Disclaimer: I don't own them.
A/N: Thanks to all those who reviewed last chapter. A special that's to my betas Susan and Cybro. Also please note that Catherine has not seen the feed when she goes all bitchy. She will see it soon and realize she is jumped to conclusions.
Chapter Two: Torture
Sara sat on the floor thinking about how she was going to get out of this. She wished Grissom were there with her. Holding her close, letting her know she is going to be okay. Suddenly the door slammed open and she was blinded as light flooded the room. As she tried to gain focus she was roughly pulled to her feet. Her body slammed against the wall as her arms were tightly tied behind her back. "Who are you? What do you want?" She tried to keep from crying as the man dragged her out of the room.
Back in the lab, Grissom opened the package as his hands trembled with fear. His eyes closed as the items spilled out onto the layout table. All he wanted to do wake up from this nightmare. If only he could hold her tight in his arms; and drink in her sweet fragrance. He blamed himself beyond no end. All he could do was think about the 'what ifs.' What if he hadn't left her alone? What if he got back in bed and made love to her all over again? What if he had said yes to the dinner? What if he never asked her to come to Vegas?
Everything was in slow motion as they all gathered around the computer screen. A screen came into view stating that they could see everything that was going on. Then the horrifying images began to flicker in front of their eyes. The room was all sterile white, from the ceiling to the floor. Even the bed that was pushed against the wall was white. There were white straps on the bed, and they feared what they were going to be used for. The room seemed so cold. Just looking at the room sent a chill up their spines. Still there was nobody in the room, which they took as a good sign until the door opened.
They could only watch as Sara was thrown onto the bed with great force. This didn't stop her from struggling to get up. For her efforts she was slapped in the face. Her attacker roughly strapped down her legs. Then he grabbed her neck to pull her up. He untied her hands only to shove her back and bind her to the bed. The whole time she continued to fight. After she was tightly strapped down the man walked out and reentered with scissors. He cut her clothes off and then left her there.
Sara struggled to free herself from the restraints but was not successful. She lay back to rest only for a moment before attempting to break free again. Her hand rubbed against the fabric so hard it began to cut into her skin. She let out a small cry in pain. She couldn't think why she was there. As she tugged and pulled on the straps they seemed to get tighter. Realizing her efforts were in vain, she gave up. She needed to calm down and think. She took a few deep breaths and closed her eyes.
Grissom had left when Sara was strapped to the bed. He couldn't take it. It was a struggle just keeping himself together as he made his way into his office. When he got in there he pulled out a picture he had hidden. He sat down and started to cry. "Sara, I'm so sorry." He ran his finger down the picture. "If you hold on and come back to me, I promise I will make it right." He dried his eyes then pulled up Sara's personal information.
He calmed himself as he dialed the number. "Yes, could I speak to Alex Sidle please?" As he waited for the man to come to the phone, Catherine walked into his office. "Hello Mr. Sidle, my name is Gil Grissom. I'm from the Las Vegas Crime Lab…yes…no, she's not dead…she was abducted and is being held…sir…please…yes that would be the best thing…yes…alright I'll see you then." He hung up the phone and then looked up at Catherine who was standing there impatiently.
"Gil, come on, tell me you don't believe this crap. She is faking it. Don't you see this is some childish ploy to get attention?" Catherine was still convinced that Sara had planned this. She couldn't understand why anyone would want to take her of all people. "Gil…have you been crying? Don't let her get to you! She's not worth the department's time or money." Catherine walked out of the office and down the hall.
Nick, Warrick, and Greg sat watching Sara fight to free herself without any luck. It didn't seem real to them; it was just a bad dream. A bad dream caused by the lingering fear of what happened to Nick. They all feared what the guy was going to do to her. All of them wished they could be there to protect her, even though she'd probably say she didn't need it. When they saw the man enter pushing a small, squeaky cart, they froze.
"Greg, go get Grissom." Nick pushed him to the door as the man took a seat next to Sara on the bed. He couldn't see what was on the cart because a sheet covered the items. "NOW GREG!" This time he got up and pushed him into the hall then returned to his seat. He couldn't help but start to cry when the cover was removed.
There was a long knife, a bowl of what looked like water, a bag of salt, a lighter, a wooden spoon, and a box that was labeled 'candles'. Nick knew Sara better than anyone else. They acted like brother and sister. That is the way they treated each other. So seeing her like this made him as angry as any big brother. "Oh my god. Sara." That's all he could get out before breaking down.
Greg and Grissom came running into the room. "What is it? What's going on?" Grissom stopped asking questions and stared at the screen. He couldn't stop himself from crying. His Sara was helpless, and nothing he could do was going to save her from the hell she was about to go through.
The man took a knife from the cart and began to sharpen it as he looked down at Sara. Once he was satisfied with what he had done, he placed it back on the cart. He looked up at the camera and smiled. He opened a box and walked around the room, placing candles. Along the way he lit every single one. He hit two switches on the wall. One caused the lights to go out, making the walls dance with shadows. The other switch turned on microphones.
They all watched as the guy held the knife under the flame of the candle closest to the bed. The flame reflected off the knife back at them. Nobody breathed when they saw him take the blade away from the candle. All the horrors and evil that they saw didn't prepare them for what they saw and heard next.
The man took the razor-sharp, red-hot knife and pressed it against Sara's side. Tears streamed down her face and she whimpered out in pain as he slid it across her stomach; leaving behind a trial of blood, which pooled down on the bed. She was trying so hard not scream, she didn't want to give him that satisfaction. The pain was now becoming unbearable. "Leave me alone, please just stop." The words caught in her throat as she felt him start to make a second cut. When the second wound stretched half way across her abdomen, she rewarded her capturer with a scream.
They all stared blankly at the screen as the events unfolded in front of their eyes. There were no words; they were lost in a mindless cycle of emotions. The colors of the world around them faded away, all the color besides the dark redness of Sara's blood. Her shrill screams ran cold up their spines and pierced their ears as well as their hearts. The tears that poured from their eyes fell like rain. Their anger started to build like an active volcano ready to erupt, spilling its contents on all that was around them.
Finally finding his voice, Warrick snapped. "You God damn son of a bitch!" He didn't seem to notice that everyone in the lab had stopped, and was now looking in his direction. He didn't realize that all eyes were on him. He was beyond anger for a good reason. "We need to find her…we need to help before…before." He couldn't continue watching. It was just too painful now. He swore to himself that if Sara died, the man would pay the highest price. He had to get out of the room and go somewhere quiet so he could think.
The remaining members turned their attention back to the monitor. The man had placed his knife down. He was now standing up at the cart. Mixing the water and salt together, once finished he took a place next to Sara once again. He slowly spooned the mixture over her wounds. As she moved her body violently against the stinging sensation, he spoke softly to her. "Don't fight it, beautiful. The more you fight it, the faster you will die." He placed everything back on the cart and left the room.
Nick couldn't take Sara being like that anymore. He left the room to go find Warrick, leaving Greg and Grissom in alone.
"Greg, why don't you go take a break. I could use someone to wait for Sara's brother to get here."
"Gris, it's not your fault, you know."
"It is my fault, in more ways than one. Greg, please just go." Grissom watched Greg nod his head and walk out.
Sara lay sobbing on the bed, not knowing what to do. She didn't want to give up, but she didn't know how much more pain she could take. Her body hurt from the torture she had received from her captor. Most of all her heart hurt, from all the times Grissom had broken it. She wondered if anyone cared that she was gone, and if they were looking for her.
Grissom knew that they had to find Sara, and fast. He could see Sara's strength start to break down. He reached out and touched the screen. "I'm here Sara, I'm right here, honey." He let his tears fall once again.
Sara's sobs got louder and longer. "Why me? What did I do so bad? I wish I never came to Vegas." Her breathing became heavy and short. "Grissom, why'd you leave me alone? Please, if you help me, I'll stop loving you." She closed her eyes to think.
"Oh Sara, no baby." Grissom kissed his fingertips and placed them on the screen. "I'll find you. I promise. Don't stop loving me though, because I will never stop loving you." He hung his head and cried.