Don't Let The Bedbugs Bite
Disclaimer: not mine.
Rating: 12A (contains swearing in later chapters)
A.N. Parts of this are clearly made up. Guess which parts!
'No'
'But'
'No'
'Please?'
'No'
'Why not?'
'Because.no.'
'What kind of answer is that?'
'I'm not doing it, so quit asking.'
'But you're the only one free'
'And.'
'And I really need someone. Please Sara.'
'No.'
'Uh, why are you so stubborn? You're the only one not working, and everyone I know is busy. You're my last resort.'
'Thanks Catherine.'
'Well, you didn't think I'd ask otherwise, did you?'
'I'm not doing it. Kids hate me. I don't exactly like them either. End of story. Plus, who says I'm not busy?'
'You don't have a life. Besides I heard you ask Grissom if you could work it as overtime.'
Sara scowled at her.
'Please Sara. It's just this once. And Lindsey knows you. I don't want to have to bring in a stranger.'
'But I'm not good with kids.'
'You don't have to be. Just tell her to go to bed, then you can watch TV.'
'I don't watch TV.' 'Go figure. You can read journals or whatever it is you do. Just, please Sara, I really need a babysitter.'
'But I've never babysat in my life.'
'It's easy. All you do is make sure Lindsey's ok, and chill for a few hours.'
'What if she cries or something?'
'She won't. She's a good kid. The most she'll want is a bedtime story and I'm sure even you could stretch to that.'
Catherine could see she had worn Sara down, she just needed a final clinch to seal it. 'And you can have half my overtime allocation next week.'
She saw the light instantly pop on in Sara's eyes, as her brain inputted this new information.
'And it's for one night. That's it?' Sara checked.
'Promise.'
'Uh fine. But I warn you if she starts bawling, you're gonna get a call.'
'Grow up Sara. You just give her a hug, tell her the bad stuffs gone away, and put her back in bed. Honestly, you need to learn some people skills stat.'
'My people skills are fine. Besides, I'm never having children- what do I need to know what to do with them for?'
'You keep telling yourself that.' Catherine said.
Sara frowned at this, wondering what she meant. At that moment, Nick and Warrick walked into the breakroom, bickering playfully about some game that had been on. They greeted the two women already there.
'What's up?' Nick asked, settling into one of the seats next to Catherine.
'Just convincing Sara to babysit Lindsey for me tomorrow night.'
'Couldn't find anyone?' Nick asked sympathetically.
'Nah. But it's cool, I'm sure Sara will be fine.'
'Sara's still in the room.' Sara muttered.
Warrick was looking between Catherine and Sara, trying to decide whether to laugh or frown at the idea of Sara babysitting. He was interrupted when Grissom entered the room.
Nick and Sara were heading to an armed robbery at Citybank, whilst Warrick and Catherine were heading for a dead couple in a hotel room with Grissom. Warrick asked Catherine as they walked along whether she thought asking Sara to look after Lindsey was such a good idea.
'It's only for one night. What could go wrong? And anyway, I get the feeling Sara is better with kids than she lets on.'
'How so?'
'Remember the Buffallo case last year? She stayed with the little girl, got pretty close to her really, and I know for a fact she phones her social worker every month to see how she's getting along.'
'Really?' Warrick was finding it hard to imagine.
'She just doesn't want to ruin her career girl image by showing she has a soft touch for kids. Maybe Lindsey can break her.'
'Or put her off forever!'
'Hey that's my baby you're talking about!'
'I know- but all kids have a brattish side, and it usually comes out with new babysitters.'
'I'll just have to come up with some suitable warning for what will happen if she breaks any rules. I do not need anything interrupting this meeting.'
The meeting was with her ex, Eddie, concerning parenting rights over Lindsey. It was at night, because they both worked then, and because Eddie was trying to make it as awkward for her as possible to try and somehow prove that she was a bad mother.
The end of shift came quickly, and they met up at the local café for breakfast and to discuss their various cases. Nick and Sara had solved theirs already, whilst the others were having a little more trouble with theirs, none of the people involved were being very cooperative.
'So I'll see you at six tonight?' Catherine said to Sara as they walked out of the café.
Sara gave her a blank look.
'Babysitting. Tonight. For me?' Catherine prompted.
'Right. I knew that.'
'Please don't forget, Sara.'
'I won't, I promise. Um, just one thing.where do you live?'
Catherine stared at her for a long moment, before realising that she didn't exactly know where Sara lived either. She wrote the address out on a piece of paper as she gave verbal instructions of how to get there.
'Six o-clock.' Catherine emphasised once more before Sara could leave.
'I know.' Sara said, sounding exasperated.
Warrick and Nick had been standing near-by and had overheard the whole thing. Catherine turned to them now, a grim look on her face. 'Oh boy. What on earth am I letting myself in for?'
The boys weren't very helpful and just grinned at her.
Catherine was running late, getting on the last of her make-up when the doorbell went, making her jump. She hurried out, passing her daughter in the lounge who was engrossed in Monsters Inc for about the thirtieth time, and hadn't even blinked.
She glanced at the clock, surprised but then not that it was ten to six. Sara was nothing if punctual.
'Hey, come on in.'
Sara was dressed in stonewash jeans and a spaghetti strapped top, a large white over shirt to complete it.
'Find it ok?'
'Sure, no probs. Nice place.'
'Thanks.' Catherine glimpsed the backpack Sara had slumped over one shoulder. 'What on earth have you brought with you?'
'Change of clothes, as you insist on me staying over, and.just.some things to do.'
'You brought work.' Catherine reduced.
'And what's wrong with that?' Sara asked defensively.
Catherine shook her head in exasperation. 'Do the words Day Off mean anything to you?' She asked, but then noticed Sara's look wasn't on her.
She followed her eye line, and noticed her eyes were on the TV.
'Ooooo Monsters Inc!' For a moment, her tone of voice was one of awe and excitement. For the first time, Catherine could almost get the image of Sara as an actual child. Sara ignored her, crossing behind the sofa. 'This is my favourite part.' She said, presumably to Lindsey, although her eyes never left the screen.
Lindsey glanced over at her, smiled, before looking back at the screen, moving closer to Sara on the seat, finally finding someone who shared her passion for Monster's Inc.
As Lindsey had seen in that one moment, Sara wasn't trying to impress her with pretending to like something, Catherine watched in wonder as Sara got completely engrossed in the film.
She shook her head; just as she thought she couldn't be shocked anymore, something came along to completely throw that idea out of the window. At least Sara didn't seem to mind the idea of babysitting anymore.
'I'll see you in the morning.' She announced, checking her bag for all her usual paraphernalia. Sara barely acknowledged the words. 'If I'm late, the school bus leaves at seven.' Sara still didn't respond. 'Sara!'
'Seven o clock. School bus. Is your mom always such a worry wart?' Sara asked Lindsey, who giggled.
Catherine rolled her eyes. 'Ok. Well, help yourself to whatever in the kitchen. Money for takeaway on the side. Linds, bed after the film. Alarms on, and all the doors are locked. Combination is same as locker room at work. Lindsey can show you around. Have a good evening.'
'Hope the meeting goes well.' Sara remembered to say.
'Bye baby, behave or no party on Saturday.' Catherine said to her daughter, getting rewarded with a spookily similar eye roll to her own. 'Thanks again for doing this Sara.'
'No problem. Tell everyone I said hi.'
Catherine left them engrossed in the film, setting the alarm on the way out so they wouldn't be disturbed. She had to go on normal shift after the meeting so stopped at the labs on the way, to see what new was in, and to make sure Grissom didn't get any ideas of calling in Sara on her day off, as he always seemed to be doing.
Warrick and Nick were already in the break room, watching the sixth inning of a ball game. 'Hey guys.' Catherine greeted them, as she filled out some paperwork.
'Hey- Sara remembered then.' Warrick greeted her.
'Yeah. I left them engrossed in Monsters' Inc.' Catherine told them.
Warrick lifted an eyebrow in surprise. Nick was more vocal. 'Monsters' Inc- no way!'
'It seems our Sara is a closet cartoon fan.' Catherine informed them.
'Well who would have guessed that?' Nick asked, still surprised. He looked over at Warrick, both with the same thought. He couldn't wait for Sara to return to shift, for the teasing to start.
'You want food?' Sara asked Lindsey as on the screen Scully tried to get rid of the human child.
'Pizza!' The six year old squealed. Sara smiled, reaching for the phone. 'What do you like?'
'Margherita with extra cheese.'
'Coming right up.' Sara didn't need a menu or number, knowing both off by heart for several restaurants.
The food was delivered promptly, and they ate on the floor in the lounge, both girls able to mimic a lot of the screen play of the film. Lindsey was in stitches as Sara did a rather accurate impression of Boo.
As they settled back on the couch, comfortably full, Lindsey using her stomach as a pillow, Sara found herself thinking babysitting wasn't so bad.
Grissom gave out assignments. It was fairly slow, one B&E, that Nick was going to take. Warrick was going with Catherine to offer moral support, then they were going to attend the next crime scene. Two seconds before they were due to leave, Catherine's cell went off.
Catherine rolled her eyes, presuming it was Sara, but didn't recognise the number. 'Hello?'
'Cath?'
'Eddie? Do not tell me you are ringing to cancel this meeting.'
'I have to. Something came up at work. We'll have to re-schedule.'
'I don't believe you! I go to all that trouble of getting a sitter, and re- arranging work, for you to ring now.'
'It's not my fault. I'll be in touch.' With that he rang off, leaving Catherine fuming.
So much for all the hassle of getting Sara into babysit- she should have just swapped shift. But as she was there, it would make no sense to swap now. She turned to Warrick, telling him the news, most of which he'd guessed from her side of the phone call.
Warrick was about to say they should look into some cold cases when both of their pages went off, Grissom on cue with a new body for them to investigate. As they exited the lab to the cars, Catherine wondered if Sara was still enjoying Monster's Inc.
The phone rang, interrupting the climax of the film. 'Does your mom have an answering machine?' Sara asked, reluctant to move from the oh so comfortable position she was in.
'I don't think she put it on.' Lindsey answered. Sara groaned as she gently lifted Lindsey from her lap, and got to her feet. She was less than happy when the caller hung up as soon as she answered.
'Punk.' Sara muttered into the phone, before replacing it, and going to sit on the sofa.
'Who was it?' Lindsey asked as she resettled on Sara's lap. Sara grimaced slightly as one of Lindsey's elbows found a nest in the middle of her abdomen.
'Nobody.'
'Like Mr. Nobody?'
'Yep, that's him.'
Five seconds later, the phone rang again.
By the fifth hang up, Sara was getting rather irritated, and was getting tempted to take the phone line out. The only thing stopping her was the fact that she didn't want to panic Catherine in case she rang to check on them. She did switch on the ansaphone, so when the inevitable sixth hang up came, she didn't have to move to answer it. The movie ended, and they enjoyed the outtakes, Lindsey tried to wheedle a few minutes more before going to bed. Sara allowed her to have a glass of milk, and to show her around the place, before she insisted it was time for Lindsey to go to bed.
Four Dr Suess books later, and Lindsey was out like a light, and Sara watched her sleep for a few minutes. She'd seen Lindsey on odd occasions around the lab or at department events, but until then hadn't really spent any quality time with the youngster. She looked a lot like Catherine, and that wasn't just in mannerisms that she had picked up from her mother. She had sun kissed blond hair, the blue eyes, and Sara knew she would be breaking a few hearts as she got older. It was just a shame that they had to grow up, lose that innocence of childhood that made them look at the world with such wonder.
She eventually prised herself away, stopping the distinctly melancholy thoughts dead in her brain, tonight was not for rehashing old lives. Tonight was for.chilling as Catherine had called it. Tonight, she had the Cartoon Network to watch for however long she wanted.
She would never wish to be a child again, but she did miss certain things, and cartoons were one of them. She loved them because of the way they conveyed the world with such outrageous notions. She had found the perfect escape in the twenty-four hour broadcast of cartoons. The classics were her favourite; old Tom and Jerry, and the original Road Runner could keep her immersed until the day had turned to night and it was time to re-emerge in the life of being a CSI. Sometimes it was all that kept her sane in the hours she spent alone in her silent apartment, the walls closing in, the claustrophobia threatening to overwhelm.
Catherine's words came back, harsh but realistic, she didn't have a life, and it was purely by choice. Living life through other people's misfortunes was a lot easier to deal with, to categorise, than living through your own.
The seventh and eight phone rings were deadened by the noise of the cartoon, the ninth by the power suddenly cutting out.
Sara sighed, as she waited for her eye to adjust to the sudden darkness. Trust her to bring in old case files, but leave the Maglite in her car. She got to her feet, feeling her way in the unfamiliar room around the couch and across the lounge into the kitchen. Catherine had to have some candles somewhere; it was just a matter of finding them. The darkness was enough to creep her out and being in unfamiliar territory certainly didn't help. She searched increasingly desperately for the candles, noticing in her preoccupied state that the rest of the block also appeared to be without power, as she could not see a streetlight on outside the kitchen window. At least she didn't have to worry about trying to find the fuse box. If the whole street was out, it would be a waste of time. Even the moon wasn't out that night, obscured by a blanket of cloud. She would just find something to use as a light source, and go and wait it out in the lounge.
There was a bang outside, the sound like the lid of a trashcan falling off. She managed to recover her breathing and stop her heart rate reaching stroke level, admonishing herself for being so jumpy. It wasn't like anyone else could be in here, all the doors were locked and alarmed, and Lindsey was safe and asleep across the hall. She took a last deep steadying breath, and searched the last drawer, triumphantly pulling out a box of tea light candles. She pulled a lighter from her pocket, she may have (partially) managed to give up smoking for the sixth time, she still couldn't get out of the habit of carrying a lighter around with her. Placing the tiny lights on any available flat surface she highlighted the way to the lounge.
She carried a candle and placed it in the hallway outside Lindsey's room, in case the six year old should wake in the night. She briefly considered going to bed, but decided it was far too early. She was back on shift the following night, so it made no sense to try and get into a normal sleep pattern. She would lie down for a few hours later, seeing as she was here all night, but would save the majority of sleep for the following afternoon. Thank goodness she'd decided to bring along some old case files to look over. Although, as she pulled out the first, she couldn't seem to concentrate on it.
In her apartment, it was easy- there was little distraction in the stark environment. And it was the way she liked it, usually. Except in the creepy darkness, with only the small glow from the tea light candle, reading about the usual murder and mayhem seemed worse than normal. She had noticed the bookcase on the right back wall when she had first entered, and took the candle there now. She read novels occasionally, but wasn't a big reader. Her search mainly consisted of which book spine caught her eye. She eventually took her choice; some family saga set in old America, back to the couch, and settled down to read it.
About nine miles south of her, on the outskirts of the city, a call operator answered a nine-one-one call with the usual procedure. He was interrupted by a voice that was clearly altered, instructing her that a bomb had been planted at an address in down town Vegas, that was due to explode at midnight. That he would phone again in precisely ten minutes. Then the line was cut.
Experience as well as gut reaction had him immediately pulling the alarm, within two minutes, the recording was being listened to by a detective on the city's bomb squad. It was five minutes when the address was flashed up as someone in the police force.
'No'
'But'
'No'
'Please?'
'No'
'Why not?'
'Because.no.'
'What kind of answer is that?'
'I'm not doing it, so quit asking.'
'But you're the only one free'
'And.'
'And I really need someone. Please Sara.'
'No.'
'Uh, why are you so stubborn? You're the only one not working, and everyone I know is busy. You're my last resort.'
'Thanks Catherine.'
'Well, you didn't think I'd ask otherwise, did you?'
'I'm not doing it. Kids hate me. I don't exactly like them either. End of story. Plus, who says I'm not busy?'
'You don't have a life. Besides I heard you ask Grissom if you could work it as overtime.'
Sara scowled at her.
'Please Sara. It's just this once. And Lindsey knows you. I don't want to have to bring in a stranger.'
'But I'm not good with kids.'
'You don't have to be. Just tell her to go to bed, then you can watch TV.'
'I don't watch TV.' 'Go figure. You can read journals or whatever it is you do. Just, please Sara, I really need a babysitter.'
'But I've never babysat in my life.'
'It's easy. All you do is make sure Lindsey's ok, and chill for a few hours.'
'What if she cries or something?'
'She won't. She's a good kid. The most she'll want is a bedtime story and I'm sure even you could stretch to that.'
Catherine could see she had worn Sara down, she just needed a final clinch to seal it. 'And you can have half my overtime allocation next week.'
She saw the light instantly pop on in Sara's eyes, as her brain inputted this new information.
'And it's for one night. That's it?' Sara checked.
'Promise.'
'Uh fine. But I warn you if she starts bawling, you're gonna get a call.'
'Grow up Sara. You just give her a hug, tell her the bad stuffs gone away, and put her back in bed. Honestly, you need to learn some people skills stat.'
'My people skills are fine. Besides, I'm never having children- what do I need to know what to do with them for?'
'You keep telling yourself that.' Catherine said.
Sara frowned at this, wondering what she meant. At that moment, Nick and Warrick walked into the breakroom, bickering playfully about some game that had been on. They greeted the two women already there.
'What's up?' Nick asked, settling into one of the seats next to Catherine.
'Just convincing Sara to babysit Lindsey for me tomorrow night.'
'Couldn't find anyone?' Nick asked sympathetically.
'Nah. But it's cool, I'm sure Sara will be fine.'
'Sara's still in the room.' Sara muttered.
Warrick was looking between Catherine and Sara, trying to decide whether to laugh or frown at the idea of Sara babysitting. He was interrupted when Grissom entered the room.
Nick and Sara were heading to an armed robbery at Citybank, whilst Warrick and Catherine were heading for a dead couple in a hotel room with Grissom. Warrick asked Catherine as they walked along whether she thought asking Sara to look after Lindsey was such a good idea.
'It's only for one night. What could go wrong? And anyway, I get the feeling Sara is better with kids than she lets on.'
'How so?'
'Remember the Buffallo case last year? She stayed with the little girl, got pretty close to her really, and I know for a fact she phones her social worker every month to see how she's getting along.'
'Really?' Warrick was finding it hard to imagine.
'She just doesn't want to ruin her career girl image by showing she has a soft touch for kids. Maybe Lindsey can break her.'
'Or put her off forever!'
'Hey that's my baby you're talking about!'
'I know- but all kids have a brattish side, and it usually comes out with new babysitters.'
'I'll just have to come up with some suitable warning for what will happen if she breaks any rules. I do not need anything interrupting this meeting.'
The meeting was with her ex, Eddie, concerning parenting rights over Lindsey. It was at night, because they both worked then, and because Eddie was trying to make it as awkward for her as possible to try and somehow prove that she was a bad mother.
The end of shift came quickly, and they met up at the local café for breakfast and to discuss their various cases. Nick and Sara had solved theirs already, whilst the others were having a little more trouble with theirs, none of the people involved were being very cooperative.
'So I'll see you at six tonight?' Catherine said to Sara as they walked out of the café.
Sara gave her a blank look.
'Babysitting. Tonight. For me?' Catherine prompted.
'Right. I knew that.'
'Please don't forget, Sara.'
'I won't, I promise. Um, just one thing.where do you live?'
Catherine stared at her for a long moment, before realising that she didn't exactly know where Sara lived either. She wrote the address out on a piece of paper as she gave verbal instructions of how to get there.
'Six o-clock.' Catherine emphasised once more before Sara could leave.
'I know.' Sara said, sounding exasperated.
Warrick and Nick had been standing near-by and had overheard the whole thing. Catherine turned to them now, a grim look on her face. 'Oh boy. What on earth am I letting myself in for?'
The boys weren't very helpful and just grinned at her.
Catherine was running late, getting on the last of her make-up when the doorbell went, making her jump. She hurried out, passing her daughter in the lounge who was engrossed in Monsters Inc for about the thirtieth time, and hadn't even blinked.
She glanced at the clock, surprised but then not that it was ten to six. Sara was nothing if punctual.
'Hey, come on in.'
Sara was dressed in stonewash jeans and a spaghetti strapped top, a large white over shirt to complete it.
'Find it ok?'
'Sure, no probs. Nice place.'
'Thanks.' Catherine glimpsed the backpack Sara had slumped over one shoulder. 'What on earth have you brought with you?'
'Change of clothes, as you insist on me staying over, and.just.some things to do.'
'You brought work.' Catherine reduced.
'And what's wrong with that?' Sara asked defensively.
Catherine shook her head in exasperation. 'Do the words Day Off mean anything to you?' She asked, but then noticed Sara's look wasn't on her.
She followed her eye line, and noticed her eyes were on the TV.
'Ooooo Monsters Inc!' For a moment, her tone of voice was one of awe and excitement. For the first time, Catherine could almost get the image of Sara as an actual child. Sara ignored her, crossing behind the sofa. 'This is my favourite part.' She said, presumably to Lindsey, although her eyes never left the screen.
Lindsey glanced over at her, smiled, before looking back at the screen, moving closer to Sara on the seat, finally finding someone who shared her passion for Monster's Inc.
As Lindsey had seen in that one moment, Sara wasn't trying to impress her with pretending to like something, Catherine watched in wonder as Sara got completely engrossed in the film.
She shook her head; just as she thought she couldn't be shocked anymore, something came along to completely throw that idea out of the window. At least Sara didn't seem to mind the idea of babysitting anymore.
'I'll see you in the morning.' She announced, checking her bag for all her usual paraphernalia. Sara barely acknowledged the words. 'If I'm late, the school bus leaves at seven.' Sara still didn't respond. 'Sara!'
'Seven o clock. School bus. Is your mom always such a worry wart?' Sara asked Lindsey, who giggled.
Catherine rolled her eyes. 'Ok. Well, help yourself to whatever in the kitchen. Money for takeaway on the side. Linds, bed after the film. Alarms on, and all the doors are locked. Combination is same as locker room at work. Lindsey can show you around. Have a good evening.'
'Hope the meeting goes well.' Sara remembered to say.
'Bye baby, behave or no party on Saturday.' Catherine said to her daughter, getting rewarded with a spookily similar eye roll to her own. 'Thanks again for doing this Sara.'
'No problem. Tell everyone I said hi.'
Catherine left them engrossed in the film, setting the alarm on the way out so they wouldn't be disturbed. She had to go on normal shift after the meeting so stopped at the labs on the way, to see what new was in, and to make sure Grissom didn't get any ideas of calling in Sara on her day off, as he always seemed to be doing.
Warrick and Nick were already in the break room, watching the sixth inning of a ball game. 'Hey guys.' Catherine greeted them, as she filled out some paperwork.
'Hey- Sara remembered then.' Warrick greeted her.
'Yeah. I left them engrossed in Monsters' Inc.' Catherine told them.
Warrick lifted an eyebrow in surprise. Nick was more vocal. 'Monsters' Inc- no way!'
'It seems our Sara is a closet cartoon fan.' Catherine informed them.
'Well who would have guessed that?' Nick asked, still surprised. He looked over at Warrick, both with the same thought. He couldn't wait for Sara to return to shift, for the teasing to start.
'You want food?' Sara asked Lindsey as on the screen Scully tried to get rid of the human child.
'Pizza!' The six year old squealed. Sara smiled, reaching for the phone. 'What do you like?'
'Margherita with extra cheese.'
'Coming right up.' Sara didn't need a menu or number, knowing both off by heart for several restaurants.
The food was delivered promptly, and they ate on the floor in the lounge, both girls able to mimic a lot of the screen play of the film. Lindsey was in stitches as Sara did a rather accurate impression of Boo.
As they settled back on the couch, comfortably full, Lindsey using her stomach as a pillow, Sara found herself thinking babysitting wasn't so bad.
Grissom gave out assignments. It was fairly slow, one B&E, that Nick was going to take. Warrick was going with Catherine to offer moral support, then they were going to attend the next crime scene. Two seconds before they were due to leave, Catherine's cell went off.
Catherine rolled her eyes, presuming it was Sara, but didn't recognise the number. 'Hello?'
'Cath?'
'Eddie? Do not tell me you are ringing to cancel this meeting.'
'I have to. Something came up at work. We'll have to re-schedule.'
'I don't believe you! I go to all that trouble of getting a sitter, and re- arranging work, for you to ring now.'
'It's not my fault. I'll be in touch.' With that he rang off, leaving Catherine fuming.
So much for all the hassle of getting Sara into babysit- she should have just swapped shift. But as she was there, it would make no sense to swap now. She turned to Warrick, telling him the news, most of which he'd guessed from her side of the phone call.
Warrick was about to say they should look into some cold cases when both of their pages went off, Grissom on cue with a new body for them to investigate. As they exited the lab to the cars, Catherine wondered if Sara was still enjoying Monster's Inc.
The phone rang, interrupting the climax of the film. 'Does your mom have an answering machine?' Sara asked, reluctant to move from the oh so comfortable position she was in.
'I don't think she put it on.' Lindsey answered. Sara groaned as she gently lifted Lindsey from her lap, and got to her feet. She was less than happy when the caller hung up as soon as she answered.
'Punk.' Sara muttered into the phone, before replacing it, and going to sit on the sofa.
'Who was it?' Lindsey asked as she resettled on Sara's lap. Sara grimaced slightly as one of Lindsey's elbows found a nest in the middle of her abdomen.
'Nobody.'
'Like Mr. Nobody?'
'Yep, that's him.'
Five seconds later, the phone rang again.
By the fifth hang up, Sara was getting rather irritated, and was getting tempted to take the phone line out. The only thing stopping her was the fact that she didn't want to panic Catherine in case she rang to check on them. She did switch on the ansaphone, so when the inevitable sixth hang up came, she didn't have to move to answer it. The movie ended, and they enjoyed the outtakes, Lindsey tried to wheedle a few minutes more before going to bed. Sara allowed her to have a glass of milk, and to show her around the place, before she insisted it was time for Lindsey to go to bed.
Four Dr Suess books later, and Lindsey was out like a light, and Sara watched her sleep for a few minutes. She'd seen Lindsey on odd occasions around the lab or at department events, but until then hadn't really spent any quality time with the youngster. She looked a lot like Catherine, and that wasn't just in mannerisms that she had picked up from her mother. She had sun kissed blond hair, the blue eyes, and Sara knew she would be breaking a few hearts as she got older. It was just a shame that they had to grow up, lose that innocence of childhood that made them look at the world with such wonder.
She eventually prised herself away, stopping the distinctly melancholy thoughts dead in her brain, tonight was not for rehashing old lives. Tonight was for.chilling as Catherine had called it. Tonight, she had the Cartoon Network to watch for however long she wanted.
She would never wish to be a child again, but she did miss certain things, and cartoons were one of them. She loved them because of the way they conveyed the world with such outrageous notions. She had found the perfect escape in the twenty-four hour broadcast of cartoons. The classics were her favourite; old Tom and Jerry, and the original Road Runner could keep her immersed until the day had turned to night and it was time to re-emerge in the life of being a CSI. Sometimes it was all that kept her sane in the hours she spent alone in her silent apartment, the walls closing in, the claustrophobia threatening to overwhelm.
Catherine's words came back, harsh but realistic, she didn't have a life, and it was purely by choice. Living life through other people's misfortunes was a lot easier to deal with, to categorise, than living through your own.
The seventh and eight phone rings were deadened by the noise of the cartoon, the ninth by the power suddenly cutting out.
Sara sighed, as she waited for her eye to adjust to the sudden darkness. Trust her to bring in old case files, but leave the Maglite in her car. She got to her feet, feeling her way in the unfamiliar room around the couch and across the lounge into the kitchen. Catherine had to have some candles somewhere; it was just a matter of finding them. The darkness was enough to creep her out and being in unfamiliar territory certainly didn't help. She searched increasingly desperately for the candles, noticing in her preoccupied state that the rest of the block also appeared to be without power, as she could not see a streetlight on outside the kitchen window. At least she didn't have to worry about trying to find the fuse box. If the whole street was out, it would be a waste of time. Even the moon wasn't out that night, obscured by a blanket of cloud. She would just find something to use as a light source, and go and wait it out in the lounge.
There was a bang outside, the sound like the lid of a trashcan falling off. She managed to recover her breathing and stop her heart rate reaching stroke level, admonishing herself for being so jumpy. It wasn't like anyone else could be in here, all the doors were locked and alarmed, and Lindsey was safe and asleep across the hall. She took a last deep steadying breath, and searched the last drawer, triumphantly pulling out a box of tea light candles. She pulled a lighter from her pocket, she may have (partially) managed to give up smoking for the sixth time, she still couldn't get out of the habit of carrying a lighter around with her. Placing the tiny lights on any available flat surface she highlighted the way to the lounge.
She carried a candle and placed it in the hallway outside Lindsey's room, in case the six year old should wake in the night. She briefly considered going to bed, but decided it was far too early. She was back on shift the following night, so it made no sense to try and get into a normal sleep pattern. She would lie down for a few hours later, seeing as she was here all night, but would save the majority of sleep for the following afternoon. Thank goodness she'd decided to bring along some old case files to look over. Although, as she pulled out the first, she couldn't seem to concentrate on it.
In her apartment, it was easy- there was little distraction in the stark environment. And it was the way she liked it, usually. Except in the creepy darkness, with only the small glow from the tea light candle, reading about the usual murder and mayhem seemed worse than normal. She had noticed the bookcase on the right back wall when she had first entered, and took the candle there now. She read novels occasionally, but wasn't a big reader. Her search mainly consisted of which book spine caught her eye. She eventually took her choice; some family saga set in old America, back to the couch, and settled down to read it.
About nine miles south of her, on the outskirts of the city, a call operator answered a nine-one-one call with the usual procedure. He was interrupted by a voice that was clearly altered, instructing her that a bomb had been planted at an address in down town Vegas, that was due to explode at midnight. That he would phone again in precisely ten minutes. Then the line was cut.
Experience as well as gut reaction had him immediately pulling the alarm, within two minutes, the recording was being listened to by a detective on the city's bomb squad. It was five minutes when the address was flashed up as someone in the police force.