Sorry it's so short, but that's what I get for typing it at 1 in the morning. -lol-

Disclaimer: Please don't sue me. I have no money.


Catherine's POV

I take in the scene silently. There are no words to be spoken; a member of our team is gone and in the hands of a psycho. There are no tears to be shed; I believe that Gil's taken care of that. He's sitting on the edge of the freeway, his back against his Denali and his head in his hands. I know he blames himself for this. But it's not his fault. There's nothing he could have done.

I've known about Sara and Gil from the moment their connection was made. It was obvious. The gentle touches, the stares, it all made sense to me. I'd gone through the same thing with Eddie, though I'm sure that Sara's happily ever after won't be so…unhappy.

Walking briskly, I approach Gil and kneel next to him. I'm not surprised to see tears in his eyes, which are bloodshot when he looks up at me.

"It's my fault," he whispers, but I shake my head.

"I don't want to hear that," I say, my voice cracking. "There was absolutely nothing you could have done."

He shakes his head, and then lets it drop forward as a fresh wave of tears hit. My heart goes out to him, and I plant myself on the ground next to him. Opening my arms, I gather him into an embrace and hold him as he cries. I've seen Gil cry once before; when his mother died. But these tears are different. These are tears spilt for a lost lover.


Jim's POV

I don't know what to do. So many thoughts are coming at me all at once, and I can't process them all right now. I'm standing in front of a tree, staring down at something I wish I wasn't seeing. She's breathing, which is a relief. But she's unconscious, not that I can blame her. She doesn't have any clothes on, and even in her state, she's shivering. I'm just standing here, staring, relieved that I've found her.

I snap out of my trance and cup my hands around my mouth as I whistle.

"I've got her! She's over here!" I yell, and then look down again. That's when I really realize that she's naked. Quickly, I slip my jacket off and cover her the best I can. The other officers run over to me. The medics aren't far behind, and I step back, letting them do their job. And then he runs up, a look of panic on his face. Gil looks like he's the one who's been attacked. His eyes are red and his nose is running, and he's shaking just like she is.

"Is she…is she…"

He can't bring himself to ask it, so I intervene.

"She's alive Gil. Just barely, but she's alive."


Grissom's POV

Oh lord, she's gone. I can't find her. I've given up after the boys in blue arrived. I decided instead to sit on the ground, crying my eyes out. I hear footsteps, and for a moment, I let my heart get the best of me. Looking up, I hope against hope that it's her. But it's not. It's Catherine. She's got a look of pity on her face, and I sigh quietly.

"It's my fault," I manage to whisper, and in my mind, I know that if I hadn't let her go outside, none of this would be happening. Catherine seems to think otherwise.

"I don't want to hear that. There was absolutely nothing you could have done," she says, but in her voice, I hear the buried pain. She's as worried as I am. And I feel her worry as much as anything else.

Suddenly, I hear it. I hear Jim yelling.

"I've got her! She's over here!"

His voice sounds distant, so I stand and decide to follow the flow of blue. We're all running, and I realize that Catherine's right beside me, running to keep up. I slide to a stop and see her. Jim's covered her with his jacket, and for a moment, I fear the worst. Is she…is she…?

I discover that I've spoken out loud when Jim answers me.

"She's alive Gil. Just barely, but she's alive."

I sink to my knees and thank God. She's alive.


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