Chapter Two – Tattered Genes
The next day was when all the excitement started. Grissom's family began to arrive early in the morning and they began to set up for the up and coming party, the men out back setting up the table and chairs, the woman inside cooking more food then Sara had ever seen. After Grissom had sworn his mother to secrecy in regards to their engagement, Sara placed the ring back on the chain. Grissom had brought it for her at the same time that he had purchased the ring, she kept it on the chain when she was at work, mostly because it was safer there then on her hand considering the work that they did. Then there was the fact that no one, aside from Grissom's mother knew that they were engaged.
Grissom's family welcomed her with open arms and for that, she was grateful. She loved him and she wanted to marry him, so acceptance by his family would play a major part in that. She felt completely at ease with the Grissom woman, peeling potatoes with his aunt Jackie.
"So Sara, how long have you and Gilly been together?"
Sara smiled at the older woman, who smiled innocently back at her.
"Gilly?"
"Yeah Gilly. Didn't he tell you that that was his nickname?"
"No"
"Hardly surprising. Our Gilly's always been a serious man. So how long?"
Sara shrugged as she continued to peel the potatoes.
"About a year now. I've known him since college though."
"Oh yes the serious student and professor."
The kitchen broke out into laughter, Sara laughing with them.
"Not quite like that."
Jackie shrugged with her eyebrows.
"If you say so Honey. It's good to see Gilly so happy, isn't it girls?"
A chorus of 'yes's' went up around the kitchen before the conversation turned back to men and relationships.
"So Jackie, how are things with the Bumblebee?"
Jackie rolled her impressive brown eyes heavenward.
"The Bumblebee is good."
"How come he's not here?"
"He will be, he's just catching a later flight."
The aunts talked about their men for the rest of the morning, most of who were in Francesca's huge backyard, manning the BBQ while drinking too many beers. It was just after one by the time they were able to sit down to eat. Everybody was starving so there was a lot of jostling to sit down. Sara managed to find herself squeezed between Grissom's extremely tall uncle Albert, his bald head glinting in the sun and Francesca's good friend Sally, who seemed to own half of the kids at the BBQ. She could just make out Grissom sitting next to his mother, his arm around his shoulders, talking animatedly. Sara liked seeing this side of him. The happy contented side that didn't come out all that often. Nervous as he was about the reunion, as well as their announcement that they were planning, he seemed incredibly relaxed. She strongly suspected it had something to do with the vast amount of beer the men had consumed in the last few hours. She could see the empty bottles that spilled over the edges of the recycling bin that sat at the corner of the yard. Either way, he was relaxed and happy. Silence began to fall as Francesca got to her feet, Grissom by her side, translating as she signed Grissom's voice loud over the silence.
"Thank you all for coming to the Grissom annual BBQ reunion. I see plenty of new faces this year, including Gilly's girlfriend Sara."
Grissom paused in the middle of speaking, glaring at his mother as she used his nickname. She ignored him and continued signing as if nothing had been said at all.
"So please drink, eat and enjoy one another's company. Because unless there is a wedding or a funeral, we won't be seeing each other until next year."
There was a round of applause while Francesca took her seat, Grissom staying in her standing position. He motioned to Sara with his hand, to come and stand beside him and with a warm glow in her stomach; she did just that, Grissom's hand grasping hers in his own.
"Over the last year, many aspects in my life have changed. For one thing, I have fallen in love with this incredible woman standing beside me and for another; she has decided to make an honest man out of me."
Another round of applause ran through the crowd and Sara grinned as everyone began clinking their drinks together."
"So Gilly's finally get married huh? Big brother finally caught some action."
Richard Grissom's voice sliced through the celebrations. Grissom dropped Sara's hand and signed quickly to his mother, who escorted by Albert, was guided back inside the house. Richard ambled closer to the tables, his eyes taking in the party, his smile slick.
"Nice to know that the party goes on without me."
Grissom moved forward also and soon the brothers were face to face, their bodies tense. Richard was only slightly taller then Grissom and Sara could see the younger man's jaw clenching as the two men circled each other. He had the same stubborn chin, the same glinting blue eyes, his hair black, long and greasy, hanging just over his ears. His clothes hung on him, reminding Sara of the cocaine addicts that they had to deal with recently, all long skinny limbs, dirty clothes and sunken faces.
"Now Gilly, you're not going to make a scene are you?"
"Leave Richard, we don't want your type here."
"Oh I see. A man breaks the law once or twice and Saint Gilly can't handle it."
"You didn't just break it a few times; you seem to make a habit of it. Why are you here?"
"I heard on the grapevine that you were getting married and I figured that you being the golden child that you are that you would announce it here."
The two men were circling each other, sizing one another up. Sara, who had been frozen with the shock of seeing Richard, now moved forward, placing herself between them. She put her hand against Grisson's chest, catching his eyes with hers.
"Let it go."
A low whistle made Sara turn to face Richard, who was leering at her.
"Good taste big bro! A little on the lean side but who could complain with a face like that?"
Sara felt Grissom press strain under her hand but she pushed him back slightly.
"It's ok Gil, let's go back inside."
Sara was too focused on keeping Grissom calm that she didn't see Richard move, only felt his hand grip her wrist, his sharp fingers pinching her skin painfully. She turned to face him and she began to feel the bubbles of anger attacking her chest.
"Let me go"
Richard smiled at her as she tugged her closer, pulling the skin on her wrist.
"Or what? You got a gun hidden in that pretty little sundress of yours?"
Sara's free hand moved from Grissom's chest, swinging in an arch through the air, her fist landing squarely on Richard's jaw. He released her wrist immediately, both hands coming to clutch at his bleeding mouth.
"Bitch."
"I told you to let go of me. Come on Gil, let's go and check on your mother."
She grabbed Grissom's hand, pulling him back into the house. He went straight to his mother's side, holding her tightly as she sobbed. Sara watched as Francesca calmed down, her sobs stilling to sniffles. Sara handed her the box of tissues off the counter.
"Is she ok?"
Francesca gave her a watery smile, signing to Grissom.
"She's alright. It's just a shock to see Richard again."
Francesca signed something to Grissom before disappearing down the hall.
"She wants to have some time alone."
Sara nodded before she rubbed the tender skin on her wrist. Grissom, catching the movement out of the corner of his eye, lifted Sara's wrist to examine.
"He hurt you."
"I'm fine."
Grissom said nothing more as he extracted an ice pack from the freezer, placing it gently on Sara's wrist.
"Stay here, I'm going to make sure he's gone"
He was out of sight before Sara could say a word, the door banging closed behind him.
"That boy is nothing but trouble."
Sara had completely forgotten Uncle Alfred, who was now pottering around the kitchen making himself a coffee. The comment was made under his breath but it made Sara move to his side, the ice pack still pressed to her wrist.
"What did he do?"
"You name it, he's done it. Frannie thinks that it's her fault and you can't tell her any different."
Albert poured her a cup of coffee, placing it on the table, settling himself in a chair.
"Why does she blame herself?"
Albert sighed as he added sugar and cream to his coffee.
"Frannie adored my brother. Michael and Gilly were her life. When he died, something died with her. Her relationship with Richard's father was borne of loneliness and nothing more was meant to come of it. But then she had Richard. Frannie always favored Gilly, without even meaning too. He was part of her love, her life with Michael and she could not tear herself away from that. She made excuses for him, bailed him out of jail and stood by him. Then when he raped a fourteen year old girl and she called the cops on him and he's blamed her for everything ever since."
"Poor Francesca."
"Poor Richard. Hate the sin not the sinner."
Sara stirred some sugar into her coffee, her thoughts on Grissom. He didn't talk about his father much but she knew that the old wound of his father's death was still open and raw. He had loved his father dearly. She knew from experience that regardless of whether you loved or hated the parent who died, it still hurt like hell when you lost them. It was the, thinking about parents that another thought occurred to her.
"Albert, why isn't Richard deaf?"
"No idea. For all intents and purposes, he should be. It seems to have by passed him completely."
"So does he sign?"
"He used too but when Frannie called the cops on him, he cut off all contact and connection with the family. This is the first time any of us have seen him in six years.
Grissom came back into the room, already looking calmer then he had ten minutes ago. He laid a hand on Albert's shoulder, his voice low.
"Albert, can you check on mom for me?"
Albert nodded before leaving the room, Grissom taking his vacated seat.
"How's your wrist?"
"It's fine Gil."
"Show me."
Sara took off the ice pack and extended her wrist. Grissom gently rolled it in his hands, a small frown on his face.
"I hate him for this. For hurting you, for upsetting mom."
"I'm fine Gil and so is your mom?"
"This weekend was meant to be perfect but now it's going to be nothing more then chaos. It took Kevin, Mitchell and John to get him off the property. He'll be back though."
"How do you know that?"
"Because he's my brother and I know how he works. We haven't seen the last of him yet."
Sara opened her mouth to respond but it was at that moment that Albert walked into the room, his arm around Francesca's shoulders. Sara didn't know why she hadn't seen it before but it was obvious to her now. Albert was in love with Francesca. She studied him as he made her a coffee, pulled the chair out for her and watched her with the same devotion in his eyes that she often caught in Grissom's when he looked at her. It must be hard for Albert to live in Michael's adored shadow. Sara switched her focus back to Francesca and saw the same adoration in her eyes. Maybe she had finally moved on from Michael and they might just get their happy ending.
