Hello everyone! Here is the next chapter ... a big thanks again to Wander52 for reading through this for me and making changes so it reads better;-)
Please read and review and make my day!
I own nothing ... but bought the 6th season of CSI on DVD the other day.
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Watching her alarm clock as the hour clicked over, Sara quickly pushed the off button.
Sara had set her alarm with the hope that she would get some sleep, but instead she just laid there.
Pushing the covers off, Sara walked into her bathroom and had a long shower in the hopes of delaying the inevitable – seeing Grissom.
Pulling on her clothing, Sara used all of her remaining energy to physic herself up to go into work.
Driving the familiar route to the lab, she felt her insides churn inside out feeling her anxiety levels sky rocket.
Managing to walk into the building was the first step – all she needed to do now was to face one shift, after that she could do anything.
After dumping her things in her locker, Sara made her way to the break room only to be stopped as she saw him.
Looking him in the eyes, she could see the strain and tiredness etched over his face.
Thinking there might be hope, it was quickly stolen away from her as she saw Sofia walk around the corner.
Stupid Sara! She mentally screamed at herself – of course he would be tired, he had Sofia to occupy in his down time.
Realizing she was staring; Sara quickly looked away and walked into the break room.
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Poring herself a coffee, she could not help but smile when Greg walked in and grabbed her in a hug.
"Man I have missed you, Grissom has been an ass." Greg said.
Stiffening as she heard his name, Sara pulled away hoping she could keep from crying.
About to sit down, Greg interrupted as he told her they had been assigned to a rape in Henderson, while Grissom and Sofia were investigating a murder at The Palms.
Hearing that Grissom and Sofia were working together, was no big shock – of course he wanted his new lover with him.
Pushing the thoughts out of her mind, Sara dumped her coffee in the sink and followed Greg out to the SUV.
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Reading a magazine in the break room, Sara was mentally counting down the hours until she could escape back home.
After processing the rape, she decided to take a break and after seeing that Grissom and Sofia were out, she decided the coast was clear.
Looking at her watch again, her eyes drifted to the hallway as she saw the new love birds walk in.
About to make a quick get-a-way, Sofia pranced into the room and got two coffee cups – obviously for her and Grissom.
Quickly picking up her bag, Sara was halfway across the floor when she heard Sofia speak.
"I just want to say on behalf Grissom and myself, we're happy that you are dealing with things so well."
Unable to respond, Sara could not believe her ears.
"I don't know how I would have dealt with seeing my ex-lover and his new girlfriend at work everyday." Sofia gloated.
Feeling the tears well-up again, she could not believe what Sofia said next.
"To be honest Sara, a man like Grissom needs someone less complicated …"
Hearing the words, Sara felt sick as she ran out the door.
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Everything was working to Sofia's plan.
Seeing Sara walk in, she smiled knowing that she would be with Grissom while she would be stuck with Greg the idiot – her nickname for him.
Walking back into the lab, Sofia saw Sara sitting alone and knew it was time for phase two…..
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Seeing Sara run out in tears, Sofia knew her plan was working, only a few more episodes like this and Sara would be packing her bags – leaving Grissom for her.
She smiled to herself.
The conclusions Sara had jumped to, were working well, indeed.
Laughing to herself, Sofia knew the things she had said were untrue, but as time went on they would be.
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Managing to make it into the bathroom before she threw up, Sara was overtaken by pain and she continued to throw up bile.
She cursed herself for not eating, knowing that it would feel a lot better to throw up something more than just stomach acid.
Feeling the bitter taste in her mouth, she started to weep.
She couldn't believe she let her guard down, only to have it thrown back in her face.
Feeling like she was able to stand up, Sara walked out and started splashing cold water over her face, but was shocked to see how white she still looked.
Determined to confront Grissom, she looked into his office and saw Sofia leaning over him.
Walking away, she knew she would have to wait.
The last thing she needed was to have them both laugh at her.
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Wanting to leave the instant her shift finished, Sara stayed back waiting for Sofia to leave Grissom's office long enough so she could speak to him alone.
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Gazing up from her chair, Sofia noticed Sara had yet to leave.
She knew Sara wanted to speak to Grissom, but there was no way she was going to leave his presence.
Not focusing, she did not hear Grissom ask her to go and get some results from Hodges.
Trying to protest, she gave up and decided to risk it.
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Seeing Sofia walk out, Sara took her cue and walked into his office.
Shutting the door more loudly than she intended, Sara looked at Grissom with contempt as he looked up at her.
"How could you? I thought …" about to continue, she heard the door open and watched as Sofia walked up to Grissom.
Seeing Sofia smile down at him as she handed him something, Sara walked out and was pleased that she was able to hold onto her tears until she reached her car.
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The next few weeks flew by for the most part, but for Sara, the days and especially the nights were dragging along at a snail's pace.
Although she was now eating occasionally and sleeping for a few hours, unfortunately her nightmares had come back.
Some times Sara simply sat in her apartment knowing she could not deal with pictures of her parents fighting or worse Grissom and Sofia in bed together.
Working was the hardest part, but proving Ecklie wrong kept her going.
Sara tried to convince herself that if Sofia and Grissom simply kept their relationship a secret, she could handle it.
Being that all she seemed to see was Grissom and Sofia together or going out to dinner she was not able to test her theory.
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Looking down at her coffee, she was surprised to see Hannah, a member of the swing shift walk in.
Smiling as the young woman walked over and sat down, she felt like all of her Christmas' had come at once.
"Sara, I know you are settled on nights and I will understand if you say no, but I need to switch. My husband has just moved to nights and I don't have anyone to look after my son …" Hannah said, smiling back at Sara.
"Sure, that sounds fine," Sara said, knowing this was the solution she was looking for.
"But, have you talked with Ecklie?"
Nodding her head, Hannah smiled, "Yeah, he said as long as I find someone willing it would be okay."
Shaking hands, Sara went back to her case knowing life was about to get a lot easier… or so she thought.
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Sofia heard through the grapevine that Sara was moving shifts and she ecstatic.
She knew once Grissom got over Sara, he would be putty in her hands.
With him no longer her supervisor, the processes would be speeded nicely.
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Changing shifts suited Sara no end.
Yes she still saw Grissom, but she knew that she didn't need to speak to him again now that Catherine was her supervisor.
Although they had both made amends with each other over the incident, Sara was pleased to see Catherine held no hard feelings.
Even more to her surprise, was after a fortnight under her leadership Sara and Catherine were becoming close friends.
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Walking into Catherine's office, she smiled as she heard Nick and Warwick groan.
"Hi Sara," Catherine said with a huge smile for her friend, handing her some forms.
Looking down, she realized it was time for everyone's health check up.
Never liking hospitals or doctors, Sara was secretly relieved, thinking she could ask the doctor for some medication to clear up her constant stomach flu.