I just wanted to thank those of you who have reviewed my work. It's really encouraging to know you have read and enjoyed what I've written. Tonight I'm in a Greg mood, so here goes...



Greg was nearly stir-crazy by the time the team returned to CSI headquarters. He had really wanted to be in the field with the others. He felt as if he should be doing something to help, after all Sara was not only a well-known crush of his, she was a good friend. One of his best of late. The only thing that kept him sane was his understanding of what he was about to do, and how it could crack the case and bring his Sara back home to him, so to speak.

While the team had been gone, he tried to focus on a DNA profile he was working for another case. He got the task done without a hitch, but his heart just wasn't in it. It was wherever that terrified brunette happened to be and he was more than sure that it wasn't about to return. Not until he saw his friend back safe and secure, preferably in his arms, but knowing he wouldn't push. What little he did know about her past, warned him to go slow. Very, very slow, for she had been hurt.

Hurt. The thought hit him hard. She could be hurt right now. In more ways than one. A kidnapping could leave many emotional, and physical scars, both of which he prayed were not to be the case. And what about her past? Could this be related? He didn't have the answer to that question, and didn't know if he would until after. He along with the rest of the graveyard shift really knew nothing about her past, other than the bare essentials.

Why was that? Why hadn't she connected with anyone? Or had she? Do the others know something and are just unwilling to share? They would wouldn't they? Share the crucial information? He guessed the answer to be a yes. What could have been so bad? He figured, judging by her adverse reaction to female victims, she had been with an abusive man, possibly raped. Had she sought out counselling? Did she need someone to listen? He was fully prepared to listen, if that's what she needed. He figured that was what she needed. He hoped that was all she needed.

Greg had so many questions, but now, he also had an answer. Or at least something to go on. He held up a sheet, fresh out of the printer and quickly scanned the lines. "The blood, not Sara's. Male, actually. I'll run it through CODIS, if we're lucky, we'll have ourselves a suspect." He looked up from the sheet towards Grissom, "I can make a DNA profile, and hand deliver it to your office when I'm finished."

"See that you do," Grissom told him. "From now until that sheet of paper of in my hand, this case holds top priority."

"Understood."

Greg did truly understand, and regardless whether Grissom gave the order or not, this case would have held the top priority. He owed that much to Sara. Perhaps, if he'd been just a bit more persistent, more mature, more understanding, or even a better listener, she'd have confided in him and he could have protected her. Kept her safe from all the harmful things of the world.

He knew this probably wouldn't have been the case. If this horrible event was to happen, it would more than likely happen whether or not Greg held a greater role in her life. Bad things happened to good people no matter what the victim's family, friends, or even lovers tried to do to prevent it. He should know, especially being in his line of work. He saw things such as these everyday.

Hoping to speed up the process, he decided to run the DNA up against only the Nevada samples. This would save time if the man had been convicted in state, and if by chance he weren't, he'd then run the rest of the states. Time was critical in a case like this.

Unfortunately for him, the computer found no matches on the first run through, so he was forced to run a nationwide CODIS search. All he could do was wait. A program like this could take several minutes to complete. He only hoped he wouldn't end up with nothing to show for his efforts.

While he waited, he began a DNA profile of the sample. When they did find a suspect, they'd be able to compare the DNA of the man, to the blood sample found in Sara's home. He wondered what her home looked like. Was it clear a struggle had occurred? Was the place a graphic novel of the night's events? He hadn't seen the pictures taken at the scene, and Grissom hadn't been forthcoming with the details. He'd speak with the others after he was finished working the profile and CODIS was through running the sample.

Who knows, maybe Warrick got a match with the prints. From what little he did hear, word is he found some promising ones in key places. Granted most of them would turn out to be Sara's, he hoped just one of them would lead the team to her kidnapper.

Just as Greg was finishing up with the profile, he heard the tell tale sign that CODIS was through running the sample. He looked over at the computer, hoping for a little good news, but none was forthcoming. The system had found no matches. He was no closer to a suspect than he had been when Grissom first left. He'd have to deliver the bad news, but at least he wouldn't be going empty handed. He'd be going with a full DNA profile of the man who took his Sara.

He timidly knocked on Grissom's door. Well, actually, the frame of his supervisor's door, because it happened to be open. Being on the receiving end of the patented what-have-you-got-for-me look, Greg stepped inside the office and handed over the profile. "No luck with CODIS."

Looking over the details of the paper, Grissom replied, "I'll check in with Warrick, see how he's coming with the prints. I'll let you know."

Those last four words eased Greg's mind remarkably. He wasn't exactly sure why, but they did. Perhaps it was because it diminished his earlier thoughts of being the one left out of the loop. The one without all the necessary information. The outsider, though in the group, never *in* the group.