Chapter 23

Sara didn't look up when Archie walked out; she was too busy fighting a desperate inner battle with tears. Sara never cried. She couldn't believe that even one tear had slipped out – was she turning into a weak woman or something? Maybe romance wasn't all it was cracked up to be. If you never let anyone in, no one could hurt you.

No more debate. She was going to beat her emotions into submission. Sara's will was strong, and she knew she would be able to do it. Sitting up straighter, she started to actually read the journal in front of her. She always felt better after she'd made a decision, for better or for worse.

Being unemotional didn't mean she had to go back out there and leave herself open to their barbs, though. If the team needed her, they could damn well page her or come find her themselves.

The hallway

The first person Archie ran into when he skidded into the hallway was Greg. Pulling himself up just short of slamming into the other tech, he blurted, "Greg, where's Grissom?"

Greg blinked. "Since when do any of us techs talk to Grissom voluntarily?"

"You're the only one of us who's that scared of him, man. But that's not the point. Do you know where he is?" Greg shrugged. Archie groaned and pushed past his friend, continuing down the hallway.

He eventually found Grissom having coffee with the rest of his team in the breakroom. Before Archie could say anything, Grissom asked in a worried voice, "Archie, have you seen Sara? She's been incommunicado for the past few hours."

Archie looked at the other CSIs surrounding Grissom. "Um, yeah. That was what I wanted to talk to you about, Mr. Grissom. Can we, uh, go talk in the hall?"

Grissom was now officially worried. Why would Archie know where Sara was when no one on the team did? And what was so serious that it couldn't be discussed in front of the others? "What's wrong, Archie?" he asked the younger man, who looked decidedly panicked, as they left the room.

"There's um, something wrong with Sara. I don't know what – I mean, she didn't tell me – but she's been in my lab for a few hours now pretending to read, but she's really not, and I saw her crying, and she won't say a word, and . . ." his voice trailed off as he realized that Grissom was already walking toward the lab, leaving Archie behind. He scrambled to catch up, hoping he wasn't getting himself into too much trouble with Sara. Or with Grissom, for that matter.

Grissom let Archie enter the lab first, rather ashamed to be hoping that maybe the tech would catch the brunt of Sara's anger. Instead, they found a calm, composed Sara sitting where Archie had left her, absorbed in her journal. She looked up at them and said coolly, "Yes? A case, Grissom?"

"Uh, no. I just wanted to . . . check on you. None of us have seen you all night."

Sara snorted. "They've all seen me. They just didn't want to admit it, probably. So, now you see I'm fine. Can I go back to my reading?"

Grissom was surprised by the surly tone coming from that calm face. Was she still upset that he'd told her not to discuss their relationship at work? That must be it. Well, he decided, he wasn't going to play that game. Sara had sulked her way to getting what she wanted with him one time too many.

"Fine, as long as you keep me informed on where you are, do whatever you want." There, he could be cold too, Grissom thought as he walked out.

"Bastard," Sara muttered under her breath. She felt like throwing something, but ultimately decided that Archie didn't need to witness that particular show. Instead, she plopped back into her chair.

Archie watched Sara, still worried. Apparently it was up to him to keep the two CSIs from tearing each other's hair out. "Ok Sara, out with it. Tell me what's going on."

"What? No!" Sara was surprised he was even trying. She turned back to her reading.

"No, I'm serious, Sara. You know you want to scream about whatever's going on, and you know I'm about the only person around here without an emotional attachment to your team. What you tell me will stay with me – well, unless it involves you killing someone on video."

He was right, dammit, she wanted to vent. But her private nature won out over her desire to scream, and she shook her head. "Uh-uh, Arch."

Archie leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms, waiting. She would talk if he gave her enough time.