Agent Tennison listened intently to his radio while the four CSIs watched and waited for him to report someone of value. That time finally came. The FBI agent looked at the group with a smile.
"Team Two has located and secured one of the hostages. They are on their way to the meeting point as we speak."
"Did they say which hostage they had?" Warrick asked.
"No I'm sorry they didn't. They only said that they have one hostage secured and they other hostage is still with the HT's."
"Well let's get over there then." Catherine exclaimed.
"Ms Willows please understand that you are not allowed over in that area." Agent Tennison said reluctantly.
"Look Agent Tennison our friends need us. Now whichever one of them comes out of there we are going to be there for him. We aren't going to go near the estate we will just go over to the ambulance. After all both of them will need to go to the hospital…correct?"
"Yes that's correct Ms Willows. I suppose going over to the ambulance won't be a big deal. They should be coming out soon with your friend, but know this if any of you goes near that wall I will have you arrested for obstruction of justice and interfering with a federal case…do I make myself clear?"
They all shook their heads in understanding.
"O.K. Let's go."
Grissom was smack in the middle of the five FBI agents who had been assigned to locate and rescue him. This was a weird feeling to him. Usually he was the one that came in on the aftermath not the one that needed saving.
The group made it up the stairs and out in the hallway with no problems. As they made there way down the hallway they heard something, the agents protecting Grissom pushed him down to the floor and they crouched down as well. They listened intently for any other noises when they didn't hear anything more they continued through the house.
As the group of men made their way slowly through the estate Grissom thought of Nick. It steamed him to know that he was safe and Nick was still in harm's way. He had wished that these agents had just left him and went to find Nick, but he couldn't convince them. So instead of fighting with them and losing a lot of time he just gave in. He was starting to slow down a little he was pretty sure he had at least one or two broken ribs from Brent's little tirade, but he kept that fact hidden from Nick. He didn't want him to know that he was injured. The poor guy had enough to worry about.
They finally made it out into the courtyard and over to the North end of the fence. Grissom assumed that this was where the agents had entered. He heard Agent Casta speak quietly into his radio.
"Command this is Team two leader…come in."
"We read you…go ahead."
"We are at the entry point with the hostage, be prepared for drop off."
"Roger that."
The FBI agent turned to face Grissom. "Mr. Grissom will you be able to make it up the fence?"
Grissom looked at the fence. It seemed easy enough. In his day-to-day activities he was use to climbing in and out of things. The only difference this time was that he was injured. On the other side of the fence was a large grove of trees. He guessed that the other agents were waiting for him in that grove.
"I think so."
Grissom walked over to the fence and started to climb while the agents covered him from all angles. He reached the top and slid down the other side. The agents remained until they received a response that Grissom had gotten here without a problem.
"Team two leader we have hostage…please continue operation."
"Roger that."
Agent Casta and the four other agents left the fence to locate Nick.
Nick was still in the front of the group. Each of his escorts now held their guns out waiting for an unexpected attack. He was handcuffed and gagged and there was nothing he could do except go unwillingly with these men.
The group of nervous men had finally made there way out into the courtyard and cautiously headed towards the helicopter pad.
Nick could see the helicopter on the landing pad with the blades going. The pilot was sitting in the front checking the settings on the instruments. There were four guards surrounding the helicopter for security purposes. He knew that once he was on that chopper that there would be no easy rescuing GPS or not.
Nick tried to slow the group down by tripping and nearly falling to the ground. Ryan grabbed Nick's bad wrist and a handful of hair and pulled Nick's head back. Nick scrunched his eyes in pain.
"Now you aren't going to try that again are you?" Ryan asked menacingly.
Nick closed his eyes in pain and shook his head no. That answer suited Ryan and he released his hold on Nick's hair, but kept a firm grip on Nick's wrist.
"Now get moving." Ryan said pushing Nick forward.
He continued forward with great trepidation. 'Where were his rescuers?' He kept out a watchful eye looking for any signs of someone coming to help him. The closer he got to that helicopter his hopes were slowly ebbing away. He could feel the anxiety he had been able to control starting to well up inside him. He closed his eyes he knew that this was the worst time to have a panic attack. He took in two deep calming breathes through his nose; though it made him feel better it didn't help his situation any.
Grissom had made it over the fence without any problems even with the broken ribs. He walked into the grove of trees as Agent Casta directed him. As he entered the grove he was greeted by another three agents who led him through the grove and to a clearing. When he got to the clearing two paramedics rushed a gurney over to him and helped him sit down then layback.
He wrapped his arms around his ribs and grimaced in pain. The rest of his injuries were only superficial. He closed his eyes for a brief moment and when he opened them again he found Catherine, Sara, Warrick, Greg and Brass standing beside him.
Agent Tennison had notified the CSIs that the hostage was escorted to the fence and was just coming through the grove. They followed the paramedics over to the grove, but kept their distance. They didn't know what shape either Grissom or Nick would be in and they didn't want to interfere with their treatment.
Each of them held their breath waiting for either Grissom or Nick to emerge. One of them was safe while the other was still being held. They only hoped that they other could be rescued. Suddenly two agents exited the grove followed by Grissom.
Sara saw the agents exit first then Grissom and hollered, "It's Grissom."
The CSIs all shared a look they knew Nick was still in there. Each of them prayed that Nick would survive this like he did with his other brushes with death. Not only survive, but also mentally survive. How much could one person take?
Grissom looked like hell. He had a split lip, a black eye and bruises all over his face, and a dark bruise around his neck. He was walking slowly with his arms wrapped around his ribs.
They watched as the paramedics rushed up to him and helped him on the gurney. Up to that point he hadn't noticed any of them. They didn't blame him. They saw him grimace in pain and close his eyes when he laid down on the gurney. The group walked over to the gurney and when Grissom opened his eyes he looked up at them.
"They still have Nick." was all he said.
"We knew one of you was rescued, we just didn't know who." Catherine replied.
"I tried Catherine. I tried to protect him. Brent was using him against me…" Grissom stopped to contain his emotions. The paramedics were still working on him.
Catherine quickly glanced at Warrick they both needed Grissom to continue, but waited patiently for him to contain himself.
"Grissom was Nick O.K?" Warrick finally asked.
Grissom looked at Warrick and shook his head no. "No he was injured, but he'll live unlike Brent if I ever get my hands on that guy."
Warrick was growing more concerned, "Grissom what's wrong with Nick? How bad is he?"
"He has a broken wrist, a concussion, and deep laceration across his throat." He closed his eyes again took another calming breath then opened his eyes again the old Grissom was back. "Tell the paramedics that they better be ready for him…who knows what else Brent has in stored for him."
Before any of them could ask another question. One of the paramedics stood up and told the group that they were taking Grissom to the hospital and wheeled him away.
Grissom looked back towards the group and screamed. "Catherine you are in charge…take care of Nick!"
Before another thing could be said Catherine took charge, "Sara and Greg you two go with Grissom. Warrick and I will stay here and wait on word about Nick we'll keep you informed as to what's going on here."
The two CSIs nodded and ran over to the ambulance where Grissom was being loaded in.
Catherine looked at Warrick, "Now we wait and hope for the best."
Brent knew their luck wasn't this good he was sure that the cops were somewhere just waiting to ambush them. If they did then Nicky boy would be the first to die. He smirked looking at Nick leading the group; he still had a lot of things planned for the CSI. He wasn't even close to exacting his revenge. If they could make it to the helicopter without any roadblocks then all would be in their favor.
They just stepped up on to the landing pad and could feel the wind from the helicopter blades blowing their hair back. Brent could see Nick struggling to get away from Ryan. He smiled again; Nick knew what was in stored for him if he got on that helicopter.
The two CSIs remained with Tennison. He was their best bet for information with regards to Nick's rescue.
Tennison listened intently to his radio and turned to speak to Warrick and Catherine with a grim look on his face, "They made it to the chopper, and it just took off."
Warrick silently swore to himself, both CSIs knew that the chances of Nick coming out of this situation alive if he got on that helicopter were slim to none. They both heard the thumping of the helicopter blades when they saw it take and set off towards the desert. They watched in silence as the helicopter got farther away, then all they saw was a large fireball in the night. The helicopter had exploded and what was left of it crashed into the desert.