Disclaimer: Don't own them

A/N: Thank you Cybro, for the great beta job.

Chapter Two: The Box

Sara started to throw things into boxes. She didn't care anymore. She not only wanted, but needed to get away from them. They hurt her more than they could ever know. She had called a moving company that promised same day service to come pack the larger items. She called and cancelled her utilities, and called Ecklie to quit. Everything was in order as she placed a small box in the middle of the floor. "Goodbye." She had whispered but not before closing her door. On the way out she explained the situation to the building manager and wrote her a check to end her lease and repainting.

She packed some of the smaller boxes and her suitcase with some clothes and necessities into her SUV and drove as far away from her apartment as she could before stopping on the side of the road. There was no turning back now. She would miss Grissom and her job, that was for sure, but after telling the rest of her colleagues what she did, she couldn't go back. It would be awkward. Sara still couldn't believe how cruel that they were to her. 'They have no idea what my past has been like.' She cried silently for a few moments before getting back on the road.

Ecklie had found the gang in the conference room. "Gil, can I have a moment of your time please." When they were both in the hall, he took a deep breath. "Look I don't know what is going on with your team but you need to fix it." He could tell Grissom didn't know what he was talking about. "Sidle, Gil she just called me about thirty minutes ago saying she had to quit. Even though I think she is a threat to the department, I don't think she needs to quit like this. There are potential law suits with the way she was treated by the rest of your team." As he walked way he yelled back, "Fix it Gil, or I will!"

Grissom's heart felt heavy at that the news. 'How can she just quit? She didn't even tell me!' He walked back into the conference room and just glared at his team. "What did you do to her?" His exit was a quick one. Grissom decided to go to Sara's apartment. She wasn't picking up her cell phone, and her apartment phone had been disconnected.

Before Grissom reached the car, his team had caught up to him. In two cars they made their way to Sara's. Both vehicles occupants remained silent. They all thought about what they had said, the angry words. All wished they could take them back. As they pulled up to her apartment building they let out a sigh. As they climbed out of the cars they walked toward the building. Their stomachs felt hollow and they hoped it wasn't too late. Standing outside her door they all wondered how they got there. The team watched as Grissom knocked. Getting no answer, a key was taken out and the door unlocked. When the door was opened tears formed in their eyes as they looked inside the apartment.

It was completely empty save for a small box with an envelope on top. They walked over to it. Nick carefully lifted the lid and pulled out twenty-some newspaper clippings, all pertaining to the same case, "1984-1985, the case of Laura Sidle..." Nick read from one of them, then read from others, "Twelve year-old Sara Sidle witnesses her father's death... Mother of two, Laura Sidle, taken into custody for killing her 43 year-old husband... Little girl's life changes in an instant... Laura Sidle sentenced to 25-to life." Grissom's eyes grew wide as Nick read from the articles. He picked up the envelope and opened it as the others crowded around him.

"Dear Team." Grissom started out looking at the others who now had tears streaming down their eyes. "I never wanted you to find out like this. Truth be told I never wanted you to find out. I knew if you all knew about my parents, about my life in general, you would all feel sorry for me. That is something I couldn't deal with." He had to stop and calm himself. "I guess I have nothing more to say but I'm sorry. I'm sorry I bothered you and goodbye. Sara." He looked at the people standing in front of him and waited for one of them to say something.

None of them knew what to say. Grissom was the first to leave, throwing the letter down on the ground before exiting the apartment. Nick followed behind him, "Grissom, I'm sorry! We didn't know! If we knew--"

Grissom cut him off, "If you knew, you wouldn't have said anything! Nick..." He stopped for a moment, "I just... don't really want to talk to you guys right now." he told them before climbing into his SUV and driving to his townhouse.

When they got to the lab Ecklie was on the rampage and ordered the four into the break room. He had heard from Grissom what had happened. To say he was angry was an understatement. "Aren't you just the callous little bunch?" He didn't know how the lab's crime rate would be effective. He would never admit it but Sara had a very good solve rate. "So let me get this straight. Sara went to a crime scene that mirrored the night her father was murdered. Sara got emotional. So instead of you asking her why, you yell at her. What kind of friends are you? Do you know the about of law suits your callousness could cause. If you guys do not find Sara and bring her back here, you all will be separated. I have contacted other labs in the country; they all could use someone there if you get my drift." Ecklie stormed out of the room and past on lookers.

They felt guilty, so they tried to do something to help out. Archie gladly agreed to help them track her down. They were hoping that Sara used her credit cards wherever she was. They had no luck. The last time Sara had used her credit cards was to withdraw $1200 dollars from the bank. They don't know why they thought she might have been stupid enough to use the credit cards; Sara was smarter than that. For God's sake, she was a criminalist. The $1200 was enough to get her gas and food for wherever she was going.

"Have you guys talked to Brass? Maybe he can put out an APB on Sara's car." Archie turned to Greg who was sitting next to him. "Is it true this case with the woman murdering her husband was just like what happened to Sara's parents; and you all were angry and yelled at her for being upset?" Once Greg nodded Archie walked to the door. "That was cold Greg. I thought Sara was your friend. How could you hurt her like that?" He turned back and crossing his arms, he waited for an answer.

"We didn't know Archie! Sara never said anything to us!" Greg defended himself, even though he knew it was wrong in the first place. Greg and the others had the feeling in their gut that Sara wasn't close by. It would take awhile for them to find her. At least until she called or used her credit cards. They were in for the long haul though. They would find Sara, even if it took awhile.

"So, since she didn't open up that gave you the right to put her down? You know a true friend would never have done that." Archie was angry. He couldn't see why they had acted they way they did. "Fifty bucks says if it had been anyone of you guys instead of Sara, you all would have been supportive." He was just too upset to talk to Greg anymore. He knew nothing could justify what had happened. "Just leave. If anything comes up I will page you." He watched as Greg just walked out.

Sara lay on her hotel bed, her back propped up on the pillows that lay behind her. With the phone in her hand, Sara dialed her brother's number and listened to the quiet ringing on the other line. Her brother lived in a small town near San Francisco called Cole Valley. It was a smug little community on the outskirts. He helped her through many bad times. Sara would call him, or go and visit him for his comfort and guidance.

"Hi Vinny…no…I stopped over at Rancho Cordova...can I tell you when I get there?" Sara was sat there with tears streaming down her face. "Yeah, I should be there tomorrow…you sure it's still okay I stay with you for awhile? ...I know but Lisa and the kids are at her parents…" She smiled at something he had said. "Alright…did I ever tell you are my favorite brother? …That's why you're my favorite…Yes, I will call you when I leave, yes…I'm not going back…yeah I'm for sure…I love you too Vinny." She hung up the phone and looked down at her computer. She typed out a few letters then closed the computer. Snuggling down in bed she fell asleep.

The next morning, Sara got up and dressed, called her brother to tell him she'd be there in a few hours, and then left to go find a place to grab a bite to eat and some coffee. She found a small internet-ready cafe on the corner of Lux and Timberfire that she heard made some pretty good muffins. It was from there that she sent out the pre-written emails to the rest of the team. She grabbed a muffin and some coffee on her way out.