Recovery

by: Liv-x-Case-Benson

Ch. 2: Undisputable

Sara smiled, walking into her room a few days later, seeing a bed next to Finn's. Exhausted from her shift and the two hour drive, she kissed the blonde's cheek, then nearly collapsed into the bed beside her, falling asleep almost instantly.

Finn woke a short while later, watching the brunette with a smile.

Sara didn't notice or stir for at least four hours, smiling when she saw Finn watching her. "Hi," she said.

"H... H-Hi..."

Sara smiled widely, kissing her cheek. "It's good to hear your voice."

Finn smiled, nodding.

"How are you?" she asked, sitting up.

"O...okay."

"Do you feel any better?" she asked, holding her hand.

"Y-Yes."

She nodded, kissing her cheek. "I know it's hard, but do you remember anything about what happened?"

Finn looked away, nodding.

Sara nodded, sitting on Finn's bed beside her. "If I recorded you, could you tell me? You don't have to, but you know this case, how he operates. I'm not here as a CSI, but it might help you. Or I could call Russell up here."

"C-can't speak p-properly..."

Sara sighed.

"I-I'll try."

"But you're right. And we can't speak for you."

"V-Video..."

"Hang on, let me call Russell," Sara said, calling him.

"Sara, everything ok?" he asked.

"Yeah, guess who can talk again? Not well yet, but..."

"Julie's talking?" he replied, stunned.

"Yes, but she has trouble forming words and saying them. Look, I don't know how to work this if she can't talk, but she says she remembers. The swelling must have gone down a lot."

"Her doctor should be able to advise if she's emotionally ready to give her statement."

"I'll ask, but if she is, do you want to take it?"

"Sure. We may need to record it visually and with audio so they can't say we changed it."

Sara nodded. "Makes sense, but she'd never pass an eval for a trial, so... Much less be able to be asked questions."

"Exactly, so we need to make sure it's air tight. Perhaps we should leave it a little longer until she can speak more clearly."

"I hate to even bring this up, but that could be months. She's needing months and months of therapy. If it's fresh, it's more credible too... DB, if this isn't done now, if could be seen as her being given facts, planted. She's willing to try. I know you want to get him as much as she does."

"Ok, I'll get a video camera and join you soon."

"Will she need a lawyer?"

"She should be fine without."

Sara nodded. "Okay. See you soon."

"I won't be long."

"Okay," she said, hanging up, wrapping an arm around her. "You should sleep until he gets here."

Nodding, Finn fell asleep, managing a half hour before he arrived.

It took nearly two hours to record the blonde's statement, having to stop a few times when she became frustrated at how bad her speech had become. "T-then all I-I rem-ember is darkness, a-a-and being c-cold. S-so cold," she managed, finishing her statement as a few tears slipped down her cheeks.

Sara bit her lip, wanting to run over, but not on camera.

DB nodded. "And you're certain of who did this to you?"

Finn nodded. "P-Paul Winthrop."

Sara leaned back against the wall as DB turned off the device, taking out the card. "So there's nothing anyone can do to dispute it? It's in evidence?" she asked, walking over, to sit by Finn. "I'd hate to do this for nothing."

"It's in. We didn't stop recording when we took breaks. I'll have the DA review it to be doubly sure."

"I wonder...would they need to phyically see her or is the recording going to be enough?"

"We'll have to wait and see, Sara."

Sara nodded. "Okay, but if she's required to be there, we'll need a few days notice to tell the hospital and all that."

"The DA's office will be fair, don't worry."

"Good. I wonder if Nick is settled in yet?" she smirked.

"N-Nick?" Finn frowned.

"Oh, yeah. That's right. You don't know yet. He took a job running the crime lab here in San Diego," Sara said.

The blonde smiled. "T-That's great."

"Yeah it is."

"And I'm sure he's doing just fine. I need to get this to the DA," Russell replied.

Sara nodded walking him out. "Hey Russell... I know this is difficult for everyone, especially you, but she wants to do this. She wants to put him away as much as you do. Even injured, she's got your back. Remember that."

Russell nodded. "I know," he replied, leaving.

Sara walked back in, sitting beside her, hugging her tightly, kissing her head. "You're so strong."

Finn moved an arm around Sara, though it did flop a little. "Guilty."

"What?"

"D...B..."

"He just left."

Finn shook her head. "H-he feels g-guilty."

Sara nodded. "All of us do."

"Shouldn't."

"Yeah, but still."

Finn nodded, kissing Sara's cheek. "Water?"

The brunette nodded, pulling the rolling table over and grabbing the glass of water, holding it to her lips.

Finn drank slowly, nodding when she was finished. She was frustrated at not being able to do things herself, and somewhat embarrassed even in front of the brunette.

Sara smiled again. "You're getting better every day."

"S-Sorry."

"For what?"

"This."

"I want to be here."

Review: katvrah

More to come!