Disclaimer: I do NOT own CSI.
Written in response to the GSR Forever Online September 2010 challenge.
I have chosen Option 2, the "Let's Torture Sara" option.
Someone from Grissom's past wants to destroy Sara's reputation and Grissom's faith in her. They manage to make it look like Sara is taking drugs and frame her for murder.
MUST include the following:
Sara fails an illegal drug test
Grissom doubts Sara's innocence
Catherine and Greg are the only ones to fully believe in Sara's innocence.
The line "Evidence can sometimes lie. I never have. At least not to you."
MUST include at least 2 of the following:
Someone gets taken to hospital at some point, an argument between Grissom and Catherine or Grissom and Sara, the bad guy/girl finds a way into Grissom's life with Grissom none the wiser that this person is setting Sara up, Sara overdoses, Catherine finds the first clue to Sara's innocence, a pleasant surprise unveils itself in the end or The line "I've always loved you, but that doesn't mean I've always believed you."
Enjoy!
Innocent Until Proven Guilty
Chapter 1
Chris Nelson, a member of the Chicago Crime Lab, is sitting in a diner, in the early hours of the morning, in Las Vegas. The latest case he's working on, involving major drug deals, has brought him her and he can't say he's disappointed. What's not to like about Vegas? The gambling? The ladies? The chance to meet up with an old friend?
He hasn't seen Gil Grissom for over ten years and it's about time they had a visit.
Chris and Gil were college buddies and roomies, although they got along well and Chris regarded him as a friend, Gil Grissom was still the pain in Chris's ass. He was, still is, everything which Chris should be. In college Gil was top of every class, teachers pet, teachers assistant and all the girls swooned over him, not that he ever noticed.
Even now, after all of this time, Gil Grissom still has everything. He lectures at the university, he's still the top entomologist and CSI in the country, he has his own property and apparently he has a very beautiful wife. He has all of this whilst Chris has a job and that's about all, he doesn't even own the flat he lives in.
Chris shuffles through the two manila folders in front of him, one folder with information on Gilbert Grissom and the other with information on Sara Sidle – Grissom.
He sighs when he looks at the picture of Sara.
God, she's beautiful. How did bugman manage to pull her? What's his game? What's her game? Is she only after safety, his money? I mean, Gil Grissom is not exactly a people person. He's a scientist; a geeky, bugman scientist. Why should he be so happy when I've worked just as hard, if not harder, than him and I'm still only a CSI level three. There's nothing wrong with that, but I've always wanted to run my own lab, I've always wanted to lecture people about forensics but every time I try to move up the ladder, somebody knocks me down. As for Sara, I've met her before. She was in a bar one night with friends, in San Francisco, and I offered to buy her a drink. She smiled and said "No, thank you." before she turned and walked away, practically laughing. I'm not sure if she was with Gil at the time though. We were both in San Francisco lecturing, so I suppose they could've already met. Again, all the girls were swooning over him and he didn't seem to notice. If only Sara had agreed to a drink with me, my life could be so different now; I could've been the one who's happily married.
Two hours later, he's walking through the crime lab, smiling with thanks to a little pick me up. He stops outside Gil's office and knocks on the door.
"Come in…" comes Gil's familiar voice.
Chris opens the door and smiles. He looks the same, yet very different. His dark curly hair now has a tint of grey and he's put on a few pounds. However, he still looks handsome; he still looks like a ladies man.
"Well, well…look who it is?" smiles Chris.
Gil looks puzzled for a moment, before recognising his old friend.
"Chris Nelson. I don't believe it. How are you?" Gil smiles and stands up to shake the mans hand.
He laughs. "I'm good. I'm good. I'm here to help dayshift with a case relating to one of mine back in Chicago.
The two men sit and talk for a while, mostly about old times before moving onto the case which brought Chris here.
Apparently a guy called Justin Kingston is a top drug dealer, wanted in both Chicago and Las Vegas. He's not only a drug dealer; he's a user and a very dangerous criminal with connections within the Police Department.
"I'm just hoping that…" Chris starts to say, before being cut off by a knock on the door and a beautiful face poking her head in.
"Oh…sorry, I'll come back." stutters Sara.
"Sara, come on in." says Gil. "I'd like you to meet Chris Nelson, my old college buddy." He then looks at Chris. "Chris, this is my wife, and fellow CSI, Sara Sidle."
"Hi Chris, it's nice to meet you." smiles Sara, looking every bit as gorgeous as that night in San Francisco.
"And you…" replies Chris, whilst staring at her. "I'm sorry, have we met before?" he asks, knowing very well that Sara doesn't remember their little moment.
"I don't think so…" Sara smiles.
"My bad, you must have a twin wandering about somewhere."
"God, I hope not. I couldn't handle another Sara." jokes Gil, sending a wink towards his wife.
There's a moments silence before Gil speaks.
"Sorry honey, did you want something?" he asks, mentally cursing himself for calling her 'Honey' at work. They try to keep things professional at work, although they most often fail. Sara always manages to sneak in a quick kiss or an affectionate touch whilst Gil often feels embarrassed because he calls her Honey or Sweetheart infront of the guys.
Sara smiles, knowing what he's thinking, and he smiles back at her.
"Sorry Gil, it looks like we're working a double. Cath has the details in the breakroom."
"Great." mumbles Gil, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Chris, care to join us?"
"Sure, I have a meeting with…Conrad Ecklie, I think, in two hours though."
He notices Sara and Gil eye eachother and smile.
"Good luck with that." says Gil and they all head out.
In the breakroom, after Gil has introduced Chris to everyone, Cath has just started to talk about the new, top priority case when Ecklie storms in.
"Okay guys." he snarls. "Drugs test is to be done right now, by the Mayor's order. I need everyone to fill these cups and hand in to Wendy, who has already been tested and cleared."
"What? Why?" asks Sara, before having time to think about who she's speaking to.
"Just do it, Sidle."
Eclike places the tray of sample cups down and looks around the room.
"Who are you?" he barks towards Chris.
"Chris Nelson."
"You're early."
"Yeah…I guess I am."
"Well…once you've provided us with a urine sample, and washed your hands, we can have our little meeting." Ecklie says, before storming out.
Everyone stands in silence for a few seconds,
"I…I…is he serious?" asks Chris, trying to hide the fear in his voice.
"Yep." smiles Gil. "Get peeing, Chris."
"NOW!" barks Ecklie from down the corridor.
Chris starts to panic; he knows very well that his test will come back positive for drugs.
He sighs, picks up a cup and follows the guys into the bathroom.
"This is ridiculous. I don't even work here." he mumbles.
"Hey, don't worry about it. We often have random drug checks." says Greg, eying Chris cautiously.
The men leave the bathroom, Chris trails behind nervously and hands his sample to Wendy, a very beautiful young lady. That's when it happens; he spots the perfect opportunity whilst Wendy has her back turned. He quickly looks around and switches lids with another cup, before running to catch up with the rest of the team.
Thirty minutes later, Cath calls Sara into her office.
"Hey, what's up?" asks Sara.
"Sara, we have a problem…"
Sara looks at her, puzzled.
"What is it?"
Cath looks pained, hurt and confused all at once.
"Sara, your urine sample came back positive for Methylamphetamine."
TBC…
Hope this was okay. I haven't found my mojo yet.
Let me know what you think so far.
I have a good idea for this story, I just need to put it into words. Yikes.
Lynne x