A/N: Altered events for 9x01. Warrick didn't die, he instead fell into a coma and woke up - being forced to live knowing everyone thinks he's dead. Riley rejoins the team and receives her first callout back on the job. Set around later Season 10.

Riley knew that not all responses were going to be the best. But that was just life. There was nothing she could saw or do about it. The firearms expert was coming back to the crime lab because it's where she wanted to be. Working with ATF hadn't been the worst thing, but it wasn't something she wanted to continue doing. She would always be a CSI. She arrived early to just get back into the swing of things, as well as reorder her locker. The one labelled 'ADAMS' that had been left untouched since she left. It was hard to believe that nothing had happened to it. But when she saw the picture still inside of the empty locker, that's how she knew. The blonde had spent an hour sitting in her SUV, debating to herself before she arrived. She couldn't keep running from herself. The firearms expert knew she was better than that. Seen worse. Been worse.

She'd come back at a time where everybody was spread thin. Homicides, hit and runs, robberies, attempted murders.. it was like a whole crime wave had hit Nevada. They needed to solve these dastardly crimes but there were only so many CSIs. Even Ecklie was coming back out with his kit. The department had to start prioritising callouts, which wasn't exactly a walk in the park either.

As Riley got out of the department-issued SUV, she saw all the patrol officers surrounding the area being directed by Detective Vega. The blonde opened up the passenger door to grab her kit. "Hey Adams, you've got the 4-19," Vega said, watching as the CSI closed the door to her SUV and followed him into the crime scene. Riley saw victim lying face down on the empty driveway, with the newly arrived medical examiner. The blonde began her sketch of the crime scene, observing everything around her that was greatly shadowed by the night. Once finished, she numbered the evidence leading up to, and around, the body - taking pictures and collecting the evidence, making sure she hadn't missed anything.

Adams picked up a shell casing and observed the caliber. "This is from a nine millimetre.. has anyone found a gun around here?"

"Not as far as I'm aware of." Detective Vega replied.

The blonde nodded, getting an envelope out of her kit and putting the casing inside and labelling it. As she did, she noticed an out of place blood drop. It was fresh and didn't match any of the wounds the victim had. So once she had collected the evidence from the trail to the vic, she took her kit and walked over to the blood. Riley placed the number card beside it before she took a picture. She took a sample and tested it for blood. Positive. The end of the swab turned pink, confirming it was in fact blood. "This might be the killer's blood," Riley said as she slipped the swab into the box and put it into her kit.

Adams then made her way over to David and the victim. "Got a time of death, Dave?"

"I'd say he's been dead for at least 4-6 hours tops."

Riley smiled a small smile to the medical examiner, taking photos of the victim and samples of the blood pool as she'd noticed an odd blue liquid within the blood. She thought that was a little weird for a 'professional hit'.

The CSI continued processing as Detective Vega collated a timeline from the neighbours and their statements. It was only the first case of the night, and Riley doubted that this would be the end. "See you back at the lab." As Riley had released the body from the scene, David was free to take it back to the lab. She'd definitely have to look into the vic's clothes.

Once Riley finished processing the scene, she collected all the evidence and carried it back to the SUV. The firearms expert fitted everything into the vehicle, ticking off everything she had recorded before processing as she reviewed it all. Having confirmed everything she collected was indeed there, she closed the trunk of her vehicle and was about to go check up on the patrol officers searching the perimeter, when a shot was fired their way.

Every officer at the scene drew their guns, Riley opening up the door and picking up her radio to call it in. Riley scanned the scene, in attempt to find where the bullet had gone. It had hit somebody's porch. Then another shot came. And another.. and another.. until the firearms expert decided she had to find this damned shooter. The blonde spotted a figure holding a pistol, who jumped down from the tree and started running. Riley called to the patrol officers, then starting her own foot pursuit after the suspected shooter.

The suspect could see Riley was gaining on them and tried to run faster. Riley didn't even stop for a second, flashing past people as she chased the suspect. "LVPD! Stop!"

Adams called in her position, remaining in pursuit, with flashing blue and red lights in the corner of her eyes. Riley finally took her chance, diving at the suspect and tackling him, kicking the weapon away and keeping him down until a patrol officer came and hand cuffed him. The blonde sighed to herself. "You don't shoot up active crime scenes and get to run away, you could be charged with obstructing the investigation." The suspect let out a dramatic sigh, only to reach into his waistline and pull out a revolver. He shot the cop holding him and aimed it at the figure a few feet away, that noticeably towered Riley in height.

She turned to the guy standing a few feet away from her and immediately ran to him, taking him down to the ground as the shot was fired. It had just missed her and the stranger. Other officers arrived and patted him down before detaining him. Riley brushed the hair out of her face, turning the guy beside her. He looked so familiar, but also not so familiar, at the same time.

The CSI was met with mesmerising green eyes. He groaned, pushing himself up. Riley didn't know if she was picturing things, or if it really was the truth.. that was she staring into the eyes of CSI Warrick Brown.

"You- you're Warrick Brown?" She asked quietly.

Warrick nodded. He'd heard things about Charlie. Mixed opinions and mixed responses. They were generally good, but it was clear she had become a little apprehensive after Gil had left the lab. But now she was back and didn't plan on leaving again. She had just saved his life.. for real. "That makes you Charlie Adams.. but I suppose you prefer 'Riley' ?" Riley gave a slight smile. "Yeah.."

CSI Warrick Brown hadn't died, but fell into a coma. He'd woken up three months later and had been told that he had been pronounced dead and was now just a dead man. That broke his heart. Knowing that he'd have to act dead for the rest of his life from then on. It was sole coincidence that he'd ran into Riley Adams, his successor. She was a great CSI and he didn't doubt that she knew how to do her job. After reconciliating with the supervisor, she'd made a worthy comeback from the break she took. He knew of Riley's liaising with ATF to take down inner state drug rings. She'd been selected personally and had been told to make a dramatic exit on purpose. It wasn't something she'd wanted to do, but it was the only way she could get it done without people wondering why.

They helped each other up and stood together staring into the puddles of rain water from earlier. "That punk shot up your crime scene?" "Ever been shot at a crime scene?"

"Once."

"Mmm.. I better go, I've got a chain of custody to keep in tact.." She said, getting out a business card and writing her initials, phone number and number plate on the back. Brown watched as she did so, before she gently took his hand and placed it in his palm. "..and the others will understand eventually." Riley added, waving to the African-American man before she was escorted back to the crime scene with a patrol officer.

Riley couldn't help but wonder what the others would say if she told them that she saw Warrick Brown; alive.

But she trusted that the older man would make his own decision about the truth soon enough. It wasn't her place to say anything without Warrick's input. And she knew she would see him again.. she just didn't know when.

"Riles! Are you okay?!" Greg exclaimed as he approached her.

The younger CSI smiled at her partner. "I'm fine. None of the evidence was disrupted, I had already processed it." She opened up the trunk, showing Sanders everything as she'd left it. Greg sighed in relief. As soon as he'd heard a report of shots fired, he knew he had to check on his fellow CSI. Riley had just rejoined the team and he didn't want her being dead already. "Good. Get the evidence back to the lab, then you'll have to talk to Brass about what happened and make a statement," He informed her with a soft smile. Riley nodded to him.

Just as she was about to leave, Greg suddenly called to her. "And Riley.." She turned to CSI Sanders. "..what took you so long coming back? I heard you saved someone from being shot."

"Yeah. I talked to him about the shooting, and they're unharmed. A uniform is escorting him home, after they receive his statement."

Sanders cocked an eyebrow, but decided to let go of the fact she'd left out a few details. Riley didn't like lying.. and she technically wasn't even doing so. She just missed out a few details involving the fact that she saved the life of a supposedly dead CSI.

On the drive back to the lab, all Riley could think about was when she joined the team. Everybody's mourning. The emotional struggling of all her teammates. And then seeing Warrick and having the tingling feeling of the unusual touch from when she'd given him the card, because of his live state.

That's when she realised that he'd put a letter into the pocket of her vest. When she had parked the vehicle in the department parking lot, she opened up the pocket and took out the piece of paper. On it, read:

'I knew we'd meet someday, Adams. I know why you had to leave CSI, and what you did with ATF and the LVPD Narcotics unit. Thank you for only succeeding me in both respect and dignity. We're actually quite similar.. oddly. Keep eyes on the guys for me. You know I'll reveal the truth when it's time.. and thank you for looking out for me, even before you realized who I was.

Much thanks - Warrick Brown.'

Underneath, there was a photo of Warrick with Nick, Greg, Catherine, Sara and Grissom. Riley inwardly chuckled, slipping the picture into her vest along with the letter. She'd put the picture in Nick's locker because she knew it was meant for him. Anything for somebody her colleagues loved so much. Riley got out of the SUV, and went to deliver her evidence so it could be processed and she could solve this homicide. With the clarity she needed, she could finally get on with her job knowing that time would tell.

The firearms expert finally understood everything her colleagues had told her, and could not ever doubt the legacy of CSI Warrick Brown.

Later on, when CSI Nick Stokes opened up his locker - he saw a photo that hadn't been there before. One he hadn't seen for so long. On the back of it, it read a few words written in black marker. "Stay strong, Stokes." He mumbled to himself. It was signed off with a thinner pen, in his name. The assistant supervisory CSI didn't quite know how it got there, or when it was written.. but he didn't care. It was from his best friend. Nick pinned the picture to the inside of his locker, smiling at it for a few minutes as he thought back to the earlier days, before he grabbed his vest and left the locker room. Happier than he'd previously been. Confused, but in a much lighter mood.

Even if he didn't reveal his live state, Warrick knew that Nick got his message. That he would always be there. Physically beside his best friend, or not. And he could be sure that Riley Adams had been the right person to find him when she had.. because without her, he couldn't be sure that his message would ever get there.

fin.