Now that the world isn't ending
It's love that I'm sending to you
Warrick, Nick and Catherine all turned their heads towards the door when they heard the siren. They knew Brass had finally shown up. Warrick's heart started racing, and he turned towards Catherine and gave her a reassuring smile.
Catherine couldn't suppress the smile or the wave of relief that washed over her when she heard the siren. She looked over at Warrick, and felt even more hope when she saw him smiling. She was glad she wasn't in this alone, but also sad that Warrick was with her and Nick was suffering so much...but she knew she wouldn't have been able to stay sane without them.
Nick took a couple deep breaths before he started pulling his legs up to his chest. The added strain on his wrist made him cry out in pain, put he kept pulling.
"What the hell are you doing?" Warrick asked when he saw Nick.
Nick didn't answer. He closed his eyes and clenched his jaw as hard as he could as he slowly managed to bring his knees up to his chest. His arms were shaking and the metal hundcuffs were digging deeper into his wrists, but he tried to ignore it. Once he had his legs up as far as he could, he slowly leaned back and pulled himself up slightly, extending his legs up at the same time. His breathing increased and he felt a stab of pain in his ribs with each rigid breath he drew, but he kept going. He finally wrapped his legs around the wooden beam he was handcuffed around and relaxed for a second to catch his breath.
"Nick..." Warrick had no idea what Nick was planning to do, and he didn't think he wanted to know. "Come on man, Brass is here. Don't hurt yourself anymore."
Nick didn't pay any attention to his friend. Instead, he once again brought his knees to his chest, but this time he pressed his feet against the panels of lights above him. He drew several sharp, deep breaths. He pushed against the lights, breaking the plastic and glass and sending shards of it falling down on him, cutting his arms, face and neck. At the same time, he pulled his hands as hard as he could towards his chest. The rotting beam slowly began to cave under the weight. With one last strong push and pull, Nick snapped the beam in half. It broke against his bare chest, leaving a deep gash as Nick started falling to the floor below.
It isn't the love of a hero
That's why I fear it won't do
Grissom was out of the car before Brass had pulled to a complete stop. He stopped when he saw three men walk out of the warehouse, pointing guns at them. Grissom raised his hands above his head, followed by Brass.
"We just want our guys back." Grissom said. It sounded awefully familiar to what he had said to Walter Gordon about Nick a year ago.
"Come on fellas. It's over, just let them go." Brass said, walking up next to Grissom.
Sam shook his head. "You're right, it's over. But for them, not us."
"Are you really planning to kill three CSIs in front of a two cops?"
"Yepp." Sam said, making Ray and Jake laugh.
Grissom felt one of his migranes coming on. He was beyond pissed off. He hated nothing more than when someone tried to hurt his team...his friends...his family.
"Maybe we could work something out." Grissom offered. "There has to be something you want more than them."
"Actually..." Sam said, thinking the idea over. "There might be. But I'm pretty sure Ray would rather kill that Nick guy than anything else. He's a real pain in the ass."
Brass felt the anger weeling up inside him. Nick and Warrick were like sons to him, he was gonna do everything in his power to make sure they came out of this okay.
"Ray," Sam said, not turning away from Grissom and Brass. "Go get Nick right now, actually. Bring him on out here. He can go first."
And they say that a hero can save us
I'm not gonna stand here and wait
The wind was instantly knocked from Nick's lungs when he landed painfully on the hard cement floor. He rolled to his right as he coughed up even more blood onto the floor. He forced himself to take deep breaths through the pain until he felt the air entering his lungs again. He slowly got to his feet and stumbled over to a speechless Warrick. He struggled with the ropes that were binding his best friend's hands behind the chair. Nick's hands were shaking and numb, making it harder to get the complicated knots undone. In what seemed like hours, but were really only just a few seconds, Nick had freed Warrick's hands and fell slumped against the cold wall. He let his eyes close as he listened to Warrick quickly untie Catheirne and his own heart beating loudly in his chest.
Warrick knelt in front of his brother and put his hands on the side of his face. "Nicky...look at me man."
Nick slowly opened his eyes. He looked like hell. His face was covered in tiny cuts and dark bruises. There were shards of glass stuck in his neck, along with a deep blue bruise in the shape of a man's hand. His entire chest and ribs were black and dark blue and cut up, the blood and bruises making an ugly mix. There was a large cut from the wood across his back, along with a newly forming bruise. The cuts on his wrists were deeper and blood was flowing steadily down his arms. The few patches of skin that weren't covered in dust, blood or bruises was pale and pasty looking. He was shaking and sweating at the same time. Warrick felt his stomach knot as he looked into the pained eyes of his best friend. Why do these things always have to happen to you?
Warrick quickly took off his dark blue button up shirt and wrapped it around Nick's shoulders before forcing his arms through the sleeves.
"Thanks." Nick said weakly as Warrick helped him to his feet. He crossed the room in three quick strides to the window, not even hesitating as he slipped his right hand into the cuff of the long sleeved shirt and punched out the window, covering his face with his other arm. He quickly knocked all the loose pieces away, and with the help of Warrick, moved the desk up against the wall directly under the window. Without speaking, Warrick climbed through the window and landed safely on the other side. Nick helped Catherine onto the desk and out the window, easing her down as Warrick caught her on the other side. As soon as Catherine was down, the door flew open and Ray rushed inside, grabbing Nick by the shoulders and trying to pull him back inside.
Warrick reached up and grabbed Nick's hand, pulling as hard as he could. He looked into his best friend's eyes and saw pure terror.
"I'm not gonna let go, Nicky." Warrick said, straining to keep his hold on Nick.
Nick shook his head. "Go. Run! Get out of here, I'll be okay. Just keep running, no matter what." Nick pulled his hand away and disappeared back through the window.
Catherine grabbed Warrick's hand and pulled him off in the other direction. They zigzagged their way through the woods, dodging trees and jumping over rocks, tripping on the ocassional stick here or root there. They could see the corner of the warehouse's longest side coming into view, and they started running faster, but Warrick stopped dead when he heard Nick yell in pain.
They say that a hero can save us
I'm not gonna stand here and wait
Nick allowed himself to be pulled back into the small room. Ray pulled him off the desk and spun him around, holding him up against the wall. He flicked up the blade to his switch knife and held it so tightly against Nick's neck that a trickle of blood began to run down to his chest.
"Nothing to stop me now..." He said, an evil smile playing across his lips.
Nick lifted his knee up and out as hard as he could until it connected with Ray's groin, sending him stumbling backwards in pain. Nick pushed himself off the wall and tried to run by him, but yelled out and fell to the floor when he felt a searing pain in his right side. He looked down and saw the knife sticking out of his ribs. It was about an inch in, so he reached down and pulled it out in one swift motion. He pressed down on his wound with his injured arm, his warm blood seeping through his fingers. He started to get to his feet, but only made it to his knees when Ray ran at him again. Nick closed his eyes and thrusted upwards with the knife, cringing when he felt it penetrate the other man's flesh. A sickeneing gargling noise was the last thing that escaped from Ray's throat before he fell backwards and lay still.
I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles
Watch as we all fly away
Warrick couldn't fight it when Catherine began pulling him away again. He didn't seem to have any control over his legs anymore. They finally made it the last few yards and rounded the corner, running faster when they saw the red and blue flashing lights.
Catherine tightly squeezed Warrick's hands as they ran up to Brass, Grissom wrapping his arms around Catherine, then Warrick.
"Where's Nick?" He asked when he noticed the Texan wasn't with them.
"He's still...in there..." Warrick said, out of breath.
The brief period where Sam's existence had been forgotten came to an end. "What the...how did you...Jake! Go get Nick and Ray...now!"
Jake turned and walked over to the door. He quickly opened it and stepped back in shock when Nick stumbled out.
"Nick!" Warrick took a step towards him, but was help back by Brass' tight grip on his arm.
Grissom sighed in relief when he saw Nick stumble out of the warehouse, but was soon back in hs previous state of fear when he saw Nick's condition. Blood was running from underneath his hand from a deep gash.
Catherine and Warrick's heart sunk when they saw the newest injury Nick had sustained.
Nick smiled weakly at his friends. "Hey guys." He choked out.
"Shut up!" Sam said, grabbing Nick by the hair and dragging him in front of him. "You have caused me way too much trouble today, and I'm sick of you."
He pressed the barrel of his gun to Nick's right temple, his other hand still firmly pulling his hair.
Both Brass and Grissom had to hold Warrick back so he wouldn't run and tackle Sam. Catherine wrapped her arms around him and tried to calm him down, but nothing was working. All he wanted to do was run and save Nick and beat the hell out of Sam for hurting his brother.
"Don't hurt him." Warrick begged, his voice soft and weak.
Sam just laughed. "I was actually thinking of killing him."
Nick shook his head painfully. "Don't worry, he won't do it."
Sam frowned and looked at Nick. "Excuse me?"
"Don't do anything stupid Nicky." Brass, Grissom, Warrick and Catherine all pleaded at the same time.
"You can order your guys to kill someone, to tie us up, to beat me...hell, you can even throw a punch here and there, I'll give you that. But when it comes down to one-on-one, like this, you don't have the balls to pull that trigger."
Sam was beginning to loose his cool. "I killed that cop and the guy in there!" He said angrily.
"Congradulations." Nick said, his voice steady, a contradiction to his shaking body and racing heart. He could feel the life draining from his body. His legs were getting weaker and starting to give out, and his vision was hazy. His senses were dulling, and even though he was standing right next to him, Sam's voice seemed distant.
"You really don't think I'd spare you of your wasted life? No, you're afraid. You're just trying to be a tough guy."
Nick shook his head, making Sam press the gun harder against his temple. "I'm not afraid of anything anymore. You don't scare me. Dying doesn't scare me. So do it. Go ahead, pull it. I dare you."
Sam raised the gun over his head and brought it down on the top of Nick's skull. "Shut up! Stop fucking talking!"
Warrick couldn't believe what he was hearing. He was standing there, watching his best friend ask a psycopath to kill him. What is he thinking? Does he not see me standing right here in front of him hearing this?
Catherine clung tigher to Warrick and tried to block out Nick's words. He doesn't mean it...he's just trying to scare the guy...
Brass closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths before opening them again. I hope you know what you're doing kid...none of us would be able to handle it if you messed this up and got yourself killed...
Grissom stared blankly at his CSI level three with a gun pressed against his head. Please just let us all get out of this okay... He prayed silently.
"I thought I was just being a tough guy? Come on man. You wanna kill me? Just do it! Just fucking kill me."
Suddenly, a loud gunshot rang out. Catheirne dug her nails into Warrick's side. Grissom and Brass' grip slipped off of Warrick, who's knees felt like they had turned to jell-o. All four of them held their breaths.
And they're watching us
They're watching us As we all fly away
Sorry for the cliffhanger. Next chapter will hopefully be up before the weekend. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Thanks for all the reviews, they help keep me motivated.