Title: Safe and Sound

Author: Robin Elizabeth

Rating: PG

Pairing: Nick/Greg friendship

Spoilers: Stalker

Feedback: Would be greatly appreciated.

Disclaimer: Nick and Greg (and the other CSI characters) aren't mine ::pouts::

Archive: Fanfiction.net and my site whenever I get one up and running

Summary: Nick and Greg go to a conference in Vermont where everything starts going wrong.

Author's Note: A work in progress, so please bear with me. I'll get it done as I can. Not beta'd. Inspired by Sheryl Crow's "Safe and Sound".

Part 1

"Hey Nick! Wait up!" Greg Sanders called as the CSI hurried out of the building.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to leave without you. I promise," Nick Stokes yelled back.

Greg ran up a little past Nick so he could open the door for him. They were putting a box full of files to bring to a CSI conference. After putting the box into the back of the Tahoe, Nick stopped short of shutting the rear door. He had a clear view of the vehicle's rear view mirror.

"It can't be…" Nick whispered, whirling around.

"What is it Nick? Something wrong?" Greg asked, walking to the back of the car.

Nick didn't immediately answer, he just kept looking around. His dark brown eyes feverishly scanned the parking lot, looking for the person he hoped wasn't there.

"It's nothing. Thought I saw a blast from the past," Nick finally answered, turning and closing the rear door.

A nightmare from the past, anyway. Nick thought as he climbed into the driver's seat.

"So, have you ever been to Vermont?" Greg asked, bringing Nick out of his thoughts.

"This will be a first," Nick answered.

"I wonder why Grissom chose us to go? I would've thought he'd prefer to go himself," Greg mused as they made their way to the airport.

"I wouldn't know. Maybe he thinks we'll learn something there," Nick answered.

Once in Vermont, Greg and Nick picked up their rental car and headed to the hotel in downtown Burlington. Greg's mouth nearly hit the floor when he first saw their room.

"Remind me to thank the city of Las Vegas for putting us up in these digs," Greg commented, followed by a low whistle from Nick.

The room was a little nicer than they expected. Their room at the Radisson came with two double beds, a big screen TV, a mini-refrigerator, and coffee pot.

"Sweet, a Play Station!" Greg exclaimed, jumping on the floor in front of the gaming station.

"I don't need to remind you that we're here on business, not for play," Nick scolded.

"It doesn't mean we can't have any fun whatsoever," Greg pouted.

"Let's get our suitcases from the car. We have to check in to the conference in half an hour," Nick suggested, leading the young lab technician back to the parking garage.

They were met with a surprise at their car. Their suitcases were both on the trunk, open, and searched through.

"Did you lock the doors, Greg?" Nick asked, quietly.

"Yeah."

"Then how in the hell did our suitcases get on the trunk?"

"And opened."

"And what were they looking for?"