Disclaimer

I don't own CSI or any of the characters from the show. However, I do own my plot and original characters such as Cameron McCarthy. I don't profit or gain anything from this work. As you can see, I watch a lot of CSI so if you plagiarize my work I can make your death look accidental. The way this fanfiction works is a little weird, it's not set in a particular series I've just used the characters I like but set in 2014. Anyway, enjoy! Trigger warnings for rape, self harm, sexual situations, swearing and graphic description of crime scenes/murders. Rated M

Chapter 1

Cameron's POV

"So that's the break room. There's DNA over there and we've just passed ballistics."

The brunette speaking to me walked swiftly through the hall, making me struggle to keep up. My eyes darted around the lab, taking everything in. My naturally observant nature became evident as I tried to memorise the exact layout of the building. She stopped suddenly, turning to face me.

"I never introduced myself, sorry. I'm Sara Sidle. In fact I don't know your name either, newbie."

Her lips were stretched into a half smile as she talked although I could still detect a little caution in her eyes. I was almost certain that this Sara was a genuinely nice person, if not a little guarded.

"I'm Cameron McCarthy," I replied. "But almost everyone calls me Cammie."

Sara took my hand, shaking it happily before continuing the mini tour.

"Welcome to the team, Cammie. Next up we have Trace. The guy who runs it can be a bit of an ass but..."

I stepped away from her, ignoring her speech. Immediately she noticed and opened her mouth to comment when I gestured towards her to remain quiet. Making sure to walk carefully and silently, I entered the Trace Analysis lab. The dark haired lab tech worked intently on his microscope. Still treading softly, I placed my hand over his eyes the second he pulled away from his equipment.

"If you think this is even slightly amusing, Sanders, then I strongly suggest you... Cameron?"

He turned around and enveloped me in an affectionate hug. A large grin graced his face as he looked me up and down.

"I told you I was coming to Vegas, Uncle Dave!"

Sara incredulously raised an eyebrow at us and turned away, mumbling the words "Hodges? Uncle Dave?" As she left. Dave shook his head in apparent disbelief.

"Cameron, I haven't seen you since you graduated university. As if you're 24 now... I can't believe it. What are you doing here?"

I sighed deeply. Dave was right, it had been way too long since I met up with my only family.

"Well I got a job out here. I'm a CSI One, remember?"

He nodded, still smiling broadly, and gestured for me to sit down beside him on one of the two chairs at his desk. He gently grasped my shoulder, his eyes trained on mine.

"Yeah, you got a job but why are you really in Vegas? You must have left Colorado for some reason."

Awkwardly, I diverted my eyes away from his and stood up.

"I have to go meet with my new supervisor, Gil Grissom."

Dave gestured behind me, towards the door. I turned around to see Sara stood with another woman and three men, all displaying various levels of bemusement. A seemingly middle aged man with greyish hair came towards me, hand stretched out to shake mine.

"I'm Grissom, Sara tells me you're Cammie. I don't recall you ever telling me you have a niece, Hodges."

A dark haired, well built guy pulled me into a hug, despite the fact that this was our first meeting. His friend scoffed jokingly, his arctic blue eyes popping against his dark skin. He grinned widely, shaking my hands.

"I'm Warrick Brown, that dork is Nick Stokes."

A blonde woman smiled warmly, remnants of laughter still evident on her face.

"Catherine Willows. Nice to have you on the team."

They were wary of me, I could tell. My uncle could be harsh with a nasty habit of rubbing people up the wrong way. I saw his true nature, sweet and good hearted however most people didn't. He was guarded, things happen that turn people that way. Whilst I thought, Grissom began dividing up work.

"Okay, Catherine and Warrick are with me on a sexual assault on the strip. Sara, Nick and Cammie, you have a DB in Henderson. Hodges, be ready for our evidence."

Dave rolled his eyes. "One slave, six masters. You're crowding my lab. Good luck, Cameron."

We all left the Trace Analysis room, I had Dave a final hug before I went. Sara passed me a field kit before Nick handed me a vest that had been prepared before I arrived, 'CSI McCarthy' stitched just above the left breast pocket. A sense of accomplishment came over me looking at my vest. Colorado was never too kind to me but I felt things might start looking up. Nick tapped my shoulder, stirring me back to my senses. I followed him out of the building to his car where Sara already sat shotgun. Nick for into the driver's seat and I slid into the backseat, grateful for my small stature and short legs. As he turned the ignition country music blasted out of the stereo. I couldn't help but giggle to myself at his music choice.

"Thought you must be a Texas boy."

He smirked, glancing at me through the mirror with his wide doe eyes.

"Ya'll got that right, yee ha!" he joked, purposely accentuating his Southern dialect. The three of us rolled down the windows of the car, the sun hotter than normal for February. We sung along, albeit out of tune, to the music as we drove along.

Eventually, we pulled up at a run down apartment building in Henderson. 4 police cars surrounded it, yellow crime scene tape covering the door. A grim faced detective stood outside the building.

"Nick, Sara. I guess you're Cameron. I'm Capt. Jim Brass, homicide detective. Two victims, names unknown. The apartment manager is out of town so we don't know ID yet. Another tenant saw blood on the windows and called us un. I'll tell you now, it's pretty awful in there."

Acknowledging the Captain's warning, we went to process the scene. The closer we got the more I sensed the metallic smell I recognised as blood. Nick ducked under the tape first, turning back to is with a mixture of shock and defeat on his face.

"Ladies, we're in for a hell of a shift."