Chapter 2
Violent. That's how Sara remembered her mother. She could still remember her mother's devious grin, brandishing a butcher's knife in front of her, teasing her, frightening her, as she held her father's hand, hoping to God that he would wake up and save her. She could still remember how her own life had flashed before her eyes when her mother stabbed her only to end up waking in a hospital bed.
Everything was going to be alright, the nurse had told her and she had believed it. It took abusive parent after abusive parent for her to realize that no, everything was never going to be alright. There was always going to be something wrong. It was a curse that she could never break.
"Two roads diverged in yellow wood. I took the one less traveled by and that has made all the difference." She quoted, ignoring the blood that followed as soon as she finished saying it. She didn't mind. She could barely talk now and she'd be wishing she'd be damned to eternity if her last words were something to the effect off 'Where the hell are my keys?'
She sighed and wiped the blood of her mouth. For the past hour she noticed how her breathing had slowed, drastically. Every breath she was able to take seemed like a blessing to her.
A couple of times over the hours she had passed out unknowingly and somehow she knew that it had something to do with whoever had done this to her.
'I also told you to stop shouting and look where it got you?' She remembered the note's contents and shook her head as she tried to recollect everything that had just happened to no avail.
The sound of the elevator opening jerked her away from her thoughts and before she could react, the low rumble in her stomach pushed out what was left of what she had eaten the night before. 'Basically nothing.'
"It's Brass. He found chlorine gas in Sara's car. Inhaled some of it probably. We need to help him." She heard Grissom say.
"Grissom, you don't think that Sara-" A voice, Nick, started.
Ignoring the conversation, she felt her eyes droop as the elevator went down to the first floor. All the movement was making her feel a lot more sick than she already was.
'Chloramine.' She told herself, realizing what had been wrong with her. If she did inhale some of it, her respiratory tract was probably wasting away by the minute.
Over the past hour she had fainted more times than she ever had in her entire life. Thinking only made her feel even more dizzier. She closed her eyes hoping that the pain would go away. 'Sleep. That's all I want. Just for a few minutes.'
She hoped to God that Brass was okay.
"Grissom, Brass doesn't look so good." They heard Hodges say as soon as he and Nick headed out of the elevator. The two of them had rushed down as soon as the words 'Ammonia and bleach' came out of the police captain's mouth, knowing that the mixture the two created a toxic gas called chloramine.
The police captain held his face to a trash can, vomiting as if the life in him was going out. He lifted his head and looked at Grissom, pale-faced. "Is Sara?"
"She's missing." Grissom replied. It hurt him to say the words out loud. He'd hoped it was all a misunderstanding, that Sara had gone home and forgotten to go to shift. He shook his head at Brass' next words.
"You don't think." Brass spoke between vomits. "Sara inhaled the stuff did you? It's killing me. You don't think she's-
"Don't say that." Grissom cut in, not wanting him to continue. He watched as a couple of paramedics entered the building, aiding Brass, who had turned paler.
Brass grunted when they placed him on a gurney, motioning for the paramedics to stop. "Grissom, right before I-
"Sir, you need to stop talking."
A glare was all the paramedic got as the police captain fumbled for something in his pocket.
"I found this a week ago. I thought it was a prank" He told the entomologist, handing the supervisor a piece of paper that was very much like the one Greg had found in the radio station.
Captain Jim Brass,
Tell everyone to stay away from Sara's car on Thursday.
And tell Dr. Grissom to follow my orders.
Sara didn't. And look at where it's going to get her?
Charlie.
He watched as Grissom's eyes widened and continued. "I also found this in Sara's car. Charlie, or whoever, must have given it to her."
Grissom nodded and watched as the impatient paramedic hauled the gurney outside, oblivious to what was happening.
Sara,
Stop disobeying me.
Why are you so stubborn?
Charlie
His thoughts drifted to the note Greg had found at the radio station.
Stay away from your office. Curiosity spread across his features. He was desperate. If there was something in his office that was going to help him save Sara then he had to know. He eyed Nick who had gone silent after he had read the notes. "Ask Warrick to help you process Sara's car. Tell Catherine and Greg to talk to the DJ in the radio station."
"Where will you be?"
"In my office, the note said something about staying away from it. I have to know why."
