This is a collection of stories about Gil, and how he copes with Sara's departure. There'll be no chronological order, and no continuity, except where indicated.

December 10

David Hodges has a plan to help Grissom...

Grissom was in his office, reading a report, when someone knocked on his open door. It was David Hodges, looking inordinately pleased with himself.

"Boss?" the Trace Expert said, "Do you have a minute?

Grissom frowned. He didn't remember giving Hodges any special assignment recently -certainly nothing that warranted the look on his face; a look that said, 'I know something that you don't,' and that he wore whenever he had some lab result for the boss.

"Yes?" Grissom said cautiously.

Hodges stepped into the office.

"First of all, let me say that I'm aware how busy you've been lately, and how unlikely it is that you have any time to spare," he said ceremoniously, "But you see, a cousin of mine has come for a visit, and she's dying to see what her favorite cousin does for a living. So, I was thinking how a tour of the premises would be the -"

"David," Grissom interjected impatiently, "You don't need my permission for that; all you have to do is ask Judy for a visitor's tag."

"Oh, I know that. I was only wondering whether you could give us a minute of your time. I've told my cousin all about your work with insects and she's expressed an interest."

"Well," Grissom hesitated, glancing at the pile of documents waiting for his review, "I really don't -"

"It would mean a lot to her, Grissom," Hodges said quickly, "She's something of a collector herself."

Grissom hesitated for a second more, then relented. "All right," he said tiredly. "Just tell me when, and I'll be here."

"Great," Hodges beamed. "She's gonna be thrilled." He tilted his head in the hallway's direction, "I'll go get her," he said, and before Grissom had a chance to protest, he left.

Left alone in his office, Grissom sighed. He didn't have the time to tend to visitors; he was too busy. And tired. The idea of having to deal with two Hodges in one night seemed too difficult to grasp.

A moment later, Hodges returned with a blond woman of about forty years old, tall and attractive, who didn't look or act like Hodges -at all. She was probably a very distant cousin of David Hodges.

Grissom rose from his seat as Hodges made the introductions.

"How do you do," Grissom said cordially.

She shook his hand and smiled warmly. "Dr. Grissom, it's a pleasure."

Hodges stood between them, glancing at one and then at the other, a huge, smug, self-congratulatory smile plastered on his face.

"Laura is a teacher, back in Chicago," he said and was immediately rewarded by Grissom's reaction.

"Chicago?" he asked, "I lived there for quite a while."

"It's a great city," Laura said.

While they talked, Hodges took a step back, and then another, and didn't speak until he had reached the doorway.

"Well, then," he said, "If you will excuse me, I think I'll go back to my lab and leave you two to talk about Chicago."

Laura turned a confused gaze at him, and so did Grissom, but Hodges didn't seem to notice.

"Oh, and Grissom?" he said, "Thanks for giving Laura a tour of the premises. Who better than you?"

Grissom and Laura both gaped at the retreating Hodges and then at each other, their eyes as wide as those of a deer caught under a trailer's lights.

Laura recovered first.

"I can't believe he did this," she said. "He said he would give me the tour." She looked apologetically at Grissom. "You know why he did this, don't you?"

"I think I've got an idea," Grissom said wearily. Ever since Sara left, he'd noticed that some members of the night shift were being specially cautious around him, treating him with excessive courtesy and gentleness. But he never thought any of them would do something like this.

Laura was truly apologetic.

"I'm so sorry, Dr. Grissom. I should have known -"

"It's all right," Grissom said, recovering at last. He'd just remembered that being boss included treating all visitors with courtesy. " I can give you the tour. It's no trouble."

But she had seen the reports on his desk.

"No, no, please. I can see you're busy. David was simply -" she paused. She took a deep breath then forced a smile. "You see, I got recently divorced, and since then some of my friends and family members seem intent on making me 'get back on the game' -their words, not mine."

"I'm sorry," Grissom said quietly. "About your divorce, I mean."

"It's all right," she smiled faintly. "I just wish they wouldn't force this on me -and others," she added pointedly. "I should be allowed to mourn for as long as I need -" she caught herself before she said more. She sighed, "Sorry -"

"I agree with you," he replied, "Not everybody can forget as quickly. Sometimes we can't help but find comfort in our memories."

She seemed surprised that he would understand. Surprised and pleased.

"It makes me think of a song in Spanish I heard a long time ago," she said, "I don't remember the music, but the words went like this, 'Hoy quiero saborear mi dolor; no pido compasión ni piedad...'"

She was probably going to translate the words for him, but Grissom spoke sooner.

"I don't ask for compassion or pity," he said, "Let me savor my pain -"

She looked at him in surprise.

"You know the song?"

"Only vaguely," he said noncommittally.

She hesitated for a moment, as if there was something she wanted to say but didn't quite dare.

In the end, she simply put out her hand.

"I enjoyed meeting you, Dr. Grissom."

"Same here," he said kindly, then he returned to his seat and immediately turned his attention to the reports on the desk.

When Laura walked out of Grissom's office, she had to force herself not to look back. She was aware of something close to regret taking a hold of her heart.

All she could think of was how she wished she'd met a man like this years ago...

But her gloom lasted only till she saw Hodges in his lab, the smug smile still in place.

Her eyes narrowed.

"Oh, David," she muttered, "You're gonna pay for this."

The end.

The song Laura mentions is 'El Triste' (The sad one) and it was sung by a guy named José José. It's a very old song. Grissom's translation isn't very close.