Duties and Desires
Chapter 1
Disclaimer: I don't own anything or anyone in regards to CSI; the show and its characters belong to a bunch of people who aren't me. I am merely borrowing the characters for my own amusement. Dance puppets, dance.
Author's Note: I don't even know how to explain this one. It started as a joke suggestion to EllipsesBandit and then my muse latched on to the idea like Homer Simpson to a donut; she wasn't letting this one go . The chapter wrote itself, so I decided to go with it. This is probably the goofiest thing I've ever written...so I hope you like it :)EllipsesBanditgets her cookies for being the awesome beta. And a thank you to Kristen Elizabeth for indulging my paranoia ;)
"Have you found her?" Gage demanded.
"I'm sorry sir," the police officer told him. "We have no leads. We'll let you know as soon as we find something." With that, the young man left.
Gage felt completely helpless; Cara had been missing for thirty-six hours. Her car was gone. Her clothes no longer in his apartment. All that was left was the note. The note, the faint scent of her lilac scented perfume on his pillow, and the ring he had given her. But he knew better. Cara had been kidnapped, and he needed to find her before it was too late. She was his oxygen. He couldn't live without her, he just couldn't…
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"Don't go, Timothy."
Her voice was strong, but the desperation was evident. Tim Copper closed his eyes. They were so wrong for each other; he was Sandy Tree's emergency room chief, and she was head of Dominion Insure, the company trying to sponsor the hospital, and threatening the jobs of his friends; he represented the community, while she was part of a billion dollar corporation that shafted patients. And the most important reason was he loved her. Loved her with everything he had. Tim turned and found his usually strong woman with wide blue eyes, full of fright and hope. Closing the distance between them, Tim pressed his lips against her soft, soft neck. Their relationship may be wrong, but the feel of her underneath him felt so right…
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"My god, you're so big," Lorraine purred.
"You have no idea, nurse."
She continued to let her hand skate down the front of his briefs, feeling the outline of his firm manhood. She had not seen the organ in question, but she could tell he was well endowed. Who knew the man could hide all this? He bucked and writhed under her sensual touch. Her hand slid to his thigh, and he groaned in protest.
"Do you want more?" she casually asked. But Lorraine already knew the answer. All men did…
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Dick watched Craig talk to the little girl; his younger colleague talked with such ease to the child, distracting her as he put in stitches. Suddenly the little girl giggled happily, likely laughing at one of Craig's jokes. Probably the one about the duck asking for grapes; it always made Dick smile. Craig took the child's hand between his own, and spoke to her in a calm and soothing voice. The girl's face relaxed and she was no longer frightened. Dick understood; he knew from experience how reassuring Craig's touch could be…
"You're late."
"Late? What are you talking about? It's 11:55."
"Exactly. You're late."
Sara walked over to her locker, and put her jacket away. "Greg, I don't where you learned to tell time, but shift starts at midnight. Coming in at 11:55 is not late."
"You used to here at 11:15, sometimes earlier," the former lab rat told her. His voice turned mock authoritive. "It seems like that fiancé of yours is posing a problem to your work. If this keeps up, you may be forced to re-think the situation."
She managed to hold in the sigh at Greg's statement. The team had reacted well to the announcement of her and Grissom's relationship as well as their impending marriage. Each had offered their congratulations and support. Greg, as usual, gave both along with a bit of bit of teasing. At every opportunity he got.
"We just got a little distracted this evening," she said offhandedly. "Making waffles."
His face twisted in disgust. "I hope you're talking about the food."
"Well, it definitely involved a lot of syrup."
He shuddered, making her laugh. She clipped her badge to her belt, and they both headed to the break room. Inside, Nick Warrick, and Catherine were already seated in their usual spots.
"Hey, Sara," Nick greeted. "You're late."
She turned from the coffee pot to glare at him. He didn't say anything, going back to reading his magazine with a smirk. She went back to filling her mug, proud of her self for not following through on her desire to throw the object at the Texan. Grissom walked in just as she was stirring in the sugar.
"There are no cases tonight," he announced. "So this would be a good opportunity to catch up on any unfinished paperwork."
"Of course, you'll be doing the same." Catherine wasn't asking a question.
Grissom didn't react to the comment other than simply stating, "No, I have a lecture at UNLV I have to prepare."
The glare Catherine gave him had Sara bite the inside of cheek to keep from chuckling. It was nice to know he didn't only frustrate her. "That's fine." Sara pulled out her chair. "Warrick and I need to follow up on some trace results from Thursday night's case."
When she sat down, she knew something wasn't right. It felt as if one thigh was higher than the other.
"What the heck?" Reaching under her, she pulled out a large, bound book. The cover was a brown, and the pages were the size of computer printer paper. There looked to be several hundred pages.
Grissom frowned at the discovery. "What is that?"
"It looks like a manuscript," offered Catherine.
Sara opened the cover to the first page, unable to keep her mouth from falling open. "It's more than that." At everyone's curious stares, she clarified, "This is a romance novel."
Nick's eyes widened. "What?"
Nodding, Sara read, "Duties and Desires."
Catherine laughed. "Oh, now I'm intrigued. Tell me there's a synopsis."
"Yeah, it looks like it," Sara replied as she turned to the second page. "No author listed, though." After a brief scanning, she smiled widely. "This is bad; you all have to hear this." With everyone's attention, she started:
The emergency room doctors of Sandy Tree Hospital work hard to save lives, but can they save their own hearts?
The crew is led by the brilliant Gage Garrison, a doctor revered for his quick thinking and even quicker wit. His sapphire eyes are as deep as the ocean, and his distinguished salt and pepper curls have every female staff member wanting to run their hands through them.
Everyone slowly looked up at Grissom. The entomologist had been apparently engrossed in a file, not listening. "What?" he asked with five pairs of eyes on him.
Warrick shrugged. "Maybe it's just a coincidence."
Even though he had let his career become his life, his heart wasn't completely closed off; he was in love with the beautiful and kind Dr. Cara Clydel. Sara started reading more slowly. He just couldn't resist her warm, chocolate brown eyes and a smile that he was sure was reserved for him and him alone.
She sank in her chair slightly, her face becoming red.
"That's more than just a coincidence," Greg beamed. "This is a romance novel about you and Grissom!"
"Whatever," she mumbled. She turned to find Grissom still not paying attention.
Greg elbowed her in the arm. "This is great. Tell us more."
"Yes," Catherine agreed. "Do not keep us in suspense."
Closing her eyes, Sara took a deep breath. She read the rest of the paragraph in a flat tone.
After ten years of holding her at bay, Gage finally admits his love for her, and now they are happily planning their nuptials. But one day Cara mysteriously disappears, leaving him with nothing but a "Dear John" letter. Gage suspects there is foul play. Can he find her before its too late?
After finishing, the brunette scanned the table, daring someone to say a word. Her colleagues' faces were scrunched up as they tried to keep from laughing. But Warrick broke the silence with a snort, causing the others to break out in chuckles.
He apologized. "I'm sorry, girl, but you have to admit it's kind of funny."
"Oh, yeah. This is absolutely hilarious," she said dryly.
"I'm ready to read about the adventures of Gage and Cara." Greg moved his hand toward the book, but Sara slid it away.
"Well, you are certainly not going to find out." When he groaned, she continued, "Besides from the looks of it, there are more characters. We should see who else makes an appearance."
Nurse Lorraine Billows works hard and plays just as much. Men fall at the feet of this buxom blonde with her crystal blue eyes, full breasts, and long, lean figure. After an unsuccessful marriage to a drifter who took off with all of her money, Lorraine has sworn off serious relationships. No one man can satisfy her numerous desires. Sandy Tree hires a new doctor and he immediately catches her eye. How could he not? He seeks power as much as she does, and she will stop at nothing until she has him.
"So we've got Cara Clydel and Lorraine Billows," Nick listed. "The author wasn't even trying to disguise the names."
"I'm a nurse." Catherine spit out the word as if it tasted bad.
Nick offered, "Nurses have very important roles. They're the ones who really help patients."
"They sure do!" Greg waggled his eyebrows. "I saw this movie once where this male patient came in with pressure in his groin and the nurse offered to relieve it…"
In the midst of the usual chaos of the emergency room, Dr. Tim Copper is trying to save the hospital. Dominion Insure, the biggest insurance group in the nation, is interested in sponsoring the hospital. While the company boasts better patient care, Tim knows better. Dominion Insure cuts costs at every corner, leaving people sick and dying. Not only that, but much of the staff would be replaced if the insurance company was allowed in. However, that's not Tim's only problem. He had been having a long standing affair with the company's president Heidi Castle. It's been a no strings attached relationship. But one day he realizes he's hopelessly in love with her. Can they both survive the problems personal and professional lives?
"Tim Copper?" Warrick shook his head. "You've got to admit, that's clever alias for Brass."
"I get that," Greg said. "But who is Heidi Castle?"
Dr. Dick Bokes is the charming, sweet, boy-next-door; his smile is bright and always makes the nurses' knees weaken. His physique isn't one to complain about either. This well-cut man is muscular and strong; the absolute definition of masculinity. But he has been unlucky in love. Women have walked all over this intelligent man. He found his fiancée in bed with his best friend. Dick's heart has been broken one too many times. In his lonely hours, he turned to his colleague, who has been more than supportive. Dick starts to see his friend in a new light, but the question is does Craig Stanton feel the same way?
Sara stopped reading, and stared at the two men along with Warrick and Catherine.
Nick blinked in disbelief. "What-what was that name at the end?"
"Craig Stanton."
"That can't be right." Greg stated, obviously confused. "No. Craig Stanton is supposed to fall in love with the beautiful brunette nurse, with long legs, blue eyes--"
"Whose name happens to be Dick Bokes?" Warrick filled in.
Sneering, Nick told him, "Shut up."
Catherine grinned. "Why Greg and Nick, I had no idea."
"That's not true!" Greg exclaimed. "Whoever wrote that has a very twisted imagination. They obviously have no idea how good I am with the ladies." Composing himself, he let out a short breath. "I think we just need to get rid of that thing."
Catherine's grin turned more evil. "The boy doth protest too much methinks."
Warrick interrupted before a fight broke out. "Before this goes any further, can I at least find out if I'm in the story?"
The cool, calm, collective Dr. Warren Crown holds the team together. He may seem indifferent on the outside, but shows great empathy with the patients. He is gem to the hospital with his brilliant diagnostic skills and emerald green eyes. Graduating with a B.S. from Yale, he went on to Harvard Medical School. Later, he became a co-owner in a local jazz club, and spends his free time helping disabled children. But for some reason considers his life somewhat unsuccessful. Maybe that's why he impulsively married Gina, a police officer. Their marriage seems to be all right, but Warren starts suspecting his wife of being unfaithful. After he finds lingerie from another man, the doctor doesn't know what to think. Little does he know there is someone waiting to comfort him…
"Wow. They made you out to be the man of gold," Sara commented to Warrick.
He just gave her a half-grin. "I guess, but what's with the problems in 'my marriage?' Everything's been fine."
Nick snapped his fingers and pointed to him. "Yeah. Aren't you and Tina planning a ceremony this summer?" Warrick confirmed the question with a nod.
"See, the book's full of all kinds of errors." Greg waved his hand in Sara's direction. "I don't know why anyone would want to read that."
Nick nodded. "I'm with Greg on this one."
"Of course you are." Catherine smiled innocently.
"I think the book needs to be destroyed. If other people started reading this, they would start making up crazy stories based on fiction. And you know what they say about assuming." Greg looked pointedly at Catherine.
"You don't need to worry about that Greg, because I'll be taking the book." Grissom stood up and held out his hand to Sara. She should have known he heard the entire conversation. She gave him the book.
"You're going to deny the lab this great reading material?" Catherine asked.
"Yes." His voice was firm. "It looks like someone put a lot of thought into this, but they shouldn't have brought it here. More importantly, they should not have left it where it could be found." As he gathered his files, he eyed each member of the nightshift team, making his point. "Now I'm sure you all have some work to do." Tucking the novel under his arm, Grissom left the room.
"Yes, work." Greg stood. "Work with evidence, the truth. Nothing to do with fiction."
Catherine sighed. "Too bad. I'm caught up with my work. I could've used a new book to read." Nick rolled his eyes, and the two went out.
"I'll go see if Hodges has our results," Warrick offered to Sara.
"Okay. I'll meet you over there in a minute. There's just one thing I have to do." Sara waited until Warrick was gone before she headed to Grissom's office.
TBC