WIACCD, Chapter 14
Notes: Sorry this took soooo long guys, RL really got in the way lately. But just for that I'll post another chapter in the next day or two. Thanks for your patience, I really appreciate it to no end. Review to show me you don't hate me. ;-)
"Clerical error is how." Brass announces some time later to the group.
When he received Nick's voice mail, the captain had immediately gotten on the phone to the psychiatric center. Several not so veiled threats later he had them physically check, and Joey Harrington was nowhere to be seen. After some yelling by Jim, he had found out half of the reason why Joey is out, though no one seemed to be able to tell him exactly what had gone wrong. Two hours later, he has half answers and not good news.
"Excuse me?" This comes from Grissom, whose expression barely contains the anger he is feeling.
"Someone pulled the wrong file, the numbers got switched and he was let go instead of the guy who was supposed to. They were pretty vague about it. I contacted the halfway house he was assigned to, no one has seen him since this morning when he left for work. I have a car stationed there waiting for him." He watches the group digest this.
"How long?" Sara finally asks.
"Four weeks."
"He's been out four weeks already?" She is stunned; this is the first she heard from the man who turned her life upside down.
"Yeah. I've already arranged protection for you when you aren't at work or a scene, but I can only spare one man at a time, we're short staffed as it is."
Quietly she nods, the reality finally sinking in: Joey Harrington is back. Sara isn't sure how she should feel: scared, angry, confused; she is all that, but at the same time determined not to fall into the trap like she did last time. She refuses to become the victim; she refuses to let him control her, to let this get to her. At the same time, she has other considerations now and can't take her safety lightly. It's a balancing act and she is determined not to fall.
Grissom watches as several emotions float over her face, and he reaches out and grabs her hand. She looks up at him with a sad expression.
"We'll get him, Sara. I promise." This comes from Warrick, who is sitting directly across from her.
"I know you do. But there is only so much that can be done. It's a big city and a person can easily get lost in it."
"This is my number one priority." Brass tells the young woman, who seems to be taking this all in stride.
"Thanks Brass. I'm sure he'll appear at some point, we just have to get him when he does."
"Yes, which is why you go nowhere alone. Understand?" Grissom tells her sternly.
"Yeah. I understand," she responds quietly, her head down, eyes on her stomach. "But I.."
"NO buts, Sara. This is non-negotiable," Nick finally chimes in.
"I know, I know. I just don't want this affecting me like it did last time. I want to be in control."
"You can still be in control and be safe; we'll make sure of that. You can lean on us Sar." Nick looks at the group and immediately gets nods.
"Thank you." She looks up at them, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Grissom holds her hand a little tighter and speaks to the group. "Ok, here's how we are going to handle this. Everything works as usual, except Sara has no solo cases and I'm sorry Cath, but she doesn't go out with just you either. Not that I don't have faith in your abilities, but I just feel safer if she was with one of the guys."
Catherine just nods, understanding.
"You guys be careful, as Nick is acutely aware, this guys has no remorse for hurting others. Don't take the easiest path to scenes unless you have to, and keep your eyes peeled. You guys know how to do this, be on guard. I don't want anyone else injured or killed by this guy. Your spare time is spent trying to find him."
"Got it Gris." Warrick nods and gets up. "I'm going to work with Brass on the halfway house."
"Wait up man, I'll go with, it's a slow night." Nick also gets up but not before turning to Sara and kissing the top of her head. He has no reassurances for her, and Nick doesn't think he ever will until Harrington is dead.
By shift's end, there has been no sign of Harrington; he never came back to the house and a quick check revealed his things are gone also.
"Nothing Warrick! God DAMN IT! He just disappeared into the night. The construction company said he brought the truck back and got on the bus to go home as usual, except he didn't go home. He could be at any of hundreds of hotels!" Nick slams one fist down on the counter, shaking several pens and beakers. Frustration is evident on his face.
Warrick puts his hand on the other man's shoulder. "Calm down Nick."
"I..I cant calm down. She doesn't deserve this Warrick. Neither one of them do. They are finally happy, going to have a baby, a normal life, and then HE comes back." Nick stops and just stares into space. "Its just not right."
"You think I don't know that, man? You think I'm not frustrated too? This is hitting all of us. We're all worried about her."
Nick looks up guilty. "I'm sorry. I need to be more constructive, find him before he gets any closer to her."
Sara is listening to Brass talk. Well, more accurately she can see is mouth moving, but the sound doesn't seem to be reaching her ears. She can't concentrate on him; her thoughts are flittering all over the place, she cant seem to pin one down long enough to consider its meaning. She feels like she has been reduced to primal instinct and thoughts. Logic and rationalizations will get her nowhere now, that which she has relied her life on, that which she depends on, is useless. She learned that in her last encounter with Joey Harrington: he couldn't be reasoned with, wouldn't listen to anyone. His determination to posses her overrides everything, something her rational mind can't comprehend.
"Sara?" Grissom finally notices the faraway look on her face; she hasn't been listening, unusual for Sara. Getting no response from her, Grissom looks at Brass and then back to the young woman, who hasn't moved an inch.
"Sara?" he asks again, this time touching her upper arm. Finally she acknowledges him.
"Yeah?.Oh, I'm sorry Brass. I wasn't really paying attention."
"I gathered that. Just.be careful. Your man will be on you whenever you aren't at work, even if Gil is with you."
She nods quietly and stands, Grissom following her closely behind. Once they are clear of Brass' office, he stops in front of her.
"Are you ok?" Concern is etched on his face. It's killing him that he seems unable to help her, to stop this from happening. All he can do is offer half hearted reassurances and use every arsenal at his disposal to find Harrington.
She looks at him with a blank expression. "No, Grissom, for once.no. I'm not ok, this is not ok. I.can't even think, I can barely form a logical thought. I'm scared, terrified even. He almost killed Nick last time, Gris, I won't be responsible for that again. Hell, he almost killed me. I don't know what to do, I feel like.I don't even know what I feel. Nothing, its like I'm numb. Sure the fear is there, but nothing else." As she talks, the words tumble out faster, the tears she had been holding back come to the front and threaten to spill down her cheeks.
"Sara."
"No, no goddamn it! Don't coddle me, don't treat me like a child. I don't need it, I don't want it." Her eyes flash in anger, the brown of her eyes deepening in color.
"What do you want Sara? What do you want me to do? Tell me and I'll do it." He is confused by her swift switch in emotional state.
"I want." She stops to consider this for a moment. She isn't sure. "I want you to make it all stop. Just.make it stop."
He looks at the woman he loves and his heart breaks. She looks so small and fragile, the usual Sara defiance and confidence, those things that she had only recently regained after last time, are again gone. Quickly he gathers her into his arms, pulling her as close as the baby will allow, not caring who sees.
"I promise you Sara, we WILL find him. This is not an option." He feels her tense body relax a bit in his embrace and her head rests on his shoulder.
"I know you'll try, Gris. I know you all will. But will it be enough?"
"Yes." He is firm with his answer. He hadn't been lying, they weren't the best lab in the country for nothing. If anyone can find Harrington, they can.
tbc.............soon
Notes: Sorry this took soooo long guys, RL really got in the way lately. But just for that I'll post another chapter in the next day or two. Thanks for your patience, I really appreciate it to no end. Review to show me you don't hate me. ;-)
"Clerical error is how." Brass announces some time later to the group.
When he received Nick's voice mail, the captain had immediately gotten on the phone to the psychiatric center. Several not so veiled threats later he had them physically check, and Joey Harrington was nowhere to be seen. After some yelling by Jim, he had found out half of the reason why Joey is out, though no one seemed to be able to tell him exactly what had gone wrong. Two hours later, he has half answers and not good news.
"Excuse me?" This comes from Grissom, whose expression barely contains the anger he is feeling.
"Someone pulled the wrong file, the numbers got switched and he was let go instead of the guy who was supposed to. They were pretty vague about it. I contacted the halfway house he was assigned to, no one has seen him since this morning when he left for work. I have a car stationed there waiting for him." He watches the group digest this.
"How long?" Sara finally asks.
"Four weeks."
"He's been out four weeks already?" She is stunned; this is the first she heard from the man who turned her life upside down.
"Yeah. I've already arranged protection for you when you aren't at work or a scene, but I can only spare one man at a time, we're short staffed as it is."
Quietly she nods, the reality finally sinking in: Joey Harrington is back. Sara isn't sure how she should feel: scared, angry, confused; she is all that, but at the same time determined not to fall into the trap like she did last time. She refuses to become the victim; she refuses to let him control her, to let this get to her. At the same time, she has other considerations now and can't take her safety lightly. It's a balancing act and she is determined not to fall.
Grissom watches as several emotions float over her face, and he reaches out and grabs her hand. She looks up at him with a sad expression.
"We'll get him, Sara. I promise." This comes from Warrick, who is sitting directly across from her.
"I know you do. But there is only so much that can be done. It's a big city and a person can easily get lost in it."
"This is my number one priority." Brass tells the young woman, who seems to be taking this all in stride.
"Thanks Brass. I'm sure he'll appear at some point, we just have to get him when he does."
"Yes, which is why you go nowhere alone. Understand?" Grissom tells her sternly.
"Yeah. I understand," she responds quietly, her head down, eyes on her stomach. "But I.."
"NO buts, Sara. This is non-negotiable," Nick finally chimes in.
"I know, I know. I just don't want this affecting me like it did last time. I want to be in control."
"You can still be in control and be safe; we'll make sure of that. You can lean on us Sar." Nick looks at the group and immediately gets nods.
"Thank you." She looks up at them, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Grissom holds her hand a little tighter and speaks to the group. "Ok, here's how we are going to handle this. Everything works as usual, except Sara has no solo cases and I'm sorry Cath, but she doesn't go out with just you either. Not that I don't have faith in your abilities, but I just feel safer if she was with one of the guys."
Catherine just nods, understanding.
"You guys be careful, as Nick is acutely aware, this guys has no remorse for hurting others. Don't take the easiest path to scenes unless you have to, and keep your eyes peeled. You guys know how to do this, be on guard. I don't want anyone else injured or killed by this guy. Your spare time is spent trying to find him."
"Got it Gris." Warrick nods and gets up. "I'm going to work with Brass on the halfway house."
"Wait up man, I'll go with, it's a slow night." Nick also gets up but not before turning to Sara and kissing the top of her head. He has no reassurances for her, and Nick doesn't think he ever will until Harrington is dead.
By shift's end, there has been no sign of Harrington; he never came back to the house and a quick check revealed his things are gone also.
"Nothing Warrick! God DAMN IT! He just disappeared into the night. The construction company said he brought the truck back and got on the bus to go home as usual, except he didn't go home. He could be at any of hundreds of hotels!" Nick slams one fist down on the counter, shaking several pens and beakers. Frustration is evident on his face.
Warrick puts his hand on the other man's shoulder. "Calm down Nick."
"I..I cant calm down. She doesn't deserve this Warrick. Neither one of them do. They are finally happy, going to have a baby, a normal life, and then HE comes back." Nick stops and just stares into space. "Its just not right."
"You think I don't know that, man? You think I'm not frustrated too? This is hitting all of us. We're all worried about her."
Nick looks up guilty. "I'm sorry. I need to be more constructive, find him before he gets any closer to her."
Sara is listening to Brass talk. Well, more accurately she can see is mouth moving, but the sound doesn't seem to be reaching her ears. She can't concentrate on him; her thoughts are flittering all over the place, she cant seem to pin one down long enough to consider its meaning. She feels like she has been reduced to primal instinct and thoughts. Logic and rationalizations will get her nowhere now, that which she has relied her life on, that which she depends on, is useless. She learned that in her last encounter with Joey Harrington: he couldn't be reasoned with, wouldn't listen to anyone. His determination to posses her overrides everything, something her rational mind can't comprehend.
"Sara?" Grissom finally notices the faraway look on her face; she hasn't been listening, unusual for Sara. Getting no response from her, Grissom looks at Brass and then back to the young woman, who hasn't moved an inch.
"Sara?" he asks again, this time touching her upper arm. Finally she acknowledges him.
"Yeah?.Oh, I'm sorry Brass. I wasn't really paying attention."
"I gathered that. Just.be careful. Your man will be on you whenever you aren't at work, even if Gil is with you."
She nods quietly and stands, Grissom following her closely behind. Once they are clear of Brass' office, he stops in front of her.
"Are you ok?" Concern is etched on his face. It's killing him that he seems unable to help her, to stop this from happening. All he can do is offer half hearted reassurances and use every arsenal at his disposal to find Harrington.
She looks at him with a blank expression. "No, Grissom, for once.no. I'm not ok, this is not ok. I.can't even think, I can barely form a logical thought. I'm scared, terrified even. He almost killed Nick last time, Gris, I won't be responsible for that again. Hell, he almost killed me. I don't know what to do, I feel like.I don't even know what I feel. Nothing, its like I'm numb. Sure the fear is there, but nothing else." As she talks, the words tumble out faster, the tears she had been holding back come to the front and threaten to spill down her cheeks.
"Sara."
"No, no goddamn it! Don't coddle me, don't treat me like a child. I don't need it, I don't want it." Her eyes flash in anger, the brown of her eyes deepening in color.
"What do you want Sara? What do you want me to do? Tell me and I'll do it." He is confused by her swift switch in emotional state.
"I want." She stops to consider this for a moment. She isn't sure. "I want you to make it all stop. Just.make it stop."
He looks at the woman he loves and his heart breaks. She looks so small and fragile, the usual Sara defiance and confidence, those things that she had only recently regained after last time, are again gone. Quickly he gathers her into his arms, pulling her as close as the baby will allow, not caring who sees.
"I promise you Sara, we WILL find him. This is not an option." He feels her tense body relax a bit in his embrace and her head rests on his shoulder.
"I know you'll try, Gris. I know you all will. But will it be enough?"
"Yes." He is firm with his answer. He hadn't been lying, they weren't the best lab in the country for nothing. If anyone can find Harrington, they can.
tbc.............soon