The characters of the CSI universe are not mine. The characters that you don't recognize are all mine.
Thank you so much for the kind reviews. They are all special and greatly appreciated. It's what s keep me writing.
Thanks to cathandsaraforever55 for trying to make sense of my writing, any remaining mistakes are all mine.
Friday what a lovely day, only a 5 hour workday, I can get so many things accomplished that on any other day takes forever. Enough of that here is the next chapter and I'm on to write some more.
Chapter 13
Margrethe tried to start with some small talk, and asked some questions about living arrangement. She was rudely interrupted by a nervous Sara asking her to get to the matter at hand. The brunette needed to know what had happened to have DCFS contact her.
"I'm really sorry Ms. Sidle but 3 days ago there was an accident in San Francisco and both Samantha and Emily were hurt."
At this Sara's eyes almost popped out of her head, "Why? What happened? Are they okay? Why haven't anybody told me before now? Why are DCSF telling me this?"
"Ms. Sidle, I'll answer as best I can. I wasn't told many details by Mrs. Sorensen, the woman is charge of the case in San Francisco." The older woman was looking apologetic, and was trying to bring as much comfort as she could to the younger woman sitting across from her.
"They were involved in a car accident on their way to Emily's school."
Sara's face fell as the woman continued.
"Emily had some scratches, a bump on the head and a broken arm. She is doing as well as can be expected."
"Oh thank God," Sara exclaimed before Margrethe could continue. Not that she usually put much faith in any kind of God.
"Samantha on the other hand didn't come out of the crash as well. She was rushed into surgery but the doctor's weren't able to save her."
The tears were silently running down Sara's face as she listened to what the other woman was telling her. She didn't know how to react to this. Only the tears flowing from the CSI's eyes let you know that she was affected by what had occurred.
"I've contacted you, because apparently you are Emily's only next of kin and Samantha had you put as her guardian in case something happened to her. I'm sorry that it had taken us this long to get in contact with you. Samantha was unconscious when brought to hospital, they had some trouble finding out who her next of kin was."
The gasp from the CSI was barely audible but the shock was clearly visible on her face.
"The San Francisco office contacted me to contact you, when they finally found you. They wanted me to find out if you are able and willing to take Emily in."
Before she could continue she was interrupted by Sara. "Of course! There is no question about that, I wouldn't want her to go to foster care. That is no way for a child to grow up."
There was a clear smile on Margrethe's face before she could pick up with her explanation. "That is so good to hear. Emily has been in shock since the social worker had to tell her what happened to her mother. She has been crying for her mother ever since. Every time Mrs. Sorensen told her that her mother was in fact dead the girl refused to listen and demanded to see her mother."
Sara looked horrified but let a small sad smile creep up on her face.
"What exactly did she ask for? Emily has always called me mama and Samantha mom. So if she actually asked for her mama the social worker probably scarred her half to death by insisting that I was dead as well."
"I haven't heard precisely what she said, but it is possible that she was asking for you."
"Can I call her to calm her down, and tell her that I'm fine and nothing happened to me?"
"Yes, I think that is an excellent idea."
Margrethe was trying to get the San Francisco case worker on the phone to let Emily talk to Sara. In the mean time the brunette sat stunned starring into thin air.
It took several minutes to convince the young girl to come to the phone. Emily didn't believe anything that they were saying. First they had kept insisting that her mother and mama were dead. Now they wanted her to believe that Sara wanted to talk to her over the phone. What was a 6 year old to believe?
Margrethe handed Sara the phone pulling the CSI out of her thoughts. Sara hadn't heard what the older woman said, but slowly put the phone to her ear.
"Hello." Hoping someone on the other end would tell her it was all a bad dream.
"Hello Ms. Sidle. I have a girl here that would love to hear your voice."
Before Sara could even react or answer, the brunette could hear the phone being passed to another person. That's when the CSI heard the sweetest thing, "Mama?" The doubt in the little girl's voice was so obvious it had Sara on the brink of tears yet again.
"Yes sweetie, it's me…" The brunette stopped talking as she heard Emily start sobbing. Sara tried hard to get Emily to calm down enough so the girl would be able to hear what the brunette was saying.
Margrethe had handed the CSI a note, while Sara was on the phone. The brunette would have to go to San Francisco if she wanted to take custody of Emily. This got Sara going. The brunette needed to make plans, but couldn't just hang up on the distraught girl.
"Sweetheart, if you go with the lady and get something to eat I'll come and get you as soon as I can be there."
"But I want to talk to you, mama." Usually the blonde referred to the CSI as both mama and Sara depending on the situation. The trauma of the accident had Emily reverting back to only using mama.
"I know Em. But I have to hang up if I'm to get there."
It took some talking back and forth before the young girl would agree to let Sara go.
The brunette was almost out the door before the older woman caught up with her.
"You'll need to make an appointment with me when you get back here."
"I would like to give Emily a little time to digest the events before you come and check up on us, if that's okay?"
"That will be fine Ms. Sidle. I'll see you both when you get back then."
Sara didn't have time for anything more than a wave as she ran to her car. Before the brunette had even gotten halfway back to the lab Sara had gotten a ticket on the next flight out of Vegas.
"Willows."
The brunette barely gave the blonde time to say anything as the younger woman barreled ahead with her quickly thought up speech.
"Catherine I need a favor. I know you're angry with me and probably don't want to help me. If you'll just hear me out I'll let you yell at me all you want later."
The brunette took a short brake to breathe and collect her thoughts. But not long enough to let Catherine get a word in.
"I need you to take my shift tonight. I have to go out of town. It's an emergency and I've got to leave right now."
This time the older woman figured if she was to get a word in she would have to interrupt.
"Okay. I'll take your shift, but will you give me a reason at some point or will this be all the information I get?" Catherine had managed to keep her voice soft and without demand. The blonde had not been happy with the way they were getting along. That had all changed when Sara asked for help.
"I promise I'll tell you everything you want to know later. I really don't have time to get into it now. Emily needs me to get there now, Cat."
Sara was so worried that she didn't notice that she had called the blonde by the much hated shortened name. Catherine wasn't particularly fond of any of the shortened versions of her name, but Cat was by far the worst. The brunette had once witnessed the older woman nearly chewing Greg's head off for using it.
Before Catherine could even react to Sara's slip or anything that the brunette had said the younger woman had continued.
"I've got to go. I have to talk to Grissom, before I fly out to San Francisco. I'll explain everything when I get back. Thanks."
With that the brunette hung up leaving Catherine to look at her cell contemplating what had happened. Jogging into the lab Sara almost ran into Ecklie in the hall. The brunette didn't stop to acknowledge the director but kept going.
"Sidle, I'll have you know that there is no running in this lab."
When the young woman ignored him, Ecklie followed Sara to Grissom's office. If for no other reason he could always give her a warning on proper behavior in the lab. Luckily for both the brunette and the night shift supervisor the lab director got distracted and Ecklie missed the conversation.
Sara was so focused and in such a hurry that she had given up all pretenses of politeness. Barging in without knocking, the brunette started with no hello or sorry for interrupting. "Grissom, I need time off and I'm not sure for how long. I have to go to San Francisco and my plane leaves in less than two hours."
The supervisor was shocked. Not once had the younger woman talked to him like that.
"I can't just give you time off without notice. First of I need you to work tonight, we're shorthanded enough as it is."
"I'm already covered tonight. Catherine said she'll take my shift. And I know I have enough vacation time on the books to get a week off."
The brunette had everything figured out and Grissom didn't know how to respond. It was easier when Sara had asked the supervisor's opinion on everything. What Gil didn't know, was that Sara never went to Grissom with everything. Especially not anything personal.
"GRISSOM! I need an answer now."
As Gil was about to respond the brunette broke in.
"You know what. I'm leaving now, you put whatever you want on the form."
This got the supervisor's attention. He finally believed that the brunette was serious.
"That's fine. I'll put you down for a week of vacation. If you need anything let me know."
As Grissom said this Ecklie walked in. "I think not. Grissom this is why there are problems on the night shift. You can't get time off at the drop of a hat."
Sara was livid and was about to respond with what would most likely get her fired when Grissom spoke up.
"No Ecklie. It's my shift and I say that Sara can have the time off. We already have tonight covered and Nick is back tomorrow." Grissom turned to look at the brunette. "Have a safe trip, and let me know if you need anything."
The young woman was out the door before the lab director could respond and didn't hear the yelling directed at Gil.
Sara had gone straight to the airport from the lab. Only stopping to get the extra clothes she had in her locker. Lucky for the brunette she had recently brought in all clean clothes.
From the airport in San Francisco the brunette went to the temporary safe home, where the caseworker, Patricia Sorensen, waited with Emily.
It took longer to be allowed access to the building than Sara would have liked under the circumstances. The CSI didn't pay any real attention to what was going on around her as she was finally shown to the room the young girl was in.
Sara stood quietly watching her little girl huddled in the corner away from the older woman seated at the table.
It didn't take Emily long to notice the brunette. The young blonde sprinted over and flung herself into the arms of the CSI. The brunette had noticed that the girl was shaking, but it wasn't until Emily was in Sara's arms that the woman noticed the tears streaking the blonde's cheeks.
Slowly sliding down, using the wall as support, Sara got them both settled on the floor.
"Oh sweetie," the brunette softly cooed to the young girl. "You're safe. I've got you." Sara continuously reassured her daughter while slowly rocking the young girl. Emily clung to the brunette and let the comfort slowly but surely calm her.
The tears didn't stop, but the shaking was almost eliminated. Sara was certain that the tightness of the girl's grip had also loosened. This left a small part of the brunette's conscience to take in who else was in the room. Close to where the CSI had seen Emily an older woman with graying hair, was sitting quietly looking at them. Sara assumed that that was the caseworker, Margrethe had told her about. Not giving much thought to the older woman Sara turned her full attention back on the blonde in her arms.
Emily was now more than ever, the most important person in the CSI's life. It didn't matter how tired she was, or that she was sitting on the cold hard floor.
Sara didn't know how to make the world stop spinning out of control. Not only for herself, but also for Emily.
The young girl pulled slightly back before saying. "She said you died." The sobbing returned full force and the blonde put her head back in the crock of Sara's neck.
"Sweetheart that was all a mistake. I'm right her, safe and sound."
Softly stroking the blonde's hair, Sara looked angrily at the old woman across the room. The case worker was looking disapprovingly at the brunette. Patricia had been convinced that when Emily had cried for both mommy and mama that the young girl had used different terms for the same person. It never once occurred to the old woman that the young blonde could have two mothers.
Mrs. Sorensen had been almost grandmotherly when she had first talked to Emily. The old woman had been kind and compassionate when explaining what had happened to Samantha.
The misunderstanding had left Emily devastated. The blonde had not really understood what had happened only that she would never see her mom again.
When the young blonde had cried for her mama, the caseworker had been certain that the child hadn't understood. Therefore explaining what had happened using the new name for mother that Emily had switched to. Then Margrethe had found Sara and confused the young girl even more.
When Mrs. Sorensen had found that the mama Emily had cried for wasn't Samantha she had withdrawn from the young girl. The sweet and caring old woman was repulsed by the discovery and had only sat in the room quietly watching the girl until Sara arrived.
The brunette was livid. That old bat had been so closed minded. If Emily had not been in the room the CSI would had chewed her head off. It would most likely ruin Sara's chances of getting custody of the blonde girl. For once the brunette was grateful for the excuse to keep her temper in check. There wasn't any good reason to risk Emily for the satisfaction of yelling at the case worker.
I know it doesn't have much hold in reality. My story, my universe and anything goes.
That said I would still love to hear what you think so leave a review.