A/N – well, I figured since I was already on a role, mind as well continue!
Chapter 14:
Grissom was pacing back and forth. Sara had finally passed out from exhaustion on the couch in his office. He was reluctant to let her go back home, knowing that in no way should she be alone. Not to mention, he wanted her close-by where he could take care of her until Nick arrived. Warrick and Greg had come back from Chris's apartment with Brass, and Warrick had now taken over the incessant calling to Nick's cell. Still no answer. Hesitant to leave a sleeping Sara even alone in his office, in case she woke up, he instructed Warrick to keep trying to reach Nick, while he stayed with Sara.
He kept the door closed, knowing how precious and needed her sleep was. She looked so peaceful with her eyes closed, but her face showed all the exhaustion and hurt that she was feeling inside. Grissom couldn't even imagine what Sara was going through. Suddenly, as he looked over, he noticed her starting to stir. He rushed over to her side. She opened her eyes slowly.
"Are you feeling better?" he asked softly. She shrugged.
"Where's Nick?" she whispered. Grissom took her hand.
"We're still trying to get a hold of him. He's out in the desert with Catherine – he called before you came. He was worried why you weren't picking up the phone, and he wanted to let me know that they had bad reception." As Grissom looked up he saw a frantic looking Warrick outside his office, listening on his cell phone. When he noticed Grissom's gaze, he pointed to the phone and mouthed 'Nick.' He turned to Sara who was watching him intently.
"I need to go talk to Warrick okay? Nick's on the phone. I'm sure he'll be here soon. Just rest – close your eyes. We're going to take care of you okay? Nothing's going to happen to you." She just nodded, but didn't close her eyes again, only followed Grissom's path out the door.
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"Nick…. Nick!" Warrick repeated several times. It was obvious Nick wasn't letting him get a word in edgewise. He looked over in frustration at his boss. He said quietly, one ear still on the phone,
"It's Nick. They stopped by the apartment. He's freaking out but he won't give me the chance to tell him that she's here." Grissom nodded.
"Give me the phone." Warrick handed it over to his boss.
"Nick!" he shouted. He heard the frantic voice on the other end, and in the background he could almost make out Catherine's anxious voice as well.
"Grissom – We stopped by the apartment on the way in. She's not here. She's gone. Have you heard from her? We need to find Chris. Oh God why is this happening?" He sounded near tears.
"Nick! NICK! You need to listen to me," Grissom said forcefully. There was nothing but stillness. "We've been trying to reach you for the last hour. Sara's here." Silence followed.
"What? Is she okay?" he asked quietly. Before Grissom could answer, he saw Sara leaning heavily against the doorframe of his office. She was so pale. Warrick rushed over to her. Tears were streaming down her face. Warrick shot a look at Grissom – we need to get her to the hospital. Grissom nodded curtly and noticed how she could barely stand and how badly she was trembling. Grissom said quietly into the phone, where Nick was desperately waiting for a response. "Just get here quickly Nick." The line went dead, as Sara's knees finally gave way. Warrick caught her before she hit the floor, and carried her into the office, Grissom at his heels. He placed her on the couch, and covered her with a blanket, which she gratefully accepted.
Grissom stood watching her deteriorate before his eyes. Was this ever going to end? How long would this haunt her? Maybe it was time she knew that they were going after Chris. There was no way she could stop them now. Warrick sat down beside her and wrapped his arm around her. She cuddled into his shoulder, as Grissom grabbed a chair and sat down in front of her. It was time she knew the truth.
"Sara, you need to know something…" he started. She sighed,
"I know. You're going after him." She said quietly. Warrick glanced at Grissom, who registered the same shock on his face.
"We need to – for your sake. We can't let him do this to you any longer. I know you've told Catherine some things. She's been staying out of the investigation, and Nick doesn't even know we've been looking into it. But we need to know what you've been hiding. I will not let him torture you like this – I can't." She nodded but noticed her eyes start to droop with exhaustion. He couldn't question her when she was this unstable. He couldn't bring himself to be that cruel, not to mention, he wanted Nick there. If anyone, Nick knew how to be there for her, he knew what she needed most.
They let her rest on the couch, as Warrick and Grissom both got up and went to the other side of the room. With a quick glance at Sara, whose eyes were closed, Grissom whispered quietly to Warrick,
"We need to get her to the hospital as soon as Nick gets here." Warrick nodded, but they both turned when they saw Sara, eyes wide, absolutely terrified.
"NO!" she shouted. "NO!" She started to cry hysterically. "No – please don't take me to the hospital. Please. No. Don't take me there. Please Grissom No!" She was starting to gasp for breath. Before either man had a chance to go over to her, the office door burst open and Nick came bolting in, over to where Sara was standing, shaking violently. He embraced her into his arms and she just sobbed, her head against his chest. Nick looked at the two men with desperation and said,
" What the hell is going on?"