Author's comments
This cacophony takes place in December 2005, between "Still Life" and "Werewolves" but as is always the case with my stories, be prepared for spoilers/foreshadowing for any episode between "Cool Change" and "Goodbye and Good Luck". For me, CSI is Sara's story, ends with her departure and will resume (briefly) with her return. Initially I thought there would be fewer spoilers in this tale as it's all original stories, not plots imbedded in the established storyline, but I'm coming to realize that that really isn't the case. There are also references to events in my previous stories, although it is not necessary to be familiar with them prior to reading this one. Incidentally, all of these plots are based on actual cases, many of which I worked on in a prior life. Yes, even that one—the paramedic who taught my EMT class a million years ago responded to that scene. I think that's when he stopped riding motorcycles…
I have tried to keep any statements of fact as accurate as possible, and for areas which are beyond my own expertise have used other forensic experts to help me in that endeavor. Any errors in these areas (or any other, for that matter) are clearly my mistakes. In addition, while I've been known to take a little license in speculating on the timeline of events to which the show only alludes, it is never my intention to present events or history which contradict the show's canon. Eight seasons are a lot of episodes, though, and the show itself is not always totally consistent, so I hope you will forgive me any deviations from the storyline or character backgrounds as presented. They are unintentional.
As for disclaimers, I repeat, if anyone really thinks the studio attorneys are going to go after fan fic writers, well, unless you're writing fan fic about Bill O'Reilly (and who the hell would?) no one else is QUITE that petty. Or deluded. Or bored. Still, to make everyone happy, here are my disclaimers: I have been involved in the production of several scripted dramas. I am not involved in this one. If I were, you'd be seeing my input on the screen, not on a fan fic website. Plus the DNA lab would require fifty sperm in order to be able to generate a DNA profile like our crime lab here does, and fingerprint analysis would be done primarily by dedicated fingerprint examiners, not just computers. Ah, well. In any case, I have no rights to these characters, but I also have no profit motive and do nothing beyond, hopefully, increasing people's interest in the actual production (i.e. free advertising).
And for those who think that if we owned the rights to all of this, we'd be living high on the hog, not that there isn't a huge amount of money involved, but the reality is that the people who make this stuff work REALLY hard. Hundreds of people, most of who don't get rich on it. It's no wonder that Billy and Jorja wanted to take breaks. I've seen Jorja a couple of times since she left the show last year, and she looked really relaxed and happy, so I guess it was a good decision for her, no matter how bad for the rest of us.
Anyhow, hope you enjoy. As with all my stories, this is posted as a complete work, not a WIP. No point in registering for Story Alerts—there won't be more (unless I realize that I really screwed something up and go back to fix it). If you like it, maybe do an Author Alert instead. I play in the garden of canon and these tales are set in the middle of story lines you already know. I don't need to tell you what happens next—you've already seen it.
I also write to answer questions that arise in my own head, or in this case, to play a little. I've enjoyed writing the stories I've done, but at the moment I'm kind of out of questions and tales, so I might be finished for awhile after this one. Or maybe not—you never know. I do still have a whole folder of cases that didn't quite fit into this ditty…
BTW, I don't have betas, I have actual editors, consultants and collaborators who I'd stack up against any in the business. Soapy, CSIGeekFan, Neener, Firefly and now RedWolf—you guys are the BEST. Thanks!
Filling in the Blanks
Season 5
Project Sidle
Set during Spark of Life through Committed
(518-521)
Season 6
It Was a Sunday
Set during A Bullet Runs Through It
(607-608)
Mélange: Beyond this Point There be Werewolves
Set between Still Life and Werewolves
(610-611)
Season 7
I'll See You Later
Set during Law of Gravity
(715-716)