Chapter Thirty One:

Bearing Each Other's Pain

Sara was grateful the others did not know about the miscarriage.

While they were concerned about her health, they asked few questions giving her the ability to slip back into her job with ease.

Grissom seemed unsettled, sifting through assignments, angry when she forced him to let her go out into the field.

He insisted that she go out with him but she didn't object.

Both felt a sense of loss if the other was not nearby.

He tried to comfort her through the grief but his own was so deep that there were times when he slipped away, unable to bear the guilt he felt.

Each of them waited for Darius to reappear but at the moment he didn't.

Brass was on the lookout, watching for Darius or anyone suspicious.

Once or twice Francis appeared at the scene to check on them, fascinated with the work they did.

He practically moved into Grissom's townhouse taking residence in the spare bedroom.

Days passed without incident and then Heather appeared out of nowhere.

Nick had worked a case involving a brothel but her name never came up during the investigation.

Heather rushed out of the lobby as soon as she saw Grissom coming down the hall.

"I'd like to speak with you," she called.

Grissom froze when he caught sight of her.

He glanced around and immediately saw Sara's reaction as she rounded the corner with Nick.

One look at Heather and Sara bolted toward her.

Before Grissom had a chance to get to Sara, her fists had already connected with Heather's face sending the woman to the floor.

Sara lurched at Heather but Nick held her back not sure what to make of Sara's sudden and unrevoked attack.

Grissom was glad there was no one else around to see the attack but a crowd soon gathered as Heather lay there on the floor.

Grissom yanked Heather to her feet. "Tell everyone you're fine or I'll hit you myself," warned Grissom.

"It's nothing. I fell…I'm fine," she managed to get out as she stepped away from Sara.

Sara lurched at her but Grissom interceded.

Gently he took Sara aside. "Sara, I want you to go with Nick," he ordered softly.

"What is she doing here?" Sara demanded.

"I need to speak with Grissom," explained Heather.

"I want to hear what she has to say," demanded Sara.

"No," stated Heather. "I'll speak to him alone."

"Sara, go with Nick and…"

Sara glared at Grissom. "You…let her…decide…"

Grissom's breath caught as Sara struggled with her emotions.

He pulled her into his arms not caring that others watched the interaction.

Nick herded the others away, trying to give them some privacy.

"I'm going to get rid of her but I need to know you're safe. I need you to go with Nick."

She started to protest but he hushed her with a kiss guiding her over to Nick. "I love you," he said boldly.

He turned around and grabbed Heather by the arm as he escorted her to an interrogation room but halted speaking softly to Nick.

"Nick, take Sara to the viewing window so she can listen to our conversation."

Grissom shoved Heather into the room and shut the door.

Nick went over to the other side and stood beside Sara.

His arm wrapped protectively around Sara.

"I'm sure she deserved it," Nick whispered.

"What do you want?" Grissom glared at Heather.

"I'm sorry…about your son," she said.

"You killed my son," he gritted.

"I didn't mean to do that," she admitted softly.

Nick sucked in air over the declaration.

"You gave me the antidote for Sara so she would miscarry. You did it for your son, Darius."

Nick looked shocked at the revelation.

He looked at Sara's mournful expression and hugged her closer as they continued to listen in on the conversation.

"Darius ordered me to call and give you the antidote…but I didn't know what it would do."

"Liar," Sara seethed.

Nick's hugged her close to his body.

"You expect me to believe that?" he gritted. "What did you think it would do?"

"I thought it would either clear up the bite wounds…or kill her."

Grissom stepped toward her and she backed away.

"So you think that…should make me feel better?" he shouted.

"You don't understand Darius. He means to have Sara…one way or another. Secretly I hoped it would kill her…then she wouldn't suffer anymore at the hands of my son."

"It healed her…but it aborted our son! Francis said it was a human version of an abortion."

"I didn't know! I wouldn't have harmed an unborn! That is an unforgivable sin. I didn't realize something was not right until you said you still desired her. That wouldn't be possible if Darius had raped Sara. Since she no longer desired you, I realized she was probably pregnant but I was prevented from telling you."

"You called me! You could have easily said…"

"I couldn't talk!" she declared as she removed the scarf around her neck to reveal the scar on her throat. "One cannot speak if one's throat has been slit."

"You expect me to believe this?" Grissom challenged.

She swallowed. "I may have given birth to him but he is evil. I try to stay away from him."

"You're guilty just as much as Darius if not more. I'm guilty for trusting you! I trusted you, dammit," he grieved.

"How? I didn't know what kind of antidote it was!"

"You didn't have to…be like him…heartless…cold."

She stepped toward him. "What did you expect me to do? You can't go against Darius. I tried once but he…killed my first born, Joseph…to punish me."

"Gracen's parents?" Grissom clarified.

"Yes. He would have killed Gracen then but he decided to wait…let it appear that they had been killed because of Gracen's defection from the sect."

"What did you do…to anger Darius?" asked Grissom.

"You don't want to know," she whispered.

Heather reached for him but he yanked his arm away.

"Don't touch me!" he seethed.

She gulped. "I'm sorry."

Grissom flew at her, pinning her to the wall.

"Nicky…he may hurt her," gulped Sara. "He's so full of pain. He may not know what he's doing."

Nick started toward the door but Grissom stepped back releasing Heather.

"Is this it? You came here…for this?" he spat.

"I came here to warn you. Darius plans to come for Sara. He wants an heir. He thinks she can give him a child."

"What's the matter? He can't find someone like you…to procreate with?"

A single tear slipped down her face. "He procreated…with me…but I aborted the child by having my womb ripped out."

Sara gasped as Nick clutched her tight.

Grissom looked shocked.

"Like I said…my…my son is evil. He will kill you if you get in his way."

"I'll kill him if he lays another hand on Sara," vowed Grissom.

"He's not easy to kill," she said barely above a whisper. "Sara is very lucky to have…you."

Grissom started to walk away but halted. "Why didn't you leave? Get away?"

"For years I remained here because I wanted to be near my family…watch them from a distance…even if they hated me…considered me dead to them."

She gulped down a sob. "After they took me from Francis I became pregnant by Silas. Silas boasted to his men that finally they were going to rise above the others. I agreed to…remain with them after Darius was born. They let me decide. Die or remain with them…do whatever they demanded. I was too weak. I didn't want to die! I wanted to go home someday…to hold my son, Joseph…and Francis again. I did whatever to please them...to stay alive."

"Why didn't you go to Francis?" asked Grissom.

"I tried…once. It was several years after I'd given birth to Darius," She gulped as if it were painful to talk about. "I prayed Darius would be…like my other son...good…sweet. They took him from me when he was a toddler. I didn't see him again until he was grown. By then I knew he would be like them, evil and cruel like Silas. One night I tried to escape. I was caught by Silas. He screamed that Francis would never take a whore into his bed. He punished me…by raping me and giving me to his men. I didn't care. I'd been passed around before...after awhile you become numb, immune to it."

She swallowed, bracing herself against the table. "Then he found another way to punish me. He gave me to Darius…to rape. I didn't even know it was my own son until Silas announced it. I'm not sure if Darius knew or not. He was cruel like…him, Silas. When I found out that I was pregnant…I took care of it…made sure it would never happen again. That cost me my son, Joseph."

Grissom was shocked by her revelation.

"Disappear Heather…you have the funds to go anywhere in the world," whispered Grissom.

"There is no place to go…to hide from this hell," she cried. "The only way you can save Sara is to do what I did…remove her uterus …make her sterile."

Sara shivered as Nick pulled her closer.

"Francis and I will stop Darius," stated Grissom.

"Francis? Francis is helping you?"

"Yes."

"How is he?" she asked anxiously.

"He is good."

"Did he…did he mention me?"

"No."

She knew by the look on his face that he was lying.

"He considers me dead…evil as well."

"Heather…leave Vegas…leave the state," urged Grissom.

"I'm sorry…for your loss. I know the pain of losing a son," she whispered.

He turned to leave but she called out one last time.

"Grissom?"

"Yes?" he asked quietly.

"Did you…consider me…a true friend?" she asked.

He paused for a moment and then replied. "Yes, I did."

She rushed to him, grabbing him into her arms despite his protests but she whispered softly into his ear, "I thank you, Grissom. You were the only person who ever cared…about me. I'm sorry I hurt you. I'm sorry I didn't kill Darius…but I couldn't…can't. He's my son!"

"Heather…"

She stepped back suddenly from him as if she realized her touch sickened him, staring into the two way window.

"I didn't do anything wrong…but what they did to me condemns me. Is that fair?"

Sara swallowed.

She wondered how Grissom would have treated her if Darius had raped her.

Heather looked back at Grissom. "One of your workers is investigating a murder at a brothel. I have no information about the case but I used it as an excuse to come here. Darius keeps tabs on everyone. It's the reason I was able to come here. I have a dagger that came into my possession years ago. I've kept it hidden from everyone. No one knows that I have it. Its blade is poisonous….to fallen angels. If you thrust this into Darius' it will kill him."

She stepped closer to Grissom.

"I'll bring it to you," she offered.

"Why?" he challenged.

"Despite what Francis may have told you, I am still Elena Merci. I've been protecting you from Darius. I fear he plans to kill you the next time you meet."

"We're prepared," stated Grissom.

"Do you honestly think that you can beat him? He's been around forever. He could have killed you if he wanted. Getting stabbed by Sara was like foreplay to him. He enjoys pain as well as inflicting it."

"Francis and I will not let him get to Sara."

"Does she mean that much to you?"

"I would give up my life for her," replied Grissom.

"I'll try to slip out…bring the dagger to you."

Heather reached out to touch Grissom but stopped when he recoiled.

"You don't believe me," she grieved.

"You kept your identity from me," he said. "I don't like deception."

"Do you still blame me for…your son's death?" she whispered.

"Yes."

She flew out of the interrogation room.

He stepped around the corner and was surprised to find Nick standing there alone.

"Where is Sara?"

"She went to the ladies room. Don't worry, I sent Catherine after her."

"Thanks Nick."

"Are you going to tell us what is going on?" he asked softly.

"Yes, I think I should."

"Griss? I'm sorry about the baby," stated Nick. "You could have confided in us. We would have helped."

Grissom nodded not sure he could speak at the moment.

He glanced down the hall and saw Sara along with Catherine.

A few hours and several questions later the team had been told.

Sara was rather quiet, letting Grissom answer most of the questions.

"So Jim and Doc have known about all of this?" posed Catherine.

"Yes."

Catherine seemed a little peeved but said nothing further.

Grissom was relieved when shift was over.

He didn't know what to think of Sara's silence.

She'd said very few words answering only with short replies.

The others had noticed her silence and therefore had directed their questions to him.

She stepped out of the vehicle, glancing over her shoulder to see if anyone was nearby.

Grissom's arm encircled her, pulling her into a protective embrace as he guided her inside.

Francis had prepared something to eat and he directed them to the kitchen.

Grissom's hand took hold of Sara's elbow and led her to the table, not giving her a chance to make an excuse to scurry away to the bedroom.

Francis chatted about what little information he'd found out about Darius.

He stopped when he noticed Sara's strained expression.

"Did something happen?" he asked.

"Heather came to the lab," stated Grissom.

Francis gritted his teeth. "What did she do?" His question was posed to Sara.

Grissom answered. "She has a dagger in her possession. She states it can kill Darius quickly with just one thrust."

"That's a lie! The quickest way is to behead Darius."

Sara's head jerked up. "Is that what happened to Gracen?"

"No," assured Grissom.

"But…he said…"

Francis sat back down. "It's the quickest way," he clarified.

"What happened to Gracen?" demanded Sara.

Grissom was silent for a moment.

"What happened?" she yelled.

"Darius ripped open his midsection, his organs spilled out…he was disemboweled, Sara. That is who we are dealing with," stated Francis.

"How did you…know?" challenged Grissom, angry that he'd been so blunt about it.

"Your…doc. I asked and he told me. I wanted…needed to know what Darius did to my grandson."

Sara sat there gripping her coffee cup.

"Heather is not to be trusted," seethed Francis. "She will do anything to protect Darius as well as herself."

"She told me some things," began Grissom.

"Lies."

Sara was taken aback by his coldness.

"Are you so sure? Grissom hasn't even told you and yet…"

Francis interrupted Sara, "I know fallen angels. I won't let either of you be deceived…again."

Sara left the table to stand near the window.

Grissom voice was soft as he relayed his discussion with Heather to Francis.

Francis was quiet.

"Francis, I've known Heather for years. I considered Heather a good friend…before this happened."

"She's fallen," Francis said quietly.

Grissom glanced up to catch Sara slipping into the bedroom.

She slumped down onto the bed, relieved to be alone.

Her hands wrapped around her midsection, wondering what it would have been like to feel life there.

The emptiness was overbearing as she sat there, too tired to rest and yet she felt as though she could sleep for days.

She stiffened when the door opened and closed.

"Sara, are you alright?" Grissom asked.

"I've been trying to forgive…Heather," she said.

"I'm not sure I've even done that," he admitted.

Her dark eyes glanced in his direction.

"Can you forgive me?" she gulped.

Grissom's mouth dropped as he quickly made his way to sit down beside her.

"For what?"

"For getting you involved in this mess. You don't deserve any of this. If I…"

"Don't, Sara. If there is anyone who needs forgiveness it's me."

"But…"

Grissom took her hand despite her objection. "MIne," he choked.

"All of this is my fault. I took the vial and…I've done nothing but cause…"

"Stop!" he pleaded. "If I had taken a risk years ago…none of this would have happened. Gracen would have remained in…the shadows…watching over you."

"I heard her Grissom. I heard what they did to her and…that could be me. I'm not sure I could…kill a child of my own…I understand what Heather was saying."

He pulled her into his arms and held her tight.

"I won't let anything happen to you," he whispered.

Sara vowed the same silently.

"I won't let Darius kill you. I'll give him what he wants before I allow that."

Note from author:

Well, now you know a little more about Heather...do you really consider her bad...now Darius...well, there is more to come about Darius.

Take care!