A/N: Yes, this is a new story from me, and it's not a one-shot... haha. Okay. I don't own CSI, the characters, CBS, or any other known entity. "Invisible City" is a song by The Wallflowers, and the secondary chapter titles are lyrics from the song. I do not own the song. Having said all that, I really hope you guys like the story. :D Please review.
Invisible City- Introduction
Lookin' back at the crash site, I don't see me by the roadside.
Racing through the darkened city, Greg frowned. He had a feeling he was going to be late for work, and Grissom was going to be pissed. He still was trying to drive safely in the inclement weather, despite needing to get to the lab, fast. He stopped at the red light, cursing the powers that be for causing the horrific thunderstorm that knocked out power in his apartment. He lost track of time, which was making him late for work. Grissom was really going to be pissed.
The light turned green, and Greg punched the accelerator. He never saw the car coming from the left as it skidded and made impact with his driver's door. As metal hit metal, everything faded to black. Voices, screams, skidding tires on wet asphalt, crunching glass, and creaking metal all meshed together into one nightmare before that too disappeared into nothing.
"Fuckin' A, man," Nick cursed as he and Warrick pulled up to a crowd of cars. The intermittent flashing of blue, white, yellow, and red lights proved delays were due to people's morbid curiosity when police, paramedics, and the fire department were involved in situations. The pair in the Denali had been called to investigate a deadly traffic accident, where the decedent was presumed responsible for the crash.
"Curiosity doesn't just kill cats," Warrick groaned. The worst part about working most crime scenes was the on-lookers that saw flashing lights and ran out to see what was up. As they managed to work their way closer, they saw the paramedics and firemen working on the black car, the one with the decedent. The other car, a silver one that was mangled as hell, had already been cut apart and the driver extracted. Warrick and Nick got out of the Denali and walked over to Sofia.
"So, what you see is what you get," she said sadly. "Decedent was driving the 1997 Ford Probe that you see the paramedics still trying to get the guy out of. The other victim was in the 2001 Chevy Corvette. Eyewitnesses say the Probe blew the light, tried to slow down, but didn't work well since the pavement's soaked. Slammed the Corvette on the left, driver's door. Driver's on his way to Desert Palms." The pair nodded, turning to the accident.
"Wait a minute," Nick said, looking at the carcass of the silver Corvette. "This looks like Greggo's car."
"That's because it is." Nick and Warrick whipped their heads to face Sofia. "I was getting to that. He wasn't responsive when they got him out, so I don't know how he's doing, guys. Decedent's name is Mitchell Jaccoby, age 35, of Laughlin." Nick turned to Warrick, who looked back at him.
"So, process, drop off, get to the hospital?" Warrick asked his partner.
"I'll call Griss," Nick replied. "He definitely needs to know about this."
Grissom and Ecklie walked into the break room together, with the lab rats in tow. Sara looked up from her magazine, and Catherine watched over the brim of her coffee mug. Grissom looked distraught, and Ecklie's face was etched with concern. Hodges, Wendy, Mandy, and Archie were completely confused as to what was going on. "We called you all in here because we figured this would be best for you all to find out now," Ecklie started, eyeing Grissom. Grissom sighed, looking at Ecklie and shaking his head. "There was an accident tonight out on Calvadeer Avenue. Greg Sanders was broad-sided by another car, a Ford Probe. He's at Desert Palms Hospital, reports at the scene indicate he was unresponsive and barely still alive."
Sara looked helplessly at Grissom, who had trained his ever-clouding vision on the floor. Catherine dropped her coffee mug, which shattered on impact with the floor, before putting her head in her hands. Mandy's mouth dropped open in shock, and Archie felt his eyes well up. Wendy put her hands over her mouth as tears fell down her cheeks, and Hodges punched the doorframe… hard. Ecklie sighed softly, taking a moment before continuing.
"He's listed in critical condition," Ecklie continued. "Doctors aren't calling anything right now, but said there's a decent chance he won't make it through the night." The anxious pain of the room increased exponentially with Ecklie's previous statement. "Swing shift is set to cover for all of you guys, even lab guys. You all have the night off. When Nick and Warrick get back, I'll talk to them." Everyone in the room managed a sign that they heard Ecklie, and he breathed out slowly. "I'm sorry, guys," he said quietly as he left. Everyone in the room looked first at Ecklie's departing form, then at one another.
Despite their different reactions, one thing was consistent throughout all of them- regret. They were all regretting the fact that tonight, they were being instructed to go to the hospital to say goodbye to their beloved friend and colleague. Begrudgingly, they walked out one by one to head to Desert Palms for what was shaping up to be a very long night.