Disclaimer: I don't own CSI or any of its characters. I also don't own the song Love don't live here anymore, that's Madonna's, and is used for dramatic and entertainment purposes only, so please don't sue me!!
Chapter 1- Nightmares and dream men
She tossed and turned under the heavy duvet, a restless body trapped in a never ending nightmare.
You abandoned me, love don't live here anymore.
Just a vacancy, love don't live here anymore.
"Why don't you talk to me anymore? I'm here, I'll listen."
"What's the point? You won't be able to help me."
"Well you won't know until you try."
"Just leave it will ya?"
When you lived inside of me,
There was nothing I could conceive,
That you wouldn't do for me.
Trouble seemed so, far away,
You changed that right away, baby
"I, um, found this number for you."
"What is this, A.A? You think I've got a drink problem now? Do you wanna know why I drink so much? 'Cause of you! You annoy the hell out of me you stupid bitch! I'm NOTHING like those people! I don't have a problem!" The ripped paper pieces fell tot the floor like confetti.
"It was just an idea James. I'm going to say goodnight to our daughter."
Love don't live here anymore,
Just emptiness and memories we had before.
You ran away,
Found another place to stay, another home.
"Who is she? A co-worker? Old family friend? Or just a girl you liked the look of?"
"Don't talk to me like that Laura!"
"Why, because I'm right?"
"I'm not in the mood for this."
She stood in the doorway. "We are gonna sit and talk about this James. It ends now." She was knocked to the floor by the punch across her cheek.
"You're damn right about that." He staggered upstairs, and the girl lay down next to her mother and sobbed gently.
"It's ok sweetie."
In the windmills of my eyes, everyone can see,
The loneliness inside me.
Why did ya have to go away, don't you know
I miss you so, I need your love.
"What's all this?"
"Honey, go upstairs for me. I need to have a talk with daddy." The girl climbed the stairs and hid just out of sight.
"Well?"
"We're going away."
"When are you coming back?"
"We're not."
"What do you mean?"
"I don't want to spend everyday fighting you. I'm tired James. We both know this ended months ago. I don't want our daughter living like this."
"Like this? I always buy you everything you need! Clothes, food, school stuff."
"It's not about money! She knows the inside of that hospital better than her own bedroom!"
"You're accident prone."
"You actually believe the bull we give the neighbours?" She walked over to a bag and began to pack food away.
"Why am I the one getting the blame?"
She turned to face him head on.
"Because you're the one who hits me! Not our daughter, or the neighbours, or the damn dog! You!"
"I told you before, it's the drink."
"You told me two months ago you didn't have a problem." She headed to the kitchen. His nostrils flared. He stormed in to the hall and grabbed one of the battered cases. He headed for the stairs. She hurried out of the kitchen, still clutching the bread knife in her hand that she had been using to make sandwiches.
Clothes were strewn over the bedroom floor. The girl peered through the crack where she had left the door open.
"You're not going anywhere till we talk about this properly. Till we decide what's best for all of us."
"Us! US! You have never once thought about US when you've done something, or gone somewhere. You've only ever thought about yourself! And now you expect me to care about what you want? Who do you take me for?" He raised his hand, but instead of the normal look of terror on her face, she remained unmoved.
"I have sat there night after night, bruised and broken wondering when you'll look at me like you used to when we first met. But you aren't the same person anymore. I have given you so many chances, fallen for every single lie or 'I love you'." She sat on the chair by the dresser exasperatedly.
"I wasn't ready to be a father. It was too soon." She looked up slowly and something inside of her snapped.
"Don't you DARE blame all of your problems on our daughter! She has done nothing but love you and all you can do is shout at her, put her down and smack her around! You have destroyed my life, but I will never let you ruin our daughter's!"
The blood stained the wall and the face of the teenage girl who had wandered in to the room.
"Mom?"
"It's ok Sara, everything's gonna be ok." The girl looked across at the bed and released an ear splitting scream.
"AAAAAAHHHHHH!" She sat bolt upright in her bed, her head hung low as she tried to regain a regular breathing pattern.
The bedside table lamp illuminated and he sat up, putting his glasses on.
"Honey, what is it?" He put his hand on her face and stroked it gently. She lifted her head and looked at him. She gave a small smile at his tousled hair and worried expression.
"Nothing, you go back to sleep." She kissed his forehead softly and turned off the lamp. She put her dressing gown on quietly and slipped out of the bedroom.
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She cuddled her knees in to her chest, for comfort rather than warmth and let fresh tears fall down her cheeks.
Grissom leant against the bedroom door frame then joined Sara by the sofa.
"I'll make us a cup of coffee."
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Well, that's the first chapter all done and dusted, please R&R, this is my first fic and I would love to hear your comments!! -x-
