Hey, everyone. Here's another chapter of what's turning out to be one epic of a story. Though I'm sure none of you Yo!Blingers mind. I know I wouldn't. By the way, I did a minor edit to the first chapter because I realized I went against the canon and Gedda hadn't been murdered the way I had it written. That's fixed, so everything is as good as can be expected, considering this was a difficult concept to pull off. Still is. If you're so inclined, tell me what you think so far. Don't have to, but it's appreciated. Enjoy!

Punching the disconnect, Warrick put his phone back on the table. She wasn't supposed to find out like this. If he'd just had one more day, he might have been able to tell her himself. There was so much she didn't know, so much that put her in danger.

He had to get to her. He had to explain why he did it. He had to protect her. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if something happened to her--or anyone else on the team, for that matter--because of what he'd been given no choice but to do.

But from what Grissom told him, most of that team wasn't with the crime lab anymore. In the past three years, though Nick, Greg and Catherine had stayed on as investigators, few of the lab rats had stuck around. Grissom's absence had a lot to do with it.

Wendy Simms opted for a career as far away from Vegas as possible when she made it to CSI Level 1 status just over six months earlier. Frankly, Warrick couldn't blame her. What he was surprised to learn was that she and Hodges had left together. They were now at the crime lab in Charlotte, NC.

Henry Andrews had to leave after a brutal car accident left him paralyzed. He probably would've been able to cope and still do his job, but an uncontrollable twitch in his right arm made it impossible for him to keep the steady grip a lab tech needed to work efficiently.

Of all the people to leave, however, the one that hit Warrick the hardest was Bobby Dawson. He may not have known him well outside of work, but after years of working together, Warrick had formed bonds with all of the lab techs. And when he'd learned of Bobby's losing battle with lung cancer, he couldn't wrap his mind around it. Not only would he never see him again, but he hadn't even been able to go to his funeral to pay his respects.

The blare of his cell phone tore him from his thoughts, and he realized he'd been tearing up. He wiped away the few that had slipped down his cheeks before he checked the caller ID on his phone. An unknown number flashed on the screen, causing Warrick to hesitate before accepting the call.

"Did you enjoy your little Christmas visit to the cemetery?" a man's voice asked.

"Who is this?" Warrick asked.

"I must say, that Willows bitch really does know how to act. I almost believed she didn't know you were alive."

He was barely able to smother the desperation and fear he felt before he spoke. "She didn't. Not until you left those damn pictures in her car. Leave her out of this."

"Oh, really? Interesting." The man sounded intrigued, as if this entire scenario amused him.

"Who is this, dammit?" Warrick demanded.

"Oh, my mistake. I thought you'd already know. After three years of hiding from my father's cronies, I figured it would be obvious."

There was a moment's pause before it finally sank in, and Warrick could barely see straight. "Nick Gedda."

"Ding ding, we have a winner! Tell me, how does it feel knowing you aren't as hidden as you thought?" When Warrick didn't respond, Gedda sighed. "Well, I see that you're having trouble with this, so I'm gonna get going." After a short pause, he added, "By the way, tell the Willows woman her daughter is very beautiful. I love brunettes."

"What? No! Stay the hell away from Lindsey, you bastard." His voice was barely under a scream, and he noticed the plain-clothes agent outside the motel room turn to look in the window.

"I'm finding that very difficult. She's such a sweet piece, it's difficult to hold back."

A click on the other end told Warrick that the call was disconnected. He cursed loudly before throwing the phone on the bed with a force that caused it to bounce off and land hard on the floor. The battery popped out and slid across the hardwood floor into the wall. He swore again before he dropped into a chair by the window.

The agent guarding the room knocked on the glass, prompting Warrick to look up. He waved for the man to come in, knowing that he couldn't just let this sit. Lindsey was in danger, and he had to make damn sure she didn't stay that way.

God, he hoped he wasn't too late.