(no subject)

[lvpd_sidle]

As usual, the weather in Las Vegas is sunny and hot. The streets are teeming with traffic and people, all going about their normal business.

Sara turns to look at Barry and grins. He looks utterly enthralled with the chaos around them. "Let's stash your stuff in my apartment for now--we can come back later." He nods in agreement, and soon she's driving them to the crime lab.

Sitting in the parking lot, she hesitates before getting out.

"Is everything all right?" His concern touches her, as it always does.

"Yes--it's just a little strange to be here as a visitor."

He takes her hand, squeezing it comfortingly, before they head into the building.

Comments

[lvpd_sidle]

"According to the owner, this tire is brand new and there was no reason for it to blow. Caused a six-car pile up on I-15," he says, studying Barry warily.

"Really? Mind if I look?" Sara takes part of the tire and examines it under one of the larger microscopes.

"Sabotage," she says a few minutes later. "There are half a dozen needle punctures on this piece alone. Barry?" She moves aside.

[silverageflash.livejournal.com]

"Thanks." His heart races as he looks at the tire under the scope. When was the last time he got to do this? No magic, no Phantoms, no Joker, just plain observation.

"Yes, defitinely sabotage. Guess whoever did this counted on the blame being placed on the tire company or just rush hour traffic." He turns to Sara and Warrick, and looks at the latter.

"I used to do this sort of thing myself. Been a while since I have. Hope you don't mind.

"Er, no. Where was your lab?"

"Small city in the Midwest. Central City. Doubt you've heard of it." Barry smiles at Sara, hoping he isn't stretching the truth too much.

[lvpd_sidle]

"Hey, we're always glad to get help from fellow CSIs, no matter where you're from. Quote me on that to Catherine, I'll deny it." Warrick grins, peering into the scope himself. "I'll dust the sections for prints, see if anyone is locally involved. That pile-up killed 4 people--two of them kids." His voice goes rough.

Sara squeezes his shoulder for a minute. "You'll find them, 'Rick. Anyway, I promised Barry a tour. We'll see you around?" He nods, still looking through the scope.

With a smile she walks out of the room.

"Barry?" Warrick calls. "You treat her right, you hear me?"

[silverageflash.livejournal.com]

He turns and grins at Warrick. "Oh, don't worry. I do. She's the best." He keeps up with Sara.

"Nice guy. And fairly perceptive, too, since I don't recall doing anything to tell him we're seeing each other.

"Or has it become that obvious?"

And since he really doesn't care who knows, he grabs her hand for a second, still smiling.

"Lead on, MacDuff."

[lvpd_sidle]

"Warrick's one of the best CSIs I've ever worked with. It's funny--I was initially called out here to investigate him. Water under the bridge, as they say."

She smiles when he takes her hand, wandering further down the halls until they reach the Trace lab.

David Hodges is perched by one of the machines, flipping through a magazine. "You aren't backed up, David? I find that hard to believe."

She is rather satisfied when he jumps, making an indignant sound.

[silverageflash.livejournal.com]

Barry suppresses a laugh.

"I guess every lab needs someone to goof off." and then Barry studies the lab, and feels completely at home.

"You know something, as much as I like having the magic lab in a box, I really miss having this. I have to talk to Tim and bigby about this again. Nothing beats the real thing."

[lvpd_sidle]

"Normally, it would be Greg in DNA, however since he's now out in the field as a CSI, Hodges takes up the slack."

The man in question gives her a mildly disgusted look before turning to his tests.

Taking Barry by the arm, she leads him down further. "Needless to say, he and I were never friends."

She nods. "I miss that too in many ways. Coming here is almost like coming home. It's worth pursuing, I think."

[silverageflash.livejournal.com]

"This is sort of like coming home for me, too. Even with all the changes from my day. I half expect my boss to come running through the door and tell me that there's been a break in a case and that I have to get down there right away and make sure the evidence is handled perfectly." He touches the walls, as if to assure himself this is real.

"What I really want to see, however, is the DNA lab."

[lvpd_sidle]

"Can do." And they continue to walk. "This place keeps growing--it's like a maze." She quiets when they pass one section of wall--recently repaired. "That was the old DNA lab--destroyed in the accident a couple of years back."

"And this is the new one." Two technicians, both unfamiliar to her, are at work. One is using a pipet to remove liquid from a tube, another setting up the centrifuge.

[silverageflash.livejournal.com]

He watches like a kid let into the candy factory. Again, some it seems familiar, but this time he feels like science has left him behind. A whole lab, brand new, just for DNA.

And as he watches, he made a note to ask about the accident in the old lab. But he wasn't going to ruin the moment. If science was a religion for Barry - though he would deny this - then he was in a temple.

[lvpd_sidle]

After a while, they move on, her showing other departments.

"That's Bobby with Ballistics. He matches up bullets with weapons, or will determine what weapon made a certain type of injury or wound. QD--questioned documents, deals with forgeries or matching handwriting samples. Fingerprinting is self-explanatory, I think."

A thought occurs. "Did you want to see the morgue?"

[silverageflash.livejournal.com]

"Finger...printing? No, I'm afraid I have no idea what that is. soudsn strange thought. Surely you mean phrenology. You must have a lab to read the bumps on heads. It's all the rage at home." Barry smirks.

"If you don't mind, unless there is something new about the morgue, I'll be happy to skip it."

[lvpd_sidle]

"Phrenology? Please tell me you're kidding." She laughs.

"Good--I'm afraid it's been long enough where I've probably lost my iron stomach. I'd rather not lose what little reputation I have."

"Sidle!"

She sighs. "Right on time...Ecklie." Her tone goes cool.

[silverageflash.livejournal.com]

Well, so much for avoiding him. Barry hears the iciness in Sara's voice and tries very hard not to give him the evil eye.

It doesn't work as he stares daggers at the man who fired Sara.

[lvpd_sidle]

"Would you be willing to give assistance to Brown in his traffic case? We're severely backed up--"

"The lab is always backed up," she cuts him off, her tone cold. "It was like that when I was here. And I have already seen what Warrick had and he now has some new leads. As for anything else--I am here as a civilian. Nothing more. Good day."

They walk past, Sara's hands clenching. Once they're a safe distance down the hall, she lets out a sigh. "God, I hate that bastard."

[silverageflash.livejournal.com]

Barry fels the anger boil off Sara. He does his best to keep quiet, and once Ecklie is gone, he very quietly exhales as they walk away.

"That was a lot of nerve on his part." He puts his arm around her. "And Grissom lets him treat everyone that way?"

[lvpd_sidle]

"Grissom has no choice--Ecklie is his superior now. He used to be the Dayshift supervisor. Grissom does not treat those on his shift like that, though. You think I would have stayed here so long otherwise?"

He laughs slightly, conceding the point. She glances at her watch.

"Can't believe it--we've been here two hours. Do you want to get some lunch?"

[silverageflash.livejournal.com]

"Yes. Care to show me how the modern CSI in Las Vegas eats lunch?" He takes her arm and they walk towards the elevator. He takes one more look around the place as they go, and wonders what he could do with all this one more time as well.

Outside, the sun hangs very high in the sky, but it's not that terribly hot. At least, as the saying goes, it's a dry heat. Barry and Sara both out on theri sunglasses, and head to her car.

"Since we are likely to have a nice dinner, would something light suit you?" she asks.

"Sounds good."

[lvpd_sidle]

"Chinese then--I can guarantee we'll be hungry later." She grins, getting into her Denali.

She pulls out into traffic with a minimum of rude gesturing. "It's not as bad as LA or New York," she says at his amused expression.

[silverageflash.livejournal.com]

"Nothing is as bsd as Los Angeles. You cant even run fast there." He smriks at her as they set off.

Along the way, they pass a residential section of the city. He would never guess this was part of the Las Vegas he remembered from the old movies and television. These were just houses, and shopping districts, and schools. He wondered if the "real" Vegas still existed. Or if it ever did.

After a short drive, through noisy strets, they arrive, and Barry climbs out of the Denali and then gets around it just fast enough to open the door for her. He's just barely not-fast-enough that no one would notice.

[lvpd_sidle]

"Why thank you, kind sir." His chivalry is more endearing than annoying.

They walk into the restaurant and are directed to a booth. "I should warn you--sweet rolls are my weakness in a place like this."

[silverageflash.livejournal.com]

Lunch is quite enjoyable, as Barry orders a basic pepper steak, an egg roll and white rice. Sarry gets her sweet rolls and also vegetable dim sum, and a rather unusual take on vegetable soup. Barry takes note of the extensive vegetarian options o the menu and can see that she must be a regular.

Over lunch, they talk of this and that, and leave most of life at the Bar behind.

[lvpd_sidle]

She is indeed a regular--their server greets her by name, gently teasing her for not coming in as much. "Finally seeing the sun?"

"Something like that, Chang." She grins as she gives the money for the check.

The ubiquitous fortune cookies are offered. She cracks hers open.
"Enjoy the happiness in your life."

[silverageflash.livejournal.com]

He opens his. Love will find a way. He smiles, even if he doesn't really believe in fortune cookies.

"Where to now, lady fair?"

[lvpd_sidle]

"The festival--most of the people with kids would be gone by now. There is a method to my madness."