Chapter 11
Tuesday June 15th, 2010
CSI Break Room
6:45 p.m.
"And this is the break room," Sara finished as she and the small group stopped by the doors of the break room. After everyone had gone into work around four that afternoon, at least that was when she had to wake Warrick after his pager went off, and the majority of the NCIS members staying in the suites left, Sara and the others sat around for a while playing twiddle-dee rings with manhole covers as Bertie described it. And after only an hour, they were bored enough that they were debating stealing the Playstation from the kids and giving it a shot amongst themselves...
At that point, she and the other two women looked at each other and shrieked before jumping off the couch declaring they had to do something...anything...and after threatening DiNozzo into submission, she had arranged for a tour of the lab for her 'family'. Luckily enough, at least one of the kids was a certifiable genius, and Bertie was thrilled for the chance to get away from the Playstation as well, something that was never as much his thing as it was Nate's and Aramis', so he convinced them that it would be fun and thus here they were.
"Hello," Warrick began, the first to look up from the table where dinner was in progress, along with going over the case. Everyone immediately shut their folders when they followed his line of sight.
"Hi! Sorry to interrupt, we were bored out of our minds and figured since we had the teenagers at our mercy we'd subject them to a science lesson of sorts. Plus Bree wanted to see the lab Linds kept talking about," Sara explained quickly.
"No problem," Gibbs answered as he looked over their heads to give DiNozzo a glare. "I was just heading over to check in with Abby who has been comparing notes with your Ms. Dickerson. While we got you a minute Sara, do you have any idea why you recognize those notes?" he paused as he stood.
Sara frowned before shaking her head. "I can't place it... sorry,"
"What notes?" Jill asked confused.
Gibbs glanced at the others before looking over at her. "Gantry left a series of notes. Sara thought she recognized the notes from somewhere."
"What were they?" Gilly asked glancing over at Sara. Sara in turn looked at Gibbs and the others in question.
"You aren't on the case; we can't stop you from talking about something from your memory." Gibbs offered as the CSIs looked up at him surprised.
Sara frowned before nodding. "Umm, okay let me think...'Tell me the words I never said. Show me the tears you never shed. Give me the touch. That one you promised to be mine'. And...'I need to see his face. I need to understand. Why you and I came to an end'. And...'Who lays with you at night. When I'm here all alone. Remembering when I was your own...' I can't remember anything else." she trailed off with another frown.
"Those are lyrics," Bertie spoke up as he stepped forward slightly. "From a Josh Groban song. You probably recognize it from the tape we sent of my last concert."
"Concert?" Greg asked curious.
"Bertie plays piano. He does little concerts for the family at holidays and such. We always send Sara a cassette tape," Billy explained.
"Ahh," echoed through the room.
"Do you know the lyrics by chance?" Sara asked glancing over at him.
Bertie frowned for a moment, and Catherine glanced over at Sara, wondering if she had just seen what she thought she did, before tossing the thought out of her mind as he began to speak. "Tell me his name I want to know, the way he looks and where you go. I need to see his face; I need to understand, why you and I came to an end. Tell me again I want to hear, who broke my faith in all these years. Who lays with you at night, when I'm here all alone? Remembering when I was your own. I let you go, I let you fly, why do I keep on asking why? I let you go, now that I found a way to keep somehow, more than a broken vow. Tell me the words I never said. Show me the tears you never shed, give me the touch, that one you promised to be mine, or has it vanished for all time. Then it repeats the chorus, and the rest is... I close my eyes and dream of you and I. And then I realize there's more to love than only bitterness and lies, I close my eyes," Bertie paused. "I'd give away my soul to hold you once again, and never let this promise end. I let you go; I let you fly, now that I know I'm asking why I let you go. Now that I found, a way to keep somehow, more than a broken vow."
"Interesting choice of music," Greg mused as Sara frowned before glancing over at Jill and Gilly.
"Very," she spoke softly before shaking her head. "Thanks, Kaddishel (Baby Son). At least we have that question answered," she continued looking over at Gibbs.
"Quite. Well, as I said, I'm off to talk with Abby. McGee, you're with me," Gibbs continued as he strolled past those gathered in the doorway, McGee trailing after him.
"So, what's new?" Greg asked as he looked at those in the doorway.
"What are you all doing standing in the doorway..." Nick continued as he shook his head. "Are you thirsty? Do you want something to drink?" he continued.
"Was starting to wonder if you all had lost your manners," Lindsey grinned as she walked into the room followed by Bree, and the others moved into the room in their wake, leaving Sara to lean in the doorway.
Mentally shaking her head, she forced herself to not concentrate on the lyrics she'd just learned, or their meaning, and instead focused on everyone in the room as they hesitantly began interacting. Nick and Greg quickly found a topic of conversation with Nate and Aramis about Playstation, while Bertie's comment on the lab had Hodges discussing equipment with him. Even Catherine was talking with Bree and Lindsey as Bill, Gilly, Jill, and Billy found a topic of conversation with Warrick and Grissom...a fact she found slightly disconcerting considering the four were the only people in the room who knew everything, everything about her relationships with the two men. The only person not really getting involved with everything was Liz. Frowning she decided to head over and see how Liz was doing.
"Hello, Gelibteh (Beloved)..."
Sara froze when she heard the whisper in her ear, and forgot to breathe when she felt the press of an even more familiar object in her back.
"How did you get in here?" she whispered, praying Kate and DiNozzo would return sooner, rather than later; Kate having gone looking for Gibbs before they even reached the break room, and DiNozzo leaving for the bathroom just after they arrived at the break room. Idiot probably found a cute lab tech and got distracted...
"Oh it was surprisingly easy. A simple ID saying I was with NCIS...I knew they'd be here after all," came the answer. "Now, in the room Rita, and don't do anything stupid," he ordered. When she didn't move immediately he continued. "After I kill you I can just as easily kill the majority of the rest of them Gelibteh (Beloved)."
Taking a deep breath she stepped into the room, moving out of the way as he shut the door before locking it, and he finally had everyone's attention.
"Thomas?" Jill spoke in shock.
"Hello, Kathy," Thomas Gantry replied with a smile. And everyone, other than Sara, had their first look at Gantry either for the first time, or for the first time in seventeen years. He was tall, with that Rabb thing Sara used to describe him. But his hair now had some gray at the temples. "Everyone please take a seat," he continued as they just stared at him. "Now!" he ordered.
"Why?" Gilly argued with a frown.
"Rita, would you kindly tell them why they should?" he asked with a smile and Sara swallowed when she felt the barrel of the gun press further into her back.
"Because he's got a gun," she answered evenly.
"And it is currently pressed against her back so if I pull the trigger, you'll all get a much better view of her heart," Thomas growled. Everyone moved rather quickly as they took seats, the four who knew him personally sitting between him and the children, blocking his sight of them.
"Alright, now that we're all nice and calmly seated, where's little Bree Anna?" he asked as he looked around the room. "Come here, Bree, don't be afraid," he continued when no one moved. "Now, Bree Anna," he added a moment later.
"Leave her alone, Thomas," Gilly began as she started to rise.
"Sit down, Cath," Thomas ordered as he pressed the barrel further into Sara's back causing her to grimace. Immediately Gillian did as told.
"It's okay, Mom," Bree began as she rose and moved around those seated before approaching Thomas and Sara, who was trying to tell Bree to not come towards them without actually saying the words, just speaking without her voice. Bree looked at her before looking away, and Sara closed her eyes knowing the stubborn girl wasn't going to listen to her.
"Good girl," Thomas smiled as he reached out with one hand to take Bree's before pulling her up next to Sara and moving the gun from Sara's back to Bree's temple so fast, they never had a chance to react before it was there.
"Now then Rita, in the bag by our feet, you'll find a number of rolls of duck tape. Kindly go and make sure everyone is not going to try and start a fight. Hands and feet," he continued. Sara looked at him a moment before glancing at Bree, who was looking at her surprisingly movement free as she just stared at her, fear in her eyes. Kneeling down she gathered the rolls of duck tape before turning and making her way over to the others, methodically taping their wrists together behind their backs and their ankles. She didn't look at anyone, until she reached Warrick, pausing to glance up at him as she taped his ankles before looking back down and moving on to the last of the group. Making her way back to Thomas and Bree, she waited to see what he would say next.
"Good, now, we're going to walk over there, and you're going to tape Bree up just like the others," Thomas spoke before nodding towards the other side of the room. Closing her eyes Sara turned and began to walk back across the room. For all her training, she couldn't use a whiff of it as long as Bree's life was in danger. Thomas suddenly pushed Bree away as Sara stopped and turned towards him, reaching out she barely caught the girl before they both looked up to find Thomas pointing the gun at Jillian. "Back to your seat Bree Anna, Rita, tape her up," he continued. Sighing Sara nodded before letting Bree move ahead of her and began the process of taping her wrists and ankles together as well, before stepping away and returning to his side.
"That's a good girl," Thomas smiled. "Come on, back to your seat. We need to have a little talk you and I. Don't forget, in the time it takes you to hit me a second time, I can shoot one of them," he added before she nodded and moved back over by the door.
It was then that she noticed the chair shoved under the doorknob, and the fact the lock had been broken. Turning back around, she looked up at him, remaining silent.
"God, Rita, what did you do to yourself?" Thomas shook his head. "You're thin as a rake, and this brown hair...you shouldn't have cut your hair or dyed it. It's not you," he continued, shaking his head. "What happened to my beautiful long dusty-haired Krassavitseh (Beautiful Doll)?" he frowned.
"Stop calling me those things," she spoke up with a frown.
"Don't tell me what to do, Rita," he ordered and she lowered her eyes, not wanting to make him angrier. "Sit, Rita," he continued as he pushed things out of the way to clear a space on the table. Raising her eyes to look at him once more she made her way over to the table.
"You're here, what do you want to talk about?" she asked after she had sat on the table. "Where's my son, Rita?" he asked moments later.
"What?" she asked shocked as she looked up at him.
"Where's my son?" he repeated.
"What son?" she asked.
"My son, Rita. You're son," he snapped. "Gedainkst (Remember)?" he added with a growl.
"Can you please not use Yiddish?" she asked softly after his demand of 'remember'.
"Why? You use to speak it all the time. You are the one who taught me, Rita," he countered. "Now, where is my son?"
"Vos ret ir epes (What are you talking about)?" she snapped as she looked up at him, lapsing back into Yiddish. A phrase she hadn't used in seventeen years since the night he nearly killed her.
"What am I talking about?" he asked with a smirk. "You know, I use to dream about you saying that statement. The way you said it last time...just like that," he continued with another smile. "I'm talking about my child, Rita," he growled as he glared at her. "The child you were pregnant with at the trial. My child, my son."
"You don't have a son," Sara argued softly before she nearly fell of the table as he backhanded her across the face. Bracing herself against the table she took a breath before raising her face to look at him.
"Don't lie to me, Rita," he spoke evenly. "Sit up straight, you're slouching like a peasant," he added. Glaring at him she took another breath before straightening. Seeing the look in his eyes she sat up straighter, crossing her ankles and placing her hands in her lap. Raising her head she looked directly at him, but remained silent.
"Now, let's try this again, Gelibteh (Beloved). Where is my son?"
"I don't have a son, Thomas," she answered before he backhanded her again.
"STOP lying to me, Sararita! You were pregnant, and I would never have a daughter. Gantry men only bear sons."
Looking up at him as she brushed her hair out of her face, she shook her head. "I don't have a son Thomas, I'm not lying," she answered softly.
Thomas seethed with anger for a moment before suddenly relaxing. "Alright then, I'll be the first to not have a son. Where's my daughter?"
"You don't have a daughter," Sara replied before gasping when she was suddenly yanked off the table and pulled up against him, her arm up in the air, grimacing when he pressed her hand backwards towards the top of her wrist.
"Damn it Rita, don't make me hurt you," he growled in her ear as he held the gun to her temple.
Meanwhile, elsewhere in the Lab...
"Gibbs? There you are," Kate began when she finally found him.
"There a reason you're looking for me Kate?" he asked as he looked up from what Abby and Mia were showing him.
"Just wanted to check in, see if there was anything you needed Tony or me to do. Sara's showing the others around the lab."
"I know, left them at the break room. Bertie figured out the basis for the notes."
"Oh," Kate frowned. "Okay then, well I'll go check on them, make sure they are surviving Tony," she continued with a slight shrug.
"I heard my name."
"DiNozzo, what are you doing?" Gibbs asked looking over at him.
"Hey boss, was using the head. This nice tech helped me find it."
"Blonde, Brunette, or Red?" Kate rolled her eyes.
"Red, gorgeous, sea-green eyes, tall..." Tony elaborated before getting hit over the back of his head. "Boss," he whined.
"You're supposed to be watching over people in our protection and you're flirting with some lab tech," Gibbs growled. "Abby, keep up the good work. You two, back to the break room, I'll escort you there so there's no chance of any diversions along the way," he added as he turned and made his way out of the lab, the two agents falling in step with him, and McGee hurrying to join them.
"What's going on in there?" Kate wondered as they approached the break room. Inside they could make out Sara sitting on the table as a man stood with his back towards the door; the others were sitting around the room.
"Shit," Gibbs whispered as he rushed towards the door. "Damn it!" he growled as he tried to open the door before they saw Sara be pulled from the table, only to have her knees give out as the man bent her wrist backwards. "Get Brass and whoever else is around. That's Gantry," he ordered as McGee turned and ran one way, DiNozzo going the other.
"Damn door is locked," he continued as he fought with the door. Thomas looked up and at them before smirking and turning back to Sara who was grimacing with pain.
"What's going on?" Jim's voice demanded as he came running down the hall. "Oh shit," he continued as he stopped dead in his tracks at the sight before him.
"How the hell do we get in there?" Gibbs demanded before they saw Sara say something and Thomas suddenly pressed her wrist completely back and let go as Sara sunk to the ground, her arm falling next to her side.
"Door only locks from the inside, we need to get someone here to remove the lock."
"Can't we break the glass?" Gibbs asked as Sara slowly rose to her feet, cradling her injured wrist.
"After the explosion back in '03, we had bullet and shatter proof glass put in," Brass sighed.
"Brilliant," Gibbs growled.
"DiNozzo, I need you to go get Abby," Gibbs ordered as the man came back while Jim grabbed his cell phone and started making calls.
Inside the Break Room...
"Once again Rita, where is my child. And stop lying to me," Thomas ordered as she looked up at him. "I don't know if you have a child or not Thomas. But I know that I do not," she answered softly.
"Stop it," Warrick yelled as Sara fell to the floor once more, another backhand.
"Shvag (Shut up)!" Thomas yelled back as he looked over at him. "I'll deal with you later," he added with a growl before turning back to Sara. Kneeling down he looked at her as she struggled to sit up once more. "We had a vow, Gelibteh (Beloved). Made before God. Tsum glik, tsum schlimazel (For better, for worse)," he continued as he reached out and brushed the hair out of her face. "The vow was broken, but I will not be denied my child. Nor will I let you continue to break our vow."
"Ver tsuzetst (go to hell)," Sara growled as she looked at him before struggling back to her feet, looking down at him. Mamzer (Bastard)...Geharget zolstu veren (drop dead)!" she continued as he rose and stared at her.
"Vos iz (what's the matter)?" he asked softly before his expression hardened. "You think you've outgrown me, that I don't control you anymore...your wrong, Gelibteh (Beloved)!" he yelled before hitting her once more and she stepped backwards from the force, but didn't fall as she whipped her head around to glare at him.
"Gai tren zich (Go fuck yourself)!" she shot back before he raised his hand once more. She could hear a drill being used on the doorknob, and people yelling on the other side of the door. If she kept his attention long enough, they could get inside before he could turn on the others. This time she fell back against the wall, getting the wind knocked out of her. But she didn't back down. "Gai in drerd arein (Go to hell)!" she growled before he started to stalk towards her.
"Stop it! Leave her alone Gantry!"
Thomas whirled around as Bertie managed to stand somehow, pointing the gun at him. "Big mistake boy," he growled as he cocked the gun.
"No!" Sara yelled as she moved towards him and with her good hand she pushed up on his arm so the bullet went through the ceiling.
"What do you think you're doing!" Thomas roared as he spun around.
"Oh dear God," Bertie whispered as they watched Sara fly into the table, only to have it topple over her.
Before Thomas had a chance to move the door was forced open by Brass and Gibbs, both raising their guns and pointing them at Thomas. "Drop it!" they yelled. Thomas looked at them before raising the gun towards them, only to fall to the ground when he was shot in the leg...both of them.
"Clear!" Gibbs cried when they got the gun away from Thomas before Gibbs slugged him, leaving him unconscious. Mia, Jacqui, Archie, Bobby, and Sophia poured into the room, rushing over to help the others out of their bindings as DiNozzo and Kate took up posts by Thomas' still form while Gibbs and Jim moved to try and get to Sara.
Once everyone was untied, they rushed over to try and see Sara, scared to death when they saw Sara's unconscious form, surrounded by plates of half-eaten food and papers strewed everywhere, caught up in the legs of the table as blood dribbled down the side of her temple.
"EMT, out of the way," Jim yelled when he saw the workers, luckily they had called for two sets...one set went to Gantry while the other made their way to Sara. Thomas was removed from the room first, DiNozzo going with him to make sure he stayed in NCIS custody. The EMTs got Sara on the stretcher and started to rise as Warrick moved after them.
"I'm going with you."
"Family?" one asked.
"Yes," he answered seeing their nod. Procedure was the only reason they asked. The group made their way from the room as everyone watched in shock.
"We're going to need statements. Why don't we get them out of the way and have each of you looked over by EMTs before we go to the hospital?" Jim suggested as O'Riley arrived.
"Sure, whatever," Jill agreed. "Look over Bree," she added glancing over at her niece.
Jim nodded before they led everyone from the room; shutting the door and sealing it off until those assigned the case came to work the scene. No one noticed Liz was missing until it came time for her statement, two hours later as she was the last one left.
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010
Somewhere in Las Vegas
6:15am
She'd lost track of time. All she knew was that she'd been walking for hours. For how many, she couldn't tell you, all she knew was that it was now dawn and the sun was rising over the horizon. Going for walks was something she did when she needed time to think or just be on her own, she'd just never taken one this long before. She didn't even know where she was walking to, having set off with no set destination in mind when she left the lab; just knowing she needed to be anywhere else but in the way. She very nearly got into her Tahoe but knew that if she did, she'd soon find herself at the airport and getting on a plane to who knows where. She knew she couldn't just leave Las Vegas without talking to Warrick first. She at least owed him that much after everything he'd done for her over the past three years so she bypassed her car and took to the streets on foot. Probably not the wisest or the safest move on her part but then she wasn't exactly concerned with what happened to her at this point. She knew that, regardless of what anybody said, her life here in Vegas these past few years had just been too good to be true and that eventually it would have to come to an end. She had just hoped, foolishly it seemed, that that 'end' would never come. She thought that she'd found herself a home...a family, here in Vegas and yet once more she found herself an outsider looking in. A long familiar feeling, just one she'd thought she would never have had to feel again. She was wrong. No matter how many times people tried to tell her differently, things would never change for her. She was, and always would be, the outsider.
After walking for a while longer she found herself walking along the strip in amongst the tourists. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she never noticed the looks of the people that she passed nor the concern in the voice of the girl at the desk of the check-in counter. It wasn't until she was knocking on the door that it dawned on her where she was.
/-/Oh God. I shouldn't be here. This was a mistake,/-/ she thought desperately after her hand dropped from knocking on the door. Breathing a sigh of relief when no one answered the door right away, she turned and started back down the corridor towards the elevators.
"Liz?" called Nick a few moments later, stopping her in her tracks.
"Nick I...Oh...Oh God, Nick, I...I'm sorry, I..." Liz stuttered after she turned around to face Nick only to find him standing in the doorway of his hotel room in nothing but a pair of silk pajama bottoms. "I shouldn't have bothered you, so...I'll uh...I'll just go."
"Liz, it's alright," countered Nick in concern. "We've all been worried about you," he continued, holding out his hand towards Liz, growing concerned when he caught a glimpse of her wrists.
"Are you sure?" asked Liz worriedly. "I don't want to bother you. I didn't mean to wake you..."
"Liz really, it's alright. I wasn't sleeping anyway. Please come in," urged Nick.
Liz looked away from him for a moment, making Nick worry that she was about to run, her arms wrapping around her middle even tighter then they had been, giving Nick an even better look at one of Liz's wrists as her movements pushed one sleeve back slightly. After hesitating for a few moments, Liz nodded and walked back over to where Nick was standing in his doorway, where he stepped back and let her into his room.
"Listen Liz, why don't you go and take a bath or a shower and I'll order us something to eat," Nick suggested after shutting the door behind them. "There's a robe on the back of the bathroom door that you can use," he said after Liz had nodded. Once Nick heard the shower running he picked up the phone and called room service. By the time Liz emerged from the bathroom half an hour later, the fruit plate and first aid supplies Nick had ordered from room service had already arrived.
"Feeling better?" Nick asked when Liz walked into the main part of the room. He couldn't help the smile that escaped when he got a look at Liz s standing there uncertainly in his robe, which was a little on the big side for her.
Liz nodded in reply as she tucked a few strands of wet hair behind her ear before dropping her hand back down, only to unknowingly start scratching her wrists.
"Come here," Nick said as he walked over to Liz, stepping up behind her and putting his hands on her shoulders before steering her over to the bed and sitting her down on the end of it before picking up the first aid supplies and pulling a chair up, sitting down in front of her. "What happened Liz?" he asked worriedly.
"Nothing," replied Liz, pulling the sleeves of the robe down over her hands.
"Please talk to me, Liz," pleaded Nick. "Please tell me what happened."
Liz sighed and dropped her eyes. "I can still feel it and I can't get it off," she told him barely above a whisper as she let Nick take her hands and pull the sleeves of the bathrobe back revealing her wrists that she had rubbed and scratched raw since having the tape removed well over twelve hours earlier.
"The tape?" Nick asked worriedly. "Oh Liz," he sighed quietly when she nodded. He was heart broken to discover that not only were Liz's wrists rubbed and scratched so that they were dark pink but there were sections where she'd actually drawn blood.
"Nick, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to come here it's just..."
"Liz, don't apologize for coming here. It's alright, I promise you," reassured Nick as he set to work on one of Liz's wrists. "Everyone's been really worried about you."
"Yeah right," mumbled Liz, looking off out the window.
"Seriously Liz," countered Nick as he turned her face back to his before turning his attention back to her wrist. "You just up and disappeared last night. You even left your car at the lab."
"I went for a walk. I do that when I start feeling like this."
"Feeling like what?" pressed Nick as he moved onto tending Liz's other wrist.
"Like I don't belong. Like I'm on the outside looking in," replied Liz, her voice barely above a whisper.
"That's not true Liz."
"Isn't it? Sara doesn't need me around anymore now that those other ladies are here."
"That's not true, Liz," argued Nick. "Sara is not one to abandon those she considers her friends and from what I've seen of the two of you since I've been here, there is no way she'll ever walk away from the close friendship the two of you have," he told her as he finished wrapping her wrists in protective gauze.
"I don't know Nick..."
"Trust me Liz," assured Nick as he caressed Liz's cheek with his hand before leaning in close, stopping mere millimeters from her lips. "Do you trust me?" he asked, the words whispered over her lips. When Liz nodded, Nick closed the barely there gap and kissed her.
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010
Tangiers Hotel and Casino
7:25pm
Liz woke quite a few hours later, disoriented, not quite sure where she was. Everything came crashing back down around her when she felt the bed shift and an arm snake across her mid-section. Turning her head she came face to face with Nick, who was still sleeping soundly. Careful not to wake him, Liz climbed out of bed and made her way into the bathroom, where she'd left everything when she'd showered that morning. After dressing quickly, Liz stepped out of the bathroom, checking to see that Nick was still asleep, which thankfully he was, before leaving the room, leaning back against the door for a moment when it closed behind her, not seeing the other people in the corridor.
"Isn't that Liz?" asked Catherine, stopping Grissom with a hand on his arm when she saw the blond woman leaning against the door just down the corridor from them.
"Isn't that Nick's room?" countered Grissom as they watched Liz push off from the door and walk off down the corridor in the opposite direction to where they were standing.
"Think we should knock?" wondered Catherine when Liz disappeared around the corner.
"I think we'll just let Nick meet us at the hospital when he's ready," replied Grissom as he led Catherine down the hall past Nick's room to the elevator.
Unfortunately, for all Grissom and Catherine's decision to let Nick meet them when he was ready, it didn't quite work out that way. Less than five minutes after their sighting of Liz in the hallway, both received pages from Warrick requesting they come to the hospital, non-emergency, but please come. The same page was sent to Nick, Liz, Hodges, Greg, Mia, Jim, and Sophia.
The nine arrived in various stages; the Studers and Quinns already there with Lindsey and Ricky, who had come to be with her as she refused to leave until Sara, woke. A decision shared by the Studers and Quinns, causing half the waiting room to be turned into a makeshift residence for the time being. The day before, everyone had been forced to remain working, other than Liz who was missing. And that morning Warrick had calmly called everyone and told them that Sara was 'asleep, her wrist was set, and they were monitoring her for any head trauma, but for now they might as well get some sleep. She'd be the first to yell at them if they worked themselves to death'. Now, they all had to wonder why they were being asked to come to the hospital. Warrick had said he'd contact them when she woke up...did this mean she was awake, but if that was the case, why didn't he just say so...
Liz was the last to arrive, though not with an exceptional time gap to raise suspicion. After she found a seat a bit away from the others, Billy rose and spoke with a nurse before the woman disappeared, and a few moments later Warrick came into the room. He looked exhausted, and was wearing the same clothes, but he sunk into a chair without a word, a soft sigh echoing from his lips. "Hi guys,." he began before looking up at them.
"Hey. How you doing?" Greg asked as he leaned forward. Warrick merely shrugged in response.
"She awake?" Catherine asked concerned. It had been twenty-four hours plus since the incident.
"No, she's still unconscious," he sighed once more.
"Unconscious?" Lindsey repeated shocked. "I thought she was asleep. You said she was asleep," she accused slightly before he looked over at her.
"Sorry Linds, I didn't want to worry you guys," he explained before looking down at his hands. "I just finished talking with her doctors," he began after a moment.
"Does she have a concussion or...?" Grissom asked concerned
"Not as far as they can tell, at least nothing that should cause any after effects. If she doesn't wake in a few days then they'll begin more tests," he explained softly.
"What aren't you telling us?" Lindsey asked with a frown.
"I just found out Sar was here last week."
"Yeah, she was here Monday," Lindsey agreed.
"No, she was here Friday too," he countered softly.
"What?" echoed through the room, except for Liz, the Studers, and the Quinns.
Glancing over at Liz, he saw she was just sort of staring off into space, he knew she hadn't said anything simply because she either wasn't completely there, or couldn't say anything, which left Warrick wondering why the people from Sara's past weren't surprised. Looking over at the two couples he raised an eyebrow. The two men were the first to look away, as the women just looked back at him.
"That's why you're here, isn't it?" he asked after a moment. "You knew about the appointment."
"If it's any consolation, she planned to tell you over the weekend," Gillian offered softly.
"She only called us because of our relationship, and she knew it was time all of us met. Of course the truth about our pasts weren't going to be told, but that was then and this is now," Jill continued.
"What's going on?" Greg asked confused.
Warrick sighed softly before looking around the room. "Monday's appointment went longer than any of us assumed. It turns out that Sara was here all day, she didn't go home and crash like we thought..." he began before sighing again. "Her results came in Friday, she told her doctor she'd be back on Monday, but she needed the weekend to take care of things."
"What sort of things?" Mia asked concerned.
"Telling us being first I suppose. Then work..." Warrick trailed off. "Her doctor only told me her condition because she had a standing HIPPA waiver in her file for me..." pausing he looked off towards her room. "Sara has cancer," he continued after a moment.
"WHAT!" everyone yelled before quieting down when the nurses turned and stared at them. "Are you sure?" Lindsey asked after a beat.
Warrick nodded. "Stage Two ovarian cancer," he continued softly as he looked back at his hands. "It's spread to her cervix, that's why her pap came back abnormal. It also explains the back and hip pain, as well as..." he trailed off, not wanting to mention the fact she'd been in pain whenever they made love. Those who knew knew; those who didn't...well they'd know soon enough. "One of those times that her insane hatred of doctors really came back to kick her in the butt," he continued with a frown.
"What are her options?" Catherine asked softly.
"When she wakes up they'll make a final decision. But it could include surgery, radiation, chemo, other options, or a combination..." he trailed off once more.
"Hell," Greg whispered as he sat back and Mia wrapped her arms around his waist, leaning on him.
"At least she's got the chance to fight it though," Lindsey pointed out softly and everyone looked over at her. "Think about it, she's got cancer. It doesn't kill as often as it used to. And she managed to survive last night, thanks to Bertie no doubt, but she did. She wouldn't have lived through that just to die of this."
"She's got a good point," Jillian agreed as she looked over at Warrick. "Sara had no intention of letting this control her. Wheezie made that clear when she told me. Yeah, Sara freaked initially, but who wouldn't. She's too damn stubborn to let cancer take her or her chance at being able to raise her child," she finished with a shrug.
"True," Warrick agreed with a nod before frowning. "Something doesn't make sense from last night," he began looking at the group. "Why was Gantry so insistent that Sara had a child, his child?"
"Oh that's nice, just visibly shut down right in front of us," Hodges quipped after they saw the four adults close up, their expressions going blank.
"What are we still not being told?" Warrick demanded as he leaned forward. "He said she was pregnant at the trial...was she?" he continued softer.
"She can kill you later you know," Bertie began as he leaned forward. "Since they aren't talking, I will. You do need to know. I'm the only one in the group that knows the whole story of the past so..." he trailed off with a half shrug.
Seeing his parents and aunt and uncle turn to stare at him in shock he shrugged once more. "They do," he reinforced. Shaking their heads they sat back, letting him tell the story. "She was pregnant at the trial."
"So Gantry does have a kid?" Nick asked confused.
Bertie shrugged. "After the trial, Sara came to Kentucky with Mom and Dad," he began as Warrick closed his eyes, things falling into place.
"You were born only a few months after they went to Kentucky," he repeated from Sara's story.
"Exactly," Bertie nodded as he sat back and Warrick opened his eyes to look at the younger man as everyone else caught on.
"Hell," Catherine whispered, remembering how Sara had said she knew what it was like to have someone else raising your child. She knew more than Catherine had realized. Then she remembered her thought from the night before.
"Last night, I knew there was something familiar about the expression you had when you were trying to remember those lyrics," she began looking over at Bertie who smiled.
"Mom and Dad have been telling me for years that I have her mannerisms. And I got her build," he shrugged slightly.
"And Sara's hair, at least color," Jill smiled.
"I can't imagine Sara with dirty blonde hair," Greg mused with a smile.
"Oh you should have seen it, as long as we knew her, up until the change; she always wore her hair long, to her waist. And she could do these really cool things with her hair. Wicked hairdos," Jill laughed.
"Why didn't she raise you?" Warrick asked softly.
Bertie frowned before shaking his head. "She was always afraid of how I would have turned out if she'd been the one to raise me. She had those deep issues with her past, and she wasn't sure that she'd be able to keep from making the mistakes of her youth in the relationships department you know? Besides, Mom and Dad were married; they were settled in their lives. It seemed like the best option."
"You seem to know a lot about her thinking on it..." Sophia pointed out carefully.
"I've known all my life that Sara was my biological mother. It wasn't something discussed outside the family, or even with Nate, Aramis, and Bree..." he paused as he glanced over at them. "Sorry." They just looked at him, still trying to process the latest revelation. "But I asked Sar when I turned thirteen why. She explained everything to me over the net. While not as great as in person, net was how we communicated," he shrugged once more.
"So is Gantry your father?" Jacqui asked concerned.
"I don't know, in all honesty," Bertie shrugged. "There are two possibilities as to who my father is," he continued as he looked down at his hands.
"So, out of curiosity, what is your full name? I mean are you really a Sidle, or are you a Studer?" Lindsey asked with a smile.
"Legally I'm a Studer; legally I'm Mom and Dad's son. There never was an adoption. They're listed as my birth parents," Bertie began with a smile. "But when I turned sixteen I had my name legally changed with their knowledge. I was going to surprise Sara with it when I graduated..." he trailed off with another smile. "Anyway, my full name is Gilbert Nathaniel Jacob Studer. I added the Jacob because it is Sara's birth name, and her family name. Our Jewish name as we jokingly call it in the family."
"You're Jewish?" Lindsey asked with a smile as Warrick looked over at Grissom, Grissom just stared at Bertie in shock.
"Yeah, Jewish heritage passes through the mother, even though Mom and Dad aren't Jewish, I was still raised Jewish. They made sure of it for me. A bit confusing for poor Aramis, but such is life," he continued with a smile as he looked over at his 'brother'.
"Do you know who your other option as a dad might be?" Nate asked with a frown.
"Yeah," Bertie nodded looking at him. "He doesn't know, so..." he shrugged.
"That might not be true anymore, Love," Jill spoke up as the teens noticed everyone was glancing between Bertie and Grissom.
"I need to take a walk," Grissom spoke softly as he rose. "Would anyone like some coffee?"
"No thanks," echoed around the room and Grissom nodded as he rose before leaving the area.
"It's not you," Catherine began quickly only to have Bertie wave a hand.
"Trust me Ms Willows, when you have a life similar to that of my family, and my own...nothing really fazes you anymore, as long as it doesn't involve the near death of anyone in your family," he added with a frown.
"God, Sara's got a seventeen-year-old son...anyone else suddenly feel very old?" Greg asked shaking his head. "Greg, I have a seventeen-year-old child," Catherine pointed out looking over at him.
"Yeah, but you've always had one, and you are older than us," Greg argued. "She's the youngest of the pre-Ecklie night shift, and she's got a kid not that much younger than the rest of us babies."
"Babe, you're thirty-five. You're not a baby anymore," Mia countered.
"And she's only going on forty next year; she's not that young herself. It's not like Sara was sixteen when she had him or something," Bree argued.
"Okay then, it's late. None of us have eaten. Why don't we go get something to eat," Gilly spoke up, giving her daughter a look that said shut up Bree Anna while you're ahead.
"That sounds like a plan," Warrick agreed. "You guys don't have to stick around. I'll call you as soon as she wakes," he continued to the others.
"Deal," Greg nodded. "Besides, we got to get our butts back to work."
"Sadly," Mia agreed.
As everyone went their separate ways, and Catherine went off to make sure Grissom was doing alright, Nick moved over to sit next to Liz.
"Liz, I think you should have your wrists looked at while we're here," Nick said quietly.
"I'm fine Nick. I don't need to see a doctor," replied Liz as she rose to her feet.
"Liz wait," Nick said grabbing a hold of Liz's hand only to accidentally brush over one of her wrists, causing her to hiss in pain. "You need to see a doctor Liz. You're wrists are bleeding again," he argued quietly, trying not to draw too much attention.
"Nick, really, I'm fine."
Hearing Liz hiss in pain, Warrick made his way over towards them concerned.
"No Liz you're not," he countered standing up next to her and taking her hands in his, lifting them to show her the small blood stain on the gauze on her wrists. "You need to see a doctor."
"Liz..." Warrick began concerned. "Girl, please. Just humor us," he continued softly as he looked up at her face.
"Fine," sighed Liz. She knew she couldn't argue with the both of them.
"Thank you," Warrick smiled. "I'll get a nurse," he continued softly before moving to get one.
"Nick this really isn't necessary," argued Liz quietly.
"Yes Liz, it is," he countered with a quick glance in the direction Warrick had disappeared. "I did what I could this morning but Liz; your wrists are a mess. You need them taken care of properly, by a doctor."
Warrick popped up with a nurse, and Liz was led to an exam room, leaving the two men in the waiting room. "What's going on?" he asked softly as he looked over at Nick.
"Her wrists are rubbed raw, to the point of bleeding actually," replied Nick.
Warrick just looked at him a moment before closing his eyes in realization. "The tape."
"The tape. She said she could still feel it on her wrists this morning, that's why she'd scratched her wrists until they were bleeding. I treated them as best I could with what the hotel could supply," explained Nick with a shrug.
"Damn," Warrick sighed softly as he sunk into a chair. "You think our lives can get any more screwed up in forty-eight hours?" he asked as he looked up at Nick.
"That's a good question," commented Nick as he sunk into a chair next to Warrick. "Sara is going to need to talk to Liz when she wakes up. She was not in a good way this morning."
"Sara is going to be doing a lot of talking when she wakes up," Warrick agreed softly. "I'll make sure she gets in before the majority of the others," he added with a sigh.
"That would be a good idea unless Sara wants to lose her friend."
"Sara couldn't deal with losing her best friend Nick. Liz was the first person she trusted outside the group that was left, the first person she let in after we pulled her back from the abyss. If she loses Liz... On its own, but especially on top of all this...I don't think anyone could bring her back again," Warrick looked away. "Damn it man, I never wanted to see her back there, and she was already teetering before the mess at the lab yesterday. This on top...I don't even know if she'll stay on this side as it is."
"When I finally managed to get her to stop apologizing for showing up at my door and open up, Liz said that she felt like an outsider looking in. That she doesn't belong here anymore. I did my best to convince her otherwise but I think only Sara will be able to truly get through to her," Nick told him.
"Then I hope to God Sara wakes up soon," Warrick sighed once more. "I pray she wakes up period," he whispered more to himself.
"You and me both man. You and me both," agreed Nick.
"Hey," Nick said quickly getting out of his chair when he saw Liz standing hesitantly in the doorway. "What did the doctor say?" he asked quietly.
"He cleaned my wrists with some kind of antibiotic soap and put some sort of cream on my wrists before rewrapping them. He wants me to clean them and rewrap them every other day or so after I shower. I need to get these filled," she said holding up some pieces of paper. "They're for the soap and the cream. Only problem is I can't manage it on my own."
"Don't worry about it. I'll help you," Nick said brushing her hair behind her ear.
"I better go check on Sar," Warrick began softly as he rose, not sure he wanted to interrupt any moment they might be having. "Take care of yourself girl, get some rest okay? And no work unless you absolutely feel up to it," he added giving her a look. She could be as bad as Sara when it came to losing herself in work.
Liz nodded as Warrick passed her before turning back to Nick, her eyes never quite meeting his eyes. "Can you drive me into the lab?"
"Liz, Warrick just told you that you weren't supposed to work unless you feel up to it. I think you should take him up on that. Take the night off. We can manage without you. The last thing I want is you in here next to Sara because you burned yourself out," urged Nick.
"Nick, I know what Warrick said but I also know that I can help with the case. I need to help with the case, for Sara's sake. If it's the last thing I ever do for her, I want to be there when this guy goes down," argued Liz. "Besides, my car's still at the lab and I think Jim might be a little upset with me for disappearing last night like I did."
"Alright." agreed Nick reluctantly. "I'll drive you to the lab so that you can give your statement but after that I'm taking you home, understood?"
Liz nodded in reluctant acceptance before allowing Nick to escort her from the hospital waiting room.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
CSI Crime Lab
9:20pm
Nick led Liz into the building, taking her to the break room, the door having been fixed at some point during the day. "Why don't you stay here Liz while I go find Brass and we can get your statement out of the way and get you home?" Liz nodded before sitting down in one of the chairs, curling her legs underneath her as Nick kissed her head and walked out of the room in search of Jim.
"Where the hell did you come from? And what's up with this going through walls act?" DiNozzo asked when he walked into the room and saw her, no real malice in his voice but he was glaring at her for the heck of it.
"I'm here now so what difference does it make," replied Liz quietly, not lifting her eyes from where they were fixed on her hands.
"None, just curious." he shrugged before sinking down into a chair nearby. "How you doing? Can't imagine it's been easy on everyone..." he trailed off glancing over at her. "Coffee?" he continued immediately.
"No, thank you," replied Liz barely above a whisper as she hoped Nick would hurry up and find Brass so she could get this statement over and done with before the whole lab ended up in the break room with her as she didn't know if she could deal with that at the moment.. They needed to be focused on Sara, not her.
"You sure?" Tony asked glancing over at her.
Liz nodded before turning to glance out the break room window, breathing a sigh of relief when she noticed Nick and Jim heading their way.
"Okay then, well, I'll leave you be. But no more disappearing on us all right? You raise too much of an uproar when you do that, Tony smiled before ducking out of the room.
"Can we make this quick Jim?" asked Nick as he went to stand behind Liz, putting his hands on her shoulders. "I want to get Liz home so she can get some rest."
"Sure thing. Hey, doll, how you doing?" Jim asked softly as he sat down across from Liz.
"I've been better," she replied quietly.
"We all have," Jim agreed softly. "Okay, doll, let's get his out of the way, alright?"
Liz nodded in agreement as Nick rubbed her shoulders supportively.
"Okay, can you tell me, in your words, what happened Tuesday June fifteenth, around seven p.m. in the CSI Break Room," Jim prompted as he turned on a tape recorder and let her speak.
"Nick, Catherine, Dr. Grissom, Hodges, Warrick, Greg and I were having dinner in the break room and discussing the case when Sara showed up with the Studers and the Quinns. Sara was showing them around the lab and they made a stop in to say hi. Sara was standing in the doorway, leaning up against the jamb. Suddenly Sara stepped into the room and when she stepped to the side that's when we saw Gantry for the first time. He called Bree Anna over and held a gun to her head to make sure Sara would cooperate. He then had her incapacitate us by taping our wrists and ankles together," explained Liz as her hands went unknowingly to her wrists where she started scratching at her bandages, causing Nick to reach over and pull her hands apart before stepping around the side of the chair, perching on the arm and taking a hold of one of Liz's hands in his to stop her from unknowingly removing her bandages and making her injuries worse.
"After Sara had everyone bound he had her bind Bree Anna in the same manner before he had her sit on the table in the middle of the room. He started questioning her about his child, demanding to know where they were. Sara was adamant that there was never any child. When she continued with this answer Gantry started getting more violent. He'd been hitting her pretty badly but he ended up pulling her to her feet before breaking her wrist. He then threw her across the room, where she crashed into the table and had it land on top of her. I don't remember much after seeing Sara fall to the floor."
"That's okay, Liz," Jim nodded as he wrote a few notes down. "If there is anything else you can think of, anything at all, don't hesitate to call me. And unless there is anything else, I think we can end this here," he continued looking up at her. When she didn't say anything he smiled before turning the tape recorder off. "Okay, doll, go on and get out of here. You get some rest and take care of those wrists," he continued softly as he glanced down at her bandages.
"Thanks." replied Liz quietly before looking at Nick.
"Come on Liz, let's get you home." suggested Nick as he helped Liz to her feet, nodding at Jim before leading Liz from the room.
"Hey Nick, can I talk to you for a minute?" called Catherine when she saw the two making their way down the hall. "Why don't you go on ahead and wait for me at my car," suggested Nick as he handed Liz the keys.
"Sure," replied Liz quietly taking the keys from Nick and making her way back out of the building.
"What is it Catherine?" asked Nick turning to face her.
"I want to talk to you about Liz." replied Catherine. "Be careful Nick. Don't start something you can't finish."
"My relationship with Liz is none of your business Catherine and I would appreciate it if you stayed out of my business," instructed Nick, a hint of coldness back in his voice, before turning and following after Liz.
Half an hour later found Nick and Liz back at her apartment. Nick hung around long enough to make sure that she had everything she needed. "Call me if you need anything," he told her kissing her gently on the forehead.
Liz nodded and watched as Nick made his way towards the door. "Nick wait," she called out. "Please stay," she pleaded, against her better judgment. She knew she was playing with fire by asking him to stay but she just couldn't stand the thought of being alone right now. "I...I don't want to be alone."
"It's alright Liz," soothed Nick as he walked back over and took her into his arms. "I'm not going anywhere." They stood there while Nick held Liz for a few minutes before Nick led Liz into her bedroom where he laid down on the bed next to her and held her close. It wasn't long before both of them were sleeping soundly in each other's arms.