A/N: Wow, I really haven't updated this story in a long time. I'm so, so sorry. See the first chapter for the disclaimer. This chapter also references a Without a Trace Episode, "In Extremis," which I also don't own. I hope you guys enjoy this one, and please review.

Chapter 22: Where Were You?

Where were you on 9/11?

Greg looked down at his phone quizzically as he read and re-read the text from Adam. What answer, exactly, was Adam looking for here?

Are you okay? he opted to answer instead.

Is anyone okay anymore? was the response he got back.

Nervous, he opted to call Adam, wondering what his friend was thinking.

"Hey," was the solemn answer he got.

"Are you okay?" Greg asked again.

"Where were you on 9/11?" Adam probed again.

Greg furrowed his brow as the lab bustled behind him. "I was here," he said. "In Vegas. I was working a double shift in the lab. Why?"

"I was sleeping one off." Adam's voice choked up slightly.

"So?" Greg asked, confused.

"So? So, I wasn't there! I woke up, and the entire world had changed, and I wasn't there."

Greg still wasn't understanding the problem. "Adam, that's a good thing you weren't there. Because if you had been, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now."

Greg listened as Adam scoffed. "Ten years," his friend said sadly.

And finally, things started to click into place for Greg.

"Ten years ago, the world changed," Adam continued. "And what do we have to show for it? Getting searched every time we go through the airport? Looking at someone of a different race and wondering if today's the day we get killed because that person's a terrorist?"

"Not all terrorists are Muslim," Greg said. "Some are Caucasian."

"But you and I both know that you're more likely to suspect someone from the Middle East than from the Midwest."

"Have you met some of the people from the Midwest?"

"You're not funny."

"I'm not trying to be," Greg said. "Look at Oklahoma City."

Adam fell silent, and Greg knew he'd won the argument, for the moment, until Adam spoke again. "Still, it's not fair," he said.

"No, it isn't," Greg replied.

"A few years ago, an FBI missing person's case turned into a terrorist witch hunt, because the guy they were looking for was a Saudi Arabian doctor. That guy died, shot by police… because the case led to terrorism. He didn't have to die. How many people have died in the last 10 years in the name of national security?"

"I don't know," Greg said.

"It's not fair," Adam repeated.

Greg furrowed his brow, wondering where all of this was coming from.

"Ten years ago, the world changed," Adam said, sighing heavily and almost offering some level of answer to Greg's internal questions.

"Yeah, it did," Greg replied. "And in the past ten years, you and I have done our part to help out for the good of national security."

"We're criminalists, Greg, for local law enforcement. It's not like we're in the CIA."

"Okay, true, but you and I both do research on new techniques that help the entire law enforcement community, and not just the local groups."

"True."

Greg sat down on the arm of the couch in the break room.

"You realize your kids probably have no memory of going through an airport without stripping down and being molested?" Adam said.

"Yeah," Greg breathed in response.

"They likely have no idea of what airport security was before, where you could actually wait at the gate for the person you were picking up instead of waiting at baggage or outside."

"I know."

"This world we live in now… it's cruel, and it's harsh, and it sucks."

"Yes, it does. But, we can make it better."

"How? Tell me, Greg. You've been working for the Vegas Crime Lab for about 14 years now. Do you feel like you're making any difference? Or do you just realize that at best, you're a placeholder? You're just there, just cleaning up after other people's messes, and not preventing them."

Greg thought about correcting Adam's estimate of time Greg had been in Vegas, but decided against it. "That's not true."

"How do you figure?"

"We stop serial killers before they claim any more victims," Greg reminded him. "We stop rapists, and child molesters, all of whom would claim way more lifetime victims if we didn't."

"And those assholes end up right back on the street," Adam said dismally.

"It isn't perfect, but it works."

"No, Greg. It doesn't."

Greg closed his eyes, hearing the pain in Adam's voice.

"Ten years," Adam said.

"Yeah," Greg breathed.

"And we have nothing to show for it. We're no safer now than we were then."

"That's not true."

"Isn't it?"

"No. I mean, I carry a gun now."

"That's supposed to make us safer?"

Greg shrugged to himself. "Touché."

Adam sighed. "I'm sorry, that was a low blow," he said after a moment.

"It's okay," Greg told him. "I didn't take it personally. Besides, I do more damage with a car than with a gun."

"That's not funny."

Greg shrugged again. "It's not meant to be funny."

"Oh."

"What's really going on? It's more than this being the ten-year anniversary of 9/11."

"I'm not sure if Mac's ever coming back," Adam said. "He had a ceremony today, for the victims and people who were there… and, I don't know, I just don't know if he's gonna ever come back."

"Is that really a problem?" Greg asked. "I mean, I know you like having him as a boss, but is it really a big deal if he moves on?"

"I guess not. He's helping to try to identify remains of 9/11 victims."

"Find his wife," Greg surmised.

"Yeah," Adam breathed.

"You know, for the record, I'm really glad you were sleeping one off that day," Greg said after a minute. "Even though it scared me half to death that I couldn't get ahold of you, when I finally did, I was so relieved to know that you were nowhere near being in danger. And I know that sounds stupid, and selfish, given how many people lost their lives that day, but…"

"I know what you mean," Adam told him. "I just wish I'd helped out more."

"You joined the Bucket Brigade."

Adam snorted slightly. "So did Lindsay."

"Really? You two could've met before and never had known it."

"Funny how that works."

"Yeah," Greg said with a smile. "My point is, you helped more than I did. I didn't leave Las Vegas."

"You wanted to, though," Adam reminded him.

"Yeah, I did. But Grissom and Nick talked me out of it."

"I'm glad they did."

Greg shrugged slightly.

"Anyway, I should probably let you go, since you're at work," Adam said. "Thanks for being there."

"Anytime, man," Greg replied. "Take care."

"You too. Try to have a good night."

"You too."

A/N: Episode is Indelible (CSI:NY).