DISCLAIMER: I own nothing here. Please don't sue me.
A/N: Special thanks to TBAChikita for the darker aspects since I'm still in my happy place. Hehehe!
Chapter 18:
"Catherine?" Sam Braun smiled broadly as Catherine walked into his darkened penthouse office. "Glad to see you, Muggs!"
"Wish I could say the same, Sam."
She took a seat on one of Sam's plush visitor's chairs, and studied his face hard. He was in rare form this evening. All his charm was oozing out, and one could drown in it, forgetting all about their original purpose if care wasn't taken. She narrowed her eyes at him. She wasn't going to let him charm her. Not this time.
"Sam, I really need you to be honest with me. This is the last chance I'm giving you. This is it."
Sam's broad smile dropped like a lead weight. He wasn't used to being given ultimatums. Especially not on his own turf. But, then, Catherine wasn't just some business partner, or lackey. She was the last of his bloodline, and she was a worthy opponent. Still, she had always ended up on his side one way or another. Sam Braun didn't lose.
"Catherine." He stood up, and walked over to his large humidor, retrieving a cigar of questionable origin. "Whatever you've heard, it isn't true. I would never do the things they say I did. You know that. Do you really think I'm a cold-blooded killer?" He cut the end of the cigar off, and reached into his vest pocket for his lighter, never making eye contact.
"Sam. . .I know you are." She took a deep breath. In the past she could easily take for granted the good graces Sam tossed her way, but given the current situation, a glimmer of fear sat in the pit of her stomach festering.
"I'm sorry you think that." He lit the cigar, casting an eerie glow over his features. "All I can do is try to prove myself to you, Muggs. I have you and that little girl's best interests in mind. I hope you at least know that." He sat back down at his desk.
At the mention of Lindsey, Catherine's anger overtook any fears she may have had.
"Sam, you leave Lindsey out of this! You come near her, and there won't be enough bodyguards in Vegas to save your ass!" She was standing now, clinched fists, and shaking.
"Catherine! Calm down, Hun. I would never do anything to harm that sweet little girl. But I won't have her thinkin' her Grandad's a murderer either. After this all blows over, I hope you'll realize I had nothing to do with this."
"Really? What would you be telling me if it had been me in that pit? Would you have shot me too?"
To his credit, Braun actually flinched at that comment.
"I would never hurt you, Muggs! I didn't shoot your friend either. I'm sorry she seems to think otherwise. I'm the victim here too. I lost my son twice! Right now, I've got my guys searching for the ones who did this. They're the ones you should be after." There was that charm again. He could spin tales faster than most people could tell the truth; all while looking you straight in the eyes.
Catherine blinked back tears of anger and frustration. He almost seemed to believe the story he was feeding her. And maybe he didn't do the actual shooting, but he was there. He stood over Sara as she lay bleeding, and believed he was leaving her for dead. This was the man who taught her all she knew about Vegas whether she'd wanted to know or not. Catherine pulled a check from her purse, and placed it on the center of Sam's desk.
"This is almost all of it. I'll get you the rest as soon as I can. I don't' want to see you. I don't want you calling me, or showing up at my home. And stay the hell away from my daughter, or I will forget any good times we ever had together. You are not my father, and I am NOT your daughter."
Catherine turned on shaky legs, and made a hasty exit. From behind his desk, Sam Braun grinned. Oh, she was his alright. More now than ever.
Chapter 19:
The apartment seemed even smaller with all the flower arrangements Sara received covering every available bit of counter space. People she had only spoken with once around the labs had sent her bouquets of flowers with get- well cards, and candy. Even complete strangers had sent her cards at the labs since she was on the news. Those who knew her better had sent arrangements in coffee mugs, and pounds of expensive coffee. Greg had even sent along a bag of his prized Blue Hawaiian along with a mix CD. Sara smiled, and sat up on her bed. Spidey yawned, stretched, and then inched his way over to her lap for some attention.
"Hey there, little guy." She hugged the furball gently. He definitely made life more enjoyable. She had been home from the hospital two days, and already she was getting a bit stir crazy being detached from the case. It made her sick that Sam Braun and his goons were out there walking free. It was like he had "get out of jail free" tattooed on his forehead. Before she was able to get worked up about it again, she heard a knock at her door.
Sara grinned when she spotted Grissom's features through her peephole.
"Hi." She moved aside, and let him enter.
"How are you feeling today?" Grissom sat a bag of take-out on her kitchen sink, and tugged his coat off.
"A lot better." She grinned, and motioned for him to toss his coat on a chair.
"Hi there!" Grissom bent down to pet Spidey's head. The kitten looked at him uncertainly, relaxing once Grissom started scratching behind his ears.
Sara watched the exchange from across the room. She felt a pang of happiness in her chest causing her to sigh deeply.
"Any word on when the trial will be?" Sara walked up behind her two favorite guys.
"We're still tracking down witnesses, and questioning suspects." Grissom turned to face her. He knew she wanted to hear everything, but he hated being the one to tell her.
"Still no one to back up my story? Why would I lie? I'm a credible witness alone aren't I?" She sat down on the edge of her desk.
"Their lawyers have a doctor claiming that there was no way you were coherent enough to know what you were really seeing. He's claiming you hallucinated seeing Braun there. There's no real way to prove it one way or another." Grissom reached out for her hands. "Unfortunately, according to Greg, you weren't aware of what was going on around you by the time you were put in the ambulance. I believe what you told me, but I'm afraid at trial there won't be enough evidence. I'm sorry." He looked into her eyes to try to gauge her reaction. Her features betrayed little more than frustration. But he knew there had to be more.
Sara took a deep breath, and leaned into Grissom. She wanted so desperately to get back out in the field. She wanted to do her job again, but then there were the nightmares. She hadn't told anyone about them. She didn't tell Grissom that every time she closed her eyes she saw Sam Braun's maniacal grin, and felt the searing pain of the bullet as it tore through her midsection. She didn't admit that she was scared to go out again. As much as she needed her work right now, she was scared. She couldn't live in fear. She had to deal with this sooner than later. Grissom was already pressuring her to speak with the department shrink. That was the last thing she wanted. She didn't want some stranger picking apart her life, and telling her how screwed up she was.
"Sara?" Grissom pulled back from her upon feeling dampness against his shoulder.
"I'm fine, Gris. I'm just really tired." She turned her head, wiping the rogue tears off on her sleeve. "Do you mind if I take a rain check on the dinner? I think I'm just going to take my meds, and hit the sack." She sighed again. This time it was for entirely different reasons.
"Sure. I'll just put these in your fridge. Do you need anything before I go?" He looked around her place as if the answer was surrounding him.
"Could you stay? Sleep with me? Just sleep." She looked up at him solemnly. "I don't want to be alone tonight."
Grissom stood still for a moment as if weighing his options, then put his coat back down, sat on her desk chair, and began taking off his shoes.
TBC
A/N: Special thanks to TBAChikita for the darker aspects since I'm still in my happy place. Hehehe!
Chapter 18:
"Catherine?" Sam Braun smiled broadly as Catherine walked into his darkened penthouse office. "Glad to see you, Muggs!"
"Wish I could say the same, Sam."
She took a seat on one of Sam's plush visitor's chairs, and studied his face hard. He was in rare form this evening. All his charm was oozing out, and one could drown in it, forgetting all about their original purpose if care wasn't taken. She narrowed her eyes at him. She wasn't going to let him charm her. Not this time.
"Sam, I really need you to be honest with me. This is the last chance I'm giving you. This is it."
Sam's broad smile dropped like a lead weight. He wasn't used to being given ultimatums. Especially not on his own turf. But, then, Catherine wasn't just some business partner, or lackey. She was the last of his bloodline, and she was a worthy opponent. Still, she had always ended up on his side one way or another. Sam Braun didn't lose.
"Catherine." He stood up, and walked over to his large humidor, retrieving a cigar of questionable origin. "Whatever you've heard, it isn't true. I would never do the things they say I did. You know that. Do you really think I'm a cold-blooded killer?" He cut the end of the cigar off, and reached into his vest pocket for his lighter, never making eye contact.
"Sam. . .I know you are." She took a deep breath. In the past she could easily take for granted the good graces Sam tossed her way, but given the current situation, a glimmer of fear sat in the pit of her stomach festering.
"I'm sorry you think that." He lit the cigar, casting an eerie glow over his features. "All I can do is try to prove myself to you, Muggs. I have you and that little girl's best interests in mind. I hope you at least know that." He sat back down at his desk.
At the mention of Lindsey, Catherine's anger overtook any fears she may have had.
"Sam, you leave Lindsey out of this! You come near her, and there won't be enough bodyguards in Vegas to save your ass!" She was standing now, clinched fists, and shaking.
"Catherine! Calm down, Hun. I would never do anything to harm that sweet little girl. But I won't have her thinkin' her Grandad's a murderer either. After this all blows over, I hope you'll realize I had nothing to do with this."
"Really? What would you be telling me if it had been me in that pit? Would you have shot me too?"
To his credit, Braun actually flinched at that comment.
"I would never hurt you, Muggs! I didn't shoot your friend either. I'm sorry she seems to think otherwise. I'm the victim here too. I lost my son twice! Right now, I've got my guys searching for the ones who did this. They're the ones you should be after." There was that charm again. He could spin tales faster than most people could tell the truth; all while looking you straight in the eyes.
Catherine blinked back tears of anger and frustration. He almost seemed to believe the story he was feeding her. And maybe he didn't do the actual shooting, but he was there. He stood over Sara as she lay bleeding, and believed he was leaving her for dead. This was the man who taught her all she knew about Vegas whether she'd wanted to know or not. Catherine pulled a check from her purse, and placed it on the center of Sam's desk.
"This is almost all of it. I'll get you the rest as soon as I can. I don't' want to see you. I don't want you calling me, or showing up at my home. And stay the hell away from my daughter, or I will forget any good times we ever had together. You are not my father, and I am NOT your daughter."
Catherine turned on shaky legs, and made a hasty exit. From behind his desk, Sam Braun grinned. Oh, she was his alright. More now than ever.
Chapter 19:
The apartment seemed even smaller with all the flower arrangements Sara received covering every available bit of counter space. People she had only spoken with once around the labs had sent her bouquets of flowers with get- well cards, and candy. Even complete strangers had sent her cards at the labs since she was on the news. Those who knew her better had sent arrangements in coffee mugs, and pounds of expensive coffee. Greg had even sent along a bag of his prized Blue Hawaiian along with a mix CD. Sara smiled, and sat up on her bed. Spidey yawned, stretched, and then inched his way over to her lap for some attention.
"Hey there, little guy." She hugged the furball gently. He definitely made life more enjoyable. She had been home from the hospital two days, and already she was getting a bit stir crazy being detached from the case. It made her sick that Sam Braun and his goons were out there walking free. It was like he had "get out of jail free" tattooed on his forehead. Before she was able to get worked up about it again, she heard a knock at her door.
Sara grinned when she spotted Grissom's features through her peephole.
"Hi." She moved aside, and let him enter.
"How are you feeling today?" Grissom sat a bag of take-out on her kitchen sink, and tugged his coat off.
"A lot better." She grinned, and motioned for him to toss his coat on a chair.
"Hi there!" Grissom bent down to pet Spidey's head. The kitten looked at him uncertainly, relaxing once Grissom started scratching behind his ears.
Sara watched the exchange from across the room. She felt a pang of happiness in her chest causing her to sigh deeply.
"Any word on when the trial will be?" Sara walked up behind her two favorite guys.
"We're still tracking down witnesses, and questioning suspects." Grissom turned to face her. He knew she wanted to hear everything, but he hated being the one to tell her.
"Still no one to back up my story? Why would I lie? I'm a credible witness alone aren't I?" She sat down on the edge of her desk.
"Their lawyers have a doctor claiming that there was no way you were coherent enough to know what you were really seeing. He's claiming you hallucinated seeing Braun there. There's no real way to prove it one way or another." Grissom reached out for her hands. "Unfortunately, according to Greg, you weren't aware of what was going on around you by the time you were put in the ambulance. I believe what you told me, but I'm afraid at trial there won't be enough evidence. I'm sorry." He looked into her eyes to try to gauge her reaction. Her features betrayed little more than frustration. But he knew there had to be more.
Sara took a deep breath, and leaned into Grissom. She wanted so desperately to get back out in the field. She wanted to do her job again, but then there were the nightmares. She hadn't told anyone about them. She didn't tell Grissom that every time she closed her eyes she saw Sam Braun's maniacal grin, and felt the searing pain of the bullet as it tore through her midsection. She didn't admit that she was scared to go out again. As much as she needed her work right now, she was scared. She couldn't live in fear. She had to deal with this sooner than later. Grissom was already pressuring her to speak with the department shrink. That was the last thing she wanted. She didn't want some stranger picking apart her life, and telling her how screwed up she was.
"Sara?" Grissom pulled back from her upon feeling dampness against his shoulder.
"I'm fine, Gris. I'm just really tired." She turned her head, wiping the rogue tears off on her sleeve. "Do you mind if I take a rain check on the dinner? I think I'm just going to take my meds, and hit the sack." She sighed again. This time it was for entirely different reasons.
"Sure. I'll just put these in your fridge. Do you need anything before I go?" He looked around her place as if the answer was surrounding him.
"Could you stay? Sleep with me? Just sleep." She looked up at him solemnly. "I don't want to be alone tonight."
Grissom stood still for a moment as if weighing his options, then put his coat back down, sat on her desk chair, and began taking off his shoes.
TBC