CHAPTER TEN

The next morning Sara closed her locker door with a slam that reflected her frustration at the case she and Greg had been sent to. Iris sat next to her friend sympathetically. Nick and Warrick had already left for the day as had Catherine. Greg was out of pocket as he'd gone to the vending machines for a sudden attack of the munchies.

"Iris, I'm sorry that was a waste of your time last night," Sara apologized.

"Not true, Sara. I always like to be on hand if only to watch others in action as I want to improve my techniques. Besides, the crime scene was a holy mess and I didn't mind being extra hands to help canvass the area to free you and Greg up to process the bodies," Iris said matter-of-factly.

A female voice overhead on the lab intercom was heard paging Greg.

"I've seen some interesting homicides but this one ranks up there. I mean this is more than the usual triangle. Man, four people involved all the way around the block. The husband being a closet bisexual and his wife had no inkling about it until she stumbled upon his chat logs and emails when checking their home PC because she suspected he was cheating on her with another woman. Talk about what the AOL!" Sara exclaimed.

"Yeah, some people have strange tastes," Iris agreed.

They both then heard a tenor voice singing "Some Enchanted Evening" as they exchanged questioning looks.

The tenor was Greg still singing as he entered the locker room carrying a pale blue vase holding a dozen of the sterling gray roses in one hand and an envelope attached to a small elegant bejeweled dagger. He went down on one knee to present the vase of flowers to Iris which she took and set on the locker room bench. Placing one hand over his heart with an exaggerated flourish, he bowed his head a moment before opening the envelope and removing the card with utmost care as if it were the most fragile piece of evidence in a case.

"Greg, who put you up to this?" Iris demanded tartly.

He put a finger to his lips as he removed the card to read:

"Believe you are without measure,

One who is my true desire.

And know how great I treasure

Who you are and secretly admire."

"Someone's got the yummies for you, girl," Sara chuckled as she nudged Iris with her elbow.

Iris groaned as a bright pink flush took over her cheeks. She then picked up the dagger to examine it more closely. "Well, I guess it could be used as a glorified letter opener. Good Lord, my list of suspects could be any guy in this place but I promise you if this someone is married -- no way Jose!"

Greg sat next to her as he ran a hand through his spiky hair before he came clean. "I guess it was my turn to bring you something. Trudy was on break and the other receptionist said the delivery person was told to request me to bring this. I just thought I'd make my entrance with some panache."

"I for one miss your theatrics so let that Greg out once in a while! You've kept him cooped up too much since you graduated from lab rat to CSI," Sara complained.

"Well, you know all that happened to me last year but I guess I've gotten too serious at times," Greg admitted before standing up and bowing low to them. "Fear not, gentle ladies, for Sir Greg the Gallant shall ever be at your humble service." With that, Greg left the locker in two bounding leaps.

"More like Sir Greg the Goof," Sara said when her laughter subsided.

"Encourage him, he's got a real funny side and that should peek out more often," Iris smiled. "Hey, see you tonight then?"

"Yeah, I'll help you out with all this," Sara replied as Iris closed her locker door.

"Thanks. My place is starting to look like a flower shop," Iris said with a wan smile.

* * * * *

"Iris, I think this secret admirer of yours knows you pretty well," Nick observed as he checked out the dagger then winced as he found it had a sharp point with the end of his index finger. All the team was in the break room again for case updates and new assignments.

"He," Iris said with casual emphasis as she looked Catherine's way, "knows what you all know about me. That's obvious from the beanie baby dog and horse as well as the dagger, flash light and magnifying glass. I'm an open book."

"What happens when the mask comes off and his identity is known?" Warrick wondered as he glanced over the dagger Nick handed him.

"I've turned that over and over in my head, Rick, but to be truthful I don't know," Iris admitted.

"It doesn't matter if he's tall or short, fat or thin, handsome or not?" Catherine asked.

"No, I'm not into looks because what matters to me is what's inside," Iris replied as she indicated her head and then her heart. "Besides, if it's just a matter of asking me out, why all this drama? Not that I'm complaining because I am flattered."

"This guy's taken pains to keep you in the dark until the right moment, I guess, by enlisting our unwitting help," Grissom said from the head of the table as he pointed to himself and then Nick, Warrick and Greg.

Iris nodded in agreement as she tapped at her chin with a forefinger when she felt her cell phone vibrate in her pants pocket. She retrieved it and saw the text message as her eyes widened in shock and her face became pale.

"Iris?" Grissom asked in alarm.

Brass literally exploded through the doorway at the same time, his face looked gray, suit jacket haphazardly slung over one arm as he held his cell phone. "Come on," he said hoarsely to Iris. She seized her backpack without hesitation and went to join him.

"Jim, what the…?" Grissom demanded.

"Baby James coded," Brass answered bluntly.

"Oh my God…get going….keep us informed!" Grissom waved them on.

The team echoed that with a chorus of "we're thinking of you, we'll keep good thoughts going, we'll be there if we can!"

Running down the hall, Jim held Iris' elbow to help her keep up with his frantic pace as Iris quickly said, "We'll go in my Bronco its closer but you drive!" Jim felt her keys pressed into his hand as they rounded the corner to head to the parking lot.

A line of thunderstorms had been forecast on the radio of the Bronco as it sped toward Desert Palm. Lightning lit up the northern night sky faintly in the distance but the storms were still hours away.

* * * * *

Jasmine met them as they entered the NICU; her face telling them what they feared.

"We got here as quickly as we could," Brass said tightly as Iris stood by his side.

"Little James' heart stopped earlier tonight and a code blue was called. We had to shock him three times to get him back. His heart and lungs have been so stressed in spite of our supportive measures. The pediatric cardiologist says there's nothing more we can do and life support will just prolong the inevitable. His heart is failing and it's just a matter of hours now. We thought you'd want to say goodbye while there's time. I'm so sorry." Jasmine hugged Jim first and then Iris.

"What now?" Jim whispered, gripping Iris' hand so tightly she bit her lip.

"Follow me. We have a special room for this situation where the parents can stay with their child. He's never alone, we're seeing to that. No monitors, no wires, no tubes. We've got oxygen mist going and he's been given medication to keep him comfortable," Jasmine replied as they approached a room off from the nurse's station.

Two chairs and a rocking chair were positioned by a now-open crib. Baby James rested inside it, breathing in a slightly labored manner, while his arms and legs flexed spasmodically on occasion in his restless sleep. His pale café-au-lait skin looked translucent.

"You can hold him fully now and rock him if you like, just talk to him, he'll know you're here. You're bonded to him you know. He doesn't know anyone else cares beyond you and we nurses. If you need me, I'll be at the nurse's station." Jasmine then left them alone.

Jim let go a slow exhalation as they approached the crib. Iris didn't hesitate as she leaned into the crib and wrapped the infant in a blanket. Baby James woke up and gazed at her with wide blue eyes set in that wizened face. He didn't cry or fuss as they continued to look at one another. She cuddled him for a few moments before taking Jim by the arm to the rocking chair. After Brass sat down, she placed little James in his arms and took a seat in the chair next to him.

"Just rock him while we talk to him," Iris encouraged softly.

"Okay," Brass said, his voice breaking slightly. "Well, little guy, here we are. Let me tell how things would've been had we the time. Heh, time, such a small word to count our hopes, dreams, breaths, heartbeats, seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks and years by. You would've liked learning to ride a bike and I'd of been there to see you fly down the street the first time without training wheels. Your first little league game where you hit the winning home run, I'd be there in the bleachers cheering you on or that first goal you scored in pee-wee hockey, I'd keep that puck to my dying day. Seeing you graduate high school to go on to college to be who you're supposed to be. You'd of made me proud."

Iris rested her hand on Brass' shoulder as he talked to baby James and to hear what Brass had wanted to do caused her to smile tenderly at him as she squeezed his shoulder.

She said, "My turn now to be there for your first skinned knee from riding that bike to kiss and make it all better; the first window you broke throwing a baseball in the back yard; your first broken heart from the girl who didn't feel the same way; your prom and reminding you how to treat the young lady in your company; seeing you marry the love of your life. You'd of made me proud too."

Brass shot her a look but his face was inscrutable.

"I mean I would've helped out and been your permanent babysitter," Iris clarified quickly.

The baby now had Jim's finger firmly clasped in a tiny hand. "See, Iris, he's still got a grip and it's strong. He's going to make it, he's got to." Brass' voice trailed off into a raspy whisper.

"Maybe he's hanging on just so we can say good-bye," Iris whispered.

"No, you're wrong, he's gonna pull through, he's a fighter," Brass insisted angrily.

"I am hoping for that as strongly as you but it's up to him not us," Iris said neutrally.

Several minutes passed as Brass rocked his little namesake slowly and he and Iris continued to tell the baby about the future. Jim planned to engage Jerome Shaw's help to initiate guardianship. He reminded Iris she would have to keep herself available for babysitting and frequently. He assured the baby it would be expedited, "I know all the right people and I got favors out the wazoo I can call in."

Baby James suddenly looked up at them both then with tiny spit bubbles as he managed a happy smile. He made a series of contented gurgles, yawned slightly, and then closed his eyes. His face slowly relaxed as the little chest rose and fell no more.

"Iris!" Jim stopped rocking and held his ear to the baby's chest. "Do something! Start CPR!"

She kneeled quickly in front of Brass, put her finger to the infant's neck and looked up with a sad shake of her head as she looked up at him with tear-bright eyes. Her voice was ragged in its anguish. "No CPR. It won't make any difference. He's gone, Jim."

"Damn it, Iris, help him!" Jim yelled with a stricken look that cut through her.

"We did and I think he hung on long enough so we could let him go. His spirit was strong but his little body was too frail and just gave out," Iris declared sadly as her hands rested on his knees.

"He's still hanging on even now," Brass' voice faltered as the baby's fingers remained curled around his forefinger. Jim gently removed them as he held the baby close to his heart. His features cracked at that point with a ragged sob. "Iris, I wanted it to be different for him…for me…was that selfish? I felt I had a second chance going and I could do better this time than I did with Ellie."

Iris swerved the other chair opposite Brass as she cradled him to her as he continued to hold the infant. Her arms wrapped around him as her cheek pressed to his. "No, Jim, it wasn't selfish and I wanted the same for him, too. I know did you best where Ellie was concerned from what you've shared here and there. You're still her dad, no matter what, and you could be again, I promise you." She murmured softly into his ear as they grieved together, Jim's anguished sobs occasionally punctuating the stillness in the room.

"Dice is going to pay double, Iris, I swear it!" Brass vowed at last in a thick voice.

"Shush now, hush-a-bye," Iris crooned in a whisper as they gently rocked baby James who was now at peace.

Jasmine looked in on them as fresh tears fell down her cheeks; let them have all the time they needed.

An hour later, a pale and haggard Brass emerged from the room followed by Iris who appeared much the same way. They were both drawn and spent from what had happened. Both had not been prepared for this outcome. They went immediately to the nurse's station. They'd heard thunder intermittently and the windows outside the hospital reflected lightning flashes.

"The social worker's been notified and since James has no guardian, funeral arrangements will be made through the city. I'll let you know the details as soon as they're available," Jasmine told them.

"Call Garden Memorial Funeral Home where arrangements have already been made. Burial will be in Woodlawn Cemetery. Here are the business cards for whom to contact," Brass said tersely as Iris gave him a surprised look. "Sorry, Jasmine, it's been a helluva night."

"No worries, I'll see to it personally," Jasmine promised as she took the cards from him and returned to the nurse's station to make the needed calls.

"You call Gil to let him know what happened and find out if you still have to go out on a case. I'm taking a personal night off myself. Just drive me back so I can get my car, I'd appreciate it," Brass requested wearily as Iris as got out her cell phone. She went to the waiting room to where she got better cell reception while Jim watched her go with a tired expression.

"Here, Detective Brass, figured you needed this," Jasmine said as she handed him a Styrofoam cup of coffee. "It's black but if you need cream and sugar."

"This'll be fine," Jim said gratefully as he gingerly sipped at the hot liquid.

Iris returned some minutes later and to Jim she looked like how he felt. "Grissom knows and I can take you back to the lab. He wants me to rejoin Sara and Greg as soon as possible but warned us to drive carefully as those storms are now rolling through."

"Let me finish my coffee. You want something?" Brass asked Iris as Jasmine nodded.

"Hot chocolate for this chocophile would be heavenly," Iris admitted.

"One hot chocolate coming up," Jasmine smiled.

Fifteen minutes later, they walked outside through the emergency room exit sliding doors where Iris' Bronco was parked in the ER lot. Rain was falling in torrents as lightning continued to flash and thunder rumbled its reply. The wind was gusting and at times the rain looked as if it were blowing sideways. They both looked up at the dark sky as Jim then glanced at his watch.

"We don't have an umbrella, Jim," Iris observed glumly.

"We can't wait for it to stop raining so we'll just have to make a mad dash for it," Brass replied simply.

"You're still driving so ready to run when you say so," Iris assured him.

"One, two, three, GO!" Brass cried as he tried to cover them as best he could with his suit jacket as they splashed through puddles hurrying to the Bronco. They parted ways as Iris rushed to the passenger's side while Brass fumbled with the keys as he quickly became soaked to the skin. Cursing under his breath he finally got the key in the driver's door and jumped in to then lean over the bucket seat to get the passenger side open. Iris climbed in and shut her door as lightning hit nearby and caused her to jump in alarm.

"You look like a bedraggled kitten," Brass chuckled as she spluttered from the rain she'd swallowed.

"You don't look any better, buster!" Iris shot back. "Reach behind you. I think I've got a towel back there somewhere. At least we can dry off a bit."

Brass turned on the dome light and sure enough a towel was folded neatly in the back seat which he grabbed and offered to Iris first. She toweled of her hair and face and patted her arms dry before handing the towel back to Brass. He dried himself off as well as he could before tossing the towel behind his seat.

"Let's see if we can get an update on the weather," Brass said as he switched on the radio. As if on cue, they heard the radio DJ announce that Clark County was under a severe thunderstorm warning as the storm complex was mushrooming over Vegas as he spoke. The storms were expected to continue for the next hour at least as they rumbled through. Police were advising that if you didn't have to drive, don't, due to flash flooding in low-lying parts of Vegas.

Iris reached behind her seat to turn on a Coleman battery-powered lamp that she kept on the lowest setting. It gave just enough illumination for them to see each other as well as the radio display since the nearest parking lot light was out and their part of the parking lot was dark as pitch outside. "Great, looks like we're not going anywhere for a while. I keep this lamp for camping and road hazard emergencies. Now, we're all cozy."

"We can keep the radio on for a bit I suppose then when it lessens up we'll be on our way," Brass agreed as he looked at the windshield. "Man, look at it come down!"

"Oh, I don't mind it at all, Jim. I love it when it storms," Iris commented as she saw another lightning flash.

"Really, how come?" Brass' curiosity was piqued.

"It's a cleansing event and to me it goes through your soul. The sounds and the smells of it are kind of magical in a way. Here, listen for how your body vibrates from the thunder," Iris indicated as another lightning flash rent the sky asunder and they waited for the thunderous reply. She knelt next to him because the bucket seats didn't permit her to get closer and placed her hand on his chest to demonstrate as a booming thunderclap seemed to break right over their heads. The rumbling vibration went through them just as she'd said.

Iris' hand continued to rest on Jim's chest that was moist from his rain-soaked shirt. He noted it too and looked at her curiously before casually saying, "You're right, I never looked at it that way so I guess I can have a new appreciation for the next storm we're in."

She said nothing for a moment and then pulled her glasses off. Her damp hair fell in tendrils that curled to frame her face in a dark halo. Iris moved her face slowly up toward his as they shared a long, searching look. Her hand reached up to slowly run velvet-soft fingers down the left side of his face while her lips moved down the other side as they gently traced down to his jaw. She made a soft sighing sound while Brass sat stock still, unsure of what was happening or going to happen next for that matter.

"Uh, Iris, what're you doing?"

"Messing around."

"Look, I don't think this is such a good idea."

"Why?"

"Look, we're both upset and tired about what happened earlier. Let's go ahead and start back to the lab."

"It's still raining too hard to drive there safely. You're right I'm as upset as you. I just was looking for a little comforting still. I'm sorry. It probably looks like I was making a play for you. I was out of line and clumsy about trying to show affection toward a good friend."

The plaintive note in her voice went through Brass like a knife. He knew she wasn't being manipulative and it had been a bad night for both of them as they keenly felt the loss of baby James. Jim knew Iris was being transparent in her honesty. Iris started to pull away but Brass engulfed in his arms. She looked up at him with a quizzical expression.

"You stay put. Where you're at is fine by me," Brass told her firmly. Iris liked his closeness and snuggled into his neck. The platonic contact was affirmed and agreed upon unspoken while the radio played in the background, each silently telling themselves that the body heat would help dry their clothes better.

Another song started to play as they just quietly held each other. The DJ mentioned, "Here's Faith Hill's song, "Just As I am."

"Baby, don't turn out the light
I wanna see you look at me
Whisper only truth tonight
Not just promises and empty fantasies

I don't need a bed of roses
'Cause roses wither away
All I really need is honesty
From someone with a strong heart
A gentle hand
Who'll take me as I am

Baby, I need for you to know
Just exactly how I feel
Fiery passions come and go
I'd trade a million pretty words
For one touch that is real

I don't need a bed of roses
'Cause roses wither away
All I really need is honesty
From someone with a strong heart
A gentle hand
Who'll take me as I am

I don't need a bed of roses
'Cause roses wither away
All I really need is honesty
From someone with a strong heart
A gentle hand
Who'll take me as I am, oh yeah

From someone with a strong heart
A gentle hand
Who'll take me as I am."

As the song played, Iris stirred against his shoulder as she adjusted her position and Brass grunted when her weight shifted so he moved himself to stretch a bit. The combination caused Iris to rise in surprise so that they found themselves looking each other directly in the eye. Iris found her head tilted just so as they continued to stare at each other before her eyes slowly shut and her lips pressed to Jim's.

Brass found he was gripping her arms tighter while the tentative kiss continued as their lips gently parted and a little tongue action ensued. He felt her warm breath when her mouth opened more for him as a hungrier kiss was pursued.

Finally, he had to stop this. "Iris, this is…"

"Not very comfortable…you're right…come on," Iris finished what she thought he meant as she took him by the hand with her into the back seat. Brass found himself pulled down with her as she initiated another kiss that he was amazed to find he was beginning to avidly return.

"Too bad this seat doesn't fold down," Brass joked weakly.

Iris gave him a sly smile but said nothing as she reached behind him and the seat folded back to make the equivalent of between a twin and full-size bed. He looked down into coquettish brown eyes as Iris replied, "One of the reasons I got this one was because I like to camp sometimes and this saves having a trailer."

"Convenient. Look at the windows getting fogged up!" Jim said as he started to raise himself up and hopefully stop what was happening but Iris held him near.

"Do you really want us to leave? It's still storming outside but we're better off here inside don't you think?" Iris whispered coaxingly against his cheek.

"Um, this could go farther than we mean for it to, Iris. I'm not made of stone, you know!" Brass said hoarsely.

In his mind, Jim suddenly had a vision straight out of a vintage Looney Tunes cartoon where on his shoulder an angel who looked just like his parish priest back in Newark appeared and the same version as a devil on the other. Even the reedy, shrill voice was in the same Irish accent of Father Sean O'Farrell. The angel and the devil each tried to be the victor in persuading Jim in going for it or putting up an immediate stop sign. Each was very convincing in their argument until Brass mentally told them to both take a hike as he had a handle on the situation. His focus returned to the unique situation at before him.

"I'm game," she replied huskily as he was pulled in for yet another probing kiss and this time he gave in fully and his own last thought was "I'm so gonna regret this."

The storm with its torrential rain, blazing lightening and deafening thunder continued for the next hour as the windows of the Bronco were fogged over to the point one couldn't see in and on occasion the back end of it rocked gently.