TAKE MY BREATH AWAY -- THE SERIAL STRANGLER
 A CSI Fan Fiction by sarahcanrana

"CSI: New York Steps In"

It's just past five o'clock when Greg comes to sign in that day. Since he is a little early for work, he decides to go to the break room and have a cup of coffee before he began processing results for the CSIs. He steps in and sees Catherine sitting at the table reading a magazine. Grissom walks past the break room to the front.

GREG: Hello, Catherine. How's the case going?
CATHERINE: [sighs] It could be worse…
GREG: What would 'worse' be?
CATHERINE: Those CSIs from New York are coming tomorrow…That's worse.
GREG: We need the help. [cocky tone] Plus, I'll be on the field now. [gives a quirky smile]
CATHERINE: Good luck…
GRISSOM: [Grissom enters] Hey.
CATHERINE: Any reason why you were in the foyer?
GRISSOM: Yup. Follow me…Both of you…Important. They're here early. [Greg looks up.] They're in the foyer.

Grissom subtly leaves the break room and leaves Catherine and Greg behind. The two throw glances at each other and quickly chase after their supervisor. As Catherine turns the corner, she sees a familiar face.

CATHERINE: Tracie?
TRACIE: Hey Cath! [she turns to her colleague who wore a dark red mini-dress, and headphones around her neck] I told you I knew someone. [giggles and turns towards Catherine to give her a hug]
CATHERINE: I don't believe you're here.
TRACIE: You didn't think Supervisor Mantle would send just anybody to Las Vegas? Who better than ex-sister-in-law? [laughs again]

Catherine begins to acquaint herself with the other CSI. Greg stands quietly behind everyone else – intimidated by all the CSIs in the room. Greg had never felt so small in his life until now. He didn't belong there as far as he knew. There is just one man among the other three women CSIs from New York. Just then, he catches sight of the girl with the headphones. "The only man Tracie had brought along for the case", or Dirk Knight, as he's known as, is chatting with her.

SHARLENE: So, did you meet up with your brother the other day?
DIRK: Yea, he lives somewhere in uptown Vegas…Turn that Discman off, Sharlene.
SHARLENE: But Dirk, it's Bad Religion... [stops her music]
GREG: [thinks to himself] Sharlene…
GRISSOM: Greg…This is Tracie. She's the primary for this away case.
GREG: [snaps out of his daydream] Oh. Um…hello… [shakes her hand]
TRACIE: I understand you're going to field-train with us. [Greg nods at her] I tell you what – I'll pair you up with Sharlene Chang. She's going to be both on the field and in the lab.

Greg's heart leaps into his throat. He gets to pair up with a major cutie. Woo Hoo!

TRACIE: Alright, Sharlene…If you could just tear yourself away from Dirk for two seconds, I'd like to introduce you to Greg Sanders. [turns to Greg] …And this is Sharlene.

Greg's heart slumps into the tips of his feet. She was taken…