Disclaimer: see chapter 1

A/N: Sorry I kept you waiting for a bit longer then usual...

Chapter 7

A fresh start, a new future, time to make progress. I stepped out LAX with fresh confidence. I didn't call Grissom to tell him I was on my way. I wanted it to be a surprise. Time check: 1.41 p.m.

Now if I would be Grissom, where would I be…. Probably not at work yet. Next shift starts in 8 hours…. Even if he wanted to go in early…this is way too early. Maybe at home. Where did I put his address again. I searched my bag and found it tucked between a forensic book. '2974 Westfall, Las Vegas NV 89109'. I called a cab and gave him the address. It was a 45 minutes drive. The cab pulled up in front of a nice town house.

Now that surprises me! Grissom, who lives in a regular townhouse! I paid the driver, but asked him to wait until I gave a sign and got out. It really was a big house for one person. Lovely garden too. Probably full of bugs. I knocked on the door and waited. No response. I knocked again and waited, again no response. The next-door neighbor told me that Mr. Grissom didn't come home. The last time he saw Mr. Grissom was 2 days ago. I thanked the neighbor and walked back to the cab. I gave him the address of HQ.

20 minutes later the cab stopped in front of the Las Vegas Crime Lab. I paid the driver again and got out. I stepped into this large building that probably would be my home for the next couple of years. I walked straight to the reception desk. The halls were lighted with numerous lights. I think that they did that to make you believe that it was actually daytime. The entire lab had glass labs and offices. But that wouldn't make it any easier to find your way. When I looked at the left wall I saw a collection of photos of police officers and other employees who retired or, unfortunately, died on duty. I asked if Gil Grissom was in. The friendly receptionist…whose name was Lise, 'I'll have to remember that', told me that Mr. Grissom was out in the field, she wrote down the address on a piece of paper. Jeez, what does a person have to do to find someone here!!! I thanked Lise and stepped out again. Time check: 3.24 p.m.

That's what I have been doing since I arrived here. I call another cab and wait for the cab to arrive. I sit outside the building on the other side of the street on a bench. A lot of people walk in and out of the building, but I don't recognize any of them. They all look very much the same. Black suit, white shirt. They all have the same job. I've been in Las Vegas for only 2 hours and I could already tell the lives of most of the people who were walking by. For instance: a middle-aged man, starting to lose his hair, wearing a suit. Out of the pocket of his vest dangles a badge. So he is a detective. His face shows the things he had been through: probably divorced, living alone, maybe one or two kids that don't like him because he is too absorbed by his job. He looks sad, something bad must recently have happened. You see, I can tell a lot about someone only by looking.

I have a look at the paper Lise has given me and read the address. 3770 LAS VEGAS BLVD. STH , 89109, Hotel Monte Carlo, Monaco suite. Under the address is something else written: Call me if you want to see more of Sin City, and then her phone number and a file of the case I need to investigate. Wow, 2 hours and I got my first phone number! Great city!

From the corner of my eye I see a SUV park in front of the building. The door opens and a redhead steps out of the car. She is different than the others. She wears a black pants and a blue top. Really suits her. She walks towards the building. Before she enters she turns around and looks directly at me. I'm pretty sure I've never met her. Why would she look in…saved by the cab. I give the driver the address and for the third time today I'm sitting in a cab who brings me to my unknown destination. I start to read the file Lise gave me.

So if I understand this correctly Grissom brought me here to investigate why Warrick Brown left this girl on a scene. There is a photo of the girl. Holly Gribbs, started her first day as CSI. Wow, nice recommendations. Oh! I read further…'Was shot during the job. She processed a scene which was apparently cleared. The lead CSI was nowhere to be found. He claims that he..' He left her! Because of him this fine woman is in hospital fighting for her life! Now I see why Grissom wants an investigation and why he didn't want I.A. breathing down his neck. Good thing he asked some one else though. I read the entire file and make some side notes. I am just finished when the cab stops.

Once again I pay the driver, take my bag and get out of the car. I don't even have to ask where the crime scene is. About 50 people are standing behind a yellow crime scene tape. They are all the same. Yellow and black. I look up and from what I could see, they are simulating a crime scene. Some one threw a dummy of the hotel's roof. Oh no my mistake, another dummy is thrown and another one. 3 dummies… so they weren't sure whether he jumped, fell or was pushed of the roof. 'So old school' I chuckle and walk to the yellow tape and show the officer my badge. And there he is. Finally, ladies and gentlemen, the one and only DR. Gil Grissom! He is talking to himself again and he takes some photo's of the dummies.

"Norman 'pushed' " he says and 'click' a photo.

"Norman 'jumped' " and 'click' a photo.

"Norman 'fell' " and 'click' a photo.

I can't let this one pass by. "Wouldn't you if you were married to Mrs. Roper?" I say. I put my bag on the ground and I have this huge grin on my face.

Grissom puts his camera on the floor and says "I don't even have to turn around. Sara Sidle." He turns around and smiles back.

'He didn't changed a bit' I take off my sunglasses and cross my arms. "That's me. Still tossing simulation dummies? There are other ways to tell, you know?" And now he probably will quote some one, you wanna bet? See I blend in perfectly! 3 hours in Vegas and I already start making bets.

"How? Computer simulation? No thanks. I'm a scientist I like to see it. Newton dropped the apple, I drop dummies." Told you so!

"You're old school." I say.

"Exactly. And this guy was pushed."

It's always great to see him, but I am here for an investigation. Not a nice one but some one has to do it. I think about the girl again. She looked scared, yes… the face on that photo looked scared. She was afraid of the job, afraid of the unknown, I could see it in her eyes. I have a distant look on my face, I know it.

"How's the girl?" I ask. Grissom's face changes. At first he looked happy and relieved, now he looks troubled and scared. He looks away. He presses his lips together. He always does that when he's nervous or hurt.

"She's still in surgery. She's not doing very well." He answers. I look at the floor. I know that when Grissom says not very well, that she probably will die during surgery.

"That's too bad." Is the only reply I can give.

"God, Sara, I have so many unanswered 'why's." he says. I need to be careful now, if Grissom notices that I'm not really objective anymore he might put me back on the first plane to Frisco. So stay calm, Sara, and say the right thing.

"There's only one why that matters now. Why did Warrick Brown leave that scene?".

There is a silence between us. We both know that the outcome of that question could be good or bad, there's no in-between.

"I'll give you a lift back to HQ. " he says. He takes his cell and calls someone.

I look around. I don't get these people. What is the point of cheering and clapping at a crime scene. Maybe they thought it was an extra from the hotel… I don't know. Grissom is next to me and heads to his car. We get in and I start to feel uncomfortable. It's been a long time...

"So you know what you have to do?" he asks.

"Yes, I read the file and I have some questions for your team."

"Good. You know that I want a fast but thorough investigation and when you finish your report just give it to me. I trust you Sara, I know it is in the team's best interest to get you on this case. And I also wanted to say thank you for your help."

"No, I'm the one that should say thank you. It's a great opportunity to work with you again and with the finest team of the country." I wonder why I said that. "You didn't ask me why I didn't call." I say quickly.

"Didn't have to, I would have done the same." He says with a knowing smile.

Of course he would do that, Grissom and phone calls not a good match. During the ride we talked about the case and the things they already found out. A few minutes later we sat in silence again. But this time it was a comfortable silence. I was thinking who I would question first. Well, I think I'd go for the only woman in the team: Catherine Willows…

Let me know what you think of this chapter... Next chapter will be up soon!