Title: Insatiable Appetite for Death
Chapter 9 – The Fall of the House of Death

A/N: okay so since the reviews dropped so drastically for chapter 8 I am going to assume that very few liked it and am going to end the story with this one (kinda discouraging for me). I might add more later (mostly the N/S stuff) but hope you all like it as it. sigh Thanks again to all who did review throughout…it really makes my hard work worth the effort.

"Sara, what's wrong?" Catherine asked as she noticed Sara walking up to them and then her face change to that of pain.

"It's Nick…" she whispered. "He's…" she looked away and then back at Catherine with a terrified expression. "He's going to die."

"What? How do you know?" Catherine dared to question.

"I don't know," she uttered in uncertainty. "But I just…Catherine I just feel it…something's very wrong with Nick…we might be too late!"

XXXXXXXXXXX

Nick eyed the vial in horror and immediately felt his heart start to race fast once again. "No…" he breathed in horror.

"Oh yes," Willard smiled. "Still refuse to believe in fate? Well it believes in you," Willard laughed. "You see there is no one smart enough to put together who I really am…"

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Well I need Vartaan now…okay then give me…" Miller continued.

"Didn't Greg head over to see Chloe?" Warrick asked.

"Give me the phone," Grissom snapped, snatching the handle away from Miller. "I need to speak to Chloe Frost."

"Hey Grissom…"

"Chloe I need you and Greg to check something for us right now and trust me we have no time to spare!"

"What do you need?"

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Why the hell didn't we think of this earlier?" Miller lamented as they waited for the Chloe to give them the address.

"Maybe it was too simple," Grissom offered. "You CIA guys are always looking for the spectacular."

"Who was suspect at first?" Warrick asked as they waited for the address to come up.

"We suspected the Chinese because had seen it's effects first hand and as we all know any country is always looking for a military leg up on the other, especially if they oppose the US in any way in a military capacity," Miller sighed. "Brimley was…"

"How did his mother die?" Grissom asked.

"She was infected first," Miller answered pointedly.

"What?" Both Grissom and Warrick asked at once. "And you didn't suspect Wallace before…"

"We were keeping an eye on him but not as close as I guess we should have. Wallace has always had a bit of an inferiority complex when it came to others…his…age…" he stopped in mid thought. "How old is Nick?"

"Why?"

"You think that if Nick is the same age as…" Warrick started.

"Well Nick's mother worked on a few of the legal documents that Brimley was involved with," Miller stated.

"And if Wallace met Nick before and was made to feel he could never measure up…" Warrick continued.

"When we just found the motive to take out Nick," Grissom finished as Chloe's voice came over the phone. "What do you have?"

XXXXXXXXXXX

"If your friend is as healthy as Catherine tells me then he should be fine until we find him," Dr. Marks tried to reassure Sara and Catherine. "That is if he hasn't been infected with part two."

"How long? How long…I mean if he hasn't been…well I have to believe he hasn't been…how long?" Sara asked.

"How long before part one is gone?" Dr. Marks asked with a frown, receiving a nod from both women. "We don't know. If the body does kill off the bulk of the host virus then there is no chance it will…"

"You mean there is a chance the body can't fight it all off?" Sara half shouted in horror. She looked at Catherine and then back at Dr. Marks in hatred. "If Nick dies I will kill you." And with that she turned on her heel and rushed out of the ER, leaving both Catherine and the man beside her with open mouths.

Sara rushed back into the chapel, it was quiet once again and to her seat in the corner. "Nick you can't die…not so soon…not until…" she lightly weeped, cursing herself inside for losing her temper so easily with Dr. Marks. It wasn't his fault really, but in truth there wasn't anyone else around to blame. "Nick…" she whispered once more. "Please let me find you in time…"

XXXXXXXXXXX

"You know this virus really is amazing. I mean when a body feels as warm as I'm sure yours does right now, then the first thing to do is cool it down. But you see the bugs thrive in the cold and…"

"Someone will stop you," Nick lightly promised.

"They are all DEAD!" Willard spat. "I made sure that no one…"

"All of them?" Nick questioned. "Even Mary Evans?" He asked, doing anything to stall for time and throw the subject away from his own suffering.

"You know nothing of Mary!" Willard retorted.

"I know she's not dead," Nick lied, not really knowing if Mary was indeed alive or dead.

"You're lying," Willard answered back with a hint of doubt in his voice.

"Her roommate…the one paid to take a holiday…she didn't go…" Nick continued. With each word his lungs paid the price by breathing in stale air and forcing them to burn because of lack of moisture. But Nick knew that to keep himself sane he had to try something…anything in hopes the team would find him. And while brain gave his words mouth to speak his heart prayed in earnest that Sara would be able to find him.

"You know nothing!" Willard half shouted, his temper easily getting the best of him once again.

"I know you'll fail," Nick said directly. "Even if I die you will be stopped."

"They'll never find me," Willard snided. "You see even if they are smart enough to put together the fact that I was the one that did all this…where will they look? My fake address?" Willard laughed. "They'd never think to look here! I WIN!"

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Sir I repeat again, this place is empty!" Albertson said into the phone, Miller, Grissom and Warrick listening via speaker phone on the other end.

"Well search that place from top to bottom detective," Miller directed. "We need something!"

"Damn it!" Warrick cursed. "So close to finding Nick."

"We will find him," Grissom promised.

"Gil so many have died already. How do you know you'll find him in time?" Miller questioned.

"Because I don't give up!"

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Well they found nothing," Greg lamented. "Can't believe this."

"Does he have a girlfriend or wife or something?" Chloe asked.

"No. He likes…we has someone that he's interested in…but trust me she knows," Greg huffed. "I just can't…" he mumbled as he leaned in closer to the screen. "We have to be missing something," he sighed.

"Why? Maybe this guy is just gone?" Chloe questioned.

"Grissom won't give up. I know it. We need to look beyond the obvious and…" he said looking at her with dawning realization.

"What?" Chloe dared to ask. "What is that look?"

"How soon can you get me back to the lab? I just thought of something!"

XXXXXXXXXXX

"I can't blame her," Dr. Marks told Catherine as they slowly walked down a hall back towards the ER. "I felt the same when the first victim…"

"But all the victims had been given part two right? So there is a chance that…"

"They will be strong enough to fight off the host virus? Yes there is a small chance that…"

"We only need a small chance," Catherine assured him. "We just need to find Nick."

Sara slowly headed in their direction, her expression that of determination and not misery.

"What is it?" Catherine asked quickly. "Find something we didn't?"

"No. I just know now that I need to be strong for Nick and that when this is all over I am not going to wait to tell him how I feel," she replied and then looked at Dr. Marks. "I am sorry about what I said earlier…I…well usually I am calm and…"

"I forgive you," Dr. Marks smiled. "I know it's not personal."

"Someone is making this personal," Catherine sighed. "What kind of man is Wallace Brimley?"

"A very odd man."

"Odd?"

"Yes all the way around. Even his feet," Marks chuckled.

"What did you say? What about his feet?" Sara rushed.

"Why? What is it?"

"When Nick and I were at the restaurant I passed by a pair of waiters slip on's…you know the ones they wear in the kitchen when it's greasy to keep them from slipping? I noticed they were two different sizes and one was oddly shaped."

"Yes Wallace has one foot that is bigger and more square and…"

"I paid it no heed but…" she said grabbing her phone and racing for the door. "I have to find those shoes!"

"I'm coming with you!" Catherine said loudly. "Keep Brass safe," she called out to Marks as they both disappeared through the doors.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Nick just stared at Willard and knew there really was nothing else to say. The Mary Evans topic obviously struck a bad nerve in Willard and he feared it could drive him to just inject Nick and be done with it. But as each minute ticked slowly by, Nick found himself giving in more and more to the virus raging inside his body. His skin he surmised would be hot to the touch, his head was throbbing, his lungs and throat on fire and his whole body felt at any minute like it wanted to explode from inside. Time, he knew was running out. He tried to force his watery eyes to focus on something other than the madman in front of him; but as Willard kept hold of that vial in his hand he couldn't do anything but concentrate on him. Even when he tried to think of Sara, his mind now kept flashing him images of her in pain and Willard just standing by watching and laughing.

"What are you thinking about right now?" Willard questioned Nick in an angry tone. "WHAT!"

XXXXXXXXXXX

"What can I get you?" Ellie asked Brass as she shifted uncomfortably in a nearby chair.

"My release papers?" He lightly laughed. "I just wish it wasn't so damn hot in here."

"I know," Ellie lightly moaned as she fidgeted with her fingers. "When will that be? Does that guy know?"

"You mean me?" Dr. Marks asked walking up to them.

Ellie gulped her words back and instead offered up a meek nod.

"That's okay, I have heard worse. From Sara I believe," he smiled.

"Sara?" Brass frowned. "Nice to know she cares about me that way," he teased.

"And Nick too I guess," Dr. Marks replied, letting it slip about Nick.

"What do you mean?"

"Well I'm sure he's having just as hard…a…time…" he slowed his words as he noticed the look of anger starting to deepen on Brass's usually calm face. "Wasn't I supposed to tell?"

"Tell me what? What happened to Nick?" He demanded in dread and fury. "You better not tell me he's infected with this as well!"

"I wish I could but…"

"Where the hell is he!" Brass half shouted, his lungs starting to constrict and make him cough.

"Please calm down," Dr. Marks pleaded.

"Where is he!" Brass shouted.

"We don't know," was the doctor's timid reply. "But as Sara and Catherine ran out of here I heard them say they were close."

"You better pray we are or there will be hell to pay!" Brass spat and then finally lay back down, his heart racing and his body temperature high once again.

"This day better end soon," Dr. Marks whispered to himself as he ordered another blood test to be taken from Brass. "Very soon."

XXXXXXXXXXX

Warrick continued to go over the files while Grissom and Miller went to verbally duke it out in another room.

"Why the hell are you keeping key information from us!" Grissom demanded in anger, drawing a few curious looks from passers-by.

"Gil you know the day I took the CIA oath that I wouldn't be able to disclose to you all the things I am involved with."

"This case involves not just two team members but also two friends! They could die at any moment but…"

"Brass hasn't been given…"

"I don't care who has been given what or when! What aren't you telling me! I know something is missing because you government types always leave something out. And it's usually your trump! You always think you have one better over the rest of us civilians. Think that you are so…so…untouchable!"

Miller let out a long sigh and turned and walked over to a small window, staring miserably into the night. "You know the day I swore the oath to protect this country against all forms of attack and on any level she left me…"

"What? What are you talking about?" Grissom questioned. "Maggie?"

"That day…the day I swore to leave my normal life behind. I had already convinced myself that I was making this sacrifice for the greater good. Told myself that I didn't need to start a family because I wouldn't want to put them in harms way," he continued, his eyes gazing into the night lights in the distance. "You do a few jobs and all seems well. You save the US from the brink of disaster and although you know you'll never get credit or have your name mentioned in any way you tell yourself you are doing this for the greater good. Then you come home one day to an empty house and realize that it was all for naught. My life…my real life ended the day she walked out of it…"

"Duncan I had no idea that…"

"You tell yourself that work is so important and that you can fix anything because…you know sometimes I don't even know why the hell I am even trying so hard," he huffed.

"Where is Maggie?" Grissom asked in a softer tone.

"She was at her mother's at first. Then I think she moved into her own place. Said she needed time," Miller said turning to Grissom with a smile looked more like a sneer. "Time…I hate that word now. Always the race against time…well time isn't on our side Gil. Not ever."

"You can't mean that," Grissom told him firmly. "I know you. You don't fall apart this easily over not…"

"Nothing? Maggie was the reason I did anything in my life! Before she left I…"

"Get her back," Grissom suggested.

Miller looked at him in surprise. "You are giving me advice to save my marriage?"

"Ironic isn't it?" Grissom lightly laughed.

"Strange is more like it," Miller smiled back. "But trust me I have tried…I just don't…you know I thought it was over the day the doctor told Maggie she could never give birth. She always wanted a family. Especially a daughter to call her mom. Never got that. I could never give her the one thing she really wanted. And now…now I'm losing it all again."

"I don't believe that and neither do you," Grissom told him. "Now pull yourself back together!"

"Gil, that detective went to the place your man should have been…I swear to you on a stack of Bibles I have no idea where they could be."

"But I might have an idea," Greg stated as he and Chloe rushed into the small room. "Where is Hodges?"

"Why? What did you find?"

"Hopefully Nick," Greg responded eagerly.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Not you people again," Cedric White moaned as Sara and Catherine rushed up to the still snobby host.

"Yeah well Vartaan sends his regards," Sara smiled. "I need to see a pair of cover up shoes that belong to Wallace Brimley," she told him.

"Like I know where he keeps…"

"I do," one of the other waiters piped up. "And if you see him, tell him he owes me fifty bucks," he laughed.

"Where are they?" Sara half begged.

"Come with me."

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Yes I am looking for Mary Evans," Vartaan repeated to the receptionist. "Yes I'll hold."

"Why would he put her in a mental hospital?" One of the other detectives asked.

"With this weirdo anything is possible I am finding out."

"But sir we have called ten hospitals in the greater DC already with no results. Maybe Mr. Miller's data is old?" The young man suggested.

"Well we are not leaving this desk until all these have been called and we locate Mary Ev…" Vartaan finished mid-sentence.

"What is it?"

"We have been looking for Mary Evans…but he wouldn't put her under Evans."

"Think he'd use Brimley?"

"No that would be too obvious," Vartaan sighed. "We have been going about this the wrong way. Okay we need to call all those numbers and ask for a girl name Mary or one that was just put in recently that fits her description. Get on it man," Vartaan barked as the receptionist came back on the line. "No I'm sorry I'm looking for…"

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Answer me!" Willard shouted at Nick.

"Why do you want to know?" Nick retorted, his body once again feeling a heat surge, coupled with intense pain.

"I want to know if you are thinking of death!"

"No, I am thinking about what happened to Mary Evans," Nick calmly replied.

Willard looked at him with a frown. "What? Why aren't you thinking about yourself?"

"Because I want to know why you didn't kill her like you did the rest? I am at least assuming that you killed them all," Nick lightly wheezed. "Am I wrong? Did you spare her life?"

Willard stared in silence at Nick before he started to slowly pace in front of him. With his back turned, it afforded Nick the opportunity to slowly work at turning his arms and loosening the ropes that held him captive to the chair.

"Mary's special," Willard started in a low tone.

'Tell me why?" Nick asked in a soft tone, gulping back another burst of pain and trying very hard to keep himself awake and alert.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Greg's right," Hodges smirked. "The other substance matched the test results from the CIA results. It's a chemical compound made of Lye, Arsenic and a few other household poisons."

"Used for what?"

"How about killing rats?" Sara offered as she rushed into the lab with Catherine in tow. "We found the slip-on's that belonged to Willard Deeter. They were purchased at Charlie's Supply Shop."

"I'm guessing it also sells Rat Poison," Grissom ventured. "We're heading there now," Grissom said looking at Miller. "Come on and make that badge useful," he told him lightly. "The rest of you get ready to go and find Nick when we call with the address."

Sara closed her eyes and offered up a small prayer inside, earnestly begging they would find Nick alive and well.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Grissom?" He answered his phone, rushing to after Miller outside and into the truck. "Jim what? Who told you? Marks? Well he's right…"

"Why the hell didn't you tell me?" Brass barked angrily.

"Because the last thing you needed to worry about was someone else," Grissom told him plainly. "Jim you need to pull through this with Ellie by your side. We have a solid lead on Nick and like I said from the beginning we will get this guy."

"I want a piece of him Gil, you owe me that much," Brass reminded him firmly.

"Miller is in charge. I believe his arrest will fall under the direction of the CIA," Grissom replied, looking at Miller. "What he does with Brimley is…"

"He'll get a piece of him Gil," Miller assured him. "I promise you all will."

"You'll get your chance. Now just rest."

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Mary…Mary is the only one who was ever kind to me! Not like you were!" Willard shouted.

"What did she do that was so special?" Nick asked, fighting the urge to give into the pain in his body.

"She…she never judged me," his voice faltered slightly as he turned his back to Nick and slowly walked over to a small table. "She…she was kind to me."

"How?"

"She…she's gone now," Willard told Nick in remorse.

"Is she dead?" Nick asked in a low tone.

"Almost," Willard lightly sobbed. "Just like we will be very soon."

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Sir I don't have a Mary Evans but about three weeks ago a Mary Deeter was admitted into our hospital by her father."

"What does she look like?" Vartaan rushed to find out. After finding out that she matched the same description as Mary Evans he continued. "Now about her father," Vartaan started. "I am faxing over a picture of him now. Tell me when you get it if it's the same man. How is she?"

"She's due for another treatment?"

"What kind?" Vartaan dared to ask.

"Electro-shock…" the receptionist told him.

"What? By who's orders?" Vartaan's angry voice boomed.

"Her father. He said that…"

"Did you get the picture?"

"Yes."

"Is that the man that admitted Mary Deeter?" Vartaan demanded.

"Yes," was the nervous reply.

"Now you listen to me. That young woman was kidnapped by a man calling himself Deeter. She is being held there against her will. Her real parents were murdered and…"

"Sir this is just…"

"Look DC police are on their way over now. When they get there…" Vartaan's voice rattled off as Albertson picked up the phone and dialled Grissom. "We found Mary Evans and she's alive. We're getting her now."

XXXXXXXXXXX

Grissom and Miller rushed into Charlie's Supply Shop, while Sara nervously waited with the rest of the team, slowly pacing a small spot in the corner of the lab, continually praying that Nick was still alive and that they weren't too late.

"Nick…" she whispered so no one else would hear. "We are coming…please be alive…please hang on…"

XXXXXXXXXXX

Nick could feel his body starting to falter once again, not helping him was the fact that he now believed that Willard didn't care what happened to him and that he too wanted to die. What was stopping him? His brain now started to show terrible images of Sara in pain, Willard laughing and him breathing his last breath of air, cursing the day he started with CSI. He tried to shake the terrible images from his over-exhausted brain but the closer Willard loomed with the vial of death the more his mind gripped his being with fear.

"They will not find you in time," Willard promised.

"Aren't you missing from work?" Nick wondered. "They'll have checked."

"And if they do all that pesky Vartaan found was my old address. No one will be smart enough to trace me here!"

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Willard Deeter," Grissom repeated to the store clerk.

"Look I don't think that I am allowed to…"

"Then I am placing you under arrest for deliberately blocking a federal investigation," Miller spoke up.

"On who's authority?" The clerk sneered.

"The President of the United States," Miller retorted, flashing his CIA identification. "Think you're in serious trouble? You will be?"

"What do you need?" The man finally huffed.

"The real address for Willard Deeter. We have already been to 34 Walnut Drive. I want to know where he…"

"Fine," he said slowly heading into the back to get what they needed.

"Nice touch," Grissom smiled.

"Hey it's gotta be good for something right? Just hope your man can hold on."

XXXXXXXXXXX

"I hate this waiting," Sara moaned as she dug the set of truck keys further into the fleshy part of her palm.

"We all do," Warrick added. "But if we start driving we could end up further than where we want to be and put Nick in even more danger."

"I know," she huffed. "I just hate it."

"I can't imagine what Nick feels," Greg half whispered. "If he's even…" his voice trailed off in sorrow.

"That's it…" Sara barked angrily as she stormed out of the room and headed outside.

"Good going genius," Warrick remarked in sarcasm.

"She won't go far," Catherine said going after Sara.

"I can't do it…I just can't wait for nothing!" Sara angrily spat as Catherine caught up to her outside. "What if Nick is dead?"

"Then we had better find the guy who killed him and make sure he didn't die in vain," Catherine replied.

Sara looked at her in surprise.

"What? Not what you wanted to hear?" Catherine lightly smiled. "We will find him."

"How do you know?"

"Because Grissom will never fail Nick," Catherine promised as her cell phone rang. "He just couldn't do that to any team member. Did you find the address?" Catherine asked Grissom in an eager tone. "We're on our way."

Sara didn't even wait for the instructions and rushed for the truck and had it started by the time Catherine jumped in.

"Hold on Nick…" she said with a half sigh of relief. "We are coming."

XXXXXXXXXXX

"They found Nick!" Warrick told the waiting group. He, Greg and Chloe rushed from the room, leaving the other lab members to wonder if they'd find the other senior CSI member alive or dead.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"They found the address," Marks said rushing up to Ellie and Brass.

"Let's pray Nick's still alive," Brass huffed.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"They'll know were you are…you made a mistake," Nick told Willard in a firm tone. "You couldn't have done that many murders and not made a mistake!"

"I DIDN'T MURDER THEM!" Willard shouted.

"Yes you did," Nick replied, his lungs constricting and forcing him to cough heavily.

"I had to show them…show them the error of their ways," Willard replied, his voice slightly lowering.

"Like you showed Mary Evans…like you showed…who else did you infect here? WHO!" Nick shouted. "I need to know!"

"Jim Brass!" Willard finally confessed.

"What? Why?"

"Because he was friends with Evans and Mary's godfather. If anyone would want revenge it would have been him," Willard confessed in hatred. "But I showed him…made him pay! Just like you!"

"But I did nothing to you," Nick spat angrily. He could feel his body starting to weaken but at the same time so were the ropes from his pulling. He had to continue to try or face the ugly consequence of death. It was now or never.

"I have hated you all my life! In Texas and then…then when I saw you in the alley way I knew…"

"I was never…" Nick tried, puling whatever strength he had left inside him against the ropes to loosen them further.

"You were never my friend!" Willard shouted in anger, the vial still clutched in his hand. "Now you have to pay!"

XXXXXXXXXXX

"We have to make it," Sara repeated over and over to Catherine, her heart rate matching the speed with which she was pushing the truck.

"We will," Catherine tried to tell her, praying they would arrive safe and in time.

"Please Nick…just hold on."

XXXXXXXXXXX

Nick watched in horror as Willard raced back to the small table and slowly drained all the contents of the vial into a needle. He felt one last surge of adrenaline pump through his veins and started to yank at the ropes with everything he had left inside. Finally he felt the ropes around his legs loosen enough for him to get one free.

Willard turned with the needle in his hand.

Nick continued to pull, sweat pouring from his bloodied brow, stinging his eyes and making dirty pools down into the folds of his undershirt.

"Now Mr. Stokes…it's time to die…" Willard taunted as he took a step closer.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"We're almost there," Grissom told himself.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Nick you have to hold on…" Sara echoed in fear.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"You will never win!" Nick shouted as he finally pulled an arm free and continued to strain to loosen the other. He didn't care that the ropes had cut into his tender flesh, the closer Willard came with the needle the more time he lost in saving his life.

"I HATE YOU!" Willard shouted as he charged Nick.

Nick watched in horror as Willard started to rush towards him, the needle ready to be inserted. Nick pulled his arm free and tried to gather whatever strength he had left in him to keep Willard at bay long enough to free himself.

As Willard neared, he failed to notice Nick's leg freeing itself rapidly and then coming up and catching him in his own calf, making him stumble. Nick felt his own leg buckle because of his weakness but knew inside he had to keep trying to keep Willard back.

Willard pushed himself to his knees and just lunged at Nick, catching him in his mid-section and making the chair crash backwards onto the floor; leaving the two men on top of it in a sweaty pile of flailing arms and legs. Nick felt his side almost give way when Willard punched him hard. But Nick was able to land a blow to Willard's side and then felt himself scrambling to get his other arm free of the sweaty ropes. But just as he felt himself making progress, Willard punched him again in the side and after the third hit to the same spot Nick heard the distinct crack of his ribs starting to falter.

The end was near.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"I see the place!" Sara half shouted to Catherine, the distinct glow of red and blue also closing in, sirens filling up the usually still night air.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"They…are…coming…" Nick half panted; his words a reaction to what he was hearing outside. He watched as Willard; now filled with violent rage raised the needle and tried to plunge it into his arm. But it missed the soft flesh and hit the padding of the chair he was still half attached to. Nick tried to kick at Willard once again and felt himself sustain another hit to his gut, this time the wind knocked from him and his body starting to constrict from lack of air.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Remember we want him alive!" Miller said into the two-way radio to the other emerging police cars.

"What?" Grissom asked quickly as he pushed the truck into position behind Sara's; who's was now empty.

"He's ours to deal with Gil. Just get your man and leave us ours."

XXXXXXXXXXX

Sara pushed herself out of the truck and raced, gun in hand towards the front steps of the shack that Wallace Brimely was dwelling in.

"Nick!" She shouted.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"It's…over…" Nick panted as his body sustained another blow. He heard Sara's voice and knew she would get to him in time. Or at least he prayed she would do so.

Willard, however, also heard the shouting and yanked a piece of Nick's sweaty t-shirt and stuffed it into his mouth and tried to wrestle his arm free long enough to plunge the needle in. Nick tried to grab at Willard's arm but with his strength failing every second, he wasn't sure he would survive the next few seconds.

XXXXXXXXXXX

Sara felt herself slamming her full body weight into the door and pushing it open, despite the pain she would feel later when it was all over. She watched in horror as Willard raised the needle and plunged it into what she was certain was Nick's forearm. However, Nick felt the needle just skim his skin, as he moved his arm in time and plunge the deadly contents into the chair behind him. He was safe!

"Nick!" Sara shouted as she fired off a shot that caught Willard in the arm, pulling him painfully back from Nick's battered body. Sara rushed to Nick just as the room behind her filled with cops and the rest of the CSI team.

"Nick…" Sara lightly cried as she eyed the sight of his battered body.

"Sara…" Nick croaked.

"Are you okay?" She rushed, frantically trying to free him of the chair.

"I am now," he said finally giving into the darkness, and collapsing in her arms.

"Nick!" Sara called out as she watched him go limp in her arms. She frantically felt for a pulse and when she was rewarded with one, gathered him up into her arms and held him close until the medics came and took him to the hospital to rest beside Brass.

Willard was taken into custody by Duncan Miller of the CIA and a lab technician was able to gather the last of the vial contents and given to Dr. Marks who had it carefully stowed for his trip back to DC. Mary Evans was released from the hospital and adopted gratefully by a newly reunited Duncan and Debbie Miller; who are now helping her to cope with her loss.

A few days later both Brass and Nick showed vast signs of improvement and were well on their way to recovery. Ellie returned to school with the promise to come and spend at least two weekends with a man she knew she needed in her life. Brass did get his chance to meet Wallace Brimley before he was taken back to DC and landed a hearty punch to his jaw; oddly enough not one of the police escorts was able to recall that event when later questioned about the bruises on Brimley's face.

Brass took sometime off; leaving Vartaan in charge and Nick earned himself a week off to recover and Sara took vacation at the same time to help him.

Things were back to normal.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"You think Brimley will get the chair?" Catherine asked Grissom a few days later as they sat in his office finishing the paperwork of the case that nearly cost them.

"I doubt Miller will let it go that far," Grissom said just as a courier walked into his office. "Special delivery from the CIA," the young man said, making them raise their brows in surprised looks.

"Thank you card?" Catherine guessed with a smile as Grissom opened the envelope.

"Early Christmas present," Grissom laughed as he showed Catherine a copy of a newspaper from DC. The headline reading: Young man charged in the high profile killings of members of a special government team mysteriously dies from unknown causes in his jail cell.

"Right," Catherine murmured. "They take care of their own?"

"They have the right to," Grissom replied.

"Comforting," she lightly sighed.

"Want to have coffee?" Grissom suddenly asked.

"Right now?"

"Well if this case has taught me anything, it's no time like the present," he retorted.

"Love to," she smiled.

XXXXXXXXXXX

"Can't believe I almost lost you," Sara lightly mentioned as she sat in Nick's embrace; both of them tucked away in a small cabin not far from the city of Las Vegas.

"Man I know it was scary," Nick huffed. "When he first told me someone was infected…Sara I thought it was you. I mean I could feel pain and…and then…then I heard your voice. Telling me to be strong and hold on and never give up. I knew you'd find me no matter what."

"I'm glad I did in time," she smiled. "Almost lost you though."

"But not quite," he said looking at her directly, a warm smile starting to grow across his face. "Sara there is something I need to tell you and…" he mentioned moving in closer, his heart starting to pick up speed a little.

"Nick…I just need to tell you this first," she interrupted.

"What is it?" He half asked in dread; fearing their last few days of drawing closer together were about to be drowned.

"When you were…I mean when he h…Nick…I...there was a priest and he said…well he…man I suck at this," she lightly laughed.

"Sara I love you," Nick blurted out.

"Y-you do?" Sara asked in happy surprise, her face starting to beam even more. "Really?"

"Yes," Nick told her firmly. "I know it's early for us but I don't care if…"

"I love you too," she early told him.

"You do?" He echoed her response.

"More and more every day. I just was too scared and stupid to admit it and…when I almost lost you I knew…in my heart I knew and…and I knew if I waited any longer then…"

"The moment might pass and we might never tell each other how we felt," Nick finished.

"Exactly," Nick answered warmly. "I do love you Sara…and I don't care what happens in the future as long as we are together."

"That's good enough for me," she replied firmly, feeling her body drawing closer to his every second; feeling the wanting hunger growing for him inside. "Make love to me Nick."

"Are you sure? Because if you aren't ready…"

"I am and I want you…and I don't need anything else."

Nick wrapped his arms around her body and pulled her closer, his lips starting to hungrily devours hers, his body inviting hers to do the same.

And as they started to consummate their love, serenity started to wash over them both; wrapping them in it's endless arms and making sure they got the love they both needed and deserved. And the future would be theirs to share together; they both earned it and proved it was worth more than anything they thought they were afraid to embrace. The future was theirs to share together; but tonight…tonight it would have to wait.