Chapter Four: Fallen Angel

On arrival at Devil's Smile the first thing they saw was Brass. His eyes were red and puffy. He didn't say a word just led them over to a clump of bushes. She was lying in the fetal position on top of a clear shower curtain with a sheet over top of her. The knife was still in her left hand, covered in blood. Sara and the sheets were absolutely drenched in blood. She had slit both of her wrists deeply. Catherine began sobbing. Horrible wracking sobs. Her legs gave out and she managed to crawl over to her colleague and started to gently stroke her soft dark hair. She touched Sara's cheek softly. She was so cold. Warrick and Nick also kneeled beside Sara. Nick leaned over and kissed her forehead before heading back to Grissom's Denali unable to look at her body anymore.

Warrick was crying too but not sobbing like Catherine. He also kissed Sara's forehead and went back to the Denali.

Catherine stayed for another five minutes whispering, mostly incoherently, to Sara about how she wouldn't have to be sad now but the ones she left behind would. She told Sara that she had always thought that she was the strong, intelligent, beautiful and determined one. The last thing she whispered before she left to join the boys was "I'll miss you so much. Goodbye Sara…"

Grissom crouched in front of her. Tears ran silently down his cheeks weaving into every line he'd accumulated over the years. He mimicked Nick and Warrick's actions, kissing her forehead. But before he left he whispered " I love you Sara. Always and forever." Then he walked away.

Brass stood back and watched on sadly as the devastated team said goodbye to their fallen Angel.

Grissom climbed into his Denali. The boys were in the back both staring at their hands tears flowing freely. Catherine was curled up in the front seat, still sobbing, staring out the window away from where the action was. Grissom started the car and headed back toward Vegas. After ten minutes of driving he pulled over to the side of the road unable to see through his tears. He cut he ignition and rested his head against the steering wheel, tears dripping onto the plastic and off onto his pants. Catherine leaned her head against his shoulder wrapping her arms around his right arm and Grissom felt the huge tremors running through little blonde from her sobs.

Back at the lab the air was somber. Grissom ran into Conrad Ecklie in the corridor.

"I am so so sorry Grissom. So so sorry," Ecklie said quietly. He couldn't meet the night shift supervisor's eyes.

"Me too Ecklie. Me too," Grissom murmured back. He excused himself and headed to get his things from his office.

Five people went home that night and grieved for the friend and colleague they had lost. They berated themselves for not knowing how sad Sara had been. How they'd had no idea whatsoever about what she had obviously planned to do. Each person left with a gaping hole that used to be filled by a leggy brunette with dark chocolate eyes and a pretty gap toothed grin.