"One Nightmare to Another"

Chapter Three

By: Faith/Hope&Love951

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of CSI. I am just writing this for fun and in hopes that others will enjoy the story.

Warrick's head shot up as he read the paper in his shaky hand. Looking up his eyes met Grissom's. "It's…"

Grissom nodded, "Not Nick's body. It turned out to be an Officer Brian Michael's." He let his eyes move across the room, until he had made eye contact with everyone. "That would be the same officer Michaels that was at the "Trash Run" Nick was taken from."

"What in the Hell happened at Nick's house?" Sara asked standing and going over to the trashcan. Making that an excuse to wipe the tears from her eyes.

Grissom gave her a knowing look. He, himself wanted to cry, but right now wasn't the time. He had to get onto this case. And the truth was, they didn't have anything to go by and that was frustrating him to no ends. "That's what we have to find out."

Faith Hope and Love

Hours Earlier, Nick's House

As Nick unlocked his door, he turned to give his brother a quick glance as he entered his house. He had made it a few steps when he saw Officer Brian Michaels, on his knees in the middle of his living room. "What the…" He started to say as he headed to where the officer was bound and gagged before him. A noise from the corner of the room caught his attention. Spinning around he came face to face with a man he had hoped he would never see again, Nigel Crane.

"Well, well, well," Nigel said closing the door and waving Nick's spare gun around. "We've got one more guest to join us before we can begin."

Nick couldn't take his eyes away from Crane. He was too much in shock to think at the moment. This couldn't be happening, it just couldn't be real. How could he be going from one hellish nightmare to another?

"Hey Nick," Robert called as he opened the door and entered his brother's home. "How about we order…" He trailed off as he took in the scene before him. "What's going on here?"

"Well, if it isn't Robert Stokes. Welcome to the party," Nigel said as he turned his attention back to Nick and then gave a quick look back at Robert. "Close the door and go sit on the couch."

Nick finally was able to talk, "How did you get out,Crane?"

Nigel just laughed. "What can I say, I have friends in high places." He motioned to a chair that was across from where Robert just sat. "The chair, take a seat Nick." Nick watched as the man nervously still waved the gun. Not wanting anyone to get hurt he did as he was asked.

"You know Nick, I knew when I heard that you had been taken that I needed to get out of that place. I had hoped that your people would protect you, but it seems that they couldn't…" He moved until he was standing behind Michaels. "Because of this piece of trash you had to suffer, you had to face being buried alive. When I heard about that Nick, I knew I had to be the one to protect you." Placing the fun at the back of the man's head he cocked the pistol.

Nick was on his feet again, "No, please Nigel." He screamed. He was scared, and at that moment felt very drained. "It wasn't his fault…please don't."

Nigel gave him a sympathetic smile. "But it was, he didn't protect you. He needs to be punished."

"You have no right to punish him," Nick shouted, this timein anger. How dare Nigel Crane come back into his life... he was just feeling halfway human again, and this had to happen.

"You'll thank me later," Crane said as he pulled the trigger and Michaels feel to the floor.

"NO!" Nick cried out as he rushed to where the officer had fell. Robert was on his feet now. By his brother side, he be darn if he was going to let his crazy man get a hold of his brother.

Nick was crying as he knelt beside the officer. "Nicky, please let's step away from the body," he heard his brother say and he looked up. Robert was pleading with his brother with his eyes.

"He's right Nick," Nigel called out as he threw a piece of rope to Nick. "Tie you brother up." Nick didn't seem to move fast enough so Nigel cocked his gun. "You can tie him up or you can watch him die right here and now."

Looking at the rope in his hand he finally got to his feet and his eyes locked with his brother. "It's alright Nicky." Robert assured him.

He nodded and tied his brother's hands behind his back and then waited for him to sit back on the couch before tying his feet. Glancing up he apologized." I'm sorry Robert, I'll get you out of this somehow."

Robert was about to say something, but Nigel cut him off.

"Now stand up Nick," Nigel calmly said with some more rope in his hand. "Hands behind you back." He quickly tied the young CSI up and then motioned for him to sit. After making sure his friend's feet were tried he moved over and grabbed some cloth and gagged the two men. "I have one more thing to do before we can leave.

Nick couldn't take his eyes off the body that was lying at his feet. After a few minutes he could smell something. It was strong. Taking a sniff of the air, he could easily tell the smell of kerosene. A few minutes later, Nigel was back in the room a gas can in his hand pouring the stuff around the room and finally covered the body with it. "Time to go," he said cutting the rope that bound the two men's feet. Minutes later, they were in the back of Nick's SUV. Their feet tied again.

Nick watched as Nigel left them and returned with the spare keys that Nick kelp in his kitchen. Lighting a match, Nigel tossed it inside the house and ran back to the SUV. Quickly started it up and drove away.

Faith Hope and Love

Grissom sat at his desk; a folder open in front of him with everything they knew so far about Nigel Crane was there. He had read over it a dozen times, but still nothing seemed to stand out to him. Brass had already checked out Crane's old home, but there wasn't anyone there and no sign that anyone had been there. That still left him with nothing to go on.

A squeak from his door let him know that he wasn't alone anymore. Looking up he motioned for Brass to come on in. "Did you get the information about Cranes family?"

"Yeah," he said handing the CSI the folder. "Nothing stuck out to me, but maybe you will find something." He was about to say something else when his phone started to ring. Answering it he turned his back to Grissom as he heard what the officer was telling him.

"You found him, and was he alive? Is he able to tell you anything?"

Grissom was on his feet going to where the detective stood. Waiting to find out who had been found and if they were able to help them with their case. After listening to several more questions that Brass had asked the person over the phone the detective put his phone away.

"What is it, did they find Nick?"

Brass turned to the CSI, "No, but they found Robert Stokes, he's alive, but in the hospital in very serious condition. We need to get to Desert Palm's."

Grissom's had a thousand questions running in his mind, but only one that he wanted to ask, "Do they know anything about Nick?"

Brass shook his head. It seems until Robert was awake they had no answer's. They were still at a dead end for now.

To be continued…

Note: Wow, thank you guys so much. Your reviews were just amazing. Thank you to everyone that had read this story and everyone that has reviewed. I am grateful for all the kind words and the support.