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A/N I don't know if i'm going to keep this chapter the way it is or change it, becasue i'm not sure if i like it that much. Tell me what you think please.
and i don't own CSI
Five years to the day…I had left Las Vegas, never looking back and with only one regret…giving my heart fully to Gil Grissom. I moved to New York where I had been offered a job a few weeks before I left…and when I got here I was welcomed with open arms…already a big difference from Vegas.
I made friends quickly and my team mates soon became my family…except one…he became more.
When I had come to New York I had been a CSI level 3…now I was a senior CSI with a lot of respect and a good name not only in the lab…but around the country.
I worked hard…just like in Vegas…never took a break and always took the opportunity to work a double…not because I had nothing better to do…but because I always wanted to find justice quickly.
I talked to Brass often, pretty much every other three days and got frequent phone calls and e-mails from Warrick, Greg, and Nick. We never talked about Grissom and Catherine…or what they ended up doing or what became of them…I didn't want to hear.
The major difference of my life in New York than in Las Vegas was that I had a social life. I went out with friends when I had nights off and even sometimes when I didn't have nights off.
I loved New York…I was happy, something I hadn't been in Vegas.
"Sara Sidle, there you are…I've been looking for you everywhere."
I turned quickly; I was half way down the hall on my way to the DNA lab, about to pick up a very important result. I was agitated that my pursuit was being interrupted, but when I saw who it was that was calling me; I couldn't help but to smile.
"Eric, what are you doing here on your day off?" I asked trying not to sound pleased about seeing him.
"Boss took off sick, called me to fill in." Eric said beaming.
"Kissing Jack's ass again?" I asked on a laugh. Eric was a notorious butt kisser, especially when it came to our boss.
"No…just trying to help out…and see you." Eric said joking with me.
"And the truth comes out." I said still teasing.
"Hey I come here to help out on my night off and all you do is tease me." Eric jokingly whined.
"Oh stop it. Listen I was just going to get a DNA result from Lily. Mike and I are working on the potential serial and for the most part we have it covered, but Kevin and Jackie might need some help." I said trying to cut the conversation short so I could get my results.
"Where's Ben tonight?" Eric asked as I started on my way again.
"Off tonight…along with a lot of the other lab rats. Today seemed to be a good day to not come to work." I said finally reaching the lab doors. "Now go help Kevin and Jackie…I have a job to do and so do you."
"Fine be that way." Eric pouted at me. I smiled at him and the proceeded into the DNA lab.
"Tell me something good Lily." I said as I walked into the room and smiled at the lab tech.
Lily tried to smiled but failed. "The semen sample you gave me was not a match to Mr. Waters…he's not the guy who raped this girl or any of the others…I'm sorry Sara, I know how you guys thought this was your break." Lily said comfortingly.
"That's alright Lily…do me a favor and run the DNA through the data base and see what comes up and then page me." I said on a slightly frustrated sigh.
"Will do Sara." Lily said turning back to her work.
I left quickly to find Mike to tell him the bad news. I found him in the layout room on the phone with someone.
He half grimaced, half smiled at me when I walked in.
"Okay, see you in fifteen then…bye." He spoke into the phone before closing it at the end of the conversation.
"Who was that?" I asked.
"Ben…he's coming in to help. Things are not going good…God, we've been working on the same murder for a week…three girls have already died…we have to beat this guy…catch him before he can strike again." Mike said frustration starting appear in his voice.
"Then you're not going to like what I'm going to tell you." I said frowning slightly.
"Don't tell me…" Mike trailed off.
I nodded. "The semen was not a match to Mr. Waters…but Lily is running it through the data base…so don't lose hope just yet." I said trying to sound hopeful.
Mike gave me a look as if to say 'Don't even try'
"This evidence is leading us no where…this guy is going to strike again before we ever get any leads off of this stuff." Mike said in exasperation, looking like he wanted to throw the evidence in front of him all over the room in anger and frustration.
"We'll get a lead…listen let's take a break and wait for Ben to get here…we're doing no good working so frustrated and tired…come one a good cup of coffee will do you some good." I said taking Mike by the arm and leading him out of the room.
"This is unlike you Sara…usually it's me who's trying to get you to take a break. You don't even want to take breaks when you're working at home with me." Mike said in a tone that I would almost call amazement.
"Shut up." Was all I could say in retort.
"OUCH." Mike laughed from behind me.
We arrived at the break room and Mike and I each poured ourselves a cup of coffee.
"So you have a big vacation time coming up I hear…Jack finally forcing you to take off?" Mike asked giving me a knowing smile.
"Yeah…something like that." I said. Mike laughed lightly at me.
There was silence and then Mike said "We're you thinking of going back to Vegas?"
I was momentarily stunned by the question but recovered quickly and said "No…why do you ask?"
"Thought you might be missing home." Mike said slowly.
Mike knew everything about me…we were a close pair. When I had come to New York I was a hot mess with a broken heart. Mike was certainly not the first man I loved after Grissom, because I had dated around for a while. But Mike had taken me under his wing and into his arms one day we decided to go for it and we hit it off…fell in love.
"No Mike…this is home…here…New York is home." I said strongly.
"I'm here…let's go…get things rolling." Ben came stalking in and almost shouted his presence.
Mike and I smiled and I turned around to feign shock. "Ben…there you are…I almost didn't hear you come pounding in here." I said laughing.
Ben frowned slightly which made me laugh. "I'm just joking Ben…you know I love you." I said as I got up to hug him in greeting.
Ben hugged me tightly, but not long enough to cause a comment to come from Mike's lips.
"You two hooking up now?" Mike said with a smile on his lips.
"Damn…and I thought it wasn't long enough." Ben whispered just loud enough to cause Mike to raise his eye brow which caused me to laugh.
"You stay away from my girl Ben." Mike jokingly warned.
"Your girl." I raised a playful brow.
"Yeah your girl? I don't know if I can…" Ben said still playing.
Mike was about to retort when Lily came rushing into the room…urgency written across her face and eminent in her eyes.
"What is it Lily?" I asked dropping my playful tone and taking on a serious one.
"I ran the DNA through the Data base…I got a hit. Las Vegas crime lab just had two rape/murders in the last five days…semen collected matches the semen you collected off of all three bodies…your guy is in Vegas…he's moved to Vegas." Lily said in almost on breath.
I looked to Mike who looked to me. "Yes…finally a break…I'm going to call Jack and tell him the news…get things in order…call Las Vegas PD, tell them what we've got and the get things ready to head out there." Ben said with new excitement. He bounded out of the room…Lily followed after just in a more normal way.
"So…I guess we're going to Vegas anyways." Mike said looking at me.
"I guess…say have you ever been to Vegas?" I asked a small smile on my lips.
"Nope…never." Mike said smiling the same.
"I'll have to show around…the good casinos…clubs…hotels." I said with a mischievous smile on my face.
"I can't wait." Mike said smiling at me…opening his arms to take me into a hug.
"Yeah…neither can I." I said…but suddenly…I was thinking of Grissom. Yeah I couldn't wait…couldn't wait to get in out of Vegas and back to home New York as soon as possible.