When Sara walked into work that evening, everyone seemed to turn their heads and stare at her. She felt uneasy so she hurried toward the break room. After grabbing a cup of coffee, she sat down on the couch and waited for assignments to be handed out. As if on cue, the sheriff walked in the door seconds later. "Ms. Sidle, I heard you would be back tonight," he spoke, an evil smirk crossing his face.
"And I suppose you were just drifting by," Sara's voice dripped with sarcasm.
"Please, come with me to my office, we need to talk about a few things."
"I'd like to wait for Grissom to come in," she said, hoping he would enter the building soon.
"No, I think we can go have our little chat now," the sheriff demanded.
Sara got up from the couch and followed the sheriff to his office.
Once inside his office, the sheriff gestured for Sara to sit down. Sara complied and gave the sheriff a blank stare. "Ms. Sidle, would you like to explain your departure from a crime scene last Monday?" the sheriff asked, knowing full well what the answer would be.
"I was instructed by my interim supervisor to depart work and meet Grissom in Marina Del Rey."
"Oh, so you just up and left? That's not very professional behavior Ms. Sidle."
"So it is professional to not grant someone leave when a family member dies?" Sara countered.
"She wasn't family to you," the sheriff sneered.
"Sheriff, what is this really about?" Sara redirected the conversation.
"Would you care to explain your statements to the media?"
"They were inhibiting my path to carry evidence back to my vehicle."
"Your personal life does in fact interfere with your job Ms. Sidle, doesn't it?"
"I have no idea what you are talking about. I am nothing but objective at my crime scenes."
"So objective that you have the media doubting the lab's ability to stay impartial with cases?"
"I have nothing to do with that. The press was just trying to put words in my mouth."
"Did you, or did you not say that "My personal life is none of your damn business, and it sure as hell doesn't interfere with my job!"?"
"Yes, I said that."
"And do you think that is proper representation of this lab?"
"It's the truth."
"That wasn't my question Ms. Sidle."
"Sheriff, if you would like my professional opinion, I don't even think I should have been working that night, but that wasn't my choice, was it? You decided to go and let Grissom go off to California, and you threatened my job if I didn't stay here. I was an emotional wreck, I admit that, but it was not my fault that the reporters were trying to exploit that."
"It is your fault that you took the bait."
"Sheriff, what do you want me to say? Whatever I do, you're going to have a problem with it, so why don't you just go and put the words in my mouth."
"You are a liability to this lab."
"I have the highest solve rate in this lab!" Sara started to raise her voice.
"Your relationship with Gil has been a constant problem for this lab."
"A problem for the lab or a problem for you? Grissom and I have been nothing but professional!" Sara shouted.
"Ms. Sidle, need I remind you that I have the power to fire you? You might want to take a more rational approach to this."
"There are people in this lab that have made many more mistakes than I have."
"Are you suggesting I fire them instead?"
"No!" Sara shouted again, "I'm merely stating that I don't think your line of questioning is rational."
"We are talking about you Ms. Sidle, not other people. How would you feel if I told you that the two men who killed those five family members are going to get off because of your hasty actions against the reporters?"
Sara's mouth clamped shut as she contemplated the new information. "How?"
"The credibility of the lab was taken into question when the reporters started trying to figure out why you were at the scene to begin with."
"I was there because it was my assignment for that night, and you told me that I had to report to work. Are you mad because the lab's credibility was taken into question, or because your credibility was taken into question?" Sara stared at the sheriff.
"Two murderers are getting off because of what you did!" he shouted, "do you comprehend the seriousness of this?"
Sara shuddered, but like a professional, she did not let her feelings show. "Sheriff, if anyone is to blame for me being there in that situation, it is you. You are just trying to cover your own ass."
"Ms. Sidle, I suggest you learn some self control and treat me with respect."
"I think this interrogation session is over sheriff," Sara said, moving to get up from the chair.
The sheriff slammed his fist down on the desk, and Sara dropped back into the chair. "You have put the lab in a tough spot," the sheriff stated.
"I collected plenty of evidence to make a case against whoever is involved."
"Oh, but that is tainted. Everything you collected is void."
"That's not possible!" Sara's face started to redden with anger.
"Oh, so you are a smart CSI. It sure took you long enough."
"Excuse me?"
"We have the two men in custody on five counts of murder."
Sara frowned in realization that the sheriff had been lying to her the entire time. "What did you think you would accomplish by lying to me? Surely that's not in your professional code, or does that change when it applies to you?" Sara shouted.
The sheriff started yelling to verbally attack her once again.
When Grissom entered the lab, he found everyone except Sara in the break room. "Where's Sara?" he asked no one in particular.
"The sheriff took her up to his office," Greg said.
Grissom stormed out of the break room and raced to the sheriff's office, his pulse already increasing with his anger.
"I have to have some way to get through to you when you are too busy sleeping with your boss!" Grissom heard the sheriff shout just as he got to the door.
Grissom threw open the door, steam practically rolling off of his body. "Well, well, well, if it isn't Dr. Grissom himself."
Grissom took one look at Sara and knew that he had been badgering her for a while. "Sheriff, you and I are going to have a little talk," Grissom spoke, "Sara, please go wait outside."
Sara shot him a look, but she complied. As soon as she closed the door, Grissom started again. "This is unreasonable sheriff, you do not talk to my CSIs like that."
"Oh, how sweet, you're sticking up for your fiancee."
"When we are inside of this building, we are fellow CSIs. We've already had this conversation, what is the problem now?"
"I don't need a repeat of this media fiasco."
"Well, you could have avoided the whole thing in the first place."
"Gil, you don't understand my position."
"Oh, I think I understand your motives very well. You want to look good for the public so you can become mayor."
"So you do understand politics Mr. Grissom."
"Understand this. If you have a problem with my CSIs, you come to me. Otherwise, stay the hell away from them."
Grissom turned around and went to open the door. "Gil," the sheriff called.
"We are finished with this conversation sheriff, I don't expect to have any more problems with you in the near future."
Grissom closed the door quite loudly behind him and reentered the hallway. Sara was leaning up against the wall near the door. "Come on," he said, taking her hand, "let's go hand out assignments."