Author's note: Sorry for all the re-edits. It's my first fan fic.
Disclaimer: I don't own CSI or any of the shows Characters. Surprise, Surprise!
The One That Got Away
Chapter 1
The woman walked into the Las Vegas crime lab. She was dressed in khakis, a button-down shirt and a baseball cap pulled low on her forehead. Her light brown hair was pulled in a ponytail through the back of the cap. She held a letter in her shaky hands.
All I need is to get this in his hands, she thought to herself, as she walked to the main desk nervously switching the letter from hand to hand.
"I have a letter for Gil Grissom," she said to the woman sitting behind the desk.
"I can take it and see that he gets it," the woman behind the desk replied, reaching for it.
"My orders are to hand it to him directly," the young woman answered, starting to lose her nerve. "I can't leave it with anyone else." Maybe this isn't such a good idea.
The woman behind the desk gave her a wry grin, "Let me see if he's available." She turned and dialed an extension on the phone, saying something barely audible into the receiver. After apparently receiving an answer, she turned back to the other woman. "He'll be right out."
"Thank you," the brown-haired woman feigned a smile. Her heart beat so loud in her chest, she was sure the woman behind the desk could hear it. And then she saw him. Her heart stopped. You can do this.
"I'm Gil Grissom," the graying gentleman said to her as he approached. "You have something for me?"
The brown-haired woman was speechless. She quickly slid the letter out of her left hand with her right, cutting her hand in the process. "Oh shoot!" she gasped, leaving a bloody mark on the envelope. "I'm so sorry!"
"Accidents will happen," Grissom replied, as he looked down to grab the envelope, careful not to touch the blood. As soon as he grasped it he looked up, and the young woman was already walking away. "Don't I need to sign something?"
The young woman simply waved her hand, dismissing his question. Picking up her pace to almost a jog. Must…get…out, she thought and quickly disappeared down the hall.
That was strange, Grissom thought as he looked at the envelope and then back down the hall where the young woman once was. The envelope was a standard, plain white envelope. There were no markings on it, not even his name.
He walked back to his office, tossing the envelope on his desk. He sat down, rummaging through a drawer, trying to find his letter opener. Here it is, he thought, holding it up. Slowly he slid it across the lip, careful to still not touch the blood. He pulled out a multi-paged letter and began to read the first page:
Mr. Grissom,
I found this letter in my mother's things and thought it best to give it to you, as you were its intended recipient.
Behind the first page, he found another letter. This one was on paper that had yellowed with age. The creases were almost ingrained in the paper. It was apparent the letter had been in the folded position for a very long time. And the handwriting was different than that on the first page. He read on:
My dearest Gil,
The first line surprised him. It also intrigued him. No one had called him "dearest" in a very long time.
I hope this letter finds you well. I know it has been a long time since you have heard from me. You must believe me, that was not of my own doing! My mother has been monitoring my communications since I got back from L.A. And I suppose she has her reasons, but it still is not fair!
What I'm about to say next is going to come as such a surprise, but I hope a good surprise. I'm pregnant…
Grissom's heart stopped for a brief moment. Who is this letter from? He thought, looking for the signature at the bottom. It read: Olivia.
Olivia? He was shocked. He hadn't heard from Olivia in almost 27 years, not since the summer they spent together in L.A. He continued to read, more curious then ever.
I'm pregnant. In fact, I'm due in just a few short days. It will be a great relief when little Alexandria is born. The pregnancy has not gone well for me. I have been quite sick the entire time—the main reason I have not been able to contact you. I have not had the strength to argue with Mother. She is so angry I will not tell her your name! I do not wish to bring her wrath down upon you. However, after the baby is born, I will make my way back to L.A. to find you so that you may meet your daughter. At that time, I hope you will be as happy to see me, as I will be to see you.
Until that time, know that you are in my thoughts and in my heart,
All my love,
Olivia
He set the letter down, at first not noticing the last page. He took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes for a moment. A daughter? Why haven't I gotten this letter before today? Just then he notice the last page. It was written in the same handwriting as the first.
Mr. GrissomI'm sorry that you have not seen this letter before today. It was written the day I was born. Unfortunately my mother, Olivia, died during childbirth.
Grissom stopped. He let out a deep breath, not realizing he had been holding it in and then continued.
I only found this letter myself about eight months ago. My grandmother, who raised me, died and I inherited all of her stuff, which included some of my mother's things. Deep in the box of my mother's things, I found this letter. And then I did my best to find you.
I know this is all hard to take. I hope the blood sample I left is enough for you to do a paternity test on, if you feel it necessary. My contact numbers are below. Give me a call if you would like to meet.
A blood sample? He thought. Then he realized, the envelope! I just met my daughter!