Nick closed his eyes and let out a muffled cry as he felt the cold blade dig into his skin and slowly move across his throat. He was surprised that it really didn't hurt. He had faced death so many times already that he couldn't believe he was going to die now.

He opened his eyes still struggling and squirming to get free, he wasn't going to go out without a fight, but Brent and his men held him tighter. Nick looked over to Grissom, he didn't blame him for this he only hoped Grissom knew that.

Grissom could see Brent slowly moving the knife across Nick's throat with utter glee. He could see more of Nick's blood dripping down his neck and onto his shirt. Suddenly an emotion that Grissom never felt before lashed out…desperation. He couldn't allow Brent to kill Nick.

"Stop! He's like a son to me! O.K…now you know…now you both know."

Grissom looked straight at Nick when he said that and saw the stunned look in Nick's eyes. It took him a long time to admit that and he wanted Nick to know he really meant it.

Nick was shocked, but he could tell by the look in Grissom's eyes that he meant it. He always wanted to make Grissom proud of him, like a father of a son. Though Nick already had a father, he considered Grissom someone to look up to. He never thought in a millions years that Grissom felt the same way, but that was the mystery known as Grissom.

Nick tried to respond to Grissom, but his mouth was still covered by Brent's hand. Brent had removed the blade from Nick's throat and his hand from Nick's mouth. Brent moved away from Nick and placed his knife back in his pocket after wiping Nick's blood off of it.

"Nick are you alright?" Grissom asked anxiously. He could see a long cut going across Nick's throat from the look of the cut and the amount of bleeding it was only superficial. Nick would live.

"I'll live." He said grimacing. The pain that he didn't feel before was now coming in full force.

Brent observed the two CSIs before speaking. He really hadn't planned on killing Nick just yet. It was just all part of the game. He still had a lot more planned and now that he knew how Grissom felt about Nick it would be even more fun.

"Now see don't you feel better getting all that out in the open." Brent said mockingly.

Grissom just stared at Brent with deep hatred. He prided himself on his emotional detachment to things, though some people regarded it as cold or uncaring. Even though he never showed his feeling in the open it didn't mean that he didn't have any.

He cared for his CSIs. Sure he was rough on them, but wasn't that the way most parents were with their children? Children had to grow and how would his CSIs learn if he wasn't hard on them?

Grissom answered back quickly, "I will feel better once we are away from you."

Brent laughed, "Well Mr. Grissom unfortunately for you I haven't even begun to start."

"What is it that you want from us? I find it hard to believe that you just brought us along to be your personal punching bags."

Brent looked thoughtful for a second then answered, "I want you to fear me…" he grabbed Nick's chin. "Nick already does…don't you?"

"Go to hell Brent!" Nick replied angrily and pulled his chin away from Brent's grasp.

Grissom laughed, "You want us to fear you? I'm sorry I don't fear the man only what you represent."

"Oh really and what is it that I represent Mr. Grissom?" Brent asked intrigued.

"When it comes down to it all you are is a schoolyard bully who can't do anything by himself and needs his friends or in your case goons to help him." Grissom looked at the four guys that had entered with Brent.

"You know what Grissom you talk to much."

"So I have been told."

"I'm going to enjoy killing you."

"That's not the first time I've heard that before either."

Nick looked at Grissom and begged him with his eyes to shut up. Didn't Grissom know how crazy Brent was?

Brent finally left Nick's side and made his way over to Grissom. Grissom struggled with his guards, but he did what he set out to do he got Brent away from Nick, for now.

Brent came face to face with Grissom, the best the Las Vegas Crime Lab had to offer. This guy sure had a big mouth and it was time to shut it up. Brent gave Grissom a punch to the face, then another and another. Soon Grissom was bleeding from a split lip.

"Leave him alone Brent!" Nick screamed and he tried to pull away from his guards.

Brent was in the zone now. Grissom had pushed him to his limits and now he was going to take that entire vent up frustration on this man.

Grissom wasn't sure how much more he could take from this guy, but he wasn't going to show Brent that. He already lost count an how many times he had been punched. He had been attacked by suspects before, but nothing quite like this. He could see Nick struggling to get loose; he only did this to keep Brent away from him.

Nick struggled with his emotions. He knew why Grissom had said those things. They were trained to press the buttons of suspects and study their reactions. Most of the time that was how they were able to get someone to fess up. Brent was no different. Grissom had sized him up before they even left the courtroom. This was Grissom's way of protecting Nick.

"I think you have proven your point Brent, leave him alone already!" Nick said with frustration etched in his eyes.

"No way Nick. I don't think Mr. Grissom here has gotten the point at all." Brent removed the knife from his pocket.

The task force had arrived at the meeting point just outside Maxwell Singers estate. Each team was ready to roll. It was near eight in the evening and it was dark in the desert with no lights.

The three teams gathered around the new makeshift command post.

"O.K. everyone this is it. Get into your positions. We will cut the power as soon as team one enters the estate."

Catherine, Warrick, Sara, Greg and Brass all stood near their cars. They watched as agents walked back and forth getting into position. None of them had seen this many people in one place since Nick's abduction and rescue from his shallow grave.

Each of them wondered how Grissom and Nick were doing. They all knew what Brent was capable of. Brent really was no different than most criminals they had dealt with, but with money.

Greg finally spoke up, "I hope Nick and Grissom are O.K. This is so frustrating knowing that they are right there and we can do nothing to help."

Catherine placed a hand on Greg's shoulder, "We feel the same way Greg. It's always hard being on the outside watching. We just have to trust that these men and women can get Nick and Grissom out of there."

The first team walked past the group of CSIs and headed toward the north end of the fence.

The CSIs had met the teams earlier. Team one consisted of four men and one woman, led by Agent John Metcalfe. It was their job to take out the guards around the estate.

Team two consisted of five men led by Agent Tom Casta. It was their job to locate and recover Grissom and Nick.

Team three consisted of three men and two women led by Agent Diana Parker. It was their job to locate and detain the Mitchell's, Ryan and Maxwell Singer.

The first team disappeared into the night followed closely by the other two teams.

Agent Tennison left the command post and walked over to the group of CSIs watching the comings and goings of various agencies.

"Agent Jackson asked that I stay with you during the mission. I have a radio

set to the same frequency of the teams and I can keep you updated with what's going on."

"We appreciate that Agent Tennison." Sara answered for the group.

The agent put his hand to his ear, "The first team just entered the estate."

The four CSIs watched the estate go dark moments after Agent Tennison had made the announcement.

The agent continued to listen and report, "They have already subdued eight guards…Team two has just entered the estate."

Brent had just brought out his knife and walked over to Grissom when the lights went.

Grissom and Nick shot a glance at each other. They hoped it was the cavalry.

"What the hell is going on?" Brent asked in annoyance.

"Back up power should be on momentarily sir." One of the guards replied.

After a few minutes the power never returned.

"I'm not getting a good feeling about this…let's get back upstairs to see what's going on. Put Grissom back in the cell and we are bringing Nicky here with us just in case." Brent looked at Nick with an evil sneer on his face. "Here put these on him." Brent handed Nick's guards a pair of handcuffs.

Nick grimaced to himself when he saw the handcuffs. His wrist was already broken not to mention the damage that Brent had done to it, now he had to wear those damn handcuffs again.

The two guards manhandled Grissom back into the cell and locked it. Grissom walked back over to the bars and watched as Nick was roughly handcuffed and led out of the room. He could see the pain etched on Nick's face as he was handcuffed. Nick afforded one last glance at Grissom before he was roughly pushed through the door.

Grissom had a feeling that the cavalry was here; he only hoped that they would be able to get Nick away from Brent before it was to late.

Nick's face was contorted with pain as Brent and his men escorted him up the stairs. His wrist was killing him and it didn't help that they had a firm grip on it as they led him up the stairs.

Once the group had made their way up the stairs Brent had directed three of the men to go and find out what was happening with the power while Brent and the last guard took Nick over to his uncle's office.

As Nick was once again led through the large home, he hoped that the cavalry was here and that's why the power went out. He knew it was SOP … standard operating procedure to turn off power during a hostage situation, but he didn't think Brent or his men knew that. With the power not coming back on he was almost certain that the cavalry was here. He wasn't sure how many people were in the estate, but he guessed it was going to get real crowded real soon.

Brent and Nick had just reached Maxwell Singer's office when he came barreling out of it with Ryan and Michael hot on his heels.

"Brent there you are. We are being raided. We've lost contact with almost every guard. We are getting out of here. I have the helicopter on standby."

Singer noticed that Brent had Nick with him.

"Well my boy it seems that you used your head this time. We can use Mr. Stokes here to insure our safe passage to the helicopter. Surely they wouldn't want him hurt."

Nick struggled out of Brent's grasp and shouted, "I'm not going anywhere with you!"

Nick quickly turned around and started to run, Ryan being the closest to Nick other than Brent just grabbed Nick and roughly pulled him back.

"Look Stokes you are coming with us whether you like it or not. Now whether you come conscious or unconscious it's your choice." Ryan said through bared teeth.

"Is that all you people ever say…"

"Shut him up before he gives away our position," Singer demanded.

Ryan pulled back his arm getting ready to punch Nick when Michael tapped Ryan on the shoulder and handed him a gag. Ryan lowered his arm and tied the gag around Nick's mouth. Nick rolled his eyes, he hated to be gagged just as much as he hated to be blindfolded.

"Let's get moving." Singer said and he pointed down a hallway.

Nick led the way and Ryan pushed him in the direction that Singer had pointed. Nick was amazed how different the house looked in the dark. It was no longer beautiful and tranquil, but deadly and dangerous. He knew he was in front of the group for a reason, just in case they ran into anyone he would be used as a shield. He hoped that the person wouldn't shoot him on accident, but if that meant getting rid of Brent and cohorts he would gladly die.

Grissom stood holding the bars to his cell in the dark when he heard a large crash and the door opened to the room he was in. What he saw made him smile in relief.

Three armed men had just entered his room; each of them had a black jacket with the marking of FBI written on it.

"Mr. Grissom I'm Agent Casta we are here to free you." The agent said looking around. "Where's Mr. Stokes?"

Another one of the agents walked over and unlocked the cell door that Grissom was in.

"When the power didn't come back on Brent was spooked and took Nick with him. I'm not sure where they are."

The agent took in what Grissom had said and spoke into his radio.

"Command this is Team two leader we have one hostage secured, the other hostage is still with the HTs, we will bring secured hostage to meeting point then go back and get the other one."

"Roger that Team two leader."

"Mr. Grissom are you O.K. to walk?"

"Yes I'm fine thank you. Isn't there anyway that you can get to Nick first?"

"No sir our orders are to get you out first. We'll get Mr. Stokes back don't worry."

"Don't worry! That madman has one of my CSIs and who knows what he's doing to him."

"We understand sir, but please know that we have two other teams on the estate. It will be hard for the Mitchell's to move around without being noticed. Now let's get you out of here."