A/N: Here's my second update this week! I know it's been forever and I'm sorry it's taken so long! Anyone who's still with me, thank you. Hopefully some of you will be revisiting this story, and even better maybe there are some new readers out there! No promises about regular updating, but I do want this story finished, so I will keep writing it. Thanks again, let me know what you think (please and thank you).

Disclaimer: Not mine.

Sara pulled into the lot at Desert Palms Hospital, put her car in park and turned off the engine. She took a breath, hand still on the keys before removing them from the ignition and opening the door. She strode purposefully towards the front door, careful not to slow down as it came closer. She found her way to the reception desk. Pulling out her badge and flashing it at the clerk she asked:

"Sara Sidle, from the crime lab. I'm looking for a Delia Greene?"

The clerk looked up, eyed the badge and then answered "Yes. Room 305. Third floor, on the right."

"Thanks", replied Sara and headed for the staircase at the end of the hall.

As she walked down the third floor hallway she was hyperaware of the sound of her footsteps on the polished floor. Room 305 was only a short ways down, and was easily identified by the officer posted at the door. The brunette recognized him as Officer Jacobs, a relatively new recruit to the force. He noticed her approach and nodded. In a low tone he said:

"Sidle. The parents are here."

Surprised, Sara raised an eyebrow. "They are?" She felt her heart begin to hammer in her chest. With them here, it would fall upon her to break the news that their other daughter, Larisa, had died. It was the only part of her job that she truly hated. There was no good way to break that kind of news to a family.

"Yep."

"Thanks", she stepped past him into the small room. Mrs. Greene was seated next to the bed, holding onto her daughter's tiny hand. She was stroking it absentmindedly and seemingly staring into space. Mr. Greene sat next to his wife, a hand on her shoulder. Sara's gaze shifted to the small body lying in the bed. Suppressing a shiver she shifted and gently cleared her throat to alert the family of her presence.

Mr. Greene stood at the sound. Sara held out her hand.

"Mr. Greene? I'm Sara Sidle, I work for the Las Vegas Crime lab."

Inhaling through his nose, Mr. Greene shook her hand. "I'm Paul, this is my wife Alina. I presume you want to ask us some questions?"

At the mention of her name, Mrs. Greene was roused from her daze. She too stood and reached out for Sara's hand.

"Ms. Sidle. Yes, I'm Alina and this is..." she trailed off looking at the frail form of her daughter.

"Ms. Sidle? We would be happy to answer any questions you have for us, but do we have to do this now? This is all come as a shock, we only just got off a plane-"

Sara cut him off gently. "Sir"

"Paul"

"Paul. I'm not here to question you. I just came by to check in on your daughter."

Alina spoke up again. "You're the one who found her, aren't you? Delia's barely been able to open her eyes since we got here, but she keeps mumbling about a 'Sara'. Was it you?"

Sara met her eyes. "Yes. I found her in your pantry."

Paul chuckled softly. "She always hides in there; it's her favourite place when she doesn't want to be found."

"She's a very brave and smart little girl."

"Yes, yes she is."

Paul had his arm around Alina's shoulders, who had returned to staring at the child and stroking her face. Sara glanced around. The silence weighed heavily on everyone in the room. The decor was sparse and the only sounds came from the hallway and the machine monitoring Delia's vitals. Sara was sure they could all hear her heart banging painfully loudly against her chest. She swallowed hard as Alina spoke up again.

"Ms. Sidle, who did this to my baby?"

"We don't know yet, m'am. But I promise we'll find them. I won't stop until we do".

"Will she be alright?"

Sara offered a small smile. "She's a fighter. I'm sure she'll be just fine."

"What about Larisa? The doctors said she isn't here?" Alina looked at Sara imploringly.

Sara took a breath. She took a moment to think of the best possible way to tell them. Alina's eyes went wide in the silence. Frightened she began asking more questions, her voice rising rapidly with each one.

"Did they send her home already? Is she with her Grandma? Why haven't they called? Can we see her? Where did they take her? Where?" Alina Greene was working herself into a panic. Both parents' eyes were glued to Sara. The longer the brunette stayed silent, the more painful the silence got. And the longer it took to formulate her answer she could visibly see the Greene's posture begin to wilt as the horrific realization began to set in.

Sara spoke slowly. "Mr and Mrs Greene, I am so sorry."

Alina Greene was muttering "no, no, no, no" before uttering a low cry of pain and sinking into the chair next to Delia's bed. Paul reached out to Sara.

"My baby's gone to heaven?" He whispered, holding her hands.

Sara nodded, her mouth dry.

Paul gave a short nod and sank next to his wife. Sara closed her eyes briefly. Opening them she was engulfed by the image of the grieving family. Alina was sobbing and clutching desperately to Delia's forearm. Paul was gripping his wife's shoulders and looking at Delia, his tears silent. Sara turned to see Officer Jacobs in the doorway, cap in hand.

"I'm so sorry for your loss" Sara said quietly. After a moment she turned and left the room.

About 6 cups of tuck-shop tea later, Sara pulled herself out of the chair in the hospital's cafeteria. She didn't like the way the woman at the next table was looking at her. It was that look of pity and concern that instantly made her stomach turn. From her formal attire and name badge Sara figured she worked in the hospital. From the looks she was getting she guessed the psychotherapy section. Realizing she was staring right at the woman with her eyes squinted to try and read her name tag, she sat back and sighed. The woman had raised an eyebrow. She shifted in her chair and Sara panicked thinking the woman was going to get up and come over and introduce herself. Standing abruptly and scraping her chair loudly against the floor she fled the cafeteria.

Sara found herself leaning against her car out in the parking lot taking deep breaths. She physically shook herself to try and clear the fuzz that had settled once again inside her head. She was exhausted and really looking forward to a hot shower and a few hours of restless sleep before she headed back to the lab. Grissom's words floated back to her. 'You're not going to like this case'. "You're right. I've said this to you before, but you're right. I really really don't like this case" she said aloud. It took all her resolve not to melt down in the parking lot. Instead she tuned all her focus to the task of arriving safely at her apartment.

By the time she reached her apartment her hands had gone numb from gripping the steering wheel so tightly. She slowly pried her fingers from the rim and flexed them. Rubbing her left hand with her right she held her keys in her mouth and closed the car door with her foot. As soon as she was in the front door she dropped everything and headed straight for the bathroom. Standing under the hot stream of water she took a deep breath in the steam. The steady rhythm of the shower was soothing and she closed her eyes, allowing her mind to go blank. Slowly, she felt the pent up tension start to ease and her muscles begin to relax. She didn't notice the tears until she stepped out of shower and caught a glimpse of herself in her dresser mirror. Turning away abruptly she threw back the duvet and crawled into bed.

TBC...