Title: Barely Existing
Author: Cindy Ryan
category: angst, Xover
pairings: Jack/Sam, Grissom/Sara
Summary: After 'Play with fire' Sara vanishes, Grissom calls in a favor
Notes: See part one. Thanks for the feedback. :)
Grissom found Catherine, Nick and Warrick in the locker room. Catherine was seated on the bench with Nick and Warrick on opposite sides standing by the banks of lockers.
None had noticed him yet. Catherine had her back to him.
"I know we shouldn't still be here."Warrick stated as he leaned back against the bank of lockers. "But I can't think of where else to go."
"None of us can."Nick replied his voice strained.
"I think I'm going to head home."Catherine stated. "If you guys want to come with you're more than welcome."
"What is it, Gris?"Warrick asked as he walked past Catherine causing her to turn around.
"They....."Grissom started but his voice collapsed. He cleared his throat and tried again. "They found a body in a park near Sara's apartment."
"Oh God."Catherine whispered and Nick placed a supportive hand on her left shoulder his face white as a sheet.
"Is it?"Warrick asked a lump beginning to form in his throat.
Grissom shook his head weakly. "They need me to go and make an ID."
Catherine stood. "I'm coming with you."
Grissom held up a hand. "No, I need you to stay here and keep things running."
"You shouldn't have to do this alone."Warrick protested.
"I owe Sara that much to do it alone."Grissom replied as he turned back toward the door. "As soon as I know anything I'll call."
*********
33 hours missing
(9 am)
The park that Jack parked on the street next to couldn't really be classified as a park. To Grissom's numb mind he had never really noticed the patch of grass and a few trees the couple times he had dropped Sara off or picked her up.
There were no benches. The grass with this being Vegas was artificial. There were no swings, no soccer goals. Just hard grass and a few straggly trees that were trying to live in a desert environment.
Grissom gripped the door handle of the passenger side door and looked out the window. It was like a hundred crime scenes he had seen before. Every square foot of the small park seemed to be covered by Brass's uniformed officers.
Grissom spotted Brass standing by a couple of officers next to the group of trees. Crime scene tape stretched between the trees stark against the dark wood.
Jack took the keys out of the ignition and glanced over at the scientist. "Gil?"
Grissom closed his eyes briefly trying to find strength for the task ahead. He opened his eyes and slowly pushed the door open and got out.
"Let's go."Grissom replied as Jack exited the vehicle.
********
"I'm going to go tell Greg."Catherine commented breaking the suffocating silence of the locker room.
"Why?"Warrick asked more sharply than he had intended.
Catherine turned to face him. "We promised we'd keep him in the loop."
Nick shook his head. "I'm with Warrick. Greg's barely getting by as it is. Why tell him if we don't know for sure?"
"Tell me what?"Greg asked his voice echoing through the room. "What's going on?"
Nick sighed as he pushed himself away from the bank of lockers. He exchanged a look with Catherine before he walked toward the lab tech.
"Come on, Greg."Nick urged as he placed a supportive hand on Sander's left shoulder. "Let's go for a walk."
Greg stopped fear gripping him. He hadn't missed the ashen shocked expressions on their faces. He also hadn't missed how upset Grissom was when he had tore out of the lab ten minutes before.
"Tell me, Nick."Greg demanded. "What's going on? You said you'd let me know if there was news on Sara...."
Nick tried not to wince at the mention of Sara's name as he started walking again forcing Greg to match his step in order to keep up. "I will tell you, Greg. I just think we'll both need the fresh air when I do."
Author: Cindy Ryan
category: angst, Xover
pairings: Jack/Sam, Grissom/Sara
Summary: After 'Play with fire' Sara vanishes, Grissom calls in a favor
Notes: See part one. Thanks for the feedback. :)
Grissom found Catherine, Nick and Warrick in the locker room. Catherine was seated on the bench with Nick and Warrick on opposite sides standing by the banks of lockers.
None had noticed him yet. Catherine had her back to him.
"I know we shouldn't still be here."Warrick stated as he leaned back against the bank of lockers. "But I can't think of where else to go."
"None of us can."Nick replied his voice strained.
"I think I'm going to head home."Catherine stated. "If you guys want to come with you're more than welcome."
"What is it, Gris?"Warrick asked as he walked past Catherine causing her to turn around.
"They....."Grissom started but his voice collapsed. He cleared his throat and tried again. "They found a body in a park near Sara's apartment."
"Oh God."Catherine whispered and Nick placed a supportive hand on her left shoulder his face white as a sheet.
"Is it?"Warrick asked a lump beginning to form in his throat.
Grissom shook his head weakly. "They need me to go and make an ID."
Catherine stood. "I'm coming with you."
Grissom held up a hand. "No, I need you to stay here and keep things running."
"You shouldn't have to do this alone."Warrick protested.
"I owe Sara that much to do it alone."Grissom replied as he turned back toward the door. "As soon as I know anything I'll call."
*********
33 hours missing
(9 am)
The park that Jack parked on the street next to couldn't really be classified as a park. To Grissom's numb mind he had never really noticed the patch of grass and a few trees the couple times he had dropped Sara off or picked her up.
There were no benches. The grass with this being Vegas was artificial. There were no swings, no soccer goals. Just hard grass and a few straggly trees that were trying to live in a desert environment.
Grissom gripped the door handle of the passenger side door and looked out the window. It was like a hundred crime scenes he had seen before. Every square foot of the small park seemed to be covered by Brass's uniformed officers.
Grissom spotted Brass standing by a couple of officers next to the group of trees. Crime scene tape stretched between the trees stark against the dark wood.
Jack took the keys out of the ignition and glanced over at the scientist. "Gil?"
Grissom closed his eyes briefly trying to find strength for the task ahead. He opened his eyes and slowly pushed the door open and got out.
"Let's go."Grissom replied as Jack exited the vehicle.
********
"I'm going to go tell Greg."Catherine commented breaking the suffocating silence of the locker room.
"Why?"Warrick asked more sharply than he had intended.
Catherine turned to face him. "We promised we'd keep him in the loop."
Nick shook his head. "I'm with Warrick. Greg's barely getting by as it is. Why tell him if we don't know for sure?"
"Tell me what?"Greg asked his voice echoing through the room. "What's going on?"
Nick sighed as he pushed himself away from the bank of lockers. He exchanged a look with Catherine before he walked toward the lab tech.
"Come on, Greg."Nick urged as he placed a supportive hand on Sander's left shoulder. "Let's go for a walk."
Greg stopped fear gripping him. He hadn't missed the ashen shocked expressions on their faces. He also hadn't missed how upset Grissom was when he had tore out of the lab ten minutes before.
"Tell me, Nick."Greg demanded. "What's going on? You said you'd let me know if there was news on Sara...."
Nick tried not to wince at the mention of Sara's name as he started walking again forcing Greg to match his step in order to keep up. "I will tell you, Greg. I just think we'll both need the fresh air when I do."