Thanks so much for all the reviews. I felt really bad about the long delay...and knowing there could be another couple of weeks pass before the next chapter , I figured I'd shoot off another chapter this time really quickly.

"No,no, no, no, no..."

Nick's mantra was barely audible as his breath hitched in panicked bursts in his throat. Jim was kneeling next to him, talking softly to him and resting a gentle hand on the back of his neck. Grissom picked up the elevator telephone and waited a heartbeat before a disembodied ladies voice sounded through the speaker.

"What elevator number are you in?" the voice asked

Grissom peered at the small sticker above the phone.

"3B." he answered. "Ma'am, we have a situation here. Can I get an estimation on how long we'll be stuck here, please."

"What's your situation, Sir?" the voice asked.

"An acute panic attack." Grissom replied softly.

"I'm sorry, sir. I can't give you an estimation at this time but we will have you out as soon as we possibly can. You need to remain calm, sir. Help is on it's way and I can assure you the lift is safe and secure in the meantime."

Jim cussed under his breath and pushed himself upright, taking the phone out of Grissom's hand and barking orders down the phone.

"Lady, this is Captain Jim Brass with the LVPD. You get on that horn and get us the hell out of this elevator right now!"

"I'm sorry, sir, but help is already on its way and we'll have you out as soon as we can, but there will be a small delay while we wait for the fire department."

"I don't care who you have to wait for! Just get us the hell out of here. Now!"
Grissom turned his attention to Nick while Jim continued to argue. He had calmed down enough to rest his head against the cool metal doors but had his eyes jammed so tightly shut that it looked painful and his breathing was a mile away from being calm. His body was shivering with tremors and he was still whispering the mantra over and over. Grissom knealt down next to him and rested a hand on his shoulder.

"Nick?"

No response.

"Nick, look at me." His voice was calm. In control.

After a moments hesitation, two brown, frightened eyes opened just enough to meet Grissoms concerned gaze.

"This is not the same. OK? You're alright. We're here with you. There's plenty of air. The doors will be opening soon and we'll be getting out. We just have to wait it out, OK? That's all. We'll just wait it out." Grissom talked softly to him. Loud enough to be heard but soft enough so as not to add to his anxiety. Jim had finally stopped berating the woman on the end of the phone line and, without the raised voices, Nick appeared to calm a little further.

Grissom maintained eye contact with him as he nodded his head to the back of the lift.

"How about we go sit back here while we wait, OK? We'll sit back from the doors and give them room to open them when they come to get us out. OK?"

Nick barely nodded and murmured out an " 'K." as he pulled himself up onto shaky legs. Grissom kept a protective hand on his shoulder as he walked to the back wall with him. He could still feel the tremors running through his body. Every muscle in his body was tense. He heard a noise in Nick's throat and tightened his grip as panic rose again. Nick hit out at the back wall and ran both hands through his hair trying hard to keep it together. Grissom could feel the dampness of sweat starting to soak through Nick's shirt and could feel his shoulders starting to heave with panicked breaths again.

"Nick, it's alright." Grissom could feel the fear radiating off him.

But Nick was fighting a losing battle. He slammed into the back of the wall and slid slowly to the floor, bringing his knees up to rest his elbows on and bringing his hands up to cover his face - his fingers clenching and unclenching handfuls of hair, his breath coming in useless sobbing hitches.

"I need to get out, Gris. I can't do this." His voice was pleading.

Grissom sank down on the floor beside him as Brass did the same on the other side. He watched as Nick struggled to remain calm. But the battle was soon lost and Nick surged forward again, his hands reaching for the door as he shouted out for help.

Brass and Grissom exchanged a worried glance and both pushed up from the floor.

"Nick..." Grissom started - but he didn't get a chance to finish.

Nick brought his hand up and started punching the cold metal doors.

"Hey!" shouted Brass, and moved behind him to pin his arms tightly to his chest. "Hey, none of that, pal. You'll break your hand."

He pulled him back with gentle force and sat him down heavily in his previous spot. The hands returned to their clawing of his hair and Brass frowned at the spreading red mark making its way along his knuckles.

Grissom moved to kneel directly in front of Nick, blocking his view of the cold, grey doors.

"Nick, you need to stay calm. You'll hurt yourself if you don't. OK. We're safe. They know where we are and they're coming to get us out. Alright? Slow your breathing down and close your eyes. Take yourself back to your safe place, OK?" Grissom was suddenly overwhelmingly relieved that he had investigated the techniques the psychologist had taught Nick. He barely heard the muffled voice through the hands.

" 's not over."

Grissom frowned. Then the hands moved and he saw two tired brown eyes looking straight at him - defeat etched clearly in them.

"It'll never be over. Even now she's dead."

Grissom kept the eye contact. This was the new Nick, he realised. The once unyielding confidence that he had exuded only 6 months ago - the confidence that everything would work out and life would always be good, was dented. Now there was the everpresent insecurity. The resignation that his life had changed forever and he would never be the same again.

Grissom gave a tiny, almost imperceptible, nod.

"It will get better, Nick..."
"How do you know?" asked Nick desperately. "How do you know it won't be like this all the time? Forever? I still can't sleep right, Gris. I think about it all the time. I still get the shakes. I can't stand enclosed spaces and...I REALLY NEED TO GET OUT OF HERE!" His voice got faster and louder the longer he spoke and the agitation was growing again.

Grissom didn't know what he could say to that. He didn't want to just placate him and - hell, who really knew if it would get easier. He sighed deeply and offered all he could.

"It'll be OK, Nick. We'll make sure of it."

And he brought his hand to the back of Nick's neck and drew him forward giving him an awkward, but nonetheless, heartfelt hug.

Please review. I know I sound like a broken record, but I really do appreciate it. A lot.