May 28th, 2004 - - Las Vegas Crime Lab, Break Room
Sara didn't stir when Catherine entered the room. Neither did she react when the blonde brushed her dark hair aside and pressed the back of a hand lightly against her cheek. Whatever she had been working on remained pinned beneath her folded arms, which she had draped herself across in an exhausted heap.
It was not the first time in recent weeks that someone had found her like this. It was becoming so frequent, in fact, that even Grissom had gotten wind of the workaholic's narcoleptic habits.
"Sara, honey?" Cath called softly, moving her fingertips instinctively to the younger woman's throat; where a rhythmic beat drummed against her skin in a slow, calm pace. She sighed with relief, pulling her hand away.
To her surprise, Sara frowned at the sudden loss of contact and murmured something unintelligible, burying her face into the crook of her elbow.
Cath slid into the seat next to her and laid a tentative hand on her friend's shoulder.
"It's okay." She cooed, studying Sara's features. Even in sleep, she managed to look tortured; as if whatever demons plagued her throughout the day continued to stalk her into even the deepest of slumbers.
Catherine shook her head sadly.
"What aren't you telling us, girl?"
She didn't actually expect Sara to answer. She certainly didn't expect the answer that she received.
She could almost have convinced herself that she had imagined the words, mumbled softly from Sara's pouting lips; if not for the equally-surprised hazel eyes staring back at her.
July 18th, 2004 - - Desert Palms Hospital
The question, whispered against Sara's cheek, remained trapped between them like a secret.
Of course, that was in part due to Sara's inability to answer.
After an agonizingly long wait, Catherine finally straightened up and offered a bashful smile, hoping that Sara would understand her need to bring the subject up, even if they couldn't discuss it properly yet.
But Sara's attention appeared to be fading anyway, her eyes drifting closed despite her futile attempts to stay awake.
Cath stroked her hair in a repetitive, soothing motion until Sara's stubbornness eventually gave in and she fell back into a relaxed sleep. Like this, she was hardly riveting company, but Catherine was happy to let her doze; content with simply caressing her hand and making idle small talk with herself.
She found that it was easier than she'd expected to deal with Sara's silence. In retrospect, she should have asked the brunette about her unexpected admission when it first happened, instead of procrastinating and avoiding the embarrassed girl for several days. When Sara went missing, she had started to worry that she had missed her chance. It was just a relief to know that they would talk about it, soon.
Not that it stopped her from wondering about the confession. Sara had said she loved her; and judging by her reaction, it had not merely been the slip of a tongue.
Of course, it could have been nothing more than a dream which pursued her into consciousness. But if that wasn't the case, and Sara really meant it, where did that leave them?
Her idle speculation was cut short by the urgent trilling of a cell phone. The noise disrupted Sara, too, who scowled at the rude awakening.
"Willows." Catherine greeted, squeezing Sara's hand apologetically. "Hey Gil."
Sara tried to focus on the conversation, but her head still felt as though it were full of cotton wool and she was only able to snatch a few fleeting words.
Hospital ... awake ... as soon as I can.
Cath hung up and her shoulders visibly sagged.
"That's Grissom, he needs us all at the lab. I have to go." The reluctance in her voice spoke volumes and although Sara tried to hide her disappointment, the effort didn't quite reach her eyes.
Truth be told, the older woman felt touched that Sara was going to miss her. She chose to believe that the sadness emanating from those dark orbs was due to her leaving, and not just misery at the prospect of being left alone in this sterile closet.
However, and this would puzzle her for the entire drive back to the lab, she didn't know exactly why she was pleased that Sara would miss her presence.
She was almost ready to leave, when she felt something tug her sleeve. Sara was reaching for the pen again, a hopeful look hiding beneath her oxygen mask. Catherine gripped her wrist tightly, allowing her to write a final parting message.
Perhaps she was going to get an answer to her question, after all?
However, when she looked at the note, all trace of eager apprehension vanished and a surprised laugh bubbled out of her.
"Your squirrel's fine. Greg's been taking good care of him." She chuckled, unable to keep the grin off her face at Sara's satisfied nod.
Beneath her last comment, the brunette quickly scrawled the name Frankie.
"Duly noted;" Cath smiled warmly. "But you should know he also answers to Sid now."
Judging from the disgruntled frown she received, Sara did not approve of the renaming of her pet. Still, the look was just too adorable and Catherine couldn't resist leaning down to press another kiss to her forehead.
"Get some rest." She instructed, letting her lips linger on the girl's bruised skin for a moment longer than appropriate. "I'll be back real soon."
July 18th, 2004 - - Las Vegas Crime Lab, Layout Room
"Raymond and Bobby have both been remanded in custody."
"What about Angelo?" Warrick asked, drawing a sigh from their weary boss.
They were all gathered around the layout room table, the place of much discussion of late. Even though Sara was safe and well, her picture remained tacked to the board alongside a warehouse full of paperwork and unfounded Mafia intelligence.
It was as if no-one could quite believe that the ordeal was over yet. As if taking the photo down would mean they could actually relax, for the first time in a fortnight.
"Well, at the moment we don't have anything to hold him on." Grissom shrugged. "But, the Sheriff has spoken to the Modesto Police Department and they've agreed to let us re-open Max's murder case."
"So, we're going with Dylan's story?" Nick asked. He was still sceptical of the older brother's explanation, even if his motives did appear to be pure.
"We're going to explore all avenues." Gil corrected tactfully.
"Great. I'll call the California lab and get them to send the evidence over." Warrick nodded, already moving towards the door.
"No, actually. We have got a serious backlog to work through – I need you and Nick to get started on that. Cath and I will continue to work on Sara's case."
"Okay." Nick scowled. "So, who's going to work the California case?"
Grissom shot Catherine a look and she nodded imperceptibly in agreement. They had debated it at great length, but it just seemed like the right decision.
"Greg."
The young man's head shot up.
"Me?" He echoed. "But I'm not qualified."
"You'll still have to complete your proficiencies before you can work in the field, but I think you've proven yourself." Gil explained calmly. "If you still want to work in the field, that is?"
"Yeah!" Greg almost left the floor in his earnest response, his gravity-defying hair springing with each excitable twitch. "Yeah, absolutely!"
"Okay." Grissom nodded, waiting for him to make a move. When the lab rat remained in place, he tipped his head pointedly towards the door. "Well, don't you have a phone call to make?"
"Yeah, right!" Greg practically fell over his own feet as he stumbled inelegantly from the room, to an animated chuckle from the supervisors.
And it did not escape either of their notice that, in his haste to leave, he completely forgot to ask for the number of Modesto Police Station.
July 19th, 2004 - - Las Vegas Crime Lab, Break Room
"So, I hear you've been usurped by Sanders?"
Nick and Warrick paused halfway through their working lunch, sharing an irritated look at the third in a evening of increasingly tiresome comments.
"What do you want, Hodges?" Nick asked, too busy to indulge the labrat's sinister pleasure.
Hodges sighed, dismayed by the lack of a reaction to his teasing. But, never one to be discouraged easily, he whipped out a folder and sashayed towards the table.
"Actually, it's what you want." He produced a sheet of paper and held it just out of their reach. "Trace off your casino chips was, wait for it ... sand."
"Sand?" Warrick repeated, massively underwhelmed by the revelation.
"We did find his car in the desert." Nick pointed out with a frown. "That's all you got for us?"
"Sorry." Hodges shrugged unapologetically, helping himself to a fry from Nick's plate and sniffing it sceptically before tossing it back down and wiping his fingertips on the Texan's shoulder.
Nick watched his actions, scowling at the greasy stain left on his shirt.
"Yeah, thanks." He snapped. "But you need to take it to Catherine or Grissom – we're off that case now."
"Seriously?" Hodges almost smirked but managed to restrain it behind his look of surprise. "Wow, talk about drawing the short straw."
"You know, there might be another explanation." Warrick mused, ignoring the tech as he stirred his soup lazily. "When I checked the bag they were in, I found splinters. Like it had been in a wooden box or a chest, or..."
"Under the floorboards?" Nick suggested, raising his eyebrows.
The two men shared a devious look, casting their eyes over the stack of case files waiting urgently for their attention.
"Let's go back to the desert." Warrick suggested, abandoning his food and gathering his jacket from the back of the couch.
"But I thought you were off the case?" David pointed out, side-stepping them in their rush to leave before being spotted by Grissom.
En route to the door, Nick snatched a couple of fries for the road and pushed the half-empty packet into Hodges' hands.
"Here you go, boss." He grinned, patting him on the shoulder and leaving a deliberate greasy smear across the sleeve of his pristine lab coat. "Enjoy!"
July 19th, 2004 - - Las Vegas Crime Lab, Gil Grissom's Office
"So, she was okay?" Grissom pressed for the fifth time. And for the fifth time, Catherine sighed.
"She was fine, Gil. She was half asleep."
"I wish we could talk to her." He tapped his pen against his pursed lips. "Just for a few minutes, to find out her story."
"Hmm." Catherine agreed, opting to keep quiet. She, more than anyone, wanted to talk to Sara. But her reason had nothing to do with the case at hand.
Sensing Grissom's gaze on her from across the cluttered desk, she realised that he was studying her again. She knew that her reaction to Sara's disappearance had surprised the team, but so far everyone had been so preoccupied with finding her that they hadn't had time to ask why that was.
Clearing her throat, she elected for a diversionary tactic.
"Where are her brothers staying?"
"The Sheriff has agreed to put them up in a hotel until Sara's able to talk to them properly." He answered, still peering warily at her over the top of his glasses.
"I hope they can sort things out." She mused, leaning back in her seat. "Do you know the last time they were all together in one place was at their mother's appeal hearing?"
"Yeah." He agreed sadly, his deep scrutiny of her finally ceasing as he took his spectacles off and rubbed his eyes. "Ten years is a long time. They're going to have a lot of lost ground to make up."
"Well, Sara's going to be out of action for a while; so it's not like they don't have the time." Cath pointed out. "I just hope it's not too late for them. If this ever makes it to court, Sara's going to need all the family support she can get."
Grissom resumed his intense staring, his blue eyes flicking from one corner of her face to the other as if it held the answer to all his burning questions. Finally, he slipped his glasses back on and picked up his pen to continue working.
"She's already got a family." He stated blithely, signalling an abrupt end to the conversation as his attention quickly sank back to his notes.
Catherine sensed that she may have touched a nerve with the boss, though she was stumped if she knew what it was. Either way, since he wasn't trying to read her mind through her skull anymore, she elected not to push the issue.
"Yeah." She agreed with a coy smile. "She does."