Mrs Noble shuffled aimlessly through the streets of Las Vegas. The millions of lights and dazzling displays of colour that met her eyes did nothing to lighten her mood.
Questions ran through her mind; who would do this to her son, who could be so brutal? She wiped a tear from her eye, wishing intently for someone to ask her is she was ok. But these were the cold, unfeeling streets of Las Vegas, where everyone was just a face in the crowd, no-one had time for your troubles.
That is why she had left, but Graham had never stopped loving the glamour of the city, and against everything she wished for, he returned.
And now he was dead, lying somewhere in the city that didn't care. The city that turned its back as she walked the streets weeping.
The hum of excitement in the break room was barely loud enough to drown out the buzz of nervous anticipation they all were feeling. It was like being back at school, waiting for the new kid to arrive.
Will he be nice? Will I get along with him?! Or will he laugh at me and throw his sandwiches at me in the playground?!!
While of course the latter was somewhat dated, they all knew they didn't want, say, another Hodges roaming the lab.
Grissom finally arrived with a youngish, Greg-aged man in tow. He was smiling nervously, and looked somewhat shy (though of course that probably wasn't surprising as he was met with four curious faces peering at him)
So now sandwiches in the playground then, they all thought.
One by one they all introduced themselves to the stranger, who informed them his name was Alex.
'But why are you here so soon?' Sara asked, hoping that she didn't sound too rude.
He laughed. Obviously it wasn't.
'Well my boss over at San Fran crime lab owed Grissom here a favour, so as soon as he caught wind of your lab-tech crisis, he packed me onto the first plane here!' He laughed again, this time the team joined him.
All in all they were satisfied. He knew his stuff, was funny, and had a gently air about him. Maybe enough so, they hoped, that he might be able to tame Greg somewhat. But then again, judging by his similarly spiky hair, and slightly scruffy appearance, he could just share Greg's taste in music.
If that was so, God help them all.