A/N: Here's the seventh and final chapter! Thanks for all the follows, favorites, and reviews. Really kept me motivated and that much more excited to share this story. This chapter has a character death BUT the ending will make up for it, I promise!
The knife remained suspended mid-air. The dark, cold eyes of Basderic pierced Gil ten feet away.
"Well, if it isn't the Dr. Grissom. I've heard so much about you. How was living abroad? You know, Sara here," He lowered the knife to her throat. "Has missed you tremendously. I've heard so when she sleeps—"
"Leave her alone." Gil's nostrils were flaring.
"And why should I, hmm? She got my Edie killed! She beat me up! The bitch deserves to pay for what she did." Simultaneously he smiled at Gil and gripped the knife that had fallen to his side. Without warning he stabbed Sara in the stomach.
"NOOOOOO!" Gil yelled.
"AHHHHHH!" she screamed. Her eyes bulged and with little strength that remained, she peered toward her stomach. With shaky hands she pressed down and felt warmth. She caught sight of crimson and gasped. It wasn't a dream.
Gil barely lifted his foot when Basderic let out a hair rising laugh. "Where do you think you're going? You stay there." He pointed the knife at Gil. "I'm not finished yet. Besides, what can you do? By obeying my rules, you have no help on the way. I doubt you tried sneaking a weapon in here, am I right? And whether you stay where you are or come closer, I still have six wounds to make."
With mouth agape, Gil watched as Basderic stabbed Sara for a second time. Her blood curdling screams filled the room. "Please, you don't have to do this."
Fiery eyes met his. "Don't I?" The knife pierced her stomach again. Gil covered his ears at the sound.
"No...y-you d-don't," Gil stammered. For the first time since entering the house, he truly saw what Basderic had already inflicted—Sara's face was beaten and battered almost beyond recognition; it housed multiple bruises. Dried blood covered her nose and lips. Her shirt was pushed up and he forbid his mind from finishing his prior thought. Please look up. Know you're not alone to endure this, honey.
"Sorry, Dr. Grissom, I have to do this." Quickly and effortlessly he punctured Sara's stomach three more times. All of which left Gil to his knees.
"P-p-p-please...ease...s-s-stop," Sara mustered. Her breathing slowed. When her head fell to its side, she could make out a silhouette. "G-G-il?" she gurgled. Blood trickled from her mouth.
"I'm right here, honey."
Basderic marveled at the couple's final moment together.
"L-l-love you," she gulped.
His hands quickly swiped the tears. Pointless, they continued to stream down his face. He sobbed, "I know. I love you with everything I have. Hang on, honey."
As Basderic attempted to stab Sara that fateful, seventh time, Gil flew to his feet and in one stride, tackled Basderic to the floor. In the midst, the two fell onto the living room table, smashing the glass top into pieces. The knife remained in Basderic's possession. From holding him down, Gil's arm was in reach. Basderic sliced it and managed a grin as Gil groaned in pain. "How does it feel, Dr. Grissom?"
Enraged, Gil knuckled the hand which held the knife. This released the grip, sending it clattering to the floor.
Basderic reached for the knife, but was too late. Gil grabbed it and held it to his throat. "Any last words?" Before giving him a chance to answer, Gil slit his throat. Shielding his face from the blood, Gil raised his arm across his face. For good measure, he stuck the knife in Basderic's stomach and leaned down on the handle.
With blood squirting from his throat, Basderic tried covering it with both hands, but failed miserably. The blood continued to flow.
Time seemed to stop. All Gil saw was blood and Basderic. He was fighting. But losing. In a mere sixty seconds the maniac was dead. Afraid of the worst, Gil stood shakily to check his pulse. Nothing.
Relief.
"SARA!" He fell to the floor and lifted her onto him. Her face was pale as a sheet. His fingers pressed her neck. No pulse.
"NO!" he cried. As swiftly as he picked her up, he set her back on the floor. "God!" Her torso was a blood bath. Fighting back the urge to vomit, he vigorously started pumping her chest. He sucked a breath and released it into her mouth. Nothing. There were no signs of life in her face or body. Groaning, he tried CPR another time. "WAKE UP! Sara," he cried. "Please, wake up. Honey, I need you. Pl-e-e-ease. S-ara," he hiccupped. After performing CPR a third time, he screamed at Basderic's lifeless body. "You son of a bitch! You took her from me! You killed the only woman I've ever loved!"
Turning back to Sara, he carefully picked her up. He stroked her curls. "Aw, honey. What did he do to you?" He could barely recognize her face. Gently, he kissed her lips. Barely touching the surface, he sobbed. "I'm so-so sorry." The tears were endless. He wiped his nose. With both hands he seized Sara's body and hoisted it up toward his shoulders. He did the best to maintain his grip. Slowly he started rocking back and forth. "I'm sorry. I love you."
Every few seconds he would repeat, "I'm sorry. I love you."
"I'm sorry. I love you."
"I'm sort. I love y—"
The sound of a phone ringing made him stop mid-sentence. Still dazed, he reached into his pocket and asked, "Hello?"
"Gil?" That voice.
"Sara?"
"Gil, you ok? You sound out of it."
"S-S-Sara?"
She chuckled, "Yes dear, it's me. Were you taking a nap? You're speaking like you just woke up."
"Uhh!" Gil sucked in a breath and sat up. Looking around, he noticed he was in his office. Feeling wetness, he wiped the drool off his chin. He lifted his hand off the desk and discovered the vibrating was coming from his phone. The caller ID—Sara.
"Honey?"
"Gil? You ok?"
He rubbed his beard then slapped his cheek. I'm awake. "Um…not really. I uh had this awful nightmare. The phone must've woken me."
"I'm sorry. Want to talk about it?"
He cringed. "Are you ok, honey? Where are you? Did you finish your scene? Was there an officer with you?"
"Whoa, whoa! Gil, I'm fine! I just got back from a scene with Greggo. Brass was there as well as some cops. Everything's fine. You don't sound good; you're scaring me..."
"Thank god," he said out loud. "I'm coming to pick you up. I'll explain everything on the way home, ok? Just...say ok. It'll make me feel better."
Her breathing sharpened. "Ok, Gil. Promise me you're ok. I don't want you driving if something's wrong."
"I'm fine, don't worry. I'll be there soon." He swallowed. "I love you, Sara." He added, "Very much."
"I love you too, Gil. I'll be waiting."
After ending the call, he sighed. Before opening the door, he stopped to look in the mirror. "You could've really lost her."
A wakeup call, a warning sign, call it whatever you want. The deadly nightmare led Gil to realize his wife is the most important person in his life. From now on they would be together, forever and always. Life is too short. It takes just one moment to lose someone before you realize it's too late.
Thanks again for the on-going support! Leave a review to let me know what you thought about the ending! :)
