Chapter 10- Four Days of Deliverance
July 4th
Sara woke up the following morning with a headache. Something was very wrong with the world and she knew it. It wasn't anything she could put her finger on, but it was a bad feeling. She quickly showered, dressed and was downstairs by 7:30am. Her mother and Tom were sitting at the table.
"Dusty, you're up! Come have some breakfast. I think Claudine can make you some bacon and eggs." Laura said with a smile.
Tom smiled at her. There was nothing wrong in their world, Sara thought as she watched him stroking her hand.
"It's ok mom, actually I had a banana in my bag and Ruby said there was granola in the pantry."
"You eat like a bird. I wish you didn't make me worry." This was said as an accusation so Sara ignored it.
Ruby came in with the paper. Shaking her head in obvious displeasure at the front page.
"Mmmm mmm mmm, when will these judges ever get a clue? They let that bastard go Ms. Laura."
"Todd what's his name?" Said Laura shocked.
"Wolfstein?" Sara asked reaching for the paper.
"Thas the one baby girl. He done raped that woman, and a witness they called to the stand cleared him with the jury."
Sara stared at the picture stone faced. Sara had been the witness but she wasn't named. The article stated that after Sara's testimony and closing arguments, the jury unanimously cleared Todd Wolfstein.
So he wasn't her rapist after all. But what if the jury was wrong? What if all of the evidence hadn't been presented? She needed to be certain.
"Mom I need to head out. I have to be in court in three hours and I still haven't checked out of the hotel I booked."
"Sara, what's wrong?" Her mother could tell that something in the article had set her off.
"Nothing, just got a lot on my mind. But I'll call you when I get back to Vegas and I will try to get some time off around Christmas."
Laura didn't like being stonewalled, but she knew Sara was harder than steel when she was being secretive. She would have to bide her time.
"All right baby, you be careful out there, and I want to hear from you the minute you step foot in Nevada."
"Yes ma'am."
Ruby began to cry, which in turn made Sara cry and then all the females in the household were in tears. This included Tom's black lab Martha, who was sitting outside the kitchen door. Sara kissed everyone goodbye and left for San Francisco. This Independence Day would be without its freedom.
July 8th
Grissom woke that morning with a burning in his gut. Not the kind you get from too many spicy foods but the one you get from knowing something dangerous is on the rise. The date was July 8th, four days after his and Sara's fated day. Though he knew the words she had left on the paper said it all, his stubborn heart still held hope. But July 4th had came and went, then the 5th, no Sara and he had moped, May 6th had brought anger, cursing, and getting drunk, the 7th all he could feel was numbness and now the 8th. His heart had finally smothered the hope it had been saving. The only feelings he had were emptiness, coldness, bitterness, and sickness. His heart had no room for the pain she had inflicted.
Grissom checked his watch it was 9:16am. He walked outside in his jeans, his boots and his dirty old Cubs baseball cap turned backwards. The humid warmth caressed his naked chest. A rustling in the leaves to the east snagged his attention. Moving slowly down the porch, he walked toward the sound. As he neared the bush, a fuzzy critter flew across his feet.
Coming to rest on an old log, was Aristotle. A small rodent clamped in his jaws. He looked at Grissom as if he were guilty of a crime.
"Hey there Aristotle, looks like you made out all right for breakfast. I'm more of a bacon and eggs guy myself. Make yourself at home, I'll be back."
Twenty minutes, four eggs, and four strips of bacon later, Grissom came out to sit on the steps. Aristotle was washing and didn't seem to notice Grissom's presence. Grissom continued to watch and eat his breakfast, trying to keep his mind from Sara.
"You got a mate little fox?"
Aristotle stopped for a moment. Shook his whiskers in disapproval and then went back to washing.
"Women are just man's punishment for eating the forbidden fruit. God knew that Adam would see this gorgeous vixen with an apple in her hand, and eat from it. But he knew that we were idiots so he cursed us with their flesh forever. Now a man can't get around needing one. No matter how closed off he is, he is still isn't safe."
The fox had stopped and watched Grissom intently.
"Sara, she's just as bad. I met her at that lecture. I told Harold that Bob Green should speak at the lecture but he made me go. Why did she have to be there? I could have lived my life alone. I've never felt like that about any other woman. With her soft hair and those dark eyes. She has so much passion and I fought her. I fought within every inch of myself because I knew I could hurt her. Damnit! Why didn't she come here?"
The anger and tears hit him like the weight of a car. In disgust he threw the plate from his lap and did something he hadn't done since he was in college. He ran. All the anger, the adrenaline, the memories, the sadness, the torture and her face, they all pushed him hard and fast. A crack of thunder pierced the sky. The rain began to fall fast and hard. He ran into the clearing, only rain, the sky and the broken man. Raising his arms and his face into the sky he screamed with every ounce of emotion within him.
"I love you Sara Sidle!! I love you! I love you! Do you hear me? I love you!!"
Grissom dropped to his knees and cried. He felt the adrenaline drain from his body. Curling himself into a ball he let the rain and the exhaustion take him.
An hour later...
Grissom's eyes slowly opened. The world seemed blurry to him. The rain had stopped, and he lay curled in the middle of the clearing. His body was naturally cool from the light breeze that was blowing but the back of his neck and left shoulder felt warm.
Moving slowly to sit up, he felt tiny feet on his back. Aristotle came to stand near the sitting scientist. Grissom smiled at the tiny animal, knowing that he had used his furry body to keep Grissom warm as best as he could.
"Thank you Aristotle. I'm glad someone loves me enough to keep me warm."
The fox, seeing that Grissom was safe, scampered off into the woods. He felt light raindrops on his skin. Looking up into the sky, he saw how black the clouds were. He had to get some shelter. Standing up he began walking quickly to the house.
By the time he reached the porch of the small house, he was soaked again. Grissom hadn't realized how far he had run earlier. Quickly disrobing himself of all his clothes, he made his way to the small bathroom to get a towel and his robe.
The rain was really coming down and the lightening was close. He turned on his little radio hoping to find a clear station that he could get the weather from.
Finally, he hit a radio station that was crystal clear. It wasn't a weather report so Grissom just leaned back, closed his eyes and listened.
I'm lying alone with my head on the phone
Thinking of you till it hurts
I know you hurt too but what else can we do
Tormented and torn apart
I wish I could carry your smile in my heart
For times when my life seems so low
It would make me believe what tomorrow could bring
When today doesn't really know
Doesn't really know
Grissom sat very still, the lyrics brought him memories of Sara as they related to each line.
I'm all out of love.
I'm so lost without you
I know you were right
Believing for so long
I'm all out of love
What am I without you
I can't be too late
To say that I was so wrong
He knew that he had been wrong. Wrong for not giving her a chance, Wrong for hurting her, Wrong for letting her go to California.
I want you to come back
And carry me home
Away from these long lonely nights
I'm reaching for you
Are you feeling it too
Does the feeling seem oh so right?
And what would you say
If I called on you now
And said that I can't hold on
There's no easy way
It gets harder each day
Please love me or I'll be gone
I'll be gone
He knew the chorus now and began to sing
I'm all out of love.
I'm so lost without you
I know you were right
Believing for so long
I'm all out of love
What am I without you
I can't be too late
To say that I was so wrong
Oh what are you thinking of?
What are you thinking of?
What are you thinking of?
What are you thinking of?
I'm all out of love.
I'm so lost without you
I know you were right
Believing for so long
I'm all out of love
What am I without you
I can't be too late
I know I was so wrong
I'm all out of love
What am I without you
I can't be too late
To say that I was so wrong.
The song ended and a DJ's voice came on the air.
"That was Air Supply with All Out of Love going out to Gil from Shana with this message. I never meant to hurt you, and if you will forgive me, than know that I love you and I trust you with all of my heart."
Grissom's eyes flew open as he heard the words. She did love him AND trusted him.
The radio suddenly died as a crack of lightening broke the sky. He ran to his room and grabbed his bag from the closet. Threw his clothes in it, then quickly dressed. He watched as the lightening came closer, the thunder booming. He didn't care. Sara loved him and it was going to take more than a mighty act of nature to keep him from her.
He looked back into the house as he reached the door. He couldn't help thinking that the next time he walked in, he would be carrying Sara through the door. He smiled happily, his first time in weeks. Sara loved him.