Disclaimer: I don't own CSI or anything relating to them, just borrowing them to satisfy my stupid brain. Any references to real life events; anything I may have read, seen or heard are completely unintentional and coincidental. I gain nothing from this other than to finally get this idea to stop repeating in my head. So please don't sue me or threaten to kill me. if this offends you in any way or it just plain sucks, I apologize that you've wasted several minutes of your life you'll never get back. Just pretend you never saw this, know for future reference to avoid it at all costs should you ever see the title again, and go on with your life. Any and all mistakes are mine. Also, any names, places or references are purely fictional!
A/N: Thanks for the reviews mikkir, Kirky123, SJ-23 and GSRCSILVR25!!! My writing has slowed down a bit thanks to real life getting in the way, but I'll keep trying for the daily updates. Thanks for reading everyone!
"What a crazy day! I swear I should just quit and find an easier job somewhere out there!...but NO...I had to choose nursing!...they so don't tell you nursing is like this when you sign up...if they did, there would be no nurses out there!" Elizabeth mutters to herself as she storms down the hallway toward the ER exit not caring that people are staring at her talking to herself.
"Hey you! Every time I see you you're heading out for a smoke! Nasty habit that!" The squeaky voice of John reaches my ears.
"You know what, leave me alone! I don't need this, I lost my third pen in two days today! I dropped it in....you know what, you don't even want to know where I dropped my pen! It was my favorite pen and now it's gone! Not to mention my wrists are killing me from all the CPR I had to do this shift...I've had 3 codes already! I've been on my feet for exactly 10 hours, 29 minutes and 16 seconds. AND there was a mystery stain on my shoe that I'm going to conveniently forget about as of now that took me 5 minutes to scrub off! So I more than deserve this smoke!!!" I bellow all in one frustrated breath. I'm far beyond even trying to be proper and polite right now.
"Rest in peace little pen!" Rob says trying not to laugh while holding his hands up and taking a cautious step backward.
"Trust me, where it's resting, it's not in peace!" Elizabeth adds while still huffing, noticing Rob for the first time.
Turning back toward what was quickly becoming the bane of his existence Rob continues, "John, how many times do I have to tell or smack you for this! MY wrists are getting sore now. Don't piss off the nurses....we need them to save our ass!"
"Good answer Rob! I have trained u well!" Elizabeth finally smiles.
Their playful banter was cut short by the screaming pleads of a red headed woman standing in front of the nursing station. Elizabeth squinted for a second before recognizing the face. "Oh God no, what's going on?"
She quickly made her way to the distraught woman effectively cutting off the rather curt nurse sitting on the other side. "Miss Willows I'm a nurse here, you may not remember me, but may I help you?"
Half sobbing Catherine turned toward the familiar face and instantly through her arms around the kind nurse who had helped her so much that painful day, how could she not remember that kind soul. "Please help me, my umm my partner was brought in a few minutes ago, she was shot, they won't let me see her because I'm not a blood relative; please, she's all I have left in this world!"
"Please just wait here for a second, let me take a quick look to see what's going on." Elizabeth said detaching herself from the woman who has suffered so much already.
As she peered through the windowed door of trauma 3 Elizabeth was greeted by the organized chaos of a code in full swing. To her trained eye she could see it wasn't going well. Several IV's were running wide open. She was intubated, but blood was pouring out and around the tube making a trail down into her ear. She had a chest tube in, which was draining way too much blood too fast. And if the sharps container was any indication, she probably already a lot of Epi on board and they were still shocking her and performing CPR. "God, it's the same room too." Elizabeth whispered to herself before steeling herself to find the redhead once more.
Finding herself with an uncharacteristic shudder Elizabeth faced Catherine and said, "I umm, I think It's better you don't see her right now, It's ummm, It's, well, I don't know how much you know about what happened to her but It's very serious and they are working very hard on her..."
Catherine wiping the tears that wouldn't seem to stop quietly cut in, "I know, I saw all the blood at the scene, I just...I just need to be with her...even if this is the end...I just...I don't know what to do!"
"Okay hun, I understand, I mean It's...I see this everyday and It's still hard...and to see someone you love...I'm so sorry." With her arm around the woman she headed toward trauma 3 but just before coming into view of the window she stopped.
"Now, I can't let you inside because we don't want to disturb them, they are trying very hard to save her. But you NEED to tell me if you start feeling faint, I'm going to stand here with you, but I can't have you pass out and hurt yourself, Sara is going to need you."
Catherine could only nod in response. Even with the prep Elizabeth had just given her, the sight literally took her breath away. The gentle squeeze on her shoulder shocked her into breathing again. "Breath for me sweetheart, take nice deep breaths. Do you need to sit down?"
Still unable to form words Catherine just shook her head. Doctors and nurses were screaming numbers at each other as another electrical shock coursed through her loves body causing her hands to twitch.
In a shaky voice Cath asked, "Is this hurting her? It seems so...so violent."
"No, it isn't hurting her right now. When she wakes up it will be sore, but we'll give her something for it. I understand it does look very rough though, but they are taking good care of her." Elizabeth said softly while thinking to herself that the woman wouldn't feel any pain because she probably wouldn't make it through this and if she did the brain damage would probably be so severe...she was already down for this long. Shaking her head to stop her train of thought there she added, "Catherine, I think you should sit down hun. I can get you something to drink. Is there anyone I can call for you? You shouldn't be here alone."
"No, this is exactly where I should be. Our friends are on the way. The detective that was with me is like her father. They are all probably in the waiting room now." Catherine said without taking her eyes off Sara.
She couldn't help but think to herself; if only I was there for her when she called me the first time. I could have gotten back-up for her right then and there and that bastard's brother wouldn't have found her. If only I wasn't so bitter and swallowed my pride for once. I had no right to take it out on her. I mean, she didn't even do anything wrong! I was there too! Why did I shut her out? Why didn't I pick up the damn phone when I saw her name. Why did I let her go back to her apartment alone; it was her house too. I was just hurting so bad. But then, so was she; she lost her daughter too after all. Oh God! I can't believe this is happening! What do I do?! Oh God Sara I'm so sorry, please don't leave me too! I need you so much! I love you so much!
A fresh batch of hot tears streamed their way down Catherine's face as the blurry battle against death continued on her love.