Foretold by SLynn

Summary: A woman walks into the crime lab only to tell Greg Sanders about her murder, a murder he's going to solve. Is she just playing games or is it something more?

Spoilers: Through 'Gum Drops'

Rating: PG-13

Disclaimer: I'm just borrowing and will return them all when I'm done, virtually untouched.

"We are one, after all, you and I, together we suffer, together exist and forever will recreate each other."
Teilhard de Chardin

Chapter 28: Recreate

"Officer out front said I'd find you here."

Warrick looked up from the road he'd been examining; he'd been at that abandoned house for hours on Grissom's orders.

"I think I got something here," he told her.

Catherine came over looking how he imagined they all did, dazed.

"The gate here was opened," Warrick pointed out. "The padlock had been snapped. He must have staked out this location. David's initial ruling on the John Doe inside was manual strangulation, so Harper probably planted the body, called nine-one-one and waited from here to see who showed."

Catherine peered over the fence.

"All he'd need was binoculars," Warrick added, "and opportunity."

She nodded grimly before turning back to him.

"Grissom's at his house now," she supplied. "Found his collection amongst other things."

Warrick shut his eyes as he shook his head; at this point he didn't even want to know.

"How are they?" he asked.

"Sara's at the hospital," she said. She was trying to detach from this, but couldn't quite do it. "They're going to do a kit."

Warrick swore under his breath and rubbed his eyes; the whole thing was a nightmare.

"Otherwise, she's okay. Shaken, understandably. Doesn't remember much of it; that's probably good."

"Does she know about Greg?"

Catherine grimaced as she shook her head.

"Either she hasn't remembered enough to ask or she's afraid too."

"Any word?"

"No," Catherine shook her head. "Nick is at the hospital. He's supposed to call. Ecklie is getting a hold of his family. He's going to stop by here later for a walk through."

"Why don't I give you the run down then," Warrick said.

Catherine agreed and he once more told her how he thought Harper had staked out the back of the place.

"He'd know that the cops usually only check the building," he continued. "Even if they did come out back, he'd have seen them in plenty of time to have hidden."

"Okay," Catherine said, "then what?"

"See how you can see the street from here?" Warrick asked, pointing out the vacancy between houses. "Well, if he was waiting for opportunity, he got lucky because according to the logs the officers on scene got called away. He'd have had a clear view of them pulling out and would have known he was free to make his move."

Warrick opened the gate for Catherine and together they walked up to the back of the house. Shining his light just outside the kitchen door, he showed her the spot where he'd poured fresh plaster not long ago.

"I found a set of footprints here," he indicated. "I think he was crouching, listening at the door. Door was unlocked; he probably did that in advance. No one would think twice about an unlocked door in an abandoned house. I've already printed it."

Warrick and Catherine moved into the house through the kitchen entrance.

"I don't know exactly what happened, or how, but this is where he subdued Sara. When Sofia walked me through the house she pointed this out."

Warrick swept his flashlight over to the edge of the counter that was dark with blood.

"He had to have gotten behind her somehow, struggled and hit her head there."

Catherine shut her eyes, but it did no good. Her mind easily replayed it.

"Once he had her unconscious he had to have laid her down in the corner," Warrick said, shining the light to the place indicated; the blood was easy to see.

"While Sara was in here," Warrick continued, stepping quickly through the room and to the main part of the house, "Greg was in the living room. I found his case open, near the patio door. He'd been printing."

Catherine held a hand up to her mouth, afraid she'd be sick. The pool of blood still looked fresh.

"Alright?" Warrick asked her, gently touching her elbow.

"Yes," she nodded, still looking green. "Go on."

"The only thing I'm sure of is that Harper confronted Greg before he had a chance to get to the kitchen. The scene was disturbed so it's hard to figure, but I found blood drops starting here, leading back to where Greg was found lying."

"Anything else?" Catherine asked, clearing her throat and focusing on Warrick so as not to have to look at the scene any more.

He nodded and shone his light to the far corner of the room where a lone marker stood.

"I found the gun."

"Why don't I like the look on your face right now?" Catherine reluctantly asked.

"It was Sara's," Warrick said point blank. "He must have taken the gun off of her and used it to shoot Greg."

"So he didn't come armed?"

"Doesn't look like it."

"Answers, Harper, I want answers."

Brass was pacing up and down the room, positively fuming.

"I know my rights."

"You have no rights," Brass fired back. "Not after this."

"Either charge me or get me my lawyer," he responded coolly. "I'm not saying anything else."

"I thought you'd want to tell us," Grissom said, matching Harper's tone but not without some difficulty. "We found your extra room and your souvenirs. But I'm confused."

Harper stared across the table, for the first time looking interested in what was happening.

"Why so many?"

"I would think for a trained investigator that would be obvious."

Grissom nodded slowly.

"This one," he said, taking an evidence bag out of the manila envelope he had with him, "I know."

Harper said nothing, but a sick smile spread across his face.

Grissom fought down the urge to say anything, but Brass didn't quite manage.

"So on top of murder, kidnapping, assault with a deadly weapon," Brass ranted, "we can add breaking and entering."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Sara Sidle's home was robbed," Brass continued. "That's where you got the necklace."

Still, he wasn't budging. He just shrugged it off.

"Even you," Brass said, "a third-rate detective at best could have figured that one out."

For the first time something like emotion flickered across Harper's features, but he kept his composure.

"What about the others?" Grissom interjected.

Harper ignored him.

"We know about the first three women," he continued. "We know about Sara. So who were the others? Who were the other eleven?"

Harper looked on the verge of saying something when the door banged open.

"I think that's enough," a man, hastily dressed and carrying a briefcase said as he came into the room. "I'm Mike Farrow, Mr. Harper's lawyer. His wife called and let me know he was being interrogated without legal counsel. That's a big no-no detective. This interview is over."

Nick tapped lightly on the door, just catching the faint 'come in' that followed.

"Hey, Sara," he called, crossing the room in three or four quick strides. "Thought you could use some company."

Sara sat motionless on the edge of the hospital bed, still wearing the gown they'd given her. She looked fairly beaten up, but Nick didn't let the shock register on his face.

"I can't remember what happened," she said, her voice shaking slightly. "I keep trying and… it's just not there."

"Don't push yourself," Nick said as he sat down beside her.

"But I have to know," she shot back harshly. "If I'm going to testify I have to know."

"There's plenty of time for that. Right now you need to get some rest."

Sara wrung her hands, showing no sign of wanting to rest.

"I remember going to the lab," she continued. "I know I did. It just feels fuzzy. I can't… "

"You took a pretty hard hit, Sara. It's not going to come back…"

"Where's Greg?" she asked urgently, her eyes alive with terror.

"Sara…"

"He was with me," she continued, recollecting it for the first time. "He was with me. We were at a house together. Where is he, Nick? He'd be here if…"

"Calm down, please," Nick managed, though just barely. "He's here."

"What do you mean?" Sara fired back. "Tell me what happened."

Nick hesitated, not sure what he should say.

"Nick," Sara urged.

"He's in surgery," he said. "He was shot and he's in surgery."

"Shot?" Sara repeated in a daze.

"In the abdomen," Nick continued, "three times. He lost a lot of blood. The doctors aren't very optimistic."

"How long has… "

Sara couldn't find it in her to finish, to ask any more.

"He's been in for a few hours now," Nick answered anyway. "Dr. Cordova said that it would take some time, that they have to check everything thoroughly."

"Have you seen him?"

"Sofia was the one who found him," Nick answered. "We'd come by to help you two out. David had just…"

He trailed off, not sure if he could talk about it just yet.

"He lost a lot of blood," he repeated. "A lot."

"Was he awake?" Sara asked, looking down at her hands as tears slipped down her cheeks.

"For awhile."

"What did he… did he say anything?"

"He just wanted us to find you," Nick answered.

Sara nodded before wiping her face.

"Can I see him?" she asked, her resolve showing once more.

"He'll be in the ICU for awhile," he answered, "but Dr. Cordova said that once he's stable he can have visitors."

They sat side-by-side in silence for sometime until Nick couldn't take it any longer.

"Do you want to be alone?" he asked gently. "I can come back later or not if you like."

"Stay," she said, "please."

Nick gave her a half-hearted smile, squeezing her hands with his.

"I don't want to be alone," she said to herself.