Chapter Four

"Mr. Lurie?" asked Sara.

"It's Sara, right?" he asked.

"Yes, we kind of met the other night. What can I do for you?" she asked.

"I wanted to apologize for the other night. I took quite a few liberties and I think I made you uncomfortable," he said.

"You didn't. I was just…I saw the interview. I could tell you were upset about Ms. Marlin's death even though you didn't really voice it in there."

"Really? How could you tell?"

"Your eyes. They were sincere. Look, you don't owe me an apology. I didn't know I would bother you. I've been told I look like her but…I don't really think so," said Sara as she began to fidget.

"I saw the resemblance at first but you're right. You're not like her. You're sincere and she never was. Could we?" he asked as he motioned for a couple of chairs.

"Uhm…we could go back to my office if you prefer…it's not really private either but at least it's out of the main entrance."

He smiled. "I'm not keeping you from your work?"

"I need a break…even CSIs gets breaks," she smiled as they began walking down the hallway.

"Has anyone ever told you how wonderful your smile is? It covers your whole face…I like that."

It made her blush.

"How are you dealing with her death?" she asked as they sat down at her desk.

"You should ask me how I've been dealing with the knowledge that she dumped me and then I had to find out about the other men when she's murdered…that's not exactly the truth…I knew about one or two. It's funny how you swear you'll never accept someone you love cheating on you but then when it happens you find yourself forgiving them again and again until….enough of that…what about you?"

"I'm uhm married…to my job. I have very little time for anything else. I told myself I would slow down and date but then the double shifts get in the way and the next thing I know a year has passed and then…let's just say I tend to choose men that are emotionally unavailable…I don't have a good track record." She said as she looked down at the floor.

"I'm sorry. It's seems we've both made poor choices in the past. I should be going. I offered to assist in a surgery this evening…Would you mind if I invited you to dinner?" he asked.

"Well, that all depends on if I'm not working….it would be nice," she smiled. "I'll be honest. I don't do much dating so I may be a little rusty when it comes to that sort of thing. I rarely have time to dress up…casualty of the job."

"So, you wouldn't mind if I showed up in scrubs one day?"

"As long as you don't mind my work vest with jeans and top."

"Good. I'll see you soon, Sara."

"Yeah, you will. Vincent?"

"Yes?"

"I really am sorry."

"See you soon." He smiled and left her sitting there. She watched as he walked out of the building. She sat there staring at her blank computer screen when he appeared in the vacant chair.

"What was Lurie doing here?" asked Grissom.

"Apologizing for the other night," she said as she started to get up. Grissom placed his hand on her arm.

"Be careful, Sara."

She glanced at him as she returned to the evidence room.

She was surprised when Judy brought the plant to her desk a few days later and placed it beside her desk.

"It seems someone is trying to get your attention," smiled Judy.

Sara looked at the card and noticed the initials V.L. She smiled and then looked around to see if anyone had noticed the plant. She quickly removed the card and placed it in her desk. She quickly grabbed her kit and headed out the door calling for Nick to wait.

She glanced at her watch and yawned as she tagged the evidence in the living room. She stood and stretched. It had been a long grueling three hours and she wanted nothing more than to be done so they could return to the lab. She joined Nick outside in the back yard where two bodies had been found. She watched as Grissom and Nick walked through the scenario. She noticed a few droplets of blood running along the side of the house and her shoulder's drooped.

"Guys, I think you've missed some…over here…" she followed the drops as it led to a metal container on the side of the house.

"Got something over here…It's pretty tight….ouch!"

She grabbed her hand and held it as she noticed her own blood now seeping in with the blood on the ground. Nick was the first to reach her grabbing a towel from his kit.

"Hold still," he said as he applied pressure. "Geez…Sar…this is deep…" Grissom came over to take a look at the hand.

"He's right. You're going to need stitches…and a tetanus shot if yours is not updated."

She frowned.

Nick chuckled. "Don't like shots do you?"

"No, Nicky I don't!" she pouted.

"Come on, I'll drive you," offered Grissom.

"I uhm I can drive myself…"

"No you won't. You're my responsibility when you're out here so get in the vehicle," he said.

"Nicky, call Warrick and have him come out and help finish up," said Grissom as he turned and waited for Sara.

They sat in the emergency room waiting to be seen. Sara felt her hand throbbing as she kept it wrapped in the towel.

"I should have had Doc take a look at it. This could take all night…" said Sara just as Lurie walked by.

He stopped when he saw her there and hurried over.

"What happened?"

"Casualty at work." She smiled as he started to unwrap it but Grissom stopped him.

"We're waiting for the ER doctor," said Grissom.

"There was a frat party that collided with some food poisoning….they're going to be backed up for several hours…Sara…can I take a look at this for you?"

Grissom started to decline when Sara smiled and placed her hand in Lurie's.

"I don't like shots but I'm fine with needles," she said.

He grinned and then chuckled. "Okay...I'm sure there's a story behind that…come with me," he said as he helped Sara to her feet. Grissom stood there with mixed emotions.

"Mr. Grissom, you're welcome to come with your employee," Lurie said with a smile.

Grissom's jaw twitched as he followed.

Lurie led Sara to a vacant room sitting her down and began cleaning the wound.

"Ouch, that is deep…going to need stitches…when was your last tetanus?...I can see by your face you know I'm going to have to give you a shot…I promise I'll be very gentle."

Once the wound was cleaned, he pulled out a needle and placed on his knee as he began to talk with Sara. "Now, I bet it was some mean nurse that snuck up on you and jabbed you with a needle? Right? Sara? How was that?"

"I didn't feel it…did you give me the shot?"

"Yes, I did. Now, let's work on those stitches. Would you like really small stitches or some kind of design…just kidding….I'll do my best to make sure it's a very small scar….okay?"

She smiled. He finished with her hand and then bandaged it.

"Now, this is going to hurt later. I'll write you a prescription for pain…"

"I won't need it…I don't do well with pain medication…"

"Allergies?"

"Just loopy…stupidly loopy," she said.

"Take them at least for tonight. Tomorrow it should be better but you'll have the prescription if you need it. Okay?"

She nodded.

"No using the hand for a couple of days so you don't risk breaking open the stitches."

"I can work, right?"

He leaned forward and whispered, "Do you want to work?"

"Yeah"

He turned and looked at Grissom, "She can work as long as she doesn't use the hand…promise?"

"Promise," she said as she smiled and got up.

Grissom guided her out to the Denali and helped her get in. There was little or no conversation once they began to drive. Grissom stole a glance now and then as he assessed the pain she was feeling. Sara glanced around and noticed they were not heading back to the lab.

"Grissom…"

"You're finished for the night. I'm taking you home. Don't argue."

She didn't. She leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes. Her hand was beginning to throb.

"Hurts?" he asked.

"Stings quite a bit…" she said as she bit her lower lip. He stopped at a drug store and took the prescription lying on the seat.

"Be back in a minute," he said. She sat there and closed her eyes. The shot had already made her drowsy. She was surprised when she woke up to find him opening the door to the Denali. He took her keys from her unlocking the door of her apartment and followed her in setting down some bags on the counter.

"You haven't eaten…I stopped and picked up some Chinese...you need to eat something before taking the pain medication." He said as he set out the containers. Soon, they were sitting at the table chatting about work.

"Sara?"

"Yeah?"

"Be careful with Lurie," said Grissom.

"I think you've told me that before," she said as she held her hand to her side.

"Hurting a lot?"

She nodded. He opened the prescription bottle and placed a pill in her hand. She took it and then began to clean up.

"I have this…go lay down," he said as he picked up while she disappeared into the bedroom. He heard the shower and wondered if he should leave or stay. He glanced at his watch and sat there on the couch.

She returned a few minutes later dressed in pajamas.

"You have about an hour before I start to get loopy so it would be best if you left," she said.

"Define 'loopy'," he said.

"Talk off the top of my head…not a pretty sight…worse than when I overtalk…better if I just pass out…if I can…sometimes it gives me insomnia."

He frowned. "How about I stay until you fall to sleep?"

She shrugged her shoulders and returned to the bedroom. Pulling down the covers, she slid in between the sheets. She closed her eyes as Grissom glanced outside her window noticing a car parked outside.

Lurie….

Bastard…

TBC

Note from author:

Thanks so much for the reviews. I really enjoy them. Rest assured, I read every one of them. Please continue to leave a review. I can;t wait until you get to the part where...well it's really good. I stayed up one night and wrote about ten chapters...I think I do better with little or no sleep. Take Care! Penny