Disclaimer – I don't own anything apart from my DVD collection to do with CSI Crime Scene Investigation, or it's Characters, Actors & Associates blah di blah blah, I just like running away with them in my imagination! so please don't sue me:)
A/N – Thank you very much to those of you who left a review for the last chapter, & or are still reading this. As always, they really do urge me on to keep writing. The story continues Please R & R – Enjoy!
Ask Al or Jim to do it this time – Chapter 4
Six am the following morning, Gabe and Brenda were still fast asleep, but Gil was trying to keep the noise down as he rummaged through every cupboard, and shelf in the master bathroom looking for something.
Knocking over an impressive assortment of Sara's bath oils, soaks and lotions on a low shelf under the counter he cursed quietly "Damned".
Double checking over his shoulder that the kids weren't in the vicinity, Gil crouched down to sort out the mess he'd now created.
"Where the hell has she put it?" he mumbled.
His hand came into contact with a wet, slimy and runny substance as he reached right to the back and had him cursing under his breath again, ever aware that Gabe might silently stroll into the bathroom in search of him in his sleepy state, with the boys habit of repetitive copying of any new words he acquired.
He'd been in the proverbial doghouse several times with Sara, over certain words that Gabe had learnt from his father, then gone on to repeat them randomly for days later, until sufficiently chastised for the inappropriate use of them.
Pulling his hand back to see his fingers all covered in purple goo, strongly smelling of Sara's favourite Lavender scent, Gil let out an aggrieved huff of air from his lungs "Oh great stuff. Now I'll need to shower again" he moaned grabbing a wash cloth.
Cleaning the mess up he kept chuntering to himself "All I want is my damned shaving kit", he threw out the spilled bottle contents in to the trash can "How hard can it be to find it in here?" he huffed frustratedly.
Finishing up with the cupboard, he thumped the door shut before standing and looking in the mirror at himself "I can't go to this meeting looking like a hobo" he mumbled as he brushed his hand roughly over the straggly ends of his beard.
A sudden realization hit him as he brushed his fingers through the side of his facial hair "I can't believe she's hidden it!" he verbalized with disbelief.
"No. She wouldn't do that" he vocally debated with himself.
"Who wouldn't do what Dad " a female voice sounded behind him.
Stepping into her fathers reflected eye-line in the mirror, Brenda rubbed at her eyes.
"Good morning sleepyhead" Gil greeted as he turned around and smiled at his daughter "Your up early" he stated the fact that was an unusual occurrence for the girl.
"Meeting Jennie before school to rehears some of our concert lines with her" she said on a noisy yawn "Her Mom's picking me up early".
"You wouldn't happen to know where your mother has hidden my shaving kit would you Bren?" he asked with hope, as he pressed a kiss to his daughters temple, before releasing her.
"Have you tried where she keeps her secret stash of Godiva chocolate?" Brenda replied as she made to leave to go downstairs.
Shocked, Gil rounded the doorway to catch the girl "Your Mom has a secret stash?" he asked perplexed.
"Yeah" Brenda simply replied, as if it wasn't a secret to anyone in the household.
"It's news to me" Gil spoke in bewilderment.
"Me and Gabe know about it" she shot back.
"Well I don't" he almost pouted.
Brenda just shrugged with a smirk "Well I guess Mom was really hiding her candy and chocolate from you then" she said in all cheekiness.
She chuckled, at the raised eyebrow aimed at her "That's where she keeps all the good stuff" she taunted her sweet toothed father, grinning wickedly.
"So?" Her father asked.
"Sooooo...What?" Brenda played along, knowing full well that her Dad was after finding out where the sugar stash location was for future reference.
"So, you gonna tell me where it is that I need to look, to see if my shaving kit has been hidden with the Godiva?" he asked with a hopeful, boyish grin.
"Nope" Brenda replied with a dramatic turn and swish of her bed-robe.
Gil groaned, outsmarted again by the females in their home "Not fair" he mock whined.
"More for me and Gabe if I don't spill" she added as she skipped back to her room laughing.
"Well can you at least go look for me please hun?" he asked sweetly of her retrieving back.
"Sorry Pop's, can't give the secret away by leading you to it" she called out just before her door shut.
Chuckling now at being thwarted by a child, and the light hearted teasing of the girl, Gil decided to resort to texting his wife to ask her where his kit was placed.
Outgoing text::
Honey where is my shaving kit please,
I need it to tidy up for my meeting.
Btw What's this I hear about Secret Sweet treats
being hidden in the house?
Love you.
Message sent, Gil went about rousing Gabe for the day and getting breakfast prepared.
As Gil was supervising Gabe in the shower, his cell indicated a message.
Incoming Text;
Isn't it where you last had it?
I plead the 5th Amendment.
Home soon
Love you.
Reading his wife's reply had Gil smiling widely as he then chuckled, "She knows me oh so well".
"Will Mom be home before I head to Jennies" Brenda asked while depositing her dishes in the dish washer.
"Doesn't look like it sweetie" Gil stated as he text his reply to Sara.
Outgoing Text Message;
You know it isn't my dear.
So it's not up for discussion then?
See you soon
x
Shoving his cell in his pocket he surveyed the kitchen, and the mess that always surrounded their son when eating.
"Can I have more waffles Daddy? Gabe eagerly requested around a mouthful of food "Pwease".
Brenda headed up stairs to get her backpack and coat to be ready for her lift.
"Don't forget your gym kit Brenda" Gil called after her "It's folded up in the laundry".
"Just one more big guy, or you'll be sick" he answered his son, taking the tray out of the oven to serve Gabe extra nourishment for the morning.
"Yay!" Gabe jumped about in his seat, almost knocking over his OJ in the process.
"Steady on Gabe" Gil chuckled at the physical energy emitting from his son.
Gabe just giggled as he ploughed into the rest of his breakfast with gusto.
"Don't forget to chew and breath son" Gil teased as he glanced at his watch "Then we should have some time after I've showered and dressed, to go give Hank a run in the park" he estimated Sara wouldn't be home for at least another hour.
Hanks ears perked up at the mention of his name, so he let out a noisy series of barks, and ran to Gil, circulating around his masters feet in an excited dance.
"Can we take the Frisbee?" The boy asked with much enthusiasm "Can we?...Can we Daddy?".
"Hank sit" Gil commanded, just before heading over to the cupboard to retrieve the dogs kibble to feed him.
"Okay, but make sure to brush your teeth after breakfast first buddy" he stated before feeding Hank.
A distant horn sounded outside "I'm going" Brenda called out as she ran down the stairs.
"Have fun and don't forget to hand that letter into the principal when you get to school" Gil called out to her "Love you"
"Ditto. I'll call when I need picking up" she replied, just before sweeping out the door.
A quarter of an hour later the three were heading down the road towards the park, Gabe holding onto the harness leash Hank wore.
"So Cricket where does Mommy hide her stuff" Gil asked his son casually.
"What stuff?" Gabe replied as he gave a gentle pull of the leash to slow Hank down.
"Hank! Heel" Gil commanded the dog, to which it complied quickly, slowing to position at the boys side once more.
"You know...Things like Candy bars, or chocolate and other things" he asked as innocently as possible to a young child.
Gabe began to giggle as he looked up at his Dad, putting his hand over his mouth as he spoke"Notgonnatell" he spluttered though his hand.
"Excuse me?" Gil queried with a frown, not quite understanding what he'd said, looking down at him.
"Brendatoldmenottotell" rushed out all as one word from the child.
"Brenda...What?...Say it again slowly please Gabe" Gil asked as they reached the entrance of the park.
" Brenda told me not to tell you where Mommy keeps them" the boy tentatively replied "Cos I won't get any next time" he added, hoping he wasn't going to get into trouble.
Shaking his head, Gil unclipped the leash from Hank and let the dog run "Because, Gabe. Not 'Cos'" he gently corrected his sons poor spoken English.
Gabe stood there sheepishly looking up at his Daddy, waiting to see if he had done wrong in not answering his original question.
Kneeling to the ground Gil's eyes softened, he'd debated using their often, just the guys Ice-cream treat detours as a bargaining chip to get the kid to spill, but thought it unfair of himself, so let the matter go for now "That's okay then buddy" he chuckled "Just make sure to brush when you hit the stash. Right?".
"Okay Daddy" a huge grin erupted on Gabe's face as he wrestled the Frisbee free from Gil's clutches.
"Lets go!" the child shouted grabbing his fathers hand and tugging him along.
As Sara was about to start up her engine to drive home, her cell signalled an incoming message
Incoming Text;
Minor accident at the park,
had to visit the Desert Palms, no need to worry
I have it all under control.
Will be home soon,
Seeing the message immediately had her pulse climbing, and noting the lack of specific details of exactly, how or who had been hurt, had her pressing speed dial to connect to her husbands cell.
Checking her watch, Sara realized with building worry, that Gabe would still be with Gil, and could possibly be the injured party, knowing how prone the boy was to scuffs and scrapes with the antics he got up to throughout the day.
Hearing Gil's phone go right to voice-mail, Sara flipped her cell shut in frustration.
A knock on the passenger side window made Sara jump, as her head swivelled round to see who it was.
"Room for an extra one for breakfast?" Jim asked with a impish grin as he cracked the door open.
Closing her eyes briefly and catching her breath, she open them again, trying to settle her heart beat.
Seeing the worry so plain for him to see in her eyes, Brass quickly switched his tack of humour to that of concern as he asked "Sara? You okay".
He only saw that look on her countenance when it involved either one of the kids or the bugman ""What's wrong Cookie?" he said crouching down in the door-space, closer to her.
"I've got to head to the ER" she replied a little flustered, whilst fumbling with the keys to start the car.
Holding out his hand to stop her movement, Brass leaned in to remove the bunch from the ignition, Sara was in no state to be driving after having had a hard shift as well as this "I'll drive. While you scoot over and tell me what's happened".
Sara made to protest, but complied with Brass' suggestion as she watched him almost stand, reach for the door handle, slip one leg into the foot well, then shift his rear end towards the seat she was having to vacate.
"Give me chance to move wont you" Sara griped, as she slid up and over into the passenger side.
"I could have driven myself" she huffed out a little annoyed "I am a big girl you know and have my licence" Sara added testily, pulling her seatbelt across herself.
Jim settled in the drivers position turning the engine over, then Sara passed him her cell phone opened on the text she had received from Gil.
Pulling out of the crime lab parking lot, Brass spoke "It doesn't sound too serious to me. But if it were, Gil would have called me, to have me escort you to the hospital" he said pulling the car round a corner.
He noted the brief sarcastic glare sent his way, as he shot a look at her "Hey take it up with the bugman, not me, I can't help that he's so over protective when it comes to you" he chuckled.
"I've still not forgotten the way you two conspired to get me to the ER when Gabe cut his head open, and you cleaned up all the blood at home before I saw it" Sara reminded her friend, come pseudo father.
"Yeah well, Gil was so worried you'd wrap Gabe in bubble wrap for the rest of his childhood if you'd seen the amount of blood the little cut had produced in your place" Jim shot back.
Remembering the kids accident while he was visiting Gil, Sara was at the lab, Jim recalled that the family room looked like a serious crime scene, with blood smeared hand prints, blood drops trailing toward the kitchen and red smudged, adult sized shoe prints left by Gil in the ensuing panic.
"Jim he had a concussion" Sara argued back.
"No, they treated him for 'possible' concussion. There's a difference "He got a quarter inch gash that they stapled close" he affirmed.
"Semantics" she shot back grumpily.
"Poor little guy got cabin fever being stuck indoors for as long as he did" the police captain defended the boy.
"Can't you go a little faster?" Sara asked as she checked her cell again for more messages, diverting away from Jim's hinting at her over protectiveness of her children.
"You got no flashers or sirens on this baby. So bare with me before we get us pulled over by some rookie traffic cop for speeding" he replied, as they hit the right intersection to take them to the hospital.
Soon Jim was breathlessly trailing Sara into the ER and they approached the front information desk quickly, with Sara's no nonsense "I'm looking for my son who was brought in a short time ago".
The receptionist looked up with a patent look "Good morning madam" she said curtly.
"Gabe Grissom" Sara checked her self, then repeated "His name is Gabriel Ellery Grissom".
A/N- Dun dun dun lol. Oh dear what will the next chapter reveal. Had to include a cliff hanger, has been way too long since I have written one. Not going off subject with this chapter, all will be revealed soon, as we move forward towards the Lab Charity Festive party.
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