Broken

By underworldromantic/tawnyteaser

Dislaimer: Not mine

Spoiliers: Same as chap 1

Sara sighed as she pulled into her parking spot. "Another day another dollar." She muttered as she climbed the stairs to her apartment. She unlocked the door and bent down and undid the zipper to her boots before pulling them off and tossing them into a corner. She wiggled her toes and sighed. Normally she would have stayed and worked overtime but that was going to stop Sara vowed. She had to slowly start distancing herself.

"Gil Grissom." She said softly and went to her kitchen where she turned her coffee machine on. She was going to have a long shower then have a cup of coffee and maybe sleep. Sara sighed and went to her bedroom where she proceeded to strip.

The hot water beat down on Sara, washing away the night's ugliness. The pain of loving but not being loved in return.

All too soon to Sara's mind the hot water ran out, forcing her to end her shower. She grumbled as she threw on a tank top and shorts before padding back into the kitchen where a nice hot pot of coffee sat waiting for her. She poured herself a cup and inhaled the aroma. She walked over to her table where she had thrown the mail before and started sorting when a small brown envelope caught her eye. She put down her coffee and grabbed the envelope.

"Howard and Nilwalker Attorneys at Law?" Sara said to herself out loud. She noted the Montana address and slowly opened the letter, dreading the contents. Not sure but still dreading.

"I'm being summoned? Oh God." Sara said softly and collapsed on her couch. Her eyes went blank as she remembered. Remembered that weekend that changed her life forever.

Later that night......

Gil Grissom looked up as he heard a knock on the door. "Enter." He watched as Sara appeared as she opened the door. "Sara what can I do for you?" He watched with puzzlement as she seemed to hesitate. That was unlike Sara and Gil felt concern well up.

"Uh I'm going to be needing some time off. Umm, I'm going to need September 10 to the 23 off." Sara said quietly, not meeting his eyes.

"That's only 2 weeks off, don't you think you should have given me more notice?"

Sara lifted her head and clenched her jaw. "I'm sorry but that's all the notice I can give you."

"May I ask why you need the time off on such short notice?" Gil tilted his head as he watched one of the strongest people he knew withdraw into herself.

"No." Sara said and turned and left.

Gil felt as if he'd been slapped. It was one thing for Sara to snap an answer at him when he got her riled, it was quite another for her to say it calmly, without emotion.

Sara walked down the hallway towards the break room her mind racing, her thoughts a jumble of different things. She didn't notice Warrick and Nick standing in the doorway until she bumped into them. "Sorry." She muttered and walked around them and sat down.

Warrick raised an eyebrow at Nick who just shrugged. They walked into the room and sat down at the table both looking at Sara.

"Hey girl what's up?" Warrick said softly. Sara just saying 'sorry' wasn't like her. Normally she would have made some crack comment or at least shot them a glare for blocking the way.

"Hmm? Oh nothing." Sara said and turned inwards again. Her eyes were shadowed and looked errily similar to what she had looked like after the lab explosion. Confused, dazed and mixed up. The day after her eyes had been dead, no emotion.

Nick looked worridly at Warrick. Something was up with Sara and she wasn't talking. Maybe Catherine would be able to make her talk.

Catherine walked into the break room and looked at the huddled group before her. Warrick and Nicky were both sitting close to Sara who was just looking spaced out. "Hey guys what's up?" She asked as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

"Not much." Warrick said and stood up. Nick followed suit and they each grabbed Catherine by the arm and dragged her outside into the hallway.

"Cath something's wrong with Sara but she's as close lipped as a clam. Could you maybe talk to her?"

Catherine looked back and forth between her two co workers. Both wore expressions of worry. "Uh sure I'll try." She said and walked back into the room and sat down beside Sara.

"Hey Sara what's up? You seem kinda down." Catherine said and took a sip of her coffee.

Sara looked up and stared at her co-worker. "You can just stop the act Catherine. We both know you don't like me, let alone care what's the matter. Warrick and Nick put you up to this so don't act like you care." Sara said bitterly. Her mind replaying Catherines' words in her head.

"I like you. I care." Catherine sputtered out. Her temper slowly rising.

Sara narrowed her eyes and smiled. It wasn't a nice smile. It was a feral smirk. "If you like me so much why is it that you've never acted like I was part of the team. You always seemed to imply that if anyone was bringing down this team it was me. Oh yes I heard about the comment about someone sniffing around. Then when Eddie died and we were talking to your daughter? Remember that night? I sure do. So you know what just save it Catherine. Save all your bull shit for someone who actually gives a damn about what you think about them. 'Cause I sure as hell don't. Now if you'll excuse me I forgot to do something." Sara said and left the room, not looking back.

Sara walked down the hallway and spotted Warrick and Nick in the visual room. She walked in and shut the door. "So guys when did you decide that I wasn't able to sort thru my problems and get Catherine to be my shrink?" She asked calmly and closed the distance separating them.

"Uhhh." Was all that came from Warrick.

"Sara we were worried." Nick said.

Sara walked over to Nick and poked a finger in his chest. "When I need help I'll ask for it. I don't need you guys to worry about me. That's what friends are for." Sara hissed out and stormed out of the room, slamming to door.

"She just implied that we're not friends." Nick said and looked at Warrick who had a solemn expression on his face.

"We gotta talk to Grissom about this." Nick said and left the room in search of Grissom who would be handing out assignments soon.

I know I know, it seems like they're out of character but are they? I mean look at how Catherine ripped Sara up and how she's always jumping on Sara. Nick and Warrick have their moments too. Grissom well he's Grissom.