The Home Series
Escaping Home by bahocean
Summary: Sara thinks of her life.
Disclaimer: I am not Joss Whedon or Anthony Zuicker. Therefore, I don't own these characters. Rating: PG to be safe.
This was written during and after Season 5 of CSI: Las Vegas and after season 7 of Buffy. Since it is now after Season 10 of CSI, it was written in 2006. So events that are mentioned in this series may not coincide with the TV timeline. Anyway, I think you'll like this series if you like Buffy and CSI. Enjoy!
Sara Sidle, Forensic Physicist, CSI Level 3, and currently obsessed with her boss, sat on her small balcony, a bottle in one hand, the armrest of the chair in the other, and deep thoughts in her head.
The bottle didn't contain alcohol, the chair was simply a resting place, and the thoughts in her head weren't self-destructive...this time. For a long time, she had been frightened by those voices, the ones that nagged her to drink too much, to work too hard, to refuse to release her temper in productive ways. She had finally found a balance, so to speak, a way to steady herself, and then once again came the blow.
The last few months had found our intrepid CSI on a proverbial rollercoaster. First her emotional admission to Grissom, then the case with Greg, then the incident with Adam trying to use her as a hostage, then Nick, her beloved brother-figure getting buried alive.
Although, obviously, the latter was harder on her fellow CSI than herself.
Sara knew that only part of her problems dealt with one Gil Grissom, entomologist extraordinare. He'd been a good friend to her in those dark days surrounding her suspension. He'd been such a treasure to her, until she found out her treasure was going out with a pirate like Sofia Curtis. The dinner date shocked everyone, except Sara. She knew the truth behind the invitation. Grissom was afraid, and hid behind another woman. At first, Sara found it strange that all she felt was numb. She knew herself better now.
She knew she was an emotional basket case, and was not ready to commit to anyone but herself. She had to fix herself before she could entertain the idea of loving anyone else, to be with anyone romantically, even him, maybe most especially him. Didn't mean she didn't want to try.
Sara Sidle was no sap. She knew Gil Grissom was an emotional coward. He would deny his feelings to the end of time and beyond, though he'd been opening up to her so much more lately. If he wanted Sofia, which she doubted, it was because he risked nothing with her. He could have a relationship without the emotional risk. Sofia was no real threat to his feelings for Sara. Whatever those were.
Sara's mind turned to her work. She knew the warning signs for burnout. She couldn't let that happen. She needed time away, time to herself without being alone, with friends that didn't investigate crimes for a living...often. She needed to make peace with what had happened to Nick, to herself and Grissom. To find out once and for all if she could continue to do this job, in this place, with this man.
She picked up the phone and called the Sheriff, going above both Grissom and Ecklie's heads. She was approved for vacation time. Then she made one more call...to Rome.
"Buffy? Hey, it's Sara..." End Escaping Home