"Catherine? What are you doing here? How are the others?" Mia asked, a concerned look on her face.

"Sara's at the hospital, last I heard she was still out of it. Warrick was released, his wife is with him now," a slight hint of contempt rose in her voice, but Mia didn't seem to notice.

"What about Nick and Clara?"

"Nick had a head injury, and Clara, she's still in surgery," Catherine said, her voice dropping.

"Did they say how bad she was? Whether or not she'll make it through?"

"I know she was lucky to have survived that blast, but the odds aren't stacked in her favour. We're all hoping she pulls through, for Nick and Cassie's sake at least."

Mia nodded, her face sombre, as Catherine sniffed a little.

"Let me know as soon as you hear anything alright?" Mia said.

"Of course."

"Catherine! There you are, I've got something for you," Sophia called from down the hall.

The blonde smiled weakly at the lab tech, crossing her fingers, hoping for a break in the case, as she walked down the hall.

She entered the evidence room, raising an eyebrow at Sophia, "What's up?"

"Check this out Cath. I was double checking Kelly Gordon's file, and she has a boyfriend."

"So?"

"She met this guy through correspondence, and in the last three weeks, he's visited her more than ten times. Rumour has it that he's been pretty vocal about her supposed wrongful imprisonment, and that he shares the same views she does about Nick's kidnapping."

Catherine skimmed the papers in front of her and picked up one with the boyfriend's profile, "He's in the system."

"He did some time for stolen property and fraud a few years back. We've got PD tailing him right now. If he had anything to do with this, we'll know soon enough."

"Thanks Sophia, this is good."

"No problem," she turned to face Catherine, her face becoming serious, "Is everyone going to be ok? I heard Sara's at Desert Palms with Nick, but I haven't heard anything about his girlfriend other than she's still in surgery."

"That's all I know as well."

"We're all just as worried here as you guys about your team and Clara. Keep us posted. Ecklie put all of day shift on the case, and swing is picking up anything else. We know you guys will need the help."

"We sure will. I'll let you know if I hear anything."

Sophia's pager went off, and she excused herself to go check on something. Catherine was left with Kelly Gordon and her boyfriend's file. She read through it again, trying to pick up on anything that might make him a suspect. His name was Calvin Haley, and besides having done some time, and a few traffic tickets, there wasn't any thing else incriminating except being Kelly Gordon's boyfriend. Catherine hoped that PD keeping a close eye on him would give them something, anything right now. She really wanted to put away the person or people that had done this to Nick, Clara and the team in general. She heaved a sigh and sat down on the stool, putting her head in her hands. The lack of rest was catching up with her, as well as everything else that had happened that day. She worried about Nick, Clara and Cassie. She was concerned for Sara, and prayed that she would pull through. She had seen Grissom's reaction when he found her, and knew that he was going through his own personal hell right now. Then her thoughts turned to Warrick. She had gone with him to the hospital, despite him insisting he was fine. Yet she had seen the way he had winced when the paramedics had touched his ankle, and how much blood he was loosing from the cut on his arm. He wouldn't admit that he was in shock, that he needed aid. Warrick wanted to stay and help her figure out what had happened. It was when he had tried to stand up, to prove he was fine, and wobbled from the pain shooting through his ankle and up his leg that he gave in. At the hospital she stayed by his side, and he put on a brave face, but didn't tell her to go back to the scene. She knew that he was probably silently grateful for her being there, and at the same time, she was grateful he was alive. It was then that Tina had shown up, running in the room, tears streaking her face. She had just heard the news and rushed to his side. Catherine had quietly left the room, leaving the couple to be together. She still couldn't believe that Warrick had gotten married, and wondered if she had ever meant anything to him at all.

She jumped slightly as her cell phone rang out, and she fumbled as she answered it.

"Willows."

"It's Brass. You'll never guess what just got tracked down."

"The ransom money?"

"You're too smart."

He gave her the bank's address, and told her to get there as soon as possible.

She arrived at the bank just over twenty minutes later, and approached Brass who was talking to a security guard. Catherine tapped him on the shoulder and he turned around. She immediately noticed the scratches on his cheeks, and the bandage on his arm. He had changed his clothes, but he still looked a little run down.

"Should you be working right now?" she asked him, her eyes lingering on his arm.

"I'm fine. The medics looked me over and told me to rest, but there's too much to do before I can sleep."
She gave him a quizzical glance, "Are you sure Jim?"

"Positive. I was lucky ok? We know that some of us weren't so I want to help, and this is how I can. Now do you wanna here what we've got?" he said gruffly.

"Sure," she answered, ceasing to question his condition any further.

"Now the security guard here said that he the truck rolled in about an hour ago to pick up the cash in the machines. They were just finishing when a guy came by to use the instant tellers. Said he had a gym bag in his front seat, and he took a wad of cash out of it. Security is pulling up footage for us as we speak."

"It would be ready when you want to view it," interjected the security guard, who led them over to a small TV. He had cued up the car, and Brass noted the license plate.

"Do you have the machine tape? I can't see his face clearly in the car," Catherine asked.

"Yep, that's this tape," the guard answered, popping in the other and pressing play.

"Have we secured the money that he deposited?" questioned Brass.

"We'll have it for you in a few minutes."

The image of the man came on and Catherine smiled,

"Hello Mr. Haley," she grinned, as an officer came up to them, a clear bag with money in it in his hand.

Catherine took the bag from him and examined the money inside, "Looks real enough," she took out a glove from her pocket, put it on and opened the bag. She picked up a bill and held it up to the light, "But it's fake. This is the money we used," she said, putting the money back and taking out her cell phone, "Greg? Where are you? Ok, I'm going to need you here to process a scene, we have a suspect."

She hung up and looked at Brass, "I'll get him in for questioning and a search warrant for that car of his."

"Great. I'll meet you at the station."

"I had nothing to do with this!" Calvin Haley exclaimed angrily.

"Really? Cause you're finger prints on the money you deposited, which happens to be fake, say you did," Brass replied, now annoyed with the suspect.

"I swear! I won that money fair and square at the casino!"

"Yeah? Which one? Remember we can always get security footage from there too," said Brass sarcastically.

"The Tangiers. And the security footage will show I was there tonight."

There was a knock on the door and Catherine stuck her head in with Greg close behind. Brass waved them in.

"Hello Mr. Haley. I'm Catherine Willows and this is Greg Sanders, we're with the crime lab."

"So you're the people who went through my car. I don't know what you would find."

"Oh, we found plenty," Greg said, a menacing tone to his voice, "can you explain the gym bag that contained about five thousand dollars in it? And in fake bills? Now either you're going to get put away for making fake money, or you can confess to the kidnapping of Clara McBride."

"Where's the rest of the money Calvin? Where'd you put it?" Catherine asked.

Calvin looked between the two CSI's and Brass, his face beginning to shows signs of panic.

"We know you're Kelly Gordon's boyfriend, and I'm sure she's told you what her daddy did to Nick Stokes awhile back. 'Fess up Calvin, we know you're in on this," Brass glared at him.

"I want a lawyer."

Greg paced frustrated in front of the interrogation room, "Damn it! Why do they always lawyer up at that crucial moment? We know he did it, why can't we just nail him for it?"

"We will Greggo, it's all a matter of burying him under the evidence. I want to put him away as much as you do," said Catherine, placing a hand on the younger man's shoulder as he stopped pacing.

"Yeah, me too. I guess it's a good thing Nick isn't here to deal with this guy, or Grissom for that matter."

"I think Grissom would have been able to restrain himself, but I do think it's good Nick isn't here. How are they doing? Have you talked to Grissom about Sara? Or heard anything on Clara for that matter?"

"I sat with Sara for awhile well Grissom dealt with Ecklie. She's still not awake, but they we're able to fix her leg. They're more worried about her head injury though. The doctor's said there is a possibility of amnesia, but they won't know till she wakes up."

"That's terrible."

"I know. Grissom didn't take it to well, he's really distraught, won't leave her side."

Catherine shook her head, "What about Nick and Clara?"

"Nick's got a concussion, they want to keep him for observation. Clara was still in surgery when you called. It's going on three hours she's been in there."

"How is Nick holding up?"
"Not so good. Warrick was with him when I left. The nurse is letting him stay outside the OR as long as someone is with him."

"I was thinking of going to check on Grissom until we can talk to this guy with his lawyer. Did you want to go home for a bit? We can get someone from dayshift to cover for awhile."

"That's not a bad idea. I'll get Brass to call us when we can question this guy again, and dayshift to call if anything else pans out from the evidence."

"I'll see you in a bit then?"

"Sure, I'll probably be by the hospital later."

Nick hated waiting. He hated sitting there waiting to hear if the woman he loved lived or died. He hated being helpless, knowing there was nothing he could do but wait. Worst of all, he hated himself for not having been able to save her from what had happened. When Greg had found him, he couldn't even get up to search for her. He had been put on a stretcher and taken to an ambulance, though he wouldn't let them take him to the hospital until she was found. The paramedics had treated him, but he was still to weak to help, and they wouldn't let him out of their site. They had explained how serious his concussion could be, and how he shouldn't be doing a lot with the broken ribs he had, but he had hardly heard them, focusing instead on the radio that was his only source of information. When the news had come crackling across that they had found her, he had nearly jumped out of the ambulance, but the medics and the pain had forced him back. When he saw the helicopter start to fly away, the ambulance he was in began to head to the hospital as well.

When they had arrived, he got nearly no update as to her condition, and after he had been treated, and x-rays taken, they had allowed him to sit outside the OR. That was three hours ago. It felt more like a week to him.

"Nick? You doing alright man? Remember, try not to fall asleep on me. Tina just went to grab some coffee," Warrick said gently, placing a hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Why 'Rick? Why her? Why not me again? I just don't understand this."

"I dunno, I wish I did. But we'll find this guy Nicky, and put him away."

"Mr. Stokes?" a doctor emerged from the double doors, and Nick stood up to greet him.

"How is she doc?"

"Why don't you sit down again," the doctor replied, taking the seat next to Nick.

"How is she?" he asked again.
"We did all we could Mr. Stokes," Nick's face turned pale, and he shook his head, not wanting to hear the words he anticipated.

"She's not…no…" Nick's voice began to break.

"She's not but it was very close. Her injuries were very severe, and it's going to be touch and go for the next twenty four hours. If she makes it through, she'll have a long road of recovery ahead of her."

"Can I see her?" Nick whispered, his eyes glossed with tears.

"I'll have a nurse come for you when she gets to recovery."

"Thank you," Nick mumbled as the doctor gave his condolences, then headed off.

The CSI put his head in his hands, leaning forward. Warrick could see the tears now beginning to stream freely down his friend's face, and he pulled his friend into a hug as Nick let out a sob. Warrick, more than ever wanted to catch the person who had done this to his friends.

To be continued…

Tried to go a little more case driven for this chapter, while still maintaining the emotional part. Hope it worked. I love everyone who keeps reviewing this story and coming back! Big hugs for you all! Thanks for the constructive and positive feedback! More to come soon! -L