Chapter 11

Sara's apartment had undergone cleaning, moving around, bleached and scrubbed. The whole place smelt like it had been sterilised for surgery. The shelves didn't show any sign of dust and the coffee table's coffee cup stains had vanished, the kitchen floor looked as though it could be eaten off and the bathroom sparkled. Ash had been busy doing half the cleaning and left the rest for Sara. Not much to do though. She felt she needed to release some tension by doing something before Nick picked her up. They had started talking over the phone the day after she arrived in Las Vegas. He dropped off some paperwork for Sara and bumped into Ash as she came out the door. The paper work went flying and was forgotten when she introduced herself. Nick suddenly remembered the files and they both collected them and agreed to go out and chat, but he had to cancel. To her surprise he called back whilst at work and arranged to pick her up and take her out to breakfast. Still an hour or so before he arrives so she made herself at home on the couch and turned the TV on.

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* Shift ended not long ago, so she would be home soon. First things first. The man pulled out a bottle of chloroform and soaked two pieces of cloth. He got out in broad daylight and approached the apartment. *

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Ash got up from the couch thinking about the knock on the door. Nick might be an early sort of person, but wasn't sure. She looked through the peephole and smiled. She opened the door and before you knew it, the whole world went black.

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Nick was getting into his car as Sara came out the CSI building. He shouted to her. "Hey Sara."

Sara grabbed onto the rail as his voice made her jump. She looked up angrily. "Jesus Nick, keep it down will ya. I'm not deaf."

Nick frowned. "Still pissed off huh?" He said a bit quieter this time. Sara approached his car and peered through the window. "Just wanted to know if Ash had any particular breakfast favourite."

Sara smiled. "You've met her once and you've fallen in love, ah sweet."

Nick grinned and let out a nervous laugh. "Come on, tell me, p-l-e-a-s-e." He pleaded.

"Ok, She went to Sam's the other day, but the Coffee house is a place she likes a lot."

"Thanks Sara, I owe you one." Nick started his car and put it in gear.

"Oh and Nick, She drinks tea not coffee, they just serve good breakfast there." Sara threw over her shoulder as she walked towards her car. Nick drove off leaving her to find her car keys. Sara pulled them from her pocket and dropped them. She bent down to retrieve them, when she stopped and drew in a deep breath. She slowly stood back up and looked at her car tyre, it was flat "Why me?" She questioned herself.

"Not your week is it." Came Grissom's voice from behind her. Sara didn't turn; she just stood there and fiddled with her keys.

"Yeah well, has to happen to someone." Sara was one and truly ticked off as She kicked the tyre angrily.

"Sara, I'll take you home and we can sort this out later." He touched her arm gently, but she shrugged him off.

"No, it's alright. I'll call Ash." Sara pulled out her cell and suddenly became very queasy. Grissom quickly steadied her and walked them towards his car.

"Sara, just listen to me for once and let me take you home. Your exhausted." Grissom helped her into the passenger seat and got in him self. He looked at her as he drove to her apartment. He noticed she was falling asleep. "Sara did you take something?" He asked in a concern and soft voice.

"No." She slurred slightly.

"Ok, can you stay awake?"

Sara rubbed her face and jumped. "Oh my god!" Came her panicked reply. "What's going on?"

Grissom reached across hesitantly and squeezed her hand, not sure if she would pull away, but she didn't. He parked and noticed Nicks Tahoe across the road.

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They got out and walked up to Nick as he came back down the path. "Hey Sara, Grissom. Ash's not in."

^ Flashback ^ The street was quiet, not a neighbour in sight. The car was parked out front and the flat looked still, apart from the flickering of the blue glow from the living room. ^ Flashback ^

Sara looked towards the building, then at Nick. "She should be, she's been cleaning all morning. She doesn't go out until she's finished and besides.she was looking forward to seeing 'you' again." Nick smiled and watched as Sara went to her front door and unlocked it.

She walked into the living room and found the TV on. She looked in each room and Ash's room last. Grissom and Nick heard Sara scream and ran into the house.

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