A/N: Hello my lovelies! So sorry it's been a while, but I've got a lot of school deadlines coming up in the next couple of weeks, so I'm afraid updates may be a little slow :/ So I hope chapters are worth the wait! Thank you sooo much to all of you who've revived, I've passed the 100 mark! But thank you also just for reading, I know you're out there and it makes me feel great :) So, I hope you enjoy!

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Chapter 15: Panic

"Greg!" Morgan cried, but she was only met by the monotonous beep which signalled her husband had hung up.

Panicked, Morgan immediately tried to call back, but it went straight to voicemail. She couldn't even bare to think what that loud bang she'd heard could have meant, but she'd heard the familiar noise many times before, and it did not bode good news. Plus, Greg had sounded so rushed and shaken, and the way he said goodbye…it was like he knew he was saying it for the last time.

Morgan called a different number this time; she had to tell someone about this and fast. If her assumption was correct, then Greg may not have much time. The thought made Morgan stop for a moment as she placed a hand on her bump worriedly. Greg had to be okay, he had to be, he would never leave her and the baby alone. He loved them too much, and they loved him.

"Hello?" Morgan realised the person had been waiting on the phone for a significant amount of time now "Morgan, is that you?"

"Nick, I…I think Greg's in trouble" Morgan finally managed to stutter out. There was a worried pause.

"Why do you think that?" Nick asked calmly, although Morgan could have sworn she heard a car door slamming shut as the Texan made his way over.

"H-he called me from th-the store" Morgan said between shaky breaths "I-I swear I…I swear I heard…" she placed a hand over her mouth to try and suppress a sob.

"Morgan? You heard what?" Nick persisted "It'll be alright, I promise. Just stay calm and tell me what happened, Greg's gunna be fine, yah hear me?"

"I heard a gunshot" Morgan whispered "Nick, I would bet my life it was a gunshot, and there were men shouting and Greg… Oh God, he sounded so scared"

"Alright, alright I'm nearly at your place, okay, and I'll take you to see Greg" Nick informed her "I'm gunna call Brass, okay. Just stay calm; you don't wanna upset the baby"

"No" Morgan replied meekly.

"I'll be there in a matter of minutes, I promise" Nick spoke firmly and then hung up.

As soon as the older CSI was gone, Morgan found herself wishing he'd come back. The scared woman's mind began to wander, and she concocted some pretty horrible and graphic images about Greg lying in a pool of his own blood, barely clinging onto life, scared and alone. Morgan needed to see him, she wouldn't believe Greg was okay until she saw him with her own eyes, and was able to hold him in her arms. She tried to push the terrifying images out of her head and think positively.

"Daddy's going to be absolutely fine" Morgan whispered as she rubbed a hand around her bump in circles "He's going to be fine, I promise" she was reassuring herself and the baby.

After waiting for what seemed like an eternity, Nick finally arrived at Greg and Morgan's apartment. He was more than concerned to find the expectant mother looking so distressed, with red rings around her eyes and tear stains on her cheeks. Nick already let Morgan and the baby get hurt because of him, and he wouldn't let that happen again. He would make sure they were safe, along with Greg, and make sure Morgan wouldn't endanger herself or the baby.

"I talked to Brass, he said a bystander called in an armed robbery at the store about five minutes ago" Nick explained as they walked down to the parking lot "Apparently they're holding everyone inside hostage"

"This is all my fault" Morgan said, her voice thick with emotion "I was the one who was supposed to do the shopping; Greg shouldn't even be there…"

"Hey, you weren't to know" Nick said placing a hand on the younger woman's shoulder "And if I know Greg – which I like to think I do- he'll just be relieved that it's not you and the baby stuck in that situation. He'd do anything to protect you guys."

"Yeah, I know" Morgan said quietly as they got into the car "But that's what worries me" she started again as Nick fired up the engine "Greg would risk his life for us, but he'd risk it for a stranger too, and he has in the past" Morgan pointed out "Greg is the most selfless man I've ever met, and there's no doubt in my mind he'll do anything possible to keep the other hostages safe, even it means getting himself hurt"

"Well that maybe so" Nick said "but you can't condemn him for that. Trust me, I've tried, but Greg is Greg, and even though I want to curse him for what he did for Stanley Tanner – endangering himself like that – I can't, because he saved a man's life. But don't worry, even if Greg tries something to save the others, he won't give up on you and Bump. He knows you guys need him."

"He promised me he'd come home" Morgan whispered.

Nick gave a soft smile "Well, there you go then"

The rest of the ride was silent and unnerving. Nick was gripping the steering wheel probably a little more tightly then he should have been, but he knew he had to keep it together for Morgan's sake. Out the corner of his eye, Nick could see how Morgan had one hand on her stomach protectively, as if reassuring the baby everything was alright; Nick sighed, he wished there was something more comforting he could say.

The CSIs finally arrived and the scene seemed to be one of chaos. Cop cars were surrounding the building and they were accompanied by the flashing lights of various ambulances taking care of the wounded. Several cops had some of the robbers pinned up against the cars as they patted them down, whilst other cops tried to take statements off the still shaken victims.

Nick and Morgan quickly jumped out of the car and headed over to Brass.

"Where's Greg? I don't see him" Morgan panicked.

"He's erm…he's inside" Brass said solemnly.

The tone of his voice made both Nick and Morgan's hearts drop. There was a sadness in Brass's eyes neither of the CSIs had seen in him before and if the normally cool, hard-exterior man looked this troubled, than then Nick and Morgan knew it was bad.

"Is…is he..." Nick stuttered, but he couldn't find the courage to say anymore.

"No!" Morgan cried in defiance "No, don't even say that!" she yelled with tears streaming down her face before she started running towards the building.

"Morgan!" Nick called, running after her.

"Ma'am, Ma'am you can't go in there" An officer said, grabbing hold of Morgan's arm.

"Don't you Ma'am me" Morgan snapped "I'm a CSI dammit, and my husband is in there" she was pissed; she didn't have time for this!

The cop was so stunned at this reaction he immediately stepped aside; best not upset a pregnant woman he figured.

Morgan dashed inside and scanned the aisles. So much havoc had been created; glass was shattered, pools of blood tarnished the floor and various stacks had been knocked over. But Morgan didn't care about any of that right now, the only thing – or person – she cared about was still missing to her, she still didn't know If Greg was okay, an as she rounded the corner to the final aisle, she was met by a heart wrenching sight.

There, on the ground, blood soaking his clothes, originating from his stomach and hip and pooling beside him; Greg looked so broken. His eyes were closed and his skin looked an unnatural shade of grey, an oxygen mask was covering most of his face as the medics prepared to move him.

"Greg" Morgan breathed as she ran over and found a gap between the medics, where she knelt beside her husband and ran a hand though his clammy hair "Greg" she said again, her voice broken as tears streamed down her face. "Sweetie, please wake up. Please don't leave us, please. We need you"

"Ma'am you need to step away now" One of the medics tried to encourage, but Morgan stayed right where she was.

"Greg, you have to wake up" Morgan continued to beg. "Please, I can't do this without you. I love you!" she cried, as she stroked a finger delicately across Greg's left cheek.

Suddenly, Greg's eyes began to flicker beneath his eye lids as he managed to sense the warm and soft touch. It felt safe to him. The CSI slowly opened his eyes to just a slit, and even though his sight was blurred, he could make out the beautiful figure before him to be his loving wife and baby.

"M…Morgan" Greg said ever so quietly, that it was barely audible.

"Yes, yes it's me baby, I'm here" Morgan said with great relief as she gripped his left hand in both of hers and never wanted to let go "Don't worry sweetie, you're going to be fine; I promise."

"Sorry" Greg managed to say with a straggled breath, but Morgan just shushed him and continued to soothingly run her hand through Greg's hair.

"Save your breath, Sweetie" she encouraged "They're taking you to the hospital now"

"Love…" Greg managed to say, squeezing Morgan's hand. She had to know, she had to know in case this was the last time he'd see her "Love…you…both…" and with that, the CSI's eyes fluttered closed once more and Morgan felt Greg's hand go limp in hers.

"He's not breathing, get the difribullators!" one of the medics called, whilst Morgan was reluctantly pushed away.

The blonde was so scared; she was shaking and breathing erratically as she just stared helplessly as the medics worked on Greg. Her husband…the father of her child…the only man she'd ever loved, was dead, dead right in front of her eyes.

"No!" Morgan cried before placing both hands over her mouth and sobbing relentlessly.

A hand suddenly appeared on her shoulder and Morgan turned to find her father with very concerned eyes. Ecklie pulled his daughter into a tight hug, and Morgan buried her head in his shoulder; she couldn't look. Every cry which elicited from Morgan's lips broke Ecklie's heart; he couldn't stand to see his daughter so distressed, and he knew that Greg never deserved anything like this – he prayed the young man would be alright.

Nick had arrived too after being held back by the cops, but they'd let him in with Ecklie. The Texan stood shaking a little as he watched the paddles be brought down on Greg's chest once more, and the medic shook his head. It was the most scared Nick had ever been – as he watched his little brother's body jolt into the air, and saw Morgan so devastated. All Nick could do was swallow back the tears and try to keep it together.

Please, Greg, please Nick thought desperately don't give up on them, don't give up on your family- that means all of us.

The medics gave Greg one last shock, and Nick and Ecklie were extremely relieved when this time he nodded his head and began to load Greg into the back of the ambulance.

"Pulse is back, but it's weak" One of the medics told Ecklie "We'll be taking him back to Desert Palms"

"Alright, thank you" Ecklie remained polite as he tried to coax Morgan back a little "You hear that, M? Greg's alive, okay, they're gunna take care of him now and he's gunna wake up for good soon"

"They never said that" Morgan said pessimistically, the tears still welling in her eyes.

"Hey, Sanders wouldn't dare defy me" Ecklie teased as he ran a hand through his daughter's hair "He promised me he'd never do anything to upset you, or else he'd have me to answer too, he wouldn't dare go away"

Morgan gave her father a weak smile, appreciating his attempts to lighten the situation, but the blonde had just witnessed her husband die, and that was going to take a long time to comprehend.

"Can we go to the hospital now?" Morgan sniffed as she finally managed to get her tears under control.

"Of course we can, honey" Ecklie said placing a hand on her back. "Are you coming, Nick?" he asked, for once showing his concern for Texan CSI.

"Erm, no, no thanks" Nick said, although his voice was thick with emotion "I better hold down the scene until the other's get here."

Morgan went over to the older CSI and wrapped her arms around his neck in comfort "I'll take good care of him, I promise" Morgan whispered, and Nick nodded his head on her shoulder.

"You better go" Nick encouraged as they broke apart, and Morgan gave him one last meek smile before leaving the building.

The whole drive to the hospital, Morgan's thoughts were constantly with Greg. What state would he be in when they got there? But one thing she knew for sure was that Greg was a fighter, and he would fight for Morgan and their child. He wouldn't even dream of letting them down.