Disclaimer: I don't own anything, yet

Rating: R for language

Spoilers: Butterflied (season 4) Snakes and Nesting Dolls (season 5)

A/N: Some things may seem OOC but bear with me please. There's a reason for my madness. Sorry for the late update, I've been feeling ick.

Chapter Four: What Has Happened

Sara entered the lab for her first shift back from vacation. She was too preoccupied on her cell phone to care about all the looks and whispers, she was getting. "Yes…No he didn't" Sara laughed as she walked into the locker room. "Why is that?" Sara opened her locker and but her stuff in it. "Can't you fake it?" Sara sat down on the bench in front of her locker. "Well don't tell Alex about that he might hurt you." Sara smiled at Greg as he walked into Locker Room. "Well I better get going my shift's going to start soon." Sara watched Greg just put his stuff away and walk out. "Goodbye Bry." Sara put her phone in its clip and walked out of the Locker Room.

The Break Room

When Sara entered the Break Room she smiled at Nick, Warrick and Catherine, who were setting at the table talking. She hoped they could shed some light on the madness in the lab. On the way to the Break Room she was getting weird looks and some whispers. "Hey guys, what has happened to lab since I've been gone? Everyone seems to be losing it. You wouldn't believe the odd looks I've been getting. You'd think nobody, has seen someone come back from vacation." Sara watched them give each other odd looks. She didn't understand what was going on. "Guy? What is it?"

Nick decided to tell Sara. Maybe it was a misunderstanding. He needed to know her side before he turned her out. "Sara it's the reason we were told you went on vacation." Nick couldn't think of how to tell her what they were all told. "Sofia told everyone you left to look for another job in Oregon, a better job for that matter. She is under the impression you hate us all here."

"Wait…what?" Sara couldn't believe what she was hearing. 'Why would Sofia say things like that? How could she stoop that low?' Sara shook her head. "And you believed her?" Sara could not understand why this was happening. "You know…." Tears started to build up. She knew she had to get out of there. One thing she hated more than crying is letting someone see her crying. "Excuse me." Sara walked out of the Break Room as fast as she could.

They three watched Sara walk out close to tears. Nick looked back at Warrick and Catherine. "I'll go talk to her." Nick got up and went after Sara.

CSI Lab's Hallway

Sara was more than half way down the hallway when she heard Nick calling her name. Sara stopped and whipped her eyes, then turned to Nick. Sara didn't know what to say to him. They were suppose to be friends and she felt betrayed.

"Sara…" Nick started. He shook his head while trying to think of what to say to her. He didn't think sorry would be enough to take back the pain he helped cause her. "I know sorry isn't enough…but I hope it'll be a start." Nick thought he should try to explain to Sara why he got angry. "I couldn't understand why Sofia would lie to us. She had no reason to. I know the things she said…I mean I know I shouldn't have listened because I know you. Please forgive me...please."

Sara didn't know what to say to Nick. She was hurt and angry. She needed time to think and clear her head. She didn't want to say something to Nick that she would regret later. "I don't know Nick." She finally managed to say. "I…I need time to think." With that Sara walked away leaving Nick there cross with himself.

Outside Ecklie's Office

As Greg was walking by Ecklie's office and he overheard Sofia talking to Ecklie. "Conrad I can't believe we are doing it this way. Surely there is a more respectful way of doing it." Greg stood horrified what had he just heard? He could not stay there he had to get out of there. He turned around to leave and ran smack dab into Sara.

"Oh, sorry." Greg could see that Sara was upset about something and he had a very good idea on what it was. "So…I guess you've heard." Greg didn't know what to say to Sara. He wanted to ask her about her trip; but he didn't want her to think he believed the rumors. "I just hope you know I never once took her word on…well anything." Greg wished he could turn time around and stop all this before it started. He was concerned that Sara would start to conceder leaving now. He just could not understand why Sara's so called friends would just take Sofia's side. He had tried to defuse the gossip mill but it only made matters worse.

Sara was having a horrible day. Barely anyone talked to her unless they had to. She couldn't believe that so many so called Scientist would be acting like two high school cliques fighting over something absurd. For the first in since Sara had moved to Vegas she couldn't wait to get away from the lab and get home. At home she could think clearly. She had a lot to think about now. And now she was thinking about the job Robert had offered her. She wouldn't be near Grissom, but she started to believe he would never figure out what to do about 'this'.

The case they were working on seemed to be a serial. So Grissom and Catherine's teams pulled together to help each other out. Grissom and Catherine had tracked down some unsolved murder cases that fit the MO of the murders they were working on. Grissom and Catherine told Ecklie about their findings. He decided to call and see if he could get anyone who handled the original cases. The Assistant Director or the CSI lab agreed with Ecklie, he and another CSI would be there soon. He also informed Ecklie that he would bring the detective that was working the cases as well.

Twenty-four hours Later

The three men stood in reception waiting for Ecklie to meet them. They were all ready to get started and help catch this killer before they moved on to the next city.

"Sorry I took so long I had an issue to deal with." Ecklie stated as he, Grissom, and Catherine got to the three men waiting for him. "I'm Conrad Ecklie; I'm the Assistant Director of this lab." Ecklie extended his hand and shook the hands of the three men. While he was doing that he introduced Grissom and Catherine.

The three men exchanged glances and smiled. "Nice to meet you all I'm……

Please R&R