Author: Ace47
Spoilers: Seasons 1-5
Disclaimer: I do not own any part of CSI. If I did Sara and Grissom would be together.
Author's Note: Takes place post season 5, pre season 6. The team is back together. And for some odd reason Greg is still a lab tech and Sofia never existed. It could've taken place in season 3 but I needed elements from "Butterflied" and "Nesting Dolls." Call it a creative license.
Chapter 1: Accidents and Revelations
Grave shift was going to start in a few hours and Sara Sidle wanted to get to the lab early.
As she drove through Vegas she listened to the radio, humming along. She was hoping for an interesting case, and a chance to talk to her supervisor, and at one time, love interest.
As she thought about work she failed to see the red pick-up truck that was coming up fast on her left. She didn't notice anything until the truck speeded up and plowed into her Tahoe.
Sara screamed as her car rolled into a ditch. The last thing she saw was the red truck speeding away. Then everything went black.
"Okay guys," said Grissom, walking into the break room, where his team was waiting. "There is only one case tonight. A traffic accident off the strip. A car was run off the road. The vic, a thirty-something female, was taken to Desert Palm Hospital. Nick, Warrick, Sara, process the scene. Catherine, come with me to the hospital."
"Um Griss? Sara's not here." Nick Stokes said from his position on the couch.
"Well then, where is she?"
"Maybe she finally took a day off," suggested Catherine Willows. "This should be an easy case; we can call her if we need any extra help."
"Okay, Nick, Warrick, Brass will meet you at the scene, call Sara if you need help. Catherine, let's go."
"I'm driving." She said with a smirk.
"You always do."
"Warrick, I'm worried about Sara," Nick said. "I mean it's not like her to take a day off, especially without calling."
"Nick, Sara can take care of herself. Plus it's about time she took a break." Warrick Brown tried to console his friend.
"Yeah, I guess you're right. There's Brass, let's go." They grabbed their field kits out of the trunk and headed towards Brass who was leaning on the hood of his car.
"What do you have for us Captain?" Warrick asked.
"From what I can tell it was a hit-and-run. Well, more like a crash-and-run. Black Tahoe was run off the road. The vic was taken to the hospital before I got here. Last reports indicated that she was still in surgery. I have to head over to the hospital and see what Grissom is up to. See you later."
As Brass left, Nick and Warrick pulled on their gloves, turned on their flashlights, and headed towards the car.
They started to process the outside of the car. Warrick collected pieces of the smashed driver's side window while Nick scraped off a sample of red paint that must have transferred from the other vehicle.
Once they were done on the outside Warrick opened the door to start on the inside, and Nick went up to the road to photograph the skid marks.
"I've got a purse," Warrick shouted as he picked up the purse from the floor of the Tahoe.
"Check for an ID." Nick called back from the road.
Warrick found the wallet and opened it, seeking the card he wanted. "Shit, Nick!" He yelled, holding up the card. "It's Sara!"
As Nick and Warrick received this startling news, Grissom and Catherine were getting a surprise of their own.
Grissom and Catherine walked up to the reception desk. "I'm Catherine Willows and this is Gil Grissom, we're from the crime lab. We're here about the accident victim."
"Sure, right down the hall, room 47. The doctor is waiting for you."
When they got to the room the doctor was waiting for them just outside the door.
"Hello, I'm Doctor McClenon." He said, offering his hand to Grissom and Catherine.
"I'm CSI Willows, this is CSI Grissom, what can you tell us about the vic?"
"She is stable; she should be waking up any minute now. She has a fractured left arm, broken left leg, five broken ribs, multiple lacerations, and a concussion. She was lucky, no internal bleeding or permanent damage. You can talk to her when she wakes up."
"Thank you doctor," Catherine said. "Oh wait, do you have a name?"
"Yes," McClenon said, referring to his notes. "Her name is Sara Sidle."