Chapter Eleven

Sara burst through the hospital doors and ran down the hallway toward the waiting room. She wanted to continue on, to Greg.

"Sara," a familiar voice called to her.

She stopped and stared in surprise to see him of all people.

"Your supervisor said he wanted the victim's shirt," Hank said, holding out the bloody shirt to her.

She glanced at it, her heart pounding in her chest. She reached out to take it, then saw how her hand shook. Greg's blood was all over it and fresh tears built.

"I'll take that," Nick's voice barely reached her ears.

"Did you know him?" Hank asked softly.

"Why do you ask?" Sara asked, looking back at him.

"You're crying. I've never seen you cry before."

Sara narrowed her eyes, wanting to hit him. It was none of his business, but her mouth and heart ignored her head.

"His name's Greg Sanders," she answered calmly. "I live with him."

"Do you love him?" Hank asked.

Sara stared at him, wondering why he asked these questions. They had separated two years ago. He shouldn't care what she did.

"And what if I do?" She asked, not caring that Nick stood three steps away.

"Then I'm happy for you," Hank said then turned and left.

She looked back at Nick, who shrugged. She shook her head, not wanting him to say a word.

"How'd you know to be there?" Sara asked as they made their way to the waiting room. She had been surprised to see Nick at Greg's waiting to take her to the hospital.

"Grissom called," he answered.

She sat as her legs gave out. The knot in her stomach tightened as she ran a hand through her hair. She took a deep breath to calm herself.

"It had to have been the stalker," she said softly. "What was done to him was too brutal to be anyone else."

She closed her eyes, resigning herself for a long wait.

Thirty minutes later, Grissom joined them. He held an evidence bag in his hand, his face grim. He handed the bag to her and she knew then it was a note.

She took a deep breath, bracing herself for what it would say. She looked down and read.

"I'm coming for you."

Sara dropped the bag and covered her face. Anger filled her instead of fear. Angry the stalker would attack Greg to get back at her. Angry he would dare come after her. She had to put a stop to it. Needed to put a stop to it.

Grissom picked up the bag and sat next to her.

"Have you heard anything?" He asked.

"No," Nick answered. "It's only been thirty minutes, though."

"He put up a fight," Grissom mentioned. "We should find evidence to get the stalker."

Sara nodded, her mind more on Greg's recovery than on evidence. She couldn't think of anything else at the moment.

"I just want Greg to live," she whispered. "That's all I care about."

"I'm going back to the lab," Grissom said, standing. He took the bagged shirt from Nick.

Sara nodded again, closing her eyes. She wished again she hadn't said those words to him. If she hadn't of panicked, he wouldn't be in the hospital now.

"Greg's going to be fine," Grissom told her.

She looked up as Grissom turned and walked down the hallway. She sighed and stared at the floor. Worry replaced her fear, but the knot continued to tighten.

Sara paced the floor, impatience and anxiety moving her feet. It had been two and a half hours and still no word. If she didn't hear something soon, she would go crazy.

"Sara, sit down," Nick said, watching her. "You're making me dizzy."

Sara glared at him, but continued to pace. She had to do something, sitting still only made it worse.

She turned and saw a doctor, blood covering the front of his scrubs, coming toward them. She held her breath as her feet planted themselves to the floor. Nick noticed and also stood.

"I'm Dr. Neil. Are you here for Sanders?"

"Yes," Sara said, her heart pounding. "How is he?"

"He was stabbed five times," the doctor said and Sara sat as her legs gave out. "His lung collapsed and he's lost a lot of blood. We almost lost him.

"We have him stabilized now, but he's in critical condition. He should recover, though."

"Thanks, doc," Nick said. "When can we see him?"

"Not for a couple of days. I want to monitor him, make sure he stays out of the woods."

"Thanks again," Nick said and led Sara outside.

"Do you want to go home? I can stay with you."

Sara shook her head, "I want to be alone."

"You shouldn't be alone, Sara. Not with the stalker still out there."

She glared at him, her anger pushing everything else away.

"Then I better make him go away," she said as she hurried toward Nick's car.

"Sara, don't do anything stupid."

"It's time I put a stop to this, Nick. I won't live in fear when I can do something about it."

Nick parked his car in the CSI lot and they both climbed out. Sara strode across the lot, her mind on knowing what Grissom had learned. She wasn't about to let the stalker get away, even if she had to lure him out.

"Sara."

She stopped and turned toward the voice. She glared into the shadows trying to see her tormentor. She motioned for Nick to continue on toward the lab.

"Why are you doing this?" She demanded when Nick had left. "Who are you?"

"You are mine, Sara. He got in the way and had to be eliminated."

"You made a terrible mistake," she sneered. "Greg means a lot to me. If you thought getting rid of him would make me want you, you don't know anything about me."

"You'll forget about him in time," the stalker said, footsteps coming toward her. "I'll be all you will think about."

"I highly doubt that."

"You are mine, Sara. Always."

Sara clinched her hands into fists and swung at her tormentor. She connected with flesh and she smiled in satisfaction. She heard footsteps backing away and she took another swing. Her fist was stopped before she hit anything.

"You're feisty. One of the things I love about you."

"You don't know what love is," she said as she swung her other fist at him.

It connected and he released her. She called out for help, hoping someone was in ear shot.

Her eyes adjusted to the darkness and she could make out a tall shape before her. She tripped the stalker, smiling as he fell to the ground.

"Sara?" Nick's voice came behind her. For once she was glad he hadn't listened to her.

"The stalker," she said as she grabbed the man's arm. He struggled against her, but Nick grabbed the man's other arm.

"Grissom's not going to like this," he said as they helped the man to his feet.

"I don't care right now, Nick," Sara said as she led the man into the lab.

Once inside, she took a good look at her stalker. His lower lip was bloody and an eye was slowly turning purple. He glanced at her and smiled. She shivered and looked away.

She knocked on Grissom's door then saw Brass was inside.

"I have the stalker," she said when they looked at her.

"What?" Brass said, shocked.

She pointed out into the hall and the two went to see for themselves.

"He tried to jump me in the parking lot," she told them.

"You shouldn't have confronted him," Grissom said, anger in his voice though he was calm. "What if he overpowered you."

"I've had enough and he needs to pay for what he did to Greg," she returned just as angry.

"He will, but you shouldn't have put yourself in danger."

Sara said nothing as she watched Brass arrest the stalker. She shivered as the man leered at her. She glared at him, wanting to do more damage to him.

Two days later, Sara stepped into Greg's room at the hospital. She went to his bedside and looked him over. The fear and worry rushed back through her, almost overwhelming her. She blinked back tears as she ran a hand through his hair, needing to touch him.

"Greg," she whispered, her voice thick. "I'm so sorry."

"For what?" Greg's voice was barely audible.

She stared at him in surprise. She thought he was still asleep. His dark eyes looked up at her, holding her in his gaze. She was glad to see he was alive. She was so overjoyed, she forgot he had asked a question.

"Sara?"

She blinked, "What?"

"What are you sorry for?"

She looked at her hands. She really didn't want to answer the question. It would lead to her true feelings and she didn't think she was ready to admit to them. She closed her eyes and sighed.

He deserves to know, she thought.

"I'm sorry for telling you it was a mistake. I was wrong. It wasn't."

"Why did you say it then?"

"I panicked. I woke up and saw you there. All the emotions of that night came back and I wasn't ready for them."

"What changed your mind?"

Sara ran her fingers through his hair, loving the feel of it.

"You mean too much to me to keep you at bay."

Greg smiled, causing her heart to melt. "You love me."

Sara returned his smile, "Don't go getting full of yourself, Greg."

"You do," he said, his eyes sparkling.

"I love you," she admitted as she kissed him.

END