Chapter 5: Saving Sara
Sara had her head down on the table with her arms outstretched before her. She didn't even look up when I entered, the first sign that she was emotionally and physically worn down. She was dressed in a gray short sleeve shirt that was way to big for her and issued by the state. Her pants matched in color and in size. The first thing I noticed was the dark bruises resembling fingers on her arms, like she was held down. Not to mention the cuts on her wrists from excessive force with the handcuffs. I pulled out the chair opposite of her and sat down, waiting for her to lift her head but she didn't. The life seemed to be drained from her body. Her shoulders were slumped and drawn close to her head. I was scared. I don't know why but seeing Sara like this made me scared. I guess I was afraid that I was too late to save her. It seemed I just couldn't get my timing right with Sara.
Of all the years I have known Sara, not once has she looked so...hurt or broken. She always had a special vibrancy that no one could match. Her smile was amazing, her curiosity unmatched, her intelligence remarkable, and her beauty stunning. A million and one reactions were played through my head as I stared at her still form. Is it possible to feel one's pain like I do now? I had to reach out for her, it was killing me to see her this way.
I leaned forward and placed my hand on her bruised arm. "Sara,"
Her head shot up like I had struck her, surprising me. She had a deep cut on her forehead and several bruises on her face. The most prominent one was on the left eye.
"Gri...Grissom?" Tears began to fill her eyes, but she didn't cry. I knew she couldn't, she wanted to appear strong. She always had to be strong. If only I could tell her she didn't have to be for me. It took all I had to be strong myself.
"What are you doing here?" She finally said.
"I heard you needed a friend." I got up and moved my chair next to her's to close the gap between us.
"So you know? That I killed someone."
"Yes."
"I had to Grissom he was all over me." Sara's voice became shrill and she started to shake. "I had no choice!"
"Shh I know." I pulled her hands into my lap, softly rubbing a bruised knuckle. Her skin was soft and warm, just like I thought it would be. "The whole gang is here for you."
"Where?"
"Behind you."
Sara turned to the two way mirror, then turned back quickly.
"Sara you look fine." I assured her. "Just as beautiful as the first day I saw you." I couldn't believe I just said that. I hoped that the sound was off to the viewing room.
She laughed softly. "Thanks but that wasn't what I was thinking."
I backed away from her slightly. "We were put on your case."
"What?"
"I know. But we couldn't just leave you here. I think Nick was going crazy without you." I said trying to lighten the mood.
"But I don't want you on my case. Why can't someone else take it?"
I wasn't entirely shocked that she said this so I was prepared for her stubbornness. "The courts decided that this was best of two evils. San Francisco couldn't do it, and the FBI wouldn't take the case because of money reasons." She looked away from me. "Sara we are here to help. No one thinks..."
"I don't care what people think now, but I will care later. I don't want you on my case. I don't mean just you, Grissom, I mean Catherine, Warrick, and Nick too. I will have to work with them everyday when this is over. And every time I look into their eyes I will see concern and sympathy."
"Sara..." I began but she cut me off.
"I don't take sympathy Grissom. We all have had rough times in our lives and I don't need anyone feeling sorry for me."
"No one feels sorry for you Sara, we just want to help." It was a simple fact.
"You will when this case is over. I can already see it in your eyes, and I'll see it in Nicky's eyes, and Warrick's, and Catherine's eyes. I would rather handle this by myself."
"I won't let you. We care about you too much Sara. Please."
Her head fell once again. "I'm scared."
I didn't expect that admission from Sara Sidle, ever. I knew she was headed for the bottom but no idea that this was hitting her that hard. I had to stop her from going any further. "Sara there is nothing to be afraid of. You are safe and with four very eager CSI's that want to clear your name. And I promise we will do just that."
"I couldn't ask for better CSI's." She looked up, and I could have swore I saw the sparkle return to her eyes.
"I heard you were questioned for quite a long time." I said changing the subject.
"Yeah, by Ethan. What a jerk."
"Let's start there. Who is he and why is he out to get you?"
She let out a heavy sigh like the words themselves took her breath away. "I did the first internal investigation on him that put the spotlight on his career. And almost got him convicted, but my evidence was lost. He walked."
"What happened to the evidence? I know you don't just loose evidence."
"I was a rookie. I thought I really did loose it, I accepted my loss very hard. I was sure I placed the evidence in the evidence room. I will never forget my mistake. Now I am extra careful around evidence and how it is transported."
"Do you really think you lost it? From what I hear this guy could have lost it for you."
"Of course it crossed my mind but I didn't have the credibility to challenge his father."
"I should have known." I said. "Well how do you feel?"
"Like crap. I hate hospitals but I think I was released too early. My side is killing me, not to mention my head."
"That's a nasty cut." I reached up and touched it. "Are your ribs broken?"
"Yeah two of them, they bandaged me up but didn't give me anything for the pain. Afraid I would overdose to avoid conviction I guess."
"I'll see what I can do."
"Thanks."
"Do you feel like seeing the gang?"
"Not really. I know that they want to see me but..."
"Understood. Be right back."
"Okay."
"Do you want some coffee?" I asked her.
"Please that would be great."
I exited the room and found four very concerned faces that were already waiting to go in.
"Can we see her?" Nick asked practically going in the room already.
"Sorry Nick but she isn't ready. I barely convinced her to let us handle the case."
"Like you would have let her choose." Warrick snorted.
Catherine spoke up in my defense. "He would have Warrick. Am I right Gris?"
"The last thing I want to do is push her. She had to accept our help, if she didn't I couldn't force it. I would have requested that someone else take the case."
"But she agreed right?" Nick asked.
"Yes."
"She looked bad." This came from Catherine. "How does she feel?"
"Two broken ribs, bruises all over her arms and face, and a nasty cut that could be a concussion. She feels bad."
"That's crap that the doctor released her. She shouldn't have been interrogated with a concussion." Warrick said.
"Yeah I am surprised she didn't confess to something in her state." Catherine added.
"Well right now I want you two," I said pointing to Warrick and Nick. "To go to the scene and begin to collect evidence that could have been overlooked. I want new pictures taken too. Mr. Dobbs said he would get me the casefile with his guys' pictures and evidence later. But I want you there now."
"Got it."
"We are out of here. And tell Sara we love her."
"I will Nick."
"What about me?" Catherine folded her arms in front of her.
"I want you to photograph Sara's injuries for me."
"She won't like it. She's pretty private about things like that."
"I know but we need to show self defense. Then I want you to analyze her clothing. Look for the usual: DNA transfer, fibers, blood spatter, anything that shouldn't be there."
"Okay. I'll go get my camera."
"And I'll get Sara some coffee." By doing what I do best, work, I felt better already. I felt a little less helpless. I needed to know that Sara was capable of being saved. And it was looking much better.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
tbc...