SPOILER WARNING: Pilot, Grave Danger

Disclaimer: I don't own a thing to do with CSI and, sadly, am not profiting one bit from this endeavor.

Chapter 2

Grissom cradled the phone between his right shoulder and his ear. The lead detective for the Montgomery County, Maryland Police Department had been questioning him for several minutes, trying to ascertain what information the supervisor possessed about the missing investigator. Despite his best efforts, Grissom was beginning to lose his patience with the man.

"Yes, I knew her well. I was her mentor and partner. We were close."

"Define close, Dr. Grissom."

"We were colleagues and…companions."

"You mean to say you were…right. And you're how old? Never mind, forget I asked that. Where were you yesterday, Dr. Grissom?" asked Detective Watts, a note of suspicion in his voice.

Grissom sighed. "I was here, working a double shift. I can provide you with multiple alibis, if you'd like. Look, CSI Nichols and I parted on quite amicable terms, I assure you." The officer was merely performing his duties, but his manner was eroding Gil's patience further with each passing moment.

"And someone can back you up on that, right?"

That was far enough, and Grissom decided it was time to express his disgust. "Detective, we were discreet. If anyone even knew that we were…engaged in a social relationship, I would be rather surprised. Listen, I intend to support your investigation in every way so that Colleen can be returned safely to her family in the most expeditious manner possible. My team is currently reviewing each of her old cases to determine if past suspects or convicts may have cause for pursuing her. I will make everyone here who knew Colleen available to you for interviews. I will not, however, endure the crass manner in which you are regarding our past relationship. Now, do you have any specific questions about her colleagues or former cases with which I can provide some assistance?"

"No, sir, not at this time. I'll question Nichols' other colleagues about their relationships with her and I trust that you'll fax any pertinent information regarding her past cases when it becomes available. Good day, Dr. Grissom." With that, Grissom slammed the handset down onto the phone and then sighed with relief when he realized he has closed his office door before taking the call. Watt's attitude, and his callous disregard for the scientist's feelings, was just one of the issues that had prevented Grissom and Colleen Nichols, nee Patterson, from making their relationship public so many years ago. Their working relationship aside, the age difference was noticeable and disconcerting to some. If someone who did not even know them would react in such an insensitive way, imagine how their supervisors and colleagues would have comeback. No, he needed this part of his past to remain as private as the rest of his life. And that was, quite frankly, a mystery to most.

Meanwhile, the rest of the night shift CSIs were assembled around the conference room table, looking pointedly at Catherine Willows.

"Alright, let's get down to business. We have Nichols' files for every case she worked in Vegas. I say we divide them into piles; one for misdemeanors, one for minor felonies, one for major. Then, we go through each one to see if she had any interaction with the suspects. After that, we find out where the perps are and take it from there. Someone needs to contact her old friends who still live here and get the skinny on her personal digs. Nick, you two were pals, why don't you take that avenue?" Catherine looked expectantly at Nick Stokes, knowing he'd contribute however possible.

Nick looked taken aback. "Yeah, sure. What are we thinking here, though? Colleen was here for two years, and I don't remember a boyfriend being in the picture. She was fresh out of Georgetown and hell bent on leaving her mark. If she had time for that, I'd be surprised."

Gently, Catherine replied, "We all know people have secrets, Nick…see what you can find, ok?"

"You got it. I still know a few of her friends. I'll get right on it." He grabbed his field jacket and headed for the door. Warrick, Sara, Greg and Catherine started divvying up the files, quickly sorting the aging manila folders by level of offense. Too engrossed by their task, no one saw Grissom standing at the door of the conference room, resembling a cat about to pounce.

"Where are we?" Grissom grumbled, the tone and urgency in his voice violating the silence that had overtaken the team. "Have you found anything, yet?"

Sensing that Grissom was tightly strung, Catherine soothed, "We just got started. As soon as we have the files sorted, we'll start looking at possible suspects and where they're spending their time these days. Who's next for phone interviews?"

"Detective Watts is going to call back shortly. He needs to talk to you, Warrick, and Nick. As soon as you have anything that could be a lead, I want to know about it." His voice steady and low, Grissom glowered at his subordinates before leaving the room as abruptly as he entered it. With over 200 cases on the table, they all knew that time was of the essence, if someone from Vegas even had anything to do with this latest abduction. Since Nick's abduction last spring, everyone at the crime lab was uptight about news of CSIs missing, wounded, or killed in the line of duty. Sure, they all understood that something could happen at any time out in the field, but that didn't help them to discount the nervousness that such news stirred. Still, something about Grissom's demeanor struck a dissonance in Sara.

Looking bewildered, she decided to take a chance that one of the others could fill in the blanks. "Would someone care to bring me up to speed? I know Patterson, Nichols, whoever she is, worked here for a few years, but wasn't that a long time ago? I've never even heard about her before now. What gives?"

This time, Warrick jumped into the conversation. "Colleen was a nice kid, cute, came straight from college and a few FBI internships. Brass handed her over to Grissom, and he kind of took her under his wing. She was sort of like a protégé to him. Anyhow, they spent a lot of time together in the field and the lab. After she went back east, he just wasn't the same. She had a spark, you know, nothing seemed to bring her down and…I dunno, maybe Grissom needed that as much as she craved his guidance." His voice lowered, respectfully. "Holly Gribbs replaced her, you replaced Holly…Colleen kept in touch for a while, but I haven't heard anything from her in a couple of years. She and Nick were close, too. You may wanna ask him."

"Yeah, thanks…" Sara's curiosity was merely piqued more than before. For her, this information simply raised more questions. Not that she understood Grissom well, but she just didn't see how someone he mentored for a few years nearly a decade ago could raise that kind of a reaction from the man of stone.

June, 1995

There was a jovial air in the break room as Grissom, Catherine, Warrick, and Nick sat, awaiting the arrival of Captain Jim Brass. Good natured banter flowed between the team members, who were long accustomed to their humorous exchange of jibes and barbs. Brass was unusually late for their nightly briefing and assignments, leaving them to wonder if they should just get to work. Just as Grissom opened his mouth to suggest just that, Brass swung open the glass door and breezed in, a cute brunette fast on his heels.

"Ok, folks, sorry I'm late. Gotta new face with us tonight. Colleen Patterson, this is the rest of the nightshift team. You can introduce yourselves personally on your own time. Where do we stand on existing cases?" With that perfunctory introduction, both sat down; Brass at the head of the table, Colleen taking the empty chair next to Nick. Smiling brightly, she locked eyes with Dr. Gilbert Grissom before bashfully glancing away.

"Sounds good. Alright, Grissom, I gotta DB on the strip, suspicious circs. Take the new kid with you, teach her everything you know. Nick, Catherine, there's a B&E on Catalonia. Warrick, stick with your current case. Any questions? Good. Get outta here."

Although she was trying to exude a calm professionalism, Colleen Patteson was grinning like the kid who just raided the cookie jar without getting caught. She glanced around the table, anticipation seeping from her pores. Catherine finally broke the silence and introduced everyone, with each member nodding or waving their hello. When she got to Grissom, he extended his hand, smiled, and then jerked his head toward the door. "You heard Brass, let's get to that DB. Do you have a kit, a weapon, and a locker?"

"Yes to all three. You'll have to take a look at my kit. I prepared it based on FBI lab requirements. I hope that's ok." She glanced nervously at her new mentor, hoping to pass the first test.

Grissom looked her over thoughtfully, recognizing the same eagerness in his new pupil that he once possessed himself. In some regard, she reminded him of Catherine when she first transitioned to the field. Her file spoke volumes as to her intelligence, determination, and ambition, typical of other CSI level 1 candidates, but her personality was unexpected. And refreshing. "I'll take a look at it when we get to the scene. You can use whatever you need from mine if you don't have it. Tonight, just concentrate on taking notes and pictures, and stay close. I'll let you know what else I want you to do. If you have questions, ask. He who hesitates is lost. My Tahoe is out front; stow your gear in the back and we'll get to work."

Colleen had the good grace not to squeal, but her delight was evident in her eyes and smile. Smirking, Grissom privately acknowledged that he liked the new kid already.