The third chapter of my story. I hope you guys all like it.

Thanks to all my beta readers for helping out a lot. I owe you all a big thanks.

Title: Ghosts in the Shadows (Chapter 3 of ??)
Author: Jonathan
Disclaimer: I don't own CSI or the characters; CBS please don't sue me.
Archiving: Just ask me before you put it up.
Synopsis: Sara wakes up and realizes where she is. The team gets a good lead, and Brass comes face to face with their suspect.

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Sara slowly woke up, not quite sure where she was. Then she looked around and realized - this is Grissom's bed. Why am I here? Oh, yes, right, some nut's been stalking me.

She sighed, before looking over at the nightstand and seeing the time. Sara realized she had been asleep for six hours; that was the longest time she'd managed to sleep in a while.

Sara realized she needed a shower, but decided to first look for Grissom. She stepped out of the bedroom, and found Grissom sleeping on the sofa. She sat herself on one of the armrests.

He looks so tired, Sara mused. Probably looking over the evidence. Sara brushed back a stray curl of hair from Grissom's forehead. Even he's showing the stress of working multiple double shifts. The whole graveyard shift had been working a great deal of overtime lately; last night had been a welcome relief.

Sara bit her lower lip and sighed inwardly. Do you even realize how much you mean to me, Gil? I don't know... I really don't know. I wish I could open your eyes...

She had been watching the interrogation of Doctor Lurie by Grissom and Brass on the other side of the one-way mirror. Unbeknownst to Grissom, she had heard it all – including Grissom's parting words. She had barely managed to hold back her tears. Any doubts she had that he cared for her had vanished that moment; but it was also mixed with anguish when she realized that he felt it was too late.

You're not too late, Gil. You're not... You're the only person who's ever taken total control of my heart. You still have it, and you don't even know it... Just open your eyes and you'll see. I'm still there, waiting for you.

She continued to stay there, gazing at the sleeping Grissom. Eventually, though, he began to stir from his slumber.

Grissom groaned as he began to rise from the sofa. "Sara? You're awake?"

"Yeah. You look like the one who needs to rest, though."

"I didn't want to wake you up... you looked like you needed your rest this morning."

There was a brief pause as neither quite knew what to say next.

Sara broke the silence. "So, anything new on the case?"

"The envelope doesn't have any usable evidence – prints were unusable, and there's no DNA. On one of the photos, the lab found a usable print."

Sara nodded her head. "AFIS have an ID on the guy?"

"Yes, but..."

"But what?"

"I suggest you sit down first."

Sara gave Grissom a quizzical look. "Grissom..."

Grissom, in turn, gave Sara a pleading look. "Sara... please?"

Why is Grissom being nice to me all of a sudden? Sara silently sat herself beside Grissom, though she left a bit of room between them.

After Sara had sat down, Grissom continued. "AFIS did turn up a match – to a certain Manuel de la Vega. Professional criminal, with outstanding warrants from LA and Dallas."

Sara picked up the folder which had the case file Nick had previously faxed over. She began reading the papers inside – and turned pale when she saw the crimes he was wanted for. Two rapes, two murders, one attempted murder... and now he's after me. She shuddered involuntarily.

It was easy to think he was some silly lunatic when we didn't know anything about him. Now, we do know something... he's not a silly lunatic. He's a predator now... and I'm his prey.

Sara was strong, but this was too much, even for her. "Why me, Grissom? Why is this... creep after me now?" She tried to hold back her tears, but some flowed down her cheek.

Grissom reached for her hands, trying to bring the comfort that his words could not bring. "We're... we're not entirely sure. It may be because you've been... profiled."

Sara could hardly believe it. "Pro... profiled?"

Grissom nodded slowly, before speaking as softly as he could. "Both victims were brunettes, about your height and weight..." He went no more before tears started flowing down her cheek.

"It's – it's not fair, dammit. Why me?" She slammed her fist hard on the sofa. It was the proverbial straw which broke the camel's back. It's all too much. Grissom, the lab explosion, the whole Debbie Marlin case, now this stalker... Sara sobbed as she put her face in her hands.

She needs someone to give her strength, Grissom thought. She's afraid, but if I hug her right now-

His thoughts were interrupted by Sara reaching across to put her arms around his neck and resting her head on his shoulders.

She stayed there for several minutes, with neither one speaking. After a few minutes, Sara looked into Grissom's eyes.

"Grissom?" Her voice was still shaky.

He didn't say anything; his look of concern said it all.

"I... I don't care what's happened or didn't happen between... us... lately. I... I just need someone to be there, for me, right now." Her eyes spoke what she couldn't bring herself to say. Gil Grissom, I need you. Please...

Grissom answered, too, without any words. I'm here, Sara. I won't leave you now.

Sara hugged Grissom even tighter. For that moment, all the events of the past few years – all the hurt, all the wrongs done – were forgiven and forgotten. All that mattered was that there were two people who needed each other in the darkest hour. They stayed in that embrace for what seemed like forever, before both falling asleep in each other's arms.

***

Nick got a cup of coffee from the coffeemaker in the break room. After faxing the file to Grissom, he had gone home to sleep but he hadn't had much success finding it. Nick had instead come back to the lab early to see if any of the evidence they had collected that morning was telling them anything.

"Not much sleep, eh Nicky?" Nick turned to the source of the voice. It was Catherine.

"Yeah. That guy after Sara is one sick bastard."

"I know. Two rapes, two murders... he's certain to end up in the chair."

"We have to catch him first before he can fry, Nick. Hodges get back to you yet?"

"That's where I was about to head off to. You coming?"

"You bet."

Nick and Catherine made their way to the lab, looking for Hodges. They eventually found him after some searching, but he looked frazzled. Neither one could remember ever seeing Hodges in such a condition. Catherine asked if he was done with the camera.

"I'm afraid not." Nick was about to protest loudly, but Hodges continued. "Don't shoot the messenger. Ecklie's people dropped this whole big load of evidence on me and made me do it first."

Catherine gave Hodges a not-so-friendly stare. "Hodges, what case could be more important than a CSI in danger?"

"Narcotics unit had one of those cop show cameras following them around. Unfortunately, they got into a shoot-out. Footage is all over the cable news networks; Sheriff Atwater told Ecklie to work on it pronto."

Catherine just shook her head. Trust Conrad to do exactly what Atwater says. If the Sheriff tells him to jump from a building, he'll ask from what floor.

"Look, if you haven't done it yet, why don't you just give it to us so we can do it ourselves?" Nick asked of Hodges.

"It's... this bag." Hodges handed over a small paper bag that had the hidden camera inside. Catherine took the bag from him, and the two CSIs went off into an unused lab room.

After twenty minutes or so, Warrick showed up at the door and joined them.

"Couldn't sleep either?" asked Nick.

"Heck no. I don't think any of us will be getting a lot of sleep until we catch this guy."

"Got that right," said Catherine as Nick bent his head down towards the camera, which was on the evidence table.

"Got anything so far?"

Nick answered. "One set of prints on the outside, nothing else. Just examining the inside now."

The computer in the corner beeped. "And that would be the AFIS search," said Catherine. She and Warrick walked over to it.

"Not our first suspect," Warrick noted.

"So he had an accomplice."

"We still don't know who he is, though."

Nick spoke up from the table. "Hey, got another print here guys."

He lifted the print and fed it into the computer. As they were waiting for the database scan to turn up something, Brass showed up.

"Hey. Did you find anything?" Catherine asked.

"Nope. Manager didn't see anything, neighbors didn't see anything, rent-a-cop at the gate didn't see anything." He saw the disassembled camera on the table. "I thought Grissom gave that to the lab to process this morning."

"He did," said Warrick. "Ecklie dumped a narco shooting on them, though."

"Oh, that." Brass had seen the news reports on the TV. "Good thing I don't have any of those guys following me around. Can't resist my charming good looks."

Catherine chuckled. "Got that right."

Just then the PC beeped. It had found a match.

Warrick looked over the monitor. "Print belongs to our suspect."

"So, we know our first suspect, de la Vega, built the thing – but he didn't put it in." Catherine said.

"But this guy," Warrick said while punching a key on the keyboard, "probably did."

"So who is he?" Nick asked.

Brass looked at the face on the screen. "Easy. I interviewed him earlier."

The three CSIs glared at Brass. "And he would be...?" Catherine said.

"The building electrician."

Nick's jaw dropped. "Gives him opportunity."

"Bring him in for questioning?" Catherine asked Brass.

"You bet." He stepped out of the room to have the electrician brought in.

"Somebody tell Grissom," Catherine said.

Nick let out a grin. "You tell him, Cath."

"Why me, Nick?"

"Well, it was your idea after all..."

"No, I mean, what's the problem with calling Grissom right now?"

Warrick spoke up. "Well, Sara is there after all..."

In response to Catherine's glare of disbelief, both Nick and Warrick gave off grins of innocence. She could only raise her hands in frustration at the two. "Fine. I'll do it."

She left the lab, leaving Nick and Warrick to continue inspecting the hidden camera for any more evidence.

***

Sara began to awaken, and her movements stirred Grissom from his sleep as well. As they both woke up, they realized the position they were in. Their eyes locked, and the communication was almost instant: This isn't a dream, right? It can't be. No, it most definitely is not.

Grissom opened his mouth cs if to say something, but no words came out of his mouth. I don't know what I'm supposed to say.

Sara was just lying there, with a hint of a smile.

Grissom eventually found his voice. He spoke very gently; as if he was afraid someone else would hear. "Sara, I think... there are some things we... should talk about."

"What... things?"

I have to admit it now, don't I? "I mean... us, Sara."

She nodded in response. Please, Gil, don't push me away. You don't want to, but you keep doing it anyway. Not now...

Just as Grissom was about to speak, the speaker phone on the coffee table rang.

They both dropped their heads at the sound. Their thoughts were identical – dammit.

It kept ringing. "I think you should answer," said Sara.

Wordlessly, Grissom nodded. Sara rose from the couch and sat herself on the other end, while Grissom took the call.

"Grissom."

"It's Catherine. We processed the camera, and we found prints both inside and outside. Inside prints belong to our suspect, but the outside prints don't."

"You have an ID?"

"Brass identified the guy as the electrician in Sara's apartment building."

Grissom looked over at Sara and raised an eyebrow. Sara's eyes just opened wide at the news.

Catherine's disembodied voice continued. "Is, uh, is Sara there?"

Sara answered. "I'm here."

"Sara, when was the last time you had the light over your coffee table looked at?"

"The electrician came over about... three days ago. Said there was a recall or something like that."

After a moment, Grissom spoke next. "If the camera was placed three days ago, it would explain why the photo of Sara entering her apartment is only two days old."

Sara continued Grissom's thread of thought. "All the other photos were taken in public or semi-public areas. That was the only one taken inside my apartment."

Everyone involved in the conversation realized the importance of the camera. Grissom said, "Catherine, can we bring the electrician in?"

"We're ahead of you. Brass is going over to speak to him now."

Grissom decided to end the phone call. "Thanks, Catherine." He hung up, then faced Sara. "I think we should head over to the lab."

Sara nodded. "Yeah." She looked him in the eye, and her eyes told him: We'll have to have that talk later.

It was Grissom's turn to nod. Yes we will.

***

Brass drove up to the electrician's house, parking his unmarked car. He instantly realized something was wrong.

There was a large, burly man yelling banging on the door. Brass also noticed there was a bulge in the man's shirt near his waist. His cop instincts told him what it was – a gun. He called for more backup before getting out of his vehicle, gun in hand.

Just as Brass closed his door shut, he heard a loud bang. The door to the house had been kicked in and the guy at the entrance was about to enter. He also had his gun up, as if he was going to shoot someone.

Crap. I hope that backup gets here soon.

Brass raised his gun and pointed it at the intruder. He shouted, "Las Vegas Metro PD! Drop your weapon!"

The intruder turned around and saw Brass. He recognized who the intruder was.

It was Manuel de la Vega.

Brass' instincts of self-preservation took over and he ducked behind the car for cover. Shots rang out, and broken glass rained over Brass as rounds from de la Vega's gun hit the unmarked cruiser, breaking the windows and flattening the tires.

Brass peeked out, and saw de la Vega entering his maroon pickup from the passenger's side. More shots rang out, this time from Brass' gun. The rear windshield turned to pieces; de la Vega entered the cab and fired more shots at Brass, who was still using his shot-up car for cover.

The next thing Brass heard was tires screeching on the pavement as the pickup sped away from the scene. He got up from the crouching position he had been and thought about firing at the speeding pickup, but he knew he would probably miss and held his fire. He was able to see part of the pickup's plates, and quickly committed it to his memory.

Pausing to reload and call the dispatcher, Brass carefully entered the house. He found the electrician in a corner of the kitchen, cowering in fear. Seeing Brass enter, he shouted out in fear, "Don't hurt me, please! I only did what you told me to!" He had mistaken Brass for de la Vega.

Brass wasn't sympathetic. "I'm the police." The sound of sirens marked the arrival of the reinforcements Brass had asked for. Looking at the cowering man, he said, "And you are in serious trouble."

***

To be continued...