Chapter IX

Panic in the Streets

The overworked receptionist waved them back. Lindsey knew her way to the break room and went without stopping to look around at what she termed "CSI junk." Cami did stop to look, though. Each lab was bustling with activity; tired looking scientists were living on caffeine alone. She spotted Nick and Greg in one of the labs on the way and tapped on the glass. Both men looked up. She shoved the bag against the glass, logo towards the boys. She didn't think she'd ever seen the mellow Texan move that quickly in the months she'd known him.

"Oh Darlin', marry me, please." She rolled her eyes, "Not a chance, Cowboy." He pouted for about a second before he opened the bag. "Okay, don't marry me, we'll live in sin." He paused and looked her up and down, taking in the leather she had donned for the ride over. "Definitely in Sin." She smacked him on the shoulder. "Where's the Wild Woman at?" Greg had joined them and had his hand in the bag already, fishing for something. "Her and Griss are down in the garage, going over the bus." He looked at his watch, "They've been at it for at least four hours now." He scratched at his two day's growth of stubble. "Someone should call them or something." She snatched the bag away from the two men, "Yes, you should. Catherine too, I brought Lindsey with me. Get them now and I'll let you have some of the cake I bought." Greg grinned, "Cake?" She nodded, "Linds has it." Both men went off in search of the others.

The break room was more of a mess then usual. Cups lay everywhere and someone's sneaker had given it up and was lying under the table. Someone she didn't recognize was sprawled on the couch, half dead. A sign pinned to the young man's shirt threatened death if disturbed before six.

Slowly, the CSIs and Techs of the nightshift - day shift was on it's way home - trickled in. They looked tired and scruffy. Cami offered them each a smile. "I thought you guys would be in need of a pick-me-up." Catherine, looked up from hugging Lindsey, and smiled, "We are in your debt, Parker." Then Catherine Willows's unusually dull blue eyes focused on the helmet still dangling from Cami's hand, and it's twin on the floor. "Please tell me you didn't ride your motorcycle here." Lindsey grinned, "Cool. We won't tell you." Catherine, obviously too tired to throttle Cami, collapsed on the non-occupied couch. "I'll kill you later." Sara looked up from her veggie burger, "We've got another shift to do and then we all get to go and crash for twelve glorious hours." A groan came from the others. Cami was pretty sure that even Grissom had looked relieved at the idea of a shift off. She boosted herself up on the counter. "Rough stuff, oh by the way, the press is outside. They didn't exactly catch my best side." Warrick looked up from his place on the couch beside Catherine, "Let Ecklie handle them."

Further comments about the press, Ecklie, the case or anything else were cut off when a livid brunette stalked over to the couch occupied by the sleeping man. "TOLIVER!" Wendy Simms knocked the man's feet down and he sat up, groggily. "Wha?" She glared at him. "You idiot! I asked you to do one thing. ONE. Watch the samples while I went to the store room for supplies." He held up his hands, "They're fine, I left them running." The harried brunette shoved slapped her hands on her hips. "A freshman in a entry level Chemistry course knows better then to leave a test like that. The samples denatured in the spinner, you moron. That's three hours of work you've set me back!" Her hands balled into fists. "Get the hell out of here before I really get pissed."

In the face of getting beaten up by a girl, Michael Toliver beat a hasty retreat. After he was gone, Wendy collapsed on the recently vacated couch. "I hate him." She cracked open one eye. "I smell food." Greg threw one of the remaining sandwiches to her, "Cami and Linds brought chow." Wendy ripped though the wrapped and took a bite. She smiled as she chewed, when she swallowed she sat up. "Sorry about that." After another bite, she stretched, "Thanks." She looked over at Cami and stopped chewing for a minute. Her cheeks tinged pink at the sight of the Psychologist decked out in leather. "Thanks, Doc." Cami's slightly flirty 'Any time' was cut off by a weary Jim Brass's entrance. "Turn on Channel 5."

Cami winced, wondering if she'd be featured. When the television came on, she wished he had been the top story.

"This is Maria Rymer with Chanel 5." The redhead reporter was beginning to show signs of fatigue, but her words were as crisp as ever. "In the wake of yesterday's tragedy, Vegas is balancing on the brink of chaos. Today our city slipped over the line. Just fifteen minutes ago, there was an attack." The camera panned out to show a North Las Vegas store. It was a national chain that was easily recognizable. "Just inside a young man and his sister were viciously attacked by a group of customers and, apparently, by a handful of employees." The camera panned around showing uniformed Sheriff's deputies and bewildered employees in easy-to-pick out vests. "Was the couple trying to rob the store or causing a problem that would warrant this savage attack? The camera showed a shot of two ambulances pulling away from the building. "Eyewitnesses say no, the only explanation that the attackers gave was that they were defending America. The victims, who have yet to be identified, are of Middle Eastern descent and the young woman was reportedly wearing a head scarf. The two are of the Islamic faith." Maria's face went hard. "This blatant hate crime has no excuse and has the Islamic Community in an uproar."

Nick's blunt curse just about wrapped up the room's feelings on the new situation. Grissom rose. "Catherine, take Sara and Warrick to Desert Palms with you, get their clothes and statements, quickly. Nick and Greg, you're with me, we're going shopping." Despite their fatigue, the CSIs began to move. "I've already got Sofia on the way to the hospital" Brass announced, "I'm going with you guys."

Catherine gave her daughter a quick hug and smiled at Cami before she went. Sara gave a hug to both before she went, half finished sandwich in hand.

Lindsey sighed, "Well, at least the press won't be outside this time." Cambridge nodded, but kept her eyes on the screen, watching the reports. "Panic in the streets."

Author's Note: Three more chapters today. Don't get used to this, I have to sleep sometimes, ya know.