Nick froze, his fingers rested on the handle of his service weapon, an arm around him held him flush against the unseen assailant. He held his breath, anything to keep the knife from cutting him any deeper.

"I want you to drop your gun to the floor, very carefully," a voice whispered in his ear.

Nick kept his movements to a minimum. The guy had a steady hand, but he wasn't very careful about how the blade dug into his skin. Nick pulled his gun out of his holster, and dropped it to the floor. He knew the suspect could slice his throat open in seconds, so trying shoot him from his prone position wasn't going to work.

Now that he was disarmed, the suspect forced him forward. Nick heard the guy kick the gun backwards, towards the entrance of the room. The suspect moved Nick closer to the wall with the window and spun him around till the criminalist was facing him.

Once Nick was turned about, a hand shoved him till his back hit the wall with a thud. The knife was back against his throat, the sharp end of the blade dug into the soft fleshy side under his chin. Nick's eyes grew large when he saw Brent Nero's steely expression. The coach kept Nick pinned to the interior of the room. Blood slowly dripped down his chest from more than one cut. Coach Nero was very calm for a man who was threatening the life of a crime scene investigator. His eyes weredeadly serious, his breathing even.

"Any one else in the house?"

"No," Nick lied. The criminalist tried to keep from sweating. Half of him wanted Greg to come in and call for help, the other part prayed the younger man stayed away so that he would remain out of danger.

Nero twisted the blade, the point stung his skin, and fresh little droplets of blood trickled down.

"You came here alone?" he scoffed.

"Yeah," Nick tried not to gulp with the knife bearing down on him.

Nero's eyes narrowed. He brought his face closer to the CSI, his left thumb dug into Nick's shoulder. "Why are you here?" he leaned closer, his eyes almost twinkled in curiosity. "I mean, how did you know?'

Nick tried to keep his teeth from clattering when he spoke. "The donkey was Johnny's favorite toy. I know that Jason doesn't like to go anywhere without his Gameboy. He wouldn't be very cooperative without it."

Nero slid the knife closer to Nick's Adam's apple. "Very perceptive. So, you rushed over here. Not very smart."

"I can be impulsive sometimes."

The Coach chuckled, and then grew silent. "You seemed pretty worked up over this case. I mean…you were upset up at my interview. I didn't expect that kind of emotion from a crime scene guy."

Nick stiffened. "You murdered an innocent child, you bastard."

The knife never wavered, as Brent Nero stood and observed his hostage's anger. The suspect didn't react and Nick continued to speak.

"Is Jason alive?" Nick tried to keep his voice even.

"Yes." Nero smiled. He seemed to enjoy watching his prey try to remain calm.

"Just let him go. You still have a chance to---"

Nero pressed the blade upwards causing Nick to grimace and end short his tirade. "He's mine. He needs to be tested just like all the others."

Nick felt his heart quicken at the implications. Nero was a sociopath and the thought that he could be responsible for the death of so many children, made him violently nauseous. He had to choose his words carefully.

"Tested?" Nick tried not to squirm.

Nero kept the knife in place but moved his left hand till his fingers were wrapped around the back of Nick's neck, his thumb pressed along the CSI's jaw line.

"All of them." He shook his head, disappointed. "They all failed." The coach's eyes drifted towards the interior of the room. "Then I finally understood what I had to do."

The suspect looked back at Nick. "I had to take his children. Take the offspring from the man who started it all. Who made me do this."

"Matt Todd," Nick stated.

Brent Nero's eyes flashed with anger. "It's all his fault," he growled.

"Your tattoo."

Nero licked his lips. "It was all I saw every time he…" He gnashed his teeth together. "It was only right that it became part of my arm. A reminder of what I needed to do."

"All those kids!" Nick growled. The criminalist saw the way the man looked at him, as if it was time to be done with this conversation. He had to get a grip, keep him talking.

"Please don't test Jason," Nick swiftly amended, his voice softer.

Nero shook his head almost sympathetically. "It has to be done. They all need to be judged."

"No, they don't." Nick didn't care if he was begging. It was his fault that Jason was being subjected to this monster.

The coach tilted his head. "You don't understand." He adjusted his fingers, sliding his left hand to the back of Nick's shoulder. Positioning him for the kill.

The CSI knew that any moment he was going to die. The bastard was setting him up for the easiest way to strike. He couldn't let Jason down. "I do understand," he beseeched. His voice sounded so pathetically weak to his own ears.

The evil smile was back. "No you don't. You couldn't possibly."

Nick tentatively raised his hand in a non-threatening way. Nero watched with curiosity as Nick gently placed it on the man's shoulder. The CSI felt his insides churn, he HATED touching this vile person. "I... I do," he swallowed.

Nero squinted. He chewed on his lower lip. "No… no, you can't."

"I wished to God, that I didn't know. That I could just make it all go away. Push away all those memories… or had fought back somehow, " his voice grew lower, thicker.

Brent Nero stared at him. His expression changed… drifted.

Nick felt like he was gaining something. Controlling the game. However he heard footsteps approach and the look of acceptance from the other man disappeared.

"Hey, Nick. We really need to wait for---" Greg Sanders's voice trailed off as he entered the room. The rookie criminalist gawked in shock at the presence of the other man.

Things happened too quickly for Nick to comprehend. Brent Nero pulled him away from the wall. He stood behind him using the CSI as a shield with the large knife still pressed against his throat.

Greg Sanders spotted the other CSI's gun on the floor and picked it up. He aimed it unsteadily in the direction of the assailant. Nero held Nick securely against him, his hold nearly crushing the CSI. Nick willed himself to remain calm, he didn't know how this was going to turnout, but he knew the ex-lab tech was completely inexperienced with firearms.

"Drop the gun, son, or your buddy here is going to have a fancy new necktie," Coach Nero threatened, his voice steady and cold.

Greg Sanders held onto the Glock with both hands, his breathing coming in and out harshly. He stared at both men, his gaze drifting over to the other CSI for any hint of instructions. The rookie was already upset over the cuts and the small amount of blood that dripped down his friend's shirt.

The suspect was completely unfazed by the other man's presence, and he even gave the younger man a wicked grin. His dark eyes almost lit up in glee with excitement. It was obvious who was in control of this situation. Brent Nero could feel the uncertainty beam out in waves from the rookie.

"Let him go," Greg ordered. His voice was in more control than he felt.

Nero chuckled.

Nick tried to deflect the attention away from the ex-lab tech. "You still have a chance. Just drop the knife."

Nero squeezed him harder, inflicting a grunt from his hostage. "Shut up." The assailant than glared at the other CSI. "Are you going to shoot me?"

Greg held out the gun, he kept his trembling to a minimum. "Drop your weapon."

"Do you even know how to fire one, young man? What if you miss?" The suspect laughed louder. "What if you hit your buddy here?"

Greg tightened his hold on the gun, he was faltering. Sweat poured down his face, and he started to shuffle his feet slightly. Feeling the anxiety from the inexperienced criminalist in front of him, the suspect forced Nick to move along with him closer towards the window. His confidence in the situation was plainly obvious. "What if I kill him and then gut you for fun?" he threatened, his eyes dancing with joy.

Greg trained his weapon as the man moved. He was speechless; Greg gave Nick a pleading look. One full of regret and much more. He couldn't handle this. He was trying so hard to keep it together.

"There's another way," Nick offered. He was flailing, trying to do anything to keep alive and Greg safe.

Nero crept them both closer towards the window. He stared at Greg, soaking in all the edgy and unsure movements. The assailant continued to grin while he spoke. "I don't think you'll shoot at all."

Greg bit his lip, he fingered the trigger, knowing that something was going to happen.

Brent Nero eyed the young man. "But just in case, I'll need a small diversion."

Greg squinted.

Brent Nero's movements were quick and precise. He lowered the knife away from Nick's throat and then swiftly cut across the CSI's middle. His blade made quick work, the slice long and unexpected.

Nick flinched when he felt the weapon move away from his jugular, but felt the heat of the steel as it tore across his belly. Nick's hands went to protect his abdomen. He was too late, the burning sensation, and the pain filled in the gaps of unawareness.

Greg's hands shook as he witnessed the assault. It was over so quickly that his brain barely registered what transpired. He watched as Brent Nero created his distraction and slipped out the window. Greg pulled the trigger.

A shot rang out but he wildly missed and the man was gone. Nick stood there for a few seconds. He looked down at his wounded body slightly confused. He looked back up at Greg, his face filled with relief that the other man was unharmed. Then his complexion paled, and he crumpled to the ground.

Greg was paralyzed from fear, but after Nick slumped to the floor, he managed to get his body to follow some basic commands and he rushed to his friend.

"Oh God, Nick, I'm so sorry," he stuttered as he tried to get his overloaded brain to work enough to help.

Tbc...

Author's notes and thanks at my bio. Also huge, huge thanks to Tinkerbell for her contiuned wonderful, editing job.