Catherine paced the waiting room anxiously awaiting news of her daughter.

"Cath, sit down, wearing a groove in the floor won't help," Nick said gently. He was sitting in a chair with Ella on his lap. A doctor was going to check her out in a few minutes.

"I know, but I can't help but worry," Catherine defended herself.

"Yeah, I know." Just then a doctor came into the room.

"Ms. Willows?"

"Yes, how's Lindsey? How's my daughter?"

"She has a mild concussion, numerous bruises and two cracked ribs. We'll keep her overnight for observation but she's going to be fine."

"Your sure?" Catherine confirmed. The doctor nodded. Nick and Catherine breathed a sigh of relief.

"Can I see her?" the strawberry blonde requested.

"Sure, she's in room 111, fourth door on the left," the doctor answered. Thanking the doctor and making sure Nick would be okay on his own with Ella Catherine made her way to her daughter's side.

"Now what can I do for you?" the doctor questioned addressing Nick.

"This little one needs to be checked out for shock. She was involved in the same incident that Lindsey was involved in," Nick explained.

"Of course, if you'll follow me," the doctor instructed. Nodding Nick got up and followed the doctor to a room just across the hall from Lindsey's. Walking over to the bed Nick gently sat Ella down on it. She was still clutching Mr. Snuggles tightly in her arms.

"Hi, what's your name, kiddo?" the doctor asked softly.

"Ella Brown," she answered softly.

"That's a pretty name, my name is Dr. Smith. How old are you?"

"I'm this many," she said holding up four fingers.

"Wow, such a big girl. I'm going to give you a quick check up, okay?"

"No," she whimpered.

"It won't hurt, sweetheart. Dr. Smith just needs to make sure your okay," Nick soothed. Ella scooted farther up the bed and clutched the teddy bear even tighter.

"I tell you what, why don't I give your teddy bear a check up first so you can see that it doesn't hurt? How does that sound?" asked the doctor. Nodding the little girl placed the bear in the doctor's outstretched hands.

"Does this cute little guy have a name?"

"Mr. Snuggles, Unca Nicky gave him to me when I was bornd," she answered. Smiling at the small girl, the doctor started examining the bear. Twenty minutes later, both the bear and Ella were declared perfectly healthy. Thanking the doctor Nick made his way out of the hospital room trying to figure out what he should do next. Brass and Catherine were in Lindsey's room so he decided to visit the teen.

"Lindsey!" Ella shouted when she saw her favorite babysitter.

"Shh, inside voice," Nick scolded gently.

"Hey Ella, are you okay?" Lindsey asked. She'd regained consciousness shortly after they'd arrived at the hospital. Ella nodded before putting her thumb in her mouth and beginning to suck on it.

"I had a uni bring your Denali with Ella's booster seat in the backseat. Grissom wants you and the little munchkin at the lab," Brass said scooping the tiny girl into his arms and tickling her until she laughed.

"What about me?" Catherine questioned.

"He said you can stay with Lindsey."

"No, Mom, go to work."

"Lindsey," Catherine argued.

"No, you have to, Mom. You have to go to work so you can find Sara," the teen pointed out.

"Are you sure you'll be fine on your own?" Catherine clarified?"

"Yes, Mom. Just find Sara, I can't look for her, so you've got to find her for me," Lindsey said sadly.

"Oh, honey, it's not your fault this happened. There was nothing you could do," Catherine told her daughter.

"But…" Lindsey broke off as Nick held up a hand.

"Your mom's right, kiddo. You couldn't have stopped this from happening," Nick interjected. Lindsey nodded in understanding, she knew her mom and Nick were right but she couldn't help still feeling guilty. Ella yawned and rubbed her eyes. Looking at his watch Nick noted that it was already 8:30.

"I think it's time I get this little lady to the lab. I'll see you two later," Nick said placing a sweet kiss on both Catherine's and Lindsey's cheeks before getting the keys to his Denali from Brass and walking a sleepy and hungry Ella out to his car. --------

"I got a match on the print," Mandy said talking to Greg.

"Who?

"Aaron and Abe Carter," Mandy said printing out the paper and pulling their picture up on the screen. Reaching for the paper she handed it to Greg.

"Arrested for three counts of rape three years ago. They were released a month ago," Greg read from the paper."

"Let's just hope we find her soon," Mandy said softly. "Who were the CSI's on the case?"

"Warrick and Sara," Greg remembered.

"That explains why they took Sara," she said. Greg nodded sadly he just hoped they'd find her soon for everyone's sake.

"Thanks, Mandy, I'm gonna tell Griss what you found," Greg said turning and heading for his bosses office. -----------

Flopping on to the hotel bed, Warrick pulled out his cell phone and dialed his house to check on the girls. He frowned slightly when Lindsey didn't answer, but he looked at his watch and noticed it was around dinner time so she and Ella were probably eating outside and had forgotten to take the phone outside. After leaving a message on his machine he called Sara's cell.

"I'm sorry, the wireless customer your trying to reach is currently out of range." Sighing in disappointment, Warrick disconnected the call. Sara must have a case in a spot with no reception, maybe a case in the desert. Just then he noticed the envelope icon on his screen indicating he had a voicemail. Selecting the icon he called into his voicemail and listened to the message. A knot began forming in his stomach. Something about his best friends' voice alerted him to the fact that something was wrong. Clicking off Warrick immediately called nick. He groaned in frustration when his phone went right to voicemail.

"Hey, Nicky, calling you back. Call me when you get this, bye." Hanging up he grabbed his agenda and scanned it. He realized it was time to head down to the dinner the locals were putting on.

When he reached the banquet room he was beckoned over to the Miami CSI team's table.

"Hey, long time, no see, Warrick," Calleigh greeted.

"Hey there, Cal. How are you?"

"I'm good, how are you and your family?"

"They're doing well," he answered. Taking his seat he addressed Eric.

"Hey, Delko, I met some of your family on the plane ride here.

"Oh yeah?"

"Your sister Katy and her daughter Lilly."

"Oh, I see," Eric said.

"She's a cute little girl," Warrick complimented just as the MC walked to the microphone to begin the dinner requesting silence. Shortly after the speeches were given their food was placed in front of them. Even though he was hungry, Warrick had a hard time eating. He couldn't help but continuously replay Nick's message in his head. Nick had sounded tense and anxious and that usually didn't bode well. ---------

Hearing the door to the room she was being held in open Sara scooted up against the wall trying to make herself as small and invisible as possible.

"Ah, look she's afraid of us," one of the kidnappers taunted. Sara just ignored them and tried to think about something else, anything else.

"You ready to find out who we are?" the other man hissed. Wordlessly Sara nodded. Smirking both men pulled off their masks, revealing their faces. Gasping in horror, Sara's fear increased. She knew who her two attackers were and she remembered what they had been arrested for. A sinking feeling filled her heart. They'd voluntarily let her see them, and that could only mean one thing. They were going to kill her. Fresh tears filled Sara's eyes and ran down her cheeks as Aaron moved forward and began violating her all over again. She fought the best she could but eventually he overpowered her, and there was nothing she could do to stop him. ------------------

"You mean to tell me it's those SOB's who we put away three years ago for rape that have Sara?" Nick asked incredulously as he talked to Grissom as he drove back to the lab after picking up McDonalds for himself, Catherine and Ella. After giving her daughter one last kiss Catherine had followed Nick and Ella to the Denali and their trip back to the lab.

"That's what the evidence says, Nick."

"What do you want Cath and I to do when we get there?" Nick questioned.

"Catherine's with you?"

"Yeah, Linds convinced her to go back to work. She pointed out that we needed everyone to find Sara," Nick answered.

"That's one smart girl," Grissom commented. "Have Mandy watch Ella, then I want you and Catherine to dig up anything you can on the Carter brothers."

"You got it, Griss," Nick said. "Hey, I'm about to pull into the lab garage and I'll lose you. See you in a bit.

"Bye." Hanging up Nick drove into the garage and parked.

"What does he want us to do?" Catherine asked from the passenger seat.

"Mandy will watch Ella while we dig up anything and everything we can on the Carter brothers. Nodding Catherine got gracefully out of the car and after unbuckling Ella's seatbelt she helped the girl from the car and the three of them headed for the lab. Nick's phone chimed just as he reached the lobby, indicating a message. Pulling it out of his pocket he listened to the message, frowning when he realized he'd missed Warrick's call.

"It's Warrick, I need to call him back. Tell Grissom I'll be there to see what we already know in a minute, will you?" Nick requested making his way to a vacant layout room, closing the door and dialing Warrick's number wishing with all his heart he didn't have to do such a horrible thing. --------------

Everyone was enjoying dessert when Warrick's phone vibrated. Smiling apologetically he pulled it from his pocket and answered it.

"Hey, Nick," he greeted. Calleigh's eyes lit up when she heard it was her cousin from Texas.

"Tell him I said hi," she whispered.

"Cal says hi," Warrick said into the phone.

"Tell her I say hi back," Nick responded. Warrick did so. "Listen Warrick, I have something to tell you." The knot in the Las Vegas natives stomach tightened even more.

"W-w-what is it?" As Nick started to speak Warrick picked up his glass of tea.

"Earlier today two guys broke into your house and abducted Sara and hurt Lindsey. Ella was unharmed and Lindsey's injuries aren't bad, but we don't know where Sara is. It was the Carter brothers who took her, Rick," Nick said softly. A strangled sound escaped Warrick's lips and his glass slipped from his fingers crashing against his dessert plate shattering on impact. The people at the table turned to the dark skinned man at the distressed cry. Noticing that he appeared to be going into shock, Calleigh reached out and touched his arm.

"Warrick, look at me," she called softly. Slowly Warrick turned and met her green eyes with his shocked devastated ones.

"Can I talk to Nicky?" she requested. Wordlessly he handed her the phone before dropping his head into his hands and starting to cry.

"Nicky, what's going on, sweetie?" she asked gently as she brought the phone to her ear.

"Sar's missing and Lindsey, Catherine's daughter was hurt. Ella's okay, scared, but okay." Calleigh gasped in surprise and with the phone still in her hand she pulled Warrick into a hug while mouthing to the rest of her team what was going on.

"You keep searching for the SOB's, my team and I will make sure Warrick gets back to Vegas as soon as he can," the southern bell promised.

"It doesn't look like it's going to be tonight, though. Look at the storm," Horatio commented. Everyone turned and looked out the window. Horatio was right a violent thunderstorm raged outside the windows, thunder crashing and lightning flashing. The rain was falling so fast visibility was nonexistent.

"Damn," Eric muttered under his breath. Warrick looked up long enough to confirm the fact that there was indeed a storm raging outside before letting his head fall back into his hands.

Realizing it might help Warrick to talk to Ella, Calleigh asked, "Where's Ella? I think it would be good for Warrick to talk to her."

"Hold on, I'll go to the break room one of our lab techs is watching her." Calleigh could hear the sound of a chair scooting back and Nick's footsteps.

"Hey Mandy," he called entering the break room. The fingerprint tech looked up.

"What is it, Nick?"

"I've got someone here who wants to talk to Ella," he announced. Nodding Mandy took the little girls hand and walked her over to Nick.

"Who is it, Unca Nicky?"

"It's your Daddy," Nick answered, handing her the phone. Hearing the phone being transfered from Nick to Ella, Calleigh placed the phone back in Warrick's hand.

"Hi, Daddy," Ella greeted sweetly.

"Hey, Ella, are you okay?" Warrick checked.

"Yeah, I was scared when Mommy was tooked and when I couldn't waked Lindsey, but I'm okay now. I hid in the closet with Mr. Snuggles. Then I called Unca Nicky and he came to get me. I want Mommy, though," she whined.

"I know, baby, I do to. Look, I'm coming home, but the weather is bad so it won't be tonight. You be good for your uncle Nicky, okay?"

"I will, I love you, Daddy."

"I love you to, El-Bell," Warrick said into the phone before handing it back to Calleigh after Nick asked him to.

"Hey Cal, can you do me a favor?" Nick requested.

"I'll try, what is it?"

"Keep an eye on him tonight?"

"Yeah, he'll stay with Horatio and me," she promised. She and Horatio had been having their own discussion about where Warrick would stay.

"Thanks, I've got to go, but I'll keep you posted.

"Okay, Bye, Nicky."

"Bye Cal," Nick said hanging up his phone and blowing out a deep breath. What a day, he thought.

TBC?

A/n, please read and review!