The snow fell in circles. It seemed to come in from everywhere. Nick looked at the flimsy jacket he had brought and realized it wasn't enough for this kind of weather. They stepped into Cincinnati International Airport and waited for people to come and pick them up.
"Boy it sure is freezing," Greg said receiving a nod from Nick and Warrick
"Well," Warrick said, "Better call Catherine and tell her and Kay that I'm here in one piece," He pulled out his cell phone and called his family. Greg did the same, and Nick called Christina to let her know that he was okay. He didn't tell her about how their mother may actually be alive. They picked up their baggage and went to stand outside, they shivered in the cold, but soon two large Denalis pulled up and some men stepped out.
"CSI Stokes, CSI Sanders, and CSI Brown?" They asked. The three men nodded and then observed the speakers. The first was a taller man with broad shoulders, and he had a small brown beard around his chin and cheeks. He wore a large coat, hat, and gloves.
"I'm Paul, Paul Rayborne. Call me Paul," He shook their hands. The other person standing beside them was a woman of about thirty-four. She had long black hair, and clear brown eyes and brown skin. She was slightly short, but she had a presence that made up for what her height lacked.
"Hey, I'm Amiya," She smiled and shook their hands as well.
"Well we've got a lot to do, how much did your supervisor brief you guys on?" Paul asked.
"Not much," Warrick answered. Nick said nothing.
"Well, we'll brief you back at the lab, anyone can be listening here," Amiya said. Greg and Nick went with Paul in his car, while Warrick rode in Amiya's car. They headed past the river into Cincinnati, and they went to the crime lab. They stepped inside and everyone turned and looked at them.
"Back to work," Paul said. They headed over to Paul's office. It was much more decorative and much neater than Grissom's.
"I'll get the file," Amiya said and she headed in another direction. Paul nodded, and he looked at the three.
"Hey, you all must be cold. I'll make you some coffee. Meanwhile, you three go I there and have a seat, make yourselves at home!" He grinned and headed towards what must've been their break room. Greg, Nick, and Warrick went inside.
"What do you think?" Greg asked.
"I don't know, this place is nice, but not at nice as Las Vegas. It is so damn cold here too," Warrick answered.
"I mean the case," Greg said pretending to bare his fangs. Nick looked blankly at the wall, thinking of his memories of Sara.
"Hey, why are you so quiet?" Warrick asked. No sooner had he asked this, Paul and Amiya stepped into the room. They each got some coffee. Greg grimaced as he tasted his. The coffee wasn't as bad as Vegas's, but compared to his regular Blue Hawaiian, it was pretty gross. They all sipped their drinks when Amiya began passing around a photograph of a young girl.
"This is Maura Charles, she lives in Las Vegas," She began, "She was kidnapped at 1:02 AM, you guys suspect that she was kidnapped by someone that knew her and had some grievance with her family. She was traced in Cincinnati where several witnesses state that they have seen her. It is possible that anybody looks like her," She paused and Paul continued.
"We all didn't take the calls seriously until some blood in an abandoned house matched hers. Along with that blood came another unrelated DNA sample, but I suspect that it is from another kidnapping."
"Why do you think that?" Warrick asked.
"Well, because the blood was found where she was most likely imprisoned with the other victims. She had probably lent a coat or a blanket to the small girl with this woman's hair on her," Amiya continued. Nick's stomach dropped.
"So, have you identified this other victim?" Greg asked. Nick already knew what was coming. He held his breath impatiently.
"Yeah," Paul continued looking at some papers.
"Sara Sidle," Amiya said while looking at the sheet. The immediate reaction was to stare at Nick.
"Here's a picture of her," Paul continued.
"We…don't need it," Warrick said, apparently shocked. Greg had tears in his eyes. Nick had his face in his hands. Paul and Amiya were confused.
"Do you know Ms. Sidle?" He asked.
"Yes," Nick answered, "She's my wife." This was the first time in seven and a half years that he used present tense talking about Sara. It made him feel bizarre, and yet, hopeful.
"Will you guys be able to handle this case objectively?" Paul asked.
"Yeah," Nick said, "I want my wife back. I will go to the end of the world to get her back, even if it means that I can't kill the bastard who kidnapped my heart." His face seemed determined and set.
"Well, we'll…just…leave you…three…alone!" Amiya said feeling the tensions rising. She pulled Paul and they whispered quietly out of the room.
"Wow," Greg said.
"Yeah," Warrick agreed. They both looked at Nick.
"Catherine told me," he admitted.
"Eight years, and now she finally reappears. What are the odds of that?" Greg asked. Nick laughed and shrugged. She might be alive, he thought. All these years of hopelessness and hope finally surged in his heart making him feel a little queasy. Warrick patted his shoulder.
"Do you need anything?" He asked. Nick shook his head.
"No, thanks guys. I don't think that I could've survived all these years because you!" Nick smiled slightly.
"We've got a lead," Amiya poked her head through the door.
(A/N) Thanks for being so supportive guys! Please please please write a review though, it means ever so much to me! hehe, cliffie...well, tell me if you like it!