The Search by SLynn

Disclaimer: Not mine, not mine, not mine.

Spoilers: Everything up to 'Nesting Dolls' in Season 5 although I doubt seriously I drag all that up.

Night Four

"Breaking news from channel ten action news. Yesterday we told you first about the search underway in the vicinity of La Madre Springs for two crime scene investigators gone missing. The two men Gilbert Grissom, 48, and Gregory Sanders, 29, were last seen three days ago during the course of investigating the stabbing death of Vincent Cusumano, 47. While officials have indicated that no foul play is suspected…"

The television anchor droned on in the crime lab's break room as gradually people began to talk again.

"I thought they said they had breaking news," Jacqui said gruffly, "This is the same crap they've been saying all day."

Despite the relatively early hour in the night the lab was packed. Swing shift was still on duty and most of night shift had come in early hoping to get some new information about the search.

"I think they're getting to it," Archie said, eyes still glued to the set.

Sara, sitting nearest, reached over and turned the set up.

"…have found an indication that both men are still alive despite the record lows and torrential downpours experienced over the last two nights. A spokesperson for the lab would not state exactly what has been found. The spokesperson declined to comment on exactly how long the search would continue or when it would be deemed a recovery operation. Last summer when two campers were missing in that vicinity…"

"Turn if off," Catherine said from the doorway. She'd changed but her hair was still damp from the ride out of the desert.

She knew where the news was going with that story. She'd inspected the remains herself on that case. The search for the campers had gone on for weeks but only upon finding the bodies did they discover that they'd died roughly the third night out. Sara knew it too and was quick to shut the set off.

"So what is this 'indication'?" Bobby asked Catherine, quick and to the point.

She had it in her right hand. It was two evidence bags, one with what looked like a notebook and another with a pen.

"That's Greg's," Sara said taking it out of Catherine's hand and flipping it over.

"We figured," she replied, "Come on, the guys are mapping it out now."

Sara followed Catherine out of the room, not at all surprised that Bobby, Archie and Jacqui took it as an open invitation.

They all crowded into the AV room where Nick and Warrick had a map up on the wall and were marking the spots.

"Hey," Warrick said briefly looking up at the group that entered the room, "this is what we've got. Victim was found here near La Madre Springs. We think this is where Griss and Greg started off about a quarter of a mile away. Now, we haven't found any map that has the trail they were on listed, but it goes something like this."

As Warrick talked he drew a line from their starting point to one that looked like it was near a series of creeks.

"This is where the notebook was found. It looked like they'd stopped for the night there as well, found indications of it under an overhang. They probably made it there last night and left this morning."

"How far is that?" Archie asked.

"Twenty three miles," Nick answered. He'd already done the calculations.

"Meaning," Warrick picked up, "that they're both in good condition."

"So that's it?" Jacqui asked, feeling a bit let down.

"Best we've got," Warrick said with a sigh.

With mumbling and pretenses of starting work early, the three non-investigators left the room feeling slightly dejected. They'd each hoped for more. For better.

"Twenty-three miles," Sara repeated looking the map over herself.

"Hard to believe isn't it?" Catherine asked.

"Well yeah, especially since Greg won't even walk down the street to get a pack of gum," Nick answered with a smile.

Warrick laughed and shook his head.

"And this was as of yesterday?" Sara continued questioning, moving forward to look closer.

"They're making great time," Warrick answered, "It's almost like they've got a destination in mind. It's just that…"

"What?" Nick asked now, sounding concerned.

"We don't know which way to go next."

"Why's that?" it was Sara's turn to ask.

"Look," Warrick said pointing to the map again. "I told you that the trail they were on goes this way."

As he spoke he drew a dotted line that led off towards the creek beds, towards a wash and then further away the five-fifteen.

"We know that they at least spent the night on that trail, that's where we found the case impressions."

"Okay," Nick said nodding and waiting for more.

"The notebook was found on top of the hillside. Up there is this trail."

Warrick drew another dotted line with a different color that went more north.

"Now this trail is on the map and it leads back towards La Madre. The notebook wasn't soaked, just damp so that means that they were up there sometime today."

"Aside from the notebook," Nick began, "is there any other indication that they switched paths?"

"Notebook is all we have," Warrick said shaking his head.

"And it was on top of a hill?" Sara asked.

"More like a cliff," Catherine answered, "Almost complete vertical climb."

"Well, it was Greg's," Nick put in, "We've been rock climbing before, he knows how. What about Griss? Anyone know?"

"It's not impossible," Warrick said nodding, "I mean, I don't know if he's done it before but I haven't and I made it up there pretty easily. There were some good places to get a footing."

"So what?" Catherine started, "Do we think maybe Greg climbed up first, spotted the trail and then Grissom came up next? Maybe he left the notebook as a marker?"

Sara and Nick both shook their heads at this.

"I'll believe all of that except that part about the notebook," Nick said, "Honestly, I'm a little scared to see it here. I've never known Greg to be without it."

"Yeah," Sara said seriously, "he takes that everywhere he goes. He might have set it down but he didn't leave it on purpose."

"Okay, but the rest?" Catherine asked.

"I buy that," Nick repeated as Warrick and Sara nodded in agreement.

"So I'll call Brass," Catherine said before making her exit, "let him know we have a new path to go down tomorrow."

"We were so close," Warrick said once she'd gone.

Nick and Sara nodded.

"Tomorrow," he said more positive, turning to leave as well.

As Nick began putting away maps and turning off the overhead, Sara turned her attention back to the notebook she was still holding in the evidence bag.

"What are you doing?" Nick asked in a slightly accusatory tone.

"Nothing," Sara said as she set it down to put on gloves.

Nick walked over to her just as she opened the bag and pulled out the notebook.

"Sara Sidle you are not going to read that."

"I'm not going to read it; I just want to make sure it's really his."

"Because there are so many day-glow green notebooks just lying around the Nevada desert."

"You never know," she said setting it down on the table but not opening it just yet.

"Sara," Nick said once more as he finished up. "Don't. Okay, just don't."

Nick sounded so serious, so concerned. As if he knew what she might read would be upsetting.

"I know I shouldn't," she said putting her hand down on top of it for emphasis, "I know it's private but I just… I don't know… I just need to see something that's him right now."

Nick stared at her for second unsure what to think. Definitely having no idea what to say. He'd noticed the change as of late. Noticed they talked more, they had too of. They worked nearly all their cases together and if you gave Greg and opening he'd talk all night if you let him. But it wasn't just that. Something about their friendship, Greg's and Sara's, had made her open up just a bit more too. It was a good thing for both of them, he was just surprised he hadn't noticed how strong it had become.

"Alright," Nick said holding up his hands, "but don't say I didn't warn you. He's going to be mad at you when he finds out."

Sara smiled at him as he turned to go, earning one in return.

Alone now she hesitated.

She really shouldn't be reading this.

As soon as she'd seen it she'd known exactly what it was. The first time Sara had even noticed Greg carried it around was a little over four months ago. They'd been on their way to a scene almost at the state line. It was a long trip and she'd driven, Sara always drove. During it he'd just taken out the notebook and started flipping through it.

Now, truthfully, he'd probably done it a hundred times before, but that night she'd really noticed. When she asked what he was doing, he shut it quickly and smiled back at her asking 'what's it worth' for her to find out.

Sara had laughed. Greg had given up flat out flirting with her long ago, but it was refreshing. She'd brushed him off, she always did, and waited five minutes to ask again.

This time he'd laughed. So she did the only thing she could do. Her secret weapon when it came to Greg. She'd looked at him, shrugged and said that she 'didn't want to know anyway'. After that all she had to do was wait.

Sure enough, after ten completely silent minutes he was telling her all about it.

It worked every time and she secretly wondered how he'd never caught on. Greg couldn't seem to stand it when people didn't want to know something. Maybe because he was so innately curious he couldn't understand it. Or maybe he was just playing along with her, knowing she'd never beg for information so he'd just give in. Sara really didn't know.

Now, looking down at the notebook she felt guilty.

Guilty because she really shouldn't be looking at it. It wasn't hers and he'd never offered it up for her to see.

It certainly was private.

And his.

And she couldn't stop herself.

Sara flipped through it looking for the very last page where there was writing. It was pretty close to the end, he'd certainly accomplished a lot in all the years he'd kept this, ten from what he'd told her. In this notebook were all the things Greg had wanted to do and did over the last ten years.

Secretly she wondered what her own list would look like. If it would be so complete.

Her eyes scanned the pages without really seeing any of it. Not yet. Not until she reached the very last line. She shouldn't be looking at any of this and promised to only read the very last line and that was it.

Sara wasn't prepared for what she found.

She shut the book and then her eyes. When she opened them again she instinctively reopened the notebook as well to where she was still marking the spot with her hand. She read it again.

It could mean a number of things. It really could. She was probably making too much of it. After all, she didn't think like Greg. No one thought like Greg.

But she had a good idea as to what it did mean.

Greg had been sick for weeks now. It had rained hard for at least one night, two counting this one. Despite them having walked so far there was no telling really what type of condition they were in.

She read it again trying to make it mean something different in her head but without much success.

MAKE IT OUT STANDING

Sara shut the book again. She should have listened to Nick.