"One Nightmare to Another"

Chapter Six

By: Faith/Hope&Love951

Sorry that this is posted so late. Thank you all for all your lovely feedback and for everyone that has read this story.

Faith Hope and Love

Brass walked into the Conference Room the CSI's were meeting in and placed a file on the table for the group to see. "Chett Hamilton. He wasn't a cellmate to Nigel, but they were pretty tight. Always could be found together on their time away from their cell."

Grissom pulled the file closer to him. "It says here he was found guilty of murdering his three brothers. In an old abandoned mine." The supervisor looked up at Jim. "Do you think that's where Nigel headed with Nick?"

"It's the best lead we have yet," He turned heading toward the door. "Coming?"

All the CSI's got to their feet and started for the door. Grissom turned to see his team together, just like that night not long ago. He knew he wasn't going to stand a chance if he was even to mention for anyone one to stay behind. So as they all filled out of the room, he was hoping that this wasn't a dead-end.

Faith Hope and Love

He had been sitting their still bound for what seemed to him for hours. Ever sound made his skin crawl and he was grateful that so far he seemed to be alone. Even though he was praying that someone found him. He wasn't too hopeful that it would really happen.

He jumped as he felt something touch his arm and when he recognized it for what it was, some type of insect he started to shake. He did the best that he could to get the ting off of him and after several moments of moving his arm against the rock wall it finally was forced off of him. However, by the time he was crying steadily.

His nerves were on edge as he hoped that whatever bug that had been on him earlier would just stay away, so he found himself praying more. Remembering what the doctor had said before leaving the hospital he tried to take deep breaths to calm his nerves and to stop the panic that had already started. After several tries he found that it was useless. He couldn't stop the shaking and crying.

Then he saw something flicker in the darkness that surrounded him. No, it wasn't a flicker. It was a light. 'Oh God, no. Nigel must be back.' He couldn't take anymore of the man's insane rambling about how he had wanted to protect him. Closing his eyes tightly he didn't want to see the man again.

"All Clear!" He heard someone yell out. His eyes opened as he felt a hand touch his arm. Gasping as he saw a friendly face looking at him. He had only felt this type of relief once before and started cry even more.

"We've got you know. It's over," the detective said as he called for someone else to join them. When he turned his attention back to Nick he asked. "Nick, where is Nigel?"

Nick took a deep breath to try to will himself to stop crying so that he could speak. "Gone." He watched as Grissom came to his side. "Gris!"

"We got you Nick," the supervisor assured the frightened man.

"Their dead. I couldn't do anything to help them," Nick said as he leaned toward his former boss and started to cry harder. "He killed them because of me."

"Nick, you need to listen…" Grissom started, but was interrupted by the sobbing CSI.

Nick started shaking his head. "I saw him shoot them. I saw him shoot him, Oh God! I got my brother killed."

Grissom was hoping Nick close to him as he cried. "No Nick."

"He's dead Grissom because of me…"

"Nick!" Grissom raised his voice just a little and looked down as Nick tried to control his emotions. "You have to listen to me. Robert is alive."

Nick just shook his head. "No, I saw him! Nigel shot him. God, he shot him so many times, and there wasn't anything that I could do to help him."

"No Nick," he heard someone else yell at him. Nick's head shot up to see Warrick knelling beside Grissom. "Robert is alive and waiting for us to bring you back." Warrick took the CSI's head in his hands and made eye contact. "He's alive man…he's alive."

Nick shook his head, letting his friend knew that he understood. After a moment he finally spoke. "I need to see him, please can I see him."

Warrick nodded. "I'll bring you to him myself and make sure once you've been checked out. You see him." Warrick looked toward Grissom and saw the other man nod his approval. They waited until Nick was released, and then helped him to stand. "We're going to make this alright man, no matter what, we're going to make this right."

Grissom watched as the two men headed out of the shaft and then looked at Brass. "I'm going to go tell everyone else they can head to the hospital, then I'll head back in to process the scene."

Brass placed a hand on Grissom's shoulder, "I'll need to question Nick, but I'll wait until he sees his brother." He looked around the mineshaft. "He's not going to be able to tell us much until he calms down some."

Grissom nodded, "I'll head to the hospital with you in a little while."

Faith Hope and Love

It was the longest walk he had ever made before, but it was a walk that he couldn't wait until it was over. He had been told that his brother was alive, but he couldn't believe that until he saw Robert for himself. It wasn't that he didn't trust his friends. He did, but at that moment he trusted what his eyes could see rather than what others were telling him.

Warrick was right beside him as they came to a stop outside of his brother's room as he knocked he closed his eyes as he heard the voice he had thought he would never hear again. Turning to Warrick he asked for some time alone with is brother.

Placing a gentle hand on his friend's shoulder Warrick opened the door before turning and whispering, "When you're ready to go you just have to call me. I'll be right down the hall."

Nick smiled sadly before entering the room. "Thanks."

He waited until Warrick was gone before he peaked in to see his brother sleeping. Slowly he made his way toward the bed. Reaching out he placed a shaky hand inside the hand of his brother. It only took a moment for the other man's eyes to open. Tears filled his eyes as he looked up at Nick.

"Thank God," he said as he reached up to grab Nick's arm. "I was so worried about you."

Nick slowly and as genteelly as he could, he leaned down to give his brother a hug. The tears came and as both men cried they really didn't need to say anything. At that moment the two brothers new that they just needed to be close to one another. So for the next few hours they stayed close and after some time, they called their parents.

Faith Hope and Love

It was hours later when Warrick and Nick pulled in front of Warrick's house. Turning off the SUV, he turned to see the injured man's eyes closed. Thinking his friend was sleeping he touched his shoulder. "We're here."

Without opening his eyes Nick stated, "I know. Look Bro we need to talk." After a second his eyes opened and he turned to face the other CSI. "It's about what happened…and what I…need to do."

No liking the sound of how this was starting out Warrick tried to prepare himself for whatever the other man had to say. "You really need to give things some time."

Nick laughed and looked away for a second before turning back to the other man. "Trust me, I've had time to think. Days in the hospital… hours in that shaft."

"But…"

"Please, this isn't easy for me, please let me just get this over with," Nick tearful voice said as he looked down at his hands. "So much has happened and I can't deal with anymore right now. My brother asked me to go down to Austin with him for a few days. It is only a few hours from my parents and that will give me time to try to process what happened."

Warrick nodded. "Is a few weeks away what you think you need right now?"

Nick shook his head, "I haven't anything left here. My house is gone. And the job, well… right now, I don't want to even think about ever doing that kind of work again. Seeing all that death… I can't deal with that…not again."

Warrick stared at Nick. "It's too soon, you need time to really think about something as important as leaving the lab."

Nick laughed. "I don't want to do that again. I don't want to have to see all those sad hopeful faces of people wanting to know who killed their loved ones. Knowing that it could have easily been my parents waiting for you guys to tell them who had buried me or who had shot my brother. No. Being a CSI isn't something that I want to do again."

"You just have to get away for awhile and clear your head." Warrick said as he turned to look out the window of his SUV. "You just have to learn how to believe in yourself and others again."

"I'm done." He said firmly before opening the passenger side door. "I'm tired. Can we just go on inside so I can lay down."

Clearing his throat Warrick just nodded, not trusting himself to speak. Together they walked into the house.

Faith Hope and Love

Ten Day's Later, Airport

The CSI team stood side by side as they watched Nick and his parents and brother check their luggage in. Nick agreed to meet his mom, dad and brother past security so that he could have sometime with his friends. Turning he gave them a smile. They could easily see that it was forced. Nick went over to them.

Greg patted him on the arm before giving him a hug, "don't be a stranger."

Nick shook his head, "Never." He watched as Greg moved to the side as Catherine came up to him and pulled him close.

"Please come back. The lab won't be the same without you," she whispered. "If you can't just know that we love you."

Nick pulled back. He was fighting back tears. "I love you guys too."

She nodded as she moved to the side. Sara quickly took her place. "We're going to miss you. You know that don't you."

"I'll miss you guys too." Nick said as he pulled her toward him into a hug. He turned to Brass. The detective just stood there. After a moment he spoke.

""You take care of yourself kid, and if you need anything…you know where to reach me."

Nick smiled. "You're the first person I'll call."

Jim patted him on the shoulder. "Make sure of it."

Warrick couldn't stop himself, his eyes were filled with tears and he pulled his brother toward him. "I'll be down in a week. You take care of yourself and make sure you see that Doc, that was set up for you."

Nick nodded. "Appointment first thing in the morning." He gave a smile laugh. "Thanks for everything."

"Anytime Bro…any time." He gave Nick one more hug before letting Grissom talk to Nick.

Grissom held up a peace of paper. "I'm not going to turn in your note of resignation until you have had sometime to really think this through. You're still on leave."

"Thanks, but…"

Grissom didn't let him finish. He shook his head, "take sometime to clear your head. Then you can rethink everything. Just remember, we're here if you need anything." He pulled Nick into a hug before quietly saying. "You have never been a disappointment to me. Never have and never will. You're a fine CSI."

Nick pulled back and nodded. "Thanks for everything. I really should be going."

Grissom nodded. "I want you to be the first to know. Ecklie has approved that our team be put back together."

"I'm glad…"

Grissom placed a hand on his shoulder. "Our team isn't complete without you." Giving the shoulder a squeeze he gestured to the others. You best get ready to head toward the back. Your plane leaves in half an hour."

Nick steeped back. "Thanks for everything guys. I'll see you all."

They all watched as he headed for the security line so that he could meet his family. Grissom turned to his team. "Let's head to work." They all turned and headed toward the exit. None of them even noticed the pair of eyes that had watched them during the whole goodbyes. Nigel gave one last look toward Nick and turned to leave.

The End

I am working on my next story. I want to get it finished before I start to post. It took me so long to write each chapter and everyone had such a long wait that I thought that I would just get my next story written first then I will start posting and have the story ready to post each chapters sooner. Thanks for all your support. You have all been so kind for reading my story.