SPOILERS: Slight refs to Season 5 premiere and DTD.
A/N: This is not a case file but it does have a little mystery/drama and eventual GSR, of course. This is my first WIP and I will try to update quickly. Please review! ( No flames please.)
A distant ringing slowly woke Sara from a deep sleep. She lifted her head from the pillow and blinked rapidly as she tried to focus on her alarm clock. She finally realized it wasn't her alarm. It was also noon and she had only been asleep for an hour.
"Hello?" Sara cleared her throat and waited for the caller to reply.
"Sara, it's me." A familiar soft voice made it's way to Sara's ears and suddenly she was wide-awake.
"Mom, what's wrong?" Sara's voiced cracked slightly as she rolled over and up into a sitting position on the edge of her bed.
"You need to come home Sara. I need you to come home now."
Sara held her breath and waited a beat before she spoke.
"Mom, what –"Sara started.
"Your father is dead. It was an accident, a horrible accident. Please come home."
Sara heard muffled sobs and then the phone clicked. Her mother had hung up. Sara placed the phone on the bed and sat in stunned silence. She was seriously considering pinching herself. But she knew that her mom's news was very real. Dad's dead. Many emotions passed through her as the finality of it sank in. Sadness was not one of them.
XXXXXX
"You got a minute?" Sara leaned on the doorframe of Grissom's office. Grissom looked up and smiled. It quickly faded when he saw the expression on Sara's face. Usually he could read her, but this time he couldn't quite figure it out.
"Of course, sit down." Grissom dropped his pen onto the desk and removed his glasses. Leaning back in his chair he made sure Sara knew she had his full attention. Sara closed the door, which both surprised Grissom and made him a little nervous.
"I need to take some personal leave.' Sara began as she sank into the chair opposite Grissom's desk. "I know it has only been a few weeks since my... vacation," Sara wasn't sure she could call the time-off after her near DUI a vacation, but she was lacking for a better word. "but it's a family emergency actually and I have to go today. I don't know how long I will be gone, at least a week maybe more. It's going to be complicated."
"Okay." Grissom was hoping Sara would give more details of this emergency but she seemed very hesitant. "Well, I think we can manage without you for a week certainly and longer if we need to. Is there anything else you want to tell me?"
Sara swallowed the lump in her throat and blinked quickly to try and hide her conflicted emotions. She looked down at her hands folded in her lap. Her counselor had advised her to confide in her supervisor. She had tried many times but couldn't seem to bring herself to tell Grissom anything about her family. She needed someone to confide in though, especially now. Could she trust him? She wanted to, but once you open up, just one crack in the façade and there's no going back. She had been hurt that way so many times already.
"Sara?" Grissom's voice gently pulled Sara back to reality.
"Sorry. The truth is my mother called me earlier and told me that father was killed in an accident. She didn't tell me all the details she just said that she needs me to go home. Please don't ask me if I'm o.k. I just need you sign off on the leave."
Grissom's mouth opened slightly and he stared at Sara with concern, not worry, in his eyes. He sighed deeply and leaned forward. Sara finally looked up again and met his gaze.
"Sara, I am so sorry. I won't ask you if you are ok because you obviously are not. Consider the leave granted, you can sign the forms when you get back. I just want you to know that I am here, if you want to talk. Call me anytime, please."
Sara gave Grissom a small grateful smile and nodded. She stood up and paused before opening the door.
"Um, Gris? I would appreciate you not telling anyone else about my father. If I decide I want the team to know, I'll call you o.k.?"
"Sure, whatever you want Sara."
"Thanks."
Sara opened the door and walked down the hall. Grissom got up from his desk and stood in the doorway watching her until she was out of sight.
TBC