A/N: Thank you to those that have offered reviews…they're what keeps us trying.
Thank you for pointing out that you 'cannot see the lights of the strip' from Lake Meade, it was the 'missing link' I needed
To link the events that are coming up.
As usual, I don't own CSI, any part of it..though I could think of 'one' part I would like to own…..hope you all enjoy..
Nick thought he had died and gone to Heaven. One minute he had slowly moved in for a brief kiss, all the while afraid that Sara would push him away and the next, she was kissing him back, just as hard and demanding and one could ever hope for. "Ummm Nick" she pulled away slowly, the hairs on the back of her neck giving her a warning sensation. "Not now Sar…" he moaned and tried to pull her back into the kiss but he felt her arch away. "Something's not right" she whispered staying locked in his arms but looking slowly around. Nick tried to discern what if anything was out of the ordinary but the blackness of the surrounding mountains and water made that almost impossible. He knew from five years of working with her that Sara had a gut instinct for trouble and he didn't dismiss her feelings lightly. "Maybe it's nothing?" oh how he hoped it was but Sara was sure that something was amiss.
Catherine had somehow managed to wrestle Grissom away from the clutches of Conrad Ecklie and both were standing off to the side of the stage in the Grand Ballroom as the Mayor made his way up to the podium. "Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen" he took over the microphone. "I'd like to welcome all of you to the festivities and take a moment to tell you what a fine group of men and women we have assembled here" Grissom took a sip from the drink Catherine had handed him "And now for some more ass kissing good times" he mumbled but Cath quickly tuned into his words and snickered "He's calling you up there ya know?" she laughed "Nope, Gil Grissom doesn't do speeches" he shot back as he noticed Warrick joining them "I'll take 10.00 on Catherine" he laughed. "You so have a gambling problem Ric" he teased, both were surprised that he was making a joke. The Mayor continued "I would like to thank the Las Vegas Police Department for keeping crime down in our great city" he raised his glass "The Fire Department for keeping our citizens and many visitors safe and a special thank you goes to Gil Grissom, Catherine Willows and Conrad Ecklie for keeping the Las Vegas Crime Lab for keeping our department number two in the country" he toasted them again. "There are many people to thank that are behind the scenes of our Crime Lab so I'll leave that to Gil Grissom" he heard the applause and turned just in time to see Catherine handing Warrick a ten dollar bill. "I guess the great Gil Grissom does speeches" Warrick winked and pocketed the money.
Grissom blushed as he and Ecklie walked to the podium "I'd like to introduce my Supervisor Conrad Ecklie" he spewed into the microphone but unfortunately, he wasn't quick enough to step away as Ecklie locked arms and said "Not so fast Grissom, no quick exits this time" which got a laugh from the crowd., many of them knowing how Grissom shied away from the limelight at every opportunity. "The people of Las Vegas would like to hear from you" he backed away giving Gil a slight shove forward and then proceeded to rejoin the crowd in clapping.
"Thank you, thank you" he raised his arms and thought of many politicians while looking to Catherine to rescue him. She simply waved in his direction. Nick and Sara along with Greg had joined Catherine in the crowd and none seemed to notice nor respond when he announced their names "I'd personally like to thank my team, Catherine Willows, Sara Sidle, Warrick Brown, Nick Stokes and our newest CSI Greg Sanders" he put his hand out in their direction but they were deep in conversation and he wondered what was so interesting that they were ignoring him.
"I swear, I can't put my finger on it, I was looking out over the water earlier at the …" her eyes suddenly flew open "that's it, you can't see them from here" she rushed out of the ballroom with Catherine, Nick and Warrick close behind. Greg looked up in Gil's direction and shrugged before turning to follow them. "Sara…Sara wait up" Warrick was closest to her "what's gotten into you girl?" he shouted. She waived him off till she got nearer to the railing then turned to Nick "I thought I saw lights, ya know…" he was catching on "earlier when we were kiss…" she stopped. Nick blushed but the darkness hid it well. Catherine and Warrick exchanged glances but said nothing. "Anyway.." Sara looked around getting the eerie feeling once again "I saw a whole hell of a lot of lights and thought they were from the Strip" she lowered her voice "You can't see them from here" Greg interjected from behind them. "That's right, so what exactly were they?" she had them all looking around at the horizon. "I don't know" Catherine looked at the rest of the team "but whatever it was, it's not supposed to be here." She cast a worried glance at them.
By now, Grissom had made his excuses and came to join them, a little bent out of shape that they'd left him alone on the Podium. "Someone mind telling me what's going on?" he shot them all puzzled looks. "Sara aw something earlier, on the horizon, she thought it was the lights from the Strip" Grissom cut them off "That's impossible!" but they quickly spoke in unison "We know, you can't see them from here…"
That was when the first shot rang out…..