Sarah King

Disclaimer: While place descriptions and news events may coincide with the real world, all characters and the plot are fictional.
== Biography ==
=== Early Years ===
==== Book 2: Choose ====
Sarah was raised in the San Francisco Bay area as part of a large extended family.
Her family has a long tradition of Air Force service as pilots. Her father insisted she join the Air Force Academy, however Sarah doesn't like flying, or even being in a plane. 
=== Community College ===
===== Book 2: Choose =====
Sarah enrolled in community college instead of the Air Force Academy. Her journalism professor was fond of saying 'sunlight is the best disinfectant'.
=== US Army ===
===== Book 2: Choose =====
After a major fight with her father, Sarah signed up at an Army recruiting office. She was in the U.S. Army for 4 years, with two rotations in Afghanistan. While she was there, she was tear-gassed. 
While on guard duty one night, she heard something like a chair being kicked over. She went to investigate, but was too late, the soldier was dead. 
In early 2019 Sarah was seriously injured when the three-vehicle convoy she was in was hit by a Taliban suicide bomber outside Kabul. She considered herself lucky, as while she got out, some of her teammates died.
On Tuesday October 13, 2020 Sarah tells Emily and Cage that after she was pulled out of the truck, they were trapped by a sniper for 5 hours. They took shelter at the back of the truck that had been blown 20ft away when the gas tank exploded. Sarah has had a lot of counseling for PTSD. She lives on campus, because she knows that someone will be nearby and will check on her.
On Saturday October 17 Sarah tells J.J. that it was the truck ahead of hers was blown up, killing 4 Afghani, and setting her truck on fire. The troops in the rear of her truck only had minor injuries, but she and the driver had to go through flames to get out of the truck cabin. Sarah's legs were trapped and crushed by debris from the first truck. Two of her teammates opened her door, and pried her out, carrying her away just before her truck's fuel tank blew up. Sarah had to be strapped to a gurney and medevac'd out to Frankfurt - an eight hour flight. The driver, who had been like a brother to her, died. She spent six months healing in Frankfurt, then another six months at Walter Reed in Washington DC getting therapy. She is, and always will be, in pain, and sometimes she wishes she'd died in the blast. But good men died that day, and they'd give anything to be able to be with their families, no matter how injured. She won't dishonor their sacrifice by throwing away her own life.
=== Portland State University ===
===== Book 2: Choose =====
After being discharged from the Army, Sarah applies for several colleges on the West Coast as she has good veteran benefits, and is accepted by PSU. Sarah is enrolled in at least 12 credits in Fall term 2020. She has classes daily between noon and 2pm, including one on Wednesdays at 1pm.
=== Eyewitness News ===
Sarah is the fourth copy-editor for EWN since the start of Fall term 2020(4:13/705).
==== Book 2: Choose ====
At 4pm on Monday October 12, 2020, Sarah arrives at EWN after seeing an ad on the jobs board for a copy-editor to find Emily Andersen in the newsroom. Emily is incredulous that Sarah wants to be a copy-editor, and asks when she can start. She says she can start immediately. Emily asks about her use of crutches, and Sarah tells her she was injured while in the Army. Emily gives her paperwork to complete, and gives her a sit-down 'tour' of EWN.
Sarah is still copy-editing at 9pm that night. Lam Deng introduces himself to her. Sarah sees Bianca Parks, and ask who she is. She sees Ryan for the first time, following a girl from the Green Room. When Ryan comes to Emily's desk, Emily introduces them saying that Sarah is Ryan's 'new goddess', and he must do everything Sarah wants to make her happy. He flirts, but Sarah says he's not her type, and she'd be happy with a diet Coke. At midnight, Cage makes Ryan walk Sarah and Emily to the nearby TriMet station.
When Sarah arrives at EWN the next day, the elevator is not responding. Emily arrives and offers to unlock it at the top, but Sarah says she can manage the stairs. The elevator helps when it's late and she's tired. They climb the stairs slowly together. Sarah can faintly smell pepper spray near the front counter that wasn't there when she left the previous night. Turk comes down in the elevator to use the bathroom and says they works on the literary magazine, but Sarah recognizes them as a person she follows on Twitter and thinks is really good. Emily tells her of the Crow's Nest, and how the EWN editors decided to extend sanctuary to independent journalists. Turk tells Emily that Carroll is in rough shape physically, and nearly hysterical at the thought of leaving. Sarah asks what's wrong with Carroll, and Turk says they were abducted by cops in June, and they haven't been the same since. The previous night there was another abduction attempt. Sarah offers to examine and talk to Carroll, as she's had some first aid training, and understands PTSD. Sarah joins Turk in the elevator and they go up to the Crow's Nest together. Turk introduces Sarah to the others before Jake and the Witch leave. Sarah asks to examine Carroll's eyes and throat, and let's Carroll know that she was teargassed in Afghanistan, and that she also has nightmares. Carroll says they have nightmares during the day, even while awake, and it makes it hard to distinguish nightmare from reality. When Turk asks if the men said anything to Carroll, they become hysterical saying "No! No! I won't talk! I said I won't! I won't!" Sarah assures Carroll they didn't, and they won't, that what is happening now is real, their friend Turk is there, and Sarah would like to be a friend too. With more assurance from Turk, Carroll allows Sarah to examine her mouth, throat, and eyes. Sarah recommends that Carroll keeps rinsing their eyes, drinks lots of water, and eats when Emily returns. Carroll says they feel safe there: "Cage makes it safe". Sarah goes back down in the elevator alone, troubled that Carroll's outburst and the implication that Carroll was tortured while in police custody.
At the News 101 session that afternoon. Sarah is shocked to see 30-40 students in the class. Emily introduces Sarah, and invites her to share what she had noticed about copy the previous night. Sarah mentions using spellcheck. After the class ends, Emily and Sarah talk to J.J. about the protests, until Cage arrives gives J.J. a story assignment and he leaves. Sarah asks Cage what he knows about Carroll's arrest the previous summer. He tells them that Carroll had been one of the people grabbed by mysterious federal agents and taken to an undisclosed location, questioned, and then released the next day, with no charges pressed. Sarah tell Cage and Emily that during Carroll's 'missing' 24hrs, they were tortured. Emily is horrified. Cage says he realized after leaving the previous night that Carroll was having a flashback. Sarah tells them about her own experience with PTSD, and warns them she may have panic attacks herself. 
Later that night, Sarah edits J.J.'s articles and explains how he can make his copy tighter and punchier.
On Thursday evening, J.J. asks to talk to Sarah, and they move to the news set for privacy. J.J. tells her about his father being an officer in the PPB, and his concerns that he might have brought police attention to Cage. Sarah points out that Cage and he are both using their real names, so J.J. probably hasn't increased Cage's danger. She tells him that being torn between his family and his profession means that at some point, he may be forced to decide between them - and his Dad will assume J.J. will choose the family. Sarah tells him of her own family issues, and that she is making EWN her family of choice. J.J. asks if he needs to share with the other editors, he doesn't want them to distrust him, but Sarah says to leave it to her. She tells him to go home and get some sleep. A little later, Sarah shares J.J.'s info with Ryan, Cage, Emily, Lam, Joe, and Sam at the editors' meeting in Ryan's office. No one has concerns other than for J.J.'s mental health. Sarah asks if any of them know any basic self-defense tactics. Cage asks if she can teach the reporters covering the protests. She agrees that she can do a workshop on situational awareness etc in the Crow's Nest. She asks after Carroll, saying she wants to talk to them, and find out why that van targets them. Cage says he will look for Carroll that night. After Cage leaves, Sarah asks Ryan if there really is a literary magazine, or if that's just a front for the Crow's Nest? Ryan says the Portland Review is a fine literary magazine, and invites her to the Loft party the following night to meet Robert Smithson.
Later on, Sarah hears Miguel tell Emily about Carroll and Turk, and offers to help. When they arrive, Sarah helps Turk get Carroll settled.
When Cage and Will go up to the Crow's News. Will interviews Carroll about what happened that night. Both Turk and Carroll remember more details as Will gently prods them with questions. Cage and Sarah are both impressed by his interviewing skills. Will then asks Carroll about what happened in June. Miguel comes up in the elevator saying Ryan sent him to get Cage and Will. Sarah stays with Turk and Carroll.
While the others are downstairs, Sarah has Turk move boxes from the divider wall to build a fake wall of boxes in front of the elevator. Turk checks his phone and says EWN are streaming their security footage over their public access channel. Jake has spotted it and is re-sending it over his Twitter feed. It's trending, and not just in Oregon either. Carroll has their phone, so they watch Twitter on one phone, and the EWN channel on the other. Sarah laughs til it hurts. She has some appreciation for law enforcement from her years in Afghanistan, but this bunch of men is being outmatched by amateur journalists. She hopes they're never in any mission-critical positions. Turk notices the broadcast is delayed, and Sarah says they probably didn't put it on air til after Cage went down, but Corey must have been recording from the beginning. And the men have no clue that thousands of people are watching them make fools of themselves. When Cage returns to the Crow's Nest to give the all clear, Sarah shows him Twitter. Cage says EWN has put itself squarely in the bullseye, and he hopes PSU is prepared for it. Sarah needs to go home, to sleep and take medication, and Cage says Ryan will give her a ride to her residential hall door. Cage draws out of Carroll what the man did to them when they were kidnapped, and tells Carroll that the man will be found, and brought to justice. Sarah leaves with Cage, and tells him he did the right thing, it was exactly what Carroll needed to hear. Cage feels guilty about how he felt about the gender-neutral journalists when he first met them. Sarah tentatively rubs Cage's shoulder, and says Carroll sees him as a friend, someone they trust enough to tell their story to, someone they can believe in. Sarah thinks he's an amazing man. Ryan meets them at the elevator door, and takes Sarah home.
Emily picks up Sarah on Saturday afternoon and they go in to EWN. Emily asks Sarah for all the gossip on Ryan's party the previous night. Sarah says she met Robert, and 'only the young can have that kind of stamina'. Robert is older than Sarah had expected, but he has a new Prince Albert piercing and all the women on the sports staff had wanted to try it out to see if it 'increased pleasure'. Emily is shocked.
At the start of the editors' meeting, Ryan runs through minor agenda items, then introduces discussion on the protests, the attempted raid, and what happens next. Ryan then introduces the issue of the blackmail photos sent to Carroll. Corey shows each of the photos, each worse than the last. Ryan asks for opinions - do they run them as a story, and how. The decision to publish is unanimous.
By midnight, Sarah is the only person left in the newsroom. She hears the elevator, and thinks Cage is taking someone up to the Crow's Nest. She hears the elevator door ping as it opens briefly on the second floor, and calls out, but there's no response. Then she hears a sound that she's heard once before, and goes out to the vestibule which is empty. She calls out as she starts down the short hall to the bathrooms, checks the women's bathroom, then limps further to the men's room, knocking and opening the door. J.J. is hanging from the pipe that runs the length of the ceiling, struggling. She grabs his legs, shoving them up to release the pressure on his neck, and her forearm crutches fall to the ground. J.J. tells her to let him go, he wants to die. Sarah says not tonight, not on her watch. J.J had removed the straps from his camera bag, tossed them over the pipe and cinched them around his neck, then stepped off the sink counter. Sarah can't release the straps while she holds him up, and she doesn't have her phone on her. She realizes she'll have to keep holding J.J. up, despite the strain on her arms and shoulders, until someone else is within hearing range. J.J. repeats that his dad shot him, he can't go home and has no place to go, and to let him die. Sarah refuses, and tells of having been injured in Afghanistan, and that he has his whole life ahead of him. She tells him of her own family's rejection of her, because she's gay. When she hears the elevator start up, she yells for Cage to come. Together, Sarah and Cage get J.J. down and into Cage's car, and up to OHSU where they are greeted by Dr Clarke.
In the early hours of Sunday morning, Sarah comes out to the nurses station where Cage is pacing. She tells Cage that J.J. has no permanent physical injuries, although he's still psychologically at risk. Cage introduces his father to Sarah, and tells her that his Dad has volunteered to take in J.J. when he is released from hospital. Rev Washington asks why J.J. felt he needed to take his own life, and Sarah explains about J.J.'s father intentionally shooting him with non-lethal ammo. Rev Washington leaves his contact info with the front desk and leaves. Cage sees Sarah is in pain, and asks the nurse to check her. Sarah can no longer walk, so they get her into a wheelchair. Sarah asks for muscle relaxants and strong pain medication. The nurse takes her into J.J.'s room, helps her undress, and put her into the bed next to him.
J.J. wakes before dawn, shouting that he won't go home. Sarah calms him, telling him that Cage's father has said J.J. can stay with him. J.J. says he wishes Sarah had let him die, and she tells him he has a bright future ahead, that this may be night, but dawn comes and another day. She reminds J.J. that he has a lot of friends at EWN, that he has a gift for friendship. J.J.'s only 18, but they can see him being EIC someday. She buzzes for the nurse, who gives a sedative to J.J., and pain meds to Sarah.
At 9am Sarah is in a wheelchair in the waiting room. when J.J.'s parents arrive. Dr Clarke comes out and introduces herself, assuring them J.J. is in no present danger, and telling them she wants to talk to them one at a time. She says she respects that J.J. doesn't want her to give them information, so they can use the time to become acquainted. Lt Jones protests, but Dr Clarke says that J.J. is an adult and has a legal right to privacy if he chooses. She invites Mrs Jones into her office, and Mrs Jones doesn't look back at her husband. Sarah asks Mr Jones if they can talk, saying she's the one who saved J.J.'s life the previous night. He claims not to know what happened, but Sarah contradicts that, saying that he saw his son, badged as a journalist, helping another injured journalist, and he chose to shoot him. Mr Jones claims he was just doing his job, that they were rioting, and he had orders to clear the streets, and if J.J. defies him and sides with 'rioters and looters' then he's going to get treated the same way. Sarah says J.J. was doing nothing wrong, there are court orders stopping police from targeting journalists, and moreover, he knew it was his own son and deliberately shot him. She tells him it was the shock, horror, and betrayal of that, that drove J.J. to attempt suicide. If Sarah hadn't gone to investigate a sound, J.J. would be dead. Mr Jones has no response, so Sarah tells him how things will go. They will make no effort to see J.J. until J.J. want to see them. They will continue to pay for his health care and education. If he wants to live on campus, they will pay for that too. If not, Sarah will personally file an excessive force complaint against him, and every cop will know Lt Jones shot his own son. She says he threw away a bright, talented young man, and she caught him, so he belongs to her now as part of her chosen family. Mrs Jones comes out with Dr Clarke, and is listening to Sarah and weeping. Mrs Jones asks Sarah to take good care of J.J. for her, and walks out, not looking at her husband, who follows her out. Dr Clarke tells Sarah she did a good job, and hopes it will break through Mr Jones defenses. Sarah could say things that Dr Clarke is not cleared to. Sarah returns to bed, and Dr Clarke tells her Cage will return at 2pm - she'll need a wheelchair for the foreseeable future and if taking pain meds, needs to have someone with her. Dr Clarke leaves, and Sarah can see J.J. is awake. She tells him she talked to his father, and told him that J.J. was no longer his. That if J.J. wanted to reach out in the future, that was up to him. J.J. says he has no family, and Sarah replies that when her family rejected her, she told herself she would never allow herself to care again. But she's choosing to build a new family, and she chooses him. Life never gives you everything, you have to sometimes make hard choices, but he's not alone, he has her, and she has him.
Sarah is dressed and seated in a wheelchair when Cage arrives at OHSU at 2pm. He takes her out to his car, and tells her he wants her to stay with him and Corey at Goose Hollow. She can stay in his room, and he'll sleep on the daybed in the 'computer room'. Sarah says she can stay in her room on campus, but Cage says if J.J. had died, it would have destroyed EWN as a 'safe place' for everyone, so they want to provide her with a place to recover. They go to her residence hall, Cage brings her wheelchair down from her room, and then takes her back up to pack. Despite being exhausted, Sarah insists they go into EWN together to put together Carroll's story.
Prof Cooper arrives a little late to the editors' meeting that afternoon, and sits chatting with Sarah and answering questions. After the story has gone to air, Ryan tells Cage to take Sarah home, saying he might drop in to see J.J. for a bit when he leaves. As Cage wheels her out, Emily thanks Sarah for saving J.J.'s life.
On Tuesday afternoon Cage brings Sarah into EWN, and she and Emily commiserate on copy-editing until Teresa Valdez arrives. When Ryan goes out to look for Teresa after she leaves, Emily tells Sarah about her.
==== Book 3: Don't Go ====
On Tuesday, October 20, 2020 Cage, Sarah, Emily, Ryan and Rafael join Clyde and Martha Washington for dinner at the Portsmouth parsonage. Rev Clyde asks about J.J. Cage says J.J.'s listless, not bouncing back, and may still be at risk of trying again. Sarah has talked to J.J. by phone, and agrees with Cage, but says J.J. is grateful to be coming to stay with the Washington's and spoke animatedly about Carroll. Rev Washington says they can keep a discreet suicide watch. Sarah says J.J. will need counseling, and asks if the Washingtons can do that, or if someone independent is better? Rev Washington agrees it should be done by someone else, especially as J.J. is of a different faith. While J.J. is Jewish, it seems more a cultural than religious affinity. Rev Washington gave J.J. a choice to either attend a local synagogue, or join the Washingtons at Baptist services, and J.J. perked up a bit at attending with them. Cage notices Sarah is tiring after dinner, Sarah says she's due for meds. Cage takes her home saying he'll return to EWN afterwards.
At 11am the following morning, J.J., Cage and Sarah are seated in the waiting room laughing, when Rev Washington arrives at OHSU. Cage has been telling J.J. about Ryan and Rafael. Cage, Sarah, Rev Washington and J.J. leave together, and Carroll is waiting for J.J. outside. Cage and Sarah need to get to class, so J.J hugs Sarah and Carroll goodbye.
When Cage and Sarah arrive at EWN that afternoon, Lam is laying out Folio on the big editing computer at the editors' pod. Sarah asks if Cage has talked to his father about all the people who are descending on him. Cage says his father knows Ryan was a womanizer, with a history of drugs and alcohol, and he knows about J.J. Sarah says Rev Washington thinks Cage and Sarah might be a couple, and might be deeply puzzled about Carroll. Cage says he's not going to try to explain any of that to his dad. When Ryan arrives, he asks Sarah and Lam to hold down the fort, and to send in Will Bristol when he arrives.
When Emily returns to EWN around 9pm that night after taking Ryan to the Washington's, she sees Sarah is flagging and has Corey come to get her.
After Ryan drops Cage back at the Goose Hollow apartment around 10pm on Saturday, October 24, 2020 Sarah edits Cage's stories: the lead-in for Bianca, a longer piece about the ICE protest, and then a first-person account of his arrest.
Sarah is editing Folio for Lam around 4pm on Tuesday, October 27, 2020 when the commotion in the EIC's office draws them in. Ryan says he has to take Teresa to Mexico, and with luck will be back for graduation in spring. Cage agrees he'll work with Emily, but only as interim EICs, then Emily can run for EIC the following year.
Cage has convinced Sarah to stay with him and Corey until things settled down at EWN. Emily had insisted on retaining her news editor desk, leaving Cage to take the EIC office. Late on Thursday, November 5, 2020 Emily calls him out, laughing and waving a postcard from Ryan and Teresa in Mexico, to say they were married. Sarah asks when they're coming home, and Cage says Ryan had said it would be months, in time for graduation.
==== Book 4: Hold Me ====
* Tuesday December 1, 2020
** 10:30am?: Sarah receives a call from Gregory Washington who tells her one of his ad reps tested positive for COVID. She knocks on Emily's bedroom door, apologizes for interrupting, tells them about the call and says they need to talk about quarantine. Emily asks who it is, and Sarah says his name in one she doesn't know - Brandon Childers. Gregory had told her that Brandon hadn't felt well the day before, so Gregory sent him to the Campus Health Service. He was kept overnight, and the test result given today. Cage says they need to contact Professor Cooper, and have Corey set up a Zoom meeting for all department heads and Cooper. They also need to notify Provost McShane, and the head of Campus Health Services if he's can join them. Sarah says she'll get Corey started, but Cage needs to call Gregory. Emily says she will head over to EWN to shut everything down, and send everything remote. She asks Sarah to tell Corey she needs him. 
** 11:30am? Cage come out of Emily's bedroom to update Sarah, so they can worry about Emily together.
** 3:30pm: Sarah logs into the the EWN Zoom meeting for all the department heads, Prof Cooper and Provost McShane. Emily and McShane discuss what is known of current numbers and the rate of transmission, followed by discussion of possible sources of the outbreak. Cage asks if there's anything else McShane can tell them, or that he'd like EWN to relay to viewers. McShane says: stay calm; stay home; call a health service if symptoms appear; quarantine in place until experiencing breathing distress. McShane says he has health professionals at OHSU who will work with them to get out solid information. Cage thanks him, and McShane leaves the meeting. Cage asks Cooper if he has anything to add, and he says they know where to find him for help, and he's not going anywhere. Sarah asks about options for students in the residence halls that will be closing in 12 days. McShane swears and says he'll get them answers on that. After McShane and Cooper log out, and Ben tells them Joanna Montgomery is in OHSU and all the sports staff are symptomatic, Corey shuts down the Zoom meeting to give everyone privacy to cry
** 6pm: Sarah sends Cage to the newsroom with food for the staff. No one is sure what it is other than spicy and delicious, but they guess it's some sort of Afghani street food. Sarah has offered to proof pages for the Portland Review, if Robert Smithson and his assistant make flats and send them home with Cage.
* Wednesday December 2, 2020
** 7:45am?: Sarah gets a message from Lam, and Emily suggests she FaceTime him back. Lam says that he's concerned that some stories for Folio have not been copy-edited yet. Sarah says a bigger problem is that his cover story is about the ten best movies to watch during a pandemic, and that there is no one on campus to pick up the paper. Emily recommends the cover story be changed to something like ten things to do to be safe in a pandemic, and move the movie recommendations inside. J.J. says he should get Will to write a piece about the Health Center problems and substitute that - perhaps they could pull stills from the video that Karin and Jason took. Cage adds he can cut the press run back by a third, and consider distributing more widely. Emily suggests grocery stores and pharmacies, Sarah suggests OHSU and other hospitals. Lam says he'll call the printers and talk to Will, and apologizes for calling so early. 
== Physical Appearance ==
=== Book 2: Choose ===
Sarah is tall, a big woman in her mid-20s with curly, almost frizzy, light reddish-brown hair that comes down to her shoulders. She has a low, almost gruff, voice. 
=== Book 4: Hold Me ===
Cage has never seen Sarah with bare arms or legs, and suspects her clothes cover a lot of scars. 
=== Health ===
==== Book 2: Choose ====
Sarah has physical therapy daily at 9am. Even before J.J.'s suicide attempt, Sarah was on 14 different medications.
Sarah's breathing is compromised - she gets out of breath climbing a flight of stairs. Climbing stairs is slow and painful, with Sarah taking each step one at a time. 
Sarah has PTSD since her injury in Afghanistan, and is claustrophobic. She recalls that the beeping sound on her brother's vehicle sounded like an IED about to go off, and she had nearly taken cover under a nearby car. Her brother had thought it was funny.
Sarah's shoulders have burn damage. She'd done a lot of physical therapy building up strength in her shoulders and arms so she can mobilize on forearm crutches, but still moves slowly even when walking. Her physical therapist has said she will always need crutches, but Sarah hopes to transition to a cane.
==== Book 3: Don't Go ====
Sarah's doctor has her on some strong meds that apparently have some weird side effects, so she can't live by herself for a while. She can't use her crutches until the muscle spasms in her back and shoulders. Although she's in serious pain. she's determined to keep working.
==== Book 4: Hold Me ====
* Wednesday December 2, 2020 - 10am: After Cage and J.J. leave, Emily suggests they have a daytime slumber party. Sarah goes to her room, and Emily brings in their laptops. Emily ask Sarah about her health - Sarah is hurting more than she should, and the chair was only supposed to be fore a few days. Sarah says the pain meds stopped working so she took more of them, and now has to wean herself off them before her doctor will prescribe something new. Instead of suppressing the pain, the meds had been suppressing healing, and the withdrawal is giving muscle spasms that the pain meds were supposed to prevent. Her doctor wanted to admit her to the VA hospital for monitoring, but the COVID surge hit the VA rehab center on the previous Saturday, and only the new admittances are for life-or-death emergencies. Sarah is concerned that reducing the medication will leave her bed-ridden. Emily assures her that she and Cage are there to help.
== Personality ==
=== Book 3: Don't Go ===
Ryan thinks Sarah 'has guts'. Cage calls her 'the strongest-willed woman he'd ever met'. He says she's 'as independent as they come'
Cage says she's a great cook, but uses every pot and pan in the house.
Sarah looks at the world and sees it in words, that she uses to tell herself stories. She even dreams in words.
She likes living with men, as she had in the Army. She might not want to have sex with them, but men have an earthiness to how they live that she enjoys.
Her evening ritual includes chamomile tea.
== Relationships ==
=== Family ===
==== Book 2: Choose ====
Sarah's family was furious when she enlisted with the Army, telling her it was a stupid move. After Sarah was injured in Afghanistan, and been released from Walter Reed hospital, she still needed rehab, has nowhere to go but home to her family. Her mother fusses over her, but her father thinks her injury is her own fault. Her brother thought it amusing that the beeping sound of his car lock triggers her PTSD. She realized that her family didn't really know her at all.
Things got worse in February 2020, when she mentioned she was a lesbian at a Sunday dinner. Her eldest brother Caleb had tried to fix her up with a movie and dinner date with one of his Air Force buddies, saying she had to get back into living. Sarah is surprised because she's gay. Her youngest brother, Peter - 18-years-old and conservative, walked out and went home. Caleb thought she was joking, her father refused to allow it to ever be discussed again. Then COVID hit, and she was stuck living there for six more months until lock-downs were lifted.
The rejection by her family was very hurtful - when she needed them, they weren't there for her.
She still calls her mother once or twice a month, and keeps up with the family on Facebook. She sends baby gifts a lot.
But when Sarah found EWN, she decided to make it not only her place, but her family. A family of choice.
=== Emily Andersen & Cage Washington ===
===== Book 2: Choose =====
On Saturday afternoon October 16, 2020, Sarah tells Emily she's amazing and gently kisses her. Emily doesn't resist, but gives only a hint of response. Sarah isn't sure if that meant consent, so she moves back and asks if it's Emily's first. Emily says not her first kiss, but first kiss with a woman. Cage see them together and says that he'd wondered why Emily had never noticed he was interested in her, and turns to go. Emily stops him, and said that he'd never said anything about being interested, never asked her out, how was she supposed to know? Cage says if Emily was gay, she could have told him, Sarah doesn't hide it. Emily denies she's gay, and says she's not anything other than herself. Cage says if Emily's not sure if she's straight or gay, she needs a comparison - and he gently kisses her, deepening it as she responds. He says for Emily to tell him what she decides, and goes out for a walk. Sarah says the kiss looked hot, and Emily asks if she's a voyeur. Sarah says everyone's a voyeur - that's why people watch romantic movies and read romance novels. People watch and are turned on by watching. While Sarah is gay, Cage is a fine looking man, and she can appreciate that even if she's not into men. Emily is speechless and goes out for a walk. Turk and Carroll arrive, Turk saying to Sarah that's quite a little drama the 3 of them have going on. Cage returns, and is teased by Turk for having crushed on Emily for 4 years. Cage says that they're friends - sex is easy to find, but he didn't want to make things awkward with a friend who might not be interested. He asks Sarah if she thinks Emily is gay, and Sarah says she doesn't know - she's not sure Emily knows. Sarah asks Turk and Carroll, and Turk says they got the distinct impression that Emily is unclear about her sexuality, but they don't thinks she's gay per se.
===== Book 3: Don't Go =====
When Cage leaves the shower in the Goose Hollow apartment with just a towel around his waist on Saturday, October 24, 2020, he comes face to face with Sarah in her wheelchair. Even a lesbian has to notice a built, tall, broad-shouldered, well-developed abs, six-pack abs, and that white towel against his black skin, with water drops, right? Not that it meant anything, although he was pretty hot. She saw Cage's physical reaction, but understands that it's mostly just adrenaline and ignores it. When Cage falls asleep on the couch, she finds a blanket and spreads it over him.
Sarah makes coffee the following morning. Rev Washington has called Corey to say that he, Cage and Sarah are expected for lunch at 1pm that day, after services. Sarah says she'd like to hear Rev Washington preach sometime. Cage hears Sarah behind him, and turns and passes her his cup, pouring another for himself. She looks in the fridge to see what she can take for lunch, and says she can make a salad. Corey says they usually just show up, but Cage says his mom would probably appreciate a salad. Sarah says it might make his mom less skeptical of her; they have been inundated with new people who have undefined roles in their sons' lives. She is the first girl, other than Emily, that they've ever taken home and she's white and in a wheelchair, no wonder their mom is looking at her strangely. Sarah asks if their parents have met Carroll. Cage says his dad has, and was cool, but asked if Cage had talked to J.J. about 'things'. Corey says better him than their father, he didn't think he'd ever recover from the embarrassment of Rev Washington's sex talk. Cage says he'll define Sarah's role as another stray from the newsroom. Not even Gregory brought Bianica home until they were practically engaged. Sarah says his parents aren't that scary - although his mom was a bit. Cage pushes her wheelchair out to Corey's car. Corey says Sarah needs to see their dad at the pulpit to see the full strength of his glare. They go to get Cage's car from near the ICE facility. Cage suggests Sarah have 'the talk' with J.J. but Sarah says she won't touch that. she's not going to be the one to introduce an innocent to multiple genders and the multiple ways people can be attracted to each other. J.J was probably taught to fall in love with a nice girl and get married, and both lose their virginity on their wedding night. Corey says she does know the lecture they got from their dad. When they arrive, Sarah thinks Ryan looks worn out, but J.J. looks better. When Gregory, Bianica and John Lewis arrive, Rafael and John Lewis head out to the back yard together. Sarah thinks she wants to have a home like the Washingtons, the hub of a family with some by choice, some by birth. Emily arrives with a dish - and Sarah looks at Cage with raised eyebrows. She watches Cage watch Emily, who is no longer oblivious. Ryan asks Sarah if everyone is still gossiping about J.J. and Carroll, and says that the talk has been had, and he learned more than he shared. J.J. is doing okay, and people can stop worrying.
Around 2pm on Sunday, November 15, 2020 Cage wheels Sarah's chair into the EWN elevator and presses the button for the second floor. Sarah asks if he knows what Emily wants to talk about, but Cage shakes his head. Emily had asked them both to meet her at EWN but hadn't said why. Emily is waiting for them in the living area with sandwiches. Sarah asks if this is the lunch they had talked about. Emily says that they asked her to let them know when she knew what she wanted. Sarah asks if Emily knows what she wants. Emily says to Sarah that she wants her. Cage gets up to leave, saying she's being cruel, but Emily says she's not finished, she wants him too. Cage is confused, and asks what that means, and Emily says she loves them both, and wants them both, and doesn't want to have to choose between them. She wants them to live together, sleep together, have sex together, and she thinks the two of them want that too. She sees Cage care for Sarah, and thinks there's a reason Sarah doesn't want to move back to her room in the residence hall. Sarah asks Emily if she's sure, as people could get hurt otherwise. Cage suggests that he evict Corey, as the Loft is looking for a roommate. Rule One will be no talking to others, as then his family will know and there goes Thanksgiving dinner. Emily says she likes Martha's turkey, and would miss dinner with them. Cage says, then the story is that Corey is leaving, and Emily wants to be closer to the office. Sarah says that's her story and she's sticking to it. Cage kisses Emily thoroughly, and then kisses Sarah thoroughly too. For a gay woman, Sarah seems to be just fine with that.
===== Book 4: Hold Me =====
* Tuesday December 1, 2020
** 10am: On the first morning the three of them are in their apartment together, no one is speaking or making eye contact. Cage grins, saying he's living every man's fantasy, and all he's got out of it is a good cup of coffee. Sarah laughs, but Emily tears up and runs to her bedroom, slamming the door shut. Sarah quietly asks if he knows Emily's story, and he shakes his head. She tells him he broke it, so he has to fix it, and moves into the living room.
** 8:30pm: When Emily and Cage arrive home, Sarah is seated on the couch working on her laptop. Emily tells them that Ryan called. Sarah asks what he had to say, and Cage asks hopefully if he's coming back. Emily gives them Ryan's news, then tells them that she loves them both so much, but is terrified that she'll f*ck things up. Cage picks her up, and sits with her on the couch beside Sarah. Emily says that was part of Ryan's advice, then tells them the rest including that she should tell the story of why she no longer dances. She says she doesn't know how to start, so Sarah starts off with "Once upon a time there was a little girl named Emily...". Emily tells them of her activity-based anorexia diagnosis as a teenager. After Emily falls asleep, Cage carries her to bed.
** 11pm: When Cage returns to the living room, Sarah says she feels like drinking - not that she will, other than Earl Grey tea. Cage makes it for her, and fetches himself a beer. Cage says he missed something, and Sarah says she wants to sue someone, Emily has essentially never gone through puberty. Emily's anorexia delayed onset of her periods to the point she rarely has them, and being on birth control further suppresses her hormones. Sarah says a lot of women in the Army take the pill to stop their periods - and Emily is still anorexic. Cage recalls that Emily didn't eat when she went out with Ryan and Cage, she'd drink water or a screwdriver [vodka and orange juice] but have no food. Sarah says Emily probably exercised for an extra hour the next day if she had a screwdriver. They hear J.J. arriving, so Cage carries Sarah to her bed.
* Wednesday December 2, 2020
** 7am: Sarah cooks breakfast: scrambled eggs and bacon with toast, and orange juice. She turns to see J.J. near the sofa, and he comes over for a hug then helps her into her chair and to the table He sets the table and brings over the food. When Cage arrives at the table, and Sarah can hear Emily in the shower and says she'll be there before they finish. J.J. says he's noticed Emily doesn't eat enough. When Emily comes out, she pours a glass of juice and nibbles on a single piece of unbuttered toast. Having heard Emily's story, Sarah can't believe she's been so blind, but then Emily had been hiding her anorexia for nearly 10 years. Cage adds a spoonful of eggs and a piece of bacon to Emily's plate, and then splits the rest with J.J. After eating, Cage gets up to make Earl Grey tea for Sarah, and coffee for himself and Emily. Sarah responds to a message from Lam Deng about Folio, then Gregory calls Cage. He goes to his room to call his parents. Sarah tells J.J. that he needs to think about it, but she suggests he contact his mother, who must be frantic with worry about him. J.J. says he called her the previous night when he knew his dad would be at work. When Cage doesn't open his door after 40 minutes, Sarah tells Emily to go and check on him, as she knows his parents best. When they emerge, Cage tells J.J. to walk with him to EWN, and they can talk on the way. 
== Possessions ==
=== Residence ===
==== Book 2: Choose ====
Sarah lives in one of the residential halls on campus. When she is released from OHSU on Sunday October 18, Cage takes her to stay at the Goose Hollow apartment with him and Corey, as she can't live alone while on her latest pain meds.. 
==== Book 3: Don't Go ====
Sarah makes herself at home in the Goose Hollow apartment. When she leaves out a grocery list, the items appear in the refrigerator, and it feels comfortable to feed Cage and Corey. 
==== Book 4: Hold Me ====
* Tuesday December 1, 2020 - 10am: There are logistics issues with moving. First Corey has to be moved out to the Loft and Corey's room cleaned to Sarah's satisfaction. Sarah gave notice at the residence halls, but ended up paying full December rent there, as well as her share in the Goose Hollow apartment. She's grumpy because the residence halls close for the Christmas break on December 12, but she still has to pay for the whole month. Cage borrowed a pickup from one of his father's parishioners for the Thanksgiving weekend [November 28-29], and with the help of a lot of the newsroom staff they got everyone shuffled around.
=== Vehicle ===
==== Book 2: Choose ====
Sarah drives an ancient Volvo, which has a manual lock. 
------------
Scar tissue covers her left shoulder, cascading down her back toward her waist. Both legs have scar tissue across the front, bad at the hips, tapering off by the knees. A deeper knotted scars dominates her right thigh. The muscles on her legs are atrophying. 
In early December 2020, Sarah's pain medications stop working, and her doctor required her to wean herself off them before prescribing something new. The medications also suppressed healing. Withdrawal is causing painful muscle spasms. Her doctor wants her to be admitted to the VA hospital, but the COVID surge prevents new referrals from being admitted other than for life-or-death emergencies.
On Saturday morning December 5, 2020, Sarah's temperature is 102°F. Her breakfast is unusually tasteless. She refuses to go to the VA hospital by ambulance. Emily takes a nap while they wait for Cage to return. Sarah's temperature rises to 105°F. She writes Cage and Emily a note, and returns to bed. When Emily wakes up, she calls Cage, and an ambulance to take Sarah to the VA Hospital. Visitors are not allowed. Sarah dies on December 6. Her eldest brother, Caleb, picks up her ashes from the VA hospital on December 16, and takes them, her car, and the remaining contents of her residence room back home with him. He does not contact EWN, Emily or Cage.
In late November 2020, she gives notice of her intention to move out, but will have to pay rent until the end of December, as well as her share of the Goose Hollow apartment. Even though the residence hall closes for the Christmas break on December 12, she still has to pay for the whole month.
Category:Character
Category:EWN