The image of Carol Smith in Sara's dreams had been replaced by her violent husband, Bradley. The picture on his criminal record was a few years old, but still Sara couldn't forget his face. His messy hair made him look like a drunk and his scruffy beard made him appear 10 years older. It was not a face Sara would have liked to have seen on a dark night in Vegas.

In a bizarre way, the face of Bradley Smith was familiar to Sara. She couldn't pinpoint where from, but the thought that this man was recognizable worried her. The thought that she should inform Catherine of the possible connection crossed her mind, but was later dismissed by the fact it wasn't overly familiar and Sara reassuring herself it was probably a coincidence.

Another night for Sara was spent dreaming about the Smith family. She felt like a child again, hiding from her father and daydreaming about her escape. Now she could only imagine what it is like now for the children of Bradley Smith.

Sara couldn't sleep again that night so she decided to go into work early and get some work done. It was noon when she arrived back in the lab and she wasn't expecting Catherine in. With the case file under her arm, Sara went straight to the break room and grabbed a cup of coffee. Sipping on the hot liquid, she opened the folder and once again the lifeless, bruised face of Carol lay before her eyes.

Neither of the Smith parents had any family that Bradley could have ran to and it was believed there was no close friends because of the non-existent outgoing phone calls or mail. Carol was a waitress at a local café and Bradley was unemployed thought to be a drunk as the beer cans collected at the house were all his.

Every word in the file had been reread at least three times by Sara and still she was no closer to finding Bradley or his children. They were dust in the wind. Exhausted, Sara lay her head on her arms and rested her eyes for a few minutes before Jim Brass walked in.

'Oh hey Sara. I was not expecting to see you here,' Brass said, causing Sara to wake up.

'Hey Jim. What you doing here? I thought you would have been off home by now.'

Brass shrugged and gave a smile. 'I have no life.' He paused. 'Actually I got called in, suspect Bradley Smith was detained in California robbing a bank believe it or not. He is getting shipped back here now.'

Sara's eyes grew wide. 'And the children?'

'Were in a hotel room, they are getting brought back here too by child services.'

Catherine walked in at that moment. 'Hey Sara. I was about to call you, we got some good news.' She greeted the brunette.

'I heard Cath. How long before they get here?'

'About 3 hours I'm guessing.'

'Well ladies. I will need to leave you now. I have some business to take care of.' Brass interrupted before waving goodbye. The two women thanked him before he left.

'Listen Sara,' her tone now serious, 'if you can't handle the husband I will understand. I can't have you losing it with him.'

'It's okay Catherine. I can handle it.' Sara replied immediately.

'Well I am going to go get the evidence in order, you get some sleep. I'll come wake you when they arrive at the station.' Catherine said before leaving the room.

Sara ignored Catherine's advice and continued reading the case file.

Three hours later, just as Catherine predicted, Bradley arrived in Vegas. Catherine had come to collect Sara so they could drive to the station together only to find she had already left.

In the police station Sara sat opposite the 10-year-old boy, watching him colour in a picture of a dinosaur. She wasn't ready to face the husband yet but she was okay to talk to the children.

'So tell me about your daddy.' Sara spoke softly to the boy as his two sisters sat in the corner playing with two dolls the social services lady brought them.

As soon as Sara spoke, Leonard put down the crayon and stared deep into her eyes. 'Daddy doesn't it like it when we talk to strangers.'

'It's okay to talk to me,' she took out her ID badge. 'See. I am a police officer.'

He smiled as he reached out to hold the badge. He held it softly in his small hands. 'Daddy hurt mummy a lot. He hurt Kate a lot too.' He looked over at his younger sister. 'He would sleep a lot of the time, but we had to be really quiet. Mommy tried to make him not hit us, but then he just hurt her.'

'Do you remember when your mommy left?'

He nodded. 'Daddy had been really mad that day. They were fighting on the stairs and he got really angry so he pushed her and she fell. We never her saw her after that and daddy hurt Kate a lot more when she was gone.'

Sara took the small boy by the hand and squeezed it gently. 'It's going to be okay now.'

Sara looked up at a tapping on the glass door. Catherine stood behind it not looking too pleased. Sara let go of Leonard's hand and walked out into the hallway ready to face the wrath of Catherine Willows.

'Thanks a lot Sara! You start without me? I'm lead on this case Sara! That means you wait for me to start!' Her voice was angry but not loud to avoid causing a scene.

'I'm sorry Catherine. I couldn't just sit there. I was just talking to the son.' Sara shot back defensively.

Catherine sighed. 'Whatever. Lets just go talk to the husband, Sara. We already got enough to charge him with the murder of Carol.'

Sara stood in the middle of the hallway. 'He pushed her down the stairs in the middle of a fight, while their children watched.' Her voice was quite and slow.

Catherine sensed Sara's pain. 'We got him Sara. That's all that matters now.'

Walking along the corridor to Interrogation Room 1, Sara dreaded going inside as she was afraid of losing it again with Catherine there watching. But she took a deep breath and opened the door to the room and stepped inside.

Bradley Smith's appearance had changed since the photograph on his record had been taken. Gone was the beard that aged him, gone was the straggly, messy hair, which made him look unfamiliar. Sara stared at the man she once knew sitting alone in the room. She felt sick to be familiar with him. And Sara knew that the past she took 20 years hiding was once again going to be resurfaced.

Okay next chapter is the one you have been all waiting for, I hope it isn't a big disappointment. Keep reviewing and I shall keep updating.