When she reached the cemetery gates Sara observed the group already standing near the freshly dug grave. Weather permitting, it had been decided that the funeral would be held outside and, as this was Vegas in the height of summer, there was no need to worry.
Sara made out the eight figures that made up her social network, all of which she had to note with a little sadness, were work colleagues.
The tall muscular frame of Warrick Brown was easily distinguished due to him being the tallest of the group stood with his back to the open gates, to his left the shorter yet thicker set Texan Nick Stockes. In between the two stood the unmistakable strawberry blonde, Catherine Willows, her slight figure seeming even smaller in comparison to the two men flanking her.
Across from them and facing Sara stood Dr. Al Robbins, Vegas' chief medical examiner. Leaning heavily on his crutch he was talking in a hushed tone to Jim Brass, homicide Captain in the LVPD. To Jim' right stood Greg Sanders, once lab rat now turned CSI and Sofia Curtis, once CSI now detective. Both were starring into nothingness, consumed by their own thoughts. Finally there was Conrad Ecklie, assistant director of the Vegas crime lab, standing a little apart from the main group and starring at the ground in front of him with a look of loss and total defeat.
Sara almost felt sorry for him, he was alone and received no words of comfort from those around him. However she quickly reminded herself there was a good reason for this.
It was Sofia who first noticed Sara as she headed towards the group gathered around the empty grave. The change in Sofia' expression made Nick, Warrick and Catherine turn to see what the blonde detective was looking at. Nick and Warrick took large strides and both enveloped Sara in a bear like hug, all emotion being poured into this one gesture. As the boys let her go Sara looked up and was met by a piercing stare from a pair of deep blue eyes however just as Sara noticed a flash of something cross Catherine' expression, Catherine averted her gaze. This hurt Sara more than she would care to admit even to herself. However before she could dwell on this Sara found herself faced by the rest of her co-workers intent on providing the comfort they had been trying to give her for the past week.
Catherine hung back and Sara got the impression that she didn't want to talk to her. Sara had known that Catherine was far from happy about the relationship between Sara and her former boss but Sara felt this was just being plane rude.
However at this point Sara was stopped from contemplating Catherine's actions by the arrival of the vicar announcing they would be starting any minute.
At that moment Sara heard the rumble of an engine behind her and then the sound of brakes as a car stopped at the gates. She prepared herself to turn and say a final
goodbye to her mentor, friend, father figure and, more recently, lover. A goodbye which she had not imagined having to say so soon.