CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Chapter Four

Catherine Willows

"Stack It"

Finally it was her turn! After waiting anxiously for what seemed like forever, Catherine was now bolting down the strip leading to the cyclists gear, their team baton in hand. She had counted maybe 25 people ahead of her as they dashed past the line. Catherine glanced left as she ran on, on both sides were low metal fences, which many spectators were gathered behind cheering their team on. She absolutely hated public displays! Especially when she was wearing tight pink pants showing her butt very clearly. Wasting no more time she dashed to her bike and clipped the baton to the side, like she had been instructed before the race. Unwillingly she pulled on the helmet, hopped on and was off.

The track was a smooth stretch of road, twisting like a snake through the more exotic landscape of Nevada, it wasn't anything new to Catherine. Riding a bike as some of you may know, isn't hard. Maybe when we were 2 or 3 it was, but after a while you get the hang of it. In a race such as this you cant just stop whenever you feel like it, you have to keep dragging your feel round and round in circles, until it seems like an endless cycle of wasted energy. Over the past week Catherine had learnt how to keep her mind occupied to ignore the stinging pain in her legs.

"O stands for oxygen, c is carbon" she recited, speeding down the laneway, "What do you get when you get when you mix a drag queen pretending to be an Amazon and a compete retard. Greg!"

Round and round and round and round for yards and yards. The noise of the front wheel spinning its cycle was driving her nuts and it was then that she wished she had brought her Mp3. Every now and then at a bend or a twist there was a stand of audience members, behind that metal fence again, cheering and clapping as she went around. Other than that, there was the occasional checkpoint where a person would be waiting along the track to ensure no cheating took place.

Catherine's legs were getting worn out fast, her breathing was shallow and it was making her slow down. Within the first ten minutes she had already drained the water bottle strapped to one side of the bike.

'I NEED water! Ugh…Come on Cath snap out of it!' she cursed herself, 'Don't let the team down! Don't let them down…'

But it was no use, her muscles felt on the verge of collapse. Anxiously, she turned her head for a split second to look back. Adrenaline levels shot up in the woman's body as she saw other cyclists, gaining fast! She had to hurry up! She just couldn't lose this! But her determination was short lived as Catherine turned back to the track, and…

WAMM!!!

…smacked her forehead against an overhanging tree branch. The bike flew out from under Catherine and she landed hard on her back with a thud. A man a few feet away from Catherine tried to stop his bike from running over the helpless woman on the road. He fell of his green bike like a dead weight and the man next to him was thrown off his bike as he tripped over the fallen male. It all happened so fast Catherine could have blinked and it would have been over. It was more like a dominoes effect; all of the riders fell over either a human or a scrap of metal.

Catherine covered her head as a bike flew her way. After all the cries and shouts had ended, everything became deadly silent and peaceful again, she peeked up.

"Oh shit"

The whole road was littered with groaning half-conscience people, and a mix of bikes which looked like a 1970's junk yard.

"Crap" breathed Catherine, looking at them all. She had caused this. Several scrapes and scratches bruised her arms and her back felt very stiff. But other than that she was fine, these poor suckers though…

The glint of metal caught her eye and she looked down. Her pink bike was there, lying at her feet and it perfect condition. There was nothing for it, Catherine picked up her bike. But before she rode off Catj scanned the pile up and found what she was looking for. The green guys water bottle, and it was full. Smiling she unhooked it and hoped on her bike, riding away and gulping down the refreshment. Anyway he wouldn't need it anymore. She quickly peddled on so no patrol car would spot her, and within minutes she was well away, stiff back, bruises and all.

It only took half an hour for her to complete her course, but she didn't need to worry too much about going fast. She wouldn't have anyone overtaking her for a while. When Catherine finally saw her finish line up ahead it was like watching the bright sun lighting the way to the gates of heaven.

"This is so stupid!" she cursed unhooking the baton, ditching the bike and running down to the finishing strip.

The crowd cheered loudly as she approached, waving American flags and whistling. A thought occurred to her at that moment. Where the hell had Grissom been? Didn't he say he would be with them every step of the way? Just then she heard a honking sound over the audience and Cath spun around. There behind her was a bulking four wheel drive; and Grissom was in the front seat with Warrick. They pointed ahead, and Catherine followed their gaze. Greg was waiting for her, impatiently tapping his boot. He looked dumber than ever, if it was possible! The young Investigator was dressed in leather, with bright pink patches where there was no protective gear. In one hand he was clutching an absurd helmet. It was one of the weirdest things Catherine had seen so far, and that was saying something as the person who was holding it came runner up. She quickly darted through the other waiting competitors (who would be waiting a long time), and over to Greg.

"Get goin'!" she puffed, doubling over as soon as she handed him their pink baton, "I'm through with this!"

He winked and gave her the thumbs up, "It's on baby!"

"Idiot" Catherine mumbled, watching him run away.

A:N/ Hey guys, I hoped you liked it, sorry it was a bit short. There just wasn't anything interesting to write about cycling. But the next one (with Greg) is bound to be better (I hope), but ill leave that for you guys to decide. Thanks to all my reviewers, you guys are awesome. And yeah, next chapter will be up soon.

Sar'z