A/N: After much inner debating, I've decided just to continue this story and finish it, even if I have lost reviewers. Sey la vi, si? Besides, I know I at least have two faithful reviewers, odeepblue and my homegirl Chloe! That's what I'm talking about. True blue, those two right there. Thank you guys for everything. So, just for y'all that are reading & reviewing, reading & not reviewing, this is for y'all just because I love ya.
Disclaimer: Me-eo no ownie-o. Peace-eo
Chapter 20: Hospitals + Cops
Sara's POV:
How am I gonna tell Brooke? Do I even? I mean, BJ was her friend too. I thought, half listening to Nick's casual talking and theories. Is it possible she already knows about BJ? And if BJ is gone, what's happened to Taj?
"This was definitely an unfair fight. Worse than two-on-one." Nick expelled a breath of air, throwing his pen down on the table before sitting back. "Is there anyone, even from the past that would wanna do this to him? Was he into anything?"
"Well... Every girl in Brooklyn did call him 'Half A Heartbreak', and he or his brother, Taj, were usually the reason why the girls broke up with their boyfriends." I pulled off a small smile.
"'Half A Heartbreak'?" Nick questioned with raised eyebrows.
"Yeah." I confirmed. "Taj was the other half. Girls were devastated whenever BJ or Taj broke up with them."
"Motive." Nick state matter-of-factly. "Old, but still... We've seen older."
Nodding, I tried to imagine BJ as he had been all those years ago. "And as for if he was into anything... No. Taj, yes, but BJ wasn't. He was the clean one. Gangs and drugs weren't his scene." I could only speak with half confidence. We all had changed back then, and considering the neighborhood we grew up in, it wouldn't be too bad of a surprise to find out if BJ had been into the gang scene. "Re-run over the coronary report again."
Flipping through the case file folder, on the front page he began to look over it again. "Tox was clean. He was healthy before he ended up in the morgue. COD was internal bleeding caused by the fracture of the sternum bone penetrating the liver. Doc Robbins had found severe bruising around the skin above his cracked sternum with an indentation of something that he said looked like it could be a ring. So, the sternum was cracked from a blow to the chest most likely." Flipping over the page he continued. "Severe bruising to the face, torso, and upper extremities. And so many broken or fractured bones that he'd have to be in a body cast right now."
Not a word was said as I thought about what the next step was. "Too bad we don't have a database for ring indentations." I animadverted the lack of databases that we weren't provided. "Where there any other decisive marks left on him besides ring embrasures? Knife wounds? Gun wounds?"
"Nothing Sara. I'm sorry to say, but your friend was beaten to death. He had nothing on him either when he was found, so he might've been mugged." Nick sent an apologetic gaze my way. "Sara, are you sure..."
I was about to admonish Nick for the tenth time for catechizing my ability to perform my job effectively until my cellphone rang. It was an unknown caller, much to my disappointment. The fact that I just found one of my best friends was murdered didn't set a comforting feeling in my stomach concerning Brooke's health now. To be fully honest, it didn't even assure me of my future either, but I wasn't about allow that to be my main concern right now. Whoever this caller was, if it was important enough, they'd leave a message. If not, they'd realize they had the wrong number and move on. Right now, I had priorities to tend to, right?
Taj's POV:
"Dammit!" I swore quietly outside of the hospital, shutting Brooke's cellphone with a sharp snap.
Gazing back at Desert Palm Hospital longingly, my heart ached to be with the woman that was contained within its walls, but since I had been persistent on going in side-by-side with Brooke, I was kicked out. They threatened to call the cops on me if I didn't leave the premises, but I was sitting just out of reach of where the security cameras monitored the parking lot.
I clutched the cellphone in my hand so tight, I was sure for a second there that it would break under the pressure. It wouldn't be the first time.
Going through the address book again, I looked up my best friend's name again just for clarification. Sara Sidle, it read. Brooke had found Sara again and hadn't informed me?
Since Jay and I had rushed Brooke to the hospital, I'd tried to reach Sara at least a good solid ten times. No reply. I could only imagine that if Brooke wanted anyone to know her condition now, it would be Sara. It was the same deal when I tried to call my brother, BJ. And I had already informed "The Man" about his employee's condition now, or more like, I told his secretary to tell him.
The Man goes to any length to make sure we can't trace him. He won't even get on the phone with a voice disguiser.
Redialing the phone number, I waited for the expected answering machine to pick up. But instead, her actual voice greeted me after three rings as apposed to her machine. "Who is this, and why are you calling me at this time of night?" Sara Sidle's voice was obviously upset and on edge. Did she already know? She couldn't have.
"Sara! It's me, Taj." I could only guess that my deep voice would set her off track.
My assumption was true when Sara didn't say anything for three straight minutes. I could picture her dumbfounded expression she must be wearing right now, with her mouth open a crack and her eyes blinking a few times in between the lengthy silent periods.
Her muffled voice implied that she had covered up the receiver so I couldn't hear what she was saying. All I could clearly make out was, "I'm...ouside..." The sound of shoes against a hard tiled floor followed for a long time until the tile sound turned to pavement. But while the clacking of the tile floor commenced, I heard the whir of machines and computers through the entire time, and people talking in "inside voices". "Teague? Is that really you?"
"The one and only." I tried to sound emphatic and happy about it, but the situation I was in now killed that emotion in me.
"Oh my God... How did you get my number?" She inquired with the incredibility still in her voice, but something else was also in there. Guilt maybe?
Now it was my turn to have the guilt in my voice, but more pronounced than hers. Staring back at the hospital with guilt ridden blue eyes, I scratched and rubbed the back of my neck nervously as if she were right in front of me asking that question. Taking a breath, I threw myself against the wall and began to tell her.
"Brooke's in the hospital, Sar... I think she'll wanna see you when she wakes up and can have visitors."
"Hospital? What the Hell happened?" The alarm in her voice made me flinch somewhat.
That's the part I panicked at. Had Brooke told her, or had she kept her oath not to tell anyone? It was hard to tell, seeing as it was Sara. There wasn't much Brooke didn't tell her, or at best that's how it was in the past. For the security sake, I could only pray that Brooke didn't tell her anything just yet.
"It was a bad fight." It wasn't a lie, technically, but it wasn't as factually as it could be. "I think she'll be fine, but I thought I'd let you know."
"W-wait! Taj! What hospital?" Sara was now frantic to know. "Desert Palm?"
"Is there any other hospital in Vegas?"
"I'll be there as soon as I can." Sara promised just before I heard the click of the phone.
Hanging up the cellphone, my eyes constricted shut and I rested my head back against the cold brick wall. The coldness relaxed me, relaxing all my muscles causing me to slide down to the floor. I couldn't begin to center my thoughts, but they all had the same subject. Brooke. Isn't that the way it's always been though? I couldn't get my mind off of her, no matter who I was with or what I was doing. Just like the night I had to go and give her a ride from the fight in the woods, I completely blew off my girlfriend for the past couple of months and doing what most couples do late at night just to go protect Brooke. If it had been anyone else, beside my brother, Sara, or Jay, I wouldn't have done it. But it wasn't just anyone. It was Brooke.
A realization came to mind. Shanice... I couldn't play her like this. She was my girlfriend but I was far from loving her like she thought I did. Placing Brooke's cellphone into my pocket and switching it for my own phone, I found the address book and Shanice's cellphone number. She wouldn't be up this late, and I didn't feel like calling her now, but I knew it was inevitable. If that kiss in the bathroom stall was any indication as to where things were heading between Brooke and me, I had to break it off with Shanice. And sadly enough, it wasn't even for Shanice's sake. It was for Brooke's.
Approaching footsteps were heard against the pavement, and I soon found myself under the blue scrutiny of Jay. What do you need, Jay?
They don't understand sign language in there. I need an interpretor and I know you wanna get back in that hospital. Jay responded in sign. It's the closest you're gonna get to Brooke for now, and it'll be a chance to redeem yourself.
Jumping to my feet, I followed him back in. As we approached the front desk, the receptionist shot me a light and dirty look. Yeah Jay, that's real redemption so far. I looked at Jay before turning to the receptionist. "I'm the interpretor."
"If you're gonna be in here, don't cause a fuss like last time. We have people in here that are upset enough without you adding more on." She scolded, passing the clipboard to me roughly, slapping a pen down loudly on top.
Walking away with the nasty comment stuck in my mind, I took a seat with Jay and began filling out the paperwork "to the best of my ability". The phrase left a bittersweet humorous thought in my mind.
After she gets out, this paperwork isn't gonna be the only thing I'll be doing "to the best of my ability". I promised to myself and to that one in a million woman somewhere in this hospital.
Sara's POV:
I seemed to be at a fork in the road. I altered my vision between the lab and my car, debating whether I should leave or stay until I thought Brooke might be able to entertain visitors. I had obligations either way I chose, which didn't make things simpler for me. Every time I took a step toward one of my duties, I felt guilt tugging me back in the other direction.
What in the Hell am I supposed to do?
"Sara?" Nicky's voice called into the morning air. "Sara, what's up?"
I pivoted toward the Texan with the wildness burning in my eyes. One glimpse into my eyes had Nick taken aback, but took a step forward to lay a comforting hand on my shoulder. "What's wrong, Sar? You can tell me."
"Nicky, she's in the hospital." I blurted out finally. "Brooke's in the hospital."
"What? How?" Nicky had taken a liking to Brooke, I had noticed from the Police Ball. "Is she all right?"
"I have no clue. All I was told was that she got into a bad fight and now she's at Desert Palm." My eyes were the only thing betraying my tranquil telling voice.
"Sara, go. Just go. If you need someone to drive you, I will." Nicky didn't waste any time in throwing the offer out, and his resolution had me snapping my head up to look at him in surprise. "Don't give me that look Sara Sidle! I know how hard it is to chose between the ones you love and the job. I'll cover for you, no worries!" That glimmer in his eyes surfaced for me to see. "After all, rules are meant to be bent every once in a while, right?"
Quicker than the speed of light, my arms found their way around Nick's neck in a tight squeeze for a hug before I pulled away with a grateful look spread across my face. "Thank you Nick. Are you sure?"
"Course I'm sure! I'll just say that you went off to go get us something to eat at this place across town." Nick winked, nodding his head toward the parking lot. "Now go. It takes some time to get across town to that all night place, Sara, and I'm hungry!"
"Sure thing. That special number one, right?" I played along, jogging across the parking lot already.
"Yup, the typical! Thanks!" Nick said with a laugh as he entered the lab again.
Grissom's POV:
I gazed with many questions at the exchange between Nick and Sara. I had watched as Sara had gotten off of the phone and obviously was left in a state above distressed by the call. My legs began to beckon me to her to comfort her, but that was until Nick came out. I remained rooted to my spot afterwards, allowing Nick to do what he seemed best at – consoling his friends. When all was said and done, Sara had apparently been cured by Nick and his caring ways as she jogged off in the direction of her car, calling back something about the special number one. I scrunched my face up in bemusement as I commenced my walk to her.
Not exactly what I'm here for, but I will be the one to complain when Ecklie admits that he does not rightfully own this lab. I fought back a playful smirk.
"Sara!" I called out, knowing she'd get into her car and drive off before I even got a foot close to her.
"Griss!" Sara replied before she was even fully turned around. "Don't tell me you forgot something again."
Flashbacks of earlier back at Sara's house tore down my memory's floodgates and filled my mind when I peered down at her. Shaking myself out of what I now deemed to be 'at home Grissom', I regained my posture. "What can I say? I've been distracted tonight." Which wasn't far from the truth, might I add.
Her smile surfaced, knotting up my stomach with the realization that her smile was directed toward me. No one ever said that growing older would eliminate these adolescent feelings you get completely. "You can't pin that on me, Mr. Grissom... I wasn't there telling you to concentrate on anything besides work." Something within her seemed to click, snapping her out of her flirting mode quickly. "Hey, I have to get going... My place after work?"
Sensing the urgency in her voice now, it was like a cold shower and I could simply nod, stepping back and stuffing my hands in my pockets. Being the quick learner that I am, as of less than a minute ago, I now knew this stance will catch Sara's attention even in the most frantic of times. It hadn't been on purpose this time, but with this knowledge at my disposal, who knows what good I could put it toward?
My reward was a very circumspect kiss, given our place and time, but sweet nonetheless. I now was very glad that Sara parked in the very back of the parking lot, at the farthest reaches of the security cameras.
"I'll see you then." Sara promised, getting inside of her car and revving the engine once it was started.
My eyes stuck to her as Sara pulled out and drove off. I suppressed a chuckle, walking into the building to get what I truly came for... Information.
Taj's POV:
Anticipation could be a killer. Especially if you were in my situation right now.
"A'yo, it Blaze but uh... Obviously I ain't here right now. Never know what I could be doing but holla at me to let me know what you need. No guarantees, but I'll get back to you if I can. A'ight? Peace!" My brother's voice mail was met at my call.
"Hey! BJ! C'mon man... I know it don't take you that long to unpack... Call me back, man. Some serious shit just went down. A'ight? Holla." I left what felt like my thirtieth message for my brother in the time after I was finished with that damn paperwork. I couldn't handle the suspense and anticipation of waiting for Brooke's doctor to tell me what was up with her, and no offense to Jay, but I didn't feel like signing all my frustrations out to him. It wasn't the release I needed.
Lowering my head to my knees, I ran my hand roughly over my Caesar cut hair and buried my face in my hand. With a heightened sense of hearing, I noted the opening of the automatic doors and the sound of shoes against the tile. I had given up checking every person that came into this building, hoping it would be Sara, and I simply continued to wallow in my own misery.
How was I going to explain this to Sara? She always was one to want all the details. I internally groaned, rubbing my eyes of the sleep that had formed there now. Maybe I should wash up in the bathroom to hide all the blood and cuts...
"Hello, is Brooke Waters able to see visitors yet?"
Shooting my eyes up at both the name of my worries and the voice that had spoke that name, I saw no one else standing at the reception desk beside the young girl I once knew as Sara Sidle turned into a young woman. Rushing to my feet, I stared a hole into the back of her head before I finally shouted, "Sara!"
Her brown and wavy hair raised from her spinning around to meet my call, questioning brown eyes meeting my blue ones. The inquiring look soon dissipated into widening saucers upon recognizing my face. I had grown but evidently Sara was still the girl with the memory as long as time. Miss Attention To Detail I once called her after we all had walked away the police interviewing us on a drive-by that had occurred in our neighborhood. Sara had noticed everything about the car and the shooter who was stupid enough not to wear a mask.
"Taj!" Her response was a cross between a gasp and a shout. That's the one thing I won't ever get over, my ability to catch Sara off guard. It's a once in a while opportunity. "Jay!"
Both Jay and I had met her halfway, greeting her with a hug one at a time. Jay seemed to cling to his older foster sister, being the semi-dependent person that he is. Sara pats his back in reassurance that she won't be going anywhere anytime soon just before she turns to me. Enveloping her in my arms, I gave her a hug that suggested I thought she was fragile as glass.
Sara was still that slender and statuesque girl that just happened to turn into a beautiful woman. She was one of the very few white girls that I knew that could pull off that gap tooth smile, as well, even though when she was little, Sara was ashamed of it and people often taunted her for it. From what she had showed me of her family pictures of her biological family, I remembered how I used to think she had her Father's looks when she was growing up. Staring down at her now, I recalled the woman in the portrait that was her Mother and I saw a direct replica standing in front of me now. I also noticed something hanging around her neck, an ID card with her picture confirming that she was part of the LVPD Crime Lab Unit.
Same ole Sara... Always wanting to help others...
"Oh snap! My baby girl Sara is all grown up now!" I faked a tear in my eye, spinning toward Jay to sob on his shoulder. "They just grow up too fast!"
"You should be the one to talk, Mr. Teague Allah James!" Sara remarked, scaling me once with a smile. Her happy face soon faded once she actually took in my appearance and my bruising. "What happened to you?"
Growing serious now, I scratched the back of my head sheepishly. "The same thing that happened to Brooke, just less serious." Like she didn't see it, I tried to wipe away the dried blood from the corners of my lips and above my eyebrow and cheek.
Looking around with circumspect brown eyes, she drew closer to me so that our faces were less than a foot away and whispered when we were in a huddle. "What are you guys getting into? Please don't tell me it's something illegal."
Yanking back and away, I shook my head and raised my hands defensively. "Sara, we're not getting into anything illegal." I couldn't bring myself to say anymore on that subject.
"Taj." She addressed me authoritatively. "If you're lying to me, I will know... I'm... I'm part of the crime lab now; I'm a CSI."
Sending her a challenging look, I silently dared her to investigate our lives. "Sara, what's with the questionnaire? It's like you don't trust me or Brooke anymore."
Crossing her arms across her chest, Sara looked away for a moment before turning her gaze to me. "What can I say? I've seen some questionable events since I've rediscovered Brooke." Sara revealed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for it to seem like an interrogation. I'm just... worried."
"I know, I know..." I soothed her. "That call probably didn't do anything for you, huh?"
Letting out a choppy laugh, she moved her hands down to her hips. "You have no idea."
"So..." I felt the desire to switch the topics now, if not sooner. "You're a big bad CSI girl now, huh? You sitting on white gold now?"
Seating ourselves back at the waiting room chairs, we plunged ourselves into a conversation, also including the quiet Jay who didn't have much to say or input. I think it was a common agreement that we didn't truly want to discus Brooke, for it would bring up the nervousness and anxiety of not knowing what was going on with her. We all needed a distraction from our situation and surroundings.
That was, until a doctor came out looking very fatigued from her long shift most likely. Gray eyes searched around the room, locking onto the three of us eventually before the words even left her mouth. Drawn to our feet by her scrutiny, we trekked across the floor to meet her. "Are you for Brooke Waters?"
"Yes." I spoke above Sara's reply. "Please tell me she's a'ight."
"Well... Considering she lost more than half of her blood, had several broken ribs, sprained her right wrist, and had some nasty lacerations and welts that were virally infected all across her body. And when I say all across her body, I mean, it appeared like there wasn't a square inch on her body that wasn't lacerated. But besides all of that, she's now recovering." The young doctor laid my rigged body at ease with her report. "We cleaned and treated the lacerations and welts, casted and wrapped her wrist and torso, and stabilized her blood count. She's fully awake and complaining about her pillows not being fluffed enough." A laugh was carried out softly between Sara and I while Jay just shook his head in amusement.
That's always Brooke... Making everything difficult.
"She can entertain visitors, but please... One at a time. 56C." The doctor said, giving me in particularly a wary look now. "If you'll excuse me now..."
Glaring a hole in her back, the three of us made our way down the hall. Memories of the cops that had visited Jen's house flashed through my mind's eye, and how they'd asked if Brooke Waters resided here. The only thing that made sense to me was to think that the people she versed and critically beat down must've known who she was and snitched on her.
Just great.
Standing just outside of the door and already hearing Brooke inside going off on all cylinders most likely to some poor nurse that just happened to be tending to her. I glanced at Sara and tossed my head in the direction of the room Brooke was in.
"You go take a whack at her first." I offered. "You and Jay both."
"You sure, Taj? I know you must want to see her just as badly." A sly expression fell on her pale face.
"Yeah yeah... But you probably have something you need to be getting back to right now, and I'm gonna be around all morning." I shrugged and hooked my thumbs to the inside of my jean's pocket.
"I'll be quick about it." Sara promised, entering the room with Jay.
Minutes flew by as I waited for Sara and Jay to emerge from there visit, itching to see Brooke and hear her voice again. But it was only in the last minute of waiting that I heard something that set all of my warning signals that this visit wouldn't end right at all. The nurse that had been in Brooke's room previously exited, beginning to chat it up with another nurse that was walking by.
"Is that Brooke Waters?" The new nurse questioned in a whisper I barely picked up on.
"Yup." Brooke's nurse replied with a swift nod.
"Aren't the cops here yet?" The nurse emphasized the yet part overdramatically.
"Dr. Williams says they're on their way as we speak." And with that, they broke apart, going off to other rooms.
Oh shit.
TBC...
A/N2: Warning!: I will be updating fast so please keep up. So, until next time. Adios amigas!
Peace out, one love,
MC New York