TITLE: No More Death, No More Murder

AUTHOR: Micky Fine

DISCLAIMER: None of the characters from the show belong to me. Everyone else is from my brain. Any similarity to previous characters on the show is unintended. I am making no profit from this piece of fiction.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you once again for all of your wonderful reviews. They are deeply appreciated. Some of you were a bit confused by the ending but hopefully all will be revealed in this next chapter. Thank you all once again.

Reviews always welcome.

Jim Brass was cruising the strip, something he rarely did. He barely even realized he was doing so, as he was absorbed in his thoughts. He was really unhappy about how things had gone at the scene today. He had been shocked that an officer had failed to clear a closet. A closet. One of the most obvious hiding places since the invention of Hide-and-Seek. He had given the officer a severe dressing down but he still felt uneasy. Maybe it was because of how close Sara had come to losing her life. It was a shock. But he had that feeling like the other shoe hadn't fallen yet. He didn't get the feeling often. But he had learned to trust it.

Just then his radio came to life. It squawked and then he heard crime in progress a block from where he was. He immediately turned the sirens on and sped to the location.

Brass's headlights illuminated the scene. There was a young woman lying on the sidewalk in a pool of her own blood. Jim had barely stopped his car before he was out the door and next to the victim. She was unconscious but he found a fluttery pulse with a sigh of relief. Then he noticed the bullet hole below her collarbone on the left side. He removed his jacket and pressed it against the wound. Then he looked at the victim.

She was a young woman in her mid to late twenties. She was wearing what he would describe as the stereotypical "little black dress" and chunky black heels. Her brown hair was pulled back in what his wife had called a French twist. As he studied her face he suddenly realized who it was.

"Oh shit!"

Gil Grissom had also been cruising the strip. He also barely realized he was doing so. His mind was wrapped up in thoughts of Sara. Sara and him. Solving cases. Having dinner. All sorts of normal things. These blissful thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of his cell phone.

"Grissom."

"Gil, it's Brass. You need to come here right now. I'm a block from the south end of the strip."

"Brass, I'm taking the night off. If you need a CSI, call Catherine. She's in charge tonight."

"Gil, I don't need a CSI. Yet. But you want to be here."

"Why?"

"It's Sara."

"What about her?"

Grissom screeched to a halt and arrived just moments before the ambulance. He stared in shock at the sight before him.

Jim Brass was staring in relief at the ambulance. The important factor was the young woman lying on the sidewalk. She was dressed up.  Her eyes were closed but she was facing upwards towards the night sky. The most important factor was the blood pouring from her profusely.

"Sara!" he managed to choke out.

It was so unfair. She had just narrowly avoided being shot this afternoon and then she was attacked tonight. It was ultimately unfair.

Behind him he heard an intake of breath and another man choke out the same name. Grissom turned to see Hank. Hank, the paramedic. Hank, the cheater. He watched his face go from fear to professional detachment. Grabbing his case and following the other paramedic, they walked over to where Sara was lying. The removed what Grissom assumed was Jim's jacket and began checking her over. He listened to their conversation.

"Gun shot wound to the chest."

"Looks like she was in a fight."

"Whoa! She's got another gunshot wound on the underside of her left arm. Looks like it hit her brachial artery. We've got to stop this bleeding or she doesn't stand a chance."

Grissom was interrupted from his listening to what was happening by a tap on the shoulder. He turned to see Catherine standing behind him.

"What are you doing here?" he asked, his brow creased.

"Jim called me. I was driving to work and I was close by. How is she?"

"From what I've heard she has two gunshot wounds and one hit an artery. She could bleed to death before they get her to the hospital."

Catherine looked at him in shock and they both turned back to watch Hank and the other paramedic help Sara.

"Ok, I've got the bleeding stopped temporarily. How's her pulse?"

"It's as steady as it's ever going to be."

"So she's stable enough to move?"

"I hope so."

Catherine and Grissom watched as they rolled Sara onto a board and then lifted her up and headed toward the ambulance.

"I've got to go with her."

"No Gris. She needs you here. She needs you to figure out what bastard did this to her. I'll go. Besides, I'm her emergency contact."

"Her emergency contact?"

"I have a say on what happens to her and what they do. You can't do anything at the hospital. Sara needs you here on this case."

"Work the case and find the bastard."

"Exactly."

"Take care of her."

"I will."

Grissom watched as Catherine talked briefly to Hank and then climbed into the ambulance. Then with siren wailing the ambulance drove off at breakneck speed. There was nothing he could do.

Nick and Warrick walked up to the scene and saw Grissom standing alone looking dejected. They had barely been given any details about the crime. Brass had just phoned them and told them to get there ASAP. There was no crime scene tape.  There was also no body. Curious they walked over to Grissom.

"What's up Gris?" Warrick asked.

"Yeah, where's the vic?" Nick added.

"They took Sara to the hospital."

"Sara?!?" Nick and Warrick chorused in disbelief.

"Yeah," Grissom stated wearily.

With shock all three turned to survey the scene.

The silence was interrupted by Jim Brass.
"Ok guys, let's get to work."

All three turned to survey him and the short, red-haired, middle-aged woman behind him.

"Who's this?" Nick asked.

"This is our eye witness, Kelly Watts."