Author: gij Title: In The End Feedback: I will beg if I have to. Please? to gilibij@yahoo.com Distribution: Ask and you shall receive. Honestly. Rating: Still with the PG-13. I don't think I'm capable of writing harsher... ok, that's a lie. Just not in CSI just yet. Disclaimer: I don't own them, but if anyone from CBS is bored and un- busy enough to actually be reading this, I think they should sue me just so they have something better to do. Like work on more CSI stuff. :D On the other hand... Jorja Fox is MINE and I am willing to fight for her. In The End (2/3) Arriving outside Sara's apartment, I fumbled for my keys. I was glad she was on the bottom floor – it meant I didn't have to negotiate any steps while rooting around in my bag, always a positive. I had finally located them when a sudden thought stopped me. Dropping to a knee, I looked closely at the lock on her front door. No scratches, no marks, no signs of forced entry. I released a breath I hadn't realised I was holding in a long sigh of relief. Whatever trouble she was in, it was at least self-imposed. I let myself in and headed straight for the bedroom. I'd left her in bed there, it made sense to start from there again. As it turned out, I didn't need to look any further. She lay sprawled out, face down on the mattress. Moving closer to the bed, I noticed absently that she had replaced her shirt from the night before at some stage. Despite the warm weather, she had the covers drawn up to over her shoulder blades. I climbed onto the bed next to her, more worried than I cared to admit. She was here, and she was alive, but that in itself was something to worry about. When did Sara ever sleep to the point of missing work? Forget that, when did Sara ever sleep? Using instincts developed as a mother, I put a hand gently on the back of her neck. She was warm – almost too warm, but that could be an effect of all the blankets over her. My hand had to be cold compared to her skin, but she didn't move away. "Sara?" My voice lingered in the air in a way that struck me as decidedly creepy. The only movement in the room came from the gently bobbing head of the orchid Sara kept in her bedroom window. With an emotion born of irrationality, I scowled at it. I leaned over her once more, the silence starting to bother me now. Sara hadn't moved since I entered the room, and that too was starting to scare me. Moving to one side as best I could, I tugged her shoulder lightly. She rolled easily but heavily onto her right side, resistance nonexistent. Her breathing hitched for a moment, then restarted in the slow pattern I'd heard since I entered. With one hand, I nervously checked her pulse. "Sara, sweetie, you're starting to scare your girlfriend." I murmured self mockingly. She didn't answer. Her pulse was around fifty-five, which while low, wasn't entirely unusual. She was asleep, and how much more relaxed could you get than that? Still, the result bothered me. Feeling stupid, I knelt over her again to peel back her eyelid and check for a response. When her pupil barely contracted, that was a fair reason for me to freak out, and I did so. Grabbing my cell phone where it was clipped to my belt, I dialled 911. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I was vaguely aware of it when I was lifted out of my warm bed and placed on another, harder surface. I moaned softly as cold air hit my skin and was temporarily comforted by a gentle hand on my cheek. I lost some time after that, wasn't aware of anything for quite a while. I remember realising I was in some sort of vehicle by the noise it made and the movement around me, but I honestly had no comprehension of what was going on or where I was. One clear memory I have is off Catherine's hand in mine. She was knocked aside by paramedics when she touched my cheek at the start, but she followed after them, and the first chance she had she was holding my hand all the way. I was pretty out of it, I doubt she even knew I was aware of her presence, but she never let go. I lost more time after that. I wasn't aware of anything until I woke up staring at a white ceiling with an IV in my arm and an oxygen mask on. Oh, and my stomach still hurt. That sucked.