 | 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: References to events in "Fannysmackin", probably rate this part PG, this is unbeta'd and feedback is welcome.
Sofia immediately put her aviator sunglasses on to shield her sensitive eyes from the sun's rays. Sara pulled her sunglasses out as well and then followed Sofia to her car.
She frowned when she saw Sofia stop in front of a gray Mazda 6. Sofia went to the passenger door and opened it then looked up at Sara in expectation.
"What happened to your SUV?"
"The Denalis are definitely practical for C.S.I. due to the larger storage space required. In police work, you tend to rely more on speed than space and an SUV just wouldn't cut it." Sofia pulled her sunglasses down to the tip of her nose and Sara felt herself pinned by the blue gaze. Sofia was waiting for Sara to get in the seat.
"You don't have to do that.," Sara said as she slowly made her way leaning on one crutch. Sofia pushed up her sunglasses and smirked. "Sidle, get your ass in the car." Sara glared at Sofia but there was a hint of a grin ghosting her face. Sofia moved out of the way to allow Sara to lower herself into the seat. She took the crutch from Sara's hand and pushed it into the back seat and then shut Sara's door. Sofia slid into the driver's seat and started the car, putting up the sunroof while the car warmed up. It was early enough in the morning that they wouldn't need the air conditioning just yet if at all. Sara's eyes were drawn to Sofia's elegant hand as she gracefully shifted gears while pulling out of the parking lot. She took in the ashtray and frowned when she noticed something in it. Seeing several thin pieces of wood, she bit back a grin at the pile of toothpicks. The interior of the car was otherwise immaculate and well cared for. Sara glanced through her peripheral vision at the silent facade of the detective. Sofia had asked where she lived and that had been the extent of the conversation. Sara found herself missing the blonde's voice. She knew that the detective would often think out loud to help her solve a problem or her recall of a crime scene. She wasn't sure what the silence meant but she didn't have a good feeling about it.
Sofia drove in a daze through the streets of Las Vegas. She felt extremely vulnerable right now after running the emotional gamut in the meeting with the Sheriff. Then there was the issue of her mental stability. Sofia ate, drank, and breathed this job. She relished the opportunity to take murderers and rapists off the streets and now the future of her career rested in a psychologist's hands. Sofia recalled a conversation that she and Greg had during his hearing with Demetrius James' family. She had told Greg that he had nothing to apologize for because people outside of the job would never understand the demands or what they went through putting their lives on the line. Was she now supposed to trust that a psychologist would understand her decisions in trying to rescue Sara? She wasn't sure she could make sense of it herself. It was easy to accept that she would have done everything in her power had it been another C.S.I.'s life on the line. Literally risking her life without hesitation was another story. Natalie had made her the offer and she hadn't even flinched at it or given it any thought. Her only clear thought had been an image of Sara trapped under that Mustang cold, bleeding, and alone.
She wasn't entirely comfortable or accepting of the intensity of her emotions when it came to the stoic brunette. Sara was dating Grissom and Sofia had never been one of her favorite people though she had to admit that she had made progress with Sara. Sometimes she even felt like Sara enjoyed spending time with her.
"Sofia?" Sara's voice though not loud in volume cut through the silence and pulled Sofia out of her thoughts. She took her eyes off the road to glance at her passenger. Sara was fidgeting with a loose thread on her shirt and she wasn't looking at Sofia.
"Do you ever have trouble sleeping?" Sofia pursed her lips as she thought about the random question.
"Yeah, sure. It kind of comes with the territory.," she replied touching the badge clipped to her belt.
"Why do you think that is? I mean, some of us do and some don't." Sara thought of a few nights where she lay awake staring at the ceiling while Grissom peacefully snored next to her. She would get up frustrated and read old science journals and Grissom never once noticed that she had left the bed.
"I think for some of us it isn't enough that the bad guy gets caught. There are a million things that can go wrong at trial and no matter how you want to justify it, someone lost a child, or a lover, or a parent to violence or something worse. We look into the eyes of the family knowing that there is nothing we can say to help them. They have to walk around with a hole inside of them for the rest of their lives." Sara would have given anything to see those eyes right now. She knew they would have the appearance of a stormy day. Sofia's eyes were wonderfully expressive and alive.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound so morbid.," Sofia said, grinning apologetically.
"So what do you do when you can't sleep?"
"Depending on if it's day or night, I read, or go to the shooting range, or I run. What about you?"
"I read mostly. Sometimes I go on a cleaning binge and clean my apartment." Sofia smiled at the image of Sara curled up in a chair with a forensics journal.
"Of course sex also helps tire you out." Sofia glanced at Sara expecting to see that Sidle smirk in response but was instead met with a face turned to stone. Sara's lips were stretched in a thin line and her jaw was clenched.
"Not that I'm an expert in the relationship department or anything.," Sofia said trying to diffuse the situation. Sara jumped at the opportunity to turn the conversation away from her.
"So you're not seeing anyone?" Sara watched the detective's face for any sign that she was hiding something. It was difficult to tell with the sunglasses.
"No, it's been awhile." Sara arched an eyebrow in surprise. So she and Catherine weren't seeing each other. Then what was the locker room about and why did this information make her feel so relieved?
"How long is awhile?" They were currently stopped at a red light. Sofia took off her sunglasses and pinned Sara with her amused gaze.
"Is Sara Sidle asking about my love life?" Sara removed her sunglasses now.
"Actually I'm asking about your lack of one." Sofia turned away from the brunette's inquisitive gaze and focused back on the road. She was afraid she had pushed too far as the silence stretched but then Sofia spoke.
"There hasn't been anyone in a couple of years. I've dated but there's been nothing serious."
"I find that hard to believe.," Sara said before she could stop herself. Sofia said nothing, hoping that Sara would elaborate.
"You can dance, and Greg likes you which is really in your favor...." Sofia laughed at that. "You're smart, beautiful, and you have great bedside manner." Sara said this last part softly. She felt her face flush red and tried to cover it up with dry humor.
"So what's the problem, Curtis?" Sofia felt a warm feeling in her chest and some of the stress from the morning lifted away.
Sofia seemed to be considering the question carefully before answering.
"It could be the gun thing or the cop thing...."
"Or the smart ass thing or the intimidating thing.," Sara interrupted. They had pulled up to Sara's apartment building and Sofia parked the car before giving Sara her full attention. She turned towards Sara and had one elbow resting on the steering wheel. She stared into Sara's eyes and Sara froze as she fought to maintain the intense gaze. She gulped but didn't look away. Sofia's eyes were a dark blue and seemed slightly dilated.
"I'm intimidating?" Sara could see small lines appear around Sofia's eyes before her full smile emerged and then she relaxed realizing that the detective was teasing her.
"Now that was hot. You were a smart ass and intimidating all in one. All the men in a two block radius have headed for the hills.," Sara laughed, swatting Sofia's arm playfully.
"Yet, you're still here.," Sofia said, mockingly stroking her chin with her forefinger and thumb as if in deep thought. Sara laughed and her heart sped up at the same time. She found herself reluctant to be leaving the blonde's company.
"Sofia, do you um, want to come in for coffee?," Sara was looking anywhere but at Sofia so she wouldn't show the disappointment if she said no. Before Sofia could answer, Sara glanced up to the steps in front of her apartment building.
"What the hell?" Sofia looked in the direction Sara was looking and saw Grissom sitting on the steps. Sara sighed and then looked over at Sofia who had opened her door and exited the car. She watched puzzled as Sofia pulled her crutch out of the back door and then approached her door. Sofia opened the car door and held the crutch up. Sara began to swing her legs out when a hand appeared in front of her. She froze and stared at it battling with her instinct to swat it away in anger. She looked up to the face that held nothing but kindness and patience. Sara grasped Sofia's warm hand and felt the detective help her out of the seat as she put pressure on her uninjured leg. Once she had the crutch in her armpit she started to maneuver away from the door but not before squeezing Sofia's arm with her other hand in thanks. Sofia smiled and shut the door to the car.
Grissom had stood up from the steps and started to approach the two women. Sofia took this as her cue to leave. "I'd love to have coffee with you another time, Sara."
"It's a da- deal.," Sara caught herself at the last second. What the hell was that about? Sofia nodded to the approaching Grissom and then got into her car and drove away leaving Sara and Grissom awkwardly staring at one another.
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