Impact

Chapter 5

"We're getting closer," Greg says excitedly. "Make a left at the next light."

The beeps come more frequently as Catherine turns the Denali off the busy street. "How much further?"

"A hundred yards."

As they drive, Catherine's eyebrows start to furrow. She's been in this neighborhood before. "Greg. that apartment building straight ahead, isn't that-"

"Yeah," he says, looking perplexed. "That's where Sara lives."

They park in a guest spot, then get out of the car, looking around the parking lot. "There," Catherine says, pointing. "That's her car, isn't it?"

"Sure is. When would she have driven it back here? This makes no sense."

Approaching the building, they catch sight of a maintenance man who is working on the entrance door hinges. After they flash their badges and explain the situation, he leads them up to my apartment and unlocks the door for them.

The beeping of the GPS locator grows louder, and a pair of fuzzy blue dice attached to a key comes into view on the counter. Sighing, Greg switches off the device. "So much for the big break in the case."

Catherine is walking around the apartment slowly, deep in thought. "Greg, when was the last time you were here?"

"Right before her birthday, I guess. September."

"Notice anything different?"

And once he stops to look, he does notice. My bookshelves, once crammed tight with volumes, are nearly empty. My couch is gone, and my desk is completely bare.

Catherine goes into my bedroom and opens a dresser drawer, then another. They're all empty. "Greg."

"Nothing in the fridge," he calls from the kitchen. "And I mean nothing, not even ketchup."

Coming back into the living room, Catherine shakes her head in bewilderment. "Sara doesn't live here anymore."

o-o-o-o-o

Warrick is stirring now, his eyelids flickering. I let out another slow sigh, cold relief trickling down my spine. He'll be okay, I've decided. They'll find us soon, and Warrick will be fine.

Now that I can stop worrying about him, I'm letting myself start to relax. Breathing is getting harder and harder. Feels like I've got a tight belt around my chest. But the more I relax, the nicer it all seems. So what if I don't breathe as much. I'm so tired, anyway. Could really use a nap.

"Sara," Warrick groans.

About a month ago, I came down with a nasty strain of the flu. Grissom came home from work to find me lying on the floor of the bathroom, feverish and mildly delusional.

I think that might have been when I realized that Grissom really loves me. It's easy enough to love a woman when she's naked and limber in your arms, trying her damnedest to fulfill your every sexual desire. It's another story when she pukes on your feet and can't stand up without passing out.

He took care of me for nearly a week. We each called in sick separately, and he spent every day tending to my needs. Doled out the aspirin, cooked soup, did laundry, gave me baths. and the odd part is, I think he took pleasure in seeing how much I needed him.

"Sara?"

Warrick's voice brings me back to the present, and the pain. He doesn't understand, I need to sleep. Grissom would understand.

"Sara, answer me."

He sounds panicked. I should really respond to him. But I can feel myself starting to slide down a long chute into blackness, and something tells me Warrick's not going to follow me.

o-o-o-o-o

"Any news?" Catherine asks, as she and Greg walk into Grissom's office.

"No." Grissom looks haggard. The lines on his face have deepened, and his eyes are red-rimmed. "Where have you two been?"

"We went to Sara's," Greg says, sitting down across from Grissom. "I tried tracking her with that GPS keychain, but it was in her apartment. Meaning sometime during today, she drove her car home from work. We just can't figure out why."

"Sara got a ride to work this morning," Grissom replies, rubbing his face tiredly.

Catherine's eyes narrow. "From who?"

"From me."

"Oh," she says, then shakes her head. " Oh. Got it."

"Where'd you pick her up?" asks Greg.

"Greg." Catherine says tiredly. "They're living together."

She looks to Grissom for confirmation, and he nods slightly. "I didn't think it was relevant to the investigation."

Greg's just sitting there, stunned. "How long?"

"We, uh." Grissom clears his throat uncomfortably. "We've been dating a little over a year, and we've been living together since early October."

"Geez."

"Anyway."

"Wow."

"Greg."

"Wow."

Grissom stands, grabbing his coat off the back of his chair. "I'm leaving."

"Where are you going?" Catherine asks, her eyes widening in alarm.

He turns to look at her, and she's struck by the emotion in his gaze. "I'm going to find Sara and Warrick."