Hi guys. So I've finally managed it, this is the last chapter of this fic. Thank you to anyone who's still reading, I'm guessing it hasn't been easy to stick with it.
Enjoy

Epilogue

Two months later.

The warm Las Vegas sun shone down upon the crowds of people exiting the church, dozens descending the steps in their suits, dark clothes and dress blues.
Jim reached the bottom and moved to one side to allow people to pass, removing his hat and swiping at a bead of sweat that threatened to run down his face before replacing it.
He scanned the faces as they came down towards the curb, peeling off to their respective vehicles or destinations until his eyes settled on the group he was waiting for.

Sara, Greg and Nick approached first, the latter's still sensitive eyes shielded by a pair of thick dark glasses. He'd finally been released from hospital two weeks after the safe house ordeal. Brass had a sneaking suspicion that the brunette to the man's right had been providing assistance while he continued to heal at home.
A second trio of Sofia, Vartann and Ecklie were a few steps behind, followed closely by Archie, Wendy, Hodges and the other lab rats. Grissom, Catherine and Doc Robbins brought up the rear and completed the group. The strawberry blonde had her arm linked through Grissom's and had foregone her usual heels in favour of a pair of black flats, evidently choosing not to take any chances with her recently healed ankle.

The group made their way over, the lab rats, Ecklie and Vartann peeling off at various points so that by the time they reached him only the CSIs, Sofia and Doc Robbins remained.

"It was a nice service, did Vega, Kip and Warrick proud," Sofia commented. Mumbled agreements went round the group.
"The Sherriff agreed to wait until we were all fit to attend, which is why it wasn't done sooner," Grissom added.

"Why don't we all go for breakfast?" Greg piped up.
Sara shot him a raised eyebrow. "It's nearly one in the afternoon Greg."
"Lunch then!" Doc Robbins excused himself, stating he had to meet his wife. As he departed Greg turned to the remaining team, his friends, pinning them all with a pleading look.
"Come on guys please. I'll even pay."
Nick chuckled and slapped the younger man on the shoulder.
"No need for that man, I'm in. Usual place?"
Agreements made the rounds and they all parted ways, heading to their respective vehicles.

As they walked Catherine observed Grissom out of the corner of her eye, the man seemingly lost in thought.
"I'm assuming you wanted to go to lunch seeing as I basically answered for both of us."
"That's becoming a regular occurrence," he mumbled with the ghost of a smile before drifting back inside himself.
The strawberry blonde squeezed his arm to recapture his attention.
"Where's your head at Gil?"

He sighed and reached for her hand, lacing his fingers with hers.
"I had a visitor request from Judy this morning."
"Are you serious?" Off his nod she continued. "Are you going to go?"
He brought them to a stop beside his car.
"I just can't wrap my head around how someone who has worked with us all for years could hate us that much that she'd work with a psycho to torment and murder us."
Catherine met and held his gaze for a few moments before reaching up and wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him close.
"Do what you need to do Gil, but don't let her take up too much space in your head."
He nodded and pulled back, pressing a quick kiss to her lips.

The sound of a car horn caused them both to jump. Grissom turned towards the sound and was met by Greg's grinning face.
"Hurry it up people, some of us are hungry! You can save the smooching for later." He winked and drove off before either of them could respond.
"Remind me again why we're going?"
"Because you weren't paying attention, let this be a lesson to you." Catherine chuckled and pushed him towards the driver's side of the car before climbing in the passenger side.

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Grissom followed the guard's path, passing rows and rows of bars as they made their way to the farthest cell.
A chair had been placed at a safe measured distance but Grissom had already made the decision to stand. The guards nodded and made his retreat, though staying close by.

Lifting his head Grissom turned to face the cell and its sole occupant reclining casually on the bed.
"I didn't think you'd come."
"But here I am."

Judy slid from the bed to her feet, her serpentine movements forcing him to suppress a shiver. His brain was already having trouble computing the image of the person in front of him with the woman he'd known in the lab; quiet, mousey, unassuming. He waited until she approached the bars before he spoke.

"Care to tell me why I'm here?"
She pushed some strands of hair behind her ears, the glint in her eyes betraying the demure nature of the gesture.
"How was your time in the house? I heard the surveillance tapes survived but no one will let me watch them." She pouted.
"So you asked me here to what? Hear every little detail of your friend's games?"
"Something like that. Do you want to play?"
"I'll pass."

He turned to leave but her voice stopped him.
"Who didn't make it?" A slow grin spread at the question in his expression. "I'm charged with three counts of accessory to murder, it doesn't take a genius like you to figure out that some of your team didn't survive. I'm going to guess Ms Willows made it out or you'd be far less stoic I'd imagine."
He bristled slightly.
"We're done. I'd say see you in court but I think your lawyer has a pretty good shot at an insanity defence.

He started back down the corridor but once again her teasing words halted his progress, a chill running up his spine.

"You think this is over? Martin made friends online, They all bonded over their loathing of you and your precious team. He might be dead and I'm locked up but it doesn't end with us.
This is just the beginning."

The End,

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So there you have it. All done. I hope ya'll liked the ending.

Lily
-x-