Chapter 6: Meeting Ethan
As soon as I found the coffeepot I quickly poured two cups. I was overdue for a good cup of hot coffee myself. I stared at the hot black liquid with a million thoughts swimming around in my cup as I stared into its depths.
"I got it." Catherine said as she entered the lounge. "Are you okay?"
My response was forced and fake. "Fine. Would you like a cup?"
"Not now. I'll get one later."
"I meant to tell you thank you for doing this. I don't think I could take the pictures." I realize my comment came out of nowhere and tried to hide my embarrassment.
"Gil..." She began.
I waved a hand to stop her from continuing. "Just...thank you."
"Sure. Are you sure she won't mind?"
"She won't like it, but Sara is fully aware of the process." My voice was harsher than I intended. "I know it sounds like I don't care..."
"Do you? I mean this wouldn't be the first time you disregarded her feelings because of a case."
I stopped and looked at her. I knew she was only looking out for Sara's well being, but her words were harsh, even for me.
"Catherine I am not disregarding her feelings, I just want to keep my objective to help her out of this mess."
"I believe you I just wanted to check and I'll keep checking for Sara's sake. I know you Gil and sometimes you get blind-sided by science and forget that the case involves actual human beings with feelings. Remember that this isn't some victim you can be distant and objective with, this is Sara."
"I know Cath. I know." I started towards the interrogation room again when she caught my arm.
"Good." She smiled.
The first thing that shook me from my thoughts of my conversation with Catherine was the sound of yelling from down the hall. As Catherine and I neared the interrogation room, we found out it was coming from inside. I started in a run, dropping the coffee. I burst through the door at full speed.
"What the hell do you think you are doing?" I yelled and pushed the younger man against the wall away from Sara. She was lying on the floor, face down, and coughing horribly. Catherine rushed to Sara's side, giving me the time to question the jerk who put her there.
"Even if you have a good explanation for what I just saw, that won't stop me from beating the shit out of you."
"You didn't see anything. She fell out of her chair coughing when I started questioning her again. I was helping her up."
"I know what I saw."
"You know what you think you saw. I didn't touch her." He said cockily.
"You must be Ethan Parks." Catherine called over to us. The disgust was evident in her voice.
"Yes and this is my case. I over see what goes on."
"Not anymore. Get out of my face! Now!" I threw him towards the door. He staggered a bit then gained his balance.
"See you around Sare." He gave me a evil smile and walked out the door.
After satisfied that he was gone and I was able to control myself again I went to Sara, who was on her back finally catching her breath. "How is she?"
"Better." Catherine raised an eyebrow silently conveying that it shouldn't have happened in the first place.
"Sara what happened?" I asked her.
She looked at me with hatred in her eyes. "Nothing."
"Sara you don't have to protect him. He hit you, didn't he?"
"You can't prove it, so I don't want to go down that road. I am in a big enough mess as it is."
"I can't prove it?! Sara I am a forensic scientist, I can and will find evidence."
"Like what? I already have bruises on my stomach. You can't tell the difference between one or the other." Her anger too was apparent in her voice, then she calmed down. "Forget it, he will get what is coming to him." The tone of her voice held nothing but malice toward that man. That's the Sara I knew, the one that wouldn't take crap from anybody. Her eyes shifted to Catherine and a smile spread across her face. "Hey Catherine. You look good."
"So do you."
"Yeah right. Help me up would you?"
"Sure." Catherine and I pulled Sara to her feet and sat her in a chair. "Is that better Sara?"
"Much."
"Okay Gris if you'll excuse us."
I saw the panic flash in her eyes when Catherine asked me to step out.
"Why?" Sara asked.
"I want Catherine to photograph your injuries."
"Oh." Was all she said then her face went serious masking her true feelings.
"I'll be with Nick and Warrick at the scene. If you need me, call me."
"Sure thing." Catherine began to load the camera. "And try to stay out of fights with the other children."
I left the room with a smile on my face. It felt good to get out my frustration on something. First it was Ecklie and now Ethan Parks. It wasn't like me but they honestly deserved it. Anyone that would hurt someone so vulnerable deserved it.
As I crawled into the Tahoe, again the sad truth hit me. I was telling the truth when I said that I couldn't handle seeing Sara so exposed. I was glad to leave. I had to get my mind off of Sara and back to the case. That I can handle and handle well.
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tbc...