Chapter three
Greg paced, there wasn't much else he could do. He had thought about heading back to the lab to drop off the evidence he collected but there wasn't much apart from a few scrapings from beneath her finger nails the only other thing he had was her testimony and he already related all that he had taken down to Nick once he phoned after being there fifteen minutes. That had been forty minutes ago. The doctors had wanted to give Lotte a through check up before they even thought it fit to let him question her more. One of the nurses had scolded him when she discovered that he had already questioned the young child.
Greg insisted that he should be present at least encase then discovered something but Sara spoke to him in a low and broken voice and assured him that the least she could do was be there when they examined the little girl, she had pretty much demanded it and when Greg looked at her, he couldn't help but agreed. Looking back he wished he had said no and insisted that he went in her place but Greg figured out a long time ago that no matter what he could never say no to Sara Sidle, on anything.
Groaning Greg slumped into a seat and grabbed his head, he usually had a handle on his feelings for Sara, he made sure they never interfered with his job but seeing her… after she had been crying and she had judged and deemed him worthy he couldn't say no, he could reject her.
Greg jumped when something brushed against his temple, almost slamming his self back he spun in the chair and was surprised to see Sara. She still looked paled, and drawn. She looked ill and depressed, it made him want to throw his arms around her and lavish her with kisses to prove everything was going to be ok, that he was there for her. But knowing Sara he she would never allow that… he was a friend, he knew and understood that.
"Sorry" she mumbled lowering her eyes a fraction, the startled look on Greg's was enough to prove that she shouldn't have done what she had done. She was a friend, the line drawn in the sand years ago.
Greg sighed and slumped down before looking at her face "you ok" he questioned, he couldn't help the concern that dripped from his tone nor the sympathy he felt for her. Sara lifted her eyes back to his and sighed, tears forming once more. Greg lent forward and allowed his brown eyes to grow wide "sorry I didn't mean to make you cry" Greg apologised but Sara shook her head and bit her lip.
"don't worry Greg you could never make me cry- your too charming… charming" sobs broke off her words and on instinct Greg moved forward and engulfed her in his arms bringing her head to rest against his chest and he laid his own on top. One hand rested against the back of her head stroking the soft texture beneath his finger tips while his other hand rubbed her back soothing her. They sat like that for a few moments before Sara controlled the sobs.
"have they got next of kin" Greg husky voice startled Sara but she didn't pull back, she liked the feeling of having Greg this close, it comforted her, the feeling of his fingers now threading themselves through her hair made her feel somewhat protected. Not lifting her head nor making any intention to move she sighed taking a deep breath smiling faintly at the smell of Greg.
"Me" she mumbled, but she couldn't have been that loud because Greg broke the embrace and looked down at her "me, I'm her next of kin…I'm… I'm Lotte's godmother" Sara admitted causing a puzzled look to spread across Greg's face. Before he could question her Sara pressed her head against his chest once more and moved her arms around his waist not willing to let go. Greg was surprised but welcomed the feel of her; even if it was just comfort Greg liked it. To be truthful he loved the feel of Sara Sidle against him. But after a few minutes curiosity got the best of him and he tilted his head so Sara could hear him and he could hear her without breaking away from her.
"What do you mean" Greg asked as Sara sighed once more. She collected her self before she gently pushed Greg back, he went to pull away but she simply pulled him back. She lent against the wall and Greg understood still holding to her and allowed her to hold him against her. Greg knew this wouldn't last long; she would be back to her normal self so he was going to hold on to this moment for as long as he could.
"When my mom… when I was" Sara broke off and Greg soothed her once more stroking her hair with one hand bringing her closer to his chest. Sara closed her eyes and stole a shuddering breath "when my mom killed my dad… I didn't have anyone; I was only a kid… I didn't understand fully what was happening… all I knew was my dad was dead and my mom had created a new hell for me" Sara stopped allowing tears to slip down feeling guilty that Greg's t-shirt was getting wet.
"I was shifted from foster home to foster home. I never made many friends, no one I would let in… what was the point everyone I cared about was taken away. So I kept the wall up… that was until I saw it happen… I knew the girls were bullies… you don't stay in those places and not begin to hate people. They didn't bully me, I kept myself to myself but some how Georgian offended them. Her parents hadn't put her there, they were killed by a drink driver and with no living relatives she had to be placed there. She had the most beautiful hair, it stood out and the girls could help themselves. I wanted to stay out of it but they hit her… said she deserved it because her parents loved her, I couldn't help it. No one deserved to be hit for that… I forget how I fought off four of them" Sara stopped when Greg chuckled and she looked at him "what" she questioned as Greg shook his head still smiling slightly.
"Bad ass even as a kid" Greg chirped his voice rumbling against her head, Sara smiled at that and it even stopped her tears. She clutched at Greg's shirt not wanting to leave this position where she felt warm and safe.
"It helped me, and it helped Georgie too. No one would touch her again; she called me her protection charm against the other girls. We became friends quickly, we ended up so close that they thought it better if they tried to find a home to take us both. It was hard at first but a year or so we were sent to a loving woman who took us both in. we were like sisters we did everything together. Georgie was always submissive, but she was wonderful." Sara took a deep breath, the memories now hurting and tearing at her heart.
"College was weird, she loved to draw and I loved science so we wrote and talked to each other all the time and then suddenly she told me that she was getting married. It was small but Georgie was happy and thought he was too… at least at first" Sara admitted swiping at tears she regained some composure "they were together two years when I noticed something different about her… I visited and I chose to ignore the red marks of the puffy eyes, Lucas Keats wasn't that guy he could be that guy not with Georgie. Then she got pregnant" Sarah bit off bitterly, shaking a disturbing image from her mind. After a few seconds she returned to her story.
"Apparently things between them were better after the baby was born… after Lotte. Lucas even asked me to become Lotte's godmother. Then in the dead of the night five years after Lotte was born Georgie arrived at my door said she left him. She told me everything, how he turned nasty and how he beat her… I wanted to kill him then and there but she was out away from him that had to be a good thing" Sara questioned looking up at him, Greg was shocked for a moment then nodded "yeah it should be enough" he agreed and Sara resettled her head against his chest.
"She stayed with me; we were ok again for about a year. Then she started to pull away, Lucas got back into her life again and she moved back… we had an argument, said I would never be apart of her life if she went back… she chose him" Sara buried her head against him and tried to block the memory out as well as the pain coursing through her stomach.
"We haven't spoke since, I didn't even know where she lived… when I saw her body" Sara broke off and Greg tighten his grip on her, his hand reached up to her face and smoothed her hair from her face.
Greg didn't need to hear anything more, but he would listen if she wanted to tell him. But after a few seconds Greg dared to pull back slightly and look at her "Sara" he questioned causing Sara to look up at him, her eyes were soft. She was relaxed, but Greg saw something else, something that he didn't dare hope was there but with his hand pressed against her cheek. Her lips so close he wondered what she would say or do if he pressed his lips against her; he moved forward and felt Sara hold her breath. Though he didn't know wither it was in fear or anticipation of what he would do… then as their nose brushed for the briefest second he remembered who he was and who she was… but most of all he remembered what happened and why she was in his arms. He hadn't swept her off her feet, they we're snuggled on his couch watching some old movie. Greg swallowed hard and turned his head up and felt her hot breath against his throat. He didn't dare let her rest her head on his chest again, she would definitely hear the beating of his heart… she would feel it nearly beating right out his chest. Then he felt her stiffen and she pulled away turning from him. He went to place his hand on her back but she shifted slightly so his hand fell. Greg groaned inwardly, he blew it… what ever chance he might have had was now gone, because he pulled back.
Sarah collected her self wiping at her eyes and for a second Greg's heart broke… she needed comfort and what right as her friend had he to deny her that… if he kissed her, it just meant… Greg trailed off that line of thought because the truth was he would have no idea what it mean… to him it would mean the world but to Sara… it could mean anything but that. Greg was about to reach out to her but the doctor walked down the corridor and fixed on them two.
Greg stood and nudged Sara with his foot, not trusting to put his hands anywhere near her. Sara glanced up at him then at the doctor, she jumped to her feet and stared at the doctor who came to a stop.
"Doctor Lloyd" Sara greeted as he elderly doctor smiled brightly at her then looked to Greg who shifted his feet awkwardly "Lotte is fine… better then fine" doctor Lloyd admitted smiling at the relief spreading across Sara's face. But Greg was thinking of business, he didn't want to think about but he still had a job to do even if he wanted to hold Sara again.
"was there any signs of abuse" Greg asked noting out the corner of his eye that Sara's head drop and she shuddered, without thinking he stepped closer to her and wrapped his hand around hers. He didn't dare look away from the doctor after that.
"No," he started then sighed "at least not any recently. She's been severely beaten on more then one occasion. Um we did a sexual abuse test and found nothing, her abuse wasn't sexual" Doctor Lloyd admitted, Sara's hand twisted in Greg's and he felt her clinging to him.
If the doctor noticed he did show it for he simply looked between the two, Greg cleared his throat and smiled lightly at the doctor, in fact he was attempting his innocent little lost boy smile, it worked on Grissom so it should work on this guy "can I speak to her again at least" Greg asked but the doctor shook his head firmly "no" he had such a stern voice that Greg was taken back "she's sleeping… you can sit with her but no questions and no waking her up… I know what you people are like" doctor Lloyd's voice lightened and a small smile lit his face up. Sara was at eased and she loosen her grip on Greg's hand "it's fine, I'll stay no will ask her any questions until I approve of it" Sara assured as doctor Lloyd looked and nodded then straightened as though taking her in for the first time then he dove into his pocket and produced two foil wrapped tablets which he offered to Sara.
Sara took them unsure and glanced at the doctor who smiled slightly "these should help… with your… stomach issues" doctor Lloyd stated knowingly, Sara blushed lightly and Greg glanced at her, then figured it out… why she was late and why she couldn't stop shifting in her seat during the drive… and this caused Greg to blush a little letting her hand go an running it across his neck.
"Well I better get back to the paper work, seeing as you're her next of kin I'll get everything you need to sign" doctor Lloyd admitted and Sara nodded "I'll stay here, with her" Sara stated as the doctor nodded and sighed "yes a captain Brass, sent two police officers over to stand outside the room. That should be fine for a little while" doctor Lloyd stated before he smiled at Greg "and I have the collection made under Miss Sidle's observation" doctor Lloyd told him brining Greg back to them "oh… um… yeah I forgot… I'll run them back to the lab" he mumbled looking down at his feet. Doctor Lloyd nodded and walked away leaving the two alone. After a few seconds Greg looked to Sara who was staring at the floor. He racked his brain from something to say but nothing… he couldn't think of a word to say to her.
"I" he started and Sara looked at him firmly, her eyes still soft but what ever else he saw in them before was now buried.
"I better be getting back… with everything… unless… unless you um want me to stay" Greg stated watching her face, going through the thinking process then Sara shook her head "no… I'll be fine, I'll report in anything more… I'll speak to Grissom, tell him what's going on" Sara assured him as Greg nodded rubbing his neck once more. What else did he have to say… nothing… so pointing towards the doctor's direction he gave her a smile "ok, well… I'll drop by tomorrow… question Lotte if that's ok and… do you want anything brought to you" Greg asked, now he knew he sounded stupid. Sara how ever didn't seem to notice, for she smiled as she thought. It was a draining smile not one that even half way lit up her face but it was a smile and Greg felt himself melting at the sight of it… knowing full well that if she asked for the world he would give it to her. But instead she blushed slightly and took a deep breath.
"Um I would rather Catherine pick things up for me… or Sofia, if you could if I can't get a hold of them tell them to bring the bag I left in the living and some fresh clothes for tomorrow" Sara asked as Greg frowned slightly, he was about to object that he could get her what she needed then realised that she had asked for Catherine or Sofia, it wasn't him… hell it wasn't even guys in general it was because it was a woman thing and he wasn't quiet ready to go searching through bags looking for… that. Greg gave her the biggest smiles he had and nodded "yeah of course I will… phone me if there is any change… or if you feel like talking" Greg ordered not knowing how to say goodbye to her… not after what nearly happened but instead of thinking too much Sara took over and hugged him, she gave him a chaste kiss on the cheek and pulled back slightly "thank you Greg" she thanked staring into his eyes, that expression back… when he nearly kissed her and yet he still didn't know what it meant. Then she was gone, heading back to Lotte's room and he was left feeling alone and confused.