When the pieces don't fit

The hardest cases to solve are the ones where the pieces don't seem to fit.

Disclaimer: of course I don't own any of these characters, otherwise the tv show would be a little different. 

Grissom walked into the break room and noticed his team ready for their assignments. Greg was showing Nick some new technological gadget while Catherine waited patiently, going over her on going investigation files. Gil smiled at her work ethic before moving on to the other two members of the team. Warrick Brown and Sara Sidle were talking casually, passing the time.

"Alright, Nick you've got a DB out on Henderson. Take Greg with you, he'll need some practice before he gets cleared for Level I." Grissom directed, getting their attention.

"Yeah!" Greg shouted exuberantly, excited to be going on in the field. He had been there before, once with Catherine, but that was different. She had picked him only because she wouldn't take Nick or Sara. This time it was official.

"Come on Cowboy." Nick laughed, pulling the energetic lab tech out of the meeting. He remembered his first cases out in the field. He didn't mind being paired with the young technician, besides with the caseloads they've been handling lately, they could use all the help they could get.

"Cath," Grissom continued as Sara and Warrick settled back on the couch to wait. "You're with me. We've got a high profile murder out in San Calas."

"Alright." She exclaimed shutting her folders. "I'll meet you in five out by my car." Grissom finished. He turned to the last two CSI's. "Sara, Warrick in my office." He directed before abruptly leaving the room.

Nick overheard Grissom's command as he passed by on his way out. He shot the two a knowing smirk of sympathy. Sara and Warrick ignored the Texan and reluctantly followed their boss down the hallway, a little worried when he pulled the door closed behind them.

The meeting didn't last long, and Sara Sidle managed to keep her anger in until they arrived outside. "What the hell?" She fumed as soon as she stepped onto the parking lot. Warrick let her get her anger out, knowing full well what would happen if she didn't.

"They get a high profile murder and we have to play prom!" She shouted in disbelief, watching Catherine and Grissom drive away. She couldn't believe he would have the nerve or the doubt in their abilities to send them to the policemen's ball.

"I don't want to spend all evening listening to some pompous speeches on how crime is down in Las Vegas and how we should push for pay increases for top police officials any more than you, but at least we get a night out on company time." Warrick said, trying to soothe her as he got in his Denali. Sara rolled her eyes at his passiveness. 'Besides I get to see you in a dress.' Wisely, he kept that thought to himself. Also wise was the fact that he was driving. In her current mood, the odds of them even arriving at the dinner tonight alive were decidedly not in their favor.

"Did you go to your prom?" He asked the still fuming brunette, trying to make conversation.

"No, I didn't go to the prom." She said defensively as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Why not?" He probed. "No one asked you?" he wondered incredulously, guessing when she didn't answer right away. From his view, he couldn't imagine Sara having changed so much since high school that she would have had a hard time finding dates.

"When I was in high school, I was a tall, skinny, quiet jock with no boobs." She stated matter of factly.

"Besides," she continued, "proms are for pretty people, not smart bookworms like me." Sara remarked without thinking.

"Who told you that?" He demanded of her, with a look on his face Sara couldn't identify. She had never seen Warrick so furious. She realized too late that she had said too much, but knew she couldn't, wouldn't refuse him the answer.

"My father." She replied simply. "He told me it was a good thing I was so damn smart because I wouldn't have the advantages of marriage to support me." Warrick was stunned by her admission. The fact alone was astonishing, but also the point that she had opened up to him was quite amazing too. He didn't know what was harder to believe; that her father had told her that or that she had believed it.

He was surprised when she kept on. "He always pushed me to study harder, get better grades." "Leaving little time for a social life." He filled in for her. "Exactly." She confirmed. He let her sit in silence as she stared out the window.

"Isn't he proud of you now?" Warrick asked his partner.

"I wouldn't know. I haven't seen him since I graduated Harvard." She said without much emotion.

"Well he should be. You're beautiful, and smart, one of the top CSI's on a top CSI unit in the country." HE continued to list off her attributes, hoping to lighten the mood.

"Thanks Warrick. I appreciate the effort." She said to him, finally cracking a smile for the first time that day as they arrived at the boutique.

"I promise we're going to have a great time okay?" He turned on his full charm as they entered the store. "Let's just make the most of it." She conceded to at least try to have fun at the policeman's function they were required to attend.

"What's wrong with that one?" Warrick complained after the sixth dress didn't make it out of her dressing room. "For someone who doesn't wear dresses, you're being really picky."

"I'm sorry." Came the soft reply from the other side of the door. "I just want the perfect one." Warrick could have kicked himself. She was genuinely trying to enjoy herself and he was not helping the situation.

"Pick the one you like, the department is picking up the tab." He reminded her. Sara stared at her reflection one last time. Confident she hung up the dress and exited the dressing room.

"All that and I don't get to see it?" He teased in mock disbelief. "Patience War. You'll see it soon enough. And just for the record, I'm immune to whining. I work with Nick almost everyday, remember?" Her usual light banter and good humor had returned and he laughed at her description of their friend.

He dropped her off at her house as they agreed to meet up at 6:15pm at the lab. Catherine had made them promise to stop in before they left. Sara didn't want to parade through the whole lab, but the limo was picking them up there, so she didn't really have a choice.

Nick let out a good-natured whistle, as Warrick appeared clean and groomed in his tailored tuxedo. The well-dressed CSI rolled his eyes as he waited for his date to arrive. 'I can't believe I'm actually going on a date with Sara.' He thought to himself before reality came crashing back to life. 'A mandatory date.' He reminded himself, knowing she hadn't been too keen on going to the policeman's ball. She has assured him it had nothing to do with the company; it's just that these benefits were something she typically tried to avoid. The team made small talk until Sara arrived.

Sara was incredibly nervous. She felt silly going into the lab wearing this floor length gown. It was a gorgeous black halter dress that clung to her curves with a slit up the thigh to maximize movement. A pair of high heels showed off her long legs, and her hair was pinned up loosely on top of her head. Simple silver jewelry completed the ensemble and even she had to admit she looked stunning. She couldn't wait to see Warrick. He looked good in his everyday clothes, so seeing him in a tuxedo would not be a hardship. "This isn't so bad.' She kept reminding herself as she got up the courage to walk through the doors.

The sound of high heels alerted everyone to her arrival and they all turned to look at her as she entered the room. All her bravado vanished as she blushed bright red at their staring. "Wow." Warrick was the first one to speak. "You look incredible." He murmured as he tried to take some attention off of her.

"Sara-you look amazing." Nick managed to get out while still staring at his usually conservatively dressed co-worker. "Well done." Catherine added her compliments as she gazed at her friends. The two of them made a striking pair. Warrick, tall and strong and handsome, Sara, fair, lean and sexy.

Sara noticed that Grissom didn't dare show his face, and she was glad. She didn't want to have any more arguments; she was resigned to her circumstances. But maybe Warrick was right, maybe tonight wouldn't be so bad. Spending time with Warrick was certainly not a bad thing. "We've got to be going." Warrick announced, dragging his beautiful date away from the men of the lab. "Have fun at work." Sara teased as she let Warrick take her arm and escort her out. Their goodbyes were brief as everyone had cases to handle.

The limousine was waiting as promised at the front entrance. They didn't notice the driver as he held the door open for them and they climbed in.

"I could get used to this." She said in awe, taking in the glass ceiling, furnished bar, and entertainment system. "I don't think the city would like to trade in our Denalis for limos." Warrick cracked. The two settled into an easy conversation as the limo pulled away from the CSI building.

"Hey Sar-where is this benefit tonight?" He asked, knowing she paid more attention to detail than himself.

"At the Hilton." She replied simply. Warrick took a look at the surroundings as they sped down the road, his eyes not hiding their confusion. Sara picked up on his uncertainty and asked, "Why?"

"That's what five minutes from the lab?" He stated without answering her question. He glanced at his watch. "We've been in the limo for about fifteen minutes." She hadn't realized that much time had passed.

"I didn't notice." She admitted shyly. "Neither did I." He confessed, enjoying watching her blush.

"Maybe we should tell the driver. Maybe he's lost." She decided. "As much as I hate to not show up, Grissom would kill us if we didn't show." Warrick remarked in agreement.

Sara banged on the glass separating them from the driver to get his attention but to no avail. They were stuck. He decided to try to remain optimistic despite the turn in events. It was out of their control now. "Maybe Grissom set this all up." He joked. "More champagne?" He offered cheerfully. She didn't buy his act of course but she went along with it nonetheless.

The driver had heard the banging but ignored it. Instead he flipped on the ventilation system to drown out any more noises. It had been a direct order to make sure they made it to their meeting location. He wasn't willing to gamble his freedom for theirs. They continued their conversation not noticing the soft hiss that was invading their space.

Warrick's concerns turned to real fear when he saw the sign "leaving Las Vegas". Before he could mention it, the sound of glass breaking got his attention. "Sara!" He shouted as he saw her slumped over the back seat of the limo. Her champagne glass lay broken in pieces on the floor. A few shards had managed to cut her hand much to his shock as he watched the blood slowly drip onto the floor. "What the hell?" He muttered completely bewildered, "Why isn't she moving?" he questioned to himself as he positioned himself closer to get a better look. Only 10 seconds later, he was unconscious on the floor of the limo.

The driver peered at the rear view mirror and was satisfied with the two unmoving bodies in the back of his limo and quickly sped away without anyone suspecting a thing. By the time anyone noticed the pair missing, he would be long gone.

A/N: thanks for reading. The next chapter will be more exciting I promise. Please review.