***************************************************************

The side of her face was stinging, and, she thought, probably bruising. She watched as her captor circled around her, her deep brown eyes, full of fear, following his every move.

She listened as he finished his conversation with Grissom, and jumped as he clicked the cell-phone shut.

"Well, Sara, my sweet…"

He leaned in close and stroked the cheek he did not strike. He was so close that their lips were almost touching, despite Sara's attempts to pull herself away. She could feel his sickly breath on her face as he spoke.

"I wonder how long it will take the wonderful Mr Grissom to find his prize."

"What…What are you going to do to me?"

He snorted a laugh as he pulled back from her, and walked a little way to a counter nearby.

"Why, sweetheart, I don't want you… You are merely-"

He uncovered a shallow tray, and Sara saw the distinct glint of metal. He waved his hand across the line of scalpels and knives, wearing a smile that held no humour.

"-Bait."

Sara suddenly felt very cold

***************************************************************

They met up in the break-room less than an hour later. Grissom scanned the room. Nick, Warrick and Cath were all sat around the large table. Brass stood to one side, leaning on the work surface, even though a chair sat empty where Sara should have been. They all understood why he did not take this seat.

"What do we know?" Grissom asked.

Brass went first. "Pulled the phone records. The call was made from a pre-paid cell-phone, no way to trace it."

"Damn. Nick? Warrick?"

"Couple partials. Looks like the guy was wearing gloves till he reached Sara, then he took them off." Nick answered, and Warrick added "Ran them through AFIS. Came up nada."

Grissom sighed. Partials rarely matched through AFIS. "Anything else?"

"Some good foot-prints."

Grissom nodded. "Cath?"

"Couple unidentified hairs, not Sara's. DNA is unworkable."

"OK. So the only thing we have to go on is the phone call."

There were nods all around this time.

"Talk us through it, Gris."

***************************************************************

"Why me?" she said this thought out loud, but never meant to.

"You're his favourite…His little teacher's pet. He really does need to get better security." he said, almost casually. The man was clearly enjoying himself, showing off. Cocky.

The cockiness of her captor made her smile inwardly. These were the ones who made mistakes, believed they were smarter than the law. She considered this an advantage, and it calmed her.

"If his security was so lax, why not take him?" She was glad he hadn't, because Grissom would probably be dead by now.

"Why, Sara, you miss my point. He took away the one I loved; now it's his turn."

It was true. She did miss his point.

"I don't understand."

"Come on sweetheart; use those skills you learned from the man himself."

Seeing the blank expression on her face, he explained it to her.

"He loves you."

In any other circumstance, she would have laughed.

"What? Grissom? No, I don't think…"

"He talks about you."

She stared at him.

"In his sleep."

Sara shook her head in disbelief. What?

Sara choked a little, from shock.

"In his sleep?"

"Oh yes. I've heard him."

Her eyes widened, and she became curious.

 "What does he say?"

"Mostly how you're too young…"

Sara frowned.

"…for what?"

"Him. But he loves you none the less. And that, my sweet, is why you are here and he is not. But he will be. And then the fun will begin."