Chapter 9: Sleep
I made the cross between the lab to the police station to see Sara. A very pretty lady directed me in the right direction towards the holding cells. When I found her she was sleeping on the cot in her cell. Her hair hid her bruised eye and she was curled up into a tight ball. The one blanket they gave her had fallen on the gray floor.
"She just fell asleep about fifteen minutes ago. Exhaustion finally won out." My eyes shifted from Sara's still form to another woman dressed in a blue uniform.
"I thought I would go crazy with her pacing. But I guess she thought that was better than the nightmares." She continued.
"Nightmares?" I don't know why I sounded so surprised. Sara did admit that she dreams about cases in which she is the victim. That was Sara for you; never at rest for a moment. Always working.
"Yeah, this is as quiet as she's been all day. I'll need you to sign in Mr. Grissom."
I dismissed my thoughts and took the clipboard to sign my name. "You know who I am."
"Of course you are the hot shot from Vegas. Just kidding, I have nothing against you scientists. I am Debra Coleman."
"I am glad that I haven't made another enemy." I smiled.
"Well the others are just ignorant to what you guys really do."
"You talk like you know."
"Lets just say I have seen you at work and I am impressed. I can open the cell if you want to sit with her."
"I wouldn't want to disturb her. She needs her rest. Sara isn't one that gives in easily to sleep."
"She would sleep longer if she knew someone was with her."
I hesitated. "Maybe for a little bit. I noticed her cover is on the floor and she looks cold."
"I have a feeling that the cold she feels is on the inside." Debra said sadly. I noticed the compassion in her eyes.
"Did you know Sara before she left?"
"No, but I have seen the innocent suffer. And your friend is innocent." Debra unlocked the cell and pulled it open as quietly as the metal would allow.
"Thank you."
"No problem. Let me get you a chair." She returned with a metal chair in hand and put it beside the cot. "I will be at the end of the hallway when you're done."
Debra again closed the cell door as softly as she could and disappeared down the hall. I picked up the navy colored wool blanket and laid it across Sara's shoulders. Then I cautiously sat down beside her.
I got lost in her face. I pushed away the stray piece of hair that fell across her eye. The bruise was still a nasty color. I traced the bruise with my finger then traveled to the gash on her forehead. The cut was deep. I was thankful that the hospital cleaned it or I would be worrying about it getting infected. I then moved to her wrist that daringly poked out from under the blanket. The cuts from the handcuffs were still fresh and unattended. When I touched them, she shifted in pain. I thought I had waken her and immediately put my hands in my lap.
She started to murmur unreadable slurs. I watched her eyes squint then release to normal. The wrinkles produced from the action left white marks where her bruise was. I was in pain for her. Every bump, bruise, cut, and broken bone was felt. My mind wondered to Catherine's pictures and I closed my eyes in pain. No matter how bad her arms and face looked, under her clothing was worse.
She shifted again rolling onto her back. She was so beautiful, so very beautiful. Even dressed in those ugly gray clothes that hung off her body and the bruises she had, she was still amazing. I took her hand in mine; it was warm. The size difference was stunning. Her hands were so small compared to my own, just like the rest of her.
I began to feel exhaustion kicking in and my head started to fall heavily onto the cot beside her. I dreamed of nothing, which was curious because usually I would be full of thoughts relating to the past day. But I didn't dream at all. It was the most peaceful sleep I have ever had. One thought did cross my mind as I went into my deep slumber though. I saw a flash of my conversation with the homeless woman from the case with the dead super model.
"What do you do when you find what you are looking for?" I asked.
"Sleep. The perfect sleep."
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tbc...