Title: In Shock
Author: Nicksfriend
Rating:k+
Spoilers: For Gedda
Disclaimer: Bottom line...they belong to CBS and to those who make millions
Author's note:This is my fifth CSI fic. I actually jumped when the Undersheriff shot Warrick; I didn't expect it...but I could see that it could've been survivable.
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Author's note: Wow, that is all I can say...you guys have been the best and my last chapter will be a tribute to all of you who had supported this story...I am so overwhelmed. Thank you!
I really had to sit back and read the comments/reviews tonight and just take it all in...I'm so amazed. I really do want the season opener to be so gut wrenching that it makes me cry and want to crawl into the TV and hurt McKeen myself.
Special thanks to one special reader in particular who helped me determine who landed the kill shot...Angry Penguin, thank you so very much. I value all my readers opinions and I do ask for specific feedback sometimes from readers...AP really made a valid point with why this person should have been the one...thank you again Angry Penguin.
Like I said I want to recognize those who have supported this story and how much I do appreciate you, each of you!
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Mckeen recognized the detective's voice, he knew he would die but he was going to take one more with him,Nick Stokes had created a problem,he had to die too.
A shot rang out in the alleyway.
Catherine and Gregg heard the shot, it was close. They both looked around and saw movement ahead, Catherine motioned Gregg to get behind her and they crept up the dark alley getting closer to the chaos on the dark street ahead, their weapons pulled.
"Nick!" Grissom shouted, hoping that his friend had not been hit.
Brass pulled out his light and shined it towards McKeen after delivering the shot to the old man's head, he was no longer standing, his tall,slender body had fallen to the hard ground, a bloody wound to his head visible.
Nick walked out of the darkness and bent down at McKeen's body, staring at the lifeless form of the man who had taken his friend's life. What he thought he would feel wasn't there, no feeling of relief, no excitement, no remorse. Unfortunately the stabbing pain in his heart was still there,the death of his friend still real, still painful, still ripping him apart inside.
"Nick, you okay?" Grissom asked as he looked at his exhausted and hurt CSI.
"I don't think I'll ever be okay again." he whispered, giving the gun in his hand to Grissom,"I think that's the murder weapon, the gun that killed Pritchard." Nick stood and started walking quietly down the alleyway towards the diner.
Catherine looked at Grissom, giving him a look of relief and turned to follow Nick.
Gregg looked upon the scene and couldn't help but to think how his next book would read, he would dedicate it to his friend and co-worker Warrick Brown. He patted Brass's back and turned to follow his team members back to the diner.
"It's not over Jim." Grissom just wanting to go home and sleep for a day, the events of the past few days wearing on him, the stress that his team had endured forever ingrained in his mind.
"Tell me about it, I have a lot of paperwork to fill out now." He had killed the undersheriff,the evidence was apparent and the witnesses would testify to the fact that Mckeen was a cold blooded killer.
Grissom gave him a look of empathy, it was going to be a long night of witness statements and written reports."I need to be with my team right now. Our statements can wait, we all saw the same thing, you acted in self defense, he would have killed Nick."
"Yeah, I guess that is why I actually feel he deserved what he got,I just wish he had gotten it sooner,before he took so much from us." He may not of been Warrick's best friend but he was his friend.
Grissom started walking back to the diner, police officers now showing up at the new crime scene.
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Nick arrived at the diner,he was closely followed by Catherine who was now contemplating telling Nick the truth, especially seeing the turmoil that he was enduring because of his friend's death.
As she started to approach him her phone rang, she reached into her pocket thinking that it was Lindsey,"Catherine."
"Hi this is Dr Tina Brown, Warrick Brown's wife. I just called to let you know that we will no longer need your services as Warrick's power of attorney. As his legal wife I will now make decisions for him. I've removed his life support, Rick died about thirty minutes ago. We will have a private burial"
"What?" Catherine wanted to scream into the phone but thought better of it,knowing that it would upset Nick more knowing that he could have been with his friend.
"It's what he would've wanted, it was the best thing to do. I have to go." the call ended,Tina rubbed her very pregnant stomach and starred down at the man lying in the bed, the man who was her baby's father.
Warrick looked up at his wife and nodded,it was what she had to do to protect those he loved. His weak hand reaching up and touching Tina's round abdomen,knowing that he had done the right thing, he had to let them go,to keep his family safe, to keep them safe.
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Nick was met by two paramedics as he approached the diner,waving them off he continued to walk to the front.
Stephane stood outside with Sara, they had been told by officers in the diner that Mckeen was dead, shot by Brass. Now they awaited the team's arrival back to the diner.
Stephane's heart broke as she saw Nick walk up, his battered body,blood tinged shirt a reminder of all that he had endured. She did not hesitate, taking quick steps to meet him, opening her arms to hold her hero, the man who had saved her life.
Nick fell into her arms,her tender touch felt comforting."You okay?" He asked as he held her tight.
"I'm fine, but you need to let the paramedics take care of your wounds. You have a pretty bad head injury." she pulled back to see that the wound was still bleeding.
He nodded and because she had asked he acquiesced to the paramedics attention, Stephane's hand still holding onto Nick's as they pulled off the bloody bandage and shined a light into his eyes.
Grissom, Gregg and Sara looked on, Catherine now alone in her car,her sobs muffled by the closed windows.
"We need to take him into the emergency room, he's going to need a cat scan,some stitches and a few days of needed rest." The paramedic announced as he replaced a clean bandage to Nick's head.
Nick was met with glares as he started to decline the invitation but thought better of it and lay down on the gurney,the paramedics fastening the belts to secure him.
Grissom motioned to Gregg to join him in the back, to finish what they could at the first crime scene and await dayshift to finish the rest.
Stephane climbed up into the ambulance, still holding on to Nick's hand,the bond that had been created in those few minutes before all hell broke loose was cemented when Nick risked his life for her,an unselfish act,the hero she had never known.
The doors were closed and the ambulance took off towards the hospital.
Catherine wiped her tears away and exited the car,the memorial service would still be held at the station the next day, nothing would change. There was still work to be done and then they all would get to rest.
Her last moments with the man she loved would always be cherished, she had no regrets. Her friends needed her and she would not let them down.
Sara walked towards the back to be with the team, she missed them, she couldn't help but to desire to be back with her friends to be back home.
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Nick opened his eyes, a sleeping red head next to his bed, her blue eyes closed and her head tilted to the side,her hand still holding on to his;the warmth of her skin comforting.
His vision continued to be blurred and it was hard to focus, the nausea still present. He seemed to be having difficulty remembering the past few days, hell the past week, and why he was in the hospital.
As he looked around the hospital room he saw familiar faces, Gregg, Grissom, Catherine and Sara.
"Hey, he's finally awake." A familiar voice chimed, the rest of the room came to life as they acknowledged Nick's consciousness.
"What?" he asked confused to what all the fuss was about.
"It's been a few days. We thought you were doing a sleeping beauty Nick." Gregg joked.
"Bad concussion, the doctor said he was surprised that you were able to walk around afterwards, but that's what adrenaline is all about I guess," Grissom explained, giving Nick a small grin.
He looked over to the now awake red head and she was smiling,"We've been worried." Giving his hand a small comforting squeeze.
"The memorial service was beautiful,we really wanted you to be there." The sadness in Sara's voice evidence of her pain.
Nick looked confused,"What memorial service? And where's Warrick?"
The room became silent.
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Yep, it just might need a sequel.
One last chapter to finish up some business and give props to those who gave so much during this fic!
As always the feedback is appreciated.