Disclaimer: Somebody besides me owns these incredible CSI characters.
Meanwhile, Catherine just sat by and let Sara cry it out. Sara's normally methodical brain was in chaos while she tried to reason what to do. Deep down, she hatedthe thought of anyone else at the lab knowing the full horror of her past. She would fight to keep that secret, but she was even more afraid to be alone with what she viewed as Lurie's hand picked social worker. She wasn't sure what his motivation was. There were mandatory reporting laws, but this seemed extreme. Because it was Lurie that initiated it, she was frightened.
The one person in the world who she wanted to help her through this is the one person they would never allow present. She'd done enough work in domestic abuse cases to know that Grissom would now be under suspicion; that much she knew for certain. Greg was probably her best friend in the lab, and he was right outside, but somehow Sara felt that because of that connection, he could get emotional, too. No, fate had taken care of her she reasoned; Catherine would stay level headed and could be tough as nails if need be. Sara just hoped she wouldn't have to say too much. She'd already told so many secrets, she was feeling quite exposed. When Sara finally calmed down, Catherine sensed as much and offered to leave if it would make Sara more comfortable, "God, no, Catherine, please, stay with me."
"Sara, what is this about?" Sara just cringed and shook her head, "What I mean is do you think this a legitimate inquiry or is Lurie up to something?"
"Unfortunately, I guess it is legitimate. I never thought I would be in this position though, so much time has passed." She stared off into space, "Even though this happened a long time ago; it haunts me like it was yesterday if I let it, and this is not helping."
"Well, we need to call Gil. He won't allow them to do this to you," she said whipping out her cell phone.
"Catherine," Sara shook her head, "don't you see? They know someone hit me, and with Gil as my current boyfriend, if he comes in here and beats his chest and stomps his feet, that will just raise their suspicion even more. Lurie's probably been counting on that, come to think of it…. No, I need to take care of this myself; I can't bear to see him in that position. Besides, I think I know what to do."
Before Catherine could respond, Ms. Davies returned, "Are you ready, dear?" in a soft, motherly tone.
"You know," Sara started, "I was the most accident prone kid," Sara shook her head, and flashed her biggest Sara grin, "I was always…."
Ms. Davies interrupted, "Ms. Sidle, you of all people know I can't take your version at face value, I need something I can independently verify."
Catherine was in shock, hardly able to contemplate what she was witnessing. Sara was acting like a typical battered woman; trying out excuses and fake stories.
Sara breathed in and continued in a more solemn tone, "OK, the truth is, the only man in my life for two years now, is Gil Grissom, and he's never raised his voice to me, much less his hand."
Catherine quickly echoed that, "The man can't squash a bug, much less harm a person!"
Ms. Davis smiled in reply, "When you two investigate possible domestic abuse, and the victim denies her partner's guilt, do you just take that at face value and leave it alone?"
They both laughed, "Gosh no!" they replied practically in unison.
"Then why do you think I can do that?"
Sara quickly frowned and looked away, Catherine quipped, "She's got us there." Sara shot Catherine a glaring look.
"By all accounts Gil Grissom is very devoted and loving to you, but some have described this as extreme, even controlling at times, which can be worrisome."
"Hold on!" Catherine interrupted, "I can vouch for him."
"So does Doris, Sara's nurse, she's a wonderful judge of people, and she commented, 'I wouldn't mind takin' that Gilbert home with me, he's a teddy bear,'" she read from her notes. "The problem is, for all we know, behind closed doors, he broke her arm." Lurie had planted the idea, and Sara's emotional outburst and reluctance to talk led Ms. Davies to suspect it was actually possible.
"What! How can you say that!" Sara yelled.
"Well it says right here, that you claim it happened under the car, but we don't have a witness, evidence, how do I know it wasn't broken before you were abducted."
Catherine grunted in frustration, "This is getting absurd! You want evidence we'll get it for you, it's what we do!"
Thank you, Catherine! Sara was grateful for Catherine standing up to Ms. Davies.
"No, no, please!" Ms. Davies tried to calm everyone down, "I don't really think he did this, but I have to go on only what I can prove right now. Forget the current fracture for the time being, all I need is some information on the old fractures. I know what I can verify, and that will validate your story. If I can prove Dr. Grissom is not responsible for the old fractures, then no one will suspect in a million years he's responsible for the current one. This will all just go away. But, without that….well, this looks very bad, the police will need to get involved." She looked at Sara, pleading, "Please…..just answer some simple questions for me, please." Ms. Davies hadn't anticipated the stone wall. She was trying to be patient, but her suspicions were growing every minute that Sara remained silent.
Catherine looked directly at Sara, "Sara, tell her who, when, and where, that's what will help Gil….and you, for that matter. It can only get worse if you try to avoid this." Catherine glanced back at Mrs. Davies and whispered, "Something tells me she's seen way too much to get conned, she knows you're hiding something." Catherine then felt like she was hit with a bolt of lightening. She had been so blind sided by the ambush of Lurie and the social worker that she had not realized until that moment that this was what triggered all that anger. Thiswas what Grissom got her to tell him that ultimately brought them together. It took him hours to get it out of her, and then he took her to counseling over it. Sara Sidle was a victim of physical abuse; this is not something she wants to talk about to anyone! But she's going to have to. Catherine then offered, "If it's something you don't want me to hear, I can wait outside, or are you sure you don't want me to call Grissom?"
"No! Don't call him, but you're right, and….. please, stay." Sara nodded with resignation toward Ms. Davies, "OK, what do you want to know?"
TBC…..
A/N: Thanks to all who are reading, and the reviews have been a lot of fun! Much appreciated!