Nine Calibre

'Sara?' Catherine called as Sara walked in for the lunchtime shift.

'Yeah?' Sara stopped in the corridor, looking at Catherine.

'Do you want a lift home tonight?' Grissom was out of town doing a lecture somewhere on how entomology proved invaluable in the field. Sara nodded.

'Thanks, Catherine. Thanks a lot. I owe you.' Catherine smiled and shook her head.

'You don't owe me anything.' She smiled and hurried off somewhere. Sara walked quickly over to the water fountain, and, tucking her hair back, took a drink. Nick came up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder as she straightened.

'Nick?' He shrugged.

'Yes?' She smirked and moved his hand from her shoulder.

'Thanks for being a friend.' She said softly to him. He blushed and smiled.

'Anytime.' He enveloped her in a hug. She hugged him back, feeling his hands gently rub circles on her back. It was a while before they broke apart.

'So Sara, does Grissom know yet?' Catherine asked her pointedly.

'Haven't you heard? I practically screamed it for the world to hear at Desert Palm.' Sara recounted and smiled. Catherine looked affronted.

'Well, that's good isn't it?' Sara nodded and began to say something else when she fell silent.

'Sara?' Catherine mouthed at her. Sara waved her hand for silence. She could hear it again. It sounded almost like… gunshots. Catherine could hear it too she thought. They tried to pull the car over, but were still going too fast when the bullets took out the wheels. The car, still trying to go forward, flipped.

Sara coughed once, trying to get rid of the diesel-scented smoke in her lungs.

'Catherine?' She called, her voice cracking. 'Catherine?' Silence. The smoke began to clear and she heard the wail of sirens. Catherine was lying on the tarmac, blonde hair dirtied and tangled. Blood seeping from cuts caused by the broken windscreen. She was only just breathing. Sara didn't know what to do, except clench her fist in her pocket and shout for help.