Chapter 21

Nick and Warrick didn't stay for pancakes. They were still on the clock and now that Sara had been found, they had to get back to the lab. Sara was relieved when they left.

She was still anxious about how Alex would respond when asked about her visit. "So, um, what are you going to say about our breakfast when someone asks?"

"What do you mean?" Alex was playing dumb.

Sara was not amused. "You know what I mean."

"If you're asking am I going to say that you were drunk and came over here trying to rip my character apart," Alex paused, trying to sweat Sara a little. "The answer is no."

Sara breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you," she said.

"Look, Sara, you don't have to like me and I'm not doing this for you," Alex replied. I'm doing it for me. "I'm doing this because you mean something to the people who mean something to me."

Sara's mind fluttered. Does she mean Grissom, or just everyone in general? She wondered. "Ok," she answered. "Well, I better get going."

"Yes, you should," Alex agreed coldly.

Sara started to walk towards the door. Then she turned around and asked, "So what are you going to tell people?"

Alex was angered at Sara's gall, but knew she didn't want to answer questions about last night either. Alex paused to think for a moment. "You got back early, heard I was out of the hospital, called to check up on me and I invited you for breakfast," she answered.

Sara was a little surprised she had come up with an answer so quickly. She must've been thinking about this. "What about the time? I mean, it isn't even seven yet."

"We're all early risers or late nighters," she said.

Sara nodded. "Thank you…again."

Alex dismissed the 'thank you' with a slight nod of the head and then Sara left. Alex went into the kitchen to clean up, glad that Sara was gone. And glad Sara forgot her folder with the articles. She was hopeful they were Sara's only copies and soon they would be no more.

After finishing her cleaning, Alex fell asleep watching TV on the couch. Seemingly becoming a pattern, she was awakened from her sleep by a knock on the door. Albeit this one was much more civil.

"Hold on!" she called, struggling to clear her mind of sleep.

She looked at the clock as she walked to the door. Eleven-thirty! Man, I slept a good while. I wonder who's knocking? Maybe it's my lunch date, just a little early.

She peered out her peephole, but it was blocked. All she could see were some flowers. She smiled as she opened the door. It is my lunch date.

As she started to open the door, the person on the other side pushed it forcefully into her, throwing her off balance. She fell to the ground, her cane sliding just out of reach.

"Hey!" she yelled as she fell. Then she looked up and her eyes widened. "How—how?" she stammered.

"Distraction is the name of the game," Thompson answered, shutting the door.

"What…I…I already told the FBI where Martin hid the evidence!" she said, trying to crawl away from him.

"You and I both know you didn't tell them where all the evidence is," Thompson replied. He pulled a gun the back of his belt and pointed at her. "Now you're going to tell me where the rest of it is."

"I-I don't know!" Alex truthfully responded. She didn't know what Thompson was talking about.

H saw her trying to crawl away and stopped her. He kneeled down, straddling her waist, pinning her arms behind her. He put the gun barrel against her skin, right between her eyes.

"I don't believe you!" he shouted. "Tell me where the tapes ARE!" He pressed the barrel harder. "I have no qualms about killing you. I'm already dead."

Alex knew he wasn't bluffing. The FBI had found the evidence that proved Thompson had killed Alex's grandmother. He was going down for one murder; a second wouldn't make much difference in sentencing.

"I really don't know!" she cried.

Outside the door, he heard her cry. Then he heard a man respond.

"I am not playing with you!"

He reached down and tried the doorknob. It turned. Luckily his shift had gone long and he was just getting off. He still had his service revolver. He pulled it out and slowly opened the door, trying to make as little noise as possible.

As the door came open, he pointed his gun down the hall, right at Thompson. Thompson, whose back was towards the door didn't see him. Alex, with her eyes squeezed tightly shut, didn't see him either.

"You better drop that weapon!" he called down the hall.

Alex opened her eyes and saw who it was, just as Thompson turned to look. He didn't take the gun off of her.

"Who the fuck are you?" he sneered, not even caring that a gun was pointed at him.

He couldn't believe Thompson didn't remember him. Jackass! "I'm Nick Stokes with the Las Vegas Crime Lab," he responded. "Now drop your weapon and let Alex go."

Thompson snorted. "Not even a cop!" He turned back towards Alex, who was scared speechless. "Now tell me what I want to know, or your boyfriend here is going to see your brain splattered on the floor!"

"I will shoot if you do not drop your weapon," Nick said, keeping his gun aimed at Thompson.

"You'd better shoot then, because I'm not dropping my weapon," Thompson taunted Nick, not moving from his position.

Alex clenched her eyes shut again. This scene was too surreal for her. In less than two weeks, this was the second time her life lie in the hands of a mad man determined to kill her. This time, however, there was a witness.

Nick was hesitant. He didn't want to shoot Thompson. He hadn't ever really wanted to shoot anyone. But he wasn't about to let Thompson shoot Alex.

"Drop. Your. Wea-" Nick started, but Thompson had gotten fed up with Nick's orders and turned his gun on Nick.

As soon as Nick saw the barrel of Thompson's gun, he shot. He hit Thompson in the shoulder, not wanting to kill him. This only angered Thompson more and he raised his gun to shoot again.

This time Nick shot to kill and Thompson fell to the side, freeing Alex.

It took her a moment to realize what had happened. At first, she thought Thompson had finally pulled the trigger on her. She opened her eyes after the second shot and saw Thompson slumped to the side. Her dam of control had finally broken and she started to cry all the tears she had held back.

Nick holstered his gun and rushed to Alex. He crouched down next to her and helped her sit up. She threw her arms around him and buried her head in his chest. He could feel her sobs all the way to his soul. He understood her pain. He put his arms around her and tried to console her.

"It's alright, Alex," he said, stroking her hair. "It's ok."

The FBI agents came running after they had heard the gunshots. When Nick saw them enter, he was furious.

"Where were you guys?" he shouted. "Thompson could have killed her!"

But the agents were all excuses. Thompson's distraction had been successful. The stopped making excuses and radioed for back up and an ambulance.

Alex couldn't think. She couldn't feel the aches of her body. She couldn't hear the argument between Nick and the agents. All she could do was sob and hang onto Nick for dear life.