Hi guys. I guess people are still reading this. Thanks to those who
reviewed. I'll be wrapping it up in one or two more chapters. Enjoy.
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"This whole scene is beginning to feel messed up," Nick sighed and stretched the muscles in his neck and back.
"Don't I know it," Warrick echoed his sentiments. "You trust Brass on this?"
"Yeah, man, I do," Nick gave a nod.
"It's all moving so damn slow. And Cath is trying. And it's still moving slow," Warrick took the lid off his third cup of coffee in the past hour and braved a healthy swallow.
"I know. Gotta have faith I guess," Nick sighed.
Both men turned as Catherine and Brass crossed the parking lot toward them.
"Guys," Catherine greeted. The dark circles under her eyes showed how little sleep she'd had. Her appearance wasn't lost on Warrick or Nick.
"Looks like you need this more than I do, Cath," Warrick said, offering her his coffee. She gave him a slight smile and took the cup.
Brass rolled his neck, hoping to alleviate the stiffness. "I just talked to Martinez. He's heading the SWAT command here. He doesn't think Dunn is negotiable."
"Big surprise there," Warrick said, keeping his eyes on Catherine.
"Hear Jim out, will you please?" Catherine frowned in exasperation and rubbed her forehead.
"Thank you. I've convinced Martinez to wait on any aggressive counter measures until I talk to Dunn again. I'll call in ten minutes and tell him that the car will be here in an hour."
Nick nodded. "Well, that at least buys us some time."
"To say the least," Warrick said softly. "You ok, Cath?"
"Fine."
"I've gotta agree with Warrick on this. I know you're tough, but you haven't slept in over forty-eight hours. That's crazy, Catherine," Brass said firmly.
"Yeah, ok, but it's not crazy for you guys, right?"
"Catherine, you know we've all grabbed a couple of hours when we could. I haven't seen you even sit down for more than a couple minutes," Warrick sighed.
"You're outnumbered, babe," Nick grinned at her.
"Know what, guys. I've tried to catch a nap here and there. Every time I close my eyes, I don't like what I see. So, if it's all the same to you, I'll stay awake until I know Gil and Sara are safe," she replied tersely.
Warrick shook his head, knowing nothing he said would convince her to sleep.
Brass, trying a different tact, leveled a no nonsense gaze at her; one he usually reserved for the interrogation room. "We're all trying to do the same thing, Cath. Don't make me worry about you too.
Catherine, caught off guard, simply nodded. "Yeah, ok. After this next call, I'll grab an hour in the Tahoe, if it gets the three of you off my back."
"There's a cot in the next SWAT van. Use that," Brass gestured, amazed that he'd convinced her to do anything. Will wonders never cease, he thought.
*****************************
Grissom continued struggling with the duct tape as Charlie, syringe in one hand and gun in the other, now stood over Sara.
"I'm gonna shoot her with one or the other, Grissom. Hey, ya know, that's pretty funny, Gilbert. 'Shoot her with one or the other.' You move and I guarantee it'll be the gun."
"You're so anxious to share the drug, Charlie, then try it out on me," Grissom bargained. "I had a friend in college with a habit. I always wondered what he saw in it." Grissom knew he was rambling but seemed unable to stop.
"Why'd I want you to experience pleasure, motherfucker"? Charlie looked at him with disgust.
"Get away from her, Dunn. Use your head. SWAT could be outside the door right now and you're busy getting some pseudo-sexual kick with a needle."
"Oooh, big words from scared little Gilbert," Charlie smiled snidely, then turned his attention back to Sara. "You know, I've got an even better idea for you, Miss CSI. You're gonna shoot this yourself. I'll watch." He extended the hypodermic to Sara.
The ice was back in Grissom's stomach as he searched Sara's face, desperate for her to look at him.
Sara felt the blue eyes bore into her. They cut through the haze, the pain and the hurt, straight into her soul. She couldn't look at him. Damn you, Grissom, she thought. Stop staring at me. I can't look at you now. Stop staring. I won't look at you. Stop staring. If I look at you I'll lose my courage. If I look at you, he'll know. He's not that stupid. Grissom. Stop. Please? Sara tried to keep her hand steady as she raised it.
Grissom's heart fell into his stomach as he watched Sara shakily take the syringe from Dunn. His throat failed him, but the words echoed in his head. No, Sara. No. Look at me. Please, just look at me so I know you won't do this. Sara. No. Please look at me so I know. Sara. Stop. Please?
"Good girl," Charlie crooned as Sara grabbed the surgical tubing he tossed at her. She quickly bound it around her upper arm.
Watching the nightmare unfold, Grissom's daze cleared. "Sara, no! Don't you fucking do this! You hear me?! Goddamnit, no!" She showed no reaction to his words with the exception of her jaw tightening.
Sara rolled the syringe between her fingers as Charlie turned to sneer at Grissom. Suddenly, her left leg shot out, catching the inside of Dunn's right knee. The blow was well placed, staggering him briefly. She lurched at him with the hypodermic. Charlie made a grab for her wrist and bent it backwards. Sara cried out and he shoved her to the ground, the syringe falling harmlessly at his feet. Sara gasped and tried to cushion her ribs as she fell.
The instant Grissom saw Sara kick Dunn, he'd made his own move toward him. Lunging forward, he attempted to drive a shoulder into Charlie's legs and at least get him off his feet. Having disposed of Sara for the time being, Dunn sidestepped Grissom and kicked the CSI savagely in the stomach. Unable to breathe, Grissom fought panic as he doubled over. He recognized the sensation of having the wind knocked out of him and struggled against completely blacking out.
Charlie grabbed the syringe from the ground and knelt over Sara. Her breath came in short gasps and she was obviously still disoriented after her brief struggle. Charlie grasped her arm and plunged the needle into flesh.
"Stupid, bitch," he spat at her as he emptied the drug into her arm. Charlie stood and watched as Sara's head rolled to the side and her eyes closed. Satisfied, he stepped across to Grissom, who was slowly regaining his breath.
"Now, was that really worth it, cowboy? Who's pathetic now, motherfucker?" Charlie tucked the .38 into his waistband. "All that macho shit over a little bitty shot. Your pretty young thing ain't feelin' no pain."
Grissom's mind reeled. God, no. No. He didn't do it. Heroin. Sara. Dead? No! The words and images came nonstop, as Dunn retreated again to the kitchen. Grissom raised his head and braced his shoulders against the wall, terrified of what he would find upon turning toward Sara. His shaking limbs seemed to have a mind of their own as he leaned closer and his eyes took in her form. She was so still, he thought. A sob almost escaped Grissom's throat as he watched her chest rise and fall. He knew the tears were close, but he'd never give Dunn the satisfaction. Closing his eyes and taking several deep breaths, he noted that the kick didn't seem to have done him lasting harm. Good. He had to touch her. He had to reach her and touch her. Sara was alive and the desire to feel any part of her was completely overwhelming. Without giving Charlie a second thought, Grissom edged his body closer to Sara. Finally, able to clasp her hand in his, he leaned back in relief.
"You just don't learn, do ya, Grissom?" Dunn taunted, opening another beer.
"I learned that you're afraid to fire the gun because you know SWAT would be on your ass in two seconds."
"Took you all this time to figure that out, huh?"
"No, Dunn. It took that long to prove my hypothesis."
"Don't matter. I'll still use it if I have to."
"I know," Grissom replied.
"I'm goin' out in a blaze of glory an' all that if I gotta."
Grissom squeezed Sara's hand tightly, hoping that she would respond to the pain and give some reaction.
"I don't care, man," Charlie laughed at him. "Sit there with your slut. Hell, that load may still kill her. Spend some quality time together why dontcha."
Grissom pulled Sara closer to him and gently rested her head against his thigh. He brushed his fingers upward on her face and brought his mouth closer to her ear. "Sara? I don't know if you can hear me, but I'm right here. I've got you. I'm holding you. No one is ever going to take you away. Ever. I love you."
Grissom lowered his chin to the top of Sara's head and closed his eyes. Strangely, he felt at peace and his mind had never been clearer.
The ring of the cell phone pierced the air and Charlie reached for it.
TBC
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"This whole scene is beginning to feel messed up," Nick sighed and stretched the muscles in his neck and back.
"Don't I know it," Warrick echoed his sentiments. "You trust Brass on this?"
"Yeah, man, I do," Nick gave a nod.
"It's all moving so damn slow. And Cath is trying. And it's still moving slow," Warrick took the lid off his third cup of coffee in the past hour and braved a healthy swallow.
"I know. Gotta have faith I guess," Nick sighed.
Both men turned as Catherine and Brass crossed the parking lot toward them.
"Guys," Catherine greeted. The dark circles under her eyes showed how little sleep she'd had. Her appearance wasn't lost on Warrick or Nick.
"Looks like you need this more than I do, Cath," Warrick said, offering her his coffee. She gave him a slight smile and took the cup.
Brass rolled his neck, hoping to alleviate the stiffness. "I just talked to Martinez. He's heading the SWAT command here. He doesn't think Dunn is negotiable."
"Big surprise there," Warrick said, keeping his eyes on Catherine.
"Hear Jim out, will you please?" Catherine frowned in exasperation and rubbed her forehead.
"Thank you. I've convinced Martinez to wait on any aggressive counter measures until I talk to Dunn again. I'll call in ten minutes and tell him that the car will be here in an hour."
Nick nodded. "Well, that at least buys us some time."
"To say the least," Warrick said softly. "You ok, Cath?"
"Fine."
"I've gotta agree with Warrick on this. I know you're tough, but you haven't slept in over forty-eight hours. That's crazy, Catherine," Brass said firmly.
"Yeah, ok, but it's not crazy for you guys, right?"
"Catherine, you know we've all grabbed a couple of hours when we could. I haven't seen you even sit down for more than a couple minutes," Warrick sighed.
"You're outnumbered, babe," Nick grinned at her.
"Know what, guys. I've tried to catch a nap here and there. Every time I close my eyes, I don't like what I see. So, if it's all the same to you, I'll stay awake until I know Gil and Sara are safe," she replied tersely.
Warrick shook his head, knowing nothing he said would convince her to sleep.
Brass, trying a different tact, leveled a no nonsense gaze at her; one he usually reserved for the interrogation room. "We're all trying to do the same thing, Cath. Don't make me worry about you too.
Catherine, caught off guard, simply nodded. "Yeah, ok. After this next call, I'll grab an hour in the Tahoe, if it gets the three of you off my back."
"There's a cot in the next SWAT van. Use that," Brass gestured, amazed that he'd convinced her to do anything. Will wonders never cease, he thought.
*****************************
Grissom continued struggling with the duct tape as Charlie, syringe in one hand and gun in the other, now stood over Sara.
"I'm gonna shoot her with one or the other, Grissom. Hey, ya know, that's pretty funny, Gilbert. 'Shoot her with one or the other.' You move and I guarantee it'll be the gun."
"You're so anxious to share the drug, Charlie, then try it out on me," Grissom bargained. "I had a friend in college with a habit. I always wondered what he saw in it." Grissom knew he was rambling but seemed unable to stop.
"Why'd I want you to experience pleasure, motherfucker"? Charlie looked at him with disgust.
"Get away from her, Dunn. Use your head. SWAT could be outside the door right now and you're busy getting some pseudo-sexual kick with a needle."
"Oooh, big words from scared little Gilbert," Charlie smiled snidely, then turned his attention back to Sara. "You know, I've got an even better idea for you, Miss CSI. You're gonna shoot this yourself. I'll watch." He extended the hypodermic to Sara.
The ice was back in Grissom's stomach as he searched Sara's face, desperate for her to look at him.
Sara felt the blue eyes bore into her. They cut through the haze, the pain and the hurt, straight into her soul. She couldn't look at him. Damn you, Grissom, she thought. Stop staring at me. I can't look at you now. Stop staring. I won't look at you. Stop staring. If I look at you I'll lose my courage. If I look at you, he'll know. He's not that stupid. Grissom. Stop. Please? Sara tried to keep her hand steady as she raised it.
Grissom's heart fell into his stomach as he watched Sara shakily take the syringe from Dunn. His throat failed him, but the words echoed in his head. No, Sara. No. Look at me. Please, just look at me so I know you won't do this. Sara. No. Please look at me so I know. Sara. Stop. Please?
"Good girl," Charlie crooned as Sara grabbed the surgical tubing he tossed at her. She quickly bound it around her upper arm.
Watching the nightmare unfold, Grissom's daze cleared. "Sara, no! Don't you fucking do this! You hear me?! Goddamnit, no!" She showed no reaction to his words with the exception of her jaw tightening.
Sara rolled the syringe between her fingers as Charlie turned to sneer at Grissom. Suddenly, her left leg shot out, catching the inside of Dunn's right knee. The blow was well placed, staggering him briefly. She lurched at him with the hypodermic. Charlie made a grab for her wrist and bent it backwards. Sara cried out and he shoved her to the ground, the syringe falling harmlessly at his feet. Sara gasped and tried to cushion her ribs as she fell.
The instant Grissom saw Sara kick Dunn, he'd made his own move toward him. Lunging forward, he attempted to drive a shoulder into Charlie's legs and at least get him off his feet. Having disposed of Sara for the time being, Dunn sidestepped Grissom and kicked the CSI savagely in the stomach. Unable to breathe, Grissom fought panic as he doubled over. He recognized the sensation of having the wind knocked out of him and struggled against completely blacking out.
Charlie grabbed the syringe from the ground and knelt over Sara. Her breath came in short gasps and she was obviously still disoriented after her brief struggle. Charlie grasped her arm and plunged the needle into flesh.
"Stupid, bitch," he spat at her as he emptied the drug into her arm. Charlie stood and watched as Sara's head rolled to the side and her eyes closed. Satisfied, he stepped across to Grissom, who was slowly regaining his breath.
"Now, was that really worth it, cowboy? Who's pathetic now, motherfucker?" Charlie tucked the .38 into his waistband. "All that macho shit over a little bitty shot. Your pretty young thing ain't feelin' no pain."
Grissom's mind reeled. God, no. No. He didn't do it. Heroin. Sara. Dead? No! The words and images came nonstop, as Dunn retreated again to the kitchen. Grissom raised his head and braced his shoulders against the wall, terrified of what he would find upon turning toward Sara. His shaking limbs seemed to have a mind of their own as he leaned closer and his eyes took in her form. She was so still, he thought. A sob almost escaped Grissom's throat as he watched her chest rise and fall. He knew the tears were close, but he'd never give Dunn the satisfaction. Closing his eyes and taking several deep breaths, he noted that the kick didn't seem to have done him lasting harm. Good. He had to touch her. He had to reach her and touch her. Sara was alive and the desire to feel any part of her was completely overwhelming. Without giving Charlie a second thought, Grissom edged his body closer to Sara. Finally, able to clasp her hand in his, he leaned back in relief.
"You just don't learn, do ya, Grissom?" Dunn taunted, opening another beer.
"I learned that you're afraid to fire the gun because you know SWAT would be on your ass in two seconds."
"Took you all this time to figure that out, huh?"
"No, Dunn. It took that long to prove my hypothesis."
"Don't matter. I'll still use it if I have to."
"I know," Grissom replied.
"I'm goin' out in a blaze of glory an' all that if I gotta."
Grissom squeezed Sara's hand tightly, hoping that she would respond to the pain and give some reaction.
"I don't care, man," Charlie laughed at him. "Sit there with your slut. Hell, that load may still kill her. Spend some quality time together why dontcha."
Grissom pulled Sara closer to him and gently rested her head against his thigh. He brushed his fingers upward on her face and brought his mouth closer to her ear. "Sara? I don't know if you can hear me, but I'm right here. I've got you. I'm holding you. No one is ever going to take you away. Ever. I love you."
Grissom lowered his chin to the top of Sara's head and closed his eyes. Strangely, he felt at peace and his mind had never been clearer.
The ring of the cell phone pierced the air and Charlie reached for it.
TBC