TITLE: Fatal Reunion

Disclaimer: I still own nothing

AN: Still new at this :) Please read and review.

Thanks to Mel & Myra for beta reading. Thank you so much. hugz

Also thanks to Becca, Kristy, Megz, Mel, Myra, Lost November and Napafun for your support and encouragement. :)

Thanks for all the great reviews :)

Chapter Seven

Back at the crime scene, Catherine was still working on collecting the evidence from where Sara was found. She had sent Warrick to do the perimeter, and Nick to collect the surveillance.

Kneeling down, Catherine collected swabs of the blood from where Sara was lying. Standing up she noticed more blood drops a few feet away, she took the additional swabs and placed them in her kit.

Walking over towards Sara's gun, she crouched down took her photos and picked it up. Just as she was bagging it, Warrick walked in.

Without looking up Catherine asked, "Did you find anything?" while continuing to seal the evidence.

"Yeah." He paused, "You could say that," He replied sadly.

When Cath looked up, her eyes immediately fell on what looked like a bullet proof vest, sealed in an evidence bag. "What the hell. Where did you find that?" She asked Warrick, while getting up and making her way towards him.

"I found it in the alley way, out back." He replied.

She took the vest from Warrick so she could have a look, "Is that blood?" She asked looking up at him.

"Yeah, I took some swabs, but it seems there was a blood pouch in the front of the vest, so I doubt it will be anything probative." He replied defeatidly.

"What the hell happened here?" Letting out a sigh, she continued. "Well, let's get this stuff back to the lab and get it processed. Then hopefully we can find out what happened." Catherine replied, trying to keep in control.

"Why would anyone hurt her Cath? Why her, she didn't deserve…." He tried to control his emotions, he was so angry and upset, and as yet, they still hadn't heard anymore about Sara's condition.

Catherine reached out her hand to his arm, "I know, Warrick. We'll find out who did this. We have to, for Sara."

Just then Nick came through, "I managed to get the surveillance tapes. It seems they were more concerned with what went on inside, and not outside the building, which is good for us. I want to get them to Archie as soon as possible."

Catherine letting go of Warrick's arm, turned to Nick. "Okay, you head back to lab and get started with that, we just have to finish here…" She was interrupted by the ringing of her cell phone.

"Willows" she answered.

"Cath, it's Greg." Greg thought he'd better call Catherine, to let her know what's going on.

"Greg, how is she?" She replied, expecting the worst, and preparing herself. Nick and Warrick froze upon hearing that it was Greg on the phone.

"She's out of surgery, but she is still unconscious. They won't know if there has been any permanent damage until she wakes up" Greg choked out, struggling to keep his composure.

"Oh Greg, she'll be okay; she's a fighter." She paused, unsure of what to say; she couldn't think of Sara lying there dying, they still had a job to do. "How are you and Grissom holding up?"

"Griss is in with her now, he's in a bad state Cath. We both are. He wants you to come down and collect any trace evidence that may be still on Sara, and to collect her clothes. Ecklie….Eck..." Was all Greg could get out.

"Okay, I'll get there as soon as I can. Ecklie, what about Ecklie, Greg?" Catherine asked, curious as to why he would mention Ecklie.

"He...he called and asked if Sara had survived before he would send somebody over. How could he say that Cath? How can he be so heartless?" Letting out a long breath, he fell back against the brick wall outside the hospital.

"That's Ecklie for you. Look don't worry Greg, I shall be paying him a visit when I get back to the lab. Thanks for keeping me up to date. If you hear any more let me know." Catherine was struggling to keep the tears from falling, "Send her our love when you see her, tell her our thoughts are with her, and we will get there as soon as we can." Before Greg could reply, she ended the call and the tears began to fall.

Warrick was next to her in an instant "What is it Cath, is Sara okay?"

"She's out of surgery, but they won't know if there has been any permanent damage, because she is still unconscious. Griss needs us to go and collect any trace evidence that may be left on Sara." She wiped the tears away, "Lets get back to lab so we can go to the hospital, I need to see her."

With that, they collected all the evidence and began to make there way back to the lab.

Grissom sat at her bedside, unsure if she was able to hear him, but he had to try. "Sara," he choked out, gazing at her beautiful face through his misty eyes. "Sara, I don't know if you can hear me. But I need you…I need you to come back to me. I can't lose you…I can't. I have loved you for so long, and I cannot go on without you." He brought her hand to his face, it was then the tears began to fall again, "I remember the first time I saw you, how you stood out from everyone else in that auditorium. I knew the minute I saw you, heard you say my name. I knew…I knew that we were meant to be together."

Kissing her hand, and returning it to her side, without bothering to wipe his falling tears, he continued, "I cannot believe I have wasted so much time, all those years; when we could have been together, raising a family. I have always pictured you with our little ones running around, singing, laughing and being a wonderful wife and mother." His eyes lowered to their joined hands, "I have been such a fool Sara, please you have to come back, I want to start a life with you. Our life we should have started years ago." He lifted his hand to her face, and was stroking her cheek with his thumb. "Please Sara, please." He moved his head closer and placed his lips tenderly over hers, he pulled back, still cupping her face, "Please Sara, I love you."

Back at the lab Catherine stopped at reception, "Hey Judy. Do you know if Ecklie's around?"

Judy looked up, "No Mrs. Willows, I'm afraid him and Curtis are out on a call at the moment, can I leave him a message?"

Drumming her fingers on the desk, Catherine replied "No it's okay; I'll catch up with him later."

When Catherine turned to leave, Judy asked "Have you heard any more news regarding Sara?"

Catherine turned back to face her. "Greg called; she's out of surgery, but still unconscious."

"Let me know if you hear anything else, I have been really worried, but no one else knew what was going on. I know Ecklie called the hospital, but then he and Sofia had a long meeting, then they rushed out of here so fast, I didn't get a chance to ask him."

Catherine smiled "I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything." Then she turned and headed for the DNA lab.

In the DNA Lab, Catherine was waiting while Wendy started running the DNA results from the blood samples she and Warrick collected.

Warrick was working on Sara's phone records, and Nick was still working with Archie on the surveillance tapes.

Catherine results came out on the printer, the swab from where Sara was found was a match to Sara, the swab she took a few feet away and one from the vest Warrick found had come up with a hit in Codis, a Laura Sidle. Catherine sat there in shock, 'her mom did this to her?'

The final swab was from the blood pouch from the vest, was again a match to Laura Sidle, but was also mixed with a polyester base.

"That's odd. The only reason I can think of as to why the polyester base was present in the blood is that it's an inert fluid pre-packaged in test tubes used for HIV testing." Wendy replied after handing the print out to Catherine.

"Well, maybe she was recently tested, or works or knows someone in a HIV test centre." Catherine replied, still in shock.

Catherine was still in the DNA Lab dumb struck, when Warrick walked in. "I got her phone records. Sara received two calls before the time Nick said she rushed out of here. But they just came back as a disposable cell." Looking up from his paperwork, he saw Catherine sitting there, in shock. "What is it Cath? What did you find?"

"Her mom…the blood swabs we took from the scene, one matched Sara's, the others matched a Laura Sidle, Sara's mother."

Before Catherine could continue Nick came rushing in, "Cath, you need to see this, it's the video surveillance from the warehouse."

Catherine looked from Warrick to Nick, "Okay, let's go." While wondering what on earth Nick could have seen to make him act this way.

In the A/V lab, Catherine and Warrick stood there in shock as Archie replayed the video from the warehouse, from where Sara entered the scene, to when the air ambulance crew arrived.

With a shaky voice, she spoke. "Arch, can you get a clear image of Laura so I can give it to Brass so he can put out an APB. Nick, Warrick, I don't know about you, but I need to get to the hospital. You coming?"

"We're right behind you Cath," Nick replied.

"I have printed one off already Cath, here you go." Handing her the photo, he continued. "When you see her, send her my love."

All Catherine could do was nod, before she made her way out of the lab, and in the direction of Brass office at the Police Department.

In Sara's hospital room, Gil had one hand holding hers, while the other was stroking her hair. That was all he could do, as seeing her lying there, he just couldn't seem to find his voice anymore. All he could do was sit and wait.

A few minutes had passed, and Grissom noticed movement by the door, raising Sara's hand to his lips, placing a soft kiss before placing it back at her side, he stood and walked towards the door.

"What the hell are you doing here?" He said angrily.

Sofia gasped in shock at Grissom's tone towards Ecklie.

"I told her to accompany me to do evidence collection," Ecklie stated.

Blocking their way Grissom grabbed Ecklie by the arm, forcing him and Sofia out into the corridor. "If she survives?" He repeated, "If she survives," He paused. "I cannot believe you would be capable to even think that let alone say it." Pausing to calm his emotions, he continued, "What has Sara ever done to you?"

"It was a good enough question. Anyway, what's wrong Gil? Are you disappointed that you didn't get to screw her when you had your chance?" Ecklie replied, smugly.

Grissom didn't think twice as he grabbed Ecklie by his shirt and pushed him against the wall "Don't you ever come near Sara again. You hear me?" Looking at Sofia then back at Ecklie, he continued "You will not do the evidence collection. You are going to leave here with her now; before I do something I may or may not regret." Grissom controlled his anger and released Ecklie.

"Well, that was…interesting." Ecklie stated, adjusting his shirt. Turning to Sofia he said, "We had better go back to the lab. I think I am going to have a nice chat with the sheriff." They turned to leave.

"You're a complete ass Conrad!" Grissom replied, making Ecklie instantly turn around, to face him. "You really think I give a damn about my job?" Walking over to him and raising his arm, pointing in the direction of Sara's room. "The woman I love, that I can't live without is still in critical condition and you think I care what you're going to say to the sheriff?" Removing his ID from around his neck, "Here," He replied, chucking his badge at Ecklie, "Go on, take it. I quit"

Keeping hold of Grissom's badge, he and Sofia just turned and left.

Gil looked at his watch, getting out his cell, he was about to go outside to call Catherine, when he turned around and saw that Warrick, Catherine, Nick and Greg were staring at him from the waiting room. He turned back round and peered in the door, looking at Sara's still form. He could not hold it in anymore, and he collapsed on the floor in tears.

Catherine and Greg came over to him "Gil, why don't we go somewhere and talk."

"Okay," He said through the tears, "Greg? Can you stay with Sara; I don't want her being alone. Please, go and sit with her."

Grissom got up from the floor, had one last look into Sara's room; then they made there way down towards the cafeteria.

Just as they approached the cafeteria doors, Catherine accidentally walked into a nurse. "Sorry."

"Its okay," The nurse replied and smiled. "No harm done," She brushed down her uniform and continued on her way.

Catherine looked back and watched her go, 'She looks so familiar, I'm sure I know her from somewhere'. Without any further thought, she and Gil entered the Cafeteria.

TBC

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