A/N - This chapter is a little shorter then any onf the others I have writtne but it gets the point across. Thanks for reading.

Chapter Two – Steady As She Goes

Sara could not decide if it was creepy or not that she was watching Keisha sleeping. But despite the creep factor, she could not tear her eyes away. She was trying to find something that proved that the same blood flowed through their veins but there was not a lot there. She must have taken after her mother in terms of looks because Sara could not find a scrap of her father in her half sisters features. She had large lips, big round eyes and a small narrow nose. The only thing that Sara recognized in Keisha was the long fingers and narrow wrists that they both shared. Keisha started to stir at that point, her eyes fluttering open.

"Hey Sara."

Sara smiled down as she helped Keisha sit up before taking her own seat again.

"How are you feeling?"

"Sore"

Sara nodded as an uncomfortable silence fell. How do you talk to a stranger that had suddenly turned into family?

"How did our father die?"

"Did your mother never tell you?"

"No, she just said that he had died."

My mother killed him. He used to beat her as well as my brother and I. One day he pushed my mother too far and she stabbed him to death."

"So what happened to you?"

"I looked after myself. I was in and out of foster homes for most of my life, bouncing from family to family. Then I was accepted to Berkley and I never looked back."

"Sara, I'm sorry that I dropped this on you the way I did, I was just so excited to have finally found you. It took two years to hunt you down."

"And I'm sorry I kicked you out of the lab. I was shocked."

Keisha shook her head and gave her another bright smile.

"It's forgotten."

Sara held out a large brown paper bag.

"I called Michel and found out what magazines you like and I also heard from one of you kids that you liked green seedless grapes."

Sara laid the magazines and grapes on the table beside the hospital bed before settling herself back in he seat.

"Keisha, my boss found out about those other attacks at the school."

"And I refuse to believe that those kids are responsible. They are good kids Sara, all of them."

"They all have records Keisha and they are all prone to anger."

Keisha shook her head, her eyes flashing.

"Nobody gives them any credit they always jump to conclusions when it comes to my kids. Now you sit there telling me that one of them could have done this to me, raped me and left me for dead. People change you know Sara."

Sara held her hands up, trying to calm the younger woman down.

"Listen Keisha, this is part of an investigation. Everybody gets checked out and dismissed as a suspect. We even took a DNA sample from Michel. All the bases need to be covered. Until we have a solid suspect, we need to be suspicious of everyone in your life, your kids included."

"You took a DNA sample from my husband?"

"It's nesscasary if you had sex twenty-four hours before the rape. Did you?"

Keisha said nothing, so Sara continued.

"Your husband's sexual fluids will remain inside you fro at least twenty-four hours, so they were there when the attack happened. If the rapist used a condom-"

"He didn't use a condom. I could feel it."

Sara watched as the anger drained from Keisha's face.

"What do you mean?"

"He didn't use a condom, I could feel it. He also didn't ejaculate."

"Which would mean that it was someone young or someone with incredible control. Keisha, how often did you stop at the store?"

"Almost everyday. It's cheap and I like the people there. Why?"

"Because I think someone knew you were going to be there. They obviously had a problem with something you had done, which does not make this a random attack. This is premeditated attack. Can you think of anyone who would want to do this to you?"

"No, of course not. Not any of my kids at school or anyone else I know."

Sara stood and smiled down at Keisha.

"I had better get back to the lab and start processing the suspects. I'll see you later Keisha."

Sara closed the door behind her, her mind already trying to process the infinite possibilities of this case.

Warrick was sitting at the break room table doing paperwork when Sara strode in, a frown on her face.

"Warrick, I need your help."

Warrick closed the file, giving her his full attention.

"With what?"

Sara sat down in the chair across from him.

"With something that could get you into trouble with Grissom."

Warrick sat back in his seat, arms across his chest as he studied her.

"This is to do with the Henderson case, isn't it?"

Sara nodded.

"And why would I get into trouble?"

"It's complicated."

Warrick gave her a wide smile.

"And until I know what it is, I'm not going to help you."

Sara sighed loudly, running her hands through her hair.

"Keisha Henderson is my half sister. My father had an affair with her mother."

Warrick let out a low whistle.

"Heavy. So why exactly do you need my help?"

"Because Grissom didn't want me on this case."

"Oh I see. So what do you need me to do exactly?"

Sara gave Warrick a wide smile.

"You rock."

"I know. I've been telling people that for years but they all refuse to listen."

Sara handed Warrick a piece of paper.

"Keisha Henderson worked at St Cameron's. It's a kid for schools from underprivileged families and abusive situations."

"And parents who are involved in illegal activities?"

"Yup. I need your help because I doubt these kids would talk to me. The only cool thing about me is my freezer at home. You know how to talk to them, you were one of them."

Warrick nodded.

"Ok white girl, I'll help you out. But only because I want to make sure you stay out of trouble."

"Thanks Warrick."

The school was much bigger then Sara had expected, and considering the neighborhood and what kind of kids attended, it was less run down that she had assumed it would be. The only thing that threw her off was the metal detectors at every entrance and the big burly, security guards that stood on either side of each one. For a moment she remembered the prison that she had visited recently for another case, which had been laid out in the same manner. Thanks to their kits, the metal detectors beeped excitedly but they passed through untouched when they flashed their ID's to the guards, who had been expecting them. They found Keisha's class room easily and watched from the door as the group of twenty kids harassed their substitute teacher, like hunters baiting and teasing their prey. Warrick caught the poor teacher's eyes and she came to the door, relieved from some sort of rest from the kids.

"Can I help you?"

"We need to talk to these students. You could go and get a coffee."

The teacher glanced at the kids, only taking a second to make her decision.

"Their all yours."

The teacher pushed past them and headed down the hall, disappearing around the corner as fast as her short legs could take her. The kids didn't seem to notice that their teacher had gone; resuming whatever conversations that they had been in before she had rudely interrupted them with her attempt at teaching. Warrick strode into the room with the same confidence that he showed at a crime scene, Sara following closely behind. He took a position in the center of the room and took a deep breath.

"YO! Eyes up front!"

Sara wasn't sure if the silence that fell was one of shock or curiosity but either way, soon all eyes were on the two CSI's.

"My name is Warrick and this is Sara. We wanted to talk to you about what happened to your teacher, Keisha Henderson."

The talking started again, and soon questions were being thrown at them from every corner of the room. Warrick held up his hands and the room fell silent again.

"One at a time please. I'm sure you all know the raise you hand routine."

Every kid had a question and Warrick picked them out one by one.

"Are you guy's pigs?"

"No we're scientists. We collect things like DNA and fiber to catch the bad guy."

A young girl stood and judging by the silence that fell when she held up her hands, she was clearly the leader of this unlikely group of kids. Her hair was short and pulled into tight cornrows, her clothes pained on her slim frame.

"Was Mrs. Henderson really raped? No one is telling us the truth and we want to know."

Warrick nodded as he moved to perch himself on the edge of the teachers desk.

"Yes she was. That is why we are here."

The girl crossed her arms against her chest and glared at the scientists.

"Let me guess, we're all suspects."

An uproar went ripping through the class, they began to yell and swear at the scientists. Silence fell again as the girl raised one hand.

"I'll tell you something both for free. Nobody in this room attacked Mrs. Henderson. We all liked and respected her. She was a friend and she trusted us more then even our own parents. Just because we have records does not mean we would want to hurt her."

Sara studied the girl with the same intensity that she was studying them.

"What's your name?"

"Helena Johnson."

Sara nodded as she placed her kit on the desk, popping it open.

"You seem like a smart girl Helena, so I'm not going to dick you around. Someone sexually assaulted Mrs. Henderson and we want to know who. We need DNA samples from everyone here so that we can eliminate you as suspects."

The girl continued to stare at Sara.

"So by giving you a DNA sample we get knocked off your list?"

Sara nodded and Helena turned back to her classmates.

"Don't fuck these guys around ok? The sooner we do this, the sooner they find the freak that did this to Mrs. Henderson."

There were nods of agreement and murmurs of approval and Helena turned back to Sara.

"You should know that there are people out there who are looking for the guy who did this. If you don't find him before they do, he'll be dead."

Sara offered Helena a small smile.

"I can't say I'll be disappointed."

Helena offered one of her own back and took her seat again, watching as Sara and Warrick took out their cotton swabs and evidence bags.