Pain
Author: Moggie
Pairing: G/S Category: Angst, Drama Rating: R Summary: Time tells and time demands truth, but does a secret reveal good or bad feelings? And what happens when everything goes quiet? Spoilers: none Disclaimer: I do not under any circumstances own CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Notes: It starts off with a case, but then it goes quiet. That's the point of the summary, but what happens next? Be patient.
Chapter 1
The call came through and as usual it was one of the two females to deal with it, never one of the men, always a female. Sara walked down the corridor towards autopsy. She wasn't pleased with the assignment, but didn't let on about it. She had just got back from a three week break and was exhausted and trying to get back into night shift mode. Yawning, she looked over the report for the tenth time as she pushed through the doors. Albert looked up at her face paled as the small body covered with the white sheet came into sight.
"Hey Sara." Albert said softly.
She nodded and motioned to the body with her hand.
Albert removed the sheet and got into the examination. "7 months old. Female. Found face down in her cot. Cause of Death, Suffocation and man handled, bruises over the rib cage." He looked up and watched as Sara's eyes wondered over the small child. "Sara."
"Yeah." She looked up and gave him a sad smile. "The mother who reported it, said the infant was found in her cot at 6am. She checks like every day as routine, so I guess the murderer got into the house and suffocated the vic." Sara said all this as she stared at the child.
Albert covered the infant and reached over to pat her hand. "You'll find who it is Sara. Don't worry." He assured. Sara smiled her thank you. "Time of death. I'd say, 5am." Albert turned from the table as Sara took the autopsy report and headed for the door.
^*^*^
Grissom was walking passed the layout room, when he saw her. She was sitting with her head in her hands. The room was full of music and the tabletop was coated with evidence. All not helpful. He tapped on the door, but got no answer. Entering the room quietly, he turned the music down.
Sara didn't move, she sighed and jumped as he placed his hand on her shoulder. "Shit, Grissom." She cursed, turning away and hastily rubbing her face.
He noticed she was wiping tears away. His eyes narrowed and softened. "You ok?" He asked softly.
"Yeah." She answered, gaining her composure. Turning to the table, but keeping her eyes focused on the table, she pointed to the case file. "Dead end. No good evidence. He's getting away again and I can't find a damn thing to nail the bastard." She stated and ran the back of her hand over her eyes.
Grissom watched her. "Pack it up and fill out the forms. Take a break."
Sara turned to him and shook her head. "Can't, just started and I'm not letting him get his grubby hands on another child."
Grissom heard the determination and anger in her voice and nodded. "Get Catherine to help." She shook her head. "Sara."
"No. I'm fine. No need for anyone else to see this, especially Catherine." Sara's voice was barely a whisper as she finished and Grissom's eyes darkened with concern.
"At least take a break." He asked. "With me?" He added. Sara turned back to the evidence and nodded. He touched her shoulder again and squeezed it. "Thank you." He said softly.
^*^*^
Two weeks later and another infant was on Albert's slab. Sara had been working to catch the killer, but nothing came up. Grissom was growing more and more concerned as she closed herself off to working the case on her off time and late into the day shift. Trying and failing, he offered Warrick and Nick's assistance, but she turned them down.
^*^*^
Sara handed Catherine her coffee and sighed. "Nothing's wrong with working these cases Cath."
Catherine snorted. "Yeah, keep telling yourself that. We can all see that your closing us out." Catherine had come over after hearing about another child and the refusing Grissom's offer of assistance from the boys.
Looking down at her cup, Sara said quietly. "I just don't want you to see what the bloke does to these kids. He's a monster and I wouldn't want anyone to know, not you, Warrick or Nick."
Noticing she didn't mention one name, Catherine asked. "What about Grissom?"
Sara got up and poured her coffee down the sink. "Especially not Grissom." She stated reaching for a glass and the milk carton.
Catherine watched as Sara drank a glass of milk. "Something you're not telling me Sara?"
Shaking her head, Sara gave her a force smile. "Of course not."
"So, there's nothing going on between you and Grissom?"
Sara laughed a real laugh, but with some hesitation. "No."
Catherine didn't seem convinced. "We all have our barriers in this job. Mine's abused children, you know that." Sara nodded as she sat back down. "Warrick and Nick also have there pressure points and you know Grissom has his."
Pulling her legs up to her stomach and resting her chin on her knees, Sara nodded. "Kids, babies, drugs all the same as everyone else."
Catherine nodded. "Yes, but you must have yours." At Sara's shaking head, Catherine placed her coffee cup on the table and turned to the young female. "My first case as a CSI, I was asked to process an abused 6 year old. That's my worst nightmare and that extends to all ages." Catherine shared. "What's yours and my mind is telling me it's more personal that that."
Sara looked at Catherine, but more of looking through her. "You have to promise not to tell anyone."
Catherine nodded and sat back against the arm of the couch. "I promise Sara."
Looking deeply into her eyes, Sara pushed her hair behind her ears before resting her head back on her knees. "Erm." Sara raised her eyes to Catherine and smiled. "I'm pregnant."
Catherine smiled and sat up. "Really?"
Sara nodded and laughed. "Yeah."
"How long?"
Sara thought for a second as she tried to remember. "A few weeks."
"Your happy about this then?" Catherine asked seeing the beaming smile and colour returning to the young females face.
"I am." Sara said confidently.
Catherine pulled her into a hug. "I'm so happy for you, but."
Sara grinned and shook her head. "No it's not Hank's Cath, god no. I. can't tell you who, not yet. I haven't even told him, so please don't tell anyone."
Nodding her head with a huge smile, Catherine hugged her again. "Sara Sidle, I'm so proud of you." After a few minutes, Catherine offered her help on the case and Sara accepted.
^*^*^
Catherine knocked on the office door and walked in. "I'm taking Sara's case with her. She needs to close and soon."
Grissom looked up from feeding his spider. "Then take her off."
Shaking her head, Catherine sighed. "No, if she doesn't close this case, then we'll have one angry CSI. Believe me she needs this, but I just hope she doesn't break under the pressures she's under."
Grissom put the lid back on the tank and removed his glasses. "What pressure?"
Sitting down in the visitors chair, Catherine looked behind her towards the partly closed door. "You're her friend too, so I suppose you should know, also being the boss, you should know, but I'm not too sure."
"Catherine."
Waving a dismissive hand at his interruption, she cleared he throat and smiled. "It's good, but the case is hitting too close to home."
Grissom blinked unbelievingly. "What do you mean?"
"I'm not telling you, ask Sara if you want, but I promised I'd not tell anyone. Just that not to take her off." Catherine watched as he stood. "Where are you going Gil?"
"I need to talk to her."
Catherine grabbed his arm. "No. She made me promise, not now at least."
Grissom relented and slumped against the wall. "Why is this hitting close to home. She hasn't got kids, or knows anyone apart from you.." His thoughts were running around in the air as he tried to piece together Sara's obvious secret from him.
^*^*^
Three infants and no closer to a suspect, not even a fibre. "The guy must wear a hazard suit or something. Maybe warehouse or hospital scrubs." Sara thought aloud as she looked over the latest evidence. Stopping suddenly, Sara had a thought.
Catherine looked up as Sara stood up straight. "What is it?"
Sara narrowed her eyes as she stared at the table covered with three cases worth of poor evidence. She jerked her head in thought and walked out the door. Catherine was high on her heels. Grissom was in the computer room when Sara opened the door hastily. He moved away from the table as Sara sat down without a word. Catherine looked at Grissom and shrugged as an answer to his silent question.
Suddenly Sara started speaking again, but more of to herself as she tapped away at the keyboard. "What if we missed some evidence? What if we didn't look too far back into the history of each child? We looked at the basic, names, ages, DOB, POB, but not the one who delivered the baby."
Catherine looked over Sara's shoulder and patted it. "Nice going Sara."
Grissom approached the screen as Sara accessed medical files. Just as she opened the first two, she found a link and then opened the latest. "There you have it." Sara pointed at the name and grinned. "Samuel Adams, Nancy Docks and Andrea Lofts, all with the same doctor."
"Doctor Jack Taker, Paediatrics at Las Vegas Hospital." Grissom read aloud.
^*^*^
Looking over at the doctor as he sat in the interrogation room. Sara frowned. Grissom noticed the sudden change from smile to no smile. He put his hand on her shoulder. "I'll talk to him if you want?" He offered quietly.
Catherine walked into the room and saw Grissom's hand on Sara's shoulder. She smiled and continued. "Right then." She stated, leaning around Sara and grabbing the file. "I'll question and you can collect the fibre and blood if you want Sara?"
Sara laughed lightly. "Thanks for the option Cath. I think I'll pass though, you know." Sara looked down at her stomach quickly, indicating that if she did collect the blood, she would most likely be emptying her lunch in the bin shortly afterwards.
Catherine smiled and nodded. She looked up at Grissom, who was staring at Sara intently. "You then." She said breaking him from his thoughts.
"Ok. Sara, you stay here. I want to speak to you about the conference your going to this weekend." He was already out the door before she could ask what conference, but had to inwardly smile.
The questioning went as planned, but it was still a little sketchy with the evidence, hopefully the blood and fibre's would help. Reactions from the photo's was interesting to see. The suspect definitely seemed rattled by them. Catherine and Grissom noticed this. All they had to do now was to carry out a few more tests and routine question's.
^*^*^
Author: Moggie
Pairing: G/S Category: Angst, Drama Rating: R Summary: Time tells and time demands truth, but does a secret reveal good or bad feelings? And what happens when everything goes quiet? Spoilers: none Disclaimer: I do not under any circumstances own CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Notes: It starts off with a case, but then it goes quiet. That's the point of the summary, but what happens next? Be patient.
Chapter 1
The call came through and as usual it was one of the two females to deal with it, never one of the men, always a female. Sara walked down the corridor towards autopsy. She wasn't pleased with the assignment, but didn't let on about it. She had just got back from a three week break and was exhausted and trying to get back into night shift mode. Yawning, she looked over the report for the tenth time as she pushed through the doors. Albert looked up at her face paled as the small body covered with the white sheet came into sight.
"Hey Sara." Albert said softly.
She nodded and motioned to the body with her hand.
Albert removed the sheet and got into the examination. "7 months old. Female. Found face down in her cot. Cause of Death, Suffocation and man handled, bruises over the rib cage." He looked up and watched as Sara's eyes wondered over the small child. "Sara."
"Yeah." She looked up and gave him a sad smile. "The mother who reported it, said the infant was found in her cot at 6am. She checks like every day as routine, so I guess the murderer got into the house and suffocated the vic." Sara said all this as she stared at the child.
Albert covered the infant and reached over to pat her hand. "You'll find who it is Sara. Don't worry." He assured. Sara smiled her thank you. "Time of death. I'd say, 5am." Albert turned from the table as Sara took the autopsy report and headed for the door.
^*^*^
Grissom was walking passed the layout room, when he saw her. She was sitting with her head in her hands. The room was full of music and the tabletop was coated with evidence. All not helpful. He tapped on the door, but got no answer. Entering the room quietly, he turned the music down.
Sara didn't move, she sighed and jumped as he placed his hand on her shoulder. "Shit, Grissom." She cursed, turning away and hastily rubbing her face.
He noticed she was wiping tears away. His eyes narrowed and softened. "You ok?" He asked softly.
"Yeah." She answered, gaining her composure. Turning to the table, but keeping her eyes focused on the table, she pointed to the case file. "Dead end. No good evidence. He's getting away again and I can't find a damn thing to nail the bastard." She stated and ran the back of her hand over her eyes.
Grissom watched her. "Pack it up and fill out the forms. Take a break."
Sara turned to him and shook her head. "Can't, just started and I'm not letting him get his grubby hands on another child."
Grissom heard the determination and anger in her voice and nodded. "Get Catherine to help." She shook her head. "Sara."
"No. I'm fine. No need for anyone else to see this, especially Catherine." Sara's voice was barely a whisper as she finished and Grissom's eyes darkened with concern.
"At least take a break." He asked. "With me?" He added. Sara turned back to the evidence and nodded. He touched her shoulder again and squeezed it. "Thank you." He said softly.
^*^*^
Two weeks later and another infant was on Albert's slab. Sara had been working to catch the killer, but nothing came up. Grissom was growing more and more concerned as she closed herself off to working the case on her off time and late into the day shift. Trying and failing, he offered Warrick and Nick's assistance, but she turned them down.
^*^*^
Sara handed Catherine her coffee and sighed. "Nothing's wrong with working these cases Cath."
Catherine snorted. "Yeah, keep telling yourself that. We can all see that your closing us out." Catherine had come over after hearing about another child and the refusing Grissom's offer of assistance from the boys.
Looking down at her cup, Sara said quietly. "I just don't want you to see what the bloke does to these kids. He's a monster and I wouldn't want anyone to know, not you, Warrick or Nick."
Noticing she didn't mention one name, Catherine asked. "What about Grissom?"
Sara got up and poured her coffee down the sink. "Especially not Grissom." She stated reaching for a glass and the milk carton.
Catherine watched as Sara drank a glass of milk. "Something you're not telling me Sara?"
Shaking her head, Sara gave her a force smile. "Of course not."
"So, there's nothing going on between you and Grissom?"
Sara laughed a real laugh, but with some hesitation. "No."
Catherine didn't seem convinced. "We all have our barriers in this job. Mine's abused children, you know that." Sara nodded as she sat back down. "Warrick and Nick also have there pressure points and you know Grissom has his."
Pulling her legs up to her stomach and resting her chin on her knees, Sara nodded. "Kids, babies, drugs all the same as everyone else."
Catherine nodded. "Yes, but you must have yours." At Sara's shaking head, Catherine placed her coffee cup on the table and turned to the young female. "My first case as a CSI, I was asked to process an abused 6 year old. That's my worst nightmare and that extends to all ages." Catherine shared. "What's yours and my mind is telling me it's more personal that that."
Sara looked at Catherine, but more of looking through her. "You have to promise not to tell anyone."
Catherine nodded and sat back against the arm of the couch. "I promise Sara."
Looking deeply into her eyes, Sara pushed her hair behind her ears before resting her head back on her knees. "Erm." Sara raised her eyes to Catherine and smiled. "I'm pregnant."
Catherine smiled and sat up. "Really?"
Sara nodded and laughed. "Yeah."
"How long?"
Sara thought for a second as she tried to remember. "A few weeks."
"Your happy about this then?" Catherine asked seeing the beaming smile and colour returning to the young females face.
"I am." Sara said confidently.
Catherine pulled her into a hug. "I'm so happy for you, but."
Sara grinned and shook her head. "No it's not Hank's Cath, god no. I. can't tell you who, not yet. I haven't even told him, so please don't tell anyone."
Nodding her head with a huge smile, Catherine hugged her again. "Sara Sidle, I'm so proud of you." After a few minutes, Catherine offered her help on the case and Sara accepted.
^*^*^
Catherine knocked on the office door and walked in. "I'm taking Sara's case with her. She needs to close and soon."
Grissom looked up from feeding his spider. "Then take her off."
Shaking her head, Catherine sighed. "No, if she doesn't close this case, then we'll have one angry CSI. Believe me she needs this, but I just hope she doesn't break under the pressures she's under."
Grissom put the lid back on the tank and removed his glasses. "What pressure?"
Sitting down in the visitors chair, Catherine looked behind her towards the partly closed door. "You're her friend too, so I suppose you should know, also being the boss, you should know, but I'm not too sure."
"Catherine."
Waving a dismissive hand at his interruption, she cleared he throat and smiled. "It's good, but the case is hitting too close to home."
Grissom blinked unbelievingly. "What do you mean?"
"I'm not telling you, ask Sara if you want, but I promised I'd not tell anyone. Just that not to take her off." Catherine watched as he stood. "Where are you going Gil?"
"I need to talk to her."
Catherine grabbed his arm. "No. She made me promise, not now at least."
Grissom relented and slumped against the wall. "Why is this hitting close to home. She hasn't got kids, or knows anyone apart from you.." His thoughts were running around in the air as he tried to piece together Sara's obvious secret from him.
^*^*^
Three infants and no closer to a suspect, not even a fibre. "The guy must wear a hazard suit or something. Maybe warehouse or hospital scrubs." Sara thought aloud as she looked over the latest evidence. Stopping suddenly, Sara had a thought.
Catherine looked up as Sara stood up straight. "What is it?"
Sara narrowed her eyes as she stared at the table covered with three cases worth of poor evidence. She jerked her head in thought and walked out the door. Catherine was high on her heels. Grissom was in the computer room when Sara opened the door hastily. He moved away from the table as Sara sat down without a word. Catherine looked at Grissom and shrugged as an answer to his silent question.
Suddenly Sara started speaking again, but more of to herself as she tapped away at the keyboard. "What if we missed some evidence? What if we didn't look too far back into the history of each child? We looked at the basic, names, ages, DOB, POB, but not the one who delivered the baby."
Catherine looked over Sara's shoulder and patted it. "Nice going Sara."
Grissom approached the screen as Sara accessed medical files. Just as she opened the first two, she found a link and then opened the latest. "There you have it." Sara pointed at the name and grinned. "Samuel Adams, Nancy Docks and Andrea Lofts, all with the same doctor."
"Doctor Jack Taker, Paediatrics at Las Vegas Hospital." Grissom read aloud.
^*^*^
Looking over at the doctor as he sat in the interrogation room. Sara frowned. Grissom noticed the sudden change from smile to no smile. He put his hand on her shoulder. "I'll talk to him if you want?" He offered quietly.
Catherine walked into the room and saw Grissom's hand on Sara's shoulder. She smiled and continued. "Right then." She stated, leaning around Sara and grabbing the file. "I'll question and you can collect the fibre and blood if you want Sara?"
Sara laughed lightly. "Thanks for the option Cath. I think I'll pass though, you know." Sara looked down at her stomach quickly, indicating that if she did collect the blood, she would most likely be emptying her lunch in the bin shortly afterwards.
Catherine smiled and nodded. She looked up at Grissom, who was staring at Sara intently. "You then." She said breaking him from his thoughts.
"Ok. Sara, you stay here. I want to speak to you about the conference your going to this weekend." He was already out the door before she could ask what conference, but had to inwardly smile.
The questioning went as planned, but it was still a little sketchy with the evidence, hopefully the blood and fibre's would help. Reactions from the photo's was interesting to see. The suspect definitely seemed rattled by them. Catherine and Grissom noticed this. All they had to do now was to carry out a few more tests and routine question's.
^*^*^