8. CSI on fire

"How comes people from night shift go rogue all the time? What is it with you guys that you can't take orders? Can't stick to the rules?"

"You tell me, as far as I remember you had the same problem." Sara shot back dryly. "I can remember at least one occasion, when you decided you don't have to stick to the rules. No, make that two, a second one just came to mind."

"Finn could have been fired for what she did."

"She did close the case."

"Sometimes it's not only what you did but also how you did it." Sofia sighed.

"I know."

"I'm glad you had nothing to do with this case, that you weren't involved."

"Why? Would you hate to pull my paper?"

"Yes." It was bad enough to investigate a member of her former shift, it would be worse to investigate Sara, who she met once a week after work.

"This guy and his friends killed god knows how many women, they raped them, buried them alive. She did the right thing, maybe not in the right way, but it was the right thing and she got him. It's a shame he doesn't get a trial, spends the rest of his life in jail then again, he could have afford pretty good lawyer, this way he won't get away."

"Since when do we approve with killing killer?"

"Since we know the world is better off without some people. That's why there's a death penalty."

"Then a judge and a jury have to make this decision and not a man, who was as guilty as the suspect."

"I agree on that."

"Good."

"Do you really just care so much about these things because you used to work with us? Or is it to keep your job safe? The less trouble we make, the less trouble you're in."

"I'd like to keep my job, yes, but I also want you to keep your jobs. Believe it or not, I care for you. With whom will I have drinks once a week when you're gone? I'd miss that."

"How about your boyfriend?"

"I have drinks with him, but sometimes you need other people around. People, who challenge you and your patience, ask questions only to see if they can annoy you."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." Sara laughed. Okay, maybe she tested sometimes how far she could go, what the blonde could tolerate. "To get back to the case: it was wrong of Finn to fly to Seattle without letting anybody know. She should have told DB, at least when she was there. It was clear he'd find out sooner or later. When we're passionate about a case we forget the basic rules sometimes. Some people can rattle your cage. Hannah West did that to me. Basderic too." Two examples, she didn't like to think of, but they became a part of her life.

"It's what they want because they know it's the only way they can make you make mistakes. When you don't make mistakes, they have no chance to win."

"He must have been good, he got away with multiple murder for a long time."

"His family has money, it's always harder to get rich people. We both know, it's possible to buy freedom for a time. You and me, they can't blackmail us, but even when we haul them to court, all it takes is a judge, who takes the money. Or a jury member."

"This is why I take more time off then I did in the early years, I need time to get away from these things, I need time to see the beautiful things in life."

"Which is good, it will save you from burning out."

"Our meetings help too. It's good to talk about the case with somebody who has a certain distance and still knows what I'm talking about, knows the problems we're dealing with."

"Thanks, I like our meetings too. Reminds me of the time we worked together. We were a damn good team, back in the days."

"We were." Sara grinned widely. "We kicked asses."