"I don't know what you want me to tell you Gil," Doc Robbins came to a stop on the opposite side of the little girl's body, "I sent everything I found over to Trace, DNA, Tox, and the bullet to Ballistics. Nothing wrong on the inside or the outside of the body aside from the bullet wound; she was a very healthy little girl."

"Why kill her though?" Nick stood staring at her face; his arms folded across his chest.

"To get their point across that they can kill without hesitation," Katrina said blandly.

"She was already dead though don't forget," Doc Robbins pointed out, "Katie was already a patient of the morgue for some time, if you don't recall. She had a terrible asthma attack…I take it the bullet wound was just to press the measure that they weren't playing."

"Okay, look this is what we're going to do," Grissom turned looking at the younger CSIs, "Nicky I want you to take Kat home so she can pack things for Greg, Peter, and herself."

"Alright," Nick nodded.

"What are you going to do?" Katrina asked.

"I'm going to see what the labs are coming up with," Grissom answered, "So go home Kat, get everything you need and bring it Nick's house. Then I want you to stay there until I call you, do you understand?"

"But—"

"Do you understand me, Katrina?" Grissom asked her again as he took her arms.

She nodded slowly, "Okay."

"Good," he kissed her forehead, "Now go." He waited till they were out of the room before pulling the sticky note from his pocket which was presented to him earlier by the Doc, "So what is it you truly wanted to show me?"

"You're not going to like this," Doc Robbins reached under the blanket and pulled her arms out from under it to reveal words scarred up and down them repeating the same thing over and over: And come he slow or come he fast, it is but Death who comes at last.

"Sir Walter Scott," Grissom said softly.

"What do you get from this?"

"That Brittany has enough hatred in her to scar this into a child's arm over and over again just to point out that no matter how long it takes or how quickly it might happen…death will be the end of us all eventually. Mainly the Sanders; we need to find Ebony."

)()()()(

Katrina hurried past Nick in the hallway going up the stairs and disappearing into Peter's room.

Nick moved to the bottom of the steps to look up; his hand firmly on the banister trying to find words to calm the worrying mother, "Kat, listen to me."

She walked out of the room and went to hers not replying.

"I know you've heard this a lot today, but we're going to find her, it's going to be okay," Nick said loudly for her to hear and she zipped back to Peter's, "Once we get back to my house we can head out and help with the search."

Back to her room.

"Kat what are you looking for?"

No answer.

"Kat," Nick's voice took on a questioning tone and he made his way up the steps slowly, "Kat are you okay?"

No answer.

Panic started to fill him and he pulled his gun out walking slowly towards the Sanders's bedroom, "Answer me Kat." He walked into the room his gun pointing down and his sight ahead to see someone standing by the window; a silhouette only giving off that it was a man. Nick raised the gun, "Put your hands up where I can see them and turn around slowly."

The person didn't move.

"Hands up where I can see them!" Nick demanded and this time the person did turn, but his hands stayed where they were: one around Katrina's waist the other holding a 9mm to her head, "Put the gun down!"

"How about you put the gun down so we can negotiate an exchange," the man grinned brightly, but Nick kept his stance trying to remember where he's seen this man before.

"Don't make me shoot you," Nick threatened.

"You're no gunslinger, you can't shoot me without shooting her," he said a-matter-of-factly.

"Let her go," Nick ordered and the blond shook his head.

"I'm afraid I can't do that," his smile grew and he shifted Katrina more towards the gun showing what looked to be an ID tag on a dark blue lab coat.

Nick's memory caught and he tightened his hold on the gun, "Since when did you start working for the other side Keppler?"

Kyle Keppler shrugged his shoulders, "Since I was approached two weeks ago with a very generous amount of money to do just this, oh, and deliver that DVD. What a kindly thing of me to do, but then again I was getting paid beautifully. The hard part was getting that little orphan; are you aware they let anyone just waltz into the morgue. It was sort of like taking candy from a baby, but like a baby who would shank you if you tried it, but anywho. The Doc was out, I was in…I think you get the general idea. I mean it's not that hard to shove a little body into a duffle bag…though it can be a burden to one's shoulder when trying to make a hasty escape."

"You don't need to do this Kyle," Nick tried, but the blond chuckled.

"But it's fun! You should join, forgive the use but, the Dark Side, kidnapping, threatening, blah, blah, blah…it's just all so much fun!"

"C'mon Kyle I know you're better than this," Nick said softly not lowering the gun.

Kyle sighed, "You talk way too much." He proceeded to nod at something and Nick spun around just in time to see Aaron standing a few feet away holding a bat.

Nick didn't get enough time to raise his gun as the bat connected with the side of his head sending him to the bed where he groaned out in pain.

"Nicky!" Katrina shrieked, but Kyle pushed the gun closer to her head when she went to move.

"Sorry, Princess, but he can't come with," Aaron looked at Kyle, "Put her in the car."

"Alright!" Kyle beamed and pushed her out of the room, "We'll be waiting!"

"You're far too happy of a kidnapper!" Aaron shouted after him before murmuring to himself, "It's a little creepy."

Nick groaned reaching for his gun by the pillow, but Aaron shoved it off the bed and gripped the bat with both hands, "Sorry, but I can't let you do that."

"You bastard," Nick spat and Aaron grinned.

"That I am," he raised the bat up and kept his grin, "Nighty-night, Nicky." The bottom of the bat met Nick's forehead hard knocking him unconscious.

)()()()(

"To be or not to be, that is the question Katrina awaits," Grissom read the note aloud before dropping it back onto his old desk looking up at Brass, "How did this happen?"

"Katrina was packing things when Keppler jumped her; Nick went upstairs only to find her being held at gunpoint. He tried to negotiate, but he was hit with a bat by Bates. His gun was moved out of reach and he was knocked unconscious after Katrina was removed from the room," Brass sighed sitting down, "Has anyone told Sanders?"

Grissom's breath caught remembering that no one has informed his son-in-law of the latest happening and he shook his head, "No, but I will."

"I'll call Catharine," Brass stood up, "and tell her to bring everyone back here."

"Alright," Grissom's face was grim and he covered it with his hands, "Call me if anything comes up."

"Of course," Brass replied before leaving the man to sit in silence thinking about what had just occurred.

He knew that Nick was with her to protect her and had failed to do so, but he wasn't mad at him. He couldn't find it in himself to be angry with the younger man for losing his daughter; he knows that Nick would've taken a bullet if he could've. In a while he'd have to find Nick so to tell him just that, because chances were that Nick would think he was mad at him.

Grissom didn't know how long he sat there in silence, but he was well aware of Greg entering the office with a large grin sprawled across his face as he said his last words on the phone, "Everything's fine Mom, but I have to go. No, I only called to check on Peter, but it seems that he's doing just fine. Yes, I can hear him. Yes it is making me feel better. I got to go Mom. Alright, love you too, bye." He slid the phone into his pocket and looked at his father-in-law with a small smile, "Catharine said you needed to see me."

"Yeah," Grissom inhaled deeply holding back emotions sitting up straight in his seat, "Sit."

Greg sat down slowly, his grin fading, "What's going on Gris?"

"Greg," Grissom dropped his sight to the desk, but pried them away to look back at Greg, "Something happened while you were out at the bunker."

Greg's breath caught.

"Nick and Katrina went back to your house to get clothes for all of you," he swallowed, "Kyle Keppler and Aaron Bates were waiting for them," Grissom noticed the sudden sickly pale tone Greg's skin took and he forced the last words out, "They took her Greg."

Greg's heart stopped.

"They took her and knocked Nick out, he tried to get her back, but Aaron snuck up behind him," Grissom balled his hands together and looked at them.

Greg slowly got to his feet and walked to the door empty; he stopped at the doorframe feeling a wave of depression crash over him. He gripped the frame, but slid down to his knees then his hands. His head dipped between his arms and he breathed heavily fighting the tears that were going to fall. He tried to focus on his sprawled out hands, but it was all becoming a blur with the water rushing to blind him.

Sara, who had rounded the corner to find out what was going on, froze in place staring at Greg on all fours. She hurried over dropping to a knee next to him touching his arm and back, "Greg, what happened? What's wrong?"

"They took her," Greg said airily, "She's gone."

"What?" Sara was bewildered and stared at the side of his head.

He turned his head to look at her swallowing a lump in his throat, "They took her, Sara, they took my only soul purpose for living…Katrina's gone."

Sara's eyes owled then focused on Grissom who had come to stand behind Greg staring down at the two, "Is this true?"

Grissom nodded gravely too lost to answer verbally.

Sara looked back at Greg, "We'll find her Greg. Katrina and Ebony both."

"What if we don't, Sara, what if we don't?" Greg snapped.

Sara, though taken back by the outburst, responded calmly, "We can't think like that Greg, or we won't. You need to be strong for them and Peter, do you understand me? You can't give up Greg, they need you."

"And I need them Sara," Greg bit, "I love Peter, he's my son, I love Ebony, she's my daughter, but I love Katrina too and I've already almost lost her to that crazy bitch! She is everything to me!"

Sara stared at him waiting for him to be done.

"I know for a fact that if I lose her, I won't be able to live my life any longer. You might think it's selfish because I have Peter and Ebony, but when you love someone with every last bit of your being there is nothing else worth living for. That one person is your everything, that person is your life, that person is your soul, that person is your reason for living, that person is Katrina. She is my one thing worth living for."

"Then you can't curl into yourself, Greg! Give up and you won't have her anymore! We will find her Greg, but we need your help to do so," Sara's brow furrowed, "If she really is all what you say she is then you will get up off this floor and help us. Get up Greg."

Greg's eyes had gone wide with surprise at her forcefulness, but he nodded, "Okay."

Sara stood up and held a hand out to help him to his feet, he took it and she gave his hand a squeeze, "Prove to us Greg that she really is your everything. Help us find her."

"Alright," Greg inhaled deeply and turned to Grissom, "What do we do first?"

Grissom's eyebrows rose slightly, "Get everyone in the meeting room; it's time we start upping our searches."

)()()()(

Katrina pulled against the ropes restraining her wrists from moving off the armrests of the chair she was so kindly tied to by her wrists and ankles, each bound to a leg. She's been pulling against the ropes now for what felt like several hours, but had only succeeded in almost rubbing the skin raw. She let out a frustrated shout and let her head drop forward closing her eyes inhaling softly. After a moment she straightened her head and tried again at the ropes, but was rudely stopped by a voice coming from the door to the small, eerie, disgusting room.

"Keep that up and soon you'll be looking at the bone of your wrists," Aaron stepped into the room shutting the door behind him, "I suggested cloth instead of rope, but Brittany was persistent."

"Go to hell," Katrina spat.

"Hey I was trying to make it as comfortable as possible for you."

"How the hell do you expect me to be comfortable in any way shape of form when I'm tied to a chair in some creepy ass room in the middle BFE?" Katrina glared at him balling her hands.

"First off the room isn't that bad, and second we're not in Egypt," Aaron stated, "we're still in Nevada."

Katrina snorted grumpily, "Smart ass."

Aaron sighed stepping further into the room, "Why can't we be friends?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe because you tried to kill me!" Katrina shrieked, "Beat the hell out of my husband! Kidnapped my daughter! And then kidnapped me again!"

"Okay fair enough, but it doesn't mean we can't at least socialize, because quite frankly sweetheart you aren't going anywhere," Aaron said smugly, "The only company you'll have is Brittany, Kyle, and me…so start getting used to it."

"I want to see my daughter," Katrina said flatly.

Aaron shrugged, "Okay."

"What?" Katrina's eyes went wide, "Really?"

"Sure, why not," Aaron turned leaving the room without another word.

Katrina's heart soared at the thought of seeing her little girl, but sunk when she remembered the part of being bound to a chair.

The door opened to reveal Kyle whistling an unknown tune; he strolled over to her stopping in front of her continuing to whistle. He cocked his head to the side before reaching into his pocket pulling out a switchblade.

Katrina gasped and pushed into the chair, "What are you doing!"
He continued to whistle and held her right hand with his left forcing it to stop moving; he slipped the blade between her skin and the rope cutting through the hold cleanly. He moved to the other hand, but kept her ankles bound. He pocketed the blade and put his hands in his pocket leaving the room still whistling loudly.

"Will you stop with the whistling you fricken dipshit!" Aaron's voice shouted from the hall, "Oh, I'm sorry honey I didn't mean to swear."

"You better be Uncle Aaron," the little voice caused Katrina to start smiling, but her lips broke into a large grin as the little blonde came into the door frame.

"Ebony," Katrina said softly and the little girl's attention turned towards the woman and she smiled brightly.

"Mommy!" Ebony ran forward jumping into the outstretched arms of her mother; wrapping her arms around the older blonde's neck.

"Oh Ebony, honey," Katrina kissed the side of her head and pulled back to look into her brown eyes, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine Mommy," she smiled big, "but I've missed you and Daddy."

"We've missed you too, sweetie," Katrina kissed her forehead hugging her again.

"Did you get my letter about going somewhere?" Ebony asked pulling away.

Katrina nodded slowly.

"Grandma took me to this really big and pretty hotel it started with an R I think, but it was so cool then she took me to see a magic show and then…" the little girl continued to speak about her trip around Vegas. Each place mentioned, each place that was always crowded, each place with people that should recognize this little girl from the new, but they didn't. They didn't notice little Ebony Sanders walking about with two convicted felons whose faces were planted all over Vegas, all over the state, but still nothing. Her little girl was always out in the opening and they never found her, "Then we went to our house so I could get more clothes because it was so close to Grandma's house."

Katrina's attention came back to the girl, "What?"

"Grandma lives across the street from us, how come you never let us visit?" Ebony asked with curious eyes.

"Across the street," Katrina muttered.

"Yep, and then Uncle Aaron lives by Grandpa and Nana," Ebony nodded, "We're at Auntie Annie's house right now, but she lives way far away from home."

"Auntie Annie, Uncle Aaron," Katrina's head was beginning to swirl and her eyesight beginning to blur.

"Ebony darling," Ebony looked over her shoulder to see Brittany standing by the door, "It's time to let Mommy sleep she's had a long day."

"Okay," Ebony kissed Katrina's cheek, "I love you Mommy I'll see you later."

"Alright, I love you too honey," Ebony ran out of the room and down the hall.

Brittany stood quietly staring at Katrina as Kyle strode back in whistling to tie her wrists back down. Once again Brittany spoke, "I wrote a letter to you while I was in prison apologizing for all the pain I caused you."

"Bullshit," Katrina hissed.

"No, I did, but it was bullshit," Brittany snickered, "I wasn't sorry! I was pissed, pissed that you had to go and be noble! Why couldn't you have let him die! He was willing to do that! He was going to die! If you had let that happen all of this would've never happened!"

"I love him!" Katrina snapped, "I love Greg with all that I am! Losing him would've put me into a pit of nothingness! I took that bullet because I was dead either way! I'd rather die and let him live than live a life alone without the man that keeps my heart beating! Why can't you understand that! I don't care what you do to me! Just leave him alone you crazy bitch!" Katrina shrieked, "Leave him alone!"

Brittany blinked at her, "Of course…I mean I think we've caused enough damage for him. So much pain both physically and emotionally; he should be finding out sometime soon about you being kidnapped. Oh how I wish I could be there to witness this happening, to see him crumble into nothing as he realizes there's nothing he can do to find his wife or daughter."

"Why are you doing this?" Katrina felt tears creep up behind her tear ducts.

"Because I want what's best for my little girl," Brittany stated.

"You call this 'best' for your little girl?" Katrina asked.

"No this is a work in progress," Brittany sighed, "You see I'm going to make sure you never leave my sight again, but don't worry we'll have Aaron, Kyle and Annie to keep us company. Maybe we can all start our own little family while we're here too."

"What about Ebony?" Katrina was afraid to ask the question, but she had to.

"Oh, don't worry about her," Brittany smiled, "She'll be safe, so I suggest you stop worrying about her and start worrying more about yourself."

"Why?"

"Because it's playtime," Brittany's smile pulled into a large grin as the door opened revealing both Aaron and Kyle, one smirking the other dragging out a long last whistle, "Alright boys you two decide who goes first. You will each have exactly one hour…please don't break my daughter."

"No worries Miss K," Kyle chuckled darky, "Your little girl is safe with us."

"Who's first?" Brittany asked stepping into the hall.

"I am," Aaron's voice was deeper and husky as he moved fully into the room, "Get me in an hour Kyle."

"Sure thing man," Kyle stepped back pulling the door shut closing Aaron in with Katrina to do as he pleased with the frightened blonde.