Disclaimer: As shocking as this is, I don't own CSI. :O

"Typical CSI's, nosy as always," a voice sneered. I looked past the gun and into the eyes of a crazed man.

"Sir, please, put the gun down." I said shakily, looking around the room. The family of 6 had gathered in a corner, the mom and dad's hands were both tied up, as well as their teenage son and daughter. "You don't want to hurt anyone."

"But I do!" he insisted, walking towards me and grabbing my arm. He led me to where the hole back downstairs was and pointed at it with his gun. "Guess how many feet it is to the bottom?"

"I don't know," I muttered softly, trying to judge how I could land on my feet. He chuckled.

"Try 200. You climbed quite a ways up those stairs, CSI Smith." He said coldly, prodding me to jump. "Go ahead."

I shook my head defiantly and turned around to face him. "You have to let them go, please," I begged, looking back at the family, who was trying not to watch me.

He laughed, and before I knew it, he had fired his gun. A sharp pain stabbed my stomach, and my eyes bulged as I felt myself falling down.

The moment seemed to last forever, and I screamed as loud as I could. I hit the ground with a loud thud, and gasped for air as I felt a lack of it. I heard footsteps rushing towards me, and with wide eyes, I looked around.

Everything was a blur. Officers were flying up the stairs right next to me, all of them ignoring me. Did they know I was shot? I clenched my teeth, trying not to cry from all the pain. I pressed my hand to my lower stomach, feeling warm and sticky blood. I didn't look down, but I knew it'd been a hit right below my vest, which was slightly small for me.

With both hands, I put pressure to my stomach, trying to stop the bleeding. The racket continued, and I heard shots. I prayed everyone was okay. I made a motion to stand up, grabbing onto the wall of the old house's hallway. I pulled myself up, and opened my eyes despite the pain. Where was everyone?

My vision was getting blurrier, and I shut my eyes altogether. I walked blindly, until I hit a wall, and turned to the right. Someone grabbed me, pulling me in tightly for a hug. I gasped, coughing and still clutching my stomach. I opened my eyes, and could see an empty hallway in front of me. I sniffed, and inhaled the scent of someone. Greg.

"My stomach," I groaned, and he pulled away from me, allowing me to breath. He looked down and froze. "Greg."

His attention snapped back up to me, and he wordlessly grabbed my arm and tugged me out of the house quickly. "Breathe, Lexi. Can you breathe?" he asked worriedly as I was placed onto a gurney. He followed me into the ambulance, watching my face carefully.

I nodded slightly. "Are they okay?" I choked out, feeling myself being slowly pulled into unconsciousness.

"They got him, Lex. Calm down, okay?" he whispered, gripping my hand tightly.

"Is the family okay?" I snapped, knowing he was avoiding my question.

He paused. "Last I heard, the dad got shot trying to block his wife."

I couldn't take it. I had failed, and now someone was dead because I hadn't done my job. I started to cry, this now pushing me over the edge. "You have to calm down, miss!"

The voice pulled me away from my crying and I nodded, wiping away tears. "You're gonna be okay..."

I was about to protest, but could feel myself pass out.

"I should have sent officers up there with her," a voice groaned. I recognized it as Greg's and my eyes flew open. Sitting around my bed was Greg and Russell, the two of them talking to each other.

"No, you couldn't have really expected that," Russell assured him, patting him on his shoulder.

"I think the statement about me being an adrenaline junkie has been proven," I croaked out, coughing slightly and looking over at DB.

"Hey, look who's alive!" he exclaimed, smiling broadly.

"Kind of," I smirked, raising my eyebrows at Greg.

"Doc said you're gonna be fine," Greg answered, rolling his eyes. "They surgically removed that bullet from your stomach, he's sending you home in a few hours."

"Do I get to keep the bullet?" I asked, grinning.

Russell laughed. "Yeah, right. It's going to be used as evidence in the case against the hostage keeper."

I sighed. "Fine. But maybe it'll just disappear right out of the evidence room," I hinted.

"And maybe you'll get fired?" Greg reminded me with a smile. I laughed, shaking my head.

"Nah, I won't steal from the evidence room, I swear, Russell."

Russell raised his eyebrows. "Yeah, I know you won't," he answered, standing up from his chair. "You've been ordered a week long rest period."

"What?" I exclaimed, sitting up in bed.

As he walked out of the room, I heard him call back, "Don't show up, I'll just send you home!"

I groaned, rolling over in bed and propping my head up with my hand. Greg watched me, an amused expression playing on his face. "A week." I sighed, looking at him. "A week without work. A week of sitting around and doing absolutely nothing."

"Sounds boring," he commented as he crossed his arms and leaned back in the chair, propping his feet onto my bed. "You gonna need a visitor?"

I rolled my eyes. "Rhetorical question. Breakfast at my house, every morning!" I claimed, grinning.

He just cocked his head to the side a little before biting his lip. "You wanna grab a beer after they release you?"

"I'm sure that's the best way to kick off a speedy recovery, right?" I asked, looking at him innocently.

"I'll be here at 6."

"So will I!" I challenged happily as he rolled his eyes and stood up. "Bye Greggy!"

He looked back at me and kind of glared a little before smiling. "Goodbye Alexandra!"

He peeled out of the room, leaving me to pretend glare before laughing.

I was standing by the receptionist desk, filling out my release form quickly. I knew Greg would be here any minute, since it was his night off.

"Lex?" a voice asked from behind me. I spun around, now done with the receptionists. I frowned, disappointed when I saw it wasn't Greg. And I felt my stomach drop when I saw it was Tanner.

"Leave me alone," I muttered, walking past him quickly, into the hallway.

He chased after me. I prayed I'd see Greg soon, and kept walking. "Lexi!" he caught up with me and grabbed my arm.

I yanked it away from him. "Go back to San Diego." I ordered, and took off walking again, now reaching an elevator, and just before it shut, Tanner jumped inside, leaving it to be just the two of us.

"I miss you." He said, trying to meet my eyes. Tanner had a temper, a supporting reason why I left him in the first place, besides the fact that he had been cheating on me.

"I don't miss you." I said coldly, glaring at him. "Stop trying to get me back."

He rolled his eyes. "Come on, Lex, I know you miss me."

"Don't call me that!" I yelled, shoving him backwards as all patience I had snapped. "Just stop following me!"

He raised his eyebrows. "Someone has some newfound strength," he laughed. I glared at him, and he pressed his lips to mine.

I shoved him backwards again, and he caught my arm in midair as I was about to hit him. He chuckled and shook his head. The elevator dinged, and as it did, he shoved me into the wall, pinning my arms. "Go." I pleaded, shutting my eyes.

He was suddenly pulled off me, and there was a scuffling sound as he hit the ground outside of the elevator. Stepping forward and peeking out of the elevator, I could see Greg was staring down at him with this disgusted look. I stepped out and grabbed Greg's hand, pulling him away with me and not saying a word.

"Is that your new boyfriend?" Tanner called from down the hall, and I ignored him as we walked out of Desert Palm.

"Still up for that beer?" I asked Greg, letting go of his hand. He just looked at me, debating what he should say.

"More than I was when we originally agreed."

I sipped on my beer, listening to Greg tell me all about the case the team was working on that involved a triple homicide. I couldn't stand knowing I wouldn't get to go back to work for another week, but I tried not let it bother me.

"Who was creepy ex-boyfriend?" Greg bluntly asked me when he finished his story. I looked up at him, unsure of how to respond.

"That was Tanner," I answered nervously. "Ex-boyfriend I met in San Diego."

"He's a jerk," Greg commented casually, and I smiled.

"Thanks though, for helping me out with that," I said quietly. "He's, um, a bit sore about us."

"Sore?" he chuckled, sipping his own beer.

"Well, by sore I mean totally obsessed with me," I said, pondering my own words.

"I don't really blame him." Greg muttered.

"What?" I asked, scrunching my eyebrows in confusion.

"I mean I don't really blame him in the sense that he's obsessed with you. You're perfect." He admitted, shrugging at the words.

I laughed nervously. "No, not at all. I'm too obsessed with work, I have no life, my hair is untamable, I screwed everything up between my family and I, I wasn't cautious when going up the stairs and got myself shot-"

"Shut up," Greg said, kind of loudly. It made me stop, and I looked down at the table. "Just because you have things wrong with you doesn't mean you're not perfect. It just means your human."

I smiled. "Thanks, Greg," I said before downing the rest of my beer upon seeing his empty glass.

"You ready to go?" he sighed, stretching and yawning.

"We should go do something else," I claimed, grinning and looking around. "Let's go streaking!"

He just smiled and raised his eyebrows. "I think it's time to go."

"Time to go streaking!" I added, making him roll his eyes and step out of the booth. He took my hand and helped me out, wrapping his arm around my waist as we left the bar.

We walked down the strip, just he and I. It was silence, until he cleared his throat. "Hey, Lex?" he asked quietly, glancing at me.

"Yeah?" I asked, watching the bright lights of Las Vegas as they captured my attention.

"Why did you ruin your sister's chance of getting to know your dad?" he questioned as we crossed the street.

I sighed. "She um, she had just found out he was her dad after 19 years. Her mom had died, and finally showed Casey her birth certificate for the first time ever."

"Which lead her to go and find your dad?" he guessed quietly as we listened to the music of horns honking.

"Yeah," I said softly, looking up at New York New York. "I'd never been to Vegas before now."

"Is that so?" he asked, pulling me along and now holding my hand.

"I'd just seen pictures. I'm glad I chose to come here though," I revealed as he scanned the area. I listened to the sirens and groaned inwardly, knowing Greg would probably get called out on this scene.

"I'm just glad you're okay," he huffed, turning and watching as the cop cars slid to a stop in front of New York New York.

"Greg?" I mumbled as I leaned into his shirt, feeling the sleepiness now taking me over. We had stopped walking to watch the cops file into the casino.

"Yeah?" he asked me, looking down .

"You're pretty awesome."

He blushed at my words and gave me a goofy grin. "Says the girl who survived getting shot and drank a beer on her first night out of the hospital."

I looked up, smiling right back at him. And before I could do anything, his lips were on mine, and we were kissing.

It wasn't like majorly intense or anything, just really nice and meaningful. I pulled back slowly, smirking at him. "We could get fired." I reminded Greg.

He rolled his eyes. "Who says anyone has to know?"

I smirked. "Ooh, I feel like a rebellious teenager."

He chuckled, kissing me on the cheek before we continued walking. "You ever did the whole 'hide your relationship from your parents'?" he asked, sounding extremely happy.

"Once," I said, thinking way back. "When I was 14. I dated a senior when I was just a freshman, pissed my dad off. We dated in secret for like a year after that."

He nodded slowly. "I didn't do any of that. God, I was lucky if I went to prom with someone," he laughed, shaking his head. "I was such a nerd."

"So was I!" I insisted, laughing. "The senior I dated was in the science club with me!" We both busted up laughing, and I squeezed his hand. "God, why couldn't I have met you in high school?"

He shook his head solemnly. "I'm very glad you didn't," he said grimly. "I was the biggest nerd ever in high school."

"And you think I wasn't?" I asked, smiling to him. "I was made fun of all 4 years through high school. I just advise any smart person to not get bright pink braces their freshman year, it typically gets you stuck with 'geek' written across your forehead."

He looked over at me seriously. "I know, believe me. Had the headset, rubber bands and everything. All worth it though," he said, wiggling his eyebrows and smiling.

I grinned. There was an awkward moment when we just stared at each other's teeth before he started laughing. "What?" I asked, confused.

"I just can't seem to imagine you with braces. Much too pretty." He said, running a hand through his hair.

"Well, imagine these perfect teeth with railroad tracks pressed against them," I smiled, and he shook his head.

"Still can't see it."

"When I imagine you with a headset, it reminds me of little Willy Wonka. You ever see that movie?" I giggled, looking up at him.

"Only a billion times," he admitted, swinging our hands back and forth. "Little kid with an OCD dentist for a father. Little kid becomes famous chocolate brewer, end of story."

"Not exactly," I pointed out as we reached his car. "You forgot the bitch that turns into a blueberry."

He rolled his eyes and unlocked the car, and we both jumped in. "Well you forgot the fat kid."

"You forgot the umpaloompas!" I challenged, crossing my arms. He started the car, already driving out into the road.

"No, I didn't," he sighed, turning down a street. "How could I? You're only like an inch taller than them."

I scoffed, and he bit back laughter. "I'll have you know, once again, that I am 5'4."

"5'2," he coughed, grinning over at me in the passenger's seat.

I fake pouted. "I can't help that I'm short."

"No," he said quietly. "Short looks good on you though."

I hit him in the arm. "That's the part where you're supposed to say 'No, Lexi, you're really about 5'5'."

"Damn, stop it with the hitting me!" he teased, lightly hitting me back.

I hit him again. "I told you that I'm not a dude!"

He sighed as we pulled into my driveway. I blushed, feeling bad I just hit him. "You coming back to work soon?" he asked hopefully as we sat in the silent car.

"Russell said a week, but I think I'll sneak in tomorrow night." I said, rubbing my hands together. "I'll just tag along on some random case with someone."

"You haven't been on a case with Morgan or Sara yet, try them?" he suggested, looking me in the eye.

"I haven't exactly spoken that much with them," I said, smirking. "You don't want me on a case with you?"

"You have really pretty eyes."

I grinned, and pulled him in to kiss him softly. It took him a minute to react, but when he did, he kissed me back gently. He pulled away and wiggled his eyebrows at me. "We're trying to keep our jobs, Greg. Please don't go and brag," I laughed as I opened the door and stepped out. He rolled down the window.

"I'll see you for breakfast, right?!" he called as I walked up the door that led into the apartment building.

"Bye, Greg!" I yelled back, just grinning at him.

I entered the apartment building lobby and figured I should just climb the stairs after my bad elevator experience. As I got closer to my apartment, I could hear whispering. "You think she's dead?" a voice whispered, and I smirked, knowing it was one of Aiden's friends. Typical boys.

I appeared from around the corner, assuming they'd been talking about my 2 day absence. I looked at the two boys, one of them holding a gun in his shakily hands. The other one was Aiden, who was holding the kid back from the body. "What the hell did you do?" I said quietly, still watching the body of the teenage girl.

"Oh great, now someone's seen!" Aiden's friend groaned. I glared at them before leaning down to check the girls pulse. She had a gunshot to the leg and mid-stomach, further up than my shot had been.

There was a very faint pulse, and I thanked God. "You two, go call 911." I ordered, and they both nodded, running back into the room. I began to perform CPR before Aiden tossed a cell phone at me.

After speaking hurriedly with the lady on the other end, I hung up and chucked the phone as hard as I could to Aiden, looking away as it hit him in the head.

"What was that for?" he demanded, rubbing his forehead.

"For shooting her!" I exclaimed, and could feel her pulse going stronger.

"Leo did, not me!" he yelled, holding his hands up. His friend glared at him before turning back to me.

"She was hitting Aiden's apartment door with a hammer!" he shouted. I looked around, seeing a hammer laid next to the door, which had apparent holes in it.

"Why was she doing that?" I asked, looking away from the body.

"She was a stealing," Leo said defiantly, glaring at the body. "Or looking for Mrs. Walker. I wouldn't be surprised with either one."

Aiden now glared at Leo. "Why wouldn't you be surprised? And why did you have a gun in the first place?" I questioned, but his answer was cut off with paramedics running up the stairs. I stepped away from the body and looked back at Aiden and Leo.

"Miss Smith, are you okay?" an officer asked me, nervously looking back and forth at Leo and Aiden.

"I'm fine, Thomas," I told him, remembering him from the scene we'd entered days ago when I was shot. "Just take them into custody, then find Mrs. Walker."

He nodded quickly, allowing himself and the other officer to cuff Aiden and Leo, both of whom were openly glaring at me. I ignored them, swinging my apartment door open and stepping inside.

Everything in my apartment was completely unpacked, and it was looking better than I had expected. I sighed, yanking open a drawer and changing into my shorty-short pajama bottoms and large T-shirt. I leaped into bed, not using covers because it felt like it was 100 degrees in my house.

I dozed off into sleep.

"You are such a bitch!" Casey shrieked, chucking a plate at my head. I ducked, letting it crash into the wall. "You killed him!"

"I had no other choice!" I cried, stepping towards my half-sister. "Why would you want to get to know an abusive alcoholic?"

"I went 19 years without a father, and when I want to get to know him, you kill him?!" her screech rang though the kitchen, and mom stepped in between us.

"Casey," she said darkly, not even looking back at me. "I am upset with Alexandra as well, but you cannot be throwing plates-"

"Why are you upset with me?" I hollered, rolling my eyes at my mother's stupidity. "I did you a favor!"

"You call killing my husband, your father, a favor?" she snapped, turning on me.

"He was hurting you and me both!" I said through gritted teeth, stepping closer to her.

"For God's sake, Alexandra, it's life!" she scoffed, throwing her hands in the air. "You learn to deal with it and move the hell past it!"

"You're embarrassed!" I claimed, pointing at her. "You're embarrassed now that all your friends know you were living a lie! If you had just gotten us help, you wouldn't have put me through 16 years of hell!"

Her nostrils flared in anger. "You were fine, Alexandra."

"I was not!" I growled, poking a finger in her chest. "I am your daughter! Does that mean anything to you?!"

She was silent. "No daughter of mine speaks to me like that."

I laughed in her face. "'Learn to deal with it and move the hell past it." I quoted. "It's life."

Her eyes widened in rage. "You are nothing but a spoiled little-"

I jumped up, startled at my own dream. It was reliving the day after dad's death all over again. I listened closely though, seeing as I was almost positive some noise had woken me up.

It sounded again, the loud knocking on my door. I sighed, getting out of bed and wrapping a robe around me before I went to the door. Opening it, I could see Captain Brass standing there, Finn next to him.

"Morning," I croaked, my voice hoarse. I squinted at the bright hallway light.

"Sorry to wake you, Lexi," Finn said, leaning against the door. "Russell and I were just wondering what the hell you even saw."

I laughed to myself before stepping out and shutting the door behind me. "She's awake!" Russell teased from where he was standing in front of Mrs. Walker's door.

"Barely," I complained as I rubbed my eyes. "Why's everyone crowded over here though? That girl was shot over there." I pointed to the end of the hallway, looking back to Mrs. Walker's apartment.

"Lady's dead," a voice called from inside the room. I stuck my head in, only to see Nick processing the scene, the dead body of Mrs. Walker lying in the middle of the room. There was blood everywhere, suggesting she'd been stabbed.

"Holy crap," I commented, feeling the surprise in my own voice.

"That's what I said!" another voice said from the bedroom of the apartment. Morgan stuck her head out and waved to me. "Hey! Great area you live in!" she gave me thumbs up, and I laughed.

"More like great area I can afford to live in," I sighed, looking back at my door.

"It just seems like a great place to raise your kids," Nick noted, glancing around the apartment.

I looked at him pointedly. "No way in hell I'd raise my kids here."

"Makes me wonder about this lady," Russell said offhandedly, pointing to her kitchen. "Expensive china, nice furniture. Was she rich?"

I shrugged. "Only spoke to her once," I recalled, and then turned to Finn. "Her son said he knew you."

Finn nodded slightly. "We were on the murder case of one of his friends," she said, looking like she was now remembering all of this. "You think they meant to kill that teenager?"

About to answer her question, I could see someone ran around the corner. I looked up at Sara, raising my eyebrows. "Guy just called the crime lab and said he saw a man walking out of the apartment with a bloody knife," she panted, looking at us. "We got him. Early thirties, driver's license says he's Tanner Durfee."

My heart seemed to stop, realizing my ex-boyfriend may have just killed Mrs. Walker.

And if he had, did he mean to?

Or was he looking for me?

Semi-cliffy. Thanks a bunch to the people who reviewed, I most defidentally appreciate it!:) You guys are awesome!

Okay, so PLEASE let me know: What do you think about Tanner? Do you think his character is kind of real enough? And I'll mention this in a later chapter, but no, he wasn't abusive. He was just had a temper, and as you can tell, he's waayyy overly obsessed with Lexi. I personally like his character, makes a good villain;)

Also, what did you think about Greg and Lexi's kiss? *raises eyebrows suggestively* and about her getting shot, but Greg being there for her? So cute!:)

The Willy Wonka scene?:) Haha that part kind of brought back memories for me!

REVIEW! Yes, press the shiny button and fill my head with your much wanted and beautiful reviews. Even if they're negative, let me hear em!

Thanks!:))