Affliction

A/N: I hope you are enjoying the story, please leave me a review and let me know!

Chapter 16

11.58pm

The truck was in pieces all over the garage. Every last nut and every last bolt stripped. Seats shredded, wheels slashed, dash board torn apart. Grissom slumped down on a chair. No sign of the map had been found. The team stood defeated.

“We only have two hours left.” Grissom mumbled. “And we still have to get to them in that time, they could be anywhere.”

Catherine looked at the team. “Guys take five minutes okay?”

Everyone nodded. “You, erm want me to stay Cath?” Nick asked.

Catherine shook her head. “No, just give us a few minutes.”

Nick nodded and followed everyone down the hall.

Catherine walked to Grissom and knelt in front of him. “Hey, we will find them okay?”

Grissom sniffed hard and nodded, trying to stay positive. Catherine stood.

“Look, there is something I have to tell you.”

Grissom frowned.

“Something about Joshua Stevens.”

Grissom cocked his head, bells ringing in his ears. “What?”

“When we did the bullet comparison to find out if Kate was involved, we found another hit. The gun had been used before.”

Grissom stood slowly and Catherine took several defensive steps backwards.

“What do you mean?”

Catherine clenched her eyes shut briefly. “We think Joshua Stevens is a hit man and responsible for several murders.”

Grissom’s eyes widened and Catherine swallowed hard.

He chocked a laugh. “You are kidding me right?”

Catherine shook her head and stepped backwards again as Grissom took another step towards her.

“So, you’re telling me, that I let my wife fall into the hands of a crazed killer and you knew exactly what he was capable of all the time?”

“Gil, look, we didn’t think you needed to know. It would only make you worry more…”

“Make me worry more!!!!” Grissom spat, Catherine jumped.

“I’m sorry, we should have told you.”

Grissom ran a shaky hand through his hair; his pulse was currently felt like it was beating a thousand times per second.

Grissom shook his head but backed down, he headed for the door.

“Where are you going?”

“I need to be alone, just…leave me alone.”

Catherine sighed heavily as she watched him disappear.


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Sara opened her eyes and blinked rapidly. Her blurry vision re-focused after a while and she saw Kate across from her, reading a magazine. Kate looked up to see Sara had woken and watched as she slowly sat up.

Kate smiled. “Glad to see you up my dear, enjoy your nap?”

Sara rubbed the back of her neck and cursed under her breath. Feeling the pain once again in her broken fingers, she held them to her chest.

The front door opened and Sara looked up to see Josh.

“All done?” Kate asked.

Josh nodded.

“Anything news from our man?”

Josh shook his head.

Sara’s mind spun. ‘Our man?’ Was she referring to Grissom?

Kate grinned as she looked at her watch. “Looks like that husband of yours is struggling a little Sara. Maybe we should give him a call, see how he’s doing hey? Maybe he needs a little, encouragement. After all his time is almost up.”

Kate stood and walked across to a dresser, she pulled out some paper and a pen. Sara nervously watched her every move. Kate held out the pen and paper to Sara.

“Write his cell number on there.”

Sara did not argue. With her good hand shaky fingers took the pen and paper from Kate. She quickly scribbled down Grissom’s number and handed it to Kate.

Kate smiled. “Thanks.” She looked at Josh who walked around to stand behind Sara. Sara felt very uncomfortable with him behind her. Why was he behind her?

Kate pulled a cell from her pocket. “Now Sara, if you promise to be good and make sure you keep your pretty little mouth shut about where you think you may be, I might let you talk to your beloved, but if you let anything slip, I’ll make sure Josh uses his trusty tools on several parts of your body. You get me?”

Sara nodded quickly.

“Good.” Kate dialled…


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Grissom sat in his office staring into space. His mind was everywhere, nowhere. He didn’t even know who was anymore. His cell rang, he pulled it out and without even thinking about looking at the caller I.D he answered it.

“What?” He said sullenly.

“Now that’s not very nice is it Grissom?” Kate chuckled.

Grissom could feel his pupils dilate at Kate’s voice. He sat up quickly.

“Where the hell is my family?”

“Don’t be rude Grissom or I will just hang up and send them back to you in a box. Would you like that?”

Grissom stayed silent.

“Would you?”

“No.” Grissom crumbled.

“Good, so how have you been?” Kate joked.

Grissom bit his lip, hard.

“Oh, no chit chat then?”

“Please tell me what you want.”

Kate chuckled. “Hmmm what do I want? I’m sure you can work that one out yourself, but I have someone here who would like to say hello. That’s if, you’re not too busy.”

Grissom stood and paced around his office, his hand shaking as he listened to nothing but silence, then…

“Gil…?” Sara’s weak voice echoed through his ear.

“Sara…” He gasped. “Sara, are you alright?”

Sara looked up at Kate and swallowed hard. “Yes, I’m alright.”

Grissom frowned, she didn’t sound very convincing. “Mike?”

“Mike’s okay, he’s alright.”

Grissom bit his tongue slightly. “Can you give me any idea where you are?”

Kate’s piercing eyes never left Sara’s. “No, Gil I can’t.”

“Baby, hang on okay? I’m going to find you.”

Sara tried to smile. “I know.”

Kate took the phone from Sara.

“That’s enough.” She bragged down the phone. “So Grissom, you know what time it is? Not doing very well are we? You barely have an hour and a half left.”

“I need more time.”

Kate smiled devilishly and her eyes beamed an evil swirl. Sara noted the change in her face. More sinister then she’d seen her thus far.

“I’m sorry, what? I didn’t quite hear that?”

Grissom sighed. “I said I need more time.”

“Is the great investigator struggling? You know you have quite a dilemma don’t you Grissom? If you’re time runs out then, well you know what happens. If you want more time, it will cost you.”

Grissom didn’t like the sound of this. Dare he ask?

“What will it cost me?”

Kate grinned at Sara, who squirmed nervously.

“I will let you buy time Grissom, in half hour stints. Each half hour will cost you…a body part…”

Grissom gasped and Sara’s mouth dropped open. She didn’t just say that, no, she didn’t.

Sara tried to get to her feet, the fear running through her body made her want to run, run and hide. Josh grabbed her by the shoulders and held her firm. Forcing her to stay seated. He could feel her shaking.

Kate smirked. “I’ll even let you chose the body part, and from whom I take it.”

“You’re insane.” Grissom mumbled.

“Hmm, maybe, but I’m the one in control here. So do you want extra time or not?”

Grissom couldn’t think. How could he do this?

“A finger? A toe? An ear? Lots to choose from…”

“I….I….” Grissom struggled.

“I tell you what; I’ll make it easier for you.” Kate nodded to Josh who suddenly reached into his pocket and pulled out a rag and a bottle. Before Sara could even react he covered her mouth and nose forcefully. Her legs kicked as she struggled, her eyes widened in horror and her hands tried to scrape at his arms but he held her down with ease. The unmistakable smell of Chloroform filled the room.

Kate held up the phone so Grissom could hear Sara’s struggle.

Sara felt her eyes bulging and the last thing she remembered was Kate smiling wickedly at her. Her eyes closed and once again she fell to her side, unconscious to the world.

“What the hell did you just do?!” Grissom shouted down the phone.

“Just helped your wife into a little peaceful sleep, that’s all. Make it easier on you both. Now she won’t feel anything being, snipped.”

“I can’t do this.”

“I’m sorry Grissom, what?”

“I said I can’t do this. I won’t let you hurt my wife, or my son. You hear me?”

“So you don’t want anymore time?”

“Not if it involves you hurting them. I will not let you hurt them!”

“Then you have until 2am.” Kate hung up.

Grissom dropped the phone on his desk….and screamed.

Kate looked Sara over as she lay unconscious on the sofa.

“You may as well take her and get her ready now. Then set his room up.” She looked over at the stairs. “Even if our favourite Doctor makes it here on time, he won’t be able to save both of them.”

Josh nodded and scooped Sara into his arms. She dangled frailly from his body as he carried her towards the front door.