"Shit –" Nick said. "Sara –"
"Damn -" Catherine echoed.
In a flash they moved like a herd, but it was Sofia who got to her first. She tried to catch Sara's arm, but failed, and in a heartbeat was on her knees, shoving one of the break room chairs out of her way.
Sara was on the floor, by the table, lying on her back and evidently unconscious. Sofia put a finger to her pulse, felt it beating, and then grabbed her shoulder.
"Sara?" she asked, calling clearly into her face. "Sara."
"I think she's fainted," DB Russell said, somewhere nearby.
Sofia ignored him. Around her the others tore furniture out of their way, and in seconds Catherine, Warrick and Nick were knelt around her, trying to help.
Sofia noticed one person was missing.
"Where's Grissom?" she queried.
She threw her eyes around the room, but saw only a load of CSIs and lab techs – most of whom she knew, and some she didn't. But he was not there.
"I think he went up the hall," Greg said, looking on with worry. "To check on his things. We put them in storage –"
"Go find him," Sofia instructed.
Greg left the room.
Sofia saw Catherine had stationed herself behind Sara's head, and watched as she put one hand to her forehead.
"Someone get a cold cloth," Catherine said. "Something cool –"
DB Russell motioned to one of his staff, a woman Sofia recognised as Julie Finlay – the one who had processed them at the hospital. The blonde woman flew over to the sink, ripping a cloth from the rail. In a flash it was passed down, where Catherine took it. She folded it and placed it against Sara's forehead.
"Sara?" Sofia queried. "Sara."
"Should I call a paramedic?" Hodges asked, looking on with concern.
"No, no, don't do that," Nick said, quickly.
"She's just fainted, she's fine," Warrick echoed. "She'll be out of it in a second."
"She doesn't look well," Wendy said, hesitant.
"She's fine," Catherine said.
Catherine's firm eyes sealed the deal.
"Sara?" Sofia queried.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Grissom dash back in, Greg behind him. Sofia shifted over, allowing Grissom room to kneel with them.
"What happened?" he asked.
"She passed out," Sofia supplied.
"Sara?" Nick asked.
Sara blinked. Her eyes opened, and a look of stunned disorientation seized her features. Her eyes flicked from Sofia to the crowd, all peering down at her, and Catherine immediately put a hand to her shoulder, soothing.
"It's okay," she said. "You fainted."
Sara's mouth opened, but no words came out. Her brow creased, confused, and her eyes shot around at all of them. She looked pale and sweaty.
"Is there still a sick bay here?" Sofia asked, hurling the question at DB Russell.
"Sure, up the hall," he replied.
"Good," Nick said, reaching for Sara. "Sit up, put your arm around me –"
Sofia thanked her lucky stars that Nick was on the same page. She saw a tidal wave of humiliation approaching in Sara's eyes, and didn't want the whole lab there to see it.
Sara, weak and disoriented, blinked a few times, but obeyed, and in a second Nick had her loaded in his arms, and was picking her up. They headed for the door.
"Finn," DB Russell said, as they headed out, "Go find the Doc, see if he's free …"
Sofia didn't wait for the lab staff. She left them all behind as she marched up the corridor beside Nick, and they quickly entered the sick bay. It was a small but tidy room with a single bed against one wall, and Nick deposited Sara onto it, lowering her head gently onto the pillow.
Sara immediately let out a breath, looking woozy.
"I'm sorry," she started.
She still looked disoriented.
"It's okay, just rest," Nick said.
"Take it easy," Catherine said.
She slipped in to sit beside her, perched on the mattress, and replaced the wet cloth that Sara had had on her forehead in the break room. Sara closed her eyes a moment, revelling in the coolness.
"Sofia –"
Sofia turned and saw DB Russell beside her.
"Is your mother around?" he asked.
"She's in with Ecklie," Sofia said.
He quickly disappeared.
"Can I do something?" Greg asked.
Sofia had almost forgot that the others were there. She saw Greg hovering beside them, eager to help, and through the door were the lab techs, peering in, concerned. It was both touching and annoying.
"Get her something to eat," Grissom said, standing by the head of the bed. "Nothing too rich, something healthy."
"Right."
He quickly vanished. Sofia had been about to close the door when Doc Robbins entered.
"Gil," he greeted.
He limped in on his cane.
"Doc," Grissom replied.
Sofia took a step closer to the bed, wary of the sudden wariness in Sara's eyes, and sure enough, Sara immediately struggled to push herself up, looking harassed.
"I'm okay," she said.
"You look pale, Sara," the doctor said, limping over. He frowned down at her. "And clammy. They tell me you fainted."
"She's fine now," Warrick said.
He was leaning against a cabinet, looking disapproving of the entire scene that had been created – none of which had been their fault.
"I feel fine," Sara said.
Sofia knew it was a lie, but it was hardly the time to debate the point.
"How's your pulse?" the Doc asked.
He leaned down, intending to take it at her neck, but as the hand approached, Sara flinched. In a movement as fast as lightning, Sara snapped her hand onto the Doc's, seizing it mid-air.
Everything halted. Sofia saw Catherine hold her breath, mouth open slightly, catching the gesture and knowing just as well as Sofia did what it meant. Sara looked immediately a bit shaken, and embarrassed. Sofia had the distinct impression she hadn't even realised she was doing it.
Sofia reached in, and gently took the Doctor's arm. She urged him away, back a step.
"Doc –" she said.
He went willingly, but his keen eyes stared down at her with renewed interest. He looked up to Grissom.
"I heard you discharged yourselves from the hospital," he said.
"That's our business," Sara snapped.
There was a biting edge to her voice now.
"We're fine," Grissom said, calm. "We're doing okay."
"You're severely underweight, Sara," Doc Robbins said, blunt. "In fact, most of you are. You should be in hospital."
"We're handling it," Catherine said, dismissive.
"Is your family here?" Doc Robbins asked, looking to Sara. "Who's taking care of you?"
"We are," Nick said, with a shrug.
"I am," said a voice.
Sofia turned as she recognised her mother's voice. She saw her mother in the doorway, calmly looking on, Ecklie peering over her shoulder. Sofia was relieved to see that Ecklie did not look judgemental – for once – and was even more relieved when her mother immediately took control of things, and wrestled it back into some semblance of order.
"I need a word, Dianne," Doc said.
He was already moving past her to the door, eyes stern.
"Of course," she said.
It was then that Greg reappeared, a bottle of orange juice and a muesli bar in his hand, and Sofia reached past her mother to take it, thanking him.
"Sara, just stay here and rest," Dianne ordered, calm and in control. She then looked to the guys. "Nick, Warrick, if you could go with Ecklie and get started on the paperwork, I'll be with you in a minute."
"Sure," Warrick said.
He headed for the door with Nick.
Sofia knew what her mother was doing – that she was deliberately emptying the room of the crowd, but she was glad for the intervention. It had been a horrendous scene.
"You can handle things here?" her mother asked.
"Yeah," Sofia replied.
She felt her mother touch her arm. "I'll be back."
Her mother slipped her suit jacket from her shoulders, holding it out, with a pointed look toward Sara, and then left.
The door closed.
XXX
"Nosey bunch," Catherine commented, looking annoyed.
She threw a dark look to Grissom and Sofia. Sofia stepped forward, and passed the orange juice to Sara, unscrewing the top.
"Drink this," she said.
Sara still looked mutinous, but drank a little. Sofia spotted a spare chair across the room, and pulled it over, setting it by the bed. She sat down with a sigh.
"I think the Doc's going to grill your mother," Catherine said.
"She can handle it," Grissom said, at ease. "If she couldn't, she wouldn't be Captain."
Sara took another swig.
"How do you feel?" Grissom asked.
Sara shook her head, obviously still reeling.
"That happened so fast," she commented.
"You look pale," Sofia pointed out.
"Lie down," Catherine said.
She actually did. She rested against the pillows, and her hand drifted automatically toward Grissom. He took it.
"Take your time," Catherine said.
"When you grabbed the Doc's hand –" Grissom began.
Sofia shot him a look, hoping like hell he wouldn't go there. And yet he foolishly did.
"- You know he wouldn't hurt you," he said, simply.
Sara let out a long breath, frustrated.
"I know," she said.
Grissom nodded, satisfied. Sofia saw him squeeze Sara's hand.
"We don't have to talk about it," Catherine said. "But if you feel it coming on again, grab one of our hands. We can't hurt anyone here."
"Not anymore," Sofia agreed.
They were back in the land of law and order now.
Sara nodded, but said nothing, but Sofia let her off the hook. She changed the subject, encouraging Sara to eat the muesli bar, and then draped her mother's jacket over her, keeping her warm. They sat for a while, enjoying the quiet, until fifteen minutes or so later when Nick and Warrick returned, having completed most of the paperwork and leave forms on the group's behalf. Sara, Catherine and Grissom filled in the rest of the details, and signed, and then they were free to go.
Sofia had half expected Ecklie to corner them for an interrogation, and was pleasantly surprised when he didn't. Evidently Sara's faint had deterred him, made him sense that it wasn't the time. As they rolled back up the highway however she did feel curiosity for something – for what Doc Robbins had said, and she asked her mother as much.
"This and that," Dianne said, looking evasively out the window.
She was at the wheel, relaxed, but it was ominous to Sofia that she had avoided the question. Usually her mother was very forthcoming.
"That bad?" Sara asked, from the back seat.
Dianne sighed, then confessed.
"He thinks you're underweight." Sofia saw her mother throw Sara a look through the rear-view mirror. "You and Catherine. But to be honest, I'm not too worried. These things take time. Personally, I think you've put on weight already."
"You do?"
"Mm-hmm."
"Well, we owe you," Grissom said, in the seat next to Sara. "Thank you for coming with us, for making it easier."
"You're welcome."
There was a pause, and Sofia checked over her shoulder to see that Sara was okay, before she heard her mother unexpectedly continue.
"Actually, there might be something you can help me with."
"What is it?" Sofia asked.
"Lindsey," she said simply, with a small sigh. "And Lily Flynn."
Sofia nodded to herself – she had noticed that, too – that it was questionable as to how well Catherine's family were coping. Catherine was in the other car, in an SUV with Nick and Warrick, and it was as safe a time as any to discuss it.
"How are they doing?" Grissom asked.
"Well, I think Lily was heartbroken over the death of Sam Braun," Dianne said, "and losing Catherine with no explanation, no ability to do anything, certainly didn't help. And now she's back, but Catherine won't tell them anything. Lindsey is very resilient, a lot like her mother, but she's confused."
"Catherine doesn't want to talk about it," Sara volunteered.
"Well, if she's not ready, she's not ready," Dianne said, with an understanding that Sofia was grateful for. "But Lindsey may need to understand a little of what's going on. It may make things harder for everyone if she doesn't."
"We'll see what we can do."
XXX
It was two days later that the opportunity presented itself. Sara had gone back to the doctor with Dianne, getting a quick check-up, and been released without issue, and after a talk with Grissom that afternoon about their future, she had settled down to a very pleasant evening with just the group, Dianne, and Catherine's family. They ate dinner, but it was afterwards, when most of the group retreated to watch the sunset outside, that Sara lingered behind, spotting Lindsey helping Dianne with the dishes, and hung back to help.
She carried over some mugs, and Dianne, quickly spotting her, immediately seized the opportunity.
"Why don't you ask Sara?" she suggested.
Evidently she had come in mid-conversation, and that a question of some kind had been asked, and Sara hoisted her best look of friendly helpfulness.
"I'll help if I can," she promised.
Ominously, Lindsey hesitated. She smiled politely, suddenly awkward.
"Go on," Dianne encouraged, motioning with her head. "She won't bite."
"What is it?" Sara asked.
She put the dirty mugs in the dishwasher and tried to look casual.
"It's fine," Lindsey said.
She smiled, evasive.
Thinking that Lindsey was evidently going to be just as difficult to draw out as Catherine, Sara realised she shouldn't have really been surprised. The apple never fell far from the tree.
Sara looked to Dianne for a clue.
"She was saying that Catherine seems different," she provided. "More affectionate."
"She does that," Sara said, happy to help, and enormously relieved to not be discussing any graphic details of what had happened to them. "She's much more affectionate than she used to be."
"You all are," Dianne pointed out, stacking the dishwasher.
"I guess so."
"Trauma can do that to you," Sara supplied, noticing that Lindsey was now watching closely, interested. "It brings you together. I think it's important at this stage not to disrupt that. If she needs to be with us, it's important to let her. It helps with the healing. And if you notice her hugging, or kissing anyone, don't make a deal of it. Act natural, even if it seems odd."
Lindsey was watching her closely, and seemed a little more relaxed. Sara felt another question coming almost before it had hit.
"Why won't she come home, to Vegas?" Lindsey asked.
The question was not rude, but curious.
"I think it hurts too much," Sara said, honest. "I know she wants to be with you, more than anything, but some bad things happened, and she's scared. It's hard to be around crowds, to be around any built-up area. And that sort of anxiety is going to take time to heal. She does much better out here, when we can see what's coming. Where it's quiet. The peaceful environment helps."
"Is there anything we can do to help?" Dianne asked, evidently on Lindsey's behalf.
"Just be patient," Sara advised. "I know it's hard – this is a really difficult situation, and traumatic for everyone involved, including yourselves – but it's going to take time. The best way to handle this is to give her space, be understanding, and to not rush her. What I don't want is force her to go back before she's ready and to have it go badly wrong, or make her mentally ill. It's baby steps."
"Okay," Lindsey said.
She actually looked like she meant it, and Sara was touched that she had the maturity to help.
"Sofia mentioned you and Grissom are planning to get a new place to live," Dianne mentioned.
Sara looked over, momentarily surprised. They had only had that conversation with the group that afternoon. She had not expected it to travel so far already.
"That's true," Sara said. "We need somewhere peaceful." She looked down at Lindsey and took a deep breath, plunging in. "We're going to invite your Mom to stay, if she wants to. Just for a while. And you're welcome too. We'll do everything we can to help. But sometimes things like this need time for the dust to settle. But I promise you, we'll help her. And in time, she'll be okay."
Lindsey nodded, and seemed to take a minute to take it all in. Sara did not rush her, but a moment later it seemed that Lindsey had had enough chat for now, and Sara discretely retreated outside to join the others, merely relieved that she had not really had to talk about anything at all.
More to come...