Hey…right I made a mistake on the last chapter- near the end it says, "Warrick opened his mouth to speak"…that's meant to be Nick. Sorry!
Chapter 2
Half an hour later Sara returned cradling a baby in her arms. Everyone leapt up to get a better look.
"Aww. She's adorable!" Catherine cooed.
"Lizzie, or Elizabeth Anne Sidle." Sara smiled.
"So this is…"Brass looked at Sara.
"Yes, the stinking, old gits daughter. I left, I couldn't face the fact I was pregnant and so I couldn't even face Grissom. The months passed and I finally decided it was time to face the truth and I returned, to find myself at my friends funeral." A tear escaped and rolled down her cheek. Nick wrapped his arm around her and squeezed her in. They sat back down and all began talking about Lizzie, firsts words, weaning and other baby talk.
"So, Grissom got worse…do carry on." Sara looked around expectantly.
"Well…" Catherine started
Christmas finally came and Grissom was grumpier than ever. His "friends" didn't care about him so he didn't bother with them. He only saw himself as their supervisor and nothing else. Other than Grissom, or the Grinch as the team nicknamed him, spirits were high as the big day neared. They all had a secret Santa and spent their free time planning the perfect present. Christmas cards were handed out, a tree in the break room decorated and the whole lab covered in tinsel. When Christmas Eve finally came the team pilled into the break room to find brightly wrapped gifts under the tree.
"Oh my god! A portable "table" football game! Who got me this?" Nick beamed, and he saw Catherine pop her hand up. He gave her a big hug, lifting her off her feet.
"Mmm…chocolate scented bath set. I'll have to resist eating this." Catherine smiled after finding out it was from Warrick.
"Cool, a poker set! Right boys, mine tonight!" Warrick laughed. "And this is from…" Nick just grinned at him. "Thanks man."
"Very funny, finger surf board!" Greg laughed, knowing it must be off Warrick. Whilst they played and laughed together, Grissom just listened to his opera and finished his paperwork. He didn't want to have it there for him when he returned after the holidays, but it wasn't as if he was doing anything special. He was going to stay at home and watch those crappy Christmas films that are on every year.
Months passed, no one mentioning Sara around Grissom, as he was more edgy than ever. He had completely isolated himself from the group and never spoke directly to any of them. It was as if Sara was his life and without her, he was nothing.
"Oh my God!" Sara gasped, realising that leaving Grissom had shattered him. Everyone waited for Sara to say something, but she just nodded and Nick continued.
"So things stayed pretty much that way, nothing really happened, until…" he gulped, hardly able to speak. Catherine ran outside unable to fight the tears.
"Warrick's death." Brass said solemnly. Everyone went pale and remembered their deceased friend. Catherine returned shortly after, her eyes red and puffy, and Sara gave her a large hug. They sat back down. "Should I…"
"Continue? Yes, please do." Sara forced a smile on.
Grissom was in one of his worse moods yet and stomped into the lab.
"Murder, two Vics, everyone needed." The team sighed as a gush of wind blew through the door Grissom opened and blew their poker game into a large mess on the table. "C'mon!" he ordered. The day got worse and worse for the team, except for Grissom. To ease his fury he did every thing he could in his power to separate and frustrate the team. Nick and Greg stood laughing, Grissom made Nick go to the lab. When Catherine and Greg chatted away, he made them go to opposite sides of the scene. They grew infuriated whilst he grew more and more pleased with himself. For the first time in months Grissom smiled, an evil, self amused smirk. When the day finally closed, Nick and Greg sat in Nick's front room, drinking beer and watching the game.
"I hate him." Greg outburst.
"Join the club. I don't think he has even noticed Warrick gone!" Nick agreed.
"He treats us like we're nothing, but we make the lab! He could never solve any murder without us!"
"He's better start treating us with respect, not like what you find on the base of your shoe."
"If this was an ideal world, I would get him into a dark, quiet room and pound him to death and would never regret it. I wouldn't loose my job because the court would know what a prat he is and I would be made a hero."
"Yeah, if only it was an ideal world." Nick laughed.
"What would your ideal world be like?" Greg asked.
"Well, Grissom would have moved, died or murdered, I'm not fussy. Sara would have never of left and Warrick would be with us, cracking open another beer." As Nick ended his sentence his voice wobbled as he remembered that his best friend was dead.
"Well, I would defiantly be married to Sara in mine!" Greg laughed, lightening the mood. "But Grissom, I have to talk to him. I can't go on working in silence! I thought I had lost my voice for good." He moaned.
"Watch what you say mate, or he'll have your job terminated!" Nick smiled.
The following night, after the team and lab techs had all left, Greg marched straight into Grissoms office, not bothering to knock.
"Knock first!" Grissom grunted.
"Well when you start doing something other than paper work in here, I'll think about it."
"You cheeky-"
"No Grissom, you're the cheeky disrespectful one here!"
"How…"
"Save it for someone who cares! You better start treating me and my friends with some respect."
"Oh no, what's Baby Greggy going to do!" Grissom joked, pretending to look scared. Greg glowed red with anger from ear to ear.
"Ok, just because your lover bird has finally realised you're a fat old man that she doesn't care about, doesn't mean you treat us like shit!" Greg's voice began to rise, but he didn't care.
"You take that back!"
"Why? You and I know it's true!"
"Just because you have a school boy crush on her!"
"Yeah, maybe I do, but we know she got tired of the older man, and she finally left you for good."
"I'm warning you!"
"You're nothing but a lonely old man who has no purpose and no one to love him. You'll grow ancient soon and be all alone, and no one will remember you ever existed." Greg turned to leave when a trigger pulled back…
More soon…
