Note from author:

Hello everyone! I know it has been awhile since I've posted a story but there were some road blocks and downright detours I had to take in order to finally get this finished. LOL. This is set in my alternate universe- which means the events that occurred on CSI our at my disposal to bend, twist, shift around but the characters remain the same…of course GSR. I hope you enjoy. There is only one remaining unfinished story after this one….sigh….

Take care.

Penny

Chapter One

Walking to Hell

He arrived on the scene just as she did.

She carried her kit and waited for him.

He said nothing as he approached the house.

She fell into step without questioning his actions.

There was no officer on sight and he knew he was breaking his own rules when he headed toward the entrance but he was too tired to wait for Brass or someone else to lead them to another body.

They could do that on their own.

It wasn't difficult to find a body.

They had found too many of them these days and for once in his career he felt his own burnout.

She said nothing as his hand turned the knob of the door.

She did not even question his intentions and he wasn't sure whether to be relieved of her confidence in him or her recklessness.

Yes, Sara Sidle would follow him straight into hell.

The thought swirled around in his brain.

Hell and back?

We've said little to one another for weeks…

She had come to Vegas as a friend and now she stood by his side as his employee and he was certain that she did not consider him as a friend any longer.

He had tempted and pushed their friendship until even Sara Sidle now side stepped any hint of a flirtatious advance.

She no longer hung on his words or stopped by his office door at the end of each shift.

He liked it better that way.

Oh, he told himself that every day, every hour, every minute and every second of the day but in reality he wondered if he could tolerate this new relationship of theirs.

Boss and employee was all that was left and at times the hollow look in her eyes haunted him.

His eyes diverted a direct encounter, always keeping his eyes focused on anything but her face.

God, he missed looking at her.

He missed the way her lips curled, the soulful brown eyes and the smile that melted away all of the horrors from any shift.

He wasn't sure how they had come to this place in their lives but he dreaded being near her when he was weak from the need for something from her and tonight the need was far worse than it had ever been.

He wanted nothing more than to look at her.

He wanted to really see her.

He needed to really be with her.

He almost stole a glance but she turned away as if she did not want to risk a confrontation.

It seemed their previous confrontations had not gone so well.

The last disagreement dealt with excessive overtime that had gotten out of hand.

One word had led to another and they found themselves at each other before anyone could even guess as to the real root of the problem.

He knew.

She knew.

It had to do with an inability to be just boss and employee and both knew that their relationship was coming to an end.

Something had to change.

Someone had to give.

Worse, if things did not improve, someone had to leave.

As he sighed out loud letting his fatigue known, he was ready to end it tonight.

He wanted to do something.

He wanted to change their current path but wasn't quite sure how to do it.

He knew if they remained as they were someone was bound to leave.

Could he?

He felt old and change was something that did not set well with him.

He knew she could.

He was afraid that if she resigned it would be for all the wrong reasons.

Despite the difficultness between the two, Sara had made a family with the others and he was sure that was something she had not had in the past.

Yes, if anyone had to leave, he would do it.

He could, couldn't he?

The thought of never seeing her again even in this strained sense of relationship made his heart heavy.

He had come to depend on her in an odd way.

It was a twisted oddity.

He stopped dead in his tracks causing her to bump into him at just how sad their relationship had become.

Get a grip, Grissom…

The recent verbal attacks were proof to everyone that even their professional relationship was in jeopardy.

Each were black and blue from the verbal attacks and now just this week they had called a truce by the mere fact that they were too exhausted to play any head games while the others were ill and they worked shift after shift side by side.

She followed his step and headed inside.

His phone made him stop.

"Grissom."

"What?" he yelled as the reception faded in and out.

"Are you at the sight?" yelled Brass.

"We're here," yelled Grissom.

"CD…be there…stay…until …get there. Grissom, did you hear me?" yelled Brass.

"We're not going anywhere," yelled Grissom.

He flipped the phone off despite the sound of Jim's voice still yelling.

"We're not waiting for him," griped Grissom. "We'll be pulling a triple if we wait any longer."

"We are pulling a triple," moaned Sara as she stepped into the house.

Grissom pulled out his revolver. "Stay at the door."

She didn't.

He cursed inwardly but was too tired to argue at the moment.

Walking through hell, Grissom…

With each step, he felt her beside him.

Both were relieved to find it empty except for the two bodies they had spotted.

"Pick a room," said Grissom as he sighed.

"I'll take body number one," announced Sara as her kit dropped to the floor.

"I guess that leaves me with body number two," replied Grissom as he stepped to the adjoining room.

They began taking photos.

"Where's David?" asked Sara.

"Somewhere between body on the strip and the body near the casino," strained Grissom.

"Doesn't murder take a break?" whined Sara.

Grissom sighed. "I guess not."

Sara continued to work collecting the evidence around the body of the man lying face down.

"Got anything as to cause of death?" asked Sara.

"Nothing yet," called Grissom. "This guy is lying face down."

Sara glanced over toward Grissom. "So is this guy."

"There's no blood," said Grissom.

"None here," replied Sara.

"I'm going to turn my guy over," called Grissom.

"Me too," said Sara.

They both stared at their victim.

"Griss…"

"Sara…"

"What?" they said in unison.

"My guy looks like he has small pox," called Sara stepping back.

"Mine too," replied Grissom.

"We should call…" Sara was interrupted by the blow horn.

"Grissom, come to the door," called Brass.

Grissom stepped out of the house.

"You didn't listen," called Brass.

"I didn't hear…I'm listening now," replied Grissom irritably.

"CDC is on its way," said Brass. "You're going to have to stay quarantined until they arrive. No one enters or leaves."

They felt a bit uneasy.

Walking through hell…

He felt the pressure of his fatigued mistake.

This could cost both of them.

Sara read his face.

She knew he felt responsible and for once in a very long time, wanted to put him at ease.

"Hazmat…I guess we'll get a shower…been there did that," she halfway teased.

He grinned slightly trying to ease the tension.

"Let's uhm just do our job…keep clear of the body. Use a mask," instructed Grissom.

They stacked the evidence along the wall and were grateful when they glanced out to see the CDC arrive.

Two men in suits walked into the house.

They watched as the men examined the bodies.

"Did you touch the bodies?" asked Agent Dover.

"With gloves," replied Grissom.

"Those types of mask are worthless," grumbled the other agent, Rogers.

"We'll keep them on," replied Grissom.

"What are we dealing with?" asked Sara.

"Bubonic plague," replied one of the men.

"Wait, these guys look like they have small pox," said Grissom.

"We got a report of bubonic plague," replied Agent Dover.

"How?" asked Grissom. "We just got on the scene and there wasn't anyone here when we arrived."

"Wait, someone else was in here?" asked special agent Dover.

"The call came from someone else. An officer would have remained at the sight," replied Sara.

The two agents looked at one another.

"We're going to take you out in suits," said Agent Rogers.

"Where are you taking us?" asked Grissom.

"To a secure location so we can monitor you for symptoms," replied agent Dover.

"For how long?" asked Sara.

"Not long…30 days," replied Agent Rogers.

"Thirty days!" yelled Grissom.

"It could be longer," replied Agent Rogers.

"You're kidding, right?" asked Sara.

"Miss, we're from the CDC we take an oath not to kid," said Agent Rogers.

Grissom and Sara glanced at one another.

They were handed suits.

Each began to slip them over their clothes but the agent stopped them.

"You've got to strip…everything," ordered Agent Dover.

"I'm not stripping in front of you!" said Sara.

"We'll turn around," offered Agent Rogers.

Rogers turned but Dover did not budge.

Sara stepped into the next room.

When she returned, Grissom was already changed.

"You need to go straight to the van," called Agent Dover.

Grissom and Sara looked in the direction of Brass.

He waved.

They sat down across from one another in the van.

Sara said nothing as she leaned against the back of the van.

"You okay?" asked Grissom.

God, you think she's okay after possibly exposing her to a potential life threatening virus…

What the hell were you doing, Grissom?

You failed to wait for back up, breaking department rules…

His expression was odd and she felt uneasy at his scrutiny.

"Stomach virus…everyone gets it but us…we're the lucky ones…we get to deal with bubonic plague," she muttered. "This suit itches."

"Look at it this way, you just got a paid vacation for thirty days," said Grissom as he tried to get comfortable.

"That is if we don't come down with the plague and die," replied Sara.

"You see a glass as half empty," chided Grissom.

"I see a glass with vodka and orange juice and would like to empty it right now," sighed Sara.

His harsh glare made her sit back.

She closed her eyes shutting out his angry stare.

He still thinks I drink…

I do…

"You think it's really the Plague?" asked Sara.

"That was not Bubonic but then I'm not sure what those men were exposed to….or us…I don't think it will affect us," he said trying not to let his own concern be known.

The van began to move and they watched as the house disappeared.

Grissom stared out the window trying to determine where they were going.

He was surprised when the area became familiar.

He said nothing as he sat there hoping he was wrong.

Sara continued to keep her back against the side of the van with her eyes closed.

As they made their way up the driveway entrance, he cursed inwardly.

Once they stopped, he heard the men get out but no one came to the back of the van.

He nudged Sara.

"I'm not asleep," she said leaning forward and almost coming cheek to cheek with Grissom.

She quickly corrected herself.

"We're here already?" asked Sara.

"Sara…they've taken us to…"

The door swung open and Agent Dover instructed them to get out.

Sara stepped out but stopped suddenly when she saw the front of the building.

"You're kidding, right?" she asked nervously. "You said you guys don't kid."

"It's the only facility around with a lock down floor," replied Agent Rogers.

"I'm not staying here!" yelled Sara.

"Look, you'll be on a secured floor," assured Agent Dover.

"I don't care!" said Sara sounding a bit odd.

Agent Dover reached out to take her by the arm but she pushed him back.

She tried to step back but the other agent was there to grab her from behind.

"Stop! You're not going to help matters!" yelled Grissom.

Sara stopped as if he were talking to her.

The agent took the opportunity to grab her more firmly causing Sara to panic.

Grissom grabbed the man's arm and shoved him back, pulling Sara toward him.

She quickly stood behind Grissom.

"Look, we don't want to use excessive force but we will if she doesn't cooperate," sneered Dover.

Grissom quickly pulled Sara off to the side.

"Sara, you've got to calm down," whispered Grissom.

"I am not going in that place," seethed Sara.

"Want to be tasered?" asked Grissom.

She breathed in deeply as she stared up at the building.

This was the last place on earth that she intended to step foot in.

"Sara…"

The words tumbled out of her mouth sounding rather desperate.

"Griss, I don't want to go back into that place," she said folding her arms about herself.

Grissom stepped closer so that the two men could not hear the conversation.

"Adam Trent was transferred to another facility," whispered Grissom.

"I don't care. It's the same place… the same smell…the same…" she gulped as if she were struggling to breathe.

Welcome back to hell…

"Is there a problem?" asked Dover.

"Just give me a minute," assured Grissom.

He knew she was having a hard time being back at the institute.

He struggled with the words to ease her fear but before he could say another word, Sara was already walking back to the agents.

Before he could utter a single word of comfort she cleared her throat and directed it at the agents, "let's go," she said quietly.

"Got a problem with solitary confinement?" asked Dover.

Sara stopped abruptly.

Grissom glanced at Sara.

She had not budged from the spot even though the men continued to walk toward the entrance.

"What the hell is it now?" grumbled Dover.

Sara seemed to be thinking.

Grissom had no idea what fears or horrors she harbored.

Sara stepped back.

Grissom swallowed.

She can't possibly be considering making a break for it…

His hand snaked out and took hers firmly.

"Sara, follow my lead," he whispered.

Her body fell into sync with his as they entered the mental institute.

Another note:

Welcome back to all of my regular readers….I think this is going to be the most unusual but enjoyable reads. Just a reminder, leave a review after each chapter. I will post regular.

Take care,

Penny