Hey Guys this is my first attempt at a CSI fanfic because i have only recently discovered i'm slightly addicted to it.

Hope you like it

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot...

Criminal Intent

Prologue

Las Vegas was buzzing on a night. It was one of the Cities that truly didn't sleep. It was as alive now as it was during the day. It was argued that Las Vegas only truly came alive during the night with the casinos attracting people and the clubs proving just how much Vegas didn't need sleep.

People flitted in and out of the Casinos and the clubs and tonight Greg Saunders and Nick Stokes were no different, on a rare night off they were aiming to hit the clubs and have a good time.

"Hey G, when was your last night off?" Nick drawled smiling. "Too long." Greg smiled at his friend. "I'm gonna make the most of this, we're back on nights in two days. Nick nodded. That much was true. Greg was right this was a rare night out and they needed to make the most of it.

They worked their way along the strip growing steadily less able on their feet they weren't totally drunk but they were definitely not sober, having not been out for a while would do that. This had proved to be the perfect opportunity to let off some steam.

They were across the road from the Sphere when it happened. They couldn't really understand but before Greg really knew what was happening Nick was pushing him to the floor and he felt heat and tasted the dust as he kept his head as close to the ground as was possible.

A cloud of red and white light exploded in front of the Sphere hotel and Casino. The roar of the fire ripping its containers apart was like high-pitched screaming and thunder rolled into one. The fire leaped round the object like a demon and raced out into the air where the oxygen gave it more energy and then it leapt for the Las Vegas skyline before the fuel ran out and it had to disappear back into the wreckage but not as dangerous as it had been moments before.

Then the screaming erupted. Screams echoed across the entrance as people who had been dazed and traumatised moments before came back to life as the surreal gave way to reality and what was happening finally sunk in.

It was a rude awakening. And not one many would want even in Vegas and even on the strip. Screams filled the air and within minutes sirens filled the air and the people knew there was help on the way.

Nick and Greg got up slowly coughing and trying to rid themselves of the debris. Nick put his hand on Greg's shoulder. Greg looked at him and his eyes were haunted. This could not be good it had to remind Greg of the explosion in the lab. "You're all right." Nick said his Texan accent more pronounced as he fought to keep his voice level.

Nick was saying the words, he knew he was but he couldn't hear them the roar in his ears was overtaking everything else. His ears were ringing from the blast and he felt dizzy but suddenly not so drunk anymore. In fact he felt stone cold sober.

He looked at Greg and yelled, "G are you ok?" Greg was looking at the people across the road. "Yeah Nick we have to help!" Then before he could stop him Greg had darted across the road and was trying to help wherever was possible.

Nick took a deep breath and followed him. By the time Greg and Nick were helping people stand and using whatever they could to bandage the wounded the EMTs were already squealing into view along with the police cars.

Jim Brass got out the patrol car and surveyed the seen. It looked bad. He could still hear the screams and the paramedics were rushing round getting the most critical into the ambulances that were first on the seen while seeing to those who had minor injuries.

Most involved seemed to have been treated for shock and Jim wasn't surprised, from the look of the blast site this was one of the biggest bombs the Strip had seen for a while. He started to look for witnesses and realised that he knew two faces in the crowd.

"Nicky!" He yelled walking towards them "Greg!" They turned hearing his voice. They were filthy with soot and dirt covering their clothes and face. "Jim." Greg said. Jim took in their appearance and said, "What the hell happened? Are you two okay?"

Nick nodded looking at Greg. "We were on the other side of the road when the whole thing went up I pushed Greg to the floor and waited for the whole thing to blow over." Greg nodded agreeing with Nick. "Didn't really see anything that could have caused the blast at first." He said, "but it's obvious that it was a car bomb. It was strategically placed causing the most damage for this time of night."

Jim had to agree with them. He wasn't sure what the casualty count was but he had to think that he had to be bad. Ambulance loads were being taken to the hospital and he had seen more than one body part.

"I'll need statements from the pair of you." Nick and Greg nodded. "Sure." Jim looked at the pair of them. "Are you sure you're both okay?" "I'm alright." Greg said trying to smile and not quite managing it. "Just a bit shocked. Might have been a bit worse if Nick hadn't pushed me to the floor."

Jim looked at Nick and couldn't miss the wince of pain. "Nicky, you all right?" "Huh?" Nick said he had been watching the ambulances across the road. "Yeah I'm fine just hit the deck hard is all."

Jim turned as the CSI cars sped up and Grissom got out along with Catherine, Sara and Warrick. "You too should see the paramedics just to make sure."

Then he jogged across the road to see Gil. "What have we got?" Grissom asked. "Looks like a car bomb outside the Sphere. Huge explosions and from what I can make out there will be quite a big body count by the end of it." Grissom nodded and turned to Catherine, Sara and Warrick. "We wait until the Paramedics clear the scene then we start processing." Sara nodded. "The sooner we get this contained the sooner we can process the evidence. Fire damage is hard enough as it is."

"You might want to talk to Nick and Greg Gil." Jim said grimly

"I'm not calling them in Brass we can handle this. I'll call them in if we need back up." Jim winced and said, "There's no need to call them in they're being seen by the paramedics they were almost part of the blast."

"What?" Catherine said looking at Brass. They were across the street when the bomb exploded." Jim explained grimly. "They're lucky they're not more hurt than they already are." "Were they injured?" Warrick demanded. Jim shook his head.

"Not as far as I can tell. Just shock and abrasions from hitting the floor." Warrick followed Brass' pointed finger and saw his friends talking to one of the paramedics. He knew that right now he couldn't do anything so he headed over to Nick and Greg.

He caught up with them and said, "Hey guys you okay?" "Hey Rick." Nick said clapping Warrick on the shoulder. "Yeah we're ok. Being across the street took the heat from the blast went upward not out." Nick shrugged.

Warrick nodded surveying the damage it was going to be one hell of a job processing the crime scene it looked like the debris scattered for miles. This was going to be a rough night.

"You guys should go home and get some rest." Warrick said. "No." Greg said looking at the charred wreck that had once been a car. "You guys are going to need all the help you can get." Nick nodded. "We're all right to help."

Before Warrick could say anything else Nick and Greg took off the road and made a beeline for Grissom who was talking to Catherine and Sara obviously discussing their tactics. "Hey Griss?" Nick said coming to stand beside his boss.

"Nick? You and Greg should be seeing the paramedics. You need to be checked out." "Grissom we're fine." Greg said. "We just wanna help process the scene." "You're in no state to process the scene." Grissom said firmly. "Grissom it's gonna be huge!" Greg argued.

He was in no mood to be standing around doing nothing or going home it would only give him time to think and thinking at this particular moment wasn't an especially good idea. He had barely got over the lab blowing up now this. He really didn't need any thinking time.

Grissom looked at him and seemed to see this because he finally nodded and said, "Fine you and Nick can do the perimeter." They walked away and Catherine turned and looked at Grissom this clean up is gonna be a bitch."

"You got that right." Warrick said walking up with Jim Brass. They surveyed the scene. "Don't you love Vegas on a Friday Night?" Sara said sarcastically.

Gil cocked his head to one side and said, "Well you know what they say about night's out in Vegas…They can be explosive."