Disclaimer-
Hey I'm not rich, so of course they don't belong to me.
A/N-
Just need to thank all of you who are reviewing and of course
jtbwriter who keeps me on track and sane, (well as sane as I ever
get).
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Sarah was sitting, staring into space when Garret arrived. He'd decided on the way to the hospital that he wasn't going to give her a chance to evade the issue.
"Sarah?"
She looked over and held out her arms, he sat on the edge of the bed and held her for a moment. When he started to pull back she held him tighter.
"What's with the strangle hold, baby?" Garret asked when Sarah finally let go.
"I'm just so happy, Dr. Nessardin is coming to remove the casts when he's done in surgery and I can go home tomorrow." Sarah smiled. "I'm sorry I've been so hard to deal with lately, honey. Wren gave me a sound scolding a while ago and I've come to some decisions regarding my life and how I want to live it."
"I just want to see you happy, Sarah. Now what have you decided?" Garret smiled at her.
"Oh just some changes I need to make, we'll talk about them later." Sarah grinned. "Did you bring me dinner? I'm starved."
"No, I came straight from the office. What can I get you tonight?" Garret grinned; at least she was going to eat instead of claiming no appetite.
"Giorgio's pizza, deep dish Veggie Delight with extra cheese and peppers." Sarah laughed at the look on Garret's face. "And a side order of antacid for you."
"You're killing me here, lady, you know that don't you?" Garret laughed. "One pizza coming up." He kissed her. "I'll be back soon."
NEXT AFTERNOON
Sarah had seemed cheerful and relaxed all evening so Garret had decided that the conversation could wait until she was home. While he drove to the hospital to pick her up, their morgue 'family' was busy putting together a welcome home party at his apartment, but he couldn't wait until it was over and he and Sarah were alone. He'd missed their quiet evenings, listening to jazz and talking almost as much as he'd missed making love to her.
He took the elevator to Sarah's floor and wasn't surprised to see her dressed and ready to go. "Your chariot awaits, madam. Unless you'd rather stick around?" He smiled.
"Are you kidding, let's blow this pop stand." Sarah sat in the wheelchair. "It's not fair, they make me sweat and strain to walk and now I have to ride to the car in this thing."
"Are you always so hard to please?" Garret teased.
"Hey, I deserve the best, you know." Sarah laughed as they headed out to the car.
FRIDAY EVENING
The party broke up around eleven and Garret and Sarah sat for a while listening to some blues. Just as Garret decided to ask her about the decisions she mentioned the night before, the phone rang.
"Macy." Garret said then listened. "Where?" He wrote down an address. "I'm on my way." Garret hung up and turned to Sarah. "There's been a triple homicide on Beacon Hill, I'll be back as soon as I can."
"I'll be fine. I'm kind of tired anyway." Sarah sounded distant.
"I'll call Jordan to take it." Garret said. He suddenly felt that he shouldn't leave her.
"Jordan on Beacon Hill? You know the press is going to be all over this. You need to put in an appearance. I'll be fine, Garret." Sarah smiled and kissed him. "Go be chief. I'll just go to bed, hon."
NINE AM SATURDAY
Garret was exhausted as he pulled up in front of his apartment. Nigel and Bug were running DNA tests on the blood samples from the victims' clothes to determine origin. With luck they'd have completed autopsies to hand over to the DA by Monday morning. He'd come home to eat and catch some sleep; the results would take at least six hours.
Sarah was probably wide-awake and waiting for him. He hadn't bought the excuse that she was going to sleep. According to the hospital staff, she hadn't slept at all unless someone was with her.
The pickup had taken longer than he'd anticipated and just as he was leaving the morgue at 4AM, Rene had shown up. Seemed one of the victims was a city councilman's daughter and he was insisting on immediate results. So Garret had stayed and started the autopsy. When he'd called to tell Sarah, she'd answered on the first ring, claiming a movie had caught her attention and she'd stayed up to watch it.
Garret unlocked the door and called out to her. There was no answer; he started to the bedroom when a letter on the coffee table caught his eye. He sat down and opened it. He read it through twice before the words sank in.
Garret,
I love you more than you will ever know, too much to allow you to waste your life on damaged goods. You've given me so much and I can't let it continue knowing that for years, possibly the rest of my life all I will do is need more.
I'm flying back to Memphis today. I can't stay and use you when I have nothing to left to give. I tried to find the words to tell you last night, but I hadn't even the courage for that.
Please let me go, Garret. Just move on, my darling. Find someone who can give you all that you deserve. I'm not that someone. The woman you fell in love with is gone. Harrison won, he broke her completely this time and I don't have the strength to pickup the pieces and fix her again.
I'd rather leave now while I still see love in your eyes, to watch that love turn to pity and resentment would kill me. I can't stay and watch my weakness and fear destroy both of us.
Please forgive me.
Sarah
