Yay! I got it out so early! Anyways, I really liked writing this one so I hope you like reading it! I do have some notes for you so…
AN: This is post Fannysmackin'. It's mentioned, so don't be surprised when you see it. I don't think there is anything else to warn you about though.
So.. Enjoy!
Ha was elated to have finally talked to someone he knew and cared about, he just wished that he hadn't felt so bad. Of course, he couldn't complain too much, because only hours ago he thought he was going to be shot dead.
The gun did go off, and the bullet did get him, but only in the leg. It had definitely hurt really bad, but it was not life threatening. In fact, it wasn't even bleeding so bad anymore.
It had to have been at least four hours since the beating happened and he was getting used to the pain. This didn't seem to go over to well with Don because about an hour after the attack, Don had forced Greg to watch the tape and see how it ended. It felt like he had been punched in the stomach after he saw it, knowing exactly what the team would be thinking. Surely they wouldn't think he was dead, but it would make them much more worried.
After watching it, Greg could not stop thinking about it. It had been a really smart and particularly evil thing to do, to let them know that he had been shot, but let their imaginations run wild as to where he had been shot, and how bad it was.
So when Don picked up the cheap little phone to call the lab again, Greg felt sure that he wouldn't have to worry about this anymore. He knew that Don would let them be sure he was still alive, even if it meant that Don had to hurt him to let them hear him. As long as they knew, it didn't matter.
The fact of the matter was, while he did not like getting whipped, electrocuted, and beat, it was much more bearable than worrying about his friends and what they may be going through.
Don's words had been hurtful. He made it perfectly clear he was in no rush, which meant less mistakes. He also let Grissom know that he would not hesitate to continuously hurt Greg until he was close to death. This had all made him very worried, but once he was given the phone and heard Grissom telling him that they would find him, Greg couldn't help but feel better. He made a few jokes, which were mainly for Grissom's benefit (and whoever else heard it), but it didn't hurt to be lighthearted for him either.
Don apparently realized that both Greg and Grissom were enjoying the phone call a bit too much for his taste, and then ended it quickly. But it didn't matter, Greg still felt really good about everything. At least mentally.
Physically was a different story. The little session he had had with Don a couple hours ago had definitely taken its toll on him. He was completely drained. He didn't even have the energy lift his arms or head. His body ached everywhere. Inside and out. For whatever reason, breathing had become significantly more difficult. He guessed more ribs were broken during the beating and it was laboring his breaths. He couldn't think clearly, though it had all been improving slowly since the beating.
All-in-all, he guessed that he was pretty well off. Yeah, he hurt like hell but knew it could have been much much worse. Then, his attitude after talking with Grissom was also helping with the pain. Another one of those magical little mind tricks.
He had been so pleased with the phone call, that he didn't realize how unhappy Ben seemed to be with it. While Don was talking, Ben tensed up even more than before and seemed to be very angry. Every now and then, he would stare Don down, who didn't seem to notice or maybe he just didn't care.
Finally after the phone call ended, Ben stood up suddenly, and stood right in front of Don. There was such a difference in the two. Height obviously, but their build as well as the mood they threw off.
Don stood up a little straighter at the sight of Ben who was looking very threatening.
"What are you doing, boy?" He asked suspiciously, throwing out his chest.
"I'm wondering the same exact thing about you," Ben spit back at him. Greg was impressed by his sudden confidence and anger.
Don however, did not seem impressed. He got a little angrier, but also seem confused by Ben's behavior.
"You said, that this would not take long." Ben took a deep breath. "You said that you were just going to take him, do what you absolutely have to do to get what you want. And nothing more!"
Ben was furious. Don looked much different now. He was still angry looking, but seemed to have softened up. Greg couldn't place his finger on the change exactly, but there was something different.
"What are you saying?"
"I'M SAYING THAT YOU LIED TO ME!" Ben was now screaming, he too had put on a very macho appearance. Don just looked dumbfounded.
For a moment he just stood there, staring into Ben's outraged eyes. Finally he spoke up.
"Look B..," he stopped suddenly and shook his head. "I know this is.. Different but it has to be done."
"No it doesn't! You even said that you weren't going to tell them what it is you want now, just because. LOOK AT HIM, DAD!!" Ben through his arm towards Greg, who was completely frozen.
Dad? Ben is Don's son? Honestly, he wasn't sure why this was such a surprise because their ages worked with a father/son age range, and then they did have similar features. It would also account for why Ben seemed so obedient to Don.
Greg looked back at Ben and Don. Don was now the furious one, and it was obvious that Ben realized he made a mistake in revealing their relationship, but he held onto his anger.
"Look son," Don said sternly, "I know what I'm doing…"
"NO YOU DON'T! He's bleeding everywhere. He can hardly even move! You would have never done this if Mom hadn't.."
Ben was stopped in mid-sentence by Don's hand colliding with his face. Ben spun around by the force of the slap, and kept his hand on his face as he brought his eyes back up to his Dad's eyes.
"You like him so much, then you can stay in here with him for a few hours. And if you say anything about why he is here, you will be severely punished, you understand me boy?"
Ben just stared back at him and Don apparently took that as a 'yes'. He turned around and walked out the room, locking the door behind him.
Well this is odd, Greg thought to himself. He had no idea what would happen now, but he knew it had to be better than being locked in here with Don.
He looked back up at Ben, who was still standing in the same position he was in when Don left the room. Slowly, he looked over at Greg, but looked away really quick. Greg just sat there for a moment, debating whether to say anything or not. Finally, one side won.
"Thanks." He said it quietly, but Ben still heard it.
He looked back at Greg, then at his feet, and nodded. Ben cared. Greg knew it. He turned his back to Greg.
"You, uh. You want to watch tv?" He asked silently.
"Theres… a tv in here??"
Ben turned around and briefly looked at Greg. He smiled sadly.
"Yeah. It only gets the local station, but.. But I figure its better than nothing, right?" Greg was sure than Ben was desperately uncomfortable being here with him, but Greg was happy that he was. He nodded in agreement with Ben's statement, too tired to waste his energy on such a small word like 'yes'.
Ben walked over to a corner that Greg had never been able to see due to shadows always hiding it and turned on the tv. The room immediately lit up, showing the horrors of it more clearly, but also made it all feel more normal. Anytime Greg had even been home alone as a kid and felt scared, he would turn on a tv, and it would, for whatever reason, make him feel safer.
He felt much better as it came on and Ben sat on the floor near Greg. They sat in silence for a few moments, but when Greg attempted to reposition himself, but instead irritated an injury on his arm causing him to hiss in pain, Ben seemed to find it necessary to talk.
"Look, I.. I know sorry wouldn't cut it, but.. I didn't want to do any of this… I … My dad is just.." He fumbled through his thoughts, sounding desperate and fearful at the same time. But he did not look at Greg not once.
Honestly, Greg wasn't sure how to take his apologies or reasoning's or whatever they were. Part of him felt sorry for the kid, knowing that he had not wanted to do it at all, while the other part of him was angry at him for still going through with it. After a moment of decided what to do, a very logical part of him spoke up:
He needed to keep this kid on his good side. Make him realize that Greg is not only a human being, but a good person. He had already made it clear that he didn't want to do this and he was willing to stand up to Don, so it would be in Greg's best interest to make Ben like him. And, Greg thought to himself, if he managed to convert Ben to his side completely, then this was one of the worst things Don could have possibly done.
"I understand.. pretty much," he laughed a little, in hopes of lightning the mood. It seemed to have worked though because Ben actually looked at him. "I've been a CSI for about 3 years now. I've seen cases kind of like this."
Ben nodded.
"I figured you couldn't have been a CSI for long. You look really young."
Greg nodded, and again they sat in silence for a few minutes.
"You know, I remember.. Seeing on the news where a CSI was kidnapped.." his voice trailed off.
Greg nodded. "Yep, that was my friend Nick."
"Did he.. Is he.."
"He's alive and still works at the lab."
As Greg said this, he felt hope swell inside of him again. Nick made it and is still a CSI...
"I.. I also saw not too long ago.. I saw where a CSI was beat up and… hit one of the gang members." Greg knew from his voice that Ben knew which CSI this was.
Greg stayed quiet. Not sure how to respond to this.
"I uh.. I saw the trial thing as well. That.. He kind of looked like you..?"
Greg nodded again.
"Yes, that was me." He wasn't sure why, but talking about it made him feel miserable.
Ben seemed to deflate. He also looked miserable now. Silence filled the room again, and Greg knew he needed to keep talking to him. But preferably about something else. Talking wasn't feeling too good right now, but it needed to be done so he would keep on until he absolutely couldn't do it anymore.
"What do you do?"
"What? Oh.. I'm still in school," he stopped then hung his head and said more quietly "Well, I was in college. Dad.. Well, he wanted me to drop out for… this."
"What were you majoring in?" This was not working out too well.
"Well, science actually. I'm not sure what I was going to be, but I've always loved science. I think I got it from my Mom…" he fell silent again after seeming excited to talk about his passion.
This could not be more perfect.
"Really? Well, being a CSI is all about science. And actually, I've worked in the crime lab for about eight years now. I used to be the DNA technician."
Ben lit up.
"Really? How old are you because that… you can't be that old.."
"I graduated high school early then majored in science. I've loved it since I was eight."
"Wow… Why did you leave the lab then? I know being a CSI is about science too. But DNA.. Besides it had to have been safer…" he got quiet towards the end of his sentence.
Greg laughed quietly.
"You'd think so. Well, I guess it is. So far I've been beat up and kidnapped while being out in the field. But.. I changed mainly because I.. I saw the CSI's and how close they were and I wanted it." He stopped for a minute a starting coughing. "And besides, after the lab exploded, I found myself kind of scared to be in there."
"Your lab exploded?"
"Yeah. I flew right threw the glass wall. I was lucky though. I turned... turned away from the blast right before it happened, so I only got burned on my back. Then of course a few cuts and bruises. It wasn't too bad though."
Ben laughed. "Yeah, especially compared to this, huh?"
Greg stopped to think about his reply.
"Yeah, it was a little better than this."
It got quiet again. They could hear Don moving around outside the room. Neither of them said anything for a long time. Just sat there. Greg started to feel his injuries more now, though he wasn't sure why. He guessed it might be because it was getting cold. Either way, he was hurting.
Don made Ben sit in there with Greg for about two hours before the door opened and Don came in. He looked kind of apologetic towards Ben and handed him two plates of food. He then turned around and left the room, leaving the door unlocked this time.
Ben brought the food over to Greg and sat back down beside him. He looked around for a second, then back to Greg.
"He didn't leave the key."
Greg shook his head slightly. "It's ok. I'm not very hungry."
"No, you need to eat. You need the energy."
"I know. But my stomach is killing me and I have a lot of blood in my mouth."
Ben stopped and looked sick again.
"Oh, right. I'll go and get more things to clean you up, and I'll get the key from him too. But you have to eat." He lowered his voice "I'm going to try to get him to stop this, but he… he's very violent you know, and I can't stop him sometimes. I don't want you dead, so you need to eat."
He stood up, then looked down at Greg.
"I'm going to try to help you, but you will need to listen to me, and to Dad. Ok?"
Greg nodded again. As Ben left the room, he found himself shocked at how easy it was to get Ben on his side. Of course, it didn't seem like Ben was going to call the cops or anything, but he would probably try to reason with his dad, which was better than nothing. And even if the beating didn't let up too much, Ben would still be on his side to clean him up and help out with things. Or at least, that's what he hoped.
But for right now, that's what Greg believed because he was now sure that his survival would have a lot do to with how he thought and staying optimistic was a huge part of it.
Greg leaned his head on the wall and let his body ache. It was ok though, because he got to speak to Grissom and he kind of, in a weird way, made a new friend. Given the circumstances, things were going pretty well.
He sat alone again, watching the tv that was surprisingly left on. The news was on now and Greg was enjoying listening to the anchor lady talk.
"And now, for breaking news we head over to Jeana Lovelace over at the Las Vegas Crime Lab, where one of the investigators have been kidnapped."
Greg's heart stopped. It was about him! The screen changed to another woman, and in the background Greg saw the lab. He felt like crying he was so happy to see it. But more importantly, he saw Grissom, Sara, and Nick standing with the woman.
"Thank you Mary. This is a story we remember all too well. Just two years ago, a Crime Scene Investigator was kidnapped while on duty, was found alive and was able to be hear with us today. Now, another member of the Crime Lab has been kidnapped, Mr. Gregory Sanders," the screen changed again, this time showing a picture of Greg. If was from the time that him and Nick had gone surfing.
"He was taken from the lab yesterday afternoon. Not many details have been released, but the members of the crime lab are asking for everyone's help in finding him. Here to talk with us and give us tips on what we can do is Gilbert Grissom, Sara Sidle, and the survivor of the last kidnapping attack, Mr. Nick Stokes."
Greg held his breath as he watched his friends and co-workers ask for everyone to help them find him. He felt a tear roll down his bloody cheek, burning his cuts. He wasn't sure how he felt about this, but it was good to see his friends again, even if it was just on tv. They did, however, look sad. He would have given anything to suddenly appear beside them and reassure them. But for now, they would all have to wait and hope.
Ahhh.. So are things looking up, or is this the calm before the storm? Haha, I have no idea what I'm going to do, but its a good thing to think about huh? Haha. I know this had very little of the team, but I felt that it was time we got to know Ben more. He seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. But I had to put a little of the team in there, and I figured, why not have them on the tv? It fit perfectly. I personally don't know where the story will be going from here, so you're guess is as good as mine, but as of now, I like where it has gone. I hope you guys have too. Anyways, comment if you can. Thanks for reading!