Author's Note: Wow, you guys liked it! Epic win! I am now going to reinstate my "One Update a Day System" so that every fic will get proper attention. It'll probably really take off next week because I am behind in three…no, four of my classes. That's what I get for spraining my ankle without getting my work first. On the bright side, my being hurt has the same affect on my muse as being sick does. It makes it cooperate.

Disclaimer: "Honestly, it's not mine!"

She ended up at a roadside hotel near the Nevada/California border after finally running out of gas. She would leave it behind. After pushing it to a secluded section of brush, she had walked in and used what little money she had with her to rent a room for the night. The name she put on the sign in sheet had been fake, an alias that she had thought up out of the blue. Madeline had been her great grandmother's name and Thomas her father's. Since no one in Vegas knew much of anything about her family life, it would be a long time before they made the connection.

They would, of course. They were some of the best investigators in the country. Plus, she was considered family by them. A wave of sadness rushed through her as she thought of what their reactions would be. She had come to Vegas for Grissom but had gained a family instead of him. They would be hurt that she just up and left but they would understand later. She made sure of that by one thing.

In her rush to get to the Debbie Marlin scene, she had left out her journal, one of many. They dated back to her time in the foster system to 72 hours ago. Once they found the recent one, the others would be found as well and read. On the one hand, it horrified her. They would know it all: what her father did to her, what her mother did to him, the pain, the suffering, Grissom…

On the other hand, it was liberating. No more secrets, no more hiding. What had been kept under wraps by her and others would finally come out in all its ugly glory. If it was out, then it wouldn't torment her anymore.

She would actually be able to sleep at night.

Locking the door and drawing the blinds shut, Sara laid down on the bed, ignoring the revulsion. It was awful knowing exactly what she could be laying on but she needed to rest.

New lives required energy.

//////////////

"Okay, thanks."

They all looked at Brass beseechingly and he said, "I've sent Sara's plate number to some of my buddies in California. They said they'd keep an eye out for her. Did you guys find anything at her apartment?"

"I found her journal. Actually, a whole box of them. Maybe they could tell us where she went and why. Are you sure she left on her own, Brass?" Nick Stokes asked for the tenth time.

He could understand why. So many things had happened in their group recently that it was of utmost importance to make sure that no foul play was involved. If he were the man, he'd be asking it too. But, he had been there. He had watched her leave.

"I saw her. She…we talked." Brass finally admitted, dreading their reactions to what he was about to divulge.

"About what? Did she say where was going?" Warrick Brown asked.

"It was about the case. Debbie Marlin?"

"The nurse that looked like her.", Catherine Willows said to herself. "Damn it, I shouldn't have believed her when she said she was fine! Was she bothered by how much she looked like her?"

"No. It…Grissom had said something to Lurie and it had gotten to her. He said that the only reason they were different was because he had taken a chance with someone young and beautiful, even though it cost him his work and his heart. He…said that he couldn't do it."

Dead silence. Dead silence louder than gunshot as they correctly filled in the blanks, as their now anger filled faces told him.

"So, basically, Grissom mind fucked her yet again and she finally got sick of it. Awesome. We'll never see her again because of him." Greg Sanders said with enough acid to melt steel before walking out.

Nick left afterwords, cradling the box full of Sara's journals like they were an infant.

"I'm gonna calm Greg down and then I'll start checking traffic cameras, see if I can get a destination for her.", Warrick said with renewed determination.

Brass noticed how he squeezed Catherine's trembling hand before he left but said nothing. Now wasn't the time.

"We have to tell him."

"You heard Greg! If it wasn't for him, she'd still be here! She'd be with us, home and safe!" Catherine snapped tearfully.

"I know that and he's definitely going to get a piece of my mind but he still has to know. He's her supervisor. Besides, maybe this will be what he needs in order to get his head out of his goddamned ass.", Brass replied calmly but just as angrily.

Not only was he angry at Grissom, he was angry at himself. He should chased after her, made her stay.... Well, it didn't matter now. It was done. He'd make things right, though. He had to. Determined, he picked up his jacket and headed towards the door, intent on finding the other half to this whole fucked up situation.

"He doesn't deserve her.", Catherine declared just before he left the room.

He sighed deeply, feeling all of his years settle onto his back.

This was going to be one hell of a battle…

"Yeah. But he needs her. And like or not, she needs him too."

…but hopefully, when it was all over, things would change for the better.