Hi everyone thanks again for all the wonderful reviews. I really appreciate them. Well here's the next chapter. I hope you enjoy it.
Silence. Silence was all that Nick heard as he sat in the examination room in the ER. The detectives had just gotten his account of things. It was hard to once again relive those memories, but now that the killer was dead he would have to start to recover mentally. He knew that he would have a few weeks off to recover from his surgery. He had already called the counselor he had seen after his kidnapping and his first appointment was for next week.
He sighed he couldn't wait for all of this to be over. He couldn't wait to be back to work. He couldn't wait for things to be normal again. 'Would things ever be normal?' he thought …'They had to be or what else was there?'
Nick was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he didn't hear Warrick and Grissom enter his room.
Warrick shared a look with Grissom then looked at Nick with concern. He could see dark circles under his eyes and a day old beard that screamed for attention. Though he figured facial hair was the least of Nick's concern.
Both men knew the last two days had taken a toll on the CSI, but they also knew it was over and he could now start the whole recovery process, but first things first.
Warrick had made a little noise at the door to announce their presence. Nick was jumpy enough as it was. They didn't want to give him any more surprises. Unfortunately it didn't work. Nick was too wrapped up in his thoughts and jumped when he heard the noise at the door. It would probably take him awhile before he stopped doing that.
Nick tried to cover up his surprise by plastering on one of his fake smiles, "Oh hey guys … finished already?"
"Yea … IAB already spoke to me as well as the homicide detectives. They took my gun. I'll get it back after the investigation is done."
"What? They can't do that … don't they know you saved my life!"
"Nick its normal procedure ... you know that." Grissom responded. "They spoke to Brass before he went up to surgery and he confirmed Warrick's story. Warrick should be back to work in a few days."
Nick rubbed his eyes with a shaky hand, "Yea … you're right of course. Sorry I didn't mean …"
"Nick … man, forget about it. How about we get you home? You look beat and not to mention you've got to be hurting."
"Yea … yea I'm ready to go. As for the pain, a nurse came in a few minutes ago and gave me some Vicodin. It should hopefully be working in the next half an hour or so."
Nick made a move to get off of the examination table. Both Warrick and Grissom rushed over at the same time to help him off.
"Hold on there Nick I'll be right back," Grissom said.
Grissom walked out the door and went to the right. Nick looked at Warrick, who shrugged with confusion … as if saying who can ever figure out the things that Grissom does. A minute later Grissom walked back him with a wheelchair.
"You're not leaving unless you ride in this." Grissom said with a tone that meant there was no arguing.
Nick shook his head and slowly walked over to the wheelchair and slumped down in it. The ride to the car was stressful. In order to get to Warrick's car they had to go back through the lobby, and through the cops and the reporters. Nick was fit to be tied by the time they got to Warrick's truck.
He was looking forward to going home and being in his own bed. The Vicodin was starting to work and he was feeling drowsy as Warrick and Grissom helped him into the backseat. He snapped his seatbelt and rested his head on the seat and closed his eyes.
The next thing Nick knew Grissom was prodding him awake.
"Nick … we're at your place. You need to wake up so we can get you inside."
Nick looked at him with drowsy eyes he didn't realize he had fallen asleep. He nodded his head in understanding he looked down to unbuckle his seatbelt, but it had already been done. He clumsily swung his legs over to get out and was grabbed by each arm by both Grissom and Warrick.
Both men were afraid to let go because as soon as Nick's legs hit the ground they wobbled a little. Nick was grateful that his friends were there to help him. He knew that if he had tried that on his own he would be kissing the pavement. He wasn't sure what he would have done without them. He glanced up the sidewalk to see Greg standing there moving from one foot to the other. Clearly he was nervous or excited or both.
As they approached the newest CSI he walked up to greet them.
"Hey guys I'm glad to see that you made it one piece. I was really worried when you didn't show up earlier."
Warrick looked down to the ground and shook his head, "I'm really sorry about that Greg. I should have called sooner."
"Warrick it's OK. You sort of had your hands full … it's cool. Now let's get this guy to bed. Uncle Greg has your jammies all ready to go." He said with a smile trying to lighten the mood.
Nick looked at him with a smile, "Well Uncle Greg do I get a goodnight story?"
"We'll see you have to be sure to brush your teeth … well you know the drill." Greg continued as they walked into the house.
Grissom shook his head he knew once Greg and Nick got together the silliness would ensue. He was glad … Nick needed to let off some steam and if Greg could do that then so be it.
Nick had just fallen asleep when there was a knock at the door. Warrick got up to answer it. Both Catherine and Sara were standing there not looking too happy.
Warrick gulped and backed up into the house when the two female CSIs walked in and glared at Grissom.
Catherine was the first to speak up, "What the hell happened?"
Grissom cringed at the tone of her voice, but carefully said, "Nick's asleep so try and keep it down a little. Why don't you two sit down and we will give you all the details? I know I only gave you the basics before and I'm sorry, but unfortunately I didn't have the whole story myself until I spoke to Brass.
He explained the whole story about the shooter and what had happened in the elevator and Warrick filled in the parts about the lobby. By the time they were finished explaining Catherine, Sara and Greg who wasn't told anything sat there stunned.
Sara looked at Warrick. "Warrick you saved his life."
"Yes Sara, he did. Warrick acted very bravely today. Not only did he save Nick's life, but Brass's as well."
"I was just doing my job. I wish I could have done more." Warrick said with regret.
"Warrick you did what you could and two men lived. You did good today."
"Yea thanks man … if it wasn't for you I would have died today." A voice from behind the group said.
Everyone turned around to see Nick standing there hugging the wall. They all stood up, but Catherine and Sara beat the boys to Nick and helped him walk over to the couch and sit down.
"Nick you should be resting." Sara said.
"I know … it's hard. Nightmares," he said looking down.
The team of CSIs exchanged glances. Each of them knew about the nightmares that had plagued Nick after his burial. Yet each of them wondered if these were the same nightmares or different ones.
Grissom was the first to speak, "You want to tell us about them."
After Nick's kidnapping his counselor had encouraged Nick to share his nightmares with his friends. The counselor had pointed out to him that he wasn't the only affected by all this. His friends had suffered emotionally as well. So Nick did it … he shared his nightmares and found it a little easier to deal with them instead of bottling them up.
He nodded and looked at the group they all waited for him to start.
Harris turned the television on and watched the news. He was pleased that his plan had worked so far, but there were still a few more things left to do. He wasn't surprised when the Las Vegas PD and Crime Lab showed up to question him. It appeared that poor Dustin had been murdered … he did his best to act surprised and offered his assistance to them. They had believed his act.
Now that the police thought that the killer was dead this would leave Stokes unprotected and free to grab without any foreseeable problems. He just had to wait for the ideal time. He pulled out the folder that Carl had given him on Stokes. He opened it and found that this incident was one of many that made Nick Stokes the man he is today. It seemed that he was a magnet for trouble. This folder was definitely good reading and he found a lot of tasty tidbits about the man that could identify him.
Harris heard a knock at his office door he looked up and their stood Carl once again. Harris waved him in and the young man walked in and sat down in the seat across from Harris.
"Well it looks like everything is going according to plan."
"Yes the police believe I'm dead … won't they be surprised," he said smiling.
"Not as surprised as Stokes when he sees you."
"I can't wait to see his face."
"Me either."
Everyone but Greg left Nick's house. It had been decided by the group that one of them should remain with Nick. Not for safety, but for help. He shouldn't be by himself since he just had surgery.
The two men just sat in Nick's living room. It had gotten quiet once everyone left and Nick was getting tired.
"Nick you looked bushed why don't you go to bed." Greg suggested.
"I would if I could get off this couch … I'm way too comfortable." Nick said closing his eyes.
Greg smiled, "Then let me help you."
Greg walked over to Nick and helped him off the couch and into his room. Nick fell asleep as soon as his head hit the pillow.
He closed Nick's door and walked back into his family room. It was still early and Greg wasn't really tired. He looked around Nick's family room and spied his gym bag. 'Well why don't I clean up a little for him since he's out of it. Nick better appreciate this I don't even clean my own place.'
He opened the gym bag and took out Nick's old clothes and put them in the hamper in the bathroom. He grabbed Nick's CD player and put it on the table. He looked around again and decided that he cleaned enough. He jumped onto Nick's couch and grabbed the CD player. Greg figured that listening to the CD would be a lot quieter for Nick instead of blasting the TV.
With Nick's taste in music he wanted to see what CD was in their first, before subjecting himself to whatever atrocity was in there. Greg popped open the CD player and was shocked when two CD's fell out. 'Didn't Nick know you were only supposed to have one CD at a time in the CD player or else it didn't work.'
Greg looked at the CDs … one was some kind of country and the other one wasn't labeled. It was a CD that one would use for a computer drive. 'Why did Nick have this CD in here?' Greg wondered. The CSI put the CD on the table and decided he would ask Nick when he woke up.
A few hours later Greg could hear what sounded like a moan coming from Nick's room and a few minutes later Nick emerged walking slowly. Greg got up to help him, but Nick put up a hand that said he could do it himself. Greg shrugged and sat back down.
"How are you feeling?" Greg asked.
"Just sore and tired. Anything on?" he said trying to change the subject.
"Nope … I was just listening to your CD player. I hope you don't mind."
"That's fine. I hope you found something you could listen to."
"Yea I found something to listen to … hey speaking of which don't you know you should only have one CD in here at a time?"
"Of course I know that Greg, what are you talking about?"
Greg leaned over and grabbed the CD he left on the table and handed it to Nick.
"I found this in your CD player."
Nick looked at it, "I've never seen this before."
"Where do you think it came from?" Greg asked.
"I'm not sure … why don't you take it to the lab with you and have Archie take a look at it. Treat this like a piece of evidence Greg. Maybe this was the reason Dustin was killed."
"Sure thing Nick ... do you really think this has something to do with Dustin's murder?"
"I really don't know Greg … I really don't know."
The plot thickens...Hope you liked the chapter. As usually please review...all thoughts are welcomed. See ya next chapter!