Tonight's the night. I'm going to tell her tonight. Swear it this time, I'll tell her. The words flew around his brain, crashing into one another and forming a huge muddle in the middle of his mind. From the outside, you'd never have seen it; he was sitting behind his desk, staring at the wall, a habit he had begun lately when he wanted to think. Today in particular, he was thinking of a certain stunning brunette- currently visiting a hospital to pick up some evidence pertaining to her case, the only case of the night- and what he was planning on telling her. It was something he should have told her long ago; the moment he saw her, even. It had taken him this long to overcome his fear. Not of her; never of her. It was a fear deeper than that, a fear of everything that had anything to do with love: the rejection, the heartache, sleepless nights, all things he had heard talk of and never taken into account- until he met her.

"Dr. Grissom?"

He turned slowly, knowing it was Judy, the receptionist- she was one of the few who still called him "Dr. Grissom".

"Yes, Judy?"

"Message for you, sir." She looked rather frightened, Grissom noticed. At the same time, he was a little annoyed at being interrupted.

"I always pick up messages when I leave or come in."

"It's important, sir. CSI Sidle-" She didn't even get a chance to finish her sentence before Grissom was up and had the note in his hand.

'Dr. Grissom. What a pleasure to speak to you again- or write, as it were. I'm sure you remember me; if you don't, you will soon. Something very dear was taken from me, Doctor, and by my own hand. Now I have something very dear to you. Will you give me the order to kill her, Doctor, when she screams in pain? You'll never catch me, you see. I'll kill her, I'll kill anyone who tries to rescue her, and then I'll kill myself. You were right- it's painful to have no one. Get ready for a phone call, Dr. Grissom.'

Grissom stared at the note. The words rang a bell-

"The doctor-!" He ran from the room, leaving Judy staring after him, hoping that everything would turn out alright.