Chapter Two:
Confrontations
They had been here before to investigate the death of a patient.
It had almost cost Sara her life.
Her eyes darted from one end of the room to the next.
Yes, it looked and smelled the same.
She recognized some of the patients as they filed down the hall.
One or two recognized them as well.
"Murder," one screamed. "They're looking for blood!"
Another joined in, "It's everywhere…it's on the walls…on the floors…it's on you!"
A shiver ran down Sara's spine.
It seemed surreal as they watched the men sign a few papers, speaking in hushed tones to the director who kept his distance from them.
A mournful cry erupted down the hall followed by screaming.
An attendant rushed down the hall.
The air exploded with screams of obscenity followed by the sound of something hitting an object.
Another attendant scurried down the hall.
"I'm sorry," announced Doctor Randal. "We've been having some problems with one our new patients."
"Let's hope this one is better," griped Dover as he glanced toward Sara.
Uneasiness settled over Grissom.
Sara had become silent as she kept her back turned.
She stood there watching the rain fall outside.
It rained last time…
Walking through hell and…
The elevator opened and then they were being ushered inside.
Grissom glanced at her but her eyes remained fixed on the buttons as they ascended.
She kept herself in the corner of the elevator.
The elevator lurched, sending Dover a few inches toward Sara and she retreated further into the corner.
Dover grinned at her reaction.
The doors opened.
The two agents waited until the pair stepped off the elevator.
"You'll need to shower immediately," directed Rogers.
Grissom hesitated a moment but took the lead.
He could hear her footsteps following.
That's good, Sara….
You've done this before…
You've stripped and been cleansed before…
Greg was with you…
This is no different…
It was different.
Grissom had already taken a dislike to the two men, particularly Dover.
He'd seen that look in men's eyes and those eyes darted up and down Sara's body too often for Grissom's comfort.
One thing he was sure of and that was the confrontation that was brewing between Sara and Dover.
Sara was not one to back down and he was sure Dover would like nothing more than to put his hands on Sara.
Yes, he'd seen that look before.
He'd seen that look ever time he looked in the mirror after the same confrontation with Sara.
She was a spit fire.
She was wild and high spirited and yet he knew how to gentle her tirade.
Rogers led them into an opening which led to the showers.
It was obvious the hall was equipped for same sex residents.
Sara turned and came face to face with Dover.
"You need to be cleansed," directed agent Rogers.
Dover stepped up.
"Just remove the suits and we'll do the rest," Dover snickered at Sara as he practically unclothed Sara with his eyes.
It sickened Sara but she knew Grissom was already getting irritated with her behavior.
"Unzip," ordered Dover.
Grissom stepped closer.
He wasn't about to watch as this man forced Sara to strip in front of them.
Sara gritted her teeth as she felt Grissom move toward her.
Grissom heard the zipper as it glided down but he refused to look in her direction.
He glared at Dover who feasted on the site before him.
He watched as the young man practically drooled as he took delight in gawking at Sara.
"Get it over with," gritted Sara as the suit dropped to the cemented floor.
The student was now the teacher as Grissom followed her lead.
She held her arms straight into the air as the blast from the water made her stumble a bit.
It was obvious he was taking pleasure in her discomfort.
Grissom kept his eyes focused on the wall as he balled his hands into fists.
She refused to look in any direction for fear of seeing the anger in Grissom's face at balking over a mere hazmat shower.
She knew he probably had not even noticed the way Dover had looked at her.
Dover's looks sickened her.
She'd seen men like him before.
The bars were full of them.
It had been the reason she had taken up drinking in the privacy of her own apartment.
The only time she had ventured out was at Nick's insistence and that had not ended well, costing her an almost DWI.
Of course, Grissom probably thought that men did not desire her and Dover's sickening looks had been wasted on her only.
She could feel Dover's eyes on her now as he ordered her to move from side to side.
She stared past Dover when ordered to face him.
It cost her dearly as the water blasted her for several seconds in the face.
Grissom still faced the wall as Rogers glanced at Dover in surprise.
Sara's eyes finally looked at Dover and the water suddenly stopped.
She stood there shivering.
Grissom was ordered to turn around but now Dover had ordered Sara to face the wall once more as he continued his assault with the sprayer.
Rogers turned off the water and Grissom glared at Dover as he continued his water assault on Sara.
Grissom grabbed a towel and stepped toward Dover.
Rogers knew Grissom intended to grab Dover.
Rogers stepped between the men.
He grabbed Dover's arm.
"She's finished," ordered Rogers hoping it would appease Grissom's anger.
"Just making sure," he chuckled as the water shut off.
Sara waited for a towel but none came from Dover.
She knew he was waiting for her to turn around and face him.
Rogers grabbed several towels and thrust them at Sara.
She took them, wrapping them securely around her body.
She actually welcomed the idea of solitary confinement if it meant getting away from Dover.
Her limbs were heavy from fatigue.
"We'll have some of your personal things brought but in the meantime, these will have to do," said Rogers as they were handed orange jump suits.
They recognized them immediately.
The residents wore them.
Dover grinned.
His grin faded the moment Sara slipped her long slender legs into the suit, turned her back and then finished dressing, not giving the agent another opportunity to see her nude body. She took the towels and tossed them at Dover's feet.
Rogers grinned this time.
In all of the commotion, Sara had not even noticed that Grissom was now dressed.
Both stood there side by side.
He appeared angry and she wondered if he blamed her for the delay.
Her skin burned but she refused to acknowledge the discomfort.
"If you'll follow me," said Rogers as he escorted them down the hall.
He opened the door to a room.
It was larger than the rooms they had examined during the murders.
The agent seemed to read Sara's mind.
"Solitary confinement rooms are larger since the patient seldom leaves," he explained.
Sara stepped into the room.
Dread filled her.
Fear engulfed Grissom as the agent started to close the door.
He would be locked in a room down the hall.
If anything happened to Sara, he would not be able to reach her.
He knew that if Dover tried anything, Sara would not hesitate to fight back.
While he was confident she could handle herself, he also knew that Sara was no match for the likes of Dover.
Dread overtook him as the door shut while her back was turned.
He would not see her face again for a month.
His pulse quickened with each step he took.
Walk through hell…
There were no last words.
He didn't even get a good look at her.
He wasn't sure what she was feeling at the moment.
This is my fault…
I did this…
She was here because of him.
Walking through hell and…
Another door opened and Rogers motioned for him to enter.
It was the same.
He stood there looking around.
Rogers seemed to be growing impatient. "I'll have some blankets brought."
There was a mournful cry down the hall and he tried to determine its origin.
Had it been Sara?
Panic began to set in.
"I'm not staying here," he declared taking a step toward Rogers.
The agent's hand settled just inches from his gun.
"Are you claustrophobic?" he asked.
Lie Grissom…
"Yes, I can't stand to be in tight places…alone," he said.
"Mr. Grissom…"
"I'll stay with Sara," he announced.
"That's not possible," replied Dover.
"You might contaminate one another," Rogers reasoned.
"Then I'll take that chance," Grissom replied.
"She might not want to share a room…with her boss," snickered Dover.
Grissom took a step causing Dover to pull his gun from its holster but Rogers quickly stepped between the two men.
"Dr. Grissom, it is our responsibility to ensure you're not further contaminated…"
"I insist," said Grissom rather loud.
Rogers sighed out loud, "Geez, get in the other room."
Dover cursed as Rogers forced him to unlock Sara's door.
She whirled around the moment she heard the click of the lock.
She seemed a bit surprised to see Grissom.
"Do you mind sharing a room with Mr. Grissom?" asked Rogers.
Sara felt relief flooding her body but she kept her composure not wanting the agents to see how much she feared being alone.
"No, of course not," she replied.
The door was locked once more and both stood there.
There were only mattresses on the old metal beds.
Sara sat on one of the beds with her arms about her legs.
He did the same.
The bed creaked as he adjusted his weight to a more comfortable position.
It was quite chilly in the room.
Sara's hair lay in wet curls about her shoulders.
The door was thrust open suddenly and supplies were tossed into the floor.
Grissom picked up the sheets and blankets, handing a set to Sara.
Once the beds were made, each lay down.
It felt odd lying side by side.
"You didn't have to….do that," he said breaking the silence.
"Do what?"
"You could have let me handle it. I would have found a way….you didn't even give me a chance…just unzipped and…" His voice trailed off as he realized how angry he was over the shower incident.
He had wanted to protect her and yet she had not even given him a chance to do so.
Sara's feet hit the cold icy floor as she sat up.
"Wait, you're mad at me because…."
She was too angry to finish.
"I was going to reason with them," he said.
Her eyes grew wide. "Reason…with them?"
"I'm trained…I could have cleansed us…both…without you…you didn't have to strip in front of…him."
"Him?" she asked hollowly.
"Dover."
So he had noticed how the man had been attracted to Sara.
Sara's hands gripped the side of the bunk.
"There's no reasoning with men….like him."
So she had noticed Dover as well.
It did not make him feel any better about what had transpired.
His glare bore a hole into her as she glared back at him.
"They can use force as you reminded me out there. No, Grissom, I don't want to be tasered so I followed orders."
"You should have let me handle…"
"And do what? Convince them that I prefer…"
"I could have…it would have been easier if I had…done that…than him."
"Easier for you…or me?"
"You preferred to have Dover…"
The lights went out and they were suddenly thrust into darkness.
The room was silent for a moment.
"Did it matter Grissom? Dover didn't hide his intentions…he saw what he wanted to see…you've hid for the last several years…I don't want or need your chivalry. At least Dover's feelings are more honest than yours."
Both were grateful for the darkness.
Note from author:
Ouch…well, this has gotten off to a good start…both mad…both clueless…GSR.
Take care,
Penny
