Title: A Clear Vision

Author: Evidence

Chapter: 3

Rating: PG-13

Author's Notes: Thanks for the reviews- I writing as fast as I can!  The chapter starts out with the others but does have G and S if you hold on.  Hope you enjoy.

"Hello, this is CSI division of the Las Vegas police department.  How can I help you?"  Before Judy, secretary to the division, could receive a reply, the phone was yanked from her hand.  "Hey, I…"

"Judy, I have something more important for you to do."  Catherine Willows was leaning over her, a strange expression in her eyes.

"What?" Judy asked gulping slightly.

"Call rescue ops and tell them that they are under orders to have CSI in on the investigation."

"Um, Catherine I can't do that…you don't have the authority."

"Grissom may be died, I have the authority Judy."  Looking down at the nice woman, Catherine closed her eyes.  What are you doing?  You're taking out your anger at Judy.  "Judy, I'm sorry I'm just upset.  I need to be part of this investigation.  Nick and Warrick need to do this, too.  It's…"

"Closure?"  Judy finished for her.

Catherine shook her head.  "Yes, if we are ever to move on, we have to know what happened to them."

"I'll see what I can do."  Judy patted Catherine's hand.

"Thank you."

Catherine began walking away but Judy's voice made her stop.  "Catherine, you said that Grissom might be alive.  Do you think they could have survived a crash like that?"

Catherine put on her best poker face and faked an unwavering voice.  "Sure, anything's possible."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Warrick pulled the tie off he was wearing and threw it in his open locker.  The suit coat also went in a heap on the bottom of the metal closet.  He looked at the piece of paper taped in his locker, the paper he had been trying to avoid.  It was there staring into him as it always did.  It was his manta, he repeated to himself each and every day.  After the fiasco with Holly Gribbs, Grissom had sat him down in his office one day and wrote something on a piece of note book paper.

"Here," Grissom had said, handing him the sheet.  "Live by that, and you'll be okay."

Grissom was gone but the paper remained echoing in Grissom's voice.  It read: "You can please some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time but you can't please all of the people all of the time."  It was a quote by Abraham Lincoln.  Grissom had added to the end of it: "Don't try to please me, or Nick, or Sara or Catherine.  Try to do what you know is right.  We have faith in you." 

Coming from Grissom, the quote and paper meant even more.  Warrick understand that Grissom did not like to be emotional with people but with one piece of paper he had told Warrick his feelings about Warrick and his situation.  Warrick had then known he had a good friend in Griss. 

Looking at the paper now, Warrick felt tears coming to his eyes.  He knew what was right to do at this time- find out what happened to Grissom and Sara.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Grissom was awake fully now as the rush of air swept over them and the ground began soon to approach. The helicopter was on a downward descent. He formed a thought in his head and with all the strength he could muster yelled, "Sara, jump now, you might make it."

The copter was nearly to the ground, about 8 feet away, as Sara grabbed hold of him and jumped with him.

Grissom felt his shoulder bash into what was usually soft earth.  He let out a scream. 

The helicopter hit the ground at the same time, throwing off chunks of it into the air.  A fireball was forming between the oil and a spark that had occurred. 

"Grissom?"  Sara looked into his eyes.  When she jumped somehow Grissom had gotten underneath her and reaped the full extent of the impact.  "Oh, God, I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."  Tears came rushing down but she knew she was still alive and so was Grissom.

The explosion behind her made her take notice.  She turned to see the helicopter become one large bomb.  Instinct took over and she pulled Grissom up from the ground.  Somehow she managed to run and drag him with her.  His legs were trying to work as he chocked back screams.  She saw a gully and ran for it just making it before flames licked the part of earth they had been standing on.

Sara gently laid Grissom down on the soft earth.  "I need to see how badly you're hurt."

He nodded his head.  Words were escaping him. 

She put his hand in hers and felt the fingers.  All intact, none broken.  She moved her hand up his left arm reaching the shoulder that met the earth.  He whimpered slightly.  The bone had been shattered.  He would need surgery to correct it.  She cupped his face into her hands and looked in his eyes.  The glasses were broken but his eyes were alert.  Moving her hands around his head, she checked for bumps.  She had to remind herself that Grissom was hurt, and that this wasn't for fun.  She removed the glasses and moved on to the other arm.

The elbow was out of the socket.  "Grissom, I have to…"

"Do it." He whispered.

She got into position and holding down his arm put the elbow back into place.

He bit his lips to keep the scream hidden.

"Grissom, your lips are bleeding," She said taking the helm of her shirt and dabbing them.

"Yeah," he choked back.

She continued her probe gently picking up his blood soaked shirt.  "I need to see the wound.  I think that the helicopter's blade might have slashed into you as it fell into the roof of the copter."

"Go ahead."

Part of the blue plaid material was already ripped.  Undoing the rest of the buttons, Sara opened up the shirt.  Grissom's chest was opened and still bleeding.  The blade hadn't penetrated any vital organs it seemed.  But the slash was about two inches deep and five inches long.  More blood streamed out from the open wound.  Sara put her hand on top of it to stop it.

"You really should be wearing gloves."

Sara smirked at him.  "Ah, our kits are somewhere in that plane wreckage.  You'll have to hope I don't give you anything."

"I'm not too worried."  He managed a smile.

Removing her coat, Sara gently lifted Grissom's body up and swung the coat around so that she had made a huge bandage for his chest.  "This should help the bleeding."

"Thank you."  He had spoken more words to her in the last few minutes than he had over the course of several weeks.  It was weird how a tragedy could change things.

"I need to go check on Marie."  Sara motioned to where she had left her.  "I'll be back."

Grissom nodded his head and watched her walk off.  Except for a minor head wound she seemed fine.  Thank God.

Marie was lying a few feet from the fire eyes darting back and forth. 

"I'm here."  Sara said kneeling beside her.  "I'm sorry, I had to check on Grissom."

 Sara looked down at Marie's leg; she wasn't sure what she could do for her.  Marie's eyes were glazing over.  Her head began to shake.  Foam formed at her mouth.  Her whole body began going up and down.

"Fuck!  Marie, its okay, you're having a seizure."  Sara held on to her head.  Blood began coming from her mouth.  "Damn it, she bite her tongue."  Sara looked at Marie's wounded leg; the helicopter piece was being pushed further into her leg. 

Soon everything stopped.  The movement, the blood, Marie's breathing.

"No, no.  You're not going to die on me, Marie."  Sara's voiced reached a fevered pitch.  There was no pulse.  Sara began CPR.  1-2-3-4-5-breath, 1-2-3-4-5-breath.  Time passed without any motion of life from Marie.  Sara closed her eyelids with shaking fingers and walked back to where Grissom lay.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Catherine!"

Catherine turned to see Judy nearly running down the hall.

"The rescue squad is on its way to the crash site."  Judy stopped, her breathing labored from the exertion.

"Good."  Catherine did not meet her eyes.

"They will allow you to go with them."

Catherine's eyes brightened up.  "Excellent.  Thank you, Judy.  I'm sorry about being a pain earlier."

"That's okay, you're upset.  We all are."  Judy smiled and went back to her desk.

Catherine stopped at the breakroom where Nick and Warrick were sitting.  "Guys, do you want to come to the crash site?  The rescue squad is allowing us to go."

"Definitely,"  Nick said standing up.

Warrick nodded.  "Let's at least bring their bodies home."

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Grissom noticed Sara's changed demeanor the moment she got back.  "What's wrong?"

Chocking back tears Sara sat down and told him about Marie.

"You did all you could do.  She was too seriously hurt.  It's time to move on."

"That's easy for you to say." She spat back at him.

Confusion took over his face.  "What?"

"You move on easily when you don't want to deal with something…or someone."  Bitterness crept into her voice.

Words failed him.  Was she taking about herself? 

"Rescue will find us soon.  I need to take a walk."  Sara stood up.

"Please, Sara, don't leave.  Don't leave me." He couldn't hide the fear in his voice.

"It's funny, you need me now but the rest of the time…"  She looked at the ground.  "Don't worry I'll be back soon."

He watched her figure head into the woods.  He gulped.  He needed her not just because of his injuries, he just needed her.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The trees were green and bountiful.  The air spelled like sweet perfume.  Sara let the tears fall as she walked.  Why was this happening?  Why did anyone have to die?  Why couldn't she save Marie?  She kicked a stone that boomeranged off a tree.  Grissom is being his usual self.  How can you love that man?

She walked a little further and then felt the great pain in her chest again.  She looked down at her shirt.  It was tighter on her than it had been when she put it on that morning.  Pulling up the shirt, she looked at herself.  A gulp formed, her heart raced.  "Oh, God," she said gripped by the reality that she might be the next to die.

To be continued…(You'll find out what's wrong with Sara.)