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Chapter 7

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Nick was the first one to rush into the waiting area.

"Where is she?" he demanded of Grissom.

"She's in surgery." Grissom stood up as Catherine, Warrick and Greg hurried in about ten steps behind Nick. "When I got to the house, Mrs. Simmons had already pulled the gun. Sara had her weapon drawn as well, in self-defense. We tried to calm her down but the woman was in hysterics and when Sara tired to walk towards her, she panicked and pulled the trigger."

"Why didn't you do anything!" Nick cried, running at him and pounding at Grissom's chest with this fists. Catherine pulled him back and sat him down as he started to sob. "I'm sorry, man," he eked out. "It's just… She's my best…friend…you know? I…"

"It's okay, Nick. I know," Grissom sighed. "There was nothing I could of done, short of taking the bullet for her."

'And I would have done that if I could,' he added silently.

Two hours later, the doctor came into the waiting are and walked toward the team.

"How is she?" Nick asked.

"She'll be fine. Sara is out of surgery and is resting right now. The wound was deep. She was lucky it only punctured a lung. A centimeter to the right and she'd be dead."

The team breathed a sigh of relief.

Nick asked, "Can we see her?"

"She'll be asleep, but I see no reason why not. One at a time, though."

The group all looked at Nick, but it was Grissom who painfully said, "Go ahead, Nick. You need it more than we do."

Nick smiled his thanks and followed the doctor.

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"Are you okay, Griss?" Catherine asked. "I would have asked earlier, but…"

"I know, Cath. But to answer your question, I'm really not sure." Grissom leaned back in his seat, rubbing his temples. Catherine sat beside him.

"Well, talk to me."

"I had no idea what to expect when I went into that house. Sara was pissed at me-again-and I wasn't expecting to be the knight in shining armor, just to be there. I wish I knew how to act around her."

"Griss, you don't have to be the white knight. Just be nice to her for a change! You have to-" She jumped as her cell phone went off. "Hold on, Grissom. Willows," she answered.

"The woman died, Catherine. I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I don't have to look anymore. My job just got a whole lot easier. Ex 20 6. See you in ten days. God Bless." Click.

Horror crossed Catherine's face.

"Cath?"

Slowly, she closed her phone and turned to Grissom.

"Which commandment is Exodus Chapter 20 verse 6?"

" 'Thou shalt not kill.' Why?"

Catherine's head and shoulders dropped.

"Cath, what's wrong? Who was on the phone?" Grissom asked, more urgent now.

"It was her. She's here somewhere… Mrs. Simmons died, Griss."

It suddenly dawned on him what that meant.

"Take everyone back to the lab. Find out everything you can about the way this woman works. I'll stay here with Sara; she can't be left alone. I don't want to have a face off with this woman, but if it comes down to that, we need to be ready." Getting up from his seat, he walked as quickly as possible, without any outward signs of panic, to Sara's room.

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"Nick," he called, poking his head in. "Catherine needs you. Miriam called again and we need to close this before anyone else gets hurt." He deliberately said nothing about the message.

Nick nodded and headed out, but stopped once he reached the doorway, looking back at Sara. She was sleeping, facing the door.

"I know, Nick. I'm glad she's okay, but I'm worried too."

"That's not why I'm worried about." Nick turned to look Grissom in the eye. "Don't hurt her again, Griss. I saw her in the locker room and she was torn apart. I love her like a sister… Take care of her, or I'll have your ass."

Grissom nodded. "I will, Nick. Now hurry, or Catherine will have yours."

Nick turned and left, while Grissom went in to see Sara. She'd rolled over toward the window. Grissom sat in a chair and took her hand, stroking it with his thumb.

"I'm sorry, Sara. I never meant to drive you to this, to hurt you that much. You have to know that. I never meant to hurt you at all."

Grissom spoke softly so as not to wake her, but when he squeezed her hand, he could have sworn he felt her squeeze back.

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