Title: Of Bugs and Ex-Boyfriends
Author: Secret Art
Rating: Pg- for now
Date: 4th September 2004
Category: angst, romance
Pairings: Grissom/Sara
Spoilers: none at the moment
Summary: read title
Archive: where ever you want, I'm not fussy
Feedback: can only make me better
Disclaimer: Not mine, not now, not ever.
Author's note: Thanks to Michelle for the idea and for convincing me that I was long overdue writing a CSI fic even if a WIP isn't exactly what she had in mind-I hope this is what you were after.
Sara walked into the break room, not surprised to find Warrick and Nick already there, arguing over some article in what looked like a sports magazine.
She smiled to herself, walking over to the kettle, making herself a drink, barely focusing on the argument, lost in thought.
She considered this date an almost anniversary, at least to her it was a special day, he probably wouldn't remember, notice or care.
She sighed, knowing that she shouldn't be so hard on him, he had been trying to fix their relationship, get back some of the friendship they once had.
She was shaken from her thoughts by the appearance of Catherine, strolling in with a concerned look on her face.
"Have any of you seen Grissom?"
Sara put down her mug, a knot appearing in her stomach. "He's not in his office?"
"No, and I've called his house and mobile, nothing."
"Have you checked whether his car is in the car park?" Warrick asked, putting down the magazine he had been flicking through.
"Not there."
"he might be stuck in a traffic jam and his battery is dead." Nick suggested, grabbing the magazine Warrick had put down.
Catherine opened her mouth to respond but didn't have the chance as Brass rushed through the door, panting slightly.
"Grissom's missing."
"Very observant," Nick replied sarcastically, causing Warrick to elbow him.
"No, I mean really missing. His neighbours called the police after hearing a disturbance. The place has been trashed, they think he may have been kidnapped."
Sara leaned back against the counter, her hands gripping the edge as her legs threatened to cave in.
She took a few deep breaths, calming herself down before she spoke, trying to sound as normal as possible. "Are there any suspects?"
Brass shock his head. "Nothing. Dayshift are working on a triple, so I'm afraid you'll have to do it, Catherine you've been placed in charge."
Catherine took a deep breath, pleased that she had finally got a chance to be in charge, horrified at the circumstances. "If anyone doesn't want to work this case I'll understand."
She was responded by silence, the look of determination on everyone's face telling her that they would never give up.
"Where do we start?" Nick asked, looking at each of them in turn.
Brass walked further into the room. "We question friends and family."
All eyes turned to Sara, and she rolled hers. She sat down in one of the empty chairs, bracing herself for the questions.
"So, ask away," she offered, knowing that none of them wanted to be the first to speak.
They all looked towards Catherine, she didn't know whether it because she was a woman, or because she was now in charge, but the team had chosen their interviewer.
"Ok, I can do this." Catherine turned to look at Sara, feeling slightly guilty but knowing they had no choice, and anyway, there were questions that needed answers for personal reasons as well as professional. "What is your relationship with Gil Grissom?"
Sara laughed slightly. "We are colleagues, used to be friends, slowly heading back to being friends."
"Were you ever involved in a romantic relationship with him?"
"Yes." She heard gasps from around the room, and raised an eyebrow as Warrick handed money over to Nick.
"When was this?"
"Ten years ago. We met exactly ten years ago today, not that it matters. I was a student, he spoke in one of my lectures. We started as friends, somehow got into a romantic relationship. It only lasted a couple of months, we both ended up in different states and went back to being just good friends."
She could see Catherine about to ask more questions, but they were interrupted by a knock on the door, signalling the arrival of a receptionist holding a large brown envelope.
"Sara Sidle?"
"Yes?"
"This just arrived for you. It was left on the reception counter."
Sara stood up, taking the envelope with a brief "Thanks" before moving away from the group to look at it properly.
She looked at the front, on it was written only 'Sara Sidle, CSI' in handwriting that was oddly familiar to her.
Opening it, she pulled out a group of Polaroid photos, held together with a basic elastic band.
She removed the band, the knot in her stomach making her feel sick.
As she turned the photos over she gasped, letting go of them, watching as they fell to the floor in a heap.
Warrick reached out and grabbed one of the photos, his expressions unreadable as he turned to show it to the rest of the group.
It was a photograph of Grissom, gagged and bound to a chair, a gun aimed at his head.
TBC