CSI Fic - Ghost in the Hall
Title: Ghost in the Hall
Author: Chadini
Rating: T, for a little bad language.
Pairing: None.
Spoilers: Season 9.
Summary: Sofia finally gets the call about Warrick.
Words: 474
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I know I’m not a part of the team anymore.
I get that.
Somehow, I still expected more.
Since leaving Vegas, the only person that I have kept in regular contact with has been Brass. I have received the occasion inappropriate e-mail forward from Greg, but that's about it.
But, it still would have been nice to know about Warrick.
I couldn’t have done anything to help the investigation, but paying my last respects to a man that was always kind to me was something that I wanted to do.
Brass called me the morning of the funeral and apologized profusely for not telling me sooner.
He thought someone would have called.
Maybe Grissom.
Maybe McKeene.
McKeene. That is a joke.
I’ve started to fade into the corners of their memories - just a footnote, as the woman that tried to break the night shift up, or maybe that blond detective.
I never told Brass, or anyone else for that matter, that McKeene was the main reason I left Vegas.
I had to.
Everyone breaks the rules.
Sometimes.
But there is breaking the rules and shattering them into thousands of shards across the floor.
Maybe you “smell” gas to get into a suspect’s apartment, or you “accidentally” knock the chair out from under a suspect to get him to crack.
But you do it for the good of the case, for the good of the victim.
McKeene was different.
To him, breaking the rules was protocol.
I remember leaning over the water fountain at PD, trying to salvage my new white blouse after being assaulted by red wine. McKeene praised my composure and poise in dealing with the Bell Family.
He wanted to “talk.” He had big plans for me.
Stupidly, I thought it was my time. I had paid my dues, put up with Ecklie’s shitty demotion, and moved all of my baggage from the crime lab to the Police Department.
Eventually, I fell into my own as a detective. I found friends and respect.
I naively thought that McKeene was sincere in his offer of a promotion. Soon enough I realized that he was just looking for someone to play ball. He wanted me to be his lackey, his go to for support in questionable situations. I knew I was in trouble when he started coming to me for a few off the books assignments.
Personal favors, he said. Only if I wanted to he said.
After awhile, I realized I had to leave, start over.
Sara seemed to have the right idea.
Life is too short and too unexpected to leave matters unfinished.
Or to be miserable.
I still wish I would’ve known about the funeral. I don’t know if I would have gone, but at least I could have made that decision for myself.
But now, I am just another faded memory, another ghost walking the halls. At least I’m in good company.
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