Disclaimer: Don't Own. Don't Sue. Do Review.
A/N: Hey all. Sorry I took a bit longer updating this. I've finally finished school (Yay!) So I now have 5 glorious weeks of free time (Wahoo!), which is a heaven sent break after the load of work I was forced to complete. Thank you all who reviewed the last chapter: ArodLoverus2001, Galxychld, cRaZyPiXiE and MissyJane. You guys rock!!! Oh and cRaZyPiXiE: thanks for the suggestion but I'm not sure if I ready to add a baby into the mix of Nick and Sara's relationship at this point. But suggestions are always welcome. I've recently posted up two new sort CSI fan fics: 'Wake Up' and 'Fragmented', so feel free to check them out. Please keep them coming in. I should be took long updating the next chapter seeing as I finally have spare time (love that word). Anyway, R&R and ENJOY!!! - Bex
Grissom and Catherine entered the building in comfortable silence. They were still joined at the hands, but that was really all the comfort they needed from the other. Grissom used this to slip back into his own thoughts. He wondered if another woman had been abducted; if the killer had chosen someone else to make their life hell as they desperately tried to find her in time. 'We're not going to fail this time,' He insisted to himself falsely. 'We're going to catch him.'
The first thing he noticed as they entered the break room was Sara and Greg's laughter: the second was the baby that was being bounced up and down on Sara's knee. A baby that he recognised instantly. "What's Melissa doing here?" He asked making the others aware of his and Cath's presence.
The laughter stopped as the CSI and lab tech looked at the other two with awkward eyes, whilst Melissa gurgled happily at the new comers she knew well. "Well?"
"Jen's here," Sara finally answered.
"Why is she here?" Cath inquired confused. But before the others could answers they were cut off by more laughter coming from outside the room, followed by Jenny and Warrick. They stopped when they spotted the others: Jenny's smile widening warmly and Warrick's fading.
"Hey," Jenny greeted Gris and gave him a hug. She then turned to Catherine, but paused when she saw her expression. "Cath, what's wrong?" Then it dawned on her. "Oh god, Portia?" Cath gave a tiny nod in response and Jenny hugged her as she gave her condolences.
After the two women had parted, Grissom turned his attention back to Jenny: "Not that it's not nice to see you Jen, but why are you here?"
She gave him a puzzled look, then turned to Warrick. "Didn't you tell them?" He shook his head guiltily and Jenny gave him a small glare.
"Tell us what?" Cath asked.
"Warrick's meant to be taking me and Melissa out to lunch," She informed them.
Both of the older CSIs fixed their eyes on Warrick with the same expression, as he looked at the ground to avoid their gaze. The tension was obvious to Melissa, who began to bawl. Sara's eye's widened in panic as became awkwardly unsure how to react. Jenny's took her child back into her arms and began to softly hum 'Moon River' whilst she rocked her. Quickly, the infant settled; Jenny looked up and mouthed to the others 'works every time', then her brow furred. "Maybe I should go."
"Jen wait," Warrick called, stopping her. He turned to Cath. "It's not like I'm taking this lunch break without getting something done on the case first."
He handed her a small evidence envelope. "What's this?"
"A fingerprint from our vic. Which Jenny helped me to collect."
It was now Greg's turn to look as confused as the others. "How did you manage to collect a fingerprint when the guy had no hands?"
Jenny and Warrick averted their gaze, sharing quick sideways glances as they tried to contain their laughter. "Lets just say I washed my hands really well afterwards," Jenny replied cryptically.
Their puzzled looks remained until one by one they realised where the print came from. "Oh," exclaimed Catherine and handed Greg the print. "You better go run this through AFIS and see if we've got a match."
"Sometimes I really hate my job," He muttered as he walked off holding the envelope at arms length.
"What about everything else we've got on this case?" Cath asked Warrick.
"It's all in here," He replied handing her a file, "Everything we know so far."
"Fine you can go. But make sure your phone's on and be back in an hour."
"Thanks Cath." Warrick bright smile returned.
Jenny hugged Cath first and whispered to her, "If you want to talk about anything, you know where to find me." Then she did the same to Sara, reminding her to give Nick a chance to explain. When she came to hug Grissom goodbye she whispered, "If you need help with the case you know how to reach me or Brit."
He nodded. "I know." Gris kissed Jenny's and Melissa's cheek. "Take care of yourselves."
"I will," She promised. "See you guys soon." And with that, Warrick and her left, whilst Melissa giggled and waved until she was carried out of sight.
Catherine sighed and shot Grissom a look that read 'see what I mean', and then she began to briefly flick through the file. "I better look through this. Can I use your office?"
"Sure," He agreed and squeezed her hand. "Are you sure you're ok?"
Cath gave him a determined nod and a peak on the cheek before she headed off towards the office. When she had left; Grissom poured two cups of coffee and handed one to Sara. She took it and smiled gratefully in return. "So why are you here?"
"I...I couldn't sleep," She replied vaguely. "Thought I'd make myself useful."
"And did you or was your mind too busy focusing on something else? Or should I say someone?" He questioned and Sara shot him a startled look.
"Is it really that obvious?" She murmured into her coffee cup.
Gris nodded and then pointed at her mobile lying on the table. "Also the twenty odd missed calls on your phone, that you've placed on silent because you can't take the consent ringing, and that are all probably from the same person. Plus I managed to lip-read parts of what Jen was whispering to you. Nick?"
She laughed bitterly. "When did you become even more observant?"
"Since I've been spending more time around Brit and Jenny. Both of them believe that the small things are just as important - maybe even more - then the big things. And it begins to rub off on you." He then asked gently, "The problem between you and Nick isn't going to effect your work?" She shook her head and finished off the last of her coffee. "So how long have you been here?"
"I think from about 7 this morning, after giving up on 5 hours filled with failed attempts to sleep," She answered after she paused to think.
"Any news?" Grissom inquired tapping the case file. "Any word of a new victim?"
"No," Sara shook her head. "Maybe he's decided to lay low?"
"Or maybe it's too early for anyone to realise she's gone," He stated. "Portia only got reported quickly because of her kids realising she was missing."
"How's Cath taking it?" Sara asked concerned for her friend.
"Better then I expected."
He pinched his bridge and took a good long sip of the bitter coffee. "Gris," Sara said, gaining his attention, "It wasn't your fault. I wasn't anyone's fault. Cath doesn't blame you. No one is."
"And what we're meant to tell that to the next victim's family and friends and the one after that?" Grissom demanded misdirecting his anger at her. He saw the hurt in her face and his expression soften. "We've got to find him Sara. Before he can bring more pain and sorrow."
"And we will," She said firmly. "You said it yourself, he's only human. He's got to have slipped up somewhere. And I can assurance that mistake will be his last. Where ever it is, we'll find it." Grissom returned her smile with a fainter one and she picked up the empty coffee cups. "How about I pour us another cup and then we go over the case again?"
"Yeah," Grissom replied, happy that Sara persistence gave him the push he needed to face the case again. He glared down at the file on the table in front of him. 'Who ever you are, where ever you are, I'm not going to stop 'til I find you and bring justice for the all lives you've taken,' He silently told the faceless killer. 'I can guarantee that."
A/N: What do you think? Come on, make me happier then I already am and hit that button NOW! I know you're itching to! :o)
A/N: Hey all. Sorry I took a bit longer updating this. I've finally finished school (Yay!) So I now have 5 glorious weeks of free time (Wahoo!), which is a heaven sent break after the load of work I was forced to complete. Thank you all who reviewed the last chapter: ArodLoverus2001, Galxychld, cRaZyPiXiE and MissyJane. You guys rock!!! Oh and cRaZyPiXiE: thanks for the suggestion but I'm not sure if I ready to add a baby into the mix of Nick and Sara's relationship at this point. But suggestions are always welcome. I've recently posted up two new sort CSI fan fics: 'Wake Up' and 'Fragmented', so feel free to check them out. Please keep them coming in. I should be took long updating the next chapter seeing as I finally have spare time (love that word). Anyway, R&R and ENJOY!!! - Bex
Grissom and Catherine entered the building in comfortable silence. They were still joined at the hands, but that was really all the comfort they needed from the other. Grissom used this to slip back into his own thoughts. He wondered if another woman had been abducted; if the killer had chosen someone else to make their life hell as they desperately tried to find her in time. 'We're not going to fail this time,' He insisted to himself falsely. 'We're going to catch him.'
The first thing he noticed as they entered the break room was Sara and Greg's laughter: the second was the baby that was being bounced up and down on Sara's knee. A baby that he recognised instantly. "What's Melissa doing here?" He asked making the others aware of his and Cath's presence.
The laughter stopped as the CSI and lab tech looked at the other two with awkward eyes, whilst Melissa gurgled happily at the new comers she knew well. "Well?"
"Jen's here," Sara finally answered.
"Why is she here?" Cath inquired confused. But before the others could answers they were cut off by more laughter coming from outside the room, followed by Jenny and Warrick. They stopped when they spotted the others: Jenny's smile widening warmly and Warrick's fading.
"Hey," Jenny greeted Gris and gave him a hug. She then turned to Catherine, but paused when she saw her expression. "Cath, what's wrong?" Then it dawned on her. "Oh god, Portia?" Cath gave a tiny nod in response and Jenny hugged her as she gave her condolences.
After the two women had parted, Grissom turned his attention back to Jenny: "Not that it's not nice to see you Jen, but why are you here?"
She gave him a puzzled look, then turned to Warrick. "Didn't you tell them?" He shook his head guiltily and Jenny gave him a small glare.
"Tell us what?" Cath asked.
"Warrick's meant to be taking me and Melissa out to lunch," She informed them.
Both of the older CSIs fixed their eyes on Warrick with the same expression, as he looked at the ground to avoid their gaze. The tension was obvious to Melissa, who began to bawl. Sara's eye's widened in panic as became awkwardly unsure how to react. Jenny's took her child back into her arms and began to softly hum 'Moon River' whilst she rocked her. Quickly, the infant settled; Jenny looked up and mouthed to the others 'works every time', then her brow furred. "Maybe I should go."
"Jen wait," Warrick called, stopping her. He turned to Cath. "It's not like I'm taking this lunch break without getting something done on the case first."
He handed her a small evidence envelope. "What's this?"
"A fingerprint from our vic. Which Jenny helped me to collect."
It was now Greg's turn to look as confused as the others. "How did you manage to collect a fingerprint when the guy had no hands?"
Jenny and Warrick averted their gaze, sharing quick sideways glances as they tried to contain their laughter. "Lets just say I washed my hands really well afterwards," Jenny replied cryptically.
Their puzzled looks remained until one by one they realised where the print came from. "Oh," exclaimed Catherine and handed Greg the print. "You better go run this through AFIS and see if we've got a match."
"Sometimes I really hate my job," He muttered as he walked off holding the envelope at arms length.
"What about everything else we've got on this case?" Cath asked Warrick.
"It's all in here," He replied handing her a file, "Everything we know so far."
"Fine you can go. But make sure your phone's on and be back in an hour."
"Thanks Cath." Warrick bright smile returned.
Jenny hugged Cath first and whispered to her, "If you want to talk about anything, you know where to find me." Then she did the same to Sara, reminding her to give Nick a chance to explain. When she came to hug Grissom goodbye she whispered, "If you need help with the case you know how to reach me or Brit."
He nodded. "I know." Gris kissed Jenny's and Melissa's cheek. "Take care of yourselves."
"I will," She promised. "See you guys soon." And with that, Warrick and her left, whilst Melissa giggled and waved until she was carried out of sight.
Catherine sighed and shot Grissom a look that read 'see what I mean', and then she began to briefly flick through the file. "I better look through this. Can I use your office?"
"Sure," He agreed and squeezed her hand. "Are you sure you're ok?"
Cath gave him a determined nod and a peak on the cheek before she headed off towards the office. When she had left; Grissom poured two cups of coffee and handed one to Sara. She took it and smiled gratefully in return. "So why are you here?"
"I...I couldn't sleep," She replied vaguely. "Thought I'd make myself useful."
"And did you or was your mind too busy focusing on something else? Or should I say someone?" He questioned and Sara shot him a startled look.
"Is it really that obvious?" She murmured into her coffee cup.
Gris nodded and then pointed at her mobile lying on the table. "Also the twenty odd missed calls on your phone, that you've placed on silent because you can't take the consent ringing, and that are all probably from the same person. Plus I managed to lip-read parts of what Jen was whispering to you. Nick?"
She laughed bitterly. "When did you become even more observant?"
"Since I've been spending more time around Brit and Jenny. Both of them believe that the small things are just as important - maybe even more - then the big things. And it begins to rub off on you." He then asked gently, "The problem between you and Nick isn't going to effect your work?" She shook her head and finished off the last of her coffee. "So how long have you been here?"
"I think from about 7 this morning, after giving up on 5 hours filled with failed attempts to sleep," She answered after she paused to think.
"Any news?" Grissom inquired tapping the case file. "Any word of a new victim?"
"No," Sara shook her head. "Maybe he's decided to lay low?"
"Or maybe it's too early for anyone to realise she's gone," He stated. "Portia only got reported quickly because of her kids realising she was missing."
"How's Cath taking it?" Sara asked concerned for her friend.
"Better then I expected."
He pinched his bridge and took a good long sip of the bitter coffee. "Gris," Sara said, gaining his attention, "It wasn't your fault. I wasn't anyone's fault. Cath doesn't blame you. No one is."
"And what we're meant to tell that to the next victim's family and friends and the one after that?" Grissom demanded misdirecting his anger at her. He saw the hurt in her face and his expression soften. "We've got to find him Sara. Before he can bring more pain and sorrow."
"And we will," She said firmly. "You said it yourself, he's only human. He's got to have slipped up somewhere. And I can assurance that mistake will be his last. Where ever it is, we'll find it." Grissom returned her smile with a fainter one and she picked up the empty coffee cups. "How about I pour us another cup and then we go over the case again?"
"Yeah," Grissom replied, happy that Sara persistence gave him the push he needed to face the case again. He glared down at the file on the table in front of him. 'Who ever you are, where ever you are, I'm not going to stop 'til I find you and bring justice for the all lives you've taken,' He silently told the faceless killer. 'I can guarantee that."
A/N: What do you think? Come on, make me happier then I already am and hit that button NOW! I know you're itching to! :o)