Summary: Strange events in the form of murder leave nothing, but trouble and confusion. Nick and Warrick are pulled into a world they were not ready for. It threatens not only their lives, but their sanity.

Disclaimer: This is all written in fun and trial for something new. Everything CSI is not mine and never will be. It belongs to the creative talent of the actors, the writers, the directors, and producers. I am not making any money off of this. Only meant to offer something new on something already so great. No reason to sue.

Author's Notes: Hello. I must say, the response to the shortest chapter I have ever written was impressive. Thanks for all the warm welcome back's. It is nice to be back. Thanks for the awesome words on my quick little introduction. Means a lot to me. Sorry to make this so quick and what not, but I have to get to work. Busy time of year and late nights are to be expected! See you all next time! Adios!

Title: Poisonous Fear

By: duffshel

#1

The heat filled the area surrounding the building. The orange flames licked away at the wood and siding of the brand new townhouse. It was a rich area. Houses like these weren't supposed to just go up in flames like this.

Nicholas Stokes stood back and watched with wide-eyes as the fire department battled the intense fire. He had only witnessed a few fires in his career and this had to be the biggest. The entire damn house was lit up.

A tiny voice in the back of his mind kept wondering what the hell he was doing there anyways. This was something for the fire department to worry about. And, with patience he didn't really understand that he had, Nick explained back to the voice that no one had left the house according to the neighbors and the car of one of the owners was still parked in the driveway. The automobile had already been put out. No need for an explosion as well.

Jim Brass was standing about four feet away, mouth attached to his phone as he barked orders. He had been the one to call Nick to the scene. The others on the team were all already on other cases and seeing as it was Nick's first day back from his mini-vacation, he was free. The detective kept a close eye on the criminalist as to make sure he didn't do anything brave.

There were several people standing around the barricade that the department had put up around the red trucks and water hoses. Nothing like a little carnage early in the morning to drag the people to be witness. Flashes from digital cameras and phones added white light to the reds and blues. A group of people had also gathered around Officer Andrew Kehls and his squad car. They all looked distressed and scared. These were the neighbors that Andrew was trying to keep calm and get information from.

Several shouts from firefighters were filtered through Nick's brain, but nothing stuck. The inner child under all the muscle and age was almost jumping around in excitement at the blaze. His adult side scorned this attraction, but did nothing to stop it. The fire was holding his full attention. Destruction was always something that pulled at the human mind.

Brass finally managed to get off his phone and walked over to stand next to Nick. He couldn't help, but to grin at the expression on the kid's face. There was morbid fascination, yet disgust was written clearly in those chocolate eyes. But the cop couldn't deny that it wasn't interesting to him as well. It wasn't often you saw an entire house encased within red and orange.

"Do you want me to call someone else in to help us out with this?"

The strong, rough voice broke into Nick's head and he managed to turn his eyes from the fire, "I don't know. I talked to Warrick yesterday and it seemed they were all in the wrap-up stages of that stabbing case. Let them finish it up without distraction. I think you and I can handle this for awhile alone."

"Alright. Once we are allowed in the building, you stick close to me."

Nick turned fully to Brass with a smile on his face, "Well, gosh Jim. I didn't realize I was so treasured to you."

"Oh please. I just don't want you to run into any walls or anything."

The two stared at each other for a moment before they began to laugh. People were looking at them strangely and Nick knew they shouldn't be laughing, but he couldn't help it. The tension was so thick you could cut through it with a chain saw.

The fire chief came walking up to the smiling men and shook his head. He had been in his position for many years and knew both men on different levels. This really didn't surprise him all that much.

"You two are going to piss people off if you keep laughing like fools," Chief Jerry Hopkins stated with the sides of his mouth twitching.

"Blame it on the kid here."

Nick wisely turned away from the two older men and didn't respond. Another crew of firemen had finally arrived and he watched as the scrambled about to get more water on the fire. The added blast helped to hold down the fire on the north side. Siding flew from the house like flakes of skin.

"How much longer do you think before it is out?"

Jerry took in everything around him briefly before he answered Nick's question, "It all depends on the structure of the house. If it falls, could take a little longer. But they are managing it well."

The three men stood together as they watched the battle between the flames and water. The heat was still intense. Sweat was running down Nick's spine, but he didn't move. His eyes once again focus on the carnage in front of him. This was going to be a long night of going through all the damage.

!#$&()!#$&()!#$&()+

Warrick Brown was tired. He had just gotten back to the lab from the police station. The case had finally gotten wrapped up once they got the confession out of the boy's cousin earlier during the evening. It seems the kid was sick of all the attention his ten year old cousin was getting from the family and decided it would be best to stab his six times on top of his Spiderman bed sheets. Grissom and Catherine were working on the paper work yet, but had sent Warrick back with Greg. They were driving all the cops insane with their impatient pacing.

There was still four hours left on their shifts so they went straight to the break room to get a caffeine kick for the rest of the night. Greg Sanders had practically ran to the coffee machine and prepped it. Looking over his shoulder and seeing only Warrick walking into the room, the young criminalist bent and reached into the back of the cabinet under the sink. He took back up with a smirk, his coffee in his hand.

"So ya gonna share with me, man?"

Greg shrugged, "I suppose I could. You were extra nice to me on the case after all. It is the least that I can do for you."

"So kind of you."

Warrick sighed as he let his body drop onto the couch and rested his head on the plush back. His head was sore, but it wasn't anything a few aspirins wouldn't be able to fix. The smell of the expensive coffee began to fill the room and he let his mind relax along with his body. Greg had begun to hum to himself as he went about the room.

The lab was quiet outside the doorway. Las Vegas had been slow. The murderers and crazy people seemed to have taken a break. Within the past week, the graveyard shift only had four major cases. Even the day shift had been slow enough to do all their work on their own. Warrick wasn't complaining though. They had been two criminalists short.

Nick had taken five days off to get some stuff done around his place. He wanted to paint and clean the carpeting and couldn't seem to find time otherwise. Though he took a day off to hand out with his best friend and allow Warrick to kill him at hoops. And then after a day that Nick had been gone, Sara received a call from a friend back in California. The girl's father had taken ill and Grissom told her to fly back to San Francisco to visit with the family and her old friend. She had accepted the advice and flew out a few hours later.

The coffee was finally done and Greg gave a large cupful to Warrick. Both took large sips as they sat and tried to collect. Warrick had been glad the case with the kid had occurred when Nick was off. Cases like those affected all of them, but no where close to how they did to the Texan. He was sure it had to do with something that happened to the other man when he was younger, but Nick never talked about anything with his childhood.

Greg had just gotten up from his place next to Warrick when Gil Grissom and Catherine Willows walked into the room. The team co-leaders looked tired, but ready for whatever was to happen next. Grissom placed his phone on the wooden table as he pulled out a chair to take a seat. Catherine immediately stole Greg's coffee.

"Well, that's done. Now all we have to do is wait for the call for our next case."

Warrick just nodded and stared down into the black brew. No one said a word, but the silence was not uncomfortable. Greg shifted a few times as he watched the older CSI's in the room with him. They were one odd family unit that was for sure. He was about to say something when Grissom's phone went off.

"Grissom."

The other three watched the leading CSI closely as he listened to the caller. His face betrayed no emotion and he didn't say a word. Catherine wanted to hit him for always being so calm and collected. Finally the man said his good bye and hung up the phone.

"It seems we are going to be having two more cases tonight. That was Vega. Apparently there is a fire across town that Jim and Nick are already at."

Warrick looked up at his boss, "Nick's back already? I thought he started next shift?"

"It appears that Jim knew we were all busy and got a hold of him for it. I want Warrick and Greg to go and help him out. Catherine, you are going to come with me. There is an apparent animal attack over at Freedom Park."

This caused Greg's ears to perk up, "The skateboard place?"

"That would be it. Catherine and I will figure it out when we get there."

Warrick shook his head and he stood up. His back cracked almost painfully, but he used the jolt to ready himself. A fire was always a lot of work. One could hope Nick and Brass would have things set and ready to go by the time Warrick and Greg got there.

"So where's this fire?"

"Over in Henderson, Seven Hills. Your best bet is to get on 515 from this direction. I don't have the exact address, but it sounded like Vega said Saratoga Circle."

"All we will have to do once we get there is find all the big, red trucks," Greg chirped in.

Grissom and Catherine both looked at the young CSI with a confused look. Both had forgotten how rookies could act. Neither said a word as they left the room with shakes of their heads.

"Was it something I said?"

"Always man. Come on, let's go check on Nick and see what is up with that fire."

Energy surged through Greg's body and he was hot on Warrick's heels as they left the break room. He was practically bouncing as they stopped to grab some more gear from a store room. Once they broke out into the night air, Greg felt like singing.

TBC…hit the lights…