We've already reached the very last chapter, guys! I hope you enjoyed this rather short story! A new one will follow in a few days, I think! Until then, take care!

Big Love,

pikapikatchu

"We're so sorry," the doctor who talked to them yesterday about Greg's disappearence said remorseful. "He didn't have an I.D. on him, we had no idea who he was."

"So what happened to him? You said he had serious injuries from a car accident just yesterday. He doesn't have a scratch on him now."

"Well... This seems to have been a big misunderstanding. The man we treated yesterday had Mr. Sanders' I.D. with him. His face was banged up beyond recognition, but since he had the driver's license and was driving in Mr. Sanders' car when the accident occurred, we figured it must've been him."

Nick nodded impatiently. He turned to Russell. "So Fishman's the one with the injruies. Figures that he left before we could talk to him, I guess." He turned back to the doctor. "So what's wrong with Greg?"

"He's severely dehydrated and has a head injury. There's also some bruising on his wrists and back. He needs observation but he'll be fine."

Nick exhaled in relief. "That's great news. Thank you. Can we talk to him now?"

"Hey, how are you feeling, buddy?" Nick asked with a big smile on his face while sitting down on a chair next to Greg's bed. The young CSI had just opened his eyes.

"...Hey guys..." He smiled back at them while forcing his tired eyes to stay open. He slowly tried to sit up as he rubbed his eyes. "...Where's Riley?"

"We don't know at the moment," Russell said while patting Greg's leg. "We're just glad you're okay."

"You need to find him."

"We know, we're trying to."

"So he did this?" Nick asked angrily.

Greg nodded. "He set me up and I was stupid enough to fall for it. He parked my car in front of my apartment building. When I approached it he must've hit me in the head. I think I woke up in the car but... I didn't really come to until I was tied up in some basement, I think."

"What was his plan?"

Greg shrugged. "I'm not sure. I don't think he even had one. He was high and talking quite confusing. He said he was angry at me for changing my locks." He shook his head. "He left soon and didn't come back. I tried to free myself but..." He sighed. "I don't even know how I got here."

Nick gave him a soft smile. "Riley had broken into someone's basement and kept you there. The owner found you. He immediately called 911 and... Well, here you are."

"Wow. So I was lucky, after all."

"You sure were. But Riley wasn't. He had a car accident yesterday."

"...That's why he didn't come back?"

"Mhm... Well... He left the hospital and we're not sure where he is at the moment. But with his injuries he probably couldn't have gone far. Don't worry, we'll find him."

Two weeks passed before Riley Fishman was finally found. He had been hiding in a basement in the neighborhood where Greg had been found. He couldn't remember which basement it was that he held Greg in, so he just broke into another one. When the owner found him lying in there unconscious and high, she called 911. Riley was handcuffed on his hospital bed. Greg walked up to the criminal. "Hey. Wake up." He not-so-gently patted him on the shoulder.

"...Outch. What the hell, man?!" Riley asked as he opened his eyes. "...Greg. What are you doing here?"

"Making sure it's really you."

"...Oh god. I'm so sorry for what I did. I was on drugs, I didn't know what I was doing."

"Save it. I don't need to hear your excuses."

"No, I really am sorry. I would've never done something like that if it wasn't for the drugs... I have a problem."

"Yeah right. The things you did to me in high school, you did that because of drugs, too?"

"I didn't do drugs in high school," he replied, not understanding what Greg was getting at.

"Doesn't matter. You're going to jail for a very long time."

"...Come on, man. Don't do this to me."

"I'm not. You did this yourself. I do hope your wounds will heal, though. Looks quite painful."

"...It is and they won't give me any good drugs to help it." Riley started crying.

Greg wanted to turn around and leave, but there still was something on his mind he always wanted to tell this guy. "You know. You're a horrible person. You were before you started doing drugs. And while I realize that you probably had a very rough life, I don't think it justifies your behavior towards me in any way. Not now, not back in high school. I never forgave you for it and I never will. Even now that I know that you're nothing but a miserable inmate who'll be willing to do anything for drugs. But the one thing that changed since high school is that I pity you now. You can't imagine how sorry I feel for you. You're a pathetic man and always will be. At least try to get clean one day." He turned around to leave.

"Greg. I'm sorry. You have to believe me."

"I do. I just don't care." He walked towards the door but stopped before walking out. "You know, this'll make for a great story for the next high school reunion, don't you think?" He had a grin on his face when he said that, but it quickly faded as he walked out of the room. He had put a mask on in there, trying to show Riley that he's a stronger person than he is. It was hard to keep that up since he honestly did feel sorry for Riley. In the end, he was a sad man who had many years in prison ahead of him. It didn't really feel like justice to Greg, though. He felt like neither him nor Riley had won. So as he walked out of the hospital, he had the saddest look on his face, feeling bad both for himself and Riley. Ever since high school, he felt, they had a war against each other going on neither one could ever win.

Ende.