When Sara's alarm went off about 5 hours later, she took her medicine, and then contemplated going back to sleep, but Brass was right, she would need to soon readjust her body clock to 'CSI Time' Slowly she got out of bed, and decided to jump in the shower, wanting to wash away the last of the cobwebs.
Wrapping herself in a towel and her dressing gown, Sara made her way over to the sofa, where Jim was sat reading more of The Tommyknockers
'Did it work?' he asked, placing the book down
'Yeah, it worked… Thanks'
'No problem'
Sara leant against him, pulling her legs up on to the sofa
'How are you feeling now?' Brass asked, throwing his arm around her shoulder
'B….B…Better' Sara said sneezing, looking a little embarrassed, she then sneezed again.
'Charming!' Brass laughed slightly shoving Sara
'Hahaha!' Sara deadpanned in a sarcastic voice, before sneezing yet again
'Just how long were you stood out in the rain Sara?' Jim questioned, looking at her with concern
'Oh… A good 5 minutes maybe… '
'You've got a chill Sara… let me grab your hot water bottle and get you some tea…'
'Thanks…' Sara mumbled, leaning back on the sofa as Jim stood up
'When are you going to speak to Ecklie?' Brass questioned, not wanting to bring Catherine up just yet
'Oh… Um… I'm allowed to go back to work on Wednesday evening, so Monday I guess…. Tomorrow…'
'Are you ready to go back to work?' he asked, handing her the bottle and mug
'No… I don't know, maybe… I guess I have to talk to Sylvia again… I can go back before my sessions are over, but I can't go out in the field until after I've done the 10… then I'm on probation for a while… I've got a lot to figure out I guess…' Sara took a sip of the tea, and then sneezed again, somehow managing to avoid spilling the hot drink.
'Yeah… what about the money? Catherine explained that the lab would also pay some of the hospital bills, and Sylvia's fees… on top of the compensation that was… '
'Oh… yeah… $823,743.12…' Sara said not batting an eye, taking another sip of the tea.
'That's… oddly, specific…'
'No, it's not, if you work it out… I could go through my maths if you like, but it will take a while…'
'No no, it's ok Sara, if that's what you want, we best sort out the paperwork…'
'Yeah… '
'What will you do with it?' Brass couldn't help but ask
'Well… ultimately, when I'm more settled, and stable, I'll need a bigger place, whether that's with Cat or not, I don't know… then I've got a baby to raise… I'm thinking I could perhaps start a trust, or charity or something with a good portion of it… help people like me… those who have hidden their abuses, and therefor turned to drugs, drinking or self-harm… ' Sara looked down, her words were honest, but they left her feeling fairly exposed.
'I think that's a brilliant idea Sara, I really do.'
'Thanks' she mumbled, smiling a little, before yet another sneeze broke the moment.
'Ok… back to bed for a little bit, you need to rest, you'll get back into the swing of sleeping during the day soon enough'
Sara just smiled and shuffled off towards the bathroom, before crawling back into bed.
When she next awoke to her alarm clock going off, she once again reached for her medicine, and then checked her phone, hoping to have had a message of someone, even Hodges, but found nothing. She wanted to reach out to Catherine, but currently didn't know how to, or even if she was wanted.
Pottering around the house, Sara waited for the office at the hospital to be open so she could make a phone call. She wanted to know if they'd processed her blood results over the weekend, and she wanted to rearrange her session with Sylvia to Tuesday evening, as she was still feeling full of cold and sneezing.
Dialling the now almost familiar number, Sara waited for someone to pick up
'Hello, Desert Palms, Psychiatric department, Tom speaking' a voice said
'Morning Tom, it's Sara… Sara Sidle…'
'Morning Miss Sidle, how can I help today?' came Tom's cheery voice
'I was wondering if my bloodwork came back?'
'One moment….'
She could her typing in the background 'Ah, yes… typical blood counts and functions seem ok, slightly anaemic, so Dr Eloise will prescribe some Iron tablets, and your Lithium levels seem a little low… are you taking them as prescribed?'
'No….' Sara admitted 'I hadn't been, I am now…' sniffling, she sneezed again and mumbled an apology
'Dr Eloise or Dr Sylvia will need to speak to you about this when you come in, will that be this afternoon at 5 still?' Tom asked, sounding a little too cheery
'No, I'm sorry, I've got a bad cold… is Sylvia free tomorrow evening, about 7 perhaps?'
'One moment, let me check her diary… No, I'm sorry, but she is free at 8pm if that suits, Miss Sidle?'
'Sara, please, and yes, thank you Tom…'
'No problem, Sara, see you tomorrow, feel better soon' he replied before hanging up. Sara couldn't help but laugh at this, oh if only he knew, she thought.
Feeling a little peckish, Sara went into the kitchen to grab some food, and although it was still fairly well stocked, she didn't fancy any of what there was. Writing out a shopping list, she jumped a little when she saw that Brass was not only fast asleep on the sofa still, but that he was only wearing pyjama trousers, the blanket having slipped down during his sleep. It's not that she'd forgotten he was there, just that she thought he would have woken up when she'd been walking around the flat earlier, or on the phone just now.
After the shock had worn off, Sara quietly walked back to the bedroom, not wanting to disturb him. She contemplated leaving him a note, and slipping out to the shop around the corner to buy the food and supplies she fancied, but another round of sneezing soon stopped that idea, along with remembering why he was there in the first place.
She'd been awake for nearly 2 hours now, and Brass still hadn't stirred, so Sara once again slipped into bed. She still didn't understand why after having avoided sleep for so many years, she was now feeling drawn to it like a magnet, but for now she wouldn't question it. If the tablets made her a bit unpredictable and difficult during the day, especially with the doses being so up and down, at least, for the most part, the worst of the nightmares were being kept at bay. Another 6 hours passed before she stirred again, the smell of Vegetable Soup drifting in from the kitchen. Sara rolled over and smiled, rubbing her belly. Once again she'd forgotten to eat, but it didn't bother her now, she had soup to enjoy.
Stepping into the bathroom, she freshened up before joining Brass in the kitchen.
'This smells wonderful, thank you'
'No problem… so, the alarm system still working?'
'Yeah… thanks, I did some stuff at 7.30, then phoned the hospital, I'm seeing Sylvia tomorrow at 8pm, and need to start taking iron tablets… they also picked up on the Lithium levels, so yes, the point is even more drummed in, don't worry.
'Ok, that's good Sara, how are you feeling now?'
'Ok, still can't believe I'm sleeping so much though, guess I should enjoy it whilst I can though… '
'Yeah… ' Brass grinned, a look of remembering on his face, although his relationship with his real daughter Ellie was now almost non-existent, he still remembered the first few months all too well.
'How long have you been up?' Sara asked, leaning against the counter
'Couple of hours, heard you briefly on the phone earlier, but I was so tired, I drifted off again…'
'Sorry…'
'Don't be, doesn't matter now anyway…so, what time are you going to see Ecklie?' Brass asked, checking on the soup, and the bread.
'I don't know, I need to ring him I guess… he normally leaves the office at about 11pm, but it depends… I'm not sure if I want to go to the lab just yet though….'
Brass nodded in understanding, but also thought Sara was being a little silly. She'd have to see everyone, including Catherine soon.
'Well, where do you want to meet him then?' he asked
'I don't know… guess I need to ring him first… I'll ring Judy after we've eaten, see if he's in the lab… you never know these days'
'That's true, for an Assistant Director, he doesn't spent too much time actually in the building'
Sara couldn't help but laugh at this, and was very frustrated when she once again sneezed.
A short while later, after having spoken to Judy the receptionist, and then Ecklie himself, Sara was getting ready to meet him at one of the coffee shops near the courthouse, where he'd been explaining evidence on a high profile dayshift case. Brass drove her, but didn't stay, instead saying Sara could either ring him when done, or if she wanted, to call for a taxi.
Sara was a little sniffly, and red nosed when Ecklie walked in, having just sneezed a half dozen times.
'Sidle' Ecklie said, his attitude being quite different from that in the hospital
'Conrad' she replied
He took a seat, loosening his tie a little
'What can I help with?' he asked
'I want to come back to work… my counsellor said I could come back on Wednesday evening, but I would be limited to lab work… I still have a few more sessions…'
'Ok…' Ecklie relaxed a little, the tension of having been in court easing off a little 'What we talked about in the hospital still stands though Sara…'
'I know…I… thank you… I know this is my last chance Ecklie… I don't indeed to mess up again… that's why I wanted to talk to you… I know typically I've been the first to max out on overtime most months, and that I'll be on probation, but I want to come back, I need to come back, to get my life back on track… I may not be able to do the hours I once did, but I will do whatever I can, what I can… even if it's reduced hours ,or grunt work for a while… I'll look over cold cases…. '
'Sara…' Ecklie held his hand up to stop her 'You have your job, you're a damn fine CSI, and I'd be stupid to let you go… report to work at 9pm Wednesday evening, and we'll go through the papers I had drawn up…'
'Thank you!' Sara smiled, genuinely happy
'Sara… have you thought about the compensation?'
'Yes'
'And?' Ecklie questioned.
Sara slipped him a piece of paper, watching his reaction as he read the figure of $823,743.12, his face barely winced, but he did nod
'Ok… I'll start the claim from my end, bring the forms that Catherine gave you on Wednesday, we should have this pay sorted within 6 weeks…' standing he moved away from the table. At the last moment, he turned back to Sara 'I know we've clashed in the past Sara, but we'll, I'll, be glad to have you back at CSI' he said with a small, almost creepy smile, before walking away.
Xxx
a/n
We're getting there, I promise! Cat and Sara will talk in the next chapter, and I will give Sara a bit of a break… but for now, once again, sleep is in order. Emz.
Also, that $ figure is completely random, and Judy is the little blonde receptionist in the show… she was in a few episodes. Noticeably she handed Grissom the letter that Sara left him in 'goodbye and good luck'
