I’m very sorry for the long delay in the updating of all my stories for such a long time. I’m getting better and my New Year’s Resolution is to finish my stories. I also want to send out a special thanks to NicknGrisfan for an event that will take place in this chapter. 

Chapter 6

Their hearts sank as Nick spoke those words. Greg…dead? How can that be? He was always full of life. There must have been a mistake. Catherine turned into Warrick and cried in his shoulder. His arm wrapped itself around her as he comforted her. Sara took Grissom by the hand and held it tight, unable to let him go. Nick's face flustered. He didn't want to believe that his best friend was dead. Quickly and hyperventilating, he placed his middle and index finger on Greg's neck, hoping for a pulse. His heart skipped a beat as he felt a small and slow, but still existent pulse. "He's alive!"

Everyone seemed to look at Nick with a look of shock. It was a miracle! Their happiness had come back, but was quickly dissolved when they heard a large and muffled BOOM emanate from the back of the cave. Everyone looked around to see where the noise had come from until they noticed boulders began to shift and rocks fall from overhead. "THE CAVE IS COLLAPSING! EVERYONE, GET OUT!" ordered Grissom.

Sara, Warrick and Catherine began to run out of the cave as Grissom ran to help Nick carry Greg's limp body from the cave. Larger rocks were falling overhead as they struggled to carry out Greg's dead weight. A large rock fell and hit Nick square on the shoulder, followed by a crack. Nick cried out in pain, but endured it a bit longer to get Greg out of there. Before the ceiling could collapse on them, Nick and Grissom barely managed to get Greg to safety. As soon as they were in the fresh air, Catherine pulled out her cellphone and began to dial 911. Nick and Warrick, however, knelt down next to Greg to try and try to resuscitate him. "Come on, G," muttered Warrick as Nick began to perform CPR.

As Nick began to compress Greg's chest, Catherine hung up the phone and stated, "The EMTs are sending a chopper in to airlift Greg to the hospital."

But Nick didn't stop. He continued to try and revive Greg. But Greg showed no signs of waking up. Police sirens were heard off in the distant, alerting the team that the police were on their way. The sound of chopper blades began to grow louder and louder until it was practically above their heads. Officer units pulled up to the scene to try and secure the perimeter. The copter landed far enough away as to not disturb anything and came rushing towards the team with a stretcher in hand. When they arrived, Nick abandoned his post and a paramedic shouted over the sound of the spinning blades, "What's his name?"

"Greg Sanders," replied Grissom.

"Mr. Sanders, can you hear me?" shouted the female paramedic as she knelt down to Greg to check for a pulse.

When Greg didn't respond, she looked at her colleague and stated, "His pulse is weak!"

"Alright, let's get him in the chopper!"

As they gently lifted Greg onto the stretcher, Grissom shouted, "Can you take Nick Stokes as well? A boulder fell on his shoulder and I think it might be dislocated!"

"Sure thing. Mr. Stokes, follow us!"

"Grissom! I'm fine!" replied Nick over the sound of the helicopter.

"Just go with them and get it checked out. Besides, we need someone to go with Greg to make sure he's alright!" said Grissom.

Nick nodded and allowed the free paramedic to guide him into the helicopter. As soon as the two injured men were safely in the chopper, the blades lifted the machine into the sky and sent them towards Desert Palms. The sound of the blades disappeared, returning the bitter silence of their environment. Police began to set up the crime scene tape around the area as Jim Brass and Sofia Curtis came walking up. "How is he?" asked Brass.

"We don't know. He had a weak pulse when the medics arrived," replied Sara.

"Do you think we can get any evidence?" asked Sofia.

"I don't think so. A set of dynamite exploded and completely blocked off the pathway into the cave where we found him. Any evidence is long gone," stated Warrick.

"The only evidence we have now is whatever Greg remembers," finished Catherine.

Brass turned to Grissom who stared at the sky where the helicopter had disappeared. "Gil? What should we do?"

After Grissom let out sigh, he muttered, "I don't know."

---

Nick sat in the helicopter, cradling his injured arm. He watched helplessly as the medics attached monitors and IVs onto Greg to try and save his life. The heart monitor had a slow beep. It was practically a straight line. "Is that IV in yet?" shouted the lead paramedic.

"Yes sir," replied a female medic.

Suddenly, the heart monitor began to flat line. "We're losing him! Quick! Hand me the defibrillator!"

Another medic rushed to the side of the helicopter and brought out the yellow machine with two paddles. "300 volts!" cried one medic as the lead medic rubbed the paddles together.

As soon as the paddles were heated up, he touched them to Greg's soft skin and shouted, "Clear!"

A bolt of electricity went throughout Greg's body, causing his chest to jump. His heart skipped a beat, but continued to flat line. "Increasing volt level to 350 volts," stated a female medic.

The lead medic rubbed the paddles together and placed them on Greg's chest when ready. "Clear!"

Greg's body jumped again, and his heart skipped a couple beats, but didn't improve. "Increasing level to 400 volts."

After the lead medic rubbed the paddles once more and placed them Greg's skin, he cried, "Clear!"

This time, after Greg's body jumped once more, his heart began to go at a steady rhythm again. Nick released his breath as Greg's breathing became steady. The medics applied an oxygen mask to Greg to try and regulate his breathing better. One medic turned from Greg and towards Nick. "What's your name, sir?" he asked.

"Nick Stokes. Look, my shoulder's fine. Greg needs more help than I do."

"He's stabilized for now. Let me take a look at that shoulder of yours."

Nick removed his shirt for the medic to reveal the bruised and swollen shoulder. "It's definitely dislocated. We'll set it as soon as we land."

The medic left Nick's side and returned to Greg. As the chopper landed, the medics rushed Greg off the helicopter and into the hospital. A medic escorted Nick right after Greg. They followed Greg as the medics rushed him to the emergency room. As soon as he disappeared behind the double doors, Nick tried to follow, but his escort stopped him and said, "You can't go beyond that point. He'll be fine. Come with me and we'll get that shoulder set for you."

Nick stared at the doors once more before he followed the doctor to a room. Nick couldn't help but feel helpless as his best friend fought for his life.

TBC…

So, there you go guys. Please R&R!