Hi everyone...thanks once again for all the great reviews. They are really appreciated and I'm really glad that you are all enjoying the story.
Well here it is Chapter 14...ENJOY!
Nick woke up feeling good. He no longer had the physical pain that had been plaguing him for the past few weeks. He had been off of work for four weeks and tonight was his first night back. He felt great; in fact he started working out again which made him feel even better. Though it would take a while to get to where he was.
Nick was relieved when both his physician and the counselor finally cleared him for duty. He was happy to finally be going back to work instead of sitting at home thinking about things. After speaking with his counselor things were clearer and he finally came to realize that none of this was his fault. He was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Grissom and the gang had taken turns coming over and helping him. During that time Sara and Nick were able to get things worked out between them. Both of them felt guilty so they called it a draw and both apologized. As far as they were concerned the matter was closed.
Greg and Warrick were by just about everyday after shift. They would keep him busy with movies and video games in which Nick beat them both to a pulp. Catherine, Sara and Grissom would relieve Warrick and Greg. He never realized how lucky he was to have such great friends.
He ran around his house getting ready. He was surprised with himself, he had four weeks to get ready and now he couldn't find anything.
"Wallet … where the heck is my wallet," Nick said out loud.
He finally spied it on the counter in the kitchen. Then it came to him he put it there after they had pizza delivered the night before. He grabbed his wallet and with one final look around turned his lights off and moved out to the front door. He stopped one more time, 'Let's see wallet, cell phone and keys … yep I think I'm set.'
He turned around and locked his door, took a deep breath and headed out to his truck. He couldn't help but smile. It was a long four weeks of doing nothing but thinking. Thinking about what he could have done differently. Thinking about those people who had given their lives for him. He had made it a point to go to each of their funerals. He wanted their families to know that their deaths weren't for nothing. In a way that gave him closure. It also helped that he was no longer in danger from the killer.
Nick hopped in his truck and turned the ignition and pulled out of his driveway. The drive to the lab was a short one. He pulled into the familiar parking lot of the Las Vegas Crime Lab and got out. He turned when he heard another door slam only to see Warrick getting out of his car.
"Hey man," Warrick put his hand out.
"'Rick … what's going on?" Nick shook Warrick's hand with a smile.
"You ready to get back to the grind?"
"Are you kidding I was ready three weeks ago. I really was only supposed to have nine days off."
"Well I'm sure by the end of the shift you are going to wish you had three more weeks off."
"I don't think so … to tell you the truth I would be very surprised if Grissom even put me out in the field tonight."
"Why's that?"
"Well … Since I've been gone for four weeks. I'm not really expecting it. He probably just wants to make sure that I'm fine and trust me I won't hold that against him."
The two CSIs walked into the building together. Nick was finally home. He never realized how much he missed the lab when he was off. He missed the mysteries and figuring out things. He missed the science. Most of all he missed the people. As he walked in with Warrick he smiled at Judy who sat behind the reception desk. She smiled and greeted him when he walked by.
"It's nice to see you Nick … welcome back."
"Hi Judy it's nice to see you too." He flashed her a genuine smile.
Nick and Warrick walked into the locker room as if it were any other day. 'Yes.' Nick thought. 'So far his night was going well' and he hoped that it would stay that way. Nick stopped in front of his locker. He was glad to be back. He opened it and smiled. His gun was exactly where he had left it. He grabbed it and put it on even though he didn't think he'd be going out in the field and also put on his CSI vest.
The two CSIs walked out of the locker room together and headed towards the break room where the group always meets before shift. The aroma of coffee sailed through the air. Greg had made another pot of his coffee. 'Yes, so far this day is going just fine.'
When Warrick and Nick walked into the break room Catherine, Sara, Greg and Grissom were already in there. Nick couldn't believe it Grissom actually beat him in. Normally Grissom was bustling around the lab this time at night and the group barely saw him, but not tonight.
The group looked up as the two CSIs walked in. Greg was the first one to get up.
"Welcome back Nick. I made a pot of coffee for you." He said with a smile.
"Thanks Greggo. I really appreciate it."
Catherine and Sara walked up to him and both gave him a welcome hug.
"Welcome back Nick." Catherine said,
"Yea welcome back." Sara said with a smile.
Nick withdrew from the hug with a smile and looked at Grissom who was now standing waiting for his turn to welcome Nick back.
He extended his hand, "Welcome back Nick … the lab sure missed you … well we all missed you."
Nick took and shook Grissom's hand, "It's good to be back Grissom."
"Glad to hear you say that. OK everyone why don't we take a seat and get started."
Nick and Warrick both poured themselves a cup of coffee while Grissom gave out assignments.
"OK guys and gals we have a shooting down at the convenience store on Randolf and Las Vegas Boulevard. I need everyone … including you Nick." Grissom said to the Texan just sitting down with his coffee.
"Just tell me where you need me."
"From what I've been told it was a robbery gone bad. There are several victims on site. Let's get going."
'So much for the coffee.' Nick thought as he put his cup down and headed out the door. 'Who really needs coffee anyway?'
"Man I really could of used some of that coffee." Warrick said.
Nick laughed and Warrick glanced at him like he was mad.
"You want to let me in on the joke."
"Nah … not really," Nick said grinning. He knew that this was going to bug Warrick for the rest of the day. "I'm driving," he called.
The team had collected their evidence kits and drove out to the site. The CSIs parked their cars in the parking lot and each crossed the yellow police line do not cross tape.
Detective Sam Vega was standing there waiting for them.
"Hey Sam … what do you got for us?" Grissom asked trying to get a look into the store.
"Guys … it's a messy one in there. We have four dead. The cashier and three customers."
"Was this a robbery?" Grissom asked.
"At first we thought so, but the cash register was still closed and all of the money was still in there. To tell you the truth we aren't sure. That's why we called you in."
The CSIs all looked at each other. From Sam Vega body language they could tell that this was going to be a long evening.
"Follow me … I'll show you the first victim."
The CSIs followed Vega into the store unaware that they were being watched from across the street.
Harris sat in his SUV he was still on his high from gunning all those people down. This crime scene was staged. They killed these people for no reason … wait one reason to get Stokes here. They knew the more people that were killed the more CSIs responded. The tricky part was getting Stokes by himself.
The men in the SUV sat and waited for Harris' instructions. Carl sat just behind Harris he knew the plan. In fact he had helped Harris perfect it. So far everything was going according to how they planned it. They kept a silent vigil as the CSIs worked the scene.
Harris had a pair of binoculars in which he pointed at the windows of the store. He saw the CSIs huddled together as if forming a game plan like a group of professional football players would. He laughed if only they knew what he had planned tonight.
He watched as Nick headed to the back of the store away from the group. Harris quickly lost sight of Nick in which he wasn't too happy, but he wasn't worried he had another car watching from the other side. So they could track Stokes from either side.
David Phillips, the assistant coroner, was just walking out as the group walked in.
"I checked all the bodies – they all appeared to have perished from gunshot wounds." He said to the CSIs.
"Thanks David. We'll let you know when we are done."
"Sure thing." The coroner continued out the door.
The group of CSIs followed Vega into the convenient store. The smell of copper and gunpowder lingered in the air. The first victim was the store clerk.
The girl looked at least eighteen – way to young to die. Her legs were sticking out partly from behind the counter. As if she was running to get out and the gunshot slammed her back. She had a single gunshot wound to the heart.
The next victim was near the ATM machine. A man in his near forties lie face forward on the ground with a large pool of blood underneath him. There was no exit wound in his back.
The next two victims were in an aisle on the floor. These two had gotten it the worst. It was an older couple and both were laced with bullets holes. The woman was beneath the man as if he was trying to protect her.
Grissom looked around the store then back up near the door when he spotted a security camera. He looked around some more and found three others.
This was all the Grissom needed to see. He turned around and headed back up towards the front of the store. He waved his people over to him.
"OK we are going to divide and conquer. Sara I want you to take the man over by the ATM. Warrick I want you to handle the cashier. Greg you are on perimeter. Catherine and I are going to work the older couple." Grissom looked at Nick then said, "Nick we have security cameras … I want you to take those tapes back to the lab and analyze them. Find out if we got lucky."
"Sure thing Griss. I'm on it." With that said Nick headed back to the rear of the store and disappeared behind a door marked employees only.
Minutes later he emerged with a bag of videotapes. He walked past Warrick as was leaving.
"I'll be sure to save you some coffee," he said.
"Now that's so wrong …" Warrick said back.
Nick walked over to Grissom and Catherine who were both looking over the victims.
"I'll give you guys a call as soon as I find out anything."
"Thanks Nick." Grissom responded.
With that said Nick took one more look around and headed out the door.
Harris sat up straight in the driver seat. He could see the goose bumps form on his arms. He could feel his pulse race. He had just watched as Stokes emerged from the convenience store. He spoke shortly to a spiky haired guy then hopped into his truck and took off.
Harris turned the ignition and slowly pulled out to follow the unsuspecting CSI. He couldn't wait to see Stokes face when he found out that he wasn't dead. The look would be priceless.
Nick walked out of the convenience store and walked over to Greg who just started to work the perimeter.
"Hey Greg … I'm heading back to the lab. I'll see you later."
"OK man … I'll see you back over there."
Nick hopped into his truck and pulled out of the parking lot. He drove along Randolf Road he had made a few green lights, but didn't quite get lucky with the last one. He stopped his car and waited for the light to turn green. He tapped his hands on the steering wheel with the beat of the song he listened to.
The light just had turned green. Nick was just about to accelerate when he heard screeching and suddenly he felt his car lurch forward from impact. He sighed, put his car in park and turned off the ignition. He got out of the car grabbing his cell phone. He needed to call Grissom to let him know that he was in a little fender bender.
As he was nearing the rear of the vehicle the man in the other truck had gotten out. The man was still in the dark and Nick couldn't see his face. He spoke to the man while dialing the phone.
"Are you injured?"
Harris replied back, "No. I'm not...are you?"
"No I'm good."
Nick said bending down looking at his bumper unaware that Harris and his men now had him surrounded.
"Good...now if you will please give me your phone Mr. Stokes."
Nick's heart stopped and he looked up to see Harris and his men surrounding him with their weapons drawn. This took him by surprise since he never heard any of the other men exit the other vehicle.
He stood to his full height pulling the phone slowly away from his ear and hanging it up. He was unsure if the call went through or not. He looked at the men that surrounded him...they all looked liked trained soldiers all dressed in black like they were on a mission or something.
He slowly moved back trying to get space between them and him, but failed when he bumped into the back of his truck. He had nowhere to go ... he was trapped.
Nick looked around for someway to escape, but there were no cars or people. That was the problem working the nightshift ... no one was around - it was dead.
"You don't know who I am ... do you Mr. Stokes?" Nick heard the man ask that stood in front of him.
Nick remained silent.
Harris walked into the light and Nick finally was able to get a good look at the man in front of him. Nick observed the man ... he seemed familiar to him, but he couldn't place him. 'It was still a little dark,' he thought to himself.
"I want you to slowly remove your weapon from your holster using two fingers and only two fingers and hand it to me."
Nick did as he was told and slowly removed his weapon with two fingers. He handed it to Harris still eyeing the men around him. He was now giving up his only means of protection...not that it would do him any good at the moment.
Harris lifted his right arm to grab Nick's gun. He wanted Stokes to see the tattoo.
As Nick handed over his gun he noticed the tattoo on the other man's arm '...A pit bull tattoo, but how could that be? He was dead! I saw him die!'
Nick looked up in fear. He looked into Harris's eyes and could see a smirk settling on his face.
"Now Mr. Stokes do you know who I am?"
Well there you have it. I hoped you liked it. Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks and see you next chapter!