Hi all *waves*. This story is a personal request from a devout Cara fan :)

I hope it makes sense and y'all enjoy it.

Disclaimer: I do not own CSI or it's characters, or the original idea for this story. I'm just a bored student who's playing with them.

Stephanie, this one's for you x

x x x x

"That man is going to be the death of me I swear!" Catherine seethed as she stormed into the break room, flicking her strawberry-blonde hair over her shoulder. Nick and Warrick exchanged amused glances and chuckled quietly, as they followed her in.

"So, you had fun with Grissom then?" Nick asked cheekily, which Catherine answered with a glare. However, before she could tell him to shut it, Greg wandered in and held out a manila folder to Nick.

"Just so you know, 62 DNA samples from one scene: not funny. I can't wait until I'm in the field." He grumbled before turning to leave. "Wow Sara, you look like hell." The lab rat-in-limbo said as he passed her on his way out. The three CSIs turned to the couch in surprise: they had not even noticed their young colleague. Sara was curled up on her side, one arm wrapped around her stomach the other curled under her head. He eyes were closed but she was awake.

"Damn girl, you look awful. You alright?" Warrick commented upon seeing his colleague.

"I'm fine." She mumbled, though it was barely audible and clearly a blatant lie.

"What's wrong Sara?" Catherine asked, perching on the edge of the coffee table in front of her.

"I said I'm fine." She repeated. Cath raised an eyebrow.

"Really? Because you don't seem fine." Catherine retorted, placing a hand on Sara's forehead, which Sara tried and failed to bat off. "You feel very warm." She said, brushing a stray brunette lock of hair out of her face.

"I'm ok, I'm just tired." Sara explained, sitting up stiffly, as if her muscles were aching.

"Well, this is a productive shift; cases won't solve themselves you know." Ecklie announced, poking his head around the door.

"We're just taking a quick break, and besides..." Nick began.

"Break's over. Back to work guys." The balding man snapped, disappearing as fast as he appeared. They turned back to Sara, who had laid back down and curled up even tighter, scrunching her eyes closed, as if trying to make herself invisible. Catherine raked her fingers through her brunette curls softly.

"Why don't you try to get some sleep, it's a quiet night." She suggested. Sara didn't say anything but nodded almost imperceptibly. Taking that as their cue to leave, the rest of the team filed back out, shooting her a final glance on their way.

X x x

"That's it? That's all you got for me?" She asked in disbelief. The lab rat shrugged.

"I wish I could tell you more, but DNA doesn't lie. Now if you'll excuse me..." They were interrupted by the sound of glass breaking. In a lab with this many test-tubes it was not an uncommon sound, but this was different, louder. Cath and Greg followed the noise to the break room, where they found Sara holding an empty mug and staring at the pile of broken glass at her feet, formally known as the coffee pot, a baffled expression on her face. Before they could say anything, Ecklie appeared unannounced for the second time that night.

"Clean that up Sidle, the rest of you back to work." He ordered, after surveying the scene before him for a moment. Greg looked at Catherine, who nodded for him to go, and he scuttled down the corridor after the new director, not missing the opportunity to ask Ecklie when he might be able to go in the field full time.

Catherine went to assist Sara, who had begun picking up the bigger shards of glass. Crouching down to help, Cath noticed that Sara still looked ill and her hands were shaking. Sensing that this was more than just being tired, Catherine gently grasped Sara's wrists and held them until the young brunette met her eyes.

"What's going on Sara?" She asked softly.

"Nothing. I told you I'm fine." The young woman said, tugging her wrists free.

"Sara..." Catherine warned in a tone she usually saved for Lindsey, but to no avail.

"I'm fine Cat." She reiterated forcefully, standing up unsteadily and stalking out of the room. Catherine watched her leave, more than concerned. After a moment she sighed and went back to cleaning the broken glass and spilt coffee.

"That girl is too damn stubborn for her own good sometimes," she muttered to herself.

X x x

"I'll probably regret asking but what are you doing?" Catherine asked, leaning against the doorframe. After cleaning up she had debated looking for Sara but, figuring that she would get the same answer again, went in search of Grissom instead. And here she found him, on his hands and knees in his office.

"I lost something." He explained absently.

"Oh. Well, I kind of have something I need to ask you." She said, standing up straight and wandering around him to perch on the edge of his untidy desk.

"DNA pan out?" He asked, continuing his search. She shook her head, confused.

"No. Look, this is important and I don't really know how to say it. It's about Sara." He stopped his search momentarily to glance at her.

"If you two have had an argument I don't want to know. Sort it out between yourselves." He muttered. She rolled her eyes. Typical.

"We haven't. I think something's wrong; she's tired, she's pale. She just dropped the coffee pot. I'm worried about her, but she won't talk to me." Cath rattled off. Grissom was nodding, but clearly not actually listening, so she hopped off the desk and crouched down next to him. "What have you lost anyway?" She asked.

"A cockroach." He answered bluntly. Cath let out a strange sort of squeal and leapt back to her feet. "Be careful," Grissom warned, "you might step on him." Catherine rolled her eyes and walked back out again.

"Don't know why I even bother." She muttered.

X x x

Since that plan had failed, she decided to see if she could get more sense out of the boys instead. Spotting them in the corridor she jogged to catch them up.

"Hey, guys. You seen Sara recently?" She asked, slotting in-between them. They both shook their heads.

"No, sorry. Greggo told us about the coffee pot though." Nick said.

"You think she's okay?" Warrick asked.

"No, but whatever's wrong she won't tell me." Cath sighed running a hand through her hair.

"Maybe she is just tired. If it was something serious I'm sure she would tell us." Nick offered, a hopeful look in his dark eyes. Cath chuckled dryly.

"C'mon Nicky, you know as well as I do that that's not true." They had found themselves outside the locker room and a metallic clattering sound from inside caught their attention. Peering around the corner, they were shocked to see the object of their concern; her back against the lockers and her breathing rapid and shallow. Rushing over, Catherine grabbed her arm by the elbow. Everyone knew that she wasn't big on physical contact, so they were a little surprised that she didn't fight back against this intrusion of her privacy. Instead, she threw her head back, letting it hit the lockers again. Warrick grasped her other arm. "Nicky, go get her some water, something." Cath instructed vaguely.

While the Texan dashed out of the room, the two of them tried to guide Sara onto the bench so that she was at least sat down. However, the venture did not go to plan.

Nick returned just in time to see his friend collapse. Luckily Warrick and Cath were quick to catch her. Warrick wrapped a strong arm around her slim waist, and Cath caught her arm and supported her neck as they lowered her to the ground, until she was cradled in the blonde's arms. She tried to count her pulse but it was too fast. Stroking her hair softly, she absently addressed the boys.

"Call an ambulance."

x x x x

Leave a review, let me know what you think. More coming soon. x