Chapter Ten:

The next day he arrived on her doorstep unannounced.

Emma cheerfully ran to him.

"Grissom!"

He held the small child in his arms.

Sara said nothing.

"I thought we could go to the park," he said.

Emma glanced at Sara.

"I have some things I have to do but you can go little bug…it's a nice day," Sara said with a smile.

Emma grabbed her sweater.

"Bye Mommy," she announced loudly.

"Bye Emma," she whispered.

Grissom's eyes did not look in Sara's direction as they left.

As soon as they were gone, Sara picked up the phone and dialed the attorney's office.

"Frank…I'm sorry I didn't return your call yesterday," she began.

"I heard about Dan Holmes. You should have called me," said Frank Malone.

"Is there any headway with the estate?" asked Sara.

"Dan Holmes wanted his hands on Emma because your father left the house and life insurance in a trust for Emma. He left the company to you. I have to tell you, Sara. His partner has made some really bad decisions on some recent dealings and it has cost the company dearly."

"Frank, I don't care about the money…I just need enough to buy a house…here."

"That's going to be awhile. This could drag out for several months…maybe even a year. I know the real estate market is down but we can have the house put on the market as soon as possible. I know this is not going to help you immediately. Sara, Joe never would have wanted this to happen. Let me loan you the money…"

"No thanks, Frank. I'll find another way."

"Sara, the estate is not what I called you about," said Frank.

Sara tensed. "Give me some good news, Frank. I've got nothing but bad lately."

"I wanted to prepare you. The murder conviction against Richard Graham was overturned. He's requested his case to be reviewed by the psychiatric board. Sara, he's been a model patient. He's expected to be released."

"That's not possible!"

Sara felt her stomach knot.

"Sara, I know that something happened between you and Graham…Joe had me to track the case…make sure he went to prison. I'd never seen him so upset. He wanted me to let him know if Graham was ever released. If there is anything you could share with the board that might…."

"I thought with the murder conviction, he would never get out."

"I wouldn't be telling you this unless I thought he wasn't going to get out. It's practically a formality."

Sara shivered.

"When is the hearing?" she asked.

"In two days," he said.

Sara clenched her fist.

"I'll be there," she said.

When they returned, Sara ushered Emma into the bedroom.

"Grissom, could we talk?" she asked.

"No."

She took a deep breath.

"It's about Emma," she said.

He glared at her but she did not back down.

"I have to go back to San Francisco…to meet with the attorney. I can't take Emma with me."

"Just going to leave her again?"

It was a dirty shot and he knew it.

He also knew it hurt her deeply but at the moment he was still reeling from the pain that he'd missed five years of his daughter's life.

It also hurt that she could just slip into bed with someone else as soon as he left town.

"I thought it would be too painful for her to have to go back…there," explained Sara.

She was right.

"I came here to see Emma because I'm leaving after shift….on personal business. I won't be back for several days," he said.

"Oh."

She fidgeted for a moment. "I'll talk with Nick or Mrs. Fletcher."

Grissom stepped forward trying to control his anger. "She's still afraid you're going to abandon her again. Is it really that important to put her through that? Hasn't she been through enough?"

"I wouldn't be telling you this unless I thought he wasn't going to get out. It's practically a formality."

"Yes…she has," she whispered.

He wasn't sure what kind of business required her immediate return to San Francisco.

It pained him to discuss anything with her at the moment.

He wanted nothing more than to lash out every chance he got but he knew it would not help matters.

Despite their differences, they would need to work together for Emma's sake.

"I should be back in a few days…then I could keep her."

He was gone without another word.

Frank was quite upset at her decision not to come for the hearing. "I can't bring Emma and she's still afraid…of being abandoned," was her only reply despite his urgency to get her to come.

The next few days took quite a toll on her.

It had been grueling for her to wait by the phone for the outcome.

Sara scribbled some notes on a pad as she watched Emma play.

She grabbed her phone the moment it rang.

"Frank?"

"He got released, Sara."

Sara nearly dropped the phone.

"Sara?"

"Yes?"

"Watch your back…look, maybe I could help if I knew…"

"You can't help, Frank but thanks."

Sara glanced at Emma who smiled at her mother.

She was surprised when Grissom showed up on her door step once again unannounced.

His disposition had not improved but he tried to hide it.

Sara knew it was a façade after years of observing his behavior.

He noticed Sara's disheveled look but said nothing, keeping to the agenda of seeing his daughter.

"I brought something for Emma," he said.

Sara looked behind his back and immediately called Emma.

"Emma, Grissom is here to see you," called Sara.

Emma squealed with delight when she saw the boxer puppy with Grissom.

"How did you find him?" asked Sara.

"I had someone to check all the shelters," he said. "As well as the pure bred ones…he was located with…a foster family."

He regretted using those words.

It was the truth and had not meant to sting but he knew she was hurt by the comment.

"Thanks, Grissom," said Sara quietly.

"I did it for Emma," he clarified.

Again, he berated himself.

It seemed his mouth was in overdrive with barbs.

"I know," said Sara sounding hurt.

The dog jumped up on the couch.

Emma sat with the dog.

He saw her expression out of the corner of his eye.

She had literally wilted before his eyes.

She swallowed hard as she watched the little girl reunited with the dog her father had given.

It was as if a piece of Joe Holmes had been returned and now Sara would have to take it away.

He knew the no pet policy before she even pointed it out.

"Grissom, I'm not allowed pets," whispered Sara.

He had prepared himself for that.

He'd spent the last several hours purchasing food and puppy items.

"I'll keep the dog. Emma can visit him whenever she wants," said Grissom.

"I can come to your house again?" asked Emma.

"Anytime you want," smiled Grissom.

Sara glanced at the clock.

"Mommy, can I watch my movie now?" she asked.

"Grissom will have to leave soon for work," she replied.

"I have the night off," he announced.

"Oh. Well then I'll leave the two of you to watch it," she said. "Is that alright?"

"That would be nice," he retorted. "I'd like to spend some time just with Emma."

She flew out of the apartment.

He regretted his harsh tone the moment it flew out of his mouth.

"Are you mad at Mommy?" asked Emma.

"No…I'm not. Why?"

"You sounded mad. Sara missed you….too."

"Emma, did you like living with Momma Emm and Papa Joe?"

"Yes, they were very nice. Mommy called every evening right before bed time….sometimes, she couldn't and it made her sad."

"Sara said you used to have ear infections."

"Mommy came every time I was sick…even if I was just…playing sick…I missed her."

"How often did she come to visit with you?"

"Every week…one time she stayed for several days because I was in the hospital with my ears."

She looked at Grissom. "I know another secret."

"Some secrets should not be kept," said Grissom. "Mommy should have said you were her daughter."

"That's the secret. Momma Emm said it was to protect me…from the bad man."

"Emma, who is the bad man?"

"Momma Emm said he hurt Mommy."

"Does he live in San Francisco?"

"Papa Joe said as long as he was living the bad man would never hurt her again."

Grissom kissed her on the forehead.

"Grissom?"

"Hmmm?"

"You won't let the bad man hurt Mommy will you?"

"No, I won't."

Sara glanced at her watch a few times as she sat there waiting for Brass.

She was relieved when he pulled up at the park.

"Hey, Kiddo, want to tell me why the cloak and dagger stuff?" asked Brass.

"I need your help," she said.

He could tell she was quite upset.

"I'm listening," he quickly replied.

Sara took a deep breath. "I need your advice…on how to get a restraining order…when there are no police records…to substantiate…any harm has occurred."

"Sara, you know there's little chance of getting a judge to sign any kind of restraining order without proof…"

"How much?" she asked. "I know it can be done. How much would I have to pay…"

"The day Sara Sidle is willing to pay off an official of the court is the day hell just froze over."

"Something happened….years ago…the man was arrested on murder charges but was found mentally impaired so he was sentenced to a mental facility…but the murder charges were dropped…he's out."

"What did this man do to you?"

"Jim, what can I do…in case he shows up here?"

"If he shows, let me handle it," he said.

"I don't want to get you involved in this…What can I do?"

"Sara…"

"He murdered his wife and unborn child…He got off on a technicality…he's dangerous."

"Sara, what did he do?"

"I'm not asking for you to get involved…just give me the name of a judge I can…"

"Spill it or I go to Grissom."

Sara scrambled off the park bench and headed toward her car. "Forget I said anything. I thought you were my friend also."

He quickly grabbed her arm. "We're more than friends. I just want to figure out how to protect you."

Sara stood there trying to compose herself.

"Sara, you can tell me… or I'll do some digging…someone in San Francisco will help me."

"Then start digging because I'm not about to tell you," she said as she headed toward her car but he stopped her.

"This isn't like you," he said. "What did this guy do to you?"

It was a mistake to call Jim.

She knew it the moment he mentioned Grissom.

She had no right to involve him.

Jim Brass had been friends with Grissom for years and she wasn't about to come between them.

She knew that whatever she told him would eventually get back to Grissom.

She chose to remain silent.

"Are you in trouble?" he asked.

"I'm just trying to…stay out of trouble," she said.

"I take it for some reason this guy may come looking for you?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Jim, don't ask me to give you answers that I've never given anyone," she said.

"Then I can't help you," he said, calling her bluff.

He was shocked when she got into her vehicle and drove away.

He stood there cursing under his breath as he dialed her phone.

"Sidle"

"If you need help, you call me day or night. Got it?" he asked.

"Like I said, I'm not getting you involved," she said.

"You already have. You think I can just pretend that you weren't trying to find a judge to bribe. Sara, your actions tell me you're desperate and…scared."

"I'll find another way," she said.

"Call me….it will be just between the two of us," he said.

"Right," she whispered.

"I mean it, Sara. Whatever you tell me…it's between us," he offered feeling a bit desperate himself. He grown quite attached to the brunette over the years particularly after he discovered what she had overcome as a young child.

She held the phone.

"I mean it, Sara. No one else has to know," he said.

"Thanks, Jim but….you're right I thought I was desperate…I guess I'm not," she lied.

"When the desperation hits again, call me."

She started to hang up when he yelled through the phone.

"Sara!"

"Yes?"

"You mean a lot to me…don't forget that," he said.

Note from author:

Getting the picture now….