AN: Thanks for the continued support, here is the next chapter, which I'm taking inspiration from another episode, Season 5 Finale: Grave danger, and while you'll notice some parts have the same dialog, it does have my obvious twist to it, so enjoy the ride and find out what happens next.


Chapter 41: Grave Danger with a twist Pt. 1

Flashback

July, 2002

"Do you, Ashley Gardner, take thee, Nicholas Stokes to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until parted by death."

Ashley, in an elegant white wedding dress, with her hair in an updo and tears in her eyes, nodded with a reply. "I do."

Nick, in his black tux smiled with tears in his eyes while the preacher looked at him and asked. "Do you, Nicholas Stokes, take thee, Ashley Gardner, to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until parted by death."

Nick nodded and replied with emotion. "I do."

The preacher nodded with a smile. "Now Ashley and Nicholas will exchange rings as a symbol of their love and commitment."

Ashley and Nick both turn around to those who were standing up with them, which were Sara and Warrick, they gave them the rings before the almost newlyweds looked at one another again, Nick then took his bride's left hand and spoke softly while sliding the golden band down her ring finger. "I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment."

Ashley then takes Nick's left hand and spoke softly while sliding the matching golden band down his ring finger. "I give you this ring as a symbol of my love and commitment."

"Now that the bride and groom have made their vows and exchanged rings, I'm proud to say that by the power vested in me I pronounce you husband and wife, you may now kiss your bride."

Nick smiled while cupping his new wife's cheek. "Happily."

A moment later their lips touched, and everyone cheered, happy for the newlyweds.


While the newlyweds were dancing, Nick spoke with a smile. "So, Mrs. Stokes, how are you feeling?"

Ashley smiled while wrapping her arms around his neck. "I feel...amazing. Like I'm still in a dream right now." She sighed. "I can't believe this has finally happened to me; I was the unlucky one in love."

He shook his head with bright eyes. "Well babe, not anymore, it's you and me forever."

Even though that promise was already made, Ashley needed to hear it again as she sniffled. "You promise?"

"Oh, I most definitely promise." He then continued after clearing his throat. "But don't you forget about another deal we had, you know, the babies."

She chuckled with a nod. "The babies, I would never forget that, so when do you want to start on that?"

He moved her closer and whispered in her ear. "As soon as possible."

She took a breath before replying. "Well, I don't think we should leave right this minute, but I guess we can start later tonight."

He pulled back and looked at her with a happy teary-eyed look. "Are you sure? Because I don't want you to feel like I'm press..."

She cuts him off with a smile. "I'm sure, I've thought long and hard while were engaged and I've come to the decision that I didn't want to wait too long after we are married to start trying, as long as you are on board."

He nodded with one of his bright smiles. "Oh, I'm so on board, you just say the word and we can get started."

Ashley chuckled. "Easy there, cowboy. We should spend a little more time with our friends/family."

He good natured sighed before replying with a smirk. "Fine, but only a little more time."

He really did want to spend time with his family, who all of them came over from Texas to be here, which was the first time in years the whole Stokes family was in one room together. But then on the other hand, he couldn't wait to get started making his own family, something he's been wanting to do for a while, and even more so since meeting and getting involved with Ashley.

She nodded. "Deal."

They then kissed before continuing their dance, both admittedly counting down when they could start expanding their family.


Early May, 2003

Ashley and Nick were sitting up in Ashley's hospital bed, and she was holding their son, Austin Stokes, which they completely fell in love with the moment he was placed in her arms. But really that feeling had been there the moment they found out she was pregnant, which happened not long after their honeymoon, so their wish on starting their family as soon as possible came true.

Nick smiled with tears in his eyes. "You did good, momma."

Ashley smiled with tears in her eyes as well. "And so did you, daddy."

He chuckled slightly as he replied. "Well, I wasn't the one pushing this little guy out of my body."

"No, but you help make this little guy, and you were here every step of the way."

"Always." He then cupped her cheek, which caused her to look up at him, and he continued with emotion. "I love you so much, more every day since we've been together, thank you for everything you've given me."

"You're welcome and thank you to you too. I love you so much as well."

They kissed softly before they turned their attention back to their son, wanting to just look at him for as long as possible until their friends/family start showing up and they would have to share him with the world.


Present Time

Mid-May, 2005

Ashley, who was sitting in Sara's office at the crime lab, came back to the present, which the present felt like a hideous nightmare the moment she found out her husband had been missing, which has now been for 12 hours, and no one knew where he was, when Sara's voice was heard from the doorway. "Ashley, we know where he is, well sort of."

Ashley shook her head from her thoughts and asked while standing up and turning to look at her. "What do you mean sort of?"

She walked further into her room, shutting the door behind her as she replied. "He was taken to Vegas, the crime lab there was just sent an audio tape and a USB key that links to a website."

Sara stopped speaking after that, and Ashley could see on her friend's face that there was more to it, and she knew what it was. "What was on the website?"

Sara shook her head. "Ash, I can't..."

But Ashley cuts her off, getting angrier by the minute. "I don't care about protocol or what I can and can't know about an active case, that's my husband out there, possibly in danger, I want to know now! What's going on, what was on the website?"

Against her better judgment, Sara nodded with a sigh. "Ok, the website showed a message stating they wanted one million dollars, or he dies."

Ashley gasped as she sat down, shaking her head with tears in her eyes. "We don't have that kind of money." Then while still looking at Sara, she asked. "There is more to what's going on, isn't there?"

Sara nodded with another sigh. "After the message ended there was a link on the page and it opened a webcam, which what I'm told by Supervisor Brown is broadcasting from a plexiglass box."

Ashley gasped again. "Wait! Are you telling me that my husband is underground in a box?"

"Yes, from the information I was given, it would appear so."

As Ashley was completely breaking down, Grissom rushed into the room. "I booked us the first flight I could get, and it leaves in an hour, so we don't have much time to waste."

While Sara nodded, Ashley shook that break down away and spoke as she stood back up, speaking in another determined voice. "I'm going too."

Sara spoke while shaking her head. "Ash..."

But once again she was cut off. "Don't make me stay here. I can't wait here, this far from him. I want to be there for when you tell me you found him." She wiped tears off her cheeks as she asked. "Because you are going to find him, right?"

Sara walked closer to her friend and cupped her cheek with a determined look, even though it wasn't right to make promises she couldn't keep. But this one she would because she wasn't going to let either friend down. "You bet I am." Ashley nodded while Sara brings her into her arms for a hug while she continued after one more sigh. "Quinn did get a hold of me and said she could watch Austin if she needed to."

Ashley nodded as they pulled back from one another. "Ok. As much as I want to be here for him, I have to be there for my husband."

There was no point in talking her out of it, because honestly if the tables had been turned to her, which Sara shuttered at the thought, there wasn't anyone or anybody going to stop her from being there for her husband, so she nodded. "Ok, do you need us to drive you home to pack a bag?"

Ashley shook her head. "No, I got it. I'll meet you at the airport."

After they both nodded, Ashley grabbed her purse and started walking towards the office door, and once she was out of the room, Sara headed for her desk so she could grab her shoulder bag from the back of her chair and her purse from one of the drawers while she spoke. "Griss, can you..."

Grissom cuts her off. "I already booked three tickets."

She gave him a small smile while she walked towards him. "You know us so well."

He sighed. "I just knew that if the roles had been reversed, and I was the one sitting on the sidelines like she was, there wouldn't be anyone or anything stopping me from getting to where you are."

She cupped his cheek with tears. "The same." She then took a shuttering breath before she replied softly. "And you very much could have been. That case should have gone to me, but he..."

She trailed off and he looked at her with concern as he placed his hand on top of hers that was on his cheek. "Honey, please don't do that, thinking 'what if's' will only drive you crazy, let's put all of our energy to what we can do, ok?"

After she nodded, she sighed. "I got to address the team before we leave."

"Ok."

After leaving her office, they met the team in the break room, and Sara spoke. "Gil and I are going to Vegas, and I wish we can take you all so we can bring him home together, but I need you all here." The team nodded before Sara looked at Latoya. "I know you are going to be short staffed, so if you are going to need more people see if the other shifts can spare anyone if it becomes too much for you guys."

Latoya nodded. "I will."

Sara then turned her attention to Lizzie with a smile. "And you are second hand to Latoya."

Sara had been right when she said Lizzie had regretted her choice on leaving the dayshift. But since they were technically full at the time there wasn't anything Sara could do to get her back on a permanent basis. Until 2 years ago that is, when Jane up and quit after she realized she wasn't really cut out to be a CSI, which happens quiet often, but it made Lizzie's move back to dayshift doable and she had been more appreciative of the team now, and the position she was in.

Lizzie nodded with a smile. "You got it, I won't let you down."

"I know." Sara then cleared her throat. "We'll keep you all updated. Now we really have to go."

They nodded before Sara and Grissom walked out of the room, but they only took a few steps away when Lizzie's voice stopped her. "Sara, before you leave, while you know how much this position means to me and I know this isn't permanent, I never wanted it like this, I would never wish any harm to..."

Sara cuts her off with a smile. "I know Lizzie, and if you think I ever held a grudge for your decision to leave in the first place, I never did. I just wanted you to be happy wherever you ended up. But to be honest, I'm glad you ended up back here, I've missed you."

Lizzie nodded with a smile. "I've missed you too, I'm just glad that I had a chance to fix my mistake. I guess I stupidly let Luke get into my head, anyways I'm done being stupid." She then shook her head before finishing. "Now bring Nick home."

Both of them nodded with smiles before they headed off, needing to get home, get their to-go bag, make arrangements for their children with Quinn so they could head to the airport.


Flashback

12 Hours earlier

Sara had just hung up her phone when Nick walked into her office, and he asked. "Was that another case?"

Sara nodded as she looked at her watch to see what time it was before looking at him. "We still have another hour and half left of shift, and with the rest of the team still involved with their cases, I'm up."

As she stood up from her seat, he shook his head and replied. "I'll do it."

Sara smiled. "Nick..."

Nick cuts her off. "Please, it will give me something to do for the last hour and a half, and I'll finish it up tomorrow if it becomes too long of a case."

Apart of her knew she should take it, she was the supervisor, so she was first in line for a new case if she had nothing new to work on, but the selfish part of her wanted to go home on time today, which doesn't happen very often, and be with her kids longer than a couple of hours before their bedtime.

So, going with that part of her, she sighed as she handed him the assignment slip, but still asked. "Are you sure?"

Nick nodded with a smile as he took it from her. "Yes."

"Ok, but you know your wife is going to kill me, right? You could have been home on time, but you'll be later with this case."

He chuckled. "Just invite them over for dinner, let the boys have a playdate and you can keep her distracted, so she'll be less angry."

Sara chuckled with a nod. "You know what, that does sound like a good idea, and Taron keeps asking when he'll get to see Cousin Austin again, even though they just saw one another a few days ago."

Nick smiled. "Those two are certainly best friends, aren't they?"

Sara nodded. "They are, and I'm glad."

After Nick nodded in return, he cleared his throat before speaking. "Alright, I'm out, I'll see you in the morning."

"Ok, be safe."

"Always."

They said their goodbyes before Nick walked out of her office while Sara sat back down in her chair, then she smiled at the frame picture of her two children, now 11-year-old, almost 12-year-old, Belle, who will be starting high school next fall, and 3-year-old Taron.

Belle was more her mother's daughter as the years have gone buy, which while she does love science and was very good at it, math is what she really excels at, and they would guess that her math skills could be in college level by the time she reaches a sophomore in high school. And because math is her go to subject; she did end up going to math camp last year and has recently just asked if she could go to summer camp this year with Lindsey, who had been dealing with the death of her father for the past two years.

Now while Taron wasn't old enough for school yet, they could tell they had another smart child, and like Sara predicted he's more and more like her husband, even the shyness at times. It has been completely adorable watching him grow into a 'Grissom' mini-me and she loved him, and her daughter, more than when they first came into this world. They were, along with her husband, her whole world and she wouldn't have it any other way.

Sara shook her head, needing to get her head back to the paperwork so she could really leave on time like she said she wanted to.

End of Flashback


After arriving in Vegas, Catherine had a CSI from dayshift to wait for them with a car, so the three of them got in and was driven to the crime lab.

When they got there, they walked inside, signed in for their guest passes, and after Sara asked where Supervisor Brown was if she wouldn't be in her office, the receptionist, known as Judy, replied in the AV room.

Sara thanked her and headed for Catherine's office, which like Sara thought, wasn't in there so they headed to the AV room, finding her and Warrick in the room looking at a computer screen with concerned looks on their faces, then Sara cleared her throat before speaking softly. "Catherine."

Both Catherine and Warrick turned to look at the three of them, then Catherine stood up and walked towards them to give Sara and Grissom a hug and replied somberly. "I'm sorry it's under these circumstances but I'm glad to see you again."

As Sara and Grissom nodded, Ashley couldn't keep quiet anymore. "I want to see my husband."

Catherine cleared her throat and shook her head. "Ashley, I don't think..."

Ashley cuts the older woman off with a deep, hard look, challenging her. "If that was your husband in there, what would you do?"

Like Sara and Grissom would do anything for each other, Catherine feels the same for her husband, and she wouldn't be kept away from 'seeing' him, even if the image was disturbing, so she looked at Sara first, and after Sara gave her a nod, Catherine looked at Ashley again. "Ok, but the image is quite disturbing."

Ashley nodded with tears in her eyes. "But you know for sure he's still alive?"

"Yes, we determined it was a live feed."

Ashley nodded again and walked fully into the room, trying to prepare herself on what she was about to see, but when she sat down in the chair Warrick had just stood up from so she could sit and he told her, after clearing his throat, that she had to press the watch button to see him, nothing could prepare for what she was seeing, she gasped with tears in her eyes as her heart was breaking before she asked brokenly. "Who would do this to him? Who would do this to anybody?"

Catherine cleared her throat and shook her head. "We don't know that yet. But..." She paused to look at Sara and Grissom. "Can I speak to you in my office?"

They both nodded before looking over at Ashley, and Warrick spoke softly, brokenly. "I'll stay with Ashley."

They nodded again before following Catherine to her office, and once they were in the room, Catherine closed the door and headed for her desk while Sara asked. "So, you still don't know who it could be?"

Catherine shook her head. "No, but we highly suspect it's revenge from someone who was involved with one of his cases that he worked here before he left, I mean why bring him all the way to Vegas if it was someone from San Francisco?"

Both Sara and Grissom nodded before Sara spoke again. "Ok, that does make sense, we can go with that for now." Sara then cleared her throat before she continued. "We do have another issue, the ransom money, our undersheriff was no help. And Ashley and Nick don't have that kind of the money."

Catherine shook her head. "I would imagine not, and my undersheriff was also no help. That's why I took matters into my own hands." Before Sara or Grissom could say something, Catherine pulled a bag out from behind the desk and placed it on top of it, Sara and Grissom looked inside and gasped at the money they saw before Catherine spoke again. "Courtesy of my father."

Grissom raised an eyebrow. "Sam Braun gave you this? You know how it could look getting money from a former murder suspect."

After finding out who her father was two years ago, and how she found out, she told Grissom, so he knew every detail about what Sam Braun has been up to.

Catherine sighed. "I'm aware of that, and if you have another idea, I'm all ears."

Sara and Grissom looked at one another before Sara spoke. "She does have a point, and she could say it was donated by an anonymous donor."

While he didn't like the feeling of taking the money from a murder suspect, no matter who it was, he couldn't deny that if it had been Sara in that box, he would take it in a heartbeat, so he nodded his consent to the plan.

Once they saw Grissom's head nod, Catherine and Sara look at one another and Sara asked. "Do we have information on where to send the money?"

Catherine shook her head. "Not yet."

"Ok, but when you do, I'm going."

Before Catherine could speak, Grissom did in a worried tone. "Sara..."

But she cuts him off immediately, doing something she's never actually done with him before, pulling rank. "I know he's our friend, but he's also my CSI, I'm his supervisor."

Not wanting to get involved, Catherine cleared her throat before walking towards the door. "I'll let you two sort it out."

When it was just the two of them with the door and blinds closed, Sara cupped her husband's cheek. "I'll be fine."

He took a breath as he placed his hand on top of hers. "If anything ever happens to you I'll never forgive myself."

"And you think I wouldn't feel the same way if it was you going? Who else do you trust going? I wouldn't feel right to ask Catherine, you wouldn't want her to go anyways, plus she shouldn't be anywhere near this money. What about Warrick?"

He took another hard breath and closed his eyes. "All options are hard."

"Exactly, and it doesn't change the fact that I am his boss, it should be me." His worry was deeper, and she gave him a little smile as she finished while running her thumb up and down his cheek. "Hey, I have you and the children to get back to, you think I'm going to let anyone stop me from getting back home to you guys?"

He gave her a little smile, but worry was still deep in his heart. "No, I wouldn't want to stand in the way of a wrath fueled up Sara."

She chuckled slightly. "No, I suspect not." She paused before she started to say. "I lo..."

He cuts her off. "This better not be a goodbye."

She shook her head. "It's not, I just want to say it. I love you."

He sighed as he moved his forehead so it would touch hers and he closed his eyes. "I love you too, and you better come back to me and our children."

She whispered softly, while hoping with all of her heart that she will. "I promise."

Their little moment was interrupted when Catherine opened the door and cleared her throat. "Sorry to interrupt, but we now have an address."

Sara and Grissom pull back from one another, then Sara spoke with a determined voice while she grabbed the bag full of money from the desk. "It's time we bring our guy home."


AN: Thanks for reading, and please review. Hope you are all having a good/safe weekend, until next time, always remember GSR4ever!