Too Late
"You want to have dinner with me?" asked Sara as she held her breath.
His reply was quick and decisive.
The word "no" echoed in the room.
It wasn't even a pleasant let down.
It was harsh and hurtful.
She persisted needing to see that glimpse of concern and slight hint of some hidden feeling she had felt when he held her hand to examine the deep gash after the explosion.
She saw nothing now as he stood there waiting impatiently for her to leave.
She blurted out the one thing he had feared most since he began losing his hearing but he did not go after her. Instead, he let her disappear down those halls like she had done so many times before when she had placed her heart out on a platter and he had refused.
It was different this time.
He had wanted to say yes.
He had wanted to explain why he had been so distant and for once let someone see his vulnerability but his pride would not allow this simple comfort.
He knew he should have told her something once the surgery was a success but he had seen a change in her.
She was now distant and for the first time he thought he was really too late.
He hated their situation. He no longer liked being her boss and wondered if he could really give up working with her in order to have her. He had grown so used to having her by his side despite their strained relationship. They had practically stopped talking except for the occasional conversation about cases or workloads. She was a professional through and through. She had even stopped lingering around his door at the end of each shift to say good night and it had bothered him.
He wanted to set things right between them.
He had no idea how or what he could do to fix the many years of rejection. He knew if he returned to his old ways he would just end up hurting her again. She had been hurt enough. His plan was put on hold when his creditability had been called into question on a case and despite the ramifications; he refused to leave an innocent man in prison based on evidence that had not been processed.
He stared at the fingerprint on the matchbook as he sat there on the stand and cursed inwardly.
He knew this was not going to go well.
He knew Ecklie would blame him and by all rights if there was going to be any blame it should fall on his shoulders. He had processed the matchbook and now, suddenly, as if by magic there was a fingerprint that appeared out of nowhere.
He knew he could not have missed it but yet he had no explanation, and so he threw himself into finding that answer while Ecklie assigned someone to do a formal investigation into his ability to properly supervise.
He didn't like to supervise.
He hated it.
He liked to teach.
However, he also liked the control he had over the grave yard shift and now that he was at risk of losing it, he realized how much he wanted to keep his position. It was the first time he had ever admitted that to himself. He watched as the attractive blonde made her rounds to each of his employees followed by his notes on his explanation as to why the fingerprint had miraculously appeared after all these months.
He expected to be cleared of any wrongdoing but then he also knew office politics, and sometimes these type of incidents were just the thing needed to get rid of someone who had rocked the boat one too many times. He hoped that did not apply to him as he sat there in Ecklie's office with Sofia Curtis.
He was eventually cleared of any wrongdoing but he was not prepared to have his team split up.
He blamed Ecklie.
It was his decision.
At least it appeared to be Ecklie's decision.
He sat there and steamed as Ecklie demoted Sofia placing her on his team while Catherine was promoted to swing shift. In one swift action, he lost three of his team members. It angered him. He was not used to sudden change. He wanted them back but knew he should be thankful he still kept his job. He looked at the assignments as he glanced around the table. He had felt a sudden sense of loyalty to Sofia for siding with him. He knew her demotion had been a blow to her and he felt responsible.
Of course, Sofia's decision had been the right decision.
He had committed no errors.
He had reviewed the evidence once the finger print appeared and filed his supplemental report. He had crossed his T's and dotted his I's but in the end had lost part of his team. At least he had his job and Sara. He also knew that Sofia had lost her position because of him and he wanted her to feel welcome in their unit. One look at Sara's face and he knew it would not be easy.
He quickly handed out assignments and looked at Sofia.
"Sofia, you take the lead on this case," he ordered.
Sara and Greg said nothing.
"Sara, you'll assist," he said.
Sara bristled but she said nothing.
She had heard about the woman.
Sofia was liked and disliked.
She had a flirtatious behavior that most men liked but women hated. She was beautiful, smart and had a sense of humor. She had all the traits Sara wished she possessed. She was a very confident young woman and despite the demotion, she held her head high. The others in the lab knew that it had only been a political move and had nothing to do with her capability. She had only been a supervisor for a short period of time having moved there from New Jersey.
She had tried unsuccessfully to turn the swing shift around. She had finally reached a point in which there had been a little improvement but then she was stripped of her position by Ecklie.
Sara quickly made her way to her vehicle and grabbed her kit. She slid into the vehicle with the woman.
"So tell me the scoop behind Gil Grissom," purred Sofia.
"Scoop?" questioned Sara.
"Yeah. Word has it that you knew him in San Francisco. What type of women does Grissom like?" she asked.
Sara's chest tightened.
She had felt the sudden attraction between Grissom and Sofia. There was definitely electricity between the two which was more than she could say for her own relationship with the man.
"I wouldn't know," replied Sara. "I've never seen him with a woman."
It was a lie.
Sofia's mouth curled into a smile. "By the way he's looked at me, I'm certain he's not the gay type and I'm pretty certain the attraction is mutual."
Sara's stomach knotted.
Sofia had just acknowledged the attraction and now Sara felt more and more threatened.
She knew it was going to be hard with Nick and Warrick gone, but she was not prepared for this.
"I heard something about a dominatrix," remarked Sofia.
Sara remained quiet.
"Oh, I get it. You're the loyal type. I like that," she responded.
Sara kept her eyes focused on the window.
"Don't have a thing for him yourself, do you?" asked Sofia.
Yes, but he's turned me down over and over…
I hope he does the same thing to you…
Then at least it won't hurt as much…
"He's my boss," she replied with a tight lipped smile.
"Between you and me, personnel has never pressed that issue ever since Ecklie dated his employee and then married her."
It was news to Sara.
Her stomach churned again.
Sara kept her distance during the investigation. She did what she was told and once the evidence was collected they returned to the lab. She quickly grabbed a cup of Greg's fresh coffee. She smiled after the first sip.
"Tell me that smile is for me," implored Greg as he came into the room.
"Always," teased Sara.
He returned the smile. "How was it?"
Sara started to reply but stopped the moment Sofia entered the room.
"What smells so good?" asked Sofia as she headed toward the coffee machine.
"My own personal stash," declared Greg.
"Share and we can be great buddies…even after work," purred Sofia.
Sara was surprised when Greg stepped aside and even assisted with handing Sofia a cup.
I can share Greg…
I can be professional…
Is her hair bleached blonde…?
Of course…
Sara continued drinking her coffee.
"How did it go?" asked Grissom as he stuck his head inside the break room.
"Let me fill you in," offered Sofia as she linked her hand around Grissom's arm and leaned in whispering softly to Grissom.
He chuckled as they walked down the hall.
Sara fumed inwardly.
"Looks like she's made a big hit with Grissom," said Greg.
"It seems she's a hit with everyone," replied Sara coolly.
Greg glanced at her suddenly. "Not me…I mean I'm just trying to welcome her to the team…nothing more."
Sara set the coffee cup down and headed for the door. "Better get to work."
"Hey Sara," called Greg quickly.
She turned and looked at him.
"You're still my favorite," he crooned with a slight grin.
"Bye Greggo," said Sara as she disappeared.
Sara glanced down the hall when she heard Grissom's voice. She was tempted to step out into the hallway just to chat as he passed. They had not done that much as of late. She knew it partly was her fault. She had been keeping her distance in hopes that he would notice.
He hadn't.
He hadn't even missed their conversations.
She was sure when she stopped coming by his office after shift, he would say something.
He hadn't.
He didn't care or hadn't noticed.
She wasn't sure which was worse at the moment. She swallowed her pride and came to stand in the doorway but regretted the action as soon as she saw Sofia by Grissom's side. He walked past her without a word. Sofia's eyes fluttered briefly to acknowledge her presence but then they were gone.
Sara turned quickly and retreated back inside tossing the report she had finished down on the table.
She told herself it was better this way.
He had finally let her know there would be no future between them.
There certainly had not even been a past.
Her arms folded about her body as she tried to calm the tightness in her chest.
She was startled when his voice boomed behind her.
She turned quickly and looked at Grissom.
"Report done?" he asked.
"What?" she asked.
"Taylor report," he replied.
"Yes," she proclaimed as she handed him the report.
"Good," he said as he disappeared once more.
Thank you…you're welcome…good job…of course if I were Sofia…
Like she can get anywhere with someone who's emotionally unavailable…
He probably doesn't even know she's interested….
Was he wearing cologne?
Sara unbuttoned her blouse letting it slip to the floor as she put on a clean blouse. She took her time changing clothes. She knew the guys were nowhere in sight and Grissom would be held up in his office like he was every day at the end of shift. She pulled back her hair into a ponytail as she stood there in her red laced bra exposed by the unbuttoned blouse.
"Sara…" he stopped abruptly and stared at her.
Her hands propped themselves on her hips and she exhaled deeply. "The Richards file is finished also. It's in your in basket up front."
Her eyes stared at his and it was then that she noticed his eyes were staring at her chest. She glanced down and felt mortified that she had been standing there with her blouse unbuttoned.
"Sorry," she stammered as she turned her back and quickly tried to make her fingers button the blouse in lightning speed.
She turned now and was surprised to find him in the same pose. She glanced down quickly.
"What?"
He licked his lips and tried to talk but found his voice quite juvenile sounding.
"I'm uhm sorry," he finally stuttered. "I needed to talk with you about the Taylor case."
"Okay," she said with arms folded in front of her now which made him feel even more juvenile for staring at her breasts.
He nodded toward his office and she fell into step with him.
He said nothing until they were inside his office.
She was startled when he closed his office door.
"Is there something wrong?" she asked.
"Sara, your evidence contradicts what Sofia's report indicated," he said.
He could already tell she was putting up her defenses.
"Look, I know it must be hard for you and Greg to adjust to the changes in the unit but…"
"There's nothing wrong with my report," insisted Sara.
Grissom stared at her. "Sofia said the bullet that killed Mrs. Taylor was fired from the direction where the husband was standing."
"Look, I would like nothing better than to see the husband go to prison for murder since he used his wife as a punching bag but he could not have fired from that location."
"You're sure?" asked Grissom. "He tested positive for GSR."
"He may have tested positive for GSR but he did not kill his wife. The projection of the entry wound along with the eye witness account of the officer proves he could not have done it. The officer stated he saw the husband standing in front of the window with the gun pointed at him which prompted the officer to open fire. Griss, he did not shoot his wife."
"And the bullet?" asked Grissom.
"We thought it would be retrieved during the autopsy but Doc said it exited the body," reasoned Sara.
"Did you tell this to Sofia?" asked Grissom.
"It's in the report," she retorted.
He glanced through the report once again before handing it back to her.
"You have an issue to resolve," said Grissom.
She stared at him in disbelief.
"Griss, there is nothing to back up her report. I have…"
"Get the bullet," he ordered.
She bit her lower lip.
He was taking Sofia's side.
He was accusing her of being wrong.
It hurt.
It was one thing to reject her feelings for him but it was another to question her work.
She prided herself over her work as much as he did.
She snatched the report from his hands and flew out of the office before he could say another word.
She fumed as she walked down the hall.
She headed out the back just as Sofia stepped out of the locker room.
"Hey, Gil said there was a discrepancy in our reports," she said. "You should have let me review it before submitting it."
Sara said nothing as she headed down the hall.
She was surprised when she felt a hand on her arm.
"Hey Sara, I'm not the enemy. I'm just trying to fit in," empathized Sofia.
You fit in better than I do…
I've been here for years and still Grissom treats me like…
Note from author:
Welcome back. Sorry for the delay so let's get started.