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Chapter Nine

Racing down the heavily wooded highway, Grissom took a second to check his watch, "Four hours left to find Sara," he announced to himself. "Doesn't seem like we've been searching for twenty hours." Pure adrenaline was fueling his resolve to find his beloved Sara; he was not even aware that he had been awake for forty straight hours; the most-difficult forty hours of his life.

While the drive to the old Butterfly World wasn't more than fifteen miles, Grissom seemed to become more enraged as he sped on. He continued to think out loud, "Lurie…why did I ever let him get away? It was my responsibility to find the evidence to convict that bastard; then, this never would've happened. He better not lay one finger on her." The more he thought about the last two days the more disturbed he became: first, Sara admitted to him in his office that he was the reason she came to Vegas, second, at Sara's apartment, he finally admitted to her that he had feelings for her and kissed her, and third, Vincent Lurie took her away from him. This was all too much for him, so he drove more feverishly down the highway, never taking his mind off Sara. 'I am such a fool,' he thought to himself. 'It took me so long to act on my feelings for Sara, and what happens; she is hurt by them. Pull it together, Gil, you will get to her in time.'

Just as Grissom made that promise to himself, he slowed a few yards away from the entrance of what once was Butterfly World. It resembled an old abandoned airport hanger, a large semi-circle shaped aluminum building with numerous small rectangular windows that had been busted out over the past few winters. Grissom could still see the remnants of the painted Butterfly World sign revealing a faded picture of the famous Hypaurotis crysalus, or Colorado Purple butterfly as it is more commonly know, for which Butterfly World was famous for sheltering.

He carefully abandoned his vehicle and quietly made his way to the desolate structure. As he peered into one of the small windows, he noticed a beam of light cascading from a room inside. Grissom knew procedure, and recognized that he should wait for Brass and the backup, but this was Sara and she needed him. Without hesitation, Grissom upholstered his firearm, released the safety, and proceeded through the archway. Carefully, he followed the beam of light to a room at the east end of the building. As he peered in, he gazed upon his nemesis, Vincent Lurie, standing over a makeshift operating table. It appeared as though Lurie was preparing for surgery; he was fully clad in hospital scrubs, and looked as if he was sterilizing surgical tools.

Grissom checked his weapon and turned the corner, carefully aiming his revolver at his target. "Lurie! Step away from the table…Hands where I can see them!" Grissom ordered.

"Ah, Dr. Grissom," Lurie countered. "So nice of you to join us for Ms. Sidle's big operation. You see, I decided to let her live, but she will have a slight modification: I'm going to circumcise her, yes remove her clitoris. She will never be able to feel sexual pleasure again. No matter how hard you try Dr. Grissom, you will never fully pleasure her. You will never feel the exhilaration of knowing you have taken her to that special climax she has been longing for all her life. And for that, you will never be happy."

"If you have hurt one tiny follicle on her body, it will be the last thing you ever do in this world. We have you Vincent," Grissom continued. "Just raise you hands, step away from the table, and you won't be harmed."

Amused, Lurie snapped, "Grissom, so predictable. You came alone. Do you think I'm afraid of you? I knew you wouldn't bring any backup. Your scared…scared that someone may figure out your true feelings for Sara. You are more pathetic than I'll ever be."

Just as Grissom took aim at his adversary, a faint voice echoed from behind a closed door, "Grissom? I'm here, I'm OK."

Elated to hear Sara's voice, Grissom turned his attention toward the closed door, "Sara! I'll be right there honey!" As he turned back toward Lurie, he noticed a small object flying toward him. Grissom turned his shoulder to the left and felt a slight twinge as metal pierced his flesh.

Suddenly, from the archway, Warrick appeared, fired off one shot, and Dr. Lurie fell to the floor.

Grissom rushed to the door where Sara was being held, not even realizing he had a scalpel lodged in his chest. The blood was oozing from his body, but he didn't seem to notice. "Sara, shield yourself from the door."

With one swift kick, the door was shattered. Grissom spotted Sara, blindfolded and tied to a radiator. Swiftly, he untied her, removed her blindfold, and wrapped her in his arms. "Oh God Sara, I'm so sorry…did he hurt you? Oh honey, I promise, I'll never let anything happen to you again."

Before she could answer, Sara noticed the seemingly large pool of blood that was collecting on the floor between them. Shocked, Sara observed, "Grissom, your hurt! Look at all the blood!"

Grissom looked down at the floor, felt the small tear in his chest, looked into Sara's eyes…then everything went black….

Sorry to end this chapter like this. Next few chapters will be up tomorrow. Please review if you have a chance