CSI: Crime Scene Investigators

When Life Merge With Death

Disclaimer: I do not own CSI or any of the characters. All original Characters and events are purely fictional.

Author Note: Hi everybody... me again! I just want to thank everyone who reviewed... It really made my day. Thank you also for being honest and pointing out my mistakes. Now I can rectify them and hopefully not make the same mistakes again. Here is the promised chapter 2. Remember to review and tell me what you think of this one. ;o)

Chapter 2

Piercing blue eyes stayed focus on the screen before her, showing very intricate ballistic statistics. Sighing, the young female turned her head to stare at the notes at her side, before looking at the digital clock read out. 02:00. Rubbing her eyes, she continued typing. Samuel's "On earth" was blaring very loudly in the small room. Her head was bobbing in time to the music, dark chocolate brown hair swaying in the air. "Paris to San Francisco, Detroit to..." She sang along but stopped as she saw the red light above her door was on. Frowning, she stood up and walked over to her ballistic water tank. She pressed the button, but nothing happened. Sighing, she bends down wondering why on earth she had to wear these extremely tight and short uniforms. The mini skirt stop midway to her knee while the powder blue blouse barely closes over her chest. 'Stupid perverted bosses with stupid rules. I'm doing lab work for crying out loud! Who the hell is going to see if I walk barefoot around the lab? What's up with this damn button?'

"Hey Sonny! Sonny!" Turning she saw the nightshift security guard standing in the doorway with two men she didn't know. One was a short gruff looking man in his forties or even early fifties, looking very official. The second was a younger man, late twenties or perhaps early thirties, with short spiky hair and an amused look on his handsome face. Standing up from her crouched position, she walked over to her stereo and turned it off.
"Sorry Mr. Matthews, I didn't see you. How can I help you?"
"I saw the light on and didn't hear any shots being fired. I was worried about you." He said shyly and looked to his feet.
Brass turned to the Security guard before asking, "You didn't hear shots, so you got worried? Isn't it supposed to be the other way around?"
Laughing, the young girl extended her hand to Brass. "Sonette Williams. I'm the Head Runner. We have a light attached to the Tank, so when we fire a shot, we don't yell it out, we press the button the number of times we're going to fire and then fire. Everyone then knows that to expect."
"I guess they can't hear you yell over the music?" Brass asked in a curt but humor way.
Still laughing, she answered. "That will be my guess. Can I help you gentlemen?"
"Oh, this is Captain Brass and Greg Sanders. They are from the crime lab and wanted to see Mr. Diaz. We were on our way to his office." Matthews informed her referring to the supervisor.

"He's not here right now, but maybe I can help."
"Yes, thank you. Would you mind answering some questions? Do you work closely with Miss Hobbs and Mr. Cox?" Brass asked as he watched the security guard leave.
Beckoning them into the lab, Sonette answered. "Mr. Cox is head of ballistic. He is currently in New York on business, so I'm in charge of the tests that need to be done during that time. Miss Hobbs used to be head of DNA. She was unfortunately killed about a week ago. Are you here because of her death? I understand that she was murdered?"
"Yes, she was. Did they have a lot of contact during work or after?" Before she could answer another staff member stuck his head into the tiny lab.
"What's with the light?"
"Sorry. I'm trying to turn it off." She answered tilting her head to the side to look past Brass.
"Well, do something about it. It's really distracting me." She nodded as he disappeared around the doorframe.

"Sorry, would you mind if I tinkered with this as we talk?" She asked as she bended next to the tank. Her skirt moving up yet again to show-off her well shaped legs.
"Not at all, now about Miss Hobbs and Mr. Cox?"
Nodding again, she answered. "They did not really talk to each other at all. That is why you have interns. They do all those little things between departments. And as far as I know they didn't really fall into the..." BAM-BAM! She hit the tank hard on the side, causing the light to flash a couple of time before turning off. Smiling, she straitened out and continued. "...same social circle. Alex use to be a runner, before she got promoted to head of DNA, but that was ages ago"
"And Mr. Cox? What can you tell me about him?"
"Like I said, Head of ballistics and out of town. He's a nice guy. But what does he have to do with Alex?"
"I'm sorry to say this, but Mrs. Cox was killed earlier today in a similar fashion as Miss Hobbs" Greg spoke for the first time.
All the blood drained from Sonette's pretty face. "I... I... Does Kirk know?"
"Yes. You seem to be familiar with him. Are you close?"
Walking to her chair, the young girl sat down. "Yes. I'm close with all department heads. They depend on me a lot. I can run an entire department when needed. That's what I'm doing now."
Nodding Brass asked "We like to see both Miss Hobbs and Mr. Cox's work stations."
Nodding, she answered, "Sure, but I'm not sure if I can do that. I think you might need a search warrant or at least get permission from my supervisor. I'll show you to his office. He should be back any time now." Standing up again, Sonette began for the door, but stopped as a tall male figure filled the doorway. The tall, clean cut and bald African American spoke with a deep voice.
"Ah... You must be the PD. Matthews told me you were looking for me. Sonette, when you finish here, get to work on the backlogged DNA. I need it done before sunrise." Nodding, she stepped aside, very uncomfortable under his piercing gaze.
"Mr. Diaz. May I speak with you in private, while my partner here inspects Miss Hobbs work station?"
"Of course, Captain. Sonette, will you please escort the crime lab to the DNA Lab?" Nodding yet again, Sonette led Greg out of the room very quickly.

Opening a door into a DNA Lab, Greg entered with Sonette. "This was her work station, as your colleague puts it. I haven't used it for three days now."
"So you were the last person to work in here?"
"Yes. But I was needed in ballistics and haven't had the time to come back yet." Nodding, the ex lab rat put his kit down and looked around the room so similar to were he spend most his past days in. Opening a pocket in his jacket, he extracted his latex gloves and started walking around the room.
"Do you need me? I kinda have a lot of work to do. But I'll like to help out. Mini-break from computer screens." The girl questioned from the doorway.
Giving her a smile, Greg answered. "Your company would be nice. Tell me, how can you run so many departments?"
Smiling, she answered while kicking her shoes off. "My father got me interested in science. He's a criminalist. He has been analyzing trace, Ballistics and DNA reports, performing autopsies on animals, studying blood spatter and bullet striations at home since I was a kid. Every now and then, I'll sneak one of his folders into my room and read through it. I saw decapitated heads when I was 7. Never even once did it scare me. My only nightmares are of spiders and bugs."
Raising his eyebrows, Greg grinned at her. "You serious?"
"Yeah, but my love is in DNA. I remember on my 11 birthday, he gave me a Thermocycler, to go with my DNA Analyzer, and before the end of the day, I could tell him why certain samples were female, male or animal. I got all my party invitees to give blood samples." She said the last sentence while whispering.
Now Greg was laughing. "And what? You became a runner?"
Shrugging, she leaned against the wall. "To master forensics, you need to master everything else first."
"You sound like Grissom, my supervisor."
"This is only temporary. I quitted a while back and will finish here at the end of the month. I can't do science with men staring at my butt. I'm just a pretty face around here. Nobody really understands what I'm capable off. I'm moving back in with my father as well... to save rent while I'm unemployed." Pushing herself off the wall, she continued. "Well, I should let you get on with your work; I know my dad likes to work in silence. I still have some stuff to do as well. If that light goes off, it means I'm going to shoot a bullet. Don't be startled." Grabbing her shoes, she turned to leave but stopped when Greg called out.
"Wait. Would you like to have dinner with me sometime?"
Blushing, she answers hesitantly. "I don't think so. I just came out of a very bad relationship."
"A drink then? We'll talk about DNA or something. I use to be the DNA expert at the Las Vegas Crime Lab." He persisted. Smiling shyly while whipping a strand of hair behind her ear, she nodded and answered before leaving.
"Just a drink... You know where to find me."

That same night or early morning, Grissom sat in his office with his favorite classical music on. The folders of the previous murders were spread open on his desk. He stared down at the crime scene pictures of the first victim, Pattie Hilton. She was a 16 year old girl. Stabbed twice in the neck in an alley behind a local supermarket. The absence of blood at the scene told him that she had been moved, but he still hadn't located the original crime scene. He can clearly remember the girl's parents distorted faces when he questioned them. He can hear the father's words eco in his mind.
'Do you have a daughter? No, you can't have. If you did... you wouldn't be standing here looking at me... accusing me... You'll be out there finding the damn bastard responsible for this!'
Sighing, he removed his glasses and pinched the brow of his nose. Putting the photos down, he picked up his cell phone. After the first ring, a young feminine voice answered. "Hello?"
Sighing, Grissom responded "Hi... How are you?"
"...One of those cases again?"
Grissom smiled. "Yeah. You know me to well."
The light laughter at the other end made him feel better instantaneously. "I guess I don't have a choice in the matter. Wanna do breakfast?"
"Sure. Meet you at Patrick's?" He asked.
"Okay. I'm working late... so say at 10?"
"I'll be there." He replied before hanging up, replaced his glasses and picked up the second folder.

This contained the photos of the second victim. Erin Grayson. Age 18. Cause of death: Two stab wounds in the neck. Bled out at the scene... The driveway of the family's home. Found by younger sister...
"Hey Grissom." Looking up at the voice, Grissom waited for Warrick to enter. Grissom could see that he was tired and noted that he still wore the same clothes as yesterday. Warrick was putting in as much hours as he did on this case. Grissom was proud of his guys. They all knew how to pull their weight when the time comes. He would never judge them if they needed some time off. "The blood Nick found in the bathroom... it's not the Vic's, but it's female. Mia hasn't done a CODIS search yet. Backlogged. Greg will run it before nightshift starts again, and see if he can find a hit. We might get lucky."
Nodding, Grissom responded. "I don't believe in luck, you know that. We really need more staff in here. I know Mia is trying hard, but I really can't wait this long just to find out it doesn't belong to our Vic. What about the fingerprint?"
"Jackie is still busy. AVIS isn't working to well with partials. Nothing got kicked out. Once we get something to compare it to... it'll be another story."
Nodding Grissom stood up. "We are missing something. And we need to find it before we find another body. We also need rest. Clock out at the end of shift." The last part he said while eyeing Warrick closely.

Walking over to the break room, Grissom entered to find only Catherine in there. Smiling, she hung up the phone and turned to Grissom. "That was Brass. The husband is here. Nick and Sara are going over to talk to him. Greg found nothing new at the testing lab or from the supervisor, besides a date with one of the runners." "I don't want him making dates when he should be trying to get this guy of the streets. He better get back to the lab and work on those blood samples. We're running out of time." Looking at Grissom, Catherine frowned.
"How long have we known each other?"
"What?"
"Oh, come on Gil. We have been working together since... ...forever! Why is this guy getting to you?"
After what seemed like an eternity, Grissom answered "It feels personal."
"Personal? How?"
Shrugging, Grissom sat down and leaned his head back. "I can't explain it. It's like he's making me answer the bloody question."
Frowning, Catherine sat down next to him. "Care to explain that one?"
Turning to face her, Grissom asked. "When relatives of the victim ask you, what if that was your daughter? How can you not see Lindsay in those scenes?"
Raising her eyebrows, Catherine responded. "Gil, please don't tell me you're going to say something stupid like you have a daughter?"
With a blank look Grissom answered with a request. "Please, just answer the question."
Shrugging, Catherine moved in her seat before starting. "Well, yeah. I guess that every now and then I do see Lindsay in the cases. But we're professionals; we need to work around it. Keep on telling ourselves that this is not the case of your loved ones, that the victim is just that, a victim. We can't get involved, Gil." Nodding, Grissom stood up and walked out the door but not without Catherine asking a final question. "You are going to tell me what this is about one day, right?"

Nightshift past into day and the team headed out for a shower and change of clothes. The lucky ones even got a bit of sleep in. When nightshift started it was like coming home. Load music was blaring from the DNA lab. Greg was back! Swirling around in the chair, he smiled at Mia. "So... yet again, I won. What's that? Three to... zero!"
Sulking, Mia responded from the Thermocycler. "Everyone knows that it's not how fast you process but what information you get from it."
Laughing, the young CSI stood up and walked to the computer as it started flashing a message. "And I got a hit! Unknown DNA in sink from Shannon Cox house belongs to..." Grabbing the printout, his smile quickly faded as he read the readout.
"Who?" Mia asked. Greg turned to her, shook his head, and headed out the door.

Grissom and Nick were walking toward the brick house. The nearer they got, the more Grissom believed that he was here at some point. He remembers the house. Frowning, he stopped at the yellow tape. Brass joined them as Grissom still stared at the house.
"Is it our serial?" Nick asked.
Shrugging, Brass responded "Stabbed twice in the neck... there is a slight... change. Vic's out back. Her gardener found her next to the pool. He said that he didn't touch her or anything he didn't bring. The gate was already open."
Bending underneath the tape, Grissom walked towards the gate, keeping his eyes on the ground. He did not want to damage potential shoe prints. Walking around the house, he notices again how familiar it looked to him.
"Something bugging you, Gris?" Nick asked next to him.
Turning to face him, he asked "Have we've been here before... maybe on a previous case?"
Shaking his head, the jock answered "I don't believe so... or at least, I wasn't to my knowledge." Turning the corner, they both saw David next to the body.
"Hey Guys. I'm nearly done here. According to the liver temp, I would estimate T.O.D about 2 to 3 hours ago." He said as he heard them approach.
Grissom looked down at the body. Looking at the dark chocolate brown haired woman, Grissom knew why the house was so familiar.

Author Note: The end of Chapter 2! Hope it was easier to read now that I changed it a little. Let me know! See you all soon! ;o)