Chapter Ten:
He came to work even though Doc came down and gave him a few choice words as he hobbled around trying not to show his pain. He decided to stay in the break room where he would have access to the coffee and the bathroom rather than at the end of the hall where his office was located. He glanced up when she came storming in and grabbed for the coffee pot but set it back down immediately when she burned her hand.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Fine," she muttered.
The others began to float in as they each grabbed for the coffee.
"Heard about swing?" asked Nick.
"No, what happened?" asked Grissom.
"They're all sick," he said.
"All of them?" he asked.
"Flu like symptoms," said Nick. "Two were out yesterday and now four are out including the supervisor."
Grissom groaned. "Guess we'll be pulling a double."
"Wait, I have a date," said Sara.
Nick grinned.
"Better cancel," said Grissom as he inwardly smiled.
"Great, just great…this day just keeps getting better and better," she said as she shivered.
"You okay?" asked Greg as he stared at her.
"Fine!" she yelled as she stalked out of the room.
"What's up with her?" asked Greg.
"None of your business," said Nick as he watched Greg leave.
"Griss, what's wrong with Sara?" he asked.
"None of your business, Nicky," said Grissom as he frowned at the man.
"If you can round up everyone, we can go through assignments," he said. "I'm working in here today."
"What's wrong with the conference room?" asked Warrick as he came in.
"My knee. It's not going to hold up if I don't give it a rest," he said.
"Gotcha boss man," said Warrick.
She returned sitting down at the end as she pulled her jacket on. Grissom stared at her for a moment and then began the meeting.
The assignments were passed out and he watched them disperse. He finished his paperwork while he sat there in the break room. Brass came and sat down beside him.
"You're not in the field tonight?" he asked.
"Giving my knee another night off," said Grissom.
"Heard you yelled at Sara," he said.
"Did she tell you that?" he asked.
"No but she's been in a shitty mood so I thought you would have something to do with it."
He nodded pulling himself up from the table.
"Sit. I'll get the coffee," said Brass as he filled two cups and set them on the table.
"They'll be late coming in," said Brass as he saw Grissom glance at the clock. "They're working a pretty bad domestic violence case. It seems the couple was still fighting when the police arrived and the wife shot and killed the husband in the front yard in front of the kids. She then went inside and shot herself and one of the kids before the police could get inside."
"Is Sara…"
"Didn't know it until Nick called for assistance…he's taking the child's death pretty hard…he doesn't like to see kids murdered," said Brass.
"Who does?" said Grissom now standing.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"I'm going to help," he said. "The quicker they get back here the better they'll both be."
"I'll drive," said Brass. "You know this coffee is awful. Let's stop and get some on the way."
"You buying?" asked Grissom.
"You promise to sit on your ass if that knee starts to act up?"
"Large…just black…better get the others some also."
They arrived with coffee in hand. Nick smiled when he saw it.
"Need the juice tonight," he said as he gulped it down.
"Where's Sara?" asked Grissom.
"She's inside…she's processing the kid's room where the mother killed herself and the six year old."
"You okay?" asked Grissom.
"Been better," said Nick.
"Let's try to wrap this up," he said softly.
Nick nodded and headed back to work.
He walked in and set his kit down. She was sitting in the corner placing the evidence bags together.
"You done?" he asked.
She glanced up and saw the coffee cup in hand.
"Almost," she said softly.
"Brought you and Nick some coffee…Brass bought it…it's a real treat," he said grinning slightly.
She returned the grin and took the cup.
"Thanks," she said.
She took a sip and felt her stomach churn. She set the cup down and returned to work.
"You're sick," he said.
"No, I'm not."
"Sara, you and Nick can chug a Starbuck's coffee down faster than anyone I've ever seen. You took a sip…You worked with swing last week…you've probably caught the flu from them."
"I'm not sick. I'm just tired," she said.
He glanced at her for a moment and then began working alongside her. They were finished within an hour and they loaded up the Denali to return back to the lab. The rest of the shift was uneventful as they started to prepare to leave when a call came in that there had been a drive by shooting and there were four bodies. They groaned as they prepared to go out into the field. Sara slid in with Nick and Greg as Warrick and Catherine rode with Grissom. They worked through the next shift and by the time they returned to the lab all were exhausted.
"Sleep, I just want to sleep," said Catherine. "Lindsey has been sick with the flu and she has kept me up the past couple of days."
"My neighbors have been trying to get pregnant," said Warrick. "I swear all of us want the stick to have blue lines this month so we can get some sleep."
They all chuckled at this.
"I think Sara is already asleep," said Greg as he watched her with her head on the table.
"I don't think she feels well," said Nick. "She never finished her Starbuck's."
"Better take her to the hospital," chuckled Greg.
"Well, I'm leaving," said Nick. "You think we should wake her?"
"No…let her sleep for a little while," said Grissom from the doorway. "I'll wake her when I get ready to leave."
They glanced at one another and filtered out.
He sat there and waited until the others had left before waking her.
"Sara?"
"Hmmm?"
"You need to go home. You're sick. Let me take you," he offered.
"I'm not sick," she said.
"Yes, you are," he said. "You're running a fever and you have the chills. You haven't eaten in several hours and I think your stomach is bothering you."
She glanced at him. "I'm fine. I'll see you tomorrow." She stood as she suddenly sat back down and covered her mouth.
"Nauseated?" he asked.
She nodded.
He quickly retrieved the trash can and set it next to her.
"How good is your aim?" He asked.
She closed her eyes trying to hold back the inevitable but she finally vomited in the trash can. He walked over and poured a glass of water and handed it to her along with a paper towel.
She rinsed her mouth and then wiped it as she felt another bout. She heaved once more and then emptied the rest of her stomach contents. He repeated the process once more. She sat there for several minutes and seemed to feel better.
"Think you can walk now?" he asked.
"Griss?"
"Yeah?"
"Better get a bag," she said softly.
"Prepared," he said as he helped her up and they were soon on their way. She rolled down the window and let the air blow into her face until she began to shiver and she closed it. She leaned back and closed her eyes. She glared at him the moment they pulled into the driveway of the townhouse.
"We're home," he announced.
"I'm not!"
"Yes, you are."
"Grissom, I just want to sleep…take me home," she begged.
"You're sick and there's no one to take care of you. It's my chance to return the favor," he said getting out of the vehicle.
She didn't argue as she stepped out and felt the nausea return.
"Still sick?" he asked.
She nodded.
"I have something for that," he said.
He quickly unlocked the door and he directed her to the bedroom but she was already running for the bathroom. He waited while he heard the shower running and he rummaged through his drawer and found another T shirt.
"Sara?" he called.
"Yeah?" she manaed to get out.
"I'm going to leave this T shirt on the bed for you," he said as he left the bedroom.
He returned and found her already in bed.
He handed her a pill and glass of water.
"It'll make you sleep but at least it will help with the nausea," he said.
She took it while he slipped into the bathroom and showered and when he returned, she was already fast asleep.
He slipped into the bed and closed his eyes.
Nick met Vartann at the lab as they scoured the lab for her.
"I don't like this," said Vartann. "I talked with her at work and she said she was going straight home after shift. I told her I would come by. Her car is parked out front and she's not at her apartment."
"Look, I'm sure we'll find her asleep in the break room. You worry too much," said Nick as he tried to hide his own concerns.
They both stared at the vacant couch.
"Any other ideas?" asked Vartann.
"She was asleep here in the break room when we left. Grissom said he would wake her before he left," said Nick.
"Wait, Grissom was here with Sara?" asked Vartann.
"Yeah."
"She's with Grissom," said Vartann.
"Maybe his knee gave out on him again and Sara had to drive him home," said Nick.
"There's something going on between the two of them," said Vartann.
"Grissom and Sara? You've got to be joking…okay sure she admires the man but there's nothing going on…believe me we would know," said Nick chuckling.
"I don't know. I got this vibe that there's something between them….I could have sworn they had slept together the other day."
Nick grabbed Vartann's arm, "Sara is not that kind of girl! She wouldn't sleep with one person and date another. And as for Grissom, he's….he's just Grissom."
Vartann looked at him strange trying to understand the last statement.
"Fine," said Nick a bit annoyed, "Let's just go and ask Grissom if he's seen Sara!"
It was the pounding on the door that woke Grissom. He stared at the clock and groaned. It had been a difficult night as Sara rushed back and forth to the bathroom. He eased out of the bed and grabbed his robe trying to sneak out of the bedroom without waking her but the banging caused her to jump and sit upright in the bed.
"Someone's at the door," he said.
"What time is it?" she moaned.
"It's still early," he said.
She rolled over and looked at the clock. "I have to go."
He frowned and left her struggling to find her way out of the bed covers. He was surprised when he opened the door and found Nick and Vartann.
"Nick, is there a reason why you've decided to wake me up at this hour?" he asked.
"Vartann is worried about Sara. Her car is parked at the lab and she's not at home. Do you know…"
There was a loud crash from the bedroom and Grissom closed his eyes briefly as he let them in. Nick and Vartann gawked as Sara walked out of the bedroom. She stopped the moment she saw them.
"I guess we know you're okay," said Vartann.
"Okay?" she asked.
"Vartann was concerned when he saw your car still at the lab but you weren't there. He's been waiting at your apartment for you," said Nick still staring at Sara.
"It's Grissom's fault," said Sara as she coughed. "He wouldn't take me home. He insisted I spend the night with him."
Nick and Vartann stared at one another and then glanced at Grissom.
"She was sick. She has the flu," he said.
Vartann looked at the couch and then the bedroom entrance.
"So you slept with him in his room?" he asked.
She glanced at the bedroom and then back at the couch biting her lower lip.
"Look, I'm not going to lie to you. I slept with him."
Note from author:
Notice how Sara has the same knack for saying the wrong thing without elaborating. Be nice and give a review. Take care! Penny