-DNA Lab-
Grissom and Elizabeth walks into the DNA lab, while Greg is running something through the machine.
"Greg. We need you to run something for us." Grissom said desperately hoping to get a good answer.
Greg looks at Elizabeth and back to Grissom who is holding the box containing the evidence that belongs to Elizabeth.
"Oh. That evidence." Greg says. "Yeah, I'll run it."
"Good. Thank you Greg." Grissom said.
"No problem." Greg said. "Decided to get it processed?"
"Yeah. Grissom talked me into it. I'm sorry about earlier Greg." Elizabeth said in a low apologetic voice.
"There's nothing to be sorry for girl. Someone did something bad to you, and well, I'll do anything for ya."
"Thanks Greggo. I'll do anything for you too." Elizabeth smiled slightly.
"Awe, I'm a softie." Greg and Elizabeth laughed at that one.
"So, how long till you can get anything on this Greg?" Grissom asked.
"Oh, depends on how our system is working. It messed up earlier. But shouldn't be over an hour."
"Messed up? How?"
"I think it got over-ridden. So it konked out earlier." Greg paused. "Its sorted out now I believe."
"Good. Report the results to me immediately when you get them Greg." Grissom said.
"Will do boss." Greg said while seeing Grissom tell Elizabeth something before walking out.
"So, you work in the lab a lot?" Elizabeth asked.
"Yeah. I don't really go out in the field much. I have to find a replacement lab tech to take my spot, and then I can do my field training."
"Cool. What's it like working in DNA?"
"Eh, pretty much running tests. Finding out whose DNA is that, and how it links to the scene and all that."
"Is it nice working in the lab?" Elizabeth asked.
"Well, sometimes. But sometimes, it can get really, I don't know. Boring?" Greg explained.
"Oh. I see."
"Yeah. It's not really hard. You get used to it sooner or later." Greg said.
"Cool."
"Yeah." Greg paused for a moment. "So, is Sara here?"
"No. Grissom took me out to Lake Mead. We talked about what happened. He told me I needed to give the kit to you. I didn't want to, because I was afraid and ashamed, but he said I didn't need to be. That he'd protect me, and that it wasn't my fault." Elizabeth paused. "If only I had listened to Alex that night. She was right. She told me she had a bad feeling. And I, well. I didn't listen to her."
"It wasn't your fault Elizabeth. Guys, well, they tell you one thing, do another. Apparently this guy was just wrong in the head. You don't know how someone will react until they do." Greg explained.
"The bad thing is, I trusted him. But, what made me mad, was when he was calling me his girlfriend. I just wanted to be friends for awhile." Elizabeth said. Tears start to welt up in her eyes. "Greg, I trusted him."
"I know you did. And that's what's wrong. He not only violated you, he violated your trust." Greg said.
"Yeah, well, I don't think I can trust that many people anymore. But, you guys have become my family. And I trust all of you."
Greg smiled. "I'm glad. Everybody needs someone to trust. And I'm glad I can be one of those."
"I'm glad too." Elizabeth says. She then, goes over to Greg, and gives him a hug that almost made Greg weep at it. "I love you Greg. As part of my family."
"I love you too Liz. As part of my family too."
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Sara's eyes opened slowly as she started waking up. She opened them fully and looked around her room. She felt someone against her, and looked to see Alex. The she remembered last night's events. The apartment was way too quiet at the moment. She slowly got out of bed, and went to the living room to find a note.
Sara,
Elizabeth woke up in the middle of the morning and she wanted to talk. So, I'm taking her to Lake Mead to try to get her to talk. We'll be back soon!
Love,
Gil
She decided to make something to eat before heading into the lab, and figured she'd make scrambled eggs for Alex and herself.
She got into the fridge, and got 3 eggs out and cracked them and watched as the yellow yoke went into the bowl. She got out the skillet, the cooking spray, and a fork to whisk the eggs. She sprays the skillet with the spray, and turns the fire on underneath it.
While cooking, she hears Alex coming into the kitchen.
"Hey, are scrambled eggs ok?" Sara asked in a cheerful voice.
"Sure. Sounds good to me." Alex says, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. "Where are Liz and Gil?"
"Oh, Gil left a note saying he was taking her to talk somewhere." Sara paused. "I sure hope it helps."
"Me too."
"Alex, it wasn't your fault last night. She's just been stubborn, and well, you're trying to help. She's just having a hard time accepting help. That's what happens to the victims we work with."
"Really?"
"Yes. There was this girl, a little older than you, she refused to say anything because she was afraid her rapist would come back to kill her." Sara paused remembering. "We had suspects in a line up, so she could maybe identify her rapist. She got scared, but we knew which one she noticed. But, she wouldn't say who. So, we couldn't keep the guy long enough."
"Oh." Alex paused. "Then what happened?"
"She was in her driveway, carrying groceries, when her rapist came and shot her. He was afraid that he would be identified. And she died."
"Oh."
"So, you see, why this is hard for your sister?"
"Yeah. I do." Alex said. "You know what I told her before she went to the movies with Brandon?"
"What did you tell her?" Sara asked, curiously.
"I told her I had a bad feeling about him. That he wasn't good. And guess what?" Alex said. "He wasn't good at all. He raped her Aunt Sara. He raped her."
"I know he did. And it hurts all of us." Sara said, putting the scrambled eggs on the plates. "Here you go hun."
"Thanks. Do you have ketchup Aunt Sara?" Alex asked.
"Yes, on the fridge door. Bottom shelf."
"Thanks." Alex paused. "Did you know that Elizabeth likes ketchup on her scrambled eggs? She won't eat them without ketchup. She's the one that got me into it."
Sara smiled.
"Alex, it's all going to be ok. Soon, it will be all ok. No more bad things." Sara said, hoping she would be able to make that a promise soon.
"I know." "Soon."
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Greg and Elizabeth are in the DNA lab running a test on her SAE kit she had given up.
"So, does the system still have the kink in it?"
"Not that I know of. He just might not be cross-referenced in our system here." Greg said.
"What does that mean exactly?" Elizabeth asked Greg.
"Well, it just means that, if Brandon has a relative in the system for a crime, or workforce, the relatives' DNA will be in it. But, there could be a chance he hasn't done anything unlawful in Vegas or the State of Nevada. So, we just go through a different database, which takes a long time. " Greg explains thoroughly.
"Oh. Ok."
Greg was quiet for a minute, giving Elizabeth time to think.
"Hey, you ok?" Greg asked, feeling kind of sad in a way.
"Huh?" Elizabeth pulled out of her thoughts.
"You ok? You wanna talk about something, anything?"
"Nah, thanks though. I'm fine." Elizabeth said.
"You sure? I'm here if you do." Greg offered.
"Thanks. But, I'm fine."
"Ok." Greg said.
All was quiet. Again. A few minutes passed by slowly.
"Hey, I'm gonna go do something. Ok?"
"Ok. Want me to let you kno—
"No. Let Gil know. Please?"
"Ok. I can do that." Greg said.
"Thanks. I owe you for this Greg." Elizabeth said truthfully.
"Nope. Not at all. You owe me nothing." "Go take a break. I'll still be here."
"Ok. Thanks." Elizabeth said, while walking out of the DNA lab, and heading for the front doors.
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Sara and Alex were coming up the steps of the Las Vegas Crime Lab at a quarter to 9pm. As they were walking up from the parking lot, they saw Elizabeth sitting on the steps.
"Aunt Sara, go ahead inside, I'm going to talk to her." Alex said.
"Ok." Sara said, saying hi to her niece, and letting the sisters' talk.
Alex comes and sits beside Elizabeth, while watching the lights of Las Vegas twinkle in the night.
Both Elizabeth and Alex sat quietly, waiting for the other one to be the girl who spoke up.
"I'm sorry." Both girls said at the same time, then laughed.
"You go first."
"Ok." Elizabeth said, taking a deep breath.
She looked at her sister with deep blue sad eyes of sadness, and pain.
"I'm so sorry Alex. I really am." Elizabeth paused. "I'm sorry I took it back. I'm sorry for not telling anybody. I'm sorry for yelling at you this afternoon. I'm just.. I'm sorry." Elizabeth finally says, and then, she breaks down sobbing.
'God this really is bad.' Alex says in her head.
Alex leans forward toward her sister, and wraps her arms around her.
"Shhh. It's going to be ok Liz. Ok?" Alex says smoothly. "No sorries. Ok?"
Elizabeth nods.
While the sisters bond with each other outside on the Lab steps, Gil and Sara are watching from the inside of the lab.
"I think that was just an agreement, and a bonding session." Grissom said.
"Yeah. Elizabeth sure was angry last night."
"I understand why. Sara, she told me everything. Every single thing. And she just broke down." Grissom said with emotion.
"She did?"
"Yes. She did. It took everything I had not to get on a plane just to hurt the guy that did this to her Sara. It took everything. I don't even act on impulses like these, but I wanted to."
Sara stood there speechless, looking into Grissom's eyes, only to find sadness for her niece.
"Everything will soon be ok. Right?" Sara asked Grissom.
"God Sara, I hope so. This has gone on for too long. For all of us."
"I know. Alex and I had a little talk while eating before we came in." Sara said.
"Oh?"
"Yeah. I told her about Suzanna Kirkwood and how she was. And how she didn't want him to find out, because she was killed. Elizabeth feels the same way she did, because he threatened her. Just like he did Suzanna."
"I know." Grissom paused. "Shift's about to start, I'm going to check in with Greg to see if he's gotten any results yet."
"Ok. I'll see you in the break room."
"Ok." Grissom said, while heading to Greg's DNA lab.
Sara turned back to the two sisters outside, and knew, somehow, someway, everything would be ok.
She never thought she would be so wrong.
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Shift that night, into the mid early sunrise, went normal as expected. Crimes were committed in rows it seemed.
All the CSI's were tired, hungry, cranky, and wanted to go home to their beds.
"Well, we'll come back later on tonight and look at the evidence with fresh eyes. Get some rest people." Grissom said to his fellow CSI's, while packing his things for Sara's apartment.
"Don't have to tell me twice boss.." Warrick sagged a little, leaving the locker room.
"I'm outta here. I gotta check in on Lindsey. Night Elizabeth, night Alex. Take care you all." Catherine said, while yawning.
"See ya Cath, See ya Warrick." Alex said.
"Well, ya'll." Nick said in his famous Texas swang, which made Alex and Elizabeth laugh. "I'm out of here for the day. Catch up on some sleep, then football."
"See ya Nicky." Alex said.
"Well, kiddos, we should get going too. We all need sleep." Sara said, opening her locker, and removing her bag. "You still coming over Gil?"
"Yes, as soon as I check in with Greg." Grissom said.
"Ok. We'll meet you there then."
"Sounds good. Bye girls."
"See ya Gil." Alex said.
"Can I stay with Gil?" Elizabeth finally speaks up.
"If it's all right with him, I don't care." Sara said.
"Gil? Can I stay with you, and just go to Aunt Sara's when you do?"
"I don't care." Grissom said. "We'll be there soon."
"Ok. Come on Alex."
"Coming." Alex said, following Sara.
When Sara and Alex left, Elizabeth turned to Grissom.
"I'm uh, I'm going to be in DNA lab. See how Greg is." Elizabeth said.
"Ok. I'll be there in a minute."
"Ok." Elizabeth said while leaving to go see Greg.
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"Hey Greg, how ya doing?"
"Not too bad. It's still running though."
"Greg, go home." Elizabeth said.
"I will, just as soon as this comes up a match." Greg said.
"Greg, it can take hours, maybe up to a week to get a result. Go home. It'll be there when you come back." Elizabeth argued.
"I know, I just.. I just want to be here to get the results."
"Greg. I know this is important to you, even to me. But, you need sleep. You need food. You NEED to give your body and mind a rest."
"I know that. But—
"No buts Greg. I'm serious. Please?" Elizabeth paused. "For me?"
Greg thought for a moment. "Ok. I will." He said sighing.
"Ok. Goody. Now, go get your things, and I'll walk you to your car."
"Is that a good idea?"
"Greg."
"Ok, ok." He said, defeated, while walking to the locker room to get his things.
Grissom came into the DNA lab looking for Greg.
"Where's Greg?" Grissom asked.
"In the locker room. He's tired. And well, I'm going to walk him to his car. I told him that there was no argument."
"Okay. Any results yet?"
"No. Not yet." Elizabeth answered.
"I'm sorry Elizabeth." Grissom said, seeing the emotions play across her face.
"I don't want to talk about it right now. I.. I can't."
"You can talk to me if you need to though." Grissom offered.
"I'm fine. Right now, I'm fine." Elizabeth struggled to speak.
"No you're not. This isn't fine."
"I told Greg I'd walk him to his car. I'll be back." Elizabeth says as she walks towards the Locker room.
She finds Greg sitting on the bench, thinking.
"Greg? Come on, you need to go home."
"I'm coming." He said as he picks his things and himself off the bench.
"I'll walk you to your car."
"Ok. Thanks."
"Anytime." Elizabeth smiled.
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Elizabeth and Greg walk out to his car in the lab parking lot. Greg then, unlocks his door, and puts his things in the passenger seat.
"Will you be ok?" Elizabeth asks Greg.
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?"
Elizabeth smiled. "I'll be fine. I'm worried on weather you're gonna fall asleep while driving."
"Ha. I'll be fine. Really. I don't live far from the lab at all. Closer than the others." Greg laughs.
"Ok. Just, be careful."
"Oooh, come here now." Greg says while pulling Elizabeth into a big hug. "I'll be cool. Greg Sanders is the 'new' cool babe." Greg laughs.
"I know. I know!" Elizabeth laughs.
"Well, I'll let you go. You need sleep, I need sleep, and we'll need sleep again after next shift. Continuing cycle."
"Yeah. Isn't it always?" Elizabeth smiled.
"Yep. Ok girly. I'm outta here."
"Ok. Drive safe!"
"I will. See ya." Greg says while shutting his door and waving as he drove away.
Elizabeth stands there, watching Greg's car disappear off into the morning traffic.
"You ready?" Grissom came up behind her.
Elizabeth jumped and yelled. "Get away!"
"Shhh. It's ok. Only me." Grissom said, trying to comfort her.
"Oh god, I'm sorry."
"No, it's ok. I shouldn't have snuck up on you. I'm sorry." Grissom apologized.
"It's fine. I'm ok."
"Ok. Good. You ready?"
"Yeah, sure." Elizabeth said, following Grissom to his GMC Denali.
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20 minutes later, after much shifting traffic, they arrived at Sara's apartment.
Grissom had a key, which Sara had given him when they started dating.
"We're home." Grissom announced.
"We're in the living room." Sara answered back.
Grissom and Elizabeth made their way to the living room to find Sara and Alex watching the 'George Lopez' show.
"I uh, I need a shower. I smell." Elizabeth said, heading towards her room shared with Alex.
"Yeah, I know you do, I smell you all the way over here!" Alex said laughing.
"Ha ha. Funny." Elizabeth said and threw a pillow at Alex.
Elizabeth disappeared behind their room door, and got her towel, robe and night clothes for after her shower. She saw her kit, and she pulled it out of her drawer, and stuck it underneath her towel, and made her way into the bathroom.
Once in the bathroom with the door closed, she hung her towel and robe where she could reach it, and put her clothes in her area. She undressed, putting her dirty clothes in the laundry hamper, and closed the lid. Reaching over, she turned the water on full blast, and scalding hot water, like she always did.
When she was satisfied with the temperature of the water, she stepped in, pulling the shower curtain closed.
She sat down in the shower, letting the scalding hot water cascade down on her, and she pulled out her kit, containing her tools. They were ordinary makeup tools, but to her, they were weapons. She took out her tool with the blade, and traced her scars with it, lightly at first.
She felt pushed to the end. She had to release this pain. She had enough. She sliced into skin on her wrist, hard. Not the direction of suicides, but just cutters, not wanting to die.. Yet.
She then cut her arm, then her other wrist. She went to her ankles slicing them.
She felt the pain of the blade, and it was too damn much. Suddenly, without notice, she dropped the blade, causing a ting noise to sound in the bathroom. She kept her eyes shut, hoping, praying nobody would come. She heard her name called by someone.
"I'm ok!"
But it was too late, someone was coming in.
All of a sudden, the shower curtain pulled back, and there was a scream of fright.
"What the fuck are you doing?!"
And all went……..
Blank.
Gabby's A/N: Well, technically, I wrote this whole chapter. But in the beginning, Sara helped… Lol. And here is the cliffy! Send flames, send compliments, send anything you please, but PLEASE review! It is so much very appreciated, and it makes me want to write more! On word, this is 12 pages. VERY close to 13. And the words used? Let me see… Hmmm. 3,182 words. Used in this chapter! Yay? I know! Took a VERY long time to get it going, but we did!
PLEASE REVIEW!
Sara's A/N: Hey peeps! Sry it took like AGES to update this story! i've been trying to get GABRIELLA to help update this which she FINALLY did & DECIDED to finish the chp herself! UGG! (SHUT UP GABBY) for those of you who dont know no wut im talking about (ugg) ask gabby she'll tell ya! ENJOY!
Sara
