Same disclaimers as before. Enjoy chapter 3 :-)
"The doctor said that Mr. Sanders will be fine. The intracranial bleeding has stopped and there doesn't appear to be any swelling. We're keeping him tonight for observation, but he can go home tomorrow. He need to take it easy for two or three days, just to be on the safe side. Now, for a few days, he'll need someone to stay with him and wake him up every couple of hours at night, just to make sure that there are no problems."

Grissom nodded. "I can arrange that."

"I'll do it." Sara said, her voice steely and resolved. "I did this to him. I'll take care of him. He can help me out during the day, and I'll take care of him at night."

Grissom thought it best not to argue at this point. She was too determined.

The nurse walked ahead of Grissom, holding open a door as he passed through, pushing Sara's wheelchair in front of him. Her hands were clinching the arms of the chair, and her knuckles were white. Concerned, he stopped and walked around to face her, squatting down so that he was at eye level with her. Her eyes looked tired, and he could tell she was as tense as a drum.

"Sara," he said seriously, "are you ok? Please, be honest with me. Because you don't look that way to me."

"Grissom, I am fine," she said emphatically. "At least, I will be once I see Greg with my own eyes. I need to know that he's ok."

He looked into her eyes intently for a moment. "Alright. Let's go then." He rose from his squatting position and resumed pushing Sara down the hallway. "He's been asking about you, you know."

"He…he has?"

"He thought you were dead. The nurses told me that when he woke up, he started panicking, asking about you. They had to give him a mild sedative in order to calm him down, so he may be a little sleepy when we go in to see him."

"Didn't they tell him I was fine?" she asked.

"Yes. Apparently he didn't believe them and demanded to see you for himself. So, here we are."

They stopped in front of Greg's door. Sara looked through the glass window to see Greg's dozing form. Her eyes softened as she watched him, his eyes closed, and his chest rising and falling with a steady rhythm. Normally larger than life and vibrant, he now looked so vulnerable lying there. She steeled herself.

"Ok. I'm ready now," Sara said. Grissom nodded at the nurse, and she opened the door, holding it as they entered the room. Grissom pushed Sara over to the bed.

She leaned over and gently touched Greg on the shoulder. "Hey, Greg. It's me."

His eyelids fluttered as he woke up slowly, looking at her groggily. "Sara?"

"Yes, I'm here, Greg." She reached over and took his hand in hers.

"How…what...are you ok? I saw you get hit," he said, sounding a little dazed.

"I have a broken leg. That's it. Other than that, I'm fine. And doing a heck of a lot better than you are. How are you feeling? I've been so worried about you."

He gave a sleepy chuckle. "I think I'm high or something, with all these drugs they have me on. I'm not really feeling anything." He indicated the IV in his arm.

Sara smiled. "I bet you're liking that, Sanders," she said, gently brushing his messy hair from his forehead.

He grinned sleepily. "You bet. Hey, you know what I'd like even more?"

"What's that?"

He pointed to a spot on his cheek. "A kiss…right there. Or maybe here," he said, moving the finger to his lips.

She laughed, shaking her head, but even as she did, tears threatened. "Sanders, you're a pervert."

"Am not."

"Are too."

He noticed Grissom, standing silently in the shadows. "Hey, boss. Man, you look beat."

"Well hello to you, too, Greg." Grissom said wryly.

"So how long have I been in here?" Greg asked, automatically referring to his wristwatch, which, of course, wasn't there.

"About fourteen hours, more or less." Grissom stated.

"Oh my God." Greg looked shocked. "I can't believe I was out for that long." He was silent for a moment. "You know, I can't remember anything after Sara getting hit."

Grissom nodded. "That's common after a head injury. You're lucky you remember that much."

"So, have you guys been working on this case?"

"Mm hmm. We're close. I'm waiting on Brass to run a lead for me." Grissom's phone rang as he spoke. "That must be him now. Well, I'll leave the two of you to catch up. Greg, it's good to see you awake. Sara, don't stay too long. Both of you need your rest." And then he was gone.

Greg turned back to look at Sara. "So, did ya miss me?"

She nodded, leaning forward and gripping his hand harder. "More than you know, Greg."

A tear slipped down her cheek. He reached up with his other hand, wiping it away before it fell. "That much, huh? Maybe I should do this more often," he joked.

"Don't even joke about it, Greg," she said sharply. "I…don't think I could take it if you did this to me again. I won't lose you." She lowered his bed rail and rested her head on his shoulder.

"The same goes for you," he whispered into her hair. "Do you have any idea how scared I was when I saw that car headed for you? My God, Sara, when I thought I lost you…I've never felt that way before…so hopeless."

"Well, it's all over now. And I'm never letting you out of my sight again. Never."

He grinned. "Not even…when I take a shower?" he joked.

"You forget so quickly, Greg. I've already seen you in the shower, remember?" She smiled.

"Now who's the pervert?" He raised his eyebrows suggestively, grinning.

"Still you, Greggo. Oh, and did I mention that you're moving in with me for the next few days so I can keep an eye on you?"

He raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Wow, an offer to move in after just one date? I think that's a new Sanders record. Way to go, Greggo!" he said jokingly.

"In your dreams, Sanders." But her words were belied by the hand that clutched his tightly, as if she would never let go.


"This was the only Five Hundred in the Las Vegas area that matched the partial. Meet Brian Forbes," Brass said, indicating the man sitting on the other side of the glass. "I got a warrant for his car. Windshield's cracked, just like I thought it would be. There was some blood in the cracks. I've got DNA on it now. Results should be here soon."

"What do we know about this guy?" Grissom asked.

"Well, he's a 30 year old lawyer who married well up the food chain. His wife is a multi-million dollar heiress. Two year old kid. They're on their way over. That's about it. You ready to go in now?" Brass asked.

Grissom nodded. "Let's go."

As they entered the interrogation room, Brian Forbes rose. "I demand to know why you're holding me here. And what did you want with my car?" he asked sharply.

"Sit down, Mr. Forbes," Brass ordered. "I'm Detective Brass, LVPD. This is Gil Grissom. He's with the Las Vegas Crime Lab. We have some questions for you." Flipping a file open, he slid two photos across the table. They were snapshots of Sara and Greg. "So tell me, Mr. Forbes, have you ever seen either of these two people? They are both CSIs with the Las Vegas Crime Lab. Colleagues of Mr. Grissom here."

Forbes barely glanced at the photos in front of him before quickly responding. "Charming, but no. I've never seen either of them before."

Brass chuckled, but it was a laugh without mirth. "Are you sure? Look again for me. Maybe you saw them. Maybe last night. Think hard."

"I don't need to look again. I already said I hadn't seen them. Are you deaf as well as stupid?" the suspect said caustically.

"Now, now," Brass said, "no need for rudeness here. I'm just asking you a couple of questions." He took a different tack. "Can you tell me what happened to the windshield of your car? I noticed that it was cracked."

"I was driving back from a fishing trip at the family cabin last night. I hit a deer." he said, defiantly.

"A fishing trip, eh? There didn't happen to be anyone with you who could verify your story, right?" Brass asked.

"No," Forbes said firmly, "I was alone."

Catherine entered the room, tossing a file folder down on the table. She didn't leave right away, but stood there, staring at Forbes coldly and impassively.

"You said you hit a deer last night…correct?" Grissom asked offhandedly as he opened the file. He flipped through the pages.

"I already said that I did. You must be as deaf as your cop friend here." Forbes said sarcastically.

"Well, I just wanted to make sure I understand your version of last night's events."

"Like I told you, that's exactly what happened." He reiterated strongly.

"You're a liar," Catherine interjected coldly, "Show him what you've got, Gil."

Grissom slid two photographs across the table. "These are photographs of your vehicle. See that?" he pointed to a purplish glowing smear across the windshield. "That's blood. Human blood, not deer blood." He slid a printout across the table. "And that's a DNA analysis of the blood. It belongs to Greg Sanders," he said as he pulled Greg's photo out from under the pile of papers and slammed it down on top of the printout. He pulled out another printout. "This is paint collected from Greg's clothing. It's a match to your vehicle." He pulled another photo from the file in front of him. "See that? That's your car at the intersection where they were hit, at the same time they were hit. And here's part of your license plate caught by a reflection in a shop window. "

Brian Forbes stared at the damning evidence in front of him. He looked shocked, guilty, and totally deflated.

"Do you care to revise your statement?" Brass asked. "Oh, and you might need a lawyer. Oh, that's right…you are a lawyer. Good luck defending yourself against this evidence. By the way, your wife's here. I'm bringing her in. She wants to see you."

Forbes looked up in alarm. "No! You can't tell her any of this. I'll tell you everything!"

Brass shook his head. "Looks like we already know everything. Sorry. That's two counts of fleeing the scene of an accident that inflicted injuries. Five years for each count. Looks like you'll be spending the next ten years in jail."

"Wait--It was an accident." His voice was hoarse with desperation. "I didn't mean to hit them! I was at the cabin, but I was spending the night with…with a friend. My wife called to say that she took an earlier flight and was coming in that night, so I jumped in my car to drive back. She couldn't find out…we have a prenuptial agreement. If I cheat and she finds out, I lose everything in a divorce. I couldn't let that happen. I was speeding and couldn't stop in time. Please…don't tell my wife! I'll give you whatever you want. How much? Just name a price, and it's yours!"

Catherine laughed. "You've got to be kidding me! Hey, Brass, what would you call a good bribe for a cop?"

"Oh, I don't know…one doughnut, maybe two." Brass deadpanned. "Brian Forbes, you are under arrest. You have the right to remain silent. You have the right…"

"I'm a lawyer. I'm well aware of my rights," Forbes interrupted.

"Oh, good for you," Brass said, "then I hope you'll take full advantage of all of them. Get up. I'm taking you to lockup." Brass escorted the protesting man out of the interrogation room. "I thought you knew you rights. You obviously forgot the one that tells you that you can shut your mouth."

Catherine turned to Grissom after the door shut. "Good work, Grissom. You really closed that case fast."

"Well, I guess it makes a difference when you have a personal interest vested in the case." he replied.

"So, you got to see Greg at the hospital earlier, huh? How was he?" she asked, her concern evident.

"The doctors tell me he'll be able to go home tomorrow. In a couple of days, he should be as good as new."

"And Sara?"

"Sara will be off her feet for a little longer, because of her broken leg."

"Well, thank God it's nothing worse." Catherine sighed. "They're two very lucky young people. By the way, what were the two of them doing out together?" Her brow creased as she raised her eyebrows questioningly.

"I think they're going out," Grissom said.

Her eyebrows shot up even higher. "This must be a new development, because I hadn't heard anything about it…and you know how fast news goes around the lab. Wow. Are you ok with this?" she asked, looking scrutinizing at Grissom.

"Of course I am," he replied, "why wouldn't I be?"

"I don't know…no reason I guess." She shrugged. "Does Ecklie know?"

Grissom shook his head. "No, and as long the relationship doesn't interfere with their work, he doesn't need too."

"Well, you're right about that. That man..." she shook her head. "Well, I've stayed a bit later than usual. I should get home to Linds. See you later, Griss. Don't work too hard, now."

"You know I always do."


Slater flushed his epilepsy medication down the toilet. Then he laid down on the cold cement floor. He knew that a guard would be by on his regular round in less that 5 minutes.

One CSI was going to be very sorry.

Slater was glad that he didn't have a cellmate. One of the perks of being on death row, he thought ironically. No one around to see his plan and spill the beans. Picking up the toy cop car, he held it in front of his face and switched it on. The lights on the top of the toy car began to flash like a small strobe light. As they did so, the electrons controlling the nerve cells in the brain were disrupted, in effect short circuiting his brain, and he began to seize violently.

TBC


Many, many thanks to everyone for their reviews so far! They are very encouraging! Please keep reviewing!

Jenn Sidle: I love Sara and Greg together too. You should write a Sandle fic!

jessielou: I'm glad you like the start and the end. You didn't like the middle? cries j/k :-p

wow: it took me a long time to read all of the "infinitlies". lol thanks for the review.

Unlikely-to-bear-it: Thanks for the metaphorical cookies! They were yummy :-D Sorry about the cliffies but somehow they usually end up happening. It's just weird. Lol/

NothingButSarah: here's your update, as requested. I'm good like that :-D

Csiarkie: Thanks. I just love Sandle fluff. Hehe.

CatStokes: Here's more! I try not to be TOOOO evil. Muhahaha!

Kelly: Yay! A TobyMac fan! W00T!

Tripp3235: Yes, someone will die. But who? Not telling! I haven't decided if it will be an original character or one of the team.

CSIwannabe: W00T! Another TobyMac fan! That particular song ("ILL-M-I") sounded like one Greggo might like.

Sciencenerd: Thanks! I'm glad you think it's wonderful. Your reviews are wonderful!

CSIsupergirl2011: I don't think I'm going to kill Greg. I have too much of a hard time forgiving other fanfic writers who kill Greg.

Angw: New Zealand? How cool! Anyway, it's the thought that counts! I do have small Catherine and Nicky reactions, but the focus is more on Griss and Sara and Greg this story.

CSI Kennedy: Thanks! I think Sandle is a cute name for them too :-D

racing fox: Now you know what happens next! Let me know what you think!

Surfreida: Diverse City is one of the best CDs ever. Seriously. Yay for lots of TobyMac fans! Thanks for the reviews :-D