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By: VegaWriters
Title: p.s. Me Too
Fandom: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation/The West Wing
Characters: Sara Sidle/Toby Zeigler
Prompt: #1; (097; Writer’s Choice – E-Mail)
Word Count: 2,403
Rating: Teen
Author's Notes: (1) The third in what will be a 100 part series. (2) Please note that I’ve tried to keep the information about the SF Crime lab as accurate as I can. Thank you to simplekndofgirlfor helping with some of the research on this one. If you are interested, here is the website for the actual San Francisco Crime Lab.
Disclaimer: Sara Sidle and Toby Zeigler are not my characters. They belong to CBS and NBC and all parties involved with the making of CSI and The West Wing. I make no money from this. Please don’t sue. Hire me instead.
Summary: I’ve spent half the night reading this. Did you know your e-mail was exactly 84 words long, including the two times your name got signed because of your automatic signature.
To: t.zeigler@whitehouse.gov
From: s.sidle@sfgov.org
Subject: Home
Toby,
Heya. Should I even be using your work e-mail like this? But it’s all I have …
Don’t know when you’ll have the time to read this, but I made it home safe. I’m actually e-mailing from work, and I’m about to miss assignments so I need to get going. I miss you already.
Hope that’s not too cheesy or anything.
~Sara
Sara Sidle, CSI 3
Crime Analysis Unit, Crime Scene Investigation
Hall Of Justice
850 Bryant Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
415-553-1169
To: s.sidle@sfgov.org
From: t.ziegler@whitehouse.gov
Subject: re: Home
Sara,
I’ve spent half the night reading this. Did you know your e-mail was exactly 84 words long, including the two times your name got signed because of your automatic signature. This also includes the address for the lab. But, I now know where you work.
I’m glad you made it home all right, but I miss you too. We spent two nights together and I miss you.
Be safe out there.
~Toby
p.s. tobyzachzeig@yahoo.com
Toby Ziegler, Communications Director
White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
(202) 456-1111
To: s.sidle@sfgov.org
From: t.zeigler@whitehouse.gov
Subject: Tuesday
Sara,
It’s been a couple days. I … didn’t know if … anyway. Hope you’re okay. I called and left a message; don’t know if you got it. I just wanted to check on you. Call or e-mail if you can.
~Toby
Toby Ziegler, Communications Director
White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
(202) 456-1111
To: tobyzachzeig@yahoo.com
From: saralizsie@hotmail.com
Subject: 24 straight hours and still no sleep
Hey you,
God, I’m sorry. I got wrapped up in this case and ended up pulling a triple and I just got home but I’m too tired to sleep. What we thought was going to be a simple breaking and entering turned out to be a double homicide – the first officers on the scene didn’t find the bodies. Nothing like opening a closet door and having a hand fall on you. Who trains these guys anyway? Seriously. I jumped so far in the air.
The guys at the lab could tell I got laid on the trip, by the way. Don’t worry; I didn’t reveal your secret identity. Especially since … anyway.
I should try to get some sleep. Call me this weekend … or hell .. .this week. Whenever you get a chance. If you want to. I know e-mailing is easier with our schedules.
Later,
Sara
To: saralizsie@hotmail.com
From: tobyzachzeig@yahoo.com
Subject: re: 24 straight hours and still no sleep
Sara,
Especially since … anyway. What? Call me.
~Toby
To: tobyzachzeig@yahoo.com
From: saralizsie@hotmail.com
Subject: re: re: 24 straight hours and still no sleep
Toby,
Especially since … anyway … I do want there to be something more to this than us both releasing some very needed pressure. But you’re in DC and I’m in San Francisco. We barely know each other. Do we really want to try for more over long distances? Especially when you aren’t even technically divorced yet? I’ll call you later – I’m off tonight. How is eleven your time?
Later,
Sara
To: tobyzachzeig@yahoo.com
From: saralizsie@hotmail.com
Subject: Friday rambling
Hey babe.
I have the morning off; I’m not due in until two. So, I’m bored and working through e-mails that I’m behind on. Well, I could be doing that. I’d rather e-mail you.
These stupid surveys go around e-mails all the time. I think we’ve answered a lot of these for each other already, but I can’t remember what I wanted to tell you while we were having sex and what we actually talked about.
Your Autobiography
Part 1: The Birth of You
Were you a planned baby?: Yes. My mother wanted another child.
Were you the first?: Second.
Who was present at your birth? My mother (obviously), and the midwife.
Were your parents married when you were born?: Yes.
What is your birth date?: September 16, 1971
Part 2: The Family
How would you describe your family?: Fucked up. Just … fucked up. I promise I’ll go into more detail at another time.
Siblings or an only child? One brother.
If you have siblings are you oldest, middle, or youngest? youngest
What are your siblings’ names?: Brian.
Which parent do you get along with best?: Neither.
What did you fight about?: Everything. Well, they yelled. I cowered.
Do you have stepparents?: Foster parents.
Part 3: The Friends
Do you have more than one best friend? I have Gil. Gil Grissom. He’s a forensic etymologist that a physics professor of mine introduced me to a while ago. He’s a mentor to me.
Who are your best friends? See above.
What do you like to do when you are together? We talk forensics.
Do you share the same interests?: Yes.
Which friend can you tell anything to?: You now officially know more than Gil does about my family so … well … it depends.
Part 4: Your Personality
How high/low is your self-esteem?: I hate questions like this.
Do you get depressed about things easily?: I’m too busy to get depressed easily.
Are you happy?: Right now, yes. If exhausted.
Do you live life to the fullest?: I’m happy and satisfied with what I do.
Part 5: Appearance
Are you comfortable with the way you look?: Yes
What would you change about your appearance if you could? My hair has a tendency to curl in strange directions, so I’d spend more time straightening it.
Do you have any piercing besides your ears?: No.
Describe your hair? Shoulder length and curly!
What cologne do you wear?: I don’t wear any, it interferes with the job. I do have a lightly scented lotion I like.
How do you dress? As casually professional as I can – linen pants and cotton shirts usually.
Part 6: The Past
Were you a strange child?: I was quiet and smart. You decide.
What did you use to love that you no longer do?: Climb trees.
Do you have the same friends?: From when I was a kid? God no.
Was there anything in your past that was traumatizing?: Pick any part of the first 18 years of my life. No, you aren’t getting more detail than that.
Part 7: The Future
What is your ambition? Supervisor. Possibly running my own lab.
Are you scared of growing old?: I’m more scared of being killed.
Do you want to get married? Not really … but … okay, this is one of those questions that I hope doesn’t make you uncomfortable.
Part 8: The Outdoors
Do you prefer indoors or outdoors?: Either. The lab can be confining though. I prefer to relax indoors.
What is your favorite season: I really like spring.
Favorite weather? Cool – but warm enough for a tank top under a sweater or something.
Do you like walking in the rain?: With the right person.
Part 9: Food
Are you a vegetarian?: No. In fact, I always have beef jerky in my kit.
What is your favorite food? I love a good steak.
What food makes you want to gag?: Those nukeable burritos
What is your favorite desert? Chocolate ice cream.
What is your favorite restaurant?: There’s this bar in DC I’m rather fond of now.
Are you a fussy eater? Not really.
Part 10: Relationships and Love
Do you think love is the best feeling in the world?: I don’t know. Honestly.
Do you believe in love at first sight?: I’m starting to.
Part 11: Experiences
What was one of your greatest experiences?: Graduating from Harvard.
What was one of your worst? Foster care.
Have you ever thought you were going to die?: More than once.
Have you ever suffered from depression? Um …
Okay, that’s it. Your turn I guess.
Talk to you later,
Sara
To: saralizsie@hotmail.com
From: tobyzachzeig@yahoo.com
Subject: Gone for a week
Sara,
I’m going to be going to Russia with the President and won’t be available until I get back next week. I’ll answer this then.
Miss you,
Toby
To: saralizsie@hotmail.com
From: tobyzachzeig@yahoo.com
Subject: I’ve never missed you more
Sara,
I’m sitting on the plane while I write this, I’ll copy and paste it into an e-mail later. Like that matters to you. The trip to Russia was a spectacular failure, as you might have read. The Russians aren’t ready for Democracy. They aren’t! They consider Democracy just standing on rooftops and yelling at each other. They consider free speech allowing a reporter to open his or her mouth with just one gun pointed at their head. Of course, everything that President Bartlet wanted to express was lost and fell on deaf ears. They’re holding elections again in a couple of years. Hopefully, we will get an actual reformer this time.
It’s late and it’s dark and in my mind I can feel your body up against mine, pressing into me. I miss you, Sara. I miss your laugh. I’m going to call you when we land – it’s been too long since we talked.
Yours,
Toby
p.s. I left that survey on the computer at home. I’ll answer it there.
p.p.s. What’s your favorite song?
To: Toby
From: saralizsie@hotmail.com
Subject: I’ll believe it when I read it
Toby,
Yeah, I believe you’ll answer the survey. I missed you this week, and I read how badly things went in Russia. I know it’s bad even if the Washington Post is saying bad things.
I’ve spent the week in court. It’s a jury trial and I’ve had three days alone on the stand trying to explain physics to a bunch of, I swear, high school drop outs. I’m going crazy. My sleep schedule is fucked up because it’s days in court and of course, I’ve spent half of the nights at the lab too. I have some required vacation time coming up though – if I don’t take it I am going to lose it.
Yes, that’s a hint.
Later,
Sara
p.s. Woodstock by Joni Mitchell
To: Sara
From: tobyzachzeig@yahoo.com
Subject: Please tell me you aren’t getting my hopes up
Take your vacation here. That’s not a hint.
It was so wonderful to hear your voice the other night, even if you do sound so tired. God … they work you too hard, Honey. Really.
When is your vacation? I’ll see what I can swing to get off or work from home. How long can you take? God, I want to see you again and watch you as I listen to you speak. I want to touch you, not just remember what your hands feel like on me. I can’t wait to have sex besides phone sex again.
Let me know. I’ll be waiting at the airport.
Yours,
Toby.
p.s. Andrea’s officially filed for divorce. I’m reviewing the papers and making sure everything is split evenly and then signing them. I want to be done with this mess.
To: Toby
From: saralizsie@hotmail.com
Subject: You doing better?
Hey honey,
Are you doing better than you sounded over the phone last night? Don’t hide from me, I know full well how much this divorce with Andi is ripping you up. I’m not worried about how you feel about me, I’m worried about how you are handling this and what she’s doing to you. Forgive me if I don’t like her. She’s a shrew and you deserve better. I hope that doesn’t mean you’ll go looking for better than me.
Anyway, I hope you’re doing better. I signed off for vacation time today – just a week, it’s all I have to take and I’ll be honest, being away from work for more than that might drive me insane. Adding to that, you can’t take more than a couple days, I know. I’ll be there from the 14th to the 21st of October, if that works for you.
Later,
Sara
p.s. I got the card. And the letter inside moved me to tears.
To: Sara
From: tobyzachzeig@yahoo.com
Subject: re: You doing better?
I’ll make the dates work.
I’m glad you got the card … I meant every word I wrote and I can’t wait to tell you in person. The countdown begins. I’m marking it off on my calendars.
Yours,
Toby
To: Toby
From: saralizsie@hotmail.com
Subject: Off to Vegas for a week. No, it’s not a vacation.
I’m heading to Las Vegas for a week or so to do internal investigation for the lab down there. I’ll call when I get there. I hate doing stuff like this, but it’s for Grissom, so I’ll do anything.
He’s still gay. Stop being jealous.
Later,
Sara
To: Sara
From: tobyzachzeig@yahoo.com
Subject: Vacation?
Can you still keep those vacation dates? I forgot to ask that last night in the excitement of you moving to Vegas.
Yours,
Toby
To: Toby
From: saralizsie@hotmail.com
Subject: Yes, Vacation
I’ll still be there. Grissom was fine with giving me that time off even if it’ll probably be unpaid. I sold the condo already, real estate is insane in San Francisco, and I’m just going to rent for now in Vegas. It’s easier than going through the selling process again.
I have to get back to packing. See you in just a few weeks.
Later,
Sara
To: Sara
From: tobyzachzeig@yahoo.com
Subject: (unknown)
We signed the papers today. I’m assuming you’re asleep … hell, I’m going to call you anyway.
To: Toby
From: saralizsie@hotmail.com
Subject: 2 Hours
Hey lover,
I’m getting on a plane in 2 hours and then in 4, I’ll be in your arms. You’re making me want to write better you know.
Yes, to answer the questions you left on my voice mail last night – Warrick still hates me, Nick is flirting with me, and Catherine confuses me. I’ll adjust though. The lab techs are fantastic. It almost makes me miss being one.
6 hours and then we’ll be together for a week. I’ll help you burn anything Andrea left behind and you and I can break in your new mattress. God I’ve missed you so much. I can’t believe it’s been as long as it’s been. How long? I just know that months have flown by and I have every e-mail from you saved. I’d save the voice mails too, but I can’t pull that one off.
See you soon. I need to get to the airport.
Sooner rather than later,
Sara
p.s. I do you know, but I want to see you before I say it.
p.p.s. You never did that survey.