Disclaimer: I don't own anything here, just an idea, but trust me you can't get anything from that! Leave me to live in fiction

Summary: NS What if Gina Toscano and Sara Sidle were the same persons? What if Gina couldn't deal with a shooting in Rosslyn and she quit, changing her life and name, becoming an CSI? What if the President comes to Las Vegas and asks Sara to watch Zoey for a weekend? How will Nick feel about Sara putting herself in danger? West wing/CSI crossover

Thanks to: JennCorinthos, SARAnNICK4EVA, Seth, Elektra101, lia-fin, ktnelson88, Ladybug Jess, saraluver, bene, Stahchild, Space-Case7029, firestorm13, jd, Angel, feralKristiana, angel-nat-nat, Ambient Flames

Chapter 4 – You're going back

"Oh, my God! Gina!" – Zoey called out.

She ran across the lobby and hugged Sara forcefully.

"I thought I was never going to see you again!"

Sara buried her head in Zoey's shoulder emotions overwhelming her.

"Hi, Zoey." – she whispered.

Two women broke apart looking at one another.

"How are you? And what are you wearing?" – Zoey saw Sara's vest. – "Sidle?"

"Yeah. I'm with the crime lab." - Sara softly responded, deliberately avoiding talking about her name. She noticed a small scar on Zoey's neck and stared at it. Zoey caught the look, and covered the scar with her hand.

"It's not a big deal. I'm OK."

Grissom and Nick were both stunned. They were observing the scene standing one step behind. They both knew who the young girl was. Her face was all over the papers as a result of her kidnapping. Nick tried to see Sara's face, and he was surprised and saddened with her appearance. Her eyes were filled with tears, but she was managing to stop them from falling. It was a skill, and she was an expert.

"It is a big deal, Zoey. Trust me, I know. It's my job to know these things."

"I don't want to talk about that." – Zoey stopped her. - "Where did you go after Rosslyn? Better yet, why did you go away?"

"Come on, Zoey, you know why…" – Sara smiled bitterly.

"No, I don't. Dad wanted to talk to you, and you weren't there. Ron said you quit."

Sara remained quiet as she noticed Charlie entering the room, obviously looking worried. But, when his eyes fell on Sara's, he smiled.

"Gina, hi!"

"Charlie. Nice to see you again. Taking care of our girl?" – she smiled warmly. He was a brave person, and she knew he was also blaming himself. The attack in Rosslyn was all about him dating a President's daughter.

"You know it. I'm not letting her off my sight anymore."

"Good." – she nodded.

"Though she keeps running away from me. Just like now." – he glanced towards Zoey who put her best smile on. She chuckled seeing how her smile was affecting Charlie. He was never able to stay mad at her for a long time after she pulled out her smile. Than she noticed two men standing near, wearing the same vests.

"I presume you're Gina's friends?" – she smiled at them. Sara turned around only now remembering the two. She will have a lot to explain. But, she just wanted to leave that for later. Much later.

"Zoey. Charlie. This is my boss Gil Grissom, and my colleague Nick Stokes."

They shook hands and Nick smiled at the young woman.

"Nice to meet you, miss."

"Miss? Vau, a gentleman!" – Zoey chuckled. – "No need for that. You can call me Zoey. Nice to meet you. So, how do you like working with Gina?"

It was getting hard to ignore the fact they all knew Sara, but by two different names. It was hard to ignore the fact that Sara knew the President's daughter. Seeing the discomfort on both of their faces, she sighed.

"Ahm…Zoey, I'm Sara now."

"You took your middle name? Why?"

"No big reason." – she tried to change the subject as she noticed Zoey's new agent.

"So, how is she?" – she asked nodding at agent's direction.

"Good. She keeps her distance, but we're OK. Did you meet her?"

"No." – Sara shook her head. She really had no desires meeting someone who was doing her job now. – "Well, Zoey, I have to go. I have a job to do."

The situation was getting harder for Sara and although she wanted to talk to Zoey some more, she wanted to leave even more.

"Well, just wait for a second. Dad will be here in a minute. I'm sure he wants to talk to you."

Nick's eyebrows went up as he looked back at Grissom. He on the other hand was calculating the situation in his head as he was watching Sara's face change. Panic was showing in her eyes.

"I don't think we have the time…" – she trailed off as she saw President Bartlett and Ms. Bartlett enter the lobby, with Secret service in tow. They noticed the group right away and Ms. Bartlett smiled at Sara, taking her husband by his hand.

"Gina! What a nice surprise! How are you?" – she hugged her warmly taking her time.

Sara returned the hug smiling a little.

"I'm fine, 'Mam. How are you?" – she looked at the President feeling his eyes eying her suspiciously. He noticed her vest right away.

"Sir. Nice to see you again."

"Gina." - The President smiled and shook her hand. - "How have you been? You know, when you disappeared, Ron wouldn't tell me where you went. And you know how I hate not knowing things."

"Sorry, sir, but it was for the best." – she stood upright, hands behind her back. She slipped back into her routine.

"Well, I wanted to talk to you. I wanted to thank you in person."

"We both did." – Ms. Bartlett chipped in.

"There was no need to thank me, sir. And you had your problems as well." The shooting in Rosslyn brought a lot of problems for the administration. And she could've prevented it. Just if she reacted in time.

"You know, Ron didn't tell me anything, however Leo did." – he pointedly looked at her. – "He told me you blamed yourself. Is that the truth?"

Sara knew she couldn't lie to him so she simply nodded.

"Yes, sir."

He took a moment to look at her.

"Are you a psychic?"

"Sir?" – she was momentarily taken aback.

"Gina, no one could've known what would happen."

"I sensed something was wrong, and if I reacted in time…ahm…I could've prevented the disaster."

"Gina, come on. There was nothing you could've done. Besides, you did your job – you kept my girl safe." – he squeezed Zoey's arm a little causing her to roll her eyes.

"Yeah, that is what people keep telling me."

Nick on the other hand had some problems to grasp the situation. He saw Sara, his Sara talking to the President of the United States. And he was showing her respect. Suddenly some things made sense. All the times Sara tried to avoid the attention pointed at her; all the times she put herself in danger; all the times she pushed herself hard, all the times when she pushed him away. It was all learned. That was her job – to keep the Presidents daughter safe, and to be ready to lose your life at any time. She was no longer a part of that world, but he knew that that world was a part of her.

He really wanted to leave, but he couldn't force himself to move his feet. He just stood there.

The President watched Sara for a few seconds before he bluntly asked.

"We'll be here for two days. I want you back at the job."

"Excuse me?" – Sara asked confused.

"You're going to be watching Zoey this weekend."

"With all do respect, sir, but I already have a job to do."

"I can see that. However, I'm ordering you to take over Zoey's safety while we're here."

The group remained quiet and Sara didn't know what to say. She couldn't say no to the President.

"Yes, sir." – she quietly responded.

Nick's eyes shifted from Sara to President and at the end he turned towards Grissom, as he was expecting him to stop this madness. But, Grissom just stood there avoiding Nick's stare.

"Good. Ron will take care of everything with your superiors."

"Actually, dad." – Zoey chipped in. – "Mr.Grissom here is Gina's boss."

She pointed at Grissom who was standing still the entire time. Nick however was confused as hell, and he shifted the entire time. However, nervousness wasn't the only thing showing in his eyes. Anger was the other. He was praying with every fiber of his being that Grissom will refuse the request. She was Sara now. She had no need to put herself in danger. But, he knew he had to remain quiet.

"Mr. Grissom. Nice to meet you. I hope you don't mind if I take Gina for the weekend."

"Well, sir, I'm just curious. What do you want her to do exactly?" – he already had a pretty good guess, but he wanted to hear it.

"Well, to take secret agent's duties for the weekend, of course. She has my complete trust and I will feel safer if I know she's taking care of things."

Sara looked down. It was obvious that the President was trying to show his gratitude. And in a way, it was what she wanted. She wanted to do this. She left once before, and Zoey got kidnapped. Now, in a city like this, the rules were different and she had the opportunity to rectify her mistakes. She had a chance to ease her conscience a little. She just hoped that no one would question her motives. She needed to do this. The fact she was putting herself in danger didn't matter. It was a necessity.

A/N – Thanks for all reviews! I'm glad you like this story. Next: we'll see how other members of the team will deal with this revelation. And will Nick react out load or will he keep everything for himself.

And, like always, don't forget to review!