Chap. 2

Sara parker her car between two Tahoes and turned off the ignition. She got out of her car and took a deep breath as she stared at the building in which she had dedicated most of her life too, and was amazed that right now it looked like something from a distant memory. She slid on her sunglasses and took a tentative step towards what was her means of survival for the past 6 years and continued at a good pace. She held out her hand to open the door when it opened and she almost bumped into Brass.

"Hey sorry kid." Brass said as he slowly walked backwards towards a patrol car still in conversation with Sara.

She smiled a full fledge Sara smile and nodded her head.

"It was my fault Jim; I was somewhere else just now." She replied as she leaned on the door jamb and smiled patiently to the older man still talking to her.

"I wish I was somewhere else right now, see you at the crime scene Sara, and Happy Birthday." Jim said as he waved one more time and turned around and headed for his car. Her smile froze to her mouth and realization hit her. It's my birthday! She continued her way into the Crime Lab sliding her shades up her head so that it pinned back fallen strands and took the opposite hallway she would regularly take to the locker room and headed straight for Ecklie's office.

She knocked on the door and waited until she heard a muffled reply from the other side.

"Come in." She took another breathe and twisted the door handle and walked in. Ecklie raised his head from his work and his eyes widened the sight of seeing Sara. "Ms. Sidle what a surprise I wasn't expecting you. To what do I owe this honor?" He said as he laced his hands together on his desk and watched her close the door behind her and took a seat in front of him.

"I've been thinking these past few days about my life and I realized that what I'm doing to myself isn't healthy, so after great consideration I've decided to quit." She said coolly. Ecklie's jaw dropped and he blinked several times and sat up a little straighter in his chair.

"Am I hearing you right Ms. Sidle, you want to quit?" He said blown away, never would he have expected Sara, of all people to quit being a CSI.

"Yes you heard me correctly, I want a different approach to life and investigating death isn't what I need right at this moment, so I'm handing in my resignation, and going to unload my locker and head on my way." She said keeping a hint of seriousness in her tone as she looked at him head on.

"You're a very good asset to this Lab Ms. Sidle, frankly an asset we cannot bare to lose, have you spoken with your Supervisor about this?" He asked as he opened the file cabinet behind him and withdrew a resignation sheet.

Sara flinched at the request and closed her eyes briefly before answering.

"No, I haven't mentioned it to anyone, and frankly with your permission I wish for it to stay that way for the time being, as for the asset to this lab, it's not the person who makes the lab it's everyone in it, I'm just another pone that makes it work." She explained with as much dignity as she could muster. Ecklie bowed his head slightly and handed over the sheet in which she accepted gratefully and began filling it out.

"I understand this is a giant leap for someone to take, I know the relationship between us is more then murky but I have to ask you to stay, not as a supervisor but as a friend." Sara froze in her writing and looked up into his eyes. She gave him a little smile and went back to her writing.

"I wish I could, but I'm way past my due date Conrad, and it's time for me to start anew." She sighed on the doted line across the bottom of the page and handed him back the paper and pen. They both stood up and he held out his hand and she shook as she smiled. "It was a pleasure working for you Conrad, and I wish you all the luck in the world." She smiled again and retreated out the door, leaving a dazed Ecklie inside.

She made her way to the front desk and smiled at the receptionist.

"Hey Tammy, would you happen to have my check I just wanted to pick it up before I forgot." The little redhead smiled her reply and went through the little cabinet behind her and shuffled through them.

"Yes I do, spend it well Sara, Happy Birthday by the way."

"Thank you, have a nice day." Sara waved and made her way down the hallway towards the locker room.