A/N: Unfortunately for me im stuck in bed poorlyand cant go to my lectures, luckily for you that means i have some spare time on my hands and so I'm giving you lucky people a midweek update! Aren't I good to you? Oh and well done to all those people who guessed correctly hehe it wasnt meant as a guessing game just more of a tense ending. Well were getting closer to the end now, will Greggy be saved? Well you'll just have to wait for my devious mind to rewrite the last couple of chapters (19-22)because i wasn't happy with what I had written first time around, fear not though, I'm doing it right now!

For Nick it seemed like everything was happening in frightening slow motion, in reality it had all happened so quick nobody could stop it and now they were stood over his body. He saw it again in his minds eyes, the laughter dancing in Paul's disturbing eyes as in one quick easy motion he had lifted up the gun that was aimed at Nick and had turned it around and pulled the trigger before anybody could realise what he was doing and stop him. He had shot himself in the head, just like that, in an instant he was in a pool of blood on the floor. Nick threw himself on him and grabbed him

"NO! you cannot do this you son of a bitch!" he screamed desperately hopelessly trying to revive him.

"Nick! He's gone, he's dead" Grissom said quietly,pulling him off Paul.

When Nick finally looked up to face Grissom and Brass, his face was streaked with tears. "How are we going to find Greg now?" He choked.

"Maybe we should face up to the fact that Greg is dead" Grissom said solemnl, fearing the worst.

"No! He isn't" Nick fiercely denied "The way Paul was talking was that he is still alive. He said 'You'll never find him in time' meaning he's still alive but won't be for much longer. Until you find a body he is alive"

Nick's determination to find his friend was overwhelming. Grissom looked at his brave friend and CSI stood before. He had only just narrowly escaped being killed in an explosion and in his physical appearance it showed, his face was bloody and bruised and his arms and legs had also being badly burnt, his normally perfectly coiffed hair was singed and had clumps missing. But in Nick Stoke's eyes, Grissom saw something he had never before seen in the young CSI, a steely determination, passion and overall firm belief that they would find their missing friend. He soon realised it was matched by all of his team, Greg Sanders was the missing link that held his team together and my god were they going to find him.

Sara was interrogating Jack Robins like she had never interrogated a suspect before, after Paul's suicide, he was their one and only lead. Warrick was already down in the car lot, ripping apart Paul's car like a madman, for anything a single scrap of evidence that would lead to Greg. Grissom was on his way to join Warrick when he heard a familiar voice, loud and clear arguing with a nurse animatedly. The redhead was gesticulating wildly. "Catherine" he approached "What the heck are you doing?"

Catherine at first was somewhat surprised to see Grissom. "I'm discharging myself" she said firmly.

"Lady", the harassed young nurse spoke, "I really wouldn't advise it, you've just had a concussion and the doctor recommends at least an overnight stay…"

"It's just a bump on the head!" Catherine interrupted abruptly. "I'm fine, really" She said justifying her decision to a stunned Grissom as well as the nurse. "I have perfect 20/20 vision, I can walk in a straight line, my hearing is as normal, and please I need to leave now"

The nurse relented and allowed her discharge there was no point arguing with the fiery redhead. "Sign here"

Catherine gratefully accepted the sheet "Thank you"

Catherine was all business immediately "I heard what happened Griss, he doesn't have long left does he? Where do you want me?"

Grissom continued to stare open-mouthed at the stubborn woman stood before him. He always knew she had balls but even so… "Cat" he tried "You've just been through a traumatic experience"

Immediately fire was shooting from her eyes. "My experience" she said icily "was nowhere near as traumatic what that poor boy is going through. That bastard has finally ended his own pathetic existence and I'll be damned if hes going to take another innocent life with him!" There was an edge to her voice Grissom had never witnessed before.

"Okay" he sighed, "you can help Warrick search Paul's car but please on your way, don't let Nick know you discharged yourself, I don't want him getting any insane ideas. If Nick could, he would walk out of this hospital right now in the middle of the storm and with the condition he's in, we really would end up with a dead CSI on our hands"

Catherine smiled and agreed.

"I admire your strength Catherine thanks for doing this"

"No problem" she replied turning to go

"Oh and Cat? Don't forget your umbrella"

Luckily Paul had parked his car in the sheltered part of the car park, so Warrick wasn't getting too wet as he examined each and every aspect of the car. Paul had gone into the hospital planning to kill Nick and not planning to never come out again and it showed, the normally immaculate Simmonds had left what Warrick hoped was a minefield of evidence. The trunk it seemed yielded the most important clues. He shone the torch into the interior and immediately discovered a pile of wet hastily chucked in clothes and soaking wet boots, he lifted them up to examine them and found the insides were just as wet as the outside "that can't just be from the rain" he muttered.

"What have you got?" said a voice from behind, startling him.

"Catherine?" he said in disbelief "aren't you supposed to be…"

"I'm fine" she quickly cut him off "doctor said I only had a mild concussion so I discharged myself". Warrick continued to look her like she was still suffering from concussion. "Look" she sighed "We need every body available on this case and that includes me and if Nick could believe me he'd be down here in a heartbeat but he cant so you got me so I'll ask again what have we got?"

Warrick gave a small laugh in amazement and shook his head "What do you make of these?" he said holding up the sodden boots.

"He was out in the rain for a long time?" Catherine guessed

"Yeh but these boots are probably wetter inside, like he had been wading in water or something if it was just the rain then the outside would be wetter. These clothes are also soaked through; he ditched them at last minute. He pulled them out for closer inspection; the jeans were practically cardboard because they were so wet. The dye was running out.

"He was up to his knees in water" Catherine observed

"Yeh" Warrick agreed, "The million dollar question is where?"