Morgan sat next to Nick in the Denali as they kept close eyes on the ruins of their crime lab. The car was silent, it was only the two of them and for Morgan this meant tension, she still felt responsible in some way for Greg being in this mess, she had left him when she could have stayed but it was too late to think of the what ifs. She could feel a lump in her throat forming and her eyes began to burn as her sight got blurred, she quickly cleared her throat and held back the urge to cry.
"We are going to get him Morgan," Nick said reassuring her placing his hand on her shoulder. He looked at her and felt terrible, he knew she had survivor's guilt, that was something that wasn't easy to overcome. He turned off his intercom and turned to her thinking before he asked his next question.
"Morgan, I know this is really forward but do you know how he feels about you?" Morgan laughed, a single tear slid down her cheek as she looked to the Texan and nodded.
"I didn't tell you and Sara everything," she let out a shaky breath as more tears welled up in her eyes.
"He told me when we were together the other night, but I never answered him back, I didn't know how to."
"If you could how would you?" Morgan looked down at her hands, she felt so stupid how could she not have said a thing, her mind flashed back to him, her hand pressed against the glass trying to be close to him as he did the same; then it was the look she saw just as she was about to tell him everything.
"I'd tell him… I'd tell him that I feel the same way." She wiped tears from her eyes, she wanted so bad to be strong but with everything she couldn't. Nick Reached over the center consul and gave her a hug letting her cry in his shoulder, then over her com he heard the voice of Russell.
"We have a visual, get ready to move, let's bring Greg home."
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Greg cringed as the whip made contact with his raw skin, he was strung up and enduring more torture, even though he had given them the location he knew that they knew what was going to happen next. They had moved him to a new location, this one was what seemed hours away but unlike the last this one was above ground and not as high tech like the last, this one seemed more cabin in the woods. The whip hit him again, tearing the skin it made contact with and blood began to fall from it. Greg was exhausted, to exhausted to even try to cry out from pain. He had been starved, dehydrated, beaten and he just wanted to give in, but he didn't dare, he had his low points but he knew that his team was looking for him and he knew that they were running on no sleep to do it all.
Frank walked into the room with the smug smile that he had been wearing the whole time, he so easily hinted to Greg that he had lost and there was no hope of escaping this demise that had been set in stone since the beginning. A mixture of sweat and blood dripped from his hair, the short breathes that he took where rasped and where painful and every inch of his body ached and burned with pain.
"Gregory, it has come time to say our goodbyes, a bittersweet ending to what I would say was an enjoyable time." Frank cupped Greg's face with his hand looking at the battered man dead in the eye.
"It's a shame really, if you could have been with Ms. Brody, I can tell that she likes you and you are quite smitten with her." Greg used his last ounce of energy and spat at the conceited man, anger instantly turned to a sort of satisfaction for the man, he had gotten the rise out of the young CSI and as he wiped the blood and saliva swirl from his face he let out a slight chuckle gently slapping Greg on the face.
"Goodbye Gregory, sorry you couldn't make it, to see my great escape," and with that Frank Precenta exited the room leaving Greg alone in the cold open room, his skin exposed to the chilled night air, nothing but silent's surrounded him. He wondered what was going to happen next, he had to be her for a reason, why keep him living, was he putting his team in danger, was there a trap set, a million scenarios ran through his mind and with each one he grew more frightened. He felt so weak, his body was caving on him and though he tried he couldn't even fathom anything to try to break from the bond that suspended him from the ceiling. He looked out the window in the room, it must have been high up because the only thing he could see was the clear midnight blue sky and the twinkle of the stars, if this was going to be the last thing he was going to see he was just fine with it.
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Trailing the car had taken an unexpected turn when the large SUV pulled into a Garage and emerged with three identical tailing behind it. When Nick got a glance at them his heart sank and over his intercom he listened to assignment of which one Morgan and him where to follow. Russell and Finn followed car one, Brass and Ecklie followed two, Sarah and Catherine followed three and that left them with car number four. The tailed at a safe distance but Nick knew there was no need for that as Frank had obviously planned ahead. They had driven for two hours only to hit this obstacle so this must have meant they were close.
"Nick," Morgan looked on, maybe because she was afraid that by seeing Nick's fearful eyes would give her doubt.
"Yeah?"
"If, I tell Greg that means one of us will transfer, I know it will be me."
"Are you kidding, we all knew about you two before you knew about you two, there is no way that Russell will separate you two especially after this." Morgan smiled at Nick, she knew that her friends were always behind her. The Denali came to an abrupt stop causing Morgan to go flying forward only to have her seatbelt to retract her back. Just as she was about to question Nick she looked out to the large building a few feet away, it was obvious it was abandoned, if you couldn't tell from the broken windows the eerie feeling you got should be the indicator.
"I Think we have reached our destination." Nick said wide eyed with a shiver from the chill running up his spine. Morgan stepped out of the car and approached the two officers assigned to them
"Bayne, call for backup and Harness come with Nick and I we have to searched the building." Nick walked toward the group as he hung up his phone.
"I called the others, Sara and Catherine are coming now, they hit a dead end the car went to a diner, no Greg, Russell and Finn are farther away but they also hit a dead end when their guys hit a movie theater, and Brass and Ecklie got to a casino this seems like the place since the other three locations were searched and no Greg."
"Are they all headed our way right now?"
"Just Sara and Catherine, they finished their collar but the rest have a little longer, did you call for back up?"
"Yeah, five minutes out," officer Bayne answered the Texan.
"Wait here are Sara and Cath," Nick flagged them down.
"Nicky what do we have," Catherine asked, her face was displaying a strong exterior but that was Catherine and she was always like that, the one to be strong for the others.
"Okay, here is the.." but Nick was cut short when he and the rest of the group heard a terrorizing scream, all wide eyed they looked to the source.
"Sounded like a top floor, Morgan and I will check floors 6 and 5, Catherine and Sara 4 and Bayne and Harness the bottom floors, keep contact, and make sure you watch your six and keep each other safe, lets go get our guy!" Nick turned and patted Morgan on the shoulder before all of them entered the abandoned building
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Greg looked at the ground at the blood drops hitting the concrete floor, the collection began to make a small pool as blood flowed from the new knife wound. Mike one on the henchmen gave an evil grin, he was sick, enjoying the torture and loving every kick, punch, stab, it made Greg furious but his energy level was plummeting and he couldn't even find it in himself to pick up his head to glare at the sadist.
"Frank always wins in the end, it's a shame that you where the one who followed the clues." Mike wiped the blade of his knife with a white rag and placed it against cheek.
" I mean really you shouldn't meddle with other people's business." a quick movement of the blade caused a medium size slice on Greg's cheek, just as Mike was going to slice again his phone vibrated and he stepped away. It only was a matter of seconds before he returned and this time he wasn't as cocky.
"Looks like your friends are here and they are ready to get you but this isn't over Greg, tonight because of you they will die, and I'm starting with that pretty little blonde friend of yours." And with that he was gone. Greg heart had dropped when he realized that his friends were in danger and it terrified him. Greg was going to save his friends even if it meant making the ultimate sacrifice.
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"Greg?" Morgan called out, Nick and her stood on the fifth floor making their way cautiously down the twisted hall ways. Nick had his gun aimed ahead with the flashlight showing the way, Morgan walked behind them also having a weapon and gun drawn they had only searched about six rooms out of what seemed to be twenty in a past life this building might have been a school.
"Greggo, it's Nick and Morgan, if you can hear us call out or something buddy," there was what seemed to be to be a minute before the faintest noise of a voice echoed in the hall, it was inaudible but there and as soon as they heard it Greg and Nick further down to catch it. The quickly scanned rooms coming up empty but then they reached the second to the last and they instantly ran into the where the CSI was chained up.
"Oh my god Greg!" Morgan ran to him as Nick watched the door, she softly cupped his face holding it so she could look him in the eye. He was barely conscious, she cringed slightly at the abrasions and contusions, the blood that dripped down. She carefully took her sleeve and wiped away anything she could. Greg became more aware, he loved her scent, it was sweet and it wrapped him in a blanket of warmth.
"Morgan, you're okay," he smiled one of his charming smiles an she let out a laugh of relief that responded.
"Yeah, I did thanks to you but now we have to get you out of her, take you home."
"No, it's a trap the minute you try to get me out they will kill you!" he shifted slightly which caused him to groan in pain.
"Nick," The Texan made his eye at the door as he backed up to Greg and Morgan.
"Hey Greggo," he said in a tone of great elation, he helped Morgan unhook Greg and place him gently propped against a wall.
"He said that this is a trap you should call to Sara and Catherine." Nick nodded and grabbed his walkie.
"Sara and Catherine, respond." there was no response so he tried again but still there was nothing but static.
"Morgan, Catherine and Sara won't and I can't get any calls out of here!"
"Wait Catherine?" Greg asked in a raspy tone.
"She came back to help, everyone has been helping, we even had Grissom identify a bug that we found in dirt."
"Go save them, you can do more without me, I cannot let them die for me."
"Greg, we came for you we aren't leaving without you, we are all coming out alive," Nick said sternly, he took Greg's arm and placed it around his shoulder as he placed his arm around his waist.
"Morgan watch my six, We are walking out together."
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Catherine and Sara had been searching rooms when they caught of a man lurking around. Sarah and Catherine quickly tried to radio out but something was jamming their signals. Catherine looked to Sara and nodded knowing that they were trapped and that they would have to fight their way out. The women slid into one of the rooms and began to start a plan.
"I only saw the one, I'm sure there are more though, that means that Nick and Morgan as well as out police officers are in danger and there is no way to radio to help and warn the others."
"Well the stairwell is just around the corner why don't we head up to be with Nick and Morgan, we would do better together more of us," Sara suggested.
"Good planning, do you want to be in back or front?"
"I'll watch your back after all you are the one who volunteered to come back." Sara smiled in the dark looking at one of her oldest friends, she knew that together they could get out. Sara looked out the door and when she say that it was all clear she waved Catherine out. They slowly crept down the hall lights off as to be unnoticed but this did them no good as two men spotted them and quickly drew their weapons, aiming and firing.
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Greg, Nick and Morgan had been descending the staircase when they heard the shots from below. They stood statue like with guns drawn, the heard the door below them fly open and then pounding up the stairs. Nick cocked back the gun and readied himself putting both Greg and Morgan behind him, the footsteps grew closer, the owner then gasped in surprised causing Nick to lower his weapon, it was Catherine who had hold of Sara's arm as she dragged her up the steps.
"Woah Nicky, trying to permanently put me out of this job." Nick let out a sigh and holstered his weapon.
"Sorry we heard the shots and knew this was a chance it was the bad guys, what happened?"
"We got made, and it turned into a shooting fest but you know Sara and I can hold out own and we got the upper hand, though a stray bullet may have hit Sara." Catherine stepped to the side to show Sara holding her hip.
"It only grazed me though, but it hurts like hell." Sara said before she finally saw him.
"Greg!" she made her way to him and gave a gentle hug which he could barely return, same as Catherine.
"We need to get off this stairwell, we are sitting ducks, my guess is that more guys are on their way." Morgan said trying to lift Greg.
"Good guess," a voice said from behind them, Catherine trained her gun at the man who had his trained at Nick.
"How many are there of you?"
"More than you CSIs, and we will win in the end, you see you can't radio for back up because the walls are lined with signal blockers." he stepped up a few steps and places the muzzle of the gun to Nick's temple.
Morgan let out a slight gasp but not because of the man's actions but rather Greg's, he had wrapped his arm around her waist and un holstered her gun and pulled it toward him.
"Give up now CSIs, you'll never win it's over, it's pointless, you.."
"Cover!" Greg yelled as he aimed and fired at the man, square in the chest, he dropped to the floor with a thud as the life left him, Greg fell back, the adrenaline rush left him.
"Thanks man," Nick said as helped Morgan lift Greg.
"Anytime."
"Let's go back down, there are more of us and I think that we can make it out, " Catherine said with slight enthusiasm. Greg was fading fast this much was visible and it worried all of them and now with Sara it was worse, even though her injury was minor it was still hard to keep both of them up and running.
"Wait, don't you remember what he said before," Nick pointed to the lifeless man, all the others shrugged.
"Signal blockers in the wall, we have to get to the roof, that's where we need to be, the rest of the men are down stairs maybe a few upstairs but I noticed this building has an exit on the roof, we can contact them there!"
"Good thinking Nicky," Catherine smiled.
"Woah wait guys help, Greg wake up," Morgan gave a few slaps to the face to the now unconscious man.
"Is he breathing?" Sara asked in a panic, Catherine placed her index and middle finger on Greg's neck and felt for a pulse, her face said it all.
"We need to hurry, he is slipping, let's move now!"
"I'll watch from behind and help Sara, Catherine keep the lead, " Nick took charge ready to fight to save his friend, Greg couldn't die, it just couldn't happen!
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I'm reaching the end! So sorry I have been neglecting this story though I haven't gotten many comments for the last chapter so I was really weighing whether or not to continue. I hope you liked this one please Read and Review. Leave me comments( I sound so desperate, but what can I say I like to see what you think) ~LNR~