Author's Note: I know I'm cutting it short today with my post - it's almost 11:30pm here in Alberta - and I'm sorry! My aunt is in town and time got away from me. Won't happen again, I promise! Again, a huuuuuge thank you to all the reviews and favorites and story alerts I've received the past few days. They make me oh so happy! Cookies for all!

Here's to chapter three! Hurrah!

Sara had no idea of where she was, and didn't really want to know either. All she wanted was to go home to Grissom and forget about everything that had happened over the past few hours.

It had started even before she'd left for work. Grissom had left her apartment a good fifteen minutes before her – they'd decided early on that it probably wasn't in their best interests to arrive at work together every day, it might raise some suspicions – and she was just about ready to leave herself when a knock sounded from the front door. Thinking it was Grissom coming back for something forgotten, she opened the door without much thought; things had only gone downhill from there. A cloth came around from the back of her, and she struggled, trying to fight her assailant. The sweet smell of halothane assaulted her senses, lulling her into an unconscious sleep. The next thing she remembered was waking up in a car she didn't recognize, and feeling the desperate longing for Grissom in her heart. She didn't know where she was, and had no idea of what was to become of her.

Suddenly, a hand covered her eyes, blocking out the harsh brightness of the Nevada sun that was quickly upon her. She was dragged out of the car and hauled to her feet. Her captor led her through a door and pushed her clumsily up the steps.

OoOoOoOoO

Catherine and Grissom were staring at the email on the computer screen, unable to comprehend it.

"Gil," Catherine said gently, putting a hand on his shoulder. "We need to get this to Brass, and the rest of PD. They'll find her."

Grissom stared blankly at the screen, unable to come to grips that this might just be the very last time he saw Sara alive. His heart wouldn't – couldn't – didn't – want to realize it, and his head was spinning.

No, this can't be happening. I can't lose her, I love her, there's still so much I have to say to her, to let her know. We're supposed to have so much more time. This can't be happening to us.

Catherine watched Grissom struggling to keep his spiraling emotions under control. She could see now that Grissom loved Sara, and that Sara must love him right back. Losing her in any way would break Grissom into pieces, absolutely shatter him, and he would never be quite whole ever again.

They needed to find Sara.

OoOoOoOoO

Warrick looked around the table at his friends with a grim expression. "Has anyone heard from Sara?" he asked slowly.

Everyone shook their heads. "No," said Nick slowly, running a hand over his face. "I haven't seen or heard from her in a couple of days. She and Griss both had the night off last night, so the last time I saw her was probably a couple of days ago…"

Warrick turned to Greg. "What about you, Greggo?"

Greg looked up and in a small voice said, "No, I haven't seen her since we wrapped up Lady Heather's case a few days ago." Upon this realization, Greg looked like a lost puppy searching for his owner. His eyes were wide and his gaze shifted from one coworker to the next, waiting for one of them to tell him that nothing was wrong.

Sofia and Brass exchanged looks; they hadn't seen the brunette in a couple of days either.

"She's not missing, though, right?" Greg asked quietly. "I mean, who's stupid enough to do anything Sara? She'd probably shoot them first."

A small laugh went around the table, the nervous and uncomfortable kind.

"You're right, Greggo," Nick said, clapping him on the back. "She's fine."

OoOoOoOoO

Catherine could see that Grissom's resolve was rapidly deteriorating, and that scared her. She had always known that Sara would either make him or break him down, but losing her before he'd had a chance to let her know how he felt would haunt him for the rest of his life.

If they didn't find her.

"Gil," she said, firmly pulling him away from the computer screen. "We need to get this to PD. I'll print it out, and you go find the team. They're in the layout room, with the miniature. You need to explain what's going on to them. They can't help if they don't' know." Grissom nodded and headed out of his office, feeling numb. He couldn't feel anything, and it was like his heart had turned to ice.

No sooner had Grissom stepped away from his office did another email arrive in his inbox, alerting Catherine to another message. Whether or not it contained another picture, she'd have to open it to find out. Double clicking on the message, she opened it. Inhaling a shaky breath, she began to read.

OoOoOoOoO

Sara was sitting in the room by herself, feeling more and more claustrophobic by the minute. Her assailant had knocked her out again after sending something to Grissom, and when she had finally regained consciousness, he was gone.

Standing up slowly on wobbly legs, she looked around her prison. It was a bedroom, one in what looked like an apartment, or a high-end hotel of some sort. There was a window to her left, but it was bolted closed, and made with what looked like bulletproof glass, thick and unyielding. To her right was a door, and she slowly made her way over to it. Locked. From the outside.

Great, she thought, just great. Now how the hell am I supposed to get out of here?

Turning from the door towards the bed, she saw a small note placed on top of it, her name scrawled on the front.

to be continued...