"Hey...", Sara heard a soft voice behind her and looked over her shoulder. She saw Greg stepping in the balcony. He placed his coat on her shoulders and after that leaned against the rail. "I thought you quit..." Greg commented about the cigarette in Sara's hand. Sara pulled a drag.
"Yeah well... I really needed it", Sara answered and glanced Greg shortly. Greg gave her a sympathetic smile. Sara couldn't help to smile back a little. Greg's smile made always feel her better, no matter the circumstances.
"Is your head still hurting?" Greg went back serious. Sara took another drag before answering.
"Yeah, a little. Doctor said it might keep a while..." Sara answered. Her voice was somewhat quiet. She had a great bruise on her face and a bandage in a corner of her eye. Otherwise she seemed to be okay at the moment. Her hair was tied into a loose ponytail and she was wearing a hood and jeans that Greg had brought for her. "What time is it?" Sara asked.
"Almost 7.30. Sofia is waiting downstairs. Don't worry, we have no rush." Greg assured. Sara only nodded. The concussion had kept Sara at the hospital for a one day. She had slept most the time, caused by the stress and strong medication they were giving her for her headache.
"You know, you don't necessarily need to stay for the whole night..." Sara started.
"No actually I do. I really can use a break of my lovely neighbours who are sending the message of their divorce for everyone from here to Michigan", Greg said with a smile. He was happy to hear Sara laugh. He was barely able to hear it but it still definitely was a laughter.
Sara finished her cigarette and went back inside. Greg followed her. Her whole body was aching which made her actions slower and more troubled than usual. Greg helped her into her own jacket and grabbed a plastic bag where all her stuffs were, before they headed to the elevator.
"You sure you don't want a wheelchair? It's doesn't make you look any weaker y'know..." Greg recommended.
"Thanks. But no thanks," Sara refused the offer. Although she regretted it later when her normal headache soon turned like a bad migraine. On their way home every bump on the road felt like she was hit in the back of her scull with a baseball bat.
"You're hanging in there, Sara?" Sofia asked behind the wheel.
"Mmm-hm", Sara hymned as an answer and tried to make it sound believable.
"We're almost there", Sofia comforted. Sara felt relieved when the car finally stopped and Sofia cut the engine. They were finally home. Sara opened her eyes. Her movements felt rigid and awkward. She stepped out of the car and slowly pulled the hood over her head. Sofia and Greg exchanged looks.
"Just cold..." Sara mumbled tiredly and wrapped her arms around her chest.
"Okay. Let's go..." Sofia said softly and placed her hand against Sara's back. Greg was holding the door open for them as they started walking slowly towards the building. Sara's head was spinning slightly when she took her first step and before she even realised her legs had started to buckle.
"Wow! Easy there..." Sofia said and took a hold of Sara before she fell. Greg hurried to help her. They assisted Sara to sit on the ground and Sofia knelt next to her so that the brunette was able to lean on her.
"She should still be at the hospital..." Sofia stated and rubbed Sara's back.
"No I'm..." Sara mumbled. "I just need something...this pain y'know...". Greg and Sofia had a short, speechless conversation. Sofia shook her head and turned her attention back to Sara.
"Okay, do you think you can walk?" She asked. With Sofia's and Greg's help Sara managed to lift her self back on her feet and together they started walk again. Every step felt like a stabbing and she was more than happy when they finally reached the third floor. Greg opened the door of her apartment and stepped in. Sara instead was like nailed on the floor. Suddenly she was afraid.
It's your own home Sidle, She tried to make herself reasonable.
"It's okay..." Sofia whispered and rubbed her back. Sara took a look at Sofia and saw her smile encouragingly.
Since when you have become such a wussy. You went through your childhood, something lot worse, remember..., Sara thought and finally forced herself to step in. Greg guided her into her bedroom and helped her to sit down. She tried to take off her coat but couldn't do it without Greg's always so heartfelt help.
"God, I'm so tired..." Sara whispered and rubbed her face. Greg knelt down to take off her shoes.
"It's okay. You'll get some rest now. And you can sleep as long as you like, I'll promise to try to not wake you..." Greg chatted.
"Here, take these and you should feel better..." Sofia came in with two pills and a glass of water. She handed them to Sara who swallowed them.
"Thank you", Sara said quietly. "For everything...". Sofia smiled and leaned down to touch her shoulder.
"Anytime", Sofia said before leaving the room. Greg helped Sara to lie down and covered her with a blanket. He sat beside her.
"Are you sure you don't want to take that hood off? It looks kinda heavy..." Greg asked and looked worried. Sara shook her head. "I'll leave the door cracked. If there's anything, anything at all, just call me, I'll be right there on your couch", Greg said and touched her hair slightly.
Sara looked anxious.
"Greg... Stupid question...but did you check that the door is locked?" Sara asked with tired voice. It looked like she was a bit high or something. Her eyes were hazy.
"It's locked. And after Sofia leaves I'll double check it and make sure that the chain is also in its place." Greg promised. Sara looked to relax a little.
"Thank you. I'm glad you're my friend." Sara smiled weakly. Greg smiled to her and leaned down a pit.
"I'm glad that you are my best friend Sidle. Now, try to get some sleep" Greg said and kissed her forehead before he got up and went into kitchen were Sofia was waiting him.
"Last time I visited here there was a lot more blood around..." Sofia said with a low voice when she saw Greg coming.
"Yeah well, I cleaned up a little when I grabbed her clothes", Greg said. "She asked me today that how many people knows what happened to her. I couldn't give her an answer…" Greg said quietly while discarding his jacket.
"No one. Only you, me, Catherine and the CSI who is working with this case. And he's from an other shift. Catherine made sure that this stays as a secret as long as Sara says otherwise. The lab is different than what your team usually uses and more than that they can't speak about the cases not even between the other employees in the lab. And after Cath visited there last one night, well, let's just say that I'm sure they are following the orders for this time...You can assure Sara that no body knows if that is what she worries." Sofia said. Greg nodded and ran his hand through his hair. He understood why Sara didn't want anyone to know. If he could only get her to realise that it wasn't her fault and that she didn't have anything to be ashamed of.
Sofia's radio called her and she needed to answer it. Greg went in the living room and took off his shirt and shoes. He felt like ready to lie down for a while. Not that he'd be able to sleep or anything, but still... it had been a long day.
"I have to go. Call me if you need anything okay?"
"Okay. Thanks Sofia" Greg said. He walked her to door and after that triple checked the lock and save-chain just like he had promised to Sara.
He sighed quietly and leaned his head against the heavy wood door.
This isn't real... This is just some bad dream... some really bad dream...
