Title: Wuthering Souls
Disclaimers: Sadly, I do not own anything or anybody related to CSI.
Chapter Four
2 March 2001 at 5 am, Las Vegas, the USA, McCarran International Airport
One pair of eyes was scanning the wavers and the ravers, the weepers and the greeters at the foreign country's airport. As they were standing in the long bustling terminal, both priests could sense the excitement of passengers waiting to be flown to their far flung dream destination but neither could share their thrill.
Around them, a mass of passengers boarding a flight was advised to check in at Gate 11. Then, there was another announcement asking all the passengers to a certain flight to check in at Gate 7 with their boarding passes. Almost at the same time, there was that crazy rush across the lounge where the young and stronger could make it easily jumping over the seats while mothers with children became hectic fearing of losing a child or some hand baggage, the old and the infirm almost lost all hope of boarding the flight in time. When finally they all checked in, there came the next announcement saying the flight was delayed by 30 minutes for some "technical reasons". For the priests of no pretension, the whole scene seemed rather a jungle fight for surviving than a civilized and organized traffic.
"Well, Hem-netjer Selim, it's nothing like our home, nothing like the vision you described," Priest Fadil said.
"You have only eyes for perception and these eyes might deceive you. You have ears but they also fail to hear. Sometimes truth is beneath reality. Use your heart to see and hear and then feel."
"Then guide me because I got lost in this deceiving world."
"Don't fear the unknown, our only God of Aten will show us the road to the crystal. Believe Hem-netjer Fadil, believe and never doubt."
Priest Fadil took Priest Selim's arm and they slowly walked toward the exit. They had no suitcases, only two small haversacks were hiding their personal belongings and a few golden goblets and one golden ring with a ruby. There had been no problem at the security check as no one had wished to go through a priest's sack. And there was no doubt about that these men were priests. Both were wearing white linen and sandals made from papyrus as all animal products were considered unclean. They used a special kind of eyeliner called kohl to protect their eyes from sunlight. This make-up was important due to the direct sunlight so typical in Egypt. No one found their attire weird or unusual; it was Las Vegas after all where everything was possible.
The two poor men left the building and started to walk toward the city center. They had no map, still knew where they should head. There was about a 10-mile walk ahead of them but in Egypt, no one would consider it as a significant distance. After five minutes, a car slowed down and then stopped.
"Hey! Soon it'll be warm and walking in heat must be freaking suck, jump in, buddies, I'll take you two on a bit."
In heat? Priest Fadil was wondering. The High Priest had told them that the weather in the USA was almost as pleasant as in Amarna. However, they knew that the temperature could spring up to 72-75 °F soon but it could not be hot. Or did Americans use 'heat' for another word? he did not know. At the moment the weather was quite chilly for the under-clothed priests.
"We can't pay for it, sire," one of the priests apologized.
"Sire? Holy shit, what are you on, guys? You don't have to pay. Now, will you come or not?"
The two Egyptians would not have minded walking but they knew well from experience that time was essential regarding their success in finding the crystal. In the course of history, their elders had failed many times to get the magic quartz crystal back. So the priests gratefully accepted the offer and got into the car.
"So I guess you're tourists, huh?"
"No, sire."
"Well, then you missed the costume ball. It was in February, no one told you?" he laughed.
The driver saw that his attempt at humor did not really make a hit so he remained silent instead. The next ten minutes went by more slowly than each party would have appreciated. The car slowed down once again and the funny guy parked it by the pavement.
"Well, sires, the cab terminates here," he laughed. "I'm home."
"We are utmost grateful for your generosity. You will be given abundant merit."
Both priests took a bow and backed off the car. The driver shook his head. "Take care of yourselves crazy buddies, this city is full of crazy people and you won't even recognize them…" he murmured after their departure.
"Where are we going to sleep?" Priest Fadil asked.
"Let our fate decide. Can you see them now?"
"What should I see?"
"Then we ought to continue our walk until you see them."
"But give me a clue!"
"When you see our false home…"
And at that moment Priest Fadil understood. For the first time after their iron bird had landed, the priest looked around, really looked around. The blind priest knew they had arrived by the strong squeeze on his arm. There were not enough adjectives to adequately describe the sight Priest Fadil was actually marveling. It was like being at home.
Almost.
Priest Fadil blinked many times but a gorgeous pyramid encased in dark bronze shining material was before them, right in front of them. How was it possible? None of the pyramids he knew looked like this. All of them in Egypt were built of rock and not glass. No wonder the ones in Egypt were still standing, he thought. And the traffic lines…they were like colored ants moving in unison, moving riots. The entire city was a motion of noises and color that seemingly lacked any logic. Hardly surprising that Americans could only build such a small pyramid in this chaos, Priest Fadil was pondering.
Slowly, almost tentatively they walked closer to the mysterious structure. Another miracle greeted them.
"Hem-netjer Selim, we found Aten! I can see one of his rays petrified in front of a huge glittering pyramid. But there is only one. There should be two!"
"See? I said nothing is what it looks. Don't let your eyes fail you. We are not at home here. We are on a mission in this false Egypt. Aten owns infinite rays of sun but these people have only one. It can't be Aten."
"And just as in your vision, I can see the great Sphinx."
"Don't look into his eyes!"
"I wouldn't dare. Let's go closer, I need to touch him."
Even though both men knew they were not real, the closeness of the symbols of their history reassured them. They placed their sacks onto the pavement and went to express their respect to the one God Aten. They closed their eyes and murmured some words in Egyptian.
The next time they opened their eyes, Priest Fadil realized that their sacks were missing. In his panic, he jumped up and looked around. He saw two young men running away with their belongings.
"Hey! Give our sacks back!" and then he started to run after them.
"Fadil! Let them…let them go!"
Priest Selim concentrated on the noises he could detect in order to understand the happenings but there were too many noises. At the same time, he could feel the tension in the air. And suddenly, nothing could be heard as if the time had just stopped. The blind priest tried to find his fellow priest but he failed to locate him.
"Call 911," a stranger shouted. His voice was getting louder as he continued shouting. "Are you hurt, sir?"
"Hem-netjer Fadil!"
"Sir, please calm down. Help is on the way."
Mixed noises of ambulance and police sirens could be heard in the distance. Within a few minutes, the sirens stopped screaming. Priest Selim heard cars parking and people shouting.
"Sir? I'm Jim Brass from Las Vegas Police Department. Are you hurt?"
"No, sire," he answered in his weird accent that made Brass grimace. The captain had been on his way back to the PD when he had heard the police scanner. Not being a linguist, he now wished he had continued driving.
"Could you tell us what happened?"
"Could you tell me how Hem-netjer Fadil is, please?"
"He is in good hands, sir. Can I ask your name?"
"Selim Halles-Ahmad Kazim."
"Well, Selim Ha…um…" Brass was not good at memorizing names, let alone long ones. He looked around embarrassed and became relieved when he spotted his two CSIs.
If Brass had not known them for long, he would have believed that they had done something wrong. Both Sara and Grissom seemed hesitating, even shy. Their movements were…guarded. Grissom smiled at the paramedics that surprised Brass in the first place. Sara, on the other hand, was cold and distant. The woman walked upright to Brass and the victim.
"So what have we got?"
"Good morning to you, too, Sara. Gil let you lead?"
"What? Why would…no, she…I mean…I…um…he leads…I'm just tired you know and I wanted to start…"
"Grissom!" Brass called but the man failed to listen.
When the man got close, he smiled at Brass and welcomed him, "Hello Jim."
"Well, that's new. A nice Gil and a peevish Sara…now, this will be interesting."
Sara immediately realized what had just happened. The real Grissom had never been as sweet to anybody as she was in his body now. No wonder Brass got surprised by "his" behavior. But she did not want to be rude to anybody just because Grissom was…well, Grissom. But she had no choice; this was not her body or her life…not now at least.
"Are we going to do our job or we came together here for a chat party?" she said in Grissom-ish style.
"Now, this is the Grissom I know," Brass giggled.
"Mr. Selim…um…this is Gil Grissom," immediately the woman nodded. "Well," Brass was looking at them disconcertedly. As it was obvious that the victim could not see anything, Brass did not correct the situation. "And this is Sara Sidle."
This time, the correct body nodded. Brass left the two of them with the poor priest so they could talk. He thought that he could record his statement later after the dust settled between the CSIs.
"Would you please excuse us for a minute?" feminine voice sounded.
The woman took the man's arm and pulled him aside. They tried to keep their voice low but they both were agitated. Neither paid attention to the blind priest whose hearing was extremely delicate.
"We agreed!"
"I know, I'm sorry, this is all new for me."
"You shouldn't be that informal at work…with those paramedics…you were even flirty…I'm not that… coquettish."
"Excuse me? I was only kind. Nothing less, nothing more…I can't be like you…as it seems. I can't change over night!"
"You have to try…until we solve this crazy…"
"Really? I didn't choose your body! I didn't choose this life either! I want mine back!"
"We agreed!"
Neither Grissom, nor Sara heard the Egyptian prayer to Aten, "O sole god without equal! You are alone, shining in your form of the living Aten. Risen, radiant, distant and near who let us see what only you can see…"
CSI-GSR- CSI-GSR- CSI-GSR- CSI-GSR- CSI-GSR- CSI-GSR- CSI-GSR- CSI-GSR- CSI-GSR- CSI-GSR
Earlier... 1 March 2001 at 6 pm, Las Vegas, the USA, Grissom's townhouse
Sara was agonized but looking at the clock on the wall, she was grateful for Pamela Adler. That case had forced Grissom, Sara and Nick to work overtime so they were allowed to start their next shift much later than usual. Still, the time for leaving the safe place was coming unstoppably.
"I need to get ready…I need to change clothes…I need to take a shower…but shower means…don't panic Sara…probably this was your last time you can see his body naked…but it's like harassment…"
Sara Sidle was on the edge of crying when she heard the doorbell. She paced the room, she wanted to hide but somebody was determined enough to keep pushing the bell-button.
She tiptoed to the door and very-very carefully caressed the spy-hole lid aside. Trying not to blink, she peeked through it and was sure that she was going to faint.
"Can't be happening," she whispered at the sight of herself on the other side of the door.
Outside, the female figure looked as terrified as Sara felt. She took it as a good sign that maybe just maybe she had not lost her mind after all.
Instinctively, she wanted to adjust her hair but her fingers did not find hair where it should be. Her pulse rate increased dramatically at the returning feeling of panic. She combed the short hair she had inherited from Grissom then smoothed her hand over her cheek that felt pretty stubbly.
"Fuck, I'm going to cry," she whimpered but the doorbell shook her up from her misery.
She straightened her spine and turned back to the door to open it but not before she had a quick glance in the mirror and acknowledged that she looked acceptable. She had no time for examining her motive for wishing to look good as this time a bang landed on the door.
"Open the door, Sa…Grissom!" he realized immediately that he could not be one hundred percent sure that he had not gone crazy, so he tried to remain calm and as polite as Sara would be if she came to him. Not that it would happen after what I said to her, he thought.
His own name felt so foreign on his lips but he had to start his say from the beginning again, "Grissom, are you at home?"
"Patience," she answered from inside.
New hope was born in Grissom's eyes. He had always taken the key out of the keyhole for sleep time because he had believed that a key forgotten in door could prevent the firefighters from entering in emergency. And Sara evidently did not know this that was why she could not open the door.
"So…perhaps, I'm not crazy after all," he murmured silently to himself and slowly a smile graced his face. As quickly as that smile had formed on his face, it faded with the same vehemence when the lock bowed to the key. And yet she knew where the keys were…or had she just found them? Would not have been a big challenge, they had been next to the door hung on a nail. So Grissom could not be absolutely sure who he was…again.
In the next moment, a beautiful face with haunted brown eyes looked fixedly at a handsome one with blue eyes. Neither could say a word, neither could look away but both wanted to get their old lives back.
Say something! Oh…I should let you in…"Um…want to come in?"
Of course I do, this is my home. "Thanks."
Well, this is your house so what should I say? To make yourself home? "Can I get you anything?"
A coffee would be nice really but you don't even know where the coffee is…oh…let's see if you are just playing, my dear. "A coffee…if it's not a…"
"No, give me a second…" Sara pretended to be calm and tried to act naturally as she was seeking for the coffee jar but she had no idea where he stored it.
It's in the fridge, Sara. Oh, come on…not there…cold…still cold. Grissom started to smile, slight sadism in him enjoyed Sara's fight for control but it was evident that she was hopelessly lost in his kitchen. Grissom had trouble meeting Sara's eyes, though. It was like to look into a mirror; still, it gave him the opportunity to see what Sara could see when she looked at him every time. Well, his mood sank immediately. Could a beautiful and young woman…would a woman like Sara see anything in him to wake up her interest…her love? He doubted.
"Damn, I think I ran out of coffee," she stammered. "How about a glass of…um…" Shit, it wouldn't be bad if I knew what that fridge contains.
She hurried to his fridge and opened its door to see what kind of drink she could pour for him. The first thing she – and Grissom – spotted was a huge jar of coffee. Another smile appeared on his face while Sara's face reddened deeply.
Busted.
"Sara, we both know why I am here."
"You…you called me Sara?"
In a second, Grissom lost his courage. Was she still playing her part or he had indeed gone crazy? He could not do it any longer. He was not good at handling suspense.
Sara's gaze was entirely focused on the face that until this night it had been hers. The face that had showed so many – usually unwanted and not appreciated– emotions now mirrored nothing. Its expressions' were like Grissom's not Sara's. This feminine face reflected neutral emotions, it was like a stone. Only the eyes betrayed its owner. This expressionless state of her face and body scared Sara. She had always hated her tears but at least they had been hers and had showed that she had been alive. It was shocking to see herself this way.
"You…you stole my emotions," she panicked and wiped a tear away.
From that very moment, Grissom knew that they both were experiencing the same surreal and impossible situation. He knew himself. He could not let himself cry this easily and not with only one tear. It showed him Sara's inner fight. It was so typically her.
"Sara, we need to talk…I…I have no idea how…but I believe…"
When Sara realized that she could hide her secret no longer from the truth, from him, she stopped sniffling. The blue eyes were totally focused on the female body. The slender figure seemed to be waiting for something. Of course, the old problem again, no matter what body he lived in. Grissom was coward to name the problem. But now he had to.
"You believe what?"
"You know what."
And again, she let him off the hook, "Something happened last night."
"Yes. I'm no longer myself."
"And I'm no longer me. How can this…this thing be?"
"I still can't believe it. I'd rather be crazy, at least that would be explicable…somehow, but this is simply crazy and impossible."
"Look, Grissom. I'm not ready to get out of this house…yet…so I'll sure be late from work, I…I messaged Catherine to cover for me until I arrive there. But I believe that we won't get away with this. What's more, no one will believe us but honestly, I don't want anyone to know about this."
"Did you…um…did you do something…I don't know, something unusual last night that might explain this?" he gestured the situation between them.
"What do you mean? Murmur some sick spell but I screwed it up? Maybe you forgot it but I am a scientist, too. But anyway, did you ask the same question to you, too?"
"Look, I didn't mean to hurt you but something must have happened…and I just can't understand what! Science answers every question and in our case I am not able to form the question itself!" he started to become agitated but Sara misunderstood his demonstration of turmoil.
"You are in doubts? And what about me? I was the one who had to wake up to…um…so…"
"What?"
"Nothing. It was just not easy to wake up…as a man, and stress can't help either," she murmured angrily and her face was as red as a hot chili.
The moment her face started to redden, Grissom knew what difficulty Sara was referring to. It was natural for him to wake up with an erection but it had been bloody new for Sara. What a sobering awakening. In spite of the shame he was feeling, Grissom could not help but smirk at the situation.
"Well, welcome to my world, Sara!"
His sympathy was "moving" and Sara felt her anger resurface. "You live your life…up high…very often."
The conversation suddenly hit a touchy field with that Grissom was not comfortable. The fact that Sara had experienced such an intimate aspect of being a man made him vulnerable. And she did not wear the same clothes either. The thought of Sara getting dressed after she had got up…in every possible meaning of the word…what a shame, he thought. What should she think? Had she found his body too old, too baggy, nothing worthy to love? He desperately wanted to escape this conversation. Work was always a secure topic.
"Look, as you said we have no time to discuss this now, moreover, we are already hopelessly late from work but after shift, we have to sit down and examine this situation. We need to find a way out of it."
"Can't we call in sick?"
"The team is shorthanded already. Cath can cover our ass for some time but…"
"Good for her. I fell into trap in your body but I can't call in…"
"We should set up some rules," he suggested tentatively.
"What rules? I won't give myself a promotion if you are worried about that."
"No. Please, Sara. It is as hard for me as it is for you. Not easy for any of us. Do you think it was a dream of me to be in your shoe? But if I can make sacrifices then I rightly expect the same from you, don't you think?"
Do I think it was a dream of his to be in my shoe? Why is it so horrible to be me? Am I that awful? Sara became devastated by his words. So living in her body meant a huge sacrifice on his part…of course, what else. So she silently sat down opposite him and listened to the man while keeping her eyes strictly on the table.
"Alright, just quickly, okay?"
She nodded.
"First, everybody thinks you are me. Then behave like a supervisor. I know you don't really like Ecklie but please keep in mind that you are in my body."
She swallowed hard but nodded.
"Secondly, when giving out assignments, Catherine has priority; give the smaller cases to Nick and Warrick."
"And to you, I guess."
He swallowed but nodded.
"And the last one for now. Don't flirt with Greg or the other colleagues. Remember, your body is mine…I mean your body is not yours at the moment."
"Well, let me summarize your rules. I'm so incompetent that I would be a complete jerk with Ecklie and would cover dearest Cath with decomp cases and to top all this I'm a flirt… Then let me outline my rules, shall we?"
"I didn't mean 'mine' that way," Grissom apologized. He only wanted to help her to be him and did not really understand why she became hurt.
"Of course you didn't. But just in case. First, you have to smile when you see someone familiar or else the nosy ones will ask questions you wouldn't want to hear, let alone answer them, secondly, you have to try to be impartial with Cath or else she will think I am on some kinda drug or worse, she'll find out right away who you are. And the last one, you can flirt with anybody as no one claims my heart but just in case, keep in mind that your body is originally mine and I want it back."
Cath'll find out right away who I am? What does she insinuate? I would favor Cath?
And the last one, I can flirt with anybody as no one claims her heart? She thinks her heart is unwanted? But I would love to have it, she doesn't know it, really can't feel it? Grissom was devastated by her words.
"But actually, I don't think any of us needs to worry about our sex lives," Sara said then winked.
"Of…of course," he answered. I wouldn't do that to you.
"Because in each other's body we would look…um…you know…me…in your body with a woman…I'm not lesbian and I doubt you would appreciate me having sex with a guy as it would make you a gay. So, please, do the same favor to me, alright?" I wouldn't cheat on you anyway.
"I wish we were over this shift."
Later, Grissom and Sara were standing at Grissom's huge car arguing. Since it was Grissom's vehicle, for him it was evident that he was going to drive it. But Sara argued that in their situation, she must drive the car to the scene they had been called to five minutes ago. She said they needed to keep up the formalities. Reluctantly, Grissom let Sara drive the SUV.
They were almost there when Sara parked the car at a drugstore. "Just a minute."
Grissom was not very happy with the situation and now, Sara was stalling or at least for him it seemed that way. Earlier he had wished the shift had been over but evidently they were going to arrive at the scene by the end of it. He closed his eyes and tried to imagine the first few situations at the crime scene.
'Two priests, under-clothed. One injured, one blind. Presumably robbery. Something is off.'
He was grateful for the fact that at least no one was dead. Rare outcome in his field of profession. From time to time, thought, his thoughts returned to his condition. His and Sara's. After shift they were going to need to go through all the tiny details they had done before sleep. He felt that the answer was in their actions.
"Okay, we can go!"
She gave Grissom a small package of even smaller boxes.
"What are these?"
His eyes could not have been wider. There were boxes of tampons and pads. Panic and realization flooded him.
"Well, you will need them in two days…plus-minus one day. What did you say back then? Welcome to my world!"
TBC
