Chapter 6

Sarah, Nick and Warrick's car had just pulled into the parking lot of their premises when the young woman's phone rang. The Texan was stressed, and had the intuition that he had to find Greg very quickly, otherwise it would be too late. The reconstruction had confirmed that Dr. Thurdman was the bait, and that he and Greg had been the killer's real targets. At first, none of the agents could understand how this criminal could have known that they would be the ones to go to the scene, but then they remembered that the couple had been stranded on the road on their way to the Laboratory. By the time they arrived, the team was already spread out on other investigations, and this one had just fallen, leaving only them to deal with it.

Sarah handed her speaker phone to Nick, who was in the front seat with her, and restarted the car.

''Our suspect's name is Branda Johns. She was in class with Demetrius James at the time of his death. A discreet young woman, she never made a name for herself. She studied nursing and specialized in poisons. She had been working with Thurdman for three months prior to his death, and according to her colleagues, he had made advances towards her, which she had rebuffed, declaring that she already had someone. When her colleagues wanted to know more about her love life, she just replied that his name was Demetrius.''

All three exchanged shocked glances; never during the investigation into Demetrius's death had there been any mention of a girlfriend. Grissom didn't let them ask any questions, and went on to explain their recent discoveries.

''A large quantity of Scopolamine and Sevoflurane has disappeared from the hospital where Johns works. Her cell phone has been disconnected for thirty hours, an hour before Thurdman's estimated time of death. Her parents inherited a dilapidated old farmhouse east of LA a week ago, so we're hoping to find her there and that Greg will be with her.''

A lump formed in Nick's stomach and grew larger as the car swallowed up the miles. Before hanging up, Grissom had said he'd meet them there with the police force. He couldn't wait for reinforcements; his whole being was screaming at him to find Greg as soon as possible. Ignoring the pain in his shoulder, he wheeled his chair toward the farm, caught by Warrick.

''What are you doing here?''
''I'm not going to stand here and wait for the cavalry to arrive while Greg is in danger.''
''They'll be here in three minutes.''
''He might be dead in three minutes.''

Sarah joined them, gun in hand, and refused to let them enter without backup support. Nick frowned, and prayed it wouldn't be too late for Greg.

After what seemed like hours, the cavalry arrived. Brass led the agents who infiltrated the house, with Nick, urged on by Warrick, bringing up the rear. They crossed the large, dilapidated hall and headed for the only adjoining room that was lit up. Everyone froze at the sight they saw.

Greg was on his knees in the middle of a squalid room with only a barred bed, handcuffed, crying, holding a pistol under his chin. A young woman stood in front, whispering to him to shoot.

Nick lost his mind, passed everyone before they could react and rolled his chair over while calling for Greg. He didn't realize what his colleagues were doing with Branda; his gaze was riveted on the man he loved, who was lost in a mirage. The second he saw him close his eyes, he knew he was going to shoot and he threw himself at him. A shot went off.

Greg felt as if a tinted window had been lifted and the reality around him changed completely. He discovered Nick lying beside him, his shoulder and hip bleeding, looking up at him in relief.

''Hey, baby,'' he breathed, drawing him into his arms with his able-bodied hand.
''You are alive?" sobbed Greg against him.
''Yes, and so are you, you'll be fine now.''

Relieved that the bullet hadn't hit anyone, Nick held his man close until they were separated by the firemen. The Texan's wounds had reopened and he would have to undergo further surgery while Greg was detoxed.

The doorbell rang in the couple's apartment. Both had been able to return home after two weeks in hospital.

Nick was still in a wheelchair, but he knew his recovery was on track, so he wasn't worried.

Greg, on the other hand, was worried. The young man had struggled to untangle the threads of what had happened to them; he'd forgotten most of his hallucinations when the drug had left his system, but snippets came back to him at night in nightmares. He often woke up convinced that Nick was going to leave him for a woman, or convinced that he'd shot him. It soon became clear to the doctors that Nick had to remain at his partner's bedside, and they had arranged the room accordingly.

After each nightmare, the Texan would take his lover in his arms and whisper reassuring words until his tears dried up.

Greg put on a brave face during the day, but he wasn't serene; he was afraid of the shadows and of Nick's absence. So, to prove his love for him, that he wouldn't leave and, he hoped, to help him get better, he'd prepared a little surprise.

He had told the young man that they had guests and asked him to go and buy a bottle of wine.

Nick shouted to his parents to come in and settled them on the sofa. After reassuring them of his condition, he told them about Greg.

The young man stopped on the doorstep to discover who the guests were. He didn't dare hope what their presence meant. It was Nick's mother who roused him from his torpor by taking him in her arms.

"Welcome to the family," she said.

For Greg, it was as if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He regained his composure and went to greet Nick's father.

The four of them toasted the couple and their recovery. Nick felt his heart swell at his lover's shy smile, and felt his own face split into a huge grin as he took Greg's hand in his own under the tender gaze of his parents.

End

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