Chapter 4

The wait was still long, even though Nick reached the hospital more than an hour ahead of the rest of the team. The waiting room was nearly empty except for the five CSI's and the two detectives. While they were waiting Archie called D. B. with the information he had requested. Much to everyone's surprise, Brady Magnus was wanted for the murder of his wife Emily and two month old son, Nicholas. After being expelled from college, Brady and Emily ran off and got married. All these years Emily had been feeding lies to Brady about what went on between Nick and her until last year Brady had a break down and was committed to a mental hospital. When he had gotten out and found out that Emily had named his son after the man he thought had caused all of their problems, he completely lost it and killed them both.

Still reeling from this shocking news two hours later, they finally saw the nurse point them out to the doctor that had come from the trauma area.

"Hello, I'm Dr. Windom; I'm taking care of your friend." The doctor shook hands with all of them before he continued. "Mr. Stokes is stable, but he isn't out of the woods yet. He has sustained a Grade 3 concussion, three broken ribs, a broken foot, broken knee cap, ruptured spleen, broken orbital socket, fractured ulna, bruised kidney and a tear in his liver. He also suffered from oxygen deprivation due to manual strangulation. With that being said, these injuries would likely have killed most people hours ago. But your friend has an uncanny will to live. Like I said, he isn't out of the woods yet, and I don't know how long his will to live can sustain him. But for the moment, he is stable." The doctor waited to let the group before him take this all in.

"Can we see him?" D. B. quietly asked after taking a few moments to check his emotions.

"Just one at a time and only for a few minutes each. Keep in mind, he is in a great deal of pain, and with the severe concussion he can't be given any heavy duty pain medication yet. He has quite a few tubes and wires to monitor him, help him breath and an array of other things to try to keep him alive. So it isn't a pretty picture." With that, the doctor went to the nurses' station and gave her instructions before letting them in to see Nick.

With nobody volunteering to go first, D. B. took the first visit. Even with the warning from the doctor, D. B. was taken aback with what he saw. Between bandages, bruises, tubes and wires it was almost difficult to see Nick. As he walked up to Nick's bed D. B. realized that he was the one that recommended that Nick meet up with this monster. "I'm so sorry Nick. I should have had him checked out before I ever recommended you see him. I hope you can forgive me someday." wiping the tears that threatened to fall as he left the room.

Sarah went in next. She gasped at the sight before her. Remembering all the times they had nearly lost Nick in the past dimmed by comparison. Even after being buried, nearly suffocating and being chewed on by fire ants Nick looked more alive than he did right now. "We're here for you no matter what Nicky." was all Sarah could choke out before practically running from the room.

Greg dreaded what he would see having seen Russell and Sarah react the way they did. But he wanted to be there for his friend, his big brother. He hesitantly inched his way to Nick's bed side. Staring at the bruises and seeing Nicks face contort with the pain he was in, Greg had a momentary flashback to when he himself was beaten. It doesn't even compare. Greg thought to himself. "Fight as long as you can Nick. We'll help however we can buddy." Greg too, wiped unshed tears from his eyes as he left the room.

Morgan went in next, as the others there was a moment of shock and horror. She walked closer to the bed and whispered to Nick. "My dad says you're a fighter if ever there was one, prove him right Nick. Please!" She begged before bolting form the room.

Brass and Vartan each took their turn, both reminding Nick that they got the son of a bitch that did this so he better get well fast so Nick could see him hauled away to room with Nigel Crane.

Being the newest member of the team, Fin didn't know Nick to well yet. She had heard that he had some close calls but didn't know the details. It was the most awkward for her to see Nick. But she knew she had to, just in case. "Nick, I know you have had more than your share of events. And I don't know what they are. But, D. B. thinks very highly of you. And I know he is an excellent judge of character. So please, fight the good fight so I can have the honor of getting to know you like the rest of the team." With that Fin quietly slipped out of the room to join the others.

By morning the rest of grave had stopped in to see Nick and get updates, not that there were any updates to give. Nick was still unconscious and near death. With no new information Brass and Vartan headed over to the psych ward to see if they could get anything out of Magnus. To their surprise, Brady had come out of his catatonic state long enough to hang himself while everybody was keeping vigil on Nick.

Giving the news to the team when they got back to ICU where Nick had been moved during the night. And they continued to wait taking turns for the next two days. Though Russell stayed the entire time, letting the rest of the team think that he had left at some point while they were gone. With all the worrying going on for Nick, it was an easy untruth to pull off, with the exception being Fin.

"D. B. you need to get some sleep and you could really use a shower man. You're kind of ripe." Fin prodded. Russell waved her off. "Your wife is worried, you haven't called her yet." This got Russell's attention.

"You're right! I was so caught up that I didn't call home. My battery went dead a couple of days ago." Russell jumped to his feet trying to think what to do next.

"I explained to her about Nick. She'll be here in about half an hour with a change of clothes for you. You're going to go get cleaned up and get something to eat though. I know you won't get any sleep, so I won't even ask." The two had a falling out in the past, but that didn't mean that Fin didn't know how D. B. worked.

Half an hour later Mary Russell and Brass arrived. Fin, Mary and D. B. left to get D. B. cleaned up while Brass took over the vigil. Half an hour after that Nick began to stir. Groaning at first, then his eyes began to flutter open a little. Brass pushed the call button to summon the nurse, who immediately went to track down Dr. Windom.

Nick tried to speak but his throat was dry and the attempt caused him to cough. Brass gave him a couple of ice chips to sooth his throat. "What… hap…pened?" Was all he could get out.

"Do you remember Brady Magnus coming to town?" Brass began. Nick nodded slightly, grimacing as he did. "He got you out to a shack in the middle of nowhere and beat the crap out of you. Do you remember any of it?" Brass tried to ease into the attack.

"Some." Nick croaked. "Kicked…. Stomped…. Choked… It hurts, bad." With that Nick drifted off to sleep with a grimace still on his face.

The doctor arrived a few minutes later and Brass filled him in on Nick remembering some of the attack. "That's good news indeed. With him being conscious, we can start him on some heavier pain medication. I'll go put the order in right now." And the doctor rushed off to get the medication started as quickly as possible. Still amazed that his patient was making progress, let alone was still alive.