"Norman pushed. Norman Jumped. Norman Fell..."
"Wouldn't you if you were married to Mrs. Roper?"
Her voice made him stop in his tracks. The corners of his mouth upturned and etched a grin onto his face. He could feel his heart constrict.
"Sara Sidle." He breathed, "I don't even have to turn around." He turned on his heels to see her standing there, just beyond the yellow crime tape.
"It's me."
His feet moved him toward her, like gravity being pulled in her direction.
"Still tossing simulation dummies?" He took another step toward her, "You know, there are other ways to tell."
"What? Computer simulation?" He quipped effortlessly, his boyish grin shinning. "No thanks. I'm a scientist. I like to see it. Newton dropped the apple. I drop dummies."
"You're old school." She grinned her gap tooth grin. It had been over a year since their time in San Fransisco together. During that time Sara had done her best to push any romantic notions of Dr. Grissom from her mind. She even went on a few dates with Doug Willson, the NTSB she had met at that same conference. All in an effort to balance herself and view the man standing before her as a professional colleague, nothing more. But, as any scientist will tell you, some hypothesis just don't work when applied to real life situations. And while she managed to do this easily when they were nearly 600 miles apart—In person turned out to be a whole different story. The closer he got to her, the more off balance she felt.
"Exactly. And he was pushed."
"How's the girl?" Sara asked solemnly. She could see Grissom's face change instantly from fun and boyish to series and hurt.
"She still in surgery. She's not doing very well."
"God Sara, I have so many unanswered whys." Her heart fluttered at the way he used her name and she instantly felt ashamed given the topic of conversation. She quickly regained control, putting on her professional face.
"There's only one why that maters now." She was finding it hard to make eye contact with him suddenly. "Why did Warwick Brown leave the scene?" She looked up into his soft blue orbs, his eyes sad as he nodded.
It ended up being a long shift. Sara worked tirelessly along side Catherine Willows, Grissom's second in command, whom she didn't get off to such a great start with. Catherine, clearly feeling threatened by Sara's presence on the case, was not making it easy on the younger CSI. Eventually though, as the two woman closed in the Holly's attacker, Catherine began to ease up.
The arrest was bitter-sweet for the team and she had only seen Grissom briefly during her 15 hours in Vegas. She grabbed her bag from the temporary locker the lab provided her and made her way down the hall, stopping as she saw him in his office. She knocked lightly on the door frame before crossing the threshold.
"Dr. Grissom."
He waived her in, "You can just call me Grissom." He finally amended. Hearing her continually call him 'Dr. Grissom' made him feel old.
"Grissom." She corrected as she took a seat opposite him.
"Thank you for your help with this."
"I'm sorry our reunion was under these circumstances." She purposefully left 'reunion' ambiguous, not knowing truly where his head was at.
"Indeed." He simply replied.
"Well, my return flight is in a few hours, I should probably get to the airport soon."
"About that." He paused, trying to find the right combination of words in his head. "We're down a CSI. You seem to gel well with our team here."
She waited for him to continue, something few had the patience to do.
"I think you could really like Vegas." He finally added.
"I already have a job." She smiled back.
"This is the best crime lab in the country. It would be foolish to not at least consider." He was really grasping here. Her presence in the lab over the last day filled a void in his life that he didn't want to miss again. He could do this. He thought to himself. She would be a great colleague, and worth intellectual opponent, someone he could mentor. And that could be enough to satisfy whatever hold she had over him.
"Do you know what Dave said to me as I left for the airport yesterday?"
"Whats that?"
"He said, 'Don't let Grissom go and steal you from me now.'"
Grissom let out a small laugh, "That is what I'm doing, isn't it?"
Sara's mind was racing. Does she leave the only real family she's ever known, her team in San Francisco, the life she built there? Just to uproot to Vegas for a potential relationship with the man sitting before her? No. She couldn't do it. Risk everything she's worked for in some feeble attempt at affection. That wasn't her. She didn't even know the person inside her who began to consider that. But—she began to play devils advocate in her mind—it is the best crime lab in the country. She could learn a lot here.
"Think about it." He repeated, pulling Sara out of her thoughts.
"I will." Sara promised. He watched as she stood to leave. Their eyes catching briefly as she turned back for one last look at him, smiling before disappearing out of sight.
"I knew I couldn't keep you here forever, Sara, but I didn't realize this day would come so soon." The hurt in Dave's eyes shown through and it was killing Sara in side. "This is a great opportunity for you though. You'll learn a lot under Grissom."
She nodded.
"Just be careful out there, okay?" He stood and hugged her tightly. "If you ever change your mind, this door is always open for you."
"I appreciate that more than you know, Dave." She hugged him back before pulling away.
"Please stay in touch."
"I will." She promised.
Sara inhaled deeply. Walking through the SF Crime Lab one last time before existing through the double doors. She was sad to leave, but at the same time, should couldn't wait. She felt completely optimistic and—if she were to be honest with herself—getting out of San Francisco would be good for her. Being reminded of her past day in and day out definitely took its toll on her. This will be good. She assured herself. This will be good.
"Grissom."
"Gil, It's Dave Crow over at the SF Crime lab. You're stealing my girl."
"It's a great opportunity for her, Dave. I think she can learn a lot here."
"I know she can. Look, Gil, there's a lot to Sara that you don't know about. Do me a favor, just, look out for her for me, will you?"
Grissom was perplexed by the sentiment. Was this just Dave filling in his fatherly concern? Or was there something more here?
"I look after all of my team members." Grissom defended, trying to convince himself that Sara wouldn't receive special treatment from him.
"I'm her emergency contact. If something happens, if you think she needs me. Please call me."
"Alright." Grissom still perplexed agreed to do what the man on the other line said.