I Do Not Own CSI

"You ever been so San Francisco, Nick," Grissom asked as they got into the rental car.

"Nah, but I wouldn't mind coming here for a small vacation."

"It's a beautiful city. Sara and I had a fun time when we were here."

"It's a lot different from Vegas."

"Not as many lights. It's real, if you know what I mean."

"Yeah, I do. I feel the same way about Texas. There's country and beaches, and life's a lot slower there, unlike Vegas.

So, what's the plan when we get to Maddie's place?"

"Make sure she's ok, that she doesn't need the hospital or anything. Then get her packed, and on the plane."

"And if he shows up or is already there?"

"We'll deal with it when it comes. But from what Maddie told Sara, after he beat her, he went to bed, got up, showered dressed and got ready for work. It's one now, hopefully he's still at work," Gil said, pulling up to the apartment building.

"He drives a '95 green Sedan, you see one," Gil asked, scanning the parking lot.

"No, you?"

"No. Ok, let's go. And Nick?"

"Yeah"

"We're working with a live victim, someone we know. So be sure to-"

"Talk gentle, don't push, try and keep her calm and relaxed."

"Yeah," Gil said as they made their way to apartment 10.

Knocking on the door and hearing nothing, Gil called lightly through the door.

"Maddie, it's Gil, Nick's here with me. If you're in there can you please open the door?"

When there was still no sound Gil and Nick called again.

"Maddie, please open the door, we just want to help."

Still hearing nothing, Gil tried the door, it was unlocked. Slowly opening the door, Gil and Nick made their way into the darkened apartment.

"Maddie," Gil said softly.

"Here," was the soft plea from the corner where Maddie was curled into herself. Gil and Nick both quickly rushed to her aide.

"Maddie," Gil said softy as he bent down to her, wincing when he saw the bruises on her face and abdomen where her shirt rode up.

"Can you sit up," Nick asked. Maddie just nodded in response, letting both men help her sit.

"Nick, go grab a bowl of warm water and a cloth," Gil asked as Nick quickly got up and found a bowl, then went into the bathroom for a cloth.

"Maddie, when did he do this?"

"Last night, we had a fight. He got mad, and hit me. I hit him back, then he hit me harder," she said, as a sob bubbled up in her throat.

"Maddie, we're going to get you out of here, ok," Gil said softly, as Nick came back with the warm water and a cloth.

"Nick's going to pack some things for you, ok? Can you tell me where your suitcase is?"

"Under the bed."

"Is there anything you want me to pack," Nick asked.

"I have a sweatshirt on the back of my door and a teddy bear under the bed where my case is. Other than that, just whatever," she said, hanging her head down.

"Quickly, Nick," Gil ordered as he took the cloth, ringing out the water.

"Maddie, we're going to clean the blood off you face, ok," Gil said tenderly, as he raised her face, wincing when she did as the water touched an open cut.

"I'm sorry."

"S'ok, you didn't do this."

"You should call the police."

"I just want to be out of this place," she said as Gil wiped her forehead.

"You should be checked out by a doctor."

"No hospitals, please."

"Ok," Gil relented.

"But when we get back, I'm going to have a friend of mine take a look at you. He's the same man who delivered the boys."

"The coroner?"

"He likes to go by Doc or Al, actually," Gil said with a soft smile.

"Either that or I take you to the hospital."

"Fine"

"You're all packed," Nick said, coming in with a full suitcase.

"I went into your bathroom and grabbed all your shampoo and stuff, too," Nick said, bending down to her level, watching as Griss wiped her hairline.

"Thank you."

"No need to thank me for helping."

"Maddie, do you want to change," Gil asked, looking as her shirt and seeing a couple tears in it along with some blood.

"I guess I should," she said, trying to stand and having a hard time. Gil and Nick each quickly grabbed one of her arms to help her up.

"Please don't," Maddie pleaded, flashing back to her beating.

"Maddie, we're not going to hurt you," Nick said calmly, as both men let go of her.

"Maddie, we're here to help, remember," Gil said softly, as recognition came back into her eyes.

"It's Gil and Nick, Maddie. We're going to get you out of here, ok," Gil said as Maddie nodded.

"Ok, do you need help changing," Nick asked softly, as Maddie shook her head and slowly walked to her bedroom.

"Griss, who does that to a woman," Nick said quietly.

"Someone who was never taught you don't raise your hand to a woman, Nick. Her boyfriend is a coward, beating a woman like that and then leaving."

"Makes me want to go find him and beat him like he beat her."

"Let's just get her to Vegas," Gil said determined.

"Gil," Sara said, picking up the phone.

"Hey, honey," Gil said from the airport.

"How's Maddie?"

"Pretty beat up. We have about five minutes before we board the plane."

"Jacob?"

"Never showed. We cleaned her up as best we could, packed a bag, got her dressed and got out of there."

"How bad, Gil?"

"It's not pretty, Sara, she's purple and blue everywhere. I'm going to get Al to come over and check her out. Nothing's broken, but I think she has some bruised ribs, could be cracked, and she may have a bit of a concussion, too."

"I'll call Doc, just get her here, Gil."

"I will," Gil said, hearing his boarding call.

"I gotta go, I love you."

"I love you, too, Gil."

Thankfully, the plane wasn't that full, so Gil, Nick and Maddie could more or less choose their seats.

"Back corner," Gil said as he directed them to the seats. All of them patiently listened to the stewardess as she did her speech. Maddie kept her ball cap on the whole time, looking down until Gil finally asked a question that had been bugging him for half the day.

"Maddie, was this the first time he hit you?"

"This badly, yes."

"You mean he's done this before," Nick asked.

"He's grabbed me and shaken me, but he's never done this," she explained, as the plane took off.

"Why didn't you get out of there," Nick asked.

"I thought he would change. After this…"

"You knew he wouldn't," Gil finished as she nodded.

"Thank you for coming to get me."

"No thanks necessary," Gil explained softly.

"Sara," Gil called through the front door.

"Gil, Maddie," Sara said, rushing into the front room.

"Oh, Maddie," Sara said, bringing her into a hug, as Maddie started to cry.

"Go get some sleep. The boys are napping upstairs," Sara explained as Gil nodded and left the two women.

"Let's go get you cleaned up, ok," Sara said softly, pulling her hand to the spare bathroom upstairs.

TBC

OK so there's more to come on Maddie, i'll try and post again tonight. i work until 9 and i get home right in time for CSI so maybe after?

Anyways thanks for all the reviews

Katie