The team looked down to see a pillow and a blanket, but no Molly. She had been there, the key word being had. Everyone's eyes focused on Sara, who stood there in shock. Sara was too late, again. Somehow it seemed like her mantra of late.

No words escaped Sara's lips as she slowly backed away from the closet and let the rest of the team process the closet. They found no blood at all in the hotel room, which was excellent news. Sara needed some facade of hope, even how small it was.

The hotel yielded them little clues as to where Rich was going or where he had been. They were back to square one and decided to head back to the lab. Grissom told the crew to go home and get some sleep, and let the police do their jobs. If Brass or anyone else had news, they could page them ASAP.

Grissom walked to the break-room to grab some coffee. Although he dismissed his team, he had to catch up on paperwork and planned to get his sleep on is couch in his office. . He also wanted to be quickly available if they had a break or lead. When he walked into the break room he found Sara curled up in a fetal position on the couch. He should have realized she wasn't going to go home. He stood in a daze looking at the beautiful being lying before him only to have it broken by the sound of Ecklie and the day shift crew coming towards them. He reached down and gently shook Sara. "Sara, come on, wake up."

Sara jumped up and looked confused. "What?" "Any news Grissom?"

His heart was breaking for her, "no, I just wanted to move you to my office so that the day shift can use the break room."

"It's ok, I don't need anymore sleep, and I need to do something to find her –."

"Sara you are going to be no good dead on your feet, come with me." He put his hand on the small of her back and led her to his office. When they arrived he pulled the blinds on his door and dimmed the lights.

"Lay down Sara, I promise I'll wake you if we get news," Grissom spoke to her gently while caressing her face. "Is there anything I can get you? Do for you Sara?"

Sara just shook her head back and forth and made her way over to the couch. She tried to doze back to sleep, but she was too restless with her racing mind. Finally she had something to care about in her life, something outside work, and now, her work and life collided.

Grissom sat at his desk in an attempt to get some paperwork done. Who was he kidding, he couldn't do any work. He looked over at Sara and saw how restless she was. A moment later she was crying out for Molly, and for him. He took his glasses off and sat next to her on the couch. She put her head in his lap and gently stroked her hair. He could feel her relax almost instantly. Sleep my love, let's see what tomorrow brings. He pushed his head back and too drifted off.

Catherine met up with Greg and Nick while walking into the crime lab. When they arrived at the locker room they noticed Warrick was already in, but no one had seen Grissom or Sara. The group gathered in the break room and met up with Brass.

"Any word Jim?" Catherine asked although she knew the response. If someone wanted to get lost in Vegas, it was easy.

"Nothing at all," he paused turning to Greg, "anything on the lab front?"

He shook his head. "No, but I am looking at some possible connections. I'll let you know."

"Has anyone seen Grissom or Sara yet?"

They look around the room at each other and then all eyes landed on Catherine. "I haven't seen them, but I'll go and check Gil's office."

Walking towards the office Catherine noticed the blinds were drawn. He must be sleeping, should I wake him? She knew what she had to do and proceeded to knock lightly on the door. She then pushed it open and saw Sara curled up in Grissom's lap, almost like a mother bird protecting her young. Grissom was protecting Sara, at least what he could at this stage. Almost simultaneously they looked up and saw Catherine. Once they realized where they were and with whom, they jumped up.

Grissom made eye contact with Catherine. "Anything new?"

"No, just wanted to see if you were going to hand out assignments. It's getting late. Do you want me to do it?"

Rubbing the sleep from his eyes he answered, "No, just give us a few minutes."

Sara glanced down at her watch, hardly believing they had slept 6 hours. She looked over curiously at Grissom. How did he get on the couch with her?

Sensing what she was thinking Grissom decided to explain. "Sara, you were having a bad dream, I was trying to calm you down. I was tired too and I guess I fell asleep."

"Thank you Griss," Sara shyly stated, "I slept well, you make me feel safe-."

He reached over and pulled her in for a hug. Even if it was only for a brief few seconds she forgot about what happened the last few days and allowed her to relax in the warmth of his embrace.

The two parted ways as Sara went to take a shower and Grissom went to see what new cases they had that evening. There was a gang shoot out downtown resulting in multiple homicides. The crime scene was spread over a mile and the whole nightshift would be needed, almost better to keep busy Grissom reflected.

Even after Grissom told the anxious crew about their new assignments they all stayed seated. It was a silent way of seeking out information, as no one wanted to ask if they had anything new on Molly. It was Nick who finally broke the ice.

"Griss, is there anything we can do? We've been discussing things, and when shift is over we would like to get out there and help find Molly," he asked while looking deep into his bosses eyes trying to read his emotions. He knew Grissom wasn't a man of emotions, but the icy look in his eyes gave away how much he cared.

Grissom answered with the same calm tone they had been used to, but the shaky-ness of his voice was enough for them to understand the hurt in him. "Thanks guys, we'll let you know. I'm waiting to hear from Brass, so let's just wait and see."

Greg, who had been quiet during the whole time, was trying to get up the nerve to offer up an idea. His 'rookie status' has changed his usual confident demeanor and replaced it with apprehension. Contemplation didn't last long as he saw Sara's face when she joined them in the break room. It was filled with sorrow and pain, and it helped Greg realize that even how inexperienced he was at being a CSI, it only took one lead to break open a case. So he decided to go for it.

"Um Griss, Can I talk to you a minute, alone?" Greg eyes wordlessly pleaded with Grissom.

"What is it Greg?"

"Well, you know about my Pappa Olaff? Well, when he was a kid he and his friends liked to play stick ball. They played every day and sometimes they lost the ball and couldn't play."

"Greg, I'm not in the mood for this today," Grissom flatly stated. "Get on with it."

"Ok, Pappa Olaff and his friends tried to steal some balls to play with and got thrown in Jail for 6 months. When he got out he and his cell mate remained close friends, and are best friends even today."

"The point Greg? Is there a point?"

"Well, given we know Rich was in Jail, I surmised that maybe he became friendly with a cell mate. So I checked out the Department of Corrections Database and one of his cell mates also recently got out of Jail and is living on the outskirts of Vegas. I called the Pen they were in and seemed the two were real buds. Do you think it could mean something?" Greg's need for approval was outweighed by his desire to do anything to help out his mentor.

Grissom's eyes lit up. The kid had a point and it was a good one. "Greg, call Brass and have his team run some info on him. See if you can grab an officer to meet us there and we can have a chat with him, see if he knows anything."

Excitedly Greg answered with a question. "You mean I can go Griss?"

"Your idea, you lead the way. Just try and remain calm, and don't get Sara's hopes up." The two walked back into the break room to be met with 3 pairs of eyes glaring at them.

"Change of plans, Catherine, Nick and Warrick you run the Gang scene. Call in cadets if you need any legwork done. Sara, come with Greg and I and we will explain on the way."

Grissom's eyes caught up with Catherine's gaze and he knew she needed an answer or she wouldn't be going anywhere. He decided to answer her with enough information to keep her at bay, but not enough to get any hopes up. "Greg has a lead on a friend of Rich's living in the area; we are going to follow up on it."

Catherine seemed ok with the answer and the three grabbed their gear and headed out to the scene.

In less than an hour Grissom, Sara and Greg were headed to meet the ex-con and see what he knew. The ride was made in silence, although Sara and Grissom were speaking volumes. Everything Grissom wanted to say to Sara was being silently communicated through the strong hand he had holding her delicate one. He saw her glare looked glazed, so he gave her hand a squeeze. He felt she needed some hope, so he gently caressed her fingers. Greg sat in the back of the Tahoe and didn't dare make a comment on what he saw; he liked his job too much for that.

They arrived at their destination a little before 11, and were met by Jim Brass and a team of sharp shooters. Grissom was surprised at the show of force but left that up to his colleague to decide. "Thought I'd bring the pea shooters out incase we run into trouble. I did a bit more digging and checked with a few neighbors and from what I am hearing is that there has been a child matching Molly's description here."

Sara's eyes opened wide. She tried to remain calm but it was hard when she could now hear her ragged breathing. She turned to look at Grissom as he spoke.

"Sara, I need you to stay put. Let Jim and I handle this." He sensed her blood boiling, so he continued, "honey, please do this for me? No, do this for Molly."

She shook her head in concurrence, even if she didn't like it. Truthfully she wasn't sure her voice would even work right now.

Brass began flying orders to his team to get into position as he and Grissom walked to the door, but not before Grissom turned too see why Greg wasn't on his heels.

"Are you coming Greg? You earned this."

"Thanks Griss, but as much as I want to, I think I'm needed here right now," he looked at Sara and knew she needed a friend. "Besides, I think you can handle it without me."

Grissom turned and met up with Brass. "Jim, tell me you have a warrant?"

Brass laughed. "How long have you known me? Relax Gil; I know what I'm doing."

After 4 fast knocks on the door Brass ordered the door to be "opened" With one good whack at the door it flew open.

"Las Vegas Police, we have a Warrant." Brass's authority would not be mistaken.

They weren't met with any guns or hostility. They were only met with the view of two men lying on opposite sides of the room sleeping, and Molly sitting on the floor playing with a Barbie doll.

It took a full thirty seconds for Grissom to react, but once he did he quickly picked Molly up in his arms and ran out of the house. He was outside and barely heard Brass and team arresting Rich and Mike.

When they were safe outside he put Molly down and knelt in front of her. "Are you ok Molly?" he continued, "Did he hurt you?"

"I'm ok Gil. But Daddy hurt Mommy. She wouldn't wake up. I tried and she wouldn't. Where is she? Molly barely finished when the situation finally caught up with her and she began to cry. Grissom wasn't sure he knew how to comfort a child, but surprised himself when he picked her up and held her swaying back and forth whispering in her hear that it would be ok.

Grissom turned to see Sara's eyes staring at him. Her lips were moving but no sound was coming out. He knew what she needed. She needed to make sure Molly was ok. He handed Molly off to Sara and the two hugged. Molly lifted her head up and wiped her tears away. She looked at Sara, "Sara, you don't have to cry, I'm ok."

Sara just held her more until she could feel her anxiety begin to diminish.

Grissom walked over and joined Greg who was taking in the whole situation.

"Grissom, is this why you do it? Why you love being a CSI?" Greg was having trouble keeping his emotions in check and didn't want to embarrass himself in front of Grissom.

The elder man turned and shook Greg's hand. "You did this; you thought outside the box and because of that Molly is ok. You are going to make a great CSI Greg, I hope it isn't condescending to say but 'I'm proud of you.'"

Greg couldn't control himself and hugged Grissom.

"Greg, you are squishing me, let go!" Grissom spoke to Greg but his attention was on Sara and Molly. They were now sitting on the front lawn talking. He never knew Sara to be comfortable around children before, but perhaps it just wasn't the right one. The thought warmed him inside.

They walked over and joined Sara and Molly. Greg had Molly laughing within minutes and as they got ready to leave a woman who had just arrived walked over to them."

"Hello, my name is Christine Mason, I'm from Social Services. I'm here to take Molly with me."

At first no one even flinched, that is until Sara got up the rage in her evident. "You are not taking Molly."

"Ma'am I'm afraid so, for now she will go to Foster Care until we find out if there was a Will."

Sara just shook her head and repeated "no" over and over. Brass interrupted and calmly spoke to the Social Services worker.

"Greg, can you take Molly to the car?" Brass continued. "Ms. Mason is it? This young lady has just witnessed her Mother's death and has been on the run with a murderer. The only place she is going is to the hospital with one of our CSI's. She needs to be processed and needs to see a shrink."

The woman looked at him and was going to speak, but Brass shot in again. "This is not a questions, it's an order."

The woman stormed off and drove away.

Brass turned to Grissom, "I don't know what you and the little lady have in store with Molly, but I bought you some time. She will be back, so find out what Molly wants."

Grissom looked to find Sara and Molly, and when he did he was met with his two favorite women sitting on the hood of his Tahoe sleeping. What am I going to do with the two of you?

TBC