~~Lindsay~~

"I cannot believe I drew the short straw, again!" Lindsay's boss, Derrick, whined as they made their way up the long driveway. There were only three CSIs in Bozeman, Montana.

"Suck it up you big baby. We might actually get something good" Lindsay responded. They almost never get called out and when they did, it was either a false alarm or a suicide. The team had started drawing straws to see who would go. Derrick rolled his eyes.

"This is Bozeman, Montana Lindsay. We are the police department's paperwork team. They don't take us seriously not to mention the fact that no one is ever murdered in cold blood in this stupid town." Lindsay stiffened in her seat. "Shit, I didn't mean that Linds, I just meant that we don't get anything good. I don't know why I don't let your partner come with you" he tried to reason. Lindsay let a small smile grace her lips.

"Because you actually hope the next call we get is a 'good one'" she answered using quotes around her words. Derrick chuckled.

"That and I don't trust Josh" he joked. Lindsay's smile brightened.

"Then why did you hire him?" she asked. It had only been the two of them for a while, until Derrick introduced the newest member straight from college.

"The state wanted us to have at least a three member team" he responded. She had known that. While the secretary, Alice, showed Josh around, Derrick had told Lindsay what he was doing and told her to be nice to her new partner.

"I know, but I meant why did you hire Josh specifically? I mean he almost blew up the biology lab his freshman year of college. After that he wasn't allowed in that building! But we hire him to do chemistry for something that could convict someone of murder!" Derrick chuckled.

"Trust me; the other candidates were a lot worse. I had one girl interview that came in popping her gum and had a police record the length of my arm" he responded. Lindsay nodded because she remembered that girl. She was talking with Alice in their part of the police precinct. Every other word out of that girl's mouth was the word 'like'.

"I, like, totally, like, remember, like, her" Lindsay mocked as she twirled a piece of her hair around her finger. Derrick laughed loudly at her interpretation. He pulled his red pick-up in front of the house and went around the front to meet up with Lindsay, who had both kits with her.

"Alright, professional Linds. Quick once over to investigate what we have then we confer. Got it?" Lindsay nodded. They worked well together and had done so since she had graduated at the top of her class and got the job in Bozeman, her home town. They entered and saw a woman lying face down in her own blood at the dining room table, while a young man was found not far away with the gun in his hand.

"Murder- suicide" they replied in unison. They nodded before starting their work. In the background the uniforms were watching the TV that had been left on. The two CSIs ignored them for the time being, enjoying the fact that they could do their jobs without teasing.

"Can't we just count Alice as part of our team and let Josh go? I mean he takes up a desk and is absolutely no help to us. Not to mention Alice has a degree in Chemistry" Lindsay said breaking the silence. Derrick paused before nodding.

"That would work then you and Alice could each have a desk" he answered. Lindsay let out a breath of relief. They were given the very back corner in the precinct. There were only two desks and a small office for Derrick, which was where they had coffee and their own little kitchen.

"Excuse me, but I think you may want to see this as well, before you continue your work Derrick" the only cop on the force who didn't annoy them, Terry, said. He led the way through the small crowd of police officers for the CSIs. They stopped short and watched the moving screen.

"…the World Trade Center was hit. Only minutes later was the second tower hit. Moments later, both towers fell creating the disaster site behind me. No one knows the casualties yet, but the NYPD and the FDNY are working to try and find survivors in the wreckage. There will be more…" the news woman trailed off. Lindsay and Derrick had both stopped listening.

"Can you guys estimate a T.O.D.? I think we may have found a motive…" one of the officers asked in a somber tone. Derrick made his way back to the couple to try and see if the attacks on America were the cause of this couple's demise. Lindsay stood in shock watching the screen. Her uncle and aunt lived in New York City, but nowhere near the towers.

"You alright Linds?" Derrick called out. All the men in the room stopped moving, looking worriedly at the young woman. She turned and nodded, not realizing the tears running down her face. "No you're not. Head outside, I'm almost done then you can take the rest of the day, alright?"

"I'm sorry" she whispered, now realizing the tears. She left the house and stood beside the truck. Before she did anything else, Lindsay found a spot out of the way and lost her breakfast. She wiped the back of her hand over her mouth and pulled out her cell phone.

"Hello?" an older voice sadly asked. Lindsay let out a sigh of relief and gave a small smile.

"Hey Uncle Freddy. I just heard the news and I wanted to check on you guys. How is Aunt Marie?" Her uncle sucked in a breath before she could hear the sobs.

"I… I don't know Linds. I let her go for a walk by herself. We always go together! The route goes past the towers. I tried calling her cell, but she doesn't answer, which isn't like her at all Linds! I… I don't think she's with us anymore" he sobbed. Lindsay sucked in a breath and sighed when Derrick rubbed soothing circles on her back.

"Have faith Uncle Freddy. I need to go, I've got some evidence to process, but call me when you hear anything, ok?"

"Ok Linds, but please be careful beautiful girl" he said softly. That was his special nickname for his niece.

"I will. Call me later" After several assurances and goodbyes, Lindsay hung up and turned to Derrick with red puffy eyes. "Can Josh help you? I need to go talk to my parents." Derrick nodded.

"Of course honey. Take all the time you need" Derrick said as he helped her back into his pick-up and headed back to the lab.

WWTWWTWWTWWTWWTWWTWWTWWT

The next day:

"Lindsay, could you pass me that swab?" Josh asked as the processed the evidence from the murder suicide. She had come back to her job after a few hours of breathing room. Just as she grabbed the swabs, her phone rang in her pocket. She pulled it out after throwing the swabs at Josh.

"Uncle Freddy?" Lindsay asked in anticipation. She heard sobbing over the line.

"They found her… Linds they found her body" he choked out. She dropped her phone and distantly heard the clatter as it hit the tile floor. She was gone. Aunt Marie, her loving Aunt Marie, was killed by terrorists on her morning walk. She was numb.

"… Lindsay?" Alice called worried. "I just heard a noise and she hasn't responded yet. I'm worried Derrick!"

"Lindsay… talk to me. Honey I need you to talk to me" Derrick said gently as he led her to a bench in the hallway. Lindsay was staring to comprehend her surroundings and noticed almost the whole police department watching her.

"She's dead. My aunt died. She was caught on her morning walk as the towers fell. She is dead" she said shakily. Everything stopped and went deadly silent; only Lindsay's sobs could be heard. Derrick pulled his younger CSI into his chest and held her like a child. Terry pulled his hat off and the officers who had theirs on took them off as well. They held a moment of silence in the precinct for the loss of human lives on that fateful day.