Disclaimer: I don't own csi but I really wish I did :)

What Does It Take?

So Close, Yet So Far.

Greg never thought about what dieing would be like. Would you feel the pain, the agony before you went? Or would it be like falling asleep, peaceful and comforting? He wondered what happened to your soul when you left. Was there a heaven? He couldn't help but hope so. Even though every bit of his scientific mind pointed against it. Death was something everybody feared.

His mind had been going through these thoughts for a while now. Sara and him had been told to sit on the couch, not to move, and to stay silent. Normally, Greg would have tried to escape, but fear for Sara kept him rooted to the spot.

They were still at the disadvantage. Their assaulter still had both guns, Sara's phone, and power over both of them.

Greg glanced at Sara, ignoring the man's fierce gaze. The two had always been able to have silent conversations, just by looking at each other.

He sent her an expression somewhat like 'How do we get out of here?' He made sure not to move though.

Her eyes still had fear in them. He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen her like that. He knew very well her thoughts were only about Grissom. He saw the way she smiled when his caller ID flashed on her phone. He noticed the way her eyes lit up when his name was mentioned, and the way that light faded when someone talked about his distance from Vegas. Grissom was her everything.

Sara looked deep in thought. Maybe there wasn't a way out. The man was still pacing, like he'd been doing for a long time.

How long had they actually been in here? It had been, what? 9 am when they'd been caught off guard? And what time was it now? Greg rotated his wrist, out of view from the man, to check his watch. It was 3 pm. Wow. 6 hours. How long was this going to last?

"This is stupid!" The man ranted suddenly, making both Sara and Greg turn to look at him.

"This is out of control! It wasn't supposed to happen this way. It was... it was supposed to be simple!" The man said loudly, still pacing, barely making eye contact with his two hostages anymore.

"I was just going to kill you! That was it!" He said, pointing the gun at Sara. He came here to kill her?

"What?" Sara asked, and Greg prepared himself to tackle the guy before he could hurt her. But he continued to pace.

"I killed the guy in the tub. My brother. And I got freaked out when i heard it on the police radio. So I listened to see which CSI was on the case and it was you." He ranted on, once again pointing the trembling gun at Sara. She remained frozen, but flashed her eyes at Greg's.

"I'd done my research before hand, and I went to your house. I was going to kill you then, so everyone would focus on your murder and not my brother's! But that Texan was there so I couldn't do anything."

"And you came here." Sara said slowly, trying to show that she was following, but not being rude.

The man nodded, but paused to look at her. "I was just going to kill you! But you ruined it! You ruined everything!"

Greg's legs went cold as the gun targeted him, the man's eyes were filled with his anger.

"I'm sorry." Greg muttered slowly, trying to get the gun moved.

"Sorry won't do anything! Now my prints are all over the place and no matter what they'll arrest me! I-I cant go to jail! I... I...This is your fault! I should kill you!" He yelled and Greg's blood ran cold.

The man cocked the gun and targeted Greg. He took a shaky breath. He didn't want to die. Ironically, his heart beat louder than before, reminding him that he was alive. And that could all change in a second.

Sara looked at him, terror in her eyes.

"Don't!"

XXX

Nick stared as Brass rushed toward them.

"I cleared it with the manager, we can stay in the room next to theirs and listen in. SWAT will come with us." The police chief said, his worry apparent.

Nick knew he cared a lot about them. Especially Sara. It was clear Brass thought of Sara like his daughter. Maybe she filled the gap Ellie had left, they were both stubborn and hard willed.

Nick couldn't help but feel slightly relieved. Finally, they were getting somewhere.

He exchanged a look with Catherine, something like 'Here we go.' She walked behind Brass halfheartedly. Nick knew she was feeling the pressure.

Not only was this a matter of losing her family, but also her job. If some of her team were killed like this, Ecklie would waste no time demoting her. But there was one more thing Nick knew she would lose if they got hurt. If Sara got hurt.. Grissom's respect, his friendship, his...everything. He would kill them if Sara got hurt. He really would.

They were now inside the hotel, the people inside pausing to watch as they followed the SWAT team led them in.

The reached the elevators, but chose to take the stairs instead. "We need to stay silent. The elevator makes noise." Brass mumbled.

Nick followed behind Catherine, knowing she'd want the lead. Ray stayed close behind him, a SWAT officer guarding from the back.

They quieted their footsteps as they climbed, knowing they were getting closer. The room was on the fourteenth floor.

Finally they passed the number 13, knowing they were close, Nick held his breath.

Once on the landing, a SWAT officer silently opened the door, and Nick noticed the others had begun to hold their breath as well.

The hallway was just as Nick remembered it, he took that as a good sign. But as they quietly padded past the door, he noticed a scratch on it.

He tried to ignore it, but his CSI mind had been trained for those small details. He glanced back knowing what it represented. Struggle.

The first SWAT opened the door to the room beside it, and they all froze. It opened fairly quietly, but Nick worried that Sara and Greg's attacker may have heard it.

They all filed inside, feeling numb.

The room was identical to the first one, just flipped the other way. Nick noticed all the wall decor and appliances were the exact same.

Nobody had spoken until now.

"Okay. Everyone needs to stay quiet." Brass whispered. His eyes had a coldness to them. One Nick had never seen before.

Nick saw the SWAT setting up a sound amplifier, and trailing the wire towards the far bedroom.

He stepped forwards following him inside. He grabbed the wire and plugged it into the laptop, ignoring the annoyed officer.

All of a sudden he could hear some static, and he knew it was working. By now everyone had joined him, except the SWATs who had moved to stand guard by the door, their footsteps silent.

For a moment, there was just static, until they heard voices.

First, they heard an unknown male, obviously the attacker. "I was going to kill you! But you ruined it! You ruined everything!"

The static resumed for just a moment before they heard a very tense Greg speak. "I'm sorry."

Nick's thoughts ran wild. The man had come to kill Sara? Why? Wait a minute...was that the movement he had seen at her house? Shit, he should have paid attention!But what had Greg done? Saved Sara's life? Thank god. Nick thought, feeling huge pride for his best friend.

"Sorry wont do anything! Now my prints are all over the place an no matter what they'll arrest me!" The other man yelled- he had that right. "I-I can't go to jail! I...I...This is your fault! I should kill you!"

Nick felt his body go numb. He made eye contact with Catherine, knowing this was getting out of hand. Her eyes were like ice.

And then they heard a gun cocking. "Shit." Brass breathed, but nobody moved. If they went in now, the gun that was surely pointed at Greg, would be fired. And that could not happen. No.

"Don't!" They heard Sara blurt out, the fear dominating her voice. A part of Nick's brain was relieved that she was alive, and okay, but the rest was still in shock.

They heard a footstep. "Why? Why shouldn't I? He deserves it!" The attacker ranted, and Nick could imagine the exact look that was no doubt plastered on Greg's face.

Greg couldn't die. He couldn't! Greg was... Nick couldn't come up with enough words. Funny, smart, intuitive, insightful, respectful, calm, caring, energetic... and a million more things. He had a presence about him. One that made you happy, even on your worst days. A world without Greg was... not a place Nick wanted to live in. Ever.

"Because, he was only protecting me. If he had known... well maybe he wouldn't have done it." Sara lied, and Nick heard more footsteps.

"I think he would have. How about this? I'll kill you, let him watch, then... I'll finish him off. That way he has to watch!"

Nick's legs almost gave out. Not Sara. Not her. Sara was his sister, in every way you could imagine. She gave guidance, she made him laugh. Even when they were annoyed with each other, they managed to make each other happy. She was intelligent and caring. She could deal with things nobody else could. Her personality was flawless, and without her, the team would undoubtedly fall apart.

"You can't. Because if you do, you'll go to jail for triple murder. You'll be wanted in every state. Just... just wait." Greg said, his voice surprisingly stable. Nick felt a little pride for the underdog. He'd never dealt well with guns, and here he was talking calmly while one was pointed at him.

"Ugghhh." The man groaned in frustration. "Then what the fuck am I supposed to do!"

More static filled the room as everyone was silent.

"Just... Just don't kill us yet. Wait. Wait and we'll figure out a plan. One where you can get away." Sara persuaded, and Nick was in awe of how calm she was. He'd be freaking out by then.

"And what makes you think I won't kill you?" The man asked cockily, probably waving his gun at her.

"I never said I thought that."

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