Sorry it took so long to update, I unfortunately got food poisoning... YUM! Thanks for the reviews everybody, I know I'm evil... and do I really have a soft spot? Ha ha! FloatingInMoon... good theory you got going on there... Although, I thought "Drama" would be better than "Tragedy", I could always change it just for you ;-) Oh, so evil am I!

Just a note, I really don't know much about what happens when families need to be contacted or the usual tine frame on how long it takes to be informed, so this is just my guess-a-mate.

Enjoy!

Catherine's POV

I'm working with Warrick and Greg on a B&E turned homicide. As I'm bending down to dust for prints, images of Sara suddenly fills my mind.

"Catherine? Are you ok?" Greg asked, "You don't look good"

Normally I would tell him I'm ok and get back to work, but since Sara has left we have this new friendship growing.

"Something is wrong with Sara" I say

"No, Catherine. Sara's fine." I could tell by Greg's voice that he was hoping he was right

"Yeah, I'm probably paranoid. Thanks Greg. Let's finish this and get back to the lab" I try to smile.

"Sure"

I've been sitting in the break room with the TV tuned to CNN. I'm trying not to listen, but I'm hoping I'm wrong.

"Hey, girl. Why the nervous tapping?" Warrick says before sitting down across from me

"Hmm?" I just realized he was right. I'm tapping my pen against the table while I'm trying to read my notes "Oh" I looked at the TV and back at Warrick. He looks over and sees it's on CNN

"Ah, Catherine. Sara's OK. Don't worry so much"

Just then you hear the anchor announce there's some breaking news

"Catherine! Warrick! We've got a match!" Greg comes running into the break room

"SHHHH!!!" Warrick and I say, keeping our eyes on the TV

"We have confirmed information about an ambush on the 49th Division. There have been deaths. We will keep you updated as the news comes in"

"Did he just say…" Warrick asks

"The 49th Division? Yes, he did." I say, feeling the blood drain from my face. I look at Greg and his mood has suddenly changed

"Greg…" I walk up to Greg and he looks at me, his eyes sparkling with tears

"Sara's ok..." Greg looks broken "I need to go check on some… uh… evidence"

"Greg?" he turns around and I pull him into my arms

He grabs onto me and starts to cry. I start to cry too. Right now, we need this. We both have special connections to Sara

Nick walks in followed by Grissom. They both look at us and look to Warrick for answers

"Sara's Division has been ambushed. They said there have been deaths."

Nick face falls at the information. Grissom stares at the TV with a blank expression. For the rest of the shift we stay in the break room, waiting for news

3 Days Later:

Grissom kicked me out of the lab and told me to go home. I didn't come home until this morning. There has been no news on Sara. There have been 4 confirmed deaths, but they only released the name of one, and that's Amy Kraft. Sara talked about her in her letters sometimes. They were the only women in their division. I shed tears for her family, and for Sara. If she's alive, she's probably going through a really hard time right now.

The doorbell rings and I go to answer the door. There is a deliveryman standing at the door.

"Catherine Willows?"

"Uh… yes?" He hands me an envelope. I look and see an address from Washington

"Can you sign here please?"

I sign the paper and thank him before closing the door

I sit down on the couch and stare at the envelope. I can't open this alone, and I don't want Lindsay to be reading it in case it says the inevitable. I opt to call Greg instead

"Have you opened it yet?" Greg asks sitting down on the couch and I shake my head, eyes glued to the envelope

"I can open it, Catherine" Greg quietly says

"No, I need to do this myself. But thanks." Greg takes my hand and squeezes it

"I'm here, Catherine"

I take a deep breath and I open it

"We regret to inform you that on the 10th day of April in the year 2007 Pfc. Sara Sidle is Missing In Action

Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family in this time of need"

I feel my eyes fill with tears. I look at Greg and watch as his eyes finish reading the letter. He suddenly looks like a lost child who has lost his best friend. He turns and looks at me as I let my tears fall

"Mom?" Lindsay walks into the room "What's wrong? Why is Greg here?"

I turn to answer her when her eyes widen

"Is it Sara?" Lindsay whispers and takes my silence as confirmation "Mom?"

I can't talk; I've lost my voice

"Please?" Lindsay starts to cry. I slowly nod my head and engulf my daughter in a hug

"She's missing" I say into Lindsay's hair

"That's still good news" Lindsay says

"How?" I ask confused

"It means there's still a chance she's still alive"

"That's true." I whisper

I take a look at Greg and he looks so lost "Come here, Greg" I say, moving Lindsay to my other side and extending my free arm

Greg moves into my arms and breaks into sobs

"Lindsay's right, Greg. There's still a chance she's alive"

Greg continues to cry

"Hey now… It's ok, hon. Sara's a fighter and she'll fight for us."

We all sit there comforting each other, as the news of Sara is both heartbreaking and a relief that she could still be alive

Next update should be fairly soon... there's 6 more chapters to go... oooh does she live, or does she die? Gonna have to read to find out!