An Unfair Act of Vengeance
Notes: This one took me a few total rewrites to get it down, but I hope you like it. It might take me a little longer, I'm not quite as certain how I want the plot to go from here; I should have the next chapter done for tomorrow...
Summary: Nick's evaluation begins to stir up more problems for him and the team. Nick refuses to accept a deal with Ecklie and the DA. Greg heads to New York to find Grissom. Nick finds himself on the other side of the law, and isn't sure of who to turn to, and when his family arrives theyonly findCatherine, Warrick, and Sara waiting for them.
Catherine had to reread to document at least five times before she was certain that she wasn't mistaking what it said. This just isn't possible… How can he say Nick has suicidal tendencies? What the hell does that even mean for Nicky? Disposition towards violence? This has got to be some kind of a joke! She looked up from her desk… Her mind could hardly comprehend how this psychiatrist came up with all of this… Has created an illusionary character to redirect his faults? What the hell faults would those be? It sure as hell wasn't his 'fault' that Walter Gordon buried him alive! She slammed the paper down onto her desk and stormed out into the hall.
The Texan looked across the room at Ecklie and the rambunctious DA. They had essentially cornered him as soon as they saw Warrick take off back to the lab. He found himself taking inadvertent glances at the two, but he found that his shoes had become extremely interesting. This wasn't going to be good…
Greg hurried through the terminal, and after a half an hour he found himself seated on the plane. He was still fighting off the tears; forcing himself to ignore the numerous people who kept glancing at him, completely ignorant to what his friend was going through. Then the flight attendant announced that their flight was going to be delayed; Greg shook his head, and continued to fight back the tears that were threatening to overtake him when an older woman sat down next to him with a concerned look on her face.
The Texan's mind was still reeling from the evaluation. He regretted having sent Warrick back to the lab as he tried to avoid the eyes of the two men in front of him.
"I read the report from Dr. Alberts, and I must say, Mr. Stokes, it isn't looking good for you. In fact, it looks like you'll be going away for a long time…" Ecklie began callously.
Nick couldn't speak, his hands were clearly trembling, and he was fighting the wave of emotions that were threatening to overtake him.
"Personally, I'd like to see you end in prison for life, or maybe even get the death penalty for killing that officer, but I'll settle for your being committed to Dr. Alberts institute. It's definitely more than scum like you deserve." The DA sneered cruelly at him.
Nick's legs began to wobble, and his arms were starting to shake as well. He had already failed his team; he hadn't done everything he could have. Maybe they're right… Maybe I am no better than some of the people I've helped put away… He began to feel weaker, and was finding it extremely difficult to stand.
"Who is it?"
"Excuse me?" Greg asked the elderly woman who had sat down next to him.
"Who is it that you know that's been hurt so badly?"
"A f-friend… How did you know?"
"I've seen that look before, my son's wife had some old friends that wouldn't leave her alone… It's a long story, but I just want you to remember that things always work out somehow. I must say it's refreshing to see someone who is able to let their emotions show. That's a sure sign of courage. You must care about this friend a lot, are you going to see him now?"
"No… no, I'm going to go see our boss, so that he can help him get through this…"
Sara had run up to Nick when she saw him close to collapsing in front of the two emotionless creeps. She held onto him, and glared at Ecklie and the DA, as if daring them to say anything more to the terrified CSI.
Once the two finally accepted that they were done Sara began to try to comfort her friend, "It's ok Nick… Those creeps are gone; they can't hurt you anymore…"
"They're… I'm going to be going away for a while aren't I…"
Sara went silent… It wasn't a question; he knew what Ecklie was going to try to do, and she didn't like it, but before she could say anything she felt herself being pulled back and thrown to the cold tile floor.
"You son of a bitch!" the man screamed in fury as his fist connected with Nick's jaw. "You… you killed him!" He hit Nick again, and before the CSI could even register the blow he found himself lying in a daze on the ground. Sara forced herself up and lunged at the man who was now kicking her already terrified friend. But the man was too strong for her, and his elbow connected with her face once more sending her back to the ground.
The man continued to scream and shout as he kicked and punched the man lying on the ground in front of him. This man had killed his best friend, and he shouldn't be getting off with being put into some mental institution. This animal deserved the death penalty for he had done…
Sarah picked herself up once more, and this time she was pissed; that man wasn't going to hurt Nick anymore, and she'd make sure of it. Her mind wandered to her gun that was back in her SUV, but it was too late to avoid that anyway. She managed to once more push herself up into a standing position although her face was starting to really hurt. She quickly, but silently, rushed up behind the other man and shoved her elbow into the kneeling man's shoulder. He let out a short cry before she hit him again. He went silent, but she already knew he would be unconscious. She knew those self defense classes would come in handy someday…
Her attention was soon redirected towards her friend, who was once more completely silent. She felt a cold chill run through her entire body as that horribly scared look overcame the Texan. She wiped blood from a single cut he had received to his forehead. You're going to be fine Nicky… You're strong enough to get through all this… I know you are…
The plane had taken off, finally, but Greg couldn't help but think over everything that old woman had told him. She had been fairly comforting, and he had been sorry to see her place be retaken by a rather large, dopey looking guy, who clearly thought Greg was some kind of wimp to be on the verge of crying once more. He looked solemnly out the window, hoping that Nick was doing better…
Sara whispered to Nick for several minutes, and was relieved to see Brass finally come running over to her and Nick's recovering body. He quickly put cuffs on the still unconscious man, and sighed when he saw the ID next to a badge.
"Looks like Dayton's partner wanted some revenge…" Brass seethed as he looked at the surprisingly small bruises on Nick's face. "How is he?"
"He'll be fine, I checked his chest, but there doesn't seem to be a lot of bruises, otherwise he only has a fairly good cut to his forehead, I nailed the guy after a few tries…"
"Looks like he got you good though, Sara." Brass looked concerned as he looked at the much larger bruise on her cheek.
"Nah, I just happened to meet his elbow…"
Nick moaned in pain, and reluctantly let himself react to Sara's gently voice. He looked up at her, and feebly stuck out his hand. He felt her strong grip engulf his hand, and sighed painfully.
All he could see was darkness… Suddenly he heard a familiar voice crying out for him, but he couldn't make it to the source of the voice; some unseen force was holding him in place… Then he could finally make out the words: I'm s-sorry… I'm sorry t-that I l-let y-you down… Suddenly he broke free of the forces that were holding him, and he began to dig at a patch of dirt wildly until his sore knuckles hit something smooth… He wiped the dirt off the Plexiglas beneath him only to hear one final scream of anguish before a thunderous crack broke the otherwise eerie silence… Suddenly he saw himself standing in a morgue with Dr. Robbins and David, but when he saw who the were examining he turned away, only to see himself standing over the Texan's body looking completely unaffected by the dismal body, and the single bullet hole that had sent a bullet through the man's chin, and had been lodged deep within his brain… Then he heard that voice, the Texan accent clearer this time…You know just as well as I do that I would've been lying in that damn tomb with a bullet in my head!
Grissom sat up, his eyes suddenly wide. He was breathing heavily… He looked slowly around the small hotel room. His gun was lying safely on the nightstand just over a small picture of Catherine, Warrick, Sara, Greg, and Nick… He looked closely at the young Texan… He wished so desperately that things had gone better between the two before he had left, and now he couldn't even get the chance to call to check on him since his phone had gotten busted while he was in the airport, and the hotel didn't offer long distance calls… His days were also much to busy to even begin to look for a phone at the conference… He didn't know how, but he swore he'd make it up to the man…
Warrick had finally arrived at the lab, but he hadn't been able to find Catherine, or Sara, so he decided to settle in a work area and start looking into that damn psychologist. He made several phone calls, and tried to stay calm as he was kicked back and forth between several secretaries… This could be a long night… He thought quietly as he glanced up at the clock.
Nick slowly let himself stand up, and leaned against Sara as Brass took the groaning officer out of the room. "S-Sara…" Nick moaned as he tried to speak, "The guy, the guy behind all o-of t-t-this is A-Alberts… Warrick was g-going back to check into him and to l-look for you guys…" He stopped and took a few deep breaths, his face and chest still hurt, but it was starting to fade out more as he found it easier to stand up on his own. "We g-got to get going, I'll take my Denali, and meet you back at the lab, ok?"
"Nick, I'm not sure you should be driving…"
"I'll be fine, just meet me back there, ok?"
"Ok, drive safe, man!" She called as she watched him climb into his car. She turned and climbed into her own vehicle, and tore off towards the lab.
Once there she bumped into Catherine who was rushing inside, she immediately fell in step with her current supervisor, and filled her in on what Nick had told her.
Nick watched Sara hurry inside with Catherine as he parked his Denali and moved to follow, but was greeted by the grim looks of Ecklie and that DA. He froze in the middle of the parking lot staring at them; his eyes glanced around for any sign of help, but there wasn't another person anywhere nearby this late at night.
"Nick Stokes, I'm afraid that you are being required to be committed to…" The DA stopped when he looked over at Ecklie who seemed frozen to the spot as well, and then he looked up and saw why. They both stared in shock as Dr. Carl Alberts appeared from behind a vehicle holding a gun at them both. Nick was frozen solid, and couldn't find a way to move.
"This has been going so well, but I'm sorry, Ecklie, your part is over."
"W-what the hell are you talking about?"
"Oh, you know sometimes I almost forget that you don't know how I've used you as my pawn, but like I said, your part is done, or almost done. You see I'm holding Nick's gun, and when the police find both of you dead they'll go searching for Nicky here. Oh, but they'll never find him, because he'll be living on the streets for a few days, until I finish the job… After all, who do you think anyone would believe, Nick who was just declared to be legally insane by me, or myself, who has such a honorable reputation?"
"Son of a bitch…" the DA said quietly. He looked regretfully at the CSI whom he had berated before, and wished he could even begin to apologize for what he had helped put the guy through…
"But, your time is up, gentlemen, and I don't intend for there to be any… sane witnesses." With that he held the pistol at arms length and fired two shots. Nick watched in horror as the DA collapsed to the ground with a bullet lodged in his forehead; soon followed by Ecklie who had been shot in the neck…
"And, now Mr. Stokes, I suggest you start running, because I guarantee you there'll be police all over this scene within minutes…" Nick took a few unsure steps back, and cringed as he watched the man chuckle at his current position. Nick heard yelling coming from near the entrance, and he realized he didn't have a choice. His footsteps pounded on the concrete as he ran, hopelessly, away from that horrifying scene. He needed to find somewhere to hide, and fast…
Catherine and Sara had charged back outside with several officers when they heard the shots. Neither of them suspected to find the gruesome sight of the DA and Ecklie lying in the parking lot with large pools of blood already forming beneath them. They both eyed Dr. Alberts suspiciously as he told one officer that he had already called the paramedics, and that he had seen Nick shoot them both before fleeing the scene.
You bastard! Catherine wanted to cry out and restrained herself from attacking the asshole that was putting Nick through all of this… Then she thought about their next course of action, and decided it would be best to pretend they knew nothing about him… She looked over to Sara, and they both nodded in agreement with what had to be done.
Greg's plane finally landed, and he raced out into the terminal, waiting impatiently for his luggage. Almost an hour later he was outside and searching for a cab. He wasted no time in climbing inside and yelling at the driver to take him to the site of the CSI convention. He passed the driver a piece of paper with the address, and tried to keep calm as the taxi pulled out onto one of the many crowded streets of New York…
Nick found himself cowering behind a group of dumpsters in some old alley. He knew no one driving by would be able to see him here, but without a coat, or even a jacket he knew he'd need to find somewhere warmer to go, and soon… His hand subconsciously wiped the tears from his eyes… I need help, but who is there to turn to?
Judge Stokes marched into the crime lab, with his entire family in tow. Everyone had stopped, and was staring at them silently as they passed through the halls. He had been here before, and he was spotted Catherine talking with some brunette, Sara he remembered, and a black man, which must've been Warrick… Nick had told him quite a bit about Warrick, and he looked at the worried expression on the face of his son's best friend. All three stood as they entered the room, but with a wave of his hand only Jillian and his other son entered the room to finally find out what was going on.
To Be Continued…
Summary of next chapter: Nick tried going to his friend's places for help, but finds them swarming with cops... He is living in the streets while Catherine, Sara, and Warrick work desperately to counter Dr. Alberts actions against Nick, but they are afraid that they might be too late. Greg finds Grissom, and tells him whats happened so far, but when he gives Grissom his phone to call Catherine they discover that a lot has happened since Greg left Las Vegas.