Aww, thank you for the reviews Lil Badger 101, C.H.W.13, pikapikatchu and Tracy79! As you all know who have written stories, reviews mean a lot, so again thank you :D Here's the third chapter, I appreciate you reading and reviews are always welcome :)

The Start Of Recovery

Nick and Catherine moved to sit besides Greg. He was a ghastly shade of grey, but had rosy pink cheeks; however that was the bit of colour about him. The hospital gown lay covering his two wounds, which were heavily bandaged with gauze, making the gown rise up in two places. His breathing was troubled from his damaged lung, so his chest was bouncing up and down madly as he tried to draw in much needed air. And a mask was covering his nose and mouth to help him.

Greg's face looked sunken in and purple bags hung under his closed eyes. His hair was damp from the sweat coming from his forehead and had stuck down onto his head. Anybody who saw him would think he was dying, and both Catherine and Nick couldn't help but think the same. But they knew he was stronger than that, he would pull through.

"Oh Greggo." Nick said and moved over to grab his left hand like he had in the ambulance.

He sat next to him and sighed. "I'm sorry man. I shoulda' been there."

Catherine sat down in a chair next to him and rubbed Nick's arm. "Nick this wasn't your fault."

Nick looked her in the eye. "How is it not my fault Catherine? I was the only one at the scene."

"Exactly. It's not your job to look after the other CSIs on the scene, it's the cops'. They weren't there Nick and they should have been." Catherine told him strongly.

"It is my job Catherine. I wouldn't want any of you to get hurt like this, you're family." Nick stressed to her.

"I told him I had his back and I didn't."

Catherine shook her head. "Stop right there. Greg won't want you to blame yourself because it's not your fault! As much as we all wished it didn't, things like this happen and sometimes there's nothing we can do to stop them. What we have to do is find who did this to Greg and give them what they deserve."

Nick nodded. "Yeah. Did you get anything useful from the doctors?"

"The bullets. Hopefully they'll tell us what gun was used and I also got Greg's clothes. I can't believe his vest did pretty much nothing." Catherine said sadly.

"I know." Nick agreed.

"Shooter must have been straight in front of him."

Catherine frowned. "But Greg would have seen him."

"Maybe the shooter was behind him then Greg turned around?" Nick suggested.

"Possibly. We'll have to ask Greg when he wakes up." Catherine stated.

Nick sighed; maybe it wasn't a when, but an if.

"Sara, what have you got?" Russell asked as he'd finished processing everything he could where the car was.

Sara stood up from where she was taking pictures. "Blood. A lot of blood. If this is all Greg's, which I'm guessing it is, his chances don't look good."

Russell looked down and knew exactly how she felt. There's was one giant blood pool and he could imagine where Greg was lying. His gun was only a metre away from the pool and Russell looked up to see where the bullets went.

"Catherine said that Nick told her Greg fired all the rounds up there as a cry for help." Sara told him as she followed his gaze up to the top of the wall where six bullet holes were.

Russell nodded. "All six bullets went through there; he didn't even try to get his attacker."

Sara shook her head. "Greg's never liked guns. We had to pressure him into getting one; he wouldn't use one against someone even if his life depended on it."

"Huh." Russell said. He never would have thought it. He just assumed that everyone given the option would want a gun for protection.

"I found a few footprints over here." Sara said snapping Russell out of his trance. "I'd say a size 10 or 11. Looks like a heavy duty boot."

"Great that should help. Anything else?" Russell questioned.

Sara shook her head, "Not really. I couldn't find a weapon, any finger prints, no hair. Nothing."

"Well hopefully Nick found some things in the house which can help us find them."

"Yeah... hopefully."

It had been two days since it happened and Greg still hadn't woken up. Nick or Catherine had always been with him and the rest of the team had been to visit, even the lab rats.

Right now Nick was with him. He and Catherine took it in turns to go home as neither of them wanted to leave Greg's side so they made a compromise. Every time Nick went he settled down to read a book that he'd taken. Who knew how long they'd be there.

Out of the corner of his eye, Nick swore he saw Greg's mouth open slightly under the mask which still covered his face. Putting his book down, he looked closer at Greg's face. After a minute of none movement, Nick thought he must have imagined it so decided to go back to reading.

But just as he picked his book up again, he saw it. Greg's mouth did move and his eyes were starting to flutter. Quickly putting his book which he no longer cared about on the draws beside him, he turned back to Greg and grabbed his hand.

"Greggo?" He asked excitingly.

Greg slowly opened his eyes and for a few moments he remained staring up at the ceiling. Then he gazed to his right to look around. And then feeling a squeeze on his hand he turned his head to the left.

"Hey man. You're at the hospital." Nick said to him smiling.

Greg frowned and looked confused at Nick. He brought his right hand up to his face and pulled the breathing mask to the side. Nick was expecting him to say something but to his surprise Greg just lay there and said nothing.

"You alright? Need anything?"

Greg nodded and after swallowing deeply a few times said, "Can you ask a doctor for some painkillers please?" He asked shakily.

Nick nodded and pressed the call button and only a few seconds later a nurse was there with them.

"Hi, what's the problem?" The young female nurse asked them kindly.

Nick nodded over to Greg, "Could he have some stronger painkillers please."

The nurse looked at the information on the clipboard which was hanging form Greg's bed.

"Okay, looks like you're on some strong ones already Mr Sanders, I'll give you another dose of them and then if you're still in a lot of pain we'll see about getting you something different." The nurse said to Greg and then looked to Nick when Greg didn't say anything.

"Thanks that's great." Nick said to her appreciatively before she went.

Greg spoke when she closed the door.

"It hurts to breathe really bad." He said with a pained face.

Nick felt sorry for him and wished there was more that he could do for him.

"You're lung took a bullet man, I think that might be why."

Greg laughed gently but stopped soon after because it hurt. "Yeah, that'll be it."

Nick smiled. "How bad is it?" He asked Greg, referring to the pain.

"Bad." Greg told him truthfully.

"It's kind of making me feel a bit nauseous." He also admitted.

Nick looked around and grabbed one of the cardboard bowls that were on the drawers.

"Here man take this." He said as he passed it to Greg.

"Thanks." Greg told him as he attempted to push himself up but stopped and swore in pain.

Nick asked him if he wanted any help sitting up but Greg refused and managed to push himself up slightly before vomiting into the bowl.

By the time he had stopped, Greg was exhausted and dropped back into the pillows.

"Get some rest man. I'll see you later, yeah?" Nick said as he got ready to leave.

"Yeah." Greg said and lifted his hand to wave bye to Nick.

Nick waved to him before he left Greg alone. He was sad to see him in so much pain, but glad that he had woken up. This was the start of recovery.

Boom! Thanks for reading and please leave a review if you liked :)