My Tourniquet

PG-13 for language, romance, and violence

"Give me the case!"

Shouting could be heard all over the CSI headquarters as Sara Sidle and Gil Grissom argued over the newest case.

"No. I want you to work with Nick. That's final." Grissom said, setting down the file.

"Just give me the damn case! You know I can handle it! You won't give it to me because I become 'emotionally involved' with the victims! Or is it because you don't want me to work on a case by myself?!" Sara screamed, slamming her fist onto the desk. Grissom took off his glasses and rubbed his temple, a migraine coming on.

"I'm giving the case to Catherine. It's a rape case and I know you'd get upset. I know Catherine will forget about it once it's over. It's her case, period." Grissom said, looking steadily at Sara's furious face.

"Then let Warrick and I do the case or Nick and I or Catherine and I....the point is that I just want a fucking case by myself! Is that to much to ask for? Catherine gets cases by herself! I don't care if it's a rape case or a suicidal case, I just want a case by myself!" Sara yelled, leaning over on Grissom's desk so that they were eye level.

"How about this? I could just send you back to San Francisco so you could be happy there! Take the case with Nick or don't have one at all!" Grissom shouted, the words that had filled his brain spilling out of his mouth. Silence. Ultimate silence filled the office as tears welled up in Sara's eyes.

"So you don't want me here? Why don't I just leave? I have a job waiting for me in San Francisco. You know what? I'll see you around, Grissom." Sara said, turning around and stalking out of the office.

"Sara!" Grissom yelled after her, but too late. She did not look back but kept walking in the direction of the lab. Grissom buried his face in his hands, not knowing what to do. There used to be a time when he and Sara could negotiate things calmly. Now, all they ever did was fight. Grissom grabbed his files and started towards the break room to hand out assignments.

Walking into the break room, Grissom saw that only one person was missing. Sara.

"Okay, Catherine, you're working a rape case. Her name is Kelly Tinelle. She said she was raped at a casino hotel room. Get her statement and check her for sexual abuse." Grissom said, handing Catherine the paper.

"Thanks." Catherine replied.

"Nick, you're working with Sara on a murder in a forest. One dead man, no bullet, one
gun. Find the bullet and see if there are fingerprints on the gun. Also check out the vic's house."

"Where is Sara?" Nick asked, looking around the room for her.

"You get to look for her. Good luck." Grissom said, cheerfully.

"Thanks a lot. "Nick said sarcastically.

"Warrick, you're working with me on the murder case at the casino. Possibly died from poison." Grissom said, turning to Warrick.

"Great, death by gambling. Sad way to die." Warrick replied, getting up and stretching.

"Well, let's go and check out the crime scene." Grissom said, opening the door for himself and the others.

"What did you say to Sara this time?" Warrick asked, warily.

"She wanted Catherine's case. Told her no. She thought I didn't like her doing cases by herself. She stormed off and I don't know where she went." Grissom replied dully.

"Well, hopefully she won't do anything stupid. Wonder if Nick found her yet." Warrick said, glancing at Grissom out of the corner of his eye.

"Yeah, hopefully." Grissom replied quietly, thinking about Sara and worrying about her.

Grissom pushed the thought of Sara to the back of his mind, not worrying about it until it was too late.

TBC

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Short, sweet, and too the point. Just the way I like it. Please R&R or something terrible will happen to Sara. Or there won't be an ending....either one. I love being an author....the fate of characters in your hands. Buwahaha!