Disclaimer: I do not own anything relating to CSI or it's affiliates. I am merely a fan whose would like to take already established characters into a story of my own rendering.

Burn

Chapter 2

"Did you know that a cigarette burn is often considered a third degree burn?" Asked Doctor Al Robbins to Grissom and Sara as the three stood over the autopsy table staring down at their victim, whom is now legally called Jane Doe until her true identity can be revealed.

Sara always thought how silly it seemed to have men become John Does and women Jane Does when they can't be identified. It seems so generic, like they're just given a name to be forgotten. Sara rarely forgot the Does. Any Doe, but the Janes mostly. She supposed it to be because she herself was a woman with little family to identify her if something was to happen. What was even worse was that now most hospitals around the country were going one step further and were giving an unidentified person a number. Just a number to go by. No John, no Jane. It was so unemotional, which Sara herself was trained to be in these situations. But the human element that Grissom seemed to forget existed so often was always there. This woman, who laid naked on the table before them But with the burn being so small, it hardly ever constitutes the need to medical attention." Doc Robbins said to Gil and Sara and they stood over the naked body of their Jane Doe.

"So did the burns actually kill her or were they just a form of torture?" Sara asked observing the body. No matter how long she'd been working or how many bodies she'd seen, each one was a little personal. It was sad to see death as it was, but a painful death was something that should never happen by force. She cringed as she looked at the nipples and vaginal areas of the body and noticed they had sustained the most damage.

Doc noticed where she was looking and shook his head, "Unfortunately for you victim here, the burns were just the beginning." He pointed to the wrists and ankles, "This woman was not bound by any means, which tells me at first glance that she either did this to herself, or she was a willing participate. However, once I opened up her mouth, I was told more of the story."

Grissom and Sara watched as Doc opened the woman's mouth, revealing several more burn marks and something that although they hadn't found any at the scene, it was still surprising: a cigarette butt lodged in her mouth. Sara looked closer inside the mouth with a flashlight. She grimaced as she looked at Doc, "There are more cigarettes in her throat."

"And there were more in her stomach and everywhere between." Doc said as he turned around. He continued as he placed before them a container full of stomach liquids and several more cigarette butts. "So far I've counted two hundred and seventeen burn marks on the body, sixteen inside the mouth, and fifty nine butts recovered from the mouth, throat, esophagus, stomach, and everywhere in between. All the butts were smoked down to the filter and from the looks of the mouth, I'd say that they were still burning when they went into her mouth." He paused for a moment so see if there were any questions thus far. After a few seconds, he continued, "The cause of death of asphyxiation due to choking."

"On the cigarettes." Said Grissom, "But was she the one who did it? Suicide?"

"Couldn't be suicide since there were butts still lodged in her throat and three inside her mouth with the mouth shut. Someone would have to at least put the last five in for sure. The two lodged in her throat and the three in her mouth. I can tell you that it's a painful way to die. Cigarettes have to be snuffed out or they'll continue to burn. When she swallowed them, they burned her all the way down the esophagus and into the stomach. I even have reason to believe that some might have still been lit when entering the stomach."

"Have you recovered all the butts?" Sara asked.

"I think so, but I haven't finished. There's a slight possibility that some of the cigarettes may have pass the stomach while she was alive and entered the intestines. I'll check there then process the rape kit and a few other follow up procedures. I'll page you when I'm done."

"Thanks Doc." Grissom said. Sara gathered the butts and both headed out the door towards the lab. "So what we need to do is have this evidence processed right away by Mia. We'd better get Greg to help since there are so many cigarettes and possible some more to add.

"You know Greg's not going to be happy. This is a big case. Can't we get someone from days to help?" Sara knew cases like this looked good on your record and for a CSI I to be on the case, it would be perfect."

Beaten back by her words, Grissom sighed, "I'll buy him an ice cream. Now go and process the sheets we brought in with us. Get Sophia to help."

Sara stopped walking and abruptly stood in front of Grissom. Both having stopped quickly and not moving since the abrupt halt, their faces were only inches apart, which meant he could see the anger in Sara's eyes. "So now I need a babysitter? First Greg, then me? You know, it's bad enough you went to dinner with her, but now you're trying to get her to watch over me like some kid. Save that for Greg."

Grissom, more confused than angry, wasn't sure how to reply, but felt the need to appease the situation. "First of all, two sets of eyes can be better than one and since this is a priority case at the moment with no other homicides out there, it's best to have help while we can get it. I have some paperwork to do." He paused as if trying to think of what to say next. "Second, I took her to dinner because she felt lonely and needed a friend."

Grissom started to walk away, then paused and turned back to Sara who was still stunned, "It's not easy being demoted."

"Or rejected." Sara said in an almost inaudible tone. But Grissom heard. He knew what she meant. She had asked him to dinner two years back and he had rejected her then. But that dinner was more complicated. It involved feelings and past relationships. Dinner with Sophia was nothing more than a getting to know you dinner. Even if it had been more, he didn't need to explain himself to her. He knew he had to make her feel better somehow. She had been through so much lately. She had almost been fired and killed in a matter about a few weeks time. She had also poured out her heart to him, recalling the painful memories of her childhood. It wasn't normal for Sara to be open. But he knew she trusted him. He trusted her. That's what scared him the most.

"When you finish processing the sheets, with Sophia, then come to my office." And without another word, he left her there to contemplate whether or not she had crossed the line. Trying to shake it off, she walked to the lab to find Mia.

Working with Sophia proved to be easier than Sara had originally thought. This was mainly due to the fact that neither of them spoke unless it was relevant to the case.

Sara was slowly moving the luma light across the fabric searching for anything that might help them discover what was the true cause of the victim's death while Sophia was checking the computer database for a missing woman fitting her description.

While she looked from person to person, Sophia felt the need to speak. "Is anything bothering you Sara?" she began. It was an innocent question. Just enough to start a conversation between two bright young women.

Sara, stunned by the break in silence, looked up at Sophia with an awkward smile, "No, I'm fine. Just concentrating." She went back to work, which proved to be more difficult that it should have been. Since she had looked up to acknowledge Sophia, she had forgotten where she'd left off on the sheets. She'd just have to start over again.

It wasn't going to be easy. Sophia could see the lies on her face, "Look, it's not my place to say anything but Grissom asked me to help you because he thinks you're having trouble focusing lately. And after everything that's happened to you recently, I'm don't blame him."

"Of course you don't." Another pause. "So is that what the two of you discussed over dinner?" Sara didn't look up this time. "Moving on from one supervisor to another?" She muttered after finally finding her place to pick up the scan with.

Sophia tried to keep her calm, but that was getting personal. She'd heard that last comment. "Look, we don't know each other well, but we have more in common than you think." She paused. Personal issues shouldn't become a part of this conversation any more than they already had, but she felt they had already gone to the point of no return. "I know more about how you feel about Gil Grissom than you think."

Not one to be beaten, Sara continued her work but shrugged her shoulders, "You believe all the office gossip? I don't believe what was said about you and Ecklie."

The blond woman looked away and with a soft voice replied, "You should." She looked back at Sara's shocked expression, "Because it's true. I not only had an affair with a married man, but with my supervisor to boot. His wife found out. Their divorce is just about to be final. But he blamed me so be broke it off. Quietly, had to keep it a secret because he knew he was about to be promoted. He couldn't have something like that hovering over him if he wanted to get to the top." She paused, "He knew there were problems with the night shift so he broke everyone up and he used the opportunity to separate me from him by demoting me. He said it was because I wouldn't get Grissom into trouble but I knew better."

Sara stopped what she was doing and looked up at her coworker. She couldn't believe it. Not only that the rumors were true but also that Sophia was being so honest about them. Why was she telling her all this? What was the point? Sophia took the silence as a cue to continue, "I know what's it like to love your boss. Knowing that any relationship would be difficult. But add marriage on top of that. Ecklie is a good man deep down but he still looks out for himself. I paid the price. So did your team."

Sophia sat down again at the computer, "Grissom hides it. When we went to dinner, he was just trying to make me feel better. He doesn't know about the affair but he felt responsible for my demotion. We've become pseudo-friends lately and it was nice to talk to someone. Someone who didn't judge me."

Someone who didn't judge me. Haunting works. After a silence that seemed to last for years, Sara finally found the courage to speak, "First of all, I'm not in love with my boss. Second, why tell me? I almost got fired because of my insubordination. I know Grissom thinks I'm about to explode." She paused, so far not saying too much. But should she? After all, Sophia had just poured her heart out. Should she do the same?

It was tempting.

Sara had no reason to hate Sophia. Except for the fact that she was spending more time with Grissom than she was. It was like high school again. She was feeling like she was stuck in study hall while the school cheerleader was off trying to steal her boyfriend. Grissom wasn't even hers to lose. Sara realized that there was nothing she could do to stop a grown man from doing what he wanted to do. And a grown man who was fifteen years her senior at that. Looking at the 'other' woman, who admitted to an affair with a boss already, she began to wonder if she was getting the whole truth.

Perhaps.

Perhaps she'd never know. But the best way to deal with the situation was to play all her cards, but she might keep one or two up her sleeve. The worst that could happen was that they'd both have dirt on each other. Sighing, Sara opened up her heart, "I have a thing for my boss. There. I admit it. I like him. A lot. Maybe more than I should." She suddenly felt like a kid again, "But he's taught me so much. He's been a mentor and a friend when I needed one. I suppose it's just natural to feel something for someone of the opposite sex when in those conditions."

Sophia was silent, but Sara could see a small smile that was forming on her face. Sara's defense grew weaker, "I don't think that there'll ever be anything between us anyway so you can have him. I'll just find myself another paramedic who isn't involved with anybody and be happy with him." The last sentence was spoken with a hint of anger as she remembered Hank, the man she had tried to move on with. She never really felt much for him, but at least he was someone that looked at her with more than just a coworker's eye. Not to mention he wasn't a criminal. It seemed that she had few requirements. But he ended up cheating on her and she went back to the puppy dog love she felt for Gil Grissom. But it was more than that. She'd been with Hank to get over Grissom. Hank knew that. They had actually used each other. Both afraid of the love in front of them. Only Hank ended up with the better deal. Sara just got what she's always had. Chasing a shadow.

Sophia waited a minute before speaking, just to make sure Sara felt like she'd said everything. "I'm not going to steal him. I don't want to for one thing. But I also still hold a candle for Conrad." Her voice was soft and genuine. Sara hadn't realized Sophia could be so nice. She really had no reason to hate her. Except for the reasons she had already noted in her head. Sophia continued, "When Conrad demoted me, Grissom was there to help me feel comfortable. He was the only one who did. Everyone else just chided me and acted as if I was the enemy and not the bastards we try to catch every day."

Again a pause. Sara's silence allowed Sophia to continue, "You like him more than you want to admit. Because he's hurt you. But he's protecting you while protecting himself. Conrad's doing the same. So you see, we're more alike than you think."

Sophia moved towards Sara. "You're the only one who can hurt Gil Grissom." She said it so softly that Sara had to strain to hear her. Was it true? Sophia walked back to the computer and looked back at the stunned Sara as she sat down, "Remember that."

The two sat still for a second, and then went back to work as if nothing had happened. A few minutes later, Grissom entered the room, almost expecting to find another homicide. But seeing the two women working silently together made him think there was hope yet in the world for mankind. Two of the most feminist women he knew in the same room working peacefully. It would seem his experiment worked. Two women who have plenty of reason to dislike each could still work together to reach a common goal. Gathering his thoughts, he spoke, "Have we made any progress?" Gil asked, causing the women to stop their work and look at him. Sophia was about to say no when the computer beeped. She looked at the screen.

"We just did. We have a name. Melissa Rogers. Local. Lives in Henderson." Sophia said after scanning the results of the search.

"But she was found just off the strip. Who reported her?" Sara said.

"A boyfriend named Jack Davis." Sophia replied. "I'm going to get Brass to bring him in."

"Ok." Grissom said as the blond walked out of the room leaving only himself and Sara, who had already gone back to work on the sheet. He moved closer to her and observed her work, "Have you found anything yet?"

Trying to sound only scientific and not excited that he was near, she replied, "Nothing. That's what's odd. It seems that there should be ash all over this sheet, but there's nothing but a few hairs that I've sent to Mia. They seem consistent with the victim's hair though but there were a few skin tags telling me that they were pulled out."

"Good work." Grissom said and began to walk out the door. But he paused and turned to face her again, "I hope you understand why Sophia is helping."

"I understand the need for help yes." Sara replied, "But I don't understand why you can't help me."

Grissom stood there as if trying to decide what to say. Finally he looked up with a half grin on his face and replied, "Because I have paperwork. Because I'm a supervisor." He tried to continue but was cut off by Sara.

"Because you're avoiding me." She finished for him. She knew. She really knew now after her prior conversation. "It's ok. For now. But one day we're going to have to talk or we're not going to be able to work together."

"Do I need to read into that final comment farther?" he asked.

Before Sara could answer, Grissom's cell rang. He opened it and answered, "Grissom." Pause. "Yes. Yes. The lab. Where? Ok, Sara and I are on our way." Closing the phone, he looked at her, "There's another body. Just like the first. More cigarette burns. It looks like we might have a serial."