Disclaimer: CSI belongs to Anthony Zuiker and a bunch of other people, but I am not one of them.

A/n: Yes this is my new casefile, and for this I have decided to go along with what's happening on the show. But don't worry, Sara will make guest appearances. I'm writing this in conjunction with Sara's Journey. The interacton between the two will be with phone calls between Grissom and Sara, for now. You don't have to read both to understand them, they just play off each other in that one department. I will be updating this one every Monday or Tuesday, and Sara's Journey every Wednesday or Thursday. Thanks in advance for reading.

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Chapter 1

Grissom sighed, walked around his desk and sat down. He should have seen this coming. For months he'd seen a darkness in her eyes when she didn't know he was looking. Whenever he did ask her how she was doing, she'd say fine, then kiss him and he'd forget about what he'd been thinking. For the most part he'd spent the last few months wanting to just live in the moment, to be with her and forget that it could have all been taken away.

But still, he should have known something like this would happen. His initial feeling was hurt. Hurt that she'd leave him a letter and not tell him personally that she needed some time. After that initial response though, he could see the sense in it. He himself had needed a break last year, and he hadn't gone through near as much as her. Folding the letter and tucking it in the envelope, he stared at it a moment, then opened his left hand drawer and put it under his mothers Rosary beads. He had no doubt that she'd contact him when she was ready, and until then, he'd make sure all the bases were covered at work. First thing to do, talk to Ecklie.

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Grissom walked down the hall a little amazed, his conversation with Ecklie having gone better than expected. Grissom had just told him that Sara had found that she wasn't as ready for the day to day work schedule as she thought she'd been, and after this last case it had all caught up with her, and she needed to take some time. Ecklie had wanted to know why Sara hadn't told him this personally, but Grissom just said that as her fiancé he was telling him for her. He'd shrugged and accepted it, but then asked when the big day was and Grissom had had to make him promise not to tell anyone about the engagement. He and Sara had decided that they wouldn't tell anyone until Sara was ready, and he didn't think she would appreciate it if when she came back, the whole lab was talking about it. He dropped by the locker room and checked her locker. Everything was there, her gun, her ID and everything else. It pointed more than anything to how much this wasn't planned. Sara was meticulous, and order ranked right up there. Had she been planning this the locker would be clean as a whistle. He closed it, making sure it locked, and turned to leave. Seeing a piece of paper on the floor, he picked it up and threw it away, noticing as he did the name tag reading Sidle. Picking it up, he gazed at it. Closing it in his hand, he walked quickly to his office and tucked it in beside the letter. Everything would be here waiting for her when she got back. Noticing the assignments waiting on him, he picked them up and went to pass them out and get the shift started.

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Catherine looked up as Grissom entered the break room. She noted the slightly dazed look in his eyes, but before she could comment he cleared his throat, getting everyone's attention. "Okay guys, before we start I have an announcement to make. Sara is taking some time, so you won't be seeing her around. I know this doesn't affect this shift, but as her friends I didn't want you guys to worry.

Nick and Greg looked at each other, worry in their eyes. They'd both seen how Sara had been taking the West case, and now to hear that she was taking some time, well, it didn't seem to bode well. Grissom started talking again, so they turned to him, hoping to learn more, but he was on to the assignments.

"Okay, Warrick and Nick, you have a 407Z at Lee's Discount Liquor out on North Rancho Dr. Looks like the owner shot a would be robber, but there could be more to it. Greg, assault at Adventuredome. Seems a couple of kids got into it at Laserblast and someone got knocked down, busted their head up pretty good. The two that were fighting ran away."

Greg grinned. "Cool, that day we all went there was great. Maybe after work we can go back and play a little. What do you say 'Rick? You could get a chance take back the title."

Warrick shook his head. "I hear that, but it'll have to wait until another time. I, uh, I got something to do after work."

Catherine watched as another shadow passed over Grissom's face. He turned to her. "Cath, you and I have a 419 out at Red Rock Country Club. Okay guys, see you later." He turned to Catherine. "I'll meet you at the car, I've gotta get something out of my office." Before she could say anything, he'd left.

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Grissom climbed up into the Denali and clipped on his seat belt. When they didn't go anywhere, he looked over at Catherine. "I realize the body isn't going anywhere, but we shouldn't waste any time."

Catherine watched him for a moment, and then pulled forward. "So, Sara's taking some time. That could be good for her. She did come back sooner than I'd expected."

Grissom's heart skipped a beat at her name. He cleared his throat, but only nodded. After a moment, Catherine continued. "So, how long will she be out?"

Grissom sighed. "I don't know. She'll come back when she's ready." He looked down at the file in front of him. "It might be best to take West Sahara, should be a straight shot this time of night. We need to go to the east entrance; the body is on hole eighteen."

Catherine wanted to say more, but she knew she would get anything else out of him, so she nodded. "West Sahara it is then."

They drove in silence. Catherine sighed in relief as they turned into the Country Club. Grissom was out of the car before she'd undone her seatbelt and she hurried to gather her kit and catch up with him. As she reached him, Jim came strolling up the walk towards them. "Hey guys. Body's back there. David is on his way, but I can tell you right now, no one has wanted to get too near."

He led them over to the middle of the green. Catherine gulped, her eyes glued to the woman. Her stomach rolled, and she swallowed to keep the doughnut she'd eaten earlier down.

Grissom squinted down at the woman. She'd been eviscerated. Her intestines piled next to her body. A hole had been cut over her heart, and the organ removed and placed in her right hand. Her breasts and genitals were intact, but her face had been peeled away, and from what he could see, it hadn't been left with the body. Flies hovered over the body, and flew in and out the open cavities of the chest and abdomen, as well as the mouth. She was naked, but for her socks, and her hair was up in a ponytail. It was possible she'd been jogging when she'd been abducted. He bent down to get a better look at the insect activity. The body looked to have only been there for a few hours. Looking back at Catherine he said, "I'd estimate that the body has been here for no more than two to three hours. As to whether she was dead before that, Doc will have to tell us that.

Catherine cleared her throat. "I heard that the dayshift had a case similar to this a few months ago. I'll get together with the lead on the case and see if there are any other similarities."

David walked up and looked down at the body. "Times like this I find it hard to believe there's any good in the world."

Grissom looked at him with a frown. "Right now, I'm finding it hard to disagree."

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TBC…

A/n2: Reviews are appreciated.