Chapter Ten:
The phone startled her.
She sat upright and glanced around.
She was alone.
"Sidle"
"Ready for dinner?" asked Nick.
"Hey," she said sleepily.
"You were sleeping?" he asked.
"Yeah…what time is it?"
"An hour before shift?"
She jumped up and glanced at the clock.
"I've got to go," she said. "I'll be late for work."
"Don't forget about dinner. My treat," he said.
"That's not necessary Nicky. It was just for fun," she said.
"Dinner at the diner," he said.
"Dinner," she finally agreed.
She ran into the building and found the others already in the conference room waiting for assignments.
"Heard you learned how to play poker," said Warrick.
"A little," she said glancing at Nick.
"She's good," said Nick.
Sara smiled when Greg handed her a cup of coffee.
"Thanks, Greg."
"I heard you took the shirt off Grissom's back," said Warrick.
Sara spewed her coffee.
The guys handed her a napkin.
"Sorry, it was really hot," she said trying to make up an excuse.
"She did," said Grissom as he sat down and avoided eye contact with her.
He handed out the assignments and she noticed he chose to work with Catherine. She said nothing but took the assignment and left to work solo.
He knew he should have left a note but he had been called to the office on a case and had rushed out. Now, he had been afraid she was angry with the way he left.
"I don't really need any help on this case," said Catherine.
"Good because I have something I need to take care of."
He disappeared into his office and pulled out the package that had arrived special delivery. He took out the plastic bag containing some of the hair follicles from Sara. By the end of the shift, he had his answer. The convict had been ruled out.
This left the mental patient.
When she returned from the field, she found a note inside her locker. She stared at it and then tucked it inside her pocket as she grabbed her things and left. She wasn't sure if she should feel relieved that a murderer was not her father. She was not certain the remaining person on her list would be much better. She skipped eating and immediately went about calling the woman back.
"I called the other day," she began.
"I remember," said the woman.
"Could you send the hair sample?" asked Sara.
"Ruled out the others?" Mrs. Reynolds asked.
"Yes…I have," she said.
"You can have it if you'll come and get it," she said.
"I'm not sure I can take off," said Sara.
"Sara? It is Sara right? If he's your father I don't want you to write him off just because he's in a mental institution. He was a good man…he is a good man. You should know him," she said.
"I'll take a flight tomorrow morning but I'll have to fly back that same day," she said.
"Just give him a few hours," she said.
Sara heard the click and she sighed.
She booked her flight arrangements. There was a returning flight within six hours. She would be back for work that night but she would not have slept any. She didn't much care. It would be like working a double but she would finally have the remaining DNA sample in order to determine paternity.
She tried to sleep.
She tried to imagine what it would be like going back into a mental institution after Adam Trent case. It brought shivers. She hated mental hospitals. She hated the look, the smell, the stark white walls and the screams of the patients as if they were in torment. She remembered visiting the mental hospital when her mother was admitted for observation. She had held onto the social worker's hand as she led her through the halls. She remembered the stairs from the patients as well as the workers.
There were screams coming from one of the rooms. In the distance someone cried mournfully. All of the sounds had frightened her and she had wanted to flee but the social worker continued their journey through the hospital until they came to her mother's room. Her mother did not act the same. Her face was drawn and she did not seem to recognize Sara. Sara stared at her mother's eyes. They were red and blank. Laura's stare turned into recognition and she scolded her for coming. Laura clung to Sara's small frame as she cried. It sounded mournful and painful and she wanted nothing more than to disappear. It was impossible. There was no attic. There was no Peter. She was alone with the woman who killed her father. She could still hear the screams that came from her mother that fateful day. All she had to do was close her eyes and she could hear them. They haunted her. She could also see her father lying in a pool of blood as the life drained out of him.
She would later be told that her mother had been heavily sedated. She would see her mother again in court and then once more for her brother's funeral. She had wished there could have been one more happy moment with her. She knew it would never happen. She felt the incredible sense of loss once more. She refused to give in to the despair as she cleaned the apartment. She restacked the boxes containing her mother's belongings. She did many things except sleep.
Sleep would not come.
She considered taking a pain pill to see if it would make her drowsy but she tossed the idea. She arrived at work loaded on caffeine and was grateful to be given a routine case. She hurried through it ignoring the stares from Brass.
"Something wrong?" he asked.
"No."
"You look tired," he said.
"I am tired," she admitted.
"Getting enough sleep?"
"Yes."
She wondered if her father lied but then she decided she got that from her mother.
She tapped on his door just as shift was ending.
He glanced up and saw her.
"Hey," said Grissom.
"I uhm I'm going out of town," she said.
"When?" he asked nervously.
"Now," she said.
He looked confused.
"I have a flight to Tennessee this morning…the wife agreed to give me a sample as long as I meet with him at the hospital."
Flashes of Adam Trent ran through his mind and suddenly he felt very uneasy.
"Don't worry I have a return flight this evening in time for my shift," she said.
"You think this is wise? Going there?"
"I need the sample," she said.
He glanced down at the report that was due and cursed.
She watched as he seemed upset.
"I shouldn't have any problem with getting back…look I'll make sure I get back before shift," she said.
His phone rang and he sighed. It was Ecklie.
He picked up the phone and noticed she was no longer standing there.
He finished the report in record time only to sit there staring at his watch. He wondered where she was and realized he had not gotten much information from her. He knew she was on a plane headed to Tennessee and that she would be back.
What if she gets there and he admits he's her father?
How is she going to react?
What kind of man is this?
Is he prone to violence?
She's frightened of mental hospitals…
She only went because I asked her to work on the Adam Trent case…
She's alone…
Shit…
He slept that day between shifts. He knew her cell would be off during the flight so he did not attempt to contact her.
She'll call me…
Five hours passed and there was no word.
She told me about the trip…
Only because I'm her boss and she would be unavailable…
The hours ticked along and still there was no word.
He called her cell but it was off.
He began to worry now.
It had been an uneventful flight. She had gotten a taxi and hurried over to the hospital. Mary Reynolds was waiting for her.
"I'm here to see Andrew Reynolds," said Sara to the front desk clerk.
"Sara?" came a voice from behind. Sara turned to come face to face with Mary.
"I'm Mary," she said extending her hand.
The two women spoke briefly while they waited for visitation to begin.
"I wanted you to see this," said Mary handing her a keepsake book.
Sara opened it and began seeing the man's life before her eyes.
"He received several medals of honor including the Purple Heart. He's been all over the world…on missions I know nothing about. He was never permitted to discuss them with anyone…not even me. He began having problems a few years ago. They called it flashbacks. He would wake in a cold sweat always reaching for his gun. I removed them from the house after the first time."
She stared at Sara's reaction.
"He's a good man Sara. He's never harmed me or our daughter. He's never raised his voice to either of us."
"You have a daughter?" asked Sara.
"Yes we did."
Sara immediately caught the past tense.
"My daughter died a few years ago. There was a robbery in a convenient store. She had stopped off for gas," she said. "Andrew took her death really hard."
"I'm sorry."
"She was our only child," said Mary. "I had complications and couldn't have any more."
Mary watched as Sara flipped through the pages.
She stopped on a recent photo.
"That was made right before Kimberly was killed."
"She was very pretty."
"You remind me of her. Your hair, the tall slim frame…she got that from him."
They were called and Sara stood. She took in a deep breath and the sudden aroma of the hospital almost sent her rushing to the nearest bathroom.
They stepped into a room and saw a man standing at the window.
"Andrew?" Mary called.
He turned and looked at her.
His eyes were suddenly on Sara.
"Kimmy?"
Sara glanced at Mary.
"This is Sara."
"Sara?"
"Yes, she came to visit with you."
"Do I know you?" he asked.
"No, you don't," said Sara. "You may have known my mother, Laura Sidle."
"I uhm don't remember that well these days," he said.
Sara placed her trembling hands in her lap.
"You remember living in Tomales Bay?"
"Yes. I was stationed there for about six weeks before I was sent…" He stopped. "Yes, I remember."
"Did you meet a woman at a diner?"
He turned as if he had remembered something.
"Andrew?" asked Mary.
"I don't like the past," he said.
"Me either," said Sara.
"I lived there for six weeks. I don't remember anything that happened. I don't think I was meant to remember."
Sara looked at Mary.
"We think Andrew was debriefed in more than one way," said Mary.
Sara's head shot back toward the man that could be her father.
"I'm sorry. I can't remember," he said.
He stood there quiet for a moment.
"Andrew?"
He turned and looked at his wife and then at Sara.
"When did you get here?" he asked.
"Just now," said Mary quietly.
"Kimmy?"
He smiled at Sara. "I've missed you. You haven't visited. I'm sorry. I must look a mess. I uhm not sure why I'm here. You doing okay?"
Mary quickly took Sara's hand. "Kimmy is doing fine," said Mary.
"She's fine. She's fine," he said.
"I uhm…" he did not finish but turned away.
Mary stood and Sara followed.
"Andrew, we have to leave now," said Mary.
He turned now to face them.
"I miss you. I miss you both," he managed to get out.
"We miss you too," said Mary.
He came toward them and Sara felt her heart flutter. She wasn't prepared for this. He walked over and hugged Mary. Sara stood there frozen. He then pulled Sara into his arms and held her tight. He kissed her on the cheek and whispered softly, "Take care of your mom. She needs you."
Sara nodded. He reached up and gently stroked her hair.
"That's my girl," he said.
They stepped out of the room and into the hall.
Mary pulled out a plastic bag.
"I got these along with a blood sample," she said. "He was always giving this sort of thing in the military. He never even asked why I needed it."
Sara took them.
"Thank you," she said softly.
"You'll let me know when you have the results?" she asked.
"Yes, I will."
"Sara, he's a good man. My daughter loved him very much. She was very proud of him. If the test is positive…please stay in contact. Get to know him. I'll tell you anything I can. Please," she begged.
"I will."
She was back in the airport in minutes and now she sat there waiting for her flight to be called. The events at the hospital kept running over and over in her head. She remembered the feel of his embrace and the soft kiss on her cheek along with the way he whispered into her ear.
He's a kind and gentle man…
Note from author:
Thanks so much for the reviews! I have read every one of them! Please continue so we canmove along!
Take care,
Penny