Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from CSI.

ALL AROUND ME

Chapter 1 – Unfamiliar places and worn-out faces

The sound of hair swishing back and forth on a smooth polyester surface reaches my ears long before she turns the corner completely. Only one person I know has hair that sounds that soft and full. And as recent times have proven, that sound of smooth hair is a false pretense for the stern and driven woman that I have fought with on more than one occasion.

I, Sara Sidle, know the sounds Catherine Willows makes when she walks.

The light and quick tapping of her boots on the smooth linoleum surface tells me that she is coming fast. Which means she's got a new case. The footsteps grow louder and louder with each passing second. My guess is that she'll be here in five seconds, give or take.

Five. I wonder where the fire is. This must be one damn good case.

Four. Will Grissom put us on this case together? I know that he senses the tension that's been between us lately. Who couldn't?

Three. It would be nice to be put on this case with her. Then maybe we can work some of our differences out. This fighting thing is getting old.

Two. What I wouldn't give to just start over with her. Ever since Eddie's case, things have been…well…terrible for lack of a better descriptor.

One. Pull yourself together Sidle. Smile on your face, chipper in your voice…

"Morning Catherine. What's the haps? New case?" I try to smile through my gritted teeth. Never know what's going to set her off anymore.

"Hey Sara. New case indeed. DB at a casino. Two bullets in the skull," she replies, grim determination already creeping into her voice.

"Two for one special? Sounds like our guy got a bad deal."

"Well, our guy is actually a girl. Cocktail waitress. Looks like someone didn't like what she was serving." Catherine smirks as she looks me dead in the eye. "Grissom put us together on this one." My heart flutters a little at this statement. I really hope we can get through this one without any hair-pulling arguments.

I regain my composure and give Catherine an equally heavy stare. "Two heads are certainly better than one. Let's figure out what kind of person would think the same theory applies to bullets."

Catherine nods in silent agreement.

The two of us walk down the hallway to get the specifics on crime scene location. Our footsteps are uneven and sound out of tune as we reach our destination. Offbeat seems to be a perfect way to describe the two of us.

What I wouldn't give to clear the air.

We pick up our evidence kits and head to the Denali. Catherine climbs into the driver seat and I make my way to the passenger side. I situate myself and adjust the seat so that I can give my legs some breathing room. Catherine starts the engine and turns to me, a soft sigh escaping her lips.

"Let's get the show on the road."

We make it to the casino in a little less than ten minutes. Memento Resort and Casino definitely falls short of its claim in its name. The spacious casino could hardly double as a resort. Though the colors are garish and bright, the actual atmosphere is gloomy and dilapidated. This might have once been a vibrant casino, but when competing with the rest of the blossoming city, the building lost a lot of its spark and charm.

Though the place was still bustling with activity, it didn't come close to the chaos of some of the more popular casinos. That sure as hell didn't keep it safe from the crime waves that seems to hit Las Vegas everyday.

Catherine and I step into the terribly decorated room and look around for the crime scene. We turn the corner and head across a room filled with slots and blackjack tables. Turning one more corner, following a sign that says "Poker Lounge" we reach our destination. As soon as we step into the room, it's like we are put on autopilot, protocol and procedures assuring that we have our gloves on and our senses alert. Catherine is the first to break the initial reverie of the intimidation a new crime scene gives me.

"Over here Sara," she beckons with her lithe hand. I follow her gesture and kneel down next to the very obviously dead victim. Two gory holes stared me in the face. The bullet wounds stood out against the girl's stark complexion. Blood had pooled around her head, drying in her hair fanned around her head like a black halo. It appeared that she was shot through each of her temples.

But what alarmed me more than the blood and viscera were the dark haunted eyes staring straight up at the ceiling; shock, confusion, and pain etched into every millimeter. Her mouth was rimed with cherry red lips forming a silent "O" of surprise. Looks like our girl wasn't expecting to be riddled with bullets today.

I inspect her open mouth closer, something white catching my eye. I take out my camera and photograph this new evidence and then reach in with my tweezers to remove the object. Catherine stops what she's doing and partakes in the deciphering of what this could be.

I fully remove the white object and identify it as a tightly rolled paper with a typed message emblazoned across its front.

Catherine grips my arm in surprise. The touch sends tingles from my wrist up my neck and back down my spine. Normally I would welcome such an electric touch, but the message on the paper has the bulk of my attention.

I hand the paper to Catherine, pull out my camera, and snap a few shots of the writing, before succumbing to a shudder.

It's funny how killers can have such a way with words.

It's funny how I know the words are going to haunt me for awhile.

"Bullets and beauty lie in the eye of the beholder."

And this girl was cursed to have both.

AN: So, I hope everyone enjoyed this. There will definitely be more to come. Let me know what you think! Please and thank you :