I don't own CSI, just the OC, Tracy.
Boundaries
Chapter 1
Nick Stokes and Greg Sanders looked at each other in utter disbelief.
They were sitting in Catherine Willows's office, where they'd been asked to meet with the night shift supervisor.
The two had known something was up when Catherine had asked Greg to close the door before he sat down.
Nick, his Texas drawl deepening because of nerves, said, "This has got to be a joke. Catherine, please tell us this is a joke!"
"I wouldn't be asking, if I thought we had any other choice," Catherine sighed. "You're the only two on night shift who haven't been to these two scenes. We have to send in fresh faces undercover if we're going to catch this guy."
"You mean as bait," Greg said quietly. He had been beaten nearly to death by a mob of teens a few years back, and Nick had been kidnaped and buried alive. So the thought of deliberately putting themselves in the cross hairs of a serial killer didn't sit well with Greg.
"Who's going under with us?" Even though he hadn't been assigned either of the prior two cases, Nick had been curious enough to look at the crime scene photos and the autopsies.
Two men and one woman had been killed in both cases. Their mutilated bodies found in their shared homes by neighbors.
"Tracy Ross from day shift," Catherine supplied.
"She's new, isn't she?" Greg asked, not liking the thought of taking a rookie on an assignment like this.
"Horatio Caine sent her to us from Miami. She's been here three months. Caine wouldn't have recommended her if she weren't top notch. I spoke with her earlier, and she's already agreed."
Being on different shifts, the two men didn't really know Tracy. She was usually leaving as they were coming on shift.
They knew she was beautiful, though. A few times they'd even talked about her – wondering why such a gorgeous woman would be working a job like this, also wondering at the slightly haunted look she sometimes had in the morning when she walked in as they were walking out.
The two men glanced at each other, and Greg's head bobbed up and down ever so slightly.
"What would we have to do? How long will the assignment last?" Nick asked reluctantly.
"Just remember, it's an act. Act the part and you'll be fine. Make Tracy the focus," Catherine answered before she went on to give the two CSIs the rest of the information.
Wrapping up a few minutes later, Catherine added, "The first two cases were a month and a half apart. If we don't have him in that time, we'll pull you out. If at any time you feel you can't handle it, we'll pull you out."
Greg was the first to respond. "To get a killer off the street. That's the only reason I'll do it."
It took Nick a little longer to decide, but at last came to the decision that he couldn't let one of his best friends walk into danger alone. "Okay."
"Good, now go get your blood work done and go work up a cover story with Tracy. You go house hunting tomorrow."