Week 23- My tops jumping and so are my moods
Sara Sidle was sitting alone in the trace lab. It was how she had been for the past half hour ever since she threw her mug across the room when Hodges pointed out that she had missed a trace of blue paint. The lab techs were now avoiding the room, as were most of the CSI's.
"Hey," Catherine Willows' voice floated softly into the room. "Heard the hormones have finally taken control," she said sticking her head though the doorway.
"Archie showed me a picture of a dead dog and I cried," said Sara exasperated.
"I was thinking more about Hodges needing a hard hat," smiled Catherine pulling up a chair besides Sara.
"I missed him," replied Sara. "And what makes it worse is that I know I'm doing it but I can't help it." Her voice got higher pitched and faster as she went on.
"You're allowed," smiled Catherine.
"What have you got for me?" asked Sara waiting to be given something to process.
"Actually we need you for a interview. We're tapped out." Said Catherine knowing this was a bad idea but they were out of options at the moment.
"Sure," smiled Sara pleased to be let out of her current confinement.
"It's a kidnapping, although, not your average one. A Grandmother kidnapped her grandson, Eric-"
"She kidnapped her grandson?" interrupted Sara.
"According to the boys mother, they got into it and both got arrested for assault. Only Eric doesn't seem to want to go home," Catherine saw the reaction in Sara's eyes. It was the same one she'd had only she could control her emotions, at the minute she wasn't sure about Sara.
"I've got the boy. Warrick's got the grandmother and you and Greg have the mother," Catherine would have preferred Greg to do the interview himself but the mother and grandmother had taken an instant dislike to him for some reason so she didn't see him getting much out them by himself. She had decided Sara was best with the mother as the grandmother had spent the past hour yelling about possible child abuse and she didn't want Sara to hear that. For now she could go with the simple assault and kidnapping. If there was abuse she would interview the mother again.
"Sure, just have to wait for this print-out. Did Warrick find you yesterday? He said he'd brought you coffee?" Asked Sara.
"Yeah, we've been going for coffee on a regular basis," said Catherine a smile creeping across her face.
"Sorry, I'm slightly off. Is that code for sex?" asked Sara her eye's widening.
"No, it's just coffee," answered Catherine. "At the moment."
"So soon it will be coffee and condom's."
"Sara if you weren't pregnant I'd hit you," replied Catherine her cheeks blushing red.
"It's the hormones," said Sara getting up from her stool and freezing instantly. "Whoa."
"What's the matter?" asked Catherine at her side in an instant.
"Got quite a kick," replied Sara a small smile forming on her face.
"When did she start?" asked Catherine placing her hand on Sara's bump half expecting to get it slapped away.
"Last night. Gil got quite a shock when the bed sheet suddenly jumped in the air." smiled Sara as the baby kicked again.
"Wow, that's some kick. And I thought Lindsey's were strong. Wait until she goes for the kidney shot." Smiled Catherine as Hodges entered looking sheepish.
"You're safe. I'm leaving," said Sara now slapping Catherine's hand away from her. Hodges gave a half smile and went to the other side of the room until they had left.
"Got a pass for good behaviour?" smiled Greg as Sara and Catherine walked towards him through the station.
"I think they thought I was going to kill Hodges," replied Sara.
"The babies kicking," said Catherine a little more exited than she would have liked to have seemed.
"I told you my book said…"
"Don't start on the book Greg," warned Sara holding a finger up.
"I was only going to say that your uterus is one and a half inches above your belly button and can I feel her kick?" asked Greg all in one breath.
"She's not doing it at the minute but if she does yes you can touch me without losing your hand," smiled Sara.
"They're ready," said Sofia coming into he hallway. "Here's the boys medical report," she added handing a file to Catherine who took it quickly and shoved under her arm after the words malnutrition glared out at her.
"So we just need a statement on the fight and the 'kidnap'," said Catherine eyeing Greg making sure he knew the boundaries of the questioning. "And Greg, try not to provoke her too much." Added Catherine. After processing the boy's room at the house Greg had a few choice words for the mother that had made her very resistant to even talk to him.
"I can do the interview alone if you want," suggested Sara.
"No," replied Greg and Cath in unison.
"What? So because I'm pregnant I'm suddenly incapable?" shouted Sara in reply.
"No, hormonal," replied Greg getting a stern look form Catherine then stepping slightly behind her.
"What we're saying is," Catherine stropped trying to think of something that wasn't going to get her head bit off. "We don't want you getting unduly stressed and with Greg there, it will help." Sara gave Catherine a look that told her she didn't believe her but she went into the interview room all the same. Greg gave a quick nod to Catherine and followed the brunette CSI in.
"When am I getting out of here?" came the rough voice as Sara entered the room.
"That depends on how you answer our questions," replied Sara calmly taking a seat determined to show everyone she could handle it. The women sitting opposite her was well built with dyed blond hair ending at her shoulders. She was wearing a tracksuit with silver jewels around the collar that she was picking at.
"I don't see why I'm been treated like a criminal. It was that lunatic who kidnapped my son."
"Eric is her grandchild," said Greg placing a file down.
"Doesn't mean she can take him, does it?" replied the woman leaning on the table.
"Ms. Winters…"
"Amy," corrected the woman.
"June is your mother. I wouldn't have thought you'd be concerned if she was looking after your son" Greg got no reply.
"When was Eric taken?" asked Sara.
"I shouted at him to clean his room this morning and he didn't come do it," replied Amy.
"Amy, June took Eric yesterday morning. His teacher remembers her dropping him off at school."
"Sometimes he goes to school by himself."
"He's six years old and he was missing for over twenty four hours before you noticed," said Sara her voice having a hint of anger in its sharper tone.
"He knows not to get under my feet." Replied Amy her tone taking on an edge.
"So between Tuesday morning and Wednesday morning you didn't feed him or wonder where he was?" said Sara her voice gaining volume.
"Look, she took him. And then she assaulted me when I tried to take him back. He's my son." Shouted Amy spitting on the table as she did.
"June claims that the scratches were self defence and she has a black eye to back that claim up. If you take that to court chances are it will get thrown out or cost you more money for a brief than you'll get in compensation." said Greg ignoring the icy stares the two women were giving each other.
"She kidnapped my son. That's a felony." She stated.
"Does Eric often see his grandmother?"
"She comes around all the time moaning about how he needs new clothes. Welfare doesn't pay enough."
"You seem well dressed," replied Sara anger now clear in her voice.
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked.
Greg stepped in before Sara could reply. "If you're not going to pursue the assault charges then you'll be taken to a holding cell until a member of child services can interview you," said Greg standing up.
"Child services. You're not taking him away. He's mine. She thinks she knows best but she doesn't know anything. Saying Danny hit him, he needed a good smack. He wasn't doing as he was told. She comes into my house and tells me how to raise him, she can have him he's only good for social money."
"You selfish bitch! " Sara had snapped and both she and Greg knew it.
"Oh that's it. Get on your high horse. You don't live with him, he's a whining little brat."
"He's your son," shouted Sara tears pricking at her eyes and Greg's hand holding her arm. She was now standing leaning on the table clinging on staring down Amy.
"He's a little brat who gets in the way. He is always moaning, "Mom I want to play outside", "Mom I want some food," shouted Amy taking on a child's voice as she mimicked him. "I brought him into this world and he need to learn some respect."
"Well he's not going to learn any from you. June sounds like the only sane one in the family," shouted Sara.
"You little bitch." Greg had to stand between the two women as Amy was escorted from the room. He turned to Sara who now had tears falling fast down her face.
"How can she treat him like that?" asked Sara as Greg pulled her into a hug. Warrick appeared in the doorway.
"She won't be doing it for much longer. From what June told me child services should be able to prosecute for neglect."
Catherine came out her interview with Eric tired and feeling the need to buy Lindsey ice cream and tell her how much she loved her. Looking down the hallway she guessed Greg, Warrick and Sara's hadn't gone much better. The two men were standing surrounding Sara who had her head on Warrick's shoulder and arm wrapped around Greg sobbing verging on hysterically.
"Why would she do that?" sobbed Sara.
"I don't want to go," a small voice filled the corridor as little Eric was lead out by his hand. "I want go with grandma," he cried tears streaming down his face much like Sara's as a social worker took him away. All his grandmother could do was watch helplessly.
"Don't let them take him in to care. Why can't he just stay with June?" asked Sara knowing the answer already.
"He can't," said Catherine coming on ready to try and comfort her but a hand held her back and Grissom walking by simply pulling Sara into him and stroking her hair.
"Take her home," whispered Catherine. "I'll cover the ret of the shift."
Without saying a word Grissom led Sara away from the group. It wasn't until they reached the door he spoke. "You could never be your mother."
"You never met her. You don't know her," replied Sara.
"I don't need to, I know you," replied Grissom.
TBC …