So I decided to try something different this time and update before I started my homework, so here you go! Reviewers, you guys really do rock! There's something really satisfying about seeing 76 reviews on my stats page...

Little note I wanted to make with this: I'm not basing these suspects on any of the episodes because I couldn't think of one that would really fit, so yeah... just had to say that...

Chapter 13

Catherine watched her fellow CSI with frightened concern. She wasn't sure exactly how much blood he'd lost, but his wounds were not scabbing up, probably from his constant movement, and she didn't put it past their captors to have put some substance to stop them from clotting. The huge bruise on his abdomen didn't look good either. She was guessing that he had internal injuries that were probably also bleeding. He was exhausted, that much she could tell. The loss of blood was most likely making him dizzy and fogging his thoughts. Compared to him, she was in good condition; nothing but a scratch on her head.

The man still standing above them posed an ample threat though. Automatics were rare in most cases, but she knew what they were capable of, and there was no underestimating suspects in their job. She recognized his voice of the man who had held Nick at gunpoint back at the Harrison's. He'd talked of a 'boss', so either he was talking about the man who'd held her earlier, or they had another suspect. She sincerely hoped it was the former of the two possibilities. Another suspect would just make things worse, a prospect she didn't care for thinking about. Another thing that made her nervous was his threat earlier. "I won't do anything to you, at least not until the boss gets back." There was no denying it, she was a woman, and he was a rapist. Perhaps they wanted her for other purposes, but she'd seen too many rape victims in her life and the thought of ending up like one of them was enough to set her worrying.

Her captor's grating laugh brought her back from her thoughts. "We can't let him fall asleep now. Not when the boss is due to return." He jabbed the gun into Nick's back, who jerked awake and recoiled, flipping over so that he could see his assailant.

Remembering his threat, Catherine tried to keep the man talking. "Return from what?" She asked.

"I don't recall that being any of your business." The man replied.

"Why shouldn't it be?" Catherine was surprised to hear Nick talking. Perhaps he'd realized the danger she was in and was trying to divert attention from Catherine. Maybe that was the reason for the sudden strength in his voice.

The man looked down at Nick, seeming to understand his intentions. "Playing the hero?" He said. "Hmm… Makes sense for one who always played the victim."

"What?" Catherine heard genuine confusion in Nick's voice.

The man laughed. "Oh, don't toy with me, CSI. Let me see…where to start. Well there was the Nigel Crane incident. I'm sure you'll remember that. It's hard to forget the face of a guy who hid out in your attic and watched you sleep. Oh! And that little burial a while ago."

Nick had fallen silent, and Catherine could not see his face, but thought she had a good idea of his expression. "What else do you know about me?" Nick finally asked, voice shaking.

"I already answered that for you. Everything. We know about Sanders and your other team members also." Catherine saw the man search the room with his eyes as he answered.

"What's so special about Greg?" Nick asked. Catherine wondered at his choice of questions. It seemed like an insignificant matter in their situation, but her CSI instincts told her that he was trying to ask questions that he would answer.

"Special about Greg Sanders?" Despite the mask, Catherine could see a glimmer in the man's eyes and a vaguely intrigued expression. "Aside from the fact that he's the youngest, nothing much." He squatted down next to them, yet still keeping his gun aimed at Nick. "You see, we had it all planned out. You were supposed to be the first, but due to an unfortunate turn in events, that didn't work too well. Willows was next, then Sanders and Brown and Sidle. Grissom was last, but we considered leaving him be and letting him live with the knowledge that he couldn't save the people he loved the most."

This information sent Catherine reeling. Apparently it was doing the same for Nick, for he didn't answer for a moment. She guessed he was taking his time to process the man's words. After at least a minute of silence, he replied. "But why?"

"Because, Stokes, we wanted you to remember us."

The hair on the back of Catherine's neck stood on end at the sound of a second voice. She heard footsteps and rolled over to see, not one, but three new people enter the room, all dressed in black and wearing masks save for one.

TBC