Hi everyone...thanks for the great reviews. I'm glad that you are all enjoying the story. I would like to give another thanks to Tefla for doing the whole beta thing. I really appreciate it!
Brass spotted the gun just as the elevator doors had opened.
"Gun!" he screamed as he reached for his weapon.
The two officers reached down for their weapons as well, but it was too late. The echo of gunshots could be heard through the hospital lobby. Blood splattered everywhere as both officers were hit and fell to the elevator floor dead.
The nurse never had time to move before she received a single shot to the back. Her eyes held a look of surprise when she felt the bullet penetrate her. She fell forward on top of Nick … dead.
Before he could even clear his weapon Brass fell backwards to the floor of the elevator as he felt a searing pain in his right shoulder. He could hear Warrick's voice coming from the radio on his belt.
"Dispatch I have shots fired at Desert Palms hospital, request backup immediately!"
"Ten-Four … All units in the vicinity of Desert Palms Hospital please respond to shots fired.
Nick had finally relaxed with the help of Brass, but the feeling quickly left when he heard Brass scream, "Gun!"
Nick had looked around the nurse as Dustin Schultz's killer stood in the doorway of the elevator with a gun. It took him by surprise. He didn't think that the killer would come after him in broad daylight.
Everything had happened so fast. Neither officer had cleared their weapon before they were gunned down. Blood splattered all over Nick's face and body as both officers fell to the floor. He tried to move the nurse out of harm's way, but he knew he was to late when he saw the look of surprise in her eyes.
He looked at her with sadness and whispered, "I'm so sorry," before she fell on top of him. He grunted as he caught her and looked up just as the killer smiled and aimed his gun at his head.
Brass looked up in shock as the shooter aimed his gun at Nick. He sat back up and struggled with the pain in his shoulder as he tried to retrieve his weapon from its holster. He just about cleared it when he heard "Las Vegas Police … drop your weapon!"
The shooter had turned away from Nick briefly and looked at Warrick with a smile almost daring him to stop him. The shooter refocused his attention back on Nick and was just about the pull the trigger when Warrick fired.
Brass watched as the gun fell from the shooter's hand. The killer took one last look at Nick before falling to the ground dead with a pool of blood forming beneath him.
He looked out into the lobby, Warrick stood there with his weapon in hand aimed in the direction of the elevator. He lost sight of Warrick when the elevator doors closed. He fell back once he knew they were safe. He looked up to see Nick as he hugged the dead nurse. His concern grew when he saw Nick covered in blood. Had he been hit?
Nick's life flashed before his eyes when the killer aimed his gun at him. He wouldn't close his eyes … if he was going to die he would face death with his eyes wide open. He knew he would be dead in seconds. He jumped when he heard Warrick's voice and then the gunshots.
Nick couldn't mask the surprise he felt when the killer dropped his gun. He had noticed the pit-bull tattoo on his left arm as the gun fell from his hand. He looked back up to see the killer glare at him one more time before he fell to the floor.
He looked out into the lobby as Warrick stood there … his gun aimed towards the elevator. Warrick started to walk over as the elevator doors closed.
Warrick had gone outside to get the truck for Nick. Officially he was still on duty and was told by Brass to make sure he wore his gun. Warrick really wasn't surprised by that request since they were protecting Nick from a killer.
He had just pulled up to the front of the hospital when he heard what sounded like weapons fire. Crowds of people were screaming as they were running out of the entrance of the hospital.
He jumped out of his truck and ran in as he drew his weapon. What he saw nearly made his blood freeze.
Brass was lying on the elevator floor with an apparent gunshot wound to the right shoulder. The two officers that were escorting Nick were both dead, lying on the floor with gunshots to the head and chest. Nick was still sitting in the wheelchair, but the nurse was on top of him. He could see a lone blood stain in her back coming from her left side, near her heart. She too was obviously dead.
The killer had the gun aimed at Nick's head and was about to pull the trigger when Warrick yelled, "Las Vegas Police drop your weapon!"
The shooter turned and looked at him with a smile almost daring him to stop him. The shooter refocused his attention back on Nick and was just about the pull the trigger when Warrick fired upon him. His aim was true. He shot three times and each shot struck the intended target. He watched as the killer dropped his gun and fell to the floor all the while keeping his weapon trained in that direction. This was one time that he was glad that he packed. He had just saved Brass and Nick's life, but was too late to help the others. He looked into the elevator and glanced quickly at Brass then at Nick. He started towards them when the doors closed.
Warrick grabbed his radio from his belt and yelled into it, "Dispatch…I have three officers down. Where the hell is my backup?"
"Backup is two minutes out … is the shooter still in the area?" Warrick heard the dispatcher ask.
Warrick bent down next to the shooter and checked for a pulse he knew he wouldn't find, but was required to check.
"Dispatch shooter is dead at the scene." He replied standing up looking around.
"Ten-Four."
He carefully stepped over the shooter and ran over to the elevator. He pressed the button and heard a "ding" then the doors opened.
When the doors closed Nick drew in a shaky breath. He looked around to assess the scene he first glanced over at the two officers. He could tell that both of them were dead. He turned to look the other way only to see Brass staring back at him with a worried expression.
"Nick are you hit?"
"I-I-it's blood from the officers," he stuttered. "Are you OK?" he asked as he glanced at Brass's wounded shoulder with concern.
Brass looked down at his shoulder then back at Nick, "It's just a scratch."
Just then they heard Warrick's voice coming through the radio.
"Dispatch … I have three officers down. Where the hell is my backup?"
Both men knew backup was on the way. Nick looked back at the elevator doors and then at the nurse who lay sprawled out on top of him. He pushed at her to get her off, but she remained where she was. He was starting to panic. He looked back at the doors and willed them to open.
Brass could see that Nick was starting to lose it. He didn't blame him at all. In fact he was close to losing it himself. He had let Nick down. They were supposed to have protected him and here he was almost killed again. He was just about to offer some words of encouragement to Nick as the elevators door finally opened.
Warrick rushed into the elevator and took one look at the group and rushed back out and screamed, "I need help in here!" Then went back in.
By that time some of the hospital personnel had ventured back into the building. They no longer heard weapons fire and decided to go in to offer any assistance to the injured or wounded.
A few doctors and nurses had heard the call for help and ran up to the elevator. Warrick had been asked to leave while the medical staff checked over the fallen people. He reluctantly agreed he knew that Brass and Nick needed medical attention. As he walked out he gave Nick a light tap on the shoulder. He could feel the man shake under his hand. He looked at Nick with worry as he walked out. This was yet another set back. People had died and Nick was going to blame himself.
The next few minutes were a blur to Nick as medical personnel swarmed the elevator. He watched as a doctor checked for a pulse on the nurse he had been holding. He saw the doctor shake his head at a colleague next to him indicating no pulse. He could feel as they lifted the nurse off of him. He wanted to keep holding her in a way. She had saved his life. If she hadn't been standing there it would be him that would be dead…not her. How would her family react? Probably the same as every family member did when they lost a loved one. Nick drew in a deep breath, but it didn't help kill the anxiety he was feeling. How many people died today because of him?
He stole a glance at the body of the killer that was now covered with a sheet. Inside he was grateful that he was dead and he didn't have to look over his shoulder anymore, but on the outside he wanted justice, this man had killed four people and had gotten off easy.
He jerked when the wheelchair moved forward and out of the elevator. He could feel the eyes of everyone in the lobby on him. Some were out of curiousness and some out of pity or remorse.
Warrick could see the lost look in Nick's eyes as he was wheeled from the elevator. Brass was still on the floor in the small area being examined. He was grateful that both his friends had made it, but he felt badly for the three that had lost their lives. He had worked with the two officers before. Both men were decent and hardworking. He felt for the nurse and her family. She was just an innocent bystander in all this; her death never should have happened.
Warrick walked over to Nick and the nurse as he watched Nick's body language. So far Nick hadn't said much and he didn't have to. Warrick could tell by his body language how Nick was feeling. He was starting to turn in on himself. Only minutes ago Nick was happy to go home sure he was still in danger, but he was himself. Now he felt responsible and guilty.
"Nick man … you have to know that this isn't your fault." Warrick said trying to get Nick to open up.
"Yes it is 'Rick. If it weren't for me … they would still be alive."
"Nick … they knew the risks."
"Not the nurse … she didn't deserve to die. She saved my life. How can I repay something like that?"
The nurse watched the exchange between the two CSIs and felt that she needed to say something.
"Excuse me. I just wanted you to know that Jodie had put her life on the line time and time again. She was a combat nurse in Vietnam. She understood the risks and what was required. If she was going to go, this is the way she would have wanted it. She would have wanted her death to mean something. She saved your life doing what she loved. So please honor her by getting better."
Nick had taken in the words the nurse had said and acknowledged her with a nod.
"Now I'm going to need to take him back to the ER to get checked out."
"But I wasn't hit." Nick replied back.
"Trust me … we understand that, but you just had surgery only yesterday and we just want to make sure that you are alright. Once the doctor looks you over and says that you are fine … then you can leave. OK?"
"I guess I really don't have a choice … do I?"
"I'm afraid not. Your friend in the elevator will be joining you soon."
Both CSIs looked over at the elevator just as Brass was lifted and placed on a gurney. They could tell by the look on Brass's face that he wasn't happy. He never liked the attention … being shot or not.
Warrick looked down at Nick, "Are you going to be OK?"
"It may take some time, but I will get through this and by the way I had two people that saved my life today. I wasn't able to thank the other one, but I want to thank you." Nick put his hand out and shook Warrick's hand.
"Hey man you know I always have your back." He said with a smile.
"Yes I do. Thanks again."
"Are you ready to go?" the nurse asked.
"Yea let's get this over with. I want to be finished by the time the detectives get here and start asking questions."
"Hey Nick … I'll meet you in there. I'm just going to call Grissom and let him know what went down."
"Sure thing … I'll see you in there."
The nurse smiled at Warrick one last time before she pushed Nick towards the ER.
Warrick had reached into his pocket to grab his cell phone and started to dial Grissom's number when he heard, "Warrick what the hell happened?"
He turned around and came face to face with a very angry and worried Grissom.
Well there you have it...I hoped you liked it. As usual please review and let me know your thoughts..good or bad. Thanks!