A/N: This lack of reviews is really bumming me out, if it weren't for Elena, I'd quit posting this sucker. According to the stats, people are reading this... sigh

Perhaps this chapter might get a rise out of some of you. (yes Elena, it's a cliff-hanger. No Elena, I'm not trying to kill you...)

8

8

8

Gil sat quietly watching as Brass interrogated the suspect. He did not like this. An anonymous tip with no evidence was nothing to go on. Going to the address the tipster had given, they had found their suspect, sitting there as if waiting for them. He had not even put up a fight when they arrested him. Gil Grissom did not like this. Nothing in life was ever this easy.

The suspect had called his lawyer immediately. Gil did not like the lawyer, not that he ever liked lawyers. This particular lawyer was……smarmy. He was cool and smooth, much like most lawyers the CSI had dealt with, but this one had twinkle in his eye. It was as if he found all of this amusing. It was as if he were enjoying a challenging game.

From his experience, the lawyer seemed more like a serial killer than his client did. He fit the typical serial killer profile, not the suspect.

The big brute they had brought in for questioning did not look like any serial killer he had ever seen. He looked more like one that could beat a man to death in a fit of rage. He sat back, quiet and relaxed while his lawyer rattled on. The suspect had a look in his dark eyes that told Gil that he was hiding something, but in his gut, Grissom didn't think this was the man he was looking for. He was wasting his time here.

Glancing at his watch Grissom wondered where his team was. He doubted they were making any progress if they were actually doing what they were told. It was bad enough that Warrick had taken the guys but now Sara seemed to be in on the weird behavior.

It was terrible, but he didn't trust Warrick. In all the years he had known him, this was the first time that he had really doubted Warrick. He had gambled on Warrick's character time and time again over the years, but today he could not. Evidence, strange behavior and plan gut instinct told him that Warrick was somehow involved in this. A part of him would die inside if he had to lose the man he'd put all his hopes into.

If he was right and Warrick had somehow caused all of this, there would be no strings he could pull. He couldn't call in enough favors to get Warrick out of this one. Gil felt an uncontrollable vehemence at the thought. He had invested too much time and energy making sure that Warrick was the one, the one to take his place should he decide to leave CSI. He didn't have the time nor the heart to start over.

888888888888888888888888888888888888888888

"He's here. I want you to be careful." Warrick warned his fellow CSI's. "He's after me, but he'll do anything he can to hurt me. That means he will go after any of you that he can. Stay together." He gave a meaningful look at Nick who was looking annoyed at the warning.

"You know for sure, that he's here?" Greg questioned, looking around. To him, the place looked abandoned.

"Yeah, he's here." Warrick nodded, climbing out of the vehicle. He pulled his sword out, testing its weight with his hand. "Somewhere close. I can feel him. I'm going after him. You guys find Catherine and get the hell out of here."

"I know I'm not an official member of your little club, but can you tell me what's going on?" Sara cut in, eyeing the sword. "What's with the sword? Who is this guy and why are we hiding him from Grissom?"

Warrick grimaced, knowing he had to tell her something, and he had to make it believable. He opened his mouth to reply, but grew tense, spinning to look around frantically. He let out a pent up breath as he spotted the source of his discomfort. "Damn it, Richie! Why are you here?" He glared at the shorter Immortal as he approached.

"We cut cards; loser had to come and put up with your cranky ass." Richie quipped. "We thought you'd have your hands full with these three. I'm here strictly as protection for them." Richie assured him. "Call me the Nanny for Pre-"

"You'll stay with them?" Warrick questioned, cutting Richie off before he caused Sara to have more questions. He nodded, looking at his friends. He had faith in them protecting themselves against people, but he doubted that they could handle it if the person couldn't die and would just keep coming. "Good. Get Catherine and get them out of here."

"You're the boss." Richie agreed jovially, giving Warrick a sarcastic little salute. A moment later, the small group watched as Warrick disappeared into the shadows.

Nick stared nervously at the shadow he had seen his best friend melt into. "He's going to be okay, right?"

"He's got a job to do and he can't be worrying about you guys." Richie answered in a way that no one realized that it was not an answer at all.

"So? Where do we go?" Greg stepped forward.

"Warrick went that way, so we go this way." Sara pointed logically. Without waiting for the men to respond, she led the way. The three men surged forward to follow. Greg quickened his pace to catch up with Sara. Richie stayed back with Nick, who moved slowly. He was still injured, having no business being out in the field, but determined to keep up.

No one spoke as they moved forward. It was pitch dark and they didn't want to risk giving away their approach with the use of a flashlight. They had slowly picked their way forward for a few moments when everything happened at once.

No one could see anything.

Greg lunged forward, yelling "Sara!"

Sara cried out.

"Greg!" Nick called out.

"Get down!" Richie ordered

There was a quiet grunt, as someone's flesh was ripped open by the shotgun blast. The only sounds heard were that of bodies falling to the ground. Then, just as suddenly as it happened, it grew quiet. Everyone was silent and still.

888888888888888888888888888888888888888

Archie got out of his car after the others disappeared into the cluster of buildings. He couldn't help but wonder for the thousandth time, what he was doing there. He was a Lab-rat for goodness sake! He had no business following the team into some unknown danger.

He was a Watcher and it was his job to watch, no matter what. Because the fighter in Warrick had lain dormant for so long, Archie had never had the chance to be in this situation. This was a completely new experience for the lab technician. He stayed back in the shadows while the group conversed and was joined by another. By the way Warrick reacted; Archie could tell that the newcomer was an Immortal and a friend. He had to be someone trustworthy, Archie decided, when Warrick left the group to go off on his own. The team spoke a moment longer before heading off in the opposite direction.

Archie was Warrick's watcher, so although they were all his friends, he did not stop to consider following the others. He hurried after Warrick. Warrick moved quickly and quietly so Archie had to be careful in following him. The Immortal CSI was already angry beyond imagination at Archie. Archie Johnson did not want to consider what would happen if Warrick caught him spying on him in the dark. Some things were better left undiscovered and this was definitely one of them.

They moved so quickly they had weaved far into the maze of equipment and machinery in a matter of minutes. Archie wondered if Warrick knew where they were going or if he was just searching at random. Either way, Archie was terrified. He wished lab rats were issued guns, he'd feel safer with a gun in his hand. Even if he couldn't kill an Immortal with a gun, it would buy him some time to escape.

88888888888888888888888888888888888

Warrick felt an excruciating pain hit his entire being all at once. He stumbled, falling to his knees with the intensity of his anguish. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong!

Something within the Immortal world had shifted. Something nearby. Someone nearby and close to him. He turned in the direction that he had come, wondering if Richie was watching over his friends. It didn't feel like a Quickening, so Richie was most likely okay. That meant that something was up with either Greg or Nick.

As much as Warrick wanted to, he knew he could not turn to make sure if his friends were okay. He had to find Coy Morgan. This had gone on long enough. This had to end. The sooner it ended, the better. He would have to trust that his friends could take care of themselves and each other. For once, he had to ignore the worry he felt for his friends.

Warrick rose to his feet, ignoring the strange vibration he felt running inside him. He couldn't let it distract him from his mission. He had to press on, no matter what he felt for his friends. This had to end now. This could not go on any longer. He had to shove all thoughts of his friends out of his mind until this deed was done. He had to think of the big picture. Ridding the Immortal world of Coy Morgan was much more important than protecting his friends. The absence of Morgan would, in fact, protect his friends more than he could do if he went back for them.