----- ----- -----

Chapter 2: The Scene

----- ----- -----

The next night proved to be even crazier than the last. When Grissom came into his office, a list of cases was already waiting for him, and after looking at the nature of the cases, he was almost sorry he'd made Sara take time off. But crime in Las Vegas waited for no one, so he headed to the conference room with coffee and assignments in hand. When the others had arrived and finally settled down, Grissom began the night with a few announcements.

"All right, we've got a big night ahead of us. There's a shit load of cases here, and Sara's taking some time off so we'll have to divide and conquer."

"Wait," said Nick with a smile. "Sara Sidle is taking time off? Are you sure you got the right information there, Griss?"

He gave a small smile. "Trust me, it wasn't easy… Okay, Nick, you have a 414 at the Four Aces."

"Oh man!" he cried. "Not another trick roll!"

"Hey, until Vegas learns that you can't trust every hooker on the street, we keep investigating trick rolls. Someone has to do it… Warrick, B & E in Summerlin. Greg, I'm putting you on the suspected rape case. The victim was found out near Blue Diamond Road. O'Riley is waiting for you."

"What about me?" Catherine asked as the others filed out.

"You're with me. We've got a 404 in Henderson."

She furrowed her brow. "Unknown trouble? What kind of unknown trouble?"

"A call came in about an hour ago with an anonymous tip reporting an unconscious woman in a warehouse. We don't know much more than that."

"So she's dead?"

He shrugged. "The paramedics couldn't revive her, but the assistant coroner hasn't pronounced."

"Hasn't he gotten there yet?"

"Oh, he's there, but he hasn't pronounced yet."

"Why not?" she asked incredulously.

"Doc. Robbins had a family emergency and David has a cold. They had to bring in swing shift's new assistant coroner, and apparently he doesn't know what he's doing quite yet."

"Great… Well, that sounds like fun. Why didn't they just call it a 419?"

"Because no one in Vegas knows what they're doing. Come on, we should get over there."

----- ----- -----

A half an hour later, their black Denali pulled up to an old warehouse on the outskirts of Henderson. Though it was late, the surrounding area was awash with light as the blue and red of nearby police units mixed to cast an eerie purple glow upon the scene. Several officers stood near the taped off area conversing with one another and two paramedics, but despite these familiar sights, Grissom couldn't shake the feeling that this was by no means familiar territory.

As they pulled their kits out of the back of the Denali and made their way toward the old warehouse, Brass was waiting for them.

"Hey Gil… Cath… Body's over there."

"The body?" Grissom repeated.

"Yeah. Seems the coroner finally made up his mind. She couldn't be revived, and he couldn't feel a pulse, so go figure…"

Shaking her head, Catherine walked ahead, turning on her flashlight as she approached the woman.

"Two stab wounds in the back, and a shot in the back of the leg," she called out as Grissom joined her. "Not much blood, and lividity hasn't set. She hasn't been here long."

Grissom stared at the victim laying face down on the hard concrete, dark brown curls covering her face. There was something eerily familiar about the young woman, bearing a painful resemblance that he couldn't even think about without feeling his heart beat wildly out of control.

Catherine looked up, sensing his uneasiness. "Grissom, what's wrong?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he knelt next to the body and proceeded to gently roll her over onto her back. Pushing her hair back and looking at her face, all his worst fears came true.

It was Catherine who found her voice first. "Good God… It can't be…" Looking down, she found the victim's purse nearby. Digging through it, she pulled out the woman's driver's license, but upon confirming the name, all she could do was hand the ID to Grissom with a shaking hand.

"Gil… It's Sara."

He let the ID fall to the ground beside him as he fell to his knees beside her. Bringing her hand to his lips, he kissed her ever so lightly as the tears fell from his eyes.

As he grieved, Catherine shone the flashlight over Sara's pale and lifeless looking body. He eyes were open and staring straight ahead. Her jeans were unzipped and stained red with blood from the shot in the back of her left leg. Though her camisole was intact, the buttons were torn off of her blouse. It took all the strength Catherine had not to imagine the horrors Sara must have gone through. Moving the light further along her body, there were bruises visible on her arms and face. As the light passed over the face, her eyes contracted.

"God, Gil... She's alive! Somebody call an ambulance!"

A/N: Thank you for your reviews! They mean a lot... I don't know how I'd get through a story without them. Besides, how can you write a great story without knowing what the readers want? Please continue to review... ideas and constructive criticisms are welcome!

Teaser: "Why won't you talk to me?" ... She looked at him with fear in her eyes. "He warned me what would happen if I told anyone... I ran, and look what happened. After that, I tend to believe him."