The Incentive of Fear
A/N: Hello my people, my fellow travelers of the fictional world (and my fellow obsessers over certain TV shows LOL). I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your reviews on past stories. My most popular story (One thing After another) lost a lot of readers because I didn't update quickly enough, this one I promise to do better on! (But please be patient, I'm in school so I got a lot on my plate). Here is my next story. I don't intend to make this a particularly long one, (four chapters or maybe one or two more) and the first few chapters may be rather boring. But please, I ask you to struggle through it, it's gotta get worse before it gets better!
P.S if this story seems sort of out of character, please note that I meant to write it that way.
Summary: with fear and bullets and bombs and fire, the lives of four people are changed forever. House-CSI X-over, some GSR and HC, hints from "way to go" and "half wit." Cameron and Sara's POV.
Disclaimer: ah… If only…
Chapter 1 (Sara)
"I'm not exactly sure how long it's been." I said as I spoke on the phone with my old friend in New Jersey.
'Give it a guess' Ali replied on the other line.
'I seriously have no clue.' I said with a laugh to my voice. I hadn't spoken to Ali for many many months now, and I was ecstatic to be able to see her again. See, a few days prior, Grissom had called me into his office to say that he'd be going away for a few days, I had smiled and nodded, but I didn't like the idea. Since Grissom and I had obtained a closer relationship than the "boss/employee" affiliation I was so used to, I had decided that I didn't really like being alone so much any more.
'Where to?' I'd asked him.
'New Jersey' he'd replied 'It's a Forensics teaching Seminar, there is also a Doctors teaching seminar going on in the same place.' He had then smiled slightly up at me from his desk. 'I get to stay in a five star hotel and pretty much everything is paid for.' He held up a plane ticket, then held up a second one 'I need a partner' he said. My face broke into a wide grin.
'You want me to go?' I'd asked, Grissom nodded
'Why not?' he'd replied.
And that's where I am now; I'm busy packing my bags for the long plane ride to this seminar.
'Whatever' Ali said snapping me from my thoughts. 'Did you get that present I sent you?'
'Yes I did' I replied as I swept over to my closet. I pulled out a long white plastic bag, like what clothes from a really expensive store would come in.
'I have no idea where I'll ever wear it though.'
'Bring it to Jersey with you.' Ali replied
'Why?' I asked
'Ah, you never know' Ali spoke with a tease in her voice.
'What aren't you telling me?' I teased back as I carefully folded the bag into my suitcase as the final piece and clicked it shut.
'Nothing, but you never know.' She replied. I rolled her eyes as I set my clothing bag next to the two others at the door. One was smaller and contained such things as my books and toothbrush and the third was a single-shoulder-strap bag that I used for my carry-on items. At that moment there was a knock at my door.
'Oh that's Grissom' I said, I've got to go, you'll meet us at the air-port right?'
'Of course' Ali replied 'I haven't seen you in five years, I wouldn't miss that reunion for the world.' I grinned
'Great' I said 'see ya.' And hung up the phone. Grissom knocked again and I pulled open her green door. 'Hi' I said quickly.
'We've got to go, the plane deports in half an hour.' Grissom said as he reached down and picked up my clothing suitcase.
CSIHOUSECSIHOUSECSIHOUSE
(Cameron)
'I want you to go with him, be his partner for the teaching seminar and make sure he doesn't scare off every student there' Cuddy was saying, I sat poised in a chair across from Cuddy's desk, House was standing in the corner twirling his cane around in his hands and rolling his eyes.
'Well I'm not sure if I can assure that, but I can at least assure you that there will be one or two people left by the time were finished' I said
'Well that's good enough.' Cuddy leaned back in her chair and looked at House, he had been unusually silent. 'You haven't said much.'
'Nope' House replied watching his cane swivel around between his palms.
'Aren't you going to make some complaint, or some snide comment?'
'Nope' he said again
'Why not?'
'Because I'm looking forward to going.' Both of us turned around to look at him as if a second head had suddenly appeared on his shoulder.
'What?' Cuddy said quietly.
'I don't want to teach annoying brats about the artistic talent it takes to diagnose illness, but I'll have fun scaring them half to death with detailed explanations of flesh eating diseases. I'm halfway across the state so no clinic duty, and I get to spend the whole time in a swanky hotel with my sexy coworker.' I narrowed my eyes at him.
'Okay' Cuddy said with a sarcastic ring to her voice as she looked back at me. 'I'll give you the rest of the day off to go and get ready.'
'Thank you' I said as I stood 'I have to go to the air port.'
'How come?' Cuddy inquired
'One of the CSI's flying in from Vegas for the Forensics seminar is an old friend of mine and I was going to meet her at the air port.' Cuddy nodded
'Have fun' she said as I strode from the room, not even bothering to look over to House.
CSIHOUSECSIHOUSECSIHOUSE
(Sara)
As soon as we disembarked the plane I immediately started to look out for the familiar red hair and brown eyes.
'Sara!' Grissom shouted as the two of us moved towards the luggage carrousel 'wait up.' He caught my arm 'where's the fire?'
'An old friend of mine is meeting me here' I said as I strained to look over the heads of the throngs of people. I thought I saw a glimpse of red hair and called out instantly
'Ali!'
'Yes' she replied right in my ear. I gasped and jumped. I did a full 360 in the air before coming face to face with my oldest and closest friend.
'Ali!' I said again
'Sara!' she replied and we threw our arms around each other each seemingly attempting to strangle the other one.
'You look so good!' I said drawing back to look at her. Her once red hair was now chocolate brown, shorter and cut differently and her face looked so much different, more mature in a way. Then again they hadn't seen one another in a long time.
'So do you' she said, flicking a strand of hair from my eyes. I grinned down at her.
'Still short I see' I said teasingly
'Still a giant I see' Ali quipped right back. The two of us laughed like schoolgirls as I wrapped my arm around her shoulder and herded her over to where Grissom was standing.
'Grissom this is Alison Cameron of the Princeton Plainsburough Teaching Hospital in Jersey, Ali this is Gil Grissom of the CSI headquarters in Vegas, and our resident entomologist.'
'Pleased to meet you' Grissom said, always the gentlemen.
'You to' Ali replied taking his outstretched hand and shaking it. Sara could tell she was sizing Grissom up. Seeing if he was right for her best friend. As the three of us moved towards the doors, Ali and I arm in arm, she leaned into me and whispered in my ear. 'He certainly is handsome, I'll give him that' I couldn't help but smile, she'd always been so critical of men.
Boring chapter, I know, but if you can hold out it WILL get better. Reviews are appreciated. Criticism, help, ideas, praise, corrections… everything that's anything is highly appreciated. Thanx!