Author's Note: I started this a few years ago (holy crap... I didn't realize it was so long), and now it's helping me procrastinate. So I've revamped it a little bit... hope you all enjoy, and hope y'all R&R!

Disclaimer: I don't own CSI or any of the characters.they belong to CBS, and Anthony Zuicker and Co.

Even though it was in the middle of a desert, Las Vegas had it's extremely warm nights – warm and humid. Tonight was one of those nights, Catherine felt as if she'd hit a brick wall as she stepped out of her truck into the night. She stopped for a moment to catch her breath, reminding herself that it was still possible to do so. A warm breeze moved in to wrap around her, oddly forcing her to shiver. As a devotee of science, she wasn't a major supporter of mysticism, but even Catherine couldn't deny the negative presence of a je ne sais quoi in the air.

Nick and Sara were sitting in the break room, both engrossed in their own reading. They hardly noticed their co-worker until she spoke, "Hey guys."

They replied in unison, void of any real emotion, "Hey."

"Why are we all just sitting here? Slow night?"

This time, it was only Nick who gave an answer, "Yup. Good time to finish off paperwork." Without lifting his eyes off his magazine, he used his head to gesture over to a foot-high pile of paper that was sitting near the edge of the table.

"Uh, yeah, I'd say so," Catherine grabbed a cup of coffee, a generous stack of files from the pile, and joined the table in silence.

Unbeknownst to anyone in the break room, the next hour passed by. The only sound that filled their ears was that of pen scratching on paper, breathing, and the occasional scrambling for a snack. Grissom walked passed the room, and quickly backtracked. He stood at the doorway and gazed around, confused, looking as if he was searching for a set of lost keys. He finally spoke, startling his team, "Hey guys," heads whipped in his direction, "Where's Warrick?"

The three of them gave dramatic glances at each other. Sara spoke up, "He's not...around? I assumed he was at the trace lab or something. He hasn't been here, at least."

"Maybe he's just sick or something," Nick offered.

"Nick, Warrick wouldn't just not show up. Somebody call him." Grissom gave them all a commanding look.

Nick and Sara immediately turned their heads towards Catherine, who returned their looks with a slightly dumbfounded expression, "Alright, I guess that duty's been assigned to me," she raised an eyebrow, "beats the hell out of doing nothing." She pulled out her cell phone; Grissom headed back to his office while the other two returned their attentions back to their so-called work. "I got his machine at home and his voicemail on his cell," Catherine furrowed her brow.

"Should we be worried enough to go over to his place?"

"Sara, Warrick's a big boy. I'm sure that it's not necessary to execute a raid on his home just because he's an hour late on a slow day," Nick replied.

Grissom suddenly made a reappearance in the room, "Whatever you guys are planning, put it on hold. There's been a DB spotted out on the west end – Nick, I want you and Sara on this." He was expecting a protest from Catherine, but she simply sat in her chair with a mildly nervous expression on her face.

"Yes, boss. See ya, Cat!" Nick and Sara rushed out in excitement.

Catherine was staring off into space when Grissom startled her, "Catherine," she turned abruptly, "I've never seen anyone sleep with their eyes open like that, that's pretty good. I want you to go over to Warrick's – see if he's there." She gave a mild nod, grabbed her purse and headed out without replying a single word.