A/N – Well I have big plans to finish all both my stories (this one and my Sue Thomas one) before Christmas. I'll be home for the holidays, and during that time I want to put some details into my next stories. I have a new Sue Thomas one, and a new CSI one both being planned out…so expect more posts soon, though please take into consideration finals are looming ahead in the next two weeks! BLAH!

Chapter 25

Nick and Sara both sat in shock as Grissom informed them about Warrick. He looked somber as he entered the room, where they were both sitting in silence. Nick went to excuse himself to DNA, but Grissom asked him to stay a second.

"What's wrong?" Sara immediately asked. It wasn't like Grissom to act like this, though the last 3 weeks, he had shown more concern and empathy than the last 5 years she had worked with him.

"I just got a phone call. LVPD responded to a wounded officers call on the strip. He requested back up before he passed out. The police arrived at the scene to see the officer unconscious, but alive outside. They walked into the liquor store. Warrick was shot too." Sara gasped and covered her mouth with her hand, as the tears started to stream down his face. Nick grasped her other hand tightly, pale with the news he had just received.

"Is he okay?" He said quietly. Grissom shook his head.

"I don't know. I haven't heard anything else. I figured you two would want to go to the hospital to see." They both nodded and shot up from the couch. "Just call when you know how he is. I'm going to try and keep this quiet until absolutely necessary. If you need me, I'll be at the crime scene with Greg. I don't want Catherine there. We'll find out who did this." They both nodded silently and rushed out the door, hand in hand, their faces anxious with worry.

-+-+-

"Are you okay?" Her soft voice whispered. He continued to drive, fighting back the tears. Their trip had been silent thus far.

"It's my fault," was all Nick managed to sputter out. Sara took his hand tightly in hers, her thumb caressing the back of his hand in support.

"It's not your fault. Don't think that. He's going to be fine."

"I left him there. I should have stayed."

"And I should have never gone to the library that day I met Chris, or moved to Las Vegas, or gone to Harvard." She replied.

"It's not the same."

"Sure it is Nicky. You didn't want this to happen – we just got to be positive. I made it, and he's much tougher than I'll ever be." He turned, as she gave him a small, sad smile. He tried to return it.

"I know." They pulled into the hospital parking lot and hurried into the emergency room, awaiting any information about their friend.

-+-+-

"I have a brown hair boss." Greg announced, as he carefully picked it up. All the other evidence that Warrick had collected was gone. It was the only lead they had. That and Warrick's testimony, if he was well enough to give it.

"Everything else is clean. The guy wiped up afterwards." Grissom added solemnly. Suddenly his phone chirped. Praying it was Sara or Nick, he quickly flipped it open.

"Hello?" He said anxiously.

-+-+-

"We're looking for a Warrick Brown." Nick repeated again to the harassed looking nurse.

"Sir – are you family?" She replied.

"No – well yes, no not genetically but he's my coworker and friend! I'm from the Las Vegas Crime Lab." He flipped her his badge, which she looked at.

"I'm sorry sir." Nick slammed his fist down in frustration. Sara took him gently by the arm.

"Nick, honey, calm down. It's okay." She whispered, as everyone stared, and the nurse looked wearily on.

"I want to know how my best friend is, is that too much to ask?" Sara's heart broke at the look of despair in Nick's face. An idea popped into her head.

"You want to find out about Warrick? We'll find out about Warrick." She took his hand, and led him down the halls of the hospital, until she reached an office door which read – Dr. Kyle Ferguson M.D.