Disclaimer: I still don't own CSI and I am beginning to think I never will.

Caution: Contains spoilers for Mea Culpa if you haven't seen it and don't want it ruined, don't read this. This takes place directly after Mea Culpa.

Breaking Grissom

Chapter Eight: It Finally Happened

Conrad Ecklie had managed to thoroughly screw up the Las Vegas Crime Lab in only one month's time. The higher ups of the Vegas PD had a meeting to decide what the best course of action would be. Their final decision was to demote Ecklie back to his old position, which meant another round of musical chairs for the CSIs. They decided that the current dayshift supervisor was the right person to take over Ecklie's position.

Ecklie blew up when he heard he was being demoted and quit. That left the lab with an open position for supervisor. Catherine was first in line for the dayshift job, but that would leave nights open. Ultimately, they wanted to bring Gil Grissom back in. The higher ups had been furious when they found Ecklie had caused Grissom's sudden departure.

It was only a matter of hours before the news had spread around the lab.

"You won't believe what I just heard finally happened," Greg beamed proudly at his gossip.

"You're right, we probably won't," Warrick countered.

Greg was only slightly hurt, "Oh this is the kind of news that's almost too good to be true."

"Well spit it out already!" Nick prodded.

"Conrad Ecklie was demoted from his job, got angry and quit!" Greg announced.

The room was silent. He had managed to catch the attention of all the older CSIs in the room.

"Greg, it's not right to joke about something like that," Catherine finally spoke.

"You know how badly we all want that to be true," Sara shook her head, "that's just cruel."

"I'm not joking! I just heard that from the sheriff himself," Greg defended, "ask him if you don't believe me."

"Could this really be happening?" Sara asked.

"Believe it," Greg crossed his arms definitively.

"If Ecklie's gone, does that mean?" Nick started.

"Who's going to tell Grissom?" Catherine asked.

"I will, I'm the only one he seems to talk to these days," Sara offered with a smile, "I think he'll be pleased to hear our latest news."

"We should throw a good riddance party for Ecklie," Greg laughed.

"Not a bad idea," Catherine smiled, "the man had a knack for screwing everything up around here. Did I not say that he would eventually self-destruct?"

"You were right on," Warrick agreed.

"I can't wait, I'm going to go call Grissom right now, if you don't mind," Sara stood up.

"Go for it," Catherine nodded her approval, "you can sit in my office if you'd like."

"Thanks," Sara headed for the office to make her call in private. Her fingers flew across the phone, the number familiar to her. She had made a habit of calling Grissom at least once a week to see how things were going for him. She listened as the phone rang three and four times. She hung up her cell phone in disappointment, he wasn't home. She sighed and headed back to the rest of the gang.

"That was quick," Greg said, as she returned.

"There was no answer," Sara sighed, "I'll have to call him later."

"Time for assignments to be handed out then," Catherine announced.

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Sara tried calling Grissom a few more times that evening, but to no avail. She was frustrated that the one time she really wanted to get a hold of him, he was not there. She finally gave up and decided she'd just have to wait for him to return the call.

Grissom finally returned Sara's call the next morning.

"Hello," Sara answered.

"Hi Sara," Grissom started.

"Where were you? I called you several times yesterday," Sara snapped.

"I'm sorry, I was out all day. I forgot to take my phone with me. What's so important that you called so many times?" Grissom asked.

Sara took a deep breath to calm herself down, "You won't believe the incredibly good news I have for you."

"Oh, and what would that be?" Grissom inquired.

"You know how you said you would never consider coming back to Vegas so long as Ecklie was here?" Sara asked.

"Yes," Grissom responded, "and I'm still sticking to that."

Sara smiled, "You are safe to come back now. Ecklie was demoted and rather than taking his old job back he quit. You are finally free to return to Vegas."

Grissom sighed, "That's great news Sara."

"It is, but why don't you sound happy?" Sara inquired, sensing something was off.

"I'm afraid I received a job offer just this morning, I've already got a new job Sara," Grissom said.

Sara was silent.

"You still there?" Grissom asked.

"Yes. I just, I was so sure you'd want to come back here. So you really got a job this morning?" Sara asked, defeat in her tone.

"I know, how's that for timing? I can't just tell these people that I accept their offer and then turn around and say 'never mind'. That wouldn't be right," Grissom explained, "but you guys will be so much better off just without Ecklie around."

"True," Sara tried to hide her disappointment unsuccessfully, "well I have to go now. I need to get ready for work."

"Goodbye," Grissom said.

"Bye," Sara hung up her phone. She sat back on her couch, feeling as if she was going to cry. This meant that Grissom was truly gone, he had a new job. He was moving on and leaving his team in Vegas.

A/N: Don't worry, there's one more chapter to come.