Title: Day After Day
Chapter: 9
Author: Evidence
Rating: PG-13
Author's Notes: Well this is the chapter I've been waiting for (and I think a few of you, too). Sorry for all the cliffhangers but I grew up on Nancy Drew where the chapter would end, "The cat was poised to attack, Nancy's time had run out!" Thanks again for the reviews, you make my day.
He heard her voice, hadn't he? Maybe it was just some surreal fantasy that was happening to him. Maybe he had dreamed the "Hey". He had been going crazy without her, maybe he finally cracked.
"Yeah, it's me."
Fantasies don't usually answer.
"Did you say, "Sara", Gil?" Catherine asked him.
"Oh, God," Laura Sidle put her hands to her mouth.
Nick and Warrick turned their attention to the small cell phone in Grissom's hand.
"Yes, it's..." he had hoped and even prayed for his moment but it seemed unbelievable to him, "it's Sara."
The Sidles openly wept. Brass started yelling commands to the troops. Warrick and Catherine hugged. Greg was muttering to himself.
Grissom's mind finally became clear. "Sara, thank God, where are you?"
"I'm holding a couple hostage at 34 Cold Spring Road."
"You're doing what?"
"I'll explain later. Can you pick me up?"
Tears choked his voice; "I'll be right here. Stay on the line, I'm never losing you again." He held he phone, his lifeline to Sara to his chest. "Brass, she's at 34 Cold Spring Road."
"Captain, that's just a few minutes from here." A young officer yelled.
"Alright, Evans you lead the way. Phelps, Montago, San Janico, stay here at the crime scene. Everyone else lets move out." Never before did Jim Brass's words carry so much weight.
"Is she okay?" Dan Sidle asked Grissom.
"I think so," he replied.
A parade of police cars and Tahoes sped to the new location. Grissom immediately continued his phone conversation once he and Warrick had pulled away.
"Sara, I'm so glad to hear you voice." Relief washed over him. She was alive and fairly well; at least she could talk. Sara was coming back to him; he could build a life with her. He would make sure Mark Raymond paid.
"I'm glad to hear yours, too." If she didn't have to stay focused on the couple she had at gunpoint, she would have cried. For a while she believed she would never be free, she would never be a CSI again, or see Grissom. It was over though; all the nightmarish hell was over. She would somehow find a way to rebuild her life even without the man she loved.
"What did you mean by hostages?" Grissom questioned.
He could hear the smile in Sara's voice. "I knocked on their door but they wouldn't let me in so I showed them my gun."
"Sara!" He couldn't help but laugh.
In a whisper she said, "Just don't tell them I won't kill them."
"It will be our secret."
"Tell her," Warrick said interrupting Grissom's thoughts.
"What?" he asked turning to look at the driver.
Sara was mumbling something in the background but Grissom could hear Warrick fine.
"Tell her how you feel."
"Hold on a second Sara, Warrick is talking to me." Grissom put the phone to his chest so that Sara was deaf to the conversation. "Not now, the time isn't right."
Warrick shook his head. "Griss, the time will never be right. Tell her. We don't know how badly she's hurt, she could still die. Do you want her to die without ever knowing how you feel?"
Did he want to go back to the way things were before the kidnapping? Did he want to turn her down again? Or did he want things to be different between them? Could they forge a relationship?
Visions of Sara cascaded through his mind. He did want her in his life. He had promised the Sidles he would admit the truth, he had promised himself.
Taking the phone back to his ear he said, "Sara, I've never been so miserable in my life since I lost you. You're special to me." It wasn't as intimate as normal lovers speak to each other but he could tell he had gotten to her. He could hear her tears.
"We're here," Warrick said, shooting him back to reality.
It was like a slow motion scene in a movie. Grissom could see Brass and officers running into the house. He could see his CSI unit anxiously waiting and the Sidles crying. Then he saw the best thing: Sara Sidle. Jim Brass was supporting her but she was walking with her own steam. Her appearance was shocking. Her hair looked dull, matted and greasy. Her face was drawn and taut. Those eyes that smiled brightly looked nearly dead inside. And the thing that made Grissom really pause was the sight of a knife hanging out of her abdomen.
The EMTs quickly began their jobs. Grissom could hear all the shoots of joy.
Nick- "Oh, sweetie, I'm so glad to see you."
Greg- "Hey," unsure of what else to say.
Catherine- "You hang tough, okay?"
Warrick- "Come on girl, show them what you got."
Laura- "I'm here baby, everything is going to be alright."
Dan- "We all love you."
Sara's eyes were glued right to him but he couldn't utter a word. He watched the EMTs put her into the waiting ambulance.
Sara was confused. He had told her she was special to him and now he said nothing. It was probably just some Grissomism, she thought. But I'm alive and no matter what happens or doesn't happen I'm going to live life to the fullest.
The Sidles joined their only child in the back of the ambulance. The driver was ready to pull away but Dan put his hand on the man's shoulder. "Wait, our son-in-law isn't with us." Moving to the back and opening the door, Dan yelled to Grissom, "Come on, you belong here."
Catherine gave him a look that said, "Do it." Nick had an encouraging smile and Warrick literally gave him a push. Soon Gil Grissom found himself part of Sara's family, riding in the back of the ambulance, holding her hand.
If I die now, I'll die happy, Sara thought. She let out her best smile.
It seemed to Grissom countless hours had passed between Sara's arrival at the hospital and for her doctor to finally clue them in on her condition. Catherine, Warrick, Nick, and Brass were at the crime scene investigating. Greg stayed with Grissom and the Sidles.
Greg flipped through the magazine rack again. "This is an insane. The National Geographic I am holding in my hand was published in 1972! Look at this one," he said waving the magazine in front of Grissom's face, "a Movie World from 1954. I wasn't even born then." Greg paused and scratched his face, "Maybe I should keep it, I could sell it on Ebay and make some grandiose dollars."
"You do that Greg." Sometimes Greg could be annoying in a good way.
"Excuse me." Sara's doctor entered a tall man bearing the name Pearson. The Sidles jumped up from the couch they had been sitting on. "She is a very lucky young woman. Her injuries are not life threatening although it will be a while before she is 100 %."
Sara was going to be all right, Grissom thought. Thank you, God.
The doctor continued, his moustache twitching as he talked. "She suffered two blows to the head and a conclusion. There is no apparent brain damage. She has several bruises and contusions that over time will heal. The flesh that was removed will probably have to be replaced with plastic surgery later on; we had to sew it up for now. She received two cracked ribs and one bruised rib bone. The knife did not do any permanent damage although she did lose a good amount of blood. A blood transfusion helped that. Her wrists were cut and she has an infection in them, but with antibiotics I think she'll be fine."
"Oh, thank you, doctor." Laura Sidle hugged the man.
"When can we see her?" Dan eagerly asked.
"She is sedated right now, she needs her rest. Soon though." Dr. Pearson escorted the Sidles to the reception area to fill out forms.
"Come on Greg."
"Where are we going?"
"To visit with Sara."
Greg was surprised to see the look of determination on his boss's face. "But the doctor just said..."
"I don't care what he said, I need to see her." He needed to be with her.
"Okay, I'm with you Obi Wan."
After a few bad turns, Grissom and Greg found the ICU and Sara's room. She was lucky enough to rank a personal suite with a police officer outside. Until Raymond was caught, she wasn't safe.
"Joe, I need to get into that room," Grissom addressed the cop.
"Mr. Grissom..."
"Now, Joe."
Joe sighed. "If I lose my job..."
"You won't. Coming Greg?"
Greg shook his head, "You need time alone with her, I'll wait out here."
Grissom entered Sara's room alone. It was a light shade of green with a view of the parking lot. Sara looked like a sleeping angel. Medical gizmos were attached here and there but she looked at peace.
Grissom moved a chair up to her bed and encompassed her hand in his. "Hey," he said at the sleeping face, "I'm so glad you're alright. You're going to make a full recovery." He stopped to wipe tears from his face. "I'm going to make the guy that did this to you pay. I promise you that."
Sara's eyes seemed to flutter.
"I've missed you so much. No one else can read my mind like you. You have to be safe from now on, okay? I don't think any of us can take going through this again."
He looked back at the door. Greg was in an animated conversation with Joe. "Greg and the rest of the gang are here for you. I'm here for you. Whatever you need just ask."
He had waited so long to tell her but how seemed the right time until he could garner his courage. "I'm sorry I said I didn't want to date you. That is a lie. I'm just scared to let you into my life but now I'm more scared of losing you." He brushed back her hair with his hand. "I love you, Sara."
He would bide his time. He would let her feel at peace, safe. Then he would find her and repay for the misery she had caused him. It was no longer Tracy he wanted to kill but Sara Sidle.
To be continued...
Chapter: 9
Author: Evidence
Rating: PG-13
Author's Notes: Well this is the chapter I've been waiting for (and I think a few of you, too). Sorry for all the cliffhangers but I grew up on Nancy Drew where the chapter would end, "The cat was poised to attack, Nancy's time had run out!" Thanks again for the reviews, you make my day.
He heard her voice, hadn't he? Maybe it was just some surreal fantasy that was happening to him. Maybe he had dreamed the "Hey". He had been going crazy without her, maybe he finally cracked.
"Yeah, it's me."
Fantasies don't usually answer.
"Did you say, "Sara", Gil?" Catherine asked him.
"Oh, God," Laura Sidle put her hands to her mouth.
Nick and Warrick turned their attention to the small cell phone in Grissom's hand.
"Yes, it's..." he had hoped and even prayed for his moment but it seemed unbelievable to him, "it's Sara."
The Sidles openly wept. Brass started yelling commands to the troops. Warrick and Catherine hugged. Greg was muttering to himself.
Grissom's mind finally became clear. "Sara, thank God, where are you?"
"I'm holding a couple hostage at 34 Cold Spring Road."
"You're doing what?"
"I'll explain later. Can you pick me up?"
Tears choked his voice; "I'll be right here. Stay on the line, I'm never losing you again." He held he phone, his lifeline to Sara to his chest. "Brass, she's at 34 Cold Spring Road."
"Captain, that's just a few minutes from here." A young officer yelled.
"Alright, Evans you lead the way. Phelps, Montago, San Janico, stay here at the crime scene. Everyone else lets move out." Never before did Jim Brass's words carry so much weight.
"Is she okay?" Dan Sidle asked Grissom.
"I think so," he replied.
A parade of police cars and Tahoes sped to the new location. Grissom immediately continued his phone conversation once he and Warrick had pulled away.
"Sara, I'm so glad to hear you voice." Relief washed over him. She was alive and fairly well; at least she could talk. Sara was coming back to him; he could build a life with her. He would make sure Mark Raymond paid.
"I'm glad to hear yours, too." If she didn't have to stay focused on the couple she had at gunpoint, she would have cried. For a while she believed she would never be free, she would never be a CSI again, or see Grissom. It was over though; all the nightmarish hell was over. She would somehow find a way to rebuild her life even without the man she loved.
"What did you mean by hostages?" Grissom questioned.
He could hear the smile in Sara's voice. "I knocked on their door but they wouldn't let me in so I showed them my gun."
"Sara!" He couldn't help but laugh.
In a whisper she said, "Just don't tell them I won't kill them."
"It will be our secret."
"Tell her," Warrick said interrupting Grissom's thoughts.
"What?" he asked turning to look at the driver.
Sara was mumbling something in the background but Grissom could hear Warrick fine.
"Tell her how you feel."
"Hold on a second Sara, Warrick is talking to me." Grissom put the phone to his chest so that Sara was deaf to the conversation. "Not now, the time isn't right."
Warrick shook his head. "Griss, the time will never be right. Tell her. We don't know how badly she's hurt, she could still die. Do you want her to die without ever knowing how you feel?"
Did he want to go back to the way things were before the kidnapping? Did he want to turn her down again? Or did he want things to be different between them? Could they forge a relationship?
Visions of Sara cascaded through his mind. He did want her in his life. He had promised the Sidles he would admit the truth, he had promised himself.
Taking the phone back to his ear he said, "Sara, I've never been so miserable in my life since I lost you. You're special to me." It wasn't as intimate as normal lovers speak to each other but he could tell he had gotten to her. He could hear her tears.
"We're here," Warrick said, shooting him back to reality.
It was like a slow motion scene in a movie. Grissom could see Brass and officers running into the house. He could see his CSI unit anxiously waiting and the Sidles crying. Then he saw the best thing: Sara Sidle. Jim Brass was supporting her but she was walking with her own steam. Her appearance was shocking. Her hair looked dull, matted and greasy. Her face was drawn and taut. Those eyes that smiled brightly looked nearly dead inside. And the thing that made Grissom really pause was the sight of a knife hanging out of her abdomen.
The EMTs quickly began their jobs. Grissom could hear all the shoots of joy.
Nick- "Oh, sweetie, I'm so glad to see you."
Greg- "Hey," unsure of what else to say.
Catherine- "You hang tough, okay?"
Warrick- "Come on girl, show them what you got."
Laura- "I'm here baby, everything is going to be alright."
Dan- "We all love you."
Sara's eyes were glued right to him but he couldn't utter a word. He watched the EMTs put her into the waiting ambulance.
Sara was confused. He had told her she was special to him and now he said nothing. It was probably just some Grissomism, she thought. But I'm alive and no matter what happens or doesn't happen I'm going to live life to the fullest.
The Sidles joined their only child in the back of the ambulance. The driver was ready to pull away but Dan put his hand on the man's shoulder. "Wait, our son-in-law isn't with us." Moving to the back and opening the door, Dan yelled to Grissom, "Come on, you belong here."
Catherine gave him a look that said, "Do it." Nick had an encouraging smile and Warrick literally gave him a push. Soon Gil Grissom found himself part of Sara's family, riding in the back of the ambulance, holding her hand.
If I die now, I'll die happy, Sara thought. She let out her best smile.
It seemed to Grissom countless hours had passed between Sara's arrival at the hospital and for her doctor to finally clue them in on her condition. Catherine, Warrick, Nick, and Brass were at the crime scene investigating. Greg stayed with Grissom and the Sidles.
Greg flipped through the magazine rack again. "This is an insane. The National Geographic I am holding in my hand was published in 1972! Look at this one," he said waving the magazine in front of Grissom's face, "a Movie World from 1954. I wasn't even born then." Greg paused and scratched his face, "Maybe I should keep it, I could sell it on Ebay and make some grandiose dollars."
"You do that Greg." Sometimes Greg could be annoying in a good way.
"Excuse me." Sara's doctor entered a tall man bearing the name Pearson. The Sidles jumped up from the couch they had been sitting on. "She is a very lucky young woman. Her injuries are not life threatening although it will be a while before she is 100 %."
Sara was going to be all right, Grissom thought. Thank you, God.
The doctor continued, his moustache twitching as he talked. "She suffered two blows to the head and a conclusion. There is no apparent brain damage. She has several bruises and contusions that over time will heal. The flesh that was removed will probably have to be replaced with plastic surgery later on; we had to sew it up for now. She received two cracked ribs and one bruised rib bone. The knife did not do any permanent damage although she did lose a good amount of blood. A blood transfusion helped that. Her wrists were cut and she has an infection in them, but with antibiotics I think she'll be fine."
"Oh, thank you, doctor." Laura Sidle hugged the man.
"When can we see her?" Dan eagerly asked.
"She is sedated right now, she needs her rest. Soon though." Dr. Pearson escorted the Sidles to the reception area to fill out forms.
"Come on Greg."
"Where are we going?"
"To visit with Sara."
Greg was surprised to see the look of determination on his boss's face. "But the doctor just said..."
"I don't care what he said, I need to see her." He needed to be with her.
"Okay, I'm with you Obi Wan."
After a few bad turns, Grissom and Greg found the ICU and Sara's room. She was lucky enough to rank a personal suite with a police officer outside. Until Raymond was caught, she wasn't safe.
"Joe, I need to get into that room," Grissom addressed the cop.
"Mr. Grissom..."
"Now, Joe."
Joe sighed. "If I lose my job..."
"You won't. Coming Greg?"
Greg shook his head, "You need time alone with her, I'll wait out here."
Grissom entered Sara's room alone. It was a light shade of green with a view of the parking lot. Sara looked like a sleeping angel. Medical gizmos were attached here and there but she looked at peace.
Grissom moved a chair up to her bed and encompassed her hand in his. "Hey," he said at the sleeping face, "I'm so glad you're alright. You're going to make a full recovery." He stopped to wipe tears from his face. "I'm going to make the guy that did this to you pay. I promise you that."
Sara's eyes seemed to flutter.
"I've missed you so much. No one else can read my mind like you. You have to be safe from now on, okay? I don't think any of us can take going through this again."
He looked back at the door. Greg was in an animated conversation with Joe. "Greg and the rest of the gang are here for you. I'm here for you. Whatever you need just ask."
He had waited so long to tell her but how seemed the right time until he could garner his courage. "I'm sorry I said I didn't want to date you. That is a lie. I'm just scared to let you into my life but now I'm more scared of losing you." He brushed back her hair with his hand. "I love you, Sara."
He would bide his time. He would let her feel at peace, safe. Then he would find her and repay for the misery she had caused him. It was no longer Tracy he wanted to kill but Sara Sidle.
To be continued...