Pairing: Sara Sidle & Sofia Curtis
Rating: R
Spoiler warning: None!
Warning: Mature sexual content and coarse language. Femslash, but if you weren't into gay stories you wouldn't be here… Right?
Story Warning: Content mention and description of a plane crash, so if you suffer from aerophobia (Fear of flying) then this story may not be for you!
Disclaimer: Some of the characters and situations in this story belong to Alliance Atlantis, CBS, Anthony Zuicker and other entities, and I do not have permission to borrow them. This piece of fan fiction was created for entertainment not monetary purposes.Any errors are mine.
Summary: A look into my own alternate universe…
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Twist of Fate.
Most of the graveyard team was gathered in the break room waiting on Grissom and the night's assignments. Greg and Warrick were playing against each other on the PS2, while Nick was sitting at the table with Catherine exchanging information on the case they were working together.
The boy's game ended with Greg dying for the third time just as Grissom entered the break room. Warrick turned off the PS2 and the TV went back onto one of the news channels.
"We're bringing you breaking local news now live on Channel 5…" And the picture shifted to a young reddish brown haired woman standing somewhere outside.
Warrick turned off the TV. If time had taught him anything it was that media news seldom meant something important if the police hadn't heard about it. 'On-the-job injury' he admitted to himself with a chuckle. The news could as easily be some well-known face visiting the city, after all Vegas were known for attracting the rich and famous.
Grissom was getting an update on Nick and Catherine's case when Brass entered the room.
"Good you're all here" the Captain greeted. "Greg, you're closest, please turn on the news."
"Jim, what is going on?" Grissom asked giving his friend a confuse stare.
"Airplane crash…" was all Brass replied.
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Sofia slam-banged the door behind her and rushed to her car. She had so overslept which only had given her time for a quick shower and a coffee to go. She blamed Sara for that…
After almost seven month together they'd finally just last month tied the knots and moved in together, and since then the detective had never used her alarm clock. It still amazed her that Sara without any kind of sleep pattern nevertheless managed to wake up hours before she had to go to work or what else they'd planned to do.
Of course the fact that Sara was in Los Angeles attending a Behavioral sciences conferences sort of excused her, but indirectly she was still to blame according to Sofia. During their time together the blonde had grown so accustom to have the brunette in bed with her that she hardly had been able to sleep since the investigator went to LA.
But today due to the lack of good sleep, she had collapsed on the their bed the minute she had gotten home from work without setting any kind of alarm and therefore she was now running late for work… yeah she definitely blamed her girlfriend…
Coming to a stop at a red light the detective fished out her cell phone. Two text messages were waiting. The first one was from Sara and said… rest of the seminar has been canceled… are flying home later today… see you soon - S Sofia lit up in a big smile and quickly wrote back… let me know when you're arriving and I'll pick you up… S
When she reached the next red light she picked up her phone again and read the other message that was from Brass… no need to go by the precinct just drive straight to the lab… Sofia frowned a little at that but on the other hand it wasn't the first time he had wrote her a note like that, it probably just meant that either Nick or Catherine had asked for her.
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The second Sofia entered the lab she got a strong feeling that something was off. The lab was to quiet, not in the sense that everyone was busy or in the field. It was more like the lab was on some kind of nervous energy. It felt like stillness before a storm.
She opened the door to the break room, which held the entire graveyard team of CSIs, minus Sara, but plus Brass. They all stared at the television, as they would stare at a piece of evidence found at a crime scene.
"Hi" she said in a low voice going over to the coffee pot where Brass was leaning against the counter. "What's going on?" She asked him while pouring herself a mug of the black liquid.
"You haven't seen the news" Brass stated more than asked.
"No" Sofia shook her head, "I overslept so I didn't have time for anything else than a shower."
"About an hour ago a commercial plane went down some miles outside of Enterprise" Brass told her, "No one really knows how bad the crash is yet. The smoke is too thick for the news chopper to get any air shots."
Catherine came over to refill her cup, "so now we're just waiting to see if FAA gonna call and require our help."
Sofia wasn't really listening to them anymore; all she could think about was the hundreds of flights coming into McCarran on a single night, and how big the odds was that this wasn't Sara's plane.
"Sofia?" Brass gently placed his hand on her shoulder, "are you all right?" The blonde detective had suddenly turned dangerously pale.
No she was not all right, all of a sudden she had this big knot I her throat that was making it extremely hard to breath. Out of nowhere a stool appeared and she slowly sank onto it.
"Oh my god!" Catherine's fingers covered her mouth delicately as she look down on the very pale detective. "Do you know anyone flying in tonight, Sofia?" She asked hoping it wasn't the case.
Greg turned his face towards his supervisor, "uhm Sara…" he began, "I mean, uhm her conferences isn't over until Friday, right?"
Grissom never got further than to shake his head before Sofia's strained voice replied, "Her seminar got canceled. She is on her way back to Vegas."
"Oh no" Nick mumbled fearing the worst.
"Okay, let's not jump to any assumption yet" Warrick said in an admonitory tone of voice. "We don't even know if that plane was coming or leaving or if its destination even was Vegas. With all the air traffic in and out of here the odds of Sara being on exactly that plane is somewhere between slim to nothing."
"He's right" Grissom stated. Looking at Brass he continued, "Jim and I will see if we can get some more information. The rest of you just stay here. We need to stay available in case the FAA decides they want our help."
The group nodded and turned their heads back towards the TV the second Grissom and Brass was out the door. The newsreader reappeared on the screen after a short commercial break.
"You are watching channel 5 and we are back with the latest update on the plane crash that happened only miles outside of Las Vegas… it has now been confirmed that the plane that went down ten miles outside of Enterprise was on its way into McCarran International Airport at the time of the accident..."
She was starting to lose it. Her thoughts were tumbling around; all kinds of scenarios kept fading in and out of her mind. She couldn't couldn't breathe.
"I have to call her" Sofia said absently. She didn't continue,and neither of them needed to ask why. They had all noticed the twinkle in Sara's eye, and that she smiled more than she had in the past couple of years combined. Come to think of it, especially when the detective was present. They all knew why, though, it wasn't until now they knew who.
"I don't think you're allowed having you phone on during the flight" Nick enlightened.
"It's only an hour flight" Sofia retorted, "She should be in Vegas by now."
She picked up her cell phone and held down the key to speed dial her phone. As the phone started to ring, she got out of her chair and exited into the hall for a bit of privacy.
"Babe, please just answer your phone… pick up honey, please let me hear that sweet voice of yours…" Sofia murmured into the phone. Her face lit up in a smile as she heard a click but it faded as fast as she realized she was being connected to her voice mail.
"This is the voice mail of Sara Sidle, Las Vegas Crime Lab. Please leave a message and I will return your call ASAP."
Hearing Sara's voice knocked the air out of her lungs so she took a deep breath before the beep progressed into the recording phase.
"Hi babe, please call me the second you hear this message… it's really important sweetie, I need to get in contact with you so please the second you hear this, Sara… miss you, see you soon, babe." Sofia closed the phone and went back into the break room and dropped down on the couch.
She leaned back and closed her eyes; she was breathing deeply and fighting to hold her composure. No one had to ask it was evident that Sara hadn't answered her phone.
"Have you found out anything?" Was out of Catherine's mouth the second Brass and Grissom reentered the break room.
"Maybe" Grissom replied in a low voice. "Channel 5 didn't have more news but Brass is on the phone trying to get some details for us."
"Oh, yeah sure" Brass responded to whoever he was taking too. "Good… and you are absolutely sure about that?"
Sofia looked pleading at him, "Jim?"
Brass held one finger up to silence her. "Okay anything else? Flight number, airport, passage list, hell do we know what air… oh, okay, thanks. Listen, if you hear anything else then please let me know." He disconnected the line and looked at the blonde detective.
"Jim, please tell me" Sofia almost begged.
"The plane took off from LAX, designated for McCarran. It went down in the desert somewhere between Enterprise and Blue Diamond." Brass sighed heavily, "They think… they say… it's going to be a rough one."
Sofia stared blankly into the air while she kept repeating, "this cannot be happening… this cannot be happening…"
Greg sat down beside her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders, "do you know her flight number or what time she was suppose to leave?" He asked softly.
"No" Sofia shook her head, "she sent me a massage that she was on her way home due to her seminar had been canceled. That's all she told."
Brass turned to Grissom, "you know what seminar she went to and what hotel she stayed at. Call them and find out as much as you can" he half ordered.
In any other situation Grissom probably would have been pissed about Jim's tone of voice, but he didn't say a word. A brief nod was all he gave before he quickly went to his office.
"I need air" Sofia said. She rose from the couch and went outside.
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Leaning against the wall Sofia sank to the ground, she wrapped her arms around her lower legs and rested her head on her knees and stared up at the dark night sky.
This couldn't be happening; it had to be a very bad dream, like those Sara still got occasionally. Though, according to the brunette it wasn't as often as it used to be. Sara had more than once told her that is was because of her. At times even teased her about it. That it was because she had such a big bad detective in her bed that even the darkest nightmare didn't dare enter the bedroom. Sofia had just smiled at that, knowing it was Sara's way of telling her just how much she meant to her.
Not that they hadn't said 'I love you' to each other, they had. Not a lot, though. It was too precious a statement for them to be using in every other sentence. They were very much alike that way.
She had said it first. She could still remember the fear that had rushed through her body the second the words were out of her mouth. Feared it was too soon. Feared the brunette couldn't handle the emotional statement. Feared she would retreat. But Sara had just looked at her and given her that lovely well-known smile and said "I know". Sara hadn't said it back… that day. It had been a while later before she had heard it for the first time.
She had been in the kitchen cooking dinner. The brunette had entered the room and embraced her from behind. After a light kiss to her temple Sara had just said it, and for a long moment afterwards her world had just stopped. She knew she would never forget that incredible warmth that had spread throughout her entire body, hearing her lover saying those three words.
After recovering a bit she had smiled and just like Sara had done earlier, she had said "I know". After another kiss to her temple the brunette had nodded and replied "good", and subsequently left the kitchen again. She had been so absentminded after that, that she'd almost burned dinner.
And here she sat not knowing if she would ever feel those arms around her again. Ever hear those words again. Sara had become her life and tonight there was a possibility that her life as she knew and loved it could end. She knew that she needed to be optimistic, but she was scared. She took out her phone hoping she had missed a call, missed the vibration announcing an incoming text message, but the phone was as empty as she felt. She pushed down the speed dial button and waited…
"This is the voice mail…"
00000
"Any news?" Nick asked nodding towards the TV, as he came back into the break room.
"Not so far" Warrick replied, taking a sip of his coffee. "Have you seen Sofia?"
"No, Greg went outside to see how she is holding up." He went to the fridge and took out a bottle of water. "Did you know?"
Warrick shook his head, "no I don't think any of us did." He took another sip of his coffee, "well, maybe Greg did, he and Sara are pretty close."
"Hey, turn the volume up."
"This is channel 5 back with more updates on the plane crash. Officials from both LAX and McCarran International Airport's has just confirmed that the plane that has crashed in the desert outside of Enterprise was an Airway America flight. The plane, flying out from LAX, was an Airbus A320 which have the capacity of carrying 156 passengers. Airway America is still to release the flight number, but an official from the Air Line says they'll release the number within the next hour…"
Brass came into the room as Warrick was turning the volume down. He plopped down on a chair, heavily, and gazed at the Texan, "be a pal and pour an old man a cup of coffee."
Nick who stood beside the coffee pot filled a cup and placed in front of Brass before sitting down opposite of him. "Thanks" Jim sighed taking a sip. "I've just talked with an acquaintance of mine that works at the airport. The plane belongs to Airway America."
"We know the news just released that information" Warrick told him, nodding towards the TV.
"Okay, but I know a bit more than that. The flight number is 4590. The plane took off from LAX at 9.40 PM destined for landing at McCarran at 10.50 PM."
The door opened and let in Greg and Sofia. "Any news?" The blonde detective asked as she noticed her boss.
"Some, but nothing that'll make us any wiser" Brass answered.
Sofia gave a slight nod of acknowledgement and sat down. Greg got the coffee pot and refilled the cups of those who wanted more, then sat down beside Sofia.
The door opened again and this time Catherine entered. "Griss just got off the phone with one of the organizers of the seminar. The teacher had to leave when a family member was acute hospitalized. When the organizers couldn't find a substitute that could take over with such short notice they decided to cancel the course."
"Did they know anything about Sara's activities after that?" Sofia asked impatiently, indifferent to why the course had been canceled.
"No. The hotel was in charge of changing tickets and get the participants on their way home tonight" Catherine answered. "Grissom is on the phone with the hotel right now getting flight information's."
The room felt into silence until Grissom came in. "Okay, I finally got in contact with the person who arranged the home-transporting." He gazed down on the paper in his hand. "They got her a seat on an Airbus A320 from Airway America, flight number 4590. She was to leave from LAX at 9.40 PM and landing in McCarran at 10.50 PM. The hotel called a cab on her request. It picked her up two hours before takeoff. I got the number on the taxi company but I haven't called them yet."
"This is so not happening" Warrick groaned.
Sofia glanced from Grissom to Warrick to Brass, "what?"
Nick had suddenly turned pale, looking at Brass he asked, "Was the plane full?"
Sofia stared at Brass in horror, "its Sara's flight, isn't it?"
"No one knows that yet, Nick. LAX is still working on the boarding passes." Brass turned to Sofia and slowly nodded, "I'm afraid so, but let's not jump to any conclusions before we even know whether or not she went onboard."
They all knew he was right, but unless traffic had prevented Sara of being at the airport on time, none of them could think of a reason why she shouldn't have gotten onboard.
There was an awkward silence. Nick broke it, trying desperately to avoid the inevitable thought. "If you give me the number to the taxi company then I'll try to find out where Sara went after leaving the hotel" he suggested, holding his hand out for the paper Grissom still held in his hand.
Another silence, and Sofia's throat was getting tight again. Her mind raced helplessly over the implications. Panic was biting at her again.
Grissom handed him the paper. "Good idea," he said, doing his best to steady his voice. "Be sure to get the exact time they arrived at the airport."
"Sure" Nick replied as he headed towards the door, glad to have something to do other than just sit and wait.
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So absorbed in their own thoughts everyone almost jumped out of their seats when Brass' phone suddenly rang.
He fished it out and answered short, "Brass." For a moment he just listened. "And you are absolutely sure about that?" He nodded, "good let me have it." He wrote a number down and thanked the caller and disconnected the line.
Before he could say anything Nick came into the room and began informing. "I talked to the taxi driver who drove Sara to the airport. According to his timetable he delivered her in front of terminal 6 at 7.10 PM."
"So we know she made it to the airport" Grissom concluded. "Jim?"
"It was my contact at the airport. The plane was over booked" he said, looking at Sofia he handed her the paper from his notebook. "LAX has finished tracking down boarding passes; this is the number to call to see if she was on that flight." Sofia's shivering hand took the paper.
"Do you want one of us to make the call?" Greg asked, sympathetically.
"No… this is a call I have to make…" She gently patted his shoulder, and darted out of the room.
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Stopping just inside the doorway Greg just watched the detective for a few moments before speaking. "Did Sara get on that flight?" She didn't look up. She didn't hear him. Greg quietly sat down beside her and put his arm around her. "Sofia?" She looked up at him slowly, fighting the tears.
She could feel herself breaking.
This was the last thing she needed. She wasn't supposed to break down in front of anyone. No one was supposed to see her like this. Her anger began rising as she struggled to hold back her tears, but before she could get herself under control, Greg pulled her into his embrace as she sobbed against his shoulder.
She quietly stood and walked to the window. She was lost and Greg wasn't sure how to deal with her. "Sofia?" She slowly turned her eyes from the lights of Vegas to him, but didn't utter a word. "Did they have her boarding pass?" He knew it was a stupid question, the detective's reaction said it all, but he needed to hear it in words.
Sofia slowly began to nod her head. "Yes." It was all she could muster at that point. Her head fell to her hands and the emotions took over.
Greg pulled her to him and wrapped his arms around her. "I'm so sorry, Sofia," he whispered.
She was trembling violently, her sobs becoming uncontrollable. "I can't lose her! I can't!" Greg tightened his arms and held her closer, trying to calm her in any way he could.
He gently wiped her tears away as his own were falling. "I know…" He could feel her tears seeping through his shirt and onto his skin. It was breaking his heart to see her this upset. "Let me drive you home."
Trying to regain her composure, she looked at him. "No. I'm not leaving…"
Greg nodded with understanding. "I'll inform the others" he said, letting go of her.
She slowly nodded. "Okay." Turning back to the skyline, she began to cry softly.
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Nervous CSIs milled around the break room waiting for news when Greg entered. His hands were fisted in his pockets Nick noticed, and his face was drawn with tension. He stared at them, upset, sadness burning in his eyes.
"Greg?" Warrick tilted his head to regard him.
Greg took a deep, shuddering breath, and looked down. "Sh…" he said, or tried to, but the words caught in his throat. "They have her boarding pass" he said at last, very quietly.
Nick's face streaked with tears; Catherine's mouth open in a soundless cry of horror. A tear fell from Warrick's eye as Catherine put her arm around him.
Brass could not remember ever feeling so helpless. Not even when Nick had been taken, for there was always something to do, some idea to chase. The race had been against the clock, but even then they had known Nick was still alive.
Grissom knew that he should speak to his team, be there for them and allow them to be there for him. After all, they were losing her too, colleague and mentor and friend. But he just couldn't find any words. All he could think about was that he would never see her again. Never hear her laugh or speak or yell at him.
"Please tell me this isn't real," Nick muttered under his breath.
Greg kept swallowing against the lump in his throat, but nothing made it go away.
Brass rubbed tiredly at his face with the palms of both hands. "I should probably notify the sheriff" he mumbled, not moving at all.
"Yeah, and I should inform Ecklie" Grissom rejoined, not leaving his seat.
Everyone turned at the pounding knock at the door. Judy stood in the doorway, eyes wide and wild, her cheeks flushed and her mouth trembling. "It's just been announced that the rescue team has found survivors."
Nick jumped up from his chair. "Come on man! We've to get out there…"
"They won't let us in unless the FAA request for our help, which I seriously doubt they'll do with the feds present" Brass started, letting out another deep breath.
Warrick scrubbed a hand over his face, trying to wipe away the weariness and the memory of Sara's eyes and smile. "You'll need the feds and a full squad to keep me away."
Every fiber in Greg's body strained to be out searching for Sara. His heart wailed, demanding action. "We got to get out there because if there's anyone I know that's stubborn enough to survive a plane crash…" That statement brought a little smile to their faces, mostly because they knew he was right.
The quiet approach of someone behind his left shoulder made Greg turn. Sofia stopped next to him and looked at the captain. "I'm not going to sit around here and let a bunch of feds that don't give a damn look for Sara's..." she trailed off, refusing to add body to her sentence.
Brass let out a breath, and when Grissom looked up he could see the misery in his old friend's eyes. "I know, Sofia. I know."
"We're going out there" Grissom said. "It's very unlikely they'll let us collect accident evidence, but maybe we can pitch in with victim ID."
"Worth a try" Catherine said. The rest nodded in agreement.
"Sure you're up for this?" Greg asked as they started hurrying towards the cars, his arm hooked through the blonde's, Nick already digging his keys out of his pocket.
Sofia let out a pained breath. "I need to find her… I… I just need to be sure, Greg."
It didn't take long before they were on the road, heading towards the scene of the air crash.
TBC…