Title : Little Girl Lost
Author : Mel
Summary : When Catherine’s daughter is kidnapped, she finds comfort in a 
unlikely place and Sara finally opens up.  Sara/Catherine
Disclaimer : I’m just borrowing.  All characters and everything else CSI belongs 
to Jerry Bruckheimer and CBS.
Rating : Definitely hard R for language and some naughty behavior…NC-17 to be 
safe?
Feedback : Always welcome.  Fivebyfive13@prodigy.net 
Archive : Ask me and it’s yours :)
Author’s Note : I’ve read some different accounts of both Sara and Catherine’s 
pasts on the web and they all tend to be different.   So, I’ve molded their 
pasts into what fits with the story.   There are some things that I know to be 
accurate from watching the show and some things I am merely speculating on.   
It’s all for the fanfiction J  Enjoy.
 
 
 
The bright Vegas lights glittered off in the distance as cameras clicked 
feverishly capturing the details of the latest and very fresh mountain crime 
scene.  CSI 2 Sara Sidle kicked absentmindedly at a small rock and tucked a 
strand of dark hair behind her ear before putting on her latex gloves with a 
resounding snap.   After pulling three double shifts in a row, she was tired.   
The bags under her eyes were more than evident and her shirt was untucked and 
hanging loose on one side.  She wanted to go home, but was only about halfway 
through her shift for that night at roughly three in the morning.  The crime 
scene that awaited her attention was less of a crime scene and more of a scene 
from ‘When Animals Attack”.   She just wanted to go home and go to sleep and 
continue to avoid the world as it was.   Scuffing the heels of her black boots 
on the loose dirt at her feet, she turned back to the scene and her superior, 
Gil Grissom, and resumed her task of collecting the evidence.
 
“You look tired,” Grissom said addressing the young woman crouching down on the 
opposite side of the newly deceased.
 
“You’re observant,” Sara replied.   “What do we have here?” she asked, wanting 
to get the night over with so she could crawl into her nice warm bed.
 
“White male, early thirties,” he began, “or what’s left of him.”  He motioned 
with latex covered gloves to the man’s face, torso, and arm.   
 
“He’s missing an arm,” Sara observed pointing to the bloody and ragged stump 
that was left on the right side of the victim’s body.
 
“He sure is,” Grissom replied with a smirk.
 
“Have we found it yet?”
 
“Not as of this moment.”
 
“Grissom, why are we still here?” Sara asked, her annoyance and irritability 
starting to take over her mood and body.
 
“We’re collecting the evidence, Sara,” he answered simply.
 
“Come on.  It’s so blatantly obvious what happened here.  Some wild animal, 
probably a wolf or hyena, caught this poor guy by surprise and had a little 
party with some of his buddies,” she retorted in a sullen tone.
 
“The evidence is what tells the story.   You know that,” Grissom emphasized as 
he pushed up to a standing position using his knees.  “The first question we 
need to address is why he was out here in the first place in the cold wearing 
nothing more than a sweatshirt.”
 
They stumbled around the crime scene for a few minutes.   Grissom poked through 
the man’s pockets with the end of a pen, squinting every now and again like he 
usually did when the gears in his head were turning.   Sara pretended to be 
looking through the evidence when the only thing she was really thinking about 
was a warm bath and cup of coffee from Starbucks.   She was about to throw 
another quasi fit when she noticed torn purple shreds still attached to the 
victim’s wrist.   She knelt down and gently pushed up the cuff of his sweatshirt 
revealing what looked like a bracelet made of purple nylon or synthetic fibers.
 
“Grissom, look at this,” Sara said motioning for him to come over.
 
“Bracelet?” he asked, kneeling beside her.   She shook her head in response.
 
“Dog leash,” she answered.
 
“So where’s Fido?” Grissom asked, raising an eyebrow.
 
Sara got to her feet and looked around with quick, wide eyes.  She noticed a 
blood trail leading into some thick brush at one edge of the path.   Grissom 
followed as she walked gingerly to the red specks all but camouflaged by the 
wind blown dust and dirt.   Pulling back the small green shrubbery, Sara nearly 
threw up when the remains of the victim’s dog were displayed.   She backed away, 
bumping into Grissom who steadied her and then proceeded to check out the 
carnage himself.
 
“Look’s like the same bite marks as the vic,” he confirmed.   “Of course we’ll 
still have to get everything analyzed.   Are you okay, Sara?” he asked with a 
concerned voice as he turned to her.
 
“Yeah, I’m fine,” she answered, slightly embarrassed by her display of weakness. 
 She had never gotten sick at a crime scene and she wasn’t about to start now.   
But something had changed inside of her the past couple months and her work just 
wasn’t as important as it once had been.   There was something missing in her 
life and she wasn’t sure what exactly that was. Suddenly there was a howl and 
the rustle of leaves in the distance.
 
“What was that?” Sara asked once she regained her composure.
 
“There’s only one way to find out,” Grissom answered, pulling out his gun and 
following the noise further and further into the thick brush.
 
Sara was fast on his heels, gun also out and senses on heightened overdrive.  
About two hundred feet later they spotted their culprit, a rather large and mean 
looking hyena who at the moment was bearing blood soaked teeth.   They both 
pointed their guns at the animal at the same moment and with a loud howl the 
hyena retreated into the woods as fast as his legs would take him.
 
“Get on the radio and call animal control,” Grissom said over his shoulder to 
Sara.   “Tell them to get out here as fast as they can and to be looking for a 
light colored hyena with a black patch over his left eye.”
 
“You saw all that in the darkness?” she asked pulling her radio out from its rig 
on her waist.
 
“I eat lots of greens,” he answered with his signature sarcasm.  Grissom 
continued to peruse through the scene they had just stumbled upon while Sara put 
in a call to animal control.  She was just shutting off her two way when 
Grissom’s voice caught her attention once more.
 
“Whoa, jackpot,” he said crouching down near a spot in the brush that was clear.
 
“What is it?” Sara asked, trudging over to where he was.
 
“A massive pile of evidence,” Grissom answered pointing to a fresh mound of 
hyena excrement.
 
“You’re sick.”
 
“I may just be,” he said with a smile.   “Why don’t you collect the evidence 
while I go talk to Brass,” he added and then walked past Sara and back out to he 
clearing.
 
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” she whispered to herself as she bent down to 
collect a nice healthy sample.   “Fucking poop,” she said aloud, “can my night 
please get any worse.”   Be careful what you wish for, Sidle, she thought to 
herself as she scraped foul smelling hyena feces into a small container.
 
***********************
 
Catherine Willows rubbed at her sleepy eyes and grabbed her crime scene kit out 
of the passenger seat of the large Chevy Blazer.   The CSI 3’s feet hit the 
pavement with a thud and as she walked over to the scene ahead of her she 
quickly turned her head to crack her sore neck.  The air was cool on the part of 
her chest that was bare above her lavender button down shirt and she was 
thankful for it.  It was usually still hot in the Las Vegas desert, even at 
three am.   
 
“I’m sorry Miss, can I help you?” a young officer asked as Catherine approached 
the crime scene.
 
“Catherine Willows, Las Vegas Crime Lab,” she offered, flashing her ID and a 
wide smile.  “You can help me by stepping aside and taking control of that crowd 
forming over there, kiddo,” she added as he moved out of her way.
 
“Yes, ma’am.  Right away,” he said retaliating to the crowd near the edge of the 
street.
 
“Hey Cath,” was the greeting she got once she pushed past the yellow tape.  Nick 
Stokes, young and boyishly handsome was on his knees near the body of an 
apparent homicide victim sprawled lazily in the parking lot of the local 
Quick-E-Mart.
 
“What do we got, Nick?” she inquired, setting down her case.
 
“Three gunshot wounds,” he answered.   “One to the back of the head, two to the 
chest,” he said, looking up to her.
 
“Witnesses?”
 
“Owner of the convenience store saw everything.   He was outside smoking a 
cigarette when it happened.”
 
“He give a statement?” Catherine asked, crouching down to get a better look at 
the victim’s wounds.
 
“He’s just finishing up over there,” Nick answered, pointing across the lot to a 
squad car.  Standing in front of it were an officer writing feverishly and a 
heavy man in blue jeans and a polo shirt.
 
“Twenty-two?” she asked motioning to the bullet wounds.
 
“My guess too.  Apparently the perp’s already been picked up less than three 
blocks away outside of Excalibur,” Nick offered, finishing up with the evidence 
and returning to a standing position.  He took his hat off to wipe the sweat off 
his brow and replaced it once again.
 
“So what happened?” Catherine asked, standing also.
 
“This guy had just bought a couple scratch tickets and a six pack and was on his 
way back to his car when a guy on a bike side swiped him and knocked him over.  
The guy then proceeded to pop him twice in the chest, take his wallet, his 
booze, and anything else of value.  Then while he was down, shot him once more 
in the back of the head for good measure I guess and took off again on his bike. 
 Owner called the cops right after the guy let off the first two shots.”
 
“Open and shut,” Catherine said retrieving her gear and motioning for cleanup to 
get started.
 
“As long as our witness doesn’t reneg,” Nick said.   “Let’s get out of here,” he 
added, lightly touching Catherine’s shoulder as he began walking towards the 
Blazer.   They were about halfway there when her cell phone rang breaking the 
cool silence of the early morning.
 
“Willows,” she said flipping the phone open and continuing to walk.  As soon as 
the voice on the other end began to speak, she stopped dead in her tracks.   
“What?  Eddie, slow down.”   Her bag dropped to the ground with a loud crash and 
she felt like her legs were going to give out.  Nick stopped and turned around 
with concern etched across his face.
 
“Eddie, no.  Oh God,” she breathed out, panic filling her entire body.
 
“Catherine, what is it?” Nick asked and was answered with Catherine’s hand 
clutching tightly at the sleeve of his forensics jacket.
 
“Did you call the police?   No, I’ll do it right now.  Oh, God.  Christ,” she 
continued, closing her eyes tightly.  “Just stay where you are.  I’ll meet you 
there.”
 
She flashed her eyes at Nick quickly before hanging up and pulling out her two 
way.  When she flipped it onto the correct channel, she spoke slowly and 
clearly, still holding onto Nick for support, his eyes wide with confusion.
 
“This is Catherine Willows, Vegas Crime Lab.   I need police assistance at 632 
North August Ave.   Apartment 8c .  My daughter’s missing.   Possibly a 
kidnapping,” she said firmly and then dropped her radio and fell forward, 
allowing Nick to catch her.
 
***********************
 
“Got some results for me, Greg?” Sara asked as she sauntered into the lab 
eliciting a wide grin from the young man seated at his desk.
 
“You mean, the poop?” he asked with a laugh.   “You look like crap yourself, by 
the way,” he added turning back to look into his microscope for a second before 
grabbing a printout and looking it over.
 
“Thanks, chachi,” she commented with a scowl as she pulled the rest of her shirt 
out of her black pants and proceeded to unbutton it while stepping forward to 
look over Greg’s shoulder.   “DNA match?”
 
“Dead on,” he answered, forcing himself not to look back for fear that he might 
pass out at the close proximity of Sara to himself.   His crush just about 
consumed him.   “Vic’s DNA is all over this guy’s crap.   Some canine hairs too. 
 Went through your hyena like lightning though.  Must not have agreed with him 
so much.”
 
“Great,” she said snatching the report out of his hands.   “Thanks, Greg,” she 
added as he turned to face her.   The sight of her in a tank top nearly sent him 
off his chair and to the floor.
 
“Sure, anytime,” he answered slowly.   “Hey Sara, you think maybe…”
 
“Sara, I need you in the break room,” Grissom yelled at her back as he jogged 
down the hall quickly towards her and turned the corner fast.  “Now!” he 
commanded when she looked at him confused.  
 
Sara turned to look at Greg, who was equally confused, and took off down the 
hallway.  Greg followed her swiftly, bumping into the glass doorframe on his way 
out.   Sara bounded through the door to the break room to be greeted by Nick and 
Grissom standing near the counter and Catherine pacing back and forth nervously. 
 She looked up when Sara entered the room, making eye contact for a moment, her 
face slightly cracking.   Catherine’s face was tear stained and drawn, her hands 
were shaking slightly as she was wringing them out in front of her.   Sara felt 
her heart start to break, not exactly knowing why.   Maybe it was just a girl 
thing, but Sara had the sudden urge to hurry across the room and take Catherine 
in her arms.
 
“Where’s Warrick?” Grissom asked as Greg bounded into the room behind Sara 
almost bumping flat into her.
 
“Visiting his sister in Orange County,” Nick answered, running a hand through 
his short hair.
 
“What’s going on?” Sara pointed her question at Grissom after tearing her eyes 
away from Catherine’s distraught form.
 
“Catherine’s daughter is missing,” he stated sadly, taking his glasses off for a 
moment to rub at the bridge of his nose.
 
“What?!” Sara said loudly.   
 
Grissom and Nick looked at their shoes in frustration as Sara glided across the 
room and placed a hand on Catherine’s shoulder from behind.  She felt the older 
woman relax and lean backward slightly.  Sara brought her other hand up to her 
other shoulder to balance Catherine out, feeling as though her friend needed all 
the support she could get.
 
“What happened?” she asked softly.
 
“She was at Eddie’s for the night.   He says he went downstairs for a second 
because he had a fight with this week’s girlfriend and when he got back to the 
apartment, she was gone,” Catherine answered, her voice weak and drained.   
Sara’s hands began to go stiff at the mention of Catherine’s ex’s irresponsible 
behavior.  She leaned forward and spoke close to Catherine’s ear.
 
“Do you want to sit down?”
 
“No,” Catherine answered, shaking her head.   “I just need to uh…” she trailed 
off as the tears began to form once again and she tried to force them back but 
failed.   “I, um…I…goddamnit,” she finished softly, her shoulders rising and 
falling swiftly.  She brought a hand to cover her face as she sobbed.  
 
Sara gripped her shoulders tighter and moved forward so she was almost flush up 
against Catherine’s back.   She shot a glance at Grissom and their eyes 
connected quickly, her message getting across.  Seconds later, Grissom motioned 
for Greg and Nick to follow him out of the room and closed the door behind them 
quietly.  When Catherine heard the door click shut, she turned and leaned her 
head against Sara’s shoulder, arms gripping the back of the younger woman’s 
cotton shirt tightly.  Sara adjusted her arms to envelope the smaller woman in a 
firm embrace and held her tightly.   As Catherine’s sobs got more fierce and her 
arms flexed stronger, Sara could do nothing more than hold on with all her 
strength and lightly stroke the blonde hair falling across her forearm.   She 
couldn’t think of a thing to say that wouldn’t sound ridiculous or practiced so 
she didn’t say anything at all.   Catherine pulled back suddenly and wiped at 
her eyes with the sleeve of her suit jacket.
 
“I’m sorry,” she said with a slight laugh.   “I’m such a mess right now.”
 
“It’s okay,” Sara answered, gripping Catherine’s hands tightly in her own.  She 
motioned for them to sit at the table and pulled Catherine with her, each of 
them taking a chair next to the other.
 
“God, what am I going to do?” Catherine said, running a hand through her hair.
 
“We’re going to find her,” Sara said firmly, forcing Catherine to look her in 
the eyes.
 
“I can’t believe this is happening.”
 
“I know, but we’ll figure it out,” Sara said determined.   “I bet Grissom 
already has like nine hundred leads,” she added lightly causing Catherine to 
smile a bit.  They looked at each other for a moment, Sara promising Catherine 
things with her eyes that she was unable to express with words.   A knock on the 
glass broke their moment.   Catherine looked up to see Eddie motioning her to 
come out and talk to him.
 
“I’m gonna grab some coffee,” Sara said as they both got up.  “You want a cup?”
 
“Yeah, that would be great,” Catherine answered as she walked towards the door.
 
“I’m right here if you need anything,” Sara said, Catherine turning around to 
meet her eyes.
 
“Thanks,” she said with a smile and then she was out in the hallway with her 
ex-husband, who was pacing but looking too calm for a man who had just 
potentially lost his daughter.
 
“Jesus, Eddie, how could you let this happen?” She said attacking him at the 
first chance she got.   But he needed to hear it.
 
“Excuse me?  How could I let this happen?” he raised his voice defensively.  
“Maybe if you weren’t working sixteen hours a day and were at home with our 
daughter, she wouldn’t be gone.”
 
“One of us has to work to support that little girl, Eddie.   And you’re too busy 
doing anything else that doesn’t require exerting energy,” Catherine said, 
advancing on him with her finger pointed at him.
 
“Screw you, Catherine.   You don’t know anything about me.”
 
“I know that two things matter to you: money and a warm place to stick your 
dick,” she said angrily.   “Maybe if you weren’t always chasing your next piece 
of ass, our daughter would rate higher on your list of important things.”
 
“Oh that’s rich coming from a whore who used to take her clothes off for money,” 
he shot back at her.
 
“Have you forgotten that’s where you met me?” she slid at him, anger spreading 
across her face.
 
“I guess I should have known right then it was a mistake, but hey didn’t take me 
that long to get into your pants so I stand by my initial response.”
 
“You’re a loser, Eddie.   You always have been and you always will be,” 
Catherine said firmly, inching even closer to him so that they were only 
centimeters apart.   “If you want to know who the fool is in this relationship, 
you’re looking at her.  I never should have sunk down to the level of getting 
involved with the likes of you.”
 
Eddie moved swiftly and roughly and in seconds had reversed their positions.  
Catherine was pinned up against the wall behind her, her ex-husband gripping her 
shoulders with hard, firm hands.  She was waiting for him to strike out when she 
saw Sara throw an arm up under Eddie’s right arm trying to pull him back.  It 
almost worked and Sara was a bit surprised when she got a hard elbow to the 
right temple that sent her stumbling backward and almost falling to the floor.   
Blood trickled into her eye, but she managed to get back to her feet just in 
time to see Eddie’s hand pulled back ready to strike out at the small woman in 
front of him.  Quickly she reached out and grabbed his arm before it had started 
moving forward and was pleasantly surprised at the click of Catherine’s gun 
being cocked and shoved up under the chin of the large man in front of her.
 
“You don’t want to do this, Eddie,” she said firmly, pressing the gun harder 
against his flesh.   “Go home and sit by the phone in case she calls or someone 
calls or whatever.  And the cops are going to be there for a while so don’t do 
anything stupid,” she said, pulling the gun away and motioning for Sara to let 
go of his arm.   He scowled at her and walked down the hall towards the exit not 
looking back.
 
Catherine set the gun back in the holster on her hip and immediately went to 
Sara’s side.  She placed a hand on the younger woman’s face and turned it up to 
examine the wound.
 
“Let me see,” she commanded in a motherly tone.   Sara winced when Catherine’s 
hand touched near her fresh wound.   “Jesus, Sara, I’m so sorry,” she said 
realizing that she was genuinely hurt.  It was a little more than a scrape.
 
“Don’t worry about it,” Sara answered, acting tough.   “Besides, I don’t get 
down with that whole violence against women shit.”
 
“No kidding,” Catherine said with a smile.   “Come on, the least I can do is 
clean this up for you.”
 
“No, I’m all right.  You should be out there working the case or something,” 
Sara said quickly, waving Catherine off with her hand.
 
“Grissom said he’d page me when he was about to hit the streets,” she answered, 
taking Sara’s hand and leading her down the hallway towards her office.  “You 
don’t have to be the tough girl all the time, you know?”
 
“Does hurt like fucking hell,” Sara said with a slight smile, realizing she 
liked the feeling of her hand in Catherine’s a little too much.
 
***********************
 
Sara winced as Catherine wiped at the gash above her right eye with a cotton 
swab drenched in alcohol.   She hoped that it wouldn’t bruise or swell too much 
and was wondering why she had put herself in that position in the first place.   
No, there wasn’t really any question why she had defended Catherine.   It was 
just her nature, part of her vow to uphold the law or something.   Yeah, right.
 
“Sorry,” Catherine offered as Sara continued to flinch underneath her gentle 
hands.  “Bull in a china shop, huh?”
 
“Not at all,” Sara answered.   “I’m just hoping I don’t have this huge puffed 
out eye in the morning…or afternoon as it may be,” she added noticing the 
digital clock on the desk she was now sitting was reading a shiny red 6:54.  So 
much for a day off.
 
“Well, I suggest a lot of ice and possibly a trip to the ER to make sure 
nothing’s broken,” Catherine said as he focused on cleaning the wound.
 
“It’s not that bad, Catherine,” Sara replied.
 
“I’m sorry, Doctor Sidle.   I had no idea you had recently gotten your PhD,” 
Catherine joked as she dropped the fifth blood soaked cotton ball in the trash 
basket.
 
“This isn’t the first time I’ve been hit in the face,” Sara admitted, turning 
her eyes to the floor.   “After the third or fourth time you tend to become an 
expert in the subtle difference between bruises and fractures.”
 
“Well, you’re definitely starting to bruise I’m sorry to say,” Catherine said 
not knowing whether she should breech the subject the younger woman had just 
touched upon.  She rustled around her desk and had finally had her fingers 
wrapped around a large Band-Aid when she felt strong hands fall upon either side 
of her waist.  Sara finally raised her dark eyes up to connect with the blue 
ones before her and spoke more quietly than Catherine had ever heard before.
 
“Don’t ever let anyone put their hands on you because you’re so much better than 
that,” she said with a sadness in her voice that has almost heartbreaking.
 
“What happened to you?” Catherine asked, pushing a stray piece of dark hair out 
of Sara’s eyes and tucking it behind an ear.
 
“We’ve all got a past.   Mine’s slightly more colorful than most.   Although by 
the looks of it, you’ve probably got some stories of your own.”
 
“You show me yours, I’ll show you mine,” Catherine responded, her voice just 
above a whisper, as she leaned in so close that Sara could feel her warm breath 
nearing her face.  Sara was about to open her mouth in some form of a response 
when a loud beeping elicited slight laughter and the aversion of eye from both 
women.   Both women reached for their pagers at the same time and clicked them 
off quickly.
 
“Grissom,” they said at the same time and rushed out of the office and down the 
hallway to meet up with the others.
 
***********************
 
“What the hell happened to your eye?” Nick asked motioning to the large bandage 
covering the right side of Sara’s temple.
 
“Eddie,” Catherine answered for her, all eyes turning to look at her.
 
“How are you holding up?” Grissom asked.
 
“I’ll be a lot better once you tell me what you’ve got.”
 
“The officers watching Eddie’s apartment noticed a large, muscular guy enter 
about an hour ago,” Grissom answered.   “Apparently there was a lot of yelling, 
some crashing noises and then Eddie was alone again.”
 
“So what are we thinking?” Sara asked, searching around the break room for some 
painkillers.  Greg tapped her on the shoulder and held out four ibuprofen in one 
palm and Sara smiled after she accepted them.
 
“That fucking bastard,” Catherine said loudly slamming her hand down on the 
counter with a slap.
 
“Catherine,” Grissom said softly as he placed a hand on her forearm.
 
“No,” she yelled, shaking of Grissom’s hand and apologizing with her eyes 
immediately.  “He knows exactly what’s going on.  He got himself into some 
trouble and whoever’s feet he’s stepping on took Lindsey as collateral.   I’m 
going to fucking kill him,” she added as she quickly tried to make her way to 
the door.  Sara reached out and caught Catherine by the wrist, holding onto her 
too tightly.
 
“Sara,” Catherine warned, her eyes cold and threatening.
 
“Catherine,” Sara replied just as harsh, feeling blood run down past her bandage 
but not moving to stop it.   “I’m coming with you,” she stated more than asked.  
 Catherine’s eyes softened a bit as Grissom’s cell phone rang and he picked it 
up quickly.  Four sets of eyes settled on him hopefully.
 
“That was Brass.  They’ve got Eddie’s little friend in custody over at a motel 
near the strip.   So far there’s no sign of Lindsey, but they’re holding him for 
questioning,” he said once he had hung up the phone.   “It’s your call, 
Catherine.”
 
“You and Nick go meet Brass.   I want to go talk to Eddie.”
 
“Do you really think that’s the best idea?” he asked, raising an eyebrow and 
hoping to get her to think more clearly.
 
“I’ll take care of her Grissom,” Sara interjected.   “You know I won’t let 
anything get out of hand,” she added and he reluctantly gave into her.
 
“What about me?” Greg called after four retreating figures.
 
“Stay here in case anyone calls,” Grissom called to him over his shoulder.  The 
young man smiled with pride feeling like he was finally becoming part of the 
team.
 
***********************
 
“You know your eye’s still bleeding,” Catherine stated as she flashed her badge 
at the uniformed cop standing in the lobby of Eddie’s apartment building.
 
“Thanks, Mom.  I noticed,” Sara answered with a crooked smile as she wiped at 
the blood seeping out from under the confines of the bandage placed tightly 
against her temple.
 
They made their way up two flights of stairs and Catherine was about to place 
her hand on the door to the third floor when Sara placed a hand on her arm 
stopping her.
 
“What?” Catherine asked, more than ready to bust down Eddie’s door and stick her 
gun in his face.
 
“I just want to make sure that you’re not going to go in there all crazy and do 
something stupid,” Sara answered dropping her hand.
 
“Not me,” Catherine replied sarcastically and ripped open the door and swiftly 
walked through it and down the hall to her destination.
 
“Catherine,” Sara warned following after her closely.
 
Catherine didn’t bother knocking before she pushed the door to Eddie’s apartment 
open.  It was dark and smelled like booze and sex.  She silently chastised 
herself for ever getting involved with such a lowlife and for letting her 
daughter spend any time over there.   It didn’t take long for them to stumble 
upon the sole person that resided at the unseelie den.  Eddie was sitting in 
almost pitch blackness, a cigarette burning in one hand and a bottle of Wild 
Turkey in the other.
 
“Oh, this is just perfect,” Catherine said angrily as Eddie turned to look at 
her.
 
“Ever hear of knocking?” he retorted with a snort as he took a swig of whiskey.
 
“What the fuck are you doing, Eddie?” Catherine asked as she plucked the 
cigarette out of his hand and took a long drag before dropping it to the 
linoleum floor and grinding it out under one thick black boot heel.   Sara 
looked around the apartment for a second noticing nothing out of the ordinary 
before taking up her position behind the shorter woman.
 
“Thinking.”
 
“About what?  How you’ve made the ultimate fuck up this time?”
 
“What are you talking about?” he asked defensively, fear creeping into his eyes.
 
“Did you think we wouldn’t find out what’s going on?” Catherine accused, feeling 
her blood pressure rise.   “I know you’re in trouble Eddie.   I just can’t 
believe you dragged your own daughter into your mess this time,” she shouted 
advancing on him with her hand resting on her gun.
 
“Oh God, Catherine, I’m so fucking sorry,” he cried, running a hand over the 
stubble on his face before rocking forward and burying his head in his hands.
 
“How long were you going to go on like you had no idea what happened before 
letting us in on some vital information that would have helped us find Lindsey, 
Eddie?” she continued to barrade him while he was beginning to shake.
 
“What do you want me to say?” he shouted, pushing to his feet quickly.  The 
bottle dropped to the floor with a loud crash as he rose up to his full height 
and towered over her.  “I fucked up, okay?”
 
Sara made a quick decision and walked forwards quickly and smoothly and managed 
to place herself in between the two ex-lovers.   She faced Catherine and forced 
her to look her in the face as she raised a hand up in a ‘truce’ signal and 
spoke firmly.
 
“Ease up.  We’re not going to get anywhere just screaming at each other,” she 
pleaded with Catherine, who could have burned a hole in the wall with her eyes.  
 She turned to Eddie and spoke just as firmly.   “Sit down and tell us 
everything that happened.”   When he remained standing and trying to look over 
Sara’s height to his ex-wife, Sara put a hand on his shoulder and forced him 
down slightly.   “Sit,” she commanded, her other hand playing at the gun on her 
waist.   When he saw the motion, he complied and slumped back in his chair.   
Sara turned back to Catherine and nodded slightly before stepping aside.
 
“I made a bet and I lost,” Eddie admitted.   “I can’t afford to be late with 
this payment again.”
 
“How much?” Catherine asked angrily.
 
“It was an entirely safe bet.   I just can’t…”
 
“How much, Eddie?!?” Catherine shouted.   Sara stepped closer to the older woman 
and put a hand on her lower back in a supportive fashion.
 
“Quarter of a million.”
 
Catherine turned on her heels at this damaging admission and slammed her right 
foot into the floor.   She pinched at the bridge of her nose as her brows 
furrowed in frustration.   Sara moved her hand to Catherine’s shoulder as she 
interrogated Eddie for herself.
 
“How late are you?”
 
“Couple days.”
 
“Why didn’t they just come after you?”
 
“They did.  Just so happened Lindsey was here.  Bad timing,” he said sadly.  
 
“You bastard,” Catherine said fiercely turning around.   “You just let them take 
her?”
 
“What was I supposed to do?” he asked loudly.   “They’re not going to hurt her.  
There’s too much money on the line for that.”
 
“Too much money you don’t have,” Catherine screamed at him as her blood began to 
boil.
 
“I’ll get it.  I’m not going to let them hurt her, Cath.”
 
“How long do you have?” Sara asked, feeling her head begin to pound.
 
“Forty-eight hours.”
 
“Who, Eddie?” Catherine demanded.
 
“What, so your cop buddies can go bust in there and get us all killed?” Eddie 
replied harshly.


“No, Eddie.  So I can go over there and save my daughter.”
 
“Our daughter,” he corrected her.
 
“We’ll see about that after this is all over with,” she replied, hands on her 
hips.  “Give me a name, Eddie.  Or I’ll have Sara take you down to the station 
and you can answer some questions there.”   Sara went along with her partner and 
made it evident that her hand was now resting on her cold, metal handcuffs.
 
“I don’t know where they took her, Cath.”
 
“Give me a fucking name, Eddie.   Now.”
 
“Remo Mitchell,” he said reluctantly.   “That’s who I made the bet with.”
 
“Where can I find him?”
 
“Bright Lights Motel.   Near the strip,” he answered.
 
“Let’s go,” Catherine said to Sara before turning back to Eddie.  “Don’t you 
fucking move.   You can do whatever the hell you like after we find Lindsey.   
But for now you sit there.  I could give a shit if they come over here and rip 
your fingernails out one at a time, you son of a bitch.”
 
“Catherine, they’ll kill me,” he pleaded.
 
“And if you leave this apartment, I’ll kill you,” she answered just before Sara 
cupped a hand under her elbow and led her out of the apartment and into the cool 
hallway.
 
***********************
 
Jim Brass unbuttoned the front of his suit coat and placed his hand on the 
standard issue Glock nine-millimeter at his side.   When Grissom and Nick, along 
with three other uniformed cops, had arrived behind him in front of room sixteen 
he cleared his throat and knocked loudly.
 
“Vegas PD, open up,” he at the closed door. 
 
Nick flanked out to Brass’ left side, the three uniforms to the right.  Grissom 
stayed behind Brass, his LVPD baseball hat pulled tightly onto his head.   They 
heard a rustling on the other side of the door and all at once drew their 
weapons and readied themselves for any danger.   The door creaked open, a dimly 
lit motel room in the backdrop.   A muscular man wearing black slacks and a 
tight fitting white tank top was wiping at his eyes and squinting into the 
outside light when he realized there were six guns pointed at him.  His arms 
immediately raised above his head, flexing thick biceps and the three or four 
tattoos they housed.
 
“Remo Mitchell?” Brass asked, gun still firmly in his hands.
 
“Depends on who’s asking,” the man answered in a smart tone, smirking.
 
“Jim Brass, Las Vegas Police,” he introduced himself, putting his gun in its 
holster and flashing his badge.
 
“What do you want?” Remo asked, his arms returning to his sides slowly.  Brass 
motioned for his men to put up their guns and they obliged.   Grissom looked 
over Brass shoulder with a stone face.
 
“We need to ask you some questions,” Brass answered in a flat tone.
 
“Bout what?” 
 
“A little bet you went to collect on a couple hours ago.”
 
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Remo answered, running a hand through 
dark, tousled hair.
 
“Maybe a trip down to the station could refresh your memory,” Grissom 
interjected from his stance behind Brass.
 
“Yeah, I’d bet they’d love to run your name for warrants pal,” Brass added with 
a smile.  Remo crossed his arms over his chest and scowled.   “Start talking,” 
Brass demanded while Nick moved back near Grissom.
 
“Eddie made a bet and he lost.   It’s my job that he understands he needs to 
pay,” Remo stated flatly.
 
“And the girl?” Nick asked, anger evident in his voice.   “What’s she got to do 
with all this?”
 
“Hey man, that wasn’t my idea,” Remo answered defensively holding up his hands.  
“Eddie owes a shitload of money.  The boss looks kindly on a little collateral.”
 
“And who’s the boss?” Brass asked.
 
“Nah, for that you’re gonna have to arrest me first.”   
 
Grissom advanced on the bookie and grabbed him by the front of his flimsy tank 
top.  He moved in close so his breath was hot on the other man’s face.   Brass 
thought he would let Grissom browbeat the man for a few minutes.
 
“There’s an innocent little girl in danger right now,” he said loudly.  “Her 
mother just happens to work for the Vegas PD which means that we’re not going to 
stop harassing you until we find her.  Now you can tell us where she is or we 
can become a permanent stick up your ass.   Your choice,” he finished, letting 
go of the shirt and stepping back a few feet.
 
“Eddie didn’t say nothing about his old lady being a cop,” Remo said, sudden 
fear showing on his face.   
 
“Not knowing a thing about your customers must be an occupational hazard in your 
field,” Grissom said sarcastically.
 
“Where’s the girl?” Brass demanded.
 
“She’s not here,” Remo replied quickly, running his hands up and down his arms.  
Grissom caught the flash of a large, distinct gold and ruby ring on his left 
hand.   He remembered it from somewhere but he couldn’t quite place it.
 
“Then you won’t mind if we look around,” Brass suggested motioning for the 
occupant to let them in.
 
“Got a warrant?” Remo asked, blocking his way.
 
“Where is she?” Nick yelled, stepping in front of Brass.   “It would be 
conducive to your good health to tell us right now,” he threatened.
 
“You want anything else and you’re going to have to take me downtown where I’ll 
be more than happy to answer any questions you have…with my lawyer present,” 
Remo said with a smile.
 
“You’re making a big mistake,” Nick said, hand on his holster.  Brass grabbed 
his shoulder and pulled him back.
 
“We’ll be back with a warrant and a car to take you to the station.  In the 
meantime, these nice officers will be watching every move you make so feel free 
to relax but don’t even think about going anywhere,” Brass said, motioning to 
the three uniforms on his right.  They nodded in understanding. “And by the way, 
do you know how long scums like you go away for kidnapping?”
 
“What are you talking about? Kidnapping?” Remo asked, surprised.
 
“That’s what they call it when you take a little girl against her will and hold 
her for ransom,” Grissom said smugly.   Remo merely chuckled and shook his head.
 
“There’s something you might want to know about Eddie and his financial 
hardships,” he commented.   “Nobody took that girl against his will.”
 
“What are you talking about?” Nick asked.
 
“I was supposed to go over there and bloody him up a little.  You know, give him 
some incentive to get his payment in on time,” Remo explained.   “I’m about 
ready to pound his ass when he offers me another deal.   Says to take his kid as 
insurance and give him another two days to get the cash.  There was no 
kidnapping.   He packed the girl’s bag for her and walked her down to the car.”
 
“Your car?” Brass asked as Nick and Grissom stood there, mouths agape.
 
“Boss’ car.”
 
“Where’d they take her?” Grissom asked, when he finally found his voice.
 
“Dunno.  Probably one of the casinos.”
 
“And if Eddie doesn’t come up with the money, then what?   They’re going to kill 
her?” Nick asked.
 
“Not when there’s money to be made,” Remo answered, starting to close the door.
 
“Money to be made how?” Nick demanded, sticking his foot in the door to stop it 
from closing.
 
“Eddie owes about two hundred thousand dollars.   Killing the girl isn’t going 
to make the money appear,” Remo replied.   “But in this business you come across 
some not so moral individuals.   The kind that wouldn’t mind parting with that 
kind of dough for purchasing the company of a young, underage girl.”
 
“You’re going to sell her as a sex slave?!?” Nick exclaimed.   “She’s seven 
years old.”
 
“Hey not me, man.  That’s not my bag,” Remo said finally closing the door.
 
“We’ll be back,” Brass yelled through the door before the three men headed 
towards their cars.  “What do you think?” he asked Grissom.
 
“There’s what two major gambling bosses in Vegas?” he asked.  Brass nodded.   
“And the ring on his left hand is some sort of membership gift. You know, to 
distinguish who’s gang he’s running with.   We just need to find out whom and go 
right to the source.”
 
“You don’t think he knows where she is?” Nick asked.
 
“I didn’t say that,” Grissom answered.   “Brass, you come back with a warrant 
and get him down to the station for questioning.  She’s not here, but I’ll bet 
he knows where we can find her.  In the meantime, Nick and I will try and figure 
out who he’s working for.”
 
“And Catherine?” Nick asked. Grissom shook his head and sighed.
 
***********************
 
Sara was driving the Blazer back to the crime lab when Catherine’s cell phone 
rang next to her.  Catherine grabbed for it quickly and flipped it open to her 
ear.
 
“Willows,” she said wearily.   “Hey Grissom.  We were just there.  We’re on our 
way back to the lab,” she said into the mouthpiece as Sara kept her eyes on the 
road.
 
“Listen, Eddie lost a bet and that’s why they took Lindsey.   What do you mean, 
you know already?   What?  WHAT?!?” she said and seconds later slammed the phone 
shut and turned to Sara who was staring back at her with a ‘what’s going on’ 
expression on her face.
 
“Turn the car around,” she demanded.
 
“What?” Sara asked, confused.
 
“Turn the car around now,” she yelled, urging Sara with her voice as well as her 
eyes to reverse their direction.
 
Sara didn’t quite understand, but heard the urgency in Catherine’s voice.  She 
pulled the wheel and kept her foot on the gas, turning the car in the opposite 
direction with the screeching of tires and thanked God that the streets were all 
but deserted that morning.
 
“Are you going to tell me what’s going on?” she asked Catherine as they flew 
down the street at an unhealthy speed.
 
“Grissom talked to Eddie’s bookie,” she said, with a detached voice like she 
couldn’t believe she was actually speaking…and speaking the words she was about 
to say.  “He gave them to her,” she continued, turning to look out the window as 
Sara’s gaze shifted quickly to the woman next to her that was in such agony.   
“He gave up his own daughter to save his ass.”
 
 
Minutes later, Sara slammed on the brakes outside Eddie’s apartment building and 
greeted the young officer watching guard.   Catherine jumped out of the large 
truck and ran up three flights of stairs without taking a breath until she had 
knocked in Eddie’s door and was standing in the middle of his empty apartment.   
Sara emerged in the room seconds later, nearly bumping into Catherine in the 
process.  She placed a hand on the older woman’s shoulder before pushing past 
her into the living room to find a cool breeze flying in through an open window. 
  She stuck her head out and saw the fire escape ladder had been dropped to the 
ground.
 
“He’s gone,” she stated, turning back to Catherine, who looked about ready to 
collapse.  Sara was halfway across the room to her when her cell phone rang.
 
“Sidle,” she said into the receiver after she had stopped momentarily to flip 
the phone open.
 
“Sara, it’s Grissom,” he said through the phone.   “Where are you?”
 
“Eddie’s apartment.  He’s gone,” she replied.
 
“Shit,” he said and covered the phone for a moment to address Nick.  “Nick, call 
Brass and tell him to put out an APB on Eddie.  He’s on the run.  Listen, Sara,” 
he said turning his attention back to the phone, “I want you to take Catherine 
back to your apartment and get her to eat something and rest for a few hours.   
Brass is out getting a warrant for Mitchell’s room and Nick and I are onto a 
good lead.”
 
“Grissom, I feel like I should be out in the field helping,” Sara said quietly, 
turning away so Catherine couldn’t hear her.
 
“You haven’t slept in days and neither has Catherine.   The best thing you can 
do right now is get some rest.   You’re no help if you’re a walking zombie,” he 
said sympathetically.
 
“You’ll call as soon as anything happens?”
 
“You’re the first on my list,” he said with a smile.   “And Sara, I don’t what 
we’d do without you,” he added before hanging up the phone.
 
“What is it?” Catherine asked anxiously as Sara turned back to her.
 
“That was Grissom.  Come on,” she said, slipping an arm around Catherine’s 
shoulders and walking her out of the apartment.  “They put an APB out on Eddie 
and Grissom said they’ve got some kind of lead they’re working on,” she said as 
they walked down the stairs and out to the car.
 
Once they were on their way back down the street, Catherine began looking around 
confused.
 
“Where are we going?” she asked.
 
“My apartment,” Sara answered nervously, waiting for an explosion from the woman 
seated next to her.
 
“What?” Catherine asked, turning to look at her.
 
“I’m on strict instructions to take you home, feed you, and force you to sleep 
for a couple hours,” she explained, eyes still focused on the road.
 
“No, we have to get back to the lab.   We…I have to…”
 
“Catherine,” Sara said a notch louder than she had intended.   She placed her 
hand on Catherine’s leg and turned to look at her as they stopped at a red 
light.  “Look at me,” she said.  
 
Catherine stared at the young woman seated in the driver’s seat and immediately 
noticed how drawn and tired she looked.   Her eyes were almost black with 
fatigue and she had the largest bags under them she had seen recently when she 
wasn’t looking back at herself in the mirror.  Sara’s clothes were wrinkled and 
messy, her shirt untucked on one side.   Her hands were gripping the steering 
wheel loosely and it highlighted the rugged bite marks on her fingernails and 
the bleeding skin around them.   The poor girl was whipped.  But somehow she was 
still going…she was still as strong as ever.


“You look like shit,” Catherine commented with a laugh.   It was the exact 
response Sara was looking for.
 
“Yeah?” she answered, raising an eyebrow.   “Well, you might as well be looking 
in a mirror because you look just as bad,” she added with a smile of her own.
 
“Excuse me?”  Catherine asked, mock astonished.
 
“You’ve been on just as many double shifts as me the past few weeks if not more. 
 We’ve been on now for over fifteen hours.  We’re not made of steel, Cath,” Sara 
said softly.
 
“But she’s my daughter,” Catherine said, tears forming in her eyes.  “I’m 
supposed to protect her.”
 
“We’re going to find her, Catherine.   I promise you that,” Sara said firmly as 
she squeezed Catherine leg beneath her hand.  Catherine placed her hand on top 
of Sara’s and looked out the window the rest of the way to Sara’s apartment.
 
***********************
 
“So basically I have a cabinet full of pasta, a freezer full of Ben and Jerry’s, 
and a fridge full of beer,” Sara confessed as she and Catherine walked into her 
apartment and straight down a small hallway to a completely black marble 
kitchen.  “And there’s no meat either…ever since Grissom and I did that whole 
pig experiment.”
 
“Actually, a beer sounds pretty damn good right now,” Catherine said as she 
examined the apartment.   “This place is mighty classy, kid,” she added as she 
took in a fully furnished living room with a black leather couch, fully stacked 
bookcases and a good sized television.
 
“Yeah, well my grandparents left me a nice sized trust fund when they passed,” 
Sara answered as she handed Catherine a Rolling Rock and took a slug of her own.
 
“You never talk about your family.   How come?” Catherine asked, drinking half 
her bottle in two big gulps.
 
“Not much to say?” Sara tried to avoid the subject, but Catherine’s soft yet 
pressing eyes were asking kindly for a truthful answer.   “Not much to say that 
won’t immediately provoke the pity reflex?” she tried again.
 
“I see,” Catherine responded.   “I’m not going to press you, but I’m here if you 
need to talk…and I’m interested.”
 
“I’ve got a brother, older.   He took off when he was sixteen,” Sara began, 
somehow feeling like she needed to tell the other woman about where she came 
from…who she was.   “Couldn’t take my father smacking my mother around anymore.  
 And when the bastard starting in on me, Stephen just bailed.”
 
“Do you talk to him?” Catherine asked, deliberately not touching on the 
abuse…knowing that Sara would talk about that more freely when she was ready.
 
“All the time, actually,” Sara answered, smiling.   “He’s a lawyer now in 
Seattle and he’s married.  I try and see the kids whenever I can.”
 
“Kids?”
 
“Yeah, twin girls.  Just about Lindsey’s age now that I think of it,” she said 
without thinking.   Catherine just continued to smile, trying to force back the 
image of her daughter alone in a room somewhere, blindfolded.   “God, Catherine, 
I’m sorry,” she apologized.
 
“Don’t be.  I’m kinda glad you’re opening up.  You’re sort of an enigma like 
that.  We’ve been working together for almost two years and I still feel like 
there are parts of you that you keep hidden too well,” Catherine confessed 
softly.   “I always wondered what thoughts were lurking behind those dark eyes.”
 
“The kind that need years of therapy to surface,” Sara replied with a laugh, 
taking a drink of her beer when she caught her breath.
 
“You’re father wasn’t too loving I assume?”
 
“No he was loving all right.   He just preferred to show that side of himself 
with his fists,” Sara admitted candidly.  “My mother wasn’t exactly any better 
with the permanent haze she was always in.   I think she was happy when he’d hit 
on me instead because it would give her a break from him.  Anyway, needless to 
say we’re not close,” she said shaking her head, trying to get the thoughts to 
go away.   “Bet you’re sorry you asked now, huh?”
 
“Not at all,” Catherine replied, smiling.   “Hearing where you come from, I even 
more proud of the person you’ve become.  You’re an amazing CSI, Sara.”
 
“Thank you,” Sara said, her voice just above a whisper…her lungs threatening to 
fail on her.
 
“How’d you get away from it?”
 
“Well, one night my senior year in High School,” Sara began, wondering if she 
would be able to get it all out.   Wondering if revealing this last bit about 
her life would send Catherine screaming for help.  “Um, my Dad wandered into the 
living room late one night and found Stephanie Parker and I getting it on butt 
naked on the floor,” she finished, her eyes glassy over in remembrance.   She 
turned to gage Catherine’s reaction and was pleased to see she looked normal, 
but eager for Sara to continue.
 
“Naturally, he beat me so many colors I looked like a Crayola box and told 
Stephanie never to show her face at my house again.   Told me I was the worst 
kind of sinner and I was going straight to Hell.  A couple weeks later, I 
graduated, got a full boat to college and never looked back,” Sara finished, 
smiling slightly. “Shocked?” 
 
“Sara, you’re talking to a woman who used to take her clothes off in front of 
strangers for money,” Catherine said, smiling.   “I know a thing or two myself 
about the ways of the woman,” she added with a knowing grin.  Sara smiled to 
herself, but never the less looked down suddenly self-conscious.
 
“So you’re probably hungry,” she suggested.
 
“Not really, but this is one of those situations where I’ll have to force myself 
in order to keep my strength up I guess,” Catherine answered truthfully.
 
“I know what you mean.   I’ll put on some pasta and you can watch tv or 
something,” Sara commented before walking back towards the kitchen.
 
“Actually, I’d love a shower if that’s okay,” Catherine called after her.
 
“Oh sure, no problem.   I’d offer you some clothes, but you’d probably have to 
roll the pant legs up a hundred times,” Sara said.  “But I’ll, um, bring you a 
tank top and a new shirt if you like.”
 
“That would be great,” Catherine said.   “The bathroom is where?”
 
“Down the hall over there, first door on the right,” Sara said pointing to 
another hallway off the living area.   Catherine was on her way when she turned 
around halfway to see Sara leaning over the sink, filling a large pot with 
water.
 
“Sara?”
 
“Yeah,” she answered, not turning around.
 
“Why are you doing all this?”
 
“I am the job, Catherine.   I work sixteen hours a day because I want…I need to 
help people.”
 
“Is that all?” Catherine asked, feeling there was something lying underneath the 
surface that was dying to get out.   Sara thought for a moment before answering. 
  She still didn’t turn around, afraid to look at the older woman in the face.
 
“No one should have to suffer,” she finally said.   “Especially not you.  You’re 
too good for that,” she added, a hidden desire and longing thrusting itself over 
the edge.
 
“I’m just like everyone else,” Catherine said quietly, a smile playing at her 
lips at Sara’s seemingly wanting admission.
 
“No you’re not,” Sara replied, shaking her head.   “You’re different than all 
the other cases I’ve ever worked.   Maybe it’s because I care about you so much. 
  Maybe it’s because I know you’d do the same for me,” she said, transferring 
the pot to the stove and turning the burner on.
 
“Thank you,” Catherine said sincerely, still to Sara’s back which was rising and 
falling in exaggerated breaths.   “And Sara?” 
 
“Yeah?” she said, finally turning around to see Catherine’s face glowing with 
reverence and her eyes twinkling with an ignited passion.   
 
“Long legs are sexy,” she stated flatly and turned to disappear down the hallway 
and into the bathroom.
 
***********************
 
Over dinner, the two women tried their hand at small talk.  Mostly it ended up 
as fragmented silence in between bites of pasta.  They were sitting on stools at 
the kitchen counter since Sara didn’t have a kitchen table.  She wasn’t home 
enough, she said, or ever had enough company to warrant a dining surface for 
more than one.
 
“So why don’t you get out much?” Catherine asked, draining her second beer.  
Sara thought for a second and looked back across the counter into Catherine’s 
inquisitive eyes.
 
“I don’t know, really.   I’ve never been an overly social person to begin with,” 
she replied, dropping her fork down quietly and stepping off of her stool.   She 
walked to the refrigerator and took out two more beers before returning to the 
counter and depositing one in front of Catherine.
 
“Lately, I think maybe it’s because I see so much pain and people getting hurt 
at the hands of other people out there,” she continued once she had resumed her 
sitting position.   “Just doesn’t make much sense to me to try and connect to 
someone who’ll only end up fucking me over in one way or another.”
 
“It’s amazing,” Catherine said with a smile.
 
“What?”
 
“I used to think just like that,” Catherine answered.   “Back when I first 
started the job and Eddie and I were splitting up.  Just seemed like the world 
wasn’t much worth living in.”
 
“What changed?” Sara asked in between bites of her pasta.
 
“Lindsey,” Catherine stated, her eyes meeting Sara’s and holding them for a 
minute.  “I had to show her that there were some good, positive things in the 
world.   She needs to grow up in a place that isn’t so dark and vindictive.   So 
I tried to give that to her and my outlook just sort of changed.   Even in the 
darkest places, there’s a glimmer of light,” she paused before speaking the next 
words.  “Most importantly, you have to find a way to detach from the job.   
Otherwise it will kill you, Sara.”
 
They sat their looking at each other for a couple minutes.   The look on Sara’s 
face made it evident that the gears in her head were working overtime, searching 
for a way to explain to Catherine why detachment was becoming less of an option. 
 That she had emerged herself so far into her work that the surface wasn’t even 
in sight.  Sara shook her head slightly, a smile bringing her back into the 
moment in which she was physically situated in.  Then her face grew dark as she 
attempted to confess the next words without holding back.
 
“I’m thinking about quitting,” she said, taking a big gulp of beer.  As she 
placed it back down on the counter, Catherine’s hand clamped down on her wrist 
hard, not letting her move.
 
“That’s not the answer,” Catherine said firmly, trying to convince Sara that was 
the truth.
 
“Why not?” Sara said loudly, pushing away from Catherine and to her feet.  She 
took a few steps back, still looking directly at the woman seated at her kitchen 
counter.   “What’s the fucking point, Catherine?   All day every day we’re face 
to face with the murderers and rapists.   The fucking pedophiles and robbers.   
And we don’t do a damn thing to stop them, do we?” she shouted, bracing one hand 
on the counter next to the sink for support   “All we do is clean up their 
messes after they’re done.   We collect the evidence and then what?”
 
“And then we put the fuckers in jail,” Catherine said, getting to her feet.  “We 
stop them from doing it again and getting away with it.   Whether or not you can 
see it, we’re saving people’s lives by getting these criminals off the streets,” 
she said, coming around the counter and walking slowly towards Sara.
 
“Just doesn’t seem like enough,” Sara replied, her voice gruff and angry.
 
“What would be enough, Sara?   Really?” Catherine challenged her.   “Running the 
streets and arresting everyone that you think is going to commit a crime?  Or 
going back in time, maybe, and stopping your father from abusing you and your 
mother?” she asked gently, daring to place her hands on Sara’s broad shoulders.
 
Sara’s face began to crumble, tears springing from her eyes.  Catherine pulled 
her forward into a strong embrace and Sara pressed her forehead tightly onto 
Catherine’s strong shoulder.  They stood there for an endless moment, Sara 
crying silently as Catherine held onto her with all the strength she had left at 
that moment.
 
“You can’t quit, Sara,” Catherine whispered.   “We need you.  Right now I need 
you,” she admitted, causing Sara to pull back.   Their eyes found each other 
once again and Sara knew it was the truth.
 
“Jesus, Catherine, I’m sorry,” Sara said, pulling back into herself and feeling 
slightly embarrassed.   “I shouldn’t be acting like this…going on about my 
problems when Lindsey’s out there.”
 
“Gee, and I’d gone about two seconds there without feeling completely fucking 
insane about missing her and not being able to help her,” Catherine half joked.
 
“Shit, I can’t say anything right.   Kind of a plague in my life,” Sara said 
averting her eyes.
 
“Sara, you’ve done more than enough already,” Catherine paused, stifling a yawn. 
 “But I do have one more favor to ask.”
 
“Anything.”
 
“I really need to lie down for a couple hours.   My legs aren’t going to hold me 
much longer.”
 
“Oh, yeah.  No problem,” Sara answered and moved past Catherine into the living 
area.   “You take the bed, across the hall from the bathroom.   And I’m going to 
hang out here on the couch.”
 
“Sara, I can’t take your bed.   I’ll sleep on the couch,” Catherine offered, 
following Sara into the living room.
 
“No way,” Sara protested.   “You need sleep.”


“So do you.”
 
“I don’t really sleep that much anyway.   Usually I get two or three hours tops. 
  And I sleep on the couch.  I haven’t used the bedroom in months,” Sara 
admitted shyly.
 
“At all?” Catherine asked, quirking an eyebrow.
 
“Go.  Take the bed.  Don’t argue with me anymore because you’ll lose,” Sara 
commanded with a smile and pointed to the bedroom hallway before collapsing on 
the couch, an arm dangling over her eyes.   She heard Catherine’s boots click on 
the hard wood floor and the sound of her bedroom door closing softly before she 
closed her eyes and drifted into a restless sleep.
 
 
Catherine tossed and turned for an hour before deciding sleep was not an option. 
 She slipped out of Sara’s warm bed and pulled on the slightly oversized button 
down shirt she had lent her.  Catherine needed to be out in the field, following 
leads, or at least bullying whoever she could get her hands on for information.  
In the back of her mind, she knew she was doing everything possible to help her 
daughter, but she needed to do more than that.   Or at least keep busy…at least 
make herself believe there was something more she could do.
 
The bedroom door creaked open almost silently and Catherine carried her shoes in 
her hand so they wouldn’t click on the hard wood floor.   She picked up her 
black suit coat from the black recliner against the wall and stopped to look at 
Sara’s sleeping form.   The girl was amazing, truly.  She was tough as nails, 
but on the inside there was whole other world that she kept hidden…trapped 
almost, so the outside world wouldn’t get her.   The more Catherine uncovered, 
the more she began to like the young woman who had been working beside her for a 
couple years now.   The more she was finding herself attracted to Sara, in a way 
that could be hazardous to them, to their careers.   Getting involved in the 
workplace has never been a good idea.   Still there was something inside Sara 
that Catherine found herself connecting with and there was something happening 
between them that they wouldn’t be able to ignore much longer.  
 
Catherine slipped on her jacket and checked her watch.   Seeing that it read 
just after four in the afternoon, she knew their time was becoming scarce.  In 
about thirty hours, Lindsey would be gone…forever.   She shuffled down the 
hallway, apologizing to Sara in her mind for walking out without telling the 
young woman that she was leaving.   But Catherine needed to do this on her own.  
 She needed to feel like she was doing everything in her power to find her 
daughter.  And sleep was something she was just going to have to sacrifice for a 
few more days.   When Lindsey was home, then she would relax.   Until then, her 
needs would just have to wait.
 
Three hours later, Catherine was exhausted.   She had called in every favor she 
had in Vegas, visited every casino and source that she had met in her previous 
career as well as the informants she had met in her current one.  And she got 
the same response everywhere she went.   No one knew anything.  To make matter 
worse, her pager hadn’t gone off once.   No Grissom, no Nick, no Brass, and 
Eddie was still out there somewhere avoiding his responsibilities once again.
 
Thinking there was a possibility that she could sneak back into Sara’s apartment 
before she had woken up, Catherine climbed back into the Blazer and took of in 
that direction.   She was just pulling up outside the apartment complex when her 
cell phone began ringing furiously.  She threw the car in park and flipped the 
phone up to her ear.
 
“Willows.”
 
“Catherine, where the hell are you?” Sara practically yelled into the other end 
of the phone.
 
“Sara, calm down,” she responded, jumping out of the truck and running up the 
stairs until she was standing outside of Sara’s door.   She knocked loudly.
 
“Do you know what time it is?”
 
“Around seven,” Catherine said sheepishly, knowing what she had done was wrong.  
She could have at least left a note.  “Aren’t you going to answer the door,” she 
added after knocking again.
 
“It can wait.  Tell me where you are so I can meet you,” Sara demanded, 
frustrated.   There was knocking at the door that kept getting louder.   “Just a 
second,” she yelled at the door.
 
“Sara, answer the fucking door,” Catherine said.   “Now,” she added and clicked 
the phone off her ear and dropped it in her coat pocket.
 
“Catherine,” Sara said to the dial tone.   “Fuck.”  She hustled over to the door 
and pulled it back swiftly, revealing Catherine standing there with one hand on 
her hip and a slight smile on her face.
 
Sara stood there looking more frantic and tired than anything else.  There was 
also that glimmer of pissed in the way she stood with her arms across her chest. 
  Catherine entered the apartment and closed the door behind her with a 
resounding click.
 
“Couldn’t sleep,” she offered with a crooked smile right before she was crushed 
in Sara’s arms.
 
“I was so fucking worried about you,” Sara said, her arms wrapped tightly around 
Catherine’s waist.   “I woke up and you were gone and I didn’t know what 
happened,” she said quickly, feeling her body start to relax.
 
“I know.  I’m sorry,” Catherine responded, her breath hot on the crook of Sara’s 
neck.   She felt she was getting all the support she needed at that moment in 
the arms of the strong woman in front of her.   She pulled back, not breaking 
their contact, her left hand resting on the side of Sara’s neck.  There eyes met 
in an unspoken truth and desire that was about to break into reality.   
Catherine moved forward first, wonder and confusion lining Sara’s dark eyes.
 
“Don’t ever do that again,” she warned in a firm whisper.   Catherine shook her 
head in agreement and pulled Sara’s face down to her own.
 
Their lips met in a heated kiss that was about to send the two of them into 
spontaneous human combustion.   Their warm mouths opened almost simultaneously, 
both women needing the kiss to deepen, needing to feel something that was real 
and not detached.   Catherine felt her back connect firmly with the door behind 
her as Sara’s hands slid over the gun harnessed at her side and around her slim 
waist to rest palms against the door.  The hand that was resting against Sara’s 
neck quickly moved into her hair, Catherine squeezing and pulling at it a bit as 
the kiss threatened to burn out of control at any second.  Suddenly, Sara pushed 
at the door with her hands and stepped back abruptly ripping her lips off of 
Catherine’s.  Catherine stayed glued with her back to the door trying to assess 
what had just happened as Sara was trying to look anywhere but at the person who 
just seconds before were drinking in her lips hungrily.
 
“I’m sorry,” Sara mumbled, closing her eyes and bringing a hand up to her face.  
“This is the last thing you need right now.”
 
“Actually, this is exactly what I need right now,” Catherine replied stepping 
forward and pulling Sara’s hand down and keeping it in her own.  “As an adult I 
reserve the right to make my own decisions,” she said with a smirk, reaching up 
with her free hand to force Sara to look at her, “and I definitely wasn’t 
complaining.”
 
When she felt Sara’s hand squeeze hers reflexively and her face soften, she 
pulled the dark-haired woman to her once again.   This time their lips met 
slowly, teasing at first, sliding against each other with ease.  Catherine 
guided Sara’s hands behind her to rest at the small of her back and pressed 
herself flush against the tall woman.  Sliding one hand behind Sara’s neck, 
Catherine pulled her in even further as her tongue slid against willing lips 
that opened quickly and were more than inviting.   They were just getting 
acquainted with each other when a loud ringing forced them apart.
 
“That’s probably Grissom,” Sara breathed, reluctant to remove her arms from 
around Catherine.  “Nobody else ever calls my home number.”
 
“I think that’s about to change,” Catherine said smiling as she stepped out of 
Sara’s embrace, already feeling the warmth of her body subsiding.  “Maybe he 
actually has a lead,” she added with hopeful eyes.  Sara walked over to the 
kitchen counter with long, even strides and answered the phone on the third 
ring.
 
“Hello?”
 
“Sara, it’s Grissom.  How’s Catherine holding up?”
 
“She’s doing her best.   She’s asleep right now,” Sara answered, wincing at her 
lie.
 
“Good, but you’re going to have to wake her up,” Grissom replied through the 
phone.  “Warrick’s back and I think we have our first concrete lead.”
 
“That’s great,” Sara said, her eyes lighting up and looking back to Catherine 
who was walking towards her with questioning eyes.   Sara held up her index 
finger to indicate she’d tell her in a minute.
 
“Yeah, so get down to the crime lab and we’ll go from there.”


Sara clicked off the phone and gave the good news to Catherine.  Seconds later, 
after Sara had grabbed her jacket and other uniform necessities, they were in 
the truck and on their way to headquarters for their subsequent briefing.
 
***********************
 
When they arrived at the crime lab, Catherine was walking so fast down the 
corridors that Sara, even with her mile long legs, was having trouble keeping 
up.  Catherine wanted to jump on this lead as fast as humanly possible so she 
could have her daughter back before bedtime.  The three CSIs along with Greg 
were sitting around the break table having a much needed caffeine boost.  Greg 
was saying something about it being eighty bucks a pound or something as Sara 
and Catherine entered the room to have four pairs of eyes immediately turn to 
them.   Warrick got up in one swift motion and pulled Catherine into a warm, 
secure hug.
 
“Hey,” she said, trying to hold back tears that seemed to want to come out every 
two minutes.
 
“Hey,” he said pulling back, hazel eyes searching her blue ones.  “How are you?”
 
“Hanging in,” she answered and quickly changed the subject.   “How’s your trip?”
 
“Good, although I wish someone had called me sooner,” he said, eyes flicking 
back to Nick and then Grissom.
 
“Still, I hear we have you to thank for this lead,” Sara said from behind 
Catherine.  “Better late than never, right?” she added with a smile.   Warrick’s 
eyes lit up a bit and he nodded in response, Sara’s point getting across.
 
“Gris told me about the ring this Mitchell guy was wearing.   There’s only one 
guy in Vegas that hands those things out to his lackeys,” Warrick stated, 
looking around the room at everyone’s eyes on him.   “Ruby Ritchie Scarpelli.”
 
“How’d…”
 
“Nick, before you finish that question, use that mushy thing inside your cranium 
for a second,” Warrick warned in a slightly amused tone.
 
“Scarpelli?” Grissom said in wonder.   “I thought he got locked up a few years 
ago.”
 
“That was Ray Scarpelli, Ritchie’s brother,” Warrick answered.
 
“What’s with the Ruby thing?” Greg asked.
 
“Something about it being their mother’s birthstone.   Anyway, he runs his gig 
mostly out of Caesar’s Palace, but recently he’s taken over dealings at the Taj 
Mahal too,” Warrick explained, looking back to Catherine.  Her face was lit up 
with promise and hope.
 
“Right near Mitchell’s motel,” Grissom stated.
 
“So what are we waiting for?” Catherine asked, ready to get moving.
 
“This guy’s not exactly small potatoes, Cath,” Warrick challenged her.
 
“She’s my daughter,” she answered simply.
 
“How do we know he’s going to be there anyway?” Sara asked.  “If he’s such a big 
deal wouldn’t he have someone else doing his work for him?”
 
“Nah, he’s the kind of guy who likes to get his hands dirty,” Warrick answered, 
further confirming their course of action.
 
“Then let’s go right to the top,” Catherine said, turning.   Sara stepped out of 
her way and followed behind her, the rest of the gang right at their heels.
 
“What about me?” Greg called after them.
 
“Stay here in case Brass calls with any info,” Grissom called over his shoulder 
at the young man who slumped back into his chair with a thud.
 
***********************
 
“Shouldn’t we have called Brass?” Nick asked as the whole team piled out of two 
trucks and made their way into the lobby of the Taj Mahal.
 
“I did,” Grissom replied.   “We decided it would be better if we went in their 
just as the crime lab and not actual Vegas PD.  Gangsters tend to freeze up 
around law enforcement.”
 
“And what are we?” Nick asked.
 
“Science nerds,” Grissom answered with a smirk.   “So, Warrick, where to?”
 
“This way,” he answered, pointing to the bar and walking over their swiftly.  
“You guys hang back a sec.”
 
The rest of the team stayed back as Warrick walked over to the bar and began 
conversing with the bartender, a short Spanish guy with messy hair.  Their 
conversation seemed to get more heated and ended with Warrick reaching across 
the bar and pulling the short man to him by his shirtfront.  With fear evident 
in his eyes, the young man pulled something from his pocket and slipped it into 
Warrick’s hand before he made his way back to his friends.   He motioned for 
them to follow him and they all ended up in the elevator.
 
“Where are we going?” Catherine asked, unbuttoning her jacket and placing her 
hand near her weapon.
 
“To the top,” Warrick answered as he inserted a key into the penthouse slot and 
turned it.
 
The doors opened to an elaborate lobby and two large men with earpieces guarding 
the actual door to the penthouse suite.   Warrick stepped out first, most 
comfortable and knowledgeable in the underground world of gambling and organized 
crime.   The remaining four CSIs followed a step or two behind him looking 
around for clues or danger.  Catherine kept her hand near her gun, more than 
willing to use it at this point.   Warrick flashed his badge at the muscle in 
front of him.
 
“Las Vegas Crime Lab,” he said.   “We need to talk to Mr. Scarpelli for a minute 
or two.”
 
“In regards to what?”
 
“An outstanding debt,” Warrick answered flatly.
 
“Just a second.” 
 
The man on the left continued to watch the group while the man on the right 
pressed down in his pocket and carried on a one-sided conversation with someone. 
 He reached behind him, nodded, and opened the door to let the team enter the 
suite.   Once inside, he followed behind them and herded them into the living 
room where a middle-aged man with dark hair was watching baseball on a big 
screen TV wearing a three piece pin-striped suit.   He took the cigar out of his 
mouth long enough to flash his Ruby ring and greet his visitors.
 
“Good evening, gentlemen,” he said in a gruff voice, “and ladies,” he added when 
he caught sight of Catherine and Sara.   “Mr. Brown, what’s this I hear about an 
outstanding debt?   I was sure you’d given up on the game.”
 
“I have, Ritchie,” he answered.   “We’re here on entirely different business.”
 
“What is it that I can do for you?” Scarpelli asked, resting his cigar on the 
edge of his ashtray and offering his guests a seat.   They all remained 
standing.
 
“Mr. Scarpelli, we’re inquiring about your dealings with Eddie Willows,” Grissom 
said, playing with the rim of his glasses.
 
“Eddie, sure.  He’s one of my most frequent customers.”
 
“We hear he’s into you for quite a bit of money.”
 
“He lost quite a bit of a bet,” Scarpelli answered, keeping conversation light.
 
“And what exactly happens if he can’t come up with the cash?” Warrick 
interjected.
 
“Ah, I think you know what happens, Mr. Brown.”
 
“Yes, but there’s a little something extra special about this case, isn’t there 
Mr. Scarpelli?” Grissom asked, raising an eyebrow.   Catherine was about to 
explode when she felt Sara’s hand on her shoulder.  She turned back for a minute 
noticing that Sara too had her hand on her weapon and one eye on the muscle 
still situated in the corner of the room.
 
“Bruno, leave us,” Scarpelli said to his bodyguard in a loud voice.  Once the 
door was closed he turned back to Grissom.  “I’d be happy to answer any 
questions you have after you’ve produced a warrant and I’ve contacted my 
lawyer.”
 
“It’s funny you mention that because that’s exactly what Remo Mitchell said 
before we carted his ass downtown and tore apart his motel room,” Nick said, 
stepping forward.   “We’ve got him primed to roll over on you any second now.”
 
“I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
 
“He’s gonna squeal like a pig and then you’re going down, pal.”
 
“You might want to watch your tone of voice in this room, my friend,” Scarpelli 
warned.  “Do you have any idea who you’re fucking with?”
 
“I do,” Catherine finally spoke, moving out of Sara’s reach.  “You’re the sick 
bastard that’s got my daughter.”
 
“Now, now.  I had no idea Eddie was married to such a fine piece of ass.   
Didn’t you used to dance down the strip?” Scarpelli teased with a smile and a 
glimmer in his eye.
 
“Watch your fucking mouth, asshole,” Sara warned from her stance near the door.
 
“Ooh, I like ‘em feisty.   Bet you’re the kind of girl that likes it rough.”
 
Catherine ripped her gun out of its holster and had it pressed to Scarpelli’s 
forehead in a matter of seconds.   All eyes in the room went wide and Warrick 
began moving towards her.
 
“Tell me where my daughter is or I’ll blow the back side of your head all over 
this nice white couch,” Catherine said in a low, dangerous voice.
 
Scarpelli just smiled and seconds later, Bruno and his pal came bursting through 
the door.  Sara found herself at the end of a twenty-two before she could even 
get her hand near her weapon.  She raised her hands instinctively and locked 
eyes with Grissom.   She wasn’t scared as much as she was hoping Catherine would 
get the information she needed.  The other of Scarpelli’s men had his gun 
leveled at Catherine, who didn’t look to be backing down anytime soon.
 
“Might want to drop that gun now, little lady.   Before Bruno empties his gun 
into your friend over there,” Scarpelli suggested, still sitting back 
comfortably.   This wasn’t the first time he had a gun pointed to his head.
 
“Sara, you okay?” Catherine shouted without moving, her hand not wavering.
 
“Not a problem, Catherine.   Don’t you dare leave this room without getting what 
we came for,” Sara answered with a smug smile.
 
“Shut her up, Bruno,” Scarpelli ordered.   
 
Sara felt a left fist to her already wounded temple before she even saw it 
coming.  She careened into the wall for support as Nick and Grissom pulled their 
guns and Catherine pressed hers harder into Scarpelli’s head.   Sara felt her 
wound open and blood once again trickling under the bandage and slowly moving 
down the side of her face.
 
“Look’s like we’ve got an old-fashioned Mexican standoff here,” Scarpelli 
commented.
 
“Where is she?” Catherine demanded through clenched teeth.
 
“I assure you she’s safe.   As long as Eddie gets me my money by tomorrow at six 
pm, she’ll be returned to you in the same condition she was in when he handed 
her over to us,” Scarpelli answered coolly.   “Otherwise, I’m sure there’s 
someone out there who wouldn’t mind taking on Eddie’s debt in return for her 
company.”
 
That’s what pushed Catherine over the edge.   Her finger wavered on the trigger 
for a moment before she pulled her hand back and cold-cocked him on the side of 
the head with the cold metal of her gun.  Scarpelli’s head snapped to the right 
and he wiped some blood of the new wound.
 
“Catherine,” Grissom yelled a warning as the two bodyguards had their guns 
cocked and ready to fire.  Scarpelli held up a hand to stop them.
 
“First one’s free,” Scarpelli warned Catherine, his dark eyes burning into her 
own.  “If you’ll excuse me, I have business to attend to.”
 
“We’ll be back,” Grissom warned as he grabbed Catherine by the arm and dragged 
her out of the room and into the elevator.   Sara stumbled in after them, 
bracing herself of Warrick’s arm for a minute, Nick squeezing in behind them.
 
“I’ll hold my breath,” Scarpelli called after them, his smile never wavering.
 
“What the hell were you thinking back there?” Grissom asked, once the doors were 
closed.
 
“I’m trying to save my daughter, Grissom, and we’re getting nowhere,” Catherine 
replied harshly.   “He knows where she is and there’s nothing we can do to get 
him to tell us where he’s got her.”
 
“We’ll call Brass.  We’ll come back with a warrant,” he answered her gently.
 
“How much more time are we going to waste when Lindsey could be locked in a dark 
room anywhere with God knows who doing God knows what to her,” Catherine 
shouted.
 
“There’s not much more we can do right now, Catherine,” Grissom said 
sympathetically.
 
“There has to be something else we can do,” Catherine pleaded.  “There has to 
be.”
 
“Actually, there’s something I may be able to do,” Warrick interrupted.  “You 
guys head back to the lab and get in touch with Brass.  See if Mitchell rolled 
over on Scarpelli yet.   There are a couple favors I can call in.”
 
“I’m going with you,” Catherine stated.
 
“No, you’re not.  If these guys smell cop they’ll clam up faster than you can 
say information,” Warrick replied.
 
“You’re a cop.”
 
“I’m a cop that they owe a debt to.   On the street, your word is all you’ve 
got,” he answered as the elevator dinged and hit the lobby area.  
 
Warrick disappeared into the crowd quickly.   Catherine sighed and looked back 
to where Sara was propped up against the metal railing of the elevator, one hand 
pressed to her head.
 
“Shit, Sara, are you okay?” Catherine asked in a concerned tone, reaching over 
to the young woman in the corner of the elevator.
 
“What? No, yeah I’m fine,” Sara replied shaking her head.   “I just seem to have 
hit me tattooed on my forehead today,” she added with a small laugh.
 
“Come on,” Catherine instructed, grabbing Sara’s hand and pulling her toward the 
bathroom.  “We’ll meet you guys outside,” she said to Nick and Grissom over her 
shoulder.
 
Sara entered the bathroom first and was happy that it was empty.  She was 
washing the blood off her face in front of one of the mirrors when she saw 
Catherine close and lock the bathroom door from the inside out the corner of her 
eye. She only had time to be puzzled for about a second before Catherine had 
advanced on her and had her pinned up against the far wall.   Sara felt her 
shirt being tugged out from her pants and Catherine’s hands cold against her 
bare skin, lips attacking her with an urgency that she didn’t quite understand.  
She managed to pull back for a second to look into Catherine’s dark and teary 
eyes.
 
“I need to feel something right now,” Catherine said, quietly, her hands 
gripping the loose shirttails with tight fists.
 
Sara only nodded slightly in understanding before she grabbed Catherine on 
either side of her waist and sat the smaller woman down on the marble countertop 
next to the sinks.   She used her left leg to push Catherine’s knees apart 
gently before leaning forward and crushing her lips against forceful ones that 
pushed back in response.  Sara slid her hands inside Catherine’s jacket and 
dislodged the gun at her side in one quick movement, dropping it onto the 
counter with a loud clang that neither of them seemed to hear.  She trailed 
kissed down the side of Catherine’s neck while her hands pulled apart the button 
of her black pants and tugged out the oversized shirt that she had lent her 
earlier that day.  
 
Sara heard a soft moan and felt Catherine’s breath hot and moist on her 
collarbone as she slid a hand between them and into the blonde-haired woman’s 
pants quickly searching out her destination and slipping into it easily.  It 
didn’t take long before Catherine’s hands were wrapped tightly on either side of 
Sara’s neck as the young woman brought her into her final release.   Sara held 
onto her as she came down slowly and cried silently into her shoulder.  Sara 
pulled back to look at her and was confused at the tears in her eyes.
 
“Did I hurt you?” she asked, brushing a hand over Catherine’s cheek.
 
“No,” Catherine answered, leaning into Sara’s hand.   “I’m sorry.  It’s just 
that everything is so overwhelming right now and I think this finally brought me 
back to the reality of it all.”
 
“I understand,” Sara replied, looking down slightly.
 
“You were great,” Catherine added as she pressed forward to place a kiss on 
Sara’s lips.  “But I think we should get out there before Grissom and Nick start 
wondering where we are,” she added, sliding forward to her feet and collecting 
her things.   When she finally had her pants buttoned and her jacket back on, 
she turned to Sara to examine her wound.
 
“Does it hurt?” she asked as she wiped at the reopened and bruising gash with a 
wet paper towel.
 
“Not at all,” Sara said with a smile as she reached up to catch Catherine’s hand 
in her own.
 
 
“Where have you guys been?” Grissom asked as the two women emerged from the 
casino and met up with the two men at the one truck Warrick had left them.
 
“Having sex on the counter in the bathroom,” Catherine said with a smile and a 
wink as Sara turned twelve shades of red.
 
“Yeah, right,” Nick commented as they all piled into the Blazer.
 
***********************
 
Three blocks down the strip, Catherine spotted an all too familiar face making 
his way out of one of the smaller casinos and onto the sidewalk.  Her heart 
began racing as she put a hand against the cool window beside her.   She turned 
to Nick, who was driving, and spoke quickly.
 
“Pull over.  That’s Eddie.”
 
“What?  Where?”   Grissom asked from the backseat.
 
“Over there,” she said pointing.   “Pull over, Nick. Now.”
 
Once Nick had pulled the Blazer to the sidewalk and was parked illegally, 
Catherine wasted no time exiting the vehicle.   Grissom followed her in the 
direction Eddie was walking away and called to Nick and Sara to stay in the car. 
  Catherine quickened her pace until she was only inches away from her ex.  She 
reached up and grabbed at his shoulder, spinning him around to face her.
 
“What the fuck?” he shouted before his eyes fell on the woman in front of him.  
He couldn’t think of a thing to say to Catherine.
 
“Cat got your tongue, Eddie?” she asked as Grissom stopped short behind her.  
“So you going to come with us willingly or do I have to man handle you into 
cuffs?”
 
“Fuck, Catherine, I’m out here trying to get the money.   If you lock me up how 
am I going to pay off Scarpelli?”
 
“You knew right from the beginning who we should have been going after and you 
pretended like you didn’t know anything?” Catherine shouted in disbelief.  “And 
you gave them our daughter to get yourself more time?   Yeah, Eddie.  I know 
about that. What kind of man are you?”
 
“Fuck you, Catherine,” he replied with a scowl.
 
“Not in this lifetime,” she answered.   “Do you know where she is too, Eddie?   
Is this all part of your little deal?”
 
“No, Catherine. Jesus.   I know I fucked up but she’s my daughter too,” he 
pleaded with her.
 
“Cry me a fucking river, you bastard,” she said before motioning to Grissom to 
call Brass.
 
“Brass, it’s Grissom.   We’ve got Eddie Willows in custody.   Can you send a 
patrol car over to take him down to the station?   Good. Thanks.”  He clicked 
off the phone with a snap.
 
“I want you to know you’re signing my death warrant, Catherine,” Eddie stated 
with fearful eyes.
 
“You did that all by yourself, Eddie,” she replied.   “And you better pray to 
God that we find Lindsey before she’s hurt or I’ll kill you myself.”
 
***********************
 
Warrick had been to two of his informants already that led him to where he was 
now.  He took a quick right down a dark, wet alleyway and searched out the 
blackness with his eyes until he spotted the man he was intent on seeing.   He 
walked over to a short man wearing a leather jacket and a hat pulled down 
sheltering his eyes.
 
“Bennie, I hear you’re the man in the know,” he said as he caught the short 
man’s attention.
 
“Warrick, what can I do for you?” he asked nervously, pulling his coat together 
tightly.
 
“I’m not here to bust you, Bennie, so chill,” Warrick assured the man.  “I’m 
looking to find out about a young girl about to hit the streets.   Worth about 
two hundred Gs.”
 
“Which one?” Bennie asked with a laugh.
 
“What?”
 
“Which young girl you lookin’ for?   There’s dozens out here primed for sale.   
And I’m not talkin’ about fifteen year olds.   Little girls, man.  Doesn’t do a 
thing for me, but obviously some slugs in this city are interested.”
 
“I need to know where they are, Bennie,” Warrick said in a harsh tone.
 
“And what do I get out of this little deal?   My ass is fucked if I tell you 
anything else.   One good pop to the head and I’m all done and no one’s gonna 
give two shits that I’m not tickin’ anymore,” Bennie replied with fear in his 
voice.
 
“You got a hearing for possession next week, don’t you?   Three strikes and 
you’re gone, right?”
 
“Yeah.”
 
“Not anymore,” Warrick said.   “I just acquitted you.  Now talk.”
 
“Okay, okay.  Word on the streets is that Scarpelli’s got some major operation 
going on.   The big guys in this town realized that gambling and drugs weren’t 
the only things that carried a pretty big street value,” Bennie said in a hushed 
voice.  “There’s this guy, Mitchell, real asshole.  If you ain’t got the cash, 
he offers you another deal.  Boys, girls, whatever.  Then he collects the kids 
and takes ‘em down to a safe house where they can stay until Scarpelli gets an 
offer he likes for ‘em.”
 
“Where’s this safe house?”
 
“It’s down past the strip.   Scarpelli owns a building with lots of open 
apartment space.   Like empty floors and stuff,” Bennie explained.   “Rumor has 
it that he keeps the kids there in like a rec room.   There’s toys and TVs and 
stuff so they won’t feel scared.”
 
“I need an address, Bennie.”
 
“I think it’s over on Rockford Ave.  I don’t know the exact number or anything.”
 
“Thanks, Bennie,” Warrick said and turned to walk back the street.
 
“Hey, anything I can do to help,” Bennie called after him.  “You ask me, that 
shit’s just not right.”
 
“Yeah, all this coming from a dealer,” Warrick said under his breath as he 
flipped his phone open and emerged back on the street.
 
“Crime Lab, DNA,” Greg said, answering the phone on the first ring.
 
“Greg, it’s Warrick.”
 
“Hey, buddy.  What’s up?”
 
“Is the team back yet?”
 
“Nada, bro,” Greg answered coolly.
 
“Listen, I need you to call downtown to Captain Brass and tell him to check on 
properties owned by Ritchie Scarpelli or any of his associates down near 
Rockford Ave ,” Warrick instructed the young lab tech.   “Tell him I told you to 
call and to page all of us when he gets an address.”
 
“Check. Scarpelli.  Rockford Ave,” Greg repeated.
 
“When Grissom and the team get back, tell them what you did and that I’m on my 
way over to Rockford to check out things myself.”
 
“Is that where they’ve got Lindsey?” Greg asked.
 
“Could be,” Warrick answered.   “Could be.”
 
***********************
 
Warrick was parked about halfway down Rockford Ave. on the right side.   It 
wasn’t a high class neighborhood, but it wasn’t a slum either.   He’d been 
waiting for over an hour when a dark Cadillac pulled up outside one of the 
buildings and two guys in suits stepped out holding hands with a young boy.  
They made their way into the building and Warrick had his hand on his cell phone 
when it rang first.
 
“Warrick,” he said flipping the phone up to his ear.
 
“It’s Brass.  I finally have an address for you.”
 
“Lemme guess.  Six forty-two, right?”
 
“Yeah, how’d you know?”
 
“I just watched two tons of muscle bring a kid in there,” Warrick answered.  
“You talk to Grissom yet?”
 
“They should be there in a couple minutes.   Don’t do anything until Grissom 
gets there with backup.”
 
“Check, boss.”
 
“I’m on my way,” Brass said and then the phone clicked off.
 
Warrick kept his eyes glued on the rearview mirror, his left hand drumming 
impatiently on the dashboard, when he saw two blue Chevy Blazers come barreling 
down the street behind him.   He jumped out quickly and motioned for them to 
stop a ways up the street so as not to arouse suspicion.  One by one, Catherine, 
Grissom, Nick, and Sara piled out of the cars and were followed by a handful of 
uniforms and higher ranked inspectors.
 
“The one with the car?” Catherine asked breathless.
 
“The one with the car,” Warrick confirmed and turned his eyes to Grissom for 
instructions.
 
“Nick and I will go up first.   Catherine and Warrick, you two follow us a few 
feet behind.   Sara, you’re already hurt enough. You hang back and wait for 
Brass,” he said handing out assignments.
 
“Grissom,” Sara began to protest.
 
“There’s no time for this, Sara.   The last thing we need is for someone to take 
another shot at your head,” Grissom commanded.
 
“Wait for Brass,” Catherine said quietly, turning to catch Sara’s eyes for a 
moment.
 
“You guys wait about a minute and come up after us,” Grissom said to the Vegas 
PD officers that were standing behind his team.   “Everyone, be careful.”
 
“Let’s do this,” Catherine said as they began walking towards the apartment 
building.
 
The driver of the Cadillac had already surmised that something not so good was 
about to happen and was attempting to exit the vehicle and run upstairs to warn 
his cohorts.   Warrick sped forward and called for Sara to follow him.   She 
took off in his direction and had no trouble keeping up.
 
“Vegas PD.  Freeze,” Warrick yelled at the retreating man as he leveled his gun 
in two hands.   The man looked back at the officers just yards away and turned 
back to take a few more steps forward.
 
“Don’t fucking move,” Sara yelled, her gun held in a similar fashion to 
Warrick’s. “One more step and I will shoot you and ten other officers will 
testify that I capped your ass in self defense.”
 
This caused the man to stop, put his hands in the air, and turn around to 
surrender.  Sara quickly holstered her gun and pulled out her cuffs, slapping 
them around the man’s wrists and making sure it would leave a mark.   As the 
rest of the crew busted in the front door and entered the building, Sara put the 
man back into the passenger seat of his car and removed the keys, dropping them 
on the hood of the car with a clang.   She then leaned up against the front of 
the car and waited for the Captain to arrive.
 
Two floors up, Grissom and Nick arrived in front of a steel door.  Getting 
closer they could hear a commotion of children’s and adult’s voiced wafting into 
the hallway.   Nick nodded to Grissom, confirming that they were in the right 
place and motioned for Grissom to cover him on the right side of the door.   
Once Grissom was in place and Catherine and Warrick were flanked on either side 
of the stairwell, Nick pulled back and kicked hard at the door inches to the 
right of the doorknob.  With all his muscles and strength behind his action, the 
door flew open and Nick jumped to the left side of the door.
 
“Vegas PD,” Warrick shouted, advancing on the open door with his gun raised 
firmly.  “Everyone on the ground.  Now!”
 
Nick and Grissom followed him in hard.   Catherine was frozen where she stood, 
hoping her daughter would be there…that she would be okay.  The rest of the 
uniforms pushed past her and into the apartment behind the three other men, guns 
raised in defense.
 
The two men Warrick had seen walking into the building minutes earlier made an 
attempt to reach for their guns, but upon seeing the full arsenal that was 
standing before them they instead dropped to the floor and put their hands out 
flat above their heads.   Three more men that were sitting around a table 
smoking cigars and playing cards also hit the floor quickly, arms raised in 
surrender.   The uniformed cops went to each of the criminals and patted them 
down before cuffing them and raising them to their knees.
 
Grissom led his two CSIs down a narrow hallway and into a large room that looked 
much like an indoor playground.   There were about two dozen kids playing with 
trucks and dolls.   Some were coloring while others watching videos in another 
corner of the room.  Nick’s jaw clenched tight when he saw the sheer volume of 
the operation they had just managed to thwart.   Warrick along with Grissom 
searched the room with his eyes trying to locate Lindsey and they had about 
given up when a familiar voice came at their backs in a hurried tone.
 
“Linds,” Catherine called out for her daughter as she pushed past the three men 
and into the playroom.   “Lindsey,” she said as her eyes finally fell upon a 
little blonde girl who had then looked up from the book she was reading by 
herself in the far corner of the room.
 
“Mommy,” the little girl shouted as she jumped to her feet and rushed into her 
mother’s arms.  She clung tightly to Catherine and cried nervous tears.
 
“Let me look at you,” Catherine said, shedding tears of her own, as she pulled 
back to examine her daughter.   The little girl seemed to be okay physically.   
“Are you okay, baby?  Did anybody hurt you?”
 
Lindsey shook her head ‘no’ and Catherine picked her up and hustled her out of 
the apartment and down to the waiting rescue vehicles in the street below.  
Warrick and Nick made sure that the rest of the kids made it out of the building 
all right and they were all taken to the nearest hospital for full exams.   
Catherine insisted on going with Lindsey and no one protested.   Brass briefed 
Grissom about what charges would ultimately be put on the men residing in the 
apartment unit after he had made sure that his own team had taken the culprits 
down to the station.
 
 
Two hours later, Warrick rode the elevator up to the penthouse suite of the Taj 
Mahal and had no problem getting in to see Ritchie Scarpelli.  The man rose when 
Warrick entered and greeted him with a handshake.
 
“Mr. Brown, come back to make a bet directly with the top dog?” he asked, eyes 
lighting up when he smiled.
 
“Actually I came to tell you to mark Eddie Willow’s debt paid in full,” Warrick 
replied, pulling his sunglasses off his ears.
 
“And why would I want to do that?”
 
“Because then you might actually get out of prison one day,” Warrick answered as 
the door to the suite opened again and Sara emerged with two Las Vegas Police 
officers at her sides.   Scarpelli’s smile dropped off his face as his hands 
began to shake.
 
“Ricardo Scarpelli, you’re under arrest for kidnapping, illegal gambling and a 
whole lot of other stuff that will be explained to you down at central booking,” 
Sara said with a smile as she grabbed the man by the upper arm and violently 
threw him face down into the couch.   With a knee pressed sharply in between his 
shoulder blades, Sara snapped the handcuffs onto Scarpelli’s wrists and made 
sure they were too tight.
 
“I guess you’d be the one who likes it rough, huh asshole?” She said as she 
walked away and let the other officers pick him and lead him out of the room.
 
“I’ll be out in less than an hour,” Scarpelli said, stopping to turn and look at 
Warrick and Sara.
 
“I wouldn’t count on it,” Warrick replied.   “Five guys down at the station 
already confessed to everything and named you as the guy in charge.”
 
“Not to mention everything else Remo Mitchell decided to let us in on that has 
absolutely nothing to do with this case,” Sara added.   “Hope you like community 
showers,” she said with a smile as Scarpelli’s face dropped once again and he 
was pulled towards the elevator.   The two CSIs were on their way out of the 
building when Warrick’s cell phone rang.
 
“Warrick.  What?   When?  Yeah, LVPD just carted his ugly ass away.  Yeah, see 
you back at the lab.”
 
“Who was that?  What’s going on?” Sara asked.
 
“That was Nick,” Warrick answered.   “They released Eddie a couple hours ago and 
he just ended up in the emergency room of Las Vegas Memorial.  Someone beat him 
within an inch of his life.”
 
“He gonna pull through?”
 
“Nick said he’s in ICU, but he’s stable,” Warrick said.   “Catherine’s on her 
way over there now.   Grissom wants us back in the lab before we call it a 
night.”
 
Sara nodded and exhaled deeply.   The drama of the past two days had finally 
come to an end.  But what had really happened between her and Catherine?   And 
why was Catherine with Eddie in the hospital?
 
***********************
 
A few hours later, Sara was finally back at her apartment.   She was tired, as 
usual, but the last few days had reminded her that the work she was doing was 
important.   Twenty kids were back with their families or in state’s custody.   
But at least they weren’t being abused at the hands of sadists.   She was just 
sitting down on the couch and clicking on the TV when a knock at the door 
startled her.
 
“Who is it?” she called, getting to her feet.
 
“Singing telegram,” Catherine called through the door.
 
“It’s open,” Sara said with a smile walking towards the door as it opened and a 
seven year old lightning bolt came flying at her.
 
“Sara, Sara,” Lindsey shouted as Sara knelt down and folded the young girl in 
her arms.
 
“How are you doing, kiddo?” Sara asked, squeezing Lindsey in a playful hug.
 
“Good,” the little girl replied, pulling back.   “Mommy said she’d take me for 
ice cream later.”
 
“Yeah?” Sara said, raising an eyebrow and looking up to see Catherine closing 
the door behind her.   “I wish your mom would take me for ice cream,” she added 
as Catherine turned around and gave Sara one of her stunning smiles.
 
“Lindsey, honey, why don’t you go watch TV for a minute while I talk to Sara,” 
Catherine suggested.
 
“Yeah, I think the Rugrats are on right about now,” Sara played along as she led 
the girl over to the couch and flipped the channel for her.  She then made her 
way to the kitchen where Catherine was waiting for her, out of sight and sound 
range from Lindsey.
 
“So, how is she really?” Sara asked once they were alone.
 
“She’s good considering.   She really doesn’t know what happened and I think 
that may be best,” Catherine answered, resting a hand on her hip as she spoke.
 
“And her exam?”
 
“She’s fine.  So are all the other kids.”
 
“Good,” Sara replied, rocking on her heels and biting her lip nervously.
 
“So, about what happened…”
 
“Hey, don’t even worry about it,” Sara interrupted her.   “There was a lot going 
on and you needed someone…or something and I was convenient so I don’t want you 
to feel like you need to explain anything to me.”
 
“Really?” Catherine said in disbelief, taking a step forward and invading Sara’s 
personal space.
 
“No, not really.”
 
“Good, because you’re a terrible liar,” Catherine said with a smile.
 
“That may be, but if you come any closer I don’t know if I’ll be able to control 
myself,” Sara said, reaching out to grab the bottom of Catherine’s jacket and 
pull her in further.
 
“Don’t worry.  I’ve got cuffs,” Catherine replied before leaning forward and 
kissing Sara slowly and thoroughly.
 
“So,” Catherine breathed, pulling back slightly but slipping her hands inside 
Sara’s open shirt to rest on either side of her tank top.
 
“Yeah,” Sara answered, gripping the leather between her fingers more tightly. 
 
“I’ve got the rest of the week off so I can spend time with Lindsey, but I’ll be 
back at work on Monday and I was thinking maybe we could get some breakfast 
after our shift ends,” Catherine suggested, pulling at the material under her 
fingers.
 
“I know just the place,” Sara replied with a smile that lit up her eyes.
 
“You’re not going to take me to that place where I dropped the finger in front 
of you, are you?” Catherine teased, making a face.
 
“You’ll see,” was Sara’s only reply.
 
“Listen, we have to get going.   I’m taking Lindsey to see Eddie in the hospital 
and then I promised to take her to the zoo,” Catherine said, reluctantly 
breaking the mood.   She felt Sara tense at the mention of Eddie’s name and 
start to pull away but she tightened her grip on the taller woman’s body not 
letting her escape.
 
“You’re taking her to see that bastard,” Sara said in disbelief.
 
“I’m taking her to say goodbye to her father,” Catherine explained in a soft 
voice, forcing Sara to meet her eyes.   “Once Eddie can walk, he’ll be out of 
Vegas so fast it won’t even be funny.  I know I don’t owe him a damn thing, but 
that girl deserves to see her father one last time.”
 
“You’re a much better person than me, Catherine,” Sara admitted.
 
“Nah, I just know what it’s like to grow up without a father,” Catherine said 
honestly, sadness lining her eyes.   “But if I were you, I’d answer that phone 
later on.   And try to get some sleep because I guarantee you’re going to need 
it,” she added, kissing Sara once more before taking a step back.
 
“Lindsey.  Come on, kiddo,” Catherine called into the other room.
 
“Okay, mom.”
 
Before Lindsey could make her way off the couch, Sara swiftly stepped forward 
and crushed her lips against Catherine’s in a passionate kiss that promised 
things that neither woman had never even imagined.   She slid a hand into 
Catherine’s hair and pulled her close Sara’s mouth just centimeters away from 
the shorter woman’s ear.
 
“Catherine, I think I’m falling in love with you,” she whispered in a husky 
voice before pulling back and acknowledging the young girl that was just 
entering the kitchen.  “So I hear you’re going to the zoo later.”
 
“Yeah, you wanna come,” Lindsey said stepping towards her mother.  “Mommy, can 
Sara come?”
 
“I don’t know,” Catherine answered, flashing a seductive smile at Sara.  “Can 
Sara come?” she asked.
 
“Please Sara, please,” Lindsey whined.
 
“Only if you promise to protect me from the lions,” Sara teased Lindsey with a 
fake scared face.
 
“I will, I promise,” Lindsey said with a huge grin.
 
“Then it’s decided.  Why don’t you and your mom pick me up after you go visit 
your Daddy,” Sara suggested, looking into Catherine’s glowing face.   “I’m going 
to take a nap… in my bed even.   Need to keep up my strength,” she added with a 
wink, seeing the blood rush to Catherine’s face and smiling.
 
“Okay, bye Sara,” Lindsey squealed as she rushed forward to hug her hip.
 
“Bye, pumpkin.  I’ll see you in a bit,” Sara replied as Lindsey stepped back and 
pulled at her mother’s hand leading them into the hallway.
 
“Better keep that bed warm,” Catherine said with a shy grin, reaching out to 
slide her hand in and out of Sara’s before following her daughter into the 
hallway.  “We’ll be back before you know it,” she promised.
 
“I’ll be waiting,” Sara said and then whispered so low Catherine wasn’t sure if 
the younger woman had spoken at all, “always.”    Catherine nodded and smiled so 
wide it reached her eyes.   Seemed like both their walls were slowly crumbling.
 
 
Sara lay down in her bed a few minutes after they had gone.  It was unfamiliar 
in that she hadn’t slept in its fluffy confines for the better part of a year.   
But it was also familiar when Sara rolled over and still smelled Catherine on 
her sheets.  She knew she had to be up in a few hours, but that didn’t bother 
her.   For the first time in months, Sara fell into a sound sleep the only 
thoughts floating in her head were an anticipation of what tomorrow would bring.
 
END.

II. The Danger of Silence 

    Source: geocities.com/cs_nkdtrth