A/N – Again, your support is commendable and much appreciated! Just to give you the heads up, I will be away from September 4th-7th, because I am moving back to university to start second year! So, no posts during that time but I will try and get a few more chapters up before then. I would LOVE to see some of the theories in the reviews, see how close or off base you all are :)

Chapter 5:

"Where were we?" Grissom asked, completely bewildered in thought.

"Assignments? Remember?" Catherine asked. The team didn't know what to expect at the beginning of their next shift, being 2 CSI's short – Sara, still in the hospital, Nick constantly at her side. Her psych exam was pushed forward a few more days, in the hope that she would be talking. There was not point having the psychologist come and talk to an unresponsive patient.

"What's happening with the rape case?" Grissom asked Catherine and Warrick. Warrick answered,

"Guy in custody, positive match to the semen from the rape kit. Completely caved when we buried him under the evidence. The victim, 13-year-old girl, is still in hospital. The doctors don't think she'll ever wake up." Catherine just shook her head in sadness.

"Any new cases?" she asked. Grissom looked up at the 4 pairs of eyes staring at him. He had asked Greg and Brass to join them, knowing that they would need Greg's support, even though he was a brand new CSI, and Brass because Grissom wanted to involve him in this case, more-so for personal reasons rather than professional ones.

"Yes. Sara's case."

"What do you mean?" Greg asked with confusion.

"Because Sara hasn't been speaking, we haven't been able to get her to tell us what exactly happened. Now, her doctor can't exactly go spilling her information due to privacy, and doctor-patient privilege. Now I know that he thinks it's important that we know what's going on, probably for Sara's safety and health, so he's almost been dropping hints about things we should look up on."

"What sort of hints?" Brass asked.

"That she's been admitted to the hospital at least once in the last 6 months, that she hasn't been taking care of herself lately, which is part of the reason why she collapsed. He doesn't think it's a disorder, but rather she hasn't bothered or wanted to eat lately. He wants her to see a therapist, so there's obviously something going on, mentally with her."

"Well, the way she had been acting lately, I'm not surprised. Something big must have happened, how did she hide it from all of us?" Catherine asked. Grissom sighed.

"There's more. Before you came in Cath, the doctor came to check on Sara. He dropped some very blatant hints to me. Nick didn't pick up on anything, he's been rather pre-occupied with Sara, but believes me when I say, and he wanted us to know. The nurse also let slip that she was a victim of something, and that in "these" cases, sometimes the "victim" goes into a catatonic state. Dr. Kyle asked if Sara gets a lot of injuries at work. Bruises and cuts. He also brought up her last relationship, wondering when it was, with whom, why it ended, as if it was important but he acted like it was nothing new to him, he just wanted me to say it and figure out that it meant something."

"I bet that bastard Chris did something to her!" Warrick slammed his fists on the table and stood up, livid.

"Warrick – sit down. We can't afford to lose our tempers. I want to figure this out as much as you do! We don't know anything for sure yet, but I think we have a start. I think we need to track down Chris and talk to him. See what we can find out. There's nothing much else we can do until Sara starts talking." Grissom added. They all nodded in agreement.

"What about Nick?" Brass asked quietly. They all knew how hard Nick was taking this.

"I think we should keep this low-key for now. Nicky is already panicked enough as is. He might go tearing after Chris if he learns about any of this," responded Warrick, "What do you think Grissom?" Gil thought for a moment. Either choice had its consequences, but Warrick was right.

"I don't think we should tell Nick about it right now. Don't hide things; just don't bring it up either. Just promise me Warrick, you wont go tearing after him either." Warrick nodded, in defeat and grabbed his things. Soon, only Grissom and Brass were left in the room. Jim walked over to his friend.

"How's she holding up?" he asked quietly. He hadn't had the chance to go see her yet. Over the years, Brass had grown more and more attached to Sara. Her spirit reminded him of his own daughter, one who had estranged him from her life. Sara wouldn't replace her but she always brought that smile to his face, the way Ellie used to. At least, she used to before all of this happened.

"I don't know Jim. " Grissom responded, running his hand through his hair "I've never seen her like this. I think something went seriously wrong, and I can't help but feel a little guilty for not having picked it up sooner, or said something earlier."

"You can't beat yourself up for this Gil. We all noticed the changes in her; she wasn't willing to talk about it. You can only push so far. What's important is we're all here for her now. How's Nick holding up?"

"Not good. I know he's blaming himself for her collapse. He said he had been asking her what was wrong and she just freaked and told him to leave her alone. Then she passed out. He thinks its all his fault, and he won't even leave her side."

They talked a little more, before Brass left to go start seeing what he could find about Chris. Grissom took a deep breath, before heading to his Tahoe, and driving back to the hospital to see if Sara had spoken at all yet.

-+-+-

His eyes ached with exhaustion. Nick could barely focus them anymore. The team had all went back to work, to start the night shift. Grissom said he would be back in a few hours, once he handed out the assignment. Nick hadn't slept since well before Sara had been admitted. The hospital room lights were dim, and Nick could feel his unconsciousness start to seize him. He woke up suddenly when he felt a squeeze of his hand. His eyes immediately fluttered open and looked at Sara, whose eyes were locked on his.

"Sara! Are you okay? Do you need me to get the doctor?"

"I'm fine." She said in a whisper. "What happened?" He held her hand tighter.

"You collapsed at work. I'm so sorry it's all my fault. You've been awake, but not responding. We're all so worried about you." A small smile crept onto her pale face, one dampened by the tiredness and pain in her eyes.

"I'm fine," she repeated. "It's not your fault. I can't really remember anything after going out into the hall with you. You were talking, it all went blank. I can't think, or talk, I know your there. Grissom, Catherine? I don't understand." Nick was having trouble keeping up with what she was trying to say. She was obviously not completely lucid.

"It's okay Sara. I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere okay?" She nodded and closed her eyes. He watched her as she slowly breathed in and out, masked with confusion. Slowly she opened her eyes again. He took a deep breath, not know what would happen,

"Sara – what happened, what made you so upset? Why were you in the hospital before? We want to help you." She opened her mouth a few times and shut it. Tears started streaming down her face. Silence held the room for a few moments, as Sara's eyes, deep in thought, struggled for the words to explain. Unable to bear the stillness any longer, Nick continued in a small, quiet voice,

"Sara, was it that Chris guy?" Immediately her eyes started to go blank. She moved her head and changed her focus to the ceiling. "Sara? SARA?" Nick exclaimed, standing beside her, holding her hand, where her grip had loosened. She didn't respond. She was shutting everything out. Nick didn't know what to do. The tears that had burned so often in the back of his eyes, threatened their release to the surface, as he pounded the call button to inform the nurse what had happened.