Title: Out, Brief
Author: aflaminghalo
Rating: G
Disclaimer: Disclaimed
Notes: hearts to dreamsofhim for the beta.
Perhaps an hour had passed since the building had been full of people drawing together, some out of curiosity, some of sympathy, some morbidity but only a precious few from a real and raw grief.
He still was not sure what exactly prompted his presence in this place, only a memory of distant dry eyes and softly accented English, a woman once a mother holding herself together so very tightly, asking him if he would light a candle for her child.
The timing of his arrival had been deliberate; he knew there was no place for him there in that memorial service as he had only known the infant in death.
Calm was his watchword as he entered, blessed himself at the font and genuflected before he sat. Some rituals were a matter of respect.
His meditations were long past when Sara found him gazing blankly at the votive stand flanking a statue of a brown robed man holding a bird. Beneath it a plaque declared him to be St. Francis of Assisi.
Reaching him she laid a soft hand on his arm even as she saw him holding a small unlit candle. He didn't turn to look at her but did not shy away from her touch.
"The Bible states that light was the first thing God created. "Let there be light…."
"And there was light and God saw that it was good." Sara finished his sentence for him, knowing what he was doing even as she took in his drawn expression. "How are you doing?"
Grissom cast a look out of the corner of his eye and Sara felt him tense beneath her hand. But it passed. He drew a breath and managed a small smile- her caring was an awesome gift even if one he was not yet used to. "Much better now."
The hand on his arm slid away to press lightly against his back. "Do you have a prayer for her?"
"No….I.."
Confusion evident in his voice.
A sigh.
He stretched his hand out and caught the wick of the candle against one of the many flames that burned before them.
"I can reach forward, Sara, and increase the amount of light in the universe for her. I can do that. But prayers...
"Hope, maybe. Compassion, empathy even. But I don't think I have any prayers anymore."
He set the candle with the others and took a step away from the small shrine, turning away.