 | 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: There is swearing and cigarette smoking ahead and definite flirting...if i had to rate it I'd say pg-13 right now. As usual this is unbeta'd and feedback is welcome. There are also references to season 5 and the movie "Silence of the Lambs."
4 a.m. secluded corner of CSI building
Sara took out a match and lit a cigarette. She slowly exhaled a bluish cloud of smoke and looked up at the star-filled sky. It was easier to see them in this corner of the building where the lighting was lower. She reached down with her right hand feeling the reassurance in the firearm at her side. She found that she couldn't leave her apartment without it anymore. It was as if Natalie Davis was lurking behind every corner. Sara knew that the psychotic woman was currently heavily medicated in a maximum security mental facility but it did little to satisfy her sense of justice. Natalie had been found incompetent to stand trial and was confined to the mental hospital until she became more lucid. To Sara, it just felt like knowing that an injection is coming and gritting your teeth waiting for a needle that never enters.
Grissom had told her that they had gotten through to Natalie and rescued her but for a man as detail-oriented as Grissom was, it just felt like there were pieces missing, like everyone was holding something back. Grissom had suggested she go back into therapy but Sara didn't think she could deal with someone else poking around in her head. She had barely agreed to see the departmental shrink and that was only because she had to in order to return to work. She had said whatever she needed to get back to work. She had some digging to do because something just felt off about the whole explanation.
Sara began to shiver as the wind picked up slightly. The nights were growing cooler this time of year and she had neglected to bring her jacket. Sara heard the door off to her right squeak as it was slowly opened and turned towards the sound. She knew that she was hidden from view of the door but she heard footsteps walking in her direction. Her hand went immediately to her gun while the other dropped the cigarette and waited for the intruder to show themselves.
Sofia walked into what little light there was in Sara's hiding place and held her hands up at seeing Sara's gun pointing at her.
"Jesus Sidle, I know I got caught dancing on the job but you don't have to shoot me for it."
Sara exhaled and put her gun away. "Sorry Curtis, you scared the shit out of me." Sofia walked closer to Sara carrying Sara's dark brown leather jacket in her hand. She wordlessly handed it to Sara. Sara stared at the detective for a moment before shrugging the jacket on. Sofia glanced at the gun worriedly but said nothing. Now was not the time.
"How did you know I was out here?"
Sofia touched the side of her nose. "Just followed my senses."
"Fuck.," Sara mumbled. "Guess the jig is up." She pulled another cigarette out of the pack and lit it. Sofia grinned in amusement at the brunette's cursing.
"I wanted to see if I could give you a ride home later. Greg said he has an appointment this morning." Sofia came to stand next to Sara and leaned back against the building with one knee bent and her foot against it. Sara always marveled at how the blonde could look so fluid in whatever movement she was engaged in. Sofia grasped the cigarette out of Sara's hand and smirked as Sara's jaw dropped when she took a drag.
Sofia shut her eyes and let the smoke fill her lungs as the nicotine shot into her body with a jolt. She handed the cigarette back to Sara.
"You think you're the only one that has had a problem with these?" Sofia pulled out her box of toothpicks and held them up for Sara to see.
"I went through one of these every two days when I first quit. Thought I was going to get splinters in my tongue."
Sara laughed at the mental image of the detective with tweezers trying to remove the pieces of wood.
"It's easy to fall back on old habits when the world gets turned upside down.," Sofia said, looking at Sara knowingly. Sara nodded but stayed silent. The two women finished the cigarette, passing it between them in silence and enjoying the momentary quiet. Sofia had refrained from asking Sara if she was alright because she knew that Sara had probably been bombarded with inquiries already. She could also tell that the brunette was not alright based on her current behavior.
"Can I ask you something?" Sofia looked over into curious brown eyes.
"Sure."
"What is that slight accent you have that fades in and out?" Sofia blinked in surprise. She had not expected that.
"I'm sorry that was too personal."
"Sara, your lips have been against my neck. I think we've moved beyond acquaintances.," Sofia said without thinking. She could have smacked herself in the head as she saw Sara's blush even in the low lighting. Sofia attempted to put the flustered woman at ease. "I hesitated out of surprise at the question. We've worked together for three years and you've never asked me anything that wasn't work related."
Sara didn't know what to say. It was true that she had kissed the detective's neck even if it was in jest and it had been completely out of character for her. There was something frightening about being impulsive around someone but Sofia seemed to bring it out in her and she was reluctant to push it away. However, she wasn't about to let Sofia get away with making her blush when there were two people involved in the incident.
"I don't recall you running away in horror and if anything your pulse was so fast I could feel it against my lips." Sofia felt the blush in her face and all down her neck but kept her face calm with the exception of an arched eyebrow.
"Well, one does have to act the part when scaring ignorant nursing techs."
"Admit it Curtis, I was pretty damn good for a chick." Sofia smirked at Sara. Pretty damn good period.
"British.," Sofia said simply. At Sara's puzzled look she elaborated, "My accent is British."
"How do you do that?," Sara said shaking her head.
"What?"
"Answer a question but leave a whole lot of mystery behind it."
"I'll tell you what. I'll answer your questions if you answer mine. Quid pro quo, Clarice." Sara smirked at the imitation. "If you tell me you want fava beans and a nice Chianti I'm outta here." Sara found herself blushing for some reason at the idea of Sofia being a cannibal.
"Oh that's right, you're not a meat eater.," Sofia teased. Before Sara could reply, both of their cell phones beeped with text messages. They both pulled them out and realized that their conversation was over for now.
"We'll continue this in a few hours.," Sofia said putting her cell phone in her pocket. At Sara's puzzled look she continued, "You, me, car, ride home."
Comprehension dawned on Sara and she laughed at the detective's monosyllabic answers. "Alright cave lady, sounds good."
Sofia laughed and Sara hadn't seen anything that beautiful in a long time. Her whole face lit up. She noticed for the first time that Sofia had a dimple on her left cheek.
"If I were a cave lady I would have clubbed you over the head and drug you to my car by your hair."
"Actually prehistoric man was the hunter and the women were gatherers.," Sara said as she hobbled and Sofia walked towards the metal door.
"Not this cave lady.,"Sofia said, holding the door open for Sara.
Sara shook her head. "A chivalrous cave lady. Now I've seen everything."
Jim Brass' office 4:30 a.m.
Jim Brass nervously paced across the thin carpeting in his office. He had texted Sofia fifteen minutes ago and she had replied that she was on her way but he hadn't seen her yet. He wiped the sweat from his palms on his pants and looked at his watch again.
"Where's the fire, Jim?" Sofia leaned against the doorway casually.
"Hey, Sofie." Jim smiled but to Sofia it appeared strained as if he had a large weight pressing down on him.
"How's the shoulder?" Sofia flexed the part in question and flinched a bit. She no longer required the sling and she had regained most of her range of motion but it was still a little sensitive.
"It's fine." Brass nodded but wouldn't look Sofia in the eye.
"Wanna tell me what's going on?" Sofia took in the sweat on Jim's brow and the fact that he was pacing when she walked in. Her hackles went up as she waited for a response.
"The Sheriff wants to see us in his office at 6." Sofia frowned.
"Regarding?"
"I'm not sure but Ecklie is in on it and I don't like the smell of it."
"Fucking Ecklie.," Sofia muttered. Jim knew that Sofia hated Ecklie even more than he did. Ecklie had demoted Sofia unfairly because she wouldn't lie about Grissom's competency or his team's.
"I still have to meet up with Nick so we can narrow down a suspect. I'll see you at 6." Brass nodded and Sofia left his office. Ecklie had completely derailed her good mood from earlier.
CSI Break room 4:30 a.m.
Sara walked into the break room surprised to find it occupied by the whole team. Grissom was standing by the coffee machine wiping the lenses of his glasses. When Sara entered, he put the glasses back on and addressed everyone in the room.
"Okay, Greg and Warwick, you guys are getting a hit and run out on Boulder highway." Greg and Warwick both grumbled in irritation. It was almost time for shift to be over and another crime scene meant they might get tied up.
"Nick, you need to rendezvous with Sofia about your case because she will be unavailable at 6." Nick nodded his understanding but did not question the statement.
"Sara, I'm sure that Nick could use your help with processing." Sara glanced over at Nick who smiled at her encouragingly.
"Catherine, you're with me." Sara and Catherine both glanced at Grissom in surprise at this announcement. Grissom caught Catherine's eye and shook his head. Catherine nodded and knew she would have to wait for an explanation until later.
Sara remained sitting as everyone else moved around her. What were Grissom and Catherine working on? Why was Sofia unavailable? Something strange was going on and Sara never could resist a good puzzle. Sara blinked in surprise as Nick snapped his fingers in her face to get her attention.
"Sara, you okay?" Nick's face was concerned as he bent to look at Sara more closely.
"Yeah, sorry. I'm fine." Sara got up to follow Nick to one of the evidence rooms. Whatever was going on, Sofia had promised her a ride home and maybe she would figure it out then.
|| Part 1 || Part 2 || Part 3 || Part 4 || Part 5 || Part 6 || Part 7 || Part 8 || Part 9 || Part 10 || Part 11 || Part 12 || Part 13 || Part 14 ||
