Now here's the next chapter. :-)
I warn you, it's not so funny as the previous ones - actually first I didn't intend to go on with the story in this way, but I gave in the idea that hit me. I promise, I get back to the fun part in the next chapter! Anyways, I hope you'll like this chappie after all.
Author's note: the science stuff of this chapter (also marked with asteriks) are from Katherine Ramsfeld's book "The Forensic Science of C.S.I.".
CHAINED TO YOU --- CHAPTER 3
"Hello, Doc," Nick enters the morgue with Sara tightly behind him. The two CSIs endeavour to do their best to keep their chained hands unnoticable.
"Hi Nick, hello Sara." Al Robbins turns to his not unusual visitors, putting down the papers he has been holding onto the little, silver-metal table beside.
"What do you have for us?" Sara inquires, being a bit nervous about Robbins might notice her "engagement" to Nick.
Uncovering the body, which is lying on the cold, metal table, Robbins reveals some shot-wounds on the white man's chest.
"3 shots. The third tore his heart apart. He died immediately."
Sara acknowledges the news with stony expression, while Nick nods, storing the information in his mind.
"The weapon was a revolver, I presume," Nick says.
"A 7 mm Smith & Wesson actually. The bullets you found are already being examined by Greg."
Nick acknowledges the fact with a nod.
"What's with the distance?" he asks.
"The murderer must have stood near the victim. Not farer than 5 meters." the Doc answers.
"Any sign of a scuffle?" Sara queries, checking the dead man's skin for possible bruises.
Robbins shakes his head. "No. Only the entry and exit wounds."
"So he might have known the murderer," Nick notes.
"Not impossible."
"And what about the time of death?" Sara looks at the Doc.
"According to livor mortis he can't be dead for more than 12 hours."
"Postmortem lividity," Sara murmurs, pondering. "If that's we're dealing with," her eyes narrow suspiciously, " since we found him lying on his stomach, the dark purple color should have appeared there, unless..."
Nick exchanges a meaningful look with her. "...the body had been moved since death," he finishes her theory with the peculiar smile appearing in the corner of his mouth.
Sara can hardly suppress a grin - she can't deny how much she likes Nick's amazing smiles and smirks. 'He is like a little boy right now', she smiles in mind, 'being proud of knowing the lesson and answering a question right'.
I should be glad for being tied rather to him than anyone else, she muses. No one else has such an admirable, cute smile than him. At least there's something good in this awkward situation too.
Realizing the way of her thoughts, Sara almost blushes. Luckily the weak lights of the morgue hide her cheek's slight flush.
"Well," Robbins' voice puts her out of musing. "signs of discolorization are detected on his back. As you know, lividity is caused by the cessation of the heart's pumping action," he explains slowly, so the CSIs can easily visualize what he's talking about. "Which allows the red and white blood cells to separate, so the red cells settle into the lowest parts of the body."
After a short pause, Robbins says, "Greg's identified the brown stain you found on his forehead, it's oil. Motor-oil, actually. Also found some slight tire trace on his cheek along with remainings of rubber," turning the man's head carefully to the right, he points at the barely noticable imprint on the face of the victim.
"A tire?" Sara wonders. "Did he changed the tires recently?
"There were no prints or traces of the rubber of tire or anything else that would indicate on that. His clothes were clean." Nick notes, leaning in to take a closer look at the trace in question.
"The tire was slightly pressed to his face," Robbins says. "Here's the print I for you to check," he hands a paper to Sara.
"Thanks," she murmurs, looking at the print.
"You're welcome. If you need anything, just ask."
"sure," Nick replies and looks at Sara. "I guess we have some things to check out..."
She nods, "So if there's nothing else..."
"That's all I could tell you for now," Robbins claims. "I'll let you know if i know more."
"Thanks, Doc," Nick smiles and moves towards the exit of the morgue. But due to the handcuffs he almost stumbles over, only Sara's sudden supporting grab hinders him of falling over onto the floor, pulling her partner along.
Watching Stokes intently, Robbins laughs, "Hey Nick, watch out! An unlucky fall and I might have you here on this table... And I would really hate that."
Nick glares at him, "Me too."
"come on," Sara grabs Nick arm with her free right hand, "Let's leave this Danger-zone."
He nods with a grateful smile and they walk out of the morgue, leaving an amused Robbins behind.
In the hallway:
"You should watch out for your moves more cautiously," Sara remarks, "We almost have gotten into trouble some moments ago."
"Thanks," Nick grumbles, casting a dark glance at her. "You think I did that on purpose?"
"Well, if it's you, one might never know."
"What do you refer to with that?" he stops and faces her with a questioning and offended expression.
Seeing his negative reaction, Sara gives him a forced smile.
"Nothing, I was just joking. Forget it."
"No, Sidle," Nick's eyes are pinching hers, full of annoyance and disappointment. "I know you meant it, there's no use denying that. I just want to know why did you say those words."
Frightened by his serious and reproachful manner, trying to avoid his look, Sara mumbles quietly.
"I really don't know... it's just that... There are stories going round the Lab about your games with women and I..."
She fears of looking into his eyes, she can sense the tension and anger radiating from him even so. Nick is apparently close to blow up in fury, and Sara realizes she should have rather shut up. Anyway, she didn't expect such a vehement, negative reaction of him.
Nick grabs her free arm with his uncuffed left hand, not caring about the strength of his hold and furiously drags Sara into the locker room. Slamming the door behind them, he faces her and hisses with uncontrolled anger.
"Mark very well what I'm telling you, Sidle, coz' I tell it only once," his extremely angry voice in the significant Texan accent terrifies Sara a lot - she can't recall if she has ever heard him burst out so much off shift. 'what have I done,' she wonders guiltily, cursing herself. No matter how much she doesn't want to meet his look, she can't avert her shocked stare from his. Though his killing look hurts like hell, she just can't move her head to look away.
"My private life is my business only. I don't know what kind of stories have you referred to, but I don't care at all. Should they be true after all, I don't think they concern others than me. I hate spreading personal issues around the Lab and I also hate people who create and pass over these gossips," Nick shoots a contemptous look at her, "I'm disappointed with you, Sidle, I didn't expect you to join those people... I thought you're a friend. Maybe I was wrong," he turns away his look with a bitter sigh.
Sara just stands in front of him, paralized, hardly believe to hear him speaking like that to her. His last lines hurts her very much - like a stab into her heart.
"Nick..." she mumbles, trying to compose her desperate thoughts, finding a way to excuse for her stupidity and convince him about her care.
He snorts cynically, turning away from her, "You've said enough, spare your words."
Swallowing exasperatedly, Sara is grateful to fate for being chained to him now. She knows that under other circumstances he'd storm out of the room, leaving her alone. But now due to the chains he can't do that.
"Nick..." she begs for his attention, "I'm so sorry-"
"I bet you do," he scowls, and punches the lockers. "These damn cuffs too..." he growls.
"Nick, listen to me, please..." Sara reaches for him, but he refuses her touch.
"Why? To hear your excuses and how much you're sorry?" he whirles around, looking daggers at her. "I don't need that crap."
Sara stares numbly at him, tears of desperation welling up in her eyes.
'My Dear God, what have I done...?'
TBC