Hello, everyone thanks for the reviews.

Tefla: Mustache needs to go. He was interviewed today on the morning show and he still had it...ahh! Someone needs to tackle that boy and attack him with an electric razor.

Nicole: O.K. good. Well here it comes.

Dumbandhappy: Thanks!

Msquirrel: Your right, but Brent's agenda has changed. Hmm….

And now chapter 16…

Brent pulled Grissom back into the building forcefully and then released the chokehold. Ryan had allowed Warrick to stand up normally but still had the gun to his temple. Warrick looked at Grissom silently wondering what Brent's demands had been. He didn't like the look on Grissom's face and that was bad.

Grissom was trying to compose himself. Though he didn't show his emotions outwardly, he was wrestling with them on the inside. He could tell Warrick was trying to read him.

"How did it go?" Ryan asked. Warrick glanced over at Brent waiting for the answer.

"It went just fine. I gave them a half an hour to have Stokes here orGrissom is the first to get it."

With those words Warrick's head whipped over to look at Grissom. Grissom met his eyes, but didn't say a word. What was he supposed to say? That in order for him to live Nick would have to give himself up. If he had the choice he wouldn't allow it, but as chance had it there was nothing he could do.

"Let's get these two back to the courtroom."

Brent grabbed Grissom's neck and pushed him towards the courtroom and Ryan did the same to Warrick. Both men stopped and glared at their captors, and then continued towards the courtroom.

As they made their way to the door of the courtroom Ryan knocked three times and the doors opened. Grissom and Warrick were roughly pushed through. The other hostages watched as they were escorted back to the defense table in the front of the courtroom and pushed down into the chairs with their arms still cuffed behind their backs.

Brent looked down at the two CSIs before walking away, "Now you make sure that you two behave yourselves, you wouldn't want Nick to show up with your bodies on the floor, now would you."

Warrick tried to hide his anger, but it was fixed in his eyes. Brent found Warrick's anger amusing and smiled.

"Do you have something you want to say Mr. Brown?"

Warrick was about to open his mouth to reply when Grissom answered, "No he doesn't have anything to say, do you Warrick?"

"No nothing," Warrick said frustrated.

"I thought so." Brent said with a laugh and walked away.

Warrick looked over to Grissom and whispered, "So what went down out there?"

"Just like Brent said he told Brass and the negotiator that he wanted Nick here in a half an hour or he was going to start throwing bodies out every five minutes starting with me and you."

Warrick shook his head, "This is unbelievable…Nick's going to do it you know."

"I hope not Warrick, I hope not. He really wouldn't be thinking logically."

"Grissom I had a one on one conversation with Nick yesterday. He finally opened up to me…do you know what he said?"

Grissom shook his head no.

"He said that he would gladly lose that coin toss again if it meant keeping any of us safe."

"But at the risk of his own life?"

"Was that Catherine, Sara and Greg I saw?"

"Yea, let's hope they can keep Nick away or talk to some sense into him."

Catherine, Sara and Greg had just arrived when Grissom was pulled back into the building. The three CSIs could see Warrick being held at gunpoint at the entrance. Both men knew they were there so hopefully that would bring them some comfort.

The three CSIs all turned to Brass they were looking for answers. Brass gave him one of his famous looks.

"Well? What are their demands?" Catherine finally asked.

Brass took a quick look around. This worried the CSIs; obviously Brass was at a loss of words and didn't want to say. He knew how they would react.

"Jim, what does he want?" Catherine asked forcefully.

"He wants Nick and he wants him here in the next half an hour or he will kill a hostage every five minutes starting with Grissom." Brass was livid by the time he finished explaining.

The three CSIs just stood there dumbfounded. Brent wanted Nick and would kill Grissom he if didn't come. Each one of them knew that Nick would give himself up in a heartbeat if he could.

"Brass, that can't happen." Sara said.

Brass turned around and watched the Sheriff speaking with the negotiator, the negotiator cell phone rang and she answered and nodded her head and hung up. She leaned over to the Sheriff and told whispered something to him.

"Well it may just be out of our hands."

"Does Nick even know what's going down? Has anyone called him yet?" Greg asked warily.

Just as Greg had said that two dark sedans pulled in near the front of the courthouse. Officer Reed was driving one; they didn't know who was driving the other. The group could see Nick in the backseat of Reed's car with a grim look on his face. He spied his friends and looked away. This was going to be hard enough and now he had to deal with them. The other dark sedan parked farther down.

Officers Reed and Davis exited the car both men walked over to Nick's side and opened the door. Nick got out and walked up to his friends with Reed and Davis standing far enough way. He tried to make light of the situation.

"Fancy meeting you guys here."

They didn't buy it.

"Nick what are you doing here? You should be back at the hotel." Catherine said.

Nick looked at Catherine, "I would think it would be obvious why I'm here Catherine."

"Nick, Grissom and Warrick don't expect this of you."

"I really don't have a choice." He said carefully glancing over at Reed and Davis.

"What do you mean by that?" Brass asked.

"You guys will find out soon enough." He replied.

They all looked at each other, then at the two officers.

"Nick what the hell are you talking about, of course you have a choice." Catherine yelled.

"Catherine, keep your voice down." He said turning around looking at the two officers again. "No I don't have a choice. I have to do this for Warrick and Grissom."

He turned and walked over to where the sheriff and negotiator were talking with his two shadows in tow.

"Sheriff." Nick said in greeting.

The Sheriff looked at Nick and was taken aback, "Nick you are supposed to be in protective custody, why the hell are you here!" the Sheriff yelled as he glared at the two officers that were supposed to be protecting him.

"I can't say Sheriff, but you will find out soon enough. Trust me."

"You want me to trust you, when every fiber of my being is telling me to have you arrested and thrown in solitary confinement for your own protection." The Sheriff let out a deep sign. "I sure hope you know what you are doing." The Sheriff looked at the negotiator. "Linda this is Nick Stokes."

"So I gathered." She shook his hand. "I'm Linda Gleason the hostage negotiator. It appears that Mr. Mitchell has one demand and that's you."

"Yea I know and I'm prepared to give myself up to him for the release of all the hostages."

"You are a brave man Mr. Stokes, under normal circumstances the department never exchanges hostages, but in this case since you have the Sheriff's permission we'll do it."

She grabbed the bullhorn and walked toward the front of the building. Nick followed and stopped next to her. He closed his eyes and took a deep calming breath. He looked over at his friends who were watching him. He wished that he could tell them what was going on, but he promised he wouldn't say anything. Both Officer Reed and Davis flanked Nick.

Linda held up the bullhorn and began to speak, "You in the building we have what you want, but before he's allowed to come into the building you have to release the other hostages."

The courtroom was quiet. Everyone watched Brent. Brent was always one for the dramatic. He looked at the clock. The negotiator had fifteen minutes to go and then he would start killing people. The silence was broken when he heard the negotiator through the bullhorn.

"You in the building we have what you want, but before he's allowed to come into the building you have to release the other hostages."

Brent smiled. "I guess that's a fair trade, don't you think?" he said looking at Grissom and Warrick. "…But unfortunately you two are staying."

Grissom and Warrick kept silent they were surrounded by armed men what did they think they could do or say? They knew that Brent was going to use them against Nick or vice versa. The situation was getting worse by the minute.

Brent stood up on the prosecution table and yelled, "O.K. everyone you are going to be released, I want everyone in a single file line in front of the door."

Everyone rose slowly from his or her seats; they didn't want to get shot so they lined up as they were instructed. Mr. Williamson and the judge headed over to the line as well. Brent stopped the judge.

"Excuse me your honor, but I will be escorting you personally." He turned to Ryan, "Bring Brown again so the snipers don't try anything. I will need three of you with me, and the rest of you stay here and watch Grissom. All right everyone let's go."

Ryan yanked Warrick up from his seat and pushed him towards the exit. Grissom followed their progress until they were out the door. He turned back around to see his captors staring at him.

Nick and Linda watched the courthouse for any sign of Brent or the hostages. Ten minutes had gone by since she communicated that Nick was present. Suddenly the door opened and the hostages emerged from the building, but stopped at the top of the steps. Nick knew what that meant. He had to show himself. He looked over to Linda.

"I guess I'm on." He walked towards the steps with Reed and Davis behind him. Before he went up the first step he turned to look at his friends and gave them a forced smile. He was scared and they knew it. Before he was able to turn around Reed pushed him. Nick turned and looked at him then continued up the stairs.

"What the hell was that push for?" Sara asked.

No one answered; they all were transfixed on Nick walking up the stairs. At the halfway point he stopped. That's when Brent allowed the hostages to continue down the stairs. Each of them passed Nick on the way down and gave him a look of appreciation; because of him they were now safe. After the last hostage walked past him Brent had made his way down with the judge. He stopped at the same step as Nick. Nick took a deep swallow. He was now face to face with Brent.

There you have it Chapter 16. I was very distressed with the lack of reviews this past chapter. I hope I see more or I may hold off on my next chapter for a few days…. Please review good or bad thoughts. Thanks!