Sara's heart pounded relentlessly. Her lungs burned as she forced in more oxygen. The pain in her side, as well as her legs, were proof of her exertion but she kept going. Her head cleared. She forgot momentarily about Grissom's possible investigation by concentrating on the dull ache as she pressed on. She felt better mentally. The running was a temporary relief until she could talk to Grissom about her concerns.
She came to an intersection and made a dead stop as traffic flew by. She cursed the traffic for making her stop yet thanked the traffic for the break. She didn't know how long she had been running but it had to be long because her tank top was drenched with sweat. Her normally pale skinned shoulders and face were pink with sunburn. The salty sweat burned her eyes. Her mouth was dry. Catching her breath somewhat, she realized she was shivering. Heat exhaustion, she thought quickly. She needed water. She took in her surroundings. She was only two blocks from work and knew for a fact that the fridge in the lounge had ample supply of bottled water and a chair to collapse in. Grissom wouldn't be too happy to see her pushing herself but she was closer to work than home.
She jogged up the front steps to the crime building. The cool air inside hit Sara in a wave. She had to close her eyes because of the immediate change in temperature. When she opened them she was grateful that no one noticed her arrival. She walked briskly past the front desk towards the lounge.
She stepped into the lounge once she found that it was clear of people. She had no doubt that she looked bad and she didn't want to worry Grissom. Again. He worries too much about me, she thought. She untied the sweatshirt from around her waist to put it on. The cold air in the building was making her shiver more now; she hoped her sweater would slow the process. Then she made her way to the fridge. She had to get water in her system, because if the violent chills were any indication she was on the edge of heat exhaustion. She ran cold water over her wrists and splashed some on her face and neck.
Sara took a quick seat in one of the chairs involuntarily. Her legs felt like rubber. She had no idea she was running so long and so hard. She would pay dearly with sore muscles tomorrow.
Grissom and Catherine were walking passed when they saw Sara in the lounge bent over in a chair. His heart leaped. He made a sharp turn and walked right in on her trying to calm her breathing.
"Sara what are you doing here?" He thought she looked horrible. Her skin was pasty looking. She looked sick. He definitely left her in better condition.
Her head shot up in a hurry. "Grissom. I was..." She wanted to explain but Catherine was right behind him. "I needed some water." She said quickly.
Catherine stepped in around Grissom who was frozen in the doorway. "Sara, look at you." Catherine exclaimed holding up her arms. "Let me get you a cold washcloth."
"No Catherine I should go." She said looking at Grissom wanting to explain. She hoped he would follow her out so they could talk. She rose from her chair in a hurry. The result was a dizzy feeling that had her falling back to the chair.
Grissom ran over and stopped her from falling further and striking her head on the table. "Sara what the hell were you doing? You're soaked."
Sara gained her bearings. He knew exactly what she was doing, he asked for Catherine's sake not his. "I was in a pageant for sweatiest woman in America." She replied sarcastically. Grissom just frowned and did a side glance at Catherine. "I was running." She said finally.
Catherine came over with the washcloth. "Put this on the back of your neck."
"I just got up too fast. I'm okay really." Sara said.
Grissom pushed a strand of bangs from her wet face without thinking what Catherine might think. He was finding it hard to be discreet when Sara was so sick looking. His tone was gentle. "Sara you are clammy and too white to be okay. How long have you been running?"
If only she could tell him that she was worried about an investigation, then he would understand why she lost track of time. She wasn't doing this on purpose. She might have caressed his face for reassurance that she was okay but Catherine was too close for such an action to go unnoticed. "Grissom I am fine." Sara stood up to prove her point. On wobbly legs she stabled herself. "See. Just have to take it slow."
Grissom gave her a disapproving glance. She was going to hear about this later no matter what she said now.
"I should go." Again she hoped Grissom would follow. When Sara pushed past Catherine, who was blocking her path, she got very lightheaded. The next thing she knew she hit the floor and nothing but black surrounded her.
"Sara!" Catherine yelled.
They rushed to her side and rolled her over on her back. There was blood on her chin from a busted lip.
"Dammit Sara!" Grissom yelled. His heart jumped in his chest. He wasn't angry with her but angry that she was brushing this off like nothing. That and he was scared. He thought he got through to her this morning.
"The last thing she needs is to wake up and find you're yelling at her. Again. I know anger is your only emotion these days but not now. Not with Sara." Catherine scolded him.
"If she would just listen to me." He exclaimed. He reached for her neck to check her pulse. She was hot to the touch. "Her pulse is through the roof. We need to cool her down." Grissom began to remove the sweatshirt that clung to her sweaty body. "Get her shoes and socks." He said quickly.
"What?" Catherine asked puzzled.
"The three places heat is lost is the hands, head, and feet. Take her shoes and socks off."
Catherine didn't question him anymore and removed Sara's socks and shoes. Then he slid his arms under Sara's small frame and lifted her up with ease. Catherine did a double take at his ease to touch her. After all this was the man that avoided human contact, especially with Sara. He seemed comfortable holding her, like he was meant to. He carried her down the hall toward the locker room.
"Mr. Grissom what's wrong with Sara?" Judy and another secretary stood close by and watched the scene in concern.
"She passed out." He said quickly.
"Will she be okay? Do you need an ambulance?"
Grissom ignored her and motioned for Catherine to open the door to the locker room for him.
"She's fine Judy." Catherine called as she held open the door.
Grissom made his way back to the showers. Sara was deathly pale now, almost with a green tint. He was getting really worried. "Turn on the shower. Luke warm water. Not too cold and not too hot." He ordered her once Catherine arrived.
Catherine did as she was told and tested the water with her wrist. "It's ready."
He sat her down under the water gently. There was an immediate response to the water as Sara woke up and clung to Grissom, getting him wet in the process. She didn't know where she was at all. The last thing she remembered was the lounge trying to leave. She blinked over at Grissom who unclasped her hands from his shirt and was now bent down beside her out of the water.
"You passed out from heat exhaustion." He said reading the confusion in her eyes. "I am going to adjust the water to cool. Okay I need you to take slow deep breaths." Grissom turned the hot water knob down just a little. When the water hit Sara she started to hyperventilate. "No Sara! Calm down. Slow deep breaths."
Sara listened to Grissom's voice and her hand groped for his thigh. Her breathing was calmed and back to normal now. She leaned back into the wall and let the cool water run over her. She noticed she was in the locker room without her sweater and shoes on. She had both on before, didn't she? Her mind was unable to focus. Oddly Sara could only think about the risk of getting Athlete's Foot from the shower.
"You feel better Sara?" Catherine voice came. It sounded off in the distance to Sara.
She didn't even have the energy to speak she just nodded her head. Her tongue snaked out to get some water. She was surprised to find that it tasted like blood.
Grissom was watching her carefully. He had seen this happen before but that didn't mean he wasn't scared when Sara passed out. It was a good thing he knew what to do. He watched Sara lick her lips. "You busted open your bottom lip when you hit the floor." He reached up and turned the water off. "Let me help you up."
There was no such thing as helping, Grissom picked Sara off the floor. Her body was completely drained of any and all energy. It was amazing she could hold her head up to look at Grissom.
"I'm wet." She smiled tiredly. She swayed into him then backed away realizing they weren't alone.
Grissom smiled back full force; teeth and all. "Yeah Sara you are wet. Cath get me a towel from my locker." Catherine watched the spectacle in awe completely unaware that Grissom was talking to her. "Catherine?" She jumped. "The towel please."
"Right." Catherine came back to Sara and Grissom with a towel. "Here."
Grissom draped it around Sara shoulders and began rubbing her arms for warmth. "Better?" He asked.
Sara just nodded. Her eyelids were heavy with sleep. She didn't even realize she was back sitting on the bench. Grissom began dabbing the blood off her chin and lip. She liked to be taken care of by Grissom he was gentle. She jerked away as he applied some kind of ointment that was burning.
"Sorry but I don't want it to scar." He said softly with a little smile. "Do you feel sick?"
Slowly Sara came back to reality to look at Grissom. "No."
He stood up and spoke to Catherine. "Catherine could you cover while I take Sara home. She should be fine but I want to make sure."
She raised an eyebrow at them. She knew something was up. Between his behavior and her behavior there was something going on. Catherine just smiled. "Okay. Take it easy Sara." She teasingly touched her shoulder. If there was something between them it was best for both of them. She walked out the door with a menacing smile on her face.
"Get your shoes on. I'll be right back." Grissom rushed out of the room. Sara sat in a quiet moment on the bench. She missed his presence immediately but was too tired to move. The wave of exhaustion was overcoming her senses. She didn't even hear Grissom come back in.
"You ready?" He looked at her bare feet and got his answer. "I got you some water. Don't drink it too fast, all right?" Grissom watched Sara take the bottle in slow motion. "Sara what possessed you to run eight miles?"
She didn't answer, because she couldn't. She was falling asleep sitting there. He bent down and put her shoes on. He stood her up and placed a hand on her elbow to guide her out of the locker room.
tbc...