Sara pulled Grissom's BMW back into the parking spot that was marked with a metal sign that read 'Reserved For Gilbert Grissom' on it. She thought it wasn't fair that he got his own designated parking spot, but that was the way the dice fell. She locked the car up and walked smiling back into the building. A quick glance over her shoulder told her that her stalker was gone. The better side of her brain told her to tell Grissom about her follower before she got into serious trouble, and she made a mental note to do so.
"Hey," Sara said coolly as she handed Grissom his keys. "Thanks."
Grissom returned her smile. "How about we go for breakfast after shift and we can drop your car off at the shop," he said.
Sara gulped, but kept her smile intact. "That sounds great," she said.
"Good," Grissom said. "Things have been a little busy and I have been meaning to spend more time with you."
Sara's heart sank an inch. Grissom was always honest with her, but she had lied to him about her car being inoperative. It wasn't easy working alongside the man that you loved with all your heart, but she wouldn't want anyone else to be her superior. As she walked past him, Grissom slipped a daring hand under her shirt and brushed thumb over her navel. The very touch of his fingers sent static electricity to the tips of her toes. That was the way he operated, one touch and she was pudding in his hands. Their eyes connected for a moment and they held each others gazes. In his eyes she could see everything he wanted to do and say to her.
"Sara," Greg said as he rounded the corner.
Grissom quickly drew back and turned to her as if they had been talking about a case. The hall had been clear when he had caressed her, but it was always a risk to be affectionate in the work place.
"You said you wanted to go back to the mountainside," Greg said, explaining his presence.
In that one simple statement, Sara felt her blood leave her face and she looked over at Grissom. His face had gone from loving and lustful, to stern.
"Sara, go wait for me in my office," he said calmly.
She nodded calmly and walked of, listening to Grissom give Greg a different assignment. She heard his footsteps following her and she sat down in the chair across from his desk. Without a word he stepped inside and closed the door.
"I thought I told you to give that case a rest," he said.
"I was just going to look around one more time," she said in her own defense. "Jesus Gil, don't be like that."
"Don't be like what?" Grissom asked. "Don't be concerned?"
"Alright, I'll let it go for a little while," she said.
Grissom sighed. "Look, I want you to go home. You have months of vacation days on the books and it's time for you to step back," Grissom said.
"Step back? As in how long" Sara asked.
"A week or two," Grissom replied, pulling out a form and filling out the top part of it.
"Are you suspending me?" she asked.
"No," he replied. "But I will if you don't take time off."
Sara couldn't believe his words. "What grounds do you have to suspend me?" she asked.
"Insubordination. I am not you boyfriend right now, I am your supervisor," he said.
Sara stood and snatched the form he had in his hand. "I get those two people confused sometimes," she spat as she turned to walk away.
"Sara…," Grissom started as she walked away.
Was she hurriedly walked to the locker room, she passed Nick and Warrick. They were carrying a fish tank that was missing fish. They both looked like they wanted to say something to her, but she hurried past before she could hear what they had to say. She threw open her locker with a loud bang and shrugged into her jacket.
"Sara," Grissom said as he walked in behind her. "If you wait a minute I'll give you a ride home."
For a moment she was confused, but then she remembered. "I'm sure it's fine to drive home. I'll take it to the shop in the morning," she said.
"I'll come by later," he whispered to her.
Sara wasn't sure what she wanted. She was still seeing red from being sent home, but she wanted him near her. She wanted him to drive her home and have rushed sex on her couch.
"Yeah," she said, calmer now then she was a moment ago. "I'll see you later."
O_O
If she thought that he was gone, then she was mistaken. He was furious at her, furious that she took away the fun and spoiled the game too soon. For some time he sat in his car, worrying about what to do. He needed to get away from her, to stop following her. But every time he closed his eyes, he saw her eyes full of fear and felt her wriggling body underneath him.
"I have to have her now," he finally decided.
He was about to pull away from his hiding spot when he saw her emerge and walk briskly to her car. There was a look of regret and remorse on her face.
"Are you going home early?" he said.
To his satisfaction, Sara started her car and pulled out onto the road. He waited a few moments before he followed her. If she was heading home, then there was no rush to follow. Daylight would soon be upon them and he would have to act fast in order to save the cover of dark. He was already dressed for a hunt: black button-up shirt, black slacks, black socks, and black shoes.
"Enjoy your last moments, Sara Sidle," he said.
0_0
Sara dropped her bag onto the counter. It made a dull thud and it seemed to echo inside the quiet apartment. With a sigh she toed her shoes off and rid herself of her jacket. A sudden wave of exhaustion swept over her and she was surprised by her sudden desire to sleep. It had been a week since she had gotten a full night's sleep and her body ached to crawl between the cool sheets. Maybe Grissom was right and she was pushing herself too far. As she walked towards the bathroom she turned her stereo on and Sheryl Crow's soft voice filtered through the speakers. Time off wasn't such a bad thing, she could read her new text book and finally organize her CD's. After a week her so, she would start back on Shannon's case with fresh eyes. Her shower was longer than usual. The hot water eased the tension from her aching muscles and warmed her to the bone. All thoughts of Shannon's faceless corpse, Grissom's attitude, and the phantom Sedan all washed down the drain and out of her mind.
0_0
In the lot, he sat in his car and waited for the lights in her bedroom to go out. He already had everything he needed for a successful capture and he wanted to be sure their first meeting was uninterrupted. Finally, her light clicked off and he counted to ten before opening the door and starting towards the main office. Picking a dead bolt was hard and time consuming. With daylight swiftly approaching, he needed to get the master key fast. In his black satchel, he had a small container of nitroglycerin. He withdrew this and sprayed a small amount onto the deadbolt of the office. With the bottom of the can he tapped the lock and it shattered. It was a loud noise and he waited a few moments before forcing the door open and locating the key. He wasn't worried about what people thought about the shattered lock. Las Vegas was a dangerous place and it would be attributed to vandalism. With the key in his hand he turned towards her building: building six. In the lobby of building six was a bank of mail boxes. Her delicate hand writing was on the last one in a long row. She wrote it in cursive and with ink. With her room number in mind, he walked upstairs to where his beauty awaited him.
0_0
Sara was in a deep sleep only moments after falling into bed. Despite her peace, something forced her to wake up. It was a sense of urgency she hadn't felt in years. Slowly she opened her eyes and looked around the dark apartment. She forced herself to stand and padded into the living room to check the locks. All locks were secure; the dead-bolts and the security chain.
"You're losing it Sidle," she said to herself. "Pretty soon the guys in white lab coats will come for you."
She put her eye to the peep-hole and looked out into the hall. She saw no eye looking back at her, just the plain boring brown wall on the other side of the hallway. With a sigh she turned and headed back to bed.
0_0
When he arrived at her door he stopped. The thought of her small, muscular body only feet from him sent a wave of pleasure coursing through him. The image of her running through the woods curled his toes more than any sexual experience ever could. Sex was one thing he never indulged in with his prey, for that would be breaking the serious predator-prey bound and the two must be separate. As he thought on all this, a thin shadow came from underneath the door. He held his breath and waited on the door to open. He closed his fist around a heavy flashlight; he would knock her out if he had to. The doorknob jiggled softly and then went still.
"My little bird knows I am here," he said to himself.
After just a few short seconds, he heard he go back to her bedroom. With his ear pressed to the door, he heard the springs on her bed sing softly as she lay back down.
0_0
The sleep that Sara found after she checked the locks was restless. She dreamed that she was back in Tomales Bay, standing just outside her parent's old boarding house. The beach and house looked untouched by time, even though she herself was a grown woman. Hesitantly she walked up the old wooden stairs and opened the front door.
"Mom," she said. "I'm here."
Her mother was in the kitchen, trying to scrub a baking sheet. Her father was sitting across the room in a recliner, his eyes glassy and his gazed fixed on her. Sara had always referred to this as 'the look' and avoided it at all costs.
"Where have you been you little smart ass?" he asked.
"It doesn't matter," she replied. "I am home."
Her father stood quickly, dropping the newspaper that had been in his lap. In his hand was a silver object. A knife.
"I'll teach you to be a little smart ass," he said as he walked towards her.
Sara wanted to move, but she was rooted to the spot. It was as if the floor had hands and it was grabbing a hold of her feet. The familiar feeling of dread and fear came over her, a feeling that she hadn't felt since she was a child. Before she knew it, he had a fistful of her hair and threw her down onto the floor like she was a doll. He straddled her and starred into her eyes.
"Everyone wears a mask," he said.
With all her might she fought and screamed. Her mother, though she was only a few feet away, did nothing. He brought the knife up to her chin and pricked her skin. Sara screamed in agony and terror as he sliced around her face with precision, and with a skillful hand peeled her skin back.
0_0
With the master key he let himself into the apartment. With the help of a bolt cutter, the security chain was easily disposed of. The inside seemed to fit her personality; feminine, but not girly. She had no photos of family on the walls or lining the bookshelf, instead she had books. Slowly his eyes adjusted to the dark. There was only one other door in the apartment, and it led him to the bedroom. It was painted the same color as the living room and the bed she slept in was a full-sized mahogany. He walked softly across the room and looked into the bathroom that was adjacent to the bedroom. There were two toothbrushes on the sink, one blue and the other pink. When he looked through the nightstand, his suspicions of a boyfriend were confirmed. She had half-empty box of condoms and a pair of a man's reading glasses there. He looked sideways at her sleeping face and carefully pulled a bottle of chloroform and a rag out of his satchel. He moistened the rag and licked his lips in anticipation. Quickly he pressed the rag to her mouth and held it tight. Her beautiful eyes snapped open and she began to struggle wildly.
"It's about time," he said to her.
