Hi everyone thanks for the great reviews.
NickGilGreggonumber1fan: Hmm…are they? I guess we'll see.
Rojaji: I always like it when someone is a fast poster. Hope you enjoy the next chapter.
Onthnis: Oh if you want some Nick angst I've got some for you. Hee hee
Angelic Little Devil: VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY, VERY SORRY for not putting a reply to your review for Chapter 14. I thought I did. The only thing that I could think of that happened was that I posted the other chapter before you reviewed 14 and yes I deserve. Hee hee. Thanks for the great reviews for chapters 15 thru 17. I think you will enjoy 18 at least I hope so.
Tefla: Oh you are so going to need more dynamite this chapter and maybe I'll through in an anvil for you. Thanks again for being my beta.
Kadyann: Nope don't have a laptop, but I wouldn't go on vacation without finishing my story. I wouldn't leave you guys and gals like that. I'm glad you like the story. Here's the next chapter. Enjoy!
Blaugrana9: Thanks for reviewing it really is appreciated. I have vacation planned but not until Thanksgiving so this story will be wrapped up before then. So I may work on my next story just not post it till I get back. I guess we'll see. Thanks again! Enjoy the next chappie.
Nicole101: Hmm…maybe. We'll see you will just have to read. Thanks for the great review.
Sam: Thanks for the review
Happy-me-111: You know I love messing with you guys. It's so in my nature. Thanks for the review. I hope you like the next chapter.
Nicky69: Thanks for the review and what's the FBI up to or rather the agents….hmmm.
Crazy4tv: Thanks for the review. Nope no vacation until Thanksgiving, I am going to see Mickey with my family. I will have this story completed before then. Thanks again!
Jojojojo01: Thanks for the review and don't sweat not reviewing the others. If you think this chapter is bad wait till the next one. Thanks again!
The CSIs and Brass all stared at the tall man in front of them.
"You're who?" asked Catherine.
"Agent Tennison FBI."
"…And you know Nick how?" Brass questioned further.
"He's working with us."
"What!" The four of them screamed in unison.
"Just what the hell are you talking about?" the Agent heard from behind him.
Tennison turned around to see a very displeased Sheriff standing there.
"Now do you want explain to me what the hell you are doing here and why one of my Criminalists is working with you without me knowing about it!"
Tennison faced the Sheriff, "Well Sheriff I'm with the FBI and I really don't have to explain anything, but since Mr. Stokes is helping us I feel obligated to tell you what's going on."
"Well isn't that just sweet of you," Brass cut in.
The Sheriff gave Brass a warning look to keep his mouth shut.
Tennison continued, "We've been monitoring the Mitchell's for quite some time now and their uncle, Maxwell Singer. It's really him that we are after. We have two of our agents undercover in the Mitchell organization."
"Reed and Davis." Catherine said.
"Yes. Reed and Davis are really agents in the bureau, but are posing as cops on the take. We've known for a while that this was going to go down. So we made sure that Reed and Davis were assigned to protect Mr. Stokes."
"How could you know what was going to go down?" Sara asked.
"My agents were kept in the loop by Ryan Croft one of Singers top guys. Reed and Davis knew that Ryan was going to be taking pot shots at Mr. Stokes."
Brass put his arm up to stop Tennison, "Wait a minute, you knew that they were going to try and kill Nick and you didn't say anything." Brass shouted.
"They were under orders not to kill him. Remember this whole thing was a well-orchestrated plan. They shot at him yes, but these guys are professionals and if they wanted him dead, he would be, make no mistake about that. It was all in the plan to get him into protective custody with my two undercover agents guarding him and that coincided with the takeover of the courtroom. So far everything is going according to their plans, but we are going to put a stopper in those plans."
"Why go through all the protective custody? Why didn't they just wait to take over the courtroom when Nick was testifying?" Sara asked.
"The answer to that is simple. Mr. Stokes' testimony would have brought more people into the courtroom. Not to say that Mr. Grissom and Mr. Brown's testimonies were less relevant, but people want to see the victim."
The CSIs glowered when he said that, none of them considered Nick a victim and they didn't like it when someone else referred to him as one.
He continued, "If they had waited until he testified there would have been a lot more people and with those people a lot more security. That's why they did it when they did."
"So where does Nick come in with all this?" Greg finally spoke up; he could feel the eyes of his peers on him when he asked the question.
"Well Mr. Stokes didn't know about our operation until an hour and half ago. We had planned on telling him about the operation today, but when he saw the newscast we had to move quickly."
"What's Nick supposed to do? You saw him handcuffed when they brought him into the courthouse? You do realize what he's already been through? Did you consider any of that before you put him in danger?" Catherine inquired with the look of disgust etched in her face.
"Those are all really good questions Ms.?"
"Willows."
"Ms. Willows. We make safety our number one priority, but sometimes we have to make exceptions, this was one of those times. We briefed Nick on what we felt needed to be done. Our plan wouldn't work if he weren't in on it. Sure we could have forced his hand and completely played the bad guy without his knowledge, but that wouldn't have sat right with me. I felt that he should know."
"Well isn't that nice, let's give the man a lollipop." Brass said sarcastically.
"So what next? What does Mitchell have planned?"
"A pickup."
"A pickup?" Catherine repeated.
"Yes. A helicopter should be arriving in…" he looked at his watch. "Fifteen minutes to pick them up and take them away. We have already cleared the airspace around the courthouse."
"Well that's just great! How are you going to keep track of Nick, Grissom and Warrick when they are taken away in the helicopter? That is if they are even still alive when it gets here?" Sara asked forcefully.
"We placed a tracking device in Nick's belt buckle, so when they take off we'll be able to track them, but they aren't going to make it that far. We are going to make our move on the roof. I have my bureau snipers positioned; both my undercover agents have been briefed as well as Nick and let me add that Nick is armed with a weapon, providing they didn't search him on the way in."
"It sure sounds like you have everything covered, but the one thing you didn't cover was the human element." Catherine said.
Grissom and Warrick tried to understand what Nick had meant when he said that they had more luck than they thought. Nick looked around to make sure he wasn't being watched. He casually leaned back in his chair and reached into his back pocket he pulled a small key out.
"Warrick, can you lean into me with your hands?" Nick whispered.
"Yeah man." Warrick casually turned in his chair like he was stretching or adjusting. He could feel Nick place something in his hand. He looked at Nick for an explanation of what he was given, but before Nick could give him one Brent started talking.
"O.K., listen up you guys the chopper is going to be here in fifteen minutes. I want everyone ready to go. Here's how I want this to go down. Three of you will each be on Grissom and Brown when we exit. Four of us will cover Stokes. We'll go out single file. Does everyone get that?"
There were murmurs of understanding coming from his people.
The three CSIs shared a look, if they got on that helicopter it was over.
Brent walked over to the CSIs, "So are you gentlemen ready for a nice helicopter ride?"
"No not really, any chance just leaving us behind?' Nick asked raising his eyebrows.
Brent smiled leaned over to where he was face to face with Nick. "Now Nick you know that I have a lot of plans for you. Remember what I said the last time? We have unfinished business you and me. You do remember that, right?"
Nick didn't answer he just looked at Brent. "You might want to answer me Nick."
Nick still didn't say a word. "Well either having your friends here has made you incredibly brave or incredibly stupid. I suggest you answer the question or you will have only one friend left in this courtroom." Brent pulled out his gun for emphasis and waved it between Grissom and Warrick.
Nick shook his head in defeat and answered, "Yes I remember."
Brent smirked, "You will do well to remember to answer me when I ask you a question and that goes for you two as well." He looked at each of them to get his point across. "I'm sure Nick has filled you in with what I'm capable of."
"Yes he has," Grissom responded.
By this time the whole group had gathered around the defense table, waiting for the orders to pull out.
"Alright let's get these three up to the roof," Brent ordered.
Reed stepped up, "Wait Brent there's something that we need to do first."
Everyone looked at Reed. Nick all of the sudden got a stinking feeling in the pit of his stomach.
"Yea…and what's that Reed." Brent asked agitated.
Reed pulled out his gun and aimed it at Davis.
"What the hell are you doing Reed?" Davis screamed.
"Yea, what the hell are you doing Reed?" Brent demanded.
Grissom and Warrick looked to Nick he shook his head to indicate 'Not now' he would explain later.
"He's FBI." Reed said as he walked up to Davis and took his gun.
"What! You're FBI!" Brent screamed.
Grissom and Warrick were shocked to say the least. They both looked at Nick again for answers. This time he shook his head yes to confirm what Reed had said.
"Reed why?" Davis asked as he was restrained.
Reed looked at Davis like he was an idiot, "The money was just too good. I couldn't pass it up."
Davis looked at Reed in disgust and shock; he thought he knew this man. They had been partners for five years.
Brent looked to Reed, "Is there anything else that you want to tell me?"
"Plenty," he said looking at Nick.
It was then that Nick knew everything that Tennison had planned had just fallen by the wayside.
Reed walked over to Nick, "Get up!"
Nick just sat there and looked up at him. Reed grabbed the front of Nick's shirt and pulled him up. "I said stand up!"
The hate, anger and betrayal in Nick's eyes could be felt across the room.
"Nicky here has a tracking device on him." Reed said as he removed Nick's belt.
"What the…" Brent said with a murderous look on his face.
"And that's not all." Reed bent down and lifted Nick's right pant leg only to find a gun strapped there.
Grissom and Warrick could only sit there as they watched everything unfold. If they weren't in trouble before, they were now. The bit of luck Nick was talking about just flew out the window.
Reed handed Nick's gun to Brent. He took the gun from Reed and hit Nick with the butt of the gun. Nick fell to the floor.
Warrick jumped up, but only to be grabbed by the shoulder and pulled back down into his seat by Ryan.
Brent grabbed Nick by the shirt and pulled him up. "So Nick what were you planning to do with that gun?"
Nick didn't answer he just looked at Brent with hatred. Brent hit him again.
"Leave him alone!" Warrick screamed.
Brent punched Nick again. "Answer me Nick!"
After Nick recovered briefly from Brent's onslaught of punches, he snorted at Brent's question, "What do you think Brent? Do you actually believe that if I had the choice on whether to go into a situation armed or not, that I wouldn't. Think again!"
Brent went to punch Nick again when a loud thumping of helicopter blades could be heard.
"Brent the chopper is here let's go!" Mike screamed.
Brent looked at Nick, "This isn't close to being finished." Brent turned around to address the rest of the group. "Let's go."
"Wait Brent." Reed tried to get his attention.
"Later Reed we've got to go."
Brent grabbed Nick by the arm, Ryan grabbed Warrick and Mike had Grissom, they all headed towards the judge's entrance. Just before Brent walked through the door he turned and said to the men holding Davis, "Kill him."
Nick glanced at Davis one last time before he was forced through the door. Warrick was pushed through and Grissom followed him, each CSI silently saying their goodbyes to the doomed FBI agent.