Back to "Hero" for this chapter. Sorry I've been being mean, it gets better. Hope you enjoy.
Nick felt like the air had been punched from his lungs. This is not happening…
Warrick didn't understand as much as Nick did. "Who?" He asked.
Jimmy laughed. "Sam, Jake and Ray worked for me. The guy you just killed, Dan, worked for me too. The guy who pulled you outta the house and is now driving, that would be Frankie. Works for me. I'm the boss of it all boys."
Warrick looked over at Nick, who was still trying to breathe. The cut on his forehead looked worse than it actually was, or at least that's what Warrick was hoping.
"So, ya see…I don't like it when my guys mess up and get themselves killed, but I can deal with it, happens all the time I guess. But when you go after my family, that's a different story."
Warrick was confused again. "What are you talking about?"
Nick finally caught his breath. "I killed his brother…Ray was his little brother." He said quietly.
Jimmy nodded. "That's right, and now you're gonna pay for that."
"We didn't go after your family…they held us hostage, we didn't-"
Nick cut Warrick off. "We didn't do anything. I killed your brother, so why does he have to be here?" He said, motioning towards Warrick.
"He killed Dan, didn't he?" Jimmy said simply.
Nick didn't give Warrick anytime to speak. "No, I did." When Warrick tried to protest, Nick punched him as hard as he could in the shoulder, but it wasn't painful in the least to Warrick.
"How the hell could you shoot him if your head was underwater?" Warrick said to Nick before turning back to Jimmy. "He's obviously lying, he-"
"No I'm not." Nick cut him off again.
"Enough!" Jimmy said, starting to get angry. "You're both here now, and you're both staying here." He smiled evilly. "You're best friends, right?" Nick and Warrick nodded slowly. "Good. Now you can die together."
I am so high
I can hear heaven
Jenn was starting to get worried. She had already called Nick's cell phone 3 times and the house twice. Catherine said Warrick wasn't answering, either. She had gone to the lab with Catherine to see if the guys were there for some reason.
"No, why would they be?" Grissom asked, the confusion and worry on the women's faces reflecting onto his.
"I don't know…we should just go over there and see if they're okay." Catherine said.
"Wait…Catherine." Grissom said, holding her back gently. "Maybe you shouldn't go…I'll send Brass over."
"Why, I'm sure…" Catherine's voice trailed off. "Yeah…maybe you should…"
But heaven
No heaven don't hear me
The car finally came to a stop outside of an old house. There were plenty of other houses around, but none of them had been occupied for at least 20 years. Nick and Warrick were pushed into the house and up creaky stairs into the attic. It was dark and cold. The floor was covered in dirt and dust, and didn't feel too sturdy. They were forced against the back wall, standing side by side in front of the gun in Frankie's hand.
Jimmy stepped up behind him, taking the gun from him. "Go watch out for cops, I can handle this." Frankie did as he was told, disappearing back down the old stairs.
The bottom of Nick's jeans were now coated in dust, his socks turned a dark brown. Warrick's black sweatpants looked the same, the dust showing just how old this house actually was.
"I like it here." Jimmy said, looking around. "Quiet…secluded…no one will ever find you here." He said with a smile.
Warrick laughed. "Yeah, right."
"That funny to you?" Jimmy asked.
"Yeah, kinda." Nick said, smiling. "Our team will find us, then they'll find you. No matter where you go or what you do, they'll find you."
Jimmy snorted. "I highly doubt that kid." He said. "Now, I've been waiting for this…so who wants to go first?" He asked.
"You." Warrick said, turning towards Nick.
"Why me?" Nick asked.
"This is all your fault, duh." Warrick said.
"Oh really? Well you got yourself into this."
"How? By saving you?"
"I guess so. Think next time."
"Yeah, like that matters now."
They continued on with their arguing, each getting a few shoves in. "Hey, stop it!" Jimmy said. "I'm warning you right now to cut it out." They totally ignored him.
"You said yourself I shouldn't even be here!" Warrick yelled.
"Well you are, so why not be a man and get it over with?" Nick yelled back, pushing Warrick.
"I said knock it off!" Jimmy yelled at them, taking a couple steps towards them to break it up. As soon as he was close enough, Nick and Warrick lunged. Warrick grabbed Jimmy's hand that was holding the gun and Nick kneed him in the stomach. As Jimmy started to fall to the floor, he wrapped one of his arms around Nick's waist, bringing him down with him. Just before he hit the floor, Nick heard a gunshot, then a loud crack as the floor gave out under his and Jimmy's weight falling onto it.
Nick barely managed to grab on to the edge of the large hole that was now in the attic floor. Splinters of wood cut into his hands, making it harder to hold on. Don't look down…don't look down…
Nick looked down and saw Jimmy 20 feet below him, lying on his back, a pool of blood around his head. He didn't appear to have any other injuries. Okay…so he wasn't shot… Nick looked back up, trying to see over the floor he was hanging on to. That means…Oh God… Nick closed his eyes, the pain he know felt in his heart worse than the one in his hands and arms. I fucked everything up again…
Nick tried to pull himself up, but it was no use. He listened for a minute for any movement above him, but heard none. He took a deep, shaky breath as his hands started slipping from the floor, more slivers stabbing into his hands.
"I'm sorry Warrick…" He whispered as his fingertips slipped off the edge.
And they say that a hero can save us
I'm not gonna stand here and wait
Brass knocked on the door as hard as he could. After a few seconds of silence, he drew his gun and nodded to his men standing behind him. To their surprise, the door was unlocked. The guy to Brass' left threw the door open, allowing the men behind him to enter. Brass was the last one through the door.
He felt his panic leaving as he heard each room be cleared. He was calming down, until he saw the blood on the kitchen floor. He tried to tell himself it was from the nearby body, but the blood smear on the counter and separate blod pools told him otherwise.
He fought back the fear and called Grissom, briefing him on what they had found, which wasn't much. He didn't know if that was a good thing or not.
I'll hold on to the wings of the eagles
Watch as we all fly away
Nick closed his eyes when he felt the wood slip from under his fingers. His heart started rising into his throat, but stopped abruptly. His body jerked upwards, his left shoulder painfully popping out of its socket. He was confused, but didn't want to open his eyes. His shoulders and wrists started to ache, reminding him of when he was handcuffed to the beam above the floor in the warehouse.
He gritted his teeth against the pain and opened his eyes. He was still hanging above the floor below. Frowning, he looked up to see what he was suspended from.
His eyes met with Warrick's, who was lying on his stomach, arms over the edge, clasped onto Nick's wrists. He smiled slightly.
"I gotcha bro." He said quietly.
Nick let out the breath he had been holding since the floor had caved in. He tried again to pull himself up, but was stopped by Warrick's voice.
"Relax man, I'll get you up." He slowly started pulling Nick up until his hands were against his chest, then rose to his knees, bringing Nick's chest over the edge. Warrick leaned back slowly until his back hit the floor, pulling Nick's waist through the hole and next to him. They laid there for a minute, catching their breath.
"Thanks Warrick." Nick said breathlessly.
Warrick smiled and shrugged. "Don't mention it." He slowly sat up with Nick, noticing his dislocated shoulder. "Want me to pop that back in man?" Nick just nodded. Warrick gently placed one hand on the back of Nick's shoulder and the other on his forearm. "Ready?"
"Yeah." Nick said, looking away.
Warrick quickly lifted Nick's arm up until he felt his shoulder pop back in, causing Nick to flinch. "You okay?" Warrick asked.
Nick nodded. "Yeah...Now how about we get out of here?"
Warrick shook his head in agreement. "Good idea…but what about the other guy?"
Nick swore under his breath. "Damn it…I forgot about him…"
As if on cue, Frankie came bursting through the door, the noise from a few minutes ago drawing his attention away from watching for cops.
They heard him swear quietly when he saw Jimmy, both CSIs peering over the edge of the hole. Frankie looked up and saw them, quickly drawing his gun.
Warrick reached to his left instinctively, putting his forearm across Nick's chest and pulling him back and down so he was flat against the floor and his legs slipped over the edge of the hole in the floor.
Two bullets ripped just above Warrick's arm, flying through the wall behind them.
Nick nodded once. "Yeah, time to go."
They scrambled to their feet, looking around frantically for any way to escape. When they came up with nothing, Warrick came up with an idea.
"I have an idea…" He said, looking over at the door that lead to the stairs they could hear Frankie running up.
"Oh man."
"Shut up." Warrick said, pulling Nick over to the door. "When he comes through, tr-"
Nick nodded. "Okay."
They stood on either side of the door. They both silently hoped the beating of their racing hearts wouldn't give away their genius hiding spot.
In a mere matter of seconds that felt like hours, the door finally flew open as Frankie raced through, gun raised. After he took two steps inside, Nick and Warrick both extended one of their legs and grabbed one of his arms, throwing him forward. He lost his balance easily and fell to the floor. The handle of the gun rammed into his stomach, knocking the wind out of him. He rolled over onto his back, gun still clutched in his hand.
Warrick grabbed the gun from him, holding the gun and his gaze on the man on the floor. Nick fumbled around in Frankie's pockets until he came up with a cell phone, quickly flipping it open and dialing the familiar number by heart. He turned and walked towards the window on the back wall, trying to get better reception. Finally someone answered.
"Brass." The tired voice sounded very frustrated, more so than usual.
"Brass, it's me, Nick."
"Nicky! Where are you? Are you al-" He stopped short when he heard the gunshots in the background.
Nick wheeled around, eyes wide with horror. His tense muscles relaxed when he saw Warrick was still standing. Blood poured from the two bullet wounds in Frankie's chest. Nick's eyes darted to the gun in his right hand, still pointing at him.
Warrick lowered the gun and turned towards Nick, who just stared at him.
"Nick! Talk to me kid!" Brass yelled into the phone, praying Nick was okay.
"Uh…we…we're okay…" Nick stuttered.
"Warrick's with you?"
"Yeah…we're at some house in the middle of the desert…"
"Okay. Just stay on with me for a minute so we can trace this and see where you are. Are you in any danger?"
Nick shook his head, eyes still locked with Warrick's. "No, we're okay."
"Thank God…" Brass said, mostly to himself. "Okay, I have the address, I'll be right there. Stay right where you are, you hear me?"
"Y-yeah, okay." Nick said before closing the phone and letting it fall to the floor. He started shaking again. He slowly walked backwards until his back hit the wall. He closed his eyes and slowly slid down until his knees were against his chest. He threaded his fingers through his hair and tried to take deep breaths.
Warrick dropped the gun to the floor, the thud of metal on wood echoing throughout the house. He walked over to Nick and sat down next to him.
"It's over man, we made it."
Nick nodded slowly and looked up at Warrick. He finally saw the small but painful looking cut on Warrick's right arm, just above his elbow.
"You okay?" Nick asked.
Warrick glanced down at the cut. "Oh, yeah, I'm fine." He turned back to Nick. "You okay bro?"
Nick laughed, the sound hollow and weak. "I don't know…I doubt it." He rubbed his face with his hands, trying to keep himself awake. He was still shaking all over, his skin ice cold.
"You will be." Warrick said, his confidence reassuring.
Nick looked up and sighed. "I'm sorry." He said, a sad smile on his lips.
"Why?" Warrick asked.
"You've had to save my life three times over the course of the last few hours. You had to kill two people tonight man." Nick said, tears brimming his eyes.
"Not had to, wanted to." Warrick corrected. "I did that because I wanted to." Nick's eyes dropped to the floor, his jaw clenching slightly. "Now you know how I feel."
"What are you talking about?" Nick asked, still not avoiding Warrick's eyes.
"All those times you've saved my life…and I never knew what to say or how to repay you. Not that this makes us even or anything. You just need to understand that's what we do, Nick. We're brothers for a reason man."
Nick finally looked up, smiling slightly. He sighed and rested his head against the wall behind them. "Because together, we have the worst luck. Ever."
Warrick laughed. "Yeah…and because we'd do anything for each other, and-"
"Will be there no matter what." Nick finished with a smile. They raised their fists at the same time, lightly hitting them together.
"There ya go Nicky." Warrick said.
Nick closed his eyes and took a deep breath. They fell into a comfortable silence, each lost in their own thoughts. They both jumped when they heard the door bang open and the thunder of people running into the house and up the stairs. They relaxed when they saw Brass sprint through the door, eyes scanning the attic until they landed on Warrick and Nick. He ran over to them and kneeled in front of them, a hand on each of their bent knees.
"Are you okay?" He asked frantically, looking over each CSI carefully.
"Yeah, we're fine." Warrick answered.
Grissom was now standing behind Brass with a paramedic. "He's gonna check you out before you go to the-"
"No." Nick cut him off. "I'm not going to the hospital." He said defiantly.
"Nick, we need to make sure that there's no more damage to-"
"I'm fine, Griss." Nick said. "There's no way in hell I'm ever going to the hospital ever again unless something's sticking out of me or it's my last trip anywhere, ever."
Grissom knew there was no way he could win this fight, so he gave in, thankful he wouldn't have to go through the anxiety of one of his team members being in the hospital again. Especially Nick.
"Okay. He's still going to check both of you out, and then you're going straight home and to bed, understand?" Grissom stated firmly.
Nick and Warrick rose slowly to their feet, leaning back against the wall for support. "Yes sir." They said at the same time.
Grissom and Brass stepped back so the paramedic could examine the CSIs. He looked over Warrick first, cleaning a few cuts and scrapes before bandaging the cut he got from the bullet grazing his arm.
He then moved on to Nick, who was in a little rougher shape. The paramedic took the pieces of wood from Nick's hands, the slivers leaving deep cuts. He bandaged Nick's hands to stop the bleeding before looking at the wound on Nick's chest from over a month ago that had been re opened. The paramedic stitched the wound closed again, causing Nick to wince in pain with each pull of the needle through is skin. He then had to stitch up the cut on Nick's forehead after he cleaned it. Save for the 20 or so stitches, Nick was fine.
They thanked the paramedic before going over to Brass, giving the best statements they could. They had to combine theirs together to get the whole thing. Then they were finally free to go home. They left the old house as quickly as possible, thankful to get out into the cool night air.
The fresh air was refreshing. Both men took long, deep breaths. They looked around to try and figure out who was going to be taking them home. It took them a few seconds, but then they saw the flash of blonde spikes on top of dark brown hair.
"Hey guys." Greg greeted as he walked up to the older CSIs.
"Hey Greggo." Nick said tiredly.
"I can guess how bad you guys want to get out of here, so let's go." Greg said, nodding towards his waiting Denali.
"Good plan Greg." Warrick said as he followed the younger man to the car, getting into the front seat as Nick climbed into the back.
They drove in a semi-uncomfortable silence for a few minutes, no one sure of what - if anything - to say. Finally Greg built up the courage to talk.
"I'm glad you guys are okay." He said, staring at the road in front of him.
Warrick glanced back at Nick, who smiled. "Yeah, we are too man." Warrick said.
"You would have been alright without us though." Nick said, trying to lighten the mood.
"Yeah, right." Greg said with a laugh.
"Come on," Nick said, "You're a great CSI as it is, never mind after you get a couple of years under your belt. You're gonna be fine G, don't worry about it."
"Guy's got a point." Warrick added. "Give yourself more credit."
Greg smiled. "Thanks guys, that really means a lot."
They talked lightly the rest of the drive home about random things. Warrick and Greg fought over the radio while Nick sat back and enjoyed the contest.
Greg finally pulled into Nick and Warrick's driveway, putting the car into park before turning to his friends.
"All right, I'll see you guys later. Get some rest, okay?"
"Okay mom." Warrick teased.
"Let me know if you need anything. We haven't actually told Jenn and Catherine yet because we didn't want them to freak out."
"Good call." Nick said, laughing.
"Yeah, I know." He smiled slightly. "Now go get some rest, I'll see you later."
Nick and Warrick got out of the car. They leaned in Warrick's open door briefly to say bye.
"Thanks Greggo." Nick said.
"Yeah, thanks man." Warrick said, waving as he closed the door.
The scene at the house had already been processed and cleaned up, so Nick and Warrick were allowed back inside. Brass had ordered at least two police officers to watch the house at all times. Even though that made Nick slightly uncomfortable, he was still glad Brass had done it.
They dragged themselves into the house, Nick falling onto one couch and Warrick onto the other. They were fast asleep in seconds.