Jackson and Greta are my original characters, but I still don't own CSI.

Thank you again so much for the reviews csinycastle85 and csijenniferlynn! If you like this chapter, please review! Hope you enjoy!

Hodges numbly processed the scene with Sara, still thinking about Wendy. He had wished to see her again and say everything he wished he'd said when she told him she was leaving. He thought if he was stronger, he would've made her stay. But he knew they'd both grown in the time she'd been away.

Sara came over after interviewing a neighbor with Detective Crawford. "Right now, it's looking straightforward," she said. "Guy said our victim had a bitter fight with an old girlfriend. Crawford's tracking her down."

"Good," Hodges said. "She could've come back from seeing her sister," he absentmindedly added.

"Uh...yeah," Sara said. "Or she could've just killed him and took off. Neighbors say they had a volatile relationship."

"He had something good and didn't realize it," Hodges said.

Sara narrowed her eyebrows. "Yeah. Are you still talking about..."

"How do you do it?" Hodges suddenly asked. Sara's eyes widened and Hodges sighed. He added, "You and Grissom had something great. Then it was gone. Now you're back together and you know you belong together!"

Sara's features softened and she smiled. "Not everyone gets a second chance. When you do...don't take it for granted."

Hodges sighed. "I had something with Wendy and... I let it go. I've always wondered what would happen if I ever saw her again or if she ever came back. Now she's back and... I want to tell her everything."

Sara put her arm around Hodges. "You're getting a new chance. And you know...as good as it is that you know what you need to do, I'm not who you should be talking to."

Hodges sighed and nodded, knowing Sara was right. He knew that he needed to see Wendy.

Meanwhile, Wendy and Henry finished their scene and returned to the lab. "I'll get these done as soon as I can," Henry said as he headed to the DNA lab.

"Okay," Wendy said. "Doc should be ready to post the body soon." She smiled when she saw Greg on his phone talking to Doc's wife.

"Hey!" Greg said on the phone. "It's okay. I miss you too. But we'll be home soon. I love you, sweet girl." He blew a kiss. "Yeah. Thanks for letting me talk to her. Yeah. She's still working a scene with Nick." He laughed softly. "Yeah. Jackson get to bed okay? Good. Thank you again for doing this. All right. Bye-bye."

"Kids okay?" Wendy asked.

"Yeah," Greg said with a warm smile. "Jacks is asleep, and Greta wants to stay awake. Judy...Doc Robbins' wife...she's watching the kids. She's really been a big help."

"Aw, that's good," Wendy said. She sighed deeply. "I want to thank you."

Greg raised an eyebrow. "For?"

"Well," she began. "Things were good...uh, in Portland. I love my job, but..."

"Missed Vegas?" Greg asked.

Wendy nodded. "This place...I really had a home here."

Greg leaned back in his chair. "And...Hodges?"

Wendy sighed and nodded. "I dated a few guys. One was kind of serious. But...he knew that I couldn't forget someone. So, when you guys called...I wanted to know what would happen if I came back. Not just as a CSI, but could we..."

Greg pursed his lips and sighed. "We know you're the right person for the team. And you and Hodges really had something. Not everyone gets a second chance."

Wendy smiled softly and nodded. She knew she was getting another chance, and hoped Hodges would let them go forward.

Hodges and Sara returned to the lab as Wendy and Henry were in autopsy. As he came in, Hodges heard someone call his name. He turned and saw Wendy's sister Marybeth.

"Hi," he said as Marybeth approached him and Sara.

"Hi," she said. "Can I... Do you have a minute?"

Surprised, Hodges said, "Sure. Would you like to sit down?" Marybeth nodded as Sara patted Hodges' arm. "I'll see you in the office. Good to see you again, Marybeth."

"You too," Marybeth said as Sara walked away. Hodges led Marybeth to some chairs in the lobby.

"So," Hodges sighed. "Is everything okay?"

Marybeth sighed softly. "I want to thank you."

Hodges looked confused. "For dinner? Greg and Morgan are great people..."

"No...I mean, yes, they are great people..." Marybeth took a deep breath. "Wendy... I love my sister."

Hodges nodded. "And you want to know if I am going to hurt her."

Marybeth sighed deeply. "She always told me about you. How you always wanted to be the boss and sucked up to Mr...Grissom, was it?"

"Sara's husband," Hodges said, blushing deeply. "You met him last night."

Marybeth smiled softly as Hodges blushed. "But...Wendy also told me that you're one of the best scientists she knows."

Hodges smiled softly at the compliment. "Thanks."

Sighing deeply, Marybeth said, "When Wendy accepted the job in Portland, I was having a rough time. My husband and I split up. I guess I needed my sister there. And she's a good CSI. But...she missed Vegas. She missed you."

"I missed her," Hodges said honestly.

"I know," Marybeth said. "Wendy... Wendy is a good CSI and she made friends. Even went out with a few guys." She smiled as Hodges nodded a bit sadly. "But they never lasted. It was kind of like... I don't know, going through the motions."

Hodges nodded. "I know the feeling."

"But last night," Marybeth said. "When she saw you, it was...she came alive again."

"So did I."

Marybeth smiled. "So why don't you two talk to each other?"

Hodges smiled. "Why don't we?"

Marybeth suppressed a laugh and looked up to see her sister walking past. She smiled at Wendy and then at Hodges.

"Now's your chance."

TBC...