Rating: PG
Summary: The team at Tuscadero High School, Nevada...
Spoilers: None, really.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
A/N: So shoot me. There's been not a lot of that romance you all demanded. Oh well. Bear with me. That is, if you're all still reading.
***
The next day at school was a nightmare. Everyone knew what had happened, of course – that was the worst part. The others.
As Catherine and Gil walked bravely at the front of the group, Nick was comforted for the loss of his girlfriend by Sara and Warrick. First of all, one of the spoilt princesses on the cheerleading squad approached them. "I'm so sorry about little Lindsay. I know she'll be missed." she said, sincerely. Her blonde hair glinted in the sunlight, and Sara hated her even more than before. "Yes, but we'll only appreciate her more when she gets back home." she sniped, viciously. The others stopped walking, shocked at the hostility of Sara's comment.
'How dare she? When she's never spoken to Lindsay – or us – except for the bitchiness expected of her. And when Lindsay isn't even dead.' Sara felt a tear slide down her cheek, and Gil brushed his hand against hers. A little shiver ran down Sara's spine. She gave her friend a small, beautiful smile.
Later, at lunch, the group joined one another at a table. Noticing that neither of the girls had bought food that day, Warrick got a bowl of chips to share between them. "You can't stop eating." he said, caringly, as he took a seat beside Catherine.
"Thanks." they both said, but neither took anything.
They all discovered that people had been approaching them during lesson time and in the hallways, asking if they were OK. All of them could be cold, but that only meant they covered the hurt. Not that they didn't feel it, nor that they felt it any less. It was, many would marvel, a wonder gang hadn't really gotten into any trouble. Yet. It was only a matter of time before Catherine snapped – people were acting as if Lindsay was dead already – and everyone knew it.
***
The investigation went on the next day, and a few officers accompanied a CSI, who asked to speak to Sara after school. Finding the student in her physics class a few moments before the bell rang, the investigator had Sara extracted from the midst of an experiment, and checked out of school.
"Miss Sidle, my name is Helen Matthews; I'm investigating Lindsay's abduction." Sara winced at the word, the wound still tender. "I'd like to ask a few questions." Helen stated, her professional detachment quite disconcerting to Sara, who nodded. "OK."
"Lindsay was last seen on Monday morning, heading out to school. We have evidence of your presence at her house – you were there on Sunday afternoon?" the CSI pushed, cockily. Sara's voice shook under the scrutiny – this woman was just too much, after the sleepless night's she had suffered. She strained to remember, but all she could recall was the stress, worry and hurt of the past three days.
"Uh... Oh, I went to pick up a blanket. I lent it to her and the others at the park." Sara knew already that if she gave an overload of information, suspicion would arise, but to give too little would have similar effects.
The woman spoke again. "Did she say anything about going somewhere the next day?" Sara's mind played the visit over.
FLASHBACK
"OK, well, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Oh, I thought I'd pull a sickie. I've got a Maths exam tomorrow."
"Lindsay! How- Oh, never mind. See ya."
END FLASHBACK
'Not as if she's gonna get busted for that, after what's happened.' Sara reasoned, and she told the CSI about it.
The interview ended soon after, the investigator keen to analyse this new data with her investigator friends in their investigations lab. Rolling her eyes, the teenager opened the door, exiting the room quietly. "Gil!" Sara exclaimed, seeing her friend sitting in one of the seats outside the room. He smiled at her, reassuring.
Recently, the boys had become much more protective over Sara and Catherine – maybe because they sensed an emotional need for it, but most likely because they felt they were helpless when it came to Lindsay; they needed to protect their remaining friends. 'And it's not possessive either. It's sweet.' Sara thought, as Gil guided her down the hallways.
"You OK?" he asked, concerned. She nodded, smiling at him. Somehow, Gil convinced her to come over for dinner. "Mum makes good pie."
Sitting back in her chair, Sara gave Mrs Grissom the thumbs-up. Gil had been right; his mother made veeeeery nice pie. She asked her friend to tell his mother that, and when he made the hand gestures, the old woman smiled at Sara – then, she did another phrase. One that made Gil blush a little. 'She'd make a nice girlfriend for you.' Needless to say, Gil didn't translate for her.
Later on, in his room, Gil asked Sara what went on in the interview. At great length, she explained to him what was happening. "I think she was playing truant and got abducted." she finished, on the verge of tears. Grissom put his hand to her cheek – without thinking – and Sara's eyes shot to his face. Unable to move, or think, Gil sat there, panic-stricken.
And then she moved her head forward; a catalyst, of sorts. Their mouths met in a tentative, gentle kiss. Realising what she was doing, Sara jolted away. "I- I have to go." she said, grabbing her jacket and flying out of the door.
She clattered down the stairs, not afraid of Gil's mother hearing, and swung the door open, hurrying out into the cold night.
Her blood was rushing around her body, her heart beating out an ostinato against her chest. Cheeks blushing red, she welcomed the cooling air. Sara's body felt flushed and hot. Even though the kiss had been butterfly- soft, her lips felt swollen.
Guilt weighed her down as she arrived home. First of all, for kissing Gil; her best friend, older than her by a year. Second for running away; leaving him alone and probably feeling foolish. Thirdly, because she felt like she was too young for her first kiss – not ready – and like everyone would know, and her parents would be disappointed in her and... Well, she ran out of worries. Because part of her felt like it was supposed to happen. Supposed to happen with Gil.
Unlocking the door with her house keys, Sara stepped in and called, "Mum, Dad, I'm home!" they yelled their acknowledgements, and she hurried upstairs.
'I kissed him because I felt like I wanted to, and like I actually needed to. Strange. I don't like him, do I? I've never had a crush on anyone before.' She undressed. 'It's not like I've never noticed he's a boy and he's sweet.' She threw on some nightclothes. 'And I did kind of like that kiss.' Clambering into bed, Sara tried to forget what had happened, and she fell asleep.
Summary: The team at Tuscadero High School, Nevada...
Spoilers: None, really.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
A/N: So shoot me. There's been not a lot of that romance you all demanded. Oh well. Bear with me. That is, if you're all still reading.
***
The next day at school was a nightmare. Everyone knew what had happened, of course – that was the worst part. The others.
As Catherine and Gil walked bravely at the front of the group, Nick was comforted for the loss of his girlfriend by Sara and Warrick. First of all, one of the spoilt princesses on the cheerleading squad approached them. "I'm so sorry about little Lindsay. I know she'll be missed." she said, sincerely. Her blonde hair glinted in the sunlight, and Sara hated her even more than before. "Yes, but we'll only appreciate her more when she gets back home." she sniped, viciously. The others stopped walking, shocked at the hostility of Sara's comment.
'How dare she? When she's never spoken to Lindsay – or us – except for the bitchiness expected of her. And when Lindsay isn't even dead.' Sara felt a tear slide down her cheek, and Gil brushed his hand against hers. A little shiver ran down Sara's spine. She gave her friend a small, beautiful smile.
Later, at lunch, the group joined one another at a table. Noticing that neither of the girls had bought food that day, Warrick got a bowl of chips to share between them. "You can't stop eating." he said, caringly, as he took a seat beside Catherine.
"Thanks." they both said, but neither took anything.
They all discovered that people had been approaching them during lesson time and in the hallways, asking if they were OK. All of them could be cold, but that only meant they covered the hurt. Not that they didn't feel it, nor that they felt it any less. It was, many would marvel, a wonder gang hadn't really gotten into any trouble. Yet. It was only a matter of time before Catherine snapped – people were acting as if Lindsay was dead already – and everyone knew it.
***
The investigation went on the next day, and a few officers accompanied a CSI, who asked to speak to Sara after school. Finding the student in her physics class a few moments before the bell rang, the investigator had Sara extracted from the midst of an experiment, and checked out of school.
"Miss Sidle, my name is Helen Matthews; I'm investigating Lindsay's abduction." Sara winced at the word, the wound still tender. "I'd like to ask a few questions." Helen stated, her professional detachment quite disconcerting to Sara, who nodded. "OK."
"Lindsay was last seen on Monday morning, heading out to school. We have evidence of your presence at her house – you were there on Sunday afternoon?" the CSI pushed, cockily. Sara's voice shook under the scrutiny – this woman was just too much, after the sleepless night's she had suffered. She strained to remember, but all she could recall was the stress, worry and hurt of the past three days.
"Uh... Oh, I went to pick up a blanket. I lent it to her and the others at the park." Sara knew already that if she gave an overload of information, suspicion would arise, but to give too little would have similar effects.
The woman spoke again. "Did she say anything about going somewhere the next day?" Sara's mind played the visit over.
FLASHBACK
"OK, well, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Oh, I thought I'd pull a sickie. I've got a Maths exam tomorrow."
"Lindsay! How- Oh, never mind. See ya."
END FLASHBACK
'Not as if she's gonna get busted for that, after what's happened.' Sara reasoned, and she told the CSI about it.
The interview ended soon after, the investigator keen to analyse this new data with her investigator friends in their investigations lab. Rolling her eyes, the teenager opened the door, exiting the room quietly. "Gil!" Sara exclaimed, seeing her friend sitting in one of the seats outside the room. He smiled at her, reassuring.
Recently, the boys had become much more protective over Sara and Catherine – maybe because they sensed an emotional need for it, but most likely because they felt they were helpless when it came to Lindsay; they needed to protect their remaining friends. 'And it's not possessive either. It's sweet.' Sara thought, as Gil guided her down the hallways.
"You OK?" he asked, concerned. She nodded, smiling at him. Somehow, Gil convinced her to come over for dinner. "Mum makes good pie."
Sitting back in her chair, Sara gave Mrs Grissom the thumbs-up. Gil had been right; his mother made veeeeery nice pie. She asked her friend to tell his mother that, and when he made the hand gestures, the old woman smiled at Sara – then, she did another phrase. One that made Gil blush a little. 'She'd make a nice girlfriend for you.' Needless to say, Gil didn't translate for her.
Later on, in his room, Gil asked Sara what went on in the interview. At great length, she explained to him what was happening. "I think she was playing truant and got abducted." she finished, on the verge of tears. Grissom put his hand to her cheek – without thinking – and Sara's eyes shot to his face. Unable to move, or think, Gil sat there, panic-stricken.
And then she moved her head forward; a catalyst, of sorts. Their mouths met in a tentative, gentle kiss. Realising what she was doing, Sara jolted away. "I- I have to go." she said, grabbing her jacket and flying out of the door.
She clattered down the stairs, not afraid of Gil's mother hearing, and swung the door open, hurrying out into the cold night.
Her blood was rushing around her body, her heart beating out an ostinato against her chest. Cheeks blushing red, she welcomed the cooling air. Sara's body felt flushed and hot. Even though the kiss had been butterfly- soft, her lips felt swollen.
Guilt weighed her down as she arrived home. First of all, for kissing Gil; her best friend, older than her by a year. Second for running away; leaving him alone and probably feeling foolish. Thirdly, because she felt like she was too young for her first kiss – not ready – and like everyone would know, and her parents would be disappointed in her and... Well, she ran out of worries. Because part of her felt like it was supposed to happen. Supposed to happen with Gil.
Unlocking the door with her house keys, Sara stepped in and called, "Mum, Dad, I'm home!" they yelled their acknowledgements, and she hurried upstairs.
'I kissed him because I felt like I wanted to, and like I actually needed to. Strange. I don't like him, do I? I've never had a crush on anyone before.' She undressed. 'It's not like I've never noticed he's a boy and he's sweet.' She threw on some nightclothes. 'And I did kind of like that kiss.' Clambering into bed, Sara tried to forget what had happened, and she fell asleep.