feeling fatigued. He didn't say anything. Without another word he took a sleeping pill and headed for the couch. He wasn't even going to pretend that he was ready to lay in his bed again for a while. Nick sat down in silence, while Warrick got comfortable in the loveseat and clicked on the television again.

tbc...

Author's Notes: I was going to be away from the computer early Friday so midnight is still two days in my book!

Shacky and I want to thank everyone who has commented or given feedback on this story. When GD aired, we both felt like there was a lot left unsaid and needed to be explored. We both hope you enjoy this fanfic.

I personally felt that this episode needed and screamed for a more involved story. Here's to all the faithful and new readers. I hope you enjoy the ride. This chapter was one of my favorites to write. I have always loved the great bond between Warrick and Nick and could not have been more happy or moved by the events in "Grave Danger".--Kristen999