I stepped out into the cool air of a Las Vegas night…it felt so familiar it made my stomach churn unexpectedly.

I walked briskly to the rental car that sat near the hotel entrance. I got in and started up the car. I took a deep breath before I pulled out, fighting the urge to go back inside and stay with Ben and have Mike go instead.

I drove down familiar streets…saw familiar sights and for a minute I found myself almost missing Vegas…but I shook it off.

I rolled down my window and felt a nice breeze cool off my face…I felt myself growing more and more nervous as I knew I was coming closer to the lab.

It felt odd to know that I still knew my way to the lab so well…I thought that time might have made me forget everything, but I found myself unconsciously making turns that brought me closer and closer to a fate I wasn't sure I was ready for.

And then I passed the diner, that held such great memories…and such heart ache.

"Sara, you need to slow down."

I looked over at Warrick who sat in the passenger seat of my Denali, looking white as a ghost and holding onto his seat for dear life.

"Aw, come on Warrick…toughen up…my driving isn't that bad." I said…feeling the liberated feeling of actually having cracked something like a joke for the first time in months.

Warrick caught it too, and smiled despite himself. "I'm just glad we're almost there…I'm hungry…and a little car sick…but mostly hungry."

I pulled into the parking lot of the diner we all usually ate at and hit the brakes hard, just to get a rise out of Warrick. He didn't comply, just gave me a look that said 'I'm about ready to kill you'

I laughed "Come on Warrick…let's get you some food." I said as I stepped out of the truck.

I heard Warrick say from the other side "You know it's nice to see you smile and hear you laugh…I've missed that."

"Yeah…me too." I said before I turned to look in the diner window.

Warrick walked to the door and waited for me to follow.

"Warrick…I'm not hungry anymore." I said turning to get back into the car.

"What do you…all you could talk about for the past hour was how hungry you were…Sara you're as thin as a twig…we're eating." Warrick said coming around to my side of the car.



I stood with my back to window…I couldn't look, it just hurt too much. "Warrick, I'm not going in there…if you're really hungry…we can eat at my place." I said shuddering slightly.

"Sara…what the hell is wrong?" Warrick asked, putting a comforting hand on my back.

"It's them…in the window." I whispered.

Warrick turned to look through the diner window and sure enough four seconds later I heard "Son of a bitch…that rotten bastard."

"Warrick…I just want to go home." I said softly.

"Yeah, sure…I'm driving though okay…I value my life."

Warrick's jab at my driving skills elicited a small chuckle from me, before I walked around to the other side of the Denali without protest.

I got in and Warrick did the same. He started up the car…and as he pulled out…all I could do was stare at them…laughing…smiling…holding hands over the table. I wanted to cry…but I wouldn't…I was far beyond tears.

"I'm so sorry Sara…I used to be friends with her…but I just…can't now."

"Warrick don't hate people on my behalf…my business and drama is mine alone and no one else's." I said looking out the window.

"I don't care Sara…I care about you…and they hurt you…I can't forgive that…I'm sorry."

"Yeah…so am I."

To soon was I pulling into the parking lot of the Las Vegas PD crime lab. I parked in a parking space that was a little ways away from the entrance.

I knew everyone was in there…Warrick, Greg, Nick, Brass…Grissom and Catherine. They were all in there and waiting for the CSI from New York to arrive.

I sighed wondering if my stomach would stop doing summersaults. My nerves held me fastened to the seat…I didn't know if I could do this. My once strong feeling of confidence and will was long gone. But I knew it was now or never so I turned off the ignition, grabbed my purse, and got out of the car.

I walked slowly but purposefully towards the doors I had walked through countless times…a million life times ago.

The cool air conditioning that circulated the lab air well hit me full force and my nostrils were met by the nostalgic smell of the Las Vegas crime lab.



I walked up to lab's front desk and was almost what you could call presently surprised to see that Judy still worked there.

She smiled at me from behind the desk and asked "Can I help you?"

Apparently she didn't recognize me…had I changed in looks that much?

"Yes, actually…I'm one of the CSIs here from New York…my boss told Mr. Grissom that I would be stopping by for a short visit." I said…the words Mr. Grissom rolling off my tongue in surprisingly easy manner.

Judy smiled at me and said "I'll phone him right now."

I turned away from the desk for a moment while Judy called Grissom.

"Mr. Grissom…it's Judy…one of the New York CSIs are here….okay great, I'll tell her." Judy said sweetly.

I turned to look at her again. "Mr. Grissom said he would be right down…I'm just going to need you to sign this visitor's sheet."

I nodded and signed my name and the date next to it. I handed it back to Judy who smiled at me sweetly.

"You can have a seat over there Ms…" Judy paused to look at the name I had just written down when suddenly her face drained of color. "Sidle?" She said the last part quietly; almost as if she was afraid to say it loudly.

I nodded and turned to sit when I heard "You must be the CSI from New York."

I froze at the sound of the voice…my stomach churning again and my blood running cold.

I turned slowly and was met by the pleasant blue eyed gaze of Gilbert Grissom.

"Sara…" He breathed out…his face draining of any and all color just as Judy's had, but he must have been ten times paler.

"Hey Griss…I'm here, sorry it took me so long to get in." I said surprised my voice sounded normal, but I knew my face held a fake and strained smile.

"Sara…" He breathed out again.

"Oh boy…this is going to be a long night." I said quietly to myself.

A/N I hoped you liked this chapter, i did it after like 5 hours of homework...so it should be some of my finest work.