Rating: probably a K+ but putting it as a T just to be safe.

Spoilers: this fic focuses on what might (but wont) happen after 8x07, so if you don't know or don't want to know what's going to happen in 8x07, then read no further!

A/N: wow! third fic in the same number of days! - this wasn't originally going to be a chapter fic but it ended up getting a little long to have just in 1 chapter so I decided to break it down a bit for easier reading.

Disclaimer: yadda yadda yadda the usual, CSI, not mine.

Sacrifice

The white from Sara's knuckles slowly dissipated as she felt the plane touch down. It wasn't that Sara was afraid of flying, it was just the take-off and landing which she never looked forward to, it always hurt her ears. Sara held back as the other passengers began to disembark from the aircraft, she never understood why everyone rushed to get off first when you just got held up at baggage reclaim anyway.

After collecting her suitcase, which was of course one of the last to come off the plane, she made a quick pit-stop at the ladies and made her way to the taxi rank.

"3075 Westfall Avenue please" she stated as she got into the back seat of the first taxi she happened across.

"the Las Vegas Crime Lab?" the driver asked, seeming a little confused over her choice of destination.

Sara simply nodded.

The journey from the airport to the crime lab went swiftly and before she knew it, she was paying the driver and hauling her suitcase behind her as she entered the lab for the first time since her sudden departure just over 3 months previously.

Nothing had seemed to have changed, she noted with an inward smile.

The lab was practically deserted, which wasn't unusual for that time of night, and those who she did see were so entranced in what they were doing that they didn't even notice her presence.

She approached the reception desk. Judy was there, sorting through paperwork.

"hello how can I..." she lifted her head to greet the visitor but stopped when she realised who in fact was standing before her.

"Sara!" she exclaimed in a tone so high pitched it hurt Sara's ears.

"Judy, nice to see you again" she regarded the shorter, frizzy haired woman in front of her.

"you too Sara!"

Sara motioned for Judy to lower her voice with a gentle wave of her hand "erm... is Gil.. I mean... is Grissom in the lab?" she asked, in barely more than a whisper. Judy regarded the signing in sheet.

"Yeah he is, came in from an assignment about 20 minutes ago, he should be in the layout room if you want to go and see him?"

"Actually" Sara began "I was wondering if you could page him for me, say there's a visitor for him who will meet him in his office? don't say who it is. Tell him it's urgent?"

Judy looked confused at the request but agreed anyway.

Sara made her way into Gil's office and took a moment to reacquaint herself. She wasn't surprised to see very little had changed. He'd swopped a few of his mounted insects for ones he'd kept at home, but apart from that, it felt like she'd never gone.

in the layout room Gil's phone beeped suddenly. He let out a long angry sigh. This was a high profile case, the sheriff was breathing down his neck as it was without further interruptions.

"From: Reception

visitor in your office. it's important"

He regarded the message and wondered why Judy was being so cryptic, it really wasn't her style. He debated for a moment whether it was in fact important enough to warrant taking a break from the evidence in front of him, but he summarised that unless he actually went and found out who this mystery visitor was, he wouldn't know. He rubbed his hands over his face. I have an awful feeling that this is going to be one of those nights which is never going to end!

Leaving the evidence in the capable hands of Warrick, Gil excused himself and made his way to the reception.

"What the hell, Judy? you know this is a high profile case, I've got the sheriff breathing down my neck as it is..."

Judy cut him off "I know Dr Grissom, I'm sorry, but... I think this is someone you'll really want to see"

Gil huffed, and while raking his hands through his hair, he moved towards his office.Something's up. he thought.

Sara stood towards the right side of the office, she was having a conversation with "Miss Piggy" about the weather in San Francisco compared to Vegas. It was quite a one-sided conversation, but then they usually were when it came to the irradiated foetal pig, who never really had anything to say to say about anything.

Suddenly she heard the door behind her open. She turned.

And there he stood.

Gil's breath caught in his throat when his brain registered who his visitor was. No, it can't be, can it? Have I pulled too many doubles? Am I seeing things? He ran his hands over his face, rubbing at his eyes, sure the image in front of him was not what he thought it was. Removing his hands, he regarded the person in front of him once again.

"Sara?" his voice finally choked out.