Disclaimer- Oh Tim. You are the most talented person I know. (Maybe flattery will work).
A/N- Well, looks like this one's not over yet. Please R&R.
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The next two weeks were quiet for the entire morgue staff. Sarah stayed busy helping Jordan finish the arrangements for the wedding and even manage to convince Max that a tuxedo worn on his daughter's wedding day did not endanger his reputation as a tough ex cop. It had been a very quiet Friday in the morgue and Sarah was bored when she stopped by Garret's office at 5:30.
"Are you still fighting the bureaucratic demons?" She asked.
"Damn paperwork." Garret glared at his desk.
"I'm heading on out now, should I cancel with Woody and Jordan for tonight, or can you make it?" Sarah walked over and sat on the edge of his desk.
"I'll be there, 8 o'clock, right?" Garret leaned back to look at her. "Have I told you today how beautiful you are?"
He usually saved any personal comments for after work but he was becoming less and less uptight the more time he spent with her. They'd only spent one night apart since she'd received her final divorce decree.
"Well, I heard something like that this morning from the guy lying next to me, but he was much hotter looking. No scowl on his face, you know? You haven't seen him around have you?" Sarah teased.
"No I can't say I have, but I've been up to my ass in alligators today. Anything you want me to tell him if I run into him?" Garret said, completely straight-faced.
"Gee I don't know, it's pretty x-rated stuff. Maybe if you come a little closer I could whisper it to you." Sarah crooked her finger at him and Garret stood. "Closer" She said, as he took her in his arms she smiled. "That's better." She kissed him softly.
"Now what was the message for this guy?" Garret asked.
"Forget him, you're a much better kisser." Sarah nearly purred. "And you have much better hands."
"And at least another hour's paperwork to fight through before the budget meeting tomorrow morning." Garret groaned.
"I'll get Woody and Jordan to pick me up, we'll meet you at Giorgio's. Have fun slaying the dragons, babe." Sarah kissed him again and turned to leave. "You know if you're real nice to me tonight I might tell you what that x-rated message was." She laughed and walked out.
Sarah's Apartment Building
Sarah's elderly neighbor was struggling with a bag of groceries and
the door when Sarah came up the front steps. She got the door and
said, "Let me carry that for you, Mrs. Pandrachek."
"Thank you, dear. Will your young man be coming over tonight, Sarah?" The woman asked as they walked to the elevator.
"Not tonight, Mrs. Pandrachek. I'm meeting Garret and some friends for dinner." Sarah loved to tease Garret about the tiny Jewish lady's crush on him. "I'll tell him you asked after him though."
"Such a sweet man, he reminds me of my Isaac, God rest his soul. Marry him, dear. Men like that don't grow from the ground, you should excuse me for saying." Sarah adored her neighbor; she was such a sweet little busybody.
"We'll see, Mrs. Pandrachek. Is there anything you need before I go out?" Sarah asked as she carried the groceries to her neighbor's door.
"Oh no dear. I'll just have my dinner and watch some television before bed. I was telling the ladies at temple what a Godsend you are. So few people are neighborly these days. Not like when I was young, of course we kept more to our own then. Not so much of this living here and there" Mrs. Pandrachek patted Sarah's hand as she put the groceries on the ground to unlock the door. "You're such a good girl, I can tell you were raised well.
"Thank you, Ma'am." Sarah took the bag inside and sat it on the table. "Don't forget to lock up behind me. I'll see you tomorrow, Mrs. Pandrachek. Good night." Sarah walked back to the elevator.
As the car started up, her cell phone rang. "Hello?" She answered.
"I tried your apartment, is the 'T' running slow today?" Garret asked.
"No, I stopped to help your girlfriend with her groceries. She's still trying to marry you off. She says men like you don't grow from the ground and I should marry you quickly, you should excuse me for saying." Sarah and Garret laughed as she juggled the phone to unlock her door. "Don't forget Jordan, Lily and I are getting together tomorrow afternoon to go over wedding stuff…"
Garret heard her gasp. "Sarah, what's wrong?"
"Garret, someone's broken into my apartment, the place is a wreck." Sarah's voice shook.
"Get out of there, go to Mrs. Pandrachek's. I'll call the police and be there as soon as I can."
"No, I don't want to frighten her. I wait for you in the deli across the street. Hurry, Garret."
"I'm on my way, hang on." Garret hung up and grabbed his coat.
As Sarah turned to leave, a hand grabbed her from behind the door and dragged her inside, throwing her to the floor. She heard the door shut and lock as she picked herself up.
"You knew I'd be back to punish you for defying me, Sarah." She turned to face Harrison just as his fist slammed into the side of her face. The sickening crunch of her cheekbone was the last thing she heard as darkness closed in around her.
