I do not own CSI or anything pertaining to CSI. If I did then there wouldn't be a Season 16 Finale.

Chapter 1

Sara Sidle rushed into the foyer of her home and threw the bags on the first table she came to. Thinking twice about leaving them there until later, she extracted the perishable groceries and flung them into the refrigerator and freezer with no particular semblance of order. When the text notification came in for a "all hands on deck", Sara was floating up and down the store aisle aimlessly throwing stuff into the cart. She was tired, so very tired. Of crime. Of Vegas – well maybe the too bright lights. Of being alone.

Getting a fresh outfit of jeans and a striped shirt, she removed the flowery dress which she had no idea why she even wore it. Or bought it. After putting on her boots, she checked her kit to make sure it was well stocked, grabbed a jacket and headed to her car. She peeled out of the driveway and pressed the express number to connect to Greg.

"Sanders," he yelled into the phone appearing to be on the road himself.

"Greg, Sara. Do you have any clue as to what is going on?"

"I spoke with DB briefly. He said that an anonymous tip was called into the Las Vegas Crime Stoppers about a mass grave at an address in Henderson." Sara sighed heavily. Now she understood the cause for the alert going out.

"Your car stocked?" she asked. Greg replied that he wasn't sure depending on how many bodies were actually in the graves. "Okay I'll swing by the lab and pick up some supplies. See you in 20." Sara depressed the button and started making a mental list of what other supplies they might need to assist them in their investigation. She parked her Prius in the lot and removed her kit and vest. Since she was at the lab, she would take one of the Tahoes to the crime scene. She passed by the front desk on her way to her office. Judy, the receptionist peeked out from behind the cabinet.

"Sara, I thought you'd be at the scene," she said more of a statement than a question.

"Supplies," Sara replied as she rushed on by. She returned moments later to the front desk and set down a few of her items. She hadn't a good grasp on everything and didn't wish to have them fall all over the floor.

"Mr. Russell is still here," Judy told her. Sara looked at her quizzically. That was unlike DB not to be one of the first on scene. But then a lot of things were different for DB lately. Sara motioned to her stuff and told Judy she would be right back. Judy nodded.

"Don't see you much anymore Judy," Sara said turning around after she had taken a few steps towards DB's office.

"I've been pretty much invisible for the last 10 – 11 years," she replied sadly. Sara nodded and went on her way. She walked slowly towards DB's office and peeked in. He was sitting at his desk looking at a picture he held in his hands. Sara cleared her throat and startled him.

"Sara I thought you'd be at the scene."

"Supplies," she replied seemingly for the 100th time. "You coming?" she asked tentatively. DB looked at her for a moment and then down to the picture still in his hand. He gently placed it back on his desk and stood.

"Yes. Catch a ride with you?" he asked. Sara waved him on. They walked purposefully towards reception. DB helped her carry the stuff out to the Tahoe and once loaded motioned for her to drive. Sliding in DB expressed that he was getting too old for the field work.

"This feeling sorry for yourself doesn't become you," Sara said without judgment.

"You're a fine one to talk," DB replied not taking it as lightly as she meant it. Sara breathed a sorry and concentrated harder on her driving. DB put his head down. Now it was his turn to mutter an apology.

"No. You're right. We both have let things get to us too much lately. I know what it's like to lose someone you were close to. Someone you cared about and loved."

"Jules was very special to me. I know people talked but it was never anything tawdry."

"It's natural to build close relationships to those you work with for so long. For so many hours. When Warrick died, it was devastating to the team. I wasn't here yet I did feel like I lost a family member. And I felt guilty that I wasn't there for him." Sara make a right turn and then added, "so guilty".

"But Jules isn't technically dead. And maybe that's the hardest part. No closure. The doctors don't even know when or if she'll ..." DB trailed off.

"Always hope for that miracle," Sara said thoughtfully. She made another right and looked around the neighborhood. She knew she was close because she could see the flashing lights off in the distance, but something felt oddly familiar about the area. Then it dawned on her. Lady Heather's Dominion was around here if she remembered correctly. She had never been inside but Grissom had mentioned a little bit about it when she questioned him about Heather. Tight lipped as ever, he never really gave her much to go on with respect to anything concerning Heather Kessler.

As the flashing lights came into frame, Sara moved the Tahoe to the closest parking spot she could without blocking anyone else. She got out of the car slowing and surveyed the area. The house looked vacant and some of the windows had boards covering them. No lights were on in the house so she surmised no electricity. After taking in the scene briefly, she went to the trunk, popped the hatch and retrieved her kit. She walked back a step so she could shut the door and bumped into something.

"Gil?"

TBC