Sara regrouped and got up from the stairs, feeling levelheaded again, she headed towards the bathrooms. A lifetime of hiding in the bathroom to weep had made it impossible for Sara to have a cry without needing to pee.
Sara scrutinised herself in the mirror as she washed her hands. 'Nobody mistakes me for being in my twenties' she mused, half remembering how the officer at the scene had described Rosie. The women were in fact the same age and more to the point Rosie's birthday was the month before Sara's which technically made her older for at least one month of the year. However, admittedly the tall CSI was not looking her finest. She was pale and blotchy from crying and her clothes resembled the pile of laundry she had been avoiding on her bedroom floor.
She popped a stick of gum in her mouth and headed back to see how the patient was progressing.
Absently walking up the corridor, Sara failed to see the doctor until it was too late. As they collided both women ended up on the floor through the force of the impact.
"Oh God, I'm sorry," the doctor scrambled to her feet and extended a hand to Sara. "I really am working on looking where I'm going."
"I find it helps," Sara waved the hand away and stood unaided. "Though it is an interesting way to drum up clientele."
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay, as much my fault as yours and I don't seem to be damaged in a lawsuit kind of way." Sara grinned in case the doctor thought she was serious.
"Are you sure?" Came the reply.
"About the lawsuit?" Sara quipped.
"No," Raising one eyebrow in mock scorn. "That you are not hurt, though I can see that your facetious bone is still in tact."
"I'm fine." Sara gave herself the once over. "Honestly. How about you?"
"No lawsuit here either.
"Funny." Sara felt relieved for a second as she forgot why she was in the hospital and although only momentary, it felt good.
The two women lingered in the hall a little not really speaking until Sara cleared her throat awkwardly. "I guess I had better not keep you from wherever you were on a collision course for."
"Huh?" The doctor began absently and then recovered, "I should really…" The woman pointed down the corridor, "go."
"Okay, well nice bumping into you."
"Likewise, I'm Ellie by the way." Half extending her hand to shake Sara's.
"Yes," Sara nodded "I know, you just extubated my friend."
"That's true; I was actually just fishing for your name."
"Sara, Sara Sidle." Reached out to shake Ellie's hand
"Well Sara, Sara Sidle I will see you around." Ellie smiled genially at the tall CSI and bustled off up the passage.
Sara snapped back into the horrible reality that was a few rooms away. She inhaled deeply and wondered how it must feel to be Rosie or Sidney in this moment.
As Sara entered the room they had moved Rosie to, Sid looked up at her.
"You Okay?" Sidney half whispered as Rosie appeared to be sleeping.
"Toilet." Sara replied by way of an explanation of her absence.
"You were gone nearly an hour."
"No soap." Sara offered. "I needed to tell someone." Sara was not about to tell Sidney that she had spent the best part of thirty minutes sobbing on the stairs. She did not tell Sid that sort of thing when they were dating, so it was definitely not up for conversation now.
"Your partner came back." Sid cocked her head to one side to think. "The blonde girl with the southern accent. I forget her name."
"Catherine."
Sid nodded in half agreement. "She's around somewhere."
"Thanks, you okay?"
"That would be a definite no." She made a face. "But I expect I will be at some point." Sid looked directly at Sara. "You?"
"Not so much either." Sara shrugged and sighed. "I can't ever remember her looking so fragile."
"She'll kick your ass for saying that."
"I know."
"Thanks for being here Sara."
"It's okay."
"I'm sorry we haven't stayed in touch."
"This isn't for now, but I'm sorry too." Sara looked at her old friend and smiled gently.
"We'll get together when Rosie's up to doing shooters."
"Well that'll be in around an hour or so." Sara laughed.
Sid nodded in agreement. "And she'll still drink us both under the table." The two women looked at the Rosie and chuckled. "It is uncanny how somebody that small can hold their drink."
Sara looked at the girl sleeping in the bed, her busted lip looked swollen and sore and the bruise on her face had developed into a brilliant purple. The CSI sighed deeply and could not help thinking that when Rosie's cuts had healed and the bruises had faded it would take much longer for this to heal; if ever. Sighing again, she turned to Sidney. "Take care Sid. I won't disturb her now. I'll visit later tonight; I'll give you some space. You have my cell if you need anything. Tell her I said…" Sara faltered, looking at Rosie for the last time that evening. "Tell her I said the officer on the scene thought she was in her twenties and I'm off to correct him."
The brief moment of levity had meant that Sara left the room feeling calmer than she had since she had arrived at the hospital.
