I sat in the courtroom looking at a matchbook with a pink fingerprint on it that was not there the last time I viewed it, I had no idea the change that fingerprint would bring to pass. Anyone might think of the most common ramifications of finding new evidence, but in the working lives of the graveyard CSI's that fingerprint was going to start a chain of events that will change every part of their jobs. As much as I wanted Cath to have a supervisory role I never would have wanted to force the team to break up. If I had done better at my job she would have been able to take what she wanted and not be shoved into a shift she didn't want. One fingerprint leads to a further investigation, that brings about a supervisory review that brings the break up of the graveyard team…and it's all my fault.

As I walk through the lab corridors with my head reeling, Ecklie finds me. My assumptions are proven correct when he mentions what happened in court. As he mentions a supervisory inquiry I realize I have given him his chance. The chance he has waited his entire career for, to ruin mine.

Handing off the case to my team breaks me up inside. I don't want them to cover for me, I want my work to speak for itself. Not long ago Nicky solved a case that he and I were unable to solve at the time. Maybe I gave up too easily; maybe I'm not fit to be supervisor. The team will find out the truth and I will have to live with that too.

As I sit in the lab and do several more Ninhydrin tests I am thinking that everything should be all right. Science hasn't failed me often and I always chose to believe in the science.

You should always be aware of the time it takes the science to come to completion. I have been known to say never rush the evidence and I believe you shouldn't or it will bite you in the ass.

In my head I was already experiencing reasonable doubt, since the fingerprint didn't match the suspect, even before Ecklie and the DA entered the room. For the first time however I have had to admit it to someone other than myself. I have always been sure of one thing about myself, my abilities as a scientist, and the science. If this goes wrong the science will be right and I'll only have myself to blame.

While walking from my car into the building Brass stops me outside, I know he's a good friend. He would look out for me despite myself, just like he's doing now. Everyone knows how bad I am with politics and with people in general. He tells me that Ecklie has told the sheriff about the situation and everyone else knows too. Brass also pointed out that Sofia is in a precarious situation with regard to the inquiry and that Ecklie after all has the power over her standing within the lab as much as he has over mine.

Since Neil was the expert in the finger print department I found myself in his company. I needed to find out as much about Ninhydrin and how it works as possible. I wasn't too surprised when he commented on the case and I shrugged and said the only thing that came to mind "Scientific discoveries arise through discourse." If Catherine were here she would know I was only avoiding focusing on the inevitable.

As the case wraps up but Ecklie tells me to come into his office I know that this is the time he will give it to me. He has waited for years to have control over my career, I just hope it's not too bad. When Sophia was given my review I knew that she would be impartial. But I know Ecklie's resolve and jealousy and I wonder if even the truth can protect my career from him. I just have this bad feeling that Ecklie will find a way.

As I sit here and listen to Sophia give Ecklie the review she knows is the truth but not what Ecklie wants to hear, I breathe out and my tension decreases slightly but I know the worst is not yet over. I can see the frustration in Ecklie's eyes, he wanted her report to be bad so he could do more damage, but he smiles wickedly and says I'm going to split up the graveyard shift and I feel shock and devastation take over my whole being. Now, even though my work was proved to be unflawed I feel responsible for the results. Even though nothing went wrong all of these people will be impacted by my actions.

Warrick, Nick and I sit having breakfast after their last graveyard shift and I find myself trying to come to terms with the events. They will be under Catherine who I know I can trust with my life. So I will trust them to her and her to them in return. I will back away and take on the new challenge given to me and they will excel of that I am sure. It will be a good opportunity for everyone to grow. It will be hard at times and everyone will resist, but the job will be there and the people will survive. Henri Bergson said, "To exist is to change, to change is to mature, to mature is to go on creating oneself endlessly." And I will choose to heed his advice.

~finis