A/N - So I finally get around to the point of this story, I wanted to try and write a more case based story and thought this would be the one to try it out on. I've read many stories dealing with this subject, and thought I would do a longer story instead of a ficlet with it. Let me know what you think!

Disclaimer - I own nothing but the typos and grammar errors you may find!

"Frank went home"

Grissom looked at the curator. "He went home?"

"Yeah, left about 10, maybe 15 minutes ago."

"Could you get him on the phone? We have additional questions we need to ask him" Nick asked as he glanced around the room, all of the other employees still there.

"We also need to get into his office." Sara said as she came to stand next to Grissom.

"Oh sure, this way." The curator led them down the concrete hallway, and opened the office door.

Sara set her case on the floor and walked around the room slowly, her flashlight illuminating the room. She scanned his desk, and tried all the drawers, but they were locked. She stepped over and tried to open the locker, it too was locked.

"Here, I have a master key." The curator stepped into the room and opened the locker.

Sara reached in and carefully picked up a pair of shoes. "Blood on the shoes." She said, turning to face Nick and Grissom.

"We need to get Mr. Thule back here." Grissom told the curator.

"Of course. You don't think he is behind this do you?"

"He is a person of interest." Nick stated and walked over to Sara, he held out a bag and Sara slid the shoes inside.

"I don't get it; by all accounts he loved his animals." Nick said. "Why kidnap or kill two of them?"

"Hopefully Mr. Thule can offer us some insight." Grissom sighed.

"If he comes back" Sara added.

After an hour and a half of collecting evidence from the office. The team was ready to go. After several attempts, no one was able to successfully get a hold of Mr. Thule. Grissom called Brass to put a BOLO out for Mr. Thule and his car.

"What now?" Nick asked

"We go back to the lab, run the evidence, and see what we get." Grissom shrugged.

The sun was starting to rise as they pulled into the lab parking lot. They had just enough time to log in the evidence and drop it off with the appropriate department before having to clock out.

"How's the theft at the zoo coming?"

Sara turned to see Greg coming into the locker room.

"Looking less and less like a theft" Sara said as she tied her shoes.

"Really? What is it looking like?" Greg asked as he popped his locker open.

"Mr. Thule is on the run, we found blood leading out of his building and into the big cat enclosure, blood on his work shoes, and blood and fur in the lion cage."

"Whoa! Monkey murder?" Greg asked.

Sara slammed her locker shut. "Something happened to those two monkeys at that zoo." Sara sighed.

"Have a good day Greg" She smiled as she walked out of the room.

"You too!" He called after her.

Grissom walked into a quiet house. "Sara?!"

"In the office! Can you let Bruno in and give him some food?" She called out from upstairs.

After feeding the dog, Grissom climbed the stairs to find Sara at the desk, her face illuminated by the computer screen.

"What are you doing sweetie?" He asked as he walked up behind her.

"Looking to see if there are any Barbary Apes out there in the pet trade."

"I thought we were going to start trying to leave work at work" Grissom kissed her head.

"Look at this! You can buy a chimp for $60,000!" Her voice shook. Grissom wrapped his arms around her.

"This is sick." She whispered.

"Why don't we go out for breakfast sweetheart?" Grissom asked. He knew she was very compassionate about animal rights, and hated to see her that upset.

"Ok." She whispered as she clicked off the page.

She stood up and stretched. Grissom reached out and pulled her into him. She rested her cheek on his chest, listening to his heart beat for a few moments. Grissom simply rested his head on top of hers. He loved quiet moments like this, moments where she was wrapped in his arms, their love felt tangible. He could feel and touch love while she was in his embrace.

"I love you bean" He whispered.

Sara laughed and reached up to kiss him. She had earned that nickname the week she'd moved in with him. He had watched as she unpacked her groceries, every other item had been a bean of some sort or another. He warned her, she was what she ate, and soon she would be a bean. After that day, the name just stuck. She loved hearing him call her that, she had never pegged him as the nickname giving type, but the fact that he had a nickname for her made her feel special.

"I love you too bug-man" She laughed as he reached down to kiss her again.

They climbed into Grissom's car and Sara turned the radio on, reached out to hold Grissom's hand, and stared out the window, watching the world go by.

"Sara?"

"Hmm?"

"I asked if you were ok." Grissom said, a worried look across his face.

"Yeah, I'm fine"

"Are you sure?" He asked as they pulled into the diner's parking lot.

"Yeah, just day dreaming I guess" She smiled and reached over, her hand behind his head, she pulled him in for a deep kiss.

"Mmmm I love you." He smiled.

Sara's face fell.

"Sara? Are you ok?" He asked, his eyes searching her face.

"Ji...Jim" She sputtered

"What?"

She pointed out his window. "JIM!"

Grissom turned to see Brass standing outside the diner, his arms at his sides, his face dumbstruck.

"Shit" Grissom whispered.

Jim gave a little wave.