And So it Goes

By: Manigault

Thanks for reading this! Double thanks for all comments...they do encourage me.

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When Grissom and Sara stepped into the den they were confronted by a blur of action as the team was scattered throughout the room and involved in various tasks. Greg held a barstool for Nick as the latter balanced on it while pulling the light fixture down, Catherine and Brass were pulling books off the shelves and inspecting them in minute detail, Warrick was pulling parts of their stereo apart.

"Find anything?" Grissom queried, his eyebrows arched.

"Not yet," Warrick supplied while inspecting the front plate of the stereo which he had removed.

"I hope you can put that back together, War." said Nick from his perch on the barstool where he was holding the light fixture but looking over at Warrick.

Grunting a response, Warrick placed the face plate on the floor and began inspecting the interior of the stereo system.

Folding her arms at the elbows, Sara surveyed the room and shuddered at the implications that their actions were conveying. "So, it's possible that this person has put bugs all over the townhome?"

"More than that, Sara, cameras." Brass gave her a half shrug as the doorbell rang. "That would be somebody with the equipment that I requested."

"Cameras." Sara repeated the word with distaste as she glanced over at Grissom. He was looking back at her with a small frown plastered on his face. She had not entertained the idea of cameras but knew that it was plausible. In fact, it was a known fact that these days anyone could buy tiny cameras on the internet with ease. "Habits. He knew the habits of his victims and was able to put the figure in position inside each miniature."

"Except for Penny Garden. She altered the plan and he had to readjust the miniature." Grissom mulled over the past cases as he settled down on one end of his sofa while pondering the fact that it wasn't over as he had supposed. It should have ended with Ernie Dell. He shouldn't have to face the fact that a murderer was still out there and was taunting him with this latest twisted miniature.

Sara stood there for a minute, just watching everyone, before deciding that she needed to do something productive. "I'm going to check out the study and see if there is a newspaper on the desk."

"I checked the room, Sara, and there was no newspaper."

Glancing back over her shoulder as Greg spoke, Sara mumbled something about needing to look around the study. Grissom was about to pull himself back off the sofa to follow her when Greg let go of the barstool, did a little sprint around it, and left Nick grumbling in irritation as his balance was suddenly at risk.

Greg caught up to Sara just as she was entering the study and she cast him a slightly amused look. "It's not necessary to shadow me, Greg. The rooms have been cleared by Brass." She softened her words with an affectionate smile.

"I know. I know, but I feel better if you stay in sight of one of us."

Sara pointed up at a small vent. "I don't think any of the vics had their livers missing, Greg."

Shooting her a puzzled look, Greg decided to pretend he knew what she was talking about by giving a slight nod to which she grinned for the first time since this ordeal began.

"I would have figured you for an X-files fan," Sara commented, her eyes roaming the room until her gaze landed on the desk.

Realization lit Greg's eyes as he muttered something about not figuring her for one. He would have questioned her further but it was obvious that something else had captured her attention.

"There is no newspaper." Sara stared at the desk in confusion. "There has to be some significance to the newspaper being in the model."

"It would be difficult for him to print out an actual newspaper." Greg offered as he moved to stand beside Sara who was now moving items around on the desk in an attempt to find some clue.

"What's this?" Sara stared at something in horror.

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Grissom settled back on the sofa and tried to convince himself that he was right not to run after Sara. Instinctively he needed to keep her within his sights and was a little irritated that Greg had beat him to the punch.

"Here's something," Brass held up a small item that his equipment had detected. Warrick and Nick gathered around him as he inspected the tiny camera. "Proof."

Not bothering to join the inspection of the camera, Grissom closed his eyes and searched his memory for anything that would lead him to finding this threat to Sara. He kept picturing the figure on the bed and then flashing back to Sara sitting on the bed before he went crazy and stripped the blankets off in a rage. There was no blood. No obvious injury like there was with Izzy Delancy. No blood.

"Grissom? Are you okay?"

"No blood," Grissom mumbled, opening his eyes and staring into the concerned eyes of Catherine.

"Where? What are you talking about Gil?"

"In the model there was no blood." Grissom stood abruptly and walked towards the kitchen. "It could be that he hasn't decided on a weapon." Physically wincing at that thought Grissom pushed the pain away and focused on the puzzle.

Catherine was right behind him as he entered the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. "Please tell me you aren't about to eat."

Staring at the contents of the refrigerator, which was sparse considering neither he nor Sara had been living there in weeks, Grissom shook his head when he finally responded to her statement.

"Poison. What if he planned on Sara eating or drinking something that would have led to the scene in the model? It could be that she thwarted his plans by moving out after I left."

Grissom was getting worked up as he turned in a half circle and studied anything that could pose a threat. Poison could have been placed on anything from utensils to the inside of the blender.

"We'll check out everything, Gil, it's going to be okay." Catherine didn't wait for his response as she moved to gather her kit so she could begin collecting samples.

"The bathroom needs to be checked as well. Shampoos. Razors. Anything that could carry a poison." Grissom pressed the palm of his hand against his forehead for several seconds before taking a deep breath and focusing on the task at hand.

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"What is it Sara?"

Sara let the photograph drift back to the desk before pulling out the chair and sitting in it with a dazed expression. It wasn't possible. Greg stood beside her and reached out to pick up the picture that had apparently caused a good deal of distress. His own hand shook as he stared at the image and looked back at her with disbelief.

"This doesn't look like any of the other crime scene miniatures."

"It's not." Sara reached for the photograph. "I need Grissom."

TBC

My apologies for the short chapter.