"I spent the last hour in my room awaiting my parents return. She collected her things and left. I cried myself to sleep for weeks after that weekend." Nick began weeping, softly at first. Then the weight of his trauma hit him full force and his sobs became uncontrollable. That's when he heard her. And when he felt the needle jab into his neck.
"So you do remember me my love. I knew you would." She gloated.
"No, not 'gan…" Nick voice slurred.
"Quiet my pet, soon we will be home. Then we can catch up. Let me take this parting shot for your friends outside before we go." The sound of the camera could be heard. That was where the tape stopped.
He was barley aware of Alison turning the tape recorder off. "It's time to come home Nick." Alison's voice sounded slurred to Nick as he lost consciousness.
Nick woke with a ferocious headache. His eyes were having trouble focusing. He groaned and tried to roll over onto his side. But was stopped by some object above him. Nick squinted trying to clear his vision. As his sight grew clearer he thought he was hallucinating. "No! This can't be happening. Get me out!" He tried to scream. But his voice hadn't recovered enough yet from the drug. A face suddenly appeared above him.
"Having a bad dream Nicky?" Alison purred. "Here let me help you." Alison opened the lid on the Plexiglas box. "There, that's better. Are you hungry darling? Let me get you a little something light. That little cocktail I gave you can be a little rough on you tummy." Alison stepped out of view for a minute then returned with a bowl of red gelatin mixed with whipped cream. She tried feeding it to Nick but he gagged on it and vomited. "Oh, that's right, 9mm bullet to the head. Like strawberry swirled whipped cream, or something like that. That Mr. Crane, he is clever, if not insane. And what were you thinking playing with that Walter Gordon character? I thought you would have known better than to go off with a stranger after the lessons we had together." Alison just chattered on like they were old friends.
Nick was at her mercy. Nick kept trying but he couldn't speak. Whether it was from the drug or fear he didn't know. All he was sure of was he wanted to kill her and he wanted out of that God forsaken box. At this point he didn't care which order those two events took place. A sudden realization hit Nick like a brick. He could barley move either.
"What the hell did she do to me this time?" Nick thought frantically. "Oh man I hope she didn't take the tape. Please, God let them find the tape at my house." Tears began seeping from Nick's eyes at this point.
"Oh, don't worry." Alison stated nonchalant, "The effects will wear off in a few hours. Or was it days? I guess I should have paid more attention in chemistry class. But I was always more into the engineering end of science. I kind of thought you would have gone that route Nicky. Why didn't you?" She looked at Nick like she expected an answer. "Well I guess you can tell me later. Meanwhile, before you can try getting frisky, let me make you more comfortable."
"Don't touch me you freak!" Nick screamed in his mind. Alison just continued as though he was a willing participant.
Alison hauled him unceremoniously out of the box, to Nick's relief, and placed him on the floor. Nick, not being so relived anymore, as she hand cuffed him to an eyelet on the floor by his hands and shackled his feet in the same manner. Alison turned away from him and walked over to a table, picking something up that Nick couldn't see.
"You still don't look comfortable Nicky. Let me remedy that. Alison was suddenly next to him again brandishing a pair of scissors. "There, that's better." She squealed with pleasure as she stood up. "Now I can see what I've been missing."
**CSI**NICK**CSI**NICK**CSI**NICK**CSI**NICK**CSI**NICK**CSI**
Catherine, Greg, Mandy and Brass went over every piece of evidence they had again. While Archie scanned every video he could get his hands on for any sign of Nick or Alison. There was nothing new turning up. And they were barely keeping it together as each of them relived what they had heard on the tape. Archie, only hearing the ending to check for any audio clues, had surmised the basics of what had happened. And it made him more determined to find anything helpful in finding Nick.
It had been almost 2 days since Alison took Nick from right under their nises. And they were getting pissed.
**CSI**NICK**CSI**NICK**CSI**NICK**CSI**NICK**CSI**NICK**CSI**
"Wake up sleepy head." Nick slowly woke up in a state of confusion. "There's those beautiful eyes. You had me a little worried when you blacked out. Take a sip." Alison held a bottle of water to Nick's mouth.
Nick refused to take any of the offered water. Instead he tried to move away from her. Suddenly remembering her being on top of him cutting his clothes off with the scissors. Nick felt the cold concrete on his bare back, arms and legs. Somewhat thankful that she had left at least his underwear on. "Get away from me you crazy bitch!" Nick was surprised by his own voice. Though it was weak, at least he could talk again.
"Now, now Nicky. You have to keep your strength up. I don't want you getting dehydrated." Alison offered the water again.
Nick was able to knock the bottle out of her hand. Feeling a little less defenseless, Nick tired futility to get out of the handcuffs and shackles. While Alison just sat back laughing. After several minutes and some painful cuts to his wrists and ankles Nick laid back against the concrete again. "What do you want Alison? Didn't I make it clear enough 30 years ago that I can't stand the sight of you?" Nick hissed at her.
"Oh, what is clear Nicky, is that I just didn't have enough time with you. I plan to make up for that now though. Don't you see Nicky?" She looked at him expectantly. "We're soul mates. We were meant to be together. I have watched you grow and succeed at what you do. I cried for you when you fell out of that window. I prayed that they would find you in time you when you were missing. I mourned for you when Warrick died. And I was very happy when Grissom left, he was holding you back you know?" Alison looked down at Nick, who was staring at her his mouth agape.
"How long?" Nick croaked. "How long have you been stalking me?" Nick asked incredulously. Alison just smiled knowingly. "All this time? You've been stalking me all this time? You have been. Wait, if you've been watching all this time." Alison continued to smile as realization crept into Nicks mind. "You were gonna leave me die down there weren't you? You watched that psycho bury me and you were gonna let me die and rot in that hole!" Nick felt sick. How could he have not known that somebody this demented had been following his every move for all these years? He thought he had been observant. Especially after Nigel Crane. Sure a few times he felt like some one was lurking in the shadows, but it was just a little paranoia wasn't it? Nicks mind was a flurry of activity as thoughts raced in and out of his mind.
Growing tired of watching Nick battle his inner thoughts Alison took a syringe from behind her back and plunged it into Nick's arm. He barley noticed. "Sleep well sweetheart. Sleep well." Was all Nick heard as he drifted back into unconsciousness.
Sleep was not peaceful for Nick. He was plagued by the continuous nightmare of his first time with Alison. Nick tossed and turned digging the restraints deeper into his flesh. Scraping elbows and knees trying desperately to escape her clutches. She was all over him. He had no place to run, no place to hide. And no escape from the nightmares in his drug induced slumber.
Several hours later he awoke feeling a cool cloth pressed against his forehead. Expecting to see his mom sitting next to him on his bed helping him break a fever he snuggled towards the pleasantry and opened his eyes. It took Nick a moment to realize his mistake, as the content smile he was wearing slid sorrowfully off his face. "Don't touch me!" Nick once again tried to pull away. The cuts and scrapes he had endured had become infected. And they screamed at him with every movement. But still he had to try. "I said don't touch me!" Nick jerked away one last time when Alison tried to smooth his sweat-slicked hair off his forehead.
"Ok Nicky. I was hoping you would be more receptive by now. I want you to see that you want this as much as I do. So I will just have to let you figure it out on your own. I'll be back later. Sweet dreams Nicky." With that Alison stood and headed for the door.
"Good riddance!" Nick muttered after her.
Alison suddenly spun around. "You ingrate!" She spewed as she rushed up to Nick. "I have watched you and protected you all these years. And this is the thanks I get!" She was screaming as she kicked Nick over and over again. When she finally left Nick was barley conscious. His ribs, stomach, hands and face had taken most of the punishment. His right eye was already starting to swell. His right hand was pounding and he felt his ribs pop with every breath he took. Nick slowly fell back into unconsciousness. Hoping the nightmares would stay away this time. He didn't get his wish.
