Chapter 16

Lucy, Warrick and Nick ran quickly to the opening in the fence that Sara had found. "We really should wait for backup." Sara reminded them, but she no more meant it than Warrick an Nick paid attention to it. Warrick was already slithering through the gap, catching his shirt on it. Nick yanked the material free, ripping it in the process. Warrick didn't seem to care. He crouched, just inside the fence, gun drawn, waiting for Nick and Sara to join him.

Once through, Nick turned back to Lucy. "You've got to stay here. We're already going to be in enough trouble. We can't let you come in here with us unless we all want to lose our jobs."

"I'm the one that got you this far! What am I supposed to do? Sit here and knit like a good little girl." Lucy demanded, angry.

"Stay here, wait for the police." Sara suggested.

"Yeah and when the rest of our team gets here, fill them in on everything." Warrick added before making some motions to Nick. Nick must have understood, because he nodded and the two mean crept closer to the building in different directions.

Sara looked back at Lucy, concerned that she wouldn't stay put. "Please, stay out here."

"I don't want to….but I will." Lucy agreed very reluctantly.

Warrick approached the door cautiously. Someone had busted open the lock. Crouching to the right of the door, he pushed it open with one had, his gun clutched in his other hand. He surveyed the immediate interior as he let his eyes adjust to the dim lighting.

He motioned for Nick to come, without looking, he knew his friend was just behind him. Nick moved forward to crouch on the other side of the doorway. He too examined the room for any signs of movement.

"Warrick, be careful." Nick warned in a whisper as Warrick moved forward into the building. Once again, he made sure it was clear, and motioned for Nick to follow. As Nick did, Sara appeared to take his place at the doorway. There was no sign of anyone in what looked like the main lobby of the old police precinct. Using his mag-light, Nick examined footprints on the dusty floor. Someone had been through here recently. Several some ones.

Warrick began to move off to the right, slowly checking around each and every nook and cranny. Nick did the same in the opposite direction, motioning for Sara to follow Warrick.

Warrick paused just inside the next room, glancing over his shoulder at Sara. He muttered quietly, "Something smells wrong in here."

Sara nodded, looking around. Nothing looked wrong but there was a bad vibe coming from the room. Warrick continued forward, heading towards a door on the far end of the room. Sara saw another door off to the side. Gun ready, she went to it and opened the door wide. A whooshing sound alerted her and she was able to duck just in time. A quick moving projectile flew past her head.

"Sara!" Warrick called out to her followed by a scream of pain. Sara spun around to see Warrick pressed up against a wooden cabinet, writhing in pain as he clutched his leg. Sara's flying projectile had pierced through the back of his thigh and embedded into the cabinet, trapping him. Sara hurried over to him as he fought to control the noise he made.

Warrick was moaning in pain as she approached. "Shit." He groaned.

"I'm so sorry." Sara sobbed. "I'm going to have to hurt you to get you loose."

"Just do it!" Warrick rasped. "Do it before I bleed to death." A sound came from behind them. Both CSI's spun, aiming their guns at Nick.

"What the hell happened?" Nick gasped.

"No Nick! Stay where you are!" Sara called out. "This place is booby-trapped!"

Warrick was growing weak from the loss of blood. He reached down and tried to unbuckle his belt with one hand as he gripped the cabinet to keep himself upright. "I….I…I..can't….do…it." He stuttered, his hand falling from his belt.

"What?" Sara looked up at him, in shock.

"A tourniquet, Sara." Nick called. "Use his belt as a tourniquet."

"Yeah." Sara forced herself out of her stunned stupor. Kneeling beside Warrick, she unfastened his belt and pulled it off. She hooked the belt around his upper thigh. The tightening of the belt brought out a small cry of pain from Warrick. While he was still recovering from that pain, she gripped the steel rod and yanked it as hard as she could. It pulled loose from the cabinet and his leg with ease.

The large, wounded man collapse, coming down hard on top of Sara.

"Sara?" Nick called, seeing that Warrick had her pinned to the ground. Sara struggled helplessly as the unconscious man lay atop her. "You okay?" He questioned as he followed Warrick's footsteps, coming over to them.

"Get this big lug off of me." Sara was pushing helplessly at Warrick. The two hundred pounds of solid muscle did not budge. Nick took his friend and carefully rolled him off of Sara and onto his back.

Sara grabbed her phone, calling for help. She quickly stated that an officer was down. Nick began to gently smack Warrick's cheeks. "Come on buddy, wake up. Come on Bro, Come on."

"ssssss-stop." Warrick hissed, a hand reaching up to halt the incessant tapping on his face.

"Nick laughed in relief. "Okay bro, I'll stop."

"Warrick?" Sara leaned over to look into his pale face.

"Hey girl, Did ya forget to check the door before you opened it?" Warrick whispered, obviously in pain.

"I'm sorry." Sara winced. "I'm so sorry Warrick."

"Ah…I've had worse." Warrick chuckled weakly.

"Here." Lucy was suddenly standing beside Nick, offering a towel from the SUV.

"What are you doing in here?" Nick spun and glared at the woman, but took the proffered towel. "I told you to stay outside."

"I figured you might need help with them being hurt." Lucy snapped back.

"Them?" Nick turned his attention to Sara. "Sara? Are you hurt?"

"Well…it's just my ankle. When he fell on me, it snapped my ankle back, I think it's just sprained." Sara admitted with a wince. "I don't think I can walk."

"Nicky, you've got find the girls." Warrick insisted.

"Okay." Nick nodded. "Someone needs to stay with him anyway. Sara, that means you. See if you can get them to get here a little quicker."

"I'm going with you." Lucy informed him. "I can show you where the other traps are."

"There's more?" Sara groused.

"Yeah, they didn't want anyone coming in here." Lucy nodded. "I'm sorry I didn't get to warn you Warrick."

"Hey, just tell me I'll live, and I'll forgive you." Warrick chuckled, his eyes closed, but he was alert.

"Yes." Lucy laughed, sounding a little relieved. "There's a lot more to your story than this."

"If I wasn't in love with my wife…..I'd marry you." Warrick jested. Everyone but Nick laughed at his joke.

"Come on if you're coming." he grumbled.