CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Sins of the Past


Chapter Seven

A few hours later after going over notes and carefully avoiding Grissom, Sara heard through the grapevine that Brass had apprehended a suspect. She knew that it meant her brother, Danny, was in custody. He was the only male in her immediate family. She wanted, needed, to at least see her brother. It had been twenty-five years since she had seen him last, and she couldn't quite believe that her protector had turned to this. She ran into Grissom on her way to Brass's office. Her boss just looked at her and sighed. He raised his hand to prevent her argument.

"Sara, come with me, if this is what you want." He said.

She hesitated briefly before she joined him, following him down the hall. She remained a step behind him; though she usually was right beside him, close enough to have their bodies brush against each other as they walked. That saddened her more than anything. The pair paused outside the empty interrogation room. Brass joined them a minute later.

"We have two officers bringing him in." the cop explained to them, "They found him hiding out in his motel room off the strip. And when they tried to apprehend him, he fought back…violently."

"Is he in the precinct?" Sara asked.

"Yes." Brass said with a nod, "Are you sure you want to be here, Sara?"

She smiled, knowing he was just trying to protect her. "I need to be here, Jim."

"Alright, it's your call."

From down the hall, Sara heard the scuffling of feet and swearing. Her heart began to pound and she felt doubt trickle in the back of her mind. Suddenly, she wasn't so sure if she could handle it. She backed up against the wall for support. She felt Grissom's eyes on her and ignored it. The two officers and the suspect appeared around the corner and when Sara laid her eyes on the suspect, she could not hold back her scream when faced with the demon of her worst nightmares.

Grissom's gaze flew to her. She was white as a sheet and there was a look of absolute horror on her face. Sara continued to scream, unable to stop herself. All logic told her that it was just her brother, Danny. But fear overpowered her rationality; he looked exactly like their father. She felt like a child again, scared and helpless at the mere sight of him.

Sara's scream gave away into sobs as the man stopped in front of her. Danny Sidle looked at the woman and saw his little sister huddled against the wall. He blinked and felt confused. She was fully grown again and putting as much distance as possible between them. He tried to reach out to her, but was stopped by the police officers.

"Sara?" he said, "Sara? It's me, Danny. Don't cry. Don't cry."

The woman slid down the wall and brought her knees to her chest. Even his voice sounded the same. She rested her forehead on top of her knees, still crying, but not before she noticed the ring glinting on his middle finger. As the officers dragged Daniel into the interrogation room, Grissom knelt down beside her and pulled her into his arms. She lifted her head and reached out blindly. Sara buried her face in his neck.

Grissom felt all his anger toward her melt away as she sobbed. She sounded so helpless. He had never known her to be helpless. She had always made herself appear strong. And just like that, she had him undone within minutes.

"He looks just like him. Just like him." She was saying over and over as she sobbed.

"It'll be alright, Sara. I'm here."

Grissom looked up at Brass, who nodded down at him.

"Take her away from here, Gil. I don't want her to go through this."

Grissom nodded and jerked his head, giving the other man the "give me a hand look". Brass hunkered down next to Sara and held her as Grissom maneuvered into a squatting position. Between the two of them they managed to get Grissom to his feet, Sara still in his arms. Her sobs were subsiding.

"I'm taking you into my office, Sara." He told her.

"'Kay." She mumbled into his shoulder.

He carried her down the hall, ignoring of all the stares. He entered his office and sat down on the couch in the corner. Sara stretched out her legs and wrapped her arms around his waist.

"Grissom?"

"Yes, Sara?"

"Tell me that there's no such thing as a murder gene." She looked up at him with wide eyes, "Please tell me again that there's no such thing as a murder gene."