Tragedy

Disclaimer: I do not own CSI or the characters – I am only borrowing them.

A/N: This is going to be an A/U type story as David Hodges & Wendy Simms are married and have two children 5 year old Alexa and 15month old Jessica.

What started out as a joyful day in Las Vegas ended in a horrific accidental and almost fatal injury of a child.

Wendy and David were heading on a long awaited vacation. They were on their way from Las Vegas to Los Angeles for their youngest daughter's baptism. They had originally wanted to have her baptised months ago, but due to various family members being unavailable for whatever reason, Wendy and David had to put it off until that weekend.

They had just gotten through security, quite easily thankfully. Wendy noticed that Jessica was getting restless.

"I'm going to take her over there for a few moments ok David. Keep an eye on Alexa." Wendy said and took the younger child toward the water fountain that the child had been eyeing.

"Wawa" Jessica said pulling at her mother.

"Yes Jessica, that is water" Wendy said.

Jessica, who had been in Wendy's arms as they looked at the fountain squirmed to get out of her mother's arms. "WAAWA!" Jessica shrieked.

Sighing, Wendy put her daughter down on the ground so they could get a better look at the water fountain.

"MOMMY!" cried 5 year old Alexa.

Wendy turned as her older daughter distracted her and when she did, she took her eye off the younger child. Jessica took that moment to climb up onto the fountain and as she did so, she didn't realize that the ledge was not wide enough for her and fell in.

SPLASH!

Wendy turned to see Jessica face down in the fountain, she screamed and leaned over and scooped her wet and unconscious daughter out of the fountain.

David and Alexa came running to her.

"What the hell happened!"

"Jessie fell in daddy!" Alexa replied.

Two seconds later there were airport personnel at their side.

"Step away from the child." One guard said.

"It's my daughter." Wendy said angrily.

"We saw you push that child in – don't deny it!" said a very angry voice.

Wendy turned and her jaw dropped in shock.

"First of all I did not push my daughter in that fountain and second of all what business it is of yours to order me away from my child?"

"Wendy this is an airport cop – don't argue with her! Do you want to get into more trouble?" David chastised. "We have Alexa to think of too."

My worst nightmare is coming true. Why now why why why?

The cop in question was a woman that Wendy knew going back to her early teen years Andria McCarver. Andria and Wendy were rivals in many things in school, including the lead role in various school plays; which Wendy always got, the class valedictorian, which Wendy received as well not to mention being named Homecoming Queen. A rumour had gone around school that Wendy slept with the person who had ultimately made the decision as to who won the competition. (it was decided by 1 vote margin) Both Wendy and the person involved hotly denied they slept together. Then Wendy and Andria met up again in College where once again Wendy trumped Andria in various awards. The last straw was when Wendy was hired as a CSI lab tech for the LVPD. This was Andria's way of getting back at her.

"Andria, there is no way you can prove I pushed my own daughter and almost drowned her!"

"Mommy wouldn't try to hurt Jessie."

"Charles – take her away to the questioning room please. We need to get to the bottom of this."

After Jessica had been pulled out of the fountain, she was a little scared and wet, but she was alright. Before the kerfuffle with Andria had occurred other security personnel had arrived on the scene and wrapped her in a towel and made sure she was breathing.

David and Alexa went to follow Wendy to where she was to be 'questioned' but Andria stopped them.

"Where do you think you are going?" she demanded. David also had his wet child in his arms while 5 year old Alexa had two carry on bags.

"Um that is my wife you are about to question, I would like to be there."

"She is not leaving Las Vegas so why not carry on without her?" Andria snarled.

Wendy looked forlornly at her 5 year old daughter, who looked confused then to her husband and to her cold & wet daughter in her husband's arms.

"Can I at least get my child into dry clothes?" Wendy demanded angrily.

"Hubby can do that, you are coming with me." Andria told her.

The other security guard shrugged and closed the door behind them.

"What is going on daddy? Why is mommy not with us?" asked Alexa tearfuly.

David sighed. "Later Alexa, later. Let's go over to the waiting area and get your sister into dry clothes."

While Alexa chose the new outfit for her little sister, David sent Gil Grissom a text message that he needed assistance and a lawyer. Grissom texted Hodges back saying he would be there shortly.

True to his word, Gil Grissom arrived within a half hour and Wendy was still in that room being questioned and accused of pushing her young daughter into the fountain.

"Does she have council with her?"

"No Grissom she doesn't, that Andria chick is hounding her – I have heard the accusing words and questions she asked. She can't do this!" David said angrily.

"What does this Andria chick have against Wendy?"

"Long time rivals. Andria is jealous of Wendy and this is a way of getting back at her."

"I'll go in and get her. She has no right to question her like that." Grissom said after he overheard one of the questions Andria asked Wendy which was completely irrelevant to the situation.

"Alright stop all questioning right now."

"Who are you and what right do you have interrupting this interrogation. " Andria demanded.

"Your line of questioning is completely irrelevant to what this woman is accused of doing." He replied.

Andria put her hands on her hips. "Oh are you her latest lover? We all know that she sleeps her way out of things."

Grissom rolled his eyes and Wendy took that opportunity to stand up to her rival. "Andria, this is my employer, my boss. I am married and would never ever cheat on my husband – let alone with my boss who is married to one of my best friends. You, however seem to have an attitude about me which goes back to the days of when we were teenagers. You now suddenly think that just because you are in a position of authority you can accuse me of heinous crimes like trying to kill my daughter. She FELL into the fountain! This interrogation is over!" She said and stood up and walked out of the room. Andria followed her chastising her once again for pushing Jessica. "Hey, don't you turn your back on me!"

Andria then made the horrible mistake of touching Wendy, to which Wendy whirled around and gave the other girl a shove....which was unfortunate because they were right by an escalator.

Andria screamed as she lost her balance and fell down the escalator and landed at the bottom and did not move.

Wendy stood at the top of the escalator horrorstruck then looked to see that both her husband and oldest daughter had seen what she had done.

What made it worse was that although it was accidental, security had to take Wendy into custody.