:lol:
Thanks, guys. Here's the next part.
*~*~*~*
Chapter 8
Adam walked into the break room, finding Alexa sleeping against Trish on the couch while Eric stood in the corner, looking out the window. Trish was the first to acknowledge Adam’s presence. “How’s the case going?” she asked nervously. Eric turned to look at Adam.
“So far, we have a suspect,” he replied. “Who was staying at the hotel. CSIs are on their way to go process it, see if they’re there or if there are any clues there as to where he took Greg.” Trish nodded, and Eric sighed.
“What are the chances Greg’ll come back alive?” Eric asked quietly. Adam bit his lip.
“The first 12-24 hours are crucial in a kidnapping case. We’re still in that window. Usually after 24 hours, the victim’s probably been killed. But this isn’t exactly a typical kidnapping case, because there’s been no mention of ransom or anything. This guy took Greg because he wants to hurt and/or kill Greg. So, it’s about 50/50 at this point.” Eric nodded solemnly, and Adam looked to the ground.
“Is there anything we can do?” Eric’s voice was soft, a tone Adam had never heard from Greg’s father. Adam sighed.
“Right now, no. The best we can all do is just wait.” Eric nodded, and Adam fell silent. Trish looked back and forth between the two men.
“Maybe we could go grab dinner?” she asked. Adam and Eric looked at each other before shrugging and going along with it. Trish woke up Alexa, and the four of them went out to dinner.
*~*~*~*
While the group was at dinner, Adam’s cell phone rang. “Adam Ross,” he said.
“Adam, it’s Danny,” Danny said.
“What’s up, Danny?”
“We have a potential lead on a location for Greg, but if there was any doubt that it was Brian that took Greg, it’s gone.”
“That’s good, I guess.”
“Yeah. Where are you guys?”
“We went out to dinner. We’ll probably be back after.”
“No, it’s good that you guys got out.”
“Yeah, well, can’t deny a pregnant woman food.” Danny chuckled, and Trish smiled. “We’ll be back within the hour.”
“Take your time. We’re gonna be running the evidence, and Mac and Grissom are going to our potential location with Flack.”
“Right now?”
“Yeah.”
“Maybe we should…”
“Adam, finish your dinner,” Danny demanded. Adam sighed.
“We’re almost done,” Adam countered.
“We’ll be here when you get back. This is kinda a long shot. I’m not going to lie to you, okay? It’s possible, but doubtful. So, don’t get your hopes up just yet.” Adam sighed.
“Okay, fine. We’ll be back soon.”
“Take your time.” They hung up, and Eric turned to Adam.
“What’d he say?” the worried father asked. Adam sighed.
“They may have a potential location on Greg, but Danny says it’s a long shot,” Adam recapped. “He told us to finish dinner and to not rush back.” Alexa frowned, reaching for Adam’s hand.
“I hope he’s okay,” she said softly. Adam gave her a sad smile.
“Me too, sweetie. Me too.”
*~*~*~*
The four of them returned from dinner, and Stella greeted them in the break room. “Our lead didn’t pan out the way we wanted it to,” she said. Adam tensed.
“What do you mean?” he asked.
“Greg and Brian weren’t there, but there was a clue waiting there.” Adam groaned angrily.
“So, this is all a game to him. One stall tactic after another while he tortures Greg to death.”
“Adam, I know you’re frustrated, but we’re doing the best we can.” He sighed.
“Yeah, Stella, I know.” She hugged him gently, telling him that they’d take care of things, before walking out of the room. Adam slumped into the couch, spent from the day’s events.
“Why don’t you get some rest, Adam?” Trish said softly. He looked lazily over at her. “You look like you need it.”
“Thanks, but I’m okay,” he said softly. “I think I’m gonna go look into a few things in the lab.” She nodded, and Alexa stood up.
“Can I go with you?” she asked softly. Adam sighed.
“Ya know, kiddo, I think you’d better stay here.” Alexa frowned at the suggestion.
“I don’t want to. I wanna go with you.”
“Alexa, please, just stay with Trish and Eric.” She sighed.
“Fine.” She sat down next to Trish, and Adam kissed her on the top of her head. She gave him a half-smile, and he returned it before walking out of the room. He made his way deeper into the lab, finding Mac in his office with Grissom. Grissom walked out a moment later, nodding at Adam solemnly before walking into one of the labs. Adam cautiously approached Mac’s door before quietly knocking on the glass. Mac looked up and waved him in.
“How’re you holding up?” Mac asked as the young tech made his way into the room.
“I, uh, I’m not,” he said softly. Mac gestured for Adam to take a seat on the couch, which he did. Mac then pulled one of the other chairs in the room around to face Adam on the couch before sitting down.
“You wanna talk about it?” Adam looked up from the floor, finding a deep concern in Mac’s eyes.
“I knew this would happen,” Adam began. “I just… I had this gut feeling that this time would be the time that something happened. And, I was stupid and never told Greg any of these things, but it doesn’t really matter because he probably wouldn’t have listened to me, but I can’t help feeling that maybe I could’ve prevented this somehow. I should’ve told him not to come out here. I should’ve warned him about what he left. I shouldn’t have been such a bad friend and kept him in the dark. This is all my fault.”
“Adam…”
“No, Mac. It is. I should’ve told him about Audrey, the twins, everything. I should’ve told him all of this a long time ago. But I didn’t, and now he’s been kidnapped and may get killed by the hands of this… jackass… and there’s not a damn thing I can do about it. When I could’ve prevented all of this in the first place!” Adam sighed, bringing his knees up to his chest. Mac watched his young tech from a distance, not sure how to comfort him. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault, Adam,” Mac said softly. “None of this is your fault.”
“It feels like it is.”
“How so?”
“If Greg had known about Audrey, he would’ve come back and worked to make things right with her. Then, she never would’ve been with the jerk who killed her. He probably would’ve never had this happen because the people who did this to him wouldn’t even recognize him because he would’ve changed a lot. He would’ve never run over the James kid, and then his face wouldn’t have been everywhere, and they would’ve never come after him, and everything would’ve been fine.” Adam brought his head down to his chest, crying. Mac put his hand on Adam’s shoulders, rubbing them gently in an attempt to soothe the young man before him.
“You don’t know that for sure, Adam,” Mac said finally. Adam didn’t reply, keeping his head down as he continued to cry. “You’re shouldering a lot of blame for a bunch of things you had no control over.”
“But I feel like I did,” Adam replied tearfully. Mac bit back a frown.
“You didn’t, Adam.” Adam continued to cry, something he had never done before in front of Mac.
“But everything’s always my fault. Always has been ever since I was a kid.” Mac furrowed his brow, but didn’t push the issue as Adam sighed. “I could never do anything right, according to my father. Apparently, I still can’t. I screw up to the point where I nearly get my best friend killed… if he isn’t already dead. If he isn’t already wishing he was dead. I’m an idiot. I screwed things up big this time, Mac.” Sobs cut him off from speaking further, and Mac moved to sit next to Adam. He hugged Adam gently, allowing Adam to cry on his shoulder.
*~*~*~*
Stella poked her head in, meaning to talk to Mac, before hesitating at the sight before her. She caught Mac’s eye, reading his expression as one to come back later before turning and walking out of the office. Flack caught her in the hallway.
“Anythin’ new?” he asked. She shrugged.
“Got another lead,” she replied. “I was gonna let Mac know I was running with it, but he’s kinda busy.” Flack peered into the glass walls of the office, seeing what Stella meant.
“Yeah, but I bet that’s a long time comin’. That kid’s having a rough week.”
“Yeah. So, looks like I’m takin’ you with me.” Flack smirked.
“Alright. Let’s roll.”
*~*~*~*
Grissom walked into the break room, finding Trish, Eric, and Alexa sitting in there. The three of them looked at the newcomer to their calm with guarded interest. “Mr. Sanders,” Grissom said. “I’m Gil Grissom, Greg’s boss in Vegas. I’m not sure we’ve met.”
“No, I don’t think we have,” he said. “Please, call me Eric, Mr. Grissom.”
“Gil.” They shook hands.
“Gil, this is my wife, Trish, and Greg’s daughter, Alexa.”
“It’s nice to meet both of you, just not under these circumstances.”
“Gil, do you have any leads on my stepson’s kidnapping?” Trish asked quietly. Eric looked down at the question.
“We have one,” he told her. “It could be a real lead, or it could pan out like the other one. Either way, it’s something that Detective Bonasera’s following up on.” She nodded.
“Any idea where Adam went off to?” Eric asked.
“He’s in Detective Taylor’s office.” Eric nodded, looking out the window again. Grissom sighed. The hardest part of one of his CSIs getting kidnapped was always dealing with the family.
“Did anyone call Greg’s mother?”
“Yes, earlier after we called you. She was coming out here as soon as she could.” Just then, an older woman walked into the room with Hawkes. Danny walked in a few moments after.
“Eric,” she said, looking at him. Eric turned around.
“Nancy,” he replied, hugging her gently. She inhaled deeply.
“How’s it going?”
“They’re working on some leads.” She nodded.
“Nancy,” Grissom said. She turned to him.
“Gil,” she replied, hugging the older man. “Please, tell me you’ll bring my boy back.”
“We’re doing the best we can.” She sighed painfully.
“I took the first plane I could…” Danny leaned over to Hawkes.
“His mother?” he asked. Hawkes nodded. “And Trish is…?”
“His step-mother,” Hawkes replied quietly.
“Step-mother? She looks like she’s 20.”
“26, actually.”
“And Greg is…?”
“32.”
“Damn.”
“And she’s having his half-sibling, who’s going to be about 10 years younger than their niece and nephew.” Danny shook his head.
“Weird family.”
“Don’t judge them.”
“I’m not. It’s just… not what I’m used to.” Hawkes shrugged, watching as Nancy and Trish exchanged pleasantries.
“It works for them.”
*~*~*~*
Adam picked his head up as his cell phone rang. Mac nodded at him to answer the phone, and Adam sighed. “Adam Ross,” he said.
“Adam,” Greg replied hoarsely. Adam bolted up.
“Greg? Are you okay?”
“Not really. Listen, Adam, I managed to get free from him, but I’m completely lost, buddy.”
“Don’t worry, we’re GPS-ing this call. Just stay on the line with me, okay?”
“Alright.”
“How bad are you hurt?”
“I think I got some broken ribs… maybe a broken wrist… hurts to breathe, walk, do all that… but I’ll survive.”
“You’re damn right you will. I’m gonna kill you for this later.” Greg managed a half-chuckle at Adam’s comment.
“Yeah, yeah. I know.”
“You have us all scared to death, kid. Are you sure you got away from him?”
“Yeah, I’m pretty damn sure, considering I killed him.” Adam’s eyebrows went up, and Mac looked upon his reaction with curiosity.
“You killed him?”
“It was either him or me that got out alive, Adam.”
“Okay, fair enough. Listen, we’ve just about got your location pinned down, okay? But I need you to stay on the phone with me. We’re on our way with the paramedics, okay?”
“Alright, super, fantastic. I’ll stay awake, I swear.”
“How’d he subdue you?”
“What, are you taking notes?”
“Making conversation. What would you rather talk about? The weather?”
“Adam, I just killed a man for the second time in my life. I’m a little terrified right now, okay?” Adam sighed.
“I’m sorry,” he said softly.
“It’s okay,” Greg replied, matching his tone. Mac and Adam were already rushing out at this point, with Mac radioing for the paramedics to Greg’s location. “I’m not sure what we should talk about. Did my mom come rushing out here?” Danny and Hawkes came rushing out to join them, still talking about Greg’s family. Grissom joined them as well, leaving the family alone in the break room until Lindsay could join them.
“Yeah. She’s in the break room with Eric, Trish, and Alexa.”
“That’s really awkward.”
“Danny’s mystified by your family.”
“Oh, Dad and Trish?”
“Yeah.”
“Did you mention to him that she’s 26?”
“Hawkes did.”
“It’s weird.”
“I know.”
“I love my dad, though.”
“I know you do, Greg.” They rushed to the scene, Mac keeping an ear on Adam’s conversation with Greg while Grissom sat behind them. Following their car were Danny and Hawkes. Stella and Flack were going to catch up with them while Lindsay was keeping the family posted on the developments of the case. “You still with me?” Adam asked.
“Yeah, I’m here,” Greg replied.
“You wanna talk about this?”
“Not on the phone, buddy.”
“Fair enough.”
“Do you think Grissom’ll give me a raise after he meets my daughter?” Adam laughed.
“You’ll have to ask him later,” he replied, turning to Grissom. Grissom knit his brow together. “Or, I could ask him now for you.”
“He came out here?” Greg asked.
“Yeah, earlier. Want me to ask him for you?”
“No, no, it’s okay.”
“Chicken.”
“Oh, grow up.”
“I’m not the one afraid to ask my boss a simple question.” That statement earned Adam a curious look from Mac, one that caused Adam to rethink his words.
“Yeah, okay. Instead, you’re afraid of Mac every time he walks into a room.”
“Not fair.”
“And you teasing me is? I’m injured, genius!”
“I know,” Adam said quietly, the teasing tone gone from his voice.
“I’m sorry,” Greg said.
“Don’t be. You’ve got nothing to be sorry about. I should be apologizing to you.”
“You know what? You can explain that logic later, after I’ve had a nap.”
“Don’t you dare fall asleep on me!”
“Okay, 2 things. 1. I’m pretty sure I don’t have a concussion, and 2. I didn’t say I was going to sleep now.”
“Okay, good. We’re almost there.”
“Okay.” Greg’s voice sounded a little weaker, and he launched into a coughing fit. Adam pulled the phone away from his ear, biting his lip nervously. After the coughing subsided, he put the phone back to his ear.
“You okay?” Adam asked.
“Not really,” Greg replied.
“Any worse than you were before?”
“Kinda.”
“Kinda how?”
“Kinda bleeding out my mouth. Damn, that really hurts.”
“Greg, we’re almost there, hang on.”
“I’m hanging on, dammit.”
“Stop being angry.”
“Sorry. I’m scared, which makes me angry. I hate being scared.”
“I know.” They pulled to a stop outside the building, and they climbed out of the car. “Okay, we’re here. Now, are you sure the place is clear?”
“Adam, if it wasn’t, I think I’d be dead by now. Brian was acting alone.” Adam looked at Mac and nodded. Mac nodded, instructing the others to still draw their weapons and slowly enter the building. “I hear you,” Greg said in a lame attempt at a sing-song voice. Nonetheless, Adam laughed.
“Yeah, I figured you would,” Adam replied. “The paramedics should be right behind us.”
“NYPD!” Mac called out as they entered. Greg groaned.
“Tell Mac I’m here, but if I scream, I might die,” Greg said into the phone.
“Don’t you dare die on me!” Adam replied.
“I won’t.”
“Greg?” Grissom called out.
“Hey, you weren’t kidding… he really is here,” Greg said.
“He’s afraid to scream back,” Adam told them, ignoring Greg’s comments. “He’s afraid he’ll start coughing again.” Turning back to the phone, Adam said, “Greg, bang something together or something so we know where you are.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Greg started hitting the ground with the gun beside him. “You know, this could be a bad idea.”
“What could be, buddy?” The group started walking toward the banging noise.
“Hitting a gun against the floor.”
“Unload it before you kill yourself.”
“I’m not gonna kill myself. It probably won’t even go off.”
“You say that now.”
“Have a little faith.” Greg’s voice was much weaker now, and Adam sighed.
“Stay with me,” he said softly.
“Trying,” Greg said back as they reached his corner of the room. Brian was sprawled out not far from Greg, a bullet wound in his forehead.
“You’re a good shot,” Adam said, hanging up. Greg shrugged weakly.
“Thanks. I don’t try.” Greg slumped onto the ground, closing his eyes as the paramedics rushed over to take him to the hospital.
