Hi everyone. Well, it's been a month and twelve days since my last update, but I got a PM the other day from anneruhland that motivated me to finish this chapter I've been working on. Thanks for the kind words, and I'm sorry to everyone who has been waiting for an update. I promise to update sooner from now on. I hope I didn't lose too many loyal readers and reviewers. :)

Anyway…time for me to head back to the lab at school. Reality sucks sometimes--who can guess what my major is:P But yeah, spare the time to review and give feedback? They are greatly appreciated. :)

Chapter 10

Words couldn't describe how Grissom felt at the moment. He knew she asked to be alone, but for some reason, he didn't want to leave. He clicked the door shut, knowing Sara would think he left when in reality he stood watching her. She was opening crying now—her hands swiping her eyes frantically. Grissom clenched his jaw as her cries finally subdued and her eyelids drooped down.

He quietly made his exit.

As he trudged toward the waiting room, he saw a familiar face arguing with the receptionist. "Look, I just saw her a couple hours ago, and you said visitors were allowed!"

"Sir, I need you to calm down," the lady replied, "Miss Sidle is due shortly for some tests, after those…then you can visit her."

"Tests? What—"

"—Nick."

He turned and came face to face with Grissom. "Gris, what the hell is going on?"

Grissom grinded his teeth and cocked his head at the row of cushiony seats, "Have a seat, and I'll fill you in."

Nick scoffed in annoyance but willingly obeyed. The two men plopped down next to each other. "Okay, spill…what's going on? What tests are they going to run?"

Grissom bit his tongue for a moment, battling between whether to tell Nick or not, but he knew that if he was in Nick's position, he'd want to know the truth too. "Sara can't see," he said as emotionlessly as possible.

"What can't she see?" Nick huffed in disbelief.

"Everything and anything."

The color drained from Nick's face as he stood up abruptly. He rubbed his face, "She's blind?"

Silence.

The younger CSI eyed his supervisor. "But—she came into contact with developer, not the stop bath."

"Her corneas are too damaged for surgical repair," Grissom said as he ran his fingers through his hair. "I'm guessing the time between first contact and treatment was too long."

Nick kicked his chair violently, causing half the people in the waiting room to look in their direction. "I should have—" He paused and collected himself, "—I should have gotten her to a hospital quicker."

"Nicky—listen to me," Grissom stood up to maintain eye level with him. "I need you to keep your head. This wasn't your fault; you are a good CSI and a good friend to her." Nick shook his head and tried to pull away, but Grissom gripped his arm tightly, "You did the right thing."

His gripped loosened, and Nick nodded frantically with watery eyes. "Yeah...right," he whispered before heading toward the men's room.

"Sophie, don't answer that."

Sophia Ali Cattaneo nodded at her lawyer's advice. Brass practically growled, "Hey…that's fine. You don't have to answer. Just know that if you don't, you'll be charged with assault and battery and maybe even murder."

The lawyer snorted, "Based on what evidence?"

"Witness can place her at the scene of the attack. And we have strong forensic evidence to nail her for the murder of Gregory Shelby," Brass rattled off. "So, what's it gonna be?"

The blonde shook her head, "Okay fine, I'll cop to attacking the CSI. But I didn't kill Greg."

"I see," Brass said as he felt his hand unconsciously clench into a fist. "And for what reason did you attack CSI Sidle for?"

"She startled me. She wasn't supposed to be there."

"Startled you?" he snarled in disbelief. "And why were you there?"

Sophie shrugged, "I'm Gus's maid. I restock the chemicals for him."

Catherine and Warrick—who both were watching in the observation room with interest—decided it was a good time to walk in. Catherine nodded at Brass, then coldly addressed the other two people in the room, "I'm Catherine Willows, this is Warrick Brown," she explained, gesturing to Warrick. "We're from the crime lab."

Sophie shook her head. "Great…more CSIs," she muttered.

Catherine huffed at her, "Yeah…that's right. And you know what CSIs do?" She paused and stared the other blonde down, "They put away conniving little murderers like you."

Warrick flipped open his file, "Since you already admitted to attacking CSI Sidle, then I'll get straight to explaining how you committed murder."

The lawyer squirmed in his seat as Sophie glanced at him. Warrick pursed his lips and slid a photo across the table. "After the attack on one of our CSIs, my colleague and I went back to process Garrison's darkroom. We found this in the adjoining layout room," he said, pointing at the picture of the moss green bin.

Sophie averted her eyes, deciding to remain silent.

"You want to know what we found on it?" Catherine added. After a brief paused, she slid two other sheets of paper across the table. "Victim's blood. And your fingerprints."

"Sophie is in that darkroom all the time. Her fingerprints could have gotten there from a number of reasons," the lawyer shot back.

Catherine smirked, "True. But the fingerprint found on the latch of the bin was unique. It was imprinted in Mr. Shelby's DNA. His decomposed liquid—if you want to be specific."

"What's the matter?" Warrick asked accusingly. "Didn't know a body could start to smell that bad? Even in a sealed bin?"

"I had no choice!" the blonde said in a raging outburst.

"Sophie, be quiet," the lawyer demanded.

"No, let her talk," Brass said as he cocked his head at her, shooting daggers with his eyes.

"I was his maid for nine years; I gave up nine years of my life to him!" She leaned forward, hands balled into fists. "And then she had to come along…I had to watch them flirt back and forth—not knowing what was going on when they went on trips." Catherine shook her head at her and met Warrick's eyes. She continued her rant, "Then, because he couldn't risk being with her, she got married! I thought it would end, but noooo…they have a godforsaken affair!"

"Why kill her husband, though?" Catherine asked. "Why give her a reason to be with Garrison?"

"I wasn't supposed to kill Greg, he got in the way," she huffed. "Sarah was the one who was supposed to pick up Garrison's portfolio while he was in Hawaii. I swung before I looked."

Catherine and Warrick stood up as Brass began to read her rights out.

"It's not fair! I loved him first; he's supposed to be mine!"

Warrick and Catherine exited, both shaking their heads in disbelief. "If the lawyer's smart, he'd have her plead insanity."

Catherine shook her head again. "I don't know whether she's in-sane or in-love."

"That is not love," Warrick said as he shot her a disbelieving glance. He let out a breath, "We should consider ourselves lucky that our resident 'Sofia' isn't that psycho."

"Well Detective Curtis doesn't have a thing for Grissom."

Warrick scoffed, "If you say so."

"I'm sorry, Miss Sidle."

After a series of tests, Sara was once again in her hospital bed, hand braced on the railing. She gave a single nod in the direction of the doctor, "I want to be discharged."

Dr. Shen frowned at her, and then stupidly remembered she couldn't see him. "Well, that's one possibility, but I wouldn't advise it before you get a caretaker."

"I don't need a caretaker!" she barked, causing the good doctor to take a step back.

He scribbled down a prescription, before replying. "I know this is hard for you Sara, but I can't discharge you unless I know you have someone to take care of you at home." Before she could reply, he stated quickly, "I think your friends want to see you."

He scurried out the door before Sara could even gather her thoughts, only to have it reopened as Grissom and Nick strode in. "Hey Sar…" Nick was immediately at her side.

She lied back down and turned away.

"Sara…I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault, Nick," she replied lightly. "You didn't put me on the case." Grissom visibly winced. Though he could completely understand her resentment toward him, it was still a low-blow. Her face suddenly fell, "I'm sorry…don't tell Grissom I said that."

Grissom scrunched his forehead in confusion as Nick looked at him, then back at Sara. It dawned on Grissom that she obviously didn't know he was there. Before Nick could say anything, he silenced him with a finger to his mouth. The younger man gave him a look of protest, knowing it was wrong to lie to Sara like that. But then again, she never asked if he was there; it wouldn't technically be lying—more like bending the truth. "Nick? Don't tell Grissom…"

He sighed, "I won't. Promise."

Once again, not a complete lie.

Sara suddenly began to tear up again. "Nick, this…sucks!" she said, unable to be eloquent at the moment.

He sat on the edge of her bed and brought her into his arms. Grissom stood by the door; he got the feeling that Nick completely forgot he was even there. "I know…but hey, you're one of the strongest women—" Seeing her shift and send a glare at him, he corrected, "—one of the strongest people I know. And you're not alone, okay?"

"Yeah? Says who?" she sniffed.

Nick scoffed playfully at her, "Says me. I don't know about your family, Sara. And honestly it doesn't matter, because we all love you. Catherine and Warrick are out finding who did this to you. Brass is with them—he's mad as hell, but he's going to find her. Greg—that boy is like a lost puppy right now, he's scared for you. And Grissom…"

Grissom looked up into Nick's determined eyes, sending him a warning glare. "Well, we all know how much Grissom loves you."

Sara practically snorted as she tried to blink the tears away. "You have no idea how much I wish that was true…"

Grissom lowered his eyes for a second, and then made his decision. He stepped forward and cleared his throat, "You can stop wishing, Sara."

He saw her pause in mid-breath.

"Because it's true."

Ok, hope that was worth the wait? More soon; I promise. :)

Hit the 'go' and let me know what you think. Thanks!