 | ShatterStorm Productions
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| ShatterStorm Productions
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Disclaimer: "CSI: Crime Scene Investigators," the characters, and situations depicted are the property of Jerry Bruckheimer Television, Alliance Atlantis, and CBS Productions. This piece of fan fiction was created for entertainment not monetary purposes. Previously unrecognized characters and places, and this story, are copyrighted to the author. Any similarity to real persons, living or dead, is coincidental and not intended by the author. This site is in no way affiliated with "CSI: Crime Scene Investigators," CBS, or any representatives of Jorja Fox or Marg Helgenberger.
Author's Notes: Timeline: after Living Doll, references to Season 6 episodes, some mild violence in this part, swearing, unbeta'd. Feedback welcome.
1 week later Crime Scene
Sara pulled the Denali onto a street corner near the crime scene. She shut the engine off and sat for a moment with her hands on the steering wheel. "Feels good doesn't it?," Catherine said from beside her. Sara smiled and nodded. Her ankle was now free of its binding and Catherine had taken pity on her and allowed her to drive to the crime scene since it was only a short drive from the lab. "Feels great." Both women exited the vehicle and unloaded their heavy silver cases from the back of the Denali. Sara's ankle was still a little weak but she was determined to work through it.
Brass and Sofia were standing next to the yellow crime scene tape comparing witness statements between them. Both paused to smile at the approaching C.S.I.s. "Hey guys, what's up?," Catherine asked, setting the heavy case down at her feet. "An anonymous call came in that there was a body in this abandoned warehouse. We cleared the scene and there is no I.D. near the body.," Brass said, scratching his head. "Has Dave arrived yet?" Catherine's inquiry was marked by the arrival of the medical examiner's van. Dave hopped out in his head to toe blue uniform and tried not to stumble as he approached the group. "Hi all.,"he said, cheerfully. Everyone nodded to the assistant medical examiner.
Sara's eyes were drawn to Sofia's face while the others were talking to Dave. The detective really was a beautiful woman. She wore her hair down tonight even though the wind was blowing lightly and their were strands of it haphazardly sticking out. Sara thought it made her look more wild and it created a pleasant flip in her stomach. Sofia was wearing black slacks and a shirt the same shade of blue as her eyes. It made them even more piercing which Sara had not thought possible. As if feeling the private inspection, Sofia met Sara's gaze and was pleased when Sara didn't look away. A slow smile formed on her face when she took in Sara's ankle. Sofia raised her eyebrows as if to ask how it felt. Sara moved one hand slightly back and forth in a so so gesture. Sara pointed to her own cheek while looking at the blonde. Sofia gave a thumbs up in response. The cut on her cheek had scabbed over and the swelling had gone away. Catherine covertly watched the nonverbal communication with interest. These two could be like oil and water but there were times that Catherine had to admit the two made a great team. They were especially talented in interrogations. This however, was personal interaction and it intrigued Catherine how the two were subtly communicating without saying anything. She wondered how long this had been going on. She was no fool when it came to observing people. She had figured out the day after it had happened that Grissom and Sara broke up. It was only three weeks later that it started to become common knowledge and people would bring it up to her in conversation. Catherine wondered if Sara and Sofia realized the depth of their connection. She could feel the intensity of it from where she was standing and felt her face blush when she thought of the two of them finally acting on it. It was not she conceded, an unattractive image. Both of them were beautiful in different ways. "Cath, are you ready to get started?" Catherine pulled herself out of her thoughts and focused on Sara's face looking at her questioningly. "Yeah, let's go." Catherine saw Sofia smirking at her out of the corner of her eye. She purposely lagged behind until the blonde was beside her. "You don't miss anything do you?," Catherine teased. "Not much.," Sofia softly replied although she had no idea what had kept the older woman so preoccupied. "Neither do I.," Catherine said, glancing at Sara before returning her eyes to Sofia. Sofia kept her game face on but there were hints of a blush in her cheeks. Enjoying the reaction that she had provoked in the detective, Catherine walked to catch up with Sara who was determined to make it to the scene without stopping to rest. Sofia wordlessly jogged up to Sara and retrieved the heavy case from her hand. Sara's immediate reaction was to glare at the blonde but it did relieve the pressure on her ankle so she sighed and nodded thankfully at Sofia.
"Listen you two. It's pretty nasty in here so I wanted to give you fair warning.," Sofia said, looking at both Catherine and Sara. "Has anyone but you and Brass been in here?," Sara asked. "Just us.," Sofia replied. Sara sighed in relief. Sometimes the biggest contaminants to a crime scene were other cops or emergency medical personnel. She trusted Brass and Sofia implicitly. Catherine and Sara both put booties onto their feet to prevent their tread marks from showing up on the warehouse floor. There wasn't much light so both pulled out flashlights and began to look around. "We'll have to get some more lights out of the truck.," Catherine said as she tried to make out objects on the floor. "I'll grab that for you.," Brass volunteered. Catherine tossed him the keys to the Denali and he left. Sara pointed her flashlight onto the floor over to the right. "I've got possible blood over here." She pulled a swab out of her kit and watched the color change as the phenolphthalein revealed the blood. Catherine shined her light a bit beyond Sara and froze. "Oh my God, Sara."
The body was hanging by large metal chains that were wrapped around the victim's wrists. Sara took in the carnage with a detached eye as she took out her camera and began to photograph the scene. Brass had arrived with the extra lighting and Sofia moved over to him to help him set it up. Catherine examined the blood spatter on the wall and the pools on the floor. The victim had clearly been tortured. She had numerous gashes all over her body from some sharp instrument. Catherine started placing markers by the blood drops that Sara had found earlier and Sara continued photographing the body. "Okay Dave, your turn." Sara stepped away from the body as Dave walked closer and began examining the body. Sofia stood out of the way and watched the two women work with a synchronicity born of years of working as a team. Sofia kept her face impassive but in reality her skin was crawling. The coppery smell of the blood in the room was overwhelming and the knowledge that the victim probably suffered a horrible death only served to anger her.
"According to liver temp she's only been dead for two hours.," Dave said as he removed the thermometer. Sofia and Brass glanced at one another in acknowledgment. The anonymous call had come in around that time. "He wanted us to find her.," Sofia said. Sara's eyes met Sofia's and for a moment Sofia thought she saw a hint of the anger that she was feeling. Sara broke the gaze and returned to processing.
A few hours later, the group retired to their respective buildings and the scene was closed off to the public. Sofia put the finishing touches on some paperwork and was about to head out for the day when Brass appeared. She tiredly smiled at the older man as he plopped down into a chair across from her. "Nasty case." Brass was not a man to make small talk so Sofia patiently waited for him to say what he needed to say. "Did they ID the victim yet?,"she asked. Brass shook his head. "Sara is processing the chains and the victim's discarded clothing and Catherine is working on the blood spatter to try and piece it together." "I should probably rendezvous with them before I leave." Sofia filed her paperwork away in a cabinet and started reorganizing things on her desk to give Brass time. Brass seemed to fidget a little in his chair as he watched the blonde move about her cubicle-like office space. "Sophie, I wanted to let you know that the Sheriff informed me that you've been cleared by your psychologist for duty." Sofia froze and gave Brass her undivided attention. She knew that her sessions had seemed to be progressing but had no idea that she had passed muster with the good doctor. She closed her eyes and sighed in relief. "You're a hell of a detective, Sophia.," Brass said with a smile. "Thanks, Jim," Sofia smiled back, "Your support has really meant a lot." Jim's face still looked troubled. "Sophia, I...." He finally met the blue gaze across from him. "I'm really glad that you're still here. I know it's been rough around here for you since the Davis case." Sophia nodded at the understatement. Rough just didn't seem adequate in covering it. "It'll take more than Natalie Davis to put me out of commission.," she replied. Brass stood up and patted Sophia's shoulder. "That's one of the things I like about you, Sophie. You're resilient as hell." "Alright, Jim that's enough." Sophia playfully pushed Brass out the door. "Go home and get some rest." Brass laughed and allowed the blonde to push him out the door before she followed suit.
Sophia watched the lab activity around her as people hurriedly scurried around to their respective rooms and tasks. It was like watching an ant farm with every ant doing its part for the greater good of the colony. The night shift was slightly more relaxed though no less diligent. She passed by Grissom's darkened office and walked into a low lit evidence room to see her favorite brunette bent over pieces of clothing. "Hey, are you and Catherine planning on getting any rest?," she asked as she walked up to Sara. Sara jumped a bit at the sound of another voice in the room but didn't take her eyes off of the bloodied evidence. "Cath already took off. She had to meet Lyndsay for breakfast." Sofia took in the rigid posture and firm set of Sara's jaw as she methodically applied adhesive to gather any trace left on the clothes. "It's getting late, Sidle. Are you camping out here?" Sofia had meant it teasingly but seemed to elicit no response from Sara. "Something like that.," was Sara's clipped reply. "I could bring you something to eat.," Sofia tried as she lightly placed her hands on Sara's shoulders. Instead of relaxing, Sara's shoulders stiffened even more and Sofia immediately released them. "I'm not hungry.," Sara said, still not looking at Sofia. Sofia felt a stab of pain in her chest at the response to her touch but tried to remain cheerful. "Well I'm going to head out then. Try to catch some sleep later." Sara barely acknowledged her exit with a wave and Sofia wondered if she had done something to put the C.S.I. off but couldn't think of a single thing during the shift. Maybe Catherine teased her like she did me and she couldn't deal with it. Sofia couldn't imagine Catherine purposely trying to alienate Sara though Sara was a fiercely private individual. She tried to shake off the uncomfortable feeling as she walked into the sunlight and imagined her warm bed and cat waiting at home.
