Day 2 2:15 am
Tears still flowed from her eyes, she thought she would've been out of tears by now. She was so happy, so hopeful when she heard his voice on the other end of the line, even if he was scared too. She could hear the shakiness in his voice, but it was his voice, and that helped her believe she was closer to being found. Then he took the phone from her and she fell back into sadness, playing his words over and over in her head, keeping the light there.
She curled up trying to keep warm then rolled over off her side that sent shocks of pain through her when she brought her knees up. She had hair in her face but she didn't want to waste the little energy she had on getting hair off her face. She tried to crawl back to the wall where she had been to prop herself up again. It was hard to breathe lying down. She winced as she used her arms to pull herself to the corner. She sat up using the corner for support and brought her better leg up. She put her arms on her knee and put her head down. She heard the door open again and froze, afraid of what the two men would do to her now. She looked up and saw him carrying a glass of water and a muffin.
"Don't want our bargaining chip dying on us. Yet, anyway." He placed the plate and cup at her feet and started to turn then said "I would clean myself up if I were you, you look like shit for TV," he laughed leaving yet again. She grabbed for the water and muffin and as slowly as she could drank and ate them, she wanted to make it last. She looked around the room for signs of a camera. What did he mean? Can they see me like we did with Nick? Maybe he's just messing with my head. She asked herself these questions as she ate. She looked at the far corner of the ceiling and saw what looked like a small hole. Maybe he wasn't lying, he must be stupid for telling me. She'd known for a while that Grissom had been loosing his hearing and had figured out that he could lip read. He always looked at peoples lips when they were talking. She finished her meal and started to pull herself across the floor to get closer to the camera. She hoped Grissom was watching, if there was anyone watching, but it was worth a shot.
Las Vegas Crime Lab – Grissom's Office
Day 2 2:40 am
Nick sat at the desk and continued to watch. John had come in and given her food and water. He was glad she was getting something, but he knew the act was not out of kindness, but only to keep Sara alive long enough. John spoke to Sara and she looked at him with confusion. When he left she started looking around then her eyes found the camera and she gazed into it. Nick looked into her eyes; they were darker and the energy he used to see wasn't there, but he could still feel the fight in her, and it gave him home. He ran out to the hallway and saw Greg. "Greg! Get Grissom for me now, tell him Sara found the camera." Greg nodded and turned around and ran to get Grissom. Nick sat back down at the desk and continued to watch as Sara slowly started pulling herself across the floor closer to the camera.
Grissom ran into the room, "She found the camera?" he asked slightly out of breath. "Yea, after John left she started looking around then she looked into the camera and started heading towards it. "She knows. God, I should never underestimate you Sara. Nick, can I sit down, I need to get a closer look." "Sure, what is it?" "She's going to talk to us." "How?" Nick asked. "No one but Sara I guess knows but I'm losing my hearing. I've picked up lip reading over the year and I guess she noticed. She wouldn't be crawling over here for nothing." That's my Sara, he thought as he for the first time in a while, showed a small smile. "Nicky, grab me some paper." Nick opened the drawer of Grissom's desk and pulled out a notepad and a pen. "Just a little closer Sara, there" he smiled as she stopped and sat up. He could see her tears and worried what she would say. She started to speak slower than normal making sure she mouthed the words right. He 'listened' to her for a few seconds and frowned. "Sara don't do this, you don't have to." "What is she saying?" "Exactly what you did. Her goodbyes."
Day 2 – 2:50 am
Sara crawled across the floor slowly, trying not to cause herself anymore pain. When she thought she was close enough she stopped and sat up, holding her better leg to keep her up. She took and breath and started.
"Grissom if you can understand me, you might want to grab some paper. You can write all the technical stuff at the beginning. I leave all my possessions to Nick, and all my clothes to Catherine, I'm sure they'll fit her," she laughed weakly and continued. "Grissom, you've been like a father to me these past years, and if this is my goodbye I want you to know that I care so much about you and I wish we could've had more time together. Catherine, you've been like a mother to me, even if we fight sometimes, but that's us isn't it? Warrick, you're like my brother, you are my brother, you've always looked out for me and thank you for that, I love you bro," she weakly smiled and gave a weak cough. "Greg, what can I say man, you can make me laugh when I feel like crap. You're like my little brother, and I'm so proud of you. You've become an amazing CSI." She coughed again but continued.
"Nick, Nick I don't know what do say," she felt tears stain her cheeks again. "I love you so much, I'm sorry you got involved in all of this. I wish we could've had more time, have our baby, getting married, grow old. I'll miss you but I'll always be with you and I don't care if that's cheesy. I love you all and I'll miss you guys so much. Hopefully not goodbye, I know you'll find me, but how soon neither of us are sure I know that. Goodbye everyone." When she finished she heard the door open. "What are you doing over here?" Jimmy asked. "Making sure you don't get the better of me," she coughed. She stared down the man in front of her and he met her gaze. "What's it matter? No one can hear you. C'mon you're coming with me." He grabbed her wrist and tried to pull, but she fought back with all the strength she could, but it wasn't enough. He grabbed her arms and pulled her out of the room. "Where are you taking me?" she asked. "You'll find out soon enough. Time's almost up and we're not done with you yet."
Las Vegas Crime Lab – Grissom's Office
Day 2 – 2:50 am
Grissom wrote down the last of Sara's goodbyes and wiped the tears from his face. Nick had his arms crossed and his eyes were filled with tears as well. Then Grissom looked back to the monitor and saw the door open. The other man walked in and said something to Sara he couldn't make out at his angle. Sara spoke back then the man grabbed her arm and pulled. Sara tried to fight back but he was too strong and dragged Sara out of the room out of view. "No!" Nick yelled as stared at the monitor. He looked at the room for the first time, he hadn't taken his eyes off Sara since he'd found the site. There was blood everywhere she had been. Some places were just smudges, but a few were small, but big enough puddles of blood. Nick grabbed the paper and left the room. He headed to the break room to sit down and read what Sara had said.
He sat down and began to read. As he read on, the tears kept coming he finished and set the paper down. He couldn't do anything more but cry. He let all the emotion he had in him. Catherine was walking by opened the door to the break room and sat down beside. "Hey Nicky, it's going to be alright, we're going to find her." She hugged him and rubbed his back in comfort. He picked up the paper and handed it to Catherine. "You should read this." "What-" "Sara found the camera and Grissom lip read this."
She looked at the paper and started reading it. As she read on, she too started to cry. "Oh Sara," she said, wiping her eyes. "Nick, it won't come to this, you know that right? Look here," she said and he looked up at her. "It won't come to this," she said shaking the paper. "Come with me, we have your phone hooked up. It shouldn't be too long 'til he calls, it's been a while since he last called." Nick nodded and followed Catherine to where Brass and another man at a computer was. Nick's phone had some wires attached to it, all he could do now was wait. He sat there and continued to silently pray she was alright and what he'd just read wouldn't be her goodbye.
Day 2 – 3:15 am
"Aww now Sara you look right awful," John said in mock pity. She just looked up at him and stared angrily. She tried to fight off her fatigue, she refused to let him know she was close to giving in. "You know minus the cut and bruises you're kinda hot, I can see why Stokes would find you attractive." She looked at the man in disgust and tried to crawl further away from him. "Ah-ah-ah don't you go anywhere missy, I'm just about to call your boyfriend." He picked up her phone and hit the speed dial button for Nick's cell phone. It rang three times before there was answer.
"Why hello there Nick, you miss me?" "Where did you take Sara?" "So did you like the show? I'm thinking of turning it into a series." "Quit the bullshit, where is she and give the account number." John read him the account number. "Now I better get my money Stokes," John warned him. "You'll get it, just let me talk to Sara first." "Gee, I don't know about that," "Let me talk to her or no deal." "You're not in a good position to make demands Nick, but I guess you could talk to her for a second, it might be the last time after all." "It better not be. Put her on." John put the phone to Sara's ear.
"Sara?" "Nick… Did you..get the…" "Yes, Grissom got all of it. Sara, hold on babe just a bit longer. I love you." "I love you…" The phone was pulled from her ear. "I think that's enough for now." "Where will we meet you?" "Once I make sure the money is in my account, meet us at the old warehouse on Maxis Rd. outside of town, let's say around 10." "Fine. By the way, you lay another finger on her and I will kill you." "I'm scared now. You know all those years ago Nick? It was consensual, I never hurt that girl, she did like it rough though. I wonder if this one does too," he laughed. "Don't you dare you-" John turned off the phone and put it is his pocket.
"So you any fun girly? Let's see what Nick likes about you so much." John laughed as he walked towards Sara. "Jimmy, get out, she's mine." "But-" "No buts, get the hell out Jim." Jim turned and closed the door behind him. Sara watched as Jim left then looked to John who was getting closer, he reached for her and she pulled away, but she could only fight back so much…
Las Vegas Crime Lab
Day 2 – 3:20 am
"If you lay another finger on her, I will kill you. Don't you dare-hey! Shit!" Nick yelled as he hung up the phone. "We got a 2 mile radius on the location," the man at the computer said. "Cath, run a search on the addresses in the area, see if anything comes up. She nodded and headed out to look. "Nick, there's close to a hundred houses in that area, it's probably going to take a while, go lie down in the break room, you need to rest." Grissom said. "I know, okay," Nick said heading to the break room.
He walked in and lied down on the couch, but he couldn't sleep, not now. He rested his eyes, but he couldn't fall asleep. He kept thinking about Sara, she sounded so much weaker just now, he cringed at what he thought John might do. He couldn't think about it, it wouldn't happen he told himself. He laid there for how long he didn't know, two hours, three hours, just staring at the ceiling when Catherine ran in.
"Nick! I think I found Sara!" Nick jumped up and ran out of the room following Catherine. "One of the houses in the search area belongs to a James Alveson." "That's got to be where they're keeping her, is Brass getting a warrant?" "As we speak, once he calls, we're heading over there." Catherine finished as Warrick and Greg ran in. "Did you find her?" Warrick asked. "We're pretty sure, we're heading there when Brass calls with the warrant." No more than a minute later Catherine's phone rang and they all sprinted for their cars.
Day 2 – 6:00 am
Sara shivered in the corner of the new room she was in. She figured she was in the basement, there were no windows. She fought to stay awake, afraid to close her eyes. She was wrapped in John's large jacket, he didn't bother to take it with him when he finished with her. She felt like dying, she thought, if it weren't for the baby she'd probably have given up by now. She curled up into a tighter ball. It hurt, but it would keep her warm until she could get some clothes. All she had still was her bra and underwear, now torn on the side. She kept waiting, hoping this would all be over soon. Then she heard some coming from the floor above her. She heard a loud crash and men shouting. More than two men. "Thank god," she whispered as she smiled weakly, trying to hold on for one more minute. One more minute.
Nick followed the police cars in front of him, hoping that this was it, that they'd found her. They turned off the car sirens but continued speeding down the street. The cars stopped and Nick pulled over. He could see the blue van they described before sticking out from behind the house. He got out of his car and stood back as the police forced the door open and several officers ran in. Nick, followed by Grissom, Catherine, Warrick and Greg approached the house. A minute later two officers came out with two men in custody. John and Jimmy Alverson. Brass looked at Nick and nodded for him to come in. He ran for the door and ran down the stairs, he just knew where she was, he had a strange feeling. He ran into the room and saw her curled up in the corner.
"Sara!" he yelled as he ran over to her and rolled her over into his arms. She was ice cold and so pale. "Nick…" she whispered. "Sara, I'm here now it's okay, you're both okay now," he said as he held her close. He took his jacket off and wrapped it around her. "Nick…I love you…" Nick felt her body go limp and pulled back to see her face. "Sara, please no, just hold on, Sara don't go, please," he cried as he held her close and rocked back and forth, tears streaming down his face. Catherine, Grissom, Warrick and Greg stood behind him by the door. Catherine started crying as Grissom held her as she cried into his shirt. Warrick and Greg just stood there, it just couldn't be happening.
The paramedics rushed in and bent beside Nick, "We need you to let go, she needs help," the man said. Nick nodded as he shakily put her body on the floor. "B-Be careful. S-She's pregnant…" he stammered. The man nodded and felt for a pulse. "Got one, very faint, bag her." The other man nodded and put the mask on her mouth attached to a rubber bag and rhythmically squeezed and released it. Nick stood up and couldn't move. He froze as he watched the man start chest compressions. Warrick walked over to him and put his arm around his shoulder. The man stopped his compressions, "She's stable enough to move, get a stretcher down here!" The man yelled to the officers upstairs. "We'll get her on the gurney is the ambulance once we get her upstairs. The officers hurried down the stairs carrying the stretcher. They lifted her onto the stretcher and carefully took her up the stairs. The other paramedic walked over to Nick. "Come with me, you can ride with her," he led Nick upstairs and into the ambulance where they were hooking Sara up to machines, the paramedic still continuing the rhythmic squeeze and release of the bag before the replaced it with an oxygen mask when the man said she was stabilizing.
Nick took her hand and held it, never letting go, whispering softly "C'mon Sar', you can beat this, hold on sweetheart." They arrived at the hospital and Sara was rushed into emergency room. "Pregnant Caucasian female, multiple contusions and stab wounds, major blood loss," the paramedic told the doctor. "Get her into a room, we need to get her pulse up and make sure there's no internal bleeding, not to mention the baby." The paramedic held Nick back as they took Sara into the elevator. "Come with me, I'll get you some coffee, you're friends will be here soon." Nick nodded still numb. He solemnly walked down the hallway to another elevator. "Hold on Sara, be strong, hold on" he said repeatedly in his head as he was taken upstairs.
Las Vegas General Hospital
8:00 am
Nick sat on the couch, his fingers entwined together in a fist, resting his head on them. Catherine sat beside him, staring blankly into nowhere, Warrick leaning against the wall beside the couch. Greg paced back and forth in the corner, nervously biting his nails. Grissom was being Grissom, just standing there numb like Nick, deep in thought staring blankly. Finally after the long wait, a doctor walked in.
"You're here for Ms. Sidle?" he asked. "Yes, can we see her now?" Nick answered standing up. "Yes. She isn't awake yet but you can go into her room and wait." "Wait, what about the baby?" Nick asked looking at the doctor, hoping he didn't hear what he thought he would. "Guess it takes after it's mom, it's a fighter alright. It's a fine, healthy soon-to-be baby." Nick smiled as a tear ran down his cheek. Catherine hugged him tightly, then walked down the hall beside him, the others right behind him.
When Nick walked in, he saw Sara's calm serene face, just like the last time he had seen her as she slept in his bed beside him. She was still pale, but had gotten a little color back in her face. She was hooked up to several machines, plus a blood drip. "She's lost a lot of blood, we almost lost her, but she fought. All of her other wounds should heal, but there will be a few scars. You should be very proud of this one, she never gave up," the doctor said smiling. Nick nodded and pulled a chair up beside her bed and took her hand, stroking his thumb over the back of her hand. "I knew you could do it Sara," he whispered as he looked at her beautiful face. Greg, Catherine, Warrick and Grissom all sat down in the extra chairs in the room and waited. All they could do now was wait.
11:00 am
Sara opened her eyes slowly as the stinging, bright light found her. She moved her head and looked around the room, and saw her friends. Catherine was resting her head on Grissom, who was also sleeping. Warrick had his feet up on the table and his head resting in his chest. Greg was on the floor with his head resting in his arms on the chair he probably was in at one time. She looked down her bed, and she saw Nick. He was asleep on the bed still sitting in the chair holding her hand. She smiled and squeezed his hand as much as she could. He rolled his head and blinked a few times before opening his eyes.
"Sara," he said, sitting up straight. He couldn't help but smile at her. "I knew you'd find me," she whispered, it was all she could get out. "Is the baby…?" He smiled, "He takes after you I guess, little fighter." She smiled and winced, morphine doesn't cover it all, "Thank god, but I think it's a she," "I second that," Warrick said standing, "Hey girl, good to see you." "You too," She pulled herself up a bit to sit up more, when Catherine and Grissom woke up. Catherine looked up and saw Sara awake. She stood up and walked over the bed. "Sara, you never seize to amaze me," she smiled. "Of course, gotta keep you on your toes." She weakly laughed, then Greg finally woke up and came over too. "Hey Sara, finally stopped ignoring us?" Sara laughed then everyone else laughed with her. "Greg, I don't know what I'd do without that everyday." "Just glad to have you back," he replied.
Just then a doctor tapped on the door. "Excuse me, but I need to see Ms. Sidle. If you're not family you have to leave." "Nick can stay," he told the doctor. "He's family then?" "The closest I have." "Alright, the rest of you have to go for now." Catherine, Warrick and Greg all walked over to Sara and gave her a hug before they left. Then Grissom walked over, "I'm very proud of you Sara," he whispered as he gave her a hug. "Thank you," she whispered as tears filler her eyes. "I'll see you later," he said as he left the room. "Alright, just some bandage changes and then Dr. Matos will come in. You should be able to go home in a day or two, depending."
"Thanks," Sara said, taking Nick's hand again. They talked about the baby and everything else and the nurse changed her bandages. When the nurse left Nick stood up and sat on the side of her bed. "I was hoping that when you got out, if you wanted to come to my place." "Of course, I'm always there." "Permanently." "I'd love to," she said smiling. He smiled back and leaned over and he held her again, never wanting to let go. He pulled back and finally kissed her as he'd wanted to the past 24 hours. "So you think we'll have a boy?" she asked. "Yea, I think so." "I don't know, I think it's a girl and so does Warrick, and as I recall you don't do too good on bets with Warrick." "That's not fair, he's just really lucky," he laughed.
"Oh well, we're having a girl and that's final," she smiled. "Fine, it's a girl, but we can't have a girl until you agree with me on something." "And what would that be cowboy?" she said. "Will you marry me?" he said as he pulled out a small blue velvet box from his pocket. The diamond was a gorgeous princess cut solitaire on a gold band. She smiled and started to cry. "Yes!" she managed, then wrapped her arms around him with all the strength she had. He hugged her back softly, careful of her back, and tangled his fingers in her hair. "I love you Sara," "I love you Nick. Let's go home."
