OOU 16/?

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Most of the group looked up hopefully when Warrick returned, but their faces fell when they realized Sara wasn't with him.

"I tried." he explained. "She's pretty messed up right now. Talkin' about how she's a robot an' robots don't have feelings..."

Grissom winced faintly, but everyone else was focused on the other man and took no notice. Dropping back into his chair, Warrick studied his hands for a long moment then looked up at Nick.

"So. You wanna tell me what that was all about, man? Sara took one look at you an' lit outta here like her head was on fire an' her ass was catchin'."

Nick sighed and looked to Catherine.

"It's your story, Nicky, not mine or Gil's. If you're ready to expand the inner circle... tell it."

After a deep steadying breath or two, Nick related the tale of his childhood abuse to Warrick.

"An' you think Sara... No. No way. Forget it."

"She rejects her emotions, she knows that trick about blanking your mind when somebody... Trust me, she's been molested. Not just once like I was, either. I'd stake my last nickel on it."

"Shit... you two are stronger than I ever knew. How did I miss it? You, Sara... how did I not see that?"

"That's the thing about bein' a long-term survivor, Rick. Either you get the right help an' make peace with it so there's nothin' for anyone to see, or you dig a grave an' bury it so deep it never shows on the surface unless somethin' makes you remember."

Gil's phone rang shrilly into the prolonged silence that followed Nick's quiet, but powerful statement. Glad for a reason to escape the emotionally charged atmosphere, Grissom moved into the corridor to take the call, briefly touching Nick's shoulder in support on the way out.

"Grissom."

"It's Jim. Sawyer is getting antsy and so is his so-called legal representation."

"Is there any way we can buy more time? Any way at all?"

"I don't know. Cimino was caught red-handed in the middle of attempted murder an' the guy who caught him is conscious to testify, so... no problem. Sawyer, on the other hand, is a lot more shaky."

"We have the tape..."

"Yeah, but as I understand it the ID was made long after it ran out. If Cimino doesn't roll or Sanders doesn't come to in time..."

"I understand. I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Speakin' of the kid... how is he? The doctors got anything new?"

"Not really. The swelling seems to be going down slowly. My guess, he'll be awake and off the ventilator by day after tomorrow."

"Too late to get Sawyer. Way too late..."

"Not if I haven't lost my touch."

"There's always hope. See you in twenty?"

"Somewhere in there. Bye, Jim."

"Bye."

Gil stepped back in, tucked his phone away and addressed the remaining group. "That was Brass. They may lose Sawyer."

Nick suddenly sat forward, releasing some of his frustration in a mild explosion of anger and disbelief.

"What? No, damn it! Greg ID'd the son of a bitch!"

"After the tape had stopped. By the time Greg can confirm his identification, Sawyer's attorney will have gotten him released."

Warrick slammed a fist into his thigh and ground out what everyone was thinking.

"He steps one foot on the street we'll never see him again."

"That's why I'm going in to talk to him. Of the two, he's more likely to break."

"I know a few things I could break for him..." Warrick muttered forebodingly. Grissom whipped his head around to glare harshly at his friend then turned it on the other two as well.

"Attitude, Warrick. All of us have to be more careful. We have no idea what Greg might be able to sense or pick up on."

The object of the reprimand looked up at his boss, a repentant expression on his face

"An' the last thing he needs to feel around him is anger and violence. I get it. I'm sorry."

"Tell him. I have to get going. I'll be back as soon as I can."

"You'll call the minute there's news?" Catherine asked, her eyes pleading with him to do all he could to draw a usable confession from Brett Sawyer.

"Absolutely."

As Grissom left, Warrick nudged his chair a little closer to the bed. Gently, he pulled up the blankets and slipped Greg's chilled hands under them, talking softly.

"I really am sorry, Greggo. If I scared you I didn't mean it. Hey, did you hear the good news? The guys who hurt you are both behind bars and we're all gonna make sure they stay there 'till they need dentures an' walkers."

"It's true, I swear." Catherine continued. "It's all okay, now. You put your focus on getting better. That's all you need to think about. We're all right here with you... we're not going anywhere."

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THE STATION

"That's him?"

Brass chuckled darkly.

"Yeah. Doesn't look like much, does he? Here we were all prepared for something out of "Alien"... and we end up with a cockroach."

"He wasn't the only one involved."

Brass sobered.

"Yeah. Too damn true. Cimino... he's the monster we were waitin' on. Somebody whacked that guy with an evil stick in-utero."

"Has he been a lot of trouble?" Grissom asked, turning from the interrogation room window to gaze at the man beside him.

"Nah. He sits in the cell and stares at everybody that walks by or comes up to the bars. Won't talk, won't eat. He just... follows you with his eyes. He's freaked out half the cops on the first two shifts already. One or two are convinced he's gonna spit pea soup and make his head do a three-sixty."

Gil sighed and turned back to the glass.

"Why do we insist on looking for supernatural sources for evil? Evil was probably man's real first invention."

"You don't believe in Satan?"

"I believe Lucifer may have existed, but blaming a pissed off angel for everything we do wrong makes as much sense as the Twinkie defense, Jim. It's another convenient excuse to avoid taking responsibility for our human weaknesses." Gil replied as he opened the door and stepped into the room. Jim paused, grinned and followed, closing the door behind him.

"Brett Sawyer? I'm Gil Grissom. I'm..."

"I know who you are. Sanders told me enough times. Little bitch couldn't shut up about you."

Jim quickly glanced at Grissom, wondering if the fact that the victim was someone he was close to would allow the typical filthy slurs to sink any deeper than they usually did. He was gratified to see no trace of concern or distaste on his colleague's face.

"And I know you. Saves time. Let's get down to business, shall we?"

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TBC......