Nick let his fear ebb slowly away, as his moved around the water on the jet ski. He looked around and spotted Grissom relaxing in a boat to to far away from his and Warrick.
"Hey nick race ya man!" Warrick called laughing as flew past Nick who had stopped his ski to stare at their boss, he grinned and hit the gas.
"Your on!" He called back as his booked after his friend all thought of that day before gone for the moment, as the two friend chased each other around, Gil laughed from his perch in the boat watching. An hour or so later they pulled their ski's up tot he beach and sat down on the sand the rest.
"Woo! Those have some get up and go man." Nick laughed falling down on his back and stare up at sky, shrugging Warrick joined his friend on the ground.
"Sorry to interrupt you fellas but i need to borrow your friend." A familer voice spoke from behind the two, Nick gasped and froze in place.
"Hello again sheriff, why do you need Nick?" Grissom asked his eyes darting tot he man in questioned and frowned to him pale,and shaking.
"I need Mr. Stokes to show me where that murder toke place, i got my boys waiting from me." He explained.
"Well, Nicky i guess you'd better go with him then we'll take the jet ski's back and come find you okay?" Grissom asked eyeing Nick who hadn't moved to obey.
"Yes sure." Was all he could get out past the lump of fear that threatened to choke him. Warrick watched as they walked away, and then turned back to Grissom, who stood studying the sheriffs back intently.
"What do think of the way nick all but dies of fright when that guy's around?" He asked Warrick who looking back noticed the sheriff now had his arm around nicks shoulders.
"I don't know maybe nick just doesn't like him?" Warrick suggested. There was a moment of silence and then,
"NAH!' They both said in unison and Warrick leaped up from the sand and hopped on a jet ski while Grissom fastened the other to the boat and then sped off for the docks.
Sheriff Delaney tossed his arm around nicks shoulders causing nick almost stopped in panic.
"How nice of you to keep quiet." He growled now that they were out of sight and earshot of the other two men.
"Please i didn't see anything i swear." Nick pleaded to no avail, he felt the cold steel of a knife against his belly and he sucked in a sharp breath.
"Some how i don;t believe that." Delaney grinned manically and they continued to walk into the woods and out of sight of every one.
"You won't get away with this they'll come find me you know that." Nick said his voice sounding stronger than he felt.
"Yeah well, by the time they find you'll be long gone and so will I," Delaney snarled. Nick blinked back tears that threatened to fall.
"I may just kill your friends too." He threatened. Nick snapped, he'd hit his limi,t he may be afraid for his life but he would just lay down, and let this guy kill his friends. He waited for his opportune moment, just a litter more, he told him and then when a tree was lined u next to them he rammed hard the the right sending Delaney crashing into the tree. Delaney grunted and dropped the knife Nick toke the knife and bolted away deeper into the woods.
"STOKES I"LL GET YOU, YOU CAN'T ESCAPE ME!" He heard Delaney yell after him, but, he didn't stop running, his pumping adrenaline giving him the energy to keep going as long as he could.
Okay genius you've gotten away, but no what you can't just keep running" he mind yelled at him nick huffed as he slowed to a slow jog and then a walk.
"Alright gotta get the hell outta dodge but how can't go back now he'll be right behind in a few minutes." he thought looking around in all directions clutching and clutching his hands into fists, he then remember he had the knife he looked around and spotting a piled of heavy looking rocks, walked over and laying the knife on one them, picked up another and dropped it straight down smashing it to bits, he grinned in triumph.
"There," He thought "Now its a fair fight" He toke off running again all the while on the look out for a safe place to hide and a way out of this danged forest.
It toke Delaney a few minutes to get to the broken knife he glare down at the broken pieces and opening his mouth screaming rage.
"STOKES!" Nick grinned to himself and he jumped a large rock and kept going. Nick continued to run for a while until the sounds of chopping caught his attention and he stopped to listen turn to the east and ran onward, some one was close maybe they had a phone he could use. Another caused him the screech to a halt." what about Delaney, he'd kill anyone who helped him. Nick looked back not sure what to do, until his caught a glimpse of Delaney and toke off in the direction on the chopping. Now he didn't have choice but to go on and find help.
A blood hound lay in the leaves chewing a bone when Nick came Bursting in to, what looked to be a back yard, he looked around dazed for a moment not sure if he was still in the woods or if he had suddenly stepped into a different zone, a house at least two stories stood off in the distance surround be the forest he;'d just been running in he eyes fell on a tall brunette standing off a few feet brandishing an ax, that nick presumed she'd been using to chop the woods at her feet, the blood hound stood to all fours and growled bearing teeth that bite off an arm.
"Who are you, what are you doing in these woods Mister?" She asked hastily Nicked anted for breath raised his hands in a gesture of surrender and backed up a step.
"I'm sorry i scared you Ma'am but i need to use a phone it's life or death please ' He simply asked and stood waiting as she looked him up and down and them smiled.
"How long you been running boy you looked plum exhausted." She pointed out, Nick let out the breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
"Yes ma'am I've landed my self in some trouble and i need to call my friends to came find me." He explained, praying to god Delaney didn't come bursting in here behind him, the last thing he wanted was to get some one innocent killed because of him.
"Come on in and you can rest, for a spell and call your friends," She said dropping ax next to the chopping block, nick lowered his arms and made to follow but the blood hound would have none of it she growled and again and snapped his teeth.
"Daisy, come on girl he's harmless." The brunette called over her shoulder, Daisy turned and sauntered after her master Nick followed them up the path to the house.
Warrick and Grissom rushed into the woods to find Nick and were surprised to here screaming, they both bolted running full out in the direction of the screams
"NICK!" Grissom called out as loud as he could but, received no answer they continued to go at a fast pace.
"You think he's okay?" Warrick asked not breaking stride as he stayed next to Grissom.
"I'm sure he fine, he's resourceful. He'll know what to do not to get lost i here." Grissom stated matter of factly, it didn't put Warrick at ease though and he continued to worry over his friend as the continued to search. Grissom halted and as familer sound caught his ear, he dug unto his pocket and gave a triumphant yep when he brought out his buzzing phone.
"Hello, Nicky?" Grissom asked.
DUN DUN DUN! Wonder who's on the phone? HE HE I'll tell in the next chapter, thanks for the great reviews keep them coming.