We began to get a heavy load of cases. I didn't sleep very often working overtime. I yawned after shift not remembering which day it was as I walked outside. I blinked looking at the traffic not remembering where my car was.
"Hey!" Russell called, walking over. "How are you?"
"Good." I said, blinking at him.
"You look all in." He said, looking me over.
"I feel like it."
"Are you going home?"
"As soon as I find my car." I said, looking around again.
He chuckled turning me to the left.
"It's that one at the end." He said
"Thank's." I said, walking slowly over to it. He watched me go then he went inside the building. I yawned stopping at the curb holding my head. Grissom arrived looking over at me. He walked over touching my back.
"Hey, are you okay?" He asked
I looked at him.
"I just…. felt dizzy." I said
"You need sleep."
"I need lots of things." I said
"Are you okay to drive?"
"I can drive with my eyes closed." I said
"I can take you home." He said, pulling me to his car.
I didn't fight him since I couldn't remember where the house was. Grissom drove down the street turning then he parked outside our home. He turned the engine off looking at me sleeping against the window. He opened my door catching me as I fell out. I got out looking around as he held me.
"Can you walk?" He asked
"I can." I said
He let me go watching as I walked slowly to the stairs. I carefully started up feeling him up against me in case I fell. I made it then I stopped looking at the front door.
Grissom unlocked the front door helping me inside. He picked me up in his arms walking to the bedroom helping me change. I was laid on the bed as he put blankets over me.
"I will call you later." He said
"Don't date Sophia." I said, moving as I fell asleep. He kissed my head then he looked at me a moment before leaving.
Later, the front door opened slowly and shut. I slept in bed still to exhausted to hear anything. A man looked around walking through the rooms. He went into the bedroom seeing me in the bed. He looked at me walking closer to the bed.
Brass sat at his desk signing a form then he got up leaving. He walked to Grissom's office with the paper. Grissom looked up from his desk seeing his friend enter closing the door.
"I got your form here." He said, handing him the paper.
"Thank you." Grissom said, taking it.
Brass was about to leave when his cell phone rang.
"Brass." He said, listening. "What?!"
He looked at Grissom alarmed.
"I'll be right there!" He said, hanging up. "A call came in. It's Sara!"
Grissom quickly walked out with him. Brass raced over to the house followed by police cars and ambulances. Grissom got out of Brass's car running up the stairs to the open door. Brass held his gun looking in. He motioned for his men to go in. He went in behind them with Grissom. They could hear screaming in the bedroom.
"Sara!" Brass called
They went in seeing me on the floor holding my gun screaming against the wall on the other side of the bed. I had blood on my clothes and arms. Brass walked around the bed seeing the body of a man with his pants down. He knelt down touching the man's neck.
"He's dead!" He said
He knelt down infront of me as Grissom knelt down as well.
"Sara, it's okay!" Brass said
I shook violently feeling my gun being taken away. I sobbed screaming again.
"Let's get her outside." Brass said
They both took my arms helping me up. I looked around outside at the flashing lights.
"It's okay." Someone said
I struggled weakly as we went down the stairs to the waiting ambulance. I was put on a stretcher and wheeled inside. I fought the EMT as I screamed. Grissom came in sitting down watching the man beside him giving me a shot.
"It's a sedative to calm her down." He said
I cried looking around. Grissom took my hand.
"She's in shock." The paramedic said
Grissom nodded watching me calm down. I closed my eyes sleeping.
Grissom went with me to the hospital. He told them that he wanted a rape test done. Brass walked into the room I was in with Grissom. Brass walked over putting his hand over my hand lying on my stomach.
"Was she?" He asked
"I don't know. Russell is working on it." Grissom said, as he leaned against the wall looking at me.
Brass gently touched my head. Grissom's phone made a sound. Brass looked up as Grissom looked at his phone. He sighed then looked over at Brass shaking his head.
"Thank goodness." Brass said
I slept for days. Grissom sat beside my bed when he could. I woke seeing I was in a dark room that was lit by the hallway light. I moved my hand over the blanket feeling pain. I felt tears going down my cheeks. People were in the hallway talking as they walked by my door. I shivered when a cold breeze hit me. Someone came in walking quietly to my bed. I watched the person lean down kissing my head gently. I closed my eyes.
"Sara." Grissom whispered
I reached up touching his cheek making him jump. He turned on a light above me looking down.
"I am glad you're awake." He said
I let my hand go down his cheek. He took my hand kissing it.
"Did you catch that man?" I asked
"Honey, he's dead."
I shook closing my eyes breathing in and out.
"You shot him."
I opened looking at him.
"Sara, he didn't…. rape you."
"I remember that he…almost did." I said "He won't come back, will he?"
"No, he won't." Grissom said
I laid back tightening my grasp on his hand. He put my hand down then he sat in a chair watching me as I looked at him.
The doctor gave me permission to leave the hospital a few days later. Grissom helped me inside the house. I looked around walking to the living room.
"Do you want to lie down?" He asked
"I want to work." I said
He sighed standing infront of me taking my hands in his.
"Sara, we talked about this. You are on leave until the investigation is over."
"Grissom, you don't understand! I want to work!"
"No." He said, shaking his head.
I looked down feeling sad.
"Let's go into the bedroom." He said
He tried to pull me with him, but I stayed still.
"No, I don't want to go in there!" I said
"It's okay, Sara." He said
"No, don't make me!" I said, backing up.
He walked over touching my cheeks with his hands.
"Okay, let's lie down on the couch."
I nodded still shaking. He laid down pulling me with him. I laid beside him feeling his arms come around me. I felt protected for the first time this happened. He kissed my neck then laid back down.
I stayed awake as he slept thinking about things. I moved facing him looking at his relaxed face. I moved closer kissing his face. He moved opening his eyes looking at me. I searched his eyes before kissing him. He kissed me back stopping as the doorbell went off. I watched him get up walking to the door. I sat up slowly feeling sick to my stomach. I looked at the bedroom door.
"Want some coffee?" Grissom asked, walking to the kitchen.
"Love some." Brass said, glancing into the living room.
I stood holding my stomach looking at the door. Slowly, I walked over telling myself I could do it. Brass stood just inside the kitchen door when he saw me out of the corner of his eye. I hunched over throwing up causing him to come out walking over to me.
I fell to the floor throwing up again. Grissom got a cloth wetting it walking out. Brass knelt down as I stopped falling backwards against him. Grissom wiped my mouth off as I breathed in and out fast.
I put my hand over my face crying against Brass. He held me rocking us back and forth.
"It's okay." He said, gently kissing my head. Grissom rubbed my arm looking at Brass concerned.
Brass put me back on the couch sitting on it smoothing my hair back as he talked. Grissom put a cup of coffee on the table beside the couch then he sat in the chair watching us.
"Believe me, I have seen worse." Brass said
I smiled a little touching the blanket covering me. He reached over taking the steaming cup drinking some.
"I remember this lady coming out of this house throwing up all over me. The smell still gets me."
"Why did she?"
"Drunk." He and Grissom said
I chuckled looking over at Grissom.
"Gil, can you put this in a travel cup? I have to go to the station." Brass said, handing Grissom his cup.
He turned back to me leaning over kissing my head then he leaned back searching my eyes.
"I don't want you to worry anymore." He said
"What if it happens again?" I asked
"Honey, you can't live like this. You are a strong woman. You will overcome this."
I hugged him then he got up waving before leaving. Grissom came back looking at me.
"I have to go to work to." He said
"Okay."
"If you need me…."
"I will call." I said
He nodded sighing before going to the bedroom. I laid there watching the door. As soon as he left I got up walking over to the door. My heart started to race as I slowly turned the door knob. I peeked inside opening it more stepping in. The room seemed peaceful and quiet. I walked over to myside seeing some squares of carpet gone where the blood was. I closed my eyes seeing the scene over and over.
I went to the door shutting and locking it before climbing onto the bed lying down. Grissom came home hours later.
"Sara?" He called, walking into the living room not seeing me.
He walked to the bedroom trying to come in, but it was locked. He knocked not hearing anything.
"Sara, open the door."
I moved on the bed hearing knocking.
"Whose there?" I asked, getting up.
"Grissom."
I unlocked the door seeing him.
"Hey." He said "Are you okay?"
"I think I will be."
He hugged me as I took a long breath.
The investigation ended and I was allowed back. I went on a solo case walking down a hill towards the scene. The path was narrow and it was hot. I wiped some sweat from my head as I looked at the body of a man lying on his stomach. His hands were tied together by rope with a gunshot wound to his head. I knelt down looking at his hands seeing strands of blond hair.
"Hot day." Dave said, behind me as he and another man carried a stretcher between them.
"Yeah, getting hotter." I said
"What do we got?" He asked, coming closer. "Gunshot."
"It looks like a kidnapping, or maybe drugs." I said, standing.
"You're the story teller, I am just the coroner." He said
I knelt down again collecting the hairs. I worked for an hour then walked back to the Tahoe. The heat was getting to me. I got some water and then drove back to the lab. The air conditioning in the building was a welcome escape from the heat. I took a shower walking around feeling better. At break, I walked around eating some of my sandwich. Everyone was busy as I looked into the windows.
"On break?"
I jumped looking at Russell walking over smiling at me.
"I got five minutes left." I said "Why are you here so early?"
"I have a meeting at two." He said
"Oh." I said, looking back into the room.
"So, are you liking day shift?"
"It's okay." I said, shrugging my shoulders.
"I have an opening on my staff. Are you interested?" He asked, looking at my profile.
I turned looking at him.
"What are you talking about?"
"Well, I realized that Grissom is right. You are the best in the field, and I need someone who knows what they are doing."
My mouth dropped as I looked at him.
"Sophia wants to go back to work for the police."
"Okay." I said, trying to hold my excitement.
"Great, but a few things. You need to stop being this out of control person. I want to trust you."
I nodded as he did. He walked away and I just stood still watching him go. I ran outside screaming jumping up and down. Grissom parked the car walking over seeing me celebrating. He smiled walking over tapping my shoulder. I jumped backing up seeing him.
"What are you doing?" He asked, chuckling.
I hugged him then backed up.
"Russell, is bringing me back to night shift!" I said
"Really?"
"Yes, I am so happy!" I said, jumping up and down screaming again.
Grissom stood still watching me then he went inside. He knocked on Russell's office door seeing him getting ready for the meeting.
"Hey, did you just get here?" He asked
"Yes, I saw Sara outside celebrating. She said you asked her to come back." Grissom said, closing the door behind him.
"It was time. Sophia wasn't working out for me. I think I can trust her again."
"Are you sure it's wise to allow her back?"
"What are you worried about, Gil?" Russell asked, leaning back against his desk.
"I am worried about Sara. I know how she operates. Cases get to her."
"I think I can handle her."
"Let me have progress reports."
"I will."
Grissom nodded looking at him before leaving.
I was moved a few days later. Russell assigned me paperwork with him. I sat in a chair beside him stamping papers in silence.
"Sara, I wanted to talk to you. That's why I asked you to help me." Russell said, sitting back in his chair facing me.
"What about?" I asked, suddenly nervous.
"Grissom is uneasy about you coming back and I wanted to know how you felt about it."
"I feel happy that I am back."
"Do you believe that the cases will affect your work performance?"
"I don't think so." I said
"I want you to be sure. This is not a game."
"I know."
He just looked at me a moment.
"I want to trust you. I think I can, but some part of me needs more." He said
"You can trust me." I said
"I hope so." He said "Let's get back to work."
I watched him turn to the paper work on his desk. Grissom and Brass came out of his office talking as I walked over. Brass touched my arm gently as he nodded listening to Grissom.
I looked down at their shoes.
"I thought you would be happier on your first night." Brass said, touching my back with his hand.
"I am." I said
Grissom inspected me with his eyes.
"I will see you later." Brass said, walking away.
I looked down feeling Grissom looking at me. He touched my arm then my other making me look at him.
"What's wrong?" He asked
"Russell and I talked and I just thought why do you love me? I think you would have a better time with someone else. Catherine, or Sophia. I just don't think I can make you happy." I said, looking down again.
He sighed looking at me. His hand touched mine pulling me into his office shutting his door closed behind me. He just stood there looking at me much like the time we stood in the room with the bloody sheet. I took a breath opening my mouth a little. Grissom put his hands on my cheeks leaning in kissing me. I felt him deepen the kiss tilting his head to the left. I didn't care what was happening other than in the room. I put my hands on his back feeling him do the same pulling me against him tightly. He slowly started to pull back. I wanted more, but I let him go because I needed air. He moved his lips along my cheek then my neck. My legs were about to buckle as he pulled me even tighter. I moved my head to the side feeling him nip at my skin.
He stopped taking a breath then he moved to look at me. I opened my eyes looking at him. We didn't talk as we looked at each other.
A knock ruined the moment. Grissom let me go as I moved leaning back against the desk. He looked at me before opening the door letting Catherine in.
"Hey." She said, looking at me before Grissom "Gil, can you sign this form? I want to get some supplies."
He took the paper looking at it. I watched him walk to his desk and sign the paper then hand it back to her.
"Thanks, are you going to that meeting with the DA?" She asked
"I am not." Grissom said
"Okay." She said, smiling at me before leaving. Grissom sighed looking at me. He stepped infront of me looking me over.
"Now, I believe you asked me why I love you." He said "I love you for many things. Your stubbornness, your intelligent's. You have feelings about the victims and I love that about you."
I looked down as he touched my chin making me look at him.
"You are beautiful inside, Sara. I see no one in a group, but you. I think about you constantly. Doesn't that prove that I love you?"
I didn't say anything.
"Nothing matters, but you and me. If something were to happen to us, I could not go on. I don't understand why you chose Sophia and Catherine. Do you not see what a disaster that would be? You keep on about Sophia and I need to tell you once and for all that I do not love her. I was attracted to her when I first met her, but as I spent time with her, I realized that there was something missing…. you."
I searched his eyes feeling my hairs stand straight up. He put his hands on my cheeks.
"Grissom." I said, gently.
"Yes?"
"I…."
Suddenly the lights flickered. Grissom and I looked around then at each other confused. A large boom and a shake of the walls made us jump. Another and another boom scared us. Grissom grabbed me pulling me underneath his desk as the room blew up. Grissom coughed against me as I choked on dust. The sprinklers went off as the alarm sounded.
"What's…happening!" I asked
"I don't know!" Grissom said
He pulled me out looking at the room. He led me out into the hallway seeing fire and water starting to make a pool on the floor. I coughed holding a hand over my mouth and nose. The air was filled with fumes. Water drenched us. People started to file out. Some were injured. Grissom slowly led me along the hallway. Catherine and Russell ran overlooking shell-shocked.
"What happened!" Catherine asked
"I heard three explosions!" Grissom said
"Sounded like four to me." Russell said
"Let's assess the damage and help the people that are injured." Grissom said
I coughed loudly feeling Grissom lead me to the front door. People laid on the ground moaning in pain. Blood oozed out of open wounds. Grissom looked at the carnage beside me getting his phone then he disappeared leaving me. I walked around not knowing how to help. The building was a mess and smoke just kept coming out. I tried to help those that I could. I sat by a tree holding my leg as I looked around. Brass came over seeing me.
"Sara, have you seen Grissom?" He asked
I shook my head looking at him.
He looked around sighing then he looked back at me.
"Are you okay?"
I nodded.
He knelt down looking me over seeing that I was holding right hand against my stomach in a fist.
"Can I see your hand?" He asked
I looked down at it then at him.
"No, it's fine."
"Honey, please?" He asked
"No, I'm okay." I said
He looked at me a moment before gently reaching over touching my hand. I looked down as he opened it seeing the bloody gash. I swallowed looking back at him.
"This looks very bad, Sara."
I pulled my hand away from him. He looked at me worried. I looked to the side feeling his eyes on me.
"I think you should get your hand looked at, honey."
I shook my head still looking to the side.
Brass stood looking around the chaos. He then turned kneeling down again to me. I felt him put his arms underneath me picking me up. I didn't protest feeling safe in his arms. He walked over to a stretcher lowering me gently. I looked around holding onto his hand. A paramedic walked over with gloves on. I went into panic mood failing around hitting the man trying to look at me. Brass pulled my arms down.
"Stop!" He said "Calm."
I breathed in and out looking at the man then at Brass.
"Calm." Brass said, again.
I looked at him feeling scared. He smoothed my hair watching the paramedic look at my hand. He stitched and bandaged it. I got up walking around in a daze. Everywhere I looked there was injured or firefighters trying to stop the fires. Someone rushed by me. I walked forwards towards the building when I was pushed back facing Grissom. He searched my eyes looking me over.
"You okay?"
I nodded.
"You need to go home. I will have Brass take you."
I nodded again feeling him take my uninjured hand walking to the left. Brass took me by car to the house. He helped me out going up the stairs to the front door.
"Are you okay now?" He asked "Do you want me to stay?"
"You should go back."
"I can stay for a couple of minutes." He said
I went in with him closing the door. I looked around not knowing what to do. Brass walked over touching my arm and I turned leaning into him for support. He held me silently feeling my body shaking.
Grissom came in later looking around hearing snoring. He walked into the living room seeing Brass lying on the couch beside me. Grissom sighed just looking at us.
"Jim?" Grissom called, touching the older man's shoulder. "Jim!"
Brass moved seeing Grissom as he blinked.
"Hey." Brass said, quietly.
"I was wondering where you went to."
"Sara, broke down after we came back. I thought I would stay until she got better and I must have gone to sleep." Brass said "How's the building?"
"Intact."
I moved facing him putting my arm over his chest. Brass slowly moved getting up.
"What time is it?"
"About ten in the morning. I have a couple of hours to sleep then I have to go back." Grissom said
"I better go home and change." Brass said
"Thank you." Grissoms said, following him to the door.
Brass nodded to him before going out. Grissom walked back into the living room undoing the top buttons on his shirt. He laid down beside me kissing my head.
"Dad?" I said, gently.
"No, it's me." Grissom said, putting his arms around me.
I moved arm around him sighing. He took a breath closing is eyes. I woke alone hours later sitting up looking around. The house was silent. I got up feeling dizzy. I sat back down holding my head feeling a throbbing. My phone went off and I grabbed it from the side table.
"Sidle." I said
"No, Grissom." Grissom said, walking around the building.
"Right now, I don't know who I am." I said, sitting back.
"How are you feeling?" He asked, unlocking his office door.
"I think I am okay." I said
"I want you to stay home."
"You need me!" I said
"I need you always, but in this case I don't."
"Your treating me like a porcelain doll again."
He sighed, as I stood.
"Honey, you need to recover. I don't need you to get hurt again."
"Okay."
I hung up the phone sighing looking around the room. Grissom came home on the phone with someone as I walked over to kiss him. He let me go to continue the conversation. I watched him walk by then I walked to the kitchen. He hung up the phone walking into the kitchen grabbing the bottled water from my hand placing it on the counter as he placed both hands on either side looking at me.
"I'm fine. How is the lab?" I asked
"The lab is fine and the wounded people are recovering." He said
"Good." I said
He kissed me slowly putting his arms around my back. I moved back looking at him.
"Jim is worried about you." He said "He thinks you're not all right."
"I'm fine."
"I know."
He left me alone walking out of the kitchen.
I came back to work the following day watching the cleanup. Russell had me help him in the lab then I went to the breakroom getting my sandwich walking to the station. Dad was sitting at his desk eating his sandwich looking at some papers. He watched me come in and sit in a chair infront of his desk.
"So, what do I owe this visit?" He asked
"I wanted to see you." I said, eating.
"That's what I wanted to." He said "How are you feeling?"
"Fine." I said
"Sara, I can tell your not." He said
I sighed looking down.
"I am still shaking." I said
"Everyone is, honey." He said "You have had a rough month."
"I suppose I am not fine."
"I am glad you're admitting it." He said
"Come here." He said
I got up putting my sandwich on his desk then walking over feeling him push me across his lap. He cradled me like I was a child.
"It's okay not to be fine." He said "You have every right to not be."
I moved laying my head on his shoulder.
"I love you." I said
"I love you to." He said
I closed my eyes as he ate some more of his sandwich. I moved my arms up around his neck hugging him. He held me kissing my head.
Russell knocked on Grissom's office door later.
"Come in." Grissom said
Russell came in seeing Grissom eating Chinese at his desk while working.
"Hey, have you seen Sara?" He asked
"No, not since we came in. Is she missing?"
"Yes, I was working with her and then we took a break. She never returned." Russell said "She is not in the breakroom."
"Odd." Grissom said, getting out his phone.
He put the phone to his ear listening to it ring then he lowered it.
"No answer." He said, pushing another button.
"Brass."
"Jim, it's Grissom."
"I know what you are looking for."
Grissom looked at Russell.
"You have Sara?"
"Yeah, in my office asleep."
"It's time for her to work."
"I'll get her up." Brass said, before hanging up.
"We found her. She was asleep in Brass's office."
"Oh." Russell said "Gil, are you sure that Sara is fit to work?"
"Yes, I think she is."
"With all the things that have happened to her I doubt she is." Russell said
"We can have her talk to someone."
"I think that would be a good idea. I just have a feeling that something isn't right."
Grissom looked at him then down at his desk thinking.
I appeared and Russell and I went to work. After I went home with Grissom. He locked me in the car as I tried to get out.
"Grissom, I need to eat something." I said
"In a minute. I wanted to say something." He said
"Okay." I said
"Sara, I want you to talk to a counselor." He said
"Why?" I said
"I don't think you are all right." He said
I looked at him then I started to laugh.
"I am not okay?"
"No, you are not." He said, seriously.
"No, I will not talk to anyone! Now unlock the door." I said
He looked at me a moment as I stared him down. I moved over past him unlocking it then I got out going to the front door. I went in sighing. He came in as I made a grilled cheese on the stove.
"Do you want one?" I asked
"No, I want to talk about this."
I turned off the stove facing him crossing my arms over my chest.
"I should know if I am fine." I said
"You may feel fine, but we on the outside see differently." He said
"Listen to me Grissom! I will never see a counselor. I did that once already and now I am done."
He flexed his jaw looking at me.
"What do you think will happen?" He asked
"Who told you I was not fine? Dad, or Russell?"
"Sara…I."
"Russell did." I said "Since when do you let other people tell you what to do about me?"
"This time I agree." He said
"He's just trying to get rid of me."
"He is not."
"Sophia and he are close. They must be working together. I knew this was her plan all along and now you are joining them."
"Sara, what are you talking about?" He asked, confused.
"You and Sophia! That is what I am talking about! You want her!"
"Sara!"
"Why don't you go to her? Run away!" I shouted, "I hope you both die!"
He slapped me across the face, and I stumbled back touching my cheek.
"Grissom." I said
"Your seeing a counselor." He said, calmly.
"You slapped me." I said
He sighed.
"I didn't want to."
We stood in silence looking at each other. He looked at my sandwich in the frying pan.
"You should eat that before it cools down." He said, before leaving.
I watched him go then I slid down to the floor forgetting my sandwich. Grissom came out from the bedroom changed into pajamas. He didn't hear me moving around. I shook holding myself on the kitchen floor as he came in seeing me.
"Sara?"
He knelt down touching my head. I never acknowledged him.
"Can you hear me?" He asked
I felt him trying to move me and I screamed moving to the corner staring at him as I held my legs close to my chest.
"I am not going to hurt you." He said "Why don't we go to bed?"
I shook my head. He looked at me concerned.
"You are safe. I am not going to hurt you." He said, coming closer.
I pushed myself back against the cabinets shaking as he stopped.
"Okay, just relax." He said, getting up. He disappeared and I moved getting a large cutting knife sitting with it.
He came back in seeing the knife as he held his phone to his ear.
"She has a knife. I have never seen her like this."
He disappeared then came back again placing the cell phone on the counter.
"Honey, you don't need the knife." He said
I watched him carefully as he knelt down, so he was eye level with me.
"Give it to me."
He reached over with his hand.
I looked at the hand then at him.
"No one's going to hurt you." He said, gently.
I swallowed not moving. He lowered his arm just watching me as he stood up. The front door opened as Brass came in still dressed in work clothes. Grissom motioned him to me. Brass came closer than Grissom did kneeling down.
"Hey, I heard you were being bad." He said "Why not hand over the knife and we can talk."
I shook my head looking past him at Grissom.
"Grissom is not going to hurt you. We just want you to hand over the knife."
He came closer and I shook my head at him.
"Please baby." He said, almost touching my hand. I let him have the knife. He sighed relieved giving it to Grissom. He sat next to me as I laid against his legs. "Gil, can you let us talk alone?"
"Yes." Grissom said, leaving.
Grissom sat on the couch worried about me. He had seen people have breakdowns before and this was defiantly one. He turned on the news faintly hearing Brass's voice from the kitchen. Half and hour later Grissom rubbed his head seeing Brass holding me as we walked to the bedroom. He came out a short time later.
"She's sleeping." He said
"Thank you." Grissom said, standing.
"Gil, she is not all right." Brass said
"Did she say anything?"
"No, but I think it's obvious what has happened."
Grissom nodded.
"Watch her closely."
"I will."
Brass left as Grissom went into the kitchen throwing the forgotten sandwich into the garbage. He came into the bedroom looking at me in the dim light as I slept.
The next day I moved opening my eyes looking around. I got out of bed running out to the living room. Grissom came out of the kitchen seeing me.
"Hello." He said
I looked around then I walked over to him.
"How do you feel?"
"Fine." I said
He touched my cheek with his hand searching my eyes.
"I need to get ready for work." I said
"No, I am taking you to a counselor." He said
I looked at him confused.
"You need to get dressed." He said
"I…."
"Go on."
He pushed me gently to the bedroom. I went in getting dressed. We got into the car and he drove me to a building down the street from the lab. I looked at it as he undid his seat belt. He got out coming over to myside opening the door. I slowly got out and he took my arm leading me to the building.
"Grissom, wait!" I said
He looked at me.
"Sara, it's going to be okay." He said
He opened the front door leading me in. I met with a friend of his as he left for work. Two hours later he drove back seeing me waiting. I stood at the curb looking lost. He got out looking at me concerned.
"You okay?"
I shook my head.
"Honey, talk to me." He said, pulling me stand infront of him.
"What is happening to me?" I cried
"What do you mean?"
I cried holding my hand to my face as he pulled me against him. I laid my face against his neck.
"I don't know what to do with you." He said "I love you so much. I want to help you."
"Y…you should d…divorce me." I said, raising my head.
"That will never happen." He said
I wiped my face as he kissed my head.
"Let me take you home."
I nodded letting him.
He made me something to eat then I laid on the bed sleeping. When he came home, I was still sleeping. He ordered take out and came into the bedroom turning on the lamp next to the bed. I winched moving as I opened my eyes seeing him.
"Hey." He said
"Hey." I said
"I ordered take out. Are you hungry?"
"I think so." I said
He smiled a little before getting up changing.
"Your dad came to see me. He was worried about you." Grissom said "I told him you were better. He wants to see you."
I sat up watching him move around the room.
"When can I work?"
He stopped looking at me.
"Not for a while."
"You let that woman work…. what's her name…? Shelia."
"Shelia is different. She wasn't in a stand off in the kitchen with a knife."
"Grissom."
"Sara, I said no."
I sighed looking down at the blankets.
"Coming?" He asked
"What for?" I asked
He looked at me a moment then went out to the living room. I held my head with my hands. Grissom looked at mail by the desk as I came out looking over at him then I went to the kitchen getting a bottle of water. I felt tears go down my cheeks as I faced the counter. All my hopes were being destroyed. I put my hand to my mouth crying in silence. Grissom hummed a tone as he came in to get some water. I hurriedly walked out drinking water. I sat on the couch hearing the doorbell. Grissom came back in with a bag. He laid out the food containers on the coffee table then he walked out getting plates. He sat beside me holding out a plate to me. I took it and he began to open the Chinese cartons putting food on my plate. I looked at him as I began to eat slowly. He sat back on the couch eating as he watched the news. I put my plate on the coffee table and he looked over at it seeing it was still full of food. I moved over to him putting my head onto his chest. He put his plate onto the table holding me.
"I'm sorry." I said
"I know you are, and I am to. You were crying out for help and I didn't look up." He said
"You were just being you." I said
He smiled a little kissing my head.
"I am a mess. Even since that man…. attacked me. I felt afraid and unsure."
"You shouldn't have to be. I have noticed that you have been afraid."
"I have been afraid even of you."
"Why me?"
"I kept seeing men hurting me."
"Sara, I would never do that."
"I know, but I kept telling myself not to trust anyone." I said "If I can't trust you then I have lost everything."
He rubbed my arm.
"I have also been worried about Sophia to. It bothers me that she is in the same town."
"You need to get over that." He said
I sat up looking at him.
"Grissom, please don't leave me!"
"I promise I am not going anywhere." He said, touching my cheeks with his hands.
I moved closer kissing him. He felt the pain I was carrying in that kiss. He moaned moving his head kissing me deeply. I never wanted it to end. He pushed me back onto the couch. I kept my eyes closed letting him do what he needed to do. I knew he loved me, and it filled me with such happiness.
Grissom woke not remembering where he was for a second. He looked around seeing he was on the couch in the living room with me. I snuggled into his chest. He rubbed his head looking at his wristwatch then he took a breath closing his eyes.
His lips touched my head as I moved again.
"What time is it?" I asked
"Almost two." He said
He moved my hair back from my face looking at me.
"You are breathtaking." He said
"You haven't said that in a long time." I said, smiling.
"I am going to say it more often."
"Do you have to go to work?" I asked
"Mmhmm."
I frowned as he moved my hair back more.
"You need to go see the counselor."
"Or, I could work."
"No."
He searched my eyes.
"I would love to see you back at work, but you need to get some help first."
"We talked last night."
"Yes, we did, but I am not satisfied yet."
"Fine."
He got up as I laid there. He drove me to the counseling office and picked me up again this time an hour later. I was drained after that meeting. Grissom brought me to the lab so he could take a meeting. I sat in his office looking at his science journals. He came back with Brass.
"There she is!" He said, pulling me over to him in a hug. "How are you feeling?"
"Good." I said
He let me step back as he touched my cheek.
"You look much better."
I nodded.
"Gil, the diner later?"
"You got it." He said
"You to?" Brass said
"Okay."
He touched my nose then walked away.
I laid down on Grissom's couch as he went to see Catherine. When he came back, I was sleeping. I sat up breathing in and out fast looking around not seeing him. I got up opening the door not seeing a soul. I walked along the hallway becoming alarmed as no one was around.
"Grissom?" I called
I turned the corner stopping seeing bodies hanging from the ceiling down the hallway.
"No!" I yelled, backing away.
Stumbling, I turned seeing Grissom smiling at me holding the kitchen knife. He pushed the knife into my stomach, and I sat up screaming on the couch.
I wiped the sweat from my head with shaking hands. Grissom was not at his desk. I stood almost falling back. I opened the door hearing people talking, but not seeing them. The breakroom was empty as I came in getting a glass of water.
Grissom came in seeing me. I turned dropping my glass seeing him. He watched the glass land on the floor spilling water on the floor. I grabbed the counter looking at him.
"I…. where were you?"
He walked over picking up the glass placing it on the counter looking at me.
"I was in a meeting. Why are you so pale?"
"I had a nightmare."
"Must have been bad." He said "You okay?"
"Yes." I said, letting the counter go.
"It's almost time to go meet Jim."
"Okay." I said
I walked past him looking back at him before leaving. We went to the diner and sat in a booth. I looked at the menu as Grissom reached over touching my hand. I jumped looking at him.
"I'm fine." I said
He nodded letting me go. Brass walked in sitting down beside me. I looked at the menu a moment as they talked. I looked up seeing a noose around his neck. I gasped holding my head as I caught my breath.
"Sara?" Brass called "Sara?"
I jumped raising my head seeing that he and Grissom were both looking at me with concern.
"You okay?"
"I…I don't know." I said
"Drink this." Grissom said, handing me a glass of water. I drank some coughing then I started to recover. Brass touched my hand.
"I feel better." I said
"Just take a minute." Brass said
I put my hand to my head as he moved my hair back.
They ordered food and I sat trembling scared I was seeing a future event. I laid in bed that night next to Grissom afraid to sleep. Grissom moved closer to me sighing.
"Are you awake?" He whispered
I stayed quiet feeling his hand move on my stomach. He moved me to lie on my back so he could look at me. I looked at him.
"You need to sleep." He said
"I can't."
"You could take pills."
"I am going to watch some TV." I said, getting up leaving the room.
Grissom rolled onto his back rubbing his head. He listened as the TV was turned on and the faint sounds it made beyond the door.
I looked at the screen then at the windows to my right. Grissom looked at the ceiling hearing me scream loudly. He got up coming out of the living room. I hid behind the chair next to the couch holding myself.
"Sara, what's wrong?" He asked, kneeling down holding me.
"I…. I saw them! T…the window!" I said
He looked not seeing a thing.
"I don't see anything." He said
"I…. I'm going crazy!" I cried, holding onto him. He felt his heart race kissing my head holding me.