Retribution

Chapter: 6

Sara hesitated. Just wishing her worst nightmares weren’t about to come true. She was out of luck.
“In you go!” Kate pushed her slightly noticing her reluctance. “Now!”
Sara pushed open the door and it creaked heavily. Kate followed and closed the door behind her. Sara looked around the room and then she saw him. Lifeless on the floor, battered, bruised and unconscious. In the most uncomfortable position, his arms restrained behind his back.
She gasped and tears filled her eyes.
“Oh god..” she whispered wanting to run to him, hold him, but she dare not. What would happen if she again disobeyed this mad woman behind her?
Kate came up close behind her. Sara could feel her stale breath and shuddered. “Give me your hands Sara,” she requested. Sara turned to her confused but yet she held out her hands. Kate dropped a key into her cuffed palm.
“For him, and him only….you understand?”
Sara looked at the key. It was for the cuffs. She looked to Grissom then back at Kate.
“Don’t disappoint me Sara, you understand what I’m saying?”
Sara knew, Kate was allowing her to release Grissom from his chains, but not herself.
She nodded and replied in a slight “yes”.
The grin on Kate’s face was wide. She reached over and unclipped the rope from Sara’s neck and slid towards the door.
“You have one hour Sara, and one hour only,” she began to shut the door behind her, “Oh you may touch, and if your interested there are some medical supplies in the cabinet. She laughed and locked the door, heading back down the corridor in search of her man.
Sara watched her disappear and the instant she was gone she ran to Grissom. She knelt next to him, gently picking up his head and cupping his face in her cuffed hands. Tears running down her face.
“Gil! Baby can you hear me?” She chocked.
There was no response. He was still out cold.
“Oh god, what have they done to you?”
She reached over and unlocked his cuffs. His arms fell limply to his sides. She cradled him in her arms for a few minutes. Then Kate’s words hit her. “You have one hour!”
She carefully placed his head back on the floor and ran to the cabinet. Bandages, aesthetic, band aids, insulin, syringes, most things you would find in a doctors surgery. She picked up an empty container and filled it with water from the sink. Grabbing what she could from the cabinet she ran back to Grissom. She sat behind him and cradled his head in her lap. She gently stroked his hair. Avoiding the blood clots nestled between his greying curls. She popped a cloth in the water and began to gently wipe the blood from his face and wounds. Praying for his eyes to open. She could see a little blood on his shirt and began to unbutton it. Her gasp was loud when she saw his stomach and chest. Bruises everywhere. A small cut on his right side, which she knew were broken ribs. His body was burning with heat. She gently trickled some water on his skin, trying to sooth him best she could. Grissom jumped and his eyes flickered open. If he’d been healthy he would have shot to his feet at the sensation but he could hardly move, and just winced in pain.
Sara stroked his face. “Stay still,” she said continuing to attend to his wounds.
Grissom’s eyes met hers. She tried to smile but her face wouldn’t allow it.
“Sara…”
“Shhh,” she said taking one of hands and squeezing it tightly. “Give me 10 minutes ok? I need to patch you up, then we can talk…ok?”
Grissom nodded with his eyes and she continued. Sara did her best to attend to his wounds and make him feel more comfortable. She cleaned him, strapped his ribs and taped his cuts. She injected him with pain killers and pretty much used everything she could at her disposal to help his pain.
“There,”, she placed the last strip of tape on his forehead. “All done…how you feeling?” Stupid question and she knew it as soon as it came out of her mouth.
He sat up and leaned against the stone wall. It was cool and soothing. “A little better.”
Sara didn’t believe him.
He looked deep into her eyes. She was trying to be strong he knew that but her eyes gave her away. He reached across and gently stroked her bruised face. She held his hand in place and closed her eyes. Taking in his touch.
He had to ask…..”Sara….?”
She opened her eyes and looked at him. She could tell by the look on his face what he was thinking.
He continued “Did they…?” He bowed his head, he couldn’t finish the sentence. She put her hand under his chin and lifted his eyes to meet hers once more.
A silent “No…” escaped her lips and she shook her head, but she couldn’t help the reality of the situation “…not yet,” she gulped. A tear running down her cheek. Grissom reached up and wiped it away.
He wanted to protect her, tell her he wouldn’t let them hurt her, that everything was going to be ok, but he was helpless. The situation was bleak.
Sara knew he wanted to say something. Make her feel better.
“Sara I…..” He began but she placed a finger over his lips to stop him. He would only hurt himself if he made a promise he couldn’t keep.
“Don’t,” she whispered. “It’s ok.”
He sighed and again bowed his head. She took him gently in her arms and cradled him once more. Lightly rocking him from side to side. They stayed like this for while until Sara finally spoke.
“Any idea who these people are or what they want?”
Grissom shook his head. “No, but she seems to know me. Oh god!” His head shot up. “This is my fault, you are here because of me! Because of something that I have done. They are punishing you to punish me. It’s my fault!”
Sara put her whole hand over his mouth this time. “Baby don’t!” She was firm in her words. He silenced.
“How long do you think I’ve been in here?” Sara asked.
“Why?”
Sara hesitated. “She only gave me an hour Gil, then they will come for me….then…I….I don’t know what happens after that.”
“Oh god,” he whispered his eyes filling with tears.
He reached over and touched the collar around her neck. He knew it made her a prisoner but he couldn’t help the quick thought that she looked good in it. Stupid thought, he pushed it from his mind. He then reached for her wrists and gently stroked her cuts underneath the cuffs.
“How did I get uncuffed?”
Sara held out the key.
“Well take them off.”
“I can’t”
“Why not?”
“Because she said I could only use the key on you and not on myself.”
Grissom frowned. “Then give me the key and let me unlock you, she didn’t say I couldn’t use the key.”
Sara hesitated. “I don’t know, trust me, we don’t want to upset this woman she’s nuts. She specifically said I was to only use the key on you. She was very clear”.
Despite her words Grissom took the key.
Kate, watching from the unseen camera in the ceiling grinned. She looked at Bobby. “It looks like their hour is about to be cut short baby.” He licked his lips and followed her as she headed for her prey.
“Give me your hands Sara."
Again Sara hesitated. But then slowly held up her hands. Just as Grissom unlocked the cuffs their was a jangle of keys and the door burst open.
Sara’s head shot up “Oh no!” That was all she could manage before Bobby was pulling her from the floor.