When Grissom woke up later that evening, he remembered that he had wanted to go into work early. Trying not to wake Sara up, Grissom rushed to get ready and wrote Sara a note.

Honey, I went into work early to talk to a department rep. You looked so peaceful, and I thought you could use the extra sleep. I'll see you when you come into the lab.
-Gil

After checking into the departmental office at the lab, one of the secretaries ushered him back to a departmental representative. "How can I help you Dr. Grissom?" the man asked.

"I would like to discuss a growing problem between the sheriff and the night shift CSIs."

"Yes, my secretary informed me of that," the man leaned back in his chair, "what exactly is the problem?"

"My mother passed away a week ago," Grissom started.

"I am truly sorry Dr. Grissom, but what does that have to do with the sheriff."

"Please, just call me Grissom."

The man nodded his head and picked up his nameplate. "I'm Darius O'Connell, but you can call me Darius. Now, about the sheriff?"

"When my mother passed away, it was pertinent that Ms. Sidle and I fly out to Marina Del Rey right away. In cases of family emergencies, the department allows leave."

"Yes it does Grissom. Ms. Sidle is your fiancee, correct?"

"Yes. We went to the sheriff and told him the situation, and he said that I could take leave."

"And Ms. Sidle?"

"He told her that she technically wasn't family yet, and she couldn't take leave. Then he threatened her job if she didn't report to work the next evening."

Darius nodded and appeared to be thinking about Grissom's statements. "There isn't a clear definition of who is family and who isn't. If someone needs to take leave because of a death or other emergency, they are granted it, end of story. Did he provide you with a reason for denying Ms. Sidle's request?"

"He said that during the holiday season the lab is extremely busy, and he couldn't afford having the nightshift short two CSIs."

"Is the lab extremely busy during the holiday season?"

"Yes, the crime rate does go up during the holidays, but four CSIs could have handled the increased workload."

"Grissom, my records indicate that the nightshift has only five CSIs total, minus you and Ms. Sidle, that would only leave the nightshift with three CSIs, correct?"

"Greg Sanders is currently a CSI trainee. He can help out with the lab work and scene processing, and although he cannot go to a scene alone, he is an extremely valuable asset in the field."

Darius nodded again. "Is any of this somehow related to the increased media coverage over the past week?"

"Yes. Ms. Sidle was trying to bring evidence from a crime scene back to the lab when she was bombarded by the media."

"Was this the night that the sheriff told her that she had to report to work?"

"Yes, the night after my mother passed away. I had left that morning to fly out to Marina Del Rey, and Sara was extremely upset to say the least. She was in no condition to be working a multiple homicide crime scene."

Darius once again started processing the information. "Sara, that's Ms. Sidle, right?"

Grissom wanted to roll his eyes, but refrained from the juvenile action. "Yes."

"Who directed Ms. Sidle to go to the scene?"

"Three night shift CSIs were at another scene where human remains were found. Ms. Sidle and Mr. Brown were called to the homicide scene thinking they were only going to have to process one victim. When they arrived, they were notified that there were five."

"They ended up having to call in day shift, didn't they?" Darius was trying to recall what he had seen on television.

"Yes. However, day shift can be consulted if extra help is needed. That is why people are on call."

"The other case was a multiple homicide as well?"

"Yes, the skeletal remains found had been buried by a family member because he had killed his children and needed a way to hide his crime."

"He is in police custody, correct?"

"Yes, as are the two men responsible for the other multiple homicide."

"Grissom, since you have returned to Las Vegas, have you been to speak to the sheriff?"

"Last night the sheriff cornered Ms. Sidle and brought her up to his office. He accused her of being unprofessional at a crime scene."

"Didn't she tell the media something about how her personal life didn't interfere with her job?"

"Yes, which is true. Ms. Sidle is nothing but objective."

Darius nodded. "Did Ms. Sidle take leave?"

"Yes. After that media disaster, Catherine Willows, supervisor at the time, directed her to pack her bags and get on the next plane to Marina Del Rey."

"Okay Grissom, I think I have a basic idea of what the problem is. Do you have anything else to add?"

"When the sheriff took Sara up to his office, he told her that the two men arrested for the multiple homicides were going to get off because of her behavior at the crime scene. This was a complete and deliberate lie to try and get a reaction out of Ms. Sidle."

"Were you there during their conversation?"

"No, Ms. Sidle told me about this afterward. I however, talked to the sheriff after Sara did."

"What did he say to you?"

"He suggested that Ms. Sidle and I have been unprofessional around the lab, which I assure you is a blatant lie."

"I am aware that you were already cleared by the department to continue with your relationship as long as it didn't affect your job performance. Mr. Grissom, I am going to have to get some more information before we can continue your case against the sheriff. You are going to have to submit a written statement of all of your information. I will need to talk to Ms. Sidle, the sheriff, and other members of your team to judge where everyone stands with this issue. If I find substantial information, we will be able to conduct an inquiry."

Grissom nodded. "Is there anything I can do to help?"

"Ms. Sidle is reporting for work tonight, correct?"

"Yes, she'll be in when shift starts."

"Please send her up to speak with me. I will be able to take her statement, and then I will start taking statements from the rest of your team."

"Okay."

"Grissom, I don't need to remind you to try and keep this information from spreading around the lab. The sheriff does control your employment currently, and there could be negative side effects if this information were to get out."

"I will do my best, but you know how gossip spreads around here. Even if we don't leak anything out, the lab, and then the media will find out quick enough."

"I understand Grissom. I am merely suggesting that you advise your team not to make any statements to the media about this."

"Okay. I will let them know that you will be speaking to them, and remind them that they are not to speak to the media."

"Thank you Grissom. I would like you to submit a written statement regarding what you have told me as soon as possible."

"I will try to put it together during shift if we aren't too busy."

"Okay Grissom, I will be in touch with you soon enough."

Grissom shook the Darius' hand and left the office to return to his office. Finally, one step in the right direction.