Still don't own CSI.

Thanks again to csinycastle85 and csijenniferlynn for the reviews! If you like the story, please leave a review! Hope you all enjoy this chapter!

The next evening, Wendy arrived at the lab early. She was pleasantly surprised to have her old locker, and gathered everything in her kit to be ready for the night's shift.

Sara came in and smiled at her old friend. "Hi! Welcome back!"

"Thank you," Wendy said. "Great to be back."

"Your sister get settled in okay?"

"Yeah, she did. And she wanted me to thank everyone again. She had a good time meeting you and everyone."

"We enjoyed meeting her. She said something about your niece coming to Vegas?"

"Yeah, she'll probably be here next month." Wendy looked at her colleague. "Hey...Sara? Why did you come back?"

Sara sighed quietly. "Well...after everything that happened, I realized I missed everyone. Like D.B. said..."

"D.B.?"

"Oh, D.B. Russell. He was brought in after Ray's...you know."

Wendy nodded. "Yeah."

"Anyway," Sara continued. "D.B. really brought the team back together. Nick still calls everyone together for family meetings like D.B. used to." Wendy smiled, and Sara continued. "I told D.B. why I left a few years ago...and why I came back. He was a great boss, and he turned out to be a good friend. He said that just proves I'm stronger than I know."

"He was right," Wendy said with a warm smile.

"Thank you," Sara replied.

Wendy tentatively asked, "Henry said you and Grissom got back together?"

Sara nodded. "Yeah. We took a break, but he came back to help us solve the bombings a few months ago. We...found each other again. Got a second chance."

Sara's words sunk in as Wendy knew she was getting her own second chance with Hodges. "That is so great," she said.

"Thanks."

As Wendy turned to Sara after numbly putting her jacket in her locker, Hodges walked in. He smiled at Wendy. "Now there's a welcome sight," he said softly.

Sara smiled as Wendy turned and smiled at the man she thought she'd lost. "Hello to you too," Wendy said.

With a small laugh, Sara said, "I'll meet you guys in Nick's office." She left the two quietly staring at each other.

Wendy shut her locker door. "So..." She said.

"Yeah," Hodges said. He cleared his throat. "Sara tell you about family meetings?" He winced at his attempt at small talk.

Wendy pursed her lips and nodded. "Yes, she mentioned something about your former boss doing that."

"D.B.," Hodges said. "He's a good man."

"Sounds like it," Wendy said.

As they stood in awkward silence, Henry came in. "Hey!" He said to Wendy. "Welcome back!"

"Thank you!" Wendy said as she hugged Henry.

Hodges smiled as he watched the two friends. He had to admit that he missed Wendy and Henry's friendship.

Wendy pulled away and smiled. "So...do we have a family meeting, or...?"

Henry laughed softly. "Maybe later. I think Nick's about ready to hand out assignments, though." He glanced at Hodges. "You might be working with one of us, since you're the senior CSI."

Wendy laughed as Hodges rolled his eyes. "I don't know about that," Wendy said. "But it is good to be home."

"Good to have you back," Henry said. "I've got to get my stuff, but I'll see you in Nick's office. It used to be Grissom's office, remember?"

"Yeah," Wendy said. "He still share it with Greg?"

"And Sara," Hodges said. "W-When she's in town. It was the least Nick could do." Hodges winced again.

Before Wendy could ask what he meant, Henry said, "Sara applied to be team supervisor. Then the bombings happened."

"Oh, yeah," Wendy said. "I heard about those on the news."

"Anyway, after D.B. left, Sara was promoted. And she promoted us," Henry said with a smile to Hodges.

Hodges smirked. "Nick was named Grave Shift supervisor," he explained. "And when Sara left to find Grissom, Ecklie appointed Catherine to run the lab."

"That is awesome," Wendy said honestly. "Seriously, I'm proud of you guys."

"Thank you," Hodges said.

"Thanks," Henry said. He nervously glanced between the two. "We'll...I'll be in Nick's office." He turned and briskly walked out the door.

Wendy and Hodges stared at each other. After several moments, Wendy finally said, "I really am happy for you."

"Thank you," Hodges said honestly. "I'll bet you thought I'd never get out of the lab."

Wendy smiled and sighed. "Well...yes. But you worked your way up. You and Henry both."

"Yeah," Hodges said with a smile. "Thank you." He thought about asking what she and his mom were talking about at last night's dinner, but Greg came in.

"There you are," he said to his colleagues. "Welcome back, Wendy."

"Thank you."

Greg glanced at the two, wondering if they'd start over. "Hate to cut your reunion short, but Nick has our assignments."

Hodges snapped out of his thoughts. "Coming."

"Be right there," Wendy said. Greg headed to the office.

Hodges smiled and stepped aside. Wendy smiled. "Thanks."

"Shall we?" Hodges asked. Wendy walked to Nick's office with Hodges following behind.

When they arrived, the rest of the team was waiting. They greeted Wendy and Hodges.

"Okay," Nick said. "First off, welcome back, Wendy." Everyone cheered and Wendy smiled. "Next," Nick said, "Wendy, you're on the 419 in Green Valley with Henry and Greg." He grinned at the three former DNA techs working together. "Oh, and Henry...for the time being, you and Hodges are still on double duty. Catherine and Ecklie are still interviewing lab techs."

"So the rats still run the lab," Hodges said. Wendy gave him a bemused smile.

Nick and Greg rolled their eyes and smiled. "Hodges," Nick said. "I need you and Sara on the possible 419 in Summerlin. Guy said his friend DFO'd."

"Got it," Sara said. Hodges snatched the assignment slip from her hand.

"Lindsey, Morgan and I have a possible 419 on Tropicana," Nick continued. "Everybody clear?"

"Yeah," everyone said.

Everyone filed out and headed to their assignments. Wendy watched as Hodges argued with Sara about who would drive. Both couldn't help but feel that they were where they belonged.

TBC...