Disclaimer: I don't own CSI...

Sara sits on the porch looking up into the starry night sky. Because of the cool night air, she wraps her arms around her knees as she sings quietly to herself. She just wanted the fighting to stop. There was no place where she could find peace and security. Even at school, the children teased her. The teachers were not much help, either. After they had tried numerous times to contact her parents, they had given up. Her teachers realized she had great potential, but couldn't understand why she didn't live up to it.

A crash from the living room startles Sara and brings back memories of the numerous trips to the hospital. Her older brother had run off several months before. Sara thinks to herself, "Tonight, I'm getting out of here." Once it is quiet, she slips back into the house so that she can gather her few treasured worldly possessions. Her mother, covered in blood, corners her in the hallway. Before Sara can get away, Laura Sidle drags the young Sara, screaming, into the living room saying. "See, now it's finished. I killed him. He won't hurt me anymore."

"It's always about you! " Sara said defiantly.

"Oh, Sara…" Laura whined, "quit being so dramatic!"

"Me? Me?! Oh, please! I could barely say anything to him without getting hit or punished in some way. I'm only a child. Have you forgotten all the times he and you hurt me? The numerous trips to the hospital?"

Just then there was a knock at the door. Red and blue lights could be seen, lighting up the night. "What do you want?" Laura said angrily as she answered the door. Standing on the porch was a man and younger woman with blond hair.

"Well, Ma'am. My name is Jim Brass and this is my partner Sophia Curtis."

"Well, congratulations! I am sure you will be happy." Laura interrupted.

"Ma'am, we are with the police department. There were reports of a possible domestic disturbance. Is everything is okay?" Jim replied.

"Yeah, everything is just peachy keen. I got rid of my husband is all."

Sara who had been watching this from several feet away stood shaking her head no, capturing Sophia's attention. "Umm…Ma'am, how did you get rid of him?" Sophia asked, concerned about the little girl that she saw standing there in the tattered clothes among what looked to be the aftermath of a terrible fight among other things.

"I killed him. Yes, sirree…he won't be bothering me anymore!" Laura started laughing to herself. With a look of concern, Jim called for another officer to come assist.

The other officer arrived a short time later. Jim had put Laura in the police car. While the police officer checked the scene, Jim and Sophia coaxed Sara out to talk on the porch. Before they had talked, the young officer came out and was vomiting. Jim Brass spoke in a warm, gentle tone. "My name is Jim Brass. I am a detective with the police department. Can you tell me your name, sweetheart?"

In a voice that was barely above a whisper, "Sara." Sophia replied, "Hi Sara, my name is Sophia Curtis. Someone from Social Services is going to come. We will take you to the hospital to check you out. But, there is nothing to be scared of, okay? We will find you a safe place to stay. Did you see what happened?"

"They were fighting, my parents. They always do, especially after they have been drinking." Sara stopped and took a deep breath. "My brother ran away a couple of months ago. They didn't care. He thought I was too little and left me here. Tonight, I had come out to sit on the porch and when I went in my mom caught me and dragged me into the living room. I saw my father laying there all covered in blood."

Sara was interrupted by someone saying "Sophia Curtis?"

"Yes, you must be Mrs. Dawson."

"Yes, Ma'am. I'm here to take her to the hospital. What is her name?"

"Her name is Sara. I will be going with you so that I can get all the information I need for my report."

"Of course. Sara, Sophia, will you come with me? My car is over here."

Mrs. Dawson got into the driver's seat. "Sophia, will you sit with me?" Sara asked quietly. "Yes, that will be okay."

In the car, Sara sat next to Sophia, her head resting on Sophia. Sophia put her arm around the young girl's shoulders. Sophia could feel how fragile the young Sara was. At the hospital, Sara grabbed Sophia's hand and wouldn't let go. "Do you want me to stay with you, Sara?"

Sara nodded her head, not saying a word. Sophia stayed with Sara throughout the examination. When the examination was over, the doctor motioned for Sophia to come with him. "Sara, I will be right back. Don't worry." Sara started crying, but wiped away the tears as she nodded to Sophia.

Once Sophia had left, Mrs. Dawson met her and the doctor. The three of them walked into an office at the end of the hall. "Ms. Curtis, Mrs. Dawson. When I saw the scars and bruises, I had the nurse see if there were any previous records for her. This is what I found." The doctor handed Sophia the file, which was full of reports of prior incidents. "As you can see, she has been seen in this very hospital numerous times. There has been evidence of physical abuse. The forms have the parents always denying it, saying it was accidental. I was also concerned with the apparent parental neglect. When I examined her tonight, there was evidence of recent abuse, physical and sexual."

"Thank you Doctor."

Nine months later

Sara had been in the foster care system since that night. The other kids had seen the scars that were present. Sara withdrew more into her own world to avoid the teasing. Her foster mother, Mrs. Alexander, was always kind to her and Sara felt herself drawn to her. Sara's schoolwork had improved under the warm and loving care of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander. They had a library that was filled with all kinds of books that Sara was devouring.

Prospective parents had come to visit with the children. There had been people who had seemed interested, but none had come back to see her again, Sara was beginning to think that the world was a cruel place, that she would never be loved.

One day soon her life would change.

AN: Do you want to read more? How will I know if you don't review? Please read and review!