Disclaimers: I don't own anything. I wish I did, but I don't. Oh well.

A/N: There is absolutely no excuse for how long this has taken me, and there is also no excuse for the rediculous short chapter you are about to read. I'm going to finish this story at some point in the near future, I promise. I hope there are still people out there reading this...


For a moment I can convince myself that this is how it has always been, the perfect utopia of a perfect life with the one person you are meant to be with. If I close my eyes, I can see the two of us as we always used to be, as I know we can be again. I don't want to wake up from this position. Today I am going into work for a short shift. It has been three months off for me, and that is far too long. I can't wait to get myself back in there, but being here with the sleeping form of Sofia snuggled up to me makes be believe that work is not all that there is in life. Going back to work will mean facing the fact that the world is not a utopia, nor will it ever be. There is life, death, and everything in between, during which, just about anything can happen.

"Arggggh…" I look over to see the form of my love just waking up. I love to watch the way she stretches out like a cat. With that thought, at nearly the exact instant, Trina does the same thing. Well, they do say that pet owner's are like their pets, don't they… "Mmmm, good morning Sara. Are you sure you want to go back to work today?

"I'm ready! I'm ready! I'm ready!" I chant while gesticulating wildly with my arms, having a near miss with Sofia's nose.

"OK, SpongeBob, I'll let you go back on one condition- stop shouting in my ear and get that shower running so it's nice and warm!"

I leap out of the bed to get to the bathroom. This is a day I am looking forward to. Mostly. I'm a little worried about how protective the guys may be. They tend to be like big brothers (and Catherine more like a mother) to me than is necessary. I know that they only have good intentions, but it does get annoying. I hope that I'm not stuck in the lab. That would just kick this "back to work" excitement into oblivion.


"Greg, Nick, you've got a double homicide near Lake Mead. You'll meet Brass there. Warrick, take the B&E on the Strip. Sara, you'll come with me to the Suspicious Circs in Henderson, Sofia's there already. We've got a lot to do tonight people, so get moving". At least I didn't get suck in the lab with paperwork is all I can say. Well, that and the fact that Sofia is on the scene that I will be working tonight.

Several hours of processing later we find out that it was simply a misunderstanding between neighbours about a garden hose and groundhog causing all of the trouble. I don't even understand it myself, but as long as it's not going to keep me up any longer, I'm good to go. My first shift back was exhausting for me. I had no idea that it would be so tiring to come back to work.

Walking back to the break room I break from my deep thoughts of fatigue when I notice that there is nobody, not a single soul, roaming the hallways of CSI. That is quite unusual for any time of day, especially for a time near shift change. As I turn the corner I enter the break room and it is clear to me where everyone is.

"Welcome back Sara!" I hear a chorus of welcome backs from everyone in CSI as well as a good bit of the Las Vegas police department. Everyone I work with is there, with the exception of Grissom, thankfully. Not that I expect that he will show his face here ever again, but it would have been a huge mood killer.

"Guys, wow. I'm speechless. You're the best". I was not really in the mood for a party, but I could tell that everyone had put a lot of work into it and I didn't want them to feel like it was for nothing.

"Sara, I made sure to make your favourite coffee, and here's a pack to take home with you so you can have it at home on a day off". Greg is always thinking of me. Since my first day here he has had a kind of puppy dog crush on me. It was annoying at first, but now it's just funny. He knows that Sofia and I are together, and he doesn't have a chance, but he never gives up trying just for the heck of it.

I am again brought out of my musings but this time by a far more enticing diversion. I'm turned around from behind and pulled into a passionate kiss by Sofia. "Fia, here? Are you sure?"

"Sara anywhere is good as long as I'm with you". At this remark, many variations of 'oohs' and 'ahs' come from the other guys who are attempting to embarrass us, or just entertain themselves. "I'm sorry we're doing this on your first day back. I know how tired you probably are but they wanted this and I just couldn't say no to them, especially not Greg, you know how excited he was about seeing you again at work"

"That's ok. I'll just stay long enough to make my appearance and then we can go home and relax. That sound good?"

"Very…" is all Sofia can manage before we are again locked in another passionate kiss, right in front of the entire grave yard shift.