A/N - It has been quite a while since I have done a CSI fanfiction and i thought it would be nice to return to one of my great loves. This story explores my home New Zealand a little so I hope that you find it informative and fun. The O.F.C is not real, as far as I know anyway, and as always the characters, aside from the obvious that is, don't belong to me. I lost them in a game of poker. So enjoy and tell me what you think...
South Of Sunday
Chapter One – Hold On
Jim Brass took a deep breath before he knocked on Gil Grissom's office door. It wasn't bad news that held him back; in fact it was the complete opposite. It was the curve ball that was thrown in with the good news that made him hesitate.
"Enter."
Gil Grissom's office was not normal by any kind of standard. It held bottles and jars of specimens, dead butterflies in display cases and dark corners where many an experiment had been executed. The man himself sat behind his desk, a small pile of paperwork unopened in front of him, hands busy polishing his glasses.
"Hey Jim. What's up?"
Jim took a seat across from Grissom without it being offered, his hands still clutching a file that he had picked up a little over an hour ago.
"Not much. Has Ecklie spoken to you yet?"
Grissom shook his head, a small smile on his face.
"Thankfully no. Why?"
Jim waved the file in Grissom's eyesight.
"We got the results for the O.F.C"
Grissom was now actually sitting on the edge of his seat. The O.F.C or Overseas Forensics Convention was a six yearly event that the FBI used as a testing facility of the best CSI's from six different countries. It was a huge deal to be chosen.
"Well Brass, me or Ecklie?"
Conrad Ecklie and Grissom were long-time work colleagues and long-time enemies. Grissom had nothing against the man personally but the way he did his job made Grissom incredible irritated. Ecklie was more about pushing papers then doing anything else. Jim smiled at Grissom's rare impatience.
"You."
Grissom broke into one of his rare grins. He had been to the O.F.C once last season and to be picked twice was very unusual. His turned his focus back to Brass.
"Who did they pair me with?"
"Sara Sidle."
Grissom's excitement dimmed a little. Sara was an incredible CSI but their personal history left things more then complicated. They had been doing a little dance around each other ever since he had called her in to investigate a death of a new CSI some years ago. It always ended the same way each time. Either he or she would retreat and the other would be hurt. Now she would be his partner and be living in close quarters with him. He was still trying to decided if he liked that idea when Jim's voice pulled him from his thoughts.
"It'll be a good chance for her Gris"
Grissom nodded.
"I know, it's just it's her. It's Sara."
Jim was just about to respond when the woman herself came into the room, a huge grin in her face.
"We got him Grissom! The husband planted the bomb!"
She dumped herself into the seat next to Jim, her posture relaxed. She had her dark pretty hair tucked into a clip, the grease on her cheeks and blue overalls giving her a completely innocent, though dirty, air.
"Sara, have you ever heard of the O.F.C?"
Sara nodded a frown on her face.
"Yeah of course, who hasn't?"
Grissom smiled.
"Well, you and I are going"
Sara's brown eyes widened and she looked at Grissom in disbelief.
"You and I? We're going to the O.F.C?"
Grissom nodded as Sara struggled to keep hold of her excitement, the grin on her face getting wider.
"When are we going?"
Jim handed them each a ticket.
"In two days. They tend to keep everything quite until it's required. You guys are off to New Zealand this time. I had better go, enjoy your packing."
Jim left the room and Sara turned her attention back to Grissom.
"I thought they would have picked Ecklie this season. I mean do they usually pick a person twice?"
Grissom shook his head.
"Not usually. I would love to have been there to see Ecklie's face, he was so sure he had it in the bag."
Sara raised an eyebrow.
"Did you just say something bitter?"
Grissom shrugged.
"I am but human."
Sara studied Grissom for a moment before another smile blossomed on her face.
"You're enjoying this ego stroke aren't you? Don't deny it! I'm right there beside you of course, but never the less you're enjoying it."
Grissom gave her a studied look.
"Well you are one of the best, you deserve this chance."
"It's you who helped get me here."
She matched Grissom's look with one of her own, and the air crackled between them, like it had done thousands of time before. Grissom looked away first, Sara's gaze becoming too intense for him to leave safely. A fortnight together was certainly going to test any kind of personal boundaries that they had erected when within each other's presence. Sara let the air cool again between them before turning the O.F.C back into the safe topic.
"So what's it like? The O.F.C I mean?"
"Well it has been six years, so anything I saw could have changed but it's a lot of fun. They do a mock crime scene and you and your partner have to solve it and then after a week we are split into different pairs with the other countries. It's a great way to make friends with fellow CSI's."
Sara smiled.
"It does sound like fun. I had better get home and start my packing. Oh the file on the bomber needs your signature then it can go to Brass."
Sara gave him a half smile and turned on her heel, leaving Grissom to finish off the files before they left for their adventure.
Sara's alarm clock went off at three am two days later and the urge to hit the snooze button was almost overwhelming. She had packed the day before so all she had to do was roll out of bed, shower and then grab some breakfast. After making sure everything was locked securely, she called a taxi to come and get her to take her to the airport. Grissom was waiting for her at the check in, a coffee in each hand.
'Thought you could do with one."
Sara took the coffee with a smile before running her eyes down Grissom's attire. He was wearing a pair of fitting jeans and a white shirt that had a large Monarch butterfly on it; cursive writing at the bottom said Danuas Plexippus, announcing Grissom's geekdom to the rest of the worldBut she loved it anyway. He had a black coat slung over his shoulder in James Dean fashion and his suitcase was leaning against the back of his legs. He led her to the luggage check in and they got rid of their awkward cases before taking a seat near the boarding gate. Sara turned to Grissom.
"Are you excited?"
Grissom gave a half shrug. Sara smiled and nudged him gently with her elbow.
"You are, I can see it in your eyes. Anyway, you would have to have a heart of stone to not be excited about this."
Grissom gave a half smile.
"Ok I admit I am. It's not to often I get to meet so many like minded people in the same room. I'm looking forward to who's there this season."
Sara granted him another smile.
"I like your top by the way."
Grissom pulled the fabric away to look at it.
"Thanks, Lindsey made it for me a couple of years ago."
Sara sat back further in her seat.
"Has Catherine ever gone to one of these things?"
Grissom shook his head.
"Nope. She told them that she would go when she could bring Lindsey. She would rather not go at all then have to spend a fortnight away from Lindsey."
Sara nodded.
"Fair enough. Do you know why the FBI does these tests?"
"No idea. I guess if you have the money to think of weird things to do with it, then why not? They did amazing things last season, so it can only get better."
Silence fell again and it didn't lift until they were being shown to their seats and Sara exclaimed over seating in business class.
"We are definitely not in Kansas anymore."
Grissom settled himself beside her with a smile.
"They must want us well rested."
Sara slept most of the way and she was surprised when they landed in New Zealand after what felt like a quick flight. The airport was much smaller then any that she had ever seen and they were able to find there way out of the gate without to much pushing and swearing from anybody else, they were all pretty civilised. They spotted to the left of them a tall blonde man dressed in a black suit, sunglasses and held a sign that proclaimed their names in bold black ink. Sara exchanged a quick glance with Grissom before they headed over the strange man. He took off his sunglasses, revealing green eyes, and gave them a hard look.
"Gil Grissom and Sara Sidle?"
They both nodded and the man held out his hand.
"ID's please."
They both handed the man their passports and waited while his eyes flicked between the paper and them.
"Ok let's get your luggage."
They followed the man in black to the luggage claim, both relieved when their bags were amounst the first off the luggage carousal. They followed the man out of the airport and was confronted with the stiff breeze that covered Sara's bare arms in goose pimples. She took the jumper off from around her waist, popping it on as they continued to a black van, threw their bags in the back before taking a seat in the darkened vehicle.
"Where are we going?"
The blond man ignored Grissom's question, his eyes locked on the road in front of him. Grissom glanced at Sara, who shrugged before continuing her task of looking out of the window. It might be cold but the sun was bright and she needed her sunglasses on as she watched the immense expansive of greenery zip by as they continued to drive through a stretch of country road. They had driven for a few hours before it slowly changed to the beginnings of an ocean view. They drove the truck into the belly of a large ferry, the man finally turning to acknowledge their presence.
"We have three hours before we dock on the south island. So go for a wonder and enjoy the view. Do you have New Zealand money on you?"
The pair nodded mutely and the man flashed them an unexpectedly bright smile.
"Good. I'm Frank by the way. Sorry about the tough FBI routine before, they like the O.F.C to have an air of mystery to it. They have a food court on the third level if you want something to munch on. Oh and before I forget, I have to give you these."
He handed them each a dark bag.
"Put these on. You guys are going to freeze wearing those clothes. I'll come and find you when it's time to leave."
Frank left the truck and Sara gave Grissom a wide smile.
"I'm already enjoying myself and we haven't done anything yet."
Grissom smiled back and opened the dark bag. It contained a rather large red and black jacket, the fabric rough against his hand as he pulled it out of the back and slipped it over his head. It made him instantly warmer; the neck was high and settled itself just below his chin as he continued to investigate the bag. There was a pair of black gloves, thick thermal socks and a beanie. He glanced at Sara, who had put on everything, including the beanie, her face almost completely hidden under the dark material.
"I feel ridiculous. Warm but ridiculous."
Grissom gave her another smile as he finished putting his own gear own before palming his wallet, putting it into one of the deep pockets of his new jacket.
"Right, lets go exploring shall we?"
Sara nodded and followed him out of the truck, carefully watching her step as they moved out of the belly of the ship and made their way to the top deck. She breathed deep the salt air, letting the cold wind bruise her face. They were surrounded by beautiful crystal water, the faint outlines of hills far in the distance.
"It's gorgeous. Look at how blue the ocean is."
Grissom stood close beside her, his arms resting on the guardrails. He smiled widely and pointed to something in the distance. Sara followed his finger as a small torpedo of grey shot in and out of the water, close to the ship.
"It's a dolphin! Wow, I haven't seen one of those in real life before. What kind is it Grissom?"
"Bottlenose dolphin. It's New Zealand's most comment species. She's beautiful isn't she?"
Eventually the dolphin got tired of chasing the ship and disappeared back under the ocean and Grissom turned to Sara.
"Hungry?"
"Starving."
They made their way to the third level and the smell of food made her stomach rumble. She stood beside Grissom at the counter, her eyes wondering up and the down the menu.
"Lets get some fish and chips. They look good."
Grissom frowned.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. Order the fish and chips Grissom. Be adventurous."
She gave him another smile as he placed the order, taking the two cokes he was handed, letting Sara choose the seat, one closet to the window. A young girl brought over the food over a few moments later, smiling as she placed the large basket of food in the centre of the table with a red bottle beside it.
"Enjoy your meal."
Sara dove in first, picking up and chip and popping it into her mouth.
"That's good. Tastes different to french fries though. Much nicer."
Grissom was forced to agree and they remained in silence as they ate the rest of their hot meal, sipping their drinks and looking out of the window. All too soon, Grissom spotted Frank coming towards them, a smile on his face.
"Hey guys, enjoying a bit of kiwi food I see. We're about to dock so we need to head back down to the car."
Grissom finished off his coke before they followed Frank back down to the truck, his excitement becoming harder and harder to contain. What would be waiting for them once they got to the south island?