So Caught Up In You
Chapter 2
Author's note: I don't own CSI but I do love to play with them! It's the sincerest form of flattery!
The boarding process was made very easy for them. They followed Scott to the VIP entrance at the port and boarded the ship. Their luggage had been taken from them to be moved to their cabins and they were quickly whisked to the boarding area. Their passports had been checked and their room keys issued with the standard warning that this was also their chargecard and not to loose it!
Sara looked over at Greg and whispered "Do you need a lanyard so you can keep track of it? I think they have them in the kids club!"
Nick chuckled while Greg made a face at Sara, just behind Grissom's back so he couldn't be seen. He had been warned to be on his very best behavior as a representative of the city of Las Vegas.
The steward walked them up the hallway to the ship and across the covered gangway to the deck of the ship. They were met by a well-dressed concierge who introduced herself as Lisa.
"Welcome aboard Dr Grissom and staff! We are so excited to have you aboard!" she bubbled. "Let me show you to your cabins."
They followed Lisa through the doors and into the lobby of the grand ship. There was a bar and a casino on the first level, several shops, and a tall glass elevator in the center of everything.
Lisa led them through the lobby to the elevator and took them to the 10th floor. "We have some very nice rooms for you" Lisa said as she indicating to the interesting points as they walked on towards their rooms.
Lisa stopped just slightly ahead of them and opened the first door. "Gentlemen," she indicated to Greg and Nick, "This is your cabin."
Greg and Nick tried to enter the door at the same time, but the door was thin, so finally Greg deferred to Nick and let him get through first. "I get the bed by the window," Greg yelled out.
Surprisingly, the room had not only a window, but a balcony. Greg sat on the bed nearest the door and flopped down onto the pillows.
"OK Greggo," Nick responded, "but if you snore, you're sleeping on the deck!"
"Dr. Grissom, Ms Sidle, if you will follow me, you are next!" Lisa instructed.
Sara looked at Grissom, raised an eyebrow and stated, "I hope you don't think we are sharing a cabin Griss!" Actually, she thought to herself, that would be kind of awesome, but she was sure that the old-fashioned Grissom was not going to place them in any controversy by putting them in the same room. And anyhow, she knew she couldn't control herself if he did.
The next room was Sara's. Lisa opened the door to reveal a king-sized bed and another beautiful balcony all waiting for Sara. There was a desk on one side, a small sofa, a tv, and a fairly good sized bathroom for a small cabin.
When she walked in, she noticed that there was an adjoining door between her room and the neighbor. A moment later, she heard a knock at the door. She opened it to find one Gilbert Grissom on the other side, smiling, slightly reddened in the face, but trying not show how satisfied he was at this coincidence.
Lisa left her personal cellular number for the investigators and reminded them that if they needed anything at all, she was there to help them.
Grissom tried to offer her a tip, but Lisa politely declined, and stated that her services had been taken care of by the agency.
Shortly after, their suitcases and packages were delivered to their cabins. Greg and Nick decided to go explore the ship, while Sara and Grissom stayed behind to unpack the materials for the lecture tomorrow. There were two days at sea prior to arriving at the port of St Thomas in the Virgin Islands. The days would be busy, filled with lectures and labs, but the evenings would be free for them to do as they wished. Sara's work ethic kicked in and, alongside her boss, they unpacked and organized the books, bugs and photos.
Grissom brought out his computer and plugged it in to the outlet nearest the desk. He brought up his email and found a message from Catherine waiting for him.
"Oh, I have an email from Catherine already!" he said to Sara.
He began to read it, and then wished he had not announced that he had a message.
To: Gil Grissom
Fr: Catherine Willows
Re: Neighbors
How do you like your cabin? I hear that adjoining rooms are a great way to meet women! Now, don't waste this opportunity!
Make your move!
Love Catherine and Jim
"What is she up to emailing you already?" Sara asked.
"Well, nothing really, just checking to make sure we got in all right," he answered.
"That was thoughtful!" Sara replied, knowing full well that he was hiding something!
The quiet was disturbed by heavy handed banging on the cabin door. Sara walked over and opened the door to Nick and Greg who were clearly enjoying their afternoon.
"Man we found a buffet with all you can eat anything on the front of this deck!" Nick announced.
"And people walking around carrying drinks that you can have while you are walking around! Just like Freemont Street!" Greg added.
Just at that moment, the open door between the two rooms caught both of their eyes. They looked at each other and began to laugh. They could tell this was making Sara uncomfortable, which made the situation even funnier.
"So, um, Griss," Greg started, "Did you tip Lisa to get the adjoining room with Sara?"
Nick shoved him in the arm. "Well," Greg said, "I'm just saying!"
DOWN BELOW AT THE GANGWAY
"Mrs. Grant, please let us handle your husband's wheelchair!" the cabin steward said. Mrs. Grant, an older, and peculiar looking woman, was trying to commandeer the chair so that she could steer her husband to the 13th deck to their suite.
"Dr. Grant requires that I be in charge of his wheelchair," she demanded.
The steward looked at Dr. Grant and calmly explained "Dr. Grant, I need to drive the chair so we can get past the crowd. Will that be ok with you?"
"Certainly," Dr. Grant replied. He clearly was a more polite person than his wife.
They were taken to their suite and the attendant came to introduce herself.
"Good afternoon!" she said brightly in her Jamaican lilt. "I'm Andrea and I'm your suite attendant!"
"Surely you can find some cleaner linens for such an important guest," was Mrs. Grant's only response.
"Marilyn, please tone down your attitude with this young woman," Dr. Grant instructed her.
"Well dear, you are an important man, and you deserve to be treated with respect!" she replied.
Clearly seeing that her timing was not good, Marilyn left her card with her number and assured Mrs. Grant she would bring clean linens immediately.
"Where in the world do they get such incompetent help?" Mrs. Grant asked no one in particular.
"Please relax dear," Dr. Grant requested, "this is supposed to be our vacation."
"Well, once we get settled in, I guess I will be able to relax. But until those linens get here, do not lay on that bed!" she demanded.
BACK ON THE GANGWAY
As the last of the guests were being ushered onboard, the last call was for the employees who were going to travel on a space-available basis. Jerri Smoak was the third person allowed to board.
She smiled to herself as she made her way to the lower floors of the ship, to an inside cabin with one bed. "No worries," she thought, "I'm not here for the view."
GRISSOM SARA ROMANCE GRISSOM SARA ROMANCE GRISSOM SARA ROMANCE
Duh-duh-duh. The plot thickens! Hey think about this, the next time you call a call center and speak rudely to the employee, remember how much of your personal information they have – you may find them on your next vacation!
