Chapter Thirty:
Wolf After the Lamb
Francis followed shutting the door despite Sara's objection.
Darius puffed on a cigarette across the street, blowing circles of smoke into the air.
"Stay here…I'll talk with him," urged Francis to Grissom.
Darius laughed as he headed toward them.
"What's the matter? Can't decide which of you wants to die first?" asked Darius.
He stopped at the curb.
"I wouldn't want to trespass," he crooned.
Darius stared intently at Francis Merci.
"Well, well…look who has come out of hiding," smiled Darius. "If it's not my mother's…beloved."
Grissom glanced at Francis.
Francis froze.
"Oh, don't tell me the sect did not inform you that your beloved had another child?"
Francis started toward Darius.
"My Elena would not have wanted to give birth to something so vial as you," Francis growled.
Darius waited until the man was closer before flipping the cigarette butt onto the ground and then stomped it out with his foot.
"Is that what you called her? She changed her name…to Heather," smiled Darius.
Grissom looked shocked.
"Mommy dearest couldn't come," he said. "It seems she injured herself."
"My Elena is dead," glared Francis.
"Only to the sect…but she's very much alive…to us fallen angels…oh of course she is considered fallen now as well. She intends to bed Grissom. Really Grissom, you should be honored."
Darius took great delight in Francis' pain.
"Grissom, we haven't met," announced Darius.
Grissom remained silent.
"I guess you have a right to be mad since I sort of marked what's yours…but then again I don't believe in mating for life…just getting what I want and I want Sara."
"You'll never touch her again," warned Grissom.
"Tsk tsk…or you'll what?" asked Darius as he laughed.
Grissom shoved Darius with both hands sending him backwards until he landed with a thud onto the street.
Darius looked shocked as well as Francis.
Grissom was amazed at his strength.
Grissom glanced at his hands but then curled them into fists as he walked toward Darius but the door opened behind them.
Grissom halted when Sara called out to him.
Darius jumped to his feet. "My Sara, you've decided to come to me."
"Gil," Sara pleaded softly.
"Sara, get back inside," ordered Francis.
Darius dusted off his jeans while he smiled at Sara. "I still remember how sweet you tasted, Sara."
Bile rose in Sara's throat as she silently pleaded with Grissom.
Grissom stepped back toward Sara, not wanting to turn his back to Darius.
"Oh Grissom, you don't trust me? Afraid I'll do something cowardly like jump your back?"
"You have no morals," stated Grissom. "Only an animal would force himself on a woman."
Darius laughed. "I'm a fallen angel…more demonic than angelic."
Grissom stepped back further until he felt Sara's hand on his arm.
"Sara, go back inside," he ordered softly.
"Not without you," she whispered.
"Sara…"
"Yes Sara, go inside. I'll be there soon," called Darius. "Save me some time will you and just remove the clothes. They are such a hindrance."
Darius took a step toward Grissom.
Grissom reached back, opening the door and then shoved Sara inside but she caught hold of his arm. "I'm not leaving you."
"Sara, you're not in any condition to be out here…honey, please," Grissom said as he pulled her hand away but she refused to release his hand.
"Let go, Sara," urged Grissom.
"I don't want to lose you," she begged.
"You won't."
"Gil, take Sara inside. I can handle Darius," ordered Francis.
"Come, come guys. I don't have all day. I'm pining away here for Sara. Sara, do you still feel my hands on your body? Do you still feel my mouth on your…"
Grissom pushed Sara inside the door, shutting it behind him as Darius' laugh echoed inside the house.
Sara clung to Grissom's neck.
"It's okay," he soothed.
"I couldn't risk it," she cried. "I'm sorry, I wouldn't listen."
Grissom kissed her on the forehead, rubbing her back but then gently pushed her away.
"Gil?"
"Stay inside this time," he urged.
He traced the scar on the palm of her hand and then kissed it. "I'll be back."
He opened the door and then shut it, leaving her inside the house.
Francis punched Darius then shoved him away from the front of the house.
"Leave…or I will finish this," warned Francis.
"And let Mommy dearest find out what you've done to her last living child…that would kill her….or is that what you want, revenge?" taunted Darius.
"Only a fallen angel seeks revenge," declared Francis.
Darius sneered. "Sara is mine and I intend to have her. She's been marked…by me."
Grissom's jaw twitched. "You'll have to go through me."
Darius stepped toward Grissom but Francis grabbed his arm jerking it straight up.
A loud snap was heard.
Darius gasped.
Francis forced Darius to the ground.
"How do we kill a fallen angel?" asked Grissom.
"Cut off his head," replied Francis. "A blade in the…"
Darius laughed. "Like you could do it?" Darius threw both of them to the side as he scrambled to his feet, pulling out a knife from his boot and plunging it deeply in the chest of Francis.
Francis staggered back.
"Let's make this fun, shall we?"
Darius instantly morphed himself to resemble Grissom.
"Let's see how Sara reacts to that!"
Grissom grabbed Darius and punched him in the gut, sending him a foot off the ground.
Darius went down with a thud.
Darius glanced around and saw Sara as she ran to the window.
He smiled as he let Grissom hit him again.
Blood trickled from his mouth as Grissom continued to punch him but he barely put up a fight.
"Gil….you can't kill him with your hands," stated Francis as he tried to stop Grissom but he shoved him away.
"He put Heather up to giving us that damn antidote. It killed my son," gritted Grissom.
"Gil…no," stated Francis as he grabbed Grissom, shoving him away from Darius. "You can't seek vengeance."
Darius struggled to his feet. "You should have seen the way she looked when I changed into you," snickered Darius, goading Grissom once more.
Grissom charged toward Darius grabbing him once more. Grissom reached for the knife lying on the ground as he reared back intending to stab Darius.
Sara burst out of the house, pulling Grissom off Darius.
She kicked the knife from Grissom's hand and then started toward Darius when he extended his hand. "Sara, help me," Darius begged.
Grissom pleaded, "Honey, it's me….that is Darius."
She glanced down and saw the scar on Grissom's palm.
She stilled but then she grabbed the knife, and ran toward Darius before Grissom could stop her.
"Help me, Sara," pleaded Darius as he extended his hand.
She took his hand but then plunged the knife deep into his chest.
His eyes widened.
He pulled the knife from his chest. "I guess you're a fast learner," he gritted as he reared back and removed the knife with little effort.
"Is this foreplay?" he teased as he reached for Sara.
Francis blocked Darius, placing his foot on the injured man while Grissom pulled Sara away.
A car pulled up and two men got out.
"Go inside," ordered Francis.
Grissom rushed Sara inside the house.
Francis refused to look at the others as he reared back, intending to plunge the knife into Darius but he was shoved away as they gathered Darius once more.
They were gone in an instant.
Francis started to tap on the door but Grissom opened it immediately.
"They're gone," he said as he stepped inside.
Sara grew alarmed when Francis shouted at her. "Do you know what would have happened to you if Darius and his men got their hands on you? You couldn't help us!"
"I did. I stabbed him…not hard enough. The blade didn't go deep into his heart…if he even has one," she spat.
Francis stepped back trying to calm down. "You're just like Gracen said, obstinate, stubborn!"
Francis then turned on Grissom. "And you! You don't go after a fallen angel with revenge in your heart…it will be your undoing. You fight to protect."
Francis threw up his hands. "You both have much to learn."
"Who were those two men?" asked Grissom.
"Fallen angels," Francis said as he sat down, his hand on his chest.
Sara grabbed a dish towel and then knelt in front of him as she tried to assess his injury but he snatched the towel from her hand.
"I can do it," he growled but as soon as she backed away he grabbed her hand, holding it close to his heart. "I'm sorry, Sara. I…wasn't prepared to find out that Elena gave birth to Darius."
"Is she alive?" she asked softly.
"My wife is dead," he gritted as he sat back.
"Darius said…" Francis interrupted Grissom.
"She is lost to me. She is not the same…she is now fallen."
"Wait just because they…take your wife, rape her and she gives birth…that makes her fallen?" asked Sara, incredulous at Francis' attitude toward his wife.
"Sara…it's not that simple," he said. "For Elena to live…she would have to choose…to willingly become one of them."
"Some choice…to refuse and be given a death sentence or choose life and…you need stitches," stated Sara as the blood oozed through the towel.
"I'll call Doc," offered Grissom as he reached for his phone.
"I don't need…I just need to rest," stated Francis.
Grissom glanced at Sara. "Are you alright?" he asked softly.
"Call Doc," she said.
"Sara?"
"Gil…he's bleeding. It could get infected," she breathed as she stepped away.
Francis and Grissom looked at one another.
"I think I upset her," stated Francis. "I'm sorry. I was told by the sect that Elena was dead," he said. "I never knew she still lived…changing her name to…this Heather."
Sara's eyes widened at the sound of Heather's name.
She glanced at Grissom.
"Elena is Heather Kessler," admitted Grissom.
"Heather is a fallen angel?" asked Sara to Grissom.
"Yes…but I didn't know…I never suspected…she was a fallen angel," mourned Grissom.
"She gave you the antidote to abort our child so Darius could later…" Sara didn't finish.
Grissom reached for her hand but she snatched it away.
Francis caught the exchange.
"This is exactly what they want…to drive a wedge into your hearts," he warned.
She grabbed another towel and applied pressure.
Francis' hand rested on hers.
"Sara…you see why I say that Elena is lost to me? Her actions were cruel…heartless. That is not the woman I joined myself with. This Heather…is demonic, seeking pleasure and destruction to anyone and anything in her path."
Sara gritted her teeth.
"Revenge…is not yours, Sara," Francis warned.
"She took my son…so I'm going to take hers," she vowed.
Francis forcefully grabbed her wrist. "No!"
Sara tried to jerk away but he refused to release her.
Grissom reached out but Francis turned his fury on him.
"Seek revenge and both of you will perish. Defend against evil but don't seek it out. Let it come to you."
"She…they killed a part of me," Sara choked.
"Do you think you're the only person who has lost a loved one? They took Elena from me and then they killed my son and his wife…and I did nothing! Darius killed them just as he killed Gracen…and now my great grandchild through you. I burn Sara just as you do but…I don't seek vengeance. I'll leave that to God…if he will have mercy on us. I won't strike at them but I will protect. They will have to kill me in order to harm you….or Grissom."
"Please let go of me," she said calmly.
Francis released her.
Grissom reached for her but she threw her hands up in the air refusing any contact with either of them.
"I'm sorry. Her grief is deep," whispered Francis. "Grissom, there can be no room for guilt. Face it together and then let it go. Don't give them a weapon to use against you."
Sara slipped away leaving the men alone.
Nothing more was said until Doc arrived.
Later, Doc came to her in the bedroom.
"How are you?" He asked.
"I…didn't get hurt," she countered, knowing that Grissom had put him up to checking on her.
"Sara, you're still recovering from a traumatic experience…"
"I'm better…as if it never happened," she grated.
"Your body may have healed but…I know this is difficult for you," he stated.
"It is…don't worry…I'm better," she assured him.
He squeezed her hand slightly and then returned to the living room.
She heard the front door shut and then soft voices.
Grissom appeared in the doorway of the bedroom as she sat on the bed.
"Doc left. Francis agreed to stay with you…when I go into work," stated Grissom.
"I'm…going in," she said.
"No…you're not."
"You go….then I go."
"Sara, don't argue," he said as he sat down on the bed. "You just had a miscarriage."
"Doc said I could return to work. He said that I was physically…fine…again."
"How do you really feel?" he whispered.
She swallowed. "I saw and felt the loss of our baby. I…feel…empty."
His hand slipped into hers. "Is there anything that I can do?"
"Let me…get back to work."
He nodded in understanding.
His lips hushed her as he kissed her gently but then it became more urgent as he moved closer to her.
Quickly, he released her trying to catch his breath.
"I'm sorry," he murmured.
"I feel it too," she whispered.
"Francis said…I'm just surprised that it's so…soon," he grieved.
"Gil, I don't blame you. Understand?" she asked as she lifted his hand, kissing the scarred palm.
"I trusted her," he mourned.
"You didn't think you had a choice at the time."
His hand caressed her cheek as he leaned in, kissing her once more. His head rested against hers.
"I need to be near you," she explained.
He sighed out loud. "As much as I think you need to rest, I'd feel better also if you were close to me."
"Do you think Darius will try anything…while we're at a scene?" she asked.
"I spoke with Francis. Darius will need time to heal. Francis doesn't think he'll try anything out in the open like a crime scene…it would only bring attention to himself…and the other fallen angels."
"Where is Francis?" she asked.
"He's sleeping. I don't think he knows how he will handle his confrontation with Heather," stated Grissom.
Sara was quiet.
"Sara, they won't get away with what happened," he urged.
"They did. There is no justice for us, Grissom. We lost a child because of them. We can't get him back," she cried.
"If it happened once then maybe…"
"Don't you find it strange that neither of us thought to use protection?" she asked.
He looked down at the scar on his hand. "My sperm count was always low…it was doubtful I would ever be able to conceive a child. It was part of the reason why I never…most women want a family," he said quietly.
She cleared her throat, not sure why she was nervous discussing this with him.
"I used to have severe abdominal cramps during my menstrual cycle. Scar tissue in my fallopian tubes…not sure why," she breathed.
He nudged her, "But you got pregnant," he smiled sadly.
"And they took it away," she wept.
He leaned forward resting his head on hers. "It's possible you could become pregnant again."
"I can't think of what might happen..all I can think of is what we lost."
He gently forced her to look at him. "Without Gracen, we might never have gotten pregnant...but we did...against Vegas odds. With God's help, I believe it can happen again."
She was quiet as they sat there.
"Can you forgive me...for trusting Heather?" he asked.
"Doc told me how desperate you were to find a cure. I heard some of it. I remember hearing the desperation in your voice while you talked on the phone to Father Brannigan. If you had been ill and she offered me the antidote I would have taken it. I don't blame you, Gil. There is no need to forgive you."
"Yes, there is," he choked. "I was so enraged that I physically hurt you...dragged you..."
"It's your worst fear...betrayal by a lover."
"Yes," he admitted.
"Did you feel Heather betrayed you?"
"Yes, she betrayed my friendship. Sara, I know you don't believe this but I've never loved anyone except you."
She was surprised at the revelation.
"I love you. I've loved you the moment you stepped into that lecture hall. I grinned at your ponytail….so sweet yet seductive."
"Hold me," she whimpered.
He grabbed her into his arms. "We're going to get through this."
Note from author:
Well, now you know a little more about Darius...