It wasn't until Sara boarded the plane, the true extent of what she was doing hit her. All through her life and career she had been taught to follow her head, and right now, her head was telling her how crazy this was. She had listened to Catherine's point on how there was nothing to back up what she claimed had happened, all the other CSI team agreed. They were worried for Sara, knowing that actively searching for disturbing answers would have a negative impact on her health. Sara had never received counselling for the rape she had suffered from her father for many years, she did not have the skills in place to allow her to deal with the details she had hoped travelling to California would provide.

Sara had little contact with her older brother. At seven years older than his little sister, they had not been that close as children, and after the death of their father he had gone to live in Los Angeles, whilst Sara was moved from place to place. It was difficult to keep contact.

Even now, Sara had a busy career in a different state and Craig Sidle threw himself into family life, supporting his wife and children and trying to be the best he could be. There was still the occasional letter, a phone call around the holidays and cards at birthdays. He did not know Sara was coming to see him.

When the plane reached California, Sara firstly got a cab. She had left on a whim, without packing anything with her, so she had no luggage to collect. Once telling the driver her brother's address, she switched back on her phone and was unsurprised to see no less than seven messages from Catherine. Before she even had a chance to listen to any of them, her phone rang again, flashing up with Catherine's name on the screen.

'Hello Catherine,' greeted Sara.

'WHERE THE HELL ARE YOU!?' a loud voice bellowed in response. 'WE HAVE BEEN SO WORRIED, WE THOUGHT YOU WOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING INCREDIBLY STUPID.'

'Sorry Cath, tell everyone I'm sorry. I'm in California to see my brother. Maybe he will know something.'

The woman in Las Vegas sighed. 'Sara… I don't know what else to tell you. We have searched through hundreds of reports. There was no baby; there was no trace of you ever having a child. Why don't you understand this? Listen to the CSI inside of you for once during this ordeal.'

'I don't expect you to understand Catherine. But this happened, I just know it did.'

'Okay then, well I'm coming out there too. I'll book a flight and phone you when I arrive. You need support there Sara, if you truly believe you know what happened, then I will come and help you.'

Sara choked back tears, 'thank you Catherine, I will see you soon.'

Sara never expected Catherine to fly to California to help her. She was fully prepared to go through this alone, but she guessed that having someone with her would help her keep a cool head and to make sure she wasn't letting anything get on top of her. She understood the worries the CSI team felt for her. It was very unlike her, Sara knew that more than anyone. But it was hard to explain how for her entire life there was a foggy memory that always stayed with her, yet never was clear enough for her to know exactly what happened. She dreamed about it at times, seeing little snippets of facts, or perhaps were not facts but were pieces of evidence from other cases she jumbled into thinking were from her own. Yet now she knew the truth, the years from wondering what had happened were now so crystal clear, she imagined it difficult to remember what she had assumed had happened so long ago.

The car drove on, through the busy streets of Los Angeles, past the homeless people begging on the streets and the glitzy department stores and designer handbags. She had vacationed once in the city when she was about six, happier times for the Sidle family. Before her father had lost his job and began to drink, he was the model husband: taking Sara and Craig to the park whilst their mother went shopping for treats for her family. It was the happiest moment Sara could think of, the only family vacation they ever had.

Yet now, Los Angeles was a different place. The cab drove through poor area after poor area. And then it stopped. In the middle of a rundown neighbourhood, overgrown gardens and stray dogs. Dirty children ran across the street, kicking grey soccer balls to each other and lazy mothers smoked on doorsteps drinking coffee from cracked mugs and gossiping with each other. Sara's brother's house was quiet and dark. No children played in his yard and no women met on the doorstep. At first she wondered if this is where he still lived. She kicked herself mentally for not phoning ahead to tell him she was coming, what would she do if they weren't in?

She paid the cab driver and got out the car. She knew the women from the neighbourhood were staring at her, but she walked up the cracked, weeded path and knocked upon the cheap wooden door. No answer.

'What'd ye want?' a voice from behind her asked.

Sara spun around, and was confronted by a rough looking woman, not much older than herself. Her hair was frizzy and tangled, her face wore not a trace of makeup and her clothes were cheap and wrinkled.

'Eh? This is my house. What is it ye want?'

'Oh hi. I'm Sara Sidle, Craig's sister. Is he home?'

'Craig's sister? From Las Vegas? What the hell ye doin' here? Does he know ye are comin'? He ain't home.'

'I'm just paying a visit, I was in town and thought I would drop by. I'm sorry I never phoned ahead; it was a last minute arrangement. Will he be long?'

The woman looked suspicion of Sara arriving so suddenly. 'Hm... well I'm his wife, Linda. You better come in.'


So will Sara find the answers she is looking for? Where is Craig Sidle? What really did happen to her 20 years ago?

Chapter 9 will follow soon. Please review.