Disclaimer: Nope don't own them or anything like it.
Spoilers: It's set Post Grave Danger so spoilers for Season 5 & 6
Author's Note: It's a darker story than others I've posted, no one beta'd so any errors our mine own. R&R let me know what you think.
As soon as he released her, Sara immediately missed Grissom's warmth. He yelled something up the stairs to the team, but the fatigue and cold had numbed her brain leaving her confused and disoriented. It was almost like being drunk as her focus wandered and made it hard for her to pay attention. Then with a tug and a jerk on the harness they began towing her out of this underground tomb. As she reached the surface she spotted Warrick, Nick and Greg pulling on something. It was then that the scientific part of her mind noted absently that they must have rigged the repelling line to a simple pulley that allowed them to easily pull her up without her doing anything.
That thought slipped away to be replaced by others each one fluttering in and flying away on gossamer wings before she could grasp it for more than a breath. She felt disconnected from her surroundings and her own body. Blinking furiously as she was brought out from the artificial light into the sunlight of a dawning day. It was almost like being reborn she thought before warm hands on her face brought her back to the moment.
She blinked a couple times as she focused on Jim Brass. "You're okay Cookie. We got you and you're safe." She was a little surprised by the emotion in his voice and there was a glassiness to his eyes that she thought might be unshed tears, but that seemed out of character for the hardened New Jersey Homicide Detective. Then he kissed her forehead before he brushed wet hair out of her eyes and off her face then tucked it behind her ears. The tender simple fatherly action as if she was a child more than his words made her feel cared for and safe.
She managed a weak smile as he wrapped a blanket around her shoulders while tugging her close in an impromptu hug before releasing her so Nick and Greg could gently unbuckle the carabineers on the harness so the apparatus could be sent back down the line to Grissom. The boys each gave her hugs, kisses or smiles before she was passed off to their resident mother hen. Catherine wrapped a protective arm around Sara guiding her to the ambulance leaving the guys stayed behind to make sure Grissom got out okay. None of them were willing to let Gil or Sara's safety depend on someone outside their team.
As they got closer she spotted the pair of EMTs standing by the gurney waiting for their patient. She recognized the tall blonde as Sara's ex Hank Pettigrew standing next to a shorter unfamiliar Latino man. While the blonde man had two-timed Sara it surprised the older CSI to see Hank move forward visibly shaken seeing Sara's pale skin and unfocused gaze. As he began assessing Sara's condition Catherine began reassessing her opinion of him and decided Sara was in good hands after all because on some level he still cared about her. Catherine was privately concerned about Sara for her to allow herself to be manhandled without protest was an indicator of exactly how weak and cold the hypothermia had left the workaholic. Sara didn't say a word as Hank and his partner Manny began the steps necessary to raise her core body temperature.
"Sara this mask is the first step in the re-warming process. It's just warm, water-saturated air and it will help warm you from the inside out."
Leaning against the ambulance Sara breathed in and out of the mask slowly and deeply. While Manny and Hank used various electronic devices to take her vital signs like blood pressure and temperature.
"The next step is to get you out of these wet things, after you're in something dry we'll get you to the hospital."
"Cath can help with that." Sara insisted before Hank or Manny could begin unbuttoning her jeans, peeling off her blouse or taking off her shoes. Together the women got Sara out of the wet clothes and into a pair of dry standard blue coveralls. Sara settled back on the gurney exhausted. Closing her eyes, she tried to relax and accept that she was safe. All that she wanted now besides getting warm was to know Grissom was safe.
Catherine tucked the blankets around her co-worker and then stepped back allowing Hank to start strapping her down on the gurney and preparing her for transport. The silence was broken by a horrific blast and crash. Sara popped her eyes open and met Catherine's blue eyes. "Griss?" She asked her voice muffled by the mask, but Catherine saw the concern and wished she had some answers.
Stepping out of the ambulance the strawberry blonde looked around and found the police officer standing close by. His radio crackled then came alive with voices telling dispatch that the bomb had exploded and additional rescue crews would be needed on the scene. Standing there in shock Catherine tried to process the information it was like a terrible case of déjà vu.
She remembered the terror from the last time when the call came in that Grissom had been involved in a bombing. She turned to reassure Sara, but heard the electronic whine before she saw Hank began CPR on her friend. She'd planned to say something reassuring like I'm sure Gil is fine, but the words were stuck in her throat as she watched them try to restart her friend's heart.
Manny pulled out the defibrillator, flipping switches on the machine, while Hank opened the coveralls. "Charging 200." Hank took the paddles pressing them against Sara's pale skin. The zapping electrically jolt they delivered shocked Catherine so much she stepped backwards. The electrical whine changed to a soft beep.
"I've got a faint pulse. Manny get us to DP NOW!" The Latino EMT nodded as his partner's words and the emotion barely hidden beneath them. "Hang in there Sara." Hank pleaded quietly as he glanced from the pale brunette to the machines checking her vitals as Manny closed the doors rushing around to the driver's seat.
Catherine was in shock, unable to move or speak as the last quiet words Hank spoke reverberated in her head until a torrent of tears was unleashed as the ambulance pull away. She tracked the red taillights through the tears until the lights disappeared into the Las Vegas night. She was afraid for Sara, but wouldn't get any real answers until she got to Desert Palm. The desire to drive there was strong, but the concern she'd seen in Sara's eyes mirrored her own and she couldn't leave for the hospital until she knew what happened with the bomb. Both women needed to know if their guys were safe? Finally wiping away the tears that were rolling down her face she turned back to the blast scene she needed to find answers.
