-1 As Grissom introduced the new woman to the team, Nicks head swam. The woman looked awfully familiar, especially with her soft blonde hair that accented her pale blue eyes.

"Melissa , will be starting as a level 3 CSI." Grissom received disoriented looks from the others, "That is only because she is coming from another department."

Nick continued to stare at her as everyone made their greetings and left the room, except for Warrick and Nick.

"Nick… Nick… Hey man, are you going to say hello?" Warrick asked as he nudged him and Nick looked at him.

"Oh… yea… sorry." He reached up and shook hands with her. "I don't want to sound… err… I think I know you."

She just smiled and they all grabbed kits and headed for the crime scene in an alley way next to the Rampart Casino.

When they arrived, Catherine briefed them and then Warrick and Catherine processed the body as Melissa and Nick processed the perimeter and the area.

"Nick, Nick, Nicky, I can't believe that you don't remember me." She smiled. "I am surprised actually. Sorry about what happened to you…"

Nick looked up at her and asked, "How do you know what happened?"

"I'm psychic," She laughed. "I guess all that you have left now are the nightmares… mine aren't completely gone, but I guess since they haven't found him, they will keep coming."

Nick stared in complete awe… now he knew who she was, "Melissa Sanchez?" He stood up and looked at her completely.

She had changed since the last time he had seen her. They had met in college and had become really close friends. So close that it could have developed into something more if only she hadn't been dating that bastard; Mykle Benares… good looking, funny and liked to talk to women with his fist. When he was with Melissa; he beat her, shot her and left her for dead. If Nick hadn't of come to see why she missed class, she probably wouldn't be standing right in front of him. He had loved her, but the feelings she had for him were probably mute. Now he wasn't sure he felt the same… was it possible that he could love her again?

"So they never found Mykle?" He asked as they finished their search with only two cigarette butts, three bullet casings and a coffee cup.

"No, they never found him… I wish they had and in a way I am glad they haven't." And she left it at that.

They walked over to where Warrick and Catherine were waiting for them. Apparently, they had seen them talking and decided to wait since the two seemed to hit it off.

"Well, I am glad you can join the team." Catherine said as they got into the SUV and headed back to the lab, " Do you and Nick know each other?"

"Yeah, I guess you can say that," Melissa answered as Warrick and Catherine exchanged glances and Melissa buried her head in her arms.

The trip back to the lab was going to be a long one, even if it was only thirty minutes away…