Chapter 4

Catherine sat outside her daughter's hospital room. Lindsey was going to stay the night as a precaution. She was understandably in shock from the evening's events but physically Lindsey had suffered no more than some bad bruising. Catherine remembered who she had to thank for her daughters escape and fought hard to hold back her tears of gratitude and fear for Sara's safety. Her relationship with Sara had never been plain sailing but she deeply cared for her and she felt Sara knew this. After what Sara had done tonight however Catherine knew that she would always be indebted to her younger co-worker. While waiting to be allowed back into her daughter's room she thought over the last couple of hours.

Back in Grissom's office

... We need to find her, Gil; we've got to find Sara. She's gone."

Grissom hung up the phone and stood still staring at a blank piece of wall at the other side of the office. His face was transfixed into a look of shock. He did not hear Catherine begging him to tell her what was going on or Lindsey's haggard breathing against her mother's shirt. This couldn't be happening! Not to his team! Not to his Sara! She had once told him it would be too late when he finally realised what he wanted from their relationship and he feared her prediction would be becoming true prematurely. He knew he couldn't loose control now. Not when she needed him most. For missing person cases time is of the essence and Sara's clock was ticking.

He turned to Catherine.

"Take Lindsey to the hospital. I will send Greg down to gather evidence from her clothing and take a statement."

Catherine nodded. "Okay. Griss who was that on the phone?" she asked with trepidation.

"It was Brass." Grissom replied. Knowing Catherine would ask for elaboration he continued, "We found the scene of the attack. Jim found a body..."

With this revelation Lindsey wailed into her mother's shirt and started to pound her chest. Mentally kicking himself for his stupidity and realising how that must have sounded to Lindsey he quickly corrected his statement.

"It's ok Linds. It wasn't Sara. It was a male. One of your attacker's maybe?" Lindsey nodded.

"Look Lindsey" Grissom continued. "Sara is now missing. We are going to need you to tell us everything. Do you have any idea where Sara could be right now?"

Lindsey shook her head.

"Alright. Do you know who your attackers were?"

Lindsey hesitated. Still clinging to her mother she looked to her for comfort.

Catherine guided Lindsey to the couch and knelt down in front of her. Looking directly in to her daughter's eyes she saw fear and guilt. "Sweetie. Please tell us. I won't get mad, I swear. I am just so happy to have you back safe in my arms. When I got the phone call that you were in trouble all the worse possibilities were running through my head." Catherine's voice broke over her last words as she remembered the pain the phone call had caused her. "I will never be able to repay Sara for the present she gave me tonight but another family is going to receive the same phone call I received telling them what happened to Sara. They are going to be terrified, honey. We need to make sure their family is reunited too."

Grissom did not feel the need to correct Catherine. Although Sara had no family in the manner Catherine had meant, telling the rest of her lab family was going to be just as bad.

Catherine continued, "Please sweetie. Who were those men?"

Lindsey took a deep breath and told her story. "I'm so sorry mum. You told me not to go to that party. The one Chelsea wanted me to go to. I should've listened. I snuck out that night. I went to the party. I met a boy called Ryan there. I don't know his surname. He came on to me. I told I wasn't interested. He was angry. He didn't like rejection. Especially not in front of his friends. I was scared mum. I just came home. Tonight they found me again. They told me they were going to teach me a lesson. They grabbed me and slammed me into the wall. They started throwing punches. That's when Sara arrived. I'm sorry. It's my fault..."

By this point both women were in tears and holding each other.

Grissom went to comfort Lindsey, "Thank you darling for telling us. This is not your fault. And don't you dare think that for a second. This is the fault of those sick monsters. We will get Sara back. I promise. You came and got help. We couldn't have asked for more." Turning to Catherine he added. "Take Lindsey to the hospital. Some of those brusies look bad. After that take Lindsey home and cherish her. I'm not letting you work this case. You are too involved. Maybe further down the line but for now just take care of your daughter."

Catherine nodded. Stood up and supported her daughter out of the office.

Back at the hospital...

A nurse came out and told Catherine her daughter was settled into and observation room and should be able to go home the next morning. Catherine thanked her and headed into lindseys room. The sight of her daughter on the bed made her want to cry. She looked so small and frightened. Catherine crossed the room in 3 large strides and gathered her daughter in her arms. Someone would be coming later for evidence and a statement but for now it was just the two Willows women. Catherine held her daughter and swore nothing would ever threaten her again.

ANoriginally this chapter was going to include the boys reactions and processing the scene but I'll put that in the next chapter. I was getting tired and I've got to go get ready for going out tonight. I might update again tonight but if not tomorrow. But remember for a lot of people I've heard from who read this our time zones are well out. I'm in the UK so it is evening now for me but probably midday for you. For me tomorrow is sooner than for you. Updates may be coming in the middle of the night for Americans. No idea I couldn't be bothered working it out but I hope you get what I'm trying to say.

AN2 Also I worked it out this story will be probably 40 chapters long but it may become longer.