The next morning, Sara awoke and found herself in the infirmary. She looked around and realized where she was and why. She laid there a minute to try to digest what she could remember. She decided to go for her morning ride and let the quiet of the morning draw out her thoughts with better clarification. She stood up slowly, knowing if she got up too fast she'd end up on the floor. But even getting up slowly was a little rough. Maybe a ride wouldn't be the best thing, she thought as she held her forehead with her hand. A walk would be a lot better… She looked down and grimaced as she saw that she was going to have to get to her rooms without much attire but then she spied a jacket of Dr. Linn's hanging on the back of his office door. She walked over and put it on. It covered her to about mid thigh. Good enough, she thought. She made it to the door of the infirmary and walked out. Most of the lights were off because only a skeletal crew remained on duty to watch the security screens. She quietly made her way around to the staircase and up to the elevator.
She arrived at the twelfth floor and walked down the hall to her rooms. Before she could get inside though, she saw one of the staff members of the hotel. They looked at her quizzically but just smiled and continued to walk down the hallway. Quickly closing the door behind her, she undressed and took a shower. When she finished, she got dressed in some spandex shorts, her sports bra and put on her running shoes. She grabbed her gun and placed it in the small of her back. She knew it could be seen but decided it was better safe than sorry. Jarod would be more upset with her for not taking it then about her going for a walk after having been shot, even though it was only a grazing. She headed out and went down to the lobby. She stopped momentarily and said a greeting to a couple of the staff members who were making preparations for the day's events including the conference. She walked out to the path that wended its way down by the lounge and along the beach by the trees.
As she made her way down the path next to the lounge, a pair of blue eyes caught her in their cross hairs while sipping a cup of coffee. Almost choking on the coffee that he swallowed, Grissom put the cup down and headed out the door, and as he did so he nearly knocked over a groggy Catherine as she came out of her room to get some coffee but he didn't stop and all Catherine could do was stare after him.
The sun rose with breathtaking color as Sara continued her walk. God, that is so beautiful. She thought as she took in a deep breath of the ocean breeze and stared at the sunrise. All of a sudden she heard a noise behind her but turned too quickly and became very dizzy. As she started to lose her balance, Grissom came up on her and grabbed her arm to steady her. "Do you really think this was a good idea?" Grissom chastised.
Sara placed her hand on his arm and her other hand grabbed onto his breaker jacket. She looked up at him and then it dawned on her whom it was. "Well, I thought so until I heard someone sneaking up on me..." She retorted.
"I wasn't sneaking…I was just trying to catch up to you. What are you doing out of bed and more to the point, what are you doing out here without someone with you? You were nearly killed last night." Grissom growled.
She was surprised at his concern and tone of voice especially after their encounter at the airstrip back in Vegas. "I, umm, well, I just wanted some fresh air and nobody was up and I did bring my gun with me." He looked at her skeptically. She turned around slightly so he could see it. He hadn't even noticed it before when he was trying to catch up to her. "Besides, I can handle it. I know you don't think I can but there's more to me than…" She trailed off. If she finished that sentence they would end up in a conversation she was not prepared to be in. She looked away.
"Sara, I know there is, but I… I'm still worried." Grissom hadn't let go of her yet and pulled her a little closer.
She peered up at him. "Why?"
"What do you mean why?"
"Why are you worried? I would have thought you, well, that after Vegas, you wouldn't…"
"Wouldn't what, worry? Come on Sara, you know me better than that… at least I would hope that you did. I do care you know."
"I'm sorry, Grissom, I know it doesn't mean much but I was just acting out of instinct…"
"I know...we should get back." He realized he still had a hold on her and so he gently let go. "Jarod wanted to have a meeting this morning to discuss the events that have happened recently and back in Vegas. I like him you know. He's seems protective of you." They started to walk back up the path.
"Yeah, that's Jarod, he's well… he always has been obsessed with protecting me ever since I can remember."
"How long is that?"
"Since I first arrived at the Centre. I was four. After I had been there a few years he seemed to hover over me, where ever I was I knew he was keeping an eye out for me."
"Including the times you were in the Hole?" He emphasized the last word to make sure she understood what he meant.
She heard the last word but kept looking down at the pavement below her and then it dawned on her what he meant and that he must have heard about her punishments, "You know? All of you know?" She gasped. They can't know that. It was so degrading to know that so many people knew your greatest fear.
Grissom could only nod. He didn't want to make her upset and yet here she was starting to cry. "Sara, I'm having a hard time dealing with how much you have gone through. We only heard a few things and yet why do I know there is a whole lot more? Jarod referred to your training like something out of a snuff film."
Sara stopped walking and turned away, facing the ocean. She stared out at it and he turned and stood looking at her profile and all the defiance he could read in it. He reached out to her and touched her shoulder. She flinched away. "Grissom, my background is not something I am ready to discuss nor do I think I ever will, please don't ask me about it, now or ever." She then stepped around him and headed back to the hotel. Grissom shook his head and followed her.
When they got into the elevator, silence reigned. When they stopped at the tenth floor he turned to her as he exited the elevator. "I'm sorry Sara, I just…I guess you can only talk to someone you trust." Then he turned and headed to his room.
The elevator doors closed and Sara allowed the tears to flow. Why can't I talk to him? She asked aloud but no one answered. She probably hurt him more with her last statement then when she held that gun directly at him. She stepped out of the elevator on her floor, and walked down to her rooms. She made herself dress for their meeting. This is going to be tough, she thought as she realized they would all be there, watching her actions, seeing her as the pretender she was made to be. She put on her best skirt suit, the one that reminded her of how Miss Parker always dressed. It was so very business-like and professional and would help her put that wall up so know one would know her inner turmoil. It always made her feel untouchable…
Jarod had gotten up at six o'clock and went in search of Sara. Of course, she's not in the Infirmary where she's supposed to be. Why should I expect her to be there since she doesn't know how to obey simple directions in regard to her health? Okay, Jarod, just calm down, she is probably just fine.
Sydney walked up behind him and made Jarod jump as he said, "Jarod?"
Jarod spun around, nearly colliding into Sydney. "God damn it Sydney, don't do that."
Sydney started to chuckle. He knew Jarod all to well. "Looking for something or should I say someone?"
"Yeah, did you happen to see our little escape artist? You know the one, the stubborn blonde with brown eyes who can't possibly take a little help and God forbid actually rest for awhile…?" Man, I'm going to have to watch what I say or they'll start calling me whiny.
"Actually, yes, I did see her. She was walking back into the hotel with that Dr. Grissom. It looked like they had just went for a walk on the beach… or maybe I should say she went for the walk and he went after her."
"You mean, he went after her to bring her back in?"
"Might be, but not sure, they were talking at one point and then I think, from the way she was standing away from him, she got mad and stormed back into the hotel. He just followed her."
"Well, it's a good thing he got her to get back inside 'cause if I had found her outside she'd be…well, let's just say it wouldn't be pretty."
"Jarod, she can take care of herself and she does know when she is over her head. She did come to you seven months ago didn't she?"
The clicking of shoes interrupted their conversation. They turned to see Sara, dressed up, looking like she was ready to kick some butt. The way she walked towards them made Jarod feel like he was being hunted down all over again.
