It was in many ways a normal accident scene. Vehicle side-swiped and left the road. Offender had disappeared...your basic hit and run. But it wasn't a normal accident scene. The side-swiped vehicle was registered to LVPD; more specifically it was one of the Denalis that belonged to CSI. This one was Catherine's Denali. And Gil Grissom had been her passenger. Now both CSIs were missing. And Jim Brass was worried. His eyes surveyed the landscape that surrounded them; desert. They wouldn't survive out there long, especially if either was hurt. It was a hot day, even for summer and there would be no water. But they knew that. And neither was stupid enough to go wandering in the desert like that. So, where were they? He called CSI one more time, just to be sure they hadn't checked in. Then an officer found something...their cell phones. Guess they won't be checking in for sure now, thought the detective.

They had searched for more clues. Nothing. Nick did lift some tire tracks but there were several different sets, so that probably wasn't a very good lead. Warrick had taken paint samples from the Denali where the other vehicle had come in contact. That might prove more helpful. But that was it, no other clues. His two friends had just vanished. Jim's heart was heavy but he didn't have time to think too much about how he would cope if they disappeared from his life forever. He needed to find them. It was his job as a cop; more importantly, it was his duty as their friend.

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GIl and Catherine were in the dark. Their hands were tied, their mouths taped shut, and their eyes were blindfolded. Gil had the sense that even without the blindfolds, they would be in the dark. He listened intently. He could hear her breathing. Good, she's alive. He tested his bonds again. The wrists were tightly wrapped and his feet were immobile, tied at the ankles. He heard her grunt. He grunted back to let her know he was there. Then she moaned. After years of silent communication with expressions or simply the tilt of a head or arch of an eyebrow, they were reduced to grunts and moans as their only form of communication. But at least each knew the other was alive. That was a start.

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Back at the station, Brass had a bulletin issued on the CSIs. Every cop in the county would be looking. He called Ecklie to fill him in and then received a call from the Sheriff. It didn't take long because Jim really didn't have anything to report beyond the fact that two CSIs were missing. Two very special CSIs.

Over at the lab, Nick and Warrick were going over their findings from the scene. Warrick had Hodges run the paint scrapings while he checked their equipment and cell phones for finger prints. He knew that finding prints other than Griss and Cath's was a long shot, but one he was willing to pursue.

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Gil tried to scoot towards the sound of her breathing. He needed to touch her, assure himself that she was there. He heard a scooting sound coming from her direction. They were on the same page, as usual. Finally, after great effort, they bumped into one another. Her warmth felt good to him. They leaned against each other for comfort.

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Hodges found Warrick and shared his findings. "Your paint came from a Chevy, one of their trucks. Years were 1995-99. Color was pewter. Sand was embedded in it too, as if the truck spends a lot of time in the desert. Not surprising around here, I suppose."

"Is there enough sand to be able to locate it's origins?"

"I doubt it but we are trying to run a comparison anyway."

"We?"

"Wendy is helping me."

"Thanks Hodges. Keep me posted, okay?"

"Sure."

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Jim Brass was edgy. Precious time was passing and they still had no leads. He worried about his friends; where they were and if they were alive. Finally he headed to the lab to see for himself that everything was being done. On his way out of the building, he rean into Sofia Curtis. "Hey Jim. Any word?"

"No. And it's driving me crazy. Headed over to the lab."

"Mind if I tag along?"

"Please do..."

The two detectives got into his car and sped out of the lot towards the lab.

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Catherine scooted around him a little and then began nudging her head along his shoulder. She worked her way up towards his face. Gil wasn't sure what she was doing. It was a little startling. Under other circumstances, he might have wondered if she was flirting again, but these were hardly flirting circs. Fianlly she found her target. Her cheek was on his. She worked her mouth towards his and suddenly he understood what she was doing. Catching the edge of her tape on the edge of his tape, she was able to work the retsraint loose. It was a slow, frustrating process that was eventually rewarded. Once the tape loosened, she was sble to catch enough of her tape on his tape to yank it loose. They wiggled their mouths until the tapes fell away. "Wow, Cath... that was amazing."

"Yeah...well...it was starting to itch. So now what do we do?"

"Try to free our hands."

Feeling around their retsraints with their fingers, they were able to determine that zip-ties had been used. "This is going to be a challenge," he commented.

"Yeah...do you think we could sit back to back and one of us work the other free?"

"I don't know...but I sure can't work myself free."

They scooted and wiggled until they were back to back. Now that they could talk, they were able to co ordinate their efforts and things were going smoother. She tugged and strained at his binds to no avail. He pulled and tugged at her but there was no give. "Gil, I need a break," she finally sighed.

"Yeah...me too." He began to try to come up with another plan. His mind sank deep into thought about the problem. Zip ties...how are we going to break those loose? "Cath...if we quit pulling them tight maybe we can..."

"Gotcha.."

The relaxed their arms, taking the pressure off the ties. She worked her fingers onto his and found the end. Slowly, painfully slowly, she began to work the end back through the clip. It was difficult to back a tie out under the best circumstances, this was agonizing. But she felt some give and knew their patience was paying off.

She could feel that they were almost to the end when suddenly they heard the door opening. "Awww, looky here, we're all cozy and friendly in here," a snarly voice said. Footsteps sounded and then Gil felt Catherine being snatched away. He began to fight with the zip tie. It was cutting into his wrist but he didn't care. He sensed that Catherine was in immediate danger.

Snarly Voice was talking to her. "Ain't you a pretty thing...I can't kill ya, but that don't mean I can't have some fun." He pushed her into a chair. "Hands off, you bastard!" exclaimed Catherine.

No Catherine, don't antagonize him, thought Gil as he continued his battle with the restraints. His blood was making the ties slippery.

"Looky here what you've been hiding," Gil heard Snarly say as he also heard fabric tearing. He was becoming frantic in his effort to free himself.

"You son-of-a bitch..." he heard Cath spit at the molester.

"Ooooo, I like a fighter. Well, fight this you little whore..."

Gil heard her gasp in pain as Snarly did something...he could only imagine. He felt the tie slipping onto the heel of his hand. If he could just get it to keep moving...

"Let's see what else you been hiding..." Gil could hear the rustling of clothes. Then Catherine gasped again. "Umphhhh," sounded like Snarly.

"You little bitch... trying to hurt me there! I'll show you a world of hurt," Then a loud slap was heard from the other room. Gil was almost free but he knew if he rushed the thing might slip back up his wrist. Another slap sounded and Catherine grunted. Gil keep at it, trying to get out of his bonds.

"Now maybe you understand you little bitch...your ass is mine. And believe me, I intend to use it," said Snarly. "But first..." More sounds and a gasp and grunt from Catherine.

Finally Gil was free. Pulling the blindfold off he saw Catherine and Snarly in the next room. He looked for something to free his ankles quickly but saw nothing. Forcing himself to his feet as quietly as possible, he launched himself toward Snarly, hopping as he went. It was enough of a distraction to get Snarly off Catherine but now he was coming full force at Gil. Catherine's hands were still tied but her feet had been freed, so she was able to charge at Snarly. Gil spotted a piece of loose lumber in the corner and as Catherine knocked the perp sideways, Gil grabbed the lumber and began to hit him with it. Snarly fell to the ground, out cold.

Fumbling through his pockets, Gil found Snarly's pocket knife and cut himself and Catherine free. She fell into his arms and he held her as she sobbed uncontrollably. After a couple of minutes he spoke softly, "Cath, we have to get out of here. We don't know if he has any friends that will show up."

Still crying, she nodded. "I know."

Gil surveyed her clothing. She'd need a shirt. Quickly he pulled his off and slipped it onto her. His tee shirt would have to do for him. They stepped out of the cabin into the hot Nevada desert.

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