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Chapter 6

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Catherine was at the end of her rope. To most in the lab, the FBI's presense was still unknown, but Ecklie was becoming unbearable, and the fear of discovery wieghed heavier on her every time she crossed his path. The fact that Crvallo was also laying it on her to find Grissom and a replacement for Sara didn't help.

Looking around the crime scene, she called out to Nick, "You got this?"

He nodded. "Yeah, no problem. Not much left to do."

"Alright... I got some paperwork to handle. I'm going back to the lab. Check in with me in my office when you log everything in."

"You got it, boss."

Heading for her car, she was startled by a ringing at her hip. Looking down at her cell, she took it out of it's pocket and flipped it open.

"Willows," she answered.

"Catherine, I need you and Sofia to take over graveyard for a while."

She stopped in her tracks. "Gil, is that you?"

"No Catherine, it's Santa Clause... You asked me to call and let you know I'm alright... Well, i'm alright, but I'm going away, and-"

"Wait, Grissom, stop... Going away? Where? Why?"

"Don't worry, I'll be back. I'm just not sure when. I'm going to Virginia."

"VIRGINIA!" she nearly screamed, causing Grissom to have to momentarily pull the phone from his ear. "What the hell is in Virginia?"

"Sara," was his only response.

Her car door now open, Catherine plooped down into the seat and was silent. After a moment, she said quietly, "Gil, I don't know if that's such a good idea."

"She's in the hospital, Catherine." Static crackled over the phone line. "Look, I'm already at the airport and my flight number was just called. I have to go. Just do me a favor and don't tell the others."

She sighed. "No problem. We got enough of a mess over here as it is. The last thing we need is more bad news... Be careful, Gil. Good luck."

"There's no such thing as luck. Only hope."

She thought for a moment. "Whitman?"

He shook his head. "Grissom." Click.

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The flight to Rickmond was somber and quiet. He couldn't sleep and reading proved to be a waste of time. Al his thoughts centered around Sara. His mind kept coming up with different reasons why she'd be in the hospital, and each scenario was worse than the last. He was somewhat relieved when the plane landed and he walked off into the noisy Ricmond airport.

On his way to baggage claim, he thought about the phone call from Susan Barnes. She'd promised to meet him at the hospital and take him to Sara's room, as Sara was her main patient between 10:00 and 3:00 rounds. Though she refused to discuss Sara's condition, she did say that she knew Sara would want him there.

A while later, luggage in hand and neing put into the trunk of a taxi, he realized how terrified he was. He was 20 minutes from finding out if the woman he loved would ever come back home where she belonged... 20 minutes from learning if she even cared about any of them anymore... 20 minutes from discovering if she would even live.

"Where to?" asked the cabbie?

Though fearing what lie ahead, he took a deep breath and said firmly, "Mercy Hospital, please."

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"Where the hell is he! I thought you were bringing him back!"

"I would, except he's in Virginia right now," Catherine retorted.

"WHAT THE HELL IS IN VIRGINIA!" Ecklie yelled, placing the ball firmly in her court.

She hesitated. "I-I don't know," she lied, shifting in her chair. That's al he would tell me."

"Well," he said, taking control, "you tell him that he's got three days to get his ass back here before he loses his job." He turned to leave.

She huffed and stared in shock at the back of his head. "You - you can't do that!"

"Oh, yes I can," he sneered, turning back to face her. "As I told Grissom the night I split you up, as Assistant Director, it is clearly within my perview not only to fill any open positions in this lab, but to create them." As he spoke, he walked toward her, causing her to slowly walk backwards unil she was both figuratively and literally backed into a corner. "I have plans, Ms. Willows and no smartass like you or Grissom is going to ruin them."

His evil smile infuriated Catherine. "You asshole!" she whispered. "You're a monster, a coniving, power-hungry-"

She was cut off by his hand closing around her windpipe, pinning her to the wall. Her body went rigid and her eyes opene wide as her fingers clawed at hishand and arm, trying to pull it away. Her labored breathing quickened in panic as her heart beat faster and faster, threateneing to pound through her chest. White sparkles began to appear in her perifferal vision as she caught his eye, and another devilish grin crossed his face.

"I told you, Catherine: I don't tolerate insubordination."

Black dots began to replace the sparkles in her eyes, but just as she felt herself start to slip away, his hand dropped with a snap and he walked to the door, leaving her doubled over gasping for breath. He waited in the doorway a moment watching, before he caught her attention once more.

"Get him back, Catherine. I don't care how you do it, just get it done."

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Taking the elevator to the third floor, Grissom's stomach was in knots. He could never remember being as nervous as he was in that moment, and the tinkling elevator music wasn't helping. Their conversation from her first and only phone call rang in his ears, her voice raw and shakey, almost afraid. He hoped she wasn't afraid now, though knowing Sara, when she found out that she was in the hospital, she was probably just pissed.

Looking up, he realized that in his nervousness, he'd missed his floor and had gone up one too many. When he found his way again, he stopped at the third floor nursing station andlooked around. There were people everywhere: some in scrubs, some in street clothes, others in suits; many thatpassed bywere wearing hospital gowns and laying on gurneys. He scanned th crowd for Sara, but instead a young nurse about Sara's age was heading his diretion. Her blue and purple scrubs parting the crowd, she got closer.

"Mr. Grissom?" she asked, extending her hand.

"Yes?"

She shook his hand. "I'm Susan Barnes. We spoke on the phone."

"Yes, I remember..."

Sensing his anxiousness, she pointed down the hall. "Sara's room is just down the corridor there. Room 317. You go on ahead, and I'll be in to check on her after I finish my rounds."

Nodding, he watched as she made her way past him, excusing herself as she moved through the crowd dowm to the next hallway. He sighed, and looking around once more, made his way in the direction of Sara's room. As he walked, Grissom had the sensation that he was in one of those old movies where it seems that no matter how far you walk, you never get any closer to your goal. His destination seemed miles away, and with every step his stomach tied in another knot. Questions flew through his mind... What had happened to her? Was she awake? Would she be happy to see him? Would she be angry? Would he come out with a bruise?

When he came to the door, he put all his questions to rest as he felt for a sip of paper in his breast pocket. With a sigh, he left it there. That was a last resort, and he told himself that he would only take it out when all other options disappeared.

With a deep sigh, he opened the dor and walked inside.

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