Title: A Turning Point

Author: Maggienhawk

Disclaimer: TPTB were supposed to come over today so that I could sign the paperwork, making CSI mine. However, the blizzard prevented them from coming and they are still not mine.

Summary: A phone call proves to be a turning point in Sara's life. GSR. WIP

A/N: I swore I would never do a WIP again, seeing as I haven't finished (and probably won't) my last one. However, this idea has been in my head for months, and pretty much works anywhere in the series. And you'll probably see another chapter or two out of me during the next two days because I'm snowed in due to the blizzard that just hit New England. Ugh…I hate winter. But, I digress.

"Okay people, we've got two DB's tonight. Sofia, you and Greg have a suspicious circs in Henderson. Sara, you and I have a…"

The shrill ring of a cell phone interrupted Grissom, and each member rushed to check their own. After two rings, Sara spoke up, "It's mine." She read the display, and not recognizing the number, she informed Grissom that she would take in the hallway, and walked out of the room.

After watching Sara leave, Grissom's attention was brought back to the two other members of the shift as Greg asked for the assignment sheet. "See ya later, Boss," he threw over his shoulder as he and Sofia made their way out of the room.

Grissom decided to give Sara a few minutes to take her call, and sat down at the table to finish his cup of coffee. Five minutes turned into ten, and he began to get agitated that she was taking too long on the phone. He stood up and walked into the hallway, looking left and then right, and not seeing Sara either way. But he did notice that his office door was shut. 'I don't remember shutting that earlier,' he thought and started making his way down the hall. He opened the door to his office to find Sara sitting in one of the chairs across from his desk, elbows on her knees, her hands covering her face. However, it was eerily silent in the room.

He walked up to her slowly, and lightly touched her shoulder to get her attention. She jumped, and swung around to see who dared to invade her privacy. Her distraught eyes met concerned blue ones, and she relaxed once she realized that Grissom had come looking for her.

"What's wrong, Sara?" he asked softly, pulling the other chair closer and sitting down, his hand never leaving her arm.

"I just needed to come in here for some privacy."

He narrowed his eyes in confusion because she hadn't answered his question. "What happened? Who was on the phone?"

Sara tore her gaze away from his and looked down at his hand that had migrated to her own. "It was St. Luke's Hospital in San Francisco. My brother was in an accident. I'm listed as his next of kin."

"Is everything okay?"

She could feel the tears building up, and her free hand came up and rubbed her eyes to prevent them from falling. "They're not sure if he's going to make it through the night. I have to get out there as soon as I can."

As she finished speaking, the tears started falling, and two strong arms wrapped around her. She leaned into his chest and cried for a few minutes, but almost as quickly as her outburst began, she stopped and pulled back.

Grissom was startled by her quick transition, and just merely watched her as she jumped out of the chair and began to make her way out of the room. Once he realized what she was doing, though, he reached out and gently grabbed her arm, stopping her from leaving his office.

She turned around to face him, "What? I have to get going, Grissom. I don't have time for this."

"Look, I just wanted you to know that I'm here for you, as a friend. Call me if you need anything, okay? I'm serious, anything."

She visibly relaxed in his grip, and allowed a small, genuine smile to form on her lips. "Thank you. You'll be the first person I call when I know anything, I promise."

She turned to leave the room, calmer than she would have a minute ago; thinking all the way from the locker room to her car that there was no way that she could break that one promise. Because Grissom would soon be the only person in her life she could share anything with.

For once in her life, the silence in the car didn't annoy her. Ever since she had her first car, there always had to be music playing, especially on long trips. Too many things would begin to assault her mind: memories, feelings, thoughts. It was always better to have a distraction like music in the car, or else she would eventually have to pull over, let out a good cry, relax and get back on the road. Today, however, she wouldn't even dream of turning on the radio. She needed to think, knowing she was basically driving to California to say good-bye to her big brother.

She kept remembering the phone call, the scenes in her head replaying over and over again, and she struggled to keep from crying.

"Sidle."

"Is this Sara Sidle"

"Yes, may I ask who this is?"

"My name is Mary, and I'm a nurse at St. Luke's Hospital in San Francisco. Are you Erich Sidle's sister?"

Sara swallowed reflexively, and out of the corner of her eye she saw Greg and Sofia make their way out of the break room. She needed to get somewhere private, and quick. She already feared the worst, and tears began to form in her eyes, as she made her way down the hall. "Yes," her voice cracked a bit, "Is something wrong? Is he okay?"

She spotted Grissom's open office and practically ran down the hall towards it, slamming the door behind her. She collapsed in a chair as the nurse on the phone relayed the status of her brother's condition. "Mr. Sidle was involved in a traffic accident, and while the doctor has been able to stabilize him for the moment, he is in critical condition and the doctor is not exactly confident that he will survive the night."

Sara let out a breath that she didn't know she was holding. "Oh my God."

The nurse continued, "I know that this is not exactly the way you would like to find out, but you are listed as the next of kin, and he has asked, during one of his moments of consciousness, that we contact you, and let you know that he wants you there."

She was still reeling from the initial shock of the phone call. "Okay. I'll be there. Thank you."

As the nurse began to finish the phone call, Sara remembered something important. "Wait!"

"Yes?"

"You said my brother was in a car accident, but what about his family, his wife and daughter? Were they with him? Are they okay?"

"Calm down, Miss Sidle. I really do not know who else was in the car with him, and even if I did, I am unable to release that information unless you are listed as their next of kin. I really am sorry that I can't help you regarding his family."

"It's okay, I understand. I'll be there as soon as I can." She hung up the phone without waiting for a salutation from the nurse. Replacing her phone on her belt, she was too shocked to cry, and just needed a few moments to gather her thoughts before leaving.

She gripped the steering wheel tightly, and pressed the accelerator a little bit harder. She needed to get there, just so that she would stop wondering what happened to Julie and Amy, if they were alright. She turned on the radio, and hoped that the images in her head would disappear.

TBC