Chapter 16

Grissom didn't tell Catherine everything, just what she needed to know to put the case together. He didn't elaborate on how he somehow beat Richards to a pulp and put him into the coma he'd been in for the past several years and how he tried so hard to save Josh's life, but failed. Grissom sat in the layout room while Catherine and the rest of the group searched the city for meat lockers, factories, butchers and any other building that housed temperature controlled freezers. His mind kept flashing back to the past unwillingly. His eyes had dried and the red puffy rings had faded a little as he tried to remember certain parts of the whole nightmare and what Ash was trying to get him to admit only a few days ago, but he also didn't want to remember.

^ Flashback ^ Ash had passed out again, but her pulse was still coming strong despite her injuries. Grissom untied them all and tied up Richards in return. The room was quiet until Sara whimpered in agonising pain as she tried to breathe. Grissom hurriedly ran to her. "Sara?" His voice coated in worry and concern.

Sara opened her eyes through the pain beating in her chest. "I. . can't. .breathe." She barely managed as blood started to run from her mouth.

Grissom panicked. "Oh God Sara no, stay with me, please, come on talk to me Sara." Grissom quickly searched her for any injuries that would cause her breathing trouble. He pulled her jacket to on side and saw the deep and open wound. 'When the hell did that happen?' Grissom couldn't move fast enough. The knife that was in his chest was slowing him down, but he knew if he removed it he'd pass out and die from blood loss. He gently laid her on the ground and applied heavy pressure to her chest wound.

Ash had watched helplessly for a few minutes from her position against the wall near the door. She had tried to open the door, but blacked out from the pain. Now she watched as tears streamed down Grissom's face. "She ok?" She asked squeakily.

Grissom looked up then back down at Sara. "Sara honey please wake up." Ash closed her eyes as he sobbed in her jacket and held her close to him. ^ Flashback ^

"GRISSOM" Nick shook him from his nightmare and motioned for him to follow. Grissom walked towards the car park with Nick leading the way. When the hot night air hit his face he groaned and rubbed his face. His tiredness was apparent to everyone, but knew it was no use getting into an argument with him now.

"Where are we going Nick?" Grissom asked as Nick walked to his car.

Nick climbed in and waited for Grissom. "Catherine has a lead, but she wanted you to get something to eat before you decide to do anything else." Grissom nodded absently, but knew he wouldn't be able to eat.

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"Well." He said looking at his blood soaked watch. "I'm sorry, but I've got to be going, I have another appointment." Richards slowly placed the stanling knife in a bowl of blood stained water before donning his coat and leaving the two bleeding slowly to death.

Ash looked up at Sara as he locked the door. "Sara?"

"I'm still here." She said with her eyes closed and her head hung. She tried to raise her head, but the energy in her body had drained.

"Sara don't move." Ash urged as she saw her trying to lift her head. "Rest Sara, he cut you deep."

Sara gave up on moving and opened her eyes briefly to look down at the fresh cuts in her abdomen. "That hurt." She remarked in one heavy breath.

For some reason Ash couldn't help but let out a little laugh. "Sorry, it's not funny. You ok?"

"Not really. I'm having trouble with my breathing Ash."

"I know, just try and take calm small breaths. Your lung should have healed over the years." Ash was trying to understand how Sara's breathing was getting difficult. She remembered the last time and the knife and Grissom frantically trying to get her to wake up. "Don't fall asleep on me Sara please. I don't want to be alone." She pleaded as Sara's eyes closed again.

Her breathing was starting to become laboured. "I'm sorry Ash. I guess my lung never really healed."

"It's ok, but you're going to be alright, just like last time." Sara slowly shook her head in disagreement.

"Not this time. He was pleased with one death, but this time he want's us all gone Ash."

"Not true Sara, don't even give up. Grissom will find us, you'll see." Ash frowned at her sister as she shook her head again.

With a short sigh Sara said. "Grissom won't find us, he doesn't remember what happened so he won't remember where we are."

"He told you that?" Ash couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"Yes." Sara started to cough and Ash watched as two little circular drops of blood fell from Sara's mouth to her trouser leg.

"Shit, Sara stay with me, Grissom will find us, he does remember." Ash was pulling harshly on her restraints, trying to loosen them. Sara coughed again and more blood came from her mouth. Ash didn't know what to say as she struggled against the ropes that were slowly stretching. Then she remembered, Ash kept wriggling as she spoke. "Sara, Grissom does remember, he always has. That's why he closed himself off." Sara's coughing seized as she listened to Ash. "I came to see you a few years ago remember?" Not waiting for any response, although she knew she wouldn't get one, she continued. "We never mentioned it, but I knew that seeing me again brought back the past and since then he's not spoken to me."

"That's not true." Sara's voice cracked. "He said you kept writing to him and ringing."

"Yeah, I wrote and rang, but he didn't say anything, literally. Hi and Bye, basically." Ash winced as she shifted her body a little. "Why is it you, Josh and Griss get the worse of this and I come out with blood loss and shallow cuts?" Ash was genuinely puzzled.

"No idea. O-W" Sara's chest started to rise very slowly, so slow it was agonising.

"Sara please stay awake." Ash begged quietly.

Sara raised her head slightly. "I'm trying."

"Do you remember what happened when Grissom untied us last time?" Ash was determined to keep Sara talking and if that meant bringing back memories of that time then she would.

"Some. Why?" Sara's voice was weak and crackling.

"Can you tell me, I sort of passed out then." Ash lied nothing full well what happened, but she was Sara's to tell her, makes her remember.

Sara's eyes fluttered shut as she thought about it. "I was hurt, like know. I couldn't. breathe." She took a shaky breath and continues slowly. "Griss helped me." She stopped suddenly and Ash looked at her.

"What next?"

"Nothing happened. I don't remember." Sara's brows furrowed in confusion. Ash realised she was telling the truth. "What did happen Ash?"

Ash was shaken from her thoughts as she tried to find an answer. "I passed out. I know he helped while I tried to open the door, but I can't think what else went on." Ash couldn't believe she was lying and of all times to lie.

The small room fell silent apart from Sara's rasping breathes and the crackling of the small burner on the table.

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