'The Tempest '

By Jane Doe

Disclaimer: I do not own CSI at all. Though inspired by the show, I hold no claim to it whatsoever. I simply borrow these characters for personal enjoyment and nothing more.

Summary: "I sit here unable to stop the storm raging inside me as The Tempest forges war against my soul."

Notes: First I must thank my beta, Jo, who has taught me the proper use of dialogue. That's unmistakably something I truly appreciate. : D Next I want to thank Jorgy, my once second beta, for abandoning me to make a point (I see the point and I thank you).

Feedback: If you please, I would love to know what you think as you read this. The good and the bad are accepted as always.

Prologue
Grissom

The music starts low. The volume dial stops under my fingertips and sound, precious sound, drifts into the room. Every pore opens and every nerve twitches to life. Their melodious voices float through me barely audible at first then they began to rise. My eyes involuntarily drift shut surrounding me in darkness, but in this darkness I am not alone. The beautiful music wraps gently around me, consoling me. No other piece of music can accentuate the ears, clear the mind, and no other can make one appreciate sound more beautifully.

A loud baritone disrupts the choir's unity and my temporary sanctuary. The sudden cacophony added by the voice makes me confused and angry simultaneously. The entire flow is disturbed by one solitary voice. Every time I listen to this piece, I wonder what she was thinking when she wrote this work. Why add such a disruption to something already wonderfully beautiful? However, I am quickly soothed by the power of the booming voice wishing to tell the tale. I welcome this new voice and fall into the music once again. The others join in a loud unison so great, that the sound expectantly grows to finally shatter everything inside me. The first musical peak is reached and held there, and me with it. The violins counter with a soft sound beneath the musical climax. I am suspended here full of such pain and sorrow, but also joy and calm.

As easily as I was thrown upward, I am gradually brought back down. A great audible breath is drawn into their powerful lungs and the strings pause. This is unlike the first interruption –it doesn't take your mind away from the goal of the piece. The intake of air shows the natural humanness of their voices. It makes them real to me. I don't know how, but it could be the most perfect musical compliment I have ever heard.

Then a new refreshing, unrelenting wave bursts through any exterior you may possess. For these rare minutes I experience rage, peace, joy, sorrow, life, death, judgment, acceptance, enlightenment, and confusion in the same unison as their voices. Sometimes I am certain I hear the emotions become one, and perhaps this is the dangerous edge the composer was tottering as she wrote.

I feel myself smiling. I am able to smile because I can hear. No longer is the threat upon my door that I will be without sound. These heavenly voices that tear me down so that my very core is exposed and unprotected are building me up as well. The weight has been lifted and I can walk away a better man. This is my time to triumph.

The music rages on to catapult me through the last dramatic exit. Then slowly the sound softly ebbs away and silence follows in its wake. The track playing stops with an audible click and the machine prepares to switch to the next disc. My eyes open and I slowly push the power button filling the room in a complete welcomed silence.

I find my way to the sofa in the darkness and flop down heavily. Without a warning a loud crash of thunder and lightening expels the silence from the room once again. Soon the patter of rain beating against my patio door begins a new symphony of sound to comfort me. A sigh escapes me, but a smile lingers to lightly tug at the corners of my mouth.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::

Sara

I squint upward towards the sky watching the fresh rainfall. I really don't mind the rain. In fact, the sudden downpours comfort me in their own way, and right now the weather quenches the burning thirst inside me.

You see, summer in Nevada is hot and almost unbearable. Temperatures reach record highs and the city seems more like a mirage looming up than a reality. There is no relief but the artificial one created indoors until the rain comes. So when the warm front clashes violently with the cold front and the heavy black clouds cannot hold anymore moisture, a great release dumps onto the city and with it a temporary relief.

Sighing loudly, I lean against the brick wall for reassured strength. I planned to take a walk but the rain seems content to trap me here. It is better than going back inside.

The night sky shouts to life with light and a low distant rumble breaks me from such thoughts. I glance again at the rain riddled night sky as it calms again. The only sound is of the rain slamming on the pavement and the loud relentless pounding as it assaults the eaves protecting me.

Involuntarily, I scan the dim parking lot for his Tahoe. I know it's not there because it hasn't been there for four days and nights. I think I check the lot out of routine though. I miss him, even if we weren't on such great terms when he suddenly took some days off. Initially, I was upset he just chose to leave without more notice. One day he just wasn't here. I almost called him to ask if he was okay. I mean Gil Grissom doesn't take consecutive days, without a few weeks notice. It just wasn't like him. In the end, I just accepted his behavior like I always do and let him have his time alone.

After all, I accepted the little shoves which grew until the gap was so widely spaced that we lost sight of each other. I accepted the attitude he had towards fixing our deteriorating friendship. I didn't agree to it easily though so I tried to reach out, but he turned me down quite coldly with a solid 'no'.

I feel water cascade down my cheek then drop to my collarbone. I blink in confusion and brush it away in embarrassment. I should get back inside, I have things I could be doing for the case. I want to talk to Catherine about cutting into my overtime again to finish my case before shift starts, so I'll have to find her too. It wasn't a difficult case, but any kind of work keeps my mind off other things. Besides, usually she doesn't have a problem with it because we've been so busy. I should still let her know just to follow protocol.

Opening the double paned glass doors, I am met by the soft light and cool air but not before the ominous rigid bolt of lightening cracks through the sky simultaneously joined by a loud rumble of thunder signaling the storm is now directly over Las Vegas.

"Do you ever go home?" Catherine asks, approaching me just as I step onto the main corridor.

I smile wanly. "Actually, I haven't been here that long."

"How's your case?"

"Done. I have prints, DNA, and fibers saying we have the right guy. He did it."

"Can't beat that," she says with a giant smile. "I love it."

"Me too," I agree. "I wanted to let you know I dipped into overtime to get this case finished."

"I don't think it should be a problem. We are all a little over." She touches my arm as she passes me. "Go arrest your guy and I'll see you at assignments."

I nod and she leaves me. I walk once again towards the layout room where crime photos are strewn across the table. If anything can be said about my overtime, it is clear that I've got plenty of evidence to arrest the one responsible. I tuck the file under my arm and head over to P.D. to make the arrest. With any luck, it will go smoothly and I'll have time to get some hot coffee.