Affliction

Chapter 8

Jim’s face paled and he swallowed hard.

“Where is my son!?” Sara shouted. Panic evident in every syllable as it quaked shakily from her lips.

Grissom grabbed her, afraid she was going to run to Brass and beat it out of him.

“Someone broke into your house. Claire’s been shot and we don’t know if she’ll make it.”

“Jiiiiiimmmmm!” Sara screamed.

Brass swallowed hard once again. “I’m sorry. We don’t know where he is. Someone took him.”

“No! God, no!” Sara fought against Grissom’s grip as he pulled his arms more tightly around her. His face turned white. His heart raced. His body numbed and the only thing that broke him from his trance was the fact that Sara had begun punching him in the chest trying to break free from him. She was frantic. He tightened his grip and wouldn’t let go.

“Sara don’t, please don’t.” He begged. “Please! Think about the baby.”

“Oh god! That psycho’s got our son!”

Grissom continued to hold her close until she finally stilled in his arms. Tears filled his eyes as his wife’s seeped through the cotton of his shirt. He felt so lost, so helpless. How could this have happened? After everything they had been through. Their nightmare was beginning again! Grissom placed a tender finger under Sara’s chin and lifted her head. He cupped her face softly in his hands, looking deep into her eyes. “We will find him. I promise you. I will not let her hurt our son, Sara. I promise. I’ll do whatever it takes but I will get him back.”

Sara sniffed hard and shakily wiped away her tears. “What are we going to do?”

Grissom looked over to Brass and Nick. “We need to get home.”

“There’s a flight in 2 hours.” Nick said.

“I’ll go pack.” Sara pulled away from Grissom and quickly headed for the bedroom.

“Sara?” Grissom called after her, but she ignored him and disappeared into the bedroom. Grissom bowed his head. His whole body cramped. He felt devastated, useless and he wanted his son. His watery eyes looked back to Brass and Nick. His mouth opened but no words would come out. He turned and headed towards the bedroom.

“I’m so sorry, Griss…” Nick choked.

Grissom stopped for a brief second but then continued without a word.
He slowly walked into the bedroom, his heart breaking when he saw Sara sobbing on the bed. He reached for her and tried to pull her close but she pushed him off and quickly got to her feet.

Grissom stepped back. “Sara…” He pleaded.

“No!” Sara screamed at him. “This is our fault! We shouldn’t have left him!”

“How can you think this is our fault? We didn’t do anything wrong.”

Sara gritted her teeth, now lost in a distressed fury, not thinking what she was saying, doing. “We left him! She took him to get to us!”

“Sara….!”

“Goddamn it no, Gil! How dare you take this so lightly?”

Brass and Nick could hear every word. “I think we should wait outside.” Nick suggested. “They need some space.”

Brass nodded and they quickly went outside.
Grissom gnawed on his bottom lip, doing his best to stay calm. For everyone’s sake.

“I am not taking this lightly Sara, I’m trying to deal with it the best way I can.”
“Oh I see…your son gets kidnapped so it’s time for emotionless Grissom to come out and play is that it?” Sara’s anger and fear was getting the better of her, she was losing control.

Grissom clenched his fists. “Sara, you need to calm down. Please!”

“Calm down!? Calm down!? I’ll show you calm you heartless bastard!”

Grissom watched in horror as Sara picked up a vase from a nearby table and launched it at him. It missed his head by a fraction and shattered against the wall. Grissom groaned as a shard of the exploding glass caught his face, slitting his cheek slightly. Blood trickled slowly down his face as he looked back at Sara in shock. Tears filled his eyes once more as his hand moved to his cheek to cover his wound.

Sara’s hands instantly shot to her face in regret, snapping her out of her frenzy. Grissom backed down completely before she could speak. He turned slowly and left the room, leaving Sara to gather her composure.

Sighing heavily Grissom grabbed a cloth from the kitchen and walked to a mirror in the hallway. The blood slowly trickled down his face from the small but deep cut in his cheek. He held the cloth to his face and applied pressure attempting to halt the bleeding. Then his eyes met Sara’s through the mirror as she stood behind him. The look of guilt on her face was unbound. He turned to face her, holding the cloth to his face. Their equally devastated eyes met and without a word Sara took his free hand and guided him back into the kitchen. She urged him to sit on a stool and then grabbed a first aid kit from under the sink. Moving back to him she replaced his hand with hers and held the cloth to his face.

“I’m sorry…I'm so sorry.....I....” She whispered “…I…lost control…and…I shouldn’t have taken it out on you…and what I said…I didn’t mean it...”

Grissom quickly placed a finger over her lips. “It’s ok.”

Sara bowed her head. “But I hurt you….”

“You didn’t mean too…it’s ok… please honey look at me.”

Sara raised her head.

“It’s ok, but next time aim a little bit more to the left ok?”

Sara tried to smile as she removed the cloth from his face. She bit her lip hard.
“I’m sorry…”

“I know.”

Sara took out a little gauze and tape and tenderly dressed his cheek.

“If anyone asks…I did it shaving ok?”

Sara managed a faint grin. “A little deep for that dear.”

Grissom smirked. “Come here.” He stood taking Sara into a warm embrace, glad that she let him. She melted into the comfort of his body. He held on tightly. “I’ll find him Sara, I promise.”

Sara sighed heavily and held onto him tighter.


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Sara starred through the plane window. The flight felt like it was lasting forever.

“Honey…honey…?”

Sara shook her head slightly and turned to Grissom. “Huh?”

“You want anything to eat or drink?” Grissom looked to his left and the flight attendant standing by his trolley.

Sara shook her head. “No…thank you.”

“Are you sure?”

Sara nodded.

“Sara you need to keep your strength up.”

“I’m fine.”

Grissom knew nagging right now wouldn’t do either of them much good. “Okay.”

Sara looked back to the window and concentrated on the clouds floating around them. Her mind drifted and her eyes slid closed….


“Will the defendants please rise.” The judge requested.

Kate and Bobby stood.

“Has the jury reached a verdict?”

The foreman stood. “Yes we have, Your Honour.”

Grissom took Sara’s hand and held it tightly.

“We, the jury, find the defendants guilty on all charges.”

A joyous buzz filled the courtroom and Sara felt her whole body lighten as she clenched her eyes closed, a large gasp of relief escaping her lungs. Grissom sighed happily as he gripped Sara’s hand tighter. The DA turned to them and smiled. Grissom nodded, returning the smile as he took Sara into a tight embrace.

“It’s over honey...it’s over”

Sara sighed heavily into Grissom’s embrace as the team gathered around them to pass on their mutual happiness at the verdict.

“You fucking bastards! Get the hell off me!” The words cut through the air, shredding through the atmosphere like a combine mutilating its crop.

The room silenced with an awkward hush. Everyone looked on as Kate struggled with the guards attempting to cuff her. Finally they managed it, pinning her to the defendants table and restraining her tightly. Her head sprang up and her eyes met with Grissom and Sara.

She grinned, still struggling a little. “I’ll get you…you hear me? I’ll be back! I’ll make you suffer…”

Sara felt herself shudder at Kate’s words. Grissom pulled her back into his chest, wrapping his arms tightly around her as Kate was pulled away. Sara looked up into Grissom’s eyes. He smiled brushing her hair back from her eyes.

“She won’t hurt us ever again honey…it is over….”


Sara’s head shot up as Grissom shook her slightly.

“Sara?”

“Hmmm…”

“We’re on the ground, time to go.”

Brass appeared in the aisle way. “Ready?” He asked.

Grissom looked back at Sara, she nodded. Brass and Nick led them out of the airport to a waiting car. There was also another patrol car waiting to escort them.

“What’s this?” Sara asked seeing several officers waiting by the cars.

“It’s for your safety, Sara.” Nick tried to sound comforting.

“Safety? Great. How safe is my son?” Sara’s words were full of pain and bitterness.

“Honey…” Grissom pulled her close. “Let’s not let it get to us? Everyone is trying to help. Okay?”

Sara sighed, she knew he was right. “Okay.”

Brass opened the car door and Grissom urged Sara inside, getting in after her. He held her hand tightly as she reached up to run her fingers softly over his injured face. The car pulled away and headed to the devastation that awaited them.