Chapter Four:
Sara awoke to the crackling of the wood in the fireplace. She glanced around the room and found Grissom sitting in a chair reading a book. She slowly pulled herself up to a sitting position. She felt like shit. Her nose was already running and her throat was scratchy.
He looked at her over his glasses and she cringed at the expression on his face. Suddenly she wished she had not agreed to come.
"It wasn't my idea." The statement made Grissom scowl even more. She licked her lips and continued. "We were concerned about you and when Brass told me where you were, I thought I could come and talk some sense into you." She glanced over at him but his expression was the same.
"Grissom, I'm sorry. As soon as we get my car keys replaced, I'll leave. We can just call a locksmith… They do have locksmith?"
"In the middle of nowhere?" Grissom expression did not change.
Sara did not like the tone in his voice.
"Sorry." She was in a fix and didn't know what to say. Her stomach growled and she remembered she had not eaten in … well she couldn't remember when she had last eaten.
She looked at him but he had returned to his book. She got up and headed to the kitchen. She found a plate covered with a cloth napkin sitting on the table. At least he doesn't expect me to go hungry. She stared at the contents on the plate. Fish Tonight she decided she was not going to be a vegetarian.
Grissom peered over his glasses and watched as Sara ate. She closed her eyes with each bite. She managed to get down three bites before running to the door. He could hear her on the front porch and he chuckled.
Sara returned and sat back on the couch. She stared at the fire and sneezed. She leaned over and grabbed a hand full of Kleenex and blew her nose. She sounded miserable.
Grissom pretended not to notice but then realized he was holding the book upside down. He glanced over at her and saw that she had noticed his error.
"Okay, now that we have tried to ignore one another. Would you like to tell me why you're really here?"
"Brass sent me here to try to convince you not to quit your job."
"I haven't quit my job."
"You…"
"I took a leave of absence. I needed a break."
"But everyone thinks…"
"That I quit? Well what if I did? It's none of your business"
Sara sat there quietly. She refused to make eye contact with him. She softly whispered, "I would rather leave Las Vegas than for you to leave the lab."
"I don't care what you think. Nobody asked you." The tone was harsh and the words stung. Sara had extended an olive branch and once again he had stomped on it. She swiped the tears from her eyes and blew her nose.
She got up and walked over to the fireplace and began putting on her shoes. Grissom looked at her. He felt like an ass. "Sara…"
Sara had already crossed the room and opened the door. She slammed it shut behind her.
She knew that it would be impossible to find her keys in the dark. She looked up the road and her shoulders slumped. She guessed it was at least ten miles back to the main road and then she would be at the mercy of the townsfolk to pick her up. She started walking.
