Saddle Up
2:02 p.m.
As soon as the call came, the LVPD SWAT team, Alpha division, hit their feet. They moved with a quick and automatic precision. They pulled on their heavy fatigues and bullet proof vests. Their equipment belts were quickly buckled on and their large assault rifles were assembled and in hand within moments. They pulled their helmets on and did mic checks and were in the heavily armored SWAT van within five minutes.
Kara Johnson did not like this, not at all. They were going in blind. The Doll Collector had been found and they were going in to clear the house. It was a possible hostage situation and the victim was the daughter of one of the Geek Squad, which practically made the girl one of their own. To add to the danger level, there was a member of the Geek Squad there, putting herself in danger. Kara gripped her gun and began to psych herself up as the van lunched around corners and shot down straight aways, sirens blaring. She wanted this op, wanted it like a junkie wanted his next hit. She felt connected to the case. She wanted to help bring down the freak, the monster, who had killed that little girl she and her friends had stumbled on to. She wanted to help rescue Lindsey Willows, she wanted to help.
2:03 p.m.
Catherine rode in the back of the Tahoe. Nick was driving and Greg was riding shotgun, Warrick sat in back with her, his hand covering hers. She watched the patrol cars around them ran their sirens as they all rushed down the highway. It was all too slow. Everything was dragging by. Every second that passed...Lindsey could be dead. Sara wasn't answering her phone and no one could get a location on Madison Daniels.
Every time she thought she had control of herself, a new round of tears came to her eyes and a new jolt to her heart. She knew, deep down in her soul, that she could walk into that house to find her baby dead. A thin ray of hope was there, though, Sara might have found her. She could have gotten there in time.
Catherine prayed that Sara had truly found Lindsey. She didn't know what she would do if her daughter was dead. She just didn't know.
Sofia sat in the passenger seat of the car. Beside her, Jim Brass, cold and focused, drove the car with expert precision. Bullets of sweat poured down his face, despite the icy cold air. Behind her, in the back seat, Grissom sat. He was silent. One would think he was unaffected, if not for the way he gripped his hands together and the haunted look of pain in his gray eyes.
For herself, she still couldn't breathe. She was scared, terrified, even. She was afraid for Lindsey, she was afraid for Catherine, she was afraid for Sara and she was afraid for herself. She kicked herself for not keeping a better watch on Sara. She had known that the woman had felt incredibly guilty and useless. She should have known, she should have stopped her. The streets blurred by them, but all she could think was that they were going too slow.
2:06 p.m.
Holly Gribbs. That was the name that ran through his head. Another CSI that he had let down. Like he'd let down Catherine, like he'd let down Sara. "Her behavior is a direct result of my leadership" His own words mocked him. He should have been stricter with her. He should have made her stay in counseling. He should have never called her to Vegas. If he had done his job...she would be safe. He had let his heart override his head and now she was in danger. He cursed himself for being so foolish. Anyone could have seen that Sara was obsessed with this case, they all were. But Sara had taken it personally and it had stopped being a case. The 'Doll Collector' had become her quest. He only hoped that they were wrong. That she had found Lindsey and that they were both fine. That everything would work out. The sheriff would thank Sara and they would all apologize and she would come back to the fold, safe and sound.
He glanced at Sofia. He might not be Sara's lover, but he was still her friend and he was a bastard for not backing her up when it counted. That's why she had plunged into danger, gone into the demons lair; all because he hadn't trusted or believed in her when it was important.
The car came to a stop and the presence of a white limo and a wide open door sent everyone into action.
Author's Note: (Insert evil laughter) In case you have or want to ask: Yes, keeping everyone hanging does indeed amuse me.