Chapter 17: Sara's Defense
"If you'll take a seat please we can have you out of here in no time." Preston McFadden gestured towards the chair opposite of him and Sara slowly sat down. "I have heard a lot about you Miss Sidle. It was a real shame what happened."
"It could have been worse." She said flatly. Indeed it could have been much worse. She could have been murdered, or she could have lost Grissom to his insecurities. She was at a point where losing him could be the worst.
McFadden tried to size the brunette up and down. There was something about her personality that intrigued him and irritated him to no end. He viewed her file like he did the rest of Gil Grissom's team, but their initial introduction was different. The other woman was just as brazen and defensive, but this woman had a quality that he found almost annoying. "I understand that you know the ropes of internal investigations."
"I thought this was an inquiry."
He nodded. She was really familiar with the inner workings of his job. That could be the reason he saw her as a threat. "I want you to know that I will be taping this conversation and I expect you to answer all of my questions."
She smiled sweetly at him showing her gap. "Of course Mr. McFadden."
He adjusted the file in front of him. "Let's begin. On the day of your attack, there was a heated argument between you and Gil Grissom. Can I ask what it was about?"
"Grissom was upset that I was working a case and not getting my rest."
"Do you normally pass up sleep for a case?" He asked after he scribbled a note.
"Yes, when it's hot."
"He never made you slow down?"
"Yes." She chose her words wisely. "He has restricted my overtime hours and ordered me home for rest many times before."
"But he didn't choose to that day?"
Sara breathed deep. "No."
His brow furrowed as he got the upper hand on the questioning. "He is a superior. He has the responsibility. Why didn't he order you home?"
"Ask him." She shot back venomously suddenly surprising even herself. She eased her tense shoulders. This isn't going to work if I can't keep myself in check, she reminded herself.
He made a line on the paper to give the illusion he was writing something. "At the crime scene were you distracted by the fight with Gil Grissom?"
"No. I wasn't distracted. I was concentrating on the scene."
"With only eight hours sleep you were able to work a crime scene solo to the best of your capabilities?" He asked enjoying his sarcastic tone of voice.
Her eyes narrowed. She didn't mind that this man was just doing his job, but he knew that there was nothing here. He was just fishing for anything he can move forward on. She wasn't about to let that happen. "First of all it was nine hours, not eight. I can work any crime scene anytime, anywhere, anyhow with less sleep than nine hours."
"Quite sure of yourself aren't you?" He smiled to get her get angry. Anger was an emotion very hard to control.
"So I am told." She calmed her breathing. "Is that all you have for me?"
McFadden almost wanted to laugh but refrained. "Dr. Grissom is a good CSI..."
"A great CSI." She added quickly.
"Yes he is." He eyed her for a moment before leaning in on his elbows. "You know I get the feeling that you know him better than those I talked to before."
"I don't know about that."
"Do you doubt his judgment?" He asked quickly switching gears to start the verbal chase.
"Not for a second."
"So you were not worried at all that he wouldn't save you?"
"No."
"How many years have you known Gil Grissom?"
"Ten and counting."
"Catherine Willows has known him longer and still she doesn't know that much about him. Do you find it hard to connect with him?"
"No. I connect with him best."
"Do you see him as good with people?"
"He is not a people person but then again most of the people he meets are dead." She shot back with a dry smile. Her Grissom was never good with people but always good with her.
"Would you protect him?"
"Against what? A suspect with a weapon, a bullet, the common cold, a killer clown, you?"
He was quiet until it dawned on him. "Do you have intimate feelings for Dr. Grissom?"
She tilted her head to the side when he finally took the bate. "I think you know exactly what you want to hear. It doesn't matter what I say." She looked at him cautiously. "The truth is Mr. McFadden there is nothing I wouldn't do for Gil Grissom. There isn't one of us that would willingly let some absurd inquiry take him from the forensic field. If you are implying for one minute that I am easy or sleep around with my coworkers, then I believe I have every right to file charges. If that is not what you are saying then perhaps you should be more careful with your words or there may be an inquiry."
He sat dumbfounded and now enraged. "Is that a threat Miss Sidle?"
She half-smiled. "Of course not. You know how inquiries are; needed in all the wrong places."
"Do you regret taking the case?" He was getting defensive and planning right into her hands.
"Not for a second."
"So you do not regret that an officer was murdered and his family has to go on without him?"
There was a sudden lump in her throat and he relished in it. She tried to forget that part before it drug her down into nothing. The thought of being responsible for a human life terrified her. I'm not responsible, she told herself and neither is Grissom. It was Morse. Say it. "It was Morse that murdered Officer Tally. I cannot regret someone else's actions, I can only offer my sympathy to his family. Gil Grissom is in no way responsible for any of this."
"Look Miss Sidle, this is how it works. Your boss, that you so blatantly put on a high pedestal, neglected his duties. I cannot ignore 'what ifs' Miss Sidle. We may not be here if Gil Grissom had done his job and sent you home."
"You are right." She nodded. "I may be dead because Morse would attack me at home where no one could prevent it. I guess Grissom would still be responsible for killing me, because he sent me home. 'What ifs' Mr. McFadden are for those with no evidence. I am a crime scene investigator I rely on evidence not on theory and speculation. I guess that is the difference between you and me."
McFadden shot daggers with his eyes. "Watch yourself Miss Sidle."
"Excuse me?"
"I'm running the questioning, not you and I don't like your tone."
"I don't like you." She hissed.
There was a knock on the door and Mobley almost barged in with Grissom in quiet tow. Grissom was wearing a look of disbelief and worry, while Mobley held a sure sign of a headache. Mobley whispered something in McFadden's ear that neither investigator could understand. McFadden stared Sara down as he rose to his feet.
"Gil let's go to your office." Mobley said cutting into the tension.
He shared an uneasy glance with Sara. How could she be so stupid? This wasn't like her. He silently complied and followed the two men to his office. The stares from the entire lab could not be ignored as they bore holes in his back. Before he could collect himself, his shaky hand closed his office door. He took a deep breath and stepped behind his desk. Possibly the last time he would have authority behind that desk.
Mobley exchanged glances with McFadden who now seethed with irritation. "There will be no formal investigation Gil."
He blinked. "What?"
"Don't think for one minute that we cannot conduct one." McFadden put in quickly.
"The truth is Gil, we don't need bad publicity."
"Sara." He muttered in shock.
McFadden crossed his arms across his chest. "She would ruin the investigation."
"The system would be a mockery." Mobley added trying to calm McFadden but it didn't work.
"I know she planned this, but I still don't know why. She was out of line Dr. Grissom and I could suspend her without pay for the stunt she pulled."
"We won't." Mobley added. "But maybe you have to. Her behavior cannot go unpunished. What would the system look like if its own CSI's lost trust in it?"
"I'm not suspending Sara Sidle." His voice almost belonged to someone else.
McFadden stared him down. "You misunderstood. We are not giving you a choice."
Grissom turned to Mobley. "Just do it Gil. Suspend her for a week until this blows over."
He boiled with anger as he spoke. "No."
"Fine, she is suspended effectively immediately for three weeks." McFadden said with a smile.
"What?!"
"Would you like reconsider?"
Grissom stared out the window to the team now standing in front of his office. The only one he saw was Sara with worry etched across her lovely face.
"Be political Gil." Mobley said. "It can save us all some future trouble."
"One week."
He nodded. "One week. Now, I think it's best if all of this was put behind us. But I do hope you've learned something from this mess."
"I have." He said letting his blue eyes land on McFadden's tired worn face. Sara really got under his skin.
Mobley turned away but McFadden pausing for a moment. "Off the record, do you have feelings for that woman?"
"There is no such thing as off the record Mr. McFadden, but for your own personal knowledge, there isn't anything I wouldn't do for her or anyone else on my team."
McFadden raised an eyebrow. "She said the same thing about you."
"Then I guess I am not as unpopular as I thought."
The older man's lips tightened into a thin line before dragging his body out the door.
tbc...