When Sara reached them, she turned to Sydney to say Good Morning and to give him a quick peck on the cheek but as she did this, the elevator doors opened, allowing entrance for Grissom and the others followed by Matt and Jackson. 

            The CSI's didn't recognize Sara until she turned around.  Sara saw the astonishment on their faces at her being up and around.  After her episode with Grissom, she decided to take the offensive.  "Good Morning everyone, if we're all ready, let's move on down to the staging room and get this meeting over with, I have a lot on my plate today."  With that, she turned away from them and walked down the hallway past the "Arena" and into a large room. 

            Catherine smiled, this was the Sara she remembered.

            Jarod and Sydney shared a look of amusement and then they both gave Grissom a look that asked with their smirks and their eyes 'just what the hell did you say to her?'  Grissom looked back at both of them and just shrugged and walked past them toward the room.  Everyone quietly followed behind.

            As they entered the room, which overlooked the "Arena", they saw that Sara had already taken a seat at the table in the room.  As everyone took their seats, they noticed monitors embedded into the table.  Jarod took the seat at the head of the table and Sara was positioned at his right with Matt and Jackson on his left.  Sydney took the seat next to Sara.  Grissom and Warrick sat down next to Matt and Jackson and had a clear view of Sara across the table.  Nick and Catherine sat opposite them.

            "So, we all know what this meeting is about but let me clarify what the meeting isn't about."  Jarod looked pointedly over at Sydney and Sara then back at the group. "It should be understood that neither Sara nor I wish to discuss our backgrounds as far as the training is concerned.  Those are memories best left buried.  Also, it should be understood that the conversation that we had the other night and the one that you overheard in the lounge is not something that should go any further.  Very few people in the government know about the Centre and even fewer know what happened there and that is how we would like it to remain.  Too many people could be hurt with that knowledge.  Now on with business… Sara, I believe you have some pertinent information to share with everyone here."  His eyes met hers with the intensity of someone conducting an interrogation.

            Sara seemed a little shaken by his statement and was wondering what he was talking about but in the recesses of her mind she knew.  "What information?"

            "Hmm, let's see, the note you received the night Kristie was killed and the attempt was made on yours, you know, last night."  Jarod said slowly like he was talking to an errant child.

            "What note?"  Sara sat back in her chair with her arms crossed over her chest and began chewing on her bottom lip.

            Following Jarod's lead, Grissom spoke, "The note you received while giving the Press conference.  The note that made you nervously look around and then back at Jarod and I."                          

            Catherine, Nick and Warrick stared at Grissom.  They hadn't seen what he just referred to and wondered how he did.

            Sara looked down at the table trying to become one with it… 'Damn, how'd they know?'  She glanced up at Grissom and then toward Jarod.  She vehemently spit out, "It's in my room."

            Jarod smiled at her and then instructed.  "Matt, would you be so kind as to retrieve the note? Sara, where is it hidden?"

            "It's underneath the top drawer of my dresser."  Matt got up and left the room.

            Jarod resumed his "interrogation" of Sara.  "So what was on the note?"

            She looked up at Jarod and then darted a glance over at Grissom.  She continued chewing her bottom lip nervously and looked back down at the table.  With a heavy sigh she said, "I won't let you have him this time, now he will be mine."

            Jarod thought about that for a moment before he continued.  "Was it hand written or typed?"  Jarod stood up and moved closer to Sara.

            "Hand written…"

            "Did you recognize it?"

            Silence.

            He leaned over her and placed one hand on the table and one on the back of her chair.  He then spoke directly into her profile.  "Sara, did you recognize it?" 

            "Yes.  But I can't place it.  It's familiar but I don't know from where or when or whom."

            "It sounds as though someone from your past assumes you had a relationship with someone and that someone is probably in this room.  Is there anyone here who you have had a relationship with in the past?"

            Catherine quickly looked over to see Grissom stiffen when Jarod asked his question.  'Oh yeah!'  She now knew there had been something between them and it was enough to make them both nervous as she took note of Sara's disposition as well.

            Sara didn't look up from the table when Jarod spoke.  She knew if she did her eyes would involuntarily look in Grissom's direction.  She wasn't about to put him on the spot like that.  He had been the only one she had a relationship with.

            "Jarod, we need to think about that for a moment." Sydney spoke with caution in his tone like he used to when coaching Jarod on a simulation. "It could be that this person has perceived a relationship where there is none."

            'Thank you Sydney!' Sara silently applauded.  She made herself look up directly at Sydney, not letting her eyes waver. "That's a good point.  It could be that a friendship may appear to be more than that, I mean look at…"

            "It's a good possibility and I need to point out that this person is probably the same one who set you up in Vegas.  If it is, she may have done it to get you out of the way."  Sydney said as he watched Jarod to gauge whether Jarod's thoughts were along the same lines.

            "Or it could've been done to get you to run to the object of their obsession…" Jarod let his comment dangle for a moment.  He indeed understood Sydney's observation but he knew that Sara wasn't going to take the implication very well.

            Sara looked up at Jarod after she processed his statement. "You mean you, but… Oh my…" She dropped her head down onto the table.  Sydney reached over and softly rubbed her back.  Without lifting back up, they heard her muffled talk. "I never dreamed I might endanger you."

            Matt had walked in and heard the conversation from Jarod's last comment and spoke up. "You didn't direct them here.  Remember, Jackson and I came and picked you up, you didn't even know we were going to be waiting for you to arrive home from lock up.  You didn't call us, Greg did."


            The investigator in Grissom analyzed their conversation.  He decided to put his two cents in.  "Our suspect is looking to remove Sara from the equation."  He then asked, "So why was our victim in the lobby killed?"  Jarod and Grissom shared a look and came to the same conclusion.

            Jarod spoke quietly, almost in a whisper, as he thought out his words.  "Kristie was filling in for Sara.  Sara was absent so Kristie was following Sara's daily 'routine'."  He emphasized the last word as he realized that was the key.

            Sara picked up on it.  "When I was shot," She paused.  "You know, I go down to the beach every night when I am here -every night after we sing."

            Grissom put the equation together and formulated the answer.  "It would seem that whoever is familiar enough with your routine, either on your hotel staff or a member of your 'team', may be your suspect."

            Jarod sat back down and leaned back in his chair as he dissected what Grissom suggested.  "It would have to be someone new, more than likely a female, and someone with a bogus background."  He turned to look at Sara.  "We need to do some background checks on anyone hired on the hotel staff or the team within the last seven months."

            "I have a list of everyone present in the lobby and surrounding area when Kristie was shot along with their statements."  Grissom addressed this to Jarod and then looked over at Sara as he said.  "I was reviewing them this morning before I went with you on your walk.  It would be best if we all divided up that list as well and look into the backgrounds of those present."

            "Your team, Dr. Grissom, can help on that.  Sara and Sydney, start going through the personnel from the Centre and also of any missing children from our time there.  See if there are any that stick out in your mind, Sara."  Jarod delegated the homework.

            Just as Jarod finished, Margot stepped in, walked over to Sara and whispered to her then walked back out.  "Jarod, the conference is about to begin and I am needed by the press.  They are requesting more information about Kristie."

            "Dr. Grissom, you and your team should probably continue to attend the conference to keep up appearances.  We don't want our suspect to think we have changed routines."  Jarod, after he directed his statements to Grissom, turned to Sara.  "Sara, you need to keep your routine as much as possible today, however, I am going to add one change."  He hesitated, as he knew Sara wasn't going to like his suggestion.  "I want Matt or at least one of us in this room with you at all times and I do mean 'all times'." 

            Sara glared at him and opened her mouth to make a scathing remark when Sydney broke in and said something to her in a different language.  She immediately closed her mouth; sat up straighter and simply replied, "Yes sir."

            Grissom and the others noticed the language but couldn't place it and then realized that she reacted to him like a soldier would react to a superior giving an order.  Grissom wasn't sure if he liked that and felt he would need to question Jarod on it later.  It seemed very manipulative.  What they didn't know was that was exactly what Sydney wanted.  He had just told her it was an order knowing that she would then obey implicitly.  He hated resorting to it but it was for her safety.

            "Matt, keep an eye on her while she's working.  After lunch, Sara, I want you to come back down here and pour over the records with Sydney."  Jarod motioned for her and Matt to head off.  They both stood, Sara stiffly, and left the room.  "Dr. Grissom, you will need to be attending the conference but afterward please come back down here with your notes and any papers you have.  We'll review them before we have to attend the gathering in the lounge tonight."  He noticed that Grissom wanted to ask him something and knew it would pertain to what happened to Sara just a few moments before.  "I know you have questions, but let's hold off on them for awhile so we can get a handle on everything else.  We'll talk later.  Okay, everyone head out."  Everyone rose at his urging except Sydney who remained to speak with Jarod.

            Grissom didn't like being brushed off like that but he decided he would make a point to get Jarod alone to confront him about what happened with Sara.  He walked out with the rest of his CSI's and they headed over to the elevator.  Jackson went with them since he was supposed to speak at the conference today.

            Jarod and Sydney took a moment to digest what had been discussed then Jarod stood up and ran his hand through his hair as he stared out the windows into the Arena.  "You shouldn't have done that Sydney."

            "Jarod, I'm sorry, but I knew she wasn't going to go for you just suggesting to have someone with her."

Jarod wasn't happy with it.  "You know as well as I do what her reaction will be when we take her out of it."

            "Yeah, but I'd rather have her in mode than going off on her own.  Wouldn't you?"  Sydney looked chagrined but knew it had been for the best.

            Jarod turned back around to face Sydney.  "Syd, I know that part of what you're doing you think is in her best interests but consider the fact that she's had enough people tampering with her life.  She doesn't need more.  I wanted to avoid doing that at all costs."

            "Jarod, I didn't enjoy doing that, but after last night and her actions this morning, we can't afford to have her go off independently or we could end up losing her."  Sydney leaned back in his chair as he continued.  "Which could allow the person whose doing this to get another chance to kill her.  And if they were to succeed, you would be their next target.  She'll still be able to function the same but she'll just be more pliable.

            "I know, but do you want to explain that to Grissom?  Because I'm quite sure he noticed and is not happy about it and I don't want to be the one to tell him she's walking around in a controlled trance."   Jarod turned back around to the Arena as he said, "I am certain that Sara loves him and he feels likewise and will be quite protective of her."

            Both of them sat silently contemplating their next actions.