Disclaimer- I do not own any part of CSI or the song "Who knew" that's Pink's. Now, maybe if I say that a hundred times over, I might start believing it! -x-

Chapter 3 – Priorities over politics

He placed the model on the desk.

"Top priority." Greg told Hodges, who glanced at the model confusedly.

"But you caught the killer right?"

"Yeah."

"So why process it?" Hodges asked.

"This one's different."

"How?" Greg became annoyed with Hodges' questions. The other lab techs crowded around Greg as he used a latex glove to lift the car up. They all leaned in, and several people gasped.

"She's not dead. As far as we know." Greg informed, predicting what Hodges was going to ask.

"She's missing and we need to know where she is. So when you get any info, we need it." Greg looked at Archie.

"We're gonna need any surveillance footage you can find. If we can figure out which way they headed, it'll be a start."

"What are you gonna do?" Archie asked.

"Drive around until we find her. That's why we need your help guys. Like I say, anything no matter how small, call us." He turned around to walk out.

"Greg."

He turned to see the lab looking at him sadly.

"Good luck." Hodges said quietly. Greg nodded and sighed.

"You too."

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He walked down the corridor with the man and led them into his small office. Jim sat down heavily behind his desk and the under sheriff took a seat in front of him.

"I just wanted an update on how the search is going for Sara. Gil's team wanna help out, but I just wanted to check what areas are now being covered." The under sheriff turned in his chair to look at Brass.

"Detective Brass we have the maximum amount of officers that we will allow out in the field at the moment searching for CSI Sidle." Brass frowned deeply.

"What do you mean "the maximum we will allow"? How many people are there out there?"

"Three teams. Eleven people."

"In each?" Brass asked to clarify.

"No, in total." The under sheriff replied curtly. Brass's eyes widened and he looked at the under sheriff.

"Excuse me?"

"Detective Brass, we have other cases and locations where those officers need to be placed. At the moment we are only able to accommodate eleven officers to leave their normal duties." Brass looked incredulously.

"Normal duties? You don't think that searching for a missing person is their normal duty?! How about kidnapping, abduction, are they not their "normal duties"? This is bullshit!"

"Detective Brass, we have certain procedures we have to adhere to. We simply cannot let all of our available officers scour the hills for a missing CSI. It would have a negative effect on the department and the sheriff's office." Brass leant forward slightly.

"And now we get to the truth. Politics and publicity. Of course, what else."

"If the press and the public get hold of the fact that we have the whole of the Las Vegas police department out in the hills of Vegas searching for CSI Sidle, they'll all start questioning why we use all available resources for our own but when it comes to Mr Joe Average, we only give them basic services."

"The officers I work with certainly don't share your work ethic. They try to help "Mr Joe Average" as you call them as much as they can. And as for the publicity, I don't think the sheriff would appreciate opening his morning paper and finding an article about the incompetence of the LVPD and how they can't even find one of their own. Grissom and his team have saved your ass before. Maybe its time you did the same."

The under sheriff sat sour faced staring at Brass.

"Besides" Brass continued "I could always go and have a chat with the sheriff myself and see what he has to say about this matter. I'm sure he wouldn't like the death of a CSI on his hands." Brass sat back in his chair and stared straight back at the under sheriff.

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Grissom felt a pain in his chest as they drove away from the Bellagio, the words haunting him. He switched the radio on, hoping for some temporary release.

"If someone said three years from now you'd be long gone, I'd stand up and punch them out 'cause they're all wrong. I know, better, 'cause you said forever. And ever, who knew."

He jabbed the button immediately cutting the music so silence once again consumed the car. He bowed his head and sighed deeply.

Catherine looked over at him.

It's not his fault, I know that. He knows that and I'm sure Sara knows that as well. So why is he still being so hard on himself?

She thought back to Sam's death, which she still found hard to cope with.

I wanted to believe anything other than the truth. That he's gone. Maybe Grissom is doing the same thing. It'd be a lot easier if he wasn't so…Grissom. He's not the most emotionally receptive person on the planet. If I just knew what he was thinking, how he was feeling, I mean I can guess how he's feeling. But who knows with Grissom?

Grissom's expression remained steely and emotionless again as he stared out at the scenery moving outside the window.

If he keeps this up much longer he's either gone start to burn out again or he's going to have an emotional breakdown. I hope he knows what he's doing.

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I quite like Brass kicking ass, its fun to write! Lol