A/N: I've had a rotten week, so I'm lucky this chapter was already finished or I wouldn't be posting on time. Work has been painful and my kitty went into the hospital so it's just been a rotten week.

Thanks to those that posted and I got a lovely email from another reader, so that helped! I had figured that I'd get more of a reaction from the whole Sara situation, but I guess I was wrong. Perhaps you don't like Sara? Or maybe you don't think I'd actually harm one of our CSI's? I have no fear of causing great pains to any and all of the guys. : )

Disclaimer: Still no ownership...maybe that's what I'll ask for my birthday! I'd love to own any and all of these guys...but I don't!

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The group sat around the living room area once again. They were waiting for Adam to return with the takeout and groceries. Warrick had installed a refrigerator in his hideaway, but he hadn't installed any cooking implements so they had to rely on someone fetching food. Warrick had headed out, but the others had vetoed it. "You are being hunted, my friend. It's best you don't go prancing around town until we know who we are dealing with." Adam had informed him. "As far as we know, I'm an unknown. I'll go collect the food. While I'm out, I'll do some scouting around. Perhaps I can get lucky and stumble across him."

"Stay away from him! He's mine!" Warrick had snarled. Adam shrugged him off, truly unconcerned for the tough guy act.

"I won't go looking for a fight…….but should the fight come to me….." Adam had teased before hurrying to the elevator. The cranky CSI was easy to irritate and Adam enjoyed simple things like that. He also enjoyed provoking his anger and then getting to leave the others to deal with him.

Now, nearly an hour later, they were still waiting for their meal. "I should have gone." Richie grumbled. "We could all starve to death if he comes across a bookstore or a pretty face. He's easily distracted you know."

"Cool it, Rich." Mac yawned. "He has to do some shopping first."

"I shudder to imagine what brand of coffee he buys." Greg had to add is complaints in too. "Probably won't be worth wasting the water on."

"Greg, why don't you and Richie show us all that he's taught you." Warrick smacked the youngest man on the back of the head gently. "Let's see what you've got kid."

"I'm game." Richie hurdled off the couch and went to retrieve the sparring sticks. Greg grimaced as he was offered one. "What?"

"When can I use a real weapon? I feel like a child using this thing."

"When you've proven yourself proficient with this, then you graduate to something more dangerous. I don't need my head cut off accidentally." Richie informed him. "And you don't need to lose any fingers by using a sword improperly. Until you die, whatever injuries you acquire are for real and forever."

Warrick sauntered over to get a closer view of what the two were doing. It didn't take long until he was in the middle, directing Greg on how to move, how to counterattack the best way. Within a few minutes of his extreme tutoring, Greg was actually feeling like he was getting the hang of it.

"Feeling left out?" Mac asked Nick, who was sitting quietly, watching the action with an envious look.

"Yeah, if truth be told, I am." Nick sighed, his hand going to rest over his injury.

"You're a quick healer." Mac stated. "You'll be in there soon enough." He studied Nick for a moment. "Are you feeling more comfortable about what you are, or, will be?"

"I think so. I'm still not looking forward to it, but it does seem to be inevitable. I'm not one to fight useless battles." Nick admitted, smiling as Greg was knocked off his feet.

"I think I might have found our guy." Joe stated from the table he sat at with Archie's laptop. A moment later, the Immortals and Greg surrounded him. Nick stayed where he was on the couch; walking across the room seemed to be too big of a challenge for him at the moment. He'd worn himself out going up to the roof earlier. He settled for listening from afar.

"There are three known Immortals in the state of Nevada, other than you guys." Joe informed them. "One is a woman, Clarissa DeVault; she seems to be living in Reno."

"It wasn't a woman." Mac clarified as if Joe needed that clarification.

"Yes, so I immediately nixed Clarissa off our list."

"So, who is number two?" Warrick prompted, edging closer to look over Joe's shoulder.

"Cole Elliott." Joe stated questioningly. "Not much is known about this one. He's only came into the game about fifty years ago, at least that we know of. He's only been in three battles that have been logged; obviously, he was the winner of all three. Mac? Does he look familiar?" Joe turned the screen so the Immortal could see it better.

"He's got about the right color of hair, but I didn't see him very well. It was dark and as soon as he felt my presence, he took off. "Show me the next contestant."

"This is the one that seems the most likely." Joe clicked onto the next screen. "Coy Morgan. He's been around for about five hundred years. He's a mean son-of-a-gun. He's managed to kill three of his Watchers over the years."

"So, maybe he doesn't like being followed." Warrick sniped spitefully. He quieted after a warning glare aimed at him by Mac.

"He doesn't keep his killing to Immortals and Watchers alone. He targets families of Immortals. Seems to enjoy toying with the Immortal he chooses to target. He kills their family and friends before challenging the Immortal. He's been known to kill a pre-Immortal then turn around and take his head before he even fully regains consciousness."

"Sounds like our guy." Mac peered at the picture. "But, I couldn't be sure by looking at him. I really didn't get a good look at the guy. Like I said, he took off when I approached."

"I got a good look at him." Nick called out, causing everyone's attention to be drawn to him. "White-blonde hair, beady blue eyes. Looked to be about fifty-five or so."

"That sounds like the guy." Richie commented, looking at the picture of the man Nick just described.

"He's got a rough tongue. Does it say anything about that." Nick gave a harsh laugh. "Liked the taste of my blood, he said." Nick gave a shiver. Concerned, Warrick went over to his friend. This was the first that Nick had mentioned anything about the attack. Seeing the look of trepidation on the black man's face, Nick gave a distressed smile. "You know, I think I can add that to my list of dislikes. I don't like people licking my blood off my face."

"I'll get him, Nicky." Warrick vowed in a quiet voice. He was so quiet that only Nick heard the dangerous tone. "He won't get a chance to touch you again."

"So, he's after Warrick, but he's taking the scenic tour." MacLeod contemplated the new facts. "He's after anyone that means anything to Warrick, but he's also after the heads of weaker Immortals."

"There's something else." Joe drew their attention back to him and the computer. "From what I see of his kills in the last hundred years or so…..he goes after Immortals who have avoided the Game for long periods of time. This guy is preying on the weak and the ill prepared."

"Well, he preyed upon the wrong Immortal!" Warrick stood tall. "I may have been out of the fight, but I'm not unprepared. I've stayed in shape; I haven't missed a day of training in over a hundred years."

"There's a difference between fighting and training." Duncan informed him.

"Care to see how ready I am?" Warrick challenged, a brutal look on his face.

"Are you challenging me, Pup?" Duncan stood up, coming to stand before Warrick. Greg and Richie moved aside, anticipating quite a show. They circled one another, swords ready, both of them moving with practiced care.

"Hold onto that thought guys." Richie called out, as the three Immortals tensed as one. "Food's here!" Richie trotted over to the elevator a moment before the motor cranked up.

"Watch yourself, Rich." Duncan warned, lowering his sword. Everyone watched the elevator's slow progression. When the gate finally clanked open, no one moved.

"Uh, Adam……that's not Italian food." Rich moaned, being the first one to see him. "I mean, maybe back in your day, eating people was acceptable, but….."

"Sara!" Greg cried out, recognizing the unconscious woman Adam had slung over his shoulder. He dropped his stick and ran to retrieve Sara from where she was draped on the man's shoulder. "What have you done to her?"

"You know her?" Adam questioned lightly as Greg eased her off of his shoulder and carried her to the bed. Warrick stalked over to Adam, sword still clinched in his fist.

"What the hell did you do to her?" He demanded. As usual, Adam just gave him an easy-going smile and a shrug.

"I didn't hurt her, call it a Vulcan death grip, I just made her lose consciousness. She'll be fine in a few minutes."

"Care to explain yourself?" Duncan asked the older Immortal as he watched Nick slowly make his way to the bed with concern. He was weak and tired, but too stubborn to admit to either. Duncan was concerned whether he would make it all the way to the bed. Once Nick made it to the bed, Duncan relaxed and turned his full attention to his friend. "I thought Caveman tactics were finally beyond you."

"She's been sitting outside for a couple of days. By her body language, she was getting ready to come charging in. I figured I'd just help her along. Didn't know if she was friend or foe, but she could cause us some problems either way." Adam pointedly ignored the barb.

The three CSI's crowded around their unconscious friend, sending angry looks over their shoulders at Adam. Feeling bad, even though he wasn't to blame, Richie fetched a bottle of water for her. Nick took a little of the water and sprinkled it on Sara's face. Almost immediately, Sara began to stir. She opened her eyes to see the guys staring down at her, all wearing worried expressions. "I knew you guys were here." She crowed, with a scratchy voice. "I was just about to come in and find you when some creep grabbed me."

"Creep." Greg nodded. "That's just about perfect for him."

"Hey, Creep?" Richie turned to Adam. "Where's our chow?"

"Unfortunately, the creep is on our side." Warrick sighed, helping Sara to sit up. "What are you doing here, Sara?"

"Coming to warn you. Grissom is at his wits end with you guys disappearing. Hodges overheard Nick calling Archie, and he's probably tattling to Grissom right now." Sara glanced around and seeing that Archie wasn't around she frowned. "Between Catherine and Grissom, Archie will crack."

"Oh, I don't know. Arch can keep a pretty good secret." Warrick smirked, exchanging a look with the other guys. "So, how did you know we were here?"

"I followed you here, years ago." Sara accepted the water from Nick and took a swig. "I knew you still came here ever so often, so I figured this was where you guys were holed up."

"You knew we were here, all along?" Greg gasped. "You didn't tell Grissom?"

"I knew something had to be up for you guys to be in hiding. That you had to have a good reason. You do, don't you?" Sara looked from one man to the next, reading nothing but guilt on their faces. "Come on, throw me a bone, why don't you?"

"The man that attacked Nick," Warrick finally admitted. "He's after all three of us. We've only just discovered who he is, so now we can counter-attack. No more hiding." Warrick announced, looking at the others as if daring them to contradict him. "I'm going out hunting for him tonight."