I Know I'll Never Love This Way Again
Disclaimer: I don't own CSI or its characters. You know the drill by now.
RECAP: The CSI team learn that Sara's kidnappers have broken out of jail and that is not the worst part, Sara chose that particular time to go get Chinese food for the crew at CSI. Due to the fact that the kidnappers have broken out, CSI is in lockdown and no one in and no one out – Ecklie & crew's orders. Sara is nowhere to be found…she had left 2 hours ago and the Chinese food place was two blocks away – regardless of a lengthy line, she should have returned by now – or at least called.
"This is crazy" moaned Catherine. "Lindsey must be worried about me by now!!"
"Your mother is keeping an eye on her" replied Ecklie.
Catherine rolled her eyes. "Wonderful. Mom and Lindsey don't exactly get along well anymore"
"Why is that Cath?" Asked Nick.
"Oh teenagers…y'know teenagers. Mom thinks I give her too much freedom, which I don't, I give her the right amount. I at least let her go to the movies with friends" Catherine said and continued. "Mom thinks Lindsey's whole rebellion issues are because I don't have a man in my life and that she needs a father figure!"
The three men in the room stared at Catherine. "Mom thinks I ought to quit my job as a CSI and get a 'normal' job, but not before getting married." Catherine was on the verge of tears now.
"A-are you seeing somebody Cath?" asked a voice. The others turned to see who had spoken. It was Nick.
Her eyes softening a little she replied. "When the hell do I have time to date Nicky, I don't have much of a social life, not that I trust too many men these days..." she said and though about the various men in her life that had let her down. The last man that stole her heart was Michael Keppler – and he was killed in the line of duty. Keppler had been Grissom's replacement when he was on Sabbatical.
Warrick and Grissom exchanged glances. Nick was sweet on Catherine? One would never have guessed. Nick was usually quiet about the women he dated and not the braggy type.
Grissom cleared his throat. "Has any body heard from Sara at all? A voice mail, a text message?"
The CSI's all shook their head. "Damnit!" Grissom said. "I'm going to call the Chinese restaurant she was supposed to go to…"
Grissom sat in his office, his head pounding hard. His face and body full of sweat. He was scared. Gil Grissom never gets scared. Worried maybe. But actually scared, afraid never. According to the Mr. Chang of Holey Chou, Sara Sidle never arrived to pick up her order, which was apparently now very cold and by the way they were going to get charged for anyway. Grissom told him where to shove his charge and hung up.
Catherine was fretting about Lindsey when she walked by Grissom's office, she saw that he was lying on his couch, the light off and his arm draped across his face.
"Gil, are you ok? What's going on, did you call the restaurant?"
"She-she never arrived Cath" he said in a garbled voice.
Had he been crying? She wondered.
"Gil, level with me, what is going on between you and Sara" she said.
"What do you think Cath" he said and refused to elaborate. I need to get out there and find her. Why the hell are we locked down HERE anyway are we suspects? Hardly! We should be out there tracking down those guys before they hurt her more!"
"Gil, you are not thinking straight, you are thinking like a man in love and not what is in the best interest of his crew" Ecklie said. He had been walking by.
"Ecklie, mind your own damn business and let me out of here now so I can find Sara and arrest these goons AGAIN, not to mention hurt those boneheads who let them out of their cell in the first place!" he said angrily.
"Gil, you are not in charge, I am or have you forgotten and I say NO, Jim Brass and his police department will handle it" Ecklie said and ended it with a strut in the direction of the DNA lab.
"I hate that bastard and I am taking my kit and trying to find Sara" he said with a determined voice.
Grissom knew that he couldn't walk out the door, not with the armed guards there so he found a window that he was able to sneak out of. Once out in the fresh air, his kit and cell in hand he jumped in his Denali and headed off in search of Sara. He had no idea where she would be, and no idea where the perpetrators were, all he did know was that he was now also in danger in more ways than one. When Ecklie found out – he'd be in major trouble and most likely would be fired.
This is a little more angst and less fluff, I am trying to make it a little fluffier, but not yet. My fluff muse seems to be sleeping again. My angst muse is fully awake (although the headache is back) Maybe after this exam is over (tomorrow) shortly after then when fluffy muse can concentrate, she'll have some fluff inspiration – maybe between Catherine and Nick!