Fragility

She rubbed her eyes.

That was his first clue, should have been his first clue. Sara Sidle who could easily work double, triple shifts was exhausted after just a few short hours.

But he was too busy watching her slender hands lay out the crime scene photos that she had taken to notice how exhausted she was.

He took a quick look around the room to check that they were alone. "Are you ok?" He asked gently.

"I'm fine." Came the quick standard reply that she had muttered so many times before. Then she realised who she was talking to and pause. "I don't know, feeling a bit strange. I think I might be coming down with 'flu or something." She said sighing.

"Maybe you should go home and get some rest?" He said carefully. Sara could be quite unpredictable when it came to encouraging her to go home.

She moved closer towards him and rested her head on his shoulder as he placed one hand on the small of her back. "I'll be ok, I want to get this case wrapped up."

"Ok." He replied watching her carefully for a second before turning back to the photos in front of them.

"Griss, Sara?" Catherine said opening the door to the lay out room. We've got a hit off the DNA from the body. A Craig Hayles. Brass has an address and a warrant, we're heading over there now."

"Meet you outside in two minutes." Grissom replied as he and Sara began collecting the photos back together to be placed back in the file.

"Are you sure you're ok to go out? You can stay in the lab if you're not feeling well enough." Gil placed his hand on her forehead. "Honey, you're burning up. You should rest."

"I've got tomorrow night off, I'll rest then." Sara said removing his hand from her forehead and placing a small kiss on his palm. "Stop worrying about me, it's just 'flu."

"I can't help it, I love you."

"You're forgiven. But only because I love you too." She smiled at him. "Now come on, that crime scene isn't going to process itself."

---

Gil gave Sara a small wink as she got in behind him to let Catherine sit in the front seat. Nick, Warrick and Greg were travelling to the scene in another car.

"Where is this place?" Sara asked trying to get comfy in the back seat.

"On the edge of the desert. It'll take about forty five minutes, why don't you get some sleep?"

Sara opened her mouth to mutter 'I'm fine' but decided against it, she was feeling pretty exhausted and might as well use the time effectively.

She rested her head on the window and closed her eyes.

"Are you ok, Sara?" Catherine said twisting around in her seat to get a better look. Gil glanced at her in the rear view mirror.

"Just a headache." She replied closing her eyes against the harsh glare of the headlights from the oncoming traffic.

Catherine opened the glove box and took something out. "Here." She said handing Sara a packet of Aspirin and a bottle of water.

Sara looked surprised for a second. "Thanks." She said feeling touched. She could feel tears welling up and tried to convince herself that it was just the bright light causing it but she knew that it was the unexpected kindness from Catherine. Wow, she thought, I must be sick if I'm crying just because someone has given me some pain killers.

Gil noticed Sara's unusual emotional state and frowned with concern. He considered asking her if she was alright again but bit his lip knowing that the more he pushed, the more she would pretend that she was fine.

Sara closed her eyes again and lent back against the head rest. Her entire body was aching, she was sure that she was coming down with 'flu, she also knew that Gil would insist on her resting in bed for days. At least she could battle through this case and collapse into bed, with Gil at her side, when it was closed. For the first time in her adult life, she hoped they would wrap this case up quickly.

Sara only felt like her eyes had been closed for a few minutes when she was woken by the car stopping abruptly. She cracked her eyes open a little and saw an average looking house which was set on the edge of town. Las Vegas, lit with neon colours, stood one side, while the darkness of the desert surrounded the other.

Sara fumbled with her seat belt as Catherine and Gil jumped out of the car and slammed their doors. Without thinking about it Gil opened Sara's door and held his hand out to help her up. She gracefully accepted his help and gripped the comfort of his hand for a moment too long, which did not go unnoticed by Catherine's eager eyes. Catherine frowned suspiciously, a small smile appearing on her lips as she put two and two together.

Neither Gil or Sara noticed Catherine watching them however, Gil was too busy watching Sara for signs of illness while Sara was too busy hiding them to avoid worrying Gil.

Sara involuntarily rubbed her stiff neck, blaming the uncomfortable position she had been sitting in for the journey. Gil raised one eyebrow in concern but Sara shook her head and smiled at him. Each knew what every little gesture meant and could communicate without actually using any words, which came in handy with a couple of socially-inept science geeks.

They grabbed their kits and met Nick, Warrick and Greg before walking up the drive to greet Brass.

"Think he might not be the murderer." Brass commented as they prepared to step through the front door.

"What makes you think that?" Catherine said gazing into the first room. "Ah."

"Yes, ah indeed." Brass replied.

"Lovely, his brains are splattered up his living room wall, now that isn't a look they advise on any interior design programmes I've watched." Nick said also having a look at their new crime scene.

"You watch interior design programmes, Nicky?" Catherine asked grinning at him.

"I watch day time TV when I can't sleep." He replied with a defensive look.

"Sure you do!" Warrick teased.

"Brass would you like to fill us in on the crime scene once these lot have finished." Grissom said eager to get started as soon as possible so they could finish sooner.

"Yeah, we arrived about twenty minutes ago, the door was unlocked and we found our friend in there with his brains doing a good impression of wall paper. Cleared and secured the scene, didn't touch anything, coroner is on his way."

"Thanks. Right, Cath and Warrick downstairs. Nick, Greg upstairs. Sara and I will do outside."

Sara trailed after Grissom, without noticing that she had been given an easy job and was practically being baby sat by him, to be honest she noticed but she just didn't care.

---

Grissom looked up to see Doctor Robbins limping up the drive. "No David tonight?"

"It's his wedding anniversary so I thought I should let him have the night off."

"I'm sure his wife will appreciate that."

"Hey Sara." The Doc said looking towards where she was leaning against the wall. "Are you ok? You don't look well."

Sara didn't answer, she grabbed at the window sill in an attempt to steady herself as she slid sideways slightly.

Grissom turned around to face her. "Sara?" He called rushing over to where she stood to catch her in time.

"Why don't we sit you down and I'll take a quick look at you." The Doc said as he and Gil lead her towards a nearby police car.

"Sick." She muttered quietly, shaking them off as she leant forwards and vomited on the ground. Grissom took hold of her arm to support as she was sick again.

"All done?" The Doc asked. They sat her down in the back of the police car. "How long have you been feeling ill Sara?"

Sara opened her mouth to answer but could not make the correct words come out. "A few hours," Gil replied for her, "she thought she was coming down with 'flu."

The Doc placed his hand against her forehead. "She has a fever. What other symptoms?"

"A headache, tired, her neck was stiff when we got here."

"Has she had a rash at all?" The Doc asked urgently, checking her arms and legs.

"Not that I've noticed." Gil replied suddenly looking terrified.

"Sara, I need you to open your eyes and look at me."

Sara opened her eyes and closed them tightly when she saw the torch that Gil was holding. "Hurts." She whispered.

"I need you to stay with me Sara. Have you had a rash on you anywhere."

Sara didn't seem to hear the question. "I've contaminated the crime scene." She muttered almost incoherently as she stood unsteadily and pushed passed them.

Hearing the commotion outside Brass, Catherine and Warrick came through the front door to see what was going on. They were just in time to see Sara loose her balance and fall sideways onto the ground. They all hurried down the grass to where Gil and the Doc where by her side.

"What's going on?" Nick asked as he and Greg also joined them.

"She's having a seizure." The Doc said calmly as Sara's muscles began contracting involuntarily. "Protect her head, Gil. Some one call an ambulance, I think she may have meningitis."

Gil knelt down next to Sara's head and placed his hands between her head and the ground, his face showed the terror that he felt as he watched his beloved Sara so ill in front of him. Brass took out his phone and called for an ambulance.

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