Crimson Puddles
Summary: Nick agrees to do Catherine a favor, but he is given one of the biggest surprises of his life. Meanwhile, the team works their various cases, and Catherine talks to Ecklie about what happened at the scene.
His eyes slowly scanned every inch of the passenger seat. He was still breathing rapidly, but knew he had calmed down a lot since he had fallen into that hellhole. At least that ought to solve the case… His thoughts were interrupted as he saw Grissom literally jump out of his SUV just as it pulled to a stop.
"Where… where is he? Is he ok?" He couldn't calm down. It had been so long since Nick had been kidnapped, but he knew that the side effects of falling into some bug-infested pit could have tragic repercussions.
"Gil… everything is fine… it's ok. He's over in his car… I'm going to take him home, and stay with him for a little while, to make sure he's ok. Then I'll get back to the lab and update Ecklie…"
"What in the hell happened Catherine?" He couldn't hide the worried tone that his voice had taken, and he could tell that it unnerved Catherine quite a bit.
"Ok… it may sound weird, but Nick found some button on the wall, and it opened a trap door in the floor. He fell in, and landed in some dark pit practically filled with bugs… he was screaming, but before I could get in too the trap door closed, so we had to get it to bust open before I could jump in, and help get him out…"
"Damn… this is the last thing he needed…"
"No kidding… look, uh… I'm going to go get him home… I'm not sure if he's quite ready to see all of you guys yet, or to retell what happened."
"Yeah… sure, go ahead. I'll see you back at the lab…"
"Hey, Nick… how are you doing?"
"I'll be ok…"
"Why don't I take you home? You could use a bit of a break…"
"No… uh… I… need to get my stuff from the lab anyway… and my car is there…"
"Ok, Nick… if you're up to it, we can go back to the lab…"
"Yeah… besides… the others are probably worried…"
Several minutes later she found herself slowly pulling to a stop outside the lab. Her eyes wandered over to Nick, who had remained silent during the drive. I can't even imagine how he can deal with all of this…
"Catherine… I'm… I'm so sick of being scared…"
"We all are Nick… we all are…"
She slowly unbuckled her seatbelt, before leaning over and giving her friend a quick hug. He flashed one of his smiles, and she immediately felt relieved. Suddenly she froze. Oh damn…
"Catherine, what's wrong?" Nick asked quickly, sensing the sudden change in her demeanor. Please let everything be all right…
"I… I forgot about picking Lindsey up… oh God… she's been waiting for twenty minutes already…"
"Hey, don't worry about it Catherine. You just go take care of whatever you need to, and… and I'll go pick her up for you, ok?"
"I… I guess that'd be fine… actually, that'd be great Nick. Oh, I can't thank you enough…"
"It's no problem… really."
He felt himself suddenly becoming engulfed by another hug, and smiled as he patted her back. She slowly let go, and smiled again before turning around, and climbing out of the car.
"Ok, Nick… she has a key to our house, but I know you've already got a spare, so it doesn't much matter. Anyway, please put her to bed as soon as you get there, or else she'll be up all night…"
"I got it, Catherine, just go, everything will be alright, I promise."
"Yeah, you do know where…"
"Butterfield Academy, I remember. I know exactly where it is, and how I'm gonna get there, so go ahead. You've got places to go and people to see."
"Ok… thanks again Nick…"
"No problem, but you really cashed in on that favor quick didn't you?"
"I guess so, Nick. Well, she's been waiting long enough, so I'll let you get going…"
"Bye Catherine." He quickly hopped over the console and into the driver's seat, and as soon as Catherine had turned around he was already backing up.
She was waiting silently, but after another five minutes she suddenly found it hard to be patient. Where are you mom? Go figure… she probably got wrapped up in some case and forgot all about me… Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt a pair of strong arms wrap around her.
He wasn't sure why, but he sped up as he realized how long it was taking him to get there. He remembered how bad he had always felt when his parents had been late picking him up. And, if Lindsey was anything like her mother, he knew she wasn't going to be very happy. He turned another corner, and smiled when he saw Lindsey pacing silently next to some hedge. His smile disappeared when he saw what happened next.
Her legs flailed desperately as she struggled against her assailant. Let me go… please… I don't want to end up as another of my mom's cases…
Suddenly she found herself blinking as a pair of headlights came to rest on her and her attacker. A car door opened wide, and she distantly heard a familiar voice yelling.
"Let her go, now!" Nick yelled at the top of his lungs as he struggled to keep his arm steady to keep the gun from shaking.
"I suggest you leave now, before you get hurt, asshole."
"I said let go of her!" Nick shouted again, and he slowly took a few steps closer towards the man who was still fighting to control Lindsey.
Her arms wriggled in the firm grasp. She was trying desperately to see who it was that was yelling at them, and hoped it was who she thought it was. Please… don't let him hurt me…
"What's it to you what I do with her?" The man holding her asked in a sinister tone, "Or do you just want her for yourself?"
"Let her go now. Or you're going to be in a world of pain." Nick commanded, and he allowed all his fury and rage to seep into his voice. Keep it together Nick… you can help her… you can save her…
"I don't know who you are, Cowboy, but if you don't get out of here in the next ten seconds you're going to find yourself in the middle of something way bigger than your pathetic mind can even comprehend." He smiled as he saw the other man suddenly give up. His grip lessened slightly around the girl as he saw the guy begin to turn around. A quick glance towards the street at his waiting van gave him the go ahead.
He didn't have time to react as he felt the Texan's body fly into both him and the girl. His eyes searched frantically for any sign of where they had gone when he saw the man helping Lindsey into his Denali. His fingers fumbled with a thick leather strap and he slowly felt the heavy handle of his pistol slide free.
Lindsey screamed in surprise as she saw the dark body flying towards them. She lets out a sharp yelp of pain as she hit the ground, and fought frantically at the muscular hands that were pulling her towards the headlights. He quickly pushed her into the car, and then she finally began to calm down. I've seen this car before… Her memories were verified as she noticed a picture of her mom and her team smiling happily at the camera. She turned around to see who it was that had saved her, and smiled weakly when she saw Nick's arms reaching in to help her climb into the passenger seat.
He cried out in pain as he felt his left leg give out from under him. He looked down as the pain began to grow more intense, and his vision blurred slightly as he saw the blood flowing rapidly from a hole in his pants. What the hell? I never heard a gunshot… what happened? He suddenly realized the man who had tried to grab Lindsey before was quickly climbing to his feet, and was holding a pistol with an unusually long barrel in his hand. They had to get out of there, and Nick quickly bit down on his lip, and forced himself up into his Denali. Seconds later he had the car in reverse when he felt another sharp burst of pain erupt in his right arm. His right foot stomped harder on the gas, and he quickly glanced over to make sure his friend's kid wasn't hurt.
"Lindsey… I need you to grab the first aid kit in the glove compartment… pull out any sort of bandage…"
She could hear the anguish in his voice and it took her a moment to take her eyes away from the blood that was flowing rapidly down his right arm from beneath the sleeve of his black T-shirt. Her hands fumbled rapidly for what he needed, and she tightened her seatbelt as they took another rapid turn. Without warning she saw two more holes enter the dashboard just between herself and Nick. She suddenly recognized the familiar holes that she had seen in countless photos her mom had brought home. Why is someone shooting at us, and I thought gunshots were supposed to be loud… She clung to the armrests of her seat as Nick swerved in another lane.
"Lindsey… hurry… I need you to wrap the bandage around my arm… just pull up the sleeve… and wrap as much as you can around it, as hard as you can… don't stop. No matter what I say, just keep doing it as hard as you can…"
She nodded feebly as she peeled the sleeve back, and she felt tears running down her eyes as she watched the blood begin to flow faster down his arm. Her fingers weakly began to wrap the white fabric around his arm. After a few times around she began to pulled a little tighter until she noticed that he was clenching his jaw, and his knuckles were turning white as he clenched harder against the steering wheel.
"Is it too tight? I'm sorry… I didn't mean to…"
"No… it just hurts Lindsey… keep going… just a few more times… remember… as hard as you can…"
"O-ok…" she was finding it harder to talk as her eyes followed the trail of tears that were flowing from Nick's eyes. She had always enjoyed spending time with Nick, and when they didn't see each other for long periods of time he would even get her some sort of chemistry kit. Please… don't let it get worse… don't let it get worse… She instinctively grabbed the edge of Nick's seat as he spun the wheel wildly making another sharp turn. Her eyes glanced back just in time to see a black van turn right behind them.
"Ok, Lindsey… I need you to grab some tape… grab it and wrap it around the bandage, just as tight…"
"O-ok… are they going to…"
"They're not going to hurt you… I won't let them… I promise… just… get the tape…" It became to hard for him to speak, and he tried to get a firmer grip on the wheel. The pain in his right arm was beginning to grow numb, but his left leg continued to throb just above his ankle. Thank God I can still work the gas pedal… He noticed Lindsey sink back into her seat with a terrified look on her face; his eyes fell silently down towards his arm, and he gritted his teeth as he noticed she had finished taping the bandage in place.
"Lindsey…"
"Y-y-yeah?"
"You did… a great job…" He winced in pain, and felt himself slide in his seat as another black van rammed into the side of his speeding Denali.
"Ah… what exactly did you want to see me about Catherine?"
"Look, Ecklie… I know the lab is shorthanded as it is…"
"You're not going to seriously ask for a last minute vacation are you Catherine?"
"No… uh, I was actually hoping you'd offer Nick some paid time off…"
"Why would I do that?"
"Well… I haven't gotten the… uh… the chance to file an accident report…"
"Oh God… don't tell me he got hurt…"
"No… no, he's fine, but I just think he should be given the opportunity to get some time off, while not being forced to do so…"
"What in the hell happened?"
"He… we found a button hidden in a wall, and it opened a trap door right under him. Then he fell into an underground room filled with insects. By the time the officers on the scene and I were able to reopen the door and I could get down to him, he was more than just a bit shaken up. Don't get me wrong… I'm sure he's fine. I… I just thought it might be good for him to get some time off…"
"Ok, Catherine… I'll extend him the offer, and since this suggestion came from you, and not a certified psychiatrist, I'll let him know it's completely optional."
"Ok… thanks… uh…"
"Look, Catherine, despite what you, and everyone else in this lab, thinks about me being a heartless jackass isn't true. I care about all our employees' wellbeing."
"O-of course…"
"Just don't let everyone in on our little secret. And make sure you get that accident report filed and squared away."
She flashed him a brief smile, and quickly stood up to leave the room. I don't know what the hell happened to him, but whatever the reason I'll take it. She froze as she saw Warrick standing in her way with Sara and Greg standing just behind him.
"What the hell happened out there, Catherine?" Warrick asked firmly. He was still angry that Grissom had run out without telling them a thing.
Nick swerved around another corner as the growing number of vehicles tried to close in on him again. He quickly glanced at the rearview mirror that now sported two bullet holes. There were now four identical vans speeding behind him, and he quickly stepped on the gas increasing his lead on them slowly. Just stay calm… she needs you to be calm… He could hear Lindsey's muffled cries of fear as she lay huddled at the foot of her seat. He had quickly told her to move down there as more shots had ripped into the back of his Denali. He had been scared when he saw blood on her forehead, but after a few brief glances he had determined the she must've just hit it on something. At least it's just superficial… nothing serious… she's going to be fine…
He swerved again, and swore as he realized they were on a road that led out to Lake Mead. Out into the freaking desert… I need to get back to the lab. He had already tried his cell phone, but after the second time he had tried to call Warrick it had gone dead. More rapid bursts of pain shot through his leg, and he could feel more tears fall from his eyes. Just keep it together… just keep it together…
"Oh God… I need to talk to him… where is he?"
"Look, Warrick… I gave him the rest of the night off, and he offered to go pick up Lindsey for me…"
"And you let him go?"
"Warrick, he is not a child. He's a full grown man, and there was no way I was going to belittle him, and force him to do something he clearly wasn't ready for!"
She stopped in irritation as her cell phone went off. Sara and Greg had immediately taken off to help Grissom, and she gave Warrick a furtive glance before answering.
"Hello. Catherine Willows speaking…"
"H-hello… I uh… this is Miranda Ledger… I'm the…"
"You're the principal at Butterfield Academy… w-what can I do for you?"
"Uh… well, you're a CSI, right?"
"Yeah, is there something you need?" Warrick turned back to face her as he heard her tone change from irritation to concern.
"I'm not sure, but… well… I found some dark red liquid in the parking lot… I… think it's blood."
"Oh God… listen don't touch anything. I'll be there in a few minutes with some backup."
She hung up her phone and was about to take off down the hall when she felt Warrick's hand on her shoulder.
"Catherine, what happened?"
"I… I don't know… why don't you call Brass, and tell him to meet us at Butterfield Academy."
"Ok… wait that's where Lindsey…"
"I know… it's probably just a false alarm, Warrick…"
"I hope you're right."
Fifteen minutes later he could tell they were wrong. There was undoubtedly blood in the parking lots, not to mention several shell casings. Something bad definitely happened here…
"Ok, Warrick. I tried my house, Nick's place, Nick's cell phone… and even one of my neighbors who assured me that no one came to my house tonight while I was gone…"
"Well, based on the skid marks… blood came from the driver's side… which would imply that Nick was the one who was bleeding, presumably from a gunshot…"
"How Warrick? It's not like you can fire all these rounds without someone hearing."
"Maybe whoever did this had a silencer…"
"Which means that they'd have to have plenty of resources, and money…"
"Look… Catherine… we don't know whose blood this is… maybe Lindsey asked Nick if they could go see a movie… it is a Friday, maybe he figured it wouldn't be a big deal if he didn't take her right home…"
"I hope you're right… God, I hope you're right Warrick…"
"So do I… I'll get this blood back to the lab, and call me if you guys get anywhere following those skid marks, or on the surveillance cameras at any intersections…"
Nick's heart sunk as he saw two more vehicles blocking the road ahead of him. He could easily tell that he wouldn't be able to get past them, so he decided to try the next best thing. Lindsey cried out as he swirled the wheel as fast as he could while hitting the break. Once he was turned around he slammed his foot down on the breaks and sped towards the oncoming vehicles. As he drew closer he flipped his lights off, and tried to keep his hands steady on the wheel.
He realized that he could no longer see the other vehicle that he knew was heading straight for them. "What the hell is this guy thinking?" he mused quietly to the man sitting next to him.
"I don't know, but keep an eye out…"
Nick watched as the headlights of the oncoming vehicles came closer, and just before his vehicle was in the sight of their lights he flipped on his lights.
The first driver squinted at the sudden bright light that was heading straight for them when the light suddenly turned off again, and he found it impossible to adjust his sight until he noticed that the Denali had slipped right past him. He swore and tried to slam on his breaks before ramming headfirst into the other vehicles that had been following this guy.
Nick swerved as he felt his side of the car meet with another vehicle, and soon he found that he didn't have any real control over the situation. The other cars had all zipped past him except this one, which had rammed him off the road and spinning helplessly. Suddenly he noticed a sharp drop where the trees ended abruptly. Oh God… what did I get us into this time? He tried to hit the breaks, but the car didn't respond and he watched in horror as he saw the ground rush up towards his window as the car plummeted into the gully.
He felt a shaky hand reach down towards his neck, and a sudden cry when his head jerked up.
"W-what… what were you doing?"
"M-mom… she showed me how to check someone's pulse…"
"Are you ok?"
"I… I think so… my head kind of hurts, and I don't know where we're supposed to get out…"
Nick looked around at their predicament, and grimaced when he realized that there were now surrounded by mud and rocks, and that they were trapped in his vehicle that was now lying on its side. He groaned in pain as he undid his seat belt, and forced himself to stand up on what used to be his window.
"Ok, Lindsey… You're going to climb into the back seat for a moment, while I break this window, ok? Then I'm going to…"
"No! You can't leave me in here… they… they left me…"
Suddenly he realized what she was going through. You idiot. Be more clear with her. Don't be an asshole and think about what she must've gone through in the car with the water rising…
"It's ok Lindsey. I should've been more clear. I'm not going anywhere without you, ok? Just cover you hands and your face, and after I break the window I'll lift you up, and get you out of here. Then I'll be right behind you. I promise. There isn't a single soul in this world that'll make me abandon you…"
He watched as she huddled down on the other side of the driver's seat, and he quickly slammed his left hand into the window until he felt it finally break. He quickly covered his eyes and face as the glass fell all over him. He could feel several larger pieces pierce his skin, and he knew from the new pains in his hand that he had some shards stuck in his knuckles.
"Come on Lindsey… I'm going to help you up, ok?"
"O-ok…"
"Listen, Lindsey… if you see anyone outside this car I want you to find a safe place to hide ok?"
"Ok… Nick… I'm scared…"
"Don't be… everything is going to be ok… I promise… nothing is going to happen to you."
She slowly nodded, and he helped her back into the front of the vehicle. It took nearly all of his strength to help push out through the window, and he nearly collapsed when she accidentally kicked his right arm just below his sad attempts of a bandage. Once she was out he reached up, and used his right leg to propel himself off any footholds he could find until at he found himself halfway out. It was a tight squeeze, and he felt another sharp pain as he used his left arm to finish pulling himself out. He barely took a quick look down when he saw another piece of glass sticking into his side. It doesn't matter… you've got to get out of here…
He took a deep, painful breath before taking Lindsey with his left hand and running as fast as he could off into the dark night.
To Be Continued…
Next Chapter: Nick and Lindsey try to outrun the men chasing them, meanwhile the team desperately tries to put the evidence together in an attempt to help their friends.
Notes: This story may be a bit slow on updates, seeing as of how I want to finish An Unfair Act of Vengeance. However, once that story is done the updates should come faster. Of course, I have held back on some updates recently with the slow down of reviews, so I hope you take the time and submit one, because it really does get me motivated to keep updating quickly!
